Emirates and Air Canada have expanded their partnership to offer frequent flyer members joint loyalty programme benefits. Emirates Skywards members can now earn and redeem Miles on all flights operated by Air Canada – accessing a network of more than 220 destinations worldwide. Aeroplan members will also benefit from earning and redeeming Points on all flights operated by Emirates – with access to more than 130 destinations across six continents, via the airline’s home and hub, Dubai. The agreement was signed yesterday by Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, and Mark Youssef Nasr, Senior Vice President, Product, Marketing, e-Commerce, Air Canada and President, Aeroplan, at the Emirates Group Headquarters in Dubai. Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, commented: “We’re very pleased to be enhancing our partnership with Air Canada and officially kicking off our joint loyalty programme offering. Together, close to 40 million frequent flyer members will be able to earn and redeem Miles across a joint network of more than 350 destinations and enjoy selected benefits, such as lounge access. We look forward to opening new horizons for our loyal members and to also welcoming Aeroplan customers on-board Emirates with our award-winning products and exceptional services.” Mark Youssef Nasr, Senior Vice President, Product, Marketing, e-Commerce, Air Canada and President, Aeroplan commented: “The two most recognized loyalty programmes in their respective regions provided by the two most recognized airlines in their respective regions are coming together to offer something truly great. Whether it’s connecting friends and family from Canada’s rich immigrant diaspora or it’s helping travellers explore some of the world’s most exciting destinations, there’s something for everyone. We’re proud to partner …

Etihad Airways announced it is reintroducing four of its A380s from the summer of 2023. The move follows a surge in demand for air travel across the airline’s network and customer feedback for the return of one of the most remarkable commercial flying experiences in the sky. His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “It is wonderful to announce the return of this splendid aircraft. The A380’s reintroduction provides a further boost to Etihad’s capacity into the key UK market, with a knock-on effect for the wider GCC and Indian subcontinent that will bring more visitors to the city of Abu Dhabi.” Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We know this will be welcomed by our guests who love Etihad’s incredible A380 and its award-winning cabins. We have decided the time is right to return some of our A380s into the fleet to satisfy the demand which has made them financially viable once more. We look forward to welcoming our guests again on board this remarkable aircraft.” Etihad’s A380s feature The Residence as well as three cabin classes on the double-decker aircraft, including 9 First Apartments, 70 Business Studios and 405 Economy Smart Seats. This includes 80 Economy Space seats with a seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The nine First Apartments set across a single-aisle, offer a private living space with a large leather lounge chair and an ottoman which opens up to become a separate 80.5″ long fully-flat bed. The First Apartment is one of the most spacious in its class and also offers a 24″ swiveling LCD TV monitor and personal vanity unit. For the first time, Etihad plans to …

Air Arabia marked the inauguration of its direct flights from Sharjah to the city of Milan in Italy. An event was held at Sharjah International Airport ahead of the inaugural flight and the aircraft was received at Milan Bergamo Airport with a traditional water cannon salute. The new direct flights will connect Sharjah International Airport with Milan Bergamo Airport with four weekly flights, effective from December 7, 2022. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “We are very excited with the new addition of the city of Milan directly from Sharjah. As we continue to grow our network in Europe, the launch of the new service reiterates our commitment to providing our customers with convenient, comfortable, and value-driven air travel. We thank all our partners for their continuous support, and we look forward to welcoming our customers to experience the architectural, cultural and historical landmarks of the Italian city.” Air Arabia Group operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 neo-LR aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. The cabin configuration across the fleet provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. In addition to ‘SkyTime’, the free in-flight streaming service that allows passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices, customers can also enjoy a wide variety of delicacies between snacks, meals, and sandwiches from the on-board ‘SkyCafe’ menu at affordable prices. Eligible travelers can also benefit from the City Check-in service where they can drop off their bags before flights and collect their boarding passes at the Air Arabia Sales Shops spread across the UAE. Customers can now book their …

The current edition of the Sheikh Zayed Festival is welcoming a huge turnout of visitors who are enjoying a myriad of amazing cultural performers, artists, pop shows, and folkloric groups from around the world. A range of heritage shows and entertainment attractions are featured throughout the Festival’s run, which are specially curated for its guests and visitors. The mega event reflects the UAE’s noble values of inclusivity, humanity, generosity and tolerance in a joyful family-friendly atmosphere, a perfect platform for artistic and cultural exchange among civilizations. The Higher Organizing Committee of the Festival planned an array of competitions and draws for this year with prizes that include cars, gifts, and other various prizes. Winners will be announced starting the third week of December until the last week of the Festival. The Sheikh Zayed Festival in Al Wathba, currently running until 18 March of 2023, features various competitions and raffle draws for visitors to win more than 15 cars and many other valuable prizes. The first raffle draw will be on the third and fourth week of December for cars and other valuable prizes. A continuous schedule for the draws will run through the months of January, February and March 2023. Upon purchasing AED 50 worth from Festivals shops, restaurants and the Fun Fair City, visitors will receive a coupon for the Festival’s raffle draw and another coupon for the H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival draw. Each visitor can participate in the draws by filling out their information on the voucher and inserting it in the drop box. Participating visitors are encouraged to follow the Festival’s social media accounts for more information about the draw dates for …

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, has launched Dubai Team for Accessible Travel and Tourism as part of the endeavours to consolidate the emirate’s global standing as round-the-year destination accessible to all. He unveiled the decision during a meeting he organised of senior officials in both government agencies and private organisations dealing with travel and tourism businesses. His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Deputy CEO at Dubai Airports and Team Leader, expressed deep appreciation for the support provided by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed to the travel and tourism industry in Dubai. He said: “Accessible tourism is an important sector for our national economy as well as helps promote the rights of People of Determination to move around and travel without hassles and obstacles. The Dubai team will work to offer a good image of the UAE to the world as a pioneering tourism with hospitality services for all visitors being of the best in class.” The senior Emirati official called upon the team members, each expert in their fields, to jointly work to advice on improvements at our airports, airlines, hotels, shopping centres and other touristic places to provide the best services for tourists with disabilities in the emirate. He explained: “The goal behind establishing the team is to put the authorities from the public and private sectors under one roof, to discuss needed to permanently improve facilities and services for disabled tourists. We will be working on the agenda through having brainstorming sessions, exchanging opinions and identifying the achievements of each agency representing a field.” The Team will …

Dornier Seawings (Germany) and Gulf Enterprises (United Arab Emirates) have signed an agreement which will enable the most advanced amphibian aircraft to enter the Middle Eastern market. The agreement, which was signed at the MEBAA Show 2022, sets out a strong partnership between both companies in sales & marketing, operational and maintenance set-up, and support for this region. Dornier Seawings’ flagship aircraft is the German-engineered Seastar. With its corrosion-free, all composite airframe, the Seastar offers a highly versatile dual operation from both land and water, even under rough conditions. Its unrivalled versatility and performance allows the Seastar to take on entirely new missions. In the spirit of the pioneering Dornier flying boats, the Seastar is superior in every important measure: speed, range, safety, cabin size, operating and maintenance costs. The multi-purpose aircraft covers a wide range of operational applications from commercial and VIP passenger transportation to governmental, corporate and special missions. Certification flights are expected to be completed in 2023, followed by entry-of-service the following year. “Expanding our sales network to the Middle East, by partnering with Gulf Enterprises, is a key strategic decision that brings the Next Gen Seastar to its natural environment that we are looking forward to embrace” states Juergen Heinrich, Dornier Seawings’ Co-CEO. “Introducing the most advanced amphibian aircraft to the Middle East is a privilege to us. Representing the pioneering spirit and heritage of Dornier is an honor” says Richard Haas, CEO of Gulf Enterprises. “We are pleased that the Dornier legacy of flying boats is reaching our shores in the not-too-distant future to serve the diverse mission requirements of our ever-growing coastlines and islands” stated Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA …

dnata facilitated the transportation of over 150,000 football fans between Dubai and Doha in the opening two weeks of the world’s largest football tournament. As football fever grips the globe, dnata’s highly trained teams of ground handlers, passenger and ramp agents have ensured that fans make a smooth passage through Dubai World Central airport (DWC). With airlines introducing ‘shuttle flights’ operating between Qatar and nearby Gulf states, Dubai has become a popular transiting destination for fans attending tournament games. dnata’s services between DWC and Doha have enabled more than 600 safe aircraft movements in the first fortnight of the competition. To execute this, over 270 customer oriented and ramp agents have been re-positioned from existing positions at Dubai International airport (DXB). A total of 90 pieces of ground support equipment (GSE) are used to service aircraft, including zero-emission electric baggage tractors, conveyor belts and a push-back tug. For those fans wishing to take their experience to another level, a warm greeting will be received in DWC’s marhaba lounge. Supporters can keep up to date with the tournament with super-fast Wi-Fi and enjoy complimentary international cuisine before they make their trip. marhaba’s Meet and Greet services are also available for fans who wish to further improve their experience. Jaffar Dawood, Senior Vice President for UAE Airport Operations, dnata, said: “We are dedicated to ensuring an excellent journey for all football supporters by providing a swift and efficient service at DWC, so that they can enjoy their fan experience for as long as possible. We thank our airline partners for their trust in our services, and will continue to support their initiatives.” dnata offers ground handling, cargo, travel, catering and retail services …

Reaffirming the MEBAA Show’s position as the foremost business aviation platform in the Middle East and wider regions, gathering key players in the industry from over 95 countries, the ninth edition of the global business aviation show concluded on 8th December 2022. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group,opened the much-anticipated MEBAA Show 2022 at Dubai Airshow site (DWC). With an increased international presence at this year’s show and an up-weighted focus on in-person networking, Day 1 saw business leaders from across the world connect with exhibitors, all working together to redefine the future of the industry and take it to new heights. Key themes for the event include future aviation, sustainability, emerging markets and regulations, as well as a focus on digitalisation, block chain, AI and crypto based payments, all recognised as key trends that are driving the industry forward. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA – the Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association, comments: “As we continue to witness huge growth across the business aviation industry, it’s been fantastic to see so many new initiatives highlighted at this year’s MEBAA Show. Day 1 has already seen the formation of many new connections between our visitors and exhibitors, along with the launch of a series of market-leading new technologies and sustainable solutions that will play a vital role in the future of the industry. We are pleased to be working with global industry leaders and specialists to deliver our best show to date, and look forward to seeing a continuation of today’s success …

Emirates has ramped up its operations to Gatwick Airport with the addition of a third daily A380 flight. The airline continues to scale up its UK operations to meet sustained demand ahead of the holiday rush. The additional frequency will offer enhanced capacity with more than 1,000 seats to/from Gatwick to Dubai, every day. Emirates flight EK11 will depart Dubai at 2:50hrs, flight EK15 will depart at 7:40hrs and flight EK09 will depart at 14:25hrs – offering customers even more flexibility and travel choices. Emirates currently serves the UK with 119 weekly flights across seven UK hubs including: six times daily to London Heathrow; three times daily to London Gatwick; daily service to London Stansted; three times daily to Manchester; double daily service to Birmingham; daily flights to Newcastle; and a daily service to Glasgow. Emirates’ extensive network spans to 130 destinations, across six continents. Emirates’ home and hub, Dubai, remains a very popular holiday and stopover destination. Visitors from the UK can take advantage of the new Dubai Experience platform that enables customers to easily browse, create and book their own customised itineraries including flights, hotel stay, visits to key attractions, and other dining and leisure experiences in Dubai and the UAE. For more information, visit emirates.com. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Office, via travel agents or through online travel agents.

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi celebrated its inaugural flight to Tashkent directly from Abu Dhabi, which was carrying an Air Arabia delegation headed by the Group Chief Executive Officer, Adel Al Ali. Upon arrival to Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport, the airline held a press conference at the CIP lounge, to mark the special occasion and discuss the carrier’s expansion plan. Commenting on the occasion, Adel Al Ali said: “We are glad to launch Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s first flight to Tashkent and we thank all our partners for their continuous support. This step reaffirms the airline’s commitment to provide travellers with the opportunity to explore numerous experiences across Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s network. We remain confident that the new service will serve both leisure and business travellers and will further contribute to the growth of the travel and tourism sector of both nations while providing our customers with value-for-money product and added convenience.” Air Arabia Abu Dhabi started its operations in July 2020, since then, the airline continues to expand its network and currently serving a total of 26 destinations from the capital Abu Dhabi including Tashkent, Alexandria, Cairo, Sohag, Dhaka, Khartoum, Chittagong, Kathmandu, Muscat, Salalah, Tbilisi, Faisalabad, Multan, Cochin, Calicut, Trivandrum, Istanbul Sabiha, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bahrain, Beirut, Kuwait, Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Kazan. The airline’s fleet has also grown from only two Airbus A320 aircraft, at launch, to eight new aircraft as of today. The aircraft’s cabin configuration provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with “SkyTime”, a free in-flight streaming service that will allow passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices. …