Etihad Aviation Group and TUI AG have confirmed they are in discussions to create a strong European leisure airline group, focused on point-to-point flying to connect key tourist markets. It is proposed to contribute the touristic operations of the airberlin group and the German TUIfly company, including the aircraft currently operated by TUIfly for airberlin under a wet-lease agreement, into a new airline group established by TUI and Etihad Aviation Group. This new airline group would serve a broad network of destinations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The leisure airline group will be supported by the expertise of Etihad Aviation Group, the fastest-growing aviation group in the world, and utilise TUI’s state-of-the-art distribution capacity. TUI AG, Etihad Aviation Group and Air Berlin PLC intend to finalise an in-principle agreement in due course. Any agreement entered into will be subject to all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.

Ras Al Khaimah will host the annual Airlines Sports and Cultural Association (ASCA) Golf Tournament hosted by Emirates Airline from November 28-30, 2016 at Al Hamra Golf Club. The deal to stage the signature tournament in Ras Al Khaimah, which will welcome 120 players from a host of global airline teams, was formally signed by Emirates Golf Society and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), which develops the emirate’s tourism infrastructure and plans, initiates and drives its domestic and overseas promotions, at the Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai.  

Qatar Airways has announced the addition of special weekend getaway flights, to make quick weekend trips easier for people of Doha and Dubai. These new flights are effective from October 3, 2016. The flights are timed to make the most of the weekend, with a Thursday afternoon departure from Doha at 15:50, arriving Dubai International Airport at 18:00 local time, and the Dubai flight leaving at 19:00, arriving in Doha at 19:10 local time. For the Saturday return, weekend revelers can depart Doha at 14:50 and arrive in Dubai at 17:00, or leave Dubai at 18:00 and arrive in Doha at 18:10. These special weekend flights are in addition to Qatar Airways’ 19 other daily flights serving Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central. Qatar Airways currently offers 15 daily flights to Dubai International Airport, and four daily flights to Dubai World Central.

Sabre has integrated its SynXis Central Reservations and TripCase, its mobile App used by travellers. Reservations made through the Sabre GDS and the SynXis CRS will automatically flow into the TripCase messaging channel, making it easy for hoteliers to message travellers with contextually relevant and personalised mobile messages featuring unique offers, upgrades and offers for hotel amenities including spas and restaurants. With this integration, hoteliers are able to engage with guests via their mobile device before, during and after their arrival on property. This real-time personal communication will help hoteliers build their brand image, increase loyalty, and drive incremental revenue. Sabre has a long track record for being on the cutting edge of exploring new technologies and TripCase is an example of that ingenuity. With a five-star rating in app stores, TripCase is used by millions of travellers to manage all of their trip details in a single place.

The first Four Seasons was unveiled in Abu Dhabi at Maryah Island.  The 34-storied hotel has 200 rooms including 38 suites with a collection of six dining concepts, a spa, rooftop pool and venues for business meetings, weddings and social functions. The location is targeted at both the leisure and business traveller. The location is at the newest financial free zone in Al Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. The opening ceremony was held on Monday October 3, attended by Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Mubadala Group CEO and Managing Director; Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi, Mubadala Deputy Group CEO & Emerging Sectors CEO; Ali Eid Al Mheiri, Executive Director, Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure and Simon Casson, President, Hotel Operations, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The ceremony featured speeches from Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi management and Mubadala executives.

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways has signed a new code-share agreement with kulula, the award-winning low-cost carrier from South Africa. The code-share deal offers Etihad Airways customers flight options to a number of key cities in South Africa that include Cape Town, Durban, George and East London via Johannesburg. Etihad Airways will place its EY code on kulula’s scheduled flights between Johannesburg and these popular coastal cities. This agreement allows guests access to through-check-in and baggage transfer to their final destination. The new code-share services went on sale from October 3, 2016, with travel from the start of the Northern Winter schedule on 30 October. The agreement with kulula strengthens Etihad Airways’ commitment to Africa and brings the total number of destinations that it serves across the continent to 23 through its existing code-share partnerships with Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, and strategic equity partner Air Seychelles. Etihad Airways currently operates scheduled services to 10 destinations in Africa, namely Johannesburg, Nairobi, Entebbe, Dar es Salaam, Khartoum, Casablanca, Rabat, Lagos, Cairo and Mahé in the Seychelles.

Dubai International (DXB) welcomed a record 7.7 million passengers in August, eclipsing its previous record achieved in July, according to the monthly traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports. Passenger traffic at DXB passengers reached 7,727,105 compared to 7,282,256 recorded in the corresponding month last year, an increase of 6.1 per cent. The year to date traffic totalled 55,850,353 passengers up 6.9 per cent compared to 52,264,223 recorded during the first eight months of 2015. The seasonal rush of travellers, in particular UAE residents returning for the start of the academic year, boosted the traffic leading to a bumper month. Spurred by additional capacity and new services launched by a number of carriers including Emirates and flydubai, Eastern Europe was the fastest-expanding market in terms of percentage growth (67.9 per cent), followed by Asia (13 per cent), South America (11.7 per cent), and the Indian Subcontinent (11.7 per cent). India remained the top destination country (924,256 passengers), followed by the UK (584,508 passengers) and Saudi Arabia (535,280 passengers). London was the top destination city with 371,320 passengers followed closely by Doha (252,616 passengers) and Kuwait (240,712 passengers). Baku (+284.5 per cent) topped the list of cities in terms of percentage growth, followed by Mashhad (118.6 per cent) and Boston (88.2 per cent) – growth on the routes boosted by increased capacity.The average number of passengers per flight during the month was 237 – one of the highest DXB has ever seen. Aircraft movements totalled 33,827 during the month under review compared to 34,773 movements recorded in August 2015, marginally down by 2.7 per cent. Year to date aircraft movement totalled 276,233 up 2.9 per cent compared to 268,360, recorded during …

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority strengthened its commitment to deliver ‘Tourism For All’ by signing the Accessible Tourism Code of Good Conduct,  during its annual UAE World Tourism Day conference. Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority,  said, “Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority has strengthened its commitment to deliver Tourism For All by signing the Accessible Tourism Code of Good Conduct. This code was developed by the European Network of Accessible Tourism (ENAT) – represented today by one of our keynote speakers Ivor Ambrose. Over the next three years, we will commence the journey to honour our commitment to this code by establishing accessible tourism products and practices in the emirate.” The half-day UAE World Tourism Day Conference, held at the Al Marjan Island Convention Centre, saw keynote addresses from HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and His Excellency Mohammad Al Muhairi, Undersecretary to UAE Minister of Economy who spoke about the important contribution of tourism to Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE. As well as discussing issues and developments within accessible tourism and matters that strengthen Ras al Khaimah’s and the UAE’s tourism propositions, the conference addressed the key needs of family and elderly travellers, aligning with UNWTO’s World Tourism Day which was marked earlier this week – under the theme ‘Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility.’ “We are supporting the development of our MICE profile with the creation of an events calendar for the destination which we anticipate will act as a spur to attract additional meetings, convention, incentives and exhibition business,” he concluded.  

Hamptons International has been appointed as the exclusive sales and marketing agent of The Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa located at the end of the Jumeirah Beach Residences (JBR) in Dubai Marina. Hamptons International is exclusively responsible for the freehold sale of the residences and serviced apartments in the iconic high-rise, the tallest on Jumeirah beach, directly overlooking the Arabian Sea, Dubai Marina and Ain Dubai, which is set to be the world’s largest Ferris Wheel. Within walking distance of the Dubai Marina Walk, Jumeirah Beach Walk and The Beach, the new property stands out for its shimmering façade and elegant architecture.  The two-tower development, each with 74 storey rising over 290 meters high, has a distinctive ‘white space’ carved out in the centre. One tower will be dedicated for the residential apartments, ‘The Residences Jumeirah Dubai, Managed by the Address.’ The second tower features The Address Jumeirah Resort + Spa with 182 rooms and suites, and The Address Residences Jumeirah Resort + Spa, which comprise serviced apartments fully served by The Address Hotels + Resorts, the flagship hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group.

Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) unveiled a new ‘Invest in Sharjah’ brand at the Sharjah FDI Forum 2016. Shurooq expects the new brand to help position Sharjah in global markets and help foreign investors identify the right opportunities in the emirate. The authority has taken the lead in promoting investment opportunities in the emirate globally via a calendar of international sales and marketing activities including conferences, trade shows, high-level business and government meetings and other strategic initiatives. The authority has also been responsible for bringing ambitious new tourism and heritage projects to life, including the Heart of Sharjah, one of the largest heritage developments in the Arabian Gulf region, and the award-winning Mleiha archaeological and ecotourism project in the emirate’s interior. Shurooq plans to use ‘Invest in Sharjah’ to provide a one-stop-shop for global investors to find out more about investment opportunities in the emirate, have access to key facts and figures and gain a better understanding of the economic and legislative environment. (Source: Shurooq )