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

Royal Jordanian and Kuwait Airways on Sunday became the latest Middle Eastern carriers to gain exemptions from a ban on large electronic devices in the cabins of airliners flying into the U.S., joining Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates Airline as U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials complete their inspections of several airports in the region for compliance with new security measures. The exemptions follow the DHS's institution of&nbsp; “enhanced” security protocols including increased scrutiny of laptop computers at screening points at some 280 airports in 105 countries in lieu of a planned expansion of the ban to flights originating in Europe.

 


The U.S. ban, instituted in March only days before similar ban by the UK took effect, remains in place at Cairo International Airport, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.&nbsp;

 


The ban on personal electronic devices larger than a cell phone, along with efforts by U.S. president Donald Trump to prohibit citizens from several Muslim-majority nations from entering the country, has most affected traffic among the three big Persian Gulf airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, all three of which now enjoy an exemption from the laptop ban. In response to that ban, Emirates Airline cut services to five of its 12 U.S. destinations from Dubai, resulting in a 20-percent decline in capacity between the two destinations.

 


Emirates has not yet said when it might reinstate any of that service; however, Qatar Airways plans to proceed with its planned launch of flights to San Francisco next year as part of its continuing expansion within the U.S.

 


Separately, the Doha-based airline has said it will also proceed with a planned 4.75-percent investment in OneWorld partner American Airlines in the face of public skepticism expressed by executives of the U.S. carrier and labor groups.

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

U.S. Exempts Royal Jordanian, Kuwait from Laptop Ban

Airlines join Qatar, Emirates, Etihad and Turkish among airlines now free to allow passengers to carry large electronic devices in cabins

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

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 and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Archer plans demo flight at 2025 World Expo in Osaka

JAL/Sumitomo Subsidiary Soracle To Operate Archer’s eVTOL in Japan

Charles Alcock

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

Britain's new government is under pressure to invest in public infrastructure

How Regional Air Mobility Could Boost the UK's Strained Transport Network

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

Danish charter and scheduled operator could buy up to 15 of the electric seaplanes

Nordic Seaplanes Signs for Elfly's Noemi Electric Amphibious Aircraft

Odys' blown-wing design is being developed for both uncrewed freighter and piloted airliner roles

Fiji Airways Plans To Connect Pacific Islands with Laila VTOL

Scotland-based regional airline aims to achieve zero carbon emissions

Loganair and Heart Team To Decarbonize UK Domestic Flights

UK green start-up airline wants to operate domestic services with zero carbon emissions

Ecojet Plans To Operate Arc Aerosystems' Linx P9 Hybrid Helicopter

Cathy Buyck

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.

The Boeing electronic flight bag solution will support the low-cost carrier’s 737NG and Max fleet

Ryanair to Use Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro 5.0 EFB 

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

More In Airlines