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Why did the UAE place the largest Rafale order?

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Why is there no two-seater Rafale variant for the naval version?

The UAE ordered 80 Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters from France on Friday, bolstering economic and political ties with France through a 17 billion euro ($19.20 billion) arms purchase.

The largest-ever foreign sale of the French warplane was inked as French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day trip to the Gulf, where he would also visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

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The UAE will become 6th international operator of the Rafale aircraft. In 2018 Qatar is ordered 36 rafael aircraft as of now February 2020, 25 were delivered.

The Rafale order is the largest placed for the aircraft on a global scale since it entered service in 2004.

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By purchasing the Dassault Rafales, the UAE is following in the footsteps of Gulf rival Qatar, which has purchased 36 of the planes, and Egypt, which ordered 24 in 2015 and 30 earlier this year.

The F4 model planes will be delivered beginning in 2027, after a €2-billion development programme that is expected to be completed in 2024.

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It is the biggest bulk purchase of the Dassault-made Rafale, other than by the French army, and comes after deals in Greece, Egypt and Croatia this year.

12 Caracal helicopters were also ordered by Abu Dhabi. It’s the French code name for the H225M, the Super Puma’s multirole military version.

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The Rafale will replace the Mirage 2000 fleet, but it is unlikely to replace the American-built F-35, according to defense sources, as the UAE continues to hedge its security with two key suppliers, France and the United States.

What makes Dassaults Rafale fighter jet so special?

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Nonetheless, the agreement might be interpreted as a sign of impatience as the US Congress considers whether or not to approve an F-35 purchase due to worries about the UAE’s relationship with China, notably the country’s use of Huawei 5G technology.

“Despite the UAE’s main role in the atrocity-plagued military operations spearheaded by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, France is proceeding with these purchases,” Human Rights Watch said in a statement. “The French president should condemn the breaches of human rights in these three countries.”

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Because of the fight in Yemen between a Saudi-led coalition and Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, which has turned into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters, Paris has been under increasing pressure to reconsider its military supplies.

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British Airways will be the sole airline offering full business class suites on routes between the UK & Japan

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British Airways will be the sole airline offering full business class suites on routes between the UK & Japan

British Airways launching its latest business class Club Suite cabin, on flights between London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda. From 31 October, it will be the only airline offering a business class suite with a full privacy door on direct flights between the UK and Japan. Club Suite has been designed to offer privacy, comfort, and space for customers wanting to work, rest, and play.  

Emirates launches new exclusive lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport(Opens in a new browser tab)

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Chefs have designed commemorative dishes for all four cabins based on heritage menus from the airline’s enormous collection, which will be served on Heathrow to Haneda flights from September 1 to October 31. Customers will be able to experience the most popular foods served on the route in 1969 – beef stroganoff and beef cheek okaribayaki – and the airline has also produced a festive cherry meringue gateau, the characteristic dessert enjoyed by flyers on the London to Anchorage segment that same year.

Emirates Resume Tokyo Haneda Flights(Opens in a new browser tab)

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In a 1-2-1 layout, the airline’s Club Suite flat-bed seat provides direct aisle access and a suite door for increased privacy. boasting an impressive 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screen, WiFi, a vanity stand with a mirror, and 40% extra storage. The B777-300ER* fleet’s BA6 and BA5 flights will provide the most recent business class seats. Across the Club World cabin, customers enjoy a luxurious plush pillow and warm quilt from The White Company, an amenity kit and an improved dining experience.

Customers flying in the airline’s First cabin to and from Tokyo starting on September 1 will enjoy the most luxurious service available, including custom loungewear and amenity kits created by Temperley London, a high-end British fashion label, as well as goods from ELEMIS, including the renowned ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN range and bedding made from recycled plastic bottles.

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Air France-KLM Orders 90 Airbus A350 Long-Range Aircraft

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Air France-KLM Orders 90 Airbus A350 Long-Range Aircraft

The Air France-KLM Group has today stated that it intends to place a historic aircraft order in an effort to modernize and simplify its long-haul fleet, enhancing the Group’s economic and environmental performance.

First deliveries of the 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft under this group order are scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2030, with the option to purchase a further 40 aircraft. In accordance with market dynamics and regional regulatory frameworks, the Group will have the flexibility to assign aircraft among its portfolio of airlines under this evolving order.

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Air France-KLM is interested in a codeshare for IndiGo’s foreign flights.(Opens in a new browser tab)

These aircraft will replace previous-generation aircraft, namely Airbus A330 and older Boeing 777 aircraft. This new order will come in addition to an existing Air France-KLM order for 41 Airbus A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have been delivered to date. With these combined orders, covering up to 99 aircraft, Air France-KLM would become the world’s largest A350 family aircraft operator.

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The Airbus A350 symbolizes the transition to a more sustainable air transport industry. The aircraft consumes 25% less fuel than an equivalent-sized, previous-generation aircraft, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.

Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways expand partnership to enhance commercial and operational collaboration(Opens in a new browser tab)

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By 2028, the share of new-generation aircraft in the Air France-KLM fleet will reach 64%, compared to 5% in 2019. Air France-KLM was flying 533 aircraft as of September 25, 2023, to more than 300 locations across the world. After placing this order, the Group will have over 220 aircraft on order, including 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with maiden deliveries anticipated by the end of 2023.

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Airbus announces plans to hire 1,000 Employees across the UK

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Airbus announces plans to hire 1,000 Employees across the UK

Airbus, a major player in the aerospace industry, has announced ambitions to hire an additional 1,100 workers in the UK. Positions available include those for robotics engineers, manufacturing engineers, cryogenics system engineers, project and programme managers, software engineers, and cyber security engineers.

Air France-KLM orders four A350Fs to modernize the fleet of Martinair, part of KLM Group(Opens in a new browser tab)

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Airbus is the largest civil aerospace company in the UK, the largest exporter of civil aerospace products, the largest provider of large aircraft to the Royal Air Force, and the manufacturer of about 50% of the country’s civil helicopter fleet. Airbus has more than 25 locations throughout the UK.

The report finds that Airbus remains a significant part of the UK’s larger industrial manufacturing capabilities, supporting economic success, after assessing the influence of Airbus in areas including jobs, investment, research and development (R&D), supply chain, and sovereign capability.

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Emirates’ Boeing 777 Fleet Tops 859,000 Flights..!(Opens in a new browser tab)

Key highlights from Oxford Economics’ analysis found that:

  • As a major employer in Britain, Airbus directly employs nearly 12,000 across its Commercial, Defence and Space and Helicopters divisions, and expects to hire a further 1,000 across the UK.79,000 jobs indirectly supported by Airbus in the UK, across the transport equipment manufacturing, business services and wholesale and retail trade sectors.In 2022 alone, Airbus recognised the need to constantly invest in growth across the UK, spending £3.9 billion with UK suppliers.Airbus is supporting the UK’s ambition to become a Science and Technology Superpower, spending nearly £277 million on R&D in 2022, contributing to the technological advancement of both Britain and the wider aerospace industry.In 2022, 50% of Airbus’ suppliers were SMEs, and the Company spent an average of £103,100 with micro firms (40% of average turnover).
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