Category Archives: Aviation

Travelport and Air India announced that they have extended and expanded their multi-year distribution agreement to include New Distribution Capability (NDC) content and servicing. The agreement further expands the collaboration between Travelport and Air India, confirming the future delivery of a complete NDC solution which will provide Travelport’s global network of travel agencies the ability to easily search, shop and service Air India’s product offerings. “Our valued partnership with Travelport is an important part of our growth and technology strategy as we prepare to deliver a complete solution that makes it easy for agents to access and service Air India’s content and offers,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India. “Travelport+ will elevate our technology investment and the future roll out of NDC-sourced content, so that together, we can ensure agents and travellers have a seamless, modern retailing experience.” Travelport and Air India remain committed to providing travel agencies worldwide with more choices and a fast, easy way to search and book the best options that meet travellers’ needs. This renewed agreement between Travelport and Air India ensures that Travelport subscribers continue to have simplified access to Air India’s extensive network of destinations, which will continue to expand and evolve. “Our expanded agreement with Air India positions Travelport and our operator partner ITQ to continue driving modern travel retailing as the leading travel technology partner of choice for travel agencies in India,” said Damian Hickey, Global Head of Airline Partners at Travelport. “As part of Air India’s future technology strategy, our collaboration on NDC will be complemented by the superior retailing and merchandizing solutions available in Travelport+, which ultimately make it easier for agents to operate …

Qatar Airways Group confirmed that Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer has been appointed as the new Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways. After 27 years of remarkable service, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive – His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, will be stepping down from his current position as Group Chief Executive effective 5 November 2023. Under H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker’s leadership, Qatar Airways has grown to become one of the most recognisable and trusted brands globally, synonymous with customer service quality and the highest of standards. The national carrier of the State of Qatar has achieved an unprecedented seven-times win of the “World’s Best Airline” award, and its state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, which is under its management and operation, has also been recognised as the “World’s Best Airport”. The Qatar Airways Group’s contribution to helping deliver the best ever FIFA World Cup showcased to the world its capability, commitment to excellence, and its passion for bringing the world together.  

Emirates and Batik Air Malaysia announced a codeshare agreement, allowing Emirates’ customers to access 5 domestic Malaysian cities and 3 regional South East Asia points operated by Batik Air via Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Minister of Transport Malaysia, YB Tuan Anthony Loke, graced the launch and lauded the strategic partnership between Emirates and Batik Air, emphasising the numerous opportunities it offers to travellers worldwide. “We are pleased with the partnership, which has the potential to strengthen Malaysia’s role as a prime gateway to the region. We hope to see an increase in KLIA traffic, especially to facilitate connectivity to regional destinations.” The enhanced cooperation was introduced by Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Far East) and Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy, Group Strategic Director of Batik Air. Also present at the launch event were Anand Lakshminarayanan Emirates’ Senior Vice President Revenue Optimisation and Airline Partnerships and Saeed Mubarak, Emirates’ Country Manager in Malaysia. In line with the agreement, Emirates will place its code on Batik Air-operated flights to Penang, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Johor Bahru, Denpasar, Jakarta and Singapore, offering customers a seamless travel experience as they connect to new destinations using a single ticket, and convenient baggage policy. Emirates’ customers will also have the option to stopover in Kuala Lumpur before proceeding to their final destinations. The airline will further gain access to eight additional destinations operated by Batik Air via Kuala Lumpur for interline transfers. Orhan Abbas commented on this partnership: “Malaysia is an important market in our Far East network and we’re pleased to offer increased connectivity and more options for our customers to new and exciting destinations. Through this partnership, we’ll further expand …

Working with local schools, autism groups and key stakeholders, Emirates and Dubai International Airport (DXB) are focused on improving the travel experience for neurodivergent passengers, facilitating ‘travel rehearsals’ where children can practice their journey through the airport and onboard aircraft, as well as working directly with families to delight superfans like Humza, age 11, on his first flight with Emirates. Humza Dabab recently flew from Melbourne to Dubai with his mother and two siblings and was treated to a VIP experience from Emirates – his favourite airline. This was his first flight with Emirates, though his parents advised he is already very familiar with all facets of Emirates through his own studies – from the aircraft itself, to the inflight entertainment ice, the cabin crew uniform and the safety video. Humza bought his own safety belt to simulate and act out the safety advisory, to which he has memorised all the words, and has a collection of Emirates aircraft models to practice the take-off and landing experience. Humza’s mother Lamees said ‘The plane is Humza’s happy place. The destination is not even the most exciting part of the journey, I can wholeheartedly say it is the plane ride itself. He is so excited to be finally travelling with Emirates.’   Humza is autistic and being on time is a crucial requirement for his particular needs. The potential of running late or missing the flight would cause significant anxiety which must be alleviated in advance. Emirates and Dubai International Airport employees are trained and prepared for these requests and can facilitate priority boarding for neurodivergent passengers, referred to as People of Determination in the UAE, as well as offering a support …

Saudia Group announced its participation at the upcoming Dubai Airshow 2023, held at Al Maktoum International Airport Dubai from November 13th to 17th. The Group will take over the largest pavilion at the event marking its first international presence following the recent rebrand, which signifies a new era for the group. Through this participation, Saudia Group reinforces its position as a prominent global aviation leader, underpinned by its ever-expanding capabilities and an array of enhanced services and products dedicated to catering to the needs of the MENA region across the aviation industry spectrum, encompassing manufacturing and comprehensive training. Visitors and aviation enthusiasts can expect a world-class experience at the Saudia Group’s interactive pavilion, where it will showcase its industry-leading aviation services and solutions that ultimately contribute to the realization of Vision 2030. This includes demonstrating the Group’s efforts around the localization of services in the Kingdom, as well as Saudia Group’s plans to capitalize on its Jeddah Hub. The Group will also highlight its latest digital transformation services and introduce the world to an AI ChatGPT, named ‘Saudia,’ a groundbreaking innovation in customer service. The Group is set to display two aircraft that visitors will have the opportunity to explore; a Saudia Boeing 787-10 featuring the new brand livery and a flyadeal Airbus 320neo. The B787-10 aircraft will showcase Saudia’s latest amenity kits and offer food samples that reflect the essence of the rebrand. The pavilion will also feature the latest innovations by Saudia Groups’ other rebranded Strategic Business Units (SBUs) including, Saudia Technic, formerly known as Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries (SAEI), Saudia Academy, formerly known as Prince Sultan Aviation Academy (PSAA), Saudia Private, formerly known as Saudia Private Aviation …

Saudia announced the transfer of its operations from Al Wajh airport (EJH) to the Red Sea International airport (RSI), effective Sunday, October 29th, 2023. This transfer aligns with the official announcement made by Red Sea Global about the development of Al Wajh airport. Saudia affirms that all tickets remain free from any restrictions or charges when cancelled, reissued, or refunded. The Red Sea Global is providing free of charge shuttle services between Al Wajh airport and the Red Sea International airport to facilitate the transfer of Saudia’s guests. Saudia is currently operating four weekly flights to and from the Red Sea International airport, from Riyadh and Jeddah.    

Qatar Airways collaborates with Starlink and in the future, will roll out a complimentary high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity experience onboard specific aircraft and routes. Starlink’s service will be a further enhancement of Qatar Airways’ 5-star onboard experience. Once the service is active, passengers will be able to enjoy ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 350 Megabits per second which can be used for a variety of internet-based services such as video streaming their favourite entertainment and sports videos, gaming, enriched web-browsing and much more. As a leading 5-star airline of the world, Qatar Airways remains committed to offering the best passenger experience onboard, and the agreement with Starlink will allow passengers to have a rich seamless Wi-Fi connectivity experience onboard with a simple one-click access. The high-speed and low-latency network is powered by the revolutionary Starlink satellite communications system – the world’s largest satellite internet constellation engineered and operated by SpaceX. Qatar Airways and Starlink are currently in the pre-launch phase of the rollout strategy across Qatar Airways fleet. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is proud to announce its agreement with Starlink to provide seamless and complimentary Wi-Fi to its global passengers. This exciting collaboration is not only in line with our industry-leading approach to technological adoption, but also serves as an unmissable opportunity to connect Starlink to our global passengers. We look forward to our passengers benefitting from this state-of-the-art addition to Qatar Airways’ in-flight experience.” “Qatar Airways continues to lead the way prioritizing the passenger experience,” said SpaceX’s Vice President of Starlink Commercial Sales Jonathan Hofeller: “With Starlink set to support the entire Qatar Airways fleet, passengers travelling between …

Emirates Premium Economy and Economy Class customers on long haul flights globally will be treated to new complimentary amenity kits, now onboard. The amenity kits have been designed in partnership with United for Wildlife, to highlight eight of the most endangered species on the planet. Preserving wildlife and habitats is a core pillar of the Emirates Environmental Sustainability Framework. The new amenity kit range will highlight Emirates’ longstanding partnership with United for Wildlife and commitment to raising awareness about endangered species, and the prevention of illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products. The animals featured on the kit pouches and bookmarks are some of the most trafficked creatures in the world – the green sea turtle, African elephant, blue macaw,  gorilla, hammerhead shark, lion, pangolin, and the black rhino. United for Wildlife has shared some impactful statistics which highlight the magnitude of the issue, such as that globally 100 elephants are poached every day, meaning that at current poaching rates elephants could be extinct in the wild by 2025. There are now only 30,000 rhinos left in the wild compared to the 500,000 that existed at the beginning of the 20th century, meanwhile pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. David Fein, Co-Chair of United for Wildlife, said: “The illegal wildlife trade is international organised crime that is driving many iconic species around the world towards extinction at an alarming rate. Airlines and other transport operators have a huge role to play in disrupting the traffickers’ supply chains. Emirates have consistently demonstrated leadership and commitment in tackling this global threat. We are delighted to see the new amenity kits from Emirates now onboard and hope that passengers find …

Red Sea Global (RSG) revealed the first project in its expanded portfolio, with the developer entrusted refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport (EJH). The development is focused on modernizing the airport to bring it in line with international standards, as well as upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure, RSG is building a new international terminal, the designs of which will be revealed soon. This will see EJH ready to offer more direct flights leading to greater connectivity and job opportunities for local people. EJH will also be able to better service key developments taking place in the area, including becoming a gateway for the Amaala destination, also developed by RSG. The airport will also become a new base of operations for Fly Red Sea, the Kingdom’s first seaplane company. “Last year, Red Sea Global announced a growing portfolio of projects stretching along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Today I can reveal the first of those projects is to refurbish Al Wajh Airport, making it a modern airport for the people of Tabuk. It’s an honor to be the developer of choice for this important work, ensuring Al Wajh is ready and equipped to support the needs of the growing local community,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global. The development joins a growing list of aviation projects under the Group. Last month, the developer’s Red Sea International Airport (RSI) welcomed its first domestic flight with a regular schedule now in place. RSG is also developing a second, private airport close to The Red Sea and Amaala destinations. As part of the modernizing work taking place at EJH, four flights operated by SAUDIA will be transferred from …

Etihad Airways welcomed the latest addition to its expanding fleet as a new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Friday 13 October. After a thorough check by Etihad’s engineering team, the new arrival will go straight into service and is set to start flying guests from 15 October. “The arrival of our latest 787 Dreamliner underlines our passion to grow this year by enhancing the quality of our customer experience and the reach of our network,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways. “This is all part of our vision 2030 supporting our growth as underlined by the new destinations to Osaka, Copenhagen and Dusseldorf we began operating two weeks ago.” This aircraft, and the three Dreamliner 787-9s following shortly, are up to 25 per cent more fuel efficient than many comparable aircraft of their size. The arrival comes exactly three years to the day since Etihad took delivery of its last Boeing 787-10 on 13 October, 2020.