How UAE defence giant EDGE Group plans to double its exports
The UAE defence conglomerate has put an aggressive strategy in place to increase its share of exports while navigating the growing gap between East and West.
AirTran Airways and the Transportation Workers Union (TWU) have announced the successful membership ratification by an overwhelming margin of a new 48-month collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement covers AirTran Airways flight dispatchers that work at the company's System Operations Control Centre in Orlando.
"Our dispatchers, who are at the focal point of our system operations control centre, and who make real time decisions with respect to the operations of over 750 flights each day, are excellent examples of the 8,500 professionals that make up the AirTran family," remarked Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways chairman, president and chief executive officer. "For more than a decade AirTran and the TWU have worked together to produce competitive compensation, benefits, and working conditions that our dispatchers deserve. Our new agreement is another example of that co-operation."
TWU International representative Gary Shults commented, "TWU is proud to represent most of the nation's dispatchers at major airlines including AirTran. Dispatchers play a critical role in keeping planes safe in the air and profitable in their operation. We think this is a good agreement that was reached and will help our members while allowing AirTran to maintain a competitive position in the industry."
The UAE defence conglomerate has put an aggressive strategy in place to increase its share of exports while navigating the growing gap between East and West.
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.