Travel and aviation section discontinued
From 26.2.08 articles will no longer be published in the travel and aviation section / RSS feed. Similar articles can now been found at: http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Aviation/ http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Tourism_and_Hospitality/
Emirates to fly daily to Houston
Emirates airline has announced that it will offer daily flights to Houston beginning Feb. 1, reported Gulf News. The airling had recently announced three-days-a-week service to the American city, and it popular among both business and leisure travelers, according to Gaith Al Gaith, Emirates executive vice-president for commercial operations worldwide. Shippers in the oil and gas industry account for over 70% of the service's cargo. The operation is currently handling about 16 tonnes of cargo out of Houston and about 10 tonnes into the American gateway.
BDF buys Avro jet
Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) has bought an Avro RJ100 regional jet from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft to bring its fleet of the type to three aircraft, reported Gulf Daily News. The aircraft is currently being operated by Finnish carrier Blue 1. It will join the two RJ85s currently operated.
British Airways to expand in ME
British Airways is planning further expansion of its operations in the Middle East and Asia to offset slower growth in North America, which has traditionally been its mainstay, reported Gulf News. The Middle East remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the aviation world. As corporate business growth out of the UK into the Middle East has reached double figures in recent years. As a result, the airline has increased its Club World seats on its Boeing 747 flights from 38 to 55.
RAK airport expansion underway
The airport at Ras Al Khaimah is undergoing a regeneration programme to increase the number of annual passengers and planes it can handle every year. The emirate's airport can currently cope with one million passengers a year and this will be increased by 500,000, Michelle Soliman CEO of RAK Airport told delegates at the MEED Ras Al Khaimah conference.