Category Archives: Aviation

Emirates’ Taipei-Dubai route is scheduled to go daily from 6 November, following the conclusion of Taiwan’s reopening plan with the termination of its mandatory COVID-19 quarantine restrictions for arrivals. Operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, Emirates’ flight EK366 from Dubai departs at 02:50hrs and arrives in Taipei at 14:45hrs. The return flight EK367 from Taipei departs at 22:45hrs and arrives in Dubai at 4:35hrs the next day. All times are local. The additional frequencies will provide Emirates’ passengers increased connectivity and options to and from Taiwan, to help meet the air travel needs for both business and leisure. Travellers who are eligible can travel to Taiwan visa-free, and all inbound passengers are advised to undergo a 7-day self-health monitoring. Travellers are encouraged to check the latest entry requirements. Emirates commenced non-stop daily flights to Taipei in 2014, operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft. The Dubai-Taipei route was later upgraded with a daily two-class A380 service in 2016. The airline has established a solid partnership with the market which is underpinned by its contributions to the local community and air cargo transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The return of Emirates’ operations to Taipei from the current 4 weekly to daily flights demonstrates the airline’s commitment to aid the market’s travel and tourism recovery, and help drive inbound traffic by connecting travellers from over 130 destinations in its global network to the cosmopolitan city. Travellers flying with Emirates can enjoy the best experience in the sky with an unmatched culinary experience, regionally inspired multi-course menus developed by a team of award-winning chefs complemented by a wide selection of premium beverages. Customers can sit back and relax with more than 5,000 channels of …

‎With only 20 days to go until the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and MATAR Chief Operations Officer, Eng. Badr Al Meer, met at the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport. The leaders assembled on the tarmac to highlight a specially-branded Boeing 777 aircraft painted in FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ livery. In 2017, Qatar Airways announced its partnership with FIFA as the Official Airline. The alliance has gone from strength to strength, with The World’s Best Airline sponsoring numerous tournaments such as the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017™, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the FIFA Club World Cup™, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup™. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are here to represent both Qatar Airways and FIFA and our dedication towards playing our role in hosting the first-ever FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East. Hosting this tournament is a big achievement for us, and we are ready to unite fans worldwide and provide them with the exceptional experience.” “This will be the first FIFA World Cup™ to take place in the Middle East and the Arab World, and our partners Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport will play a key role in the delivery of this amazing event,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “They are ready to welcome millions of fans to Doha, showcase the Host Country’s unique hospitality, and ensure top-class service and the most memorable experiences, contributing to making this the best FIFA World Cup™ ever.” Most recently, the airline revealed projects, providing football fans with world-class entertainment, including Qatar Live – …

Sabre Corporation and Oman Air announced at the World Passenger Symposium (WPS), a renewed long-term agreement to help the airline reach its strategic goals. The agreement includes a multi-year renewal of Oman Air’s SabreSonic Passenger Service System (PSS) and a further multi-year extension of its global distribution system agreement.  This will ensure Oman Air continues to utilize Sabre’s technology, retailing capabilities and global scope to push forward its digital transformation. By renewing its exclusive PSS agreement and investing in Sabre’s Digital Connect APIs, Oman Air aims to advance its digital retailing strategy, drive revenue growth and increase self-service capabilities. Digital Connect will also help Oman Air accelerate its digital transformation and bring products to the marketplace quickly, providing scalability and flexibility across its digital touchpoints, such as its website and mobile app. “A new approach of retailing is required for all players in the travel ecosystem to succeed in a highly competitive landscape,” said Roshan Mendis, Chief Commercial Officer, Sabe Travel Solutions.  “This intelligent retailing approach allows Oman Air to differentiate its brands and personalize its offerings through all channels.  It also enables agencies to efficiently shop and compare increasingly sophisticated offers, which will also bring greater choice and transparency to Oman Air’s travelers.  As Sabre focuses on delivering more intelligent retailing solutions to meet changing traveler expectations, I’m proud that we are able to help Oman Air realize its transformation vision.” The renewed distribution agreement enables Oman Air to continue to reach Sabre’s valuable network of global buyers, while ensuring that Sabre-connected travel buyers have access to the airline’s comprehensive fares and content – including ancillaries. “We are pleased to announce the renewal of our PSS as well as …

Air India Express will be the only airline operating direct services between UAE and Vijayawada starting 31st Oct 22. Effective 31st Oct 22 Sharjah to Vijayawada will be operational twice a week on Monday and Saturday at 11:00hrs. Effective 01st Nov 22 Dubai to Kannur will also be operational four days a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday at 18:40hrs Air India Express offers introductory fare of AED399 to Vijayawada and AED300 to Kannur with additional 5kgs Baggage Allowance. Flight Schedule will be as under: Flt No. Frequency Departure Airport Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time IX976 Monday …. Saturday Sharjah 11:00 Vijayawada 16:25 IX975 Monday…..Saturday Vijayawada 18:35 Sharjah 21:30 IX748 Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday/Sunday Dubai 18:40 Kannur 23:50 Ix747 Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday Kannur 0:50 Dubai 03:15 Air India express encourages all the expatriates to take advantage of the new flights and fly direct to their home. Air India Express would like to sincerely thank the Civil Aviation Authorities of Dubai and Sharjah for their support for these operations.

The 2022 edition of the Routes World forum, which was held recently, saw major interest from global airlines and aviation players in establishing new air routes and strengthening existing air travel partnerships with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi delegation included an inaugural participation by the Air Connectivity Program (ACP), which participated in over 80 meetings with airlines, airports, tourism boards, and technology partners to explore new air routes and strengthen air and tourism partnerships with the Kingdom. Strong interest from global stakeholders points to the increased attractiveness of the Saudi aviation and tourism industries, which have seen rapid growth in recent years as the Kingdom opens its doors to the world. ACP engaged in conversations with the global route development community, a grouping that establishes airline connectivity. Delegates from ACP also took part in IATA’s Airport Forum, where they contributed to discussions on how to transform regulatory entities into data-driven organizations. Other stakeholders also represented at the Saudi stand include the Saudi Tourism Authority, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Matarat Holding, the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the Red Sea International Airport, and Cluster2. The growth potential of tourism and aviation is immense in Saudi Arabia. To unlock this potential, the National Tourism Strategy and Saudi Aviation Strategy were established with set goals including extending the Kingdom’s air connectivity to over 250 destinations and expanding airport capacity to 330 million yearly passengers by 2030. As part of these efforts, in 2022 alone, ACP has worked alongside Saudia Airlines, flynas, Wizz Air, and other ecosystem stakeholders to launch 22 new air routes to and from the Kingdom.

Emirates will be showcasing its Airbus A319 aircraft this year at Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2022. Emirates Executive, the airline’s luxury private jet will be on display on 1 November to visitors who want a glimpse into the spectacular world of private luxury flying on Emirates. Emirates Executive was introduced in 2013, complete with luxury interiors, including an even larger version of the airline’s sumptuous private suites and a generous multi-functional lounge area on-board, enabling a travel journey versatile enough to provide bespoke experiences to both private customers, families and large groups. Clients can personalise their experience and tailor the journey to their specific preferences. The aircraft’s configuration is designed with a high level of comfort in mind, and can carry up to 19 passengers. Alongside a spacious living and dining area, the ten private suites give travellers ample personal space and privacy to relax and unwind with fully flat-bed seats, ambient lighting, a mini-bar and 32 inch screen in each suite. Customers can also rejuvenate in one of the largest Shower Spas in the air, or separate powder room, all finished in classic walnut and marble and fully kitted-out with fine linens, and a range of select luxury bath and spa products. Dining experiences are fully curated and customised, and customers can choose from intimate private dining on demand, or banquet-style buffets, all rounded off with a show-stopping wine and beverage list. Gourmet meals are prepared with the finest, freshest, locally sourced ingredients and served by a dedicated team of highly trained and experienced inflight crew. The aircraft’s expansive lounge area can also be adapted to customer preferences, like being set as a personal office for conferences and meetings …

Qatar Airways announced the deepening of its relationship with JetBlue through the expansion of the airlines’ codeshare agreement. This expansion allows JetBlue passengers to enjoy unrivalled travel options between the United States and 11 new destinations, in 8 different countries across Africa and Asia via Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Incredible cities to be discovered include Accra, Addis-Ababa, Alexandria, Bangkok, Cairo, Denpasar, Harare, Jakarta, Khartoum, Phuket, and Windhoek. These 11 new markets will be added to the 13 existing codeshare destinations already available to JetBlue customers within the Qatar Airways’ network in Africa, Asia and Middle-East. This builds on the airlines’ partnership that first began in 2011. Qatar Airways passengers already benefit from access to over 50 destinations across JetBlue’s network, including being able to book travel on JetBlue’s extensive routes between the United States, the Caribbean and Latin America regions. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is excited to bring our codeshare partnership with JetBlue to our extensive global network, offering passengers seamless connectivity to over 150 destinations worldwide including premier destinations across Africa and Asia. For more than a decade, JetBlue has been an outstanding partner, and as we continue to deepen our ties we are committed to offering travellers effortless connections and unparalleled service. Both Qatar Airways and JetBlue have a strong commitment to excellence, and we look forward to further building our partnership.” “Together with Qatar Airways, we’re connecting more customers to more outstanding destinations around the world, all while providing them with industry-leading experiences onboard both our airlines,” said Robin Hayes, chief executive officer, JetBlue. “Qatar Airways is already one of our top partners for connecting customers across …

The first Etihad Airways flight to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) supplied by ITOCHU Corporation and NESTE took off from Tokyo Narita airport. The pioneering flight, EY871 departed Tokyo Narita at 1500, was the result of a partnership in which ITOCHU provided Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Etihad, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, making Etihad the first international airline to procure SAF in Japan. Cassie Mackie, Vice President Procurement & Supply Chain, Etihad Airways, said: “The aviation industry needs partnerships like the one we have created with ITOCHU and NESTE to bring widespread SAF adoption to the industry. We are extremely proud to be the first international airline to procure and use Japanese supplied SAF on flights departing Japan and to see this partnership take to the air.” “Etihad is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and reducing our 2019 emissions by 50 percent by 2035. The industry must get serious about decarbonisation and this type of collaboration between governments, corporates and the aviation sector, which increases SAF supply and availability at airports, helps pave the way for broader adoption.” Today’s flight operated on a ~40 per cent blend of SAF, representing the first delivery of some 50,000 gallons of SAF, to be used over a number of flights in coming weeks. It is the first time a non-Japanese airline has used SAF supplied in Japan. The flight reduced CO2 by approximately 75.2 tCO2, based on the estimated fuel volume (20,000 USG) at a blend of 39.66% SAF. The flight also managed non-CO2 environmental impacts through optimised flight planning for contrail prevention, deploying SATAVIA technology for a forecast net climate impact reduction of 71 …

SAUDIA and Lilium N.V. developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) jet, at the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the proposed development and operation by SAUDIA of an eVTOL network across Saudi Arabia. The proposed arrangement will make SAUDIA the first airline in the MENA region to purchase 100 Lilium Jets alongside yearly support services. With zero operating emissions, the Lilium Jet will enable sustainable and time-saving travel. With a planned purchase of 100 Lilium Jets, SAUDIA intends to launch a state-of-the-art service with new electric point-to-point connections as well as seamless feeder connections to SAUDIA’s hubs for business class guests. Lilium Jet’s flexible cabin architecture is expected to enable a range of spacious interior configurations that are well suited to the needs of the premium market, which Lilium believes can help drive the early adoption of eVTOL aircraft required to scale. SAUDIA also expects to support Lilium with the necessary regulatory approval processes in Saudi Arabia for certification of the Lilium Jet and any other required regulatory approvals. As the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, SAUDIA currently serves a network of more than 100 domestic and international destinations with its world-renowned service and hospitality. Lilium and SAUDIA plan to combine SAUDIA’s unrivalled market knowledge and Lilium’s unique eVTOL aircraft to transform the Kingdom’s domestic air transport sector. Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, Chief Executive Officer of SAUDIA said: “SAUDIA, building on its commitment to be an industry leading airline committed to sustainability, consider our eVTOL network project with Lilium to be an undertaking of great significance for the Kingdom’s aviation industry and will contribute effectively to …

Qatar Airways and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Gevo, Inc. have signed an offtake agreement, where the airline will purchase 25 million US gallons of neat SAF over the course of five years with deliveries expected to commence in 2028 at various airports in California. Qatar Airways will be uplifting 5 million US gallons of neat SAF every year and will blend it with its existing supply of conventional jet fuel. The airline became the first airline in the Middle East and Africa region to announce its commitment to an international SAF offtake agreement. This partnership is part of the airline’s earlier commitment, along with other oneworld® Alliance members to purchase up to 200 million US gallons of SAF from Gevo. SAF is one of the pillars in Qatar Airways and oneworld’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In September 2020, oneworld became the first global airline alliance to unite behind a common target to achieve carbon neutrality with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The alliance subsequently committed to a target of 10% sustainable aviation fuel use across the alliance by 2030. Qatar Airways is very keen to ramp-up the use of SAF at a commercial level, noting that the SAF to be purchased will be certified under the sustainability criteria laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Compared with fossil-based jet fuel, SAF results in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions across its lifecycle. Today’s technology allows for CO2 reductions from the use of SAF to reach 85% when compared to conventional jet fuel. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways continues to prioritise our commitment to …