In keeping with its target to attract more visitors from the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Sri Lanka announced the launch of its newest carrier Air Ceilao. The airline is currently working with Sri Lanka’s civil aviation authority to secure the necessary regulatory approvals. They plan to operate a mixed fleet of narrow and wide-bodied aircraft to serve the initial routes and wish to expand to long haul routes across Europe and Australia. This will be the second privately owned international airline in Sri Lanka. They stated that their aim is to revolutionize air travel by blending full-service luxury with low-cost affordability. The carrier aims to target both discerning and budget-conscious travelers. Subsequently offering them a unique experience that combines luxury and value.

Dubai’s American Hospital promotes UAE’s medical tourism goals by opening three medical tourism offices in Nigeria endorsed by Dubai Health Authority as part of 30-office expansion in Africa and Eastern Europe. The initiative promotes UAE’s medical tourism goals, attracting patients from Nigeria, Africa, and Eastern Europe to avail of the hospital’s world-class medical services. American Hospital Dubai announced the opening of its three medical tourism representative offices in Nigeria in 2024 as part of an expansion plan of 30 offices across crucial African and Eastern European locations. The initiative supports the UAE’s efforts to be the global medical tourism hub. At the signing ceremony were present Mr Buti Al Mulla, Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group, Sherif Beshara, Group CEO of Mohamed & Obaid AlMulla Group and American Hospital Dubai, Dr Marwan AlMulla, CEO of Health Regulation Sector at Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Tonye Princewill, Chairman of RivExel and Tayyibat Mohammed, Nigerian Consul General. The new offices in Nigeria will facilitate patient access to American Hospital Dubai’s world-class medical services and innovative healthcare excellence in oncology, cardiac care, and orthopedic surgery. American Hospital Dubai’s consistent commitment to UAE’s medical tourism goals is exemplified in its dedicated, tailored and round-the-clock international patient services. The hospital’s International Patient Team plays a crucial role in this initiative. Its staff are fully trained to assist and advise patients and their families on consultations, schedule appointments with the right doctor, and coordinate patient referrals. The International Patient Team also provides visa assistance, air travel arrangements, and hotel accommodations with access to the hospital’s specialist doctors for comprehensive virtual consultations and addressing inquiries before patients arrive in the UAE. With …

900 unaccompanied minors are expected to fly onboard Emirates as currently operating one of the busiest time periods for its Unaccompanied Minors Service, as many children return to Dubai from summers spent abroad to start the new school year. In the coming week alone, Emirates will welcome more than 900 children, who are flying alone using the acclaimed family-friendly service. Over the past 5 years, more than 120,000 children have availed of Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors and Young Passenger services. The majority of children who have travelled alone in Emirates care are aged 11 years or younger. The families who currently use the service the most are British, then Indian, followed by American, Filipino and French. When children are flying without their family, Emirates is there every step of the way. For those aged between 5 and 11 years old, Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors Service ensures young people enjoy a supervised and safe trip from check‑in to destination, with plenty of fun and memorable moments along the way. What does Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minors Service include? A safe place to chill out and play – Emirates Unaccompanied Minors Lounge When parents and guardians bring their young flyer to Dubai International Airport (DXB), they can go straight to the Unaccompanied Minors Lounge near the check‑in area. Proof of identification must be provided to Emirates by the person dropping off the child and the guardian will need to sign a permission form. Children will be swiftly checked in and can then relax with video games, free Wi‑Fi, and comfortable sofas. In the dedicated and private space supervised by the Emirates team, kids can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks while they wait for their flight and use …

To cater to shifting demand and in line with global consumer trends, Oman Air has announced its new Business Studio. The new cabin, which will replace the airline’s First Class product, will retain its spacious cabin layout, classic lie-flat seats, and Wi-Fi connectivity, but with more affordable fares and a redefined service approach that is tailored to the needs of modern travellers. Featuring predominantly on its London and Bangkok services, the new higher-tier Business experience offers all the features of premium flying along with Oman Air’s award-winning service and hospitality, giving guests the room to work, connect and rest like never before, whether traveling for business or premium leisure. “Inspired by valuable guest feedback and to adapt and evolve in line with global market trends, we have strategically refined our premium offering to deliver greater value and appeal. The traditional First Class experience has seen diminished demand, and after careful analysis and benchmarking against industry standards, we decided to retire the product. This decision allows us to focus on delivering an exceptional Business Class experience that better meets modern traveller expectations and is more closely aligned with the demographics targeted by the national tourism objectives, such as such as wellness, adventure and MICE. Moreover, we’re offering it all at a more competitive price point,” said Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. Oman Air’s new Business Studio offers the best Business Class available anywhere in the region with one of the world’s most generous pitches at 82”, privacy walls for every seat, 23-inch personal screen, free Wi-Fi connectivity, and à la carte dining to stay nourished on-the-go. Guests will be able to book Business Studio from 9 September 2024 at …

Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Advisor Turki Alalshikh has announced the much-anticipated fight at the fifth edition of Riyadh Season 2024 opening ceremony. This time, the season is to kick off with sports events. Boxing fans from around the world are eagerly awaiting the major event titled “IV Crown Showdown,” which will take place in Riyadh on 12 October . This event will serve as the launching point for a season filled with activities and entertainment that will put Riyadh at the forefront of the global event scene. The IV Crown Showdown will be a special occasion for boxing fans. It will feature a clash between two light heavyweight titans: Russia’s Artur Beterbiev, known for his overwhelming power and a record filled with knockout victories, and his fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol, regarded as one of the most tactical and intelligent boxers in this weight class. This confrontation is not just a title fight; it is a battle to prove supremacy in the light heavyweight division at the global level. In addition to this main event, the audience will witness a series of thrilling matches featuring top international champions across various weight classes. US Shakur Stevenson will face Welshman Joe Cordina in the super featherweight category. In the middleweight division, British fighter Chris Eubank Jr., who has 18 knockouts, will challenge Polish boxer Kamil Szeremeta in what promises to be an exciting round. In the heavyweight category, the audience will enjoy a British showdown between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke, both aiming to prove their worth in the Riyadh ring. In the cruiserweight division, Australian Jai Opetaia, who previously won by knockout in the “Ring of Fire” clash last December, …

As part of its long-standing commitment to promote Khareef Dhofar and support national interests, Oman Air has implemented several strategic measures to boost connectivity to Salalah. Deploying maximum capacity with as many as 11 flights per day during peak times, the airline has also upgraded a number of flights to wide-body aircraft, leading to an addition of nearly 4,500 seats over the season. In July alone, Oman Air flew almost 50,000 guests into the city, with over 70% using fixed national fare tickets. “Salalah, especially during khareef season, is one of Oman’s most treasured touristic assets. As one of our key sectors, we are committed to supporting and promoting it as a destination in line with the national objectives. This khareef, we’ve deployed maximum capacity to meet demand and offer more frequencies than any other airline,” said Mike Rutter, Oman Air’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Furthermore, to support Omani citizens and ensure that travel between Muscat and Salalah remains both affordable and accessible, we are providing consistent and transparent pricing with our year-round fixed fares, enabling more people to reconnect with loved ones or explore the beauty of the country without the burden of fluctuating fares.” Priced at OMR 54 return during the khareef season and OMR 64 for the rest of the year, the fixed national fare is offered exclusively through the airline’s website and mobile app. While there is no limit on the allocation of Omani national fares, seats are selling fast and guests are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment. The airline also offers affordable fares for non-Omanis.

Etihad Airways proudly welcomed the UAE Paralympics team on board this week as they embark on their ambitious journey. The UAE’s national airline showed its support for the team of 22 athletes, coaches, medical staff and personnel with a celebratory send off at Zayed International Airport on Wednesday. The airline will also display a giant billboard across its Abu Dhabi headquarters building, featuring the slogan ‘Unstoppable passion. Unforgettable journey’ in a show of support for the competing athletes’ mission. In a video posted on Etihad’s social media channels, the team received a warm welcome at the airport by Etihad staff and a team of volunteers, before enjoying the delights of the Etihad Lounge ahead of their flight. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We are hugely proud of the UAE athletes, and we extend our heartfelt best wishes ahead of their forthcoming competitions. “At Etihad it is our purpose to give flight to ambition, and there is no better way we can showcase this than by flying this team of ambitious and talented athletes.” Known for its award-winning service and hospitality, Etihad welcomes and caters for the needs of people of determination from booking to arrival at their destination. Etihad’s highly trained cabin crew are happy to assist travellers with any additional needs during their flight. This includes supporting guests with visual impairment to move around the aircraft, make menu selections and enjoy their dining experience. The cabin crew will also update guests with a hearing impairment of announcements made during the flight, while they may also enjoy the extensive entertainment on E-Box with subtitles in multiple languages. With Etihad, guests can bring their own wheelchair or mobility …

Travelport announced that agency customers can now access content from Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), Hong Kong’s newest carrier, through the Travelport+ platform. This new collaboration will support GBA’s aggressive expansion plans as Travelport+ connects the Hong Kong-based carrier to Travelport’s global network of travel retailers. With this multi-year agreement, Travelport is providing agents the ability to easily search, compare and book GBA’s fares and ancillary services. The agreement also includes GBA’s use of Travelport’s rich content and branding merchandizing solutions for ease of use and driving incremental sales. “We have partnered with Travelport to support our growth strategy and connect with more travel retailers, so that we can make it easy for agents and travelers to shop and book with GBA,” said Stephen Loh, Chief Operating Officer at Greater Bay Airlines. “We are impressed with Travelport’s vision to enhance traveler experiences by modernizing the retailing process and making it easier for agencies to consume our dynamic content and sell our product offerings and ancillaries.” “We’ve enhanced the multi-source content that our agency customers can search, sell and service in Travelport+ with this new partner agreement that will also support GBA in reaching more travel retailers and customers as GBA expands into additional markets,” said Damian Hickey, Global Head of Travel Partners at Travelport. “Our ability to make it easy for agencies to access and compare multi-source content from brands like GBA alongside other carriers is essential to modern travel retailing, so that travelers know they are presented with the best options and book with confidence.” GBA operates in seven destinations across the Asia-Pacific region, including Chinese Mainland, North and Southeast Asia.

Sabre Corporation has initiated a hiring plan in response to new customer wins and increased demand in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. This expansion focuses on strengthening Sales, Strategy, and Customer Support departments to enhance service delivery and support for Sabre’s strategic initiatives. Sabre is focused on its strategic initiatives and efforts to leverage next-generation technology across the travel ecosystem. To support these actions, Sabre is expanding its team in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Portugal, among other countries in the region. Richard Addey, Senior Regional Director for Western Europe and Africa, said “We have a growing customer base in France, and our expansion efforts will help ensure we continue to meet and exceed their expectations. By strengthening our team, we are reinforcing our commitment to delivering top-tier service and innovative solutions to our valued customers in the region.” Andreas Syrigos, Senior Regional Director for Southern Europe & Nordics, commented: “Countries like Spain and Portugal are rapidly expanding for Sabre, while others, such as Italy, show consistent progress. Our teams are being reinforced with positions covering Technology Consultancy, Product Support, and Sales & Account Management.” “With our commitment and new expansion plans, this is an exciting time for Sabre, particularly in the Middle East,” stated Ramzi Al-Qassab, Managing Director of Sabre Middle East. “We are expanding our highly specialized, customer-focused teams, advancing innovative technology, and providing impactful travel solutions in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman.” “These expansion plans support our ongoing focus on our strategic initiatives,” said Sean McDonald, Managing Director and Vice President of Sabre in EMEA. “The recent launch of various Sabre solutions marks a new era for the industry, …

Riyadh Air selects Saudi Ground Services Company through competitive bidding process in line with the airline’s preparations to commence operations by 2025. SGS will handle ramp and passenger terminal services for Riyadh Air’s domestic and international flights at King Khalid International Airport. Saudi Arabia’s new digitally native airline Riyadh Air, a PIF company, has appointed Saudi Ground Services Company (SGS), to provide ground-handling services and handle its passengers and ramp operations at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in the capital city. The Riyadh Air contract includes ramp and passenger terminal services for all its domestic and international flights at King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in the city of Riyadh. The SGS contract will commence on the 1st of September 2024 and operate for 4.5 years (55 months), with an option to extend it for another two years. The full tender value, including the extension period, will be around SAR 1.5 billion (USD 400 million). The signing ceremony for the contract took place on 14 August 2024 at Riyadh Air office and was attended by Peter Bellew, COO of Riyadh Air, and Mohammed Mazi, acting CEO of Saudi Ground Services, along with key executives of the two entities. Peter Bellew, COO of Riyadh Air, said: Every day, we are entering into agreements which will keep us on course to becoming operational by 2025. The ground handling services are an important part of delivering our world-class premium services, which we know will set new benchmarks in the global aviation industry. We were impressed with SGS Company and are confident this will deliver what Riyadh Air needs at the KKIA. Commenting on the partnership, Raed H. Al-ldrissi, CEO of the Saudi Ground Services Company, said: I extend my …