AVIATION-

American aircraft maker Pratt & Whitney launches Morocco affiliate: US aircraft maker and RTX subsidiary Pratt & Whitney will launch a Moroccan affiliate, Pratt & Whitney Maroc (PWM), in Casablanca to manufacture detailed static and structural machine parts for various engine models, according to a press release. The 130k sqf greenfield facility — which will be located inside Casablanca’s MidParc Freezone, will commence construction in 4Q 2023 and launch in 2025. The move aims to bring the company closer to its African customers and partners, the press release said.

Etihad Cargo and China’s SF Airlines have inked an MOU building upon a reciprocal block space agreement reached in April, according to an Etihad Cargo statement. The expanded agreement, which will see the two sides work to boost cargo volumes shipped via their partnership, comes in light of increased demand from customers in the UAE, China, and around the world, the statement said. There are also plans to establish cooperative flights to Ezhou Huahu Airport, China's first cargo-focused airport, which would make Etihad Airways the first international airline to operate flights at the airport.

ICYMI- April saw Etihad Cargo and SF Airlines ink a reciprocal capacity agreement that connected their respective networks. The inaugural flight for the new route linking Etihad Cargo’s hub in Abu Dhabi with SF Airlines’ Wuhan hub touched down at Abu Dhabi Airport at the end of April.

Kuwait Airways and Rolls-Royce have signed a TotalCare agreement for the maintenance and performance of the Rolls-Royce 700 engine,which powers the airline’s fleet of A330 neos,according to a statement. Theagreement will help the airline reach its strategic objectives of “optimizing our engine operations, increasing our fuel efficiencies, and enhancing the maintenance planning across our fleet,” said Kuwait Airways Chairman Ali Al Dukhan.

Riyadh Air has signed an agreement at the Paris Air Show for 90 GEnx engines to power its new Boeing 787 fleet, according to a press release. The GEnx engines are scheduled for delivery by 2025, the release said, without revealing the value of the agreement. The engine provides 1.4% fuel burn savings equating to USD 300k per airplane per year compared to its competition, which should lower CO2 emissions by 2 mn pounds per aircraft annually, according to the press release. The technology used in the GEnx uses lightweight, durable materials and advanced design processes to reduce weight, improve performance, and lower maintenance, making it a suitable engine for long haul flights, the press release said.

Iraqi Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-8, according to a Boeing tweet accompanied by a video showing the aircraft being painted in the carrier’s green and white livery. Iraq’s national carrier is still awaiting delivery of nine more 787s, including a 787-9, which is the aircraft family’s largest variant, after taking delivery of four 737 MAXs so far this year, according to Boeing’s orders and deliveries report.

STARTUP WATCH-

Dubai-based B2B micro-mobility firm Terra has introduced its first electric motorbike fleet,becoming the MENA region’s first B2B-focused startup to launch electric motorbikes with swappable battery solutions, according to a press release. “As our bikes undergo final testing, our focus has shifted towards finalizing agreements with prominent partners in the UAE’s last-mile sector. We have received a positive response to our solutions, and numerous partners are eager to invest in the future,” Founder and Managing Director of Terra Hussam Zammar said. The startup had raised an undisclosed pre-seed investment from Saudi, American and British angel investors earlier this year.

About the startup: Founded in 2021, Terra provides energy-efficient motorbikes through a subscription model to enterprises, particularly in the delivery sector.

E-COMMERCE-

Qatar’s postal servicehas introduced a robotic sorting system that processes packages four times faster, Qatar News Agency reports. The system will cover numerous services including e-government envelopes, postal parcels, and e-commerce items of various weights. The new system should “greatly enhance the speed of processing incoming postal materials while reducing potential human errors associated with manual work,” Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Post Faleh Mohammed Al Nuaimi was quoted as saying.

In detail: The system can process 4.5k-5k packages an hour and serves over 50 home delivery routes, ensuring coverage in all the country’s regions. The system uses 70 robots to process packages weighing anything below 30 kg and measuring “60 cm in size.”

ALSO WORTH KNOWING-

  • Qatari Transport Minister Jassim Al Sulaiti, CEO of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker, and Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury met during the Paris Air Show to discuss developing cooperation between the two companies. (Statement)
  • Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and French shipping giant CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé discussed expanding the company’s participation across Egypt in maritime transport and managing additional ports, including operating logistics areas and terminals. (Transport Ministry Statement)
  • Emirati maritime firmAl Seer Marinehas acquired its first very large gas carrier (VLGC), Lucky Gas, from Hyundai Heavy Industries, as part of a AED 495 mn transaction signed in 2021 by ABGC, a JV between Al Seer Marine and BGN International. A second VLGC, North Gas, will be delivered in September this year as part of the transaction. (Press release)
  • The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has launched a new customer service center allowing customers to track the status of their tickets and rate their experience, alongside new features on its website including quick chat, callback requests, and filing complaints. (Statement)
  • Mawaniand Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (ZATCA) have agreed to regulate joint activities and execute service operations and automation mechanisms at King Abdulaziz Port, King Fahad Industrial Ports in Yanbu and Jubail, Jubail Commercial Port, Yanbu Commercial Port, and Jazan Port.(Statement)
  • Ambassadors, advisors, and charge d'affaires from Latin American countries visited Qatar's Hamad Port, where they were briefed on the port's facilities and future plans, and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in the ports sector. (Statement)
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