Category Archives: Aviation

Qatar Airways has introduced off-airport check-in service in Makkah, providing Hajj and Umrah passengers with a seamless and hassle-free travel experience. Launched in partnership with Saudi Ground Services (SGS), this service enables passengers to complete check-in formalities, receive their boarding passes, and the baggage to be collected from the city, ensuring a smooth journey to the airport. Effective 1 March 2025, Qatar Airways passengers departing from Jeddah can take advantage of a new off-airport check-in service at Makkah Clock Royal Tower, a Fairmont Hotel. Conveniently located at the hotel entrance from the ring road on L2, this service streamlines the check-in process, reducing airport wait times and allowing pilgrims to focus on their spiritual journey with ease and comfort. Qatar Airways’ Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “At Qatar Airways, we recognise the profound significance of Hajj and Umrah and remain committed to enhancing the travel experience for our passengers. By introducing the off-airport check-in service in Makkah, in partnership with Saudi Ground Services, we are ensuring that pilgrims can begin their journey with convenience and peace of mind. This initiative reflects our dedication to delivering world-class services tailored to the needs of our passengers, reaffirming our commitment to seamless and innovative travel solutions.” Saudi Ground Service’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mohammad Abdul Kareem Mazi, said: “At Saudi Ground Services, we are honoured to continuously expand our innovative Hajj & Umrah off-airport solutions in collaboration with our partner Airlines ensuring we fulfil our commitment to serve all Hajj & Umrah passengers. Our partnership with Qatar Airways reflects our shared dedication to deliver seamless and Innovative travel experiences enabling pilgrims focus on their spiritual journey while we take care …

Etihad Airways announced that its legendary A380 will serve the Abu Dhabi – Toronto route in time for Summer 2025. The famous double-decker will start flying between Zayed Abu Dhabi International (AUH) and Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) on June 24, 2025, perfectly timed for the busy summer travel period and key corporate market. It means the world’s only three-room suite in the sky, serving up the legendary flying experience, is on the way to the land of the maple leaf. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: “We’re delighted to start flying our remarkable A380 to Canada, and we know our guests love the onboard experience. Whether they are flying in Economy, Business, First or the three-room suite in the sky, The Residence, they will relish the attentive service from our dedicated crew. The timing and comfort provided by the A380 means they can arrive in Toronto fresh and ready for anything. “Deploying the A380 on the popular Toronto route is a strategic move to meet customer demand for increased capacity while expanding our network. Given Toronto’s popularity among Etihad’s customers, enhancing our capacity in the Canadian market is a logical step. This will strengthen connections to the broader GCC and Indian subcontinent and attract more visitors to experience the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi.” The increase in capacity on the Toronto route gives more opportunity for guests to visit Abu Dhabi, either as a stopover or a destination. Etihad’s Abu Dhabi Stopover programme further enhances connectivity, enabling travellers to extend their layovers into memorable stays with up to two complimentary nights at premium hotels in Abu Dhabi. To celebrate the launch of the A380, Etihad is launching a …

HBX Group (HBX.SM) and PerfectStay announced the strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines that has resulted in the launch of Turkish Airlines Holidays, a new travel offering designed to enhance the passenger experience. This partnership enables Turkish Airlines passengers to have access to HBX Group’s extensive global inventory of hotels, experiences, and transfers, powered by PerfectStay’s dynamic packaging technology, which allows travelers to conveniently book customized travel packages tailored to their preferences. Passengers will have the best price guaranteed and bundled package benefits for holiday packages in over 60 countries and 200 destinations, including tailor-made holiday and tour programs. With Turkish Airlines being one of the largest and most influential airlines in the world, covering the largest global network of international flights, this collaboration is a major milestone in HBX Group’s strategic focus on airlines and loyalty programs, a key segment that accounted for 13% of Total Transaction Value (TTV) of HBX Group´s Accommodation segment in 2024. Turkish Airlines Holidays, also, will announce its entry into the US market in the coming months. Nicolas Huss said “Today’s travelers expect a seamless and connected booking experience. With this in mind, we are proud to embark on this strategic partnership with Turkish Airlines to launch Turkish Airlines Holidays. Through this collaboration, passengers can now enhance their journeys by combining flights with our extensive global inventory of accommodations, transfers and experiences, powered by PerfectStay’s advanced packaging technology, to create the ideal getaway. As a company dedicated to connecting global travel, we are thrilled about this opportunity and eager to shape the future of travel together.” “We are excited to partner with HBX Group and Turkish Airlines on this groundbreaking venture”. Raphael Zier, Co-founder and …

Emirates and Garuda Indonesia unlocked a world of new opportunities for frequent flyer members with the launch of a joint loyalty programme offering. Emirates Skywards and GarudaMiles members can now earn and redeem Miles while travelling across a combined network of more than 200 destinations. The two carriers launched a codeshare agreement in 2022 and have since expanded their partnership to offer loyalty programme members more destinations, more Miles, and more rewards. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of Aviation Festival Asia 2025 by Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, and Rahmaniar, Miles & Ancillary Group Head Garuda Indonesia. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer: “At Emirates Skywards, we’re always exploring new ways to offer more choice, value, and opportunities for our members. Our exciting new partnership with Garuda Indonesia will bring significant benefits to both Skywards and GarudaMiles members. This strategic collaboration aligns with Skywards’ vision of creating a truly global loyalty experience for our members worldwide. It will open new doors for frequent flyers to earn and redeem miles across our combined networks, while also expanding our renowned loyalty offering in Southeast Asia. We look forward to growing this partnership and delivering even greater value to our members.” Wamildan Tsani Panjaitan, President & CEO Garuda Indonesia, explained: “We are thrilled to present this enhanced value partnership for both Garuda Indonesia and Emirates loyal passengers. With this new joint loyalty programme, Garuda Indonesia represents its commitment to always deliver exciting offers to our GarudaMiles members while adding more benefits for Skywards members. Giving more opportunities to earn and redeem miles seamlessly across both networks globally, this initiative will unlock more destinations for …

Air France-KLM has selected Amadeus as its technology partner for native order capabilities. With Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution, the Group aims to pursue the broader transformation of its retailing capabilities. Air France-KLM will work closely with Amadeus to define the needs for modern airline retailing transformation. Customers stand to benefit from a best-in-class traveller-centric retailing and servicing experience. “We are pleased to welcome Air France‑KLM as the latest customer to subscribe to Amadeus Nevio. This new generation of airline technology helps airlines deliver the best possible retailing experience to customers across all their operations, and at every touchpoint. We are dedicated to supporting Air France‑KLM in its retail transformation and, more generally, to accelerating the pace of the industry’s move to customer‑centric retailing.” Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President Travel Unit and Managing Director EMEA, Amadeus. Air France-KLM and Amadeus have signed a landmark agreement to bring airline retailing into a new era through Nevio, Amadeus’ next-generation solution for” Offer and Order” native capabilities. At the heart of this transformation is the adoption of the IATA “ONE Order” standard, which will elevate the customer experience to meet the evolving needs of digitally savvy consumers. Today, customers typically need to juggle multiple documents such as the Passenger Name Record (PNR), the Electronic Ticket (ETK), and Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMDs) for each booking. The partnership with Amadeus, based on Modern Airline Retailing principles, will simplify operations and the customer experience by putting in place a single, streamlined source of truth – the Order – much like how e-commerce operates today. This partnership advances Air France-KLM’s ambition to update its current systems and move to a modern,” Offer and Order” native system. This multi-year effort will be orchestrated …

Emirates has unveiled an exciting new offer for travellers planning a trip to Dubai this winter. Travellers flying from select regions who book a return ticket in First Class or Business Class to Dubai, or with a stopover in the city, will receive a complimentary stay at the luxurious JW Marriott Marquis. Travellers flying in Premium Economy or Economy Class can enjoy a complimentary one-night stay at either Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira or Holiday Inn Festival City. Furthermore, those flying to Dubai from select regions with Emirates can also get complimentary access to Sky Views Observatory with access to the Sky Glass Slide and Fountain boardwalk. * This offer is available on emirates.com, Emirates contact centre, retail and ticketing offices or travel agencies. Located just minutes away from Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa, and Dubai Opera, the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel offers an exceptional base to experience the best of Dubai. As a bustling and dynamic 5-star property, this iconic hotel is among the tallest in the world, featuring two towers, 1,608 luxurious rooms, and breathtaking views of the water and city skyline. Guests can enjoy a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, energise at the state-of-the-art fitness centre, or unwind with a soothing massage at Saray Spa. The hotel also offers 12 restaurants and lounges, offering Japanese, Italian, Indian, and Thai cuisine. For travellers in Premium Economy or Economy, Crowne Plaza Dubai Deira provides a comfortable stay in the heart of Dubai’s vibrant Deira district. The Deira district is home to traditional souks, modern malls, and cultural landmarks all within walking distance. Alternatively, the Holiday Inn, Festival City is situated in one of Dubai’s premier shopping, dining, and entertainment hubs, and …

To reinforce its position and network in central Asia region, flynas opened its office in the capital, Tashkent. The opening aligns with flynas growth and expansion strategy, launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom,” in parallel with the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 150 million tourists yearly by 2030 and the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques. In the presence of His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Yousef Algahrah, and Uzbekistan’s Vice Minister of transportation, within its plans to expand its international network especially during the Umrah and Hajj seasons. flynas has been operating 5 weekly flights to Tashkent from Jeddah since 2022, in addition to 4 weekly flights to Namangan, the third largest city in Uzbekistan, also from Jeddah. Furthermore, flynas is the largest Saudi carrier operating direct flights from the Kingdom to Central Asia, including Almaty in Kazakhstan and the two cities of Bishkek and Osh in Kyrgyzstan. flynas operates 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations in 30 countries with more than 1500 weekly flights and has flown more than 80 million passengers since its launch in 2007, with the aim to reach 165 domestic and international destinations within its growth and expansion plan, and in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

Oman Air has recorded its highest ever seat occupancy, achieving a record 88% total load factor in January 2025, reflecting the percentage of available seats filled with passengers and demonstrating how efficiently the airline has utilised its capacity. Of the 41 destinations Oman Air flew to last month, several achieved load factors as high as 95%. The airline has surged ahead of the global average, which was 83.5% for 2024, according to the latest numbers from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). An impressive 77% occupancy was also achieved for its Business Class seats. Simultaneously, the airline is also growing its point-to-point market share to attract more tourists into Oman and contribute to the country’s economic goals. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said “We’re extremely proud of this record load factor, which reflects the strength of our network and shows that the changes we have made to the business are starting to come to fruition. As we look towards the summer season, we can see a strong booking momentum and we continue to focus on sustaining this growth by delivering exceptional service to our guests and providing more options for travel.” Oman Air began a major transformation in 2023 with a mandate to achieve financial breakeven within three years while feeding positively into the socio-economic objectives of Oman. The airline recently reported its performance highlights for 2024, the first full year of the transformation, with significant progress made owing to a comprehensive network study, a focus on profitable routes, and a fleet modernisation programme that introduces efficient new aircraft while retiring older, costlier ones. Oman Air serves over 40 destinations with a mix of wide-body and narrow-body …

In January 2025, Qatar Stopover programme recorded more than 10,500 visitors, compared to 6,651 in January 2024. The number of visitors in the stopover programme increased an impressive 165% from April 2024 to January 2025 – as compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. Discover Qatar, the destination management arm of Qatar Airways Group, has achieved a significant milestone, welcoming over 10,000 stopover visitors in a single month for the first time since the Qatar Stopover Programme’s relaunch in August 2021. This achievement reflects Qatar’s growing appeal as a world-class destination and the programme’s growing popularity. The programme has also driven exceptional growth in hotel bookings, with over 100,000 room nights sold so far this year – doubling the figures from the previous year. Qatar Airways Holidays is driving this success as the largest contributor to the programme’s sales, delivering over a third of all bookings, leveraging the marketing strength of Qatar Airways around the globe. Stopover is proving incredibly popular with Qatar Airways frequent flyers too, with 20% of customers using the popular loyalty currency Avios to pay for their bookings, with logged in Privilege Club members earning Avios and Qpoints with every transaction. Discover Qatar Senior Vice President, Mr. Steven Reynolds, said: “Qatar Stopover Programme is central to positioning Qatar as a leading global destination, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. By leveraging Qatar Airways’ extensive network of over 170 destinations and the outstanding travel experiences we offer, we have firmly established Qatar as a must-visit destination. At Discover Qatar, we are committed to delivering tailored packages that combine cultural discovery, world-class hospitality, and unforgettable experiences for travellers from around the world.” The growth of the …

Etihad Airways announces the roll out of its new and elevated digital experience across etihad.com and the mobile app. The new digital experience offers a modern and inviting platform to book travel and gain inspiration for upcoming journeys. The website navigation is re-engineered as a standout left-side menu allowing users to move seamlessly and efficiently through the site; while the bold colour of ‘midnight dune’ from Etihad’s newly integrated colour palette, gives an enticing first impression. A strong emphasis on enhanced digital self-service options makes the user experience easier and more personalised. During the online check-in process many new features have been added including pre-populated data to save time, an improved seat map and streamlined access to travel extras all within a simple three-step process. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “In our commitment to delivering an extraordinary customer experience, we’ve completely redesigned the digital experience ensuring that our guests enjoy engaging with us from the very first touch of a screen until reaching their destination and beyond. Furthermore, we’ve made sure our valued Etihad Guest members can enjoy the benefits of a more personalised experience now conveniently in the one app or website.” Adding to this, Etihad Airways’ Chief Digital Officer, Frank Meyer, said: “At Etihad, we are constantly evolving and innovating the digital experience in line with customer preferences and industry trends. In our commitment to innovation and improvement, we will continue to go beyond expectations by delivering a more personalised and seamless online experience for our guests.” The Etihad Airways mobile app, on both Android and iOS, now also serves as a digital travel assistant with booking, trip management and loyalty member profiles …