Category Archives: Aviation

Etihad Airways celebrated the deployment of the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on its daily scheduled services to Shanghai by hosting a spectacular ‘Abu Dhabi Night’ reception. The occasion was attended by leading figures from the UAE and local government officials, diplomats, corporate partners, members of the travel industry and social influencers from the two countries. Robin Kamark, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, said, “Since the launch of our flights between Shanghai and Abu Dhabi in 2012, we have witnessed huge growth in China’s outbound tourism market and experienced strong demand from both business and leisure travellers. We are delighted to now deploy the larger 787-10 Dreamliner on this popular route, a decision which reflects the importance of Shanghai and China to Etihad Airways.” H.E. Dr. Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to China, said, “The aviation sector makes an invaluable contribution of 13 per cent of the UAE’s GDP and as such is one of the most valuable aspects of the UAE-China relationship. Our country has become an important strategic trading partner for China’s overseas investment, positioned as it is at the crossroads of continents. The UAE sits at a crucial pivot point of the international arc of the Belt and Road Initiative, and we are working with the Chinese government to capitalise on this geostrategic benefit, as the natural gateway to Africa and the wider Middle East.”

Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed three weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Salalah, the popular holiday destination on the south coast of Oman. The inaugural flight operated by the Omani airline, Salam Air, commenced on July 2 and will continue running until September 7, 2019 allowing travellers from the UAE to visit Salalah conveniently and at affordable rates. Speaking of the seasonal arrangement, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, Maarten De Groof, commented, “Salalah is an ever popular destination for those in the UAE seeking a cooler and nature-driven destination during the summer months. With Salam Air, travellers looking to visit the Omani destination will be able to take advantage of three weekly cost-effective flights. We also look forward to welcoming travellers from the south of Oman to the city of Abu Dhabi, and sharing with them the wide range of cultural, entertainment and retail destinations the city has to offer.” Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of Salam Air said, “Salalah is proving to be an extremely popular destination, with GCC residents in particular keen to escape the summer heat. Our new Abu Dhabi to Salalah flight operating three times a week will be a boon to UAE residents looking for the perfect staycation this summer, especially as Khareef season is now upon us.” Outbound flights will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the flights will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport at 21:35 Local Time (LT), landing in Salalah International Airport (SLL) at 23:25 LT. Return flights will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving Salalah International Airport at 19:00 LT and landing in Abu Dhabi International Airport at 20:50 LT.

Emirates is giving travellers to and from Oman more choice, comfort and luxury with the first arrivals of its double daily A380 services to Muscat.  Flights EK 862 and EK 864 were each welcomed with water cannon salutes upon arrival, ushering in the new services to Oman’s capital, Muscat. Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Centre, said, “The incredibly popular Emirates A380 has arrived in Oman and we are pleased to give our customers travelling between Muscat and Dubai the opportunity to experience the iconic products and services on this aircraft.” Sheikh Ayman Bin Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO of Oman Airports, said, “We at Oman Airports are proud of Muscat International Airport which has become the embodiment of the hospitality and warmth of the Sultanate of Oman.” The Muscat A380 flights will fly approximately 340 kms each way, making them the shortest A380 flights in the world. That is also shorter than the internal wiring of the A380, which when stretched from end-to-end reaches a distance of over 500 kms. The double daily A380 operations underscore Muscat International Airport’s modern infrastructure and readiness to handle aircraft operations. The twice daily A380 services operate on EK 862/863 and EK 864/865. EK862 departs Dubai at 08: 25 hrs, arriving in Muscat at 09:40 hrs. The return flight, EK 863, departs Muscat at 11:15 hrs, arriving in Dubai in the afternoon at 12:25 hrs. Emirates’ late afternoon flight EK 864 departs Dubai at 16:10 hrs and arrives in Muscat at 17:25 hrs. EK 865 departs Muscat at 19:05 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 20:15 hrs. Along with the A380 services, EK 866/867, the early morning flight, is operated with …

The occasion was marked in style with a spectacular ‘Abu Dhabi Night’ evening reception at The Shilla, Seoul’s most iconic landmark hotel. Effective July 1, 2019, Etihad Airways will operate the Airbus A380 on its daily service linking Abu Dhabi and Seoul. With the introduction of the A380, the South Korean capital’s Incheon airport now joins London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, New York JFK and Sydney as the top destinations served by the airline’s award-winning aircraft. Robin Kamark, Aviation Group Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad, said, “We are delighted to include Seoul as one of our most important destinations on the Etihad network with the increased capacity and flagship flying experience only the A380 can provide. The move will guarantee product consistency and more convenient travel options for more customers travelling to and from Korea, ensuring they experience the ultimate flying experience.” Etihad Airways launched its Abu Dhabi to Seoul service in December 2010 and upgraded the daily flights to its state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on August 1, 2018 in order to further meet the demands for a more comfortable and personalised travel experience. Etihad Airways operates extensive codeshare partnerships with both Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, providing enhanced connections between Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

The first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight will depart from the new home of Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Airport, to Antalya on July 8, and its first international flight will be from Istanbul to Denpasar (Bali) on July 17, one of the new routes to be added to the network for 2019, thereafter from Dubai in September. Following those, it will continue to carry passengers on a number of medium and long-haul exotic routes through the summer. They include routes into London, Dubai, Washington DC, New York, Atlanta, Mexico City, Cancun, Bali, Amsterdam, Delhi, Panama City, and Bogota. By the end of August 2019, six 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will be operational and servicing international routes, heralding the start of a new chapter in the growth of Turkish Airlines’ young and modern fleet. “Turkish Airlines has been committed to continuously expanding its range of services on and off-ground as it grows in reach and flies to more international destinations than any other carrier in the world. With this goal in mind, we’re thrilled to reach new horizons with the addition of the 787-9 Dreamliner to our fleet flying from our new home, Istanbul Airport,” said İlker Aycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Turkish Airlines. “The aircraft’s advanced technology, fuel efficiency, and passenger-centric cabin design will all help us remain the first choice for travellers and provide our loyal flyers across the globe with a best-in-class experience for years to come.” “Turkish Airlines’ growth has been remarkable in recent years, both in expanding flight options and supporting Turkey’s aviation industry. We are honoured that Turkish Airlines is embarking on its next chapter of expansion with the 787 Dreamliner,” said Ihssane Mounir, …

The national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad has upgraded services on three key Asian routes this week, introducing larger aircraft to accommodate growing demand. Flights between the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and two major Chinese cities, Shanghai and Chengdu, have been upgraded with next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliners, while the South Korean city of Seoul has been boosted from a Dreamliner to an Airbus A380 ‘super jumbo’. “Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing air transport region in the world, and China is the fastest-growing individual market. As we continue to modernise our aircraft fleet, and as we work with tourism partners to increase visitor numbers to Abu Dhabi, we are deploying newer, larger planes to key markets throughout our network,” said Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways. Chengdu, in south-central China, is a city of 7.4 million people. Etihad has upgraded its daily Abu Dhabi – Chengdu flights from 262-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft to 299-seat Boeing 787s, a 14 per cent increase in seats. Shanghai, China’s largest city, with a population of more than 24 million, has been upgraded from Boeing 787-9 aircraft to larger Boeing 787-10 jets, seating 336 passengers, up 12 per cent. And Seoul, the capital of South Korea, with a population approaching 10 million, has been upgraded by Etihad from the Boeing 787-10 to the 494-seat Airbus A380, a massive 47 per cent increase. With the upgrades of the Shanghai and Chengdu routes, Etihad now operates Dreamliners to all four of its China gateways, having introduced these planes to Hong Kong and Beijing earlier this year.

Cebu Pacific, the Philippines’ largest carrier has partnered with Al Ansari Exchange, a UAE-based foreign exchange and worldwide money transfer company to provide easy and hassle-free payment solutions to passengers in the UAE. The agreement paves the way for customers flying with Cebu Pacific to process their payments for flight tickets at any of the 188 Al Ansari Exchange branches located across the UAE, thus, providing more convenience for their travel arrangements. Travellers who prefer to pay in cash can now do so through the over-the-counter facilities of any Al Ansari Exchange, for bookings they have made through Cebu Pacific’s website or mobile app, and phone bookings, within 24 hours. Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Distribution at Cebu Pacific, said, “We are pleased to partner with one of the largest exchange houses in the UAE, with a vast network of branches. With this partnership, we’re able to provide more options to our customers which will make it even more convenient for them to avail our trademark year-round low fares.” Passengers traveling to the Philippines on the Cebu Pacific direct Dubai-Manila flight can benefit from the airline’s domestic connectivity, the widest route network within the country. Rashed Ali Al Ansari, General Manager of Al Ansari Exchange, said, “Our collaboration with Cebu Pacific is indeed another opportunity to better serve our Filipino customers who can now conveniently pay for their Cebu Pacific’s air tickets in any of our branches and benefit from our flexible and extended working hours.”  

Dubai Airports and China Eastern celebrated the arrival of the carrier’s inaugural flight from Qingdao to Dubai at Dubai International (DXB) on Saturday evening. The thrice weekly service is an important addition to China Eastern’s existing flights connecting DXB to Shanghai and Kunming, and the first ever to connect DXB to Qingdao, a major port city of 9 million population located on China’s Yellow Sea coast. China Eastern will operate three flights per week between the two cities, offering customers greater connectivity and convenience. A top trading partner of the UAE, China is a major contributor to DXB’s traffic with more than 3.5 million travellers in 2018. China is also one of the fastest growing countries in terms of volume of visitors to Dubai with numbers growing 12 per cent to 857,000 in 2018. A total of five airlines, including China Eastern, connect Dubai to 10 destinations across China on 81 weekly flights.

As a consequence of the growing interest in Sochi as a travel destination, the Dubai-based airline flydubai has inaugurated its new flight from Dubai to Sochi on June 7, 2019. Earlier this year, authorities from the UAE and the Russian Federation announced a visa-free regime between the two countries for the respective passport holders over the first 90-day period upon arrival. This ensures the utmost convenience for Middle East travellers. The recently launched non-stop flight from Dubai to Sochi operates twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. The WOW Sochi office in Dubai provides tantalising packages that are tailor-made to suit every category of sightseers with options to explore Sochi depending on your personal needs and desires. Packages with WOW Sochi start from 2,499 AED including airfares, accommodation with breakfast, airport transfers and selected tours. Rashid Al Noori, the representative of Sochi city in the UAE remarked that, “Now that we have an air bridge link between Dubai and Sochi city many UAE nationals and residents will be encouraged to explore this beautiful city where travellers will enjoy cool climate during summer months and savour a beautiful landscape with many activities to fulfill their desire during their holidays. One great advantage which the visitors to Sochi will notice is that the pricing in comparison with any other city is extremely reasonable.”

Global carrier Turkish Airlines added its 56th destination in Africa, Nigeria’s Port Harcourt with four weekly flights between Istanbul and Port Harcourt. Already flying to Lagos, Kano and Abuja in Nigeria, Turkish Airlines added Port Harcourt to the list, increasing its flight network to 311 destinations. With this launch, the global carrier continues to be the leader as the airline that flies to more destinations than any other airline in Africa. During the press conference in International Port Harcourt Airport held for the inaugural flight, Kerem Sarp, Turkish Airlines Senior Vice President of Sales (2nd Region), said, “By starting our Port Harcourt flights, we added a new milestone to Turkish Airlines’ mission of growth in Africa. With Port Harcourt as our fourth destination in Nigeria, Turkish Airlines continues to be the bridge between cultures. We are happy to add Port Harcourt to our flight network, and enable our passengers  to experience a seamless flight journey with Turkish Airlines privilege.”