Category Archives: Aviation

SAUDIA hosted the 94th Executive Committee meeting of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO) in Jeddah. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group and Chairman of AACO’s Executive Committee, in the presence of Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, AACO Secretary General, along with Chairpersons and CEOs from the Committee member Arab airlines. The Executive Committee oversees AACO’s overall work, with a focus on collaborative projects among its members. The Committee’s meeting sets the path for the 56th Annual General Meeting, which will be hosted in Riyadh between October 30 and November 1, 2023. The meeting discussed the current state of the industry, including the recovery of the aviation sector and the increasing travel demand following the COVID-19 crisis. It also highlighted the world’s latest geopolitical challenges and their impacts, while delving into significant issues related to the environment and aviation. The meeting focused on the importance of digital transformation and developing innovative solutions that enable the airlines to improve their services and offer better experiences to their customers. Additionally, the Committee reviewed the latest developments of the current joint projects between AACO members, and some administrative and financial affairs for the organization. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of SAUDIA Group and Chairman of AACO’s Executive Committee said: “AACO is diligently working to empower Arab airline companies, advocate for their common interests, and facilitate their collaboration to improve their operational efficiency and service quality. AACO also ensures ongoing coordination with related regulatory authorities to support its member airlines and preserve their interests, along with launching joint projects to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for its members, in line with applicable laws. “I …

As part of the airline’s strategic plans to expand its global network and welcome new visitors to Jordan, Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has announced plans to introduce a new, direct route between Amman, Jordan and Stockholm, Sweden, beginning of May 29. The twice-weekly flights will connect passengers traveling between the two cities in just around four to five hours. The new Stockholm expansion is part of RJ’s new strategy to focus on driving tourism into Jordan and becoming the airline of choice for the Levant region. Passengers throughout Northern Europe will have direct route to the Jordanian capital from the capital of Sweden. Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer, Karim Makhlouf, said, “It is my great pleasure to announce our new route to Stockholm, Sweden, which will make it easier than ever for tourists from Northern Europe and especially from Sweden to discover Jordan’s incredible wonders. Helping to promote and drive tourism to the Kingdom is a key focus of our new strategy—as is our emphasis on further developing Amman as the primary gateway to the Levant, by offering improved connectivity to our broader network. This newest route is yet another step in line with RJ’s ambitious five-year growth plan, which includes increasing our current fleet of 24 aircraft to more than 40 aircraft in the coming three to five years.” We want to welcome Royal Jordanian Airlines to Sweden and Swedavia Airports with the new route to Amman. The route will be an addition to the existing offer of routes available at Arlanda and it is evident that there is demand from travelers who wish to visit their friends and family in the Middle East, as well as from …

The distinctive livery of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates, has undergone a refresh. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Aircraft livery is the most instantly recognisable brand real estate for any airline. It’s a visual representation of our unique identity, something we wear proudly, and display in all the cities we fly to around the world. We’re refreshing our livery to keep it modern, without losing the key elements of our identity such as the UAE flag on our tailfin and the Arabic calligraphy.” Eagle-eyed plane spotters and fans will immediately notice changes to the tailfin and wingtips.  In this latest design, the UAE flag on the Emirates tailfin is much more dynamic and flowing with a 3D effect artwork, and the wingtips have been painted red with the Emirates logo in Arabic calligraphy “popping” out in reverse white. Passengers onboard with a window view will see the UAE flag colours painted on the wingtips facing the fuselage. The signature gold “Emirates” lettering across the main body in English and Arabic is also bolder, and 32.5% larger. On the aircraft belly, Emirates has retained its iconic red branding which it introduced in 2005.  The website URL “Emirates.com” has been dropped from the design. This is the 3rd iteration of Emirates’ official aircraft brand colours. The original livery unveiled with the airline’s launch in 1985 had its first refresh 14 years later, with the delivery of Emirates’ first Boeing 777-300 at the 1999 Dubai Airshow. The first aircraft to sport Emirates’ newest livery is A6-EOE, an Airbus A380, which has rolled out of Emirates Engineering this week after its makeover. Its first deployment will be to Munich on 17 …

Offering abundant opportunities for knowledge-sharing and networking, the summit has converged a distinguished gathering of the global aviation community to address opportunities and challenges in the industry and discuss and collaborate on ways to further propel the ongoing momentum driving the Arab aviation and tourism industry. The opening day features discussions and debates on sustainability, the economic outlook, and how disruptive technologies will shape the next generation of aviation and travel. Local leaders and global industry stalwarts  fostered healthy dialogue on the way travel impacts the environment and deliberate the way forward by exploring decarbonising pathways and sustainable business models to boost the continuous growth of the sector. Mikail Houari, President, Airbus Africa and Middle East, said: “Sustainability is at the core of our purpose as we continue to pioneer disruptive technologies and clean fuel alternatives. Collective efforts from all industry stakeholders are required to ensure we continue to drive greater sustainability. We look forward to the summit, exchanging ideas with other industry experts on how we can work together to make air travel more sustainable for future generations.” Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, said: “As we continue to place sustainability at the heart of our development, we are seeing industry players across tourism and aviation prioritise environmentally conscious and purpose-driven operations. As the Arab Aviation Summit brings together leading regional and global players, we look forward to exploring innovative collaborations, solutions, and best practices to collectively unlock the full potential of a decarbonised future.” Cementing its status as the “voice of the industry”, the 10th Arab Aviation Summit will showcase industry insights and outline scalable solutions that can make a tangible difference to the …

Starting from 1 November 2023, Qatar Airways will operate daily flights to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, signifying a major boost to Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority’s (RAKTDA) strategy to enhance global connectivity to the Emirate. Announced as the industry prepares to come together at the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), taking place at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre, the move will strengthen direct international travel to Ras Al Khaimah. The daily flights will offer greater choice, flexibility and opportunities for travellers looking to explore the nature Emirate, leveraging Qatar Airways’ expansive global network of over 150 destinations spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Asia Pacific, North America, and South America. His Excellency Engr. Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of The Department of Civil Aviation, Ras Al Khaimah & Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, said: “Ras Al Khaimah is continuing to establish itself as a major aviation hub, driven by the success of an inspiring tourism strategy that is growing from strength to strength. Our latest partnership with Qatar Airways is primed to deliver significant progress against this roadmap, while strengthening our operational footprint. We are excited to explore a long and fruitful relationship together.”   “Our partnership with Qatar Airways and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport is an important step in driving Ras Al Khaimah’s continued growth as a destination of the future,” commented Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. “Unlocking joint capabilities with one of the world’s leading airlines will raise the overall competitiveness of our tourism ecosystem and meet the growing demand for travel to the Emirate. We look forward to working together to drive …

flynas announced launching two direct weekly flights between Dammam and Al Qaisumah every Sunday and Wednesday as of 19 April. Currently, flynas connects more than 70 domestic and international destinations and targets to more than double the number through its strategic plan that comes in line with the objectives of the civil aviation strategy to reach 330 million passengers and increase the number of international destinations linked to the Kingdom to more than 250 destinations by 2030. In 2022, the company posted record growth in performance and operation compared to 2021, with an increase of 91% in the number of passengers to 8.7 million passengers, while the number of flights reached 66 thousand flights, an increase of 45%. Seat capacity grew by 46%. Moreover, more than 16 new destinations and 30 routes were launched in 2022.

Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) and Boeing announced the order of 39 fuel-efficient 787s with options for 10 more airplanes. The national flag carrier will grow its long-haul fleet with the selection of up to 49 787 Dreamliners, utilizing the outstanding efficiency, range and flexibility of the Dreamliner to sustainably grow its global operation. His Excellency Engr. Saleh Al-Jasser said “The expansion in SAUDIA’s fleet supports the continuous growth witnessed by the aviation sector in the Kingdom. The agreement will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the National Transport and Logistic Strategy and the Saudi Aviation Strategy, as well as other national strategies in tourism and Hajj and Umrah. SAUDIA is committed to further strengthening its role by providing high-quality, advanced services in the aviation industry and connecting the world to the Kingdom, in alignment with the Vision 2030. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, commented, “SAUDIA continues its expansion efforts in all aspects of the airline; whether it’s introducing new destinations or increasing the aircraft fleet. The agreement with Boeing delivers on this commitment and the newly added aircraft will further enable SAUDIA to fulfill its strategic objective of bringing the world to the Kingdom.” “The deal is in addition to the existing order of 38 new aircraft SAUDIA is expected to receive by 2026, which will increase the current fleet of 142”, he added. Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes said, “The addition of 787 Dreamliners will enable SAUDIA to expand its long-haul service with outstanding range, capacity and efficiency. After more than 75 years of partnership, we are honored by SAUDIA’s confidence in Boeing products and will continue to support Saudi Arabia’s goal to expand …

Emirates has boosted operations by 31% (total ASKMs) since the start of its financial year and has further plans to ramp up seat capacity in its latest published northern summer schedule starting 26 March 2023. In the past months, the airline has planned and executed the rapid growth of its network operations – reintroducing services to 5 cities; launching flights to 1 new destination (Tel Aviv), adding 251 weekly flights onto existing routes; and continuing the roll-out of service enhancements in the air and on the ground. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer said: “Emirates continues to expand its global network and deploy its capacity to meet travel demand across the world. Our financial year started relatively quietly as we held back our ramp up until the planned northern runway rehabilitation program at Dubai International airport was completed in June. From July 2022 onwards, it’s been non-stop expansion.” He added: “Customer demand has been very strong, and our forward bookings are also robust. Emirates is working hard on several fronts – to bring back operating capacity as quickly as the ecosystem can manage, while also upgrading our fleet and product to ensure our customers always enjoy the best possible Emirates experience. So far, 4 of our A380 aircraft have been completely refurbished with our new cabin interiors and Premium Economy seats, and more will enter service as our US$2 billion cabin and service enhancement program picks up pace.” In the coming months, established routes to Europe, Australia and Africa will be served with more Emirates flights, while in East Asia, more cities are seeing route restarts. Upcoming A380 deployments in Northern Summer 2023 season: Emirates continues to scale up its …

Insightful discussions and debates on sustainability, the economic outlook, and key trends shaping the future of aviation will be in the spotlight as the milestone 10th edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS) gets underway from March 14-16 at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. Organised under the theme ‘Impactful sustainability in modern-day travel and tourism’, the three-day summit hosting a distinguished gathering of thought-leaders, innovators, and industry experts, will explore decarbonising pathways in aviation and discuss the challenges and opportunities in the industry with the continued rise of disruptive technologies. Leading regional and global players in the aviation and travel industry will headline inspiring keynote addresses and participate in interactive panel discussions that offer a deep dive into best practices, sustainable business models, regional trends in aviation and tourism, and more. Prominent speakers at the event include H.H. Sheikha Mozah bint Marwan Al Maktoum, first lieutenant pilot of the Dubai Police Airwing; H.E Raki Phillips, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA); H.E. Ilin Dimitrov, Minister of Tourism, Republic of Bulgaria, Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia and Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation (AACO). In a discussion with other industry experts, Ted O’Byrne Chief Executive at AviLease, and Mikail Houari, President, Africa and Middle East at Airbus, will explore the fundamentals of airline economics under the pillar of sustainability. Val Miftakhov Founder & CEO at ZeroAvia – a company developing the world’s first practical zero emission aviation powertrain, will discuss pathways to net zero in the aviation, travel and tourism industry while Andreas Slettvoll, CEO CHOOOSE, will be part of a discussion …

Oman Air applauded the efforts of Oman Golf Association, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and the Ministry of Commence, Industry and Investment Promotion for a first-of-its-kind golf diplomacy initiative between Oman and Italy, which concluded this week. As the event’s official airline sponsor, the national carrier brought in the qualifying players, who included some of Italy’s most prominent investors, into Oman for the final, held at Al Mouj Golf, Muscat. The event raised awareness about Oman’s tourism and investment potential in Italy and other key European target markets. Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “In line with our commitment to Oman’s 2040 Vision, Oman Air is a strong supporter of sports tourism, which is a key vehicle for promoting the country’s natural beauty and rich culture to visitors from all over the world. The Oman Golf Trophy was a huge success, leveraging golf as an ambassador to highlight Oman’s rich investment potential and strengthen diplomatic ties between Oman and Italy. We look forward to seeing more events like it in the future that showcase Oman to the world and provide opportunities for economic growth and job creation.” Oman Air’s efforts to promote investment and sports tourism in Oman are in line with the country’s vision to diversify its economy and create new opportunities for growth. The airline has been a major sponsor of numerous sporting events in Oman and internationally, including most recently the 44Cup, Oman Desert Marathon and Ironman 70.3.