Category Archives: Aviation

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, announced its collaboration with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), becoming official airline partner for the Middle East as part of ICCA’s Regional Travel Partnership Program. As newest member to the program, Oman Air brings 5-Star COVID-19 safety and network connectivity across the Middle East to association meetings professionals so they can re-connect with colleagues and work towards reviving face-to-face, in-person meetings in the post-pandemic landscape. “In securing this partnership, we are pleased to connect our ICCA members in the Middle East with an airline that will serve them under exceptional standards of health and safety. Meeting face-to-face is vital to our industry and we at ICCA World believe we can begin to do so once again as we continue to adhere to best practices in pandemic safety,” said Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO. “Throughout COVID-19, Oman Air has implemented and maintained exceptional health and safety standards on board our aircraft and across the entire passenger journey,” said Eng. Abdulaziz AlRaisi, CEO of Oman Air. “In-person, face-to-face meetings—whether association and industry meetings or the full offering of corporate travel and events—are crucial for the recovery of local economies and Oman Air is proud to partner with ICCA to offer safe travels for its members throughout the Middle East, and beyond, as we work together towards a robust restart of the interconnected aviation, MICE and tourism sectors.” “As ICCA Middle East Regional Director, I am proud to announce their new collaboration with Oman Air as the official airline partner for the Middle East region. Oman Air’s initiative during the current crisis and their adaptability demands applause and should be taken as …

Emirates is connecting global business and leisure travellers with it’s first-ever passenger service between Dubai and Miami. The airline celebrated the inaugural flight of its four times a week service when it touched down in Miami at 1100hrs local time on 23rd July 2021. Emirates flight EK213 was welcomed by Miami International Airport with a water cannon salute, and drew in an audience of passengers, aviation fans and guests. For the first flight, the airline operated its popular Boeing 777 Gamechanger, and on the ground, showcased the interiors of the aircraft to guests, featuring its highly popular First Class private suites. With floor to ceiling sliding doors and sleek design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Emirates’ First Class suites on the Gamechanger offer up to 40 square feet of personal space each, and ultra-modern design features. The airline will subsequently operate its three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route, featuring eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class for the four times a week service. Along with Orlando, the new service to Miami provides an additional access point to and from Florida and expands Emirates’ US network to 12 destinations on over 70 weekly flights, providing more choice and convenient connections from the Emirates network to Southern Florida. It also links travellers from Miami, as well as Southern Florida, South America and the Caribbean to over 50 points across the Middle East, West Asia, Africa, Far East and the Indian Ocean Islands via Dubai. “We are excited to welcome new Emirates flights to MIA as we expand business and leisure traveling options for Miami-Dade residents and visitors, connecting them …

Emirates has announced the launch of Emirates Pay, a new account-based payment method for purchasing air tickets. Emirates Pay is now available for Emirates customers in Germany and the UK who are purchasing tickets via emirates.com. Emirates is the world’s first airline to launch this payment alternative powered by a white-label solution jointly developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in partnership with Deutsche Bank. Michael Doersam, Chief Financial Officer at Emirates said: “We’re pleased to be the first airline to roll out this new account-based solution for our customers. Our aim is to provide our customers with choice, convenience, and the best possible experiences at every touchpoint. Customers who don’t have a credit card, and those already using direct payments for other purchases, will welcome the simplicity and security of this method when making travel purchases. When it comes to payments solutions, we’ve always kept close to the latest innovations so that we can offer our customers in different markets the most secure and convenient options.” Christof Hofmann, Global Head of Corporate & Payment Solutions at Deutsche Bank said: “We are very proud that Emirates, which is widely recognized as one of the world’s best airlines, is the first airline to implement the new payment solution. The launch of Emirates Pay not only sends a very positive message to all of us that the airline industry is putting COVID behind, but more importantly that Emirates is clearly focused on improving client experience at the transactional level when moving into a brighter, post COVID world.”  Emirates Pay is an alternative method for travellers to pay for air tickets purchased online by directly debiting their bank account. It is based …

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, announced its collaboration with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), becoming official airline partner for the Middle East as part of ICCA’s Regional Travel Partnership Program. As newest member to the program, Oman Air brings 5-Star COVID-19 safety and network connectivity across the Middle East to association meetings professionals so they can re-connect with colleagues and work towards reviving face-to-face, in-person meetings in the post-pandemic landscape. “In securing this partnership, we are pleased to connect our ICCA members in the Middle East with an airline that will serve them under exceptional standards of health and safety. Meeting face-to-face is vital to our industry and we at ICCA World believe we can begin to do so once again as we continue to adhere to best practices in pandemic safety,” said Senthil Gopinath, ICCA CEO. “Throughout COVID-19, Oman Air has implemented and maintained exceptional health and safety standards on board our aircraft and across the entire passenger journey,” said Eng. Abdulaziz AlRaisi, CEO of Oman Air. “In-person, face-to-face meetings—whether association and industry meetings or the full offering of corporate travel and events—are crucial for the recovery of local economies and Oman Air is proud to partner with ICCA to offer safe travels for its members throughout the Middle East, and beyond, as we work together towards a robust restart of the interconnected aviation, MICE and tourism sectors.” “As ICCA Middle East Regional Director, I am proud to announce their new collaboration with Oman Air as the official airline partner for the Middle East region. Oman Air’s initiative during the current crisis and their adaptability demands applause and should be taken as …

Starting July 17, 2021 Kuwait Airways re-instated two weekly services between Munich and Kuwait City. The route is operated on Thursdays and Saturdays with a brand new Airbus A320neo. “We are very pleased that Kuwait Airways has decided to re-launch flights to Munich and we expect a good response to the route this summer” states Oliver Dersch, Vice President Traffic Development Munich Airport. Along with Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways flights, there will be a total of 19 weekly departures from the Gulf region to Munich this July and potentially more to come in the following months. In 2019, 1.7 million passengers traveled on flights between Munich and the Gulf States. “We are convinced that traffic between the two popular regions will soon recover, with Germany once again allowing entry for fully vaccinated visitors from countries outside the EU,” adds Dersch. With magnificent buildings and royal palaces, world-class museums, endless parks, high-end shopping and dining, and crystal-clear lakes and the Alps nearby, Munich and Bavaria represent the most popular tourism destination in Germany for visitors from the Gulf region.

Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, will offer its luxurious First Class Suites on B787 Dreamliner flights between Muscat and Salalah for the popular Khareef season. In addition to its award-winning Economy and Business Class cabins, the airline will introduce the luxuriously appointed First Class Suites until 31 July 2021, offering three distinct cabin classes on the route. The Muscat flight (WY 907) will depart at 14:55 and arrive in Salalah at 16:30. The Salalah flight (WY 908) will depart at 17:45 and arrive in Muscat at 19:25. Guests should always consult omanair.com for the latest flight schedule and timings, which are subject to change. Featuring extra tall, soft closing sliding doors and canopy, Oman Air’s First Class Suite is recognized for its Omani-inspired design, modern amenities and exceptional comfort. In 2020 it was named best First Class Suite by German-based iF design, a world leader in design, and also won  ‘World’s Leading Airline – First Class’ at the World Travel Awards Middle East. Our flights are departing on time. For flights operating during the lockdown period, passengers and those dropping them off or picking them up are allowed to travel to the airport. Please ensure that you always carry a printed copy of travel tickets along with all applicable travel documents and valid ID in the event that you are asked to present them to the relevant authorities. Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that guests fly confidently. Masks are required when guests are on board the aircraft and in Oman’s airports. Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are …

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, launched its inaugural flight to Vienna, the City of Music, the first of a new twice-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and the Austrian capital. Flight EY147 departed Abu Dhabi International Airport at 7.30am and is expected to land in Vienna Airport at approximately 11.20am today, where it will be welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute. The new service will be operated on Thursdays and Sundays using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering 28 seats in Business and 262 seats in Economy, entertainment systems, in-seat power, and in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity.  Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer at Etihad, said: “After successfully launching Mykonos, Santorini and Malaga earlier in July, we’re delighted to now introduce flights to Vienna. The 65th passenger destination to be added to Etihad’s growing network, we are confident that its timeless imperial grandeur and vibrant cultural scene will appeal to many travellers.” Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, said: “We welcome Etihad as a new airline to Vienna Airport. Etihad is a strong carrier with a far-reaching route network, and we are delighted with its decision to launch regular scheduled flights to Vienna. The United Arab Emirates in particular is an important market for Austrian tourism, and the new flight connection is a good sign that things are slowly picking up again.” Known for its baroque architecture, coffee-house culture and rich musical legacy, Vienna is a five hours and 50 minutes flight from Abu Dhabi. Travellers from the UAE who have received all vaccination doses for full immunisation at least 14 days before arrival, including Sinopharm and Pfizer, currently do not have to …

Al Ain International Airport (AAN), owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Airports, has welcomed two new weekly flights between Al Ain and Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The inaugural flight, operated by Nile Air landed at Al Ain International Airport on Monday, July 12 at 21:15 Local Time (LT). Francois Bourienne, Chief Commercial Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are pleased to welcome two new weekly flights between Al Ain and Cairo, which strengthens our connectivity with the Egyptian capital and facilitates the travel journey of passengers between the UAE and Egypt. The introduction of the new flights comes as part of the expansion of Al Ain International Airport and the introduction of new routes, to increase our airlines network and offer our passengers the best travel experience.” Nile Air CEO, Captain Mohamed Sadek, said: “It has been just over five years since we first started flying between Cairo and Al Ain, UAE, and despite the massive impact of the pandemic affecting travel, Nile Air remains committed to operating to Al Ain, preserving the important relationship between the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.” Outbound flights will depart from Cairo International Airport on Mondays and Fridays at 15:40 LT and land at Al Ain International Airport at 21:15 LT. Return flights will depart from Al Ain International Airport on Mondays and Fridays at 22:15 LT, landing in Cairo International Airport the following day at 00:05 LT.

The Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF) and Air Arabia, the Middle East and North Africa’s first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, today announced the signing of an agreement to launch Armenia’s new national airline. The agreement will see the establishment of an independent joint venture company that will operate as a low-cost passenger airline with Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) as its base. The announcement was made following a signing ceremony and a press conference held today at Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport and attended by H.E Tigran Avinyan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia and H.E Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia. The new national airline will serve the strategic vision of Armenia’s fast-growing travel and tourism sector as well as contributes to the country’s economic growth, while providing Armenians with a reliable and value for money air travel. David Papazian, Chief Executive Officer of ANIF, said: “We are excited to launch a new national low-cost carrier for Armenia that will contribute significant value to the economy and energise our travel and tourism sector. This builds on our commitment to partner with top global entities on transformational projects that catalyse our crucial economic sectors. Air Arabia has a well established track-record in launching and operating successful LCCs, and its know how will be a differentiating strength of the new airline.” Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “We are delighted at Air Arabia Group to partner with ANIF on this joint venture to launch Armenia’s new national low-cost carrier. We see tremendous potential for Armenia in building its airline sector, which will add sustained value to the economy through job creation and …

flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, announced the start of its three-times-weekly service to Sohag International Airport (HMB) from 25 July. The flights to and from Sohag will operate via a short stop in Sharm El Sheikh. This will bring the number of points flydubai operates to in Egypt to three including Alexandria Borg El Arab International Airport (HBE) and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH). Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “Egypt is a very important market for flydubai and has a very special place in our journey. Alexandria was among the first routes we operated to in 2009. We are very pleased to see our presence in Egypt grow and we would like to thank the authorities for their ongoing support. flydubai is committed to supporting the tourism and trade links between our two countries. We look forward to the start of operations to Sohag which is going to be very popular among our passengers from the UAE and the region.” Sohag is one the important governorates of Upper Egypt with a capital city that holds the same name. The city and the government of Sohag have a long history in ancient Egypt and is home to a number of monuments, monasteries and museums. Commenting on the announcement, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said: “with demand for travel returning we are focused on enabling our passengers to travel with ease to more places around the flydubai network. Sohag is another exciting destination for our passengers to visit whether to go back home to see friends and family or to explore the many historic attractions in the …