Category Archives: Aviation

flydubai announced the launch of direct flights to two new destinations in Iran. This includes the start of a four-times weekly service to Kish Island from 07 September and a twice-weekly service to Kerman from 09 September. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “we have continued to look for opportunities to open up underserved markets and so we are pleased to offer our customers more convenient options for travel to Iran. flydubai is dedicated to creating free flows of trade and tourism and with Kerman and Kish Island as our newest destinations, we look forward to providing our passengers more opportunities to explore our extensive network.” ​ The carrier recently announced the start of its daily services to Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan commencing from 01 July. Later this year, flydubai is also set to welcome Basel in Switzerland from 02 August, Riga in Latvia from 11 October in addition to Tallinn in Estonia and Vilnius in Lithuania from 12 October. Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “with the addition of these two routes, flydubai will provide customers with convenient and accessible travel services between both countries, making it easier for customers to connect to Dubai and beyond on our network. Passengers who choose to travel with flydubai can enjoy a personalised experience in Business Class or added comfort in Economy Class on our young fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.” flydubai’s Business Class service features lie-flat or reclining seats, international menus as well as hours of immersive inflight entertainment while the carrier’s Economy Class features optimised seats for passengers to sit back and relax. flydubai operates flights …

SalamAir announced its network-wide social media engagement campaign to celebrate the enchanting Khareef season in Salalah, Oman. This campaign aims to gather travelers from around the world in a collective celebration and promotion of Salalah as a must-visit destination during the summer months, renowned for its refreshing cooler weather and stunning natural beauty. We invite all our passengers to capture and share their favorite moments from Salalah during Khareef for a chance to win a free return ticket to any of our destinations! “We are thrilled to reveal this interesting social media campaign, designed to harness the power of our vibrant community of travelers and showcase the enchanting Khareef season in Salalah. By encouraging our passengers to share their personal experiences, we highlight Salalah’s unique beauty and create a deeper connection with our audience and community. This strategic initiative aims to magnify Salalah’s appeal as a premier summer destination, leveraging user-generated content to inspire and attract more visitors to experience its refreshing cooler weather and captivating landscapes.” said Sherif Hosny, Director of Marketing and Digital Sales at SalamAir. This campaign is more than just a contest; it’s an opportunity to join a community of travelers who appreciate the unique charm of Salalah during Khareef. Salalah transforms into a verdant city with cooler temperatures, offering a refreshing escape from the summer heat. By sharing your experiences, you stand a chance to win exciting prizes and contribute to showcasing Salalah as a premier summer destination. Your photos and stories will inspire others to discover the hidden gems of this beautiful city, and promoting it as a must-visit location will aid local businesses, events, and communities to prosper. Now, SalamAir connects Salalah with …

According to the latest data shared by IATA, Middle Eastern airlines saw a 9.7% year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.0% year-on-year and the load factor increased 0.5ppt to 80.7% compared to May 2023. Asian routes to the Middle East are particularly strong, now standing some 32% higher than in 2019. Another notable development is the Europe-Middle East route, which saw an April-May RPK increase for two years in a row, reversing the previous historic pattern of a decline between these months. In the coming months, it will become clearer to what extent these trends could be related to the Russia-Ukraine war.   Air passenger market in detail – May 2024     May 2024 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Total Market 100% 10.7% 8.5% 1.7% 83.4% Africa 2.1% 13.4% 8.5% 3.2% 72.9% Asia Pacific 31.7% 14.9% 9.2% 4.0% 81.8% Europe 27.1% 10.3% 9.7% 0.4% 85.2% Latin America 5.5% 7.9% 5.3% 2.0% 83.4% Middle East 9.4% 10.2% 8.9% 0.9% 80.8% North America 24.2% 6.5% 6.5% 0.0% 85.8%   1% of industry RPKs in 2023  

Amadeus and Vistara Airlines successfully collaborated on a joint promotion to support the travel industry during the typically slow period last Ramadan which boosted travel bookings, saw an overwhelming positive response from travel partners and resulted in healthy flight loads and increased incremental segments. As part of the highest seller incentive, six top-performing travel partners were rewarded with attractive prizes including Apple Watches, Lenovo Tablets, Vistara Premium Economy and Economy tickets, and shopping vouchers. The incentive was designed to motivate and appreciate the hard work of the travel agencies during this period. Both Vistara and Amadeus expressed their deep gratitude to their travel partners for their unwavering support. This gesture was met with enthusiasm and appreciation from the travel partners, who reaffirmed their commitment to a long-term partnership with both companies. The collaboration with travel partners has not only bolstered travel bookings has also strengthened relationships with key industry players. The positive feedback from travel partners underscores the success of the promotion. Among the top-performing travel agencies were Akbar Travels Middle East, Alhashar Travels, Bahwan Tourism LLC, Khimji’s House of Travel, Satguru Travel and Tourism Services and Zahara Travel & Service Bureau LLC. These agencies demonstrated exceptional sales performance, contributing significantly to the promotion’s success.

Qatar Airways’ first flight to Hamburg Airport (HAM) in Germany has landed marking the launch of daily non-stop flights from Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha, Qatar. Hamburg becomes Qatar Airways’ fifth destination in Germany, in addition to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich, helping to meet strong demand in the market. The airline saw a 62 per cent growth in outbound passengers from Germany in 2023 compared with the previous year. The new connection further adds to the airline’s route network of more than 170 destinations worldwide, seamlessly connecting travellers from northern Germany to Doha and beyond, while also making the metropolis of Hamburg even more accessible for people from around the world. The route also supports economic and trade relations between northern Germany, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The flights are expected to offer up to 11 per cent growth in Hamburg’s cargo sector compared to last year. The first flight was welcomed on the ground by Dr. Peter Tschentscher, First Mayor of Hamburg, Mr. Ali Al-Boainian, Charge de Affair of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Berlin, Mr. Thierry Antinori, Chief Commercial Officer Qatar Airways, Eng. Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO Visit Qatar, H.E. Lothar Freischlader, German Ambassador to the State of Qatar, Christian Kunsch, Hamburg Airport CEO, and Dr. Malte Heyne, CEO of the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. Hamburg Airport is the oldest commercial airport in the world and the city is a key hub for global trade and business travel. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “Qatar Airways extends a warm welcome to the beautiful city of Hamburg as the latest destination to join its expansive route network, and its fifth …

In a move to increase domestic tourism SAUDIA has launched special promotional offer in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority. This offer covers round-trip flights in guest class, with prices ranging from SAR 224 to SAR 400. This initiative builds on Saudia’s commitment to providing competitive prices to its guests throughout the year. Guests can book their tickets through Saudia’s digital channels, including the website and smartphone application. The offer is valid for bookings made between July 1 and July 4, 2024, for the travel period of July 10 to August 10, 2024. In the coming years, Saudia has ambitious plans to double its network that consists of 144 aircraft connecting 26 domestic destinations. Additionally, the national flag carrier offers distinguished air services that enhance the travel experience for guests, including warm Saudi hospitality and a variety of in-flight entertainment options on multilingual screens, catering to diverse guests’ preferences.

The long-established national airline of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air will run flights from Bahrain to Munich four times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – on a modern Airbus A321neo. Landing in Munich is at 6:35 a.m., while the take-off time for Bahrain is 12:20 p.m. As a vacation destination or as a stopover on a long-distance trip, the island state of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf offers a mixture of tradition and modernity. The island state also has a direct road link via the King Fahd Causeway, a 25-km long bridge that connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia. For onward travelers, the international hub boasts a variety of connections to fascinating destinations, including India, Singapore, Thailand, the Maldives, and China. The new connection to Bahrain expands the wide range of flights between Munich and the Gulf States, which is also hugely important to tourism in Bavaria. In 2023, the state capital alone recorded around 400,000 overnight stays by guests from this region, up five percent on the previous year. With a water baptism, a traditional ribbon-cutting, and gingerbread hearts, Munich Airport welcomed the Bahrain-based airline Gulf Air, which will be flying regularly to the Bavarian aviation hub from now on.

Riyadh Air in collaboration with the Saudi fashion designer Ashi, founder of Parisian couture house ASHI Studio, has unveiled its first-ever fashion collection, during Haute Couture Week in Paris. The airline took to the runway in style showcasing its stunning new lifestyle collection for its frontline team members in the fashion capital of the world. The exclusive fashion line is made up of dozens of male and female looks, of which 15 were revealed during the most prestigious fashion week of the year. The luxury Riyadh Air concepts unveiled in Paris comprised of timeless cashmere outerwear, dresses and trousers made of fine wools, custom leather footwear, amethyst earrings, and iconic pillbox hats, all of which are inspired by 1950s airline fashion, widely considered as the ‘golden age’ in aviation, but with bold, modern styling for a future-forward brand. The reveal evening was attended by distinguished guests from near and far which included senior stakeholders, diplomats and celebrities that all attended to be a part of the historic moment in Paris. Riyadh Air and Lucid, maker of the world’s most advanced electric vehicles, also took the opportunity during Haute Couture Week in Paris to reaffirm their shared commitment to sustainable transport and eco-friendly practices. Lucid and Riyadh Air have an innovative partnership with a shared vision for the future of sustainable transportation exploring the collaboration across co-marketing, commercial, and operational streams for guests. For the new fashion line, Ashi has cultivated completely new color tones for the looks, including the chic and elegant Electric Amethyst for womenswear, and Dark Amethyst for menswear, of which the full collection is scheduled for launch early next year. The unique amethyst shades pay homage to …

Starting from 1st July 2024 to 21st July 2024, travellers who purchase an Emirates return ticket in First Class or Business Class will be able to enjoy a two-night stay at 5-star luxury hotel JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. Customers booked in Premium Economy Class or Economy Class can enjoy a complimentary one-night stay.* This special offer is valid for all return tickets to or stopping over in Dubai for more than 24 hours, for customers traveling between 4th July 2024 and 15th September 2024. Emirates is helping holidaymakers planning to visit or stopover in Dubai make the most of their summer with complimentary stays at one of the city’s most iconic hotels. Whatever their preferences, visitors to Dubai can enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches, futuristic architecture, cutting-edge shopping concepts, a rich gastronomy scene, and much more. Dubai serves as the perfect summer destination with a plethora of indoor activities across every part of the city. Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline said: “Visitors to Dubai are really spoilt for choice in the summer. With the city’s annual entertainment and shopping festival, Dubai Summer Surprises underway, shoppers and tourists will get to experience an endless array of activities and attractions. As an added incentive, Emirates is providing complimentary hotel stays for customers traveling to and through Dubai, giving travellers another reason to visit our home city, whether for the first time or on repeat. It’s also part of our commitment to supporting Dubai’s solid growth trajectory as a year-round, world-class tourism destination.” Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “Dubai is on an unstoppable journey to elevate our global tourism …

Etihad Airways touched down for the first time in Denpasar, Bali marking the launch of regular services between Abu Dhabi and the paradise island destination. The inaugural flight, EY476, was celebrated at Zayed International Airport before take-off on Tuesday evening. On arrival in Denpasar, the aircraft was met with the traditional water cannon salute and Etihad’s Captains waved the UAE and Indonesian flags from the cockpit to celebrate the launch of the non-stop connection. The new service operates four times a week, using a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring Etihad’s renowned Business Studios and Economy Smart seats. With 28 seats in Business and 262 seats in Economy boasting Etihad’s E-Box entertainment system, in-seat power, and in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity, guests can expect a comfortable and enjoyable travel experience, complemented by world-class service and hospitality. “I am honoured to be welcomed to the island today and proud to bring a full flight on our inaugural journey into Bali,” said Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer. “We are thrilled to add Bali to the growing list of destinations we serve directly from Abu Dhabi. It becomes our second destination in Indonesia, adding to the capital Jakarta. We look forward to connecting our guests from the Middle East, Europe and across our global network with the Indonesian tropical island.” The island of Bali has something to offer adventure seekers, those looking for a vibrant social scene, as well as those in search of culture, tranquility and wellness. For a stunning holiday, visitors can choose to take advantage of the beautiful beaches and indulge in a surfers’ paradise or head inland to visit the rice terraces and luscious green landscapes of the cultural …