50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Arab Emirates aviation news

FALCON 8X MAKES MIDDLE EAST DEBUT AT MEBAA 2016 AIR SHOW IN DUBAI

Dassault Aviation will present its expanding line of large-cabin long range Falcon business jets at the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) show and exhibition, which opens on December 6th at Dubai World Central, Air Show Site. The presentation will include Dassault’s recently introduced ultra long range Falcon 8X, which is making its first showing in the...

Etihad Aviation Group Board Approves Joint Venture To Create Major European Leisure Airline Group

The Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) Board has approved plans to create a new European leisure airline group in a joint venture with TUI AG, with a fleet of around 60 aircraft, offering 15 million seats capacity per year, focused on point-to-point flying to connect key European tourist markets. The transaction is subject to approvals by aviation regulatory bodies and anti-trust authorities....

JetSmarter launches shared Dubai-London private jet service

Private jet booking app JetSmarter has announced the launch of a shared private jet service between Dubai and London offering single-seats for hire. The company said the Dubai to London flight would take off from Al Maktoum International at 8:30pm on Thursdays and arrive at London’s Luton Airport seven-to-eight hours later. A return flight will be available on Fridays at 12pm. JetSm...

Virgin Galactic spaceship makes successful first glide flight

Virgin Galactic’s new spaceship has made a successful first glide flight, a key step after a deadly crash of its predecessor two years ago, the spaceflight company, in which Abu Dhabi’s Aabar Investments has a 37.8 per cent stake, said on Saturday. The new SpaceShipTwo, dubbed VSS Unity, was hoisted aloft by carrier airplane WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve from the Mojave Air & Space Por...

Biggest plane, shortest flight: Emirates launches A380 route from Dubai to Doha

Emirates has launched the world’s shortest scheduled A380 service, from Dubai to Doha. A first A380 flying the route touched down on Thursday and was welcomed with a water cannon salute – a traditional welcome for aircraft flying new routes. The 379-kilometre flight lasted 80 minutes on the outbound leg and 70 minutes on the return flight to Dubai. Emirates is the largest oper...

Bombardier to Showcase its Class-Leading Business Jet Portfolio at MEBAA 2016

Bombardier Business Aircraft announced it will showcase its class-defining business aircraft at this year’s Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) show at Al Maktoum International airport in Dubai (UAE) on December 6-8, 2016. The company’s most advanced business jets will be on static display, including the Learjet 75, Challenger 650, Global 5000and Globa...

Airbus corporate jet is highlighted at MEBAA show

Airbus Corporate Jets is exhibiting an ACJ318 at the MEBAA show, highlighting the greater comfort and space that its ACJ320 Family offers when compared with traditional business jets. The aircraft, which has the widest and tallest cabin of any business jet while being similar in size externally, is operated by Nasjet. Its cabin has several lounge areas, an office that converts to a bedroom, bat...

Falcon's AW169 in global offshore debut

Abu Dhabi-based Falcon Aviation is planning to put its recently received twin-engined, AgustaWestland 169 into offshore service – the first AW169 to operate in the global offshore oil industry. The company is currently finalising pilot training and anticipates having the 8-seater oil and gas variant of the helicopter in service for French oil giant Total by mid-December. Falcon took de...

Etihad Cargo Records Biggest Monthly Uplift

It has been a month of milestones for Etihad Cargo. The freight division of Etihad Airways recorded its busiest month ever in October, uplifting 53,785 tonnes of cargo and surpassing its previous best, achieved in November 2014, by 501 tonnes. This reflected growth in perishables traffic from Africa, US inbound and outbound traffic, and volumes from Europe to Asia Pacific. Just a few days af...

Abu Dhabi Airports all geared up for F1 fans deluge

As the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix approaches, Abu Dhabi Airports (ADA) is ready for one of the busiest periods of its year. Extra passenger and aircraft traffic are expected at Abu Dhabi International Airport between today and Monday and preparations have been made to ensure all visitors experience a smooth arrival and departure. "With the Smart Travel system in place...

JetSmarter's inaugural JetShuttle flight from Dubai to London takes off December 1st

JetSmarter has announced the launch of the first-ever shared, private JetShuttle flight that will connect Europe and the Middle East, offering JetSmarter members single-seat trips on flights between Dubai and London.  The Dubai to London JetShuttle flight, which will carry passengers on Legacy 650 aircrafts, departs from Dubai on Thursdays at 8:30PM, and flights from London to Dubai will b...

UK Red Arrows to perform over Abu Dhabi Corniche on Thursday

Residents in Abu Dhabi can expect a thrilling sky show on Thursday as the UK’s Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team or Red Arrows performs over the corniche. The air show will start at 4pm and will last for 24 minutes featuring a number of different aerobatic manoeuvres by the jets which will see them come as close as six feet to each other. “The Corniche, which is already hosting a my...