In line with Kuwait Airways’ expansion plans in the Far East, the company announced the inauguration of its new sales office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The company celebrated the opening of the office in the presence of Kuwait Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi with numerous officials attending the event consisting of dignitaries and representatives, headed by the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Kingdom of Malaysia, H.E. Rashid Al-Saleh, and his accompanying delegation, as well as various officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture, travel and tourism companies, and various media representatives and also included honouring outstanding partners from travel and tourism offices. Speaking on the occasion, Kuwait Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi welcomed the attendees, and extended his sincere thanks to the guests for accepting KAC’s invitation. Razouqi in his speech stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased and honoured to be present to participate in the inaugural ceremony of its new sales office in Kuala Lumpur and to honour our successful partners. The opening of the office comes within the framework of the Blue Bird’s preparations for the summer season of 2023 and is part of the company’s objectives to expand and launch new destinations to provide the best services to our valued customers, in addition to meeting their requirements. The new office is situated in a distinguished location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, which is easily accessible to KAC’s customers.” Razouqi added, “Kuala Lumpur is one of Kuwait Airway’s most important destinations. Since its launch in October 2022 with two flights per week, there has been a growing demand from our valued passengers to travel …

Creating a new milestone in its network expansion strategy, SalamAir has announced direct flights to two new destinations Mashhad in Iran and Almaty in Kazakhstan. Mashhad is the third destination in Iran for the airline, with flights to Shiraz and Tehran already in its network, and Almaty is the airline’s first entry into Kazakhstan. Weekly flights from Muscat to Mashhad and Almaty are scheduled for starting from February 21 and 1st July 2023 respectively. These two routes serve a high demand for medical, business, and leisure tourism. The new flights will also offer convenient connections to the SalamAir network. Speaking of the two new routes, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “Iran has been one of the key focus markets for us, and we are pleased to launch the third destination to the country. The steady bilateral connection and strong cultural and economic ties between Oman and Iran have given significant momentum to our growth plans and enabled the route’s success. Speaking of the 2nd destinations, he added; This is our first introduction into Kazakhstan; the city of Almaty has promising passenger travel into Muscat, and we expect to carry both business travelers and holidaymakers between the two important cities. Oman and Kazakhstan recently agreed to have close bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, renewable energy, tourism, and food security too thus this route being mutually beneficial.” Mashhad The holly city is the capital of Khorasan province in northeast Iran and the second largest city in the country, Mashhad is best known for the shrine of Imam Reza. Every year, millions of people visit the holy shrine considered the largest and most magnificent of its kind.. Mashhad is …

Ibrahim Nalkhande is the newly appointed General Manager at Business Travel LLC, a leading Dubai based Travel Management Company. Nalkhande, described as a man of wisdom, insight and understanding, said he is very excited about the upcoming challenges and opportunities. Having established reputation in the travel industry and got experience from some of the renowned brands of the industry, Nalkhande said he had a clear mandate to take Business Travel to the next summit. The fiscal year 2023 started with a very positive note special mention to first two months recorded performance, the momentum will gain further pace , and I am optimistic that we will exceed the pre-pandemic numbers in this year stated Nalkhande. I am very excited with the new role and challenges that lie ahead for m in my new assignment. I will use the diversified experience and expertise of Travel Industry for the betterment, growth and profitable business development of Business Travel LLC said Nalkhande who shares the vision of Rashid Al Noori, the Chairman and stalwart of the industry, the visionary of ‘Business Travel LLC ‘an expanding conglomerate that saw its beginning in Dubai in 2006.

As part of its continuous efforts to support the development of the travel and tourism sectors in the KSA and the growth and sustainability of the national tourism sector, Elaf Group participated recently in the debut edition of the Saudi Tourism Forum, the leading platform highlighting most important trends and latest developments in the Saudi tourism sector, which congregated over  350  specialised entities in the Saudi tourism industry, at the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The forum served as an ideal platform for Elaf Group to highlight its leading portfolio of services in the field of hospitality, tourism, and travel. The group’s pavilion attracted a sizeable turnout amid a significant appreciation for its services, programs and exclusive offers that support Saudi Arabia’s effort in achieving “Saudi Vision 2030”. Elaf’s involvement in the event, which attracted significant local, regional, and international participation from investors, experts, and organisations involved in the travel and tourist business, is in line with its efforts to boost regional tourism. Additionally, the forum held a group of panel sessions exploring prevalent challenges facing the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Adel Ezzat, CEO of Elaf Group, took part in a panel discussion that covered a range of topics, including the use of technology in tourism, hospitality’s future in Saudi Arabia, the role of transportation in the tourism industry and Saudi ecotourism. Ezzat further highlighted the potential for growth in the tourism and hospitality industries as well as the solutions needed to enhance performance in both industries in line with Saudi Vision 2030. Dr. Ezzat emphasised the importance of the tourism sector in the KSA, for its contributions in supporting the growth of the national economy. He …

Kuwait Airways announced the signing of a bilateral interline agreement with Malaysia Airlines to enhance the framework of cooperation between the two carriers in the commercial air transport sector, commencing from 1st April 2023. The agreement was signed by Kuwait Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi and the Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail on the side-lines of a ceremony held in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, which was attended by numerous officials, representing both airlines. Speaking on the occasion, KAC’s Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to sign the bilateral interline agreement with Malaysia Airlines. This agreement is the first partnership which will further facilitate a strategic cooperation with Malaysia Airlines, across multiple areas and in all fields of the aviation sector. This is also an important part of the historical and strong relations between the State of Kuwait and the Kingdom of Malaysia, which are characterized by an understanding at all political, economic, and cultural levels between both the countries.” Razouqi added, “This strategic cooperation will benefit all parties, as Malaysia Airlines is one of the leading airlines in the regional and global market with a great history in the aviation sector. We are hopeful that this agreement will bring about the best prospects through the expansion of both airlines’ global network and contribute effectively to achieving the desired objectives.” Razouqi continued by saying, “The enhanced partnership will enable Kuwait Airways to expand its network and serve its passengers through Malaysia Airlines operations, connectivity to several cities in Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand including to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Auckland, Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, and Singapore, in addition to …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) and flyadeal sets course to add 25 new destinations in 2023 on SAUDIA Group Network. The new destinations to be added are Beijing, China; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Djibouti; Chittagong, Bangladesh; Johannesburg, South Africa; Kano, Nigeria; Baghdad, Iraq; London Gatwick, United Kingdom; Nice, France; Lisbon, Portugal; Malaga, Spain; Mykonos, Greece; Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt; Tbilisi, Georgia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Trabzon, Turkey; Izmir, Turkey; Antalya, Turkey; Bodrum, Turkey; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Heraklion, Greece; Rhodes, Greece; Larnaca, Cyprus; Tivat, Montenegro. All new routes are set to begin throughout 2023. The airline will publish more schedule details on announced destinations soon. SAUDIA Group Director General, H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar commented on the international network expansion: “SAUDIA Group has been carrying the kingdom’s ambitions, values and traditions across every corner of its network, as it flies the nation’s flag around the world. These new destinations will offer greater access and choices to our guests. Given the increase of demand in international travel, this is the right time to expand our global network in new, exciting ways, SAUDIA has recently launched “Your Ticket Your Visa” in January. The first-of-its-kind service provides guests with even easier access to the Kingdom through a digital integration system that links transit visas with flight tickets. The new service is aimed to encourage passengers to perform Umrah, visit key destinations and attend events during their transit in the Kingdom. The new service, which covers all international airports in the Kingdom, will allow guests to stay in the Kingdom for up to 96 hours, during which they can travel around the Kingdom and perform Umrah. The digital integration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilitates the …

Miral announced that SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is set to open its doors to the public on the 23rd of May 2023. The next-generation Marine Life Theme Park will tell a captivating ‘One Ocean’ story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on earth and our ocean. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will deliver engaging, and immersive family-friendly experiences through eight of its uniquely themed realms, featuring up-close animal encounters, exciting rides, inspiring entertainment, as well as unmatched dining and shopping experiences. A collaboration between Miral and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi’s eight realms can be explored across five indoor levels spanning an area of approximately 183,000m2 with the Endless Ocean realm set to be home to the world’s largest and most expansive multi-species aquarium. This innovatively designed aquarium will contain over 25 million liters of water and will be a dynamic habitat for more than 68,000 marine animals, including sharks, schools of fish, manta rays and sea turtles. Located on Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island, in total there will be over 100,000 marine animals including 150 species of birds, fish, mammals and reptiles at the Marine Life Theme Park. Animal habitats in each realm of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi have been custom designed using state-of-the-art technology and the highest standards for animal welfare. Chairman of Miral, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi this May, and proud of our partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment to bring the region’s next-generation Marine Life Theme Park to Abu Dhabi and to Yas Island. As part of our commitment to the Year of Sustainability, the marine life park will embed Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and profound …

Etihad Airways has launched reciprocal interline partnerships with three new airline partners – Philippine Airlines (PAL), Austrian Airlines (OS) and Airlink South Africa (4Z), while re-launching interline links with Biman Bangladesh and codeshares with Air Seychelles (HM) and ITA Airways (AZ).  The deal means customers of all airlines involved will enjoy enhanced connectivity to destinations across each other’s networks, can book on a single ticket and only have to check in once at the start of their flight, with their baggage checked through to their end destination. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer, said: “Broadening our network reach, and allowing more guests to come visit Abu Dhabi has always guided our purpose. These six interline/code agreements make life easier for guests of all the airlines involved. With Austrian Airlines, this tie-in gives our guests access up to 58 European destinations via Vienna, operated by Etihad daily during the summer, and joins the other four members of the Lufthansa Group with whom we already have interline or codeshare agreements. “Our deal with Airlink South Africa gives connecting guests via our Johannesburg flight seamless access to 16 domestic destinations in South Africa, and 25 regional African destinations, and it complements our existing options with South African Airways. “And teaming up with Philippine Airlines provides easy access to 19 domestic Filipino destinations including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Kalibo, to and from Etihad’s double daily Manila service, for the large Filipino diaspora living in the UAE. “Our links with Biman and Air Seychelles were affected by those airlines’ own system migrations over the last 12 months, so we’re pleased to re-connect with them to complement our own Dhaka and Mahe services and …

BCD Travel has expanded its agreement with Amadeus as the forward-looking travel management company (TMC) refines its global technology approach to best capitalize on opportunities in the new era of business travel. Under the new agreement, the two organizations will partner on multiple initiatives, each designed to provide BCD Travel with a platform for growth, productivity improvement, and technological innovation. BCD Travel will leverage Amadeus’ technology, travel expertise, content, and global footprint to support its operations in additional markets. This includes incorporating Amadeus’ industry leading NDC content and end-to-end workflow capabilities. For Amadeus, the new agreement also means increased business with a leading global TMC, including opportunities in the UK, Ireland, and North America. “BCD is delighted to be expanding our long-standing partnership with Amadeus,” said BCD Travel President and CEO John Snyder. “This agreement allows us to engage on deeper technology collaboration and deliver high value services through the Amadeus Travel Platform. The expansion of our partnership will provide our corporate clients with more content options, including bringing NDC to life at scale, while streamlining and simplifying our distribution technology footprint and infrastructure.” Decius Valmorbida, President, Travel, Amadeus, said: “We are proud to extend and expand our long-standing partnership with BCD Travel. As the leading technology company in the travel industry, we consistently invest to deliver superior products and services to our customers. The new agreement presents significant potential for mutual growth, and we look forward to partnering with BCD Travel on initiatives to address future challenges and opportunities in the business travel space.”

The PIF-owned Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN) has announced the launch of construction of an entertainment destination located in Saudi Arabia, with a value of SAR1+ billion. The complex will transform the entertainment landscape of the Tabuk region, with about 78% of its space designated for entertainment, 14% for cafes and restaurants, and 8% for stores. Amenities will include an advanced 12-hole indoor golf course offering bespoke experiences, a modern 10-track bowling alley, and a 10-screen cinema hall, according to a company statement. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Dawood, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SEVEN, said: “The destination will add a qualitative leap in the entertainment scene of the region by providing a wide choice of entertainment attractions and distinctive experiences.” The project is being designed as an integrated village, with an innovative water tower inspired by the agricultural heritage of the Tabuk region at its center. This will connect to open community spaces, including gardens, parks and sports fields. The development reflects PIF’s strategy to develop and localize a variety of sectors, including entertainment, leisure and sports, to create a more vibrant society and improve the lives of everyone in Saudi Arabia. It also aligns with Vision 2030’s goal of positioning Saudi Arabia among the world’s top tourist destinations.​