Qatar Airways has been awardedrights to operate a daily flight toAustralia's second largest city of Melbourne,Transport Minister Mark Vailesaid. Under the new air services arrangementwith Qatar, Qatar Airways will alsohave the right to operate a second dailyflight to another Australian city from2008 as Australia increases access rightsfor Middle East airlines. Australian airlines will also be giventhe same increased access to Qatar, animportant Middle East aviation hub,"Vaile said. "The … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Qatar Airways gets Australian air rights
air cargo freight
MIDDLE EAST: Saudia, Gulf Air expand code-share
Saudi Arabian Airlines and Gulf Airhave agreed to further strengthen andexpand their code share alliance. Thismonth, the two companies will add newservices between Riyadh ¨C Kathmanduvia Bahrain International Airport,making the code share alliance thelargest between any two carriers in theMiddle East. The two airlines will have 41 flightsa week per direction operated togetherwith the addition of the new Riyadh¨C Bahrain - Kathmandu services. Saudia and Gulf Air are also in discussionto … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Saudia, Gulf Air expand code-share
MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Air returning B767s to service
Gulf Air has announced that five of itsBoeing 767 fleet are back in service. The remaining four aircraft, awaitingslot allocation for planned maintenancechecks, will gradually re-enterservice. The B767s were taken out of serviceby Gulf Air to conduct a thoroughcheck, following the detection of tracesof corrosion in one of them during aplanned maintenance inspection. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Air returning B767s to service
MIDDLE EAST: Etihad freighter decision delayed
Etihad will not decide on purchasingwide-body freighters until plans forthe new cargo facilities at Abu Dhabiairport are finalised, according toSandra Taglieber, cargo spokespersonfor the airline. The carrier has been considering both the 777-200LRF and the A330freighter, but Taglieber says a decisionwill not be reached anytime soon. "Itis not a priority right now. It has to gohand in hand with the plans for the newairport, as we can only add cargo capacityif we have the facilities to … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad freighter decision delayed
MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Pearl starts Ostend freighter service
Libyan charter carrier Gulf PearlAirlines has announced a new regularweekly freighter service between Ostendand Tripoli in Libya. A DC10-30, wet leased from DASAir Cargo, will depart every Monday. AHeathrow trucking link will be establishedto connect with the service. Agreements have been set up with anumber of transatlantic carriers to offerinterline feed from the US. Gulf Pearl Airlines has appointedANA Aviation Services as GSSA inthe UK and North America. NetworkAirline Services … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Pearl starts Ostend freighter service
MIDDLE EAST: Arabesk airlines eye greater co-operation
The executive board of Arabesk,a grouping of Arab airlines, met inBahrain recently to discuss ways andmeans to strengthen ties and expandco-operation to serve their commoninterests, host carrier, Gulf Air, said ina statement. Arabesk's members also includeYemenia, Middle East Airlines, EgyptAir, Royal Jordanian, Saudi Airlinesand Tunis Air. Apart from frequent flyer programmes,airport services and groundhandling, the meeting also exploredopportunities in the cargo sector, thestatement … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Arabesk airlines eye greater co-operation