Airline News - Africa / Middle East.

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El Al

El Al requests second baggage screening at Newark airport. El Al has asked the Transportation Security Administration for permission to screen its own baggage at Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline already conducts second screenings at four airports. Critics say El Al's request is a vote of no confidence in the TSA. May 12, 2006

Emirates

Emirates will increase its Dubai-New York JFK service to thrice-daily with the addition of a new flight via Hamburg on Oct. 29. Flight will be operated aboard a 777-300ER. Emirates currently uses an A330-200 on the DXB-HAM segment. May 11, 2006

Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines earned a profit of $43.4 million in 2005 on revenues of $495 million, it said at a Saturday news conference marking its 60th anniversary, according to Reuters. A carrier official said the airline intends to increase its annual net earnings to $116 million by 2010 and generate $1 billion in revenues. Ethiopian carried 1.6 million passengers in 2005. May 9, 2006

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has stolen a march on its Gulf area rivals by introducing a 24-city center check-in at Dubai. It must be the only facility of its kind in the world where passengers have a choice of airports in two different countries. Their flights can depart from the international airport in Dubai itself, or neighboring Abu Dhabi. The new facility is located on the ground floor of Chelsea Towers on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road and includes ticketing, security screening, and baggage check-in. Diamond and Pearl Zone Guests will also have access to extensive premium lounge facilities. Air-conditioned luxury coaches and limousines are the mode of transport. A similar facility in Abu Dhabi is being considered. Here H.H. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman of Etihad Airways, formally inaugurates Etihad's new Dubai check-in facility. http://www.etihadairways.com May 14, 2006

Gulf Air

Operating out of two hubs following the withdrawal of Abu Dhabi as a shareholder, Gulf Air said passenger traffic at Bahrain International Airport increased 24% and throughput at Seeb International Airport in Muscat grew 20%. "The positive effects of our transition to a two-hub model are already in evidence," Hogan stated. "I believe we will also see significant cost reductions...as we reduce operational complexity in the next few months." He said the carrier intends to sign an MOU for widebody aircraft to replace nine 767s "in the next few months." May 10, 2006

Oman Air

Oman Air launched a summer schedule May 1 featuring service increases to Beirut, Bahrain and Doha to daily, addition of five weekly flights to its Cairo route and 14 weekly flights on its Kuwait route, and an increase in its Dubai service from 27 weekly flights to 44. Oman will operate 124 weekly flights out of its Muscat hub. May 9, 2006

South African Airways

South African Airways announced the launch of a daily Johannesburg-Washington Dulles service via Dakar beginning July 1 aboard an A340-600, replacing a four-times-weekly flight aboard a 747-400 stopping in Accra. Times have been adjusted to conform more closely with United Airlines' Dulles schedule. SAA will discontinue its daily service to Atlanta the same day and but will continue to operate to New York JFK. May 11, 2006