Airline News - Africa / Middle East.

For more airline news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/order_formsubs.htm Aug 28, 2006

East African Airlines

East African Airlines (EAA) could be back in operation later this year according to reports from Uganda. The carrier, designated the national airline, hopes to launch the Entebbe - Nairobi and Johannesburg routes when it resumes flights towards the end of the year. Dubai is another possible destination. Creditors of its previous incarnation have been satisfied at the Uganda High Court. At the same time Victoria International Airlines, is rumored to be in the planning stage, like EAA with the government as a shareholder. Meantime Entebbe - Nairobi is served by Kenya Airways and Entebbe - Johannesburg by SAA, with BA offering a nonstop service three times per week from Heathrow. Aug 26, 2006

El Al, Alitalia

El Al took another hit this week when the Israeli government signed a deal with Alitalia to be the preferred carrier for officials flying internationally. "This is part of the government policy, which started with the privatization of El Al, to purchase tickets based on the cheapest price and not on the basis that it was obligated to buy from El Al as it had been accustomed to doing," the Finance Ministry said, according to The Jerusalem Post. Aug 24, 2006

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is extending its premium class chauffeur services to include Manchester. Gatwick and Heathrow passengers can already use the service. The facility allows 'guests' to be collected from home or work part of what the airline calls a seamless style of travel. In Abu Dhabi, Eithad already offers a for Diamond and Pearl class passengers a private car transfer to Dubai. The service is provided by Chauffeurcar Plc. Coral (economy) Zone Guests continue to be offered a free luxury coach service on arrival in Abu Dhabi, taking them to and from Dubai and Al Ain. Aug 26, 2006

Etihad Airways

More nonstops to the Gulf from the Big Apple - the Arabian Gulf. Expansive Etihad Airways says it will start daily A340-500 service from JFK to Abu Dhabi October 26. If you fly up front in Eithad's Diamond zone you get a seat that does more than just lie flat. It rotates 180 degrees. The point? You can conduct business meetings with the person in front or behind you. Aug 25, 2006

Jazeera Airways

Jazeera Airways will launch a thrice-weekly Kuwait City-Cochin service Aug. 30 with A320s. The Kuwaiti LCC began operations 10 months ago and flies to 12 destinations. Aug 22, 2006