All Middle East news
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NewsIndonesia signs agreement for 48 Kaan fighters
Indonesia has entered an agreement for 48 Turkish Aerospace Kaan fighters, marking the first international commitment for the type, which is still in development.
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NewsEU shelves Iraqi air safety assessment visit until more progress made
European air safety assessors have shelved a potential on-site inspection of Iraq’s civil aviation regulator, citing insufficient demonstrative progress on improvements. Flag-carrier Iraqi Airways and another airline, Fly Baghdad, each remain blacklisted by the European Commission. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority presented updates on its efforts to enhance legislative and ...
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NewsBoeing defence chief: F-15EX payload is key enabler
Boeing’s defence chief sees a pivotal long-term role for the new F-15EX to carry heavy weapons loadouts, with the type seeing strong international interest.
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News‘Glimmer of light’ on 777X as Boeing improves: Emirates’ Clark
Emirates president Tim Clark is “cautiously optimistic” around bringing the Boeing 777X into service after years of delays, amid “a high degree of determination” at the airframer.
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In depthTrump plan for gifted Qatari 747 confounds aviation observers and ethics experts
Aerospace analysts say converting a questionably sourced aircraft for presidential transport does not make financial sense and poses a myriad of security concerns, while ethics lawyers say the move violates rules against American officials receiving gifts from abroad.
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AnalysisChina continues search for fighter export success
China has emerged as a manufacturing superpower in several industries but has failed to gain traction as an exporter of combat aircraft. Could this be about to change?
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NewsGulf Air to update fleet with Airbus leases from BOC Aviation
Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air is to lease nine Airbus A320neo-family jets through an agreement with Singapore-based lessor BOC Aviation. Gulf Air will take three A321neos and six A320neo under the pact, the lessor has disclosed. All nine of the twinjets will be powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines and ...
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NewsRoyal Jordanian begins Airbus renewal with first A320neo delivery
Royal Jordanian has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, which is being supplied through Irish-based lessor Avolon. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines, it was flown from Toulouse to Amman on 28 May. The flag-carrier disclosed in 2022 that it had chosen the re-engined model to replace its ...
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NewsUS lessor Azorra to pick up nearly 50 E-Jets as DAE divests around 75 aircraft
US lessor Azorra is to acquire a batch of 49 Embraer E-Jet aircraft from the portfolio of Middle Eastern leasing company Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. DAE has disclosed that it is selling around 75 aircraft to two parties, neither of which it has identified. But Florida-based Azorra has revealed it is ...
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NewsUS government licence loosens sanctions on Syrian Arab Airlines
US authorities have eased sanctions against flag-carrier Syrian Arab Airlines, following the changes in the Syrian government in the aftermath of Bashar Al-Assad’s fall from power. The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued a general licence enabling transactions with a number of sanctioned Syrian ...
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NewsFlydubai opens ab initio pilot-training programme as fleet expands
Middle Eastern carrier Flydubai is establishing an ab initio pilot-training scheme intended to ensure it can meet cockpit crew demand for its expanding fleet. Flydubai has a fleet of 88 Boeing 737s. But it also has over 125 737 Max jets on order – with 12 set to arrive this ...
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NewsEl Al to reconfigure final 777 and return it to operation
Israeli flag-carrier El Al has opted to reconfigure another Boeing 777-200ER, a decision which will restore its fleet to six of the twinjet type. The airline has been refurbishing some of its 777s with a higher-density layout of 313 seats – featuring business, premium-economy and economy cabins – and aligns ...
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NewsRussia has air-to-air missiles with nuclear warheads
A report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency suggests that Russia has deployed an air-to-air missile with a nuclear warhead.
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NewsElbit to provide DIRCM systems for Israeli AH-64s, UH-60s
Elbit Systems has secured a $55 million contract from the Israeli government to provide new self-protection systems for the nation’s Boeing AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk transport helicopters.
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NewsUS accepts Qatari 747-8I BBJ for presidential transport
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747-8I Boeing Business Jet from Qatar to serve as Air Force One, a mission that will require extensive modifications.
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NewsAbu Dhabi’s Etihad turns in record first-quarter profit
Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways has posted its highest first-quarter net profit, up 30% to Dhs685 million ($187 million), which it attributes to strong demand and efficiency gains. Passenger and cargo activity drove a 15% rise in revenues to Dhs6.6 billion, the Abu Dhabi-based airline states. Its fleet has increased ...
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NewsHigh demand keeps El Al financial performance strong in first quarter
Israeli flag-carrier El Al’s first-quarter financial performance has improved, even upon the unusually-high figures from last year, as strong demand for the airline’s flights persisted. El Al says the demand continued to be “significantly higher” than the supply of seats it could offer – generating average load factors above 94%, ...
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NewsQatar Airways details investments in Virgin Australia and Airlink
Qatar Airways Group has disclosed that the consideration for its 25% shareholding in Virgin Australia amounted to just under QR1.87 billion ($513 million). It acquired the interest in March this year, having obtained Australian regulatory approval the month before. At the point of acquisition, says the airline, Virgin Australia had ...
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NewsEtihad Airways poised to open new US gateway next year
Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways is opening a new transatlantic destination next year with services to the US city of Charlotte. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier will operate four-times weekly to the North Carolina city from 4 May 2026. Etihad says it will deploy Boeing 787s on the route. Charlotte will ...
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NewsEtihad places order for 28 Boeing widebodies
Etihad Airways is to purchase 28 Boeing 777X and 787s, in the latest boost to the airframer’s backlog a day after it scored its largest widebody order yet.