The US Thursday imposed sanctions on several Iranian and Turkish companies and a number of aircraft in a move targeting four Iranian airlines. The companies targeted were linked to Mahan Air and Meraj Air, the US Treasury Department said. It also said it was targeting a number of their aircraft, as well as aircraft from Caspian Airlines and Pouya Air. The US said the airlines had ferried weapons, fighters and money to proxies in Syria and Lebanon. Washington also threatened sanctions against those granting landing rights and providing services to the aircraft. "The deceptive practices these airlines employ to illegally obtain services and U.S. goods is yet another example of the duplicitous ways in which the Iranian regime has operated," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. The airlines were not immediately available for comment. Washington also targeted three individuals, one from Turkey and two from Iran, who it said were linked to the airlines and aviation firms.<br/>
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Some flights from UAE have been disrupted due to a strong cyclone that is heading towards the coast of Oman. Tropical cyclone Mekunu is expected reach areas in the neighbouring country of Oman, particularly the region of Salalah and surrounding areas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. With the cyclone developing, budget carrier flydubai confirmed on Thursday that a number of its flights have to be rerouted as a precaution. The affected flights are mainly those to the East African destinations like Zanzibar, Juba and Addis Ababa, among others. It is not clear yet when the operations will return to normal, with the airline’s spokesperson saying that they will continue to monitor the weather situation over the next 36 hours and make changes accordingly. “Due to forecasted tropical storm over the Arabian Sea, flydubai has rerouted a number of its flights as a precaution. The affected East African flights will now operate over the Saudi airspace,” flydubai said.<br/>
The cost of expanding Heathrow Airport must be kept down, British transport minister Chris Grayling said Thursday, heeding airline warnings that the airport's new runway must not be so expensive that passengers end up paying higher prices. Heathrow is Europe's busiest airport but it is now full. Members of Parliament will vote on whether to approve its expansion before July, but first the policy details on which they will vote must be finalised. Grayling gave an insight into the government's position in a speech, saying the new runway should not result in passengers paying much higher ticket prices. "Heathrow's customers should not pay for a 'gold plated' solution," Grayling said. "The expansion of the airport must provide value for money to every party."Airlines like British Airways-owner IAG and Virgin Atlantic have been vocal in their worries that the new runway could be very expensive, meaning usage costs rise so much they are deterred from using it. Grayling said he was taking those concerns on board. "It remains one of my fundamental priorities to deliver the ambition I set in 2016 – to keep airport charges as close as possible to current levels - so price increases are not passed on to airlines, and ultimately consumers," he added. Heathrow has estimated the bill for expansion at GBP14b, having said last year it could shave 2.5b pounds off the original estimate. <br/>
The consortium formed to build one of the world’s biggest airports in Turkey secured an additional E1b loan to help complete the first phase, according to four people with knowledge of the plan. The five-member group of local contractors agreed to the extra facility with domestic lenders already involved in the project, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan is still confidential. The banks, which had initially provided a 16-year loan in 2015 of E4.5b euros, will allocate the debt in proportion to their existing exposure, the people said. The extended facility comes after an emergency rate hike by the central bank on Wednesday aimed at stemming a slide in the lira that is threatening to undermine the nation’s banking industry. The government was considering giving the consortium, known as IGA Havalimani Isletmesi AS, an unspecified amount of time before requiring it to start paying rent, set at more than $1b annually for 25 years, Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan said last month. <br/>