Category Archives: Aviation

Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have expanded their interline agreement, enabling Emirates’ passengers to access domestic points in Philippine Airlines’ network via Cebu and Clark, adding to the previously announced interline connections via Manila. Covering all three gateways in the Philippines served by Emirates – Manila, Cebu and Clark – this partnership expansion will provide seamless connectivity for passengers to reach even more destinations in the Philippines using a single ticket and convenient baggage policy. Emirates’ passengers can enjoy a convenient booking process to destinations in Philippine Airlines’ network including Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Caticlan and Puerto Princesa via Cebu; as well as Cebu, Caticlan and Busuanga via Clark. Philippine Airlines’ passengers can also benefit from the enhanced interline agreement and book Emirates-operated flights to Amman, Birmingham, Cape Town, Dammam, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Muscat, and Riyadh via Dubai. The Philippine national carrier operates daily flights between Manila and Dubai, enabling convenient and seamless connections to cities in Europe, Africa, and other parts of the Middle East. The arrangement allows for passengers to obtain their boarding passes and check through their baggage all the way to final destination. Travel itineraries can be booked on emirates.com, philippineairlines.com, the Emirates and PAL mobile apps, or via both online and offline travel agents. The expansion comes months after Emirates and Philippine Airlines first announced their interline agreement, reaffirming the commitment of both airlines to serve growing demand by providing travellers with more choice and flexibility, as well as enhanced customer experiences. Emirates has been flying to the Philippines since 1990 and currently operates 25 weekly flights to Manila, Cebu and Clark. The airline is also the only air carrier to offer …

One of rugby’s greatest rivalries, between South Africa and New Zealand, will be reignited at Twickenham Stadium later this month with the two nations playing for a brand-new trophy, the Qatar Airways Cup on Friday, 25 August at 7.30pm. With Qatar Airways as Title Sponsor of this fixture, rugby fans from South Africa, New Zealand, the UK and around the world have the perfect means to attend this compelling match-up. The seven-time winner of the “World’s Best Airline” as voted by Skytrax, will take centre stage as the match Naming Rights Partner, and also be the broadcast partner for the Sky Sports coverage in the UK. Qatar Airways facilitates the movement of rugby fans all over the world to watch their favourite teams compete. The airline flies to more than 160 destinations, including Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa. It will also resume direct flights to Auckland, New Zealand on 1 September this year. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is honoured to be the Title Sponsor and Naming Rights Partner for this match at Twickenham Stadium, hosting one the greatest rivalries in competitive sports history. The South Africa and New Zealand teams are giants in the world of rugby and we are excited to be part of this journey, while uniting the fans before the start of world cup. Qatar Airways has a long history of supporting global sports, including rugby, Formula 1 and football. We believe in bringing people from all over the world closer together through travel and sport and are proud to continue the expansion of our sports partnership’s portfolio.” TEG Rugby Live Managing Director, Stephen …

Emirates announced it will operate an additional five-a-week service to London Heathrow starting from 31 October 2023 until 30 March 2024. This temporary service will meet market demand during the busy winter season and offer customers more travel choices. Emirates currently serves London Heathrow with six daily A380 flights. The additional flight will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and will be served by Emirates’ wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, fitted in a three-class configuration split between First, Business and Economy classes. Emirates flight EK41 will depart Dubai at 13:20hrs and arrive at London Heathrow at 17:20hrs, local time. The return flight, EK42, will depart London Heathrow at 20:15hrs and arrive in Dubai at 07:15hrs local time, the following day.

Qatar Airways announced its title sponsorship of the highly anticipated Formula 1® Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2023 which will be held from 6-8 October at Lusail International Circuit. To rev up the excitement and reflect its commitment to motorsport enthusiasts worldwide, the airline unveiled its new Formula 1® livery painted on a specially branded Boeing 777 aircraft. Qatar Airways’ leisure arm, Qatar Airways Holidays, is offering enthusiasts a unique experience at F1® races throughout the season, as well as the FORMULA 1® QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2023 through its exclusive Ultimate F1® Fan Package. The travel packages are designed to provide a seamless motorsport experience, with the inclusion of return flights, hotel accommodation, a wide range of passes including F1® Paddock Club and Grandstand race tickets, and much more. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The months of October and November will deliver a collection of world-class automotive activities dedicated to fans around the world. As the Official Global Airline Partner of Formula 1, we are honoured to host international visitors to Qatar; once again delivering our unparalleled hospitality and bringing the world closer together through sport.”

flynas announced signing an agreement with MedAire to provide aviation travel security information and 24/7 global assistance as a part of its comprehensive health and security solutions. The agreement between flynas and MedAire brings together two global leaders to enhance aviation safety and security, which reflects flynas commitment to providing its passengers safe and reliable air travel, as MedAire will provide flynas with real-time travel security reporting, covering destinations, regions, and airspace. “We are thrilled to be partnering with flynas to provide aviation travel security information and assistance,” said MedAire Senior Vice President Aviation Security and Maritime -, Hany Bakr. “As a global leader in travel safety, we understand the importance of providing real-time information and support to ensure the security and well-being of airline passengers and staff.”

Oman Air and SalamAir concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance various aspects of cooperation, develop and implement a joint commercial strategy in the field of air transport. The MoU provides for cooperation between the two airlines’ networks to enhance operational efficiency and improve passenger service, besides consolidating ties in the areas of destination planning, flight schedules, inventory management, air fleet management, revenue and sales management. The MoU was signed by Captain Nasser Al Salmi, Acting CEO of Oman Air, and Captain Mohammed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir. Eng. Said Hamoud Al Ma’awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Air, affirmed that the MoU will secure the complementary role of the two companies in making Muscat Airport more attractive through the integration of operations aimed at increasing the number of destinations reached by Oman Air and SalamAir. In a statement to reporters, the minister said that the MoU would also bolster passenger traffic at Muscat Airport and boost the market share of Oman Air and SalamAir to and from Oman. The MoU is the first step in Oman Air’s recovery plan announced by the government, he added. For his part, Anwar Mohammed Al Rawas, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SalamAir Company, underscored the significance of the MoU, which, he described as a positive move that generates benefits for both parties in the aviation sector, improve passenger services and avoid unfavourable competition and losses. Al Rawas told reporters that the two sides are working to develop cooperation systems through the partnership aimed at addressing and avoiding accumulated losses. He observed that the MoU represents a measure to achieve the goals …

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Franco-Dutch airline Group Air France-KLM, forging a strategic partnership that will enhance connectivity between Abu Dhabi and Europe further positioning the emirate as a preferred tourist destination. The signing ceremony, held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, was attended by HE Saleh Mohamed Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi; Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer of Air France-KLM; Olivier Piette, Senior Vice President – Network of Air France; and Maureen Bannerman, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports. The partnership expands Abu Dhabi’s global connectivity through daily flights to Paris, whose flagship carrier Air France is a Skytrax Top 10 airline. Furthermore, the MoU reinforces Abu Dhabi’s goal to attract more than 24 million visitors by the end of 2023 and its commitment to build on its destination awareness. Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, the Director General for Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi said: “This partnership signifies DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to promote, protect and progress the tourism sector of Abu Dhabi and elevate the emirate’s status as a global destination. By fostering long-term partnerships with trusted international carriers, we are enabling visitors from around the world to visit and witness our rich heritage and diverse culture. This increased connectivity not only enriches the experience for travellers but also positions Abu Dhabi as an additional access point to the East”. Angus Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Air France-KLM, added: “We are proud and privileged to be working with DCT Abu Dhabi on this new venture. Abu Dhabi is emerging as a truly global aviation centre, catering to millions of passengers …

Etihad announced the launch of nine new destinations this year, including Malaga, Mykonos, Lisbon, Kolkata, St Petersburg, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Osaka, and Boston. Etihad Airways has unveiled an ambitious network overhaul, positioning the airline for sustainable expansion while improving Abu Dhabi’s links to global markets. The new network is designed to support Abu Dhabi visitor growth and provide travellers with more options by introducing new destinations, ramping up capacity to sought-after international destinations, providing opportunities for travellers to explore and experience diverse cultures, while bringing more visitors directly to Abu Dhabi. Provide more options: Provide passengers with enhanced travel flexibility with multiple and more convenient departure times, ensuring seamless and stress-free journeys. Increase frequencies to key international markets: To support Abu Dhabi’s economic and tourism growth, Etihad is increasing flight frequencies to essential international destinations, fostering improved accessibility and strengthening the emirate’s position as a hub for global travellers. The updated schedules have been timed for departures from Abu Dhabi at 2 pm, ensuring travelers and visitors can thoroughly experience Abu Dhabi’s hotels and attractions until their checkout time. This approach enhances the overall travel experience while maximising the enjoyment of Abu Dhabi’s offerings. “As we embark on Etihad’s next chapter targeting growth, our ambitious network and improved connectivity allows us to better serve Abu Dhabi and our valued guests, forming the basis of our future expansion while providing flexibility and freedom to adapt to new opportunities and markets,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways. “By offering more travel options and seamless connections, we aim to attract an increasing number of visitors to Abu Dhabi, propelling economic growth for the city while enriching the travel experience for our passengers.” …

Oman Air  aims to address ongoing losses and the accumulation of debt, and includes four main pillars:  financial sustainability, corporate governance, commercial aspects, and human capital over the next 3-4 years with the new transformation plan. In the interest of financial sustainability and operational continuity, His Excellency Eng. Saeed Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, and Chairman of Oman Air, announced a comprehensive programme to restructure the airline.  The programme is based on the recommendations of international management consulting firm, Oliver Wyman, who conducted a thorough assessment of the airline’s financial and commercial performance and presented practical measures to achieve sustainable commercial operations. In addition, Oman Air will restructure with the aim of improving its basic operational performance and enabling it to better meet the needs of the market. His Excellency indicated that the procedures for Oman Air’s radical and sustainable transformation require the use of qualified experts. In this regard, changes will be made in the current Board of Directors and Executive Management team during the coming months, ensuring the onboarding of highly qualified experts, whether local or international. On corporate governance, His Excellency said that specialised committees have been formed to reformulate governance concerned with human, financial and commercial resources, affiliated to the Board of Directors. Meanwhile, the airline’s network is being re-evaluated by international experts, and decisions will be taken on whether to continue certain destinations. Integration with Salam Air is also high on the programme’s agenda. His Excellency stressed that the upcoming steps will positively affect the quality and reliability of Oman Air’s services and expressed his thanks to the company’s workforce for their contribution and efforts during the last period.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will ramp up frequencies to destinations across its network during the Northern Summer 2024 operating season (31 March 2024 to 26 October 2024), supporting the strong demand for air travel to its key markets. This includes increasing flight frequencies to pre-pandemic levels across multiple points and exceeding them in some. Destinations include Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), Beijing and Shanghai (China), Da Nang (Vietnam), Darwin, Melbourne, and Perth (Australia), Tokyo-Haneda (Japan) and many others. Details of Singapore Airlines’ changes to its flight schedules between Dubai and Singapore are as follows. All times stated are local. All flight services are subject to regulatory approvals, and the aircraft deployment is subjected to operational requirements. Tickets will be available for sale progressively through SIA’s various distribution channels. THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES From 31 March 2024, SIA will mount a new four-times weekly service between Singapore and Dubai (SQ496 and SQ497) with the A350-900 medium-haul aircraft. This will bring services between the two cities from seven-times weekly to 11-times weekly, exceeding the pre-pandemic levels.       Ms JoAnn Tan, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines, said: “With the release of SIA’s Northern Summer schedules, our customers can plan ahead and start to make their travel plans for 2024. Our customers will be able to enjoy greater choice and flexibility when they travel with us, as SIA continues to adjust and expand our network in response to demand patterns.” For the full news release, please see attached or click here