Category Archives: Aviation

‘Beyond Better, Forward Together’ went way beyond a catchy tagline for Emirates’ Commercial Operations Management Conference, delivering action-packed, high-voltage sessions for more than 300 of its leaders and senior executives based globally and locally. Over two days this week, the audience were taken through an inspirational journey that mapped out Emirates’ solid strategy around fleet, destinations, products, and unimaginable growth – all wrapped around the airline’s hub Dubai. Dinner at the Museum of the Future, Dubai’s latest iconic attraction and a strategic partner of the airline, served as a fitting backdrop for the programme on day one. All of it was topped by an impromptu visit by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group that brought the attendees to their feet. Invited speakers enlivened the conference with their take on aviation, tourism and the economy. Speakers included: HE Helal Saeed Al-Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism; Arjun Vir Singh, Partner with Arthur D. Little’s Financial Services Practice; and Nawal K. Taneja, consultant and author with more than five decades of experience in aviation. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “We are once again firmly set on the path of a massive growth trajectory in travel, and Emirates is ready and revving up to optimise every opportunity, as is Dubai. This conference was one of our biggest platforms to rally our leaders and senior executives, who are also some of Emirates and Dubai’s biggest brand advocates globally. They’ve now witnessed first-hand the many exciting initiatives rolled out by the airline and the city over the past two years, thanks to strong and visionary leadership. We’re absolutely thrilled with …

IndiGo India’s leading carrier has commenced new daily direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al Khaimah, starting September 22, 2022. Ras Al Khaimah is the 100th overall destination and 11th in Middle East in 6E network. Ras Al Khaimah was also named as Gulf Tourism Capital for the year 2020 and 2021 by Gulf Cooperation Council. The operator and managing body of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport welcomed the arrival of the inaugural IndiGo flight from Mumbai. The aircraft received a ceremonial water cannon salute as it taxied to the terminal to mark the occasion. Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Mr. Atanasios Titonis Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, Mr. Stanislav Bujnovsky, Director – Commercial & Business Development, welcomed Mr. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo who travelled in the inaugural flight to Ras Al Khaimah. Mr. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “We are very pleased to commence this first direct connection between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah. For IndiGo, this is 100thdestination in 6E network and our fourth Emirate. Ras Al-Khaimah, which is known for its bright agricultural surroundings, is also focused on becoming the regional leader in sustainable tourism, which aligns well with our overall focus on sustainability. In vast and diverse India, IndiGo already serves an unparalleled 74 cities and communities throughout the nation. This new route, warmly welcomed by our customers and authorities, further enhances connectivity in the region as envisioned in IndiGo’s strategy.” His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of The Department of Civil Aviation Ras Al Khaimah & Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said: “It is our …

Sudan’s most innovative and customer-focused conglomerate, DAL Group, and Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, today announced the planned launch of “Air Arabia Sudan”, a joint-venture company to be based in Khartoum International Airport. Air Arabia Sudan will follow the value-added product offering operated by Air Arabia Group. The ticket pricing model will be best-in-class and accessible to all income-groups, which empowers travellers to save and spend more wherever they may decide by paying for only the services they want. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohamed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia, said: “We are delighted at Air Arabia Group to partner with DAL Group on this joint venture to launch Sudan’s new low-cost carrier. We are confident that Air Arabia Sudan will add significant value to the air transport sector of Sudan and directly contribute to the growth of the local economy and the development of the travel and tourism sector. We thank DAL Group and the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority for their trust, and we look forward to working hand in hand to develop the new airline, which will serve as a new value-for-money air travel option for the country.” Osama Daoud Abdellatif, DAL Group’s chairman, commented: “DAL Group is excited to launch Air Arabia Sudan in partnership with Air Arabia Group. Our decision to partner with a leading pioneer of low-cost air travel is driven by our core commitment to perpetually contribute towards realizing Sudan’s long-term human and economic growth and development potential. Given Sudan’s rich national cultures, rarely publicized yet fascinating ancient history and breathtaking topography, our nation enjoys a unique untapped potential, and we are therefore steadfastly committed to …

Singapore-based travel-tech company utu (utu Pte Ltd) has announced that Etihad Guest, the frequent flyer programme of the UAE’s national airline Etihad Airways, will now allow Etihad Guest members to shop tax-free globally with the utu Tax-Free Card. Etihad’s Vice President Loyalty & Partnerships, Kim Hardaker said, “With nearly 8 million members globally, we’re constantly innovating and expanding our network of global partners to provide even greater rewards for being an Etihad Guest member. Today, we’re pleased to join forces with utu to allow our members to earn Miles as well benefit from utu’s tax refunds capabilities.” Under the partnership, Etihad Guest members can now use the utu Tax-Free Card to: Earn 6,250 miles (worth US$125) for every US$100 tax refunded on the utu Tax-Free Card. To celebrate the launch, until 30 November 2022, Etihad Guest Members can simply download and register on the utu Tax Free App and select Etihad Guest as the default rewards programme to receive 500 Etihad Guest miles. The first VAT transactions (accumulated) of U$100 in the UAE or U$150 for refunds from the rest of world qualifies for an additional 2000 bonus Etihad Guest Miles. Commenting on the new partnership, Asad Jumabhoy, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at utu said, “We are incredibly excited to announce our new partnership with Etihad Guest. For utu travellers, it is even more exciting as they can now select one of the most popular airline programmes, Etihad Guest, as their rewards programme when converting their VAT refunds to miles.” As the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad operates to more than 70 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. The Etihad Guest …

Etihad Airways has been named the official Airline Sponsor of Abu Dhabi Air Expo 2022. The national carrier for Abu Dhabi will be the exclusive sponsor of the anticipated 18,000 attendee event. The airline will also support one of the key panel discussions: Making Aviation Green: Sustainability in the Aviation Ecosystem. The Abu Dhabi Air Expo supports development of Abu Dhabi as an aviation hub for general, business and commercial aviation. The conference will bring together insight and knowledge from local and international stakeholders to deliver engaging content, inspire new thinking and encourage aerospace development by attracting new players to the region. “As the ‘Environmental Airline of the Year’ we are proud to add our voice to the sustainability panel and this critical discussion around the decarbonisation of the aviation industry. We hope to influence others – from industry to individuals – to encourage everyone to play their part in protecting our planet,” said Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. As the UAE’s national carrier, Etihad operates to more than 70 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. The airline operates a fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with the backbone of the fleet being the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Earlier this year, Etihad also introduced the fuel-efficient Airbus A350-1000 to connect with New York, Chicago and London. In the first half of 2022, Etihad carried 4.02 million passengers, over 3 million more than the same time last year . ‘This has been an excellent year for Etihad with record-breaking results for the first half of the year. With this positive outlook, we’re looking forward to welcoming the aviation industry …

Qatar Airways will be increasing passenger capacity on its flights to and from Perth. Previously operated by the Boeing B777-300ER, passengers will now have a chance to journey on board the A380, featuring a three-class configuration of seating over two decks with a dedicated onboard premium lounge. The aircraft will accommodate an additional 163 passengers daily adding up to 517 seats spread across the three cabins: eight First Class seats, 48 Business Class seats and 461 Economy Class seats. This update is part of the recent strategic partnership between Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia. This expanded codeshare significantly expands the networks, lounges and loyalty programs of both airlines, bringing substantial benefits and new destinations to travellers. Launched in September 2022, the partnership opens seamless travel to over 150 destinations across the extensive Qatar Airways and Virgin Australia networks, creating a new gateway of seamless travel between Australia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa, including popular destinations such as London, Paris, Rome and Athens. Perth is one of Australia’s most cultural cities, with its origins woven into many of its landmarks. The increased capacity extends Qatar Airways’ commitment to the Australian community by providing greater opportunities for connections to many destinations in its global network. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We want to demonstrate our commitment to Australia by continuing the work we did during the pandemic to keep Australians connected. It is imperative for Australian travellers to feel welcome in our city whether they are transiting or visiting Doha. During the much anticipated FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, all flights to and from Perth will be scheduled taking into consideration football match timings …

Emirates and United announced a historic commercial agreement today that will enhance each airline’s network and give their customers easier access to hundreds of new destinations* within the United States and around the world. From November, Emirates customers flying into Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston – three of the biggest business hubs in the U.S – will be able to easily connect onto United flights to and from nearly 200 cities across the Americas on a single ticket. At the eight other U.S. airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC – both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place. United will launch a new direct flight between Newark and Dubai starting in March 2023 – from there, customers will be able to travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 cities. Tickets for United’s new Dubai flight are now on sale. Emirates and United announced their agreement today at a ceremonial event at Dulles International Airport, hosted by United CEO Scott Kirby and Emirates President Sir Tim Clark, featuring United and Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and flight crews from each carrier. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Two of the biggest, and best-known airlines in the world are joining hands to fly people better to more places, at a time when travel demand is rebounding with a vengeance. It’s a significant partnership that will unlock tremendous consumer benefit and bring the United Arab Emirates and the United States even closer. We welcome United’s return to Dubai next year, where our hub Dubai essentially becomes a gateway for United to reach Asia, Africa and the Middle East …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi  announced the launch of its new route from Abu Dhabi to Kuwait city. The new direct flights will connect both cities daily from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Kuwait International Airport, starting from October 31,2022. Schedule to Kuwait, effective October 31,2022 (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency 3L 020 Abu Dhabi 09:05 Kuwait 09:50 Airbus A320 daily 3L 021 Kuwait 10:30 Abu Dhabi 13:10 Airbus A320 daily Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia said: “We are glad to welcome Kuwait to our growing network from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The addition of Kuwait City to Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s network reflects our commitment to support the travel and tourism sector in Abu Dhabi while providing our customers with a new and affordable option to travel between both cities”. Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Since inception in 2020, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has expanded its network to reach 26 routes across the region which includes, Kuwait, Beirut, Egypt, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Nepal, Sudan, Pakistan, Oman, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia served directly from Abu Dhabi International Airport. As the carrier continues with its expansion plan, with a growing fleet from just 2 Airbus A320 aircrafts at launch to 8 new aircrafts today, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is continuously working on serving its passengers with exceptional quality. The aircraft is configured with 174 seats and therefore providing added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a …

flydubai announced the launch of flights to Namangan from 24 September with a twice-weekly service, becoming the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights from Dubai. The addition of flights to Namangan makes it the third point in Uzbekistan including Samarkand which launches on 20 September, and the capital, Tashkent. Flights to Namangan International Airport (NMA) will operate from Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. With the launch of operations to Namangan, flydubai grows its network in Central Asia to seven points, enabling passengers from the UAE and the GCC to explore more of the region. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “Uzbekistan has become an emerging market for flydubai and we are delighted to see our network expand there with the start of flights to Namangan and, launching next week, Samarkand. The commencement of our 10 weekly flights to the market will strengthen trade and cultural links between the UAE and Uzbekistan.” After Samarkand and Tashkent, Namangan is the third largest city in Uzbekistan and has established its importance as a trade and craft centre. Situated in the Fergana Valley, it is well-known for its ancient sites, traditional craftsmanship and magnificent architecture. Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “Central Asia has become a fast-growing market for flydubai where we have seen sustainable demand for travel since starting operations. We look forward to welcoming more travellers from Namangan as they connect to other points in the flydubai network including Jeddah, Madinah and Male.” The airline operates flights to seven destinations in Central Asia including Almaty and Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan, Bishkek in …

Emirates will increase the frequency of its services to Algiers with the addition of a fifth weekly flight, effective 7 October. The newest service will complement Emirates’ existing operations between Dubai and Algiers, currently running at four flights a week. The latest addition of services to the airline’s schedule will provide additional connectivity for customers traveling to Dubai and onwards to Emirates’ global network. Emirates will utilise its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft between Algiers and Dubai, and the newest service will operate on Friday, in addition to the airline’s flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Flight EK758 departs Algiers at 15:45hrs, arriving in Dubai at 01:05hrs the next day. EK757 departs Dubai at 08:45hrs, arriving in Algiers at 12:55hrs. With the addition of the new flight, Emirates continues to be the only airline serving Algeria with private, enclosed First Class cabins, offering premium customers its industry-leading onboard experience with a line-up of elevated menus and refreshed amenities. 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 carefully curated global entertainment content featuring Arabic movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, games, audiobooks and more with ice, Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system. In addition to carrying more passengers, Emirates’ fifth weekly frequency between  Dubai and Algeria  will provide around 30-40 tonnes of cargo belly-hold capacity for businesses, further opening global trade lanes through enhanced import and export opportunities. Emirates started operations to Algeria in 2013, and will be celebrating 10 years of serving the …