Emirates landed in Antananarivo, Madagascar for the first time. The arrival of EK707 was celebrated with a water canon salute at Ivato International Airport, followed by an exclusive event for VIPs, government officials, industry guests, and media. His Excellency, Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar and the First Lady greeted the Emirates delegation, led by Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer; Adil Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Central Asia; Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo and Sami Aqil Abdullah, Senior Vice President of Emirates Airport Services Outstation and Business Support, as well as international media. Fostering stronger links between the UAE and Madagascar, Mohammad Lootah, President, CEO of Dubai Chambers, His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO of Dubai Airports and Major General Talal Ahmed Al Shangeti, General Director Assistant of Airport Passport Sector also joined the inaugural flight, along with Buti Qurwash, Senior Vice President Safety & Security at Dubai Airports; Rabie Atieh, CEO Transguard Group and Abid Hamza, General Manager of Fast Logistics. Commanding the inaugural flight to Antananarivo was Canadian national Captain Bruce Pope and First Officer Solo Chuk, a Malagasy pilot who has been flying for Emirates for 14 years. The inaugural flight operated with an almost full passenger load from Mahe, the Seychelles, taking advantage of the enhanced travel options available on the linked service by merging two trips into one. Following the welcome ceremony, Adnan Kazim, along with senior representatives showcased the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying on the route in a three-class configuration* to His Excellency President Rajoelina along with a group of dignitaries, government representatives, media, guests and members …

As Resorts World will deploy its cruise ships from 1st November 2024, Resorts World Cruises announced its new partnership with DP World, a leading maritime gateway and hub for the region. This collaboration will focus on homeporting Resorts World Cruises fleet at Port Rashid. The official signing took place in Dubai alongside the official launch announcement of the cruise.

Resorts World Cruises officially launches the homeport deployment of Resorts World One in Dubai from 1 November with the support of Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), together with Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Qatar Tourism, Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi and the port authorities. 4 September 2024 (Dubai, UAE) – At Resorts World Cruises’ first press conference in Dubai with the support of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the cruise line announced the debut of Resorts World One in the Gulf in the Middle East. Starting 1 November 2024, the Resorts World One will homeport in Dubai via DP World’s Mina Port Rashid to offer three weekly departures. These include the 2 Night Sir Bani Yas Weekend Cruise (Friday departures); the 3 Night Oman (Khasab-Muscat) Cruise (Sunday departures); and the 2 Night Doha Cruise (Wednesday departures). For a longer cruise vacation, passengers can combine any of the itineraries to make a 4, 5 or 7 Night Cruise. As ‘The Cruise Line that knows Asia Best’, Resorts World Cruises is able to apply decades of affiliated international experiences and in depth expertise to cater to the needs and subtle nuances of the Gulf markets. Muslim guests will be delighted to know that the Resorts World One will receive the official OIC/SMIIC* Standard Halal-Friendly Cruise Ship certification upon commencing her sailing from Dubai. Muslim guests can cruise with peace of mind to enjoy certified Halal cuisines throughout the ship, as all meats are being sourced from UAE Halal suppliers. Other Halal-Friendly onboard offerings are also accessible, including same gender services for selected facilities and venues. In addition, certified vegetarian and Jain cuisine are also …

Asia’s Resorts World Cruises announced its sailing within key GCC destinations from 1st November 2024. Resorts World One will homeport in Dubai via DP World’s Mina Port Rashid to offer three weekly departures. These include 2 night Sir baniyas weekend cruise (Friday departures), 3 night Oman (Khasab-Muscat) cruise (Sunday departures) and the 2 night Doha cruise (Wednesday departures). For longer cruise vacation, passengers can combine any of the itineraries to make a 4,5 and 7 night cruise. Speaking at the first press conference Michael Goh, President Resorts World Cruises shared, “it is an exciting time for Resorts World Cruises as we inch closer to the start of our first sailing from Dubai to the Gulf with the Resorts World One on 1st November. The response form the Gulf and from various markets in Asia, including from our travel partners have been very encouraging and we look forward to welcoming guests aboard soon.”

Radisson Hotel Group announced further expansion of its footprint in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with the signing of two new properties: Radisson Collection Residence, Amman Abdoun, and Radisson RED Amman Downtown. This significant development underscores the Group’s commitment to growth in key markets and the expansion of its core brands. Radisson Collection Residence, Amman Abdoun, is scheduled to open in 2028. The newly-built property will feature 128 keys, including 18 two-bedroom apartments. Radisson Collection is known for its luxury lifestyle collection of iconic properties, each offering bespoke design and exceptional experiences. The property will offer two dining outlets, including a pool lounge and versatile meeting spaces, making it an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers. Located next to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the high-end residential and diplomatic district of Abdoun and close to Taj Lifestyle Mall, the property will offer convenient access to the city center via Pr. Hashim Street just a 15-minute drive away. Radisson RED Amman Downtown, also set to open in 2028, will bring a vibrant, unconventional twist to the heart of Amman. The hotel will boast 197 keys, including seven suites and six two-bedroom apartments, offering a variety of accommodation options. Guests can look forward to a lobby lounge and bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant and a large co-working space with meeting facilities. Additional amenities include a fitness center and pool, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Radisson RED hotels are designed to fit the guests’ needs by giving them endless opportunities to tune in and out, effortlessly switching between business and pleasure. Strategically located next to Al-Hashemi Street, it is surrounded by popular tourist sites such as …

Gulf Air to train 70 Bahrainis in the aviation sector with Tamkeen. Gulf Air signed two agreements with Labour Fund (Tamkeen) aimed at supporting the training of Bahrainis as pilots and aviation engineers. This comes as a continuation of the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations over the past years, with the goal of strengthening national capabilities in aviation by providing specialized training and creating promising and sustainable job opportunities. The support includes training 50 Bahrainis as second officers and 24 Bahrainis in aviation engineering, both specialized fields requiring a high level of technical expertise and creating high-quality jobs in the aviation sector. This comes as a continuation of Tamkeen’s training support to 110 pilots at the company. Commenting on this initiative, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasized Tamkeen’s commitment to supporting Bahraini talent to excel in various sectors and specialties, with the goal of making Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment. She stated: “We take pride in this partnership with Gulf Air Group and the promising opportunities it provides for Bahrainis in the aviation sector, which offers high-income jobs and diverse growth and development opportunities both locally and internationally. This partnership aligns with our ongoing efforts on providing training opportunities that refine national talent according to the highest global standards, preparing Bahrainis to enter and succeed in the aviation sector, which is a vital and important industry in the Kingdom.” Tamkeen’s support for the private sector in Bahrain is aligned with its 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through employment opportunities for new market entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to the Bahraini workforce, and …

beOnd announced that its second aircraft is now ready to serve customers as well as they have received authorization to fly passengers from Zurich to the UAE. The Airbus A321 aircraft seats 68 customers in premium, all-lie-flat seating and features beOnd’s stunning signature dark grey and copper livery, and will join in its expanding network. “We are pleased our second aircraft is now entering service,” said Tero Taskila, beOnd’s Chairman and CEO. Our new and returning customers will be impressed to see this stunning aircraft at their home airports, and they’ll be thrilled at the service from the start to finish of their journey. This aircraft provides beOnd with new capacity — and coupled with the airline’s free flight guarantee — reinforces trust and operational readiness with customers and our agency partners.” Today’s news follows beOnd’s continued service between Milan, Zurich, Munich, Riyadh, Dubai, and the Maldives, as well as authorization to fly passengers from Zurich to the UAE. The addition of the new aircraft, along with these business developments, underscores the confidence and belief in beOnd’s vision, potential, and successes to date. In November 2023, beOnd successfully launched commercial passenger service with the airline’s first aircraft, an Airbus A319 that seats 44 in an all-lay flat configuration. This second aircraft will support beOnd’s expansion from Europe, Dubai, and Bangkok to the Maldives.

Qatar Airways is elevating travel experiences to the Maldives through its new interline partnership with Maldivian providing passengers the option to book both Qatar Airways and Maldivian flights on qatarairways.com. Travellers planning their holidays at one of the Maldives’ beautiful islands can now incorporate both their Qatar Airways and Maldivian flights in one booking. Once Qatar Airways passengers arrive to Velana International Airport, they will be guided to the domestic terminal for their Maldivian flight. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Thierry Antinori, said: “We, at Qatar Airways, continue to expand our services to provide our passengers with innovative and inviting travel experiences. With our latest Maldivian interline partnership, we look forward to seeing our passengers enjoy a smooth start to their holidays, as well as benefit from the plethora of new travel benefits. We are proud to offer the option of a seamless process, allowing passengers to book one ticket that includes both their Qatar Airways flight to Male, and the connecting Maldivian flight to their beachside getaway.” Maldivian Chief Commercial Officer, Ismail Amrah Umar, said: “We are thrilled to announce our interline partnership with Qatar airways, through which our customers will experience smooth connectivity with international baggage allowance while traveling within our network of 17 destinations across Maldives. By offering more choice and enhanced access to our strong and growing route network, we aim to boost tourism to the Maldives, showcasing our pristine islands to travellers from around the world.” The Qatar Airways and Maldivian partnership allows for more choice than ever, as well as providing competitive flight fares and co-ordinated flight schedules. With the new system boosting international connectivity, travellers will now have access to 17 domestic destinations …

Kuwait Airways has signed a cooperation protocol with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to create a diploma program specializing in ‘Aviation Sciences and Air Transport’ at the Communications and Navigation Institute at the Authority. The protocol will enable the qualification and training of graduates from the (Applied) program within the company’s operational sectors. The cooperation will also include providing students with the opportunity to work at Kuwait Airways in the future, according to the requirements and specific training conditions based on the agreement concluded between them. The protocol was signed by the Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan on behalf of Kuwait Airways, and the Director General, Dr. Hassan Mohammad Al-Fajjam, on behalf of the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, in the presence of various officials representing both parties. Speaking during the signing ceremony, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan emphasized on the importance of the protocol in equipping the upcoming generations in the service of their country and their national carrier, Kuwait Airways. He pointed out that the Blue Bird bestows special emphasis on the youth and national competencies that effectively contribute to the development and progress of the company, as well as in the pursuit of including new talents and expertise for the advancement of the national carrier. Al-Fagaan added that the protocol includes implementing field training for the students at the company’s operational facilities, indicating that Kuwait Airways will provide them with all the latest technological features and technical developments in the field of aviation sciences and air transport. This is in addition to organizing and conducting programs, visits, and workshops to exchange technical expertise and implementing joint scientific and applied research …

Zannier Hotels, has announced a partnership with NEOM to develop a new luxury eco-resort in Zardun, one of Magna’s destinations located in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. Overlooking crystalline waters, Zannier Zardun nestles into the exquisite landscape stretching from the mountains to the low hills, across the coastal plain to the sea. Known for its distinct hotels and resorts that harmonize with their environments, Zannier Hotels is partnering with NEOM to develop Zannier Zardun, a tranquil retreat for discerning guests seeking authentic experiences amidst a breathtaking natural setting. The resort, situated within the four-square kilometers of Zardun in a carefully restored semi-desertic landscape thriving with native fauna and flora, will feature a total of 100 rooms and suites, spread over three striking signature buildings, each themed to offer diverse and breathtaking experiences. A distinctively unique experience centre welcomes guests through an underground entrance, leading to a 360-degree observation deck that reveals the splendor of Zardun, providing a setting for the most intimate connection between humans and nature. Guests will enjoy transformative experiences, educational programs on nature conservation and rewilding, and various sports and leisure activities including trekking, mountain biking, rock climbing, stargazing, meditation, and yoga. “We are thrilled to officialize our collaboration with NEOM” commented Arnaud Zannier, Founder and CEO of Zannier Hotels, highlighting that “this partnership marks a significant milestone, solidifying our position among top-tier hospitality brands. It highlights our ambitious vision and commitment to excellence, serving as both a cornerstone for our brand’s evolution and a testament to our emergence as a formidable contender in the luxury hospitality market.” As part of NEOM and Zannier Hotels’ dedication to preserving and …