Category Archives: Aviation

SalamAir announced non-stop flights between Bahrain and Salalah. The new service will commenced last week, supporting the Khareef season. The non-stop flight will operate once a week from Bahrain to Salalah every Wednesday and from Salalah to Bahrain every Saturday, In addition to the daily flight via Muscat International Airport. The non-stop flights will offer many opportunities to plan the season’s adventures. SalamAir’s commitment to serving the Salalah Airport is further highlighted by its non-stop flights from Salalah to Muscat, Suhar, Medina, and Calicut. With the addition of the Bahrain route, SalamAir now offers more choices and convenience to travellers. Commenting on the expansion, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new non-stop service between Bahrain and Salalah. This new route will strengthen the commercial and tourism ties between Oman and Bahrain, and we are proud to be a part of this effort.” Salalah, known for its lush greenery and moderate climate during the Khareef season and its wide variety of hotels and accommodations that can meet different tourists budgets and expectations , is popular among travelers from Bahrain seeking regional adventures. With this new non-stop route, SalamAir aims to provide travelers with a hassle-free and seamless experience, improving connectivity and ease of access for both countries. Now, the SalamAir network consists of 39 destinations; SalamAir flies to domestic destinations, including Muscat, Salalah, Suhar, Duqm, and Masirah, and international destinations Dubai, Fujairah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad, Istanbul, Rize, Trabzon, Alexandria, Beirut, Almaty, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Sarajevo, Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo, Chattogram, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Karachi, Multan, Sialkot, Lucknow, Jaipur and Trivandrum. SalamAir flies directly from Suhar …

Emirates celebrated the launch of its Premium Economy offering in Singapore, with a tour of one of its enhanced four-class A380 aircraft. On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. In the cabin, every inch of space anticipates customer needs with a generous seat pitch and width for working and relaxing, and customised features that offer function and convenience like in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table. The experience is rounded off with expertly curated in-flight amenities, an inventive menu, and extensive beverage options. Emirates Premium Economy is deployed on flights EK 354 and EK 355 between Singapore and Dubai. The event kicked off at the Emirates Lounge at Changi Airport Terminal 1, after which guests were given a guided tour of the brand new product, as well as the enhanced interior across all cabin classes on board the Emirates A380. Guests took in the highlights of the exclusive premium economy experience that awaits travellers. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, the Emirates App, at Emirates sales offices, and via both online and offline travel agents. Travellers are also encouraged to check the Emirates website for the latest travel requirements.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) continues to implement its operational plan for Summer 2023 by providing over 7.4 million seats for domestic and international routes during July and August, a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The airline will operate more than 32,400 flights, reflecting a 4% increase. These measures aim to meet high demand during peak seasons and ensure smooth operations, efficient reservations for scheduled and seasonal destinations, and streamlined processes at airports. For international flights, SAUDIA is providing more than 4.2 million seats, achieving a 16% increase. Additionally, the airline is introducing over 14,800 flights , reflecting a 15% increase. On domestic routes, over 3.2 million seats will be available through 17,600 flights. The operational plan for the summer of 2023 is continuously monitored by dedicated teams to evaluate its performance. Captain Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, emphasized the airline’s extensive experience in managing operations throughout the year, especially during peak seasons. The plan includes increasing flights, seat capacity, and introducing seasonal destinations to meet guests’ needs while providing excellent services. He also acknowledged the various challenges in the aviation industry. One upcoming challenge is managing the departure of Hajj pilgrims from Makkah. The airline has implemented comprehensive procedures and prepared the necessary facilities to ensure a successful summer season and Hajj pilgrimage. SAUDIA relies on its young fleet and dedicated team from Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI) to maintain on-time performance of the aircraft. Earlier this year, SAUDIA Group announced the addition of 25 new international destinations, expanding its network to over 100 destinations. This expansion aims to provide more options for travelers and to connect the world with Saudi Arabia. As part of the …

EGYPTAIR announced that it will operate to Manchester, England, starting from 15th July, in light of its continuous efforts to stimulate tourism and travel, and to upgrade its airline network. The new route represents additional expansion points to EGYPTAIR’s network in Europe and serve new customers of the company around the world. It will operate 5 weekly flights to Manchester, England, starting from July 15, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with its B737-800NG , The outbound flight is at 10:00 am , Cairo time  , Flight No. MS781, arrives at 1:30 pm , Manchester time. EGYPTAIR customers can book their tickets on the two new routes through the EGYPTAIR website, Egyptair.com , EGYPTAIR offices around the world or travel agents.

Iraqi Airways has added Abu Dhabi to its network started flights between Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). Flights will operate on Saturdays in a two-class configuration (Economy and Business Class) by modern Boeing 737-800. Iraqi Airways is planning to add more frequencies soon.

Emirates has taken off to Montréal, marking the airline’s first passenger flight to Québec’s culture capital, its second gateway in Canada. The new daily service to Montréal complements Emirates’ seven weekly services to Toronto and takes the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations and a total of 18 across the Americas. The service will provide travellers to Canada connectivity via Dubai from points such as Lebanon, India, Iran, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa. Direct services between Dubai and Montréal are expected to meet demand from a diverse mix of demographics, including business and leisure travellers, in addition to visiting family and friends that consists of Canadians living and working in the UAE. With Montréal being home to a number of world-class universities, the route is expected to become immensely popular amongst students from the Middle East, West and Central Asia and Far East. Emirates executives onboard included: Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Americas; and David Broz, Vice President Aeropolitical and Industry Affairs. Present at the airport to bid farewell to the delegation was HE Radha Krishna Panday, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE. Commanding the inaugural flight to Montréal was Captain Talal Al Hammadi (UAE National), Captain David Reny (Canadian), First Officer Omar Alhammadi (UAE National) and First Officer Veljko Veljovic (Canadian). Emirates will operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and over 300 spacious seats in Economy Class for the daily service.  

Qatar Airways has landed its inaugural flight to the French city of Lyon, with the new direct service operated by a Boeing 787-8, with four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. This new route expands Qatar Airways’ presence in France, whilst also growing its global network of more than 160 destinations. The flight was celebrated in both the Business Class and Economy Class, where passengers were welcomed with traditional French delicacies and a curated menu offering premium French cuisine. The Director of Commercial and Marketing of the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry Airport, M. Pierre Grosmaire, welcomed the inaugural flight from Doha, alongside Qatar Airways Vice President of Sales, Europe, Mr. Eric Odone. Lyon is Qatar Airways’ third destination in France, with the airline continuing its services to Paris and Nice. Widely known as the culinary capital of France, Lyon is studded with countless Michelin star certified restaurants. The charming city also attracts film lovers owing to its heritage as the birthplace of cinema. Travellers are invited to experience unforgettable culinary experiences and film festivals celebrating the silver screen in a city that is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The new direct service to Lyon will be operated by a Boeing 787-8 which features 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats. The city also serves as a prime gateway to experience the nearby Alpine mountainous range. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight to the renowned French city of Lyon. Qatar and France mutually benefit from a longstanding strategic partnership in various fields, including diplomacy, trade, and tourism. Our expanded …

SalamAir inaugurated its first direct flights to the city of Almaty in the Republic of Kazakhstan, twice a week, on Saturdays and Wednesdays, with its latest Airbus aircraft. His Excellency Najmuddin Muhammad Ali, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Sultanate of Oman, said that the opening of this destination will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, especially economic and tourism, explaining, “We are counting on this historic step, as it is the first scheduled flight between the two countries.” In a statement to the Omani News Agency, the ambassador expressed his hope that this destination would contribute to activating tourism, business growth and other fields between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Kazakhstan. For his part, Dr. Anwar bin Muhammad Al-Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Salam Air Company, indicated that choosing the destination of Al-Maati comes based on studies and reading the market and tourism data due to its tourism potentials that made it an attractive destination for many tourists, expressing the company’s aspiration to expand its fleet to various Local, regional and international destinations according to a strategy based on real professional foundations. Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, explained that this destination will continue throughout the year and is expected to attract many tourists and residents in both countries, noting that the company has now started operating two weekly flights in the hope of increasing it during the next stage. The CEO of SalamAir added that the destination also came within the framework of SalamAir’s operational vision aimed at reaching new tourist destinations that were not previously available to travelers, and giving travelers more travel options at …

SAUDIA has launched its first direct flight to its new international destination Birmingham, United Kingdom in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program (ACP). The program was launched in 2021 to support tourism growth in the Kingdom by enhancing air connectivity and developing existing and prospective air routes, connecting Saudi Arabia to new destinations. Manal Alshehri, Vice President of Passenger Sales at SAUDIA said: “We are proud to be expanding our operations in the United Kingdom and continue to regularly offer new destinations to our guests. The United Kingdom is a very important destination for SAUDIA, and the launch of new direct flights to and from Birmingham highlights the strengthening of relations between our two countries. We’re also very grateful for the continuous support from the Air Connectivity Program, which enables us to continue to grow as we work towards our objective to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.” Sultan Otaify, Vice President of Strategy and Communication at ACP said: “In collaboration with ACP, SAUDIA has launched a direct flight to Birmingham, a city steeped in history and a renowned hub of the Industrial Revolution. As this new route becomes part of the growing air network facilitated by ACP, it significantly contributes to the flourishing tourism between Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. It is through such bilateral initiatives that we witness the positive trajectory of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom’s relationship, as both countries strive to simplify and streamline travel processes. ACP is committed to empowering carriers in their efforts to unlock new destinations and travel experiences that showcase the rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions of Saudi Arabia.’’ The inaugural SAUDIA flight going from Jeddah to Birmingham (SV …

Kuwait Airways held a bilateral meeting with Turkish Airlines to consolidate relations between the two sides and to discuss commercial aspects related to exchange under the common codeshare agreement. This meeting was held in the presence of Kuwait Airways’ delegation in the city of Istanbul, and headed by the Chairman of Kuwait Airways, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan along with accompanying officials. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “We are pleased to meet the CEO of Turkish Airlines, Mr. Bilal Ekşi and his accompanying delegation. The focus of the meeting was to strengthen bilateral relations between Kuwait Airways and Turkish Airlines through a codeshare agreement and ways to develop this agreement to include new prospects in the interest and benefit of the two companies, as well as to increase the destinations between the two networks.” Al-Dukhan added, “The meeting complements the plans of Kuwait Airways to expand the horizons of cooperation with important airlines such as Turkish Airlines, in line with the company’s objectives in linking Kuwait to the world through such partnerships and discussions and to achieve them.” Al-Dukhan pointed out that Kuwait Airways is moving towards developing and improving all its services, many of which have been launched since the beginning of this year, in response to the requirements of its esteemed customers and coinciding with the commencement of the summer season and the increase in travel and passengers in Terminal 4. Kuwait Airways has launched 105 flights per day, operating to 60 destinations around the world with its new and diversified fleet.   Al-Dukhan emphasized the extent of relations between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Turkey, pointing out that the partnership was part of this …