Category Archives: Aviation

Dubai’s flag-carrier airline Emirates tops YouGov Travel and Tourism Rankings 2022 in the UAE, receiving the highest Impression score of +63.3 among the residents in the country. Last year, during the summer months when many destinations eased their travel restrictions, Emirates responded to the strong travel demands by ramping up its route to 90% of pre-pandemic coverage. Additionally, the continued emphasis on health and safety measures as well as making the process as contactless as possible with minimal interaction with people, together with the extension of Tier status deadlines by one year were all very well received by the public, contributing to the brand’s strong overall impression among the UAE residents. YouGov’s BrandIndex measures the public’s perception of brands on a daily basis across a range of metrics. The Rankings were compiled using the Impression score, which is a measure of whether a consumer has a positive or negative impression of a brand calculated by taking the average net score for the year 2021 (1st January 2021 – 31st December 2021). Emirates’ rival Etihad Airways is in second place with an Impression score of +40.5, while another popular airline Qatar Airways takes tenth (22.1) place in the rankings. The rest of the list is dominated by Hotels & Resort brands. Dubai’s most iconic hotel Burj Al Arab is placed third (+32.6). Last year, for the first time, the hotel opened its doors to non-guests (residents and tourists) to discover its most prestigious and inaccessible spaces, which might have helped the brand create a stronger positive impression among the people in UAE. Ocean-themed luxury resort Atlantis, the Palm is fourth (+28.7), followed by other five-star properties Hilton (+25.9), Jumeirah (+25.6), and …

Etihad Airways launched a new experience for families flying with Etihad. The airline has partnered with the award-winning theme park, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, to launch a one-of-a-kind family friendly experience on board its fleet. Etihad’s new ‘Little VIP’ campaign recognises that young travellers are all very important people and aims to make travelling with children as easy and enjoyable as possible. The Park’s iconic Animation characters like Scooby-Doo, and Looney Tunes including Sylvester and his beloved nemesis Tweety, are emblazoned across the children’s activity packs given to guests travelling on longer flights with Etihad. The airline’s new children’s gifts are designed in three age ranges. For infants up to 2 years old, parents will be given a soft fleece blanket decorated with the faces of Tweety, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Sylvester for them to take home. Young flyers aged 3 to 8 years, will be given a drawstring bag featuring an activity book, crayons, memory card game and passport holder. Tweens and teens aged 9 to 13 will be delighted with a Scooby-Doo themed backpack featuring the Museum of Mysteries board game designed to promote Yas Island’s incredibly immersive indoor theme park, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. In addition to the Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi’s themed inflight gifts, Etihad is bringing a comprehensive family travel experience to life, through cabin crew and ground crew training to identify and support family travel needs. At Abu Dhabi International Airport, a dedicated family check-in space will be available for families with minimised queuing to make family journeys as smooth as possible. Thoughtful touches include a small set of stairs at check-in counters meaning young eyes can take a peek …

flydubai announced that it will resume flights to Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) from 02 March with five flights a week.  With flydubai’s daily flights to Istanbul Airport (IST), the airline will increase its flight frequency to Istanbul to 12 flights a week. flydubai’s network in Turkey also includes the capital, Ankara, where it operates two weekly flights. Commenting on the relaunch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “flydubai remains committed to making travel more accessible by providing more choice for our passengers. Istanbul remains a popular destination on our network and we welcome the resumption of our operations to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, an airport that provides another convenient option for those travelling to Istanbul. We look forward to welcoming our passengers as they travel with flydubai onboard our Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.” Istanbul offers a wonderful mix of Europe and Asia, with plenty of options for shopping, dining and sight-seeing. It remains one of the most visited cities in the world and continues to be an important economic hub. Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, offering more options for passengers travelling to and from the city. Emirates will codeshare on this route offering travellers more options for connections through Dubai’s international aviation hub to more than 190 destinations between both the Emirates and flydubai networks. Passengers travelling on a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft can enjoy more comfort and an enhanced travel experience. The new cabin offering features a flatbed in Business Class and in addition to the extra space and privacy, passengers can sleep comfortably during their flight. Economy Class offers new RECARO seats, which …

Air Arabia Egypt announced the introduction of a new service to Gassim, city in Saudi Arabia with direct flights from Sohag International Airport to Prince Nayef Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, commencing on February 24, 2022. Gassim is considered the seventh route that Air Arabia Egypt flies to after Riyadh, Jeddah, Tabuk, Taif, Al Jouf, and Hail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All passengers traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required to download “Tawakkalna” mobile application before departure and upload their vaccination status. Passengers are also urged to check the travel update on Air Arabia’s website before departure. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sohag and Buraidah by visiting Air Arabia’s website, calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Since COVID-19 outbreak, Air Arabia’s customer journey has been upgraded to include all safety measures that are in line with the highest international measures. Air Arabia’s entire fleet is fitted with HEPA cabin air filters, which help to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers. Customers are always requested to comply with the conditions and requirements of the countries of departure and destination.

The MEBAA Show, the Middle East’s leading business aviation platform, is set to return to Dubai, taking place on 6 – 8 December 2022 at DWC Airport. The event will showcase the latest trends, insights, innovation and commercial opportunities shaping the future of business aviation and private flying in the Middle East and across the globe. A number of international companies have already signed up and confirmed their attendance for the MEBAA Show 2022 including Gulfstream, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer Executive Aircraft, Empire Aviation Group, Honeywell International, CAE and VistaJet International. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) commented: “Business aviation has shown tremendous resilience and growth in recent years and it is an exciting time for the sector. The MEBAA Show will demonstrate the latest advancement in business aircraft, technologies and predictions for the industry, which looks set for further growth in coming years. We look forward to welcoming local, regional and international companies for the event once again in Dubai, a leading hub for business and private aviation.” The business aviation industry had a significant representation in the recent Dubai Airshow, with 30% of the event’s business and private aviation exhibitors highlighting huge interest from buyers looking to take to the skies in executive jets for increased privacy and less exposure. Providing a platform for the entire business aviation community the MEBAA Show will convene again to build partnerships and take advantage of the enormous growth predicted for the sector. Business jet activity in the Middle East witnessed some of the strongest growth in demand in 2021, notably in the United Arab Emirates, which grew 73% compared to …

Young travellers flying Emirates as unaccompanied minors can now relax and wait for their flight in a newly upgraded lounge dedicated for them at Dubai International Airport, located next to Emirates’ First Class Lounge in Concourse B. Emirates’ lounge for unaccompanied minors is open 24/7, and the newly upgraded facility offers fun video games, drinks and snacks, comfortable seating areas, free wi-fi, and washrooms designed for kids. Parents or guardians who have pre-booked Emirates’ Unaccompanied Minor service, can drop off their young flyers at Dubai Airport Terminal 3, where Emirates’ airport team will check them in for their flights in a special lounge area for unaccompanied minors. This  facility is located in between the Economy and First/Business Class Check-in halls. After check-in formalities are completed, one of Emirates’ friendly airport services team members will escort the young flyers through immigration and security, onward to their dedicated departure lounge in the airside concourse, and later, from the lounge to the boarding gate. Young flyers enjoy priority boarding, and Emirates cabin crew will be waiting to welcome young flyers at the aircraft door, and help them to find their seats and settle in for their flight. Onboard, young flyers can look forward to delicious meals and snacks designed for their palates, toys and activity packs, and kid-sized headsets to enjoy the selection of over 50 Disney movies and 130+ TV channels for young travellers. Emirates is currently offering young flyers cool take-home toys and bags onboard, inspired by Expo 2020 Dubai and featuring little Emirates characters. All toys and bags use recycled material and bags are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Young solo flyers with a connecting flight in Dubai are …

SAUDIA delighted guests with a series of festival-themed surprises during a special flight from Paris to Riyadh on 8 February 2022. The initiative came as part of the airline’s efforts to promote the popular cultural and entertainment event among guests arriving in the Kingdom. Passengers found themselves on board a fully decorated aircraft featuring Riyadh Season’s official colors on the plane’s seats, safety instruction cards, and meal wrappers. Cabin crew members also wore brooches bearing the official logo of the festival. Guests enjoyed a promotional video highlighting the main attractions of the cultural and entertainment event, which was shared on the aircraft’s inflight entertainment system. Passengers also received special branded gifts and free tickets for several of Riyadh Season 2021’s most prominent events, including Riyadh Boulevard.. Commenting on SAUDIA’s role as Strategic Partner and Official Carrier for the festival, Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer at SAUDIA, said: “We are proud of our initiatives to promote Riyadh Season among our Guests and highlight Saudi Arabia as a major global tourist and entertainment destination. We hope that these activities and the special gifts provided to our passengers will encourage them to visit the festival and discover its many unique events and attractions. Our sponsorship of Riyadh Season comes as part of our commitment to serving as the ‘Wings of Vision 2030’ by supporting the growth of travel, tourism, and entertainment in the Kingdom, in line with our ambitious target of welcoming 100 million visits annually by 2030.” SAUDIA’s participation in Riyadh Season 2021 follows the national carrier’s major success in supporting the previous edition of the festival. This year, several companies under the SAUDIA Group including SAUDIA Air Transport, Saudia Cargo, …

Emirates signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maldivian, the national airline and leading domestic carrier in the Maldives, to explore codeshare, interline, and joint holiday package opportunities. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Maldives is one of the most popular leisure destinations in Emirates’ network and we are very pleased to be exploring a partnership with the nation’s local carrier. A codeshare and interline agreement will immensely benefit both carriers. For Emirates customers, its enhanced connectivity to and from the Maldivian archipelago. For Maldivian travellers, it’ll ease access to our extensive network of more than 120 destinations, via Dubai. We look forward to continue strengthening our partnership and to offering customers a seamless travel experience.” Ibrahim Ameer, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Maldives, said: “Emirates’ impact to the Maldives’ tourism industry is significant, with the airline ranking first in terms of international passenger traffic. The possible partnership between the two airlines will benefit the Maldivian economy and strengthen economic ties between the Maldives and the United Arab Emirates.” Mohamed Mihad, Maldivian’s Managing Director, said: “The opportunity to explore a partnership with the largest airline in the world brings about endless opportunities for Maldivian. The growth prospects that could follow such a partnership is key when we look to expand our operations and develop partnerships that will allow us to position ourselves in the post Covid aviation industry. The interline and codeshare arrangement being explored would enable both Maldivian as well as Emirates to enhance the connectivity and expand on the service offerings.” The two carriers are reviewing a codeshare agreement that will enable Emirates’ customers to conveniently book and connect from Male’ to more than 15 …

SAUDIA has underlined its commitment to contributing to the growth of the Kingdom’s tourism and sports sectors with the launch of the airline’s first-ever polo team. The three-man team will compete in the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo 2022, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the AlUla Moments season. The team’s participation comes as part of SAUDIA’s strategic partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, and is the latest in a series of collaborations designed to highlight the historic destination’s rich heritage and natural beauty. The national carrier has contributed to a variety of events and activations showcasing the ancient desert city’s unique attractions. These include the world’s first “Museum in the Sky” flight, which highlighted AlUla’s cultural significance as a living museum and the home of Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, a challenging equestrian event that attracted 200 riders from more than 30 countries to compete across 120 km of rugged desert terrain. The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo tournament is one of several upcoming events supported by SAUDIA. From 27 February to 12 March, visitors will be able to soar high above the desert landscape for a magical hot air balloon ride as part of the AlUla Skies Festival. Guests can also look forward to experiencing a Symphony Under the Stars on 11 March, as a dazzling musical performance takes place against the stunning backdrop of the famous Arch Rock. Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer at SAUDIA, commented, “This is a period of incredible growth for SAUDIA, AlUla, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are proud to be part of the ambitious plans to …

Hospitality Management Holding (HMH) has announced its partnership with Royal Jordanian Airlines, offering Royal Club Award Miles to Royal Club Program members staying in its distinctive hotel brands throughout the UAE, and Jordan Through this exciting new collaboration, HMH hotel guests enrolled in the Royal Club frequent flyer program will earn Royal Club Award Miles for every US$ they spend on hotel night stays and other services from participating HMH hotels. ‘We are always looking for ways to enhance our hospitality experience, both for our guests staying with us and for residents visiting the wonderful restaurants and facilities,’ commented (Haytham, Director of Operations). ‘Our aim through the HMH alliance and partner program is to reward guest loyalty with attractive, attainable rewards, and as one of the region’s most exciting customer loyalty programs, we are delighted to introduce Royal Club in participating hotels in the UAE, and Jordan. Members will be able to take those miles and unlock great travel related rewards, plus shop online at the Royal Club Rewards Store.’ ‘We are delighted to partner up with HMH in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and to welcome five distinctive hotel brands to our program for our members to enjoy new memorable experiences and additional rewards’, said Yola Isaac, Head of Royal Club Program. ‘We are constantly working to expand our partners network especially in the region, to cater for the needs and preferences of our valued members and to provide them with additional benefits while enjoying the distinguished array of products and services offered by our partners’. HMH has a range of alliances and partnerships in place with industry leaders in the Middle East, and its proactive use of …