Arabian Aviation Thread - 2020

A330Inter · Sat Sep 26, 2020 4:53 pm

xwb777 wrote:
Emirates has removed the following cities from the GDS and will not resume for the NW2020/21 season:

Dallas DFW, Edinburgh, London STN , Mexico City, Newcastle, St. Petersburg, San Francisco and Tokyo Haneda.

Source: https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... t-24sep20/

Surprised by Haneda, vs Narita! All others can be understood in this context, Mexico aside all should be easy to relaunch in Summer if demand comes back

xwb777 · Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:24 pm

Tony Douglas Etihad CEO:
- the airline has received a huge subsidy from the government.
- the company might layoff additional employees.
- the laid off employees have the priority to join the company when recruitment starts again.

Source: Instagram story

Blerg · Tue Sep 29, 2020 4:36 am

I read somewhere that EK has indefinitely suspended the tag from LCA to MLA. Is that true? I guess Qatar launching Malta flights made these flights uncompetitive which is a shame as they have been around for decades.

xwb777 · Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:11 am

Tony Douglas: Etihad A380 days are numbered:

Quote:
“ Anything with more than two engines is sadly not going to be able to sustain itself going forward, particularly if your brand is as serious about sustainability as Etihad is.””

Again.. thats not a really credible source, but can help.
Source: https://samchui.com/2020/09/30/etihad-c ... 3W4TBbXeEd

myki · Thu Oct 01, 2020 11:32 am

xwb777 wrote:
Tony Douglas Etihad CEO:
- the airline has received a huge subsidy from the government.
- the company might layoff additional employees.
- the laid off employees have the priority to join the company when recruitment starts again.

Source: Instagram story

Only a rumour, nothing confirmed of course, but adds to your second point above.
https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2020 ... tting-move

Blerg · Fri Oct 02, 2020 5:12 pm

airBaltic will not be bringing back RIX-AUH this winter season (4 weekly).

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... f-30sep20/

aristoenigma · Fri Oct 02, 2020 11:31 pm

Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula? Once Saudia put its two 748 freighters up for sale I assumed the new generation of leadership in SA is less prone to go four engines for highly visible VIP flying?.

MoonC · Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:07 am

aristoenigma wrote:
Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula? Once Saudia put its two 748 freighters up for sale I assumed the new generation of leadership in SA is less prone to go four engines for highly visible VIP flying?.

MBS still has his HZ-HM1A, one of the last airworthy 747-300s, so...

myki · Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:21 am

Blerg wrote:
airBaltic will not be bringing back RIX-AUH this winter season (4 weekly).

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... f-30sep20/

This route always intrigued me! Not surprised it isn't coming back.

Blerg · Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:53 am

myki wrote:
Blerg wrote:
airBaltic will not be bringing back RIX-AUH this winter season (4 weekly).

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... f-30sep20/

This route always intrigued me! Not surprised it isn't coming back.

I am surprised it even lasted this long. Given EY cuts and the confusion regarding Air Arabia AUH I doubt we'll see them back. I remember some months ago (before corona) even TK reduced their flights to RIX. I suppose market isn't all that big and then there is SU right next door.

aristoenigma · Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:19 pm

MoonC wrote:
aristoenigma wrote:
Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula? Once Saudia put its two 748 freighters up for sale I assumed the new generation of leadership in SA is less prone to go four engines for highly visible VIP flying?.

MBS still has his HZ-HM1A, one of the last airworthy 747-300s, so...

HZ-HM1A was built in 1983 which makes it three years older than HRH MBS. Still beautiful and airworthy after 37 years. HZ-HM1 the 744 in Saudi Royal fleet is from 2001 and was only into Royal service in 2011. I always assumed they would be eventually replaced by the 747-8 (HZ-HMS1) that was built in 2012? I have heard MBS often flies about in a Saudi Ministry of Finance 787-8 Dreamliner VIP and so I wondered if two engines are the new responsible way in SA. I believe the Saudis still own the 747-8 BBJ stored in Basel but as time marches on would any other nearby monarchies want to acquire the 747-8? eg Dubai flies four 744 VIPs older than 20 years and Bahrain flies two 744VIPs.Or how about Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal/ Kingdom Aircraft whose private 744 VIP has been flying nearly 30 years?

MoonC · Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:35 pm

aristoenigma wrote:
MoonC wrote:
aristoenigma wrote:
Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula? Once Saudia put its two 748 freighters up for sale I assumed the new generation of leadership in SA is less prone to go four engines for highly visible VIP flying?.

MBS still has his HZ-HM1A, one of the last airworthy 747-300s, so...

HZ-HM1A was built in 1983 which makes it three years older than HRH MBS. Still beautiful and airworthy after 37 years. HZ-HM1 the 744 in Saudi Royal fleet is from 2001 and was only into Royal service in 2011. I always assumed they would be eventually replaced by the 747-8 (HZ-HMS1) that was built in 2012? have heard MBS mostly flies about in the Saudi Ministry of Finance 787-8 Dreamliner and so I wondered if two engines are the new way in SA. I believe the Saudis still own the 747-8 BBJ but as time marches would any other Arabian monarchies want to acquire the 747-8? eg Dubai flies four 744 VIPs older than 20 years and Bahrain flies two 744VIPs. How about Kingdom Aircraft's 744 VIP that has been flying nearly 30 years?

I also wonder what will replace Dubai's, Abu Dhabi's and Bahrain's 747s. I think Kingdom's HZ-WBT7 will stay a bit longer. The thing got a new livery barely 2 years ago.

The 747-8 was to be Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's jet, a former Crown Prince. He died in October 2011. No idea why another Prince or country does not take it.

The Saudis still got Airbus quads if they want four engines. Sky Prime operates an A340-200 and an A340-600.

Edit: Abu Dhabi used to operate one 747-8. A6-PFA. Was gifted to Morocco. They also had another one on order, it ended up being NTU, until Qatar took it.

aristoenigma · Sat Oct 03, 2020 11:41 pm

MoonC wrote:
aristoenigma wrote:
MoonC wrote:

MBS still has his HZ-HM1A, one of the last airworthy 747-300s, so...

HZ-HM1A was built in 1983 which makes it three years older than HRH MBS. Still beautiful and airworthy after 37 years. HZ-HM1 the 744 in Saudi Royal fleet is from 2001 and was only into Royal service in 2011. I always assumed they would be eventually replaced by the 747-8 (HZ-HMS1) that was built in 2012? have heard MBS mostly flies about in the Saudi Ministry of Finance 787-8 Dreamliner and so I wondered if two engines are the new way in SA. I believe the Saudis still own the 747-8 BBJ but as time marches would any other Arabian monarchies want to acquire the 747-8? eg Dubai flies four 744 VIPs older than 20 years and Bahrain flies two 744VIPs. How about Kingdom Aircraft's 744 VIP that has been flying nearly 30 years?

I also wonder what will replace Dubai's, Abu Dhabi's and Bahrain's 747s. I think Kingdom's HZ-WBT7 will stay a bit longer. The thing got a new livery barely 2 years ago.

The 747-8 was to be Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud's jet, a former Crown Prince. He died in October 2011. No idea why another Prince or country does not take it.

The Saudis still got Airbus quads if they want four engines. Sky Prime operates an A340-200 and an A340-600.

Edit: Abu Dhabi used to operate one 747-8. A6-PFA. Was gifted to Morocco. They also had another one on order, it ended up being NTU, until Qatar took it.

Thanks MoonC. Abu Dhabi also sent its 744 VIP to Morocco which in turn ended up as part of Dubai Air Wing/Royal Flight as A6-HMM in last few years. Abu Dhabi also sent a 744 VIP to Bahrain five years ago (A9C-HAK). By casual observation Dubai seems to be the more 747-centric in VIP choices compared to Abu Dhabi or Bahrain. Like you I cannot understand why the Saudi 747-8 NTU didn't get picked up over last 8 years but elsewhere on this site some very knowledgeable sources opined that green 747-8 may be in the sites of the US Air Force as an ideal spare part source for the new US Air Force One. Further Qatar has put one of their over the top 747-8 VIPs on the market. That is a head scratcher with the Qatar relations so strained in the region. Could Kingdom Aircraft ,if allowed by MBS ,try buying that one from Qatar at a steep discount to show off its business acumen? I recall that Kingdom triedto buy and flip the proposed first ever A-380 VIP a few years back. But I guess Qatar could just resort to gifting it to a worthy friendly country instead of having to hard bargain with anybody. Oh the beauty of its Natural Gas fields.

AngelsDecay · Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:41 am

aristoenigma wrote:
Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula?

Wich registration is that green state 748 VIP you are refering, just for curiosity? Tks

aristoenigma · Sun Oct 04, 2020 1:06 am

AngelsDecay wrote:
aristoenigma wrote:
Will the green state 747-8 BBJ originally bought by the Saudis in 2012 that sits unmodified in Basel ever see adoption by any of the governments on the Arabian pensinsula?

Wich registration is that green state 748 VIP you are refering, just for curiosity? Tks

https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/ ... tah/ey1q1d

UAEflyer · Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:46 am

With the new generations coming up in the GCC region , the quad option started to become out of date. The young monarchs going towards double engines, Saudi have 787s & 77W just came online, Abu Dhabi all fleet are double engines (787s, 777s, 737s) Bahrain have the unique 764VIP.
Gulf Monarchies are proBoeing , few Airbus allowed in their fleet

xwb777 · Sun Oct 04, 2020 12:32 pm

In an interview with Alex Macheras, RJ CEO has stated that the airline will sell aircraft and reduce short and long haul flying to preserve cash.

Blerg · Mon Oct 05, 2020 5:56 am

I was always under the impression that RJ is a struggling airline without much idea about what kind of business it wants to be. Do they focus on locals, tourists or transfers? Somehow their network seems rather modest especially when you look at the number of frequencies they operate to Europe.

xwb777 · Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:36 pm

Edelweiss to serve Muscat twice weekly onboard the A340-300

Starting from November 6, Edelweiss will serve Muscat, Oman via a weekly flight increasing to twice weekly starting from 20DEC20.

Edelweiss will be operating flights to MCT along with Swiss Air.

Source: https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... =Edelweiss

xwb777 · Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:41 pm

Blerg wrote:
I was always under the impression that RJ is a struggling airline without much idea about what kind of business it wants to be. Do they focus on locals, tourists or transfers? Somehow their network seems rather modest especially when you look at the number of frequencies they operate to Europe.

RJ was always lost on where they want to be. A hub carrier or just a boutique carrier. Pre-COVID, the entrance of Ryan Air has caused a headache for them. Ryan Air has been connecting Amman to many cities across Europe.

Blerg · Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:06 pm

xwb777 wrote:
Blerg wrote:
I was always under the impression that RJ is a struggling airline without much idea about what kind of business it wants to be. Do they focus on locals, tourists or transfers? Somehow their network seems rather modest especially when you look at the number of frequencies they operate to Europe.

RJ was always lost on where they want to be. A hub carrier or just a boutique carrier. Pre-COVID, the entrance of Ryan Air has caused a headache for them. Ryan Air has been connecting Amman to many cities across Europe.

Do you know how FR is performing in Jordan?

myki · Tue Oct 06, 2020 4:53 am

I believe FR were given rights to fly to destinations that RJ did not go, so as not to steal the competition. Correct me if I am wrong though.

Blerg · Tue Oct 06, 2020 6:04 am

myki wrote:
I believe FR were given rights to fly to destinations that RJ did not go, so as not to steal the competition. Correct me if I am wrong though.

Well FR is supposed to launch PFO-AMM in just 20 days. RJ operates flights from LCA so they will (in)directly compete one with the other.

xwb777 · Fri Oct 09, 2020 6:48 pm

Etihad has removed the A380 from schedule
https://simpleflying-com.cdn.ampproject ... edule/amp/

Blerg · Sat Oct 10, 2020 5:27 am

According to a Serbian source, Etihad will be suspending AUH-BEG for the winter season. I wonder if they are doing it because they will replace it with Air Arabia. Makes sense given that FZ flies out of DXB.

Avgeek21 · Sat Oct 10, 2020 10:58 am

Blerg wrote:
According to a Serbian source, Etihad will be suspending AUH-BEG for the winter season. I wonder if they are doing it because they will replace it with Air Arabia. Makes sense given that FZ flies out of DXB.

I suspect Air Arabia AUH to take it. Currently flydubai does 5 flights per week going up to daily during the holiday season. Suspect they'll operate their MAX to BEG too when cleared.

Blerg · Sat Oct 10, 2020 11:01 am

Avgeek21 wrote:
Blerg wrote:
According to a Serbian source, Etihad will be suspending AUH-BEG for the winter season. I wonder if they are doing it because they will replace it with Air Arabia. Makes sense given that FZ flies out of DXB.

I suspect Air Arabia AUH to take it. Currently flydubai does 5 flights per week going up to daily during the holiday season. Suspect they'll operate their MAX to BEG too when cleared.

BEG was among their first MAX destinations actually. It was one of the first destinations which featured free meals. Hopefully once covid passes they could boost flights by adding evening/night departures from BEG.

xwb777 · Sat Oct 10, 2020 3:01 pm

Swiss Air has dropped Muscat tag-on on Zurich - Dubai route. ZRH - DXB will be served 3 weekly by the A340-300 increasing to 5 weekly from 06DEC20.

Source: https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... f-07oct20/

Blerg · Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:25 am

Could Swiss be increasing it because of cargo demand?

Blerg · Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:30 am

Eurowings plans Beirut and Erbil flights from both Berlin and Dusseldorf. Didn't Germania operate these flights out of Berlin?

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... e-in-1q21/

Blerg · Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:30 am

Etihad delays Vienna launch to March 2021.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/ai ... arch-2021/

myki · Sun Oct 11, 2020 5:46 am

Avgeek21 wrote:
Blerg wrote:
According to a Serbian source, Etihad will be suspending AUH-BEG for the winter season. I wonder if they are doing it because they will replace it with Air Arabia. Makes sense given that FZ flies out of DXB.

I suspect Air Arabia AUH to take it. Currently flydubai does 5 flights per week going up to daily during the holiday season. Suspect they'll operate their MAX to BEG too when cleared.

This would be perfect for Wizz Air to jump on to, whether with a BEG-based aircraft or AUH-based.

Blerg · Sun Oct 11, 2020 8:35 am

myki wrote:
Avgeek21 wrote:
Blerg wrote:
According to a Serbian source, Etihad will be suspending AUH-BEG for the winter season. I wonder if they are doing it because they will replace it with Air Arabia. Makes sense given that FZ flies out of DXB.

I suspect Air Arabia AUH to take it. Currently flydubai does 5 flights per week going up to daily during the holiday season. Suspect they'll operate their MAX to BEG too when cleared.

This would be perfect for Wizz Air to jump on to, whether with a BEG-based aircraft or AUH-based.

I was actually surprised they didn't do it. It makes more sense for them to launch AUH than TKU! Especially now when visas are not required.

xwb777 · Mon Oct 12, 2020 9:05 am

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announces flights to Kathmandu starting from 17-10-2020.

xwb777 · Mon Oct 12, 2020 10:35 am

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi announces chittagong, Bangladesh, starting from 25OCT20.

xwb777 · Mon Oct 12, 2020 1:14 pm

Royal Jordanian Airlines CEO Stefan Pichler has resigned last month.

Also the CEOs of Kuwait Airways and Gulf Air has announced their resignations.

xwb777 · Tue Oct 13, 2020 2:41 pm

Emirates A380 showers and bar are back

https://onemileatatime.com/emirates-bri ... rrzVkDuBn0

Blerg · Fri Oct 16, 2020 5:03 am

According to this (not always reliable Serbian blog) Qatar will deploy its B788 to BEG twice in October due to increased demand. I suppose most of their terminated routes to the region will be served via BEG as they have an interline with JU.

https://www.aviatica.rs/qatar-airways-u ... -beograda/

xwb777 · Sat Oct 17, 2020 10:59 am

The sudden departure of Royal Jordanian CEO has left the airline stunned and left at crossroads.

https://www.arabianbusiness.com/spotlig ... al-airline

xwb777 · Sun Oct 18, 2020 1:44 pm

Tomorrow, 19OCT, Etihad will be operating the first commercial flight to TLV.

EY9607 0500 AUH-0630 TLV
EY9608 0900 TLV-1430 AUH

Equipment: B787-10

Blerg · Sun Oct 18, 2020 3:46 pm

xwb777 wrote:
Tomorrow, 19OCT, Etihad will be operating the first commercial flight to TLV.

EY9607 0500 AUH-0630 TLV
EY9608 0900 TLV-1430 AUH

Equipment: B787-10

Is this a charter flight or first scheduled flight into TLV?

Avgeek21 · Sun Oct 18, 2020 5:15 pm

Blerg wrote:
xwb777 wrote:
Tomorrow, 19OCT, Etihad will be operating the first commercial flight to TLV.

EY9607 0500 AUH-0630 TLV
EY9608 0900 TLV-1430 AUH

Equipment: B787-10

Is this a charter flight or first scheduled flight into TLV?

Judging by the 4 digit flight number I'd say it's a charter. Do they have a regular commercial '607' in their network?

Blerg · Sun Oct 18, 2020 5:55 pm

Avgeek21 wrote:
Blerg wrote:
xwb777 wrote:
Tomorrow, 19OCT, Etihad will be operating the first commercial flight to TLV.

EY9607 0500 AUH-0630 TLV
EY9608 0900 TLV-1430 AUH

Equipment: B787-10

Is this a charter flight or first scheduled flight into TLV?

Judging by the 4 digit flight number I'd say it's a charter. Do they have a regular commercial '607' in their network?

Besides the flight number, I assume the departure time from AUH would indicate it's a charter. I can't imagine many wanting to depart AUH at 05.00 or even reach TLV at 06.30.

xwb777 · Sun Oct 18, 2020 6:34 pm

I came across this post on Instagram

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

xwb777 · Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:26 pm

Ras Al Khaimah Airport CEO: A major European carrier will launch flights to the city in Summer 2021.

Link: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transpo ... an-carrier

xwb777 · Thu Oct 22, 2020 8:28 am

Emirates expands in Africa through Air Link

https://businesstech.co.za/news/busines ... BqJzaBFFqY

xwb777 · Thu Oct 22, 2020 8:56 am

Starting from November 4, Emirates will operate the A380 to Amman, Jordan, 3 weekly on EK903.

A330Inter · Thu Oct 22, 2020 10:11 am

xwb777 wrote:
Ras Al Khaimah Airport CEO: A major European carrier will launch flights to the city in Summer 2021.

Link: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transpo ... an-carrier

I'll take a bet, Aeroflot and possibly with a Pobeda type of offering.

xwb777 · Thu Oct 22, 2020 11:33 am

A330Inter wrote:
xwb777 wrote:
Ras Al Khaimah Airport CEO: A major European carrier will launch flights to the city in Summer 2021.

Link: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transpo ... an-carrier

I'll take a bet, Aeroflot and possibly with a Pobeda type of offering.

Or maybe Lufthansa? There’s lots of German tourists to the city.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

xwb777 · Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:22 pm

Royal Jordanian posts $151 million losses till September 2020

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