Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Gregory Polek

Qatar Airways committed to buying five Boeing 777 Freighters valued at $1.8 billion at list prices at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday. Signing the deal with Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Kevin McAllister in the presence of Qatari ministry of transport and communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker noted the deal would increase the size of his 777 freighter fleet by 20 percent. The airline plans to take all five airplanes next year.

 


Al Baker also announced three new freighter services to start next month—Hanoi to Dallas/Fort Worth, Singapore to Chicago, and Singapore to Los Angeles and Mexico City—as the Doha-based airline continues to work to overcome what he called the illegal blockade of Qatar by four Gulf neighbors that led to the immediate suspension of 18 routes in 2017.

 


“Our cargo freighters overnight became a vital link to my country from the rest of world,” said Al Baker. “Each day since then Qatar Airways Cargo brings around 350 tons of food to the population of Qatar and maintains the supply of critical medical and manufacturing supplies.”

 


Al Baker also stressed the importance of the division to the entire group’s financial health. “Cargo is a very important and profitable division of Qatar Airways Group that makes a vital contribution to our P&amp;L,” said Al Baker. “As we add new routes like the seven we introduced in 2019, cargo will be a vital part of our overall development. Our cargo business showed tremendous growth in 2018, faster than any of competitors, increasing our global market share by almost one percentage point.”

 


Al Baker added that the airline plans to start retiring its initial batch of 777Fs in 2025 and expressed interest in becoming the launch customer for a freighter version of the 777X, if Boeing launches such a program.

 


Notwithstanding his reference to the blockade, Al Baker declined to talk politics when asked about how the current tensions in the Gulf would affect his airline. “Let’s talk about airplanes and not politics,” he said. “I think this is a question you need to put to the politicians...As you know our main lifeline is flying over Iranian airspace.”

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Qatar Airways Signs for Five Boeing 777 Freighters

The Doha-based carrier plans to take all of the cargo planes next year as it prepares to increase the size of its fleet 20 percent.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

ATR 72 aircraft performs pre-modification flight in Toulouse

Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Curt Epstein

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Only the piston aircraft segment posted a decline

GAMA: Bizjets, T-props, and Rotorcraft Deliveries Up

Hanneke Weitering

Two captains held the prototype 33 feet above the water for 30 seconds

Regent Flies Electric Seaglider with Crew for First Time

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Icing approval would open year-round service to northern communities

Horizon Begins Icing Tests for Cavorite X7 eVTOL

Kerry Lynch

Deal to close this year

Bombardier To Grow Manufacturing Capacity with MHICA Buy

David Donald

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The two NATO allies will purchase seven of the tanker/transport aircraft

Spain and Poland Agree to Buy A330MRTT Tanker Transports

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

GE Aerospace has tested the GE9X, Leap 1A, Leap 1B, and more with the 747.

GE Aerospace Flies Boeing 747 To Test New Engine Tech

Charles Alcock

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

More In Aircraft