Category Archives: Aviation

Emirates reinforces its commitment to South Korea by ramping up its operations in Seoul with three additional weekly flights starting 19 February 2024.The new flights will operate as EK324/ EK325 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Emirates’ flight EK324 will depart Dubai at 0445hrs, landing in Seoul Incheon International Airport at 1805hrs. The return flight EK325 will depart Seoul at 2200hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0315hrs the following day. Emirates’ additional services will increase the capacity on flights between Dubai and Seoul by more than 1,000 additional seats per week, helping to alleviate the suppressed demand for international travel to one of the most popular East Asian destinations and supporting South Korea’s inbound and outbound tourism. The airline’s ramped-up operations will further serve the need for adding more flights between UAE and Korea, in line with the strong bilateral relations between the two nations. Through the three weekly Boeing 777 flights, Emirates will provide 45 tonnes of additional cargo capacity between Dubai and Seoul, boosting the trade and economic ties between South Korea and the UAE as well as through Dubai and beyond to more global destinations in Emirates’ network, further contributing to Korea’s economy and facilitating convenient air connectivity for the Republic’s imports and exports. Emirates launched services to Seoul in 2005 and currently operates a daily Airbus A380 service from Dubai. With the additional services, the airline will serve Seoul with 10 weekly flights operated by a mix of its signature Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, guaranteeing more flexibility and choice for its customers to and from Dubai, as well as beyond to its global network of over 130 destinations.Travellers flying with …

flyadeal celebrates carrying 25 million passengers aboard its modern fleet of 32 aircraft in a remarkable accomplishment affirming its ongoing excellence in the low cost aviation sector. In its relatively short history, flyadeal has embarked on an exceptional journey of evolution, making this significant milestone a symbol of its steadfast commitment to providing exceptional service and meeting the needs of all flyadeal travellers. Mr. Abdulrahman Ajabnoor, Chief Financial Officer flyadeal, commented on this achievement saying, “We are proud of our journey so far, and we are proud to have achieved this historic accomplishment. This is a turning point for us, and it was made possible by our dedication to our customers and travellers who have chosen flyadeal to be their carrier and partner. We promise to continue to deliver safe and exceptional travel experiences.” He added, “In celebrating this achievement, we express our gratitude to our loyal customers who have been the foundation and driving force behind our accomplishments. Furthermore, we are extremely thankful to our dedicated team, who have worked diligently to achieve this success. Their unwavering commitment will undoubtedly lead to many more success’s for flyadeal.” Travellers can always rely on flyadeal to fly for less with seamless flight experiences to their favorite destinations within the Kingdom and around the world.

Etihad Airways has kicked off 2024 by introducing two new services. Daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India commenced on New Year’s Day. These non-stop services to each destination bring the total number of Indian gateways served by Etihad to 10, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing easy access to its expanding global network for guests travelling to and from the Subcontinent. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, said: “We have established a fantastic group of non-stop routes between India and Abu Dhabi, providing customers with easier access to our growing network without transiting through one of the main Indian hub airports. “Seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi ensure that our guests can easily access destinations across the GCC, Europe – including our four daily services to London – and North America. Moreover, they have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.” The introduction of this service enhances accessibility to the picturesque countryside and beaches that Kerala is renowned for, creating increased inbound tourism to the region. Additionally, it streamlines travel for professionals visiting the burgeoning business hubs in the area. In 2023, the airline reintroduced services to Kolkata, a vital Indian gateway connecting Eastern India to global destinations. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its most popular routes, from two per day to an impressive four flights per day. For 2024 Etihad has already announced new flights to Boston, USA starting on 31 March, to Nairobi, Kenya on 01 May, and its exciting summer schedule includes an inaugural non-stop service to Nice, …

Qatar Airways announces its 2024 network expansion with exciting new destinations as well as resumptions, bookable ahead of the New Year. In terms of network increases, there will be seven weekly flights from Doha to Venice and Hamburg. Venice effective 12 June 2024 and Hamburg effective 01 July 2024. Travellers can start planning their 2024 summer travels with the resumption of Venice, Italy in June, followed by the exciting new destination of Hamburg, Germany in July. These gateways will act as a vehicle for increased economic and tourism activity as they connect to Qatar Airways’ award-winning network of over 170 destinations. Venice is expected to see high demand from destinations such as Japan, China and Australia while Hamburg will serve as a gateway to South Africa, Thailand and the Philippines. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer commented: “As this year comes to an end, we are delighted to present our passengers with new and exciting travel opportunities for the year 2024. Starting with our resumption to Venice and an inaugural flight to Hamburg, Qatar Airways and its hub, Hamad International Airport, continues to position itself on the global map as a leading gateway for international travel and connectivity. We look forward to seeing our passengers uncover new experiences and resume flying to their favourite destinations.” Travellers looking to spend the 2024 summer in Europe have more choice than ever and can now spend sunny days by the river in Hamburg and enjoy gelato while cruising the canals of Venice. The announcements come on the back of recent expansion to the Qatar Airways winter schedule which includes increased flight frequencies to key leisure destinations, including Amsterdam, Bangkok, …

flynas announced the launch of four direct weekly flights between Dammam and Hail, starting January 4, 2024. The launch announcement of the new flights comes days after flynas’ announcement of launching many domestic and international new routes and destinations during the last two weeks. It included the launch of direct flights from Jeddah to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, and the European Union in cooperation with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), and direct flights to Bahrain from Riyadh and Jeddah, in addition to the launch of flynas operations base at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, with the launch of six destinations from Madinah, as part of flynas’ strategy for expansion and growth within its plan that it launched under the slogan “We connect the world to the Kingdom.” The operational capacity of flynas has doubled in the current period due to the upscaling of its fleet size by more than 100% in less than two years, as the company signed an agreement with Airbus last June to purchase 30 new A320neo aircraft as part of a purchase order for 120 Airbus aircraft and the approval to increase orders for new aircraft to 250. flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 60 million passengers since its launch in 2007, aiming to reach 165 domestic and international destinations, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. Passengers traveling with flynas can book their flights through all flynas booking channels: www.flynas.com, the flynas app, the call centre (920001234), or travel agents.  

The national airline operated more than 15,000 flights, carrying three million passengers, with more than 1.5 million point-to-point passengers to Abu Dhabi in 2023. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi continues to play a key role in supporting innovation, resilience and integration of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors to share the Emirate with the world and enrich lives. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announced its outstanding operational results for 2023. The joint venture established between ADQ and Wizz Air Holdings PLC, enjoyed a record-breaking year, more than doubling both the number of operated flights and passengers carried, with a completion rate of 99.6%. The airline supports the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism’s target to reach 24 million visitors for 2023, and promote the Emirate as a year-round tourism destination that offers exciting, inspiring and restorative experiences that visitors can discover at their own pace.Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is also supporting the development of the UAE’s tourism sector, in line with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, and further strengthening the position of the UAE as one of the best destinations in the world for tourism. Wizz Air is constantly developing the UAE network and currently flies to a total of 40 destinations in 27 different countries from Abu Dhabi, sharing the love of travel to culturally rich destinations, including vibrant cities and hidden-gem resorts. The airline has proudly introduced a new segment of travel in the UAE in line with the country’s socio-economic vision with recent exciting expansions into Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe allowing for convenient, self-connecting travel across the wider Wizz Air network via the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The airline solidified its position as …

Emirates’ Lounge at Dusseldorf Airport has reopened after a seven-week refurbishment. The exclusive 700 square meter lounge area welcomes Emirates’ passengers with completely new, cream-colored leather seats, new furniture and carpets as well as new lighting and kitchen equipment. With the capacity to accommodate 115 guests, Emirates’ Lounge is the single largest airline lounge at Dusseldorf Airport and one of the largest Emirates Lounges in continental Europe. The newly designed facilities in Düsseldorf conclude a comprehensive investment made by the airline in Germany – within the past five months, Emirates’ airport lounges in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich have also been modernized. “We are constantly looking for ways to further enhance the travel experience for our valued customers both in the air and on ground, Emirates’ exclusive airport lounges are an integral part of our ‘Fly better’ brand promise. The investment in the refurbishment of all lounges demonstrates our commitment to our passengers and to our airport partners in Germany.” says Volker Greiner, Emirates Vice President North & Central Europe. Emirates’ lounge at Düsseldorf Airport opens daily three hours before the departure of flights EK56 and EK58, offering a wide selection of hot and cold dishes that change monthly from the renowned caterer DO & CO, including numerous vegan options, a free bar service and private shower rooms. Access to the lounges is available to all Emirates First Class and Business Class passengers as well as Skywards members with Platinum or Gold status traveling in Economy Class. Access is also available for a fee. The airline’s lounge at Düsseldorf Airport was officially opened in May 2009 as the 20th Emirates Lounge worldwide. Emirates has been flying from Düsseldorf since 2001 and its …

Riyadh Air has signed a three-year strategic agreement with Accenture to help deliver its technology foundation and capabilities as part of its vision to be the world’s first digitally native airline. The initiative will enable Riyadh Air to operate in a new era of aviation with digital services at its core, using cutting-edge technologies such as cloud data and AI to help deliver a seamless travel experience for its guests and employees. The core enterprise system will enable the company to scale as it aims to offer over 100 destinations by 2030. Accenture will help set up Riyadh Air’s cloud-only infrastructure, cybersecurity capabilities, managed services and operations as the airline gears up for its launch. Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer of Riyadh Air, said, “As a digitally native airline, Riyadh Air will be at the forefront of innovation and technology, allowing us to deliver world-class service to our guests. There is a considerable amount of unseen work taking place behind the scenes enabling both our operations and user experience, with Accenture, as our strategic technology partner, helping us to deliver, secure and operate foundational capabilities.” Emily Weiss, senior managing director at Accenture and head of its Travel practice globally, said, “The launch of Riyadh Air is a landmark moment for the aviation industry as a whole; a brand-new airline that’s designed from the ground up, harnessing the latest technologies to create hyper-connected experiences that meet the demands of today’s, and tomorrow’s travelers. Drawing on our deep industry and digital expertise, we are proud to be collaborating with Riyadh Air to help shape the future of travel.” Boukadida added, “Accenture is pivotal in enabling Riyadh Air’s cloud-first strategy, and our unique …

Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines signalled their intent to strengthen their partnership by signing a Strategic Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to enhance commercial and operational ties. The accord reflects a commitment to explore a deepened co-operation that will provide travellers with wider choices, higher quality services, and increased value, while contributing to sustainable aviation. Building upon their successful existing partnership, the airlines plan to implement a broad collaboration including an expanded codeshare, reciprocal loyalty programmes, cargo transport, maintenance, repair and overhaul, ground handling, catering, lounge access, staff training, and several sustainability initiatives. This comprehensive approach will improve efficiencies while maintaining world-renowned hospitality. The MoU should facilitate China Eastern’s ambition to begin services to Abu Dhabi through its discussions with Abu Dhabi Airports, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi, and other key stakeholders in the UAE capital. A combination of Etihad and China Eastern services, which would coincide with the newly opened Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport, will create a robust platform for China-UAE air traffic and establish an ideal launchpad for connections between China, the Middle East, and Africa. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, emphasised the significance of the partnership. He said: “Our two airlines have operated an enduring partnership for over a decade. This MoU is an important milestone and a key to establishing a long-term mutually beneficial cooperation. I am highly encouraged by the momentum of our cooperation, and I look forward to seeing further success. “It also marks a significant development of the direct links between Abu Dhabi and China and underscores the confidence of one of the most influential Chinese carriers in Etihad. The MoU paves …

Etihad Airways and Maldivian announced a strategic bilateral interline partnership, unlocking access to 16 dream holiday destinations in the Maldives beyond the main island of Malé. The agreement between Etihad and Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, means guests can now seamlessly navigate across the Indian Ocean archipelago, enjoying the combined services and networks of both carriers on a single ticket. Etihad’s Chief Revenue Officer, Arik De said: “This interline will elevate the overall customer experience across the entire journey. Guests bound for the Maldives will enjoy the privilege of arriving at their popular holiday destinations with greater ease. Facilitated by smooth connections from Malé, Etihad customers can easily transition to Maldivian’s services, reaching a wide range of domestic destinations to begin their idyllic island retreat.” Maldivian’s General Manager Commercial, Ibrahim Hamdhan Mohamed said: “In an effort to expand Maldivian’s reach globally, this interline partnership with Etihad Airways will open exciting opportunities for our valued customers to connect and travel seamlessly within our strong and growing route network of destinations across the Maldives.” Etihad customers can access destinations on Maldivian’s network, which serves many popular islands, via Velana International Airport, Malé, including: Dharavandhoo Island (DRV), Faresmathoda Airport (FMT), Funadhoo Airport (FND), Fuvahmulak Island Airport (FVM), Gan Island Airport (GAN), Kooddoo Island (GKK), Hanimaadhoo Island Airport (HAQ), Kulhudhuffushi Airport (HDK), Hoarafushi Airport (HRF), Kaadedhdhoo Island Airport (KDM), Kadhdhoo Island (KDO), Madivaru Airport (LMV), Maafaru International Airport (NMF), Maavarulu Airport (RUL), Thimarafushi Airport (TMF), and Ifuru (IFU). Etihad is set to increase the frequency of its flights to Malé to connect with the Maldivian network from 10 to 14 a week starting on 1 January, 2024. The agreement also makes it …