Category Archives: Aviation

Royal Jordanian and Jordan Hotel Association (JHA) have reached a partnership agreement whereby RJ provides the association members travelling on Business and Economy classes anywhere on its route network discounted tickets aboard its planes. RJ President/CEO Stefan Pichler and JHA Chairman Abdul Hakeem Al-Hindi signed the agreement at the airline’s headquarters. Beneficiaries of the one-year, renewable, agreement include employees of the hotels that are members in JHA and the association staff, whether they travel for duty or personal trips, and their guests attending corporate official events. Found in 1969, JHA is a non-profit association representing more than 500 hotels throughout Jordan. The association seeks to promote cooperation among proprietors in the hospitality industry and plays a key role in coordinating with tourism authorities to develop the tourism business in Jordan. Pichler said: “RJ and JHA are long-standing business partners; we both work in the hospitality industry and our guests are theirs, so we both wish to offer top-notch services. We are glad to offer the association management, hotel employees and guests discounts on tickets all year round, to facilitate their transportation globally.” Al-Hindi said that JHA is proud of the services offered by the national carrier and “that is why our association is keen on choosing RJ for our travels. Thousands of hoteliers and employees are working at the hotels members in the JHA, and we hope that they can make use of the RJ offer to reach their desired destinations.”

Propelled by a double-digit surge in traffic in June, passenger numbers at Dubai International (DXB) topped 43.7 million in the first half of 2018, according to the traffic report issued by operator Dubai Airports. DXB handled a total of 43,739,105 passengers during the first half, up 1.6% compared to 43,054,268 passengers recorded during the corresponding period in 2017. Monthly traffic in June surged 11.7% to 6,795,492 passengers compared to 6,084,674 recorded in June 2017 – thanks largely to the impact of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan on traffic last year. All the major markets registered robust growth during June with routes to CIS topping the list with traffic growing 50.6% followed by Eastern Europe (33.6%), Africa (20%) and North America (16.9%). In terms of passenger volume, India was the top destination country during the month with 968,931 passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia (504,968), the UK (454477), Pakistan (349,633) and the US (291,391). London topped the list top city destinations during the month with 280,941 passengers, followed by Mumbai (195,213 passengers) and New Delhi (173,820). Flight movements in June totalled 32,805 up 6.4% compared to 30,841 recorded during June 2017. The year to date flight movements were down 2% to 201,784 compared to 205,998 recorded during the first six months of 2017. The average number of passengers per flight during the month stood at 213 compared to 203 during the same month in 2017, a growth of 4.9%. Dubai International handled a total of 214,612 tonnes of cargo during June, a marginal contraction of 0.5% compared to 215,668 recorded during the month last year. The year to date cargo totalled 1,268,161 tonnes, compared to 1,302,911 tonnes, down 2.7%.

Ctrip has launched its first Ctrip travel concept store, located at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 which aims to provide customers, particularly Chinese, with 24/7 high quality customer service and in-destination products. As an important global hub, Dubai International Airport welcomes tourists from all over the world. The concept store is able to provide one-stop online and offline services, including travel guidance, consultation, transportation, catering, shopping and more. The opening of Ctrip’s concept travel store marks the 2018 UAE-China Week and a fruitful cooperation with Dubai International Airport and Dubai Tourism. Ctrip’s first travel concept store allows tourists to enjoy greater value-added services upon their arrival. Travellers are able to experience Ctrip’s one-stop in-destinations services from the selection and booking of local tour activities to enjoying services from local tour guides and more. On-site staff are on hand to provide 24-hour service in languages such as Chinese, English, Arabic and many more. The concept store is complete with 3 TV sets along with 5 iPad Pros, allowing travelers to conveniently find their desired travel information. Ctrip has worked together with Dubai Tourism to design a variety of stopover itineraries and local entertainment options for travelers in transit or only in Dubai. Whether customers are seeking niche travel products or a more in-depth experience, Ctrip’s one-stop travel concept store aims to make sure that travelers get all they can out of Dubai regardless of the amount of time they are able to spend in the destination.

Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its scheduled services from Abu Dhabi to Rabat, capital of the Kingdom of Morocco from October 3, 2018, replacing the Airbus A330-300 currently serving the route. The introduction of the technologically advanced aircraft on Rabat services is a further boost to its presence in the Moroccan market. On May 1 this year, the airline placed the 787 Dreamliner on its daily flights to the kingdom’s commercial hub, Casablanca. The move to place the aircraft on Rabat flights will provide customers travelling on Etihad Airways’ Moroccan routes with full product consistency, the latest inflight technology, and increased cargo capacity to further boost trade. Etihad Airways’ three-class version of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner features 8 private First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats. To meet summer peak travel demand, Etihad Airways recently added a third weekly service to Rabat, operating every Saturday until 29 September. The extra flight provides more choice to the increasing number of point-to-point business and leisure travellers between both cities. Robin Kamark, Chief Commercial Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said, “Morocco is a very important destination on the Etihad network, underscoring the close cultural and commercial ties between the kingdom and the UAE. Our flights to Rabat and Casablanca have proved tremendously popular with UAE and Moroccan nationals, and residents. Adding the 787 Dreamliner on all our Moroccan services will now provide our customers flying to both capitals with the same award-winning cabins, innovative seating and products.”

Etihad Airways has signed a commercial agreement with Warner Bros, announcing a three-year partnership encompassing several collaborations aimed at increasing tourism to Abu Dhabi. Opening on July 25, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi will complement the wide range of award-winning leisure and entertainment attractions already on offer on Yas Island, reinforcing the island as a destination globally. Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi will feature a total of 29 state-of-the-art rides, interactive family-friendly attractions and unique live entertainment across six fully immersive lands. From the action and adrenaline-fuelled adventures of DC to the wacky and wonderful world of Warner Bros Animation – the 1.65 million sq. ft. park will offer captivating and interactive experiences, bringing together some of the world’s most iconic characters and stories under one roof for the first time in the region. As airline partner, Etihad Airways will work closely with Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi on areas of brand partnership, marketing, inflight programming, and travel trade support. Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said, “We are delighted to be the official airline partner of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. We continually look for ways to showcase the very best of Abu Dhabi as we bring international tourists from around the world to our home. This relationship will solidify our commitment in ensuring our guests have a memorable travel experience in the air and on the ground.”

Travelport has partnered with SecurityMetrics to help agents achieve proof of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance at preferential rates. The online wizard tool for PCI compliance from the SecurityMetrics PCI Customer Portal is a quick and easy option for Travelport-connected agents to get started and complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) on their payment processing environment. Merchants and agents can then show proof of compliance through the completion of an Attestation of Compliance. Alexandra Fitzpatrick, VP Travelport Global Payment Solutions, commented, “The ability to demonstrate proof of PCI DSS compliance is key for agencies to be seen as trusted partners to their customers. The PCI DSS certification program in partnership with SecurityMetrics is a simple way for our customers’ businesses to operate within a compliant environment and adhere to regulations”. “We are honored to help protect agents and customers and streamline their PCI compliance process. We believe our security tools, cloud-based PCI compliance module, and award-winning 24/7 support, combine to make the best PCI solution in the world”, said John Bartholomew, SecurityMetrics VP of Technology.

Emirates and  flydubai have announced that flights between Dubai and Zagreb in Croatia will be operated by flydubai from December 2018 to March 30 next year after which flights will be operated by Emirates. The move will ensure that capacity is deployed to best serve customer demand by maximising the frequency for passengers during the winter season. This further illustrates the passenger benefits of the strategic partnership between the two Dubai-based airlines. During this period, flight FZ1793 will depart from Dubai at 10:00 and arrive in Zagreb at 13:15 local time. The return flight FZ1794 will depart from Zagreb at 14:30 and arrive in Dubai at 23:00. flydubai will operate the route with its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which offers customers an enhanced travel experience including lie-flat seats in Business Class, the latest Economy Class seating, in-flight entertainment via HD touchscreens and Boeing’s innovative Sky Interior throughout the cabin. Emirates and flydubai will continue to offer a travel experience reflective of each other’s brand. flydubai’s Zagreb flights will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB), allowing seamless connections for passengers flying Emirates to Dubai’s ultra-modern airport.

Emirates A380 aircraft will operate a one-off flight to Kotoka International Airport (ACC), Accra, Ghana on Tuesday October 2, as the global airline joins local authorities in celebrating the opening of the airport’s new Terminal 3. The airline’s flagship double-decker will become the first-ever scheduled A380 service to Ghana, with Emirates partnering with the airport to test its operations and infrastructure to accommodate an A380 service. The one-off A380 flight EK787 from Dubai, will arrive at 11:35 hours and be on ground for more than six hours before it returns to Dubai as flight EK788 departing at 17:50 hours. “We have enjoyed a close relationship with Ghana as a strategic hub to West Africa for over a decade, and are honoured to bring our flagship A380 to this vibrant city. The launch of Terminal 3 is a milestone in Ghana’s aviation history and we support every effort to facilitate greater trade links, grow tourism and boost cargo to the region. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and our trademark A380 experience is very popular with our customers including Ghanaians who have flown on it to popular destinations like London, Beijing and Guangzhou. We take great pride in showcasing our unique products and services on this aircraft such as the Onboard Lounge and Shower Spa, to travellers between Dubai and Ghana for the first time,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations – Africa.

Etihad Airways has launched a WhatsApp Business solution, allowing guests to communicate instantly with the airline via the messaging app. The new service, which is the latest element of Etihad Airways’ digital strategy, will provide an enhanced offering to premium guests when they are at Abu Dhabi International Airport, allowing them to chat with the airline’s agents about their flights in a fast, personal, and efficient way. In addition to communicating with customer service agents, the WhatsApp Business solution will be expanded in the future to enable guests to receive important messages like flight reminders by opting into WhatsApp communications on the Etihad Airways booking confirmation page. Robin Kamark, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said, “The new WhatsApp Business solution will provide Etihad Airways’ premium guests with immediate contact with the airline, using the very latest technology. Air travellers around the world use WhatsApp in their daily lives and so it is an ideal channel for them to communicate with the airline and receive the latest information about their travel journey.” Etihad Airways offers several real-time channels for guests to contact the airline, including the @EtihadHelp and @EtihadPremium accounts on Twitter, and the airline’s Facebook page. During the initial trial phase, the Etihad Airways WhatsApp number will be exhibited in Premium check-in at Abu Dhabi Airport.

Emirates has announced that it will introduce two additional flights to Lyon and one to Paris per week, complementing its existing schedule and providing more choice and convenience to travellers. The increase in frequency from five to seven between Lyon and Dubai will see the route become a daily service, while the extra flight to Paris brings to 21 the number of flights per week to the French capital, offering travellers three flights per day. The Lyon flights will start on August 2, 2018, and will operate on a Tuesday and Thursday at the same time as the current flights, which depart Dubai as EK081 at 1435hrs and arrive in Lyon at 1930hrs. The return flight, EK082, leaves Lyon at 2155hrs and arrives in Dubai at 0615hrs the next day. Both flights will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER in a three class cabin configuration, with eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. The additional Paris flight will start on August 7, 2018, and will operate as the third daily every Tuesday morning. Flight EK071 will depart Dubai at 0405hrs and arrive in Paris at 0925hrs, while the return flight leaves Paris at 1125hrs and arrives back in Dubai at 2000hrs. As with Emirates other flights between Dubai and Paris, the airline’s flagship A380 will be used on the route. It will also have a three class cabin configuration, with 14 privates suites in First Class, 76 lie flat seats in Business Class and 429 seats in Economy Class.