Boeing Affirms Support for Safe, Sustainable Aviation Market in Saudi Arabia

Boeing’s 787 aircrafts can achieve fuel savings and emissions reductions ranging from 20-25% (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Boeing’s 787 aircrafts can achieve fuel savings and emissions reductions ranging from 20-25% (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Boeing Affirms Support for Safe, Sustainable Aviation Market in Saudi Arabia

Boeing’s 787 aircrafts can achieve fuel savings and emissions reductions ranging from 20-25% (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Boeing’s 787 aircrafts can achieve fuel savings and emissions reductions ranging from 20-25% (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Boeing Co. is looking to support the growth of the aviation sector in Saudi Arabia over the coming years, according to Omar Arekat, vice president of Boeing's Commercial Sales and Marketing for Middle East and Africa.

Arekat voiced Boeing’s admiration for Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030,” a national transformation plan which also aims to develop the kingdom into a leading tourism and travel destination.

Deals concluded with Saudi airlines, such as Saudia and Riyadh Air, are part of a larger strategic plan to transform the Kingdom into a global aviation hub, revealed Arekat.

The plan aligns with the Kingdom’s goal of providing premium air services to 330 million passengers and attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030, he explained.

Saudi carriers have recently revealed a plan to buy up to 121 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Such a decision reflects the continuation of a partnership that has lasted for almost eight decades and has been instrumental in driving innovation and sustainable development in the Saudi aviation industry.

Additionally, this purchase is expected to strengthen the capacity to provide secure and sustainable commercial air transportation for long-term agreements, affirmed Arekat.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Arekat clarified that the 787 Dreamliner family, comprising high-efficiency aircraft, offers numerous comfort benefits to passengers.

Looking to meet high demand from airlines, Boeing developed the 787 aircraft family with the objective of providing unparalleled efficiency levels, enabling airlines to generate profits by launching new flights and transporting passengers directly to their final destinations.

The 787 aircraft have a competitive edge within their category, resulting in fuel savings and emissions reductions of 20-25%.

Arekat confirmed that the Middle East is one of Boeing's most significant markets in commercial, defense, and related service fields.

Boeing’s commitment to support the region’s immense growth potential in the aviation industry, including aircraft, infrastructure development, services, and financing, is evident in the company's strategy, he added.



Libya's Eastern-based Gov't Announces Reopening of Oilfields

Libya's eastern-based government said on Thursday that oilfields and facilities would reopen (File photo by AFP)
Libya's eastern-based government said on Thursday that oilfields and facilities would reopen (File photo by AFP)
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Libya's Eastern-based Gov't Announces Reopening of Oilfields

Libya's eastern-based government said on Thursday that oilfields and facilities would reopen (File photo by AFP)
Libya's eastern-based government said on Thursday that oilfields and facilities would reopen (File photo by AFP)

Libya's eastern-based government said on Thursday that oilfields and facilities would reopen after a dispute over the leadership of the central bank was resolved, potentially ending a crisis that has slashed oil output, two government sources and local media said.
Libya has been divided since 2014 into rival authorities in the west and east that emerged following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.
The government in Benghazi in the east said oil production and exports would resume normal operations, according to the sources and media, after the rival authorities agreed last month to appoint a new central bank governor, Naji Issa, Reuters reported.
The government in the second-largest city had closed oilfields and halted most of crude exports on Aug. 26 in protest against a move by the Presidential Council, which sits in Tripoli in the west, to replace veteran central bank chief Sadiq al-Kabir.
The head of the Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Menfi, met with Issa on Wednesday and stressed "the need for the central bank governor to commit to the technical role of the bank, stay away from politics, and not surpass the legal jurisdictions of the board of directors."
Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Aug. 28 that oil production had dropped by more than half from its typical levels due to the closures.
The North African country's crude exports averaged about 460,000 barrels per day in September, data from oil analytics firm Kpler show, down from more than 1 million bpd in August, shipping data show.