Airports sign twinning agreement: ABU Dhabi International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport have signed an MoU to become ‘sister airports’, in a unique twinning arrangement which will see the sharing of technical, commercial and environmental best practices.
Under the agreement, the airports will set up joint working groups to evaluate ways in which they can work together on a wide range of areas. A particular focus will be given to a personnel exchange programme which will provide training and skills development opportunities for Abu Dhabi Airport staff.
New Russian route from Sharjah: AIR Arabia has announced the launch of a twice-weekly service from Sharjah, UAE, to Samara, Russia.
The introduction of service to this major Russian city, located on the banks of the Volga River, marks Air Arabia’s third destination in Eastern Europe, following the earlier launch of direct flights from Sharjah to Almaty, Kazakhstan, and Kiev, Ukraine.
Roundtrip flights will operate twice a week between Samara Airport and Sharjah on Mondays and Fridays.
Etihad launches Hyderabad flights: Etihad Airways has launched flights to its latest destination in India, the city of Hyderabad making it the first airline to operate flights between Abu Dhabi and the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The route is served by a two-class Airbus A320 configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 in business class and 120 in economy class.
Initially operating four flights a week, flights will increase to daily from the start of 2010.
Jazeera expands Syria network: Jazeera Airways has announced further expansion into Syria, with non-stop flights to Latakia – the airline’s fourth destination in the country.
Starting on December 15, travellers can fly three times a week from Kuwait to the popular Mediterranean resort of Latakia – on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Flights from Latakia to Kuwait will operate on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Jazeera Airways currently operates a fleet of 10 new Airbus A320s serving destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, Iran, and the Indian subcontinent.
Wataniya launches Jeddah route: Wataniya Airways has marked another milestone by adding a new daily service to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, operating from Sheikh Saad Terminal.
Kuwait’s newest airline will provide first and premium economy class seats to passengers between Kuwait and Jeddah, the second largest city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The airline flies to Dubai, Cairo, Beirut, Bahrain, Amman, Damascus and Sharm El Sheikh.
With its fourth custom fitted A320 aircraft in operation, Wataniya Airways is set to receive three more aircraft next year bringing its total fleet size to seven aircraft.
Figures up at Abu Dhabi: ABU Dhabi International Airport has announced its traffic figures for the first three quarters of 2009, demonstrating continued and steady passenger growth at 7.5 per cent, over the same period last year.
The figures showed a 6.8 per cent passenger increase for the month of September alone.
Quarter three passenger results were also in positive territory with a 6.4 per cent increase as steady gains on cargo, over the first nine months, continued at two per cent, with aircraft movements up 8.3 per cent over the three quarters.
In 2009 the airport welcomed seven new carriers.
Malaysia’s Air Asia X becomes the eighth to start operations to Abu Dhabi later this month.