Asian carriers hit as gov'ts restrict int'l flights

Malta's Air Atlanta Europe seeks US traffic rights

Air Atlanta Europe (AAE, Malta Int'l) has applied for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) and exemption authority to commence scheduled and charter flights for passengers, cargo, and mail between European Union member states and the United States, and beyond according to a United States Department of Transportation (DOT) filing lodged this month. It has not stated when it intends to begin service to the United States.

The Maltese start-up was issued its Operating License and Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) on September 30, by the Civil Aviation Directorate of Malta. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Atlanta has undertaken this move to improve its strategy in the ACMI market, chief executive Baldvin M. Hermannsson said in a press release last year.

Its sister carrier, Air Atlanta Icelandic (CC, Reykjavik Keflavik), was founded in 1986 and operates three B747-400s (two inactive), one B747-400(BCF) (active), five B747-400(BDSF)s (two in service for Saudia and one for Astral Aviation) , three B747-400(FSCD)s (one active for Saudia and one for Astral)...

Malta's Air Atlanta Europe completes certification

Oman Air to seek Oneworld membership

Oman Air (WY, Muscat) has announced plans to join the Oneworld alliance and has approached Qatar Airways to sponsor its application, Reuters has reported.

"As the industry recovers from COVID, airline alliances are going to be more important than ever. This will provide us with excellent global connectivity, a seamless travel experience and more valuable loyalty offerings for our guests," the Omani state-owned carrier said.

Akbar al Baker, the Chief Executive of Qatar Airways Group, has also held the post of the Chairman of Oneworld since May 2021.

Neither Oman Air nor Oneworld disclosed any tentative accession timeline.

Oneworld currently has 14 full airline members but including all subsidiaries and affiliates, its membership numbers 37 carriers. Besides Qatar Airways, other Middle Eastern and Northern African members include Royal Jordanian and Royal Air Maroc (which joined the alliance in early 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 crisis). The last carrier to join Oneworld was Alaska Airlines, which became a member on March 31, 2021. The ch-aviation capacities...

Saudia to take delivery of first A321neo(XLR)s in 2024

Saudia (SV, Jeddah) will take delivery of its first of fifteen A321-200NX(XLR)s on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) in 2024, chief executive Ibrahim al-Koshy has said.

During a two-day event held at the SAUDIA Club at the airline’s headquarters in Jeddah last month, Koshy said that the entire consignment of longhaul-capable jets would be in place by the end of 2026 and that they would be deployed on regional, European, and Asian routes.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows Saudia also has twenty A321-200Ns on order along with twenty-eight A320-200Ns (which will go to budget carrier flyadeal). It is an existing A321-200 operator with 15 of the type currently in service.

Earlier this year, Saudia raised SAR11.2 billion Saudi riyals (USD3 billion) from several Arab banks to finance its planned acquisition of 70 new aircraft.