Category Archives: Aviation

Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to explore the potential for hydrogen-powered aircraft operations. The cooperation means Wizz Air will analyse the potential for highly efficient, ultra-low-cost hydrogen powered operations. It will provide WIZZ with a much deeper understanding of how operating a zero-emission hydrogen aircraft could positively impact the airline’s future business model. The objective of this MoU is to identify both operational and infrastructure opportunities and challenges of hydrogen aircraft. Both parties will collaborate to develop a deep understanding of: The evolution of the global hydrogen ecosystem from the perspectives of society, regulation, energy pricing and hydrogen infrastructure The impact of hydrogen aircraft on Wizz Air’s fleet, operations and infrastructure, including its network, scheduling, ground bases and airports, by considering specific aircraft characteristics, such as achievable range and refuelling time Johan Eidhagen, Chief People & ESG Officer, Wizz Air said: “At Wizz Air, we remain ambitious with our growth strategy to deliver on our commitment to make travel affordable for all, while delivering a great customer experience on-board one of the youngest and greenest fleets in Europe. We believe that growth and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, with leading-edge new technology paving the way to more sustainable air travel. This momentous agreement with Airbus will advance sustainable aviation across the globe through development of ultra-efficient operations and business models of the future. We are absolutely thrilled and look forward to beginning our co-operation.” Glenn Llewellyn, Vice President Zero Emission Aircraft, Airbus said: “Working with our customers is paramount to developing a climate-neutral, zero-emission aircraft by 2035. We are very pleased to have Wizz Air on board to collaborate on the ongoing research and development …

As the holiday season gets under way, Qatar Airways is making it easier for customers to enjoy the Greek Isles with the launch of its new service to Santorini (JTR), and the resumption of flights to Mykonos (JMK). The first flight from Doha to Santorini on Tuesday 07 June, was operated by an A320 aircraft featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class and was welcomed by Senior Executives from Fraport Greece as the aircraft landed at Santorini International Airport for the first time. The airline marked the occasion by creating a bespoke in-flight food menu, designed to embrace traditional Greek cuisine, with specially decorated cutlery bands for all passengers, and an illustrated menu card for Business Class customers. Passengers were also gifted celebratory cupcakes to mark the occasion. The inaugural flight from Doha was operated by Qatari Captain Abdulaziz Al Kaabi and Greek Captain Andrew Evlambides, in honour of the first flight to Santorini. The island destination joins Athens and Mykonos to become the third Greek gateway to be served by the national carrier of the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The Greek Isles are a leading tourist destination and an important market for Qatar Airways. There is high interest from across our network for flights to Santorini, specifically in the leisure segment. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. I am sure visitors from the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Americas will be pleased to have Santorini served by our airline.” Mr. Alexander Zinell, CEO Fraport Greece said: “We feel honored that Qatar Airways’ has …

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flights to Izmir, in the Republic of Turkey, with two flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. This coincided with the launch of the first scheduled commercial flight to the city of Mykonos, in the Republic of Greece, with two flights per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, both commencing from 6th June 2022. The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Mr. Khalid Al-Bustan, expressed his happiness on this important launch, which is in response to the significant and growing requirements of customers in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region. He pointed out that Kuwait Airways had recently launched operations to Casablanca, Manchester, Sohag, Alexandria, Sharm El-Sheikh, Trabzon and Bodrum, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, Madrid and Malaga in Spain, Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in the coming months. Al-Bustan added that the Airbus A320neo, which was recently included to Kuwait Airways’ fleet of aircraft, was selected to facilitate the travel of passengers to the cities of Izmir and Mykonos, due to its unique technological features and characteristics, and in accordance with its latest features present in the air transport sector. Al-Bustan explained that Kuwait Airways was steadily progressing towards digital transformation, and to attain the best levels of excellence. Moreover, he pointed out that customers could make their reservations through different channels, …

Qatar Executive is set to introduce a new Air Ionisation System on its state-of-the-art G650ER aircraft. The active system is capable of eliminating potentially harmful pathogens and allergens, including bacteria, viruses, and mould spores. The eco-friendly technology has a minimum impact on the environment and adds an additional layer of hygiene onboard by eradicating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), visible smoke and undesirable odours. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Executive is always at the forefront when it comes to introducing the latest safety and hygiene innovations. Enhancing the comfort and well-being of our passengers throughout their journey is paramount, therefore, we are pleased to be retrofitting our G650ER fleet with this cutting-edge Air Ionisation System. Qatar Executive will continue to adopt and introduce meticulous on-board safety measures which offer an unparalleled private jet experience each time.” Qatar Executive has already retrofitted two of its G650ER jets with the pioneering Air Ionisation System, and will continue installing the new device across the fleet within the next three months. Qatar Executive is the world’s largest owner-operator of the Gulfstream G650ER, one of the most sought-after jets due to its exceptional range capabilities, industry-leading cabin technology, fuel efficiency, and unrivalled passenger comfort. The G650ER is the industry’s fastest ultra-long range business jet. The jet is known for its incredible 7,500 nautical mile range, cutting-edge cabin technology, and unrivalled passenger comfort. Last month, Qatar Executive’s flagship G650ER jet operated to and from Geneva, Switzerland using a high blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); reflecting Qatar Airways Groups’ commitment to working on its environmental sustainability goals. The ultra-modern aircraft was on display for spectators to tour and experience …

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flight to the city of Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, with two flights per week on Saturdays and Tuesdays, commencing from 7th June 2022. The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Khalid Al-Bustan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first direct flight to Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, one of the new destinations launched by the Blue Bird, as part of its plans to expand its network around the world, in line with KAC’s objectives which are directed towards achieving the best levels of excellence in the quality of services provided to customers, and offering them comfortable and convenient facilities that meet their requirements.” Al-Bustan added that Kuwait Airways’ selection of Salalah as a destination came after comprehensive research of the feasibility of this destination in general and the extent of its demand, which is very high especially during the summer season, due to various attributes of Salalah, such as its moderate climate, touristic attractions, historical and cultural landmarks, as well as its greenery and picturesque nature.” Al-Bustan explained that Kuwait Airways had recently launched numerous destinations, which are in line with its objectives to launch short and medium haul routes such as Casablanca, Manchester, Alexandria, Sharm El Sheikh, Sohag, Trabzon, Bodrum and most recently Mykonos and Izmir, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, Madrid and Malaga in Spain, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in …

Emirates and Airlink have officially activated their codeshare partnership. The Emirates and Airlink partnership makes it easier for customers to create their ideal itinerary and benefit from seamless connections and a single booking reference across eight domestic South African cities via the airline’s gateways Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Travel itineraries can now be booked on emirates.com, with travel agents as well as online travel agents (OTAs). Tickets booked from June 2022 are available for travel immediately. Emirates customers can now book a wide range of additional flights, including eight destinations from Johannesburg, five destinations from Cape Town and one point from Durban. Examples of some new route options include Bloemfontein, Hoedspruit, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley, George, and East London, amongst others. Emirates currently offers double daily flights to Dubai from Johannesburg, daily flights to Dubai from Cape Town and five weekly flights to and from Durban. The airline is also driving more connectivity options that provide value through a better experience for its customers. With the revival of its South African Airways partnership, as well as its codeshare agreement with Airlink, and interlines with Cemair and FlySafair, the airline has expanded its reach to 79 regional points in southern Africa.

Brown Hotels announced an official partnership with Israir Airlines. The partnership is based around an investment worth approximately €40million for Brown Hotels and Israir to co-purchase and co-own properties throughout mainland Greece and the Greek Islands, as well as the launch of new packages combining hotel stays and flights at attractive rates. As part of the new partnership, Brown Hotels will provide unique vacation packages in Greece combining direct flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport to Athens International Airport via Israir Airlines with stays at Brown Hotel’s new collection of properties in Greece. Israir will also have airline exclusivity over the sale of vacation packages and Brown Hotels rooms. After the crisis that the global tourism industry endured during the Coronavirus pandemic, with Greece particularly hard-hit, both sides are anticipating that the rapid recovery of the industry will help promote the Brown Hotels collection and Israir through strategic marketing and sales initiatives by both sides. The hotels are located in strategic tourist destinations throughout Greece, with various facilities for guests, including restaurants and bars, all in the modern design aesthetic of the Brown Hotels brand. The partnership marks the first time that a real estate investment collaboration has taken place between Israir and a hotel brand. The joint investment will include the purchase, renovation, improvement, operation and marketing of the properties that will be operated by Brown Hotels. Amongst the first property to be opened under the partnership is a new Brown Hotel in Chania, Crete, one of the most coveted and sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean. The hotel, aptly named “Isla Brown Chania,” will open at the end of 2022 under the Brown Hotels Resorts label, and …

Kuwait Airways announced the signing of an agreement with Qatar Airways, enabling match ticket holders to attend the World Cup 2022, by providing direct, daily match day shuttle service to and from Doha within 24 hours, to attend the match on the same day and enjoy an exceptional experience. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan said, “We are pleased that Kuwait Airways is part of this monumental global event, especially since it is being held in Qatar and we are proud to facilitate the travel of fans to and from the State of Qatar for this event. Not only does this agreement enhance the connectivity among the countries of the GCC, but also facilitates the social and economic growth emphasized by the government of the State of Kuwait.” Al-Dukhan was confident that Kuwait Airways would play a prominent role as a distinguished carrier in linking Kuwait to the world, providing comfort and convenience for fans in Kuwait and the GCC countries, as they choose the Blue Bird for their flights to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. On his part, Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “The historic bilateral agreement between Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways is part of an ongoing partnership between the State of Kuwait and the State of Qatar, who share numerous common goals at all levels. Football fans from Kuwait will have plenty of options and choices to travel between the countries at any hour of the day, during the FIFA World Cup 2022 season in Qatar.” Razouqi added, “This agreement with Kuwait Airways is in accordance with KAC’s transformation program to provide comfort to our valued customers and achieve their aspirations to attend …

iCoupon, the leading digital vouchering platform in airports worldwide, is continuing to revolutionise the world of digital vouchering with its new service, iCoupon AutoPay. The iCoupon system already organises all airline vouchers by flight, date, airport and creates draft invoices automatically, and now the retailer will no longer have to spend time sending the auto-generated bill to each individual airline and chase for payment. Instead, iCoupon’s billing system, for those who select the service, will automatically submit the invoices directly to iCoupon, which will pay the bills directly to the retailers on payment dates and terms selected by the retailer. Airlines will only have one bill to pay to iCoupon for their consolidated AutoPay retailer bills, yet still have full visibility of every passenger transaction for audit, EU261 and validation purposes. In addition, the entire billing process takes place automatically in the iCoupon billing engine, meaning that retailers and airlines do not need to make any changes manually and everything carries on as normal from their perspective. By automatically generating billing documents at the end of each month, iCoupon AutoPay will eliminate the time retailers and airlines are putting into billing administration. The billing documents will be fully compliant with local legislation of each country, and with VAT compliance such as EU112 directives. After generating the document, iCoupon will automatically pay the retailer on its selected credit terms. Retailers using iCoupon AutoPay can select which package best suits their needs and will be paid depending on that choice. New and existing retailers and airlines will be able to opt-in to the solution and iCoupon will do the rest, with just the flick-of-a-switch. Non-iCoupon AutoPay clients will be able to continue …

Oman Air welcomes all guests to the Sultanate of Oman on board its award-winning flights. All remaining COVID-19 precautionary safety measures and procedures in place at airports across Oman have been lifted. Arriving international travellers no longer need to register through the eMushrif portal or undertake a PCR test before or upon arrival, as previously required. Furthermore, authorities have removed all quarantine requirements as well as the requirement to download the Tarassud+ Track & Trace application prior to departing for Oman. Guests departing Oman should ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com