Category Archives: Aviation

Qatar Airways marked the launch of three non-stop weekly flights between Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Qatar and Hail International Airport (HAS), its 13th destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new route underscores the airline’s strategic focus on expanding its presence across the Kingdom, highlighting the importance of the Saudi market in its global network. Aligned with Qatar Airways’ long-term commitment to enhancing regional connectivity, the new service is set to boost travel from Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and Southeast Asia to the north-central region of Saudi Arabia. With the addition of Hail, Qatar Airways will now operate over 150 weekly flights to 13 Saudi destinations including Abha, AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina, NEOM, Qassim, Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, The Red Sea, and Yanbu. Voted the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2025, Qatar Airways offers passengers from across the Kingdom seamless and world-class connectivity to more than 170 destinations globally through its award-winning Doha hub, Hamad International Airport. The Hail Province, located in north-central Saudi Arabia, is known for its rich history, cultural heritage, and distinctive desert landscapes, making it an appealing destination for travellers seeking nature experiences and adventures. Historically a key stop along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, the region is home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites featuring rock art that reflect thousands of years of human presence. Today, Hail continues to grow as an important cultural and regional centre within the Kingdom. Qatar Airways flights to Hail International Airport (HAS) Departing every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday: Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Hail International Airport (HAS) – Flight QR1228: Departure 14:20; Arrival 16:30 Hail International Airport (HAS) to Hamad International Airport (DOH) – Flight QR1229: Departure …

Air India Express, India’s first international value carrier, announces a special limited-period offer for guests travelling from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to India, allowing them to pre-book 5 kg or 10 kg additional baggage at attractive discounts. This offer is open for bookings made till 31st January 2026 for travel between 16th January and 10th March 2026, and can be made on the airline’s award-winning website, www.airindiaexpress.com, mobile app and on all major booking channels and is subject to availability. Guests travelling from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to India can purchase additional check-in baggage for only BHD 0.2, KWD 0.2, OMR 0.2, QAR 2, SAR 2, and AED 2 respectively in lots of 5kg and 10kg. The offer is available across all fares including Xpress Value, Xpress Lite, Xpress Flex, and Xpress Biz. The offer is only valid during booking flow. The airline already offers a minimum 30 kg baggage allowance on these sectors across fare types except on Xpress Lite, the airline’s exclusive zero check-in baggage fare. With the option to purchase an additional 10 kg through this offer, guests can now travel with up to 40 kg check-in baggage, making it easier to carry gifts, essentials, and personal belongings when visiting family and friends.

Oman Air has celebrated the arrival of its inaugural flight from Moscow to Salalah, marking the official launch of direct seasonal air services connecting the Russian capital with Dhofar. The milestone was commemorated with a welcome ceremony at Salalah Airport, presided over by His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Mohsen Al Ghassan, Charmain of Dhofar Municipality and attended by senior officials and representatives from Oman’s aviation and tourism sectors. The inaugural flight signals a significant step in Oman Air’s efforts to strengthen year-round tourism to Dhofar and expand international connectivity. Commenting on the launch, Ahmed Al Mahrouqi, Vice President of Global Sales at Oman Air, said, “The launch of direct charter services between Moscow and Salalah reflects our focus on developing high-potential source markets and delivering targeted connectivity. Russia is an important market for Oman Air, and this service makes it easier for travellers to access Dhofar while supporting tourism demand and local business across the season. We look forward to further expanding capacity and connectivity as the market develops.” The seasonal charter operation is expected to bring at least 7,000 visitors to Salalah during its first season, supporting hotels, tour operators and businesses across Dhofar. The service complements Oman Air’s broader network strategy and reinforces Salalah’s growing profile as a distinctive leisure destination for international travellers. The new route also aligns with national efforts to promote tourism development in southern Oman, highlighting Dhofar’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage and mild climate as key attractions for visitors from Europe and beyond.

SalamAir announced that ticket sales are now open for its new direct flights between Muscat and Damascus, Syria, further expanding its Middle East network and enhancing regional air connectivity. The first flight on the Muscat–Damascus route is scheduled to operate on 02 May, with conveniently timed services operating twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, is a major cultural and economic center in the Levant. Renowned for its historic old city, traditional markets, and rich architectural heritage, the city also serves as an important hub for commerce, education, and public institutions. The addition of Damascus aligns with SalamAir’s ongoing network expansion strategy, focused on meeting demand for direct and affordable regional travel. The route is designed to serve the Syrian community in Oman while also strengthening connectivity through Muscat, enabling efficient onward access to SalamAir’s wider network. Commenting on the sales launch, Steven Allen, Chief Commercial Officer of SalamAir, said: “Choosing Damascus to be our next route, and to be the first Omani airline to operate to Syria, reflects our strategic and commercially driven approach to network expansion. This service has been carefully designed to meet clear travel needs between Oman and Syria. By enhancing international air connectivity from our home in Muscat, the Damascus route supports the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, while remaining aligned with our planning framework to ensure sustainable growth, operational reliability, and value for our customers.” The announcement of Damascus represents the fourth new destination announced by SalamAir in recent weeks, with Damascus joining Port Sudan, Medan and Vienna as new markets to be operated from Muscat in 2026. Flights are now available for booking via …

flynas celebrated the launch of its direct flights between Jeddah and Moscow, effective 23 December. This launch further strengthens air connectivity with the Russian capital in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, as part of flynas’ growth and expansion plan and in alignment with the Kingdom’s national objectives in the tourism and aviation sectors. The inauguration ceremonies for the new route were held at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, where passengers on the inaugural flight were welcomed with commemorative gifts. Upon the aircraft’s arrival at Vnukovo International Airport, an official reception ceremony was held for the flight, marking the first direct route linking Jeddah and Moscow. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Moscow, flynas, the Russian Tourism Authority, and Vnukovo Airport. flynas will operate three weekly flights between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, becoming the first Saudi carrier to operate scheduled flights between the two cities. This follows the launch of the first regular direct flight between Riyadh and Moscow by a Saudi airline in August, operating four weekly flights between the two capitals. The airline remains committed to further expanding its destinations and routes to provide more reliable and convenient travel options for its guests, as part of its efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries. This expansion in the Russian aviation market aligns with flynas’ growth and expansion strategy launched under the title “We Connect the World to the Kingdom. It also supports the objectives of the National Civil Aviation Strategy, which aims to enable national air carriers to connect the Kingdom of …

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officially welcomed the inaugural flight of Air Arabia, flight G9756 from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, which landed at Krabi International Airport. This new route marks a significant achievement under TAT’s Airline Focus Strategy, which aims to expand Thailand’s accessibility by working closely with international airlines—particularly in the Middle East, one of Thailand’s fastest-growing and highest-spending visitor markets. The new Sharjah–Krabi flight complements Air Arabia’s existing routes to Bangkok and Phuket. The new daily direct service began on 28 November 2025, operated with Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, offering 174–215 seats per flight and more than 5,220 additional seats per month into Krabi. This expansion is expected to attract more high-spending Middle Eastern travelers and support Thailand’s strategy to grow quality tourism sustainably. To maximize visibility of the new route, TAT Dubai Office partnered with key stakeholders to host KOLs on a curated Health & Wellness familiarization program in Krabi, showcasing premium tourism products and enhancing destination appeal among Middle Eastern travellers. The Middle East market continues to show strong momentum. Travelers from **GCC countries—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—**are known for high purchasing power and strong interest in health & wellness, family travel, and premium leisure experiences, which align closely with Thailand’s strengths. From 1 January to 23 November 2025, Thailand welcomed more than 728,340 visitors from this region, with an average stay of 10 days and trip expenditure of around 100,000 THB. TAT projects over 850,000 Middle Eastern visitors in 2025, with Air Arabia’s added capacity supporting significant growth. Beyond improving travel accessibility, the direct Sharjah–Krabi route helps disperse income to local communities—including hotels, restaurants, spas, wellness operators, and tourism businesses—stimulating job creation, …

Kuwait Airways has announced the strengthening of its codeshare agreement with SriLankan Airlines. The agreement will strengthen cooperation by including the Kuwait Airways’ code on SriLankan Airlines’ flights operating to several key destinations in Asia, namely Malé and Gan in the Maldives, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This will provide Kuwait Airways passengers seamless access to popular tourism and business hubs within the company’s network. Likewise, SriLankan Airlines will include its code on numerous destinations operated by Kuwait Airways including London, United Kingdom, Rome, Italy, as well as Tbilisi, Georgia, and Baku, Azerbaijan, providing SriLankan Airlines’ customers with a new gateway to Europe via Kuwait. In a move to consolidate its global network of destinations and provide diverse travel options to its valued customers.  On this occasion, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Abdulmohsen Salem Al-Fagaan, stated, “SriLankan Airlines is an important strategic partner for Kuwait Airways. This cooperation reflects our commitment as the national carrier of the State of Kuwait to providing a diverse network of destinations. Our goal is to provide our valued customers with a seamless, integrated travel experience.” Al-Fagaan added that this initiative aligns with Kuwait Airways’ vision to reinforce Kuwait’s position as a vital hub linking East and West. He also noted that Kuwait Airways launched its scheduled flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka in October, as part of its winter campaign, operating four flights per week. Al-Fagaan pointed out that Kuwait Airways will enable passengers to make reservations via the Customer Service Call Center (171) and the company’s various sales offices, in addition to the company’s website and electronic application. Al-Fagaan expressed his sincere hope that the agreement would contribute to attracting new segments of travelers, whether travelling …

Oman Air has announced the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Singapore, commencing 2 July 2026. The new service marks the airline’s latest link to Southeast Asia, increasing accessibility between the two regions. Guests will now be able to fly direct from Muscat to Singapore four days a week – Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and experience the vibrant multicultural heritage, award-winning food scene and innovative attractions that the city-state is known for. With Oman Air recently joining the oneworld alliance, the new route also taps into key traffic flows via member airlines including Australia, Japan and Hong Kong, offering guests smooth connections and seamless frequent flyer benefits such as lounge access, mileage accrual and redemption, and more. “We’re excited to launch this new route, which enhances our growing network and strengthens the connection between Oman and Singapore,” said Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “With demand growing for distinctive destinations and high-quality travel experiences, this service expands choice for both leisure and business travellers. It also reinforces Muscat’s role as an important hub between East and West, enabling efficient connectivity between Asia-Pacific markets and Europe complemented by our oneworld partners.” Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President, Air Hub & Cargo Development of Changi Airport Group added, “Oman Air’s new direct service to Muscat will introduce an exciting city link to Changi Airport’s wide connectivity network. As a leading global hub, Changi Airport offers travellers access to a wide range of destinations across Asia-Pacific and beyond, while creating new travel opportunities between the two markets.” The new service provides travellers from Oman with direct access to Singapore’s diverse visitor offering, from iconic landmarks such as Gardens …

flydubai and Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced a new collaboration to advance the airline’s digital capabilities and enhance its customer journey through AWS’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) services, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to driving innovation. Under the collaboration, flydubai and AWS will develop and scale high-impact digital and AI use cases across the airline’s operations and customer journey. By leveraging AWS’s advanced cloud, AI and data analytics capabilities, the collaboration will accelerate the delivery of production-ready solutions that enhance operational efficiency and create greater value for customers. This collaboration highlights flydubai’s ongoing dedication to investing in the latest technologies and shaping a more connected future for its operations, aligning with Dubai’s vision for innovation and forward-thinking initiatives. ​ The signing ceremony was attended by Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, Chief Procurement & Technology Officer at flydubai, and Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer at Amazon. The collaboration establishes a framework where AWS will support flydubai through structured innovation engagements, focusing on key areas including generative AI for airline operations, data analytics, machine learning, and customer experience enhancement. This initiative will support the carrier’s digital services for long-term growth. Commenting on the collaboration, Mohammed Hareb AlMheiri, Chief Procurement & Technology Officer at flydubai, said: “This initiative marks an important milestone in flydubai’s digital evolution. Working with AWS, the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud, will enable us to introduce new digital capabilities that enhance our operations and elevate how we serve our customers, further supporting our agile business model.” Werner Vogels, Chief Technology Officer at Amazon, said: “The aviation industry is at a pivotal moment where cloud technology, AI, and data analytics can revolutionise both operational efficiency and customer experience. Through this collaboration …

Oman Air has announced the launch of its first new route for 2026: Taif. Starting 31 January 2026, the service marks the airline’s fifth destination in Saudi and another milestone in the expansion of its regional network. The new flight will operate three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, using the Boeing 737, offering guests convenient flight timings alongside Oman Air’s signature service and hospitality. Commenting on the launch, Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “Expanding into Taif represents a strategic step in our regional network growth and reinforces the strong economic and cultural ties between Oman and Saudi Arabia. It likewise enables us to better serve our guests by providing them with more choice and convenience.” Abdulkarim Al-Darwish, President of Middle East and Africa Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, also stated, “We welcome Oman Air’s new service to Taif, which marks a key step that enhances connectivity between our two countries and provides travelers from Oman with greater access to key destinations across Saudi. Expanding regional air links aligns with our broader mission to accelerate tourism growth and strengthen strategic partnerships” With the addition of Taif, Oman Air now operates five destinations to Saudi Arabia including Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah, underscoring the airline’s commitment to enhancing intra-regional connectivity and supporting broader economic and social links. Guests can enjoy the best fares when booking on www.omanair.com or Oman Air’s mobile app.