Qatar Airways not interested in new acquisitions - Al Baker

IATA boss warns Pakistan over $290mn in blocked funds

Pakistan owed foreign airlines approximately USD290 million as of the end of January 2023, according to Philip Goh, the International Air Transport Association's (IATA's) Asia-Pacific regional vice president.

Goh was quoted in multiple South Asian media outlets over the weekend addressing the challenges of repatriating funds out of Pakistan. The country is holding hard currency reserves of about USD4 billion, enough to cover only around 30 days worth of imports, and that is compelling Pakistan's central bank to make it very difficult to export US dollars out of the country.

“Airlines are facing long delays before they are able to repatriate their funds," he said in his IATA role. “Some airlines still have funds stuck in Pakistan from sales in 2022. If conditions persist that make the economics of operation to the country unsustainable, one would expect airlines to put their valued aircraft assets to better use elsewhere."

The cited sum of USD290 million is a 33% increase in the total amount airlines had stuck in Pakistan at the end of 2022. In addition to the challenges...

Editorial Comment: Adjusted Mr Goh's job title - 21.03.2023 - 12:17 UTC

US DOT mulls banning Chinese airlines overflying Russia

The US Department of Transportation has drafted a policy proposal that would ban Chinese airlines overflying Russian airspace from operating to and from the United States, sources briefed on the proposal have told The New York Times.

The draft was reportedly presented to the national security team, but it has yet to be published or officially acknowledged. The Biden Administration is currently reportedly evaluating the potential diplomatic fallout from imposing such a ban, which would likely significantly antagonise China.

The news follows a lobbying offensive by Airlines for America, an industry group for US carriers. The airlines and policymakers have been lobbying in Washington for weeks to restrict foreign airlines from using Russian airspace on their flights to the US. They argue that the ability to use Russian airspace gives foreign carriers an unfair advantage and also poses a safety risk to US passengers on board in case of a potential diversion.

Airlines from the United States, the European Union, and several allied countries were banned from Russian airspace in March 2022. The ban was a response...

Airbus's February 2023 order book changes revealed

MBS confirms Riyadh Air as new carrier, nears Boeing deal

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (MBS) has confirmed the country's new flag carrier will be called Riyadh Air (Riyadh) amid reports in the Wall Street Journal that the start-up's backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), is nearing a large order with Boeing.

MBS, who serves as the country's prime minister, the chairman of the PIF, and its de facto ruler, did not reveal any further details about Riyadh Air's launch plans other than to say it will to serve 100 destinations mostly in Asia, Africa, and Europe from its Riyadh hub by 2030. In line with the country's Vision 2030 strategy, Riyadh Air will focus on inbound leisure traffic and will also seek to expand outbound connectivity from Saudi Arabia, boost cargo capacity, and turn Riyadh into a leading connecting hub.

Despite earlier rumours about his departure from the company, Tony Douglas remains Riyadh Air's chief executive having left regional rival Etihad Aviation Group. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of PIF, will be Riyadh Air's board chairman. Douglas...