The second plant will make the H125 helicopters and will be the fourth for the single-engine helicopter after Airbus factories in France, Brazil and the US
Transport
Abu Dhabi
Bayanat JV with Korea’s Autonomous a2z to drive autonomous systems
The autonomous systems developed by the JV, announced in Abu Dhabi during DRIFTx, will connect major inner-city hubs
Air connectivity
UAE, China sign MoU to boost air connectivity, expand aviation cooperation
Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation and collaboration in the civil aviation sector and to explore new initiatives
Aviation
Boeing sees significant improvement in 737 MAX factory production
The US planemaker is mired in crisis after a cabin panel on a 737 MAX 9 jets blew off midair in January, prompting a slowdown in production of its top-selling plane as well as heightened regulatory and legal scrutiny
Dubai
Dubai’s RTA announces massive $299mn contract for 636 new buses to boost urban development
RTA Dubai disclosed the information through their official social media account on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday
Air India
Technical glitch forces San Francisco-bound Air India flight to make unscheduled landing in Siberia
This is the second Air India flight that has made an emergency landing in Russia in the last 13 months
Saudia announces plan to buy 100 Lilium eVTOL jets
Saudia announces major acquisition of 100 Lilium eVTOL jets
Farnborough Airshow
Qatar Airways to unveil luxury ‘Qsuite Next Gen’ business class offering
Qatar Airways to unveil new-look business class at Farnborough International Air Show 2024
Air India
Tata-owned Air India introduces voluntary retirement schemes as it prepares for Vistara merger
The staff reduction is expected to be around 500-600 employees, primarily among Air India’s ground staff
Abu Dhabi
IndiGo expands UAE footprint, launches direct flights from 3 South Indian cities to Abu Dhabi
Budget carrier IndiGo launches direct flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Mangaluru, Tiruchirappalli, and Coimbatore
Ajman
Ajman Transport Authority teams up with BPC to digitise public transport payments
The partnership envisages enabling digital payments through O-CITY, a solution for smart cities’ and mobility developed by BPC
car number plate auction
RTA to auction 350 premium Dubai number plates
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority will sell off 3, 4 and 5-digit number plates
Wizz Air
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announces sale, with flights from $21
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announces two-day sale on flights between August 1 and November 30
Dubai International Airport
UAE visa changes; Dubai floods; new tax introduced; outstanding schools revealed; real estate booming – 10 major stories so far this year
Floods, real estate, visas, tax, education and more top stories in Dubai, the UAE and across the region in the first half of 2024
Air India
India’s domestic air passenger traffic grows 5.76% in June, led by IndiGo
Tata Group airlines Air India and Vistara held the second and third largest market shares
Sharjah Airport
Sharjah Airport welcomed 8.3m passengers in H1
Saudi Airport recorded 12.4 per cent increase in passenger numbers in first half of the year
Aviation
Emirates announces $1bn order for 5 new Boeing 777 cargo planes
Emirates to accept delivery of new Boeing 777 freighters in 2025 and 2026