Riyadh Air  signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EGYPTAIR to offer guests of both airlines a wide range of exclusive benefits when traveling between Saudi Arabia, Egypt and other key destinations, at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 4, 2024, in Dubai. This strategic partnership further strengthens ties between the two nations and their respective markets, while unlocking new travel options for airline guests. Together, Riyadh Air and EGYPTAIR aim to develop a partnership that allows guests a greater choice when traveling between Riyadh and Cairo, while also offering connectivity to a range of other domestic and international destinations across the Middle East and Africa. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air: “The signing of this Strategic Cooperation MoU with EGYPTAIR is an exciting achievement for Riyadh Air and brings many positive benefits for our guests. As a close neighboring country to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt is a market where we anticipate significant traffic both to and from Riyadh and Cairo, so it’s critically important that we work closely together to further drive demand. “The partnership will offer our guests much more choice between Riyadh and Cairo plus a wider range of destinations. There will be benefits between both airline’s loyalty programs and numerous other advantages and rewards that we look forward to sharing with our guests.” Eng. Yehia Zakaria, EGYPTAIR Group Chairman: This cooperation marks a new chapter in EGYPTAIR’s partnership as we embark on a collaboration with Riyadh Air. This exciting development signifies our commitment to expand our network and offering our passengers unique travel experiences. I am confident that this partnership with Riyadh Air will not only …

At a special press briefing with Ahmet Bolat – Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee – Turkish Airlines, shared that 4.5million passengers travelled onboard Turkish Airlines from the Middle East to Turkiye last year. He reiterated that this year they hope to increase this number by working with the travel trade in a special programme that they are planning and to showcase some of the new attractions which are culturally and historically significant. Another important fact that he mentioned was that there were more bookings on business class seats which shows the rise of luxury travellers from this region.

Middle East government policy and its pivotal role in the growth of tourism and hospitality sectors globally fell under the spotlight on the second day of The Hotel Show, the undisputed flagship event for the Middle East’s hospitality industry. Speaking during the opening session of the Hospitality Leadership and F&B Forum, Nadeem Zaman, Group Chief Strategy Officer at Rua Al Madinah Holding in Saudi Arabia, explained his company, which is PIF-owned, has a mandate to build 47,000 keys over the next 10 years. The Kingdom as a whole expects to add around a quarter of a million keys by 2030, while the objective is for international tourism to triple from around 26 million to 75 million within that same period. Such goals are impossible without intricate collaboration between government and developers, be it in terms of legislation, policy, or even societal development in general. “It’s all about understanding how we can align interests to make this a win-win situation for everyone,” said Zaman, whose company is partnering with local universities and vocational training hubs to help Saudi citizens earn qualifications and enter the hospitality industry. “Hilton, who we’ve also signed with, have as of today 55 per cent of their workforce Saudi nationals and the first female GM of Hilton was put into Makkah. Imagine that, even five years ago, that was never something that anyone could even contemplate, so it’s about keeping an open mind.” Later in the afternoon, the subject of government policy was raised again during a session on sustainability in hospitality. Highlighting last year’s COP 28 summit and the UAE Government’s engagement, John Timson, Accor’s Vice President for Sustainability and Safety – Premium across the Middle East, …

Etihad Airways and China Eastern Airlines announced the signing of a Joint Venture (JV) to cement the strategic partnership between the two airlines. This historic milestone, signed at Etihad Airways’ headquarters in Abu Dhabi, marks the first commercial JV between a Middle Eastern airline and a Chinese airline. The Etihad Airways – China Eastern Airlines JV will allow the airlines to jointly develop and grow the routes between UAE and China, resulting in a stronger combined network. This JV signifies a commitment to offering expanded travel options and seamless travel experiences for passengers travelling between major Chinese cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, and Kunming, and key cities in the UAE and across the Middle East and Africa regions. Etihad and China Eastern Airlines will implement the joint venture cooperation in early 2025 when both teams secure all necessary regulatory clearances. Additionally, both airlines will introduce full reciprocity to their existing frequent flyer programmes in the final quarter of 2024, allowing passengers to seamlessly earn points and redeem rewards when flying with either airline. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, emphasized the significance of the partnership. He said: “This JV marks a significant milestone in our partnership with China Eastern. The JV will allow Etihad and China Eastern to offer travelers enhanced travel options and exceptional value. We are confident the JV will unlock a new era of travel opportunities, while also boosting the economic growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE.” His Excellency Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, lauded the agreement as a landmark achievement, stating: “This Joint Venture signifies a deep commitment to strengthening the bonds between the UAE and China, while fostering …

Continuing its expansion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Swiss-Belhotel International, announced the signing of an agreement for Swiss-Belresidences Rivan, an upscale new residential development, located in Cairo, Egypt. The agreement was formalised at the Swiss-Belhotel International’s regional headquarters in Dubai on May 14th and the official launch event took place in Cairo on 2nd June, 2024. This sealed the deal between the owning company Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae and Swiss-Belhotel International. Eng. Marzouk Mansour Abdelrazek Namnam, owner and CEO of Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae, said, “With our extensive experience in real estate and collaborations with major global companies and consultancy firms, we are unveiling a new vision to revolutionise real estate in Egypt. Our goal extends beyond creating residential, administrative, or commercial units; it is about crafting environments that enhance daily life through upscale and sustainable developments. Our collaboration with Swiss-Belhotel International for developing Swiss-Belresidences Rivan reflects our commitment to creating a new standard for high-end living in Cairo, while contributing positively to the city’s growth.” Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, said, “We are glad to partner with Al Tameer Al Arabia for Real Estate Development and Investment Sae to bring this project to life. The Swiss-Belresidences Rivan in Cairo embodies our commitment to providing high-quality accommodation options in prime destinations. Our growth in the MENA region continues to be a key focus of our global expansion strategy. With our winning partnership philosophy, we work hand in hand with owners and investors to achieve the desired business objectives that the Swiss-Belhotel International is known for globally.” Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior …

After nine consecutive years of Green Globe certification, the Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites and Apartments has enhanced its sustainable credentials by achieving gold certification of the internationally renowned Green Globe Certification (GGC) programme, which is specifically designed for the travel & tourism industry. During a recent independent audit and assessment carried out by Green Globe’s preferred partner in the Middle East, Dubai-headquartered sustainability consultancy Farnek, the property achieved a rating of 96%, having complied with or exceeded more than 380 rigorous sustainability indicators. Farnek’s dedicated team also supported hotel management with its Hotel Optimizer, a comprehensive and data-driven energy performance monitoring software tool. Through efficient measuring, tracking, monitoring, and benchmarking of energy and water consumption, as well as waste management, the hotel was able to calculate its carbon footprint during 2023. Highlights of the recertification included an annual energy performance savings of 4.3% through multiple retrofits, such as chiller optimisation, frequency controls for fresh air handling units, and LED light installation. The hotel also managed to save 2.6% on water consumption by fitting 300 tap aerators and diverting 21% of its waste from landfills through innovative reduction and recycling initiatives. The hotel also offset 100% (19 tonnes) of the carbon emissions generated from business travel made by its management team and saved 12% of the carbon emissions generated by individual guests. Levent Tasbas, General Manager at Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights, said, “We are proud of our sustainability achievements over the past nine years. This year, we have achieved gold certification, and next year, we are aiming for platinum certification. Putting that into perspective, currently, only two hotels in the UAE hold that status within the GGC programme, underscoring our drive and …

SITA is partnering the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) to create new offsite passenger processing solutions that would provide airline passengers with a fresh experience of checking themselves and their luggage in from almost any location – even before they arrive at the airport. By providing SUTD with access to its SITA Flex solution, SUTD researchers will now have the necessary technology to turn their current physical, digital, and experiential off-airport designs into workable prototypes. When fully integrated and completed, passenger processing procedures – passport scanning, luggage weighing, and printing of luggage tags and boarding passes – which are usually done at airports, will be available offsite using these prototypes. In fact, tourists could experience a reimagined processing procedure right at their hotel room door, with their luggage being sent to the airport in advance. This will eliminate the need for them to leave their luggage with the hotel concierge should their flight depart hours after checking out of the hotel. They can simply carry on with their activities and head straight to the airport just an hour, instead of the usual two hours, before their flight departs – luggage free. The SUTD-SITA off-airport processing project kicked off in March this year and will run for a year. As the hardware and service design requirements are ironed out and the solution takes shape, the off-airport concept will be tested for seamless integration and optimal performance with various SITA partners, including airlines, airports and ground handlers. Singapore-based Sumesh Patel, SITA’s President for the Asia Pacific region, is upbeat about the tie-up. “This exciting partnership underscores our proactive stance when it comes to developing pioneering innovative solutions to take the air …

Emirates has started its highly-anticipated services to the Colombian capital of Bogotá, expanding the airline’s South American network to four destinations and reaching 19 points across the Americas. The daily service, via Miami, is operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft, which will offer premium passenger services on its daily services to Bogotá. Emirates also became the first airline to offer First Class services on the popular route between Miami and Bogotá. The launch of services to Emirates’ latest destination was celebrated at gate A14 at El Dorado International Airport upon arrival of EK213 from Miami, which was welcomed by traditional Colombian dancers. A cake-cutting ceremony and symbolic gift exchange commemorated the occasion in the presence of a delegation of VIPs including His Excellency Luis Miguel Merlano Hoyos, Colombian Ambassador to the UAE; His Excellency Mohamed Alshamsi, UAE Ambassador to Colombia: Sergio Paris Mendoza, Director General of Aeronáutica Civil de Colombia; and Natali Leal, OPAIN General Manager. Emirates executives who were onboard the flight and led the ceremony upon arrival included Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President Passenger Sales and Country Management and Salem Obaidalla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations – Americas. Emirates’ senior executive delegation was also accompanied by international media, who flew from Dubai and Miami, and were joined at the airport event by Scott Lantz, Area Manager Mexico and Colombia as well as Colombian Vice Ministers, Ambassadors, and other distinguished guests. Following the welcome ceremony between the airline and airport officials, Emirates showcased its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration* to dignitaries, government representatives, media, guests and members of the travel trade industry. The aircraft features eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), Emirates, and Airbus have joined forces to deliver a Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBTA) program for the Airbus A350 type rating, as Emirates prepares for the delivery of its fleet of 65 A350s from mid-2024. An initial cohort of 256 pilots will be trained as part of the new course at Emirates’ Training college in Dubai starting from July 2024. The joint work combines the respective expertise of the three organizations. IATA will focus on program design using its published guidance for CBTA. Airbus will contribute knowledge of the aircraft along with its own CBTA experience. Emirates will use its CBTA training and operational experience. This collaboration will create and deliver the first A350 type rating training in full alignment with the latest International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards for CBTA training and with the best practices contained in the IATA CBTA Guide for Flight Crew Training. “Combining the expertise of Emirates, Airbus and IATA to design and deliver A350 type rating training is a unique opportunity. Our joint aim is to fully utilize the benefits of CBTA to qualify the pilots on the A350 in the most efficient and effective way possible. And by doing it together all three organizations will also gain valuable experience that can strengthen their other training activities,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s SVP for Operations, Safety and Security. “Emirates uses cutting-edge training programs so our pilots are among the most competent flight crew in the world. The tailored CBTA program for the A350 supports the integration of 65 new A350 aircraft, with 1,000 pilots set to complete the A350 Type Rating course. This commitment enhances passenger safety and comfort, …

Riyadh Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Eastern Airlines at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dubai. This strategic partnership strengthens the growing economic and cultural ties between China and Saudi Arabia while unlocking new travel options for underserved markets. China Eastern Airlines recently launched direct flights from Shanghai to Riyadh, demonstrating a shared commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering collaboration in areas like trade, tourism, and culture. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air: “This MoU marks a significant milestone for Riyadh Air as China is a hugely important market for our future network. By closely collaborating with China Eastern Airlines, a leading player in the Chinese market, we can unlock new travel opportunities and drive economic growth across both countries. We are particularly excited to explore synergies in digital innovation, where both airlines share a commitment to the future of travel. “Our collaboration extends beyond conventional connectivity, fostering collaboration on digital transformation, a critical area for Chinese airlines. Recognizing China Eastern’s ongoing digitalization efforts, Riyadh Air sees immense potential for knowledge sharing and technology development. Riyadh Air’s pioneering approach perfectly aligns with China Eastern’s focus on digital transformation, creating a powerful partnership for the future.” Wang Zhiqing, Chairman of China Eastern Airlines: “Benefiting from the forward development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Saudi Arabia, China Eastern Airlines has reached a strategic cooperation with Riyadh Air focused on the future. The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding outlines the broad direction for cooperation between the two companies in areas such as business and promotes exchanges in information technology and digital operations. We are full of anticipation for the outcomes …