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 and American Airlines have reestablished ties two years after an acrimonious divorce over alleged subsidies from Persian Gulf governments to their state-owned airlines. A new code-share deal announced Tuesday links American’s U.S. hubs with Hamad International Airport in Doha, allowing Qatar Airways’ passengers seamless travel options on AA domestic flights out of Boston, Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK and Philadelphia. Under the re-activated codeshare, American Airlines said it also will explore&nbsp;flying direct between the U.S. and Qatar.

 


“We have moved on from past issues and look forward to working closely with American Airlines to build a world-leading partnership for all our customers,” said Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker.

 


In July 2017 American notified both Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways that it would end their codeshare partnerships in protest of what it and the other major U.S. carriers characterize as illegal subsidies from the governments of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to the respective OneWorld alliance partners.

 


Since then, Qatar Airways agreed to abide by internationally recognized accounting and auditing standards and to refrain from introducing new fifth-freedom passenger flights to the U.S. as part of a deal with the Trump Administration to continue flying to the country under the Qatar-U.S. Open Skies pact. Signed in January 2018, the agreement called for airlines to issue public annual reports with externally audited financial statements and publicly disclose “significant” new transactions with state-owned enterprises and take steps to ensure that they base those transactions on commercial terms within two years.&nbsp;

 


“The issues that led to the suspension of our partnership two years ago have been addressed, and we believe resuming our codeshare agreement will allow us to provide service to markets that our customers, team members, and shareholders value, including new growth opportunities for American Airlines," said American Airlines chairman and CEO Doug Parker. "We look forward to the renewed cooperation between our airlines and hope to build and even stronger relationship with Qatar Airways over time.”

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

Qatar Airways, American Airlines Reestablish Codeshare Ties

A new pact between AA and Qatar could lead to direct flights to Doha by American.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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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.

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

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.

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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.

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New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

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