Aviation Transport

UAE moves closer to commercial eVTOL air taxis as Archer Aviation completes first Midnight test flight in Abu Dhabi

Arnold Pinto 07/08/2025

In peak summer conditions Archer Aviation has completed the first test flight of its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Midnight, at Al Bateen Executive Airport, marking a major step in the UAE’s plans to introduce commercial air taxi services. The flight, carried out

Aviation Business Corporate

Joby Aviation acquires Blade passenger business for $125 million

Arnold Pinto 06/08/2025

As Dubai readies for eVTOL flights Joby Aviation has signed a deal to acquire Blade Air Mobility’s passenger services arm in a move that positions the electric aircraft developer to accelerate commercial air taxi operations, including its first launch in Dubai in 2026. The agreement, announced on August 4, 2025, is valued at up to […]

Aviation Energy Sustainability

Radia is developing the WindRunner – the world’s largest aircraft – for green energy and defence verticals

Arnold Pinto 03/08/2025

Amid a global airlift gap Aerospace and energy firm Radia has begun building what is set to become the world’s largest cargo aircraft, aiming to address critical shortfalls in global oversized freight transport and expand the reach of clean energy projects. Known as the WindRunner, the aircraft is being designed to carry extremely large cargo […]

Aviation Logistics

China approves ‘CarryAll’ – the world’s first heavy-lift eVTOL platform

Arnold Pinto 31/07/2025

As UAE eyes low-altitude air mobility A Chinese-manufactured electric aircraft capable of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) has become the first of its kind, weighing over one tonne, to receive full airworthiness certification. The development is seen as a key step toward the commercial rollout of cargo and aerial mobility systems across global markets, including […]

Aviation Cybersecurity Travel

Massive cyberattack forces mass flight cancellations at Aeroflot

Arnold Pinto 28/07/2025

Pro-Ukrainian hackers claim responsibility Russia’s flagship airline, Aeroflot, cancelled over 50 flights on June 28, 2025, following what authorities have confirmed was a cyberattack, allegedly carried out by a pro-Ukrainian hacking group. The disruption hit Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The Kremlin has described the

Aviation Sustainability Transport

Stratospheric solar drone passes major safety test in Germany

Arnold Pinto 21/07/2025

Ahead of 2026 flight trials A solar-powered high-altitude drone designed to fly at the edge of space has passed a critical ground test, marking a key step in its development for environmental monitoring and communications. The aircraft, named HAP-alpha, is being developed by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and is expected to begin low-altitude flight […]

Aviation Business

Gulf Air strikes deal for 18 Boeing 787s

Arnold Pinto 20/07/2025

In major fleet expansion Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has agreed to purchase up to 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in a significant expansion of its long-haul fleet. The deal includes 12 firm orders with options for six additional jets. The announcement was made on July 18, 2025, during an official signing ceremony […]

Aviation Defence & Security Tech

US races to mass-produce battlefield drones

Arnold Pinto 18/07/2025

Amid global drone arms surge The United States is stepping up efforts to produce and deploy low-cost drones at scale as it faces mounting pressure to match rivals in unmanned warfare, US defence officials have confirmed. Eighteen American-made drone prototypes were displayed at the Pentagon on July 16, 2025, marking a shift toward faster and […]

Aviation Business Travel

Wizz Air pulls out of Abu Dhabi amid geopolitical strains and mounting losses

Arnold Pinto 16/07/2025

From September 1, 2025 Budget airline Wizz Air will shut down its Abu Dhabi operations from September 1, 2025, ending a five-year venture that struggled to gain ground amid growing regional tensions and financial headwinds. The Hungarian carrier confirmed the closure of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, a joint venture with the UAE’s ADQ, after persistent […]

Aviation Lifestyle Travel

This airline cabin bag guide will save you from fees in the Middle East

News Desk 13/07/2025

How 10 major carriers compare A new wave of strict cabin baggage rules is catching travellers by surprise. Airlines around the world enforce varying limits on size and weight. This story breaks down what 10 leading carriers allow, with special focus on flights connected to the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East. Emirates caps […]

Aviation Defence & Security Travel

US drops ‘shoes-off’ airport rule in major security policy shift

Arnold Pinto 10/07/2025

For domestic flights within the US The United States will no longer require domestic air travellers to remove their shoes during security screening, following a policy change announced by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The move is expected to reduce passenger wait times and ease congestion at airport security checkpoints. The change applies only to […]

Aviation Defence & Security Logistics

Urban-Air Port and Axis Aerospace target growing UAV defence market

Arnold Pinto 06/07/2025

With new launch platforms UK-based advanced VTOL & UAV launch and logistics infrastructure firm Urban-Air Port (UAP) has entered into a strategic agreement with drone developer Axis Aerospace to develop launch and logistics systems for uncrewed aerial vehicles, ahead of the DSEi 2025 defence exhibition in London. The partnership focuses on enhancing the operational use

Aviation Defence & Security

Raytheon secures $1.6 billion in US Navy contracts

Arnold Pinto 05/07/2025

For missile and radar systems The US Navy has awarded two contracts totalling $1.64 billion to Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, to boost production of the AIM-9X Block II missile and expand deployment of the Spy-6 radar system across the American naval fleet. The larger of the two contracts, valued at $1.1 billion, is […]

Aviation Defence & Security Events

Global air chiefs to gather in Dubai as Middle East focuses on air defence and drone threats

Arnold Pinto 04/07/2025

At key international meet Air chiefs from around the world will convene in Dubai later this year for the 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs’ Conference (DIACC), with regional and global tensions driving renewed interest in air power, missile defence, and unmanned systems. The conference, scheduled to take place on November 16, 2025, […]

Aviation Cybersecurity Travel

You may be affected as Qantas confirms unprecedented data breach

Arnold Pinto 03/07/2025

Impacting 6 million customer records Qantas Airways has confirmed that a cyberattack on one of its third-party contact centres has compromised customer data, affecting up to six million service records. The Australian airline has not specified which vendor operates the compromised platform or whether that provider also services other airlines in the Asia-Pacific or Middle

Aviation Sustainability Transport

Joby Aviation completes first piloted eVTOL air taxi flights in Dubai

Arnold Pinto 30/06/2025

Ahead of 2026 launch Joby Aviation completed the first piloted test flights of its electric air taxi in Dubai on June 30, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the development of the UAE’s advanced air mobility ambitions. The Santa Cruz, California-based company aims to launch commercial services in the Gulf emirate by 2026. The tests, […]

Aviation Energy

Airbus selects Engie to lead decarbonisation of its European operations

Arnold Pinto 30/06/2025

Involving 22 sites Airbus has selected the French energy group Engie to lead a large-scale decarbonisation project across its 22 industrial sites in Europe, aiming to reduce energy use and carbon emissions significantly by 2030. The move is part of Airbus’s broader sustainability strategy, with potential implications for aerospace supply chains in the Middle East

Aviation Defence & Security Tech

Airbus and Quantum Systems expand military drone cooperation

Arnold Pinto 27/06/2025

To boost European defence autonomy Airbus Defence and Space and Germany-based Quantum Systems signed a memorandum of understanding at the 2025 Paris Air Show aimed at strengthening their strategic collaboration on military drone and reconnaissance technologies. The agreement focuses on developing systems to support European defence autonomy in the face of evolving

Aviation BREAKING NEWS Defence & Security

Pentagon reveals details of Operation ‘Midnight Hammer’ strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities

Arnold Pinto 22/06/2025

Involving over 125 US aircraft Pentagon, Washington, D.C. – June 22, 2025: In an extraordinary press briefing held this morning at the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General Dan Caine, provided detailed insights into a covert and highly coordinated military operation conducted by […]

Aviation BREAKING NEWS Defence & Security

US B-2 stealth bombers could shift the balance if conflict with Iran escalates

Arnold Pinto 22/06/2025

Units head to towards staging posts This story was filed hours before the US launched unprecedented strikes against strategic nuclear sites across Iran, on June 21, 2025. ith tensions between Israel and Iran continuing to escalate, the deployment of US Air Force B-2 stealth bombers to locations near the two conflict-ridden countries has sparked new […]