50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Arab Emirates aviation news

Batumi becomes second Georgian city to join Air Arabia Network

Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier, today announces the launch of seasonal direct flights from Sharjah to Batumi, Georgia, to cater to summer tourist demand. Flights will operate from July 2 to September 30, 2016, with Batumi becoming the second city after Tbilisi to join Air Arabia’s network in Georgia. Flights will be operational twic...

Emirates adds A380 aircraft to Vienna route

Emirates will operate one of its two scheduled daily flights into Vienna International Airport with its A380 aircraft. The airline, which has carried almost three million passengers on the Dubai-Vienna route since it was launched on 1st May 2004, will fly its three-class A380 with 519 seats – 14 in First Class, 76 in Business Class and 429 in Economy – on one of its daily services t...

Nicole Kidman reveals a glimpse of her $43,000 three-room aeroplane suite

It is to be expected that a celebrity of Nicole Kidman's calibre would commute in style.  But Nicole Kidman, 48, upped the ante on Sunday when she revealed a glimpse at her astonishingly opulent suite as she enjoyed a flight with Etihad Airways.  Taking to Facebook, the Australian actress shared a picture of a double bed inside her private suite, which is branded as The Residen...

Etihad Airways' President and CEO addresses global cargo conference in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways’ President and CEO addresses global cargo conference in Abu Dhabi Etihad Airways ’ President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan gave the opening address to more than 1,200 delegates attending the World Cargo Alliance (WCA) Conference taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre between March 10 and 13. Mr Hogan spoke in depth about changes in...

Abu Dhabi Airports signs agreement with Aéroports de Paris

Abu Dhabi Airports has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Aéroports de Paris (ADP) linking Al Bateen Executive Airport with Le Bourget Airport. The MoU was signed by Abdul Majeed Al Khoori, chief financial officer of Abu Dhabi Airports and Isabelle Dreysse, deputy managing director of Paris-Le Bourget, during Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2016. The agreement will pave...

Mario Balotelli and AC Milan stars fly high with Emirates A380 design

AC Milan’s footballers may be some way from the summit of the Italian league, Serie A, but that hasn’t stopped them from soaring away elsewhere. The club and its sponsor, Emirates, are celebrating their partnership with a new Airbus A380 livery - complete with a number of the players in action. The aircraft operated on the Dubai-Milan-New York JFK route with images of Riccardo Mo...

Thrills as daredevils soar over Abu Dhabi

Thousands of spectators lined the breakwater and Corniche shorelines on Saturday afternoon to watch the final day of the Red Bull Air Races. Visitors were also treated to the spectacle of a daredevil wing-walker, who performed on top of a Breitling aeroplane as it spiralled and took long dives close to the water. “It was mind-blowing, amazing," said Krishna Rathod, an Abu Dhabi re...

15-year-old pilot from England wins Dubai's World Drone Prix

A team led by a 15-year-old pilot from England took first place Saturday in the World Drone Prix, a new contest hoping to take flight both in this Mideast country fascinated by the technology and with sports fans worldwide. Luke Bannister of Somerset led Tornado X-Blades Banni UK to win a $250,000 purse, part of $1 million in prizes handed out in the inaugural edition of this race as a Cabinet-...

Crowds get ready for Red Bull buzz on the Abu Dhabi Corniche

Aviation fans and adrenalin junkies were out in droves to witness the qualification rounds of the Red Bull Air Race in the capital. Taking place yesterday on Abu Dhabi Corniche, the aerial race marks the start of the championship’s 2016 season, which will take place in eight destinations. Fourteen pilots competed yesterday to determine the order of play in today’s main event...

Vanity Fair

Last week UAE capital Abu Dhabi hosted traditional air show of the same name. Between us, it is difficult to attribute this show to any significant international events. The absence of any contract, two dozen planes and helicopters, much more limousines and visitors, ready to buy, all at once for exorbitant prices – these are first impressions of three days spent days in Al Bateen Executive...

Emirates seeks women pilots at Women in Aviation Conference

With women pilots and all-women flight crews making headlines at International Women’s Day events around the globe on Tuesday it was easy to forget for a moment just how imbalanced is the gender make-up of the cockpit crew at most carriers. And while social media-friendly photo ops with all-women flight crews are never a bad thing – especially for women and young girls around the world...

Royal Jet BBJ Slightly Damaged in Abu Dhabi Tempest

A Royal Jet BBJ, registered as A6-DRF, on display at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2016 suffered what appears to be only superficial damage on Wednesday when two light aircraft were blown under it during a severe morning storm that brought the show to a halt for a second day. “Two light carbon-fiber craft were blown [by high winds] under the BBJ. I think they have been destroyed,...