Good morning, friends. The news cycle has slowed considerably, but there’s a handful of aviation updates emerging from the second day of the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai to delve into.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK-
Etihad Cargo is hosting the MiPharma Global Conference in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism through to Friday at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, according to a press release. The networking event highlights Abu Dhabi's growing significance as a global pharma logistics hub, bringing together international stakeholders active in pharma supply chains to collaborate on vertical integration and boost pharma logistics.
WATCH THIS SPACE-
#1- A new international airport in Egypt: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has issued a legislation allocating 7.5 mn sqm state-owned land plot on Egypt’s Northwest coast of Matrouh to the Aviation Ministry to build an international airport, according to the country’s Official Gazette.
#2- Iraq’s Nasiriyah International Airport project is to be finished within the next year, with 20% of the project completed so far, Transport Ministry spokesman Maytham Al Safi told INA. Iraq is kicking off two plans, the first is to boost airport infrastructure and maintenance at airports in Baghdad, Basra and Najaf, while the second sees Iraq collaborating with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to rehabilitate Baghdad Airport, undergo expansions, or build a new airport, Al Safi said.
#3- Qatar Airways and Royal Jordan are set to resume Libya flights this month after a decade-long hiatus, according to a statement released earlier this week. Discussions to resume flights with Saudia are underway, Libyan Transport Minister Mohamed Al-Shahoubi said. The move comes following Libya’s efforts to lift the ban on flights to Libya.
#4- Boeing jet parts held up by Russian sanctions are leading to delivery delays for 787 Dreamliners, The Wall Street Journal reports. A supplier of temperature-regulating parts for the aircraft, RTX Collins Aerospace, has ceased its operations in Russia and shifted production to the West. The supplier's new factory lines in the US and the UK are not currently manufacturing at a rate that can keep up with Boeing’s increased production of wide-body jets leading to a decreased supply of heat exchangers. The company is warning investors that it will not be delivering as many Dreamliner jets as anticipated this year.
ON A RELATED NOTE- The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into Boeing’s 787 dreamliner to confirm if “company employees may have falsified aircraft records,” after the firm said employees had committed “misconduct” by falsely claiming some tests had been completed, Reuters reports, citing an FAA statement. The investigation will look into whether Boeing confirmed that there was sufficient bonding and grounding where the wings join the fuselage on its 787 Dreamliner aircrafts.
#5- The EU has proposed restrictions on 11 ships Russia is using to sustain its war efforts against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports. The sanctions, if approved by member states, would ban the vessels from accessing EU ports and anchorage zones and bar them from using European companies for various operational services. This would apply to technical assistance and ins., including “bunkering, ship supply services, crew change services, cargo loading and discharge services, fendering and tug services,” according to a document seen by Bloomberg.
BACKGROUND- The move comes amid the EU’s efforts to crack down on Russia’s circumvention of the G7 price cap on oil. In a similar move, the US began imposing sanctions last November on shipping firms accused of transporting Russian crude priced above the USD 60 per barrel G7 price cap.
MARKET WATCH-
#1- Oil fell this morning in early trading on the back of increased stockpiles of US crude and fuel and anticipation rising ahead of OPEC+ meeting in June, Reuters reports. Brent crude futures fell 0.36% to USD 82.86 a barrel by 03.48 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropped 0.32% at USD 78.13 a barrel, the newswire says.
#2-Drewry’s Multipurpose Time Charter index surpasses April expectations: The Drewry Multipurpose Time Charter Index — which tracks one-year period charter rates across various sizes of breakbulk and cargo vessels — now stands at USD 9,048 per day (pd), above April’s USD 8,850 pd forecast, with the boost attributed to disruptions at the Suez and Panama canals, Drewry reports. The time charter index is expected to hold steady in May, with a possible slight increase.
OUR NEXT CONFERENCE IN CAIRO-
Foreign investors are falling in love with Egypt again… Foreign investors we speak with (debt, equity, and strategic alike) have growing appetite for Egypt. They’re buying into local debt, eyeing promising shares, and committing bns of USD to both new ventures here and the growth of their existing businesses. They like the Egypt story that’s taking shape after the float of the EGP, and its competitive advantages are clear to many of them: It’s a massive consumer opportunity and a regional export hub of tomorrow.
The Enterprise Optimism Forum 2024 will do exactly what it says on the tin: Spark conversations about a future that sees Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the the UAE at the heart of a more vital Middle East economy — and provide an early, actionable roadmap for those who are “long Egypt.”
We’ll be talking with you about the agenda over the coming couple of weeks. It features speakers from Egypt and abroad who are future-proofing their businesses and angling to capture tomorrow’s opportunities — and who aren’t afraid to answer some tough questions.
*** Interested in attending? Tap or click here to let us know. Seating is limited.
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CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-
The UAE will host The Airport Show from Tuesday, 14 May through to Thursday, 16 May in Dubai. The event brings together airport suppliers, airport service providers, aviation executives, and regional decision makers to explore current innovations and new technologies.
Iran will host the International Exhibition of Rail Transportation and RelatedIndustries from Saturday 18 May to Tuesday 21 May in Tehran. The exhibition looks to attract domestic and international firms to showcase Iran’s local rail manufacturing capabilities and to acquaint industry players with developments made in the industry worldwide.
The UAE will host The Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit from Monday, 20 May to Wednesday, 22 May in Abu Dhabi. The event will see industry leaders come together to discuss sustainable mobility and tapping into groundbreaking advancements in electric vehicles while engaging with key decision-makers.
Barbados will hostUNCTAD’sGlobal Supply Chain Forum from Tuesday, 21 May to Friday, 24 May in Bridgetown. UNCTAD is holding the event in collaboration with the Government of Barbados, which aims to evaluate the role global supply chains have in supporting economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing poverty. Global industry leaders, policymakers and experts will convene to discuss forthcoming issues and explore innovative solutions.
Oman will host the Comex Technology Show from Monday, 27 May to Saturday, 30 May in Muscat. The event will see representation from industry leaders and decision makers to showcase buyer potential in innovative technology, in transportation, logistics, energy and healthcare sectors.
Egypt will host ProPak MENA from Sunday, 26 May to Tuesday, 28 May in Cairo. The conference will see F&B manufacturing industry professionals network and discover the latest equipment and logistic solutions for processing and packaging.
Check out our full calendar at the bottom of this email for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events and news triggers.




