Category Archives: Aviation

flydubai has taken delivery of seven new aircraft so far in 2025, with a further five Boeing 737 MAX 8s scheduled to join its fleet before the end of the year. These additions form an integral part of the airline’s strategic growth plans, enabling the continued expansion of its network, enhancing operational efficiency and increasing capacity on existing routes. The seven new aircraft, received between April and August 2025, have seen the flydubai fleet grow to 93 aircraft. Once all 12 aircraft have been delivered this year, flydubai’s fleet will stand at more than 95 aircraft, supporting the carrier’s growing network of more than 135 destinations in 57 countries. This expansion continues to open up underserved markets, creating more travel opportunities and further strengthening Dubai’s position as a leading global aviation hub. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “The arrival of these new aircraft is a testament to our long-term strategic vision and our confidence in the future of air travel. Our fleet investment supports our mission to offer greater choice, enhanced convenience and improved connectivity for our passengers. These deliveries are part of a backlog extensively delayed in recent years, and despite receiving 12 aircraft this year, we remain 20 aircraft behind our original projections.” “The continued interest from our financing partners highlights the strength of our business model and our commitment to contributing to the UAE’s leadership in global aviation. Looking ahead, these aircraft will enable us to unlock new destinations, optimise our operations and play an even greater role in supporting Dubai’s growth as an international aviation hub,” added Al Ghaith. The favourable response to the airline’s financing Request for Proposals (RFPs) and its ability …

In July 2025, Etihad carried 2.0 million passengers, a 19 per cent increase compared to July 2024, when the airline flew 1.7 million guests. The passenger load factor rose to 90 per cent, up from 89 per cent in the same month last year, reflecting strong demand and efficient capacity management. Etihad’s operating fleet now stands at 111 aircraft, supporting a growing network of 81 passenger destinations, up from 76 a year earlier. These figures underscore the airline’s ongoing investment in fleet and route development. Etihad welcomed 12.2 million passengers year-to-date, a 17 per cent increase over the same period in 2024. The average passenger load factor for 2025 so far is 88 per cent, compared to 86 per cent in the previous year. The airline’s rolling 12-month total has reached 20.3 million passengers, further solidifying its position among the region’s fastest-growing carriers. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We continue to see strong momentum in our performance, with passenger numbers in July growing by 19 per cent year-on-year. “Our rolling 12-month total has surpassed 20 million for the first time in our history reflecting the trust our customers place in our service and the strength of our network. “Our fleet expansion continues with the notable arrival of our first A321LR. July was a record month, with five new aircraft joining Etihad, including two Boeing 787s, an Airbus A350-1000, an A320, alongside the inaugural A321LR. These additions reflect our commitment to growth and boosting capacity across our global network.”

AirAsia X (AAX) announced a long-awaited route to Istanbul, Türkiye, a city where East meets West. Travellers from Singapore can now access the heart of Türkiye with smooth connectivity via Kuala Lumpur. The new service between Kuala Lumpur and Istanbul will commence on 14 November 2025 with four weekly flights, strengthening AAX’s global footprint and offering more affordable travel options to one of the world’s most iconic destinations. This strategic launch marks AAX’s long-anticipated entry into Europe, opening a vital gateway linking Southeast Asia to Europe via one of the world’s most historically rich and geographically unique destinations. Straddling two continents across the Bosphorus Strait, Istanbul offers travellers the rare opportunity to experience the best of both worlds. The airline will operate from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), a major hub with connections to over 117 international and 40 domestic destinations. This provides guests from Southeast Asia even greater onward travel options, while giving travellers from Istanbul and beyond seamless access to AirAsia’s network of 130 destinations at unbeatable value. Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X said: “Istanbul has always been a dream destination for many of our guests, and its launch marks another proud moment in our journey to rebuild stronger than ever. Hot on the heels of our recent expansion into Central Asia, this long-awaited route takes us one step closer to delivering longer connectivity across continents. As the only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul perfectly captures our vision to bridge Asia and beyond through affordable, medium-haul travel. This is a strategic decision that strengthens our network, creates more pathways for business collaboration, and enhances access to new experiences for travellers around the world. With …

Oman Air and Turkish Airlines announced a strategic Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) Partnership to enhance the travel experience for their loyalty members from across the globe. With this partnership, members of each programme will access expanded mileage accrual opportunities across a broader global network. As of 1 August 2025, Turkish Airlines connects members of Miles&Smiles, its 21+ Million member-strong loyalty programme, to Muscat, Salalah and Khasab in Oman, and across the Oman Air network. In addition, members of Oman Air’s loyalty programme, Sindbad, will gain access to Turkish Airlines’ vast global network, with new earning opportunities across Türkiye, Europe, Middle East, Southeast Asia and, the Americas. “This latest loyalty agreement, part of our ongoing partnership, is a meaningful step in expanding the value of our Sindbad programme and strengthening Oman Air’s international reach,” adds Mike Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer at Oman Air. “We look forward to offering our guests even more rewarding travel experiences around the world.” “Miles&Smiles becomes even more accessible with this agreement,” says Ahmet Olmuştur, Chief Commercial Officer at Turkish Airlines. “This partnership opens doors for our leisure and business travelers, simplifying their global journeys and making each trip a remarkable story.” This latest partnership demonstrates the airlines’ shared commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences for their respective guests. In addition to enhancing its loyalty offerings, Oman Air continues to grow its global footprint, with new destinations like Rome and Amsterdam and increased frequencies on key routes like London and Moscow, while continuing to strengthen codeshare partnerships with leading international carriers.

Qatar Airways and Accenture are joining forces to revolutionise the aviation industry through artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. This strategic partnership aims to elevate customer experience, optimise operational efficiency and enhance overall airline group performance. As part of this partnership, Qatar Airways and Accenture has established ‘AI Skyways’ to further position the multi award-winning airline as a leader in aviation AI and advance technology in the region and beyond. AI Skyways will lay the foundation to deliver value-led AI initiatives across the Qatar Airways Group through its responsible AI practices, data and platform offerings, and value realisation office that will quantify and maximise the value of AI initiatives. These will accelerate the implementation of AI solutions across a variety of aviation use cases including optimising flight schedules, enhancing predictive maintenance, and personalising customer interactions, allowing Qatar Airways to focus on delivering exceptional travel experiences. In addition, this will allow Qatar Airways to explore future trends and applications of AI in the aviation industry, to ensure sustained growth and adaptation, thereby strengthening its resilience to changing market demands. Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “This partnership with Accenture to establish AI Skyways represents a significant milestone in our journey to become leaders in AI-driven aviation. AI Skyways will leverage AI to reimagine a spectrum of operations across Qatar Airways Group – from customer service to operations, to ensure that passengers enjoy a seamless and enriching travel experience. Furthermore, the partnership will focus on using AI for real-time data analysis to improve decision-making capabilities and operational responses.” This initiative plays a pivotal role in enabling Qatar Airways’ continuous journey to become a Digital-First organisation, leveraging AI and other …

From 26 October 2025, Lufthansa will once again be flying non-stop from Munich to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The flight will depart three times a week at 9.45 p.m. LH640 is scheduled to land in Riyadh at 4.50 a.m. local time the following day. The return flight to Germany is scheduled to depart at 6:25 a.m. and arrive in Munich at 10:25 a.m. This gives passengers ideal connections to the global Lufthansa network via the Munich hub. The aircraft used will be one of the world’s most modern long-haul aircraft, the Airbus A350-900, with 293 seats in three classes. This year, Lufthansa is celebrating the 65th anniversary of its first flight to Saudi Arabia. Together with Eurowings and ITA Airways, it will be flying to Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah. These three Lufthansa Group airlines will offer their passengers a total of 22 weekly departures to Saudi Arabia in future. In total, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group fly to the region more than 120 times a week. Riyadh is the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a population of just under eight million. The city is growing steadily and is home to numerous universities, museums and monuments. The metropolis is centrally located in the interior of the country, surrounded by desert, and has been the capital of Saudi Arabia since the country’s independence in 1932. Historically, it is a very important stopover on the pilgrimage routes to Mecca and Medina, the most important pilgrimage sites in Islam. In the future, Riyadh will host major events, such as the annual ‘Riyadh Season’ in winter, Saudi Arabia’s largest festival. The World Expo will take place in Riyadh in 2030, …

With the state-of-the-art main terminal set to be fully operational by the end of this year, and with more flights moving forward, Red Sea International Airport (RSI) is gearing up for seamless connections to this one-of-a-kind destination set to serve one million guests annually by 2030. Red Sea Global (RSG) announced that Red Sea International Airport (RSI) – operated by daa International – is receiving both domestic and international flights, marking an exciting step forward in its phased operation. Domestic flights have transitioned to the airport’s Main Terminal Building, at Terminals 3 and 4, offering travellers a smooth and elevated experience. Meanwhile, international arrivals and seaplanes continue to operate through the dedicated Air Taxi Terminal, ensuring seamless connectivity for visitors from around the globe. Every flight into RSI brings visitors closer to the natural beauty and unique experiences of The Red Sea. Whether arriving for a relaxing getaway, an adventurous escape, or a business trip, guests can expect a travel experience that reflects the destination’s commitment to innovation and hospitality. With more connections and services on the horizon, the airport is set to become a key gateway to one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. Located 90 km south of Al Wajh in the west of Saudi Arabia, RSI is within three hours flying time for 250 million people and within eight hours for 85% of the global population. More than a transit point, RSI is moving in line with the vision of The Red Sea destination to deliver a world-class passenger experience shaped by innovation, hospitality, and a deep respect for the natural surroundings. Its design is inspired by the natural elements of desert, oasis and sea for a …

According to Cirium, flynas achieved the leading position in CO2 efficiency in the Arab world. The leading LCC joined the list of the top 15 performers globally, with its CO2 emissions reaching 61.5 grams per ASK (Available Seat kilometers) on its flights in 2024, representing a 1.6 percent decrease compared to 2023 levels, according to the report. The report indicated that flynas’ total CO2 emissions amounted to 1.5 million tons in 2024, the lowest total among the top 15 companies on the global list. flynas achieved a reduction in emissions despite a 25.2% increase in flights during the year, the second-largest increase in the number of flights among the top 15 performers on the global list, according to the report. flynas ranked first among Arab airlines in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in 2024, according to the annual “Cirium Flight Emissions Review”, the trusted benchmark for flight emissions calculations for the global aviation sector. The report, issued by Cirium, the world’s most trusted source of aviation analytics, ranked flynas 14th on the global list of the top 100 airlines in reducing emissions worldwide, highlighting the effectiveness of flynas’ sustainability policies. The common factors among the efficiency-leading airlines are investing in fleet renewal, maximizing seat density where market allows, and optimizing operations, according to the report. Last month, flynas took delivery of the 5th new A320neo aircraft since the beginning of the year, raising the share of this next-generation model to 58 planes in flynas’ all-Airbus fleet, which currently consists of 64 aircraft. Last July, flynas signed an agreement with Airbus to purchase 160 new aircraft, including 30 A330neo wide-body aircraft and 130 single-aisle aircraft, bringing the volume of its aircraft orders …

Using any kind of power bank is prohibited onboard Emirates’ flights, effective from the 1 October 2025. A power bank is a portable, rechargeable device primarily designed to provide power to other electronic devices such smart phones, tablets, laptops and cameras. Emirates customers are still permitted to carry one power bank onboard with specific conditions listed below, but the power banks may not be used while in the aircraft cabin – neither to charge devices from the power bank, nor to be charged themselves using the aircrafts’ power source. Emirates’ new regulations include: • Emirates customers may carry one power bank that is under 100 Watt Hours. • Power banks may not be used to charge any personal devices onboard. • Charging a power bank using the aircraft’s power supply is not permitted. • All power banks accepted for transport must have capacity rating information available. • Power banks may not be placed in the overhead stowage bin onboard the aircraft and must now be placed in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you. • Power banks are not permitted in checked luggage (existing rule). Why is Emirates making this change? After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard. There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry. Power banks primarily utilize lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries, and their function is as a portable battery pack designed to recharge devices on the go. The batteries contain lithium ions …

Riyadh Air has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus, a global technology provider for the travel industry. The strategic partnership will enable Riyadh Air access to one of the largest global networks of travel sellers, supporting the airline’s ambitious growth plans and playing a key role in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s broader transformation agenda under Vision 2030. By joining the Amadeus Travel Platform, Riyadh Air will connect to travel agencies and sellers in more than 190 countries, ensuring that its offers are accessible to travelers worldwide. This will be instrumental in attracting inbound tourism, promoting Saudi Arabia as a compelling global destination, and helping position the Kingdom as a leading aviation and tourism hub. Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer at Riyadh Air, commented, “Our mission is to create a truly world-class airline that reflects the ambition of Saudi Arabia. Partnering with Amadeus gives us the global reach, distribution power, and retailing capabilities needed to support our goal of flying to over 100 destinations by 2030. This partnership is not only about enabling seamless travel experiences, but also about contributing to the broader national vision of economic diversification, tourism growth, and enhanced global connectivity”. As part of the agreement, Amadeus will also distribute Riyadh Air’s future NDC (New Distribution Capability) content, allowing the airline to deliver more dynamic, personalized offers to travelers and to take greater control of its indirect sales strategy. These advanced capabilities will further optimize Riyadh Air’s ability to deliver modern, flexible, and customer-centric retailing. Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus, said “The launch of Riyadh Air represents a major milestone for the Kingdom’s aviation industry, and we are proud …