Emirates will increase the frequency of flights between Dubai and Cairo, adding four additional flights a week to its existing thrice-daily service, starting 28 October, 2019. The four new flights operating on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, will take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Cairo to 25. The additional Dubai–Cairo flight EK 921 will leave Dubai at 12:00 hrs and will arrive in Cairo at 14:15 hrs. The return flight, EK922, will depart Cairo at 16:15 hrs and will arrive in Dubai at 21:35 hrs. The new flights will enhance connectivity to most cities in the Asia, the Americas and Australia including Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney, Shanghai, New Delhi, Mumbai, New York and Washington DC. “Cairo is a very popular destination for both business and leisure travellers, and the additional flights will provide our customers with greater flexibility in their travel choices, and allow seamless connectivity to Emirates’ vast global network,” said Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Africa, Emirates. Similar to the current service, the new flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER in a three-class configuration featuring 8 private suites, 42 Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats; adding 1,416 seats each way per week on the route. The flight increase will bring about an additional 160 tonnes of cargo capacity per week to and from Cairo on top of the more than 800 tonnes of cargo capacity already provided on Emirates’ flights. Premium customers, and Platinum and Gold Skywards members can additionally enjoy the dedicated Emirates lounge in Cairo airport which opened in 2018.

The board representatives of Department of Tourism (DOT), Philippines are set to host roadshows in Kuwait city and Riyadh. The roadshow in Kuwait will be held on March 24 at JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait while the one in Riyadh will be held on March 26, 2019 at Faisalaih Hotel. Leading agents from the cities are expected to participate at the event. The objective is to showcase new destinations for the Middle Eastern travellers.

Etihad Airways and Elenium, an automation technology solutions provider, will together demonstrate how a newly developed voice activated self-service kiosk, bag drop and boarding gate facility will revolutionise the travel experience by taking facial recognition technology to new heights. The demonstration will take place at Passenger Terminal EXPO (PTE) in London between March 26-28. Using cloud technology, artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and natural human interfacing, Etihad Airways and Elenium will demonstrate how they will change the way consumers travel by showcasing the airport experience of the future. Jorg Oppermann, VP HUB and Midfield Operations, Etihad Airways said, “With biometric installations increasing across airports globally, Etihad is recognising the growing demand to streamline not just the passenger verification process but also decrease passenger queues and increase operational efficiency. “As a leading global airline, Etihad’s unique collaboration with Elenium will allow us to use their advanced technologies and expertise to cultivate new ideas for the aviation industry and foster the vision of future travel.” A key area of cooperation involves the use of technologies from Elenium, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud computing subsidiary of Amazon and Etihad Airways. Together at PTE, the three entities will demonstrate a test concept for a seamless travel experience across the entire customer journey from booking to arrival at the final destination. Passengers check-in to their flight and register their biometric data on their mobile device before arriving at the airport, reducing queues at the airport. Using AI, new baggage-drop terminals scan and memorise each suitcase placed on the belt and assign it to the guest reservation, removing the need for tagged luggage. Using biometrics, passengers are identified and offered a personalised duty-free shopping experience …

Emirates will increase the frequency of flights between Dubai and Cairo, adding four additional flights a week to its existing thrice-daily service, starting from October 28, 2019. The four new flights operating on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday will take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Cairo to 25. The additional Dubai–Cairo flight EK 921 will leave Dubai at 12:00 hrs and arrive in Cairo at 14:15 hrs. The return flight, EK922, will depart Cairo at 16:15 hrs and will arrive in Dubai at 21:35 hrs. The new flights will enhance connectivity to most cities in the Asia, the Americas and Australia including Beijing, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, New York and Washington DC. “The additional flights will provide our customers with greater flexibility in their travel choices, and allow seamless connectivity to Emirates’ vast global network,” said Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President—Commercial Operations Africa, Emirates. Similar to the current service, the new flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER in a three-class configuration featuring eight private suites, 42 Business Class and 304 Economy Class seats; adding 1,416 seats each way per week on the route. For the calendar year 2018, Emirates SkyCargo transported over 35,750 tonnes of cargo including both exports of close to 19,750 tonnes and imports of 16,000 tonnes. Close to 90% of the commodities exported from Cairo are fruits and vegetables. The flight increase will bring about an additional 160 tonnes of cargo capacity per week to and from Cairo on top of the more than 800 tonnes of cargo capacity already provided on Emirates’ flights.

HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amiri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), said the authority’s participation in the 39th edition of Paris International Book Fair, is part of its mission to build bridges between civilizations, and introduce the French and European cultural institutions to Sharjah’s cultural landscape. He went on to add,  “The emirate’s cultural journey stems from the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who spares no effort to connect with various cultures, and introduce the rich Arabic and Islamic culture all around the world.” On the sidelines of the Paris Book Fair, SBA held several meetings at the Sharjah Pavilion and highlighted to French and European publishers and intellectuals, the strides that Sharjah has made  in its cultural journey. At the Sharjah pavilion, SBA showcased its first flagship initiative, Sharjah Publishing City (SPC), the world’s first publishing and printing free zone, highlighting the premium services and commercial advantages it offers to publishers, authors and other literary professionals from around the world. Established in December 2014, SBA is dedicated to encouraging investment in creative industries and offering a platform for knowledge and intellectual exchange between people from different civilisations and cultures. SBA aims to highlight the significant role of writers and their influence in promoting community awareness, especially after the advent of different technologies and multiple knowledge sources.

Japan Airlines and Travelport have agreed to form a joint venture to take ownership of Travelport Japan K K (Travelport Japan) and JAL’s 100 per cent owned subsidiary, Axess International Network. Under the unified Travelport Axess brand, the joint venture will operate a Global Distribution System (GDS) tailored to the needs of the Japanese travel industry. The proposed joint venture, which will operate under the brand name Travelport Axess, will combine Axess’ expertise in Japan and Travelport’s global technology leadership. Yoriyuki Kashiwagi, Executive Officer of International Passenger Sales, Japan Airlines, said, “We believe that the future of travel will be transformed by technological innovation. I am confident that Travelport Axess will be able to help Japanese travel agents to respond to growing global demands by offering services based on state-of-the-art technology.” Travelport Axess will continue to offer travel agents services through Axess’ GDS platform, and enable access to Travelport’s GDS platforms, Apollo and Galileo. The proposed joint venture will provide online, mobile and corporate travel propositions including global booking and expense management tools as well as access to New Distribution Capability (NDC) content, offering Japanese travel agencies and their customers the best of locally developed products with best-in-class global connectivity and capabilities. Gordon Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Travelport, commented, “This announcement and our ongoing partnership with Japan Airlines is a significant advance in the provision of state-of-the-art technology for the Japanese travel industry.”

Marriott International and Dur Hospitality have announced the opening of Marriott Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter and Marriott Executive Apartments – Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter. The complex is strategically located in the heart of one of the most sought-after areas in the city with easy access to key embassies and major corporate headquarters, just a 30-minute drive from King Khalid International Airport. “We are delighted to enhance our footprint in Saudi Arabia with the opening of two strategically important hotels that not only complement each other but also deliver very distinct brand experiences. Saudi Arabia continues to be one of our key markets and we are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with Dur Hospitality,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director—Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. The complex is the first five-star full service hotel in the Diplomatic Quarter and features 80 spacious modern rooms, and 140 fully equipped apartments. The deluxe rooms feature modern décor and ample work space, allowing guests to stay connected with in-room technology including high speed WiFi and bedside USB outlets. Guests staying in one of the six Premium Suites or the Presidential Suite can enrich their experience in the M Club Lounge offering an international buffet, hors d’oeuvre and local specialties 24 hours a day.  

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, recently led the opening ceremony of Qasr Al Watan — the nation’s newest cultural landmark housed within the Presidential Palace compound in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid stressed that the United Arab Emirates’ cultural legacy is a precious asset that must be treasured by both present and future generations, and is driving the leadership’s aspirations for a nation built upon the values of tolerance and coexistence. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed reaffirmed the leadership’s dedication to preserving the nation’s cultural and intellectual legacy, underscoring its ability to empower and inspire future generations by instilling a deep sense of national pride. His Highness emphasised the importance of continuing the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who sought to preserve the heritage of the UAE while encouraging cultural dialogue and openness. Their Highnesses toured Qasr Al Watan and its iconic wings, and were introduced to exhibits that reflect the country’s governing values and traditions, in addition to highlighting Arab contributions to various fields of knowledge. The tour concluded with the ‘Palace in Motion’ – a remarkable light and sound show projected onto the façade of the iconic building.  

Shaza Hotels has signed a management agreement with Sheikh Sultan Al Harthi to operate Mysk Jeddah, the Mysk brand’s first property in KSA. Located on Heraa Street, close to the Jeddah Corniche, the four-star hotel is expected to open in 2021. Included in its facilities are a restaurant, a café, meeting rooms, a kids’ club, fitness centre and rooftop pool. Sheikh Sultan Al Harthi stated, “To support the tourism initiatives for Saudi Vision 2030, we have decided to enter the tourism sector by developing an upscale hotel in a prime location in Jeddah Province. We have chosen Shaza Hotels to operate it under the Mysk by Shaza brand as we were keen on bringing a new and fresh brand to the Saudi market. This hotel will be one-of-a-kind in the Kingdom.” Simon Coombs, President and CEO, Shaza Hotels, commented, “The tourism landscape in KSA is changing rapidly due to various government initiatives being put in place to boost the number of arrivals into the country. New destinations are being created and a new generation of hotels is entering Saudi Arabia. Mysk Jeddah is one of them, catering to the evolving needs of the Saudi tourism sector where discerning guests are seeking a more personalised experience aligned with their lifestyle. We are very grateful to Sheikh Sultan Al Harthi for having entrusted us with the management of Mysk Jeddah and we are confident that this Mysk will become the new sought-after address in Jeddah.” Mysk Jeddah is the brand’s seventh property, the first being the award-winning Mysk by Shaza Al Mouj in Muscat, and the next hotels to open are three Mysk retreats that are part of the Sharjah Collection as announced …

As part of its drive to continuously enhance customer experience, Abu Dhabi Airports is extending city check-in facilities to Indian airline IndiGo. This new service is in line with the airline’s commitment to provide courteous and hassle-free travel experience to its customers. This new feature will enable passengers flying out of Abu Dhabi airport to check-in 24 hours before reaching the airport. Maarten De Groof, Chief Commercial Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports, said, “We are delighted to welcome IndiGo passengers to stop by our easily accessible and conveniently located remote check-in facilities. Ensuring a seamless and efficient customer is one of our top priorities at Abu Dhabi Airports, and we look forward to introducing travellers to our world-class services and unique brand of Arabian hospitality. India has always been one of our most important and largest areas of operations, and we are looking forward to continuing to work closely with IndiGo passengers to meet the market’s growing demand.” William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are delighted to introduce this new check-in feature for our passengers in Abu Dhabi which will both add convenience and ease to their travel experience with us. We thank the Abu Dhabi International Airport team for extending us all the support to make this feature live. IndiGo will continue to enhance its hassle-free experience which is one of the core values that the airline stands for besides providing on-time and affordable fares to customers.”