Category Archives: Aviation

The past few weeks saw a hike in airfares especially in the UAE. As an expat populated destination, the short breaks are always popular, and this continues year on year. Hitherto known destinations, have become the best escapes for the UAE travellers over the past few years. Georgia started off this campaign offering visa on arrival for residents of the UAE. Following them, other destinations too wanted a piece of the business, hence employed similar tactics to attract this huge expat market by ensuring they provide either visa on arrival or visa free for any nationality with a resident visa from the UAE. However, connectivity is a concern with the rise of the air ticket pricing, yet the number of travellers hasn’t really reduced, especially in the case of the Asian sectors. When it comes to holiday destinations such as Turkey which is a key outbound getaway for UAE travellers the pricing went up to almost 6k return, and Asian destinations, especially India was at a staggering 3k plus. Many travellers opting to spend time with their families back in India over the Eid holidays, are seen to be taking smarter ways by checking in from Ras Al Khaimah or Fujairah. No matter the price, travellers in the UAE would always take a chance to travel. Some travellers have also become smart in the sense that they pre-plan their travel dates almost six months prior so that they can partake in some of the best deals. What are the criteria for all this drama? What becomes of the families who wish to travel? Is there a balance between supply and demand? Well, we spoke with some of the key agents who …

SalamAir  continues expanding its reach with the addition of a new destination to its network. Starting July 12th 2023, SalamAir will be offering weekly flights to Fujairah, UAE, with four flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Fujairah is the latest addition to SalamAir’s growing list of destinations, offering travelers an exciting new opportunity to experience the unique culture, history, and natural beauty of the United Arab Emirates. The launch of this new destination comes in response to the rising demand for economical and practical air travel options among both leisure and business travelers. With the latest addition of Fujairah, SalamAir now serves a total of 39 destinations across 13 countries, making it one of the region’s fastest-growing value-for-money airlines. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, expressed his excitement about the new route to the airline’s network, stating, “The introduction of Fujairah to our destination network is part of our strategic plan to expand our reach within the regional routes we offer. We are certain that this new route will be a popular choice for all travelers, especially given the convenient connections from Fujairah to some of our most sought-after destinations on the network, and we look forward to welcoming our guests on board our flights to and from Fujairah.” Passengers can book their flights to Fujairah starting today through SalamAir’s website, call center, or their preferred travel agency. Visit www.salamair.com to book your next trip. You can also contact our customer service 24/7 at +968 2427 2222. With the addition of Fujairah, SalamAir continues its commitment to providing travelers with a range of affordable and convenient travel options while maintaining its focus on safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. Now, …

Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first flights to the city of Athens, Greece with two flights per week on Fridays and Mondays, commencing from 16 June 2023. The Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Airways, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first scheduled commercial flights to the city of Athens in the Republic of Greece as part of the implementation of its objectives to launch new and permanent destinations that was announced earlier.” Razouqi added, “The city of Athens is an excellent summer destination, both for travel and tourism. It is considered as one of the most beautiful cites in the world, famous for its history, rich culture and ancient heritage dating back to centuries. Taking this into account, Kuwait Airways launched this destination to suit the preferences of our valued customers, as well as to meet their requirements to diversify the network of routes and expand around the world by including new and diverse destinations.” Razouqi indicated that choosing the destination of Athens came after comprehensive research to meet the growing demands for destinations such as these and to different markets for our customers. Moreover, Kuwait Airways is diligently striving to provide customers with the opportunity to select what suits them the most, especially with recovery of the summer travel season and the diversity of destinations. Razouqi concluded that passengers travelling on the national carrier can enjoy a unique experience on board with advanced technology, as well as comfortable and distinguished services provided by the cabin crew who are ready to assist them with their requirements. On his part, the Ambassador of Greece to the State of Kuwait, H.E. Konstantinos Piperigos stated, “The …

Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, Amaala and The Red Sea, announced on Thursday the signing of a sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli Football Club. The agreement was signed in Jeddah in the presence of Eng. Ahmed Ghazi Darwish, Chief Administrative Officer and official spokesperson for Red Sea Global, and Mr. Tariq Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Ahli FC Investment Company. A number of senior executives from Red Sea Global as well as members of the club’s board of directors were also in attendance. Red Sea Global becomes the Platinum Sponsor of the club’s first team. The agreement means Red Sea Global’s logo will be displayed on the players’ jerseys during all local and global competitions, in addition to other commercial and marketing advantages and privileges. “This sponsorship stems from the sense of social responsibility adopted by RSG, and our interest in promoting various initiatives in relation to sports. It runs in parallel with our commitment to people and planet, which directly and positively reflects on the quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and contributes to creating and building a healthy society,” said Engineer Ahmed Darwish. Engineer Darwish noted that RSG will be an active partner in shaping the present and future of Saudi Arabia, by contributing to enhancing the sustainability of the sports sector. Al-Ahli Football Club represents a long history in Saudi sports and has a great fan base that will be a key element in the success of this partnership. Mr. Tariq Khalifa expressed his delight in associating the name of Saudi Al-Ahli FC with Red Sea Global, the company in charge of developing …

A new chapter in travel has arrived on the global stage with the world class, digitally-led airline Riyadh Air, making its international debut at the 54th bi-annual Paris Air Show. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner adorned with Riyadh Air’s unique livery touched down after a remarkable fly-over the city of Riyadh for its first official reveal on Monday 12th June. The disruptive new airline from Saudi Arabia will fly to more than 100 destinations, and reach 100 million visitors by 2030, making Riyadh City a hub for global travel and encouraging visits to the Kingdom for business and leisure. The airline will bring a new level of attention to detail to guest experience and has technology that will raise the bar for the industry. The brand identity captures the heritage of the Kingdom whilst being modern and forward thinking with the global campaign launched in early June was featured with the tagline of ‘The Future Takes Flight’. The aircraft is on static display at the air show, allowing visitors to view the unique indigo aircraft livery up close being one of two aircraft liveries that Riyadh Air will introduce to the world. The main brand lavender color is symbolic of the welcoming and hospitable nature of the people in the Kingdom, as well as being a natural plant that carpets Saudi Arabia during spring, while the rear of the aircraft design captures the movement of canopy tents in the desert. Riyadh City is rapidly becoming a major player in global business and the rapid Saudi economic growth, which is targeted to be in the top 10 globally by 2030, is outperforming other major economies. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has many developing tourist sites, such …

As travellers begin flying for the summer holidays, Etihad Airways is prepared to welcome more than 4 million passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport between 20 June and 30 September 2023 and advises guests to follow below tips. A high volume of travellers will be joining locally in Abu Dhabi, with the remainder connecting from across Etihad’s extensive network of 66 destinations, including new summer routes to Lisbon, Malaga and Mykonos which launched over the weekend. Etihad’s upgraded online check-in allows guests to complete passport and visa checks prior to reaching the airport. The Auto Doc Check feature ensures guests have met all relevant travel and visa requirements for a hassle-free airport experience. In addition, the airline’s self-service bag drop facility provides a quicker and more efficient check-in process, accommodating a greater number of guests and minimising queue times. Once checked-in online, the self-service facilities allow travellers to seamlessly retrieve their booking, print the bag-tag and process their bags in less than two minutes. Shaeb Al Najjar, General Manager Hub Operations, Etihad Airways, said “In addition to hosting guests as they fly into their summer holidays, we are also looking to welcome pilgrims, whether they are starting their journey from the UAE or connecting from other destinations across our extensive network. Thanks to Etihad’s award-winning cabin crew, family-friendly offerings, and cabin propositions, guests can expect the best possible travel experiences. By also embracing cutting-edge technologies, we can deliver a more seamless and personalised experience for our guests.” During peak times, Economy check-in for non-US flights opens four hours before departure and closes one hour before departure. Business and First check-in closes 45 minutes before departure. For US flights check-in closes …

With the commencement of the Hajj season and upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations, Emirates is layering on additional flights to key regional destinations to meet significant travel demand during this special period. As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifts all Hajj travel restrictions for the first time in three years, Emirates has deployed additional flights for pilgrims to embark on their journey to and from the Holy City of Makkah. Ten flights have been added to and from Jeddah. All flights will be operated on Boeing 777 aircraft dedicated for Hajj pilgrims until 7 July. The Hajj flights to Jeddah will run in parallel to Emirates’ existing schedule to the Kingdom and are open to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa and, if above the age of 12, have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Medina will also be served with daily flights during this time. This year, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah anticipates 2.6 million pilgrims, reaching pre-pandemic numbers and the additional flights aim to help seamlessly carry pilgrims. Emirates has already seen strong bookings for Hajj travel from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Mauritius and South Africa. Gearing up for a busy travel period for Eid Al Adha, Emirates has deployed an additional 34 flights to popular destinations across the region. With an estimated 78,000 people from across the region expected to travel with Emirates during the Eid Al Adha six-day break, the additional flights will facilitate passengers traveling home to celebrate with their family and friends. For passengers traveling to the Levant, Emirates has added ten flights to Amman from 21 to 30 June, and ten additional flights to Beirut from 20 to …

SalamAir announces the introduction of new non-stop flights connecting Salalah and Bahrain during the much-anticipated Khareef season. Commencing July 5th, this strategic initiative aims to cater to the growing demand from travellers seeking a seamless travel experience between these two popular destinations. SalamAir’s CEO, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, said, “We are proud to announce the launch of a new non-stop flight route between Salalah and Bahrain during the Khareef season in response to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik’s direction to the concerned authorities to provide direct subsidies on fuel prices at Salalah Airport, equivalent to fuel prices at Muscat International Airport.” Captain Mohamed Ahmed added, “The introduction of non-stop flights between Salalah and Bahrain supports the growing inbound tourism sector and contributes to the realization of Oman’s ambitious Vision 2040.”

With the summer travelling season coming up, Air Arabia presents multiple options to facilitate smooth travel for its passengers during the expected rush at departure airports, especially with the low-cost carrier offering access to various destinations for the Eid break and summer months with a plethora of added benefits. To avoid long queues at the airport, passengers can utilise the online check-in service which allows you to conveniently check-in from the comfort of your home or office. Customers are required to fill in their reservation number, name, flight date, and numbers 36 hours prior to departure time. Enjoy convenience and flexibility by dropping off luggage within 24 hours up until 8 hours prior to flight departure at one of Air Arabia’s six City Check-in facilities located in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Al Ain. Travelers can also collect their boarding passes at the facility, allowing them the opportunity to proceed directly to their flight upon arrival at the airport. Holidaymakers are advised to ensure they arrive three hours before departure, providing them with ample time at the airport. Travellers also need to be at their designated gates 45 minutes before take-off.

Travelport and Royal Jordanian Airlines announced they have renewed the distribution and operator agreements to deepen their decades-long relationship. Under the agreements, Royal Jordanian Airline will continue to provide the widest range of products and ancillaries to Travelport-connected agencies worldwide, along with the highest level of service to its customers. Travelport will support the airline’s technological transformation by ensuring its robust product offering is delivered to agents through Travelport’s innovative, modern retailing platform, Travelport+. Furthermore, Royal Jordanian Airlines and Travelport have renewed the operator agreement for Royal Jordanian Airlines’ distribution of Travelport+ to agencies in Jordan. “Throughout our decades-long partnership, we have been impressed with the cooperation and adaptability that Travelport has demonstrated as a partner. They have a firm grasp of our business requirements and have worked closely with us to meet our commercial goals, helping us further elevate our positioning as the airline of choice for the entire Levant region. We are eager to work closely with Travelport on our global network expansion, strengthening our relationship with Travelport and having direct access to the world-class travel marketplace, in line with our ambitious, comprehensive growth strategy for the coming years,” said Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Jordanian.  “In addition, the 25-year partnership between Royal Jordanian Airlines and Travelport is reinforced with our renewed operator agreement, which will enable us to cement our position as the leader in sales distribution and support for agents in Jordan”, he added. “The distribution agreement renewal with Royal Jordanian Airlines is evidence of their trust in the long-established partnership with Travelport,” said David Gomes, Head of Commercial, Air Partners EMEA at Travelport. “We are thrilled to have renewed our agreement with Royal …