Transport Omani startup a step closer to launching flying cars Omani startup AeroVecto has signed an agreement with a Romanian vertiport developer to develop services for the launch of flying cars in the sultanate. AeroVecto is developing a vehicle called the Shuttle, an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, for mass public transportation, with variants planned for cargo delivery, emergency response and premium travel, […] June 9, 2025
Analysis Aviation Gulf aviation and politics intersect at 30,000 feet As headlines swirled around Qatar’s reported gifting of a private jet to President Donald Trump, the real political theatre last month unfolded in the skies above the Gulf. Within days of each other, regional carriers Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways revealed a combined 238-jet order from Boeing, the troubled US manufacturer, highlighting how aviation serves […] June 6, 2025
Aviation Disputed region to get new airport for Morocco’s World Cup Morocco has unveiled plans to build a new civilian airport in the disputed Western Sahara as part of a massive infrastructure development programme ahead of the 2030 Fifa World Cup which it co-hosts with Spain and Portugal. Transport Minister Abdul Samad Qayouh disclosed the proposed plan for the airport in Boujdour city during a parliament […] June 5, 2025
Banking and Finance FAB joins banks to lend $750m to India’s Adani unit Adani Airports Holdings, the largest private airport operator in India, has raised $750 million from banks including the UAE’s First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB). The other banks involved are Barclays and Standard Chartered, the Bombay Stock Exchange-listed company said in a statement on Wednesday. Adani Airports Holdings (AAHL) is a subsidiary of India’s Adani Enterprises, […] June 5, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways agrees first local credit facility in three decades Qatar Airways has secured QR4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in funding from domestic banks, its first local credit facility in 28 years. The money is fully underwritten and led by Qatar National Bank, the sole and exclusive bookrunner and global coordinator, the Qatar News Agency reported. Other lenders include Ahlibank, Commercial Bank, Doha Bank, Dukhan Bank, […] June 5, 2025
Analysis Finance Oversubscribed Flynas IPO offers hope for other Saudi listings The Saudi budget airline Flynas announced that the retail tranche of its initial public offering (IPO) was oversubscribed four and a half times. The news offers hope for upcoming IPOs in the kingdom following a fall in the share price of United Carton Industries Company (UCIC) after it listed on the main market last week. […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Dubai airlines lead GCC bid to revive Syrian economy Dubai-based airlines are resuming services to Syria after a gap of nearly 13 years as the Gulf states unite to support the war-torn country’s economic recovery. Low-cost carrier Flydubai resumed operations to Syria, with the first flight landing at Damascus International Airport on Saturday, a move aimed at building ties between the UAE and Syria. […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Dubai Aerospace secures $300m loan from Bank of China Aircraft leasing company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has secured a $300 million loan from the Bank of China. The money will be used for general corporate purposes and support upcoming financing requirements, the company said in a statement on Monday. The three-year unsecured term loan was issued by the lender’s Dubai, London and Hong Kong branches. […] June 3, 2025
Aviation Passenger profit is three times global average at Middle East airlines Middle East airlines are set to generate $27.20 in profit per passenger this year, more than three times the global average, as the region continues to lead the global aviation industry on profitability, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total net income for Middle Eastern carriers is forecast to exceed $6.2 billion in […] June 2, 2025
Aviation Iraqi Airways to get 18 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft State-backed Iraqi Airways will add new Boeing and Airbus aircraft by 2027 as part of its fleet modernisation. The airline will receive eight B787-8 Dreamliner and 10 737 Max aircraft, bringing the total number of modern aircraft to 31 over the next two years, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, citing a transport ministry statement. […] June 2, 2025
Aviation Saudi companies to place orders for Airbus jets Saudi Arabian companies are to place orders for Airbus jets worth billions of dollars as the kingdom balances suppliers in its quest to match the aviation growth of Gulf neighbours, industry sources said. PIF-backed lessor AviLease, which placed an order for 30 Boeing 737 Max jets during a visit to the region this month by US president […] June 2, 2025
Aviation Dubai Aerospace to sell 75 aircraft to realign portfolio Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), the Middle East’s largest aviation leasing and engineering company, has agreed to sell 75 aircraft to two unnamed buyers as part of its plan to realign its fleet. A portfolio of 50 Embraer E-Jets will be sold to a specialist lessor, DAE said in a statement on Wednesday. Another 25 out-of-production […] May 28, 2025
Opinion Aviation The quiet rise of Middle East low-cost carriers The budget air travel revolution is challenging the airline status quo across the region May 26, 2025
Transport Royal Jordanian gets $250m to drive expansion Jordan’s flag carrier Royal Jordanian has secured a syndicated loan of $250 million to finance its expansion plans. Arab Bank led the funding round with the participation of several Jordanian and regional banks. The airline’s CEO Samer Majali said that the financial support will help modernise the fleet, route expansion, set up new ventures and […] May 22, 2025
Aviation Flynas sets IPO price as retail tranche opens next week The retail tranche of Saudi budget airline Flynas’s initial public offering (IPO) will start on May 28 after the institutional tranche was oversubscribed almost 100 times, according to a statement to the Saudi stock exchange. The airline set the IPO price at SAR80 ($21.33) per share – the top end of the range – raising SAR4.1 […] May 22, 2025
Aviation Etihad comfortable with Boeing deliveries as profit rises Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways, which posted record profit in the first quarter, said it expects to take delivery of at least 100 planes from US plane maker Boeing over the next five years, helping to equip its route expansion plans. “We’re getting more than 20 planes a year for the next five years,” Etihad Airways […] May 21, 2025
Aviation Ex-Etihad CEO James Hogan takes stake in UK’s Global Airlines James Hogan, the former Etihad Airways chief executive who was at the helm during the airline’s loss-making expansion, is set to become a shareholder in the UK’s Global Airlines, a startup attempting to bring the Airbus A380 back into commercial service. Hogan’s advisory firm, Knighthood Global, will take a stake in Global Airlines and advise […] May 20, 2025
Aviation Qatar Airways announces record profit but risks remain State-owned Qatar Airways announced record profits in the year to March 31 after carrying more passengers and using its seat capacity more efficiently. Net income jumped almost 30 percent to QAR7.9 billion ($2.2 billion) in the 2024-25 fiscal year, an increase of more than QAR1.7billion on the year before. Passenger numbers rose almost 8 percent […] May 19, 2025
Aviation Saudi’s air passenger numbers up, but off target Saudi Arabia recorded a 15 percent rise in air passenger numbers year on year in 2024, below the pace needed to achieve an ambitious target by 2030. Last year 128 million passengers travelled through the kingdom’s airports, according to the General Authority for Statistics. Of these, 69 million were international travellers, while 59 million were […] May 19, 2025
Transport Neom-backed Volocopter delays rollout of air taxis German air taxi company Volocopter, a partner in Saudi Arabia’s Neom giga-project, has delayed the launch of passenger services until next year, as it focuses on emerging from insolvency following its acquisition by new Chinese owners. Borja Blond, CEO of the joint venture between Neom and German manufacturer Volocopter, had said in 2023 that Neom […] May 19, 2025
Analysis Aviation Flydubai CEO says demand exists to quadruple India flights Flydubai believes it has the capacity to quadruple its flights to India, saying the demand is there. However, Delhi’s protectionist aviation policies remain a stumbling block to the Gulf’s biggest low-cost carrier by fleet size, as well as other UAE airlines. Flydubai currently operates 30 flights a week from Dubai to eight Indian cities. “India […] May 16, 2025
Aviation Etihad Airways commits $15bn for 28 Boeing jets Etihad Airways has invested $14.5 billion in 28 Boeing aircraft. Since 2023, the UAE’s national airline has grown its fleet as part of a long-term strategy to double in size by 2030. The agreement includes a mix of Boeing 787 and 777X aircraft, powered by GE Aerospace engines and supported by a services package, […] May 16, 2025
