Category Archives: Aviation

Air India Express is celebrating Onam with a festive touch in the skies, introducing a specially curated ‘Gourmair’ Onam Sadya for guests travelling on international flights from the UAE to Kerala and Mangaluru between 24 August and 6 September. The traditional feast, presented in a custom Kasavu-inspired box, can be pre-booked via the airline’s website or app for AED 25. With over 525 weekly flights from the UAE to Kerala, the airline enhances the festive travel experience while strengthening its cultural connection with guests. The Onam special meal features a traditional festive spread served on a banana leaf in custom packaging, recreating the essence of the festive feast in the sky. The ‘Gourmair’ sadya is presented in a custom-designed box inspired by Kasavu, Kerala’s timeless golden-bordered textile, a symbol of purity and tradition. The design concept extends the airline’s unique ‘Tales Of India’ initiative, featuring over 50 unique regional patterns and textiles celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of India. Guests can savour Steamed Matta Rice, Nei Parippu, Mixed Vegetable Thoran, Erissery, Avial, Kootu Curry, Sambhar, Injipuli, Mango Pickle, Banana Chips, Shakara Varatti, and the much-loved Payasam for dessert at an all-inclusive price of AED 25. As the largest airline operating between Kerala and the Middle East, Air India Express connects guests to key cities including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah with about 525 weekly flights. The airline also offers extensive connectivity between Mangaluru and the Middle East, enabling thousands of guests to fly home for the festivities. In a tribute to Kerala’s timeless elegance, Air India Express as part of its Tales of India initiative has adorned one of its new Boeing aircraft, VT – …

Emirates has added the latest Premium Economy and Business Class seats on more scheduled services to/from Amman, Mumbai, Muscat and Bahrain. This will provide customers further opportunities to experience the airline’s highly acclaimed onboard products, and a more consistent experience when connecting through Dubai to destinations also served by the airline’s Airbus A350 and retrofitted Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. Emirates will be layering on more of its next-generation Airbus A350 as well as retrofitted Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s – all featuring Premium Economy – in four cities across the Middle East and West Asia. Emirates’ enhanced A380s, Boeing 777s and latest A350 aircraft will operate on the following schedules: • EK903/904 to/from Amman will operate with a four-class A380 with refreshed interiors, including Premium Economy, from 26 October 2025*. The upcoming retrofitted aircraft upgrade means customers will experience the latest signature products on both daily services. • Mumbai will receive a retrofitted Boeing 777 on EK504/505 starting 26 October* and customers will have the opportunity to experience the latest cabins on 22 weekly flights. • Starting 30 October*, Emirates will offer its signature A350 experience on all 9 weekly flights to Muscat with the deployment of the Airbus A350 on its EK862/863 services on Thursday and Saturday. • Emirates will also introduce an additional retrofitted Boeing 777 to Bahrain on its EK833/834 services every Thursday from 4 December*. Once deployed, Bahrain will be exclusively served with aircraft kitted with signature cabins, including Premium Economy and refreshed Business Class. These deployments boost the airline’s Premium Economy cabin offering on more than 635-weekly flights across its network. By winter, the airline will serve 68 cities with aircraft fitted with its …

flynas will be resuming direct flights between Jeddah and Kuwait as of the first of November, to further expand its network in line with its growth and expansion plan and in alignment with national objectives in the aviation and tourism sectors. Effective November 1st, flynas will start operating three weekly flights between Kuwait International Airport and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. This new route will increase flynas’ flights between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to 10 flights per week, as the company operates one flight daily between Riyadh and Kuwait, in line with flynas growth and expansion plan, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom”, in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030, and with the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. Resuming flynas flights is set to boost business and tourism travel between the two sister countries and support the national objectives in the tourism and aviation sectors in line with Vision 2030. flynas, the leading low-cost airline in the world and the best LCC in the Middle East, and the first airline listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) operates 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries with more than 2000 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, and in line with the objectives …

Kuwait Airways and Kuwait Telecommunications Company ‘stc’ have signed a joint cooperation protocol which aims to strengthen cooperation between the two entities in developing both the telecommunication and aviation sectors, providing integrated, and innovative services that serve mutual interests and enhance the customer experience. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to host the signing ceremony of a joint cooperation protocol with Kuwait Telecommunications Company- stc, one of the largest mobile network operators in the State of Kuwait. This cooperation reflects our ongoing commitment to reinforcing Kuwait Airways’ pivotal role in fostering strong relations with the public and private sectors, in the service of our beloved country, Kuwait.” Al-Fagaan added, “This protocol between Kuwait Airways and stc comes within the framework of expanding our cooperation to new horizons and levels, enhancing the achievement of shared goals, and fostering the exchange of expertise across various fields, such as technology, air transport, communications and others. This collaboration serves the mutual interests of both parties and contributes to the development of our national economy.” Captain Al-Fagaan expressed his deep appreciation for the prominent role played by Kuwait Telecommunications Company- stc in providing telecommunications, internet services, and technology solutions to both individuals and companies. He also highlighted stc’s contribution to the development of the country’s digital infrastructure and its commitment to providing innovative services to customers. Al-Fagaan concluded his statement by emphasizing that this protocol represents a fruitful and important agreement that contributes significantly to achieving the desired objectives through successful partnerships. He also commended stc’s notable efforts in fostering distinguished and productive relationships across both public and private sectors, and its vital role as a key driver and …

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has granted VistaJet the Foreign Operator Certificate, making it the first international private aviation company authorized to operate on-demand domestic flights within Saudi Arabia. This milestone reflects the Kingdom’s strategy to expand its aviation ecosystem and unlock new opportunities in luxury tourism and high-end business travel. With VistaJet now cleared to operate locally, travellers—particularly affluent tourists, corporate leaders, and investors—will gain seamless access to Saudi Arabia’s diverse destinations, from Riyadh and Jeddah to emerging cultural and leisure hubs such as AlUla and the Red Sea. GACA emphasized that the decision will boost competition, enhance service quality, and attract investment in private aviation. It also aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to transform the Kingdom into a leading aviation hub by 2030, connecting three continents. Awad bin Attallah Al Sulami, GACA’s EVP for Economic Policies and Logistics Services, highlighted that private aviation is a “vital enabler for both business and tourism,” playing a central role in the Kingdom’s wider Vision 2030 objectives. VistaJet’s entry into the domestic market reinforces Saudi Arabia’s positioning as a premium tourism and investment destination, ensuring global travelers can access world-class connectivity and bespoke travel experiences within the Kingdom.

Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan, announced a strategic drive to elevate the national carrier’s customer experience through innovative partnerships. Over the past year, the airline signed a landmark agreement with Saudi Railways Company (SAR), enabling passengers to book Haramain High-Speed Railway tickets directly with the airline. It also launched a diploma program in aviation sciences with the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training to build future talent. Strengthened alliances with Saudia, Amadeus, and FlexFlight further expand travel options, digital solutions, and seamless connectivity for passengers.

SalamAir announced a strategic expansion of its global distribution reach through a new dual partnership with Hahnair. This collaboration will make SalamAir flights even more accessible to travel agents and passengers across 190 markets. Through Hahnair’s interline products, SalamAir’s flights are now available for ticketing under the airline’s own OV code in the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS), as well as under Hahnair Technologies’ X1 code in major GDSs. This dual access enables travel agents to conveniently book and issue tickets on SalamAir through standard reservation and ticketing procedures in Sabre GDS. “Partnering with Hahnair significantly strengthens our commercial distribution strategy, enabling us to tap into new sales channels and reach travel agents in 190 markets”, said Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer of SalamAir. “By expanding our booking and ticketing accessibility, we are creating more opportunities to drive sales, grow our international footprint, and position SalamAir competitively in key markets.” With this partnership, SalamAir continues to advance its mission of making air travel more accessible, affordable, and reliable for passengers worldwide. By combining an expanding network, a modern fuel-efficient fleet, and strong global distribution capabilities, the airline is well-positioned to capture new market opportunities, support Oman’s connectivity, and deliver greater value to its customers and trade partners.

As part of its ongoing efforts to facilitate travel procedures for its valued passengers, Kuwait Airways has announced the launch of a self-service check-in system at Terminal 4 (T4). This service enables passengers to complete self-check-in procedures, including baggage weighing and the issuance of boarding passes. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan, stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce the launch of the self-check-in service, which enables passengers to weigh their baggage and issue their boarding passes, without the need for staff assistance, thereby completing the procedures quickly.” Al-Fagaan stated that this initiative is part of Kuwait Airways’ ongoing efforts to facilitate the check-in process for passengers, ensure the smooth completion of travel procedures, and reduce congestion, particularly with the onset of the busy summer travel season. He added that the company will soon release an instructional video to guide passengers on how to complete the procedures easily and conveniently. Al-Fagaan emphasized Kuwait Airways’ commitment to ensuring a seamless travel experience for its valued passengers—beginning from the moment they enter the terminal, through the efficient completion of all travel procedures, and continuing onboard, where they are provided with exceptional service by the cabin crew, in addition to enjoying state-of-the-art entertainment programs, and a comfortable, relaxing flight. He pointed out that Kuwait Airways is committed to providing the most advanced and best services that reflect its dedication to its valued passengers, which has contributed to increased customer satisfaction and an enhanced travel experience. He explained that the company spares no effort in ensuring all means of comfort for its customers. Al-Fagaan concluded his statement by reaffirming Kuwait Airways’ commitment to its strategic goal of delivering the highest standards of service quality, …

Qatar Airways has selected The New Terminal One at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) as its new home in New York. The carrier will move its operations to the state-of-the-art terminal in 2026 and unveil a premium, 15,000-square-foot Qatar Airways lounge – the airline’s first dedicated lounge in both New York City and the United States. The airline’s move to the New Terminal One and the opening of its first dedicated lounge at JFK Airport is in line with Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering an exceptional travel experience, and reflects the strategic importance of New York City in Qatar Airways’ global network. Offering efficient direct access to the boarding gate from Qatar Airways’ exclusive lounge, the new facility will provide an elevated experience featuring premium food and beverage options and best-in-class amenities including VIP check-in services, relaxation zones, prayer rooms, children’s play areas, premium dining options, and duty-free shopping for Qatar Airways Business Class passengers. In partnership with Qatar Airways, the New Terminal One will deliver an exceptional guest experience from arrival to departure. The terminal’s modern architecture, light-filled spaces and advanced technology will ensure a seamless and relaxing customer journey that complements Qatar Airways’ world-renowned onboard service. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We, at Qatar Airways, look forward to launching our operations at JFK Airport’s New Terminal One and welcoming Qatar Airways Business Class passengers to our first-ever exclusive lounge in the US. Our new state-of-the-art lounge will provide an enhanced experience at each touchpoint and complement our industry-leading Business Class travel experience. From dedicated airport transfers to VIP check-in to the finest of retail and dining options, premium passengers …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launched new seasonal flights between Abu Dhabi and Yekaterinburg in Russia. The seasonal flights, which will operate during the winter season, reflect the airline’s commitment to offering convenient and affordable travel options for customers travelling between the two countries during peak travel periods. The non-stop service will commence on 27 October 2025 and continue through 27 March 2026, between Zayed International Airport and Yekaterinburg’s Koltsovo International Airport with a frequency of two flights per week. This route further complements Air Arabia Group’s broader network between the UAE and Russia, with Yekaterinburg accessible through non-stop flights from Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and now Abu Dhabi. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi operates a modern fleet of 12 Airbus A320 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. Offering passengers, a value-added onboard experience, the aircraft is equipped with ‘SkyTime’, its complementary in-flight streaming service, and ‘SkyCafe’, its onboard menu. Passengers can also benefit from ‘Air Rewards’, the most generous loyalty program in the region. Customers can now book their direct flights between the two cities by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre, or through travel agencies.