Emirates SkyCargo was entrusted to transport the F1 race cars from São Paulo’s Viracopos Campinas International, where they raced in the Brazilian Grand Prix, to Abu Dhabi International Airport for the UAE’s first F1 race, and the last of the season. Emirates SkyCargo deployed two of its Boeing 747 freighters to transport the multi-million dollar cargo. In all 210,000 kg comprising racing and safety cars, spare parts and related equipment were shipped between the … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Emirates SkyCargo races F1 cars to Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has said it will launch services to Nagoya and Tokyo in the first quarter of 2010 using A330 aircraft. The UAE-based carrier will operate four flights a week to Nagoya, via Beijing, from 1 February, increasing to five flights a week from March 27. Etihad is also planning a direct service to Tokyo Narita five times weekly from 27 March. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad to launch services to Japan

Air Arabia has begun a new twiceweekly Sharjah-Samara service from end October using Airbus A320-214s. The route network of Air Arabia currently includes 59 destinations served at two airports in UAE and Morocco, as well as via the Middle East, North Africa, South East Asia and Central Asia and Europe. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Air Arabia to Samara

United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airways is to resume flights to Colombo in Sri Lanka, starting in January 2010, following the recent end to the civil conflict there. The airline will operate four flights per week from Abu Dhabi to Sri Lanka’s largest city and commercial capital, using an Airbus A320 aircraft. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad resumes Sri Lanka service

Royal Jordanian flight number 132 landed on 18 October at Queen Alia International Airport returning from Athens, recording a first for Jordanian and aviation history. The novelty: The plane was led by Captain Carol Rabadi and co-pilot Hadeel Khamash, an allwomen cockpit and cabin crew. Since the establishment of RJ, two other women were awarded the same rank and flew, but alongside male pilots. RJ Head of Flight Operations Captain Haitham Misto decorated Carol Rabadi with the four-stripe … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: All-female flight crew makes Jordanian history

Qatar Airways is starting flights from Doha to two new destinations in India this month Amritsar from 11 October and Goa from 25 October. Its cargo GSA in Amritsar is Hercules Aviation while the GSA for Goa will be announced shortly. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Qatar expands India services