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April 23, 2005

Saudia, $450m aircraft deal

Saudi Arabian Airlines is set to buy 15 new 66-seat aircraft worth an estimated $450m, reported Reuters citing senior officials. This would be Saudi's first aircraft order for almost a decade. The last order of 61 Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft was delivered between 1997 and 2001. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 11:12 PM

Park Hyatt, new Dubai hotel

The 238-room Park Hyatt hotel at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club will open in June with a splendid location facing across the Creek towards the Grand Hyatt opposite. Dubai will now have all three Hyatt brands; the Hyatt Regency is the third, and oldest Hyatt in Dubai. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:59 PM

Four Seasons Doha offer

The luxurious new Four Seasons Hotel in Doha, which opens its doors next month, is offering an introductory room rate of $247 a night for a single or double standard room. This offer will run until August 31. For details visit www.fourseasons.com/doha/packages. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:55 PM

Jazeera Airways, October launch

Kuwait based Jazeera Airways will fly from October this year with ticket sales starting in August. The privately owned discount carrier will initially operate from Kuwait to Dubai, Bahrain, Damascus, Amman, Luxor and Alexandria with two Airbus A320s. Officials promised good service standards and high specification aircraft. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:54 PM

Still Going Fast in Aviation (New York Times)

Since retiring as chairman and chief executive of Northrop Grumman in 2003, Kent Kresa has been a man on the go. Sometimes he is on the Los Angeles freeways, driving to work in loaner Corvettes and other glamour cars, courtesy of General Motors, where he is a director.

Posted at 08:15 PM

Aviation economy strengthens, but fears over Boeing sale remain (Dodge Globe)

WICHITA - Wichita's turbulent aviation economy strengthened this year with aircraft orders, production schedules and deliveries all up. More people have jobs here today than a year ago.

Posted at 11:41 AM

College helps aviation program take flight (Nashua Telegraph)

NORTH SWANZEY *** A program to train aviation technicians at Keene-owned Dillant-Hopkins Airport in North Swanzey may be closer to taking off, thanks to federal money that***s helping to jump-start the project.

Posted at 07:06 AM

Saudi Arabia liberalizes aviation sector: Official (AngolaPress)

ABU DHABI, 04/23 - Saudi Arabia plans to grant a licence for a private airline this year to further liberalize the aviation sector as part of a raft of economic reforms, a senior Saudi official said here Friday.

Posted at 05:11 AM

Aviation Hall of Fame plans to induct four new members (Macon Telegraph)

WARNER ROBINS - Georgia's Aviation Hall of Fame will expand to 70 members Saturday evening during induction ceremonies at the Museum of Aviation's Century of Flight hangar.

Posted at 02:14 AM

Ghana to Become Aviation Hub of W/Africa - Lufthansa MD (Ghanaweb.com)

The Managing Director (MD) of Lufthansa, West Africa, Mr. Mike Kahn has said Ghana would become the aviation hub of West Africa if Ghana's new airline, Ghana International Airlines (GIA) was very strong on both the domestic and regional routes.

Posted at 01:16 AM

Aviation economy strengthens, but fears over Boeing sale remain (Kansas City Star)

WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita's turbulent aviation economy strengthened this year with aircraft orders, production schedules and deliveries all up. More people have jobs here today than a year ago.

Posted at 12:16 AM

April 22, 2005

Mesaba Aviation to get 15 new jets via Northwest Airlines (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)

MINNEAPOLIS - Regional air carrier Mesaba Aviation said on Friday it will lease 15 new regional jets from Northwest Airlines. Mesaba flies routes for Northwest under the Northwest Airlink name.

Posted at 03:04 PM

Dassault Aviation in talks with NetJets for major Falcon 7X order (AFP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance)

PARIS (AFX) - Dassault Aviation is in talks with the European arm of US private jet company NetJets for a major order of its Falcon 7X aircraft, ...

Posted at 11:06 AM

KOBTV.com - Eclipse Aviation conducts first test flight of third airplane (KOBTV.com Albuquerque)

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Albuquerque-based Eclipse Aviation says the first flight of its third test jet airplane was successful. The company is developing the Eclipse 500, a twin-engine, six-seat airplane.

Posted at 10:24 AM

Eclipse Aviation conducts first test flight of third airplane (KVIA)

ALBUQUERQUE Albuquerque-based Eclipse Aviation says the first flight of its third test jet airplane has been successful. The company is developing the Eclipse 500 -- a twin-engine, six-seat airplane.

Posted at 07:41 AM

Mid America Transportation & Aviation Museum comes up with new proposal for another hangar at the airport (Sioux City Journal)

City leaders now are faced with competing proposals for use of hangars at Sioux Gateway Airport -- for an aircraft maintenance facility and to celebrate the history of aviation and transportation.

Posted at 01:07 AM

Groen Brothers Aviation Grants Six Month Funding Window to Chinese Investment Group (Rotorhub)

SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- 04/21/05 -- Groen Brothers Aviation, Inc. (GBA) (OTC BB: GNBA) today announced that in exchange for a minimum equity investment of $1 million, GBA has granted a Chinese investment group a six month period in which to bring to the Company a funding/partnering package sufficient to fund the completion of the Hawk 4 Gyroplane program up through FAA Certification and production.

Posted at 01:03 AM

April 21, 2005

U.S. Weighs Boosting Aviation Security (AP via Yahoo! News)

The Bush administration is considering requiring foreign airlines to check the names of passengers on all flights over the United States against government watch lists.

Posted at 06:37 PM

Delta Air, Northwest lead airline sector higher (CBS Market Watch)

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Airline stocks moved higher Thursday morning as gains from Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines helped the sector pace a broader market advance.

Posted at 09:35 AM

Lobby group to promote value of aviation industry (Sunday Business Post)

A new aviation lobby has been established to argue for a greater recognition of aviation and its potential to contribute to economic growth. The new lobby, called "Grounded", has been established by a group of industry observers.

Posted at 08:22 AM

County native to be inducted into Utah Aviation Hall of Fame (Provo Herald)

A lifelong Utah County resident and legend who bombed Germany in World War II only to help rebuild it is being honored today as only the 19th inductee into the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame.Col. Walter T. Stewart, 87, of Benjamin -- the great-nephew of world-famous gunsmith John Browning -- was a B-24 bomber pilot during the war, flying 32 combat missions over France, Italy,

Posted at 02:39 AM

Jumeirah International buys Intercon Paris

Jumeirah International, the Dubai-based hotel group that owns the Burj Al Arab, has bought the Intercontinental Paris, according to a report in 7Days. Jumeirah International already owns hotels in London and Dubai, but this is its first acquistion on the European continent. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 02:00 AM

(AFX UK Focus) 2005-04-21 05:48 GMT: Singapore drops Eurofighter from list; Dassault Aviation, Boeing still in race (Interactive Investor)

SINGAPORE (AFX) - The Singapore government said it has dropped the Eurofighter Typhoon from a shortlist of possible new fighter aircraft, leaving Dassault Aviation's Rafale and Boeing Co's F-15 Strike Eagle as the final options.

Posted at 12:05 AM

April 20, 2005

Driving Doha's games

The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee has appointed Mowasalat to provide bus services for the 45-day games period. The transport company will service venues with 600 buses daily and provide 1,000 staff members as drivers, schedulers and route navigators. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:48 PM

Dubai to outsource transport

Dubai Municipality will hire a private operator to run all its transport services, including existing public bus services and the proposed light rail system, reported Gulf News quoting DM transportation planning specialist Dr Abdelqader Elshabani. No time frame has been set for the decision. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:47 PM

Chief Sees America West Succeeding in Airline Merger (New York Times)

The chief executive of America West Airways, which is in serious talks with US Airways, argued today that a deal involving his airline would be more successful than past airline mergers because of significant changes in industry competition.

Posted at 02:45 PM

Space Flight Not Just a Billionaire's Joy Ride (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, whose SpaceShipOne flew to the atmosphere's edge last year, said on Wednesday the space tourism business could open cosmic travel to those outside the billionaires' club.

Posted at 02:35 PM

Leading Edge Aviation Services Hand Paints (pzone via Yahoo! Australia & NZ Finance)

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 20, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Featuring 14 colors, flowing ribbons and a multi-colored hibiscus, Leading Edge Aviation Services recently completed painting the first specialty aircraft, a 747-400 for its new customer, Malaysia Airlines (MAS). According to Mike Manclark, CEO of Leading Edge Aviation Services (www.leadingedgecorp.com), portions of the exterior painting required

Posted at 01:56 PM

Aviation business wins top honors (News Leader)

WEYERS CAVE Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport has been named one of the best general aviation facilities in the nation in ExxonMobil's network of fixed-base operators who participated in the company's PremierSpirit program. The airport landed this honor based on its customer service.

Posted at 05:09 AM

April 19, 2005

Traffic alert system

Dubai Municipality will introduce a new traffic monitoring system by April 2006 that will reduce the number of road accidents by 15% and ease traffic congestion, reported 7Days. The new system called Intelligent Transport System will alert motorists of accidents and advise alternative routes. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 11:41 PM

Dubai LRT plans

Dubai is granting 30-year concessions on plots near proposed passenger stations connecting the 69.7km Dubai Light Transit Rail system, according to a Gulf News report. Dubai Municipality's transportation planning specialist Dr Abdelqader Elshabani said the rail project will increase public transport use from the current 4.7% to over 17%, with the aim of achieving 35% by 2020. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 11:00 PM

KAZAKHSTAN GOV'T SUSPENDS AVIATION FUEL EXPORTS (Asia Pulse via Yahoo! Australia & NZ Finance)

Trade / foreign investment Prime-Minister Daniyal Akhmetov has signed a government resolution on a contemporary aviation fuel embargo.

Posted at 09:16 PM

Kazakhstan Gov't Suspends Aviation Fuel Exports (Asia Pulse via Yahoo! Australia & NZ News)

Prime-Minister Daniyal Akhmetov has signed a government resolution on a contemporary aviation fuel embargo.

Posted at 09:15 PM

(AFX UK Focus) 2005-04-19 23:58 GMT: Australia's biggest regional airline plans IPO - report (Interactive Investor)

SYDNEY (AFX) - Australia's biggest regional airline, Regional Express (Rex) plans to launch a partial float later this year to fund expansion and buy new aircraft, The Australian newspaper reported, quoting Rex chief executive Geoof Breust.

Posted at 07:02 PM

(AFX UK Focus) 2005-04-19 21:41 GMT: Northwest Air, AMR weigh on Amex Airline Index (Interactive Investor)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- Falling shares of Northwest Airlines and American Airlines parent AMR Corp. weighed on the Amex Airline Index in Tuesday's session.

Posted at 04:34 PM

Riyadh to allow new airline and liberalize telecoms (The Daily Star Lebannon)

Saudi Arabia will this year grant a license for a second airline and further liberalize the telecoms sector as part of a raft of economic reforms, the chief of the kingdom's highest economic policy-making body told AFP. "The main elements of our economic reform program are institutional and structural reforms.

Posted at 04:31 PM

Market's gains bypass airline stocks (Investors.com)

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - Northwest Airlines and AMR Corp. shares weighed on the Amex Airline Index in Tuesday trading as the group closed out the session in mixed fashion.

Posted at 03:58 PM

Expansion, name change in works for Aviation Associates Credit Union (BizJournals)

Aviation Associates Credit Union is changing its name to Central Star Credit Union and planning two new branches.

Posted at 11:12 AM

Indonesian, Thai Aviation Firms To Cooperate On Maintenance (Asia Pulse via Yahoo! Australia & NZ News)

State-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) said it has agreed to cooperate with Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) in the repair, maintenance and sales of its products of Cassa-212 and CN-235 in Thailand.

Posted at 03:19 AM

European carriers under pressure

European airlines are pressuring Arab states to allow more competition in the Middle East's transportation sector, according to Arab Air Carriers Organisation secretary-general Abdul Wahab Teffaha. Speaking at the opening of the Global Airport Expansion Conference Teffaha said that the protest from European airlines comes after increased competition from Arab carriers on routes. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 02:01 AM

April 18, 2005

Emirates, Seoul, free hotel offer

Emirates Airline is offering free hotel accommodation for first and business class passengers to coincide with the start of daily non-stop flights between Dubai and Seoul on 1 May. First class passengers will be eligible for three free nights at the Ritz-Carlton Seoul, while business class passengers get two free nights. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 11:03 PM

Global aviation industry to suffer severe losses (People's Daily)

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani forecast in Macao on Monday that 2005 will be another year of losses for the aviation industry, which would amount to 5.5 billion US dollars.

Posted at 07:21 PM

Wichita Aviation Festival Gets Ready To Fly With A New Name (KAKE)

April 18 - The Wichita Aviation Festival gets ready for another flight across Kansas skies. This year the event is getting a new name in an effort to celebrate the entire state's contribution to flight.

Posted at 06:15 PM

(AFX UK Focus) 2005-04-18 21:34 GMT: Amex Airline Index closes session on positive ground (Interactive Investor)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- The Amex Airline Index closed up 0.5% to 48.47 with most of its components higher except for Northwest Airlines , Delta Air Lines and SkyWest Inc. . Northwest fell 2.5% to $5.91 while SkyWest eased down 25 cents to $19.24. Delta Air stock was flat at $3.85. This story was supplied by MarketWatch.

Posted at 04:07 PM

Amex Airline Index closes session on positive ground (AFP via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance)

SAN FRANCISCO (AFX) -- The Amex Airline Index closed up 0.5% to 48.47 with most of its components higher except for Northwest Airlines , ...

Posted at 03:36 PM

Should Airline Be Responsible For Drunken Driver? (The Milwaukee Channel)

Should Airline Be Responsible For Drunken Driver? ATLANTA -- Georgia's Supreme Court was asked Monday whether an airline should be held responsible for a passenger who got drunk on a flight from Milwaukee to Atlanta.

Posted at 02:43 PM

Thailand wants US aviation deal within six months: senior US official (AFP via Yahoo! News)

Thailand wants to start and finish negotiations on an "open skies" aviation agreement with the United States within six months, US Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said here.

Posted at 08:37 AM

BRIEFING - ASIA AVIATION - APRIL 18, 2005 (Asia Pulse via Yahoo! Australia & NZ Finance)

Asia Aviation Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the nation's sole aircraft manufacturer, began Monday to export wings and forward fuselages for the F-15K fighter to US contractor Boeing Co., KAI officials said Monday.

Posted at 05:38 AM

Bahrain Marriott Apartments

Building of the $45m Marriott Executive Apartments property in Bahrain will begin on May 1. The twin-tower building in the Juffair area will consist of 21 floors and 94 one to three bedroom apartments in each of the towers. The apartments will be available for long-stay visitors to Bahrain. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 12:45 AM

April 17, 2005

Oman Air looks at Dreamliner

Oman Air is looking to order Boeing 787 Dreamliners as part of a planned fleet expansion, with a likely initial order of at least three of the aircraft, CEO Abdul Rahman Al Busaidy told Gulf News. The Oman Government holds stakes in Oman Air as well as Gulf Air and the airlines have a code-sharing agreement on several routes. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 11:23 PM

Saudi to licence private airline

Saudi Arabia will have its first private airline operating in the country soon, with the first licence due to be issued by the end of 2005, reported Gulf News. The Kingdom is also working towards a number of other privatisation initiatives; for the national carrier SAA, railways, postal service and telecoms. It is also drafting a new company and labour laws. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 10:48 PM

HK PRESS: Air Macau In Talks To End Exclusive Rights (Dow Jones via Yahoo! Australia & NZ Finance)

DJ HK PRESS: Air Macau In Talks To End Exclusive Rights HONG KONG (Dow Jones)--Air Macau Co. has begun negotiations with at least two airlines to surrender its exclusive right to operate from Macau, the South China Morning Post reports, citing an unnamed source. The paper says Air Macau held talks last week with China-backed start-up Golden Dragon about a sub-concession agreement, a move that

Posted at 07:50 PM

DCA starts probe into chopper incident (The Star Online)

CHUKAI : A three-member team from the Department of Civil Aviation has begun investigating the emergency landing of a Sikorsky S61N helicopter near Kerteh Airport on Saturday.

Posted at 06:42 PM

F-14 Tomcat Aircraft (WEEK-TV News 25)

A Bloomington museum may soon house a ''celebrity aircraft''. The Prairie Aviation Museum hosted ''Open Cockpit Day'' Sunday afternoon to raise money for a highly desired bird.

Posted at 05:27 PM

Teterboro pilots warned to pay better attention while taking off (phillyburbs.com)

TETERBORO, N.J. - The Federal Aviation Administration has sent an e-mail to all pilots using Teterboro Airport to pay closer attention to departure procedures after more than 30 instances of planes straying from flight paths last year.

Posted at 05:17 PM

Fuel prices threaten airlines as labor costs fall (CBS Market Watch)

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Record high jet fuel prices are eroding one of the oldest adages in the airline industry: a carrier's biggest cost is its workers.

Posted at 01:13 PM

GA Supreme Court Decision Could Change Airline Industry (WSB-TV 2 Atlanta)

In Georgia, a bartender can be sued for serving alcohol to a noticeably drunk customer. The state's Supreme Court is considering whether the same rules apply to airlines -- and if flight attendants must start monitoring plastered passengers.

Posted at 12:43 PM

No quick fix for America's airline industry amid high price for jet fuel (Canada.com)

WASHINGTON (AP) - A casual observer of the struggling airline industry might think the biggest U.S. carriers are either inept for losing billions of dollars with no end in sight, or pretty clever for managing to stay in business through it all.

Posted at 12:43 PM

Airline group hits moves to increase aviation taxes (Sun Star)

INTERNATIONAL airlines operating in the country are strongly opposing a Senate proposal seeking to increase the common carriers tax from three percent to five percent, as well as other aviation tax measures pending in the chamber.

Posted at 12:25 PM

Airline group hits moves to increase aviation taxes (Sun Star)

INTERNATIONAL airlines operating in the country are strongly opposing a Senate proposal seeking to increase the common carriers tax from three percent to five percent, as well as other aviation tax measures pending in the chamber.

Posted at 12:21 PM

Costs slow new airline's bid to cut fares (Weekend Standard)

After having been in business for just a month, China's first privately owned carrier Okay Airways has been forced to recognize that local regulations do not allow a truly low-cost carrier.

Posted at 12:10 PM

FAA says Wichita has 30 days to remedy differences in airline treatment (Kansas City Star)

WICHITA, Kan. - The Federal Aviation Administration has given city officials 30 days to come up with a plan to address differences in economic subsidies for AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines.

Posted at 12:01 PM

Judge gives airline, pilots last chance for contract agreement (KPUA Hilo)

HONOLULU (AP) - A federal bankruptcy judge has given Hawaiian Airlines and its pilots a last chance to reach agreement on a new contract before he decides whether to force a contract on the union.

Posted at 11:23 AM

Aviation, Dirigible, D.C. (New York Times)

Copyright **2005 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Photographs are for personal use only. Publication, reproduction, use in advertising or for purpose of trade is prohibited without written permission.

Posted at 09:12 AM

Wreckage of missing plane with 17 people on board spotted in Papua jungle (Jakarta Post)

JAKARTA (AFP): The wreckage of a Twin Otter aircraft that went missing over jungle-clad mountains in Indonesia's eastern Papua province five days ago was found Sunday with little chance that any of the 17 people aboard survived, police said.

Posted at 08:42 AM

Teterboro pilots get told: Pay attention! (NorthJersey.com)

Teterboro pilots get told: Pay attention! At least 30 jets departing Teterboro Airport last year strayed from flight paths intended to keep them from colliding with jets arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport and other aircraft, federal aviation reports show.

Posted at 06:49 AM

DIA, Q1 passengers up

Dubai International Airport had 6.02m passengers through its terminal in Q1 2005, a growth of 12.7% over the same period last year. Dubai Cargo Village reported growth in freight movements of 18.3% handling a total of 303,206 tonnes. In 2004, the airport reported 21.7m passenger movements and is on track for its 25m goal for the whole of 2005. [AMEInfo.com]

Posted at 06:24 AM

Drone aircraft industry slowly rising from dream to reality (Mississippi Press)

PASCAGOULA -- The future home of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems' Unmanned Services Center is still a framed artist's concept on the wall of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation's office.

Posted at 05:37 AM

Pig flyer has kids squealing with delight over aviation (Green Bay Press-Gazette)

OSHKOSH Anyone who thinks pigs can t fly needs to ask H.G. Frautschy and think again.

Posted at 03:17 AM