Gulf Air

Forced out of Iran and Iraq, Gulf Air looks to Saudi market

Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has extended its suspension of flights to Iran and Iraq, citing the “ongoing security situation” as prompting the decision. Gulf Air was forced to terminate services to Iran, Iraq and Lebanon in mid Mar-2011, due to security and political considerations relating to the Arab Spring uprising, which spread across much of North Africa and the Middle East over late 2010 and the first half of 2011.

The suspension for destinations in Iraq will continue to 31-Jan-2012 inclusive, while the suspension of services to Iran will stretch until and including 31-Mar-2012. At the time of the suspensions, Iran and Iraq were two of Gulf Air’s largest markets. The carrier operated four routes to Iran – Tehran, Mashad, Esfahan and Shiraz – and four to Iraq – Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Basra.

Middle East fleet outlook: widebody popularity increases, Airbus to grow market share

The 163 aircraft ordered at last week's Dubai Airshow will keep the Middle East region with almost as many aircraft on order as in service. While the show was marked by Emirates' order for 50 B777s, adding to the carrier's all-widebody fleet, widebody aircraft currently comprise just over half the region's fleet but are set to grow. Widebodies comprise more than 70% of aircraft on order in the region.

Boeing and Airbus will see their market share increase, but Airbus more so, eventually accounting for more than half of all aircraft in the region and Boeing accounting for just over a third. These latest aircraft orders add to an already substantial order backlog by airlines in the region. Most of the orders are concentrated in the hands of the Gulf region’s three largest sixth-freedom airlines: Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Emirates. The 163 orders from the show were from airlines and leasing companies and had a combined total value at list prices of just under USD32 billion.

Pembroke CCO Kieran Corr sees strong value in Asia, leasing industry shift from west to east

With 22 aircraft on lease to Asian carriers, Pembroke Group CCO Kieran Corr believes there is strong value in the region and has agreed to acquire a further 11 aircraft in sale and leaseback transactions with Asian carriers. In this exclusive CAPA interview, the CCO discusses the company’s strong growth in fleet in 2010, the outlook for B777-200s, and the LCC sector.