Category Archives: Aviation

Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, marking the first commercial flight to the South Indian city’s airport of the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The special service from Dubai to Bengaluru, operating as EK562 and greeted with a procession of follow-me vehicles, arrived ahead of the launch of scheduled A380 services which will commence on 30 October. Emirates flight EK562 took off yesterday from Dubai International Airport at 10:00 am and landed in Bengaluru at 15:40 pm local time, and was welcomed by Kempegowda International Airport, in the presence of aviation fans, media and special guests representing the aviation and travel industries and diplomatic missions, amongst others. At the welcome reception in Bengaluru, the flight carrying 224 passengers was greeted by S.T. Somashekar Gowda, Minister of Cooperation, Government of Karnataka; H.E. Dr Ahmed Abdel Rahman AlBanna, Ambassador of the UAE to India; Hari Marar, MD & CEO of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL); and Mohammed Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President – India and Nepal. Emirates executives onboard included Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer and Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – West Asia and Indian Ocean. Celebrating the joint milestone for Emirates and the airport, a VIP delegation of guests onboard the A380 service included: GMJ Thampy, Chairman & MD at Riya Travels; Tariq Chauhan, Group CEO at EFS Facilities Services Group; Mohamed Al Rais, Deputy Managing Director at Al Rais Travel; Aubrey Heldt, General Manager at Kanoo Travel; Sachin Gadoya, Co-Founder & CEO at Musafir; Sai Rattan, Manager at SNTTA; Prakash Punjabi, Manager at Travel Centre; Noura Al Marzouqi, Head, Booking & Visitors services section at ADNOC; and Azza Al Remeithi, Supervisor, Booking …

Emirates, the largest international airline, is upgrading capacity on its Narita-Dubai route with the deployment of its flagship A380 from 15 November, as Japan scraps the daily arrival cap, and lifts the COVID-19 testing and self-quarantine protocols for inbound travel. Following the Japanese government’s announcement last month to ease the entry restrictions, Emirates has seen a spike in bookings for flights to its gateways – Narita and Osaka. Emirates’ flight EK318 from Dubai will depart at 2:55hrs and arrive in Narita at 17:20hrs. The return flight EK319 from Narita will depart at 22:30hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:30hrs the following day. All times are local. The reintroduction of the Emirates A380 to Narita also underscores the airline’s long-standing commitment to Japan’s tourism and travel sector. By providing more capacity, the airline aims to serve the pent-up demand for travel into Japan along with providing choice and flexibility for travellers through its daily service to Osaka EK316/317, operated by the Boeing 777. This year, Emirates is celebrating two decades of successful operations to Osaka’s Kansai International Airport. Emirates was the first airline to establish air connectivity between Japan and the UAE, as well as the rest of the Arabian Gulf countries back in 2002. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the airline continued to contribute to the local community by transporting essential air cargo between Japan and other global markets, which also helped to maintain the trade links that were needed during the unprecedented times via its Dubai hub. Leisure travellers from over 60 countries can now travel to Japan visa-free and without guided tours. However, travellers must still check the entry requirements. Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the …

Etihad Airways has launched its first-ever scheduled flights linking Abu Dhabi and Guangzhou. The inaugural flight, EY868, departed Abu Dhabi last night after a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by representatives from the Chinese Embassy to the UAE, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Miral Asset Management and Etihad Aviation Group. The flight touched down at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport this morning at 10:25 (local time), making Etihad the first international airline to operate long-haul passenger services to the top three Chinese gateways – Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou – since the start of the pandemic. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “We have been tremendously excited about the launch of this service. Guangzhou is actually the latest destination to be opened in China by Etihad since the launch of the Abu Dhabi–Shanghai route back in 2012. It will continue to help build a solid air bridge for commerce and cultural exchanges between China and the UAE. “We are very grateful for the support from both governments, business partners and our Etihad team, as our new service to Guangzhou will not only further address the huge demand for passenger travel between the UAE and China, building on the formidable people and business ties between the two markets, but also support the increasing consolidation and strengthening of Etihad’s presence in China and the global aviation industry. It also reinforces the airline’s commitment to serving the Chinese market.” To highlight Guangzhou’s reputation as “the spiritual home of Cantonese cuisine”, and to appreciate the cultural diversity within Etihad’s in-house hospitality team, the event offered a tapestry of cuisines, consisting of several signature dim sum and Arabic-style canapés jointly created by Etihad Airways Chef Murray …

As part of its tireless efforts to provide the best services to its valued customers, Kuwait Airways continues its preparations for the biggest and most prominent event, the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, where the Blue Bird will operate direct, daily match day shuttle services for fans to attend the matches and return on the same day to their homeland, giving fans an exceptional travel experience. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways participation in this global event is an excellent opportunity to highlight our distinguished services to our customers. Our preparations for this event commenced in October 2021 and we launched our first promotional and marketing campaign in February 2022. In addition, we signed an agreement with Qatar Airways in May 2022, enabling Kuwait Airways to carry fans on a daily basis to attend the World Cup matches in Doha, and are fully prepared to meet the travel requirements of customers. Kuwait Airways will operate 13 daily flights from the start of the World Cup, which would gradually reduce as the participating teams progress to the finals, with the frequency in the number of flights depending on the extent of requirements of the customers.” Razouqi added, “Kuwait Airways will provide exceptional travel packages to its customers through KAC’s Holidays Office which include match tickets and KAC flight tickets, at prices starting from 200 Kuwaiti Dinars, depending on the respective classes on the flights and the different categories within the stadium. In addition, Kuwait Airways provides complete assurance to its customers about booking flight tickets and tickets for the matches, as we are certified to distribute match tickets in the State of …

Kuwait Airways announced the commencement of its first flight, KU409, to the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday, 2 October 2022. Operations to Kuala Lumpur includes two flights per week on Sundays and Wednesdays, during the month of October, followed by three flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from the month of November onwards. On this occasion, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Eng. Maen Razouqi, stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first commercial flights to the city of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, which is one of our most important new destinations with its touristic prominence and rich diverse culture. Moreover, Kuala Lumpur also distinguishes itself as a suitable destination for holidays and is considered the cultural, financial, and economic hub of Malaysia and the Far East. We will be using the Airbus A330, which is environmentally friendly, and suitable for medium to long-haul destinations, with its unique features for the 8-hour flight from Kuwait to Kuala Lumpur.” Razouqi added, “The launch of Kuala Lumpur destination comes as part of the companys strategy to expand its network to various destinations and locations, linking Kuwait to the world with an excellent reach, and meeting the requirements of the local, regional, and global aviation market. In addition, the Blue Bird constantly strives to meet the requirements of its valued customers by operating to new and diverse destinations and providing them with better travel options. Launching this destination will also contribute to the development of business, tourism, trade, and economic activity, in addition to the movement of passengers and cargo.” Razouqi added, “Kuwait Airways is keen to serve its customers to the fullest, in line with …

Emirates has announced new appointments to its commercial team in the Middle East, Far East, West Asia and Europe, to support the airline’s efforts in rebuilding its global network amidst the increase in travel demand and the easing of restrictions. This latest move will see 11 seasoned UAE Nationals positioned in vital markets where they will lead the airline’s commercial operations and bring their skills and experience to drive growth and develop new strategies. In addition, they will be responsible for strengthening Emirates’ partnerships and footprint in their assigned markets. Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates commented: “As we accelerate our operations recovery and channel our collective energies towards rebuilding the aviation ecosystem, it’s imperative that we create opportunities for our talented managers to utilise their capabilities, experiences and leadership skills to the fullest. The commercial outstation program is in line with the strategy advocated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, that reaffirms our commitment to nurturing Emiratis by providing them opportunities to advance their careers and eventually become future leaders. I’m proud of our UAE Nationals who support our business and represent the airline in some of its most strategic markets, and look forward to seeing the new team create innovative prospects into their new roles.” Effective 1st November, the following changes will occur in the Emirates Commercial team: Thani Al Ansari: currently Manager Kuwait and Iraq, will become Manager Ireland Khalid Al Zarooni: currently Manager Greece and Albania, will become Manager Kuwait and Iraq Ibrahim Ghanim: currently Manager Egypt and Libya, will become Manager Greece and Albania Abdalla Al Zamani: currently Manager Indonesia, will become Manager …

Kuwait Airways announces the signing of a partnership agreement with Air Europa by which both companies will increase their cooperation and provide better flight options to their valued customers. The outcome of this agreement which comes into force in the coming months, enables Kuwait Airways to also add Air Europa’s code on the three direct weekly flights Kuwait Airways operates between Kuwait and Madrid, as well as in Kuwait Airways operations in other European cities such as Amsterdam, Rome, Frankfurt, and Munich. On its part, Kuwait Airways reinforces its presence in the Americas by placing its code on Air Europas transatlantic flights that connect Madrid with Cancun, Miami, Cuba, Sao Paulo, and Bogotá. Moreover, Kuwait Airways will have its code on Air Europa flights between Madrid and the Portuguese cities of Porto and Lisbon, Moroccan city Marrakech, and on all domestic routes within Spain. Speaking on this occasion, the Director of Network Planning and Distribution, Mrs. Shorouk Al-Awadhi, expressed her happiness over the signing of this partnership agreement which will strengthen the commercial relationship between both sides. She said, “Kuwait has a very strong, long-standing relationship with Spain and this agreement with Air Europa comes at a time when the industry is trying to overcome the pandemic and I am sure this relationship will not only benefit both the airlines, but also the people of the Americas, Europe, and the Gulf. Moreover, the agreement will add 18 new destinations to the Kuwait Airways network, 10 of which are in Spain and a further 8 international destinations into Europe, North & South America, and Mexico.” Al-Awadhi added that its flights into Madrid currently stand as three flights a week, moreover, this …

Qatar Airways and British Airways have completed the latest phase in the expansion of their partnership, offering global connectivity between more countries than any other airline joint business. The airlines have added 42 new countries to their shared network, including Italy, the Maldives, Norway, Singapore, and Sweden — giving passengers enhanced access between destinations in Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Customers will now benefit from even greater choices in prices and schedules with options for direct flights as well as connections via hubs in London and Doha. This is all part of Qatar Airways and British Airways’ plan to “Move Further Together” by enhancing the joint network and providing passengers with the best of both airlines. The expansion will enable seamless connecting journeys on single tickets through Doha, the World’s Best Airport, and London, bringing the total number of destinations served by the two airlines to 185 across more than 60 countries. The complementary networks uniquely access dozens of countries that no other alliance or joint business provides. The partnership also ensures access to more cities around the world than ever before, continuing to support global trade, tourism, investment, and cultural connection. Additionally, customers will have more freedom to engage with both airlines’ loyalty programmes, earning and spending Avios, their common currency. Customers are able to seamlessly link their Qatar Airways Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club accounts to transfer Avios between the two, and combine balances to claim rewards offered by each programme. The collaboration also offers access to both airline’s exclusive lounges, and cabins to suit all budgets and needs, including British Airways’ new Club Suite and Qatar Airways’ award-winning Qsuite. Qatar Airways …

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the Kingdom’s national flag carrier, has hosted a special roadshow event in Barcelona, Spain in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Ehab Mohammed AlNajjar, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Saudi Embassy in Spain, on behalf of His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Spain, Mr. Azzam Al-Qain, with the goal of promoting the Kingdom as a leading global tourist destination. The roadshow, which comes as part of the global campaign Fly to Your Next and was held in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program, showcased Saudi Arabia’s numerous exciting travel and tourism projects and invited travel agencies to learn more about the world-class attractions visitors can experience in the Kingdom. The special event highlighted the latest marketing campaigns for tourism events and programs, including both current and planned initiatives. The Saudi Tourism Authority and tourism megaprojects including NEOM took center stage during the presentation. Invited guests were also familiarized with the benefits SAUDIA provides through its SAUDIA Holidays platform, which offers full packages including flight tickets and hotel reservations, as well as opportunities to book vehicles, tours, and excursions. The national flag carrier’s campaign comes as part of its ambitious plan to bring the world to Saudi Arabia. As the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’, the airline aims to take the campaign to many countries across Europe, as well as the United States and other key markets. SAUDIA highlighted its continuing collaborations with the Ministry of Tourism, the General Entertainment Authority, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Sport. The airline is a strategic partner in transporting participants and visitors from across the globe to leading events in the Kingdom and operates a …

Vistara inaugurated non-stop, daily flights between Mumbai (India) and Abu Dhabi (UAE) over the weekend. The inaugural flight departed from Mumbai at 1910 Hours (IST) and arrived in Abu Dhabi at 2040 Hours (GST), making Vistara the first-ever carrier to offer the choice of Premium Economy class on the route, in addition to Business and Economy class. Commenting on the start of the new international route, Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We have been steadily strengthening our presence in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf region, and are excited to add Abu Dhabi to our growing international network. UAE’s flourishing business, trade, and tourism make Abu Dhabi a perfect fit in our network. We are confident that travellers will appreciate the choice of flying India and South Asia’s best airline on this route.“ Schedule of flights to/from Abu Dhabi, UAE effective from 1 October 2022: Sector   Flight No.             Days of Operation            Departure           Arrival Mumbai – Abu Dhabi      UK 0255                Daily      1910 Hrs              2040 Hrs Abu Dhabi – Mumbai      UK 0256                Daily      2140 Hrs             0235 Hrs (+1) * All timings shown are in local time zones *+1 indicates next day arrival   Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings. Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The airline has recently been recognized as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the …