Category Archives: Aviation

Oman Air is now offering ‘My Space’, an option which gives Economy Class guests the opportunity to ensure that the seat next to them is vacant. The airline’s program makes it simple to travel with even more comfort and convenience. When guests check in online 48 hours before their departure, they can select their seats via an interactive seat map and choose the option to ensure at least one seat next to them is vacant. If the option is not available for guests’ chosen seats, they can select another seat that does have adjacent vacancies. Guests can choose ‘My Space’ until 3 hours before their flight’s departure time. Abdul Aziz Al Raisi, CEO, Oman Air said, “We are committed to providing a safe environment for our guests while offering options that will increase their comfort”. While the airline offers this choice, which is convenient and safe, it also continues to maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey, to ensure that guests fly confidently. Umesh Chhiber, Senior Vice President – Revenue Management, Pricing & Distribution, Oman Air said, “Our guests appreciate flexibility and choices while they are travelling. In cooperation with our trusted partner, Plusgrade, we are giving them the opportunity to fly with more space around them”.

The Middle East & North Africa Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) has announced that the region’s leading business aviation platform, the MEBAA Show, has been rescheduled to its original date cycle and will now take place in December 2022 at DWC, Airshow Site. The event has been cancelled due to concerns related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions imposed across numerous countries around the world. Ali Ahmed Alnaqbi, Founding and Executive Chairman of MEBAA commented, “As a result of the ongoing challenges with global border restrictions and lockdowns, we have decided to realign the MEBAA Show with its original dates and postpone it again to 2022. All recent indications suggest that the business aviation sector will make a strong recovery in the coming years and the MEBAA Show will play an important role in restoring confidence, driving collaboration and creating new opportunities for the sector.”

Emirates’ multi-channel advertising campaign, which showcases Dubai’s diverse attractions to those seeking a winter getaway, will initially launch in the UK and key European markets on television, online and social media channels. The airline has also partnered with Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) on a promotion to offer complimentary stays at the JW Marriott Marquis to all Emirates customers visiting Dubai from 6 December until 28 February 2021. Courtesy of Dubai Tourism and Emirates, the airline’s Economy Class passengers will receive a free night’s stay, while passengers flying First or Business Class can enjoy two complimentary nights’ stay at the modern JW Marriott Marquis which is conveniently located near attractions like the Dubai Mall, BurjKhalifa and the Dubai Opera. His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) said, “The remarkable vision and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, have been a huge source of inspiration to us all, leading to the decisive and efficient management of the pandemic and ultimately paving the way for the reopening of the city to tourists in July. Since then, Dubai has seen a steady increase in visitors, underpinned by comprehensive measures to safeguard the wellbeing of our guests. Going into 2021, Dubai will continue to strengthen its offering for business and leisure visitors with the launch of new facilities and attractions, as well as the return of world-class conferences, events and festivals including the iconic Dubai Shopping Festival, and the first ever World Expo to be held in this region.” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said, …

Etihad Airways joined the £65 million Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) consortium, due to open next year at Cranfield University in the UK. As the first airline to join the DARTeC consortium and a leading industry innovator, Etihad’s expertise across the fundamental fields of sustainability, operational efficiency, safety and improved passenger experience will lend valuable insight and real-world operational capability to the DARTeC initiative. Specific topics Etihad and DARTeC will collaborate on include: reducing aircraft emissions both in the air and on the ground; creating safe, secure and efficient airspace; better understanding of whole-life sustainability impacts of aircraft; enhancing the passenger experience; and increasing the reliability and availability of aircraft. Professor Graham Braithwaite, Project Lead and Director of Transport Systems at Cranfield, said, “As an innovative airline focused on the future challenges of safety, efficiency and sustainability, there is much overlap between Etihad’s aims and the research themes of DARTeC. We look forward to working together to deliver the innovation required to enable the industry to ‘build back better’ from Covid-19.” Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Etihad has long been known as a leader for innovation in aviation and our role in the consortium reinforces our commitment to driving the industry forward through technology, and corporation. “As an innovative, future-focused carrier, membership of DARTeC is a natural fit for Etihad, providing a unique opportunity to expand exploration of key topics across sustainability, safety and passenger experience with industry leading partners. With this new partnership we hope to bring the best ideas, approaches and projects to Etihad to ultimately ensure that our operations are cutting edge and that our Guests have the best possible …

Abu Dhabi’s Hope Consortium has achieved a major milestone in steering the global logistics industry towards worldwide COVID-19 vaccine distribution after facilitating the transportation and storage of two million vaccine doses in partnership with G42 Healthcare.Supported by consortium members, Etihad Cargo chartered seven Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to fly the temperature-sensitive cargo into Abu Dhabi International Airport. The UAE’s national carrier then utilised its road fleet to transfer the shipment to Abu Dhabi Ports’ KIZAD for holding in a purpose-built cool storage warehouse. “This operation illustrates what can be achieved when leading private-public sector partners collaborate to deliver cohesive solutions to a global logistics challenge,” explained HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. “This shipment showcases our combined capabilities and reinforces our commitment to support global efforts in the distribution of such vital cargo. The Hope Consortium provides the best available solution in one consolidated effort to meet the anticipated demands of vaccine shipments.” Ashish Koshy, CEO, G42 Healthcare, added: “This partnership is a logical progression in a journey that has seen G42 Healthcare emerge amongst the key global players leading the charge against a virus that has crippled the world. Ever since COVID-19 struck, we reacted with agility and precision, building on our inherent DNA of proactive thinking and innovation. Following the 4Humanity trials, we look forward to leveraging our unique expertise as the sole distributors of the COVID-19 vaccine to effectively, safely and efficiently manage the vaccine supply chain in the region and beyond. We will continue to synchronise our efforts to draw on the combined technical know how of our partners and build trust through collaboration.”

flydubai announced the start of flights to Grozny, the capital of the Chechen Republic in the Russian Federation. Flights between Dubai International (DXB) and Grozny Airport (GRV) will operate twice weekly starting from 17 December 2020. flydubai will be the first carrier to offer direct flights on this route from the UAE. flydubai has been operating flights to Russia since 2010 and offers passengers from the UAE through the combined flydubai and Emirates network easier access to Moscow and other major Russian cities. The airline has been steadily increasing its operations since July and continues to operate all-cargo flights and repatriation flights in addition to scheduled services. The new service to Grozny will give passengers access to Dubai and other holiday destinations across the carrier’s network. Commenting on the announcement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at flydubai, said: “since commencing operations in 2009, we have been committed to opening up new routes to previously underserved markets to offer more people the opportunity to travel more often. As we continue to see more countries lifting restrictions on international travel and expect the demand for travel to increase during the winter holiday season, we are pleased to announce the start of flights to Grozny.” Located on the Sunzha River, Grozny is the capital city of the Chechen Republic. The city has a lot to offer including modern architecture, shopping malls and attractions such as the Grozny Central Dome Mosque. Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, added: “Russia has always been an important market for flydubai. With the new direct route between Dubai and Grozny we continue to support the flow of travel, trade and tourism …

Emirates is expecting more than 200,000 passengers to travel through Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport during the Christmas holiday period as UAE residents and citizens head home or abroad, according to the airline’s latest booking figures. The busiest day for the airline will be on Friday December 11, although high passenger traffic is expected to start today, and will run through December 21. In addition, more than 200,000 passengers will be arriving into Dubai on Emirates flights during that same period.Customers are reminded to check the latest travel requirements to their booked destination, and to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight departure. Passengers are encouraged to build in extra time in their journey to avoid delays with expected traffic congestion coming into Terminal 3. Passengers physically checking in at the airport are requested to check in no later than 3 hours prior to departure, regardless of class of travel. Customers who present themselves less than 60 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted for travel. They can also check in online 48 hours to 90 minutes before flight departure. Those who opt to check-in online are reminded to visit the Emirates check-in counters at the airport to collect their boarding pass and to verify travel documents required for each destination country. Customers are also urged to use the convenient self check-in and bag drop kiosks for a more seamless airport experience. The service is available to all destinations except to the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements from these destinations. The 32 new self-service bag drop machines and 16 self-service kiosks complement the desks manned …

Gulf Air is adding new capabilities in partnership with Amadeus, in addition to the distribution and loyalty technology it uses today, in order to better meet the needs of travellers. The sheer number of travel options and fares available can be overwhelming to consumers. That’s why Amadeus and Gulf Air have joined forces to help travellers and travel professionals more easily match the right product offer to the right customer. Amadeus Airline Fare Families enables airlines to showcase the full value of their travel offers, allowing travel professionals to easily view all possible options. This includes the details of services included in a fare or offered at a charge, as well as the applicable fare conditions. For travel retailers using Amadeus technology, a unique, proactive upgrade facility will help drive revenues for both the travel agency and Gulf Air and enable customers to enjoy the flexibility and comfort that is important to them. Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer, Gulf Air, comments, “Our partnership with Amadeus is going from strength to strength. We are pleased to extend our existing cooperation to include Amadeus Airline Fare Families and Amadeus Rich Merchandising. We are proud of the products and service we provide, and this technology will enable us to better showcase our differentiated offer to our customers. As travelers return to the skies, we are confident that these technologies will help drive even greater customer satisfaction.” Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President, Airlines, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Amadeus adds, “Gulf Air is a valued and longstanding customer, and we already work closely on a number of strategic areas including distribution and customer loyalty. With so much choice and innovation taking place in the …

flydubai announced that it will provide passengers with a new multi-risk travel insurance which will be automatically applied to all passengers purchasing a flydubai ticket. Passengers who purchase a flydubai ticket, through the flydubai website or mobile app, flydubai travel shops, the flydubai Contact Centre or through any flydubai travel partner, will automatically receive the new, multi-risk travel insurance, provided by AIG Travel, at no additional cost.  In addition to multi-risk coverage, the insurance also provides COVID-19 coverage. The policy covers both return and one-way trips outside of a passenger’s country of residence. Commenting on the announcement, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said, “the safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. Our multi-risk travel insurance will offer passengers more confidence to travel knowing that they will be looked after at every step of their journey. We expect the demand for travel to increase during the upcoming winter holidays season and this will give our passengers greater piece of mind.”

Sabre Corporation announced that Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has recently implemented Sabre’s branded fares technology – enhanced merchandising capabilities that allow travel agents using the Sabre global distribution system (GDS) to access the full breadth of airlines’ branded fares. With this implementation, agents can now easily view, compare and sell Gulf Air’s ‘Boutique’ fare family across the network, offering their customers greater choice and personalisation at better value. “With Sabre’s branded fares, airlines can go beyond the basic fare rules,” said Dino Gelmetti, Vice President EMEA, Sabre Travel Solutions.  “They can package additional benefits and features, such as additional air miles, seat selection, checked baggage and other services, with the goal of providing their customers better flexibility and greater value.  The ability to cater to and personalise these demands will enhance travellers’ experiences and drive revenue for airlines.” Gulf Air has introduced a new price concept for all destinations effective 20 October 2020, which travel agents can book through Sabre’s GDS.  With three economy class and two Falcon Gold class fare options, customers will be able to enjoy more choice when booking their flights. By marketing its “Boutique” fares through Sabre, Gulf Air will be giving its customers more control over their travel experiences, paying for the services that best meet their needs. “We recognise that many travellers today consider the overall value of a ticket, rather than just the price alone – and this means different things to different people,” said Vincent Costa, Chief Commercial Officer, Gulf Air.  “While we continue to offer increased benefits across our fares, we also need to be able to cater to specific traveller demands. With Sabre, we …