Airline News - Africa / Middle East.

Africa bears brunt of European Union blacklist. The European Union's list of 92 companies now completely barred from operating in European airspace includes 50 carriers based in Democratic Republic of Congo and a combined 33 airlines from Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Swaziland. Mar 23, 2006

Air Arabia

Air Arabia, which claims to be the first and only low-fares airline in the Middle East and North Africa, continues to expand, albeit at a somewhat lesser rate than some of the high profile budget carriers in Europe. Established in October 2003 it is unique in being the only carrier of its type government owned (60% Sharjah and 40% Sharjah Airport Authority). Last week the carrier took delivery of the fifth of eight Airbus A320 on order. From its hub at Sharjah (next door to Dubai), current Air Arabia destinations include Aleppo and Damascus (Syria); Alexandria, Assiut, Luxor and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt); Aqaba and Amman (Jordan); Astana and Almaty (Kazakhstan); Bahrain; Beirut (Lebanon); Colombo (Sri Lanka); Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Doha (Qatar); Khartoum (Sudan); Kuwait; Mumbai and Nagpur (India); Muscat (Oman); Sana'a (Yemen); Sharjah (UAE) and Tehran (Iran). The airline has just passed the two-million passenger milestone. http://www.airarabia.com Mar 26, 2006

Air Arabia, which launched in October 2003, reported a 2005 net profit of AED32.1 million ($8.7 million) as annual passenger numbers surged 122% to 1.13 million and its network expanded by more than half to 23 destinations. It recently took delivery of its first A320, increasing its fleet to five aircraft. Three more A320s will arrive this year. Mar 22, 2006

Emirates

Health on aircraft has always been important and continues thus. Emirates for its new Airbus A380 and long-range Boeing 777s currently on order is to install a system called Tempus developed by UK-based Remote Diagnostic Technologies Ltd (RDT). This will allow the airline's cabin crew to obtain clinically-accurate vital signs data from a passenger who has been taken ill in flight. Tempus records a passenger's blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The data is then sent via the inflight communications system to emergency medical specialists at the Medlink Response Center in Phoenix , USA, who can diagnose the problem and advise the crew on the best course of action. The onboard system allows satellite discussions to take place from every seat on the aircraft. An earlier version is already in operation on all Emirates' Airbus A340-500. http://www.rdtltd.com Mar 26, 2006

Emirates will go to double-daily service between Dubai and Paris Charles de Gaulle from March 26, up from 12 flights per week currently. The additional frequencies will be operated by an A330-200 configured for 237 in three classes. Mar 24, 2006

Gulf Air

Gulf Air is increasing its service to London Heathrow from Muscat from March 27. It will operate double-daily services everyday except Thursday. Mar 22, 2006

Gulf Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines 

Gulf Air and Saudi Arabian Airlines are adding Bahrain-Al Madinah and Muscat-Dammam to their code share arrangement. The new weekly service to Al Madinah will commence March 26. The twice-weekly Muscat-Dammam service came into effect March 3 and is operated by Gulf Air as an extension of its existing Kathmandu-Muscat route. Mar 23, 2006

Middle East Airlines

Middle East Airlines will increase its Beirut-London Heathrow frequency from five-times-weekly to daily from June 2. Mar 23, 2006

Royal Jordanian

Royal Jordanian has become the latest customer for the Embraer 195. The Amman-based national carrier has ordered seven with deliveries starting fourth quarter 2006, deploying the aircraft within its main line operations on routes to the Middle East, Africa and into Europe. The EMB 195 will be configured to carry 100 passengers in a two-class layout, with 12 seats in Crown Class and 88 seats in economy class, with a pitch of 42" and 33" respectively. The aircraft will be deployed on routes to the Middle East, Africa and into Europe. Type certification for the EMB 195 is scheduled for summer 2006 with first deliveries to the British budget airline FlyBe. http://www.rj.com http://www.embraer.com Mar 26, 2006

Royal Jordanian announced, as expected, a firm order yesterday for seven Embraer 195s. Aircraft will be powered by GE CF34-10s and laid out in a 100-seat, two-class configuration. According to an industry source, RJ also took options on an additional eight 195s. The Amman-based carrier will take delivery of three of the aircraft in the final quarter of this year, two in 2007 and two in early 2008. It is purchasing four, while three will be on operating leases from GE Commercial Aviation Services. The airline said its choice fits its strategy to develop Amman as a regional hub and its impending entry into the oneworld alliance. GE valued engines for the four aircraft ordered directly from Embraer at $40 million. The 195s will be deployed on routes to the Middle East and Africa and into nearby Europe. RJ will be the first carrier in the region to operate the 195 on international routes. Mar 23, 2006