Hamad International Airport (HIA) has officially launched an innovative ‘Digital Twin’ initiative as part of its smart airport program. This Digital Twin provides a real-time view of the airport through an intuitive 3D interface. Its powerful analytical engine integrates information from multiple airport systems to provide intelligent recommendations to help optimize operations. The development combined 3D modelling techniques, data-analytics, and Artificial Intelligence to deliver improved, faster and data-driven decision making. The Digital Twin manages aircraft stand conflicts, enables effective responses to alerts and monitors the health of critical airport assets. Additionally, it effectively utilizes the right data at the right time to allow optimization of resources to minimize asset downtime. The airport industry is increasingly recognizing the potential of Digital Twin technology to support critical airport operations. HIA’s Digital Twin initiative has been recognized as the ‘Smart Solution of the Year’, earning it an award at the Qatar IT Business Awards. Senior Vice President Technology & Innovation at Hamad International Airport, Mr Suhail Kadri, stated: “Hamad International Airport, in conjunction with industry partner SITA, is actively shaping the future of the airport industry by being one of the few airports in the world to develop a functioning digital twin and experiment with challenging use cases, ushering in a new era of efficiency.” “This one-of-a-kind technology will continue to mature and radically change how operational teams across the airport consume information and make decisions. We are delighted to be first movers in this area and accelerate the adoption of this breakthrough technology, which will ultimately benefit passengers, our airline partners and all airport stakeholders,” Mr Kadri added. Hani El-Assaad, SITA President, Middle East and Africa, said: “Many congratulations to HIA for …

Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi International Airport have geared up resources and are ready to welcome 2.7 million network passengers over the summer months, following a surge in demand for global travel. Over 1.4 million passengers will depart from Abu Dhabi International Airport, including 330,000 local joiners, with more than 1100 weekly network-wide departures. Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “As travel rebounds from the impact of the global pandemic, Etihad has witnessed a vast increase in bookings over recent weeks.  With summer holidays upon us and to manage the increase in passenger numbers, Etihad has bolstered operations both locally and across our global network to ensure guests enjoy a seamless airport and flight experience.” Importantly, guests are reminded to check-in online, use the Verified to Fly service to submit any Covid-related travel documents for prior approval, and arrive at the airport early.  

As Eid-al-Adha and summer break fast approaches Skyscanner can reveal strong demand for summer travel; with Saudi bookings for travel this July and August increasing by 325% in May compared to the previous month and UAE bookings up by 156% for the same period.* In line with Eid-al-Adha holiday period, week commencing 4 July is the most popular week for travellers to depart both the UAE and Saudi Arabia this summer as travellers look to maximise the public holiday: heading off on holiday and visiting friends and family. Top trending destinations this summer:   Top trending redirect (booking) destinations for UAE travellers in summer 2022:** Manila Cairo Amman Mumbai Istanbul The top trending redirect (booking) destinations for Saudi travellers for summer 2022:*** Cairo 2. London 3. Bangkok 4. Baku 5. Hyderabad   Skyscanner’s Travel Expert, Ayoub El Mamoun, comments: “As travel restrictions have eased and traveller confidence returns, we’ve witnessed a travel revival with pent-up demand turning into millions of travellers enjoying their much longed for trips again.    “Flights to popular summer destinations don’t have to cost a fortune if you know how to search for the best prices – in fact Skyscanner helps travellers filter all the options of 1,200+ travel providers to find the best option for you.  UAE travellers can find economy return deals to holiday favourites including Manila for AED 2,181 and Istanbul from AED 1084 this July whilst Saudi travellers can find deals to Cairo from SAR 855 and London for SAR 3,648.   “Setting up price alerts on Skyscanner is a great way for travellers to be the first to know as prices drop with any additional discounts or added supply.  You can …

Wego and German National Tourist Office for the GCC sign new partnership to inspire travellers to visit the country post COVID-19. The German.Local.Culture. campaign promotes Germany focusing on four themes: ‘Flair, Craft, Taste and Green’. The campaign will be marketed to Wego’s wide user base to bring more travellers from the MENA region. Wego’s data shows that Germany is in the top 10 destinations for MENA travellers looking to travel to Europe in 2022. The campaign will be launched digitally through social media networks for a broader reach to establish an authentic image of Germany as a sustainable travel destination. The country attracts tourists for its historic architecture, picturesque Old Towns, urban city vitality, impressive industrial monuments, castles and palaces and unspoiled nature. The ‘Flair’ theme showcases the architectural styles of the German cities and places of cultural interest to the tourists. The theme highlights the regional roots of small towns with fascinating historical stories. GNTB, through the campaign, aims to reignite the love of architecture among foreign tourists. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and India of Wego, said: “Following the successful campaigns, we’re partnering with the German National Tourist Board for the third year running. We are looking forward to inviting even more travellers to this preferred European destination through this campaign.” The campaign also focuses on enjoyable travel experiences even under covid-19 circumstances. These experiences include Germany’s classical and world-famous opera houses attracting about one-third of worldwide operatic performances. The famous opera houses have historic concert halls, ornate stucco, and plush furniture. Yamina Sofo, director of sales and marketing at the German National Tourist Office (GNTO GCC), said: “The GCC …

Gulf Air started its services to the Italian city of Milan. The maiden flight left Bahrain International Airport on June 01 inaugurating the airline’s direct and indirect operations to Italy’s second largest city. On this occasion, the national carrier held a celebratory lunch in Milan which was attended by numerous VIPs that included H.E. Ambassador of Bahrain to Italy Dr. Nasser Al Balooshi, H.E. Ms. Paola Amadei Ambassador of Italy to Bahrain, Mr. Andrea Tucci Head of Business Development Aviation at SEA – Milan Airport; among other dignitaries that attended the event. The luncheon also included trade and travel representatives and members of the media. Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi commented “Milan is one of the EU’s and the world’s major financial and business centres. From finance to fashion, from designer automobiles to discerning music, from architecture to art; the city of Milan is undeniably one of the most popular destinations in Europe attracting millions of visitors every year. By launching services to Milan we are not only opening new doors of trade and tourism opportunities this city offers to the people and businesses of Bahrain and the region; but also bringing new commercial and other opportunities to Bahrain, the gateway of the Arabian Gulf and beyond.” Captain AlAlawi also thanked the attendees for their support of the expansion of Gulf Air in Italy, appreciating their efforts in launching the new route. Milan is the capital of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. An international and cosmopolitan city, the city remains one of Europe’s main transportation and industrial hubs, and Milan is one of the most important centres for business in the …

As part of its mandate to promote tourism as a rewarding career option for Emiratis and UAE-based professionals, and to develop those already working in the private sector, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has unveiled a revamped calendar of training programmes and Emiratisation initiatives for the second half of 2022. The new programme calendar aims to increase the growth and development of the Emirati and UAE-based workforce, encourage enrolment in training and job opportunities, and develop the knowledge and skills of existing tourism and hospitality workers in the private sector. Created by DCT Abu Dhabi’s Emiratisation and Capability Development Section, the initiatives will generate greater Emirati and general participation in Abu Dhabi’s tourism activities. It will highlight employment opportunities in the sector by detailing a clear qualifications and skills development pathway for participants. His Excellency Saleh Mohammed Al Geziry, Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We have an outstanding Emirati and international talent pool in Abu Dhabi, with the necessary skills and aptitudes to succeed in the emirate’s exciting and rapidly growing tourism sector. Through this revamped Emiratisation and sector-wide training programme, we can maximise the potential of our UAE workforce, fulfil our strategic goal to create a thriving and diverse tourism eco-system, while also building bridges between cultures by allowing visitors to meet and interact with both Emiratis and a range of other nationalities across our tourism assets.” Fatima Al Melhi, Section Head of Emiratisation and Human Capital Development at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “We are proud to announce the new calendar, which includes training programmes and initiatives to support the highly talented Emirati and expat workforce we have …

To mark the United Nation’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, and the vital role these enterprises play in post-pandemic recovery, Emirates is empowering MSMEs to seek growth opportunities with an attractive incentive for new members who enrol into the Emirates Business Rewards programme. Eligible businesses around the world who sign up for a first-time account anytime from 25 June to 10 July 2022, will receive a joining bonus of 10,000 Emirates Business Reward Points – the equivalent of one Economy Class return ticket between most destinations in the Middle East, Africa/WAIO and Dubai, a city that offers world-leading support programmes and infrastructure for entrepreneurs and SMEs. Emirates’ offer aims to support MSMEs and recognise the integral part they play in sustainable development, and the global economy and communities. There are currently more than 30000 micro, small and medium sized businesses participating in the Emirates Business Rewards programme, taking advantage of a wealth of benefits including easy enrolment, accessible earning and redemptions, and flexibility and upgrade opportunities – even on last minute bookings. With a goal of ‘making business travel seamless’, Emirates Business Rewards enables organisations to earn points on business travel, which can be spent on future flights and upgrades on any Emirates flight, in any class, subject to availability. Organisations are eligible to earn points whenever their employees or guest travellers fly on Emirates, which can then be spent on dynamic reward flights and upgrades. Individuals can also earn Skywards Miles on the same flight if they are an Emirates Skywards member. There’s no limit to how many employees can join the programme and no minimum spend is needed. Emirates Business Rewards is free to join and …

Dubai’s successful tourism rebound continues to inspire global tourism recovery with the city welcoming 6.17 million international overnight visitors from January to May 2022, a 197 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase from the same five-month period in 2021, which saw the destination attracting just over two million international travellers. The latest tourism data was revealed by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) at its first ‘City Briefing’ for 2022, a bi-annual event that provides an in-depth industry outlook to stakeholders and partners, and discusses future strategies to further reinforce the city’s position as a global hub for business, investment, talent and tourism. The event was attended by more than 1,200 key executives from across the tourism ecosystem including aviation, travel, hospitality and retail sectors. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) commented: “The remarkable vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have always been an inspiration to us all, and this is reflected in the city’s continued success, as we focus on enhancing its position as a global hub for economy and tourism. We are building on the massive momentum generated by the hugely successful Expo 2020 to drive growth across all our tourism pillars from cultural to culinary experiences, while working towards achieving the ambitious goal of making Dubai the most visited destination and the city of the future that will be the best place in the world to live and work. “As we look ahead to the remainder of 2022 and beyond, we will harness the key elements that have ensured the industry’s …

With the significant demand for air travel during Hajj, Emirates is deploying extra flights to ensure more connectivity for the scores of pilgrims making their way to the Holy City of Makkah. Emirates will be operating special flights to Jeddah and Medina during the upcoming Hajj season to carry pilgrims for this special period. Emirates will be deploying 31 additional flights to Jeddah and double daily flights to Medina from 23 June to 20 July to help transport pilgrims to carry out one of the key pillars of Islam. These services will run in parallel with Emirates’ regularly scheduled services. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has greatly expanded its Hajj participation this year to nearly a million pilgrims. This year, Emirates has seen strong demand for Hajj travel from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Turkey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malaysia, the UK, US, UAE and Algeria. The special services are available to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa. Pilgrims must also be under the age of 65, hold a valid vaccination certificate with a vaccine authorised by the Saudi Ministry of Health, and must also carry a negative PCR test done within 72 hours of departure. Given the significance of the once-in-a-lifetime Hajj experience, the airline’s teams have been working hard to ensure that every detail of the pilgrim’s experience is aligned with the tenets of their faith. On the ground in Dubai, Emirates has a special Hajj airport team to help manage check-in, transfers, and helping to facilitate a seamless and convenient on ground experience for Hajj pilgrims. Emirates has also set up dedicated check-in and transfer counters for Hajj passengers transiting in Dubai. For Hajj travellers having a longer layover …

Etihad Airways will resume direct passenger flights between Abu Dhabi and Beijing from 29 June 2022, becoming the first regular direct international passenger flight to recommence for Beijing, under the latest mandate of the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council. The airline will operate a weekly flight on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world.   Inaugural flight schedule (all times local):   Flight  Departure  Time  Arrival  Time  Aircraft  Date  EY 888 (Inaugural flight) Abu Dhabi 18:00 Beijing 05:25+1 Boeing 787-9 Wednesday 29 June EY 889 (Inaugural flight) Beijing 02:10 Abu Dhabi 07:10 Boeing 787-9 Friday 1 July   Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo at Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted about the resumption of passenger services between Abu Dhabi and Beijing, our second service to resume to China. China has always been an important strategic market for Etihad and the resumption of direct flights between the two capital cities will further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the United Arab Emirates.” Etihad Airways scheduled service from Abu Dhabi to Shanghai resumed in July 2020 to meet the huge demand of passengers travelling between the UAE and China. Those wishing to book are advised to visit Etihad.com to view their options, and to remain informed on the relevant entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE) or +86 400 8822 050 (Mainland China), or through a local or online travel agency. Important information: All passengers travelling on Etihad between Abu Dhabi and China must …