Turkish Airlines signed a comprehensive codeshare agreement with South Africa-based Airlink to strengthen its presence on the African continent. The agreement, which will take effect on 1 August 2025, was signed at a ceremony held at Airlink’s Head Office in Johannesburg, with the participation of senior executives from both companies. This strategic collaboration will significantly expand guests’ travel options by integrating Turkish Airlines’ unparalleled global network with Airlink’s extensive domestic and regional routes across South Africa and its region. The partnership enables seamless multi-sector travel on a single ticket, offering greater convenience and flexibility for international and regional travelers. Under the new agreement, Turkish Airlines will place its “TK” flight code on Airlink-operated flights, allowing smooth connections from Turkish Airlines’ services into Cape Town and Johannesburg to a wide range of South African and regional destinations. Commenting on the agreement Turkish Airlines Chief Investment & Strategy Officer Levent Konukcu stated; “As Turkish Airlines, we give importance to this cooperation with Airlink so as to enhance our connectivity in South Africa and the region. We aim to improve our partnership to maximize the travel opportunities offered to our guests. We believe that this partnership will not only bring benefits to both carriers from a commercial perspective but also improve the cultural and tourism relations between the two countries.” Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht said: ”This collaboration with Turkish Airlines represents a significant opportunity to deepen ties between the two airlines. The agreement is a further endorsement of Airlink’s brand, while for our respective customers, it means more convenient travel options, with world-class service and easier access to destinations across our combined and extensive route networks.” With this collaboration, Turkish Airlines will not only …

According to Cirium flyadeal was number one in the Middle East and Africa category. Cirium’s June data also showed flyadeal recorded a 99.2 per cent completion rate meaning minimal cancellations throughout the month. With sister airline Saudia topping the global airlines category at 91.33 per cent – the top 10 per cent of all passenger airlines by capacity – flyadeal emerged as the most punctual overall when considering all carriers published in Cirium’s June 2025 report. OTP measures flight punctuality within 15 minutes of scheduled arrivals. Almost eight years old, flyadeal operates more than 200 scheduled flights a day from three bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “In September last year flyadeal secured Number 1 status as the world’s best for operational performance. Today we are celebrating again being the world’s most punctual airline based on all airlines in Cirium’s monthly data. This is an incredible achievement as we’ve continued to grow capacity, the number of passengers flown and introduced new domestic and international routes. “With this comes the need for consistency. Every month since the beginning of the year, flyadeal has maintained great consistency being the number one low-cost airline for punctuality in the Middle East that demonstrates our continued focus on safe and reliable operations. “As we celebrate Saudia topping the global airlines category, in June, our OTP was the adjudged the best among all airlines in the Middle East and Africa in what was one of the busiest months of the year operating scheduled flights and Hajj charters. Congratulations go to flyadeal colleagues and our airport partners across the network for their dedication and commitment to maintain our operations at …

SAUDIA has taken a step forward in its digital transformation journey by moving to more guest-centric operations by translating traditional booking records (PNRs) and electronic tickets into Orders. This paves the way for a more personalized and smooth travel experience. An Order is a single, dynamic record of everything the traveler has purchased for their journey. It provides a real-time, consolidated view of all services, enabling the airline to better serve the traveler at every touchpoint – from booking and payment to fulfillment and servicing. By adopting Order capabilities, SAUDIA is fast-tracking its ability to deliver more flexible offers, tailor-made pricing, and fully digital servicing. This transformation marks a foundational step in the airline’s broader ambition to redefine guest experience and operational agility through data-driven retailing. The milestone was achieved using Amadeus’ smart bridging capabilities, which translate traditional records from SAUDIA’s existing Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) into single order records in its new Amadeus Nevio environment. Performing Smart bridging means SAUDIA can begin to operate with orders, accelerating the benefits of the airline retailing transformation in the new Amadeus Nevio environment for its guests while ensuring business continuity with existing traditional infrastructure. “SAUDIA is committed to delivering the highest standard of guest experience and technology innovation is crucial to this objective. Moving to single Orders means we can gain a better understanding of our guests, what they’ve purchased from us, and our partners across the entire journey. Orders are the foundation for a more connected travel experience.” Arved von zur Muehlen, Chief Commercial Officer, SAUDIA, “SAUDIA is one of the airlines leading the industry with its ambitious transformation program. Moving to Orders with smart bridging is an important milestone that …

Saudi Arabia has achieved record growth in international visitor spending during the first quarter of 2025, with a 9.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. According to the travel account data in the balance of payments for May, total spending by inbound visitors reached approximately SAR 49.4 billion in Q1 2025, driving a travel account surplus of SAR 26.8 billion—a growth of 11.7% compared with Q1 2024. The Ministry of Tourism explained that the significant increase in the travel account surplus reflects the continued efforts by the Ministry and the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem to advance the tourism sector and strengthen its contribution to the national economy. This growth also underscores the rapid development of the Kingdom’s tourism industry. The sector’s impressive performance highlights the impactful steps taken by the Saudi Tourism Ecosystem that position the Kingdom as a global tourism leader. These include adopting best practices in tourism development, constantly improving services and offerings, and actively collaborating with all government entities to support the sector’s development and achieve the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The first 50 of a plethora of hospitality and tourism industry leaders have been confirmed as speakers at the Future Hospitality Summit – FHS World, taking place at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, 27-29 October. Globally renowned experts and personalities across hospitality, tourism, media and education are speaking at the Middle East’s leading investment summit, held under the overarching theme for 2025 of Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows. Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organiser of FHS World, said: “FHS World may be three months away, but the planning and organisation, which started as soon as last year’s event finished, is in full swing. Our first speakers are confirmed, and hundreds of attendees have already signed up for the region’s leading hospitality investment summit. “FHS World gets bigger, bolder and better every year, and we are proud to announce our first 50 speakers and rapidly-evolving agenda at this early stage. We look forward to welcoming back some of our regular speaker participants alongside industry leaders who will be joining us for the first time, when the global hospitality and tourism investment fraternity gathers in Dubai in October.” With an expected attendance of more than 1,600 delegates, FHS World 2025 will feature its usual highly-anticipated, action-packed agenda addressing key industry opportunities, challenges and trends across three stages, with additional workshop rooms and breakout areas. Centred around the event theme, Where Vision Leads, Investment Follows, the FHS World programme covers everything from investment to innovation, sustainability to staffing and technology to tourism trends, with keynote speeches, panel discussion, presentations and round table debates on the agenda. Follow FHS World for updates and speakers. This year, FHS World will zoom in on global hospitality …

Qatar Airways announced the resumption of three weekly flights to Aleppo, Syria from 10 August 2025. The flights will be increased to four weekly flights from 1 September 2025. Qatar Airways operations to the city first began in 2011. The airline resumed flights to Damascus in early 2025, making Aleppo the second Syrian destination to connect to the airline’s global network. Qatar Airways flights to Aleppo (ALP) From 10 August, the airline will resume three weekly flights to Aleppo. Departing every Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday: Doha (DOH) to Aleppo (ALP) – Flight QR414: Departure 08:30, Arrival 11:40 Aleppo (ALP) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR415: Departure 13:55, Arrival 17:00 From 01 September, the airline will increase to four weekly flights to Aleppo. Departing every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday: Doha (DOH) to Aleppo (ALP) – Flight QR414: Departure 08:30, Arrival 11:40 Aleppo (ALP) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR415: Departure 13:55, Arrival 17:00 Aleppo will join Qatar Airways’ vast network of more than 170 global destinations. The resumption represents the airline’s commitment to increasing connectivity in the region and the world through Qatar Airways’ award-winning hub, the world-class Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can make their trips more rewarding by collecting Avios on their flights as well as shopping and dining at Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport. Members can spend their Avios on travel and lifestyle rewards of their choice including bidding on money-can’t-buy experiences with Privilege Club Collection. Qatar Airways, a benchmark for excellence in the industry, remains a prominent leader in global connectivity and operates to over 170 destinations worldwide. Bookings can be made at qatarairways.com or through the airline’s mobile application.

OMRAN Group announced notable progress in the early-stage development of Janaen Salalah—a pioneering agritourism project located in Arzat, Salalah. This initiative forms part of Oman’s broader strategy to diversify its economy by integrating sustainable tourism with agriculture-based investments. As part of the ongoing development efforts, H.H. Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and H.E. Dr. Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agricultural, Fisheries Wealth and Water Resources, conducted a field visit to the project site, accompanied by senior officials from the Group and other key stakeholders. During the visit, they were briefed on the project’s key components, development phases, and latest updates. The visit also included the ceremonial planting of the first coconut trees, marking the beginning of the initial cultivation phase. This milestone represents a key step in the broader vision to transform the site into a productive landscape that aligns with the project’s agritourism goals. Developed under the Agritourism Development Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of OMRAN Group, Janaen aims to position Sultanate of Oman as a regional leader in agritourism by combining agricultural activity, hospitality, recreation, and community living in one integrated setting. Spanning over 5.5 million square meters, the project’s masterplan outlines a well-integrated mix of components, including farm-based accommodations, coconut and papaya processing facilities, educational and recreational areas, and a retail village—all thoughtfully designed to create a dynamic and immersive agritourism experience for both residents and visitors. In preparation for the official construction launch, several foundational activities have been completed as part of Phase 1. These include the finalization of the concept masterplan design, which outlines the strategic integration of agricultural and tourism components. A comprehensive feasibility study has confirmed the …

Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Greek regional carrier SKY express, opening access to 24 Greek island destinations and three additional Eastern Mediterranean cities for customers travelling via Athens. The partnership, effective 14 July 2025, builds on the strong performance of the existing interline cooperation between the two airlines and significantly expands Etihad’s reach across the Greek islands and broader Eastern Mediterranean region. Under the codeshare agreement, Etihad will place its code on SKY express-operated flights beyond Athens, providing seamless access to Greece’s most popular island destinations including Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, and Kos, alongside sought-after destinations such as Corfu, Paros, and Thessaloniki. The partnership complements Etihad’s daily service to Athens by expanding connectivity exclusively via Athens as the gateway, positioning the Greek capital as a strategic hub for onward island travel. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “This partnership with SKY express opens exciting new possibilities for our customers to discover Greece beyond Athens. SKY express’s comprehensive island network perfectly complements our Athens service, giving travellers seamless access to some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful destinations through a single booking.” Gerasimos Skaltsas, Chief Commercial Officer at SKY express, said: “The collaboration with Etihad is a strong vote of confidence in SKY express, reinforcing our position as a reliable partner and significantly enhancing our connectivity. Passengers can now enjoy seamless access to the largest network of Greek destinations, served by the youngest fleet in Greece. Together, we are dedicated to making Greece a sought-after, year-round destination for visitors from around the world.” The codeshare arrangement allows customers to book connecting flights with streamlined check-in processes and automatic baggage transfers to their final destination. …

The much awaited attraction, Zayed National Museum will open to the public in December 2025 in Saadiyat Cultural District Abu Dhabi. The landmark institution honours the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his commitment to education, identity and belonging. Through immersive exhibitions, active research and public and community programming, the museum builds on Sheikh Zayed’s vision, upholding the values he stood for, including humanitarianism and the preservation of Emirati culture and heritage. Visitors will explore six permanent galleries across two floors, spanning 300,000 years of human history, as well as a temporary exhibition gallery. The museum’s collection features artefacts from across the UAE, including donations related to the heritage of the UAE, in addition to domestic and international loans. His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said: “The cultural legacy of the UAE has been nurtured over decades, from the establishment of its earliest cultural institutions to today’s expansive vision for cultural exchange and knowledge. Saadiyat Cultural District represents the next chapter in this national journey, curating world-class institutions that honour the past and engage the future. As the national museum of the UAE, Zayed National Museum is the legacy of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is a tribute to his boundless belief in people, in their ability to learn, to uphold the values of unity, compassion and national pride. This museum is more than a place of preservation; it is a promise to future generations, a beacon of our identity, and a space where our story is told not just through objects, …

flyadeal has launched its summer seasonal flying programme with the return of popular destinations in Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The fast-growing Saudi low-cost airline welcomes back the Egyptian holiday resort of Sharm El Sheikh; the Turkish hot spot of Trabzon; Baku and Tbilisi, the capital cities of Azerbaijan and Georgia respectively; and the cultural city of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzogovina, to its summer network. Saudi Arabia’s youngest and region’s fastest growing low-cost airline is operating a total of 10 routes across the five summer destinations from bases in Riyadh and Jeddah over a 10-week period during the holiday season. With cooler climes than the intense summer heat of the Kingdom, the seasonal additions provide a great retreat for families and independent travellers during the busy two months ahead. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “With the summer holiday rush getting into full swing, we are delighted to reintroduce our popular seasonal services for a third consecutive summer flying programme. We look forward to welcoming back our seasoned travellers and first-time passengers to these exciting destinations for a short break or longer holiday.” The seasonal capacity comes on top of flyadeal’s recently-introduced year-round scheduled services from the Kingdom to Alexandria and Assiut in Egypt; and Istanbul’s second airport of Sabiha Gökçen. flyadeal has been catapulted into the region’s fastest growing airline with a current fleet of 39 Airbus A320 family aircraft serving over 30 seasonal and year-round destinations in Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. The airline is set to more than triple in size in fleet and destinations served by 2030. Tickets are bookable via flyadeal’s Mobile App, website www.flyadeal.com and through travel …