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

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi on Friday launched operations from its base at Abu Dhabi International with a flight to Athens, a day after the UAE’s newest low-fare carrier said it would also become the next Gulf-based airline to fly to Tel Aviv, starting on February 12. The airline next plans to start service to Thessaloniki, Greece, on February 4.

 


Greece appears on Abu Dhabi’s list of so-called “green” countries to which it allows travel due to their relatively favorable epidemiological situations, specifically related to Covid-19. &nbsp;&nbsp;

 


Wizz Air initially announced a route network including&nbsp;Alexandria, Egypt; Kutaisi, Georgia; Larnaca, Cyprus; Odesa, Ukraine; and Yerevan, Armenia.&nbsp;The airline now says it will launch flights to those destinations as each joins the green countries list, followed by further cities as the airline adds to its four-strong A321neo fleet&nbsp;over the coming months.

 


The new airline, a joint venture between Budapest-based Wizzair and Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ), tentatively had planned to launch service&nbsp;on October 1, some three weeks after it staged a celebration of&nbsp;the arrival of its first A321neo,&nbsp;but Covid-related travel restrictions at its desired destinations forced a delay.

 


Wizz Air also said Thursday that it issued a €500 million debut bond to further strengthen its liquidity position. Expected to close on January 19, the offering&nbsp;takes advantage of a strong underlying financing market and what Wizz Air called highly attractive pricing. &nbsp;&nbsp;

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

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Launches, Plans Tel Aviv Flights

The joint venture between Wizz Air and Abu Dhabi’s ADQ Holdings flies to Athens on its inaugural service. 

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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