Category Archives: Aviation

Oman Air has moved to the new Terminal 1 at King Abdulaziz International Airport, signaling the airline’s ongoing commitment to scheduled passenger service linking Muscat and Jeddah. The transition was marked by an official ceremony attended by His Excellency the Consul General of Oman Mr. Mubarak AlHanai along with a number of Omani and Saudi officials on 29 January 2022, and coincided with the arrival of Oman Air flight WY1675 which was welcomed with a traditional water salute. Passengers disembarking the flight were presented flowers while the flight’s crew had their photo taken with His Excellency during an Oman Air-themed cake cutting. Hamad Al Harthi, Oman Air Senior Manager of Sales (GCC, Middle East & Africa), said, “We’re delighted that our flights will now arrive and depart from the new Terminal 1 in Jeddah, which offers passengers a seamless travel experience in a truly state-of-the-art facility. Oman Air has a long-standing presence in Jeddah and this transition reflects our renewing of that presence as we look forward to growing our flight frequencies in the years ahead.” Originally launched in December 1998, direct wide body flights between Muscat and Jeddah have proved popular with passengers. Prior to the pandemic, Oman Air operated four daily flights between the two cities, a schedule that has since been scaled back to five weekly flights following decreased demand for travel resulting from COVID-19 restrictions in place around the world.

Emirates will make a full return of passenger services to and from Casablanca from 8 February. The return of Casablanca in Morocco marks a full restoration of Emirates’ pre-pandemic African network including 21 cities spread across the continent. Customers flying to and from Casablanca can safely travel on Emirates to Dubai, and enjoy an array of onward connections to Europe, the Middle East and GCC, the Americas and West Asia. Emirates will operate to Casablanca with daily flights using its modern Boeing 777-300ER. EK 751 will depart Dubai at 0730hrs, arriving in Casablanca at 1315hrs. EK 752 will depart Casablanca at 1505hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0130hrs the next day.* Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents. *Subject to government approval

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turespaña, Spanish Tourism Institute, to help boost trade and tourism to Spain. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group welcomed Her Excellency María Reyes Maroto Illera, Spanish Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, at the Emirates Group Headquarters. The MoU was signed by Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates and Miguel Ángel Sanz Castedo, Director General of Turespana. The ceremony was also attended by Juan Ignacio Diaz Bidart, Cabinet Chief to the Minister, Ministry of Industry; Iñigo de Palacio, Spanish Ambassador to the UAE; Andres Salinero, Trade and Economic Counsellor, Embassy of Spain; and  Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director, Spain Tourism Office, Tourism Counsellor, Embassy of Spain. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, International Affairs at Emirates, said: “Emirates launched operations to Spain more than 12 years ago and the country remains an important market in our global network. We’re very happy to be exploring mutually beneficial initiatives that will drive tourism to Spain, and also offer Emirates more opportunities to serve the market. Thank you to our partners for their ongoing support and we look forward to continue growing our long-standing partnership.” Mr. Miguel Angel Sanz, Director General Tourspain Madrid said: “Spain and Emirates are strategic partners of the recovery of travel. Spain, as one of the most visited countries in the world, and Emirates, one of the world’s leading airlines, will work together to improve the connectivity and generate confidence, which are key factors for recovery.” Mr. Daniel Rosado Bayon, Director Spain Tourism GCC & Iran said: “We are happy to sign this MoU …

flydubai announced the start of flights to Al Ula in Saudi Arabia, becoming the first UAE carrier to operate this route from Dubai. The carrier will also resume its operations to Yanbu growing its network in the Kingdom to six points including Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah and Riyadh. Flights to Yanbu International Airport (YNB), also known as Abdul Mohsin bin Abdulaziz International Airport, start on 24 February with a three times weekly service. Flights to Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport (ULH) will start on 02 March 2022 and will operate twice a week from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we are pleased to be able to offer passengers from the UAE and our network the opportunity to visit and explore one of the world’s most beautiful and untouched destinations. We are also looking forward to the resumption of our operations to Yanbu in the Al Madinah Province. flydubai is dedicated to further strengthening the cultural, trade and tourism ties between our two countries by making travel more accessible. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the authorities for their ongoing support.” Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Subcontinent and Africa) at flydubai, added: “we are looking forward to the start of our twice weekly service to Al Ula from March. This route will be popular for our passengers from the UAE, as well as for travellers from the GCC, Russia and Central Asia. Al Ula offers passengers great options for seeking immersive cultural and historical experiences as well as outdoor adventure activities, especially in the cooler winter season.” Al Ula is an unseen wonder of the …

Al Naboodah travel and tourism agencies, the GSA for Turkish Airlines recently celebrated their 40 year partnership. The inaugural flight to Dubai was operated on 5th November 1983, while the daily Sharjah route was launched on 11th April 2019. Currently Turkish Airlines operates 28 weekly flights to the UAE (21 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Dubai Airport, 3 weekly flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Dubai Airport and 4 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport). Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism is proud to be a GSA of Turkish Airlines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates since 1983. Al Naboodah Travel is part of one of the UAE’s most renowned and innovative groups, the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group. With over 45 years of experience, the dynamic travel and tourism company enjoys an unparalleled reputation for quality and excellence encompassing all aspects of the travel industry. Turkish Airlines, famed for flying to more countries than any other airline, celebrates its 40-year anniversary of flying to the UAE in tandem with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The airline, established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft launched its first Middle East flights to Beirut and Cairo in 1951, while the first Turkish Airlines flight landed in Abu Dhabi on 7th January 1981 with the route relaunching on January 25th, 2006. Nasir Jamal Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Al Naboodah Travel & Tourism said, “On behalf of the entire organisation at Al Naboodah Travel, we extend our sincerest congratulations to our partner Turkish Airlines for completing 40 glorious years of success in the UAE. We hope to continue our wonderful relationship for years to come. This is …

Starting 20th February 2022, Air Arabia will commence flights from Sharjah to Osh, Kyrgyzstan. The bookings are now open in their website. The new destination will operate from Sharjah at 21:45 to Osh at 03:15 on Fridays and Sundays. The return from Osh will be at 04:25 to reach Sharjah by 06:25 on Mondays and Saturdays. The new service represents the second city that Air Arabia flies to after Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Located in the south of the country and referred to as “the capital of the south”, Osh is considered the second largest and oldest city is Kyrgyzstan which represents a major economic and cultural center of the country. Osh invites business and leisure travelers to enjoy its unique charm and mystery of the ancient East. Featuring an epic mountain panoramic view, architectural marvels and bazaars. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Osh by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.

Etihad Airways which has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and halving its 2019 emission levels by 2035, is one of only nine airlines globally to complete stage 2 of the assessment. Etihad Airways has successfully completed IATA Environmental Assessment stage 2 and received accreditation in four key operational areas: facilities management, flight operations, Etihad technical division, Etihad Catering Services. The IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) programme is a blueprint for airlines to achieve sustainability in all air and ground operations. It is an evaluation system designed to independently assess and improve the environmental management of an airline. Stage 2 represents the highest level of IEnvA compliance and requires an airline to demonstrate ongoing environmental performance improvement. Mariam Al Qubaisi, Head of Sustainability and Excellence Division, Etihad Airways, said: “Our world is becoming more environmentally conscious by the day. Etihad is proud to play a major part in reducing the carbon impact of the aviation industry, in the UAE and around the world. We have recorded many great achievements, from our first ecoFlight from Abu Dhabi to Brisbane in 2019, to the recent launch of our Sustainability-focused loyalty programme, Conscious Choices, to reward guests for making sustainable choices when they travel and in their everyday life.” Over the last two years, despite the challenges of Covid-19, Etihad has introduced significant CO2 reduction initiatives under its Greenliner sustainability programme. This includes adopting thousands of mangroves, using sustainable fuels, reducing contrails, flying optimised flight paths, operating electric vehicles and working with partners who share its vision for cleaner skies.

Gulf Air announces that it has added an additional daily flight from London Heathrow to Bahrain on March 16, 17, 21 and 22 to operate three daily services during the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend taking place on March 18 – 20. Gulf Air currently operates double daily flights to London Heathrow, a direct route that has been part of the airlines network since 1970 and these additional special flights will take off from London Heathrow at 1510 local and land in the Bahrain at 0050 local, and the flight from Bahrain will take off at 0830 local and land in London Heathrow at 1255 local. Passengers with a valid Formula One ticket and flying on Gulf Air flights to Bahrain from London Heathrow during this period will receive free lounge access at London Heathrow and at Bahrain International Airport. On this occasion, Captain Waleed Abdulhameed AlAlawi, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer commented: “The demand for attendance to the season opener has definitely been significant and we are excited to welcome our global visitors to the Kingdom of Bahrain to witness the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix race. The race has always been an important global event for the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air and our partners the Bahrain International Circuit and adding an extra flight with our Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to match the demand for the race as spectator prepare their visits to attend.” On behalf of the Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority, Dr Nasser Qaedi, Chief Executive Officer commented: “2022 is proving to be an exciting year for tourism in Bahrain and the great reception we have been receiving from international travelers …

Oman Air announced that its award-winning First and Business Class Lounge at Muscat International Airport has been awarded ISO 9001:2015 for Quality Management Systems Standards, which certifies that the Management System has been fully audited and found to be in accordance with the provision of First and Business Class Lounge services for Oman Air customers. Delivering an exceptional customer experience remains a priority for Oman Air, and that priority extends to the airline’s First and Business Class Lounge at its hub in Muscat. Luxuriously appointed and presenting a decisively Omani-themed ambience, the lounge offers Oman Air’s First and Business class passengers welcome respite from airport crowds and features among others our attentive service and care, a diverse buffet offering, elevated à la carte dining, and an exclusive spa with a variety of treatments. Last year, the lounge was awarded Skytrax’s Five-Star COVID-19 Safety Rating for implementing appropriate coronavirus protection measures, both in terms of product and service standards, while ensuring optimal passenger health and safety at all times. “We’re delighted that our First and Business Class Lounge has been granted ISO 9001:2015 certification, said Mr. Saleem Amanulla Abdulhussain, Senior Vice President of Service Delivery at Oman Air. “Our guests travelling from Muscat deserve an exceptional lounge experience in terms of the quality of product and the high level of service they receive. Enhancing the customer experience for our First and Business class passengers in Muscat is a promise we continue to uphold, and one that reflects the excellent management systems and standards throughout the lounge. The ISO certification is an attestation of the well-defined measures in place which guide our operational practices so that we consistently live up to our …

The RoyalJet Group – the Abu Dhabi owned and operated award winning global leader in premium private aviation –  has again expanded its growing fleet with the acquisition of yet another Boeing Business Jet. The purchase transaction was completed recently and this pristine, low time aircraft is currently undergoing technological and communications upgrades in Basel, Switzerland.  It is expected to enter into service with RoyalJet and be available for charter globally in April 2022. Rob DiCastri, CEO at RoyalJet said:  “Despite the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, demand in the past 6 months has exceeded supply in our sector of the aviation industry and in our region.  The overall health of the global private jet market has now been strong for an extended period of time, and growth is expected to continue.” “Fleet expansion, renewal and upgrade are integral elements of our ongoing customer experience transformation, allowing us to continue to provide an even more exceptional experience to our guests,” he added. This Boeing Business Jet boasts 23 passenger VVIP interior with a forward crew rest area for long journeys, an aft private master bedroom with private lavatory and shower, and a mid-cabin open plan VVIP lounge.  It has been finished with state of the art materials and a custom configuration designed for functionality and maximum comfort and can sleep up to 12 in VVIP lie-flat seats and its queen sized bed. It has also been previously upgraded with special soundproofing to reduce in-flight noise levels, along with a low cabin altitude modification, special humidifiers and a HEPA filtration system, all designed to optimize health and comfort, leaving passengers more relaxed and fresher upon reaching their destination. To further …