Category Archives: Aviation

Gulf Air will resume its direct flights to Baku, with two weekly flights starting from 06 January 2022. On this occasion, Captain Waleed AlAlawi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, said “We have been operating direct flights between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Azerbaijan since 2018, and it has been a popular destination within the Gulf Air network since its launch, offering the airline’s passengers numerous historic and cultural landmarks and tourist attractions to explore. We are extremely happy to see a much healthier trend in the travel industry and the resumption of some of our most popular destinations as the global vaccination program continues to bring a sense of normalcy back into our routine.” The airline currently operates its flights to over 80% of its pre-pandemic network; as Gulf Air continuously works closely with government authorities throughout destinations on its network to resume operations to those destinations. Gulf Air boasts a flexible and agile network by immediately adapting to government orders and civil aviation directives around its network and has been responsive to continuous changes and updates regarding operations to and from its network destinations. Recently, Gulf Air has received APEX’s Five Star Major Official Airline Rating; an award based solely on certified passengers’ feedback. the rating came as a testament to the success of Gulf Air’s boutique strategy and the major developments in its products and services since the launch of the recent brand refresh and fleet modernization programme. Last week, The airline also announced the activation of a number of unprecedented offers for its passengers, which will give them the opportunity to stop in Bahrain, obtain hotel reservations, and use tourist facilities through various tailored packages …

Etihad Airways and ADQ announced a proposed transaction that will support the ongoing transformation of Etihad Airways and the future growth of the civil aviation sector in Abu Dhabi. As part of the proposed transaction, a number of Etihad’s businesses providing airline support services will become part of a new ADQ aviation company. Once the transaction is complete, the airline support services businesses will benefit from being part of ADQ’s broad mobility and logistics portfolio, which includes Abu Dhabi Airports and AD Ports Group. The businesses included in the proposed transaction are Etihad Engineering, Etihad Airport Services Cargo, Etihad Airport Services Ground, Etihad Aviation Training, Etihad Secure Logistics and Etihad Technical Training.   Additionally, the proposed transaction will see two Etihad businesses join Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC). Etihad Airport Services Catering will combine with ADNEC’s catering business Capital Hospitality, and Etihad Holidays will join ADNEC’s tourism promotion business, Tourism 365. The proposed agreement marks the start of a new chapter for Etihad Airways, allowing the airline to further sharpen its focus on its core business and respond with greater agility to market opportunities as global travel demand rebounds from COVID-19.   H.E. Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi, CEO of ADQ, said: “With the proposed addition of Etihad’s experienced aviation support businesses to our new dedicated aviation company, ADQ is primed to develop an integrated aviation platform that is driven by performance and a robust financial foundation through its new company. With an integrated mobility and logistics portfolio that plays a leading role in the development of Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity, we are well-positioned to unlock the growth potential of these aviation services businesses. We see potential to capitalise on growth …

Qatar Airways Privilege Club continues to honour the loyalty of its valued members by extending their tier status. This initiative will benefit all Silver, Gold and Platinum members whose tier status is due for renewal between December 2021 and December 2022. The tier validity of these members would be automatically extended to 31 December 2022. Find out more at qatarairways.com/tierextension. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “At Privilege Club, we remain steadfastly committed to our members. Their loyalty means everything to us, and we will continue to honour their choice to fly with us. As the Official Airline of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Qatar Airways will continue to innovate in rewarding and recognising our members. We sincerely look forward to enriching our members’ travel experiences, and offering them more time to enjoy the incredible benefits of their tier as they plan for their travel with us in 2022, to over 140 global destinations”. Privilege Club has continued to invest in redefining the programme, including reducing the number of Qmiles required to book award flights by up to 49 per cent and extending the validity of Qmiles to last longer than ever before. Every time a member earns or spends Qmiles, the balance is valid for an additional 36 months. Furthermore, Privilege Club launched Hotel & Car Rewards, which allows members to earn and spend Qmiles at over 350,000 hotels and more than 20,000 car rental locations worldwide. Qatar Airways also launched Student Club, powered by Privilege Club, which offers a range of benefits curated for students to support them throughout their educational journey. Student Club recently celebrated its first anniversary with a …

SAUDIA selected Boeing  for a suite of services to improve their 787 Dreamliner and 777 fleets’ operational efficiency through digital analytics, and to modify their 777 cabin interiors. “As ever, SAUDIA is continuously focused on operational efficiency, optimal fleet utilization, and deployment,” said Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO, SAUDIA. “We see our continued alliance with Boeing and these essential services as an enabler that will help to drive our progress toward this vision.” SAUDIA will utilize Boeing’s Optimized Maintenance Program (OMP), which uses advanced data analytics to provide detailed insights for improved maintenance operations, and Boeing’s Airplane Health Management (AHM) digital solution, which applies predictive maintenance analytics and diagnostic tools to help improve the quality and speed of maintenance decisions, resulting in improved on-time performance. These services will be combined with Boeing’s OEM engineering and consulting expertise. “Our Boeing consulting teams have partnered closely with SAUDIA for many years to find new opportunities to reduce costs and enhance operational efficiency. We are delighted to continue this partnership by applying our advanced digital solutions,” said Ted Colbert, president and CEO, Boeing Global Services. “Similarly, SAUDIA will be able to rely on our 777 interiors engineering expertise throughout the course of their fleet reconfiguration plans.” Boeing’s interior modification team will partner with SAUDIA to deliver all aspects of their 777 modification, including design, certification, and the supply of parts required for completion.   For more information on Boeing’s Optimized Maintenance Program, Airplane Health Management, interiors engineering and other aftermarket services, visit https://services.boeing.com.  

Turkish Airlines, flying to more countries than any other airline, celebrates its 40 year anniversary of flying to the UAE in synergy with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The airline, established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircrafts launched its first Middle East flight to Beirut and Cairo in 1951 and the first TK flight landed in Abu Dhabi on 7th January 1981 with the route relaunching again on January 25th, 2006. The first flight to Dubai was operated on 5th November 1983, while the Sharjah route was launched on 11th April 2019 with daily flights. In addition ; Anadolujet operated its first UAE flight on 20th December 2020 by operating daily flights. Currently Turkish Airlines operates 28 weekly flights to UAE (21 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Dubai Airport, 3 weekly flights between Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Dubai Airport and 4 weekly flights between Istanbul Airport and Abu Dhabi Airport. Emre Ismailoglu, General Manager, Dubai And Northern Emirates, Turkish Airlines said, ” We are delighted to celebrate 40 years in the UAE. This year started on a positive note with the airline industry opening up and we are focusing our energy on enhancing the travel experience especially for the Expo 2020 in Dubai while keeping in mind the airline’s hygiene protocols necessary for a safe flying experience. Our team is enforcing a higher level of protection for every stage of the journey that goes above and beyond industry standards.” Hasan Demir, the Turkish Airlines General Manager in Abu Dhabi said, “Reaching the 40-year milestone in the UAE is significant to Turkish Airlines. We are confident that the positive outlook of the UAE to normalise the travel …

marhaba, part of dnata and a leading airport hospitality brand, has launched its globally renowned Meet & Greet Services in Australia to help travellers enjoy a safe and seamless travel experience throughout their journey. Starting from this December, both arriving and departing passengers can take advantage of marhaba’s services at Sydney Airport (SYD), Melbourne Airport (MEL), Adelaide Airport (ADL) and Brisbane Airport (BNE). marhaba’s dedicated agents, who have all been thoroughly trained on health and safety protocols, will welcome customers and escort them through the airport formalities right up until the arrival area or the departure gate. Where possible, marhaba’s agents will also provide hand baggage trolleys or, for an additional fee, arrange porter service. In Melbourne, customers can further enhance their experience by booking the ‘Gold’ package and relax and recharge in marhaba’s popular lounge before their flights at a special bundled rate. Located at the International Terminal (T2), the spacious lounge features comfortable seating for 200 guests, a quiet zone for relaxation, and shower facilities. It offers superfast Wi-Fi and all-day dining with premium Hudson’s coffee and international cuisine catering to a wide range of dietary and ethnic requirements. Customers can book marhaba’s services on marhabaservices.com or by calling 800 627 4222. Meet & Greet Service fees start from AUD 250 while lounge access can be purchased from AUD 64. Steve Allen, dnata’s Executive Vice President, said: “Over the past three decades marhaba has earned the trust and loyalty of travellers by consistently delivering safe and reliable airport hospitality services in Dubai and beyond. “Having been successfully operating a popular lounge in Melbourne for over four years, we’re now delighted to offer Australian travellers a broader range of …

In line with the restoration of Emirates’ network and upsurge in travel demand, passengers traveling in premium cabins as well as Skywards members in select membership tiers will have access to more than 120 lounges by February. Emirates, which has resumed operations to over 90 percent of its pre-pandemic network, currently flies to more than 120 destinations worldwide via its hub in Dubai. Customers travelling in First Class and Business Class will be able to complement their travel experience with Emirates’ signature premium lounge service at over 20 airports in its network, comprising popular destinations across Europe, Africa, US and Asia. By late December, Emirates lounges at a host of airports in the UK will have re-opened their doors for customers to immerse themselves in the pre-flight premium experience, including London Heathrow, Birmingham, and Manchester while the lounges in London Gatwick and Glasgow will welcome customers in January 2022. In Europe, Emirates lounges in Germany, namely Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Dusseldorf, in addition to lounges in Milan and Rome, have already re-opened for passengers to enjoy their premium facilities, while the lounge in Paris is scheduled to open later this month. In the US, travellers on Emirates flights can access the premium lounge experience at Los Angeles International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport as well as New York JFK, with Emirates’ San Francisco lounge to re-start its services in February 2022. An additional Emirates Lounge, to serve passengers travelling through Cairo, has resumed operations earlier, while premium class customers and eligible Skywards members will soon be able to relax and dine in its lounges in Colombo and Bangkok prior to flights. At Emirates’ exclusive Terminal 3 at Dubai International airport, …

Following the opening of the final phase of Concourse A at Dubai International’s (DXB) Terminal 3, the world’s busiest international airport is 100% operational with all terminals, concourses, lounges, restaurants, and retail outlets now open. Terminal 3 is expected to serve more than 1.6 million passengers in the second half of December during the month’s peak seasonal travel period. Visitors to Dubai exceeded 1 million during the month of October and DXB reached the important milestone of 1 million passengers per week in November, with origin-destination passengers reaching 94% of pre-pandemic levels. “Reaching the point where 100% of our facilities are now open and serving customers, plus the huge resurgence in passengers arriving into Dubai marks an important milestone for the aviation sector as well as for the city of Dubai and its economic growth. We took early steps to implement best-in-class hygiene and health protocols, fast track PCR testing facilities, and enhanced customer service and guest support resources to ensure the comfort, convenience and safety of travelers – and this has resulted in a strong recovery towards pre-pandemic levels of passengers,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports. He added: “This has been an enormous team effort and our employees and stakeholders have responded magnificently to the significant challenge of getting DXB back up and running at 100% capacity.” The journey back to full operations following the closure in March 2020 began with the reopening of Terminals 2 and 3 and Concourses B and C for normal inbound passenger operations from June 22, 2020, following the easing of international travel regulations for residents by UAE authorities. Outbound travel for UAE citizens and residents was opened on June 23 while …

Emirates customers travelling from the UAE to EU member countries now have more opportunities to confidently make the most out of their travel journeys. The airline has been working closely with Alhosn National Health System team to enable the readability and recognition of customers’ health credentials with EU verified QR codes, including COVID-19 vaccine status and PCR test results, on the IATA Travel Pass. Emirates customers simply have to download the IATA Travel Pass, scan Alhosn App’s Travel Pass QR Code and load the results back to the app. UAE citizens and residents will also be able to upload their negative PCR test results and vaccination certificates performed anywhere in the country, without the need to visit specific labs. This health data is stored in the National Cloud per the highest privacy standards and policies set by the UAE Data Protection Law. The new enhancements make it easier for Emirates customers to benefit from the IATA Travel Pass and get their “Ok to Travel” prior to their departure to any EU destination on the airline’s network. By using the Alhosn App, Emirates customers travelling from the UAE to the EU can also reliably demonstrate their COVID-19 health status, and be able to easily enter hospitality and entertainment venues, attend events or embark on other experiences that require proof of negative test results or vaccination. This minimises the use of multiple apps to demonstrate testing and vaccination status while in the EU, and also allows for safer, convenient movement for Emirates customers. Adel Al Redha, Emirates Chief Operating Officer said: “As part of Emirates’ plan to implement digital travel verification and make the travel process more seamless, we’re boosting the customer …

Oman Air will continue to strengthen strategic codeshare partnership agreements to maximize its post-pandemic growth trajectory. The airline’s ongoing recovery calls for greater codeshare connectivity to offers passengers better connections and a wider choice of destinations from its hub in Muscat. Oman Air has built a healthy network throughout the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, as well as several cities in Europe, South Asia and Africa in recent years and is focused on growing additional connectivity to North and South America and Australia through strategic codeshares with its 18 partner airlines. These include Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Royal Dutch Airlines KLM, Kenya Airways, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, SalamAir, Bangkok Airways, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, and Egyptair. Currently, Oman Air operates 46 codeshare sectors and markets an additional 219 codeshare sectors on six continents through its partners for a total of 265 sectors. “Providing access to more destinations underpins our business operations and growth strategy as we gradually emerge from the global pandemic and look for new ways to offer our valued guests greater travel convenience and connectivity,” said Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “Together with our codeshare partners, we continue to grow our network reach out of Muscat while offering reciprocal connectivity for passengers flying to the Sultanate of Oman. Strategic codeshare agreements make sense at a time when airlines around the world are facing tremendous challenges, and Oman Air understands that now, more than ever, seamless connectivity is a deciding factor for passengers when it comes to booking.” To date, Qatar Airways remains Oman Air’s biggest codeshare partner. In …