Etihad Airways operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International’s highly-anticipated new Terminal A. Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A  on Airbus A350-1000, with 359 guests onboard. Etihad and Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed the guests who made history as they enjoyed the seamless experience of checking in at Terminal A for the first time. To commemorate the occasion, all passengers, including those in both Economy and Business classes, had the unique opportunity to be the inaugural guests at the new flagship Etihad Lounges which span three floors at Terminal A. After sampling a special menu of celebratory cuisine at the Etihad Lounge, guests made their way to Gate C27, where themed decorations and a photo booth awaited to capture this historic moment. The ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders. Among those present were Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO and Frank McCrorie, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. Antonoaldo and Frank both gave speeches to officially welcome the airport’s first guests. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad, said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home. “Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates …

IHG Hotels & Resorts debuted its premium voco hotels brand in Saudi Arabia’s Holy City  with the official opening of voco Makkah. The hotel is part of the Maad Hospitality Towers Development in Makkah, a mixed-used megaproject that includes restaurants, lounge areas, and event halls. Haitham Mattar, Managing Director India, Middle East & Africa, IHG Hotels & resorts said: “We’re very pleased to increase our presence in the Kingdom while catering to the needs of guests travelling to Makkah during the Hajj or Umrah seasons. When it’s time for the journey of a lifetime, voco Makkah is with you every step of the way.” “Religious tourism remains the bedrock of the Kingdom’s tourism growth, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom by 2030. Saudi Arabia’s National Vision 2030 is an ambitious blueprint of the country’s long-term goals and expectations, and we look forward to catering to the influx of pilgrims at voco Makkah.” The 4321-room property is thoughtfully designed with accommodation from two up to four guests, perfect for families or groups travelling together. All rooms feature the contemporary classic comfort of a voco hotel design. Guests will benefit from multiple reception areas for ease of check in, separate praying areas for male and female, and the ability to walk to the holy mosque. The property also boasts 20,000 sqm of dining facilities. Close to Mina Valley and Mount Arafat and only 1.5km from Masjid al-Haram (City Centre), guests can enjoy a prime location with premium amenities. Global cuisine from international chefs is served around the clock in four eye-catching towers which include anything a guest could need. From a mini shopping mall to a barber …

Thynk announced the acquisition of ‘Please ask m’, a pivotal step in fortifying its hospitality cloud solution. This acquisition aligns seamlessly with Thynk’s strategic growth initiatives, aimed at providing hoteliers with an augmented suite of software to elevate sales and operations, deliver superior guest experiences, and harness actionable data-driven insights. Pascal Petit, CEO of Thynk, said: “The integration of Please ask m’s functionalities into Thynk’s hospitality cloud represents a confluence of aligned interests and core competencies. The fusion of these platforms is expected to significantly enhance our value proposition for hoteliers, facilitating increased revenue potential and operational efficiency.” Thynk’s hospitality cloud, recognized for streamlining hotel operations and leveraging data for insightful decision-making, will now be complemented by Please ask m’s robust revenue generation modules. This strategic addition ensures that hoteliers are not only equipped with top-tier operational tools but also with advanced mechanisms to identify and capture new revenue opportunities and improve the customer journey. Mark Struik, Founder of Please ask m, commented: “With Thynk we have a shared vision, one that sees beyond today’s constraints. The addition of our revenue generation modules to Thynk’s cloud ecosystem is like giving hoteliers a key to countless new doors of opportunity.” With this acquisition, stakeholders can anticipate a cohesive platform that addresses the multifaceted needs of the modern hospitality industry. Nils Scheers, COO of Thynk, added: “The integration process has been initiated with a focus on seamless transition and operational continuity. We remain committed to delivering consistent and enhanced value to our clients.” Thynk remains dedicated to its mission of providing unparalleled solutions to the hospitality sector and views this acquisition as a significant milestone in its journey towards industry leadership.

German National Tourist Office GCC for the second year in a row bagged the prestigious Arabian Travel Award for ‘Most active in promoting sustainable and accessible travel’. Yamina Sofo, Director German National Tourist Office GCC shared, “It is an honour to have received the award for the ‘Most Active in Promoting Sustainable and Accessible Travel’. Our campaign ‘Simply Feel Good’ which promotes sustainability throughout Germany, has been key in implementing sustainable practices, be it in accommodation, transportation, and more.” The sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards concluded at Sofitel downtown Dubai graced by HE Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE as Chief Guest presenting the awards to the stars of the night. An exclusive invitation only event gathered all the key leaders from travel, tourism and hospitality across the GCC. The Chief Guest H.E Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Bin Shamsuddin Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE gracing the occasion shared, “It is an honour and privilege for me to be invited to join the experts in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry this evening. To the organiser, please accept my appreciation and gratitude in organising the 6th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards, which recognises the contribution of the leaders of travel, tourism and hospitality in the Middle East.”

Participating for their first time, Smartzett.com was crowned as the fastest growing B2B portal at the sixth edition of Arabian Travel Awards. Accepting the award, Afi Ahmed – Chairman – Smart Travel shared, “Smart Travel feels very proud to receive this prestigious award. We thank our trade partners who have faith in www.smartzett.com and voted us to victory. It has motivated Smart Travel to launch more travel solutions to affiliates registered on our B2B portal.” Smartzett.com is known as one of the largest online B2B marketplaces connecting travel suppliers with an extensive inventory of worldwide tours, transfers, hotels etc which would expand business reach. HE Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil bin Shamsuddin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE graced the occasion of Chief Guest presenting the awards to the stars of the night. It was an amazing night of celebration as the sixth edition of the Arabian Travel Awards concluded recognizing the stars of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry at the Sofitel downtown Dubai. The Chief Guest H.E Datuk Seri Ahmad Fadil Bin Shamsuddin Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE gracing the occasion shared, “It is an honour and privilege for me to be invited to join the experts in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry this evening. To the organiser, please accept my appreciation and gratitude in organising the 6th edition of the Arabian Travel Awards, which recognises the contribution of the leaders of travel, tourism and hospitality in the Middle East. ”

Flights to Dubai from Almaty will increase from seven to twelve per week, and from Astana from six to ten per week. There will also be charter flights from both Almaty and Astana to Doha in Qatar once a week. Air Astana switched to a Winter Schedule on 29th October 2023, with the resumption of services from Almaty and Astana on seasonal routes and increases in frequencies to popular destinations in the Gulf and Asia. During the Winter Schedule , Air Astana will operate five flights per week on the Almaty-Maldives route, as well as four charter flights per week on the Almaty-Sri Lanka route. Flights from Almaty to Bangkok will increase from three to seven per week, whilst flights from Almaty to Phuket will increase from four to eleven per week. Kazakhstan citizens can travel to Thailand visa free until the end of February 2024. On the Almaty-Delhi route, the number of flights will increase to eleven per week and on the Almaty-Jeddah route, three per week.

AlUla Development Company signed a hotel management agreement with Six Senses, to open Six Senses AlUla in Saudi Arabia in 2027. The agreement was signed by Fabien Toscano, Chief Executive Officer of AlUla Development Company, and Neil Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Six Senses, and in the presence of AlUla Development Company Managing Director Naif AlHamdan during a ceremony at Maraya – Guinness World Record holder of being the world’s largest mirrored building – located in AlUla. Luxury hotel Six Senses AlUla will span across 1,200,000 square meters and will be built within a breathtaking natural oasis adorned with lush palm groves, embraced by dramatic red-sandstone cliffs. It will feature 100 guest villas and 25 residences, which will be designed to seamlessly integrate with AlUla’s breathtaking natural landscape. Naif AlHamdan, Managing Director of AlUla Development Company commented that the agreement represents the company’s commitment to increase luxury hospitality offerings in one of the most ancient archaeological sites, adding: “We are working to enrich the hospitality offerings and experiences in AlUla so that we can enable visitors to explore its rich history amidst its natural picturesque setting.” Fabien Toscano, Chief Executive Officer of AlUla Development Company, commented on the partnership, “We are excited to join hands with Six Senses to open a one-of-a-kind luxury hotel in AlUla. The venture aligns with our commitment to elevating the hospitality offering in AlUla and marks another significant stride in our pursuit of sustainable development, contributing to the economic diversification and transformation of Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030.” Neil Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Six Senses, commented on the venture, saying, “Bringing to life the drama and beauty of a site with unprecedented …

Air Canada has inaugurated its new four-times weekly non-stop service between Dubai International (DXB) and its hub at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), marking the airline’s first-ever non-stop flight between the two iconic, global destinations and the only non-stop service connecting the Middle East and Western Canada. The new route complements Air Canada’s daily year-round service between Dubai and Toronto. The new service between Dubai and Vancouver will be operated with state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 aircraft, accommodating 298 passengers, with a choice of three classes of service: Economy, Premium Economy, and Air Canada Signature Class, which offers customers superior comfort and convenience in an exclusive cabin, with spacious lie-flat seating, personalized service, fine cuisine, extra baggage allowance and access to priority airport services. All flights are timed to optimize connections with Air Canada’s extensive North American network and the vast network of Emirates beyond Dubai. Seats are available for booking at aircanada.com, via the Air Canada App, Air Canada’s Contact Centres and travel agencies. “We are excited to now offer not one, but two routes from the most populous city in the UAE to our Canadian hubs in Vancouver and Toronto,” said Mary-Jane Lorette, Air Canada’s Vice President of International Affairs, Network and Partnerships. “Our new Dubai-Vancouver flights will complement Air Canada’s daily service between Toronto and Dubai, broadening our presence in fast-growing international markets in the Indian subcontinent and Middle East regions. Air Canada’s recent move to Dubai International Terminal 3 underscores the significance of our strategic partnership with Emirates and the importance of our flights between the UAE and Canada, providing connections to over 200 destinations across the Air Canada and Emirates networks, with the added benefit of travelling on …

SITA and Fraport are enabling all airlines at Frankfurt Airport to jointly use face biometrics as identification from check-in to boarding the aircraft. Frankfurt is the first airport in Europe to offer biometric touchpoints to all airline passengers, enabling streamlined, frictionless passage throughout the airport. Using SITA’s Smart Path biometric solution, powered by NEC, your face becomes your boarding pass. Passengers can securely register in advance on their mobile device through the Star Alliance biometric app or directly at the check-in kiosk with their biometric-enabled passports. The whole registration process only takes a few seconds. Once registered, passengers pass through the facial recognition-equipped checkpoints without showing any physical documents. The new technology is already in use by more than 12,000 passengers at check-in, boarding pass control, and boarding gates. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Executive Board member Aviation and Infrastructure at Fraport AG, said: “Together with Lufthansa and the Star Alliance airlines, we have been offering this innovative service since 2020, an experience – with the help of SITA and NEC – which will now be extended to all airlines. We are the first European airport to offer all passengers a contactless and convenient passenger journey using biometrics. Our goal for the coming months is to equip at least 50% of all check-in kiosks, pre-security, and boarding gates with the new and pioneering technology.” David Lavorel, CEO of SITA, said: “We have seen that the more we can automate the passenger journey in the airport, the better the experience. Biometric touchpoints significantly speed up the mandatory steps in the airport, giving passengers more time to relax before the flight rather than waiting in line. We know from our research that where biometrics …

Having served over 150 million passengers and operating flights to a vast network of more than 190 routes from seven strategic hubs, Air Arabia Group, the Middle East & North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier operator, enters its milestone 20th year of operations as it continues to solidify its position as a pioneer and market leader in the aviation industry. Marking this special milestone, Air Arabia has introduced a new addition to its distinctive livery, a unique 20th-anniversary emblem, that celebrates the airline’s two decades of excellence and serves as a testament to the remarkable journey that Air Arabia has undertaken, fueled by the dedication and hard work of its staff members. Commenting on the low-cost carrier’s momentous journey since 2003, Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “For two decades now, Air Arabia has demonstrated its leadership position by transforming the way air travel is perceived in the MENA region. Air Arabia’s successful trajectory as a driving force behind connecting people, cultures, and economies, has since brought change to the industry, and has grown the market for affordable air travel”. Since introducing low-cost air travel to the MENA region 20 years ago, Air Arabia has strengthened its market position by offering greater travel options for customers and providing high quality services at affordable fares. Commencing operations on October 28, 2003, with just two aircraft servicing five routes, the airline has grown into a multi-billion-dollar group offering travel and tourism services across the globe. Today, the Air Arabia Group has a multi-brand portfolio spanning across aviation, hospitality, tourism, information technology, flight operations, ground handling, catering and MRO. Air Arabia now operates from multiple hubs spread …