Geneva, Switzerland -- Air passenger numbers are forecast to top five billion for the first time next year and the sector's revenues will break the trillion-dollar barrier, the global aviation body IATA said Tuesday. "Passenger numbers are expected to reach 5.2 billion in 2025, a 6.7 percent rise compared to 2024...

Paris, France - They didn't exist a century ago but today PFAS "forever chemicals" contaminate the environment from groundwater to Antarctic snow to turtle eggs, and concern over their possible toxicity is growing. Lawsuits and regulations targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are multiplying, with France becoming the latest jurisdiction to...

Abu Dhabi, UAE--The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has launched the Cargo Data Reporting System (CARDS), which provides a range of technical services to government entities, national airlines, ground handling agents and express service providers. CARDS is the first platform of its kind to provide an analytical view of air...

Montreal, Canada--The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) projected that passenger air traffic levels will be around 2 percent higher In the first quarter of 2024 than in 2019, with airlines expected to sustain their operating profitability seen in 2023. Demand this year is forecast to be around 3 percent above...

Cairo, Egypt-- Qatar and Egypt have discussed enhancing ties in the field of civil aviation between the two countries. In this connection, the civil aviation officials from the two countries held talks in Cairo to boost the cooperation. Mohamed bin Faleh Al Hajri, in charge of managing Qatar Civil Aviation...

Geneva, Switzerland-- Air cargo demand rebounded in 2023 with a particularly strong fourth quarter performance despite economic uncertainties, according to new data for global air-freight market released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As per the new data full-year demand reached a level just slightly below 2022 and 2019....

Geneva, Switzerland -- Middle Eastern carriers reported a 1.6 percent increase for global and international demand in 2023 compared to 2022 and an increase in capacity of 13.5 percent (13.6 percent for international operations), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said. In December, airlines in the region posted an 18.3 percent increase in...

Beijing, China--China called Friday for all sides to prevent the Yemen conflict from expanding, after strikes by the United States and United Kingdom on Houthi rebel targets. Heavy US and British air strikes pounded targets in rebel-held Yemen early on Friday after weeks of disruptive attacks on Red Sea shipping by...

ABU DHABI, UAE – Airports in the country witnessed a 15 percent increase in air traffic during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) held at Expo City Dubai, said Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi. In a statement to the Emirates News Agency...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE signed two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Brazil and Switzerland to strengthen cooperation in the field of air transportation with Brazil and Switzerland. The agreements were signed on the sidelines of the UAE delegation's participation in the fifteenth ICAO...

DUBAI, UAE - According to World Health Organization data, 99 percent of the world’s population lives in places where air pollution levels exceed WHO guideline limits. Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of respiratory diseases, stroke, heart attacks, diabetes and links to dementia. Children are also highly susceptible to...

Fujairah, UAE - High in remote mountains in the oil-rich Emirates, a new plant will soon take atmospheric CO2 and pump it into rock -- part of controversial attempts to target planet-heating emissions without abandoning fossil fuels. Using novel technology developed by Omani start-up 44.01, the solar-powered plant will suck carbon...

Dubai, UAE--American cable channel MSNBC has quietly taken three prominent Muslim journalists “out of the anchor’s chair” since the onset of war between Palestinians and Israel, according to a media report. The report said MSNBC quietly took Mehdi Hasan, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Ali Velshi “out of the anchor’s chair” after...

ABU DHABI, UAE - The United Arab Emirates, represented by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea to enhance their bilateral air transport relations. This MoU includes an agreement to increase the number of national carrier flights between the two countries...

Tripoli, Libya--Libya and Italy have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation to enable air transport companies to operate charter and regular flights between the two countries. In this regard, the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and the Italian civil aviation authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Ministry of...

According to an Iranian media outlet, a batch of advanced Yak-130 training aircraft flew into the Shahid Babaei Air Base in Isfahan in central Iran, part of the Islamic republic's arms contracts with Russia. The army's public relations department said that jets will improve the training and combat capability of...

Vienna, Austria-- Looking to ramp up trade and business relations, the United Arab Emirates has signed an air transport services agreement with Austria at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital, Vienna. The agreement, which aims to strengthen air transport relations between the two countries, was signed on behalf...

Abu Dhabi, UAE-- AD Ports Logistics (ADPL) has signed an agreement with Acino to provide the Swiss company with global freight-forwarding services, inclusive of sea and air transport in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The agreement will see ADPL leverage its fully integrated and GDP-certified end-to-end pharma...

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Hyundai Motor said on Tuesday it aims to sell two million electric vehicles a year by 2030, raising its target from the 1.87 million it set last year as the market for clean-energy vehicles continues to soar. It also announced plans to invest a total of 109.4 trillion...

Montreal, Canada--The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has signed a joint cooperation agreement to deepen collaboration. The agreement was signed by Mohammed Abdullah Al-Salami, Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, in Fujairah, GCAA Deputy Board Chairman, and Juan Carlos Salazar, ICAO Secretary General. This came...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Saudi Arabia vaults to the 13th position on the air connectivity index of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2023, up from the 27th position in 2019. In the ranking that includes over 200 countries, the Kingdom achieved a record rise by 14 places. It achieved...

Blanketing central Iraq in dust, the sandstorm made life diffcult on Firday for Iraqis venturing out of their homes. A thick film of dust covered cars and houses and many struggled to breathe air filled with sand. It was the first such weather event to hit the aird country this...

Doha, Qatar-- Qatar has received more than 614,000 visitors during the month of December 2022, a monthly increase of 3.7 percent as against November 2022. The highest number of visitors were from the Gulf Cooperation Council at 40 percent. As for visitors by type of port, the visitors via air...

This is especially important with the ongoing preparations for the UAE to host the 28th Conference of the Parties by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).

Geneva, Switzerland— Total global air traffic has shot up 44.6 percent in October as against October 2021, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Total traffic in October 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 44.6 percent compared to October 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 74.2...

Kuwait City, Kuwait - The Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC) has started commercial operations of the first phase of Al-Zour Refinery project. The project started last month to produce and sell primary quantities of fuel oil and supply it to local electric power stations. Acting CEO of KIPIC Waleed...

Helsinki, Finland— Saudi Arabia and Finland have signed an agreement to regulate air transport and start air services between the two countries. The agreement is designed to propel economic partnership and boost trade. In this connection, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and...

Air travel rose sharply in the northern hemisphere summer, traditionally the peak vacation travel season, but still remains considerably affected by the pandemic, industry data showed Thursday.

The highest number of visitors was from the GCC countries at 59 percent.

The year-old program operates numerous unmanned surface vessels, or USVs, in the waters around the Arabian peninsula, gathering data and images to be beamed back to collection centers in the Gulf. The program operated without incident until Iranian forces tried to grab three seven-meter Saildrone Explorer USVs in two incidents,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -Saudi Arabia has approved the establishment of duty-free markets, when necessary, at air, sea and land ports and on-board ships and aircraft. The kingdom's Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) had invited the public to express their opinion on the draft Free Market Rules through “Istitlaa” platform...

Propelled by inflation, the price of air tickets has begun to take off again after tumbling during the pandemic, a reversal that looks set to intensify due to environmental pressures, experts say. In the United States, the average price of an internal flight has shot up, from $202 in October...

The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq said it shot down Friday an armed drone that targeted an air base, reporting no casualties or damage. The base, which is controlled by Iraq, is located in the desert in the western Anbar province.

Air travel recovery was gaining momentum as countries were lifting restrictions, with a sharp 11-percentage-point increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Data released by IATA said that in the period around 8 February (seven-day moving average) the number of tickets...