Category Archives: Aviation

Continuing to evolve to meet the needs of today’s travellers, Oman Air has launched a new series of all-Economy Class aircraft. The new aircraft will primarily operate to the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa, complementing the airline’s existing network, while offering greater accessibility to travellers. Designed to offer more affordable travel options while maintaining the airline’s renowned comfort and service, Oman Air Connect will consist of five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the first of which arrived earlier this month. Alongside several recent service and product enhancements, Oman Air is also preparing to introduce upgraded in-flight entertainment, ensuring a more modern and engaging onboard experience. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer at Oman Air said, “The way people travel has evolved, with greater accessibility and choice; at the same time, passengers still want to enjoy a comfortable journey. With this all-Economy fleet, we are adapting to these changing needs, providing our guests with more flexibility and choice without compromising on quality.” Oman Air, which embarked on a three-year financial transformation in 2023, has implemented several initiatives to strengthen its position in the market and ensure long-term sustainability. The airline continues to serve over 40 destinations with a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft, offering three cabin classes and a diverse range of fare options. Through these efforts, the award-winning airline remains committed to delivering exceptional travel experiences tailored to the modern traveller.

Etihad Airways announce the launch of flights to Sochi, the gateway to the north-east coast of the Black Sea. The route debuts this summer, providing guests with nonstop access to the Krasnodar Krai region, home to stunning summer beaches and lush mountains, as well as winter skiing and snowboarding in the nearby Caucasus Mountains, made famous by the 2014 Winter Olympics. Etihad will fly three-times a week* between Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Sochi International Airport (AER), timed to optimise a leisure break in summer or winter. The Russian Riviera resort offers a mix of natural beauty and cultural history and will become a popular choice for guests seeking relaxation and adventure. This new route further underlines Etihad’s commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences and expanding access to exciting new markets. The flights are on sale now and will operate three-times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using one of the airline’s modern A320 family aircraft, with eight seats in Business and 150 in Economy, and all guests enjoying Etihad’s award-winning service onboard. The announcement is the latest new route unveiled by Etihad and is the fourteenth new destination the airline will add to its thriving network this year. Etihad will also commence flights to metropolises including Atlanta, Hanoi, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as to the European capitals of Prague and Warsaw. Expanding its network across north Africa, Etihad will begin flying to Algiers, Tunis and Al Alamein. Additionally, Etihad will bolster its network across Southeast Asia, with new connections directly to stunning holiday locations including Chiang Mai and Krabi in Thailand, Medan on the island of Sumatra and the cultural city of Phnom Penh. …

As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its network of routes around the world and meet the growing demand from customers, Kuwait Airways has announced the launch of its summer flight schedule for the 2025 season. The new schedule introduces a variety of varied destinations in the emerging markets, offering customers with new and diverse options. Kuwait Airways is focusing on destinations that witness high demand from valued customers from within the State of Kuwait, particularly during the summer season from June 2025 to September 2025. The company will launch several summer destinations, including to Moscow with four flights per week commencing from 6th June, Alexandria with three flights per week starting from 1st July, Luxor with three flights per week from 2nd July, Antalya with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Bodrum with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Trabzon with four flights per week starting from 1st June, Sharm El Sheikh with two flights per week starting from 4th June, Malaga with three flights per week starting from 5th June, Nice with two flights per week starting from 17th June, Salalah with four flights per week starting from 2nd June, Vienna with four flights per week starting from 1st June, and Kuala Lumpur with three flights per week starting from 1st June, bringing the number of destinations to 58 including the permanent destinations during the summer season for 2025. Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce the launch of its summer 2025 destinations in response to the preferences of our valued passengers. The company, in cooperation with the relevant authorities and coordination with the operational departments, …

Emirates signed an interline agreement with West Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace, enhancing connectivity for passengers travelling to and from Nigeria. The partnership expands Emirates’ footprint to 13 new cities in Nigeria with frictionless single-ticket travel and simplified baggage throughput. Travellers booked on flights from Dubai to Lagos can access more of Nigeria, with onward connections to Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna and Owerri. The interline agreement will also benefit corporate travellers, connecting to additional cities in one of Africa’s major economic hubs, including its capital city Abuja, Kano, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Warri, further supporting the strong bilateral trade relationship between Nigeria and the UAE. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said, “Emirates is a steadfast partner of Nigeria’s tourism, trade and aviation sectors. This partnership with Air Peace is the next step on this journey, bolstering our connectivity and introducing more travel options for corporate leisure, and travellers visiting friends and family to and from Nigeria. We look forward to deepening our strategic partnership with Air Peace in the future to enhance the benefits for our mutual customers.” Oluwatoyin Olajide, Chief Operating Officer, Air Peace said, “We are excited about this strategic interline partnership between Air Peace and Emirates, which is a significant step towards enhancing global connectivity for Nigerian travellers. It aligns with our mission to provide seamless, world-class travel experiences while expanding our route network and international reach. This collaboration not only expands Air Peace’s international reach but also offers Nigerians arriving from Dubai seamless access to key domestic destinations, including Asaba, Akure, Benin City, Calabar, Enugu, Ilorin, Kaduna, and Owerri. By improving ease of travel, we are boosting business, tourism, …

Emirates Skywards and ALL  have taken their partnership to new heights, offering members additional benefits and opportunities to maximize their rewards through seamless conversions. Through this enhanced collaboration, Emirates Skywards members who are also members of ALL can now convert their Skywards Miles into ALL Reward Points, unlocking extraordinary experiences across Accor’s extensive network of over 5,600 hotels across more than 45 Accor brands and 5,000 Limitless Experiences. For every 4,000 Skywards Miles, members will receive 1,000 ALL Reward Points, which can be redeemed for stays, exceptional dining experiences, or exclusive Limitless Experiences available on ALL.com. In an exciting development, the partnership introduces seamless two-way conversions between the two loyalty programmes. This feature empowers members to maximize their rewards and enjoy unparalleled lifestyle and travel experiences with both brands. ALL Members can also convert their ALL Reward Points into Skywards Miles, with 4,000 ALL Reward Points equating to 2,000 Skywards Miles. Skywards Miles can be redeemed for an extensive range of rewards, including flight tickets on Emirates and partner airlines, flight upgrades, gift cards, hotel stays, hospitality at sporting and cultural events, tours, and money can’t buy experiences. Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “At Emirates Skywards, we’re constantly exploring new ways to help our members maximise the value of every Skywards Mile earned and redeemed. And our enhanced partnership with ALL – Accor’s loyalty programme will offer exactly that. Emirates Skywards members can now convert Skywards Miles to ALL Reward Points, and access exceptional hotel stays at more than 45 Accor brands worldwide, enjoy limitless experiences and more. ALL loyalty members can also convert ALL Reward Points to Skywards Miles, and enjoy fantastic benefits Emirates …

Etihad Airways’ new service to Atlanta, which is set to launch four-times a week on 2 July, is proving so popular that the airline has decided to make it a daily flight from 1 November. The frequency increase on the route between Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the UAE’s only non-stop connection to Atlanta and will provide even greater flexibility and convenience for travellers. The service will be operated using the airline’s latest Airbus A350-1000 featuring 44 Business class seats and 327 economy seats, promising extraordinary experiences and award-winning service for guests in all cabins. Jurriaan Stelder, Senior Vice President Network and Alliances at Etihad Airways, said: “Since announcing our flights to Atlanta in November, we’ve seen great interest from guests, and that’s why we have decided to step up to daily flights on this already very popular route. “Connecting Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest by passenger volume, with our growing global network means seamless one-stop connections to some of Atlanta’s most popular South Asian destinations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai and Karachi. It also offers more opportunities for guests to visit our wonderful home Abu Dhabi as part of a stopover break or a longer holiday.” Fares from Abu Dhabi to Atlanta start at AED 1,925 in Economy and AED 10,010 in Business Class*. Atlanta, Georgia’s dynamic capital, is a bustling metropolis and a major hub for business, technology, and transportation. The city blends Southern hospitality with a vibrant cultural scene, offering everything from professional sports and craft breweries to exceptional dining and entertainment. Beyond the city, Georgia is home to charming small towns, scenic landscapes, and a deep, diverse history waiting to be …

Kuwait Airways announced a strategic move to strengthen its international network and meet the growing demand for flights between Kuwait and the United Kingdom, in cooperation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. Kuwait Airways announced an increase in the number of flights to and from London by 16 flights per week. This increase in flight frequencies provides customers with more flexible and convenient options for traveling between the two countries. The President of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Eng. Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Sabah emphasized the importance of increasing the number of flights to and from London due to the growing demand from travellers. He noted that this decision was made in coordination and cooperation with the civil aviation authorities at London Heathrow Airport, who facilitated all necessary procedures to support the increase in flight frequency between the two countries. Al-Humoud stressed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is committed to providing all means of support to Kuwait Airways, the national carrier of the State of Kuwait, and to enhancing its reputation as a distinguished carrier in the region. He highlighted that the increase in the number of flights is part of the ongoing efforts to contribute to the development of the aviation system in the company. Al-Humoud valued the strong and historic relations between the State of Kuwait and the United Kingdom across various levels, including economic, social, cultural, and others. He highlighted the longstanding and distinguished relationship between the two countries, particularly at the level of political leadership. Al-Humoud pointed out that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s recent tireless efforts to open up prospects for joint cooperation between the State of Kuwait and countries …

SNTTA announced the renewal of its General Sales Agency (GSA) Agreement with Emirates Airline. The renewal marks a significant milestone in SNTTA and Emirates’ longstanding collaboration, aimed at delivering innovative and customer-centric travel solutions across Sharjah. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani, Chairman of SNTTA and musafir.com, commented: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with Emirates, reinforcing our shared commitment to excellence in travel services. Together with Emirates, we look forward to delivering superior travel experiences that meet the evolving needs of our customers.” This partnership renewal reaffirms SNTTA’s exclusive role as Emirates’ General Sales Agent in Sharjah, building on a relationship that has consistently delivered exceptional service and connectivity. Both organizations are committed to leveraging their combined expertise to offer innovative solutions that cater to the diverse needs of travelers in the region.

RwandAir once again secured ‘Best African Airline’ title at the seventh edition of the Arabian Travel Awards 2024. RwandAir is one of the fastest growing airlines and operates one of the youngest and state-of-the-art fleet on the African continent. The airline, which is also well regarded for an excellent on time performance, reaches out to twenty-seven cities in Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Akbar Travels now becomes the first and only travel portal to go live with NDC Direct with SAUDIA as they successfully launched with its NDC integration. The partnership, which began as a pilot project, has now established a significant milestone for both organizations, marking a new era of technological advancements in airline distribution. From the inception of the project, SAUDIA and Akbar Travels worked closely to build a strong foundation, developing the NDC integration from scratch. The journey highlighted their commitment to enhancing travel booking experiences for travel agents and customers while fostering a collaborative spirit. The collaboration was further strengthened by the technological expertise of Benzy Infotech, the technology arm of Akbar Travels. With its state-of-the-art solutions and an unwavering focus on efficiency, Benzy Infotech played a crucial role in ensuring the seamless execution of the NDC integration. From Akbar Travels, the collaboration was met with enthusiasm and determination. The project aligns with their mission to leverage technology to enhance their services and strengthen their position as a leader in the travel industry. Ashiya Nazar, International Division Lead at Akbar Travels, said: “The launch of the NDC platform with SAUDIA represents a significant step forward for Akbar Travels. SAUDIA’s support and our team’s dedication made this initiative a reality. Together, we are reshaping the way travel services are delivered, making them more dynamic and customer-centric.” Ahmed Kasim, General Manager of Akbar Travels Middle East, shared his thoughts: “This partnership with SAUDIA has been a transformative experience for Akbar Travels. This success not only enhances our offerings but also strengthens our bond with one of the region’s most prestigious airlines.” The SAUDIA-Akbar Travels NDC integration enables agents to access a …