Category Archives: Aviation

Etihad Airways is strengthening its presence in Russia with a significant capacity increase on its Abu Dhabi-Moscow route, providing enhanced travel options between the Middle East and Russia. From 1 October, Etihad is adding a third daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO), increasing the service to 21 flights per week. The expanded service operates on an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 8 Business and 150 Economy seats. In addition to the Moscow frequency increase, Etihad continues to expand its network with new routes planned for 2025, including a new service to Sochi, Russia’s premier resort destination on the Black Sea coast, starting from 29 May. The increased Moscow service creates better connections for travellers from Russia to Etihad’s expanding global network, particularly to popular destinations across the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia. The triple-daily flights are perfectly timed to facilitate both business travel and leisure trips, giving guests the option to choose departures throughout the day to suit their schedules. For those looking to extend their journey, Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme offers up to two complimentary nights at premium hotels, allowing travellers to experience the vibrant capital city’s attractions, from pristine beaches and cultural landmarks to thrilling theme parks and desert adventures.

Emirates announced plans to introduce newly retrofitted Boeing 777s on its second and third daily flights between Dubai and Riyadh, starting from 30 March and 7 May respectively. The airline aims to offer customers more opportunities to experience its latest generation Business Class seats, as well as highly acclaimed Premium Economy product, making it easier than ever to explore and connect to Dubai and beyond in style and comfort. The planned upgrades to the retrofitted Boeing 777s will make the Kingdom’s capital the first in the Middle East/GCC and among one of the few destinations in the airline’s network to be served exclusively with its latest retrofitted aircraft. Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777s will operate as follows: EK815 and EK816 operate with a refurbished Emirates Boeing 777 starting 30 March 2025. * From 7 May 2025, Emirates will operate the refurbished Boeing 777 on its third service, EK 817 and EK 818, starting with six flights per week; and from 11 August 2025, the aircraft will be deployed daily. * The newly refurbished Emirates Boeing 777, featuring the airline’s best-in-class products, was first introduced to Riyadh in October 2024 on flights EK819 and EK820. Following positive customer feedback and demand, Emirates is expanding its Boeing 777 premium products for a better experience in the skies across every cabin class. The airline plans to increase its network of cities served by more of this fleet type in the coming weeks and months. The latest refurbished Emirates Boeing 777s include Premium Economy seats arranged in a 2-4-2 layout, offering enhanced comfort and space. The upgraded Business Class cabin features a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access, providing even more privacy and convenience. Emirates’ refurbished aircraft …

Emirates will expand the list of cities served by its refurbished Boeing 777 to Seoul, South Korea starting 14 April* and London Stansted in the UK from 7 May*, as aircraft sporting upgraded cabins roll out of Emirates’ retrofit programme and into scheduled service. Emirates’ four-class Boeing 777 will launch on flights EK324/325 between Dubai and Seoul, operating three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The upcoming deployment makes Seoul the second East Asian destination to receive Emirates’ upgraded Boeing 777 retrofitted aircraft, including its award-winning Premium Economy and newly configured Business Class cabin, offering customers more choice and a better experience in the skies. By July 2025, travellers flying eastbound with Emirates will have access to more than 3,150 weekly seats in Premium Economy on a mix of Boeing 777s and A380s across six key destinations in Southeast and East Asia, including Tokyo-Narita, Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka, Singapore, Seoul, and Shenzhen. London Stansted joins London Heathrow and Edinburgh as the third UK destination to showcase the airline’s latest generation products and elegantly refreshed cabin interiors. In addition to London Stansted, Emirates’ network of European destinations served by the four-class Boeing 777 includes Brussels, Geneva, Zurich, Vienna, and Athens. The retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft features a four-class configuration, including Emirates’ signature Premium Economy cabins, which combine accessible luxury with comfort. The aircraft also boasts the new Emirates 777 Business Class, with seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration for maximum privacy ensuring aisle access for every passenger, fully flat beds, and personal mini-bars. On some aircraft, First Class passengers can experience the exclusive Gamechanger suites, offering unparalleled luxury, opulent comfort and signature design touches. Customers across all cabins will enjoy upgraded …

Emirates has joined forces with Parsys Telemedicine to introduce next generation equipment that will enable customers to receive high-quality, speedy medical care in the air. Emirates has invested more than USD2.4 million in co-designing the new equipment set with Parsys, which will be rolled out to 300 aircraft over the next few years. The groundbreaking ‘telemedicine station’ has advanced features such as high-definition video conferencing, remote passenger assessment, secure data transmission and 12-Leads Telecardia ECG – enabling Emirates’ highly trained cabin crew to save lives in emergency situations. Emirates has always invested in high quality medical equipment, but the new Parsys kit is the result of a yearlong collaboration between Emirates and Parsys to create a bespoke inflight tool that is more efficient and reliable, more connected, and ultimately safer for Emirates’ customers . The best-in-class new system includes the Parsys Telemedicine Kit for Emirates and the Parsys Cloud. The kit is an integrated, portable telemedicine station designed for cabin crew to gather important information and vital signs, which can then be transmitted to Emirates’ Ground Medical Support – a dedicated team of medical professionals who sit in Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai and are contactable 24/7. The kit includes several medical devices like a pulse oximeter, thermometer, blood pressure monitor, glucometer, and electrocardiogram (ECG). Emirates customers who need medical support onboard flights can now have their vital signs or readings automatically transmitted to the Medcapture© device via Bluetooth, eliminating any need for cabin crew to take notes and relay information manually. The Medcapture© device is a tablet which contains a new software application, customised to align with Emirates’ comprehensive medical procedures. The interface has an intuitive and easy-to-use design …

Riyadh Air and IBM partner to build AI-driven enterprise, to elevate guest and employee experiences. Agreement will see Riyadh Air leverage IBM watsonx and IBM Consulting solutions to drive Riyadh Air’s vision as the world’s first digital native airline. The collaboration aims to help power the Saudi Arabian airline’s mission to launch flights in 2025 while offering an elevated guest experience. IBM announced a new agreement with Riyadh Air, which will integrate watsonx, IBM’s portfolio of AI products, and IBM Consulting AI solutions to establish an enterprise-wide AI capability to elevate Riyadh Air guest and employee experiences. As Riyadh Air prepares for its inaugural flights in late 2025, the new Saudi Arabian airline sets another key building block of its journey in redefining air travel as the world’s first digital native carrier. The announcement took place at the third edition of The FII PRIORITY Miami 2025 Summit, where senior executives from both IBM and Riyadh Air, including Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer, and Mohamad Ali, SVP and Head of IBM Consulting, reaffirmed their commitment to driving innovation in the aviation sector. Building a world-class airline requires more than just aircraft and infrastructure; it demands an intelligent digital foundation that anticipates passenger needs, streamlines operations, and empowers employees. Riyadh Air is embracing this challenge by making AI the driving force behind its transformation. Adam Boukadida, Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer, said: Riyadh Air is more than just an airline; it is a gateway to new opportunities for travelers from the Kingdom and beyond. As we move closer to our first flight later in 2025, our vision is to deliver a seamless, world-class travel experience by expanding our reach, pioneering innovations, and …

Singapore Airlines announced that they will return with First Class and Premium Economy Class experience on flights between Singapore and Dubai from 30 March 2025, operating 7 times weekly, the flights will be operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, which features a four-class cabin configuration – First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class – ensuring an unparalleled travel experience for all their customers. Unwind in Premium Economy Class’ spacious cabin – Their Premium Economy Class offers customers a contemporary and stylish travel experience, designed to provide heightened comfort throughout their journey. Each Premium Economy seat boasts a width ranging from 18.5 to 19.5 inches, an 8-inch recline, and a seat pitch of 38 inches. Customers can look forward to an enhanced in-flight entertainment experience with active noise-cancelling headphones and a sleek 13.3-inch full HD touchscreen monitor. Enjoy priority treatment throughout the journey Premium Economy Class customers enjoy priority check-in at dedicated counters, as well as priority boarding. Checked baggage have priority tags, ensuring smooth and efficient travel. Elevate dining experience with Book the Cook Customers can enjoy a dining experience with an improved and expanded selection of food and beverage options. Customers have the option to pre-select and reserve their main course from the Premium Economy Class Book the Cook2 menu up to 24 hours before flight departure. Exclusive in-flight amenities In collaboration with Out of the Woods, a US-based manufacturer of eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle products, SIA offers amenity kit3 for Premium Economy Class customers. The kit includes eyeshades and slippers made from recycled PET material, as well as a lip balm packaged in biodegradable material. Access to unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi KrisFlyer members travelling in Premium Economy Class have the …

Qatar Airways is enhancing global connectivity with additional flights to key destinations around the world. The expanded services will offer passengers greater flexibility and seamless connections, further strengthening the airline’s network of more than 170 destinations. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: “Qatar Airways’ vast network of global destinations is complemented with robust flight frequencies for the benefit of our passengers. The new additions further reflect our commitment to fostering worldwide connectivity and elevating passengers’ travel experience with our award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport (DOH) – voted World’s Best Airport and World’s Best Airport Shopping by Skytrax in 2024. At Qatar Airways, we take pride in offering unparalleled services, and with the peak summer season approaching, we are pleased to fulfil the ever-increasing demand for air travel with accessible and convenient flight schedules.” From bustling metropolises to scenic landscapes, Qatar Airways is enabling greater connectivity in the following destinations: Amsterdam – increased from seven weekly flights to 11 Damascus – increased from three weekly flights to 14 Dar Es Salaam-Kilimanjaro – increased from three weekly flights to seven Entebbe – increased from seven weekly flights to 11 Larnaca – increased from seven weekly flights to 10 London Heathrow – increased from 49 weekly flights to 56 Madrid – increased from 14 weekly flights to 17 (bringing the jointly operated flights between Qatar Airways and Iberia from 21 weekly flights to 24) Maputo-Durban – increased from five weekly flights to seven Sharjah – increased from 21 weekly flights to 35 Tokyo Narita – increased from 11 weekly flights to 14 Tunis – increased from 10 weekly flights to 12 Qatar Airways, a benchmark for excellence in the industry, remains a …

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Malta Tourism Authority to bolster inbound tourism through collaborative marketing efforts. The MoU was signed by Thierry Aucoc, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (West) Europe and Americas and Carlo Micallef, Chief Executive Officer, Malta Tourism Authority, during ITB Berlin, Germany’s premier travel trade exhibition. The signing ceremony was also attended by senior executives from both organizations. Under this strategic alliance, Emirates will leverage its expansive global network to promote Malta as a premier leisure destination. Key initiatives will include organizing media familiarisation trips from key target markets to showcase Malta’s unique appeal as a Mediterranean gateway. The two entities will further explore joint advertising campaigns and collaborations with tour operators and travel agents to develop compelling promotional packages. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “Malta has been a key destination in our European network for over two decades, and we’ve witnessed its growing popularity as a sought-after leisure gateway over the years. This agreement reaffirms our commitment to supporting Malta’s tourism industry by leveraging our global reach to further boost inbound travel. Our daily service, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER—the largest scheduled passenger aircraft serving the destination—ensures that travellers enjoy our award-winning products and services, while local businesses benefit from the significant cargo capacity we offer on the route.” Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Hon. Ian Borg said: “This agreement will continue strengthening the long-standing collaboration between Malta and Emirates, while helping us reach out to more travellers, as we spread the word about the Maltese Islands’ unique attractions and experiences. By joining forces with international airlines and other key industry …

Emirates announced that it is expanding its long-standing partnership with Trip.com to focus on exploring growth avenues to capture emerging opportunities in new markets and customer segments. In the next phase of its expansion, the partnership will Emirates and Trip.com will collaborate on expanding Trip.com’s global presence through strategic partnerships and activations, leveraging Emirates’ extensive international network, and coordinating promotional efforts in Asian and European markets, which remain a strategic focus for both Trip.com and Emirates. The agreement was formalised at ITB Berlin by Nabil Sultan, Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales & Country Management for Emirates and CT Ooi, VP of Flights Business, Trip.com Group. Nabil Sultan commented on the newly expanded partnership: “We very much look forward to extending the breadth and depth of our cooperation with Trip.com. The next phase not only strengthens our position to provide more of our products to Trip.com’s customer base, but also unlocks traveller demand for air and hotel packages, enables us to integrate offers across both of our loyalty programmes and tap into a variety of consumer segments with specialised promotions. We look forward to empowering Trip.com customers with options to customise their travel with ease on Emirates.” CT Ooi added: “At Trip.com, we are excited to take our partnership to new heights, integrating a wide range of flight offerings with an expanded portfolio of hotels and travel services. By combining Emirates’ world-class network with Trip.com’s innovative travel ecosystem, we are creating more opportunities for travellers to access exclusive flight and hotel packages, tailored promotions, and enhanced loyalty rewards.” Product integration and exclusive promotions: Emirates and Trip.com will work closely on boosting customer conversion by integrating a variety of Emirates flight offerings …

Emirates and Costa Cruises have renewed their partnership through 2027, further positioning Dubai as a major global cruise hub. Announced at ITB Berlin, the renewed partnership builds on two decades of successful collaboration, uniting both the airline and cruise company’s expertise to elevate the passenger journey while further developing Dubai’s proposition as a premier cruise destination with integrated, seamless connectivity across air, land and sea touchpoints. Emirates and Costa Cruises will collaborate on joint marketing efforts, harmonised flight scheduling, and dedicated capacity in the form of ‘cruise blocks’ with the availability of comfortable flights for cruise passengers to meet demand from key markets across the airline’s network where possible. To deliver an exceptional experience at every customer touchpoint, the partnership will focus on sharing relevant data and insights to improve service delivery, as well as dedicating support teams for cruise passengers to facilitate a smooth check-in process at Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. Both parties will also work closely on enhanced transport solutions between Dubai International Airport and Dubai Harbour Cruise Terminal. Emirates and Costa Cruises will also explore opportunities to expand their partnership beyond Dubai, which includes regions in the Costa Cruises network like Central and South America, the Far East and Southeast Asia. The MoU was signed by Nabil Sultan, Emirates Airline; and Daniel Caprile, Costa Cruises. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “Costa Cruises’ commitment to Dubai stands as a testament to our shared vision of strengthening its position as the preeminent gateway for winter cruising. For Emirates, the cruise traveller segment offers immense growth potential, in addition to generating substantial multiplier effects for Dubai’s economy. We’ll be working closely with stakeholders across the tourism eco-system, …