Emirates airline to resume its flights to Budapest (from October 21), Bologna (November 1), Dusseldorf (November 1), Hamburg (November 1) and Lyon (November 4), expanding its European network to 31 destinations, and offering customers around the world convenient connections via Dubai. The addition of these five destinations takes Emirates’ global network to 99 destinations, as the airline continues to gradually meet travel demand, while always prioritising the health and safety of its customers, crew and communities. Flights to/from Budapest and Lyon will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays while flights to/from Bologna, Dusseldorf and Hamburg will operate twice a week on Fridays and Sundays. All flights to the five cities will be operated by the Boeing 777- 300ER, providing robust cargo capacity on each flight. Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents as well as online travel agents. Customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors.

Speaking with TTME at a recent interview, Ravi Santiago, Cluster General Manager for the three properties in Ajman; Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman, Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman, and Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche and Group Financial Controller for R Hotels stated, “We are blessed to enjoy 70% occupancy during the month of September, once the lockdown was lifted, we started implementing simple promotions that included some very attractive packages for the guests. This soon grew in number and we kept on ensuring that the guests had something more every time they would book with us. One of the key drivers of success was the staff that contributed every step of the way. We believed that a motivated staff is the way forward in the hospitality industry as it is service oriented, hence today we are very lucky to enjoy this success mainly due to the proactive initiatives by the owners and management. In fact, now we are hiring new staff for the properties in Ajman.” Once the lockdown was lifted, slowly the domestic tourists started their staycations, at first they started off with simple promotions to lure more domestic tourists in to the properties, soon, the hotels located in Ajman started receiving more guests which made them enjoy a really steady occupancy rate. When the first wave of the pandemic hit the industry, everyone was caught off guard, however, some were proactive in their approach to dealing with the hitherto known issue at hand hence, re-strategised a plan that would have a long term benefit overall that would ensure sustainability and smooth operations for a period yet to be known. The owners and the management team at …

Etihad Airways to implement electronic technical logs (eTech logs) for airline operations. The approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for implementation on Etihad’s freighter fleet accelerates the journey towards paperless airline operations which is a key initiative for Etihad Airways and the GCAA. The implementation on Etihad’s Boeing 777 freighter fleet follows three months of trials in partnership with the GCAA, where eTech logs replaced paper logbooks currently used by flight crew and engineers to document all flight and maintenance information. Although modern aircraft are technologically advanced, most airlines continue to use paper-based logbooks. By replacing paper documentation, eTech logs provide real-time data capture that can be shared with multiple stakeholders, from the air to the ground – increasing operational efficiency, reducing delays and costs. The eTech logs are another example of Etihad’s investment in innovation to continue enhancing safety outcomes, as they reduce complexity and workload, and improve how Etihad manages compliance requirements. Paul Kear, Senior Vice President Technical, Etihad Airways, said, “This initiative supports Etihad’s innovation and sustainability goals, which are core values for the airline, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE. The digitalisation of our technical logs will go a long way towards enhancing the operational efficiency and airworthiness of our fleet and this is a monumental step forward for aviation in the UAE.” H.E Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA said, “The GCAA have approved Etihad to implement electronic technical logs for their Boeing 777 freighters. This is a historic achievement not just for Etihad but for the aviation industry in the UAE. This initiative supports the GCAA’s vision for paperless operations and we thank Etihad Airways for their pioneering efforts.” Steve Russell, …

Al Habtoor Group (AHG) announced that it is in the final stages of completing the preparations to open its office in Cairo, Egypt. The Cairene headquarters, located in the Heliopolis suburb, are planned to be launched by the end of 2020 and will act as a liaison office between AHG’s Emirati and international operations, and Egypt. One of its primary tasks will also be to find local opportunities befitting the Group’s diversified portfolio. Khalaf Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman of AHG, said, “Despite the world economic situation, Egypt is an important market to be in, with tremendous possibilities due to the reforms implemented by the Egyptian Government, and the infrastructural expansions taking place. I have been exploring the opportunities in Egypt for some time, and I am keen on being present there. We are in the process of studying a few prospects at present, which we will announce in due course.” AHG has a presence in the United States, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom and Lebanon. Egypt will become the sixth destination for the Group to operate in, outside the UAE. AHG, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020, has interests in the hospitality, automotive, real estate, and education sectors.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and RAK Hospital announce a partnership to provide free PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) testing to international visitors staying in and departing from Ras Al Khaimah until 31 December, 2020. Subsidised by RAKTDA, the free PCR test is available for international visitors to avail either at RAK Hospital, one of the UAE’s most renowned private hospitals or RAK Medical Centre in Al Hamra Mall. The partnership marks the Emirate as the first global destination to provide PCR testing free of charge for its international guests and visitors. Earlier in the year, Ras Al Khaimah became the first city in the world to be certified as safe by Bureau Veritas, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification and the first Emirate to receive the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels Stamp, due to extensive hygiene and security measures in place at its hotels and attractions. This recognition was quickly followed by free COVID-19 PCR testing for hospitality staff across the Emirate’s hotels. All these efforts align with the Emirate’s recovery plans, including far reaching support initiatives aimed at hospitality partners and stringent safety measures implemented to safeguard guests and residents, which in turn, have led to green shoots of recovery for its tourism industry. “As travel corridors begin to open up, we will continue to incorporate and implement global best practices into our efforts to safeguard against the spread of the pandemic. This initiative comes at a perfect time as we move towards the cooler months of the year into the ‘Winter sun’ season, encouraging all visitors to experience all that the destination has to offer, from the striking Jebal Jais mountain …

UAE affirmed its commitment to support international efforts to encourage and facilitate the recovery of the tourism sector and enhance the safety of travel experiences while adhering to global recommendations on the COVID-19 response, during its participation in a virtual G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting. The meeting took place under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, representing the UAE. During the meeting, the G20 ministers discuss ways to capitalise on growth opportunities in the post pandemic phase and increase the sector’s contribution to comprehensive and sustainable development. In addition, it reviewed the progress made by the Tourism Group during KSA’s G20 Presidency, including the commitments made in response to COVID-19. These include enhanced focus on the role of tourism in driving comprehensive community development and efforts to enhance safety and convenience in order to improve the travellers’ experiences. H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi said that in light of the unprecedented circumstances that the world is currently navigating, there are many transformations and changes that have occurred not only within the tourism sector, but across various aspects of daily lives and behaviours of billions of people around the world. H.E. added, “We, in the UAE, believe that there is an opportunity generated along with every challenge, and that the exposure to shocks makes us stronger and resilient in the face of future crises. Therefore, we are confident that the tourism sector, although it is the most affected by the pandemic, will emerge stronger, faster and more resilient.”

Global Village has announced their health and safety measures for Season 25. Customer safety and comfort have always been of utmost importance for Global Village and this year is no different. Through close consultation and alignment with leading international and local authorities, Global Village is confident of a successful Season 25 ahead operating under “new normal” standards starting October 25, with enhanced hygiene and protection measures in place throughout. Ali AlSuwaidi, Chief Operating Officer, Global Village, said, “We became the first theme park in the world to win the “Sword of Honour” accreditation for safety management excellence from the British Safety Council and continue to work to standards developed alongside international bodies such as the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). At Global Village, the comfort and wellbeing of our guests drives our operational decisions. We are pleased with our preparations for 25th October as they near completion and we look forward to welcoming our guests for our Silver Jubilee season.” With customer experience at the core of Global Village’s continued success, senior leadership are looking at the enhanced measures as an opportunity to improve guest experience at all touchpoints in a lasting way. A brand new website and mobile application are planned for an October 25th launch to ensure guests can quickly and easily purchase tickets, pay for parking and top-up the Wonder Pass for contactless entry to Carnaval Rides and other attractions and shows. Smart vending machines are now an easy way to collect Wonder Passes purchased online. In addition Global Village will soon be announcing a bespoke cashless payment solution for purchases across all retail, food and beverage outlets.

Rixos Sharm El Sheikh re-opens its doors today with its transformation as the new adult refinement in Egypt for guests in search of a fun-packed array of activities, sweet respite, and relaxation. Guests can wallow in a perfect accommodation across elegantly decorated rooms and suites with an overlooking magnificence brought by the desert meeting the pristine waters of the Red Sea. The luxurious property offers scenery of garden setting and water appreciation of pool, Side Sea, or full sea landscapes. Start your memorable day with an energising jog, morning yoga, Pilates, or open-air gym. There’s more as you can engage in Sports Fests of Yoga, Zumba, Beach Volley, or Tennis, thrilling Kite surf and Scuba diving. Bed down and loosen up with rejuvenating spa treatments, massages, and baths to relieve bodily stress. Erkan Yildrim, Managing Director of Rixos Egypt said, “Going beyond the award received from Tripadvisor as the Number 1 Best All-Inclusive Hotel in Egypt and the Middle East, we aim to provide adult guests the well-deserved relaxation and enjoyment, a lineup of round-the-clock activities, and a momentary sweet escape away from work and pa-rental duties.”

Etihad Aviation Training (EAT), part of Etihad Aviation Group, has launched new training programmes for pilots at its world-class training facility. For the first time, customers will also be able to earn Etihad Guest Miles against EAT products and services. The first Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) in the world to secure regulatory approval, cadets who complete MPL training on the Phenom 100 jet can now transition directly to the most efficient and advanced wide-body aircraft in the market, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. To achieve the highest proficiency standards, this programme allows EAT trainees to become fully qualified Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilots within 18 months, through an intensive and highly advanced curriculum that capitalises on leading industry learning techniques and technology. Paolo La Cava, Vice President Etihad Aviation Training, said, “Etihad, along with a number of other airlines around the world, traditionally place cadets into narrow-body aircraft once they’ve completed their training. Due to higher market demand, EAT would rather place some cadets onto the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. With this new approval, requirements will be met and will also give pilots the opportunity to fly to destinations that are not catered with narrow-body aircraft”. “Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions during the past year, EAT successfully trained over 18,000 students, while globally, the vast majority of training organisations paused their operations. Now, EAT also has the ability to offer type rate training to not only airline pilots, but also individual pilots who are not directly associated with any UAE air operator, similar to the European training environment. This way, Etihad’s training facilities are actively responding to the market’s needs and ensuring pilots remain licensed and employable while …

Air Arabia announced free global COVID-19 cover for all passengers travelling on Air Arabia flights from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. This cover is automatically included with the booking, no additional documents are required from customers and validity is for 31 days from the day of departure on the itinerary. It also includes medical expenses and quarantine costs. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia commented, “The new COVID-19 global assistance cover underlines our commitment to customers in helping them travel with confidence and additional ease of mind. At Air Arabia, we always ensure that every step of our customer journey remains safe, seamless and driven by added value to customers.” Impacted passengers who has been diagnosed with Covid-19 during their travel can contact the 24/7 Air Arabia COVID-19 Global Assistance Cover Team. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Air Arabia’s customer journey has been upgraded to include all safety measures that are in line with the highest international measures. Air Arabia’s entire fleet is fitted with HEPA cabin air filters, which help to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers. Customers are always requested to comply with the conditions and requirements of the countries of departure and destination.