Airline News - Africa / Middle East

Oct 29, 2007

Air Arabia

Air Arabia last week launched four-times-weekly Sharjah-Bangalore service, becoming daily Oct. 29. It also will increase twice-weekly flights to Coimbatore to thrice-weekly next month. Oct 22, 2007

Etihad Airways, London Heathrow airport

New hand-baggage regulations for Etihad. Etihad Airways will introduce changes at Heathrow airport's Terminal 1 in line with current baggage restrictions and security controls in the UK. The changes will not just affect Heathrow as the airline is to implement the same policies in Abu Dhabi. Passengers will only be allowed one bag as hand luggage and will have to carry all liquids, aerosols and gels within their hand-baggage, which cannot be in containers of more than (100ml) in size. Containers will have to fit within a one litre transparent and re-sealable plastic bag. All customers are being informed directly of the new restrictions by Etihad to avoid delays at airports. The new regulations are scheduled to start on Thursday Nov. 1. Oct 22, 2007

Middle East Airlines

Middle East Airlines announced that it earned a net profit of $39 million in 2006 despite the hardships it faced when Beirut Rafik Hariri International was closed for 36 days that summer during hostilities between Lebanon and Israel. The result was down 36.5% from the $61.4 million earned in 2005. Chairman Mohammed Hout said the carrier partially offset a $32.5 million revenue decline with the leasing out of its aircraft, which netted $13.3 million. He said Middle East Airlines will float a 25% stake "when the time is ripe." Oct 22, 2007

Royal Jordanian

Royal Jordanian decided to upgrade the cabins of its three passenger Airbus A310s to extend their life until its first Boeing 787s arrive in 2010. "Then we will decide if we sell them or if we convert them into freighters," Majali said. Royal Jordanian currently operates two A310Fs. Upgrades include new seats and enhanced IFE, although it did refrain from seatback personal video owing to high costs thought unjustified considering the short life left on the aircraft. Investment is around $3 million per aircraft. The work is being done by JorAMco in Amman. Majali, who will take up the role of IATA chairman in 2008, also said the airline's privatization is moving on as scheduled, with the listing of its shares on the Amman stock exchange scheduled for the first half of December. Oct 25, 2007

ZZ

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