Etihad Airways has become the first airline in the Middle East to join the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Working Group Committee for Security. The Abu Dhabi-based airline will be represented on the committee by Mohamed Abubaker Al Farea, the carrier’s vice president of corporate safety, security and quality. The security committee’s 10 members are selected from IATA’s 230 member airlines, which together cover more than 90 per cent of all … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad joins IATA security group

Iraq’s Ministry of Transport has concluded a four-year contract for joint operation of Iraqi Airways with the Emirati company, Ross Aviation. Under the contract Ross Aviation will supply air freight and navigational equipment to Iraqi Airways as well as bring in a minimum of 20 aircraft for joint operation. The navigational equipment will enable all-weather operations at Baghdad International Airport. Ross Aviation will also transfer ownership of two freighter aircraft to Iraqi … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Iraqi Airways cargo revived with new deal

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced two weekly flights from Frankfurt to Islamabad and Lahore, resuming flight operations to and from Frankfurt Airport following a two-year absence. Carrying up to 220 passengers and 10 tonnes of cargo per flight, the Airbus A310 aircraft will serve the route. Fraport AG’s Ground Services division is providing aircraft and baggage handling services for PIA, while the company’s Fraport Cargo Services (FCS) subsidiary will … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Pakistan Int’l Airlines returns to Frankfurt

Growth in Middle East cargo volumes is not necessarily a sign that the region is recovering from a global slowdown, but rather that carriers, particularly those from United Arab Emirates have grown their market share, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) regional vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, Majdi Sabri. Middle Eastern airlines have boosted available freight tonne kilometres by 11.4 per cent between January and May this year, compared to a 10.4 … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Middle East carriers pick up cargo market share

UAE-based charter operator Maximus Air Cargo is planning to start its own scheduled freighter services. “This will either be under our own commercial responsibility or by going into a partnership with an established flag carrier,” said marketing manager Thomas Bommer. “It’s too early to give specific routes at this stage as we are in the process of analysing different scenarios. We think that Southeast Asia, China and the Indian subcontinent will be among the … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Maximus moves into scheduled services

In response to what it says is growing customer demand, Jet Airways will introduce its second daily service to Bangkok from Mumbai using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, effective 16 August. The airline currently operates a daily service to Bangkok from Mumbai, as well as from Delhi and Kolkata. … [Read more...] about INDIA: Jet Airways announces second daily to Bangkok