Etihad Airways has launched a three-times-a-week non-stop service between Abu Dhabi and Milan with an A330-200 aircraft, offering a cargo capacity of 14 tonnes in each direction. The passenger fl ights will complement the carrier¡¯s existing freighter service launched in May 2005. … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad adds more capacity to Milan

Air France Cargo will increase its fl ights to Bahrain from three to four per week, due to increased air cargo demand at Bahrain International Airport, it said. The fl ights will connect Bahrain with Lisbon, Dhaka, Hong Kong and Cairo, effective from November 1 this year to March 31, 2008. ¡°The open skies policy adopted by the Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) to liberalise the aviation industry, coupled with its marketing efforts to attract new airlines to Bahrain, has resulted in Air France … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Air France ups Bahrain flights

Etihad Airways will increase its Abu Dhabi to Manila service utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER, from four fl ights-a-week to daily fl ights from October 1. The Manila fl ights, launched in February 2006, have been hugely successful with customers from the UAE’s 200,000-strong Filipino community, as well as leisure travellers visiting the Philippines on holiday, Etihad said. “Demand regularly outstrips supply on the Abu Dhabi to Manila service, especially in the economy cabin which … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad daily to Manila

Mahan Air has increased its frequency between Iran and Germany, with a daily service launched betweenTehran and Düsseldorf. “We’ve already experienced considerable growth in cargo volumes on this route, which has resulted in the decision to substantially boost our airfreight capacity,” said Hossein Hosseini, director of marketing and route management for Mahan Air to Arabian Business. The route, which was previously served four times a week, is being operatedusing … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Iranian carrier adds Europe capacity

The UAE’s fi fth airline will launch commercial service out of the emirate of Fujairah this month. Kang Pacifi c Airlines will initially operate between the UAE and the Philippines, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, with future services to the UK planned. The airline is the brainchild of Indian businessman Paul Kang, who is self-fi - nancing the airline’s launch with $10m in startup capital to procure two DC- 10s, a B747 and B737 over the next six months. The fl eet will primarily … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: UAE’s 5th airline takes to skies

Long- haul, low-cost carrier, AirAsia X, is expected to launch its maiden fl ight to Stansted, London by end-2008, Bernama reported, citing its chief executive offi cer, Azran Osman Rani. Speaking to reporters after the welcoming reception for AirAsia’s new Airbus A330-300, he said the company had already secured the landing rights for the London destination and would fl y on a daily basis using the A340. The company plans to fl y to Australia and China by end of next month with … [Read more...] about MALAYSIA: AirAsia X in London by 2008