Emirates will increase the frequency of its services to/from London Gatwick airport with the addition of a third daily flight, effective 27 July until 3 August 2022. This third daily flight will help serve high demand from customers travelling to and from London this summer. It will also provide additional seats to accommodate Emirates passengers affected by capacity adjustments on flights from London Heathrow, which will be made to help ease operational pressures at the airport. Emirates’ customers impacted by capacity adjustments at London Heathrow will be contacted directly by the airline or their travel agent. The airline is working closely with its travel partners to re-accommodate any impacted bookings and ensure smooth onward flight connections for customers to reach their planned destination. The additional daily flight to London Gatwick will be operated by a wide-body Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft offering seats in First, Business and Economy class. Flight EK011 and EK012 will operate to and out of London Gatwick in the morning. Emirates is grateful for the support of London Gatwick Airport, along other partners on the ground who have been working closely with the airline to secure sufficient ground handling resources to deal with the additional demand, and provide passengers with a smooth and reliable journey. Emirates will continue to operate its six daily flights to/from London Heathrow during this period, and its planned re-start of daily services to London Stansted will commence on 1 August.

Wego has tied up with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to invite MNEA travelers to enjoy the best of the country in the new norm. To revive tourism in Thailand, the country launched the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022’ campaign. The campaign under the theme “Amazing New Chapters” which the key messages will highlight the abundance of tourism products and services in Thailand that will fulfil all your travel desires, because from A to Z, Thailand has it all. The country ranks among the top 10 destinations for GCC travelers. It will be promoted across all Wego marketing channels to drive more visitors to the country and spread awareness on the new things to do and explore in the country post COVID-19. Chaiwat Tamtai Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for Dubai and the Middle East commented: “One of the key travel trends for 2022 is workcation. As a result of this trend, Wego saw a spike in the number of searches on holiday homes 136%, hotel apartments 92% and apartments by 69% in Q1 2022 in comparison to the same period last year. And to make the country travel-friendly for workcations & remote jobs, Thailand is planning to launch a long-term resident visa for retirees, working professionals, specialists, and wealthy foreigners.” The top destinations searching for Thailand from Jan to June 2022, are Saudi which saw 56 % compared to the same period in 2021, followed by Kuwait with 15% increase, UAE with 12%, and Bahrain with 7%. 48% of people searching for holidays in Thailand are solos, followed by 27% couples, and 24% families.   Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Commercial Officer and Managing Director, Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and …

Oman Air launched its Future Leaders Commercial Graduate Programme exclusively for Omani graduates. The intensive 2-year programme is currently accepting applications from university graduates of 2020, 2021, or 2022 and will offer up to 12 selected candidates the opportunity to gain internationally recognised qualifications while being exposed to all commercial functions at Oman Air. Future Leaders, which officially begins in October 2022, is designed for the most talented Omani graduates, and expands on Oman Air’s excellence-focused culture. With job rotations that will expose students to six core commercial departments—Strategy & Planning, Revenue Management, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, and Service Delivery—graduates will receive practical experience from inside the airline’s diverse commercial department. The programme will help students reach their potential as commercial managers and provide them with the skill sets needed to enter the airline sector. Oman Air CEO Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi remarked, “We are committed to attracting, guiding and mentoring university students for a successful career in aviation, which is why we are strengthening Oman Air’s commercial department with Omani graduates. There’s no better place for them to learn the ins and outs of the airline business and develop potential for commercial management than at our headquarters in Muscat. Through Future Leaders, we aim to train the best minds to become the best leaders with hands-on learning and responsibility in a fast-paced, real-world airline setting.” Students in the programme will receive formal induction and training for two weeks before starting their employment with Oman Air. They will receive soft and hard skills training from senior commercial leadership during their first week of onboarding. Additionally, they will be given an overview of each commercial department and how they all come …

The Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC) for the handling and processing of all waste within the Authority’s jurisdiction. The agreement also covers future cooperation between DGDA and SIRC on research, investment opportunities, deployment of solutions, operations, and management. The MoU was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of DGDA, Jerry Inzerillo, and his SIRC counterpart Eng. Ziyad bin Mohammed Al-Shiha. Under the scope of the MoU, DGDA, and SIRC will collaborate on citywide waste management solutions that adhere to world-class Practices for handling, recycling, and disposing of all kinds of waste. This will be done using cutting-edge, efficient technologies, cooperating on technical and investigative studies, and knowledge and skill-sharing workshops. Inzerillo stated that the partnership with SIRC reflects DGDA’s commitment to achieving environmental sustainability, maximizing returns on investment in waste management, and taking all the necessary measures to ensure the quality-of-life standards set in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 meet the satisfaction of Diriyah’s community. He highlighted that this was especially important given the city’s importance as the cradle of the First Saudi State and the Arab Capital of Culture for 2030. Eng. Shiha expressed his pleasure with the signing of the MoU, which sets a framework for collaboration and sharing administrative functions, investment opportunities, and technical expertise between both parties, saying that the agreement would help explore ways to diversify sources of revenue in the recycling sector.

Abu Dhabi holiday home operators are being reminded to register their properties in the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s (DCT Abu Dhabi) online system ahead of the final deadline of 1st August, to comply with regulations established to safely manage holiday homes in the local community. Individuals interested in renting out a holiday home should follow a simple online application procedure, which includes providing several documents, including a Licence application form, a photocopy of the passport or Emirates ID of the owner, the unit’s certificate of insurance, the unit’s deed, and any additional documentation requested by DCT Abu Dhabi. Hamad Mohammed Saeed Alsudain, Licensing & Regulatory Compliance Director at DCT Abu Dhabi said: “In line with international best practices, we are reminding  holiday home operators that the deadline to obtain their licence and lawfully take part in the temporary home letting business is 1st August. Our aim is for residents and visitors alike to feel comfortable and safe at holiday homes across the emirate, making Abu Dhabi an even more attractive destination for business and leisure travellers. We thank all operators and members of the community for their cooperation and understanding.” The requirements for operating holiday home rentals in the emirate came into effect last year following a decision by the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The regulations ensure that private accommodation operators maintain a standard of excellence whilst providing a wide variety of safe and secure options. The system also serves to support the increased demand for alternatives to established hotels and hotel apartments. With this, DCT Abu Dhabi is safeguarding high-quality holiday homes by supporting residential communities. Existing holiday homeowners in the …

Almosafer has experienced its best month ever for consumer travel bookings in Saudi Arabia in June 2022, with volumes exceeding pre-pandemic levels in June 2019 by 28%. The growth in bookings reveals a strong appetite for consumer travel as pent-up demand is unleashed with the removal of pandemic restrictions across the world. Data collated from across Almosafer’s omnichannel booking platforms has revealed the booking behaviours of Saudi travellers for this summer period. Saudi travellers continue to enjoy luxury experiences, opting to book stays at luxury accommodations with five-star hotels accounting for almost 50% of hotel bookings this summer. As people return to travel, they are spending more money for meaningful experiences as average order values for bookings has increased by 66% for hotels and 19% for flights, compared to the summer travel season in 2019. Travellers are also displaying resilient confidence in the travel industry as they continue to book their holidays in advance, with an average booking window of 36 days in summer 2022. With travel restrictions being eased, or removed entirely, across the world, there are now much less sudden changes to international travel rules which could jeopardise travel plans leading to growing consumer confidence. Spending on domestic travel in Saudi Arabia has also increased by 7% as Saudis continue to explore the many attractions in the Kingdom. Abha, the culturally rich capital of the Aseer region, is becoming an increasingly popular destination this summer with bookings up by 125% compared to summer 2019. For international travel, Dubai, London, Cairo, Paris and Sharm El Sheikh ranked as the most popular destinations for Saudi travellers. Bookings for London this summer have increased by 133% compared to summer 2019, driven …

At a recent interview with Tracy Lanza Group Head of Global Brand Development at The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) shared, “The Red Sea International Airport (RSI) will be operational in 2023, providing a luxury transportation experience where sustainability is considered in every detail. The eco-friendly airport design focuses on using shaded areas and natural ventilation to minimize the reliance on air conditioning. The entire infrastructure of the destination, including the airport and wider transport network, will be powered by 100% renewable energy. This includes our boats and seaplanes.” The Red Sea Project is a luxury regenerative tourism destination situated on Saudi Arabia’s west coast. It spans over 28,000km2 of pristine lands and waters and includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 pristine islands. The project is being developed by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. It is located 500km north of Jeddah, between the Saudi towns of Al Wajh and Umluj. At the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 250 million people will be within three hours flying time, and an estimated eight hours flying time for 80% of the world’s population.

Etihad Airways has become the country’s first airline to join the In-Country Value (ICV) Program. The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) is expanding the program’s scope to include new sectors like aviation as part of the national industrial strategy to sustain economic growth and raise the efficiency and competitiveness of the industrial sector. The In-Country Value Program, part of the UAE’s Projects of the 50, is a pillar of the national industrial strategy and benefits certified companies by increasing local demand for their products and services. By joining the ICV program, Etihad Airways will prioritize local suppliers and UAE companies in the procurement process. It will also encourage global suppliers to establish branches in the UAE, attracting more foreign investments to the country. The signing ceremony was witnessed by His Excellency Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, His Excellency Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, and His Excellency Mohammed Ali Al Shurafa, Chairman of Board of Directors of Etihad Aviation Group. The MoU was inked on behalf of MoIAT by His Excellency Omar Suwaina Al Suwaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry and for Etihad Airways, Tony Douglas, Group CEO of Etihad Aviation Group. Etihad Airways joins 18 other leading national institutions and 45 federal entities that have joined the ICV program since it launched on a federal level late last year. The program redirected more than AED 41 billion in 2021 from implementing entities purchases and services expenses, compared to AED 27 billion two years ago. His Excellency Omar Al Suwaidi said: “The In-Country Value Program is one of the pillars of the national strategy for advanced industry …

Among key hotel markets in the Middle East, Dubai’s gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) came in seven times higher than the 2019 comparable, according to STR’s May 2022 P&L data release. Helped by strong international arrival numbers, as well as an earlier Ramadan, Dubai’s May GOPPAR reached US$115.37. That level was 776% of the pre-pandemic comparable. Just a month earlier during Ramadan, the market was at 79% of 2019 GOPPAR. Also reporting significant month-over-month improvement in the region, Qatar posted a May GOPPAR of US$60.87. That level was 466% of the pre-pandemic comparable after the market had fallen into negative territory using the same comparison in April. Saudi Arabia’s GOPPAR was just 39% of the 2019 comparable, down from 325% in March.

In an effort to encourage and facilitate domestic tourism, Oman Air announces new lower fares for Omani Nationals on travel between Muscat, Salalah and Khasab. The new fares are intended to encourage domestic travel and generate economic activity for local communities, both of which will contribute to strengthening the level of competitiveness across the country’s tourism ecosystem. Mr. Ahmed Ali Al Mahrouqi, Regional Vice President Sales – Oman & GCC, stated that the lower fares initiative reflects Oman Air’s commitment to local communities as the official carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, as well as its ongoing efforts to actively contribute to the revitalization of domestic tourism and economic activity. “Lower fares allow Omanis to discover (and rediscover) the geographical, historical, and natural richness that set the Sultanate of Oman apart from other places in the region as a distinct destination to be enjoyed year-round.” By planning and booking their travel in advance, Omanis can take advantage of the following special economy class fares available on omanair.com: Sector Price OMR Advance Purchase Minimum Stay Maximum Stay MCT-SLL- MCT or SLL – MCT-SLL 45.200 Up to 20 Days before departure date 7 Days Up to 1 Month 59.200 Up to 5 Days before departure date 7 Days   Up to 1 Month 64.200 2 Days MCT-SLL or SLL-MCT 32.900 Up to 5 Days before departure date 35.900 Up to 3 Days before departure date MCT –KHS -MCT or KHS – MCT-KHS 25.200 Up to 7 Days 35.200 Up to 1 Month MCT-KHS or KHS- MCT 17.900   Flights between Muscat and Salalah are operated by Oman Air’s wide-body fleet, including Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus 330 aircraft (in addition to Boeing …