dnata Logistics to expand UAE footprint: dnata Logistics has broken ground on a new, 57,000m² warehouse in Dubai South, the largest single-urban master development focusing on aviation, logistics and real estate. Strategically located near Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), dnata Logistics’ expansion will significantly contribute to the growth and success of the emirate as a key international logistics hub. The facility, which represents an investment of AED 100 million (US$27 million), will provide a major boost to the company’s operational capabilities amid rising demand for cargo and logistics services in the region. Capable of processing 400,000 tonnes of cargo annually, it will increase dnata Logistics’ storage capacity by 50% and create over 50 new, direct jobs with the company. The facility will be equipped with the latest technologies, including automated systems for cargo storage and retrieval (ASRS), and truck loading and offloading. An AI-driven warehouse management system (WMS) will also be implemented, delivering superior efficiency and value for partners. Construction of the warehouse is underway, with completion scheduled for November 2025. Including its newest facility, dnata Logistics will offer world-class services from 11 locations in the UAE.
Etihad, Air Sychelles sign codeshare: Etihad Airways and Air Seychelles have entered into a codeshare agreement, allowing customers to travel seamlessly on a single booking between all of Etihad’s destinations and Mahe, Seychelles connecting via the impressive Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Etihad customers will have access to exotic destinations such as Praslin and Mauritius via Air Seychelles direct service beyond Mahe. Etihad and Air Seychelles will collaborate on the six flights per week between Abu Dhabi and Mahe starting May 2025. Under the codeshare agreement, travellers can look forward to a great flight experience with the same baggage allowance and a choice of complimentary food and drink, as well as inflight entertainment, with members of Etihad Guest earning miles on each flight. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: “This exciting agreement offers Etihad Airways’ guests increased frequency and convenience for travel between Abu Dhabi and Seychelles, and onward to Mauritius. The flights will integrate seamlessly with Etihad’s global network, enhancing connectivity for passengers of both airlines. This collaboration not only enhances travel options but also strengthens the relationship between the two airlines, promising a superior travel experience for all passengers.”
flydubai receives GCAA CAR 147 certification: flydubai has received the GCAA CAR 147 Approved Maintenance Training Organisation certification, enabling it to run its in-house maintenance and engineering training and certification. The CAR 147 training certification is a regulatory framework established by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in the UAE, which allows the airline to provide approved training for aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians. The certification ensures that the training programmes meet specific standards and requirements set by the GCAA, aligning with international aviation standards and recommended practices. Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director General of the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), said: “granting flydubai a maintenance training organisation approval represents a major advancement in the educational infrastructure to train and qualify skilled professionals in the civil aviation sector. This initiative also strengthens our national capabilities in this field, aligning with the highest international standards.” Al Suwaidi continued: “it is essential for organisations to keep pace with rapid changes in the aviation industry by updating their training programmes and enhancing their capabilities. By enabling the airline to prepare highly qualified engineers and technicians, flydubai will significantly contribute to the aviation sector in the country and provide the necessary competencies in this vital field.”
SITA, Red Sea International announced partnership: SITA announced a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Airport (RSI), becoming one of the Specialised Airport Systems (SAS) providers for the airport’s new Main Terminal Building. This marks a milestone in the growing collaboration between RSI and SITA, following SITA’s work on the successful deployment of the airport’s Air Taxi Terminal. RSI is a pivotal part of The Red Sea destination, developed by Red Sea Global. By 2030, the airport is expected to serve one million guests annually, with a peak capacity of 900 passengers per hour. A digitally powered passenger journey will be instrumental to handling this level of traffic while avoiding bottlenecks and keeping the passenger journey smooth and pleasant. Under this new agreement, SITA will deliver smart solutions powering everything from passenger processing to baggage reconciliation, airport operations, and beyond. SITA Flex and SITA’s Maestro departure control system together will automate check-in and departure processes and allow passengers to use their mobile device as their remote control for the journey. SITA Bag Manager will provide advanced baggage reconciliation; tracking every bag loaded onto a plane, ULD, or cart in real time throughout the airport, the solution will offer passengers peace of mind and free up staff to focus on more complex tasks. A suite of airport management solutions will ensure RSI harnesses the power of data to monitor and swiftly reallocate resources where they are most needed, while SITA’s Information Display Systems will keep passengers fully informed with down-to-the-minute flight updates.
BlueBox Systems expands tracking platform with new functions: BlueBox Systems, one of the leading developers of intelligent freight tracking solutions, has further developed its BlueBoxCargo tracking platform. The new features include the tracking of CO₂ emissions for sea freight, simplified shipment registration for smaller customers and extended analysis options that further optimize decision-making for customers. This includes, for example, a new routing function for air freight customers. The enhancements give customers access to even more precise and comprehensive data and make the platforms even easier and more flexible to use – even for smaller companies. Thanks to the latest upgrades, BlueBox Systems’ customers now have access to detailed emission reports for sea freight on the BlueBoxCargo user interface (UI) and API. BlueBox Systems is working with a trusted partner who already provides the air cargo emissions data. The calculations include not only the main port-to-port route, but also the pre-carriage and on-carriage routes, as well as all stopovers, which are essential for a holistic view of emissions. The calculation also considers additional information, such as the type of vessel, which affects fuel efficiency. Customers receive emissions reports on a per-container basis and can also get a complete overview on dashboards. In addition, BlueBoxCargo customers can now use a new routing feature to evaluate alternative flight routes in terms of transit time and CO2 emissions. This allows customers to plan their shipments in advance and select the optimal route and airline based on various criteria such as flight route, total travel time or CO2 emissions. The routing feature helps carriers plan more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint.
Lufthansa Technik invests in new location in Portugal: Lufthansa Technik announced it is investing in a new location in Portugal. The construction of a new facility roughly 35 kilometres south of Porto will further expand Lufthansa Technik’s capacities for the repair of engine parts and aircraft components in line with the company’s strategy. The future plant of Lufthansa Technik Portugal is expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and will be equipped with the latest technologies in the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) industry. The company will create more than 700 jobs which interested candidates can apply for as early as next year. Lufthansa Technik recently acquired the 230,000 square meter property in the “Lusopark” business park in Santa Maria da Feira and acknowledged the signing of the purchase agreement together with representatives from politics and business in Portugal. Teams from Lufthansa Technik worked for several months to find the ideal location for this multi-million euro investment. Cooperation with the Portuguese government, represented by the trade and investment agency AICEP (Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal), and with the city of Santa Maria da Feira was extremely collaborative – both organizations provided Lufthansa Technik with strong support in an intensive process.
IATA’s Turbulence Aware platform adds partners: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that interest in its Turbulence Aware Platform continues to expand, with six airlines having joined the program in 2024. Most recently, this includes Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Scoot and Singapore Airlines. Managing turbulence will remain at the forefront of aviation safety and efficiency, given the expected rise in demand for air travel, coupled with shifting weather patterns. Turbulence Aware pools anonymized turbulence data from flights operated by participating airlines. This real-time, accurate turbulence reporting enables pilots and dispatchers to choose optimal flight paths, avoiding turbulence and flying at optimum levels to maximise fuel efficiency and thereby reduce CO2 carbon emissions. Along with growing airline participation, the data transmission scope of Turbulence Aware is expanding through agreements concluded with The Weather Company, Lufthansa Systems, PACE TXT, APiJET, BCI and Storkjet over the past 12 months. Through their existing data solutions for cockpit instruments, flight planning, and flight tracking systems, these companies now offer access to Turbulence Aware data. This enables pilots, dispatchers and flight planners to receive turbulence data directly in their main workflows, without relying on multiple screens or tools.
AMAC Aerospace partners with Airbus ACJ: AMAC Aerospace has entered into a firm relationship with Airbus ACJ for their Service Centre Network, for AMAC’s Basel HQ, Switzerland. AMAC will provide ACJ customers a wide spectrum of tailored solutions, including but not limited to: Maintenance, Engineering, VIP Cabin Refurbishment and upgrade services. The signature event took place at MEBAA 2024, in Dubai. Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets said: “We are honoured to welcome AMAC in our Service Centre Network. AMAC is a long-time trusted partner of ACJ, and their extensive expertise and proven commitment to excellence perfectly aligns with our objective to provide the highest level of care and support to ACJ operators worldwide.” Tarek Muhiddin, COO, Basel, AMAC Aerospace said “We are delighted to join ACJ’s Approved Service Center network, a milestone that we believe will further strengthen our bond and foster a deeper relationship. This underscores our commitment to excellence and our dedication to providing world-class service. We look forward to contributing to the network’s continued growth and success. Together, we aim to set new benchmarks in quality and customer satisfaction.”
Arcano Partners closes second aviation transaction: Arcano Partners, the leading independent firm in investment banking and alternative asset management in Spain, has announced the closing of the second transaction of the vehicles Arcano Aviation Fund, FCR, and Arcano Capital Aviation SCR with the acquisition of 2x Airbus narrowbody aircraft with an existing lease attached, on lease to Wizz Air, a leading European airline in short-haul traffic in Central and Eastern Europe. Arena Aviation Capital (Ireland) Limited will act as Lease Servicer and the financing has been provided by Airbus Bank. KPMG acted as legal and tax advisor and Walkers as Irish legal advisor. This specific aircraft type has traditionally been one of the most demanded and sold aircraft since the delivery of the first unit in 1993. To date, more than 2,700x aircraft of the same type have been delivered and there are orders for more than 5,000 units. “These assets have enormous reliability and are a perfect complement to our first transaction, 1x Boeing 777-300ER with Air Canada,” commented Jon Garaiyurrebaso, Managing Partner of Arcano Asset & Capital Finance (the area of Arcano Partners specialised in financing real and intangible assets, which has acted as advisor). Javier Hidalgo, Director at Arcano Partners, stated, “We will continue investing in assets in the coming months with the aim of building a diversified portfolio for our investors that generates stable and predictable cash flows in the coming years.”
Flyco updates training package: Flyco has announced updates to its “Route Competency” course package, aimed at enhancing pilot readiness for navigating diverse airspaces and regions. This package covers critical operational procedures for navigating complex environments. The course package covers North Atlantic High-Level Airspace (NAT HLA), North America Procedures, Central and South America Procedures, Africa and Middle East Procedures, Polar Operations, Russian CIS Procedures, China Procedures, Oceanic Procedures, and Worldwide Altimeter Procedures. These modules address the complexities of operating in various global regions, providing essential knowledge of regional regulations, airspace structures, and procedural requirements. This package is particularly suited for corporate jet pilots, providing knowledge of regional regulations, airspace structures, and procedural requirements. Flyco delivers this training through its e-training platform, providing users with flexible access to up-to-date content. The platform is designed to support the needs of pilots engaged in global operations.
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