Tag: Bahrain

Emirates to Operate A380 Flight to Bahrain for 49th National Day

December 13, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

Emirates will operate a special one-off A380 service to Bahrain on 15 December, one day ahead of the country’s 49th National Day celebrations. The deployment is in response to high passenger demand during the National Day holidays in the Kingdom.

On 15 December, the Emirates A380 service will operate as EK 839 and EK 840, departing Dubai at 1605 and arriving in Bahrain at 1625hrs. The flight will then depart Bahrain at 1745hrs arriving in Dubai at 2000hrs.

Emirates customers arriving from Bahrain have the option to take a complimentary COVID-19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai, or do their COVID-19 PCR test 96 hours prior to departure, making it even more convenient for those planning their holidays.

Passengers coming from Bahrain, along with three other GCC countries do not need to take a COVID-19 PCR test prior to departure.

Emirates celebrated its 20^th anniversary to Bahrain this year, and since its first flight to the Kingdom has carried more than 6 million passengers between Bahrain and Dubai. The airline currently operates double daily flights to the Kingdom, connecting travellers to 99 global destinations, with safe and convenient onwards travel via Dubai to the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Emirates has deployed the A380 on one-off missions to the Kingdom six times, including during busy Eid travel periods, on Bahrain’s National Day in 2017, and has also displayed the double-decker twice during the Bahrain airshow.

The airline recently reinstated its signature A380 experiences, including the Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa, introducing additional health and safety measures. In early November, Emirates also restored its signature dining service across all classes while observing strict hygiene protocols. Customers can now enjoy multi-course meals and choose from a complimentary selection of beverages. Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment, ice, continues to add new content every month, and currently boasts over 4,500 channels.

For more information to book a journey on this special one-off A380, travellers can visit www.emirates.com/bh , travel agents or contact the local Emirates Sales Office.

Bangladesh Orders Leonardo High-Tech Air Surveillance Radar

November 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Leonardo’s KRONOS family of radar products are multi-functional, multi-mission solutions
The KRONOS LAND radar is highly mobile and quick to deploy: it can be brought into operation in the field in just 15 minutes

The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) has ordered Leonardo’s KRONOS LAND radar to provide air surveillance, allowing operators to detect and track targets in tactical environments. Leonardo has announced the contract at BIDEC (Bahrain International Defence Exhibition and Conference) tri-service exhibition, which is taking place at Manama (Baharain) from 28 to 30 October.

Leonardo will also supply communications equipment, twelve months of technical support services, spare parts and a comprehensive training programme for Bangladeshi Air Force personnel with modules in Italy and Bangladesh. As a complete package, this contract will enable the BAF to develop a long-term maintenance capability and preserve the functionality of the system.

Completely designed and developed by Leonardo, the KRONOS LAND is a multi-functional, multi-mission 3D radar for air surveillance and defence, based on latest-generation Full Active-Electronically-Scanned-Array (AESA, also known as E-scan) technology. Leonardo has sold more than 40 KRONOS family systems worldwide.

The contract to supply KRONOS LAND to the Bangladesh Air Force bolsters Leonardo’s presence in Bangladesh. It follows the earlier provision of the RAT31 surveillance system to the BAF for early warning and air defence.

Qatar Airways acquires 5% of China Southern Airlines

January 2, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

DUBAI/BEIJING, Jan 2 (Reuters) – Qatar Airways has acquired a 5 percent stake in China Southern Airlines, the state-owned Gulf carrier said on Wednesday, in a move to gain access to the fast-growing mainland Chinese market.

Qatar Airways also owns a 20 percent stake in British Airways-parent International Consolidated Airlines Group, 10 percent of South America’s LATAM Airlines Group SA , 49 percent of Italy’s Meridiana and 9.99 percent stake in Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific.

Qatar’s flagship airline has sought new partners and routes after it was blocked last year from flying to the lucrative markets of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates because of restrictions imposed by those countries.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, imposed a political and economic boycott on Qatar since June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism, which Doha denies.

China Southern in a separate statement said Qatar Airways may consider increasing its stake in the airline in the next 12 months. Qatar had no previous investment in the Chinese airline.

Qatar Airways is the second foreign carrier that has a stake in China Southern, after American Airlines. The Chinese carrier left the Skyteam airline alliance at the start of the year.

There are opportunities for “us to work together and build a long term relationship in ways that would bring benefits to customers of both airlines,” said Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker.

Ajith K, director of Asia transport at UOB Kay Hian, said given that China Southern is the biggest competitor of Cathay Pacific in Greater China, this deal could strengthen the China Southern’s position at the Hong-Kong carrier’s expense. “Why Qatar is doing this, seems to me, one of course is to gain access to the Chinese market. Secondly it’s probably that they are hedging against their bet given they own almost 10 percent in Cathay Pacific.”

(Reporting by Asma Alsharif and Saeed Azhar in Dubai and Stella Qiu in Beijing; editing by Louise Heavens)

Image from http://www.boeing.com

SaudiGulf Airlines Signs Agreement For 10 Airbus A320neo Jets

November 15, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabian airline SaudiGulf owner Al-Qahtani Aviation has signed an agreement to buy 10 Airbus (AIR.PA) A320neo family jets, Airbus said in a statement on Thursday.

The value of deal was not announced. It would be worth around $1.1 billion at list prices, though discounts are common.

The “commitment” was announced at the Bahrain International Airshow, which is taking place this week, Airbus said.

The parties did not immediately respond to questions about whether the deal was new or part of earlier Airbus announcements in which the buyer was not identified.

Reuters reported in July, citing sources, that SaudiGulf was behind an order for 10 A320neos that Airbus said during England’s Farnborough was for an undisclosed customer.

SaudiGulf President Samer Majali said the order would help the airline’s regional and international expansion.

SaudiGulf, based in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Dammam, launched it 2016. It currently operates a fleet of six A320 jets.

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; editing by Jason Neely)

Emirates to Operate A380 Flight to Bahrain for 49th National Day

Bangladesh Orders Leonardo High-Tech Air Surveillance Radar

Qatar Airways acquires 5% of China Southern Airlines

SaudiGulf Airlines Signs Agreement For 10 Airbus A320neo Jets

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