Category Archives: Aviation

Qatar Airways can confirm the reinstatement of flights following the reopening of airspace in the State of Qatar. Our focus at this time is to help our passengers return home or reach their onward journey safely and smoothly. We are working tirelessly with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to restore operations as quickly as possible. We have also deployed additional ground staff at Hamad International Airport and other key airports to assist affected passengers by minimising disruptions and offering the utmost care and support to all customers. As operations resume, we anticipate significant delays to our flight schedule. We would advise passengers to check qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile application ahead of travel. The safety of our passengers and crew is the first and highest priority at all times.

Gulf Air and CFM International have extended the airline’s long-term CFM LEAP-1A Services for A320neo family aircraft. This strategic extension, along with the purchase of additional spare engines, forms a strong and reliable foundation for comprehensive engine support, enhancing fleet reliability and operational continuity. Being the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air operates one of the region’s most modern and efficient fleets, which includes 29 LEAP-1A-powered A320neo family aircraft, continued collaboration with CFM is key to operational excellence; and a renewed affirmation of CFM’s support and technical expertise. “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with CFM, who have been a key partner of our growth since our first CFM engine operations in the 1990s”, said Dr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group. “This agreement will enable us to secure MRO capacity for our fleet and maintain our growth.” “It’s an honor to further expand our relationship with Gulf Air, a long-standing member of the CFM family”, said Gaël Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “This agreement commits us to provide Gulf Air with the best CFM standards in terms of support, reliability, and utilization for its LEAP fleet.”

Riyadh Air and Blacklane launch a strategic global partnership to provide premium chauffeur services to guests. The partnership sets a new benchmark for seamless, guest centric travel – marrying the ground and air experience of comfort and hospitality. Eligible guests will enjoy complementary luxury chauffeur services between Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and within a 50km radius. Riyadh Air guests can also separately book Blacklane’s chauffeur services worldwide, integrated into their travel journey. The collaboration represents a significant step in Riyadh Air’s plan to deliver best-in-class services throughout the customer journey experience and brings together two companies committed to exceptional service. The new agreement sets new standards in the airline industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and around the world. Through this partnership guests travelling internationally in Riyadh Air Business Elite or Business Class, plus eligible loyalty members will enjoy complimentary luxury chauffeur services with Blacklane within 50 KM radius of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in elegant, high-end vehicles. Integrated directly into Riyadh Air’s booking platform, guests will be able to arrange their Blacklane chauffeur as part of their travel experience where eligible. Guests also have the ability to enjoy seamless journeys, including airport transfers, city-to-city travel, in-city rides and chauffeurs by the hour in Riyadh and at any of the airline’s global destinations. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air said :  “Our partnership with Blacklane reinforces our ethos of ensuring our customers experience Saudi hospitality with world-class service standards, We revealed our stylish new Business Elite and Business Class seats recently, and this is the next step in keeping our promises to deliver an exceptional premium experience to our guests. Riyadh Air and Blacklane are two outstanding …

Emirates has announced it will ramp up operations to Barcelona with the addition of a third daily flight starting from 26 October 2025. The added service will meet market demand and offer customers greater connectivity to/from the coastal city as well as access to popular destinations across Emirates’ network including Maldives, Bangkok, Bali, Hong Kong and Singapore. Customers can look forward to the airline’s award-winning service and industry-leading products across all cabins including regionally inspired meals, premium beverages, and up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment on ice – the airline’s inflight entertainment system. Emirates currently serves Spain with 28 weekly flights utilising a fleet mix of A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, including: 14 weekly flights to Madrid; and 14 weekly flights to Barcelona including 7 weekly flights from Dubai to Mexico City via Barcelona. Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as at Emirates retail stores.

Emirates and Uber have announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore ways to make journeys more seamless, effortless and rewarding for travellers. This includes enhancing the on-ground mobility experience for Emirates customers, while offering Skywards members loyalty benefits when using the Uber platform across select markets within the Emirates network.* Through this partnership, Emirates and Uber will work towards introducing several initiatives to offer travellers more seamless and effortless journeys. These include; Developing an integrated booking experience  that combines Uber Rides Vouchers with flight bookings for easier airport transfers or in-city rides. Additionally, Emirates and Uber will explore offering Uber rides to and from the airport for select Emirates customers, supporting a complete door-to-destination experience. The MoU was signed by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Anabel Diaz Calderon, Vice President and Head of EMEA Mobility at Uber. The partnership will explore strategic opportunities to closely collaborate on offering Skywards members in the UAE the opportunity to earn on rides or redeem their miles for Uber app credits or vouchers. Emirates Skywards will also explore ways for members in the UAE to benefit from earning Miles on Uber rides across select markets  in the Emirates network. Another area of collaboration will include exploring opportunities around Last Mile delivery initiatives for Emirates Courier Express, leveraging Uber’s advanced technology platform and vast network of global Delivery partners to enhance customer reach, speed and efficiency. Adnan Kazim said: “Emirates is excited to join forces with Uber as part of our commitment to delivering seamless travel experiences. In the months ahead, we’ll closely work together to leverage our combined capabilities in travel and technology to expand …

As global airports continue to evolve to meet growing passenger demand and sustainability targets, Honeywell is at the forefront of shaping that transformation. TravTalkME speaks with Nabil Cheqroun, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell Building Automation, on the sidelines of the Airport Show about the technologies which help achieve the seamless and smart services for the passengers. At the Airport Show this year, Honeywell showcased its suite of cutting-edge technologies designed to enhance airport efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental responsibility. “Our focus is based on three strategic pillars: delivering a seamless passenger journey, ensuring resilient operations, and accelerating the path to net zero,” said Nabil Cheqroun, Chief Commercial Officer, Honeywell Building Automation. “We’re showcasing several innovations that are already making a significant impact in airports around the world.” A Seamless Journey: Follow the Green One of Honeywell’s standout solutions is Navitas, the “Follow the Green” technology. This system enables aircraft to taxi from runway to gate in the most efficient and safe manner possible. “Navitas helps reduce downtime and fuel consumption, improving turnaround time while significantly cutting carbon emissions,” explained Cheqroun. Complementing this is Honeywell’s latest Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS), which ensures precise docking of aircraft. “Accuracy is critical in airport operations, and VDGS provides pilots with exact guidance to reach the correct gate position,” he added. Unified Airport Intelligence Honeywell also emphasizes integration with its Command and Control Suite, a platform that connects building management systems, fire safety, and security infrastructure. This unified view streamlines airport operations both landside and airside, enabling quicker response times and optimized resource management. “Our Enterprise Building Integration (EBI) solution is built to manage complex airport environments. Whether it’s lighting, HVAC, or emergency response, EBI …

flydubai launches a new Travel Shop in the Emirate of Sharjah, featuring a City Check-in service for the first time. Partnering with Sharjah National Travel and Tourist Agency (SNTTA), flydubai’s Travel Shop in Sharjah enhances convenience and accessibility for its customers in the Northern Emirates. For the first time, the airline’s recently opened Travel Shop offers passengers the option of City Check-in, enabling them to complete their check-in process well in advance before arrival at Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). The new Travel Shop, located in the heart of the city, is now open to customers who can avail the new convenient service as well as other available services. Sudhir Sreedharan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia) at flydubai, said: “we are committed to finding the right travel partners to bring our reliable travel experience to our customers wherever they are. The new flydubai Travel Shop in Sharjah underscores our continued commitment to innovation and delivering value-driven convenience to our customers. By offering this added flexibility with the new City Check-in service, we aim to improve the overall travel experience and support our customers’ needs in a more personalised and accessible way.” Designed with convenience in mind, flydubai’s Travel Shop in Sharjah features a comfortable waiting area, designated service desks and a porter service for baggage drop to enhance the overall customer experience. Customers can expect a range of travel-related services, including booking flights, making changes to their travel plans and choosing flydubai Holidays packages. The City Check-in service marks a significant step in flydubai’s customer experience journey, enabling passengers to check in their baggage, receive their boarding pass and select their …

flyadeal announced a regional first with Saudi cabin crew to be trained as certified tour guides in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to build a dynamic tourism industry. The programme will target 800 crew by 2030 for comprehensive tour guide training in which they will embrace wider learnings of Saudi Arabia’s culture and historical attractions. Upon completion, they will receive a licence as tourism ambassadors enabling them to hone their skills as official guides engaging with passengers, and with visitors in a private capacity. Over the next few weeks, the Saudi-based airline will open applications for courses specifically designed for Saudi nationals. A training institute accredited to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism will conduct the courses.  flyadeal is promoting several developments at the show including its upcoming summer season flying programme and new year-round destinations. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “flyadeal continues to push the boundaries with employee initiatives designed to enhance their personal development and professional skills. This new training programme, the first of its kind in the Middle East, will empower crew and equip them with the skills and confidence to engage with visitors as official tourism ambassadors. “As licensed tour guides, the beauty of the programme allows our crew to use their new-found skills while interacting with passengers but also harness their experience by taking tourists on guided tours around the wonderful historic sites that the Kingdom is so renowned for.” To kick-off the programme, flyadeal crew were given a guided tour of the fascinating Dirayah district – the birthplace of Saudi Arabia – in the Kingdom’s capital, Riyadh. They explored and learned more about the traditional mud-brick architecture and cultural sites being restored to …

Turkish Airlines and Icelandair announced the expansion of their existing codeshare partnership  marking a significant step in strengthening connectivity between two key regions at the crossroads of continents and oceans. Since the beginning of their partnership in June 2023, the two flag carriers have cooperated under a codeshare agreement to offer passengers more seamless travel options. Building on this foundation, Icelandair will introduce direct flights between Reykjavik and İstanbul, starting 5 September 2025, operating twice weekly during the winter season. These new flights will be incorporated into the scope of the agreement, allowing Turkish Airlines to put its marketing code on Icelandair’s operations. In return, Icelandair will place its marketing code on select Turkish Airlines flights beyond Istanbul, covering destinations across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This extended integration connects Icelandair’s transatlantic network with Turkish Airlines’ global reach across multiple continents, creating new opportunities for both business and leisure travel. Commenting on the expansion of the partnership, Turkish Airlines CEO, Mr. Bilal Ekşi stated: “This cooperation goes beyond a commercial partnership. It represents a strategic alignment between two trusted carriers. By launching direct flights between Reykjavik and Istanbul and integrating our networks, we are opening the door to new traffic flows and connectivity options between Iceland, Türkiye and beyond.” Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair CEO, also commented: “Building on the partnership with Turkish Airlines will offer travelers even greater connectivity and seamless travel options across our combined networks. The expansion of our codeshare partnership to multiple destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, reflects our shared commitment to service excellence, building a stronger global network and unlocking new opportunities for growth.” This enhanced cooperation is expected to boost tourism and …

Air Arabia announced the expansion of its existing service between Sharjah and Maldives to twice daily non-stop flights starting 27 October 2025. The increase in frequency comes after a year from operating the service between Sharjah International Airport and Velana International Airport in Malé will now offer customers greater convenience and flexibility to explore the tropical paradise of the Maldives. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, stated, “We are glad to further strengthen our presence in the Maldives with this increased frequency, offering travellers even greater connectivity and flexibility. The step to double our flights reflects the growing demand for air travel to this popular destination. We remain committed to providing our customers with reliable, affordable, and value-driven air travel, while expanding our network to meet the evolving needs of our passengers.” Air Arabia operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. The cabin configuration across the fleet provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch compared to any economy cabin. The aircraft is also equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming service that allows passengers to stream a wide selection of entertainment directly to their devices. Customers can also enjoy a variety of delicacies between snacks, meals, and sandwiches from the on-board ‘SkyCafe’ menu at affordable prices. Customers can now book their direct flights from Sharjah to the Maldives by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre, or through travel agencies.