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.
Flybe has announced a new daily service between Edinburgh and Manston, Kent, in the southeast of England.
The airline notes that, apart from opening up the 'Garden of England', as Kent is known, to the Scottish market, the service also offers regional travellers the only scheduled flight to be currently operated out of Kent International Airport.
The route opens on 27 May with a flight time of 80 minutes operated by Flybe’s 78-seat Bombardier Q400s.
Mike Rutter, Flybe’s chief commercial officer, commented, “We’re delighted to be adding this new service to the southeast [of England] from Edinburgh and also to being the first carrier to offer Kent travellers a scheduled service out of Kent International. It also reflects our commitment to continued growth from our Edinburgh base and also to our development into new regions.”
Edinburgh Airport has welcomed the news. "The creation of this route underlines Edinburgh's attraction as a destination in the domestic UK market and we're excited that Flybe has picked up on the demand to create a link between Scotland's capital and the south of England,” remarked Gordon Dewar, the airport’s managing director.
Kent International Airport is located in east Kent, just a couple of miles from the popular seaside destinations of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and within easy reach of Whitstable, Canterbury (with its world famous cathedral) and Dover’s iconic White Cliffs.
Matt Clarke, chief executive of Kent International Airport, noted, “I’m sure this route will be hugely popular with people in Kent. Flying to Kent International is a hassle free way to arrive in south east England. Our airport is easy to get to, easy to find your way around and allows passengers to enjoy flying the way it’s meant to be – boarding an aircraft merely metres from where you have parked your car.”
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.