Middle Eastern carriers are expanding as fast as they can in hopes of redefining their region as the aviation crossroads of the globe.

Middle Eastern carriers are expanding as fast as they can in hopes of redefining their region as the aviation crossroads of the globe. While most airlines worldwide are undergoing their worst crisis so far, the Middle-Eastern government-backed airlines thrive ;

Airbus A380 aircraft launch company, Singapore Airlines, is to accomplish its 1000th commercial flight with the super-jumbo on August 3rd.

Airbus A380 aircraft launch company, Singapore Airlines, is to accomplish its 1000th commercial flight with the super-jumbo on August 3rd. More than 400,000 passengers have already been carried. In 9 months of use,

US airlines accumulate losses in the face of surging fuel costs.

US airlines accumulate losses in the face of surging fuel costs. After American Airlines and Delta, United Airlines and US Airways also reported huge losses in the second quarter -at $ 2.7Bn and $ 567M respectively.

Emirates is the symbol of Dubai’s dynamism, reports L’Express.

Emirates is the symbol of Dubai’s dynamism, reports L’Express. Next July 28, it will take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in Hamburg. The airline has ordered 58 superjumbos in total -worth more than $ 20Bn.

Air France-KLM expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in the summer 2009

Air France-KLM expects to take delivery of its first Airbus A380 in the summer 2009. CEO Jean-Cyril Spinetta told the company’s shareholders that Air France-KLM should receive three Airbus A380s

US regional carrier Frontier Airlines has received approval to defer the purchase of seven A318 and A319 planes

According to US bankruptcy court documents, US regional carrier Frontier Airlines has received approval to defer the purchase of seven A318 and A319 planes. The order –booked in 2000- was valued at more than $ 400M at list prices. Reuters (10/07)

Qatar Airways said yesterday that it planned to hold a joint press conference with Airbus next week

Qatar Airways said yesterday that it planned to hold a joint press conference with Airbus next week, during the Farnborough Air Show. Though the airline did not say what the press conference would be about

Dow Jones is sceptic about All Nippon Airways (ANA)’s plan to buy the Airbus A380

Dow Jones is sceptic about All Nippon Airways (ANA)’s plan to buy the Airbus A380. In a comment piece, the

Boeing-777

news agency says such a deal would be a “huge coup” for Airbus, as its rival Boeing has enjoyed close ties with Japan’s major industrial groups and airlines for decades. ANA seems to signal its “displeasure” with Boeing as it faces delivery delays on its order for 50 B787s. Yet, ANA’s acknowledgement that it is considering buying Airbus’s superjumbo might be no more than a “negotiating ploy” addressed to Boeing, assesses Dow Jones. The news agency says it would be logical for ANA to deploy the A380 on routes to Europe and the US from Japan, though this option would not “sit well with business realities”. Adding a new aircraft type would undermine ANA’s fleet rationalisation plans

EgyptAir plans to buy five aircraft from Airbus and Boeing

EgyptAir plans to buy five aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, said local media. The airline’s Chairman was cited as saying “EgyptAir is capable of buying the five aircraft instead of renting them”.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines, the loss-making low-cost carrier, has postponed the acquisition of seven Airbus planes

Denver-based Frontier Airlines, the loss-making low-cost carrier, has postponed the acquisition of seven Airbus planes so as to get $ 7.5M cash back. The first aircraft – A318s and A319s-

BH Airlines offers to sell 49% of its capital in exchange for a new plane

Bosnian national carrier BH Airlines offers to sell 49% of its capital in exchange for a new plane. The airline currently operates two ATR 72 aircraft. Under its proposal,

Gulf Air invests $ 11Bn in new aircraft in order to enhance its fleet over the next couple of years

Bahrain-based Gulf Air invests $ 11Bn in new aircraft in order to enhance its fleet over the next couple of years. Gulf Air’s current fleet includes 30 aircraft. The airline has recently placed orders for

Airbus denied that Indian airline Air Deccan had cancelled an order for 61 A320 aircraft

Airbus denied that Indian airline Air Deccan had cancelled an order for 61 A320 aircraft. Barbara Kracht, an Airbus spokeswoman, said the carrier had changed its name into Simply Fly Deccan and

Etihad Airways confirmed it could announce an order for 50 to 100 aircraft at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways confirmed it could announce an order for 50 to 100 aircraft at the upcoming Farnborough Air Show. The company looks at both the Airbus A350 XWB and Boeing 787

Singapore Airlines said yesterday it had taken delivery of its fifth Airbus A380

Singapore Airlines said yesterday it had taken delivery of its fifth Airbus A380, which will enter service on July 16 on the Singapore-London route. AFP (29/06), AFX (29/06)