Top Stories

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – 6 December 2022 – HHs Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group,opened the much-anticipated MEBAA Show 2022 at Dubai Airshow site (DWC). Reaffirming the MEBAA Show’s position as the foremost business aviation platform in the Middle East and wider regions, gathering key players in the industry from over 95 countries, the ninth edition of the global business aviation show will run until 8th December 2022. With an increased international presence at this year’s show and an up-weighted focus on in-person networking, Day 1 saw business leaders from across the world connect with exhibitors, all working together to redefine the future of the industry and take it to new heights. Key themes for the event include future aviation, sustainability, emerging markets and regulations, as well as a focus on digitalisation, block chain, AI and crypto based payments, all recognised as key trends that are driving the industry forward. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA – the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association, comments: “As we continue to witness huge growth across the business aviation industry, it’s been fantastic to see so many new initiatives highlighted at this year’s MEBAA Show. Day 1 has already seen the formation of many new connections between our visitors and exhibitors, along with the launch of a series of market-leading new technologies and sustainable solutions that will play a vital role in the future of the industry. We are pleased to be working with global industry leaders and specialists to deliver our best show to date, and look forward to seeing a continuation of today’s success over the next two days and beyond.” Day 1 saw the launch of the first-ever BizAv Talks conference, which included a series of seven presentations and panel discussions on the daily theme – Future Private Jet Business Models. With sustainability a key focus for this year’s show, Rolland Vincent, Creator / Director at JETNET iQ, Alexandre Geahchan, MENA Commercial, General & Military Aviation Account Manager at Air BP, and Trine Braathen, Senior Manager Sustainability – Carbon Markets at World Kinect Energy, joined the panel discussion ‘Strategies for business aviation sustainability’, which was moderated by Douglas Carr, SVP, Safety, Security, Sustainability & International Affairs at National Business Aviation Association. The discussion focussed on Sustainable Aviation Fuel and approaches to reducing the carbon footprint of the industry. They also highlighted technology advances on the road to sustainability. During the discussions, Carr said: “The aviation industry has unprecedented pressure on sustainability, with a special focus on business aviation. The industry as a whole has committed to milestones that will be necessary to reach net zero goals and fuel is the single biggest opportunity to make aviation sustainable.” Geahchan followed with: “A lot of focus is on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). It shares a lot of the chemistry with jet fuel, which makes it promising for the industry as a solution that can be used without any changes to existing aircraft. SAF can reduce emissions by 80% over the life of an aircraft.” Meanwhile on the show floor, a huge number of exhibitors displayed the latest aircraft, technology and solutions. In light of the business aviation industry’s remarkable growth over the last few years, this has opened up huge opportunities for innovation – much of which was on display at the MEBAA show. With the global private jet market projected to reach nearly $40 billion in 2025, from an estimate of almost $26 billion in 2021, exhibitors presented a series of new innovative aircraft, all equipped with specialist features. These included the Boeing – 737, SkyLady Boeing 767-200ER, Dassault Aviation – FALCON 8X, Bombardier Aerospace – Global 7500, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation – G700 & G650ER, Embraer – Praetor 600, Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty, and Phenom 300E plus the Learjet 60XR and many more. Speaking of Airbus’ participation in the MEBAA Show, Benoit Defforge, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, commented: “The Middle East is the leading market for ACJ and we are proud to be at the MEBAA Show this year, demonstrating our latest innovation within the business aviation sector. We see significant opportunities in the region for further growth and aircraft renewals, especially considering that more than 100 of the large private jets are older than 15 years old, which represents more than 40% of the fleet. Through our ACJ Connect solutions, we provide the most advanced and sustainable private aircraft, with cutting-edge connectivity, inflight entertainment and operations. We look forward to even more collaboration with our regional and global customers for years to come.” Mohamed Hussain Ahmed, CEO of RoyalJet, also commented: “MEBAA is an industry-leading event that brings together aviation enthusiasts, professionals, business leaders, policymakers, customers, and change agents from across the globe to network and interact, and we are delighted to participate. I am looking forward to having productive discussions at the event and I am also hoping to witness some of the latest technology and digital solutions in aviation that will facilitate rapid digital transformation in the industry.” During Day 1, there were also a series of key announcements. Lufthansa Technik awarded a contract for VIP cabin completion of an ACJ320neo. Meanwhile, Empire Aviation Group marked its 15th anniversary at the show and announced the induction of a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) into its regional managed fleet of business jets and signed an agreement with the Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South to develop a new, multi-purpose business aviation facility on a plot adjacent to the VIP Terminal.

CHICAGO, Dec. 1, 2022 United Airlines today named Maria Deacon senior vice president of technical operations, overseeing the carrier’s maintenance operations, ground service equipment and facilities maintenance, supply chain, technical services, and planning and strategy. Deacon will also shape the continued growth and investment in United’s Calibrate apprenticeship program, helping the airline expand and diversify its next generation of maintenance employees.Maria Deacon, Senior Vice President of Technical Operations, United AirlinesMost recently, Deacon served as GE Aerospace’s general manager of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). In her new role at the airline, Deacon will report to United’s Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer Greg Hart.”Our ambitious United Next growth strategy provides a remarkable opportunity to leverage Maria’s unique skillset,” said Hart. “In her nearly 25 years at GE, she established an impressive record of supply chain and operational successes, and her approach to team culture has driven exceptionally high levels of accountability and execution that drove operational excellence.”At the helm of GE Aerospace’s extended MRO network, Deacon was responsible for delivering revenue across a mix of more than two dozen global GE and partner sites worldwide. As general manager of CFM Services at GE, she managed the financial aspects of the largest in-service fleet in commercial aviation and the joint venture relationship for all CFM and LEAP engine services. In her role as general manager of supply chain at GE, Deacon led the ramp up of critical helicopter, fighter jet engines and spare parts for U.S. military operations among other key responsibilities. Deacon holds a CPA from the University of Cardiff in Wales, U.K. and is a certified investment management accountant.

Delhi,26th November 2022: Akasa Air inaugurated its first flight on the Pune-Bengaluru route. Pune is the ninth destination in Akasa Air’s network and its second city in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai. The airline is offering double daily flights on the Bengaluru–Pune route starting today with additional daily flights linking the two IT hubs, starting from December 10, 2022.Earlier in November, Akasa Air announced the addition of Visakhapatnam as the tenth destination on its network, with flights connecting the city with Bengaluru, scheduled to commence from December 10, 2022, and a second frequency on the route to be added on December 12, 2022. Since its launch in August this year, Akasa Air has been progressively scaling up its operations and by mid-December expects to cross over 450 weekly flights on a total of fourteen routes across ten cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, and Visakhapatnam. Commenting on the maiden flight and the new route, Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder, and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “Commencement of operations on this route is a momentous occasion as we expand our footprint in Maharashtra by adding Pune to our network. Both Pune and Bengaluru are important IT hubs, and enhanced connectivity on this route, backed by affordable fares, are in line with our purpose to strengthen important transportation links of our country, which will provide a boost to economic development. We will soon launch another daily flight on this route from December 10 onwards, taking daily departures from Pune to three convenient options through the day.” Akasa Air started its commercial operations with two aircraft and has subsequently received nine aircraft to date. Akasa Air’s fleet size will be 18 aircraft by the end of March 2023, and over the next four years, the airline will add 54 additional aircraft, taking its total fleet size to 72 aircraft.

17th Nov. 2022,Colombo: SriLankan Airlines,the national carrier of Sri Lanka organised its 2 Day ‘Global Sales Conference 2022’ on 18th & 19th November in Colombo.All the international travel trade partners of SriLankan Airlines from across the airline’s extensive network ranging from Europe, the Middle East,Indian subcontinent,Asia-Pacific and Australia have participated in the conference. The Global Sales conference had presence of over 150 leading international travel agents who predominantly market Sri Lanka and the airline’s General Sales Agents (GSAs) that represent the airline across the globe. Accordingly, the visiting agents will be exploring Sri Lanka on a selection of curated itineraries before attending the conference which will be held at Aliya Resort and Spa on November 18, 2022. The conference will be followed by a travel mart the next day, where the local tour operators and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) will meet the visiting agents to explore business and collaboration opportunities. SriLankan Airlines, CEO, Richard Nuttall said, “As the National Carrier, in our endeavor to support the tourism recovery efforts, we embarked on this timely initiative to reaffirm Sri Lanka’s safety and readiness across our network. We believe that our trusted travel trade partners will take this message across their territories and will play a greater role in inspiring travel into Sri Lanka from their respective markets. We are also overwhelmed by the response that we are receiving from the local tour operators. As we speak, over 400 appointments have been booked, and we expect the numbers to grow in the coming days.” SriLankan Airlines is aptly supported by a host of hospitality and travel partners such as Aliya Resort & Spa; Cinnamon Resorts; Cinnamon Grand; Amaya Hotels; Walkers Tours; Jetwing Hotels; Taj Hotels Infinity Vacations; Aitken Spence Travels; Mahaweli Reach Hotel; and Teardrop Hotels.

New Delhi, 15th Nov 2022: The Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated a direct flight route from Mumbai to Gwalior to be operated by IndiGo. The minister said that the launch of air connectivity between the economic capital of India, Mumbai, and Gwalior, a storehouse of history & culture, is a big step towards the Prime Minister’s vision of connecting every corner of the country through air services.Minister further emphasized the growing potential of Gwalior as a hub for industrialisation, and that the new air route will provide a time-saving travel option to citizens and promote new opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. On this occasion, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that efforts of Civil Aviation Minister has led to increase in civil aviation facilities in the country. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister, number of airports in the country is increasing and work of modernisation of existing airports is being taken up. Shri Tomar said that Gwalior airport is also being constructed in a new way which is an achievement for all of us. He said that start of these new flights between Gwalior and Mumbai will give an impetus to Gwalior’s development and business relations between the two cities.

Manama,Kingdom of Bahrain, 9th Nov 2022: The sixth edition of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2022 took off yesterday at the Sakhir Air Base under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and was officially opened by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister.Celebrating a decade of distinction, the sixth edition of Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) is offering an exciting programme of new features, industry-leading content, and a first-class networking experience with key regional decision-makers. Organised by the Bahrain Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Royal Bahraini Airforce in association with Farnborough International, the first day of the airshow saw multiple deals and partnerships announced between leaders in the aviation and aerospace community. Pratt & Whitney announced that Royal Jordanian Airlines (“Royal Jordanian”) has selected up to 30 of the latest-generation, single-aisle aircraft powered by GTF engines, replacing its entire narrow body and regional jet fleet over the coming 3-5 years. Specifically, the airline has selected GTF engines to power up to 20 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including A320neo and A321neo models. Additionally, Royal Jordanian will introduce up to 9 GTF-powered Embraer E-Jets E2 aircraft, including E190-E2 and E195-E2 models. In addition, Gulf Air and Emirates officially signed a unilateral codeshare partnership, starting this December. The new agreement will offer easy connections and expanded choices for Gulf Air customers connecting to Dubai and onwards to a host of Emirates destinations across Europe, Africa, South America and the Far East. His Excellency Mr. Mohammed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said: “Today marks the return of the Bahrain International Airshow, following the success of previous years, and the commitment to increasing the continuity and sustainability of the various economic sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain in general, and the aviation industry in particular. We ensured to include worldwide best practices and take advantage of the experiences of the world’s leading aviation shows in planning this year’s exhibition to create a unique environment conductive to the business and growth objectives of the Kingdom and attendees. We have also created an integrated program that allows visiting civilian and military delegations to engage and interact directly with firms and decision-makers.” Building on BIAS’s objective as providing a skill and education hub, a workshop was held by Corrin Higgs, an Airbus sustainability expert, who presented to Bahraini university students the latest innovations and sustainability trends in the aviation industry, highlighting Airbus’ journey towards clean aerospace, its sustainability strategy focus on reducing the CO2 emissions of its current aircraft, and its goal to bring the world’s first zero-emission commercial aircraft to market by 2035. The afternoon saw the skies above Sakhir Air Base filled with the world’s most renowned air display teams and aircraft, with showcases of the Gulf Air 787, RBAF, JF-17, Fursan Al Emarat, UAE Mirage 2000, RSAF Typhoon, USAF F-16 demo team, Global Stars, Red Arrows, DHL B767-300 Flypast, UAE F16, Saudi Hawks and P-8 flypast. The Bahrain International Airshow continues on 10 November and 11 November 2022.

Manama,1st November 2022: Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed Al Alawi opened the World Passenger Symposium today at an event organized by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and hosted by the airline in Bahrain from 01 – 03 November 2022. Captain Al Alawi welcomed the Kingdom’s guests participating in the Symposium, highlighting the national carrier’s keenness to support such events where aviation experts exchange their knowledge and expertise towards the future of the industry during the post pandemic phase. He also stressed that aviation is an integral part of the economy of Bahrain and reconnecting the world again is one of Gulf Air’s key strategy elements; inviting all participants to benefit from the Symposium’s sessions, and to enjoy everything the Kingdom has to offer. The Symposium touches upon a number of important trends and issues in the aviation world today, with sessions ranging from Retailing & Payment and Accessibility, to Airport & Pax Experience; which will see panelists and participants discussing these issues in light of the aviation industry’s variables in recent times.

Manama; 27th October 2022: Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced Captain Waleed Al Alawi as the airline’s Chief Executive Officer. As Deputy Chief Executive Officer and later on as Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air, Captain Al Alawi was instrumental in rolling out and executing the airline’s Boutique Strategy, launched in 2018, with Customer Centricity at its heart. As a result of redefining its strategy, Gulf Air has received a number of global awards culminating in the most recent accolade of the World’s Most Improved Airline 2022 received last September. Captain Al Alawi began his journey in aviation in 1980 with Gulf Air, where he later progressed to training captain. Before coming back to Gulf Air in 2017, Captain Al Alawi led a distinguished career with Bahrain Royal Flight for 18 years. H.E. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Chairman to the Board of Directors at Gulf Air commented, “We are delighted to make this announcement and proud to add that Captain Al Alawi is the First Gulf Air CEO to have started his career with Gulf Air as a Cadet Pilot and reached all the way to the helm of the company. We are confident that his knowledge and experience will take the company to newer heights and wish him all the best in his new challenge.” For his part, Captain Al Alawi commented, “I am both honored and humbled by the trust of the Kingdom’s leadership, and the airline’s Board of Directors for appointing me as Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer. Gulf Air currently has a great business model and a talented team that uniquely positions it to capitalize on the changing aviation environment. As the industry evolves through restructuring and digital transformation, and with all the developments the airline has been going through lately; Gulf Air is in a position to take the lead in today’s competitive travel market, and to reap the positive outcomes of its Boutique Strategy.” In addition to his professional qualification, Captain Al Alawi received his Master’s Degree in Aviation Management from City University, UK in 2007.