Emirates SkyCargo has launched daily direct services from Dubai International Airport to the South African port city of Durban, its third destination in the country and 17th in Africa. The inaugural flight was carrying 14 tonnes of cargo in the belly of an A330-200 passenger aircraft. In the 12 months between August 2008 and July 2009, Emirates SkyCargo’s uplift of South African exports increased nearly four-fold over the previous 12 months to more than 50,000 tonnes, thanks to … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Emirates SkyCargo launches daily Durban

Oman Air has taken delivery of its first A330-200 giving the carrier its first long haul capability. The aircraft was acquired under a lease agreement with Dublinbased AWAS. The aircraft will initially be deployed on long-haul routes from Muscat, Oman to London, Paris and Frankfurt, as well as Asian destinations. Oman Air placed an order for seven A330s in 2007, five of which were directly from Airbus. The airline will take delivery of a further six A330 family aircraft in the coming … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Oman Air takes delivery of first Airbus A330

Mercury Air Group has announced a strategic alliance with Dubai-based Red Orange to provide freight logistics services into Iraq and Afghanistan. The alliance combines Mercury’s whollyowned subsidiaries, Mercury Air Cargo and Maytag Aircraft Corporation with Red Orange to provide services into hostile regions in the Middle East and North Africa. The freight logistics services utilise Mercury’s relationships with international airlines servicing the region as well as … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Mercury & Red Orange serve Afghan & Iraq

Recently founded Leisure Cargo Dubai has won its first Middle East business with a total cargo management contract for Saudi Arabian low budget carrier NAS AIR. NAS Air currently has 350 weekly flights to and from 13 cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 11 regional destinations, including Beirut, Alexandria, Amman, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Latakia, Kuwait, Sharm ElSheikh and Sana´a. The NAS fleet consists of seven Airbus A320 and six Embraer 190/195 with further orders for Airbus … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Leisure Cargo wins first ME business with NAS Air

Etihad Crystal Cargo will roll out its new Xpress2D express-to-door delivery service to customers in Asia and the Middle East by the end of the year. The service was earlier launched in North America and Europe in July. The service – which covers shipments from origin airport to factory gate, including all transport and customs clearance – also includes loading priority for shipments via Abu Dhabi which can be tendered anywhere in the network up to 120 minutes prior to … [Read more...] about MIDDLE EAST: Etihad to launch Asia, ME express service

The European Commission and Bangladesh have signed an agreement to modernise the legal framework for air services between Bangladesh and the eight EU member states and establish for the first time a direct legal relationship between Bangladesh and the EU in the field of civil aviation. In particular the agreement will remove nationality restrictions in the bilateral air services agreements between EU member states and Bangladesh by recognising the principle of Community designation. … [Read more...] about BANGLADESH: Bangladesh and the EC reach air agreement