Category Archives: Aviation

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi marked the inauguration of its first flight to Queen Alia International Airport. Before departure, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the presence of senior representatives from Air Arabia Group and Abu Dhabi Airports. Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, said: “We are excited to launch Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s first flight to Amman and we thank our partners who contributed to the success of this launch. Offering valuable products to passengers and contributing to their travelling experiences across our network lays at the forefront of our strategy. We are committed to serving both leisure and business customers and to enhancing the travel and tourism sector of both countries.” Commenting on the announcement, Maureen Bannerman, Chief Commercial Officer, Abu Dhabi Airports said, “We are proud to see the growth of travel routes and airline options, this time between Abu Dhabi and Amman with Air Arabia. We continue to expand our offering, providing more choice to guests travelling from our airports, positioning Abu Dhabi International Airport as the airport of choice”. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi continues to enhance global connectivity to and from the capital of the UAE, serving a total of 34 destinations directly from Abu Dhabi International Airport across the sub-continent, GCC, Russia, Africa, and Europe. The new direct flights will connect Abu Dhabi International Airport to Queen Alia International Airport with a frequency of three flights weekly. Air Arabia operates a fleet of 68 Airbus A320 and A321 neo-LR aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. The aircrafts are also equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming service and an …

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (“PIF”), announced  the establishment of “Riyadh Air,” a PIF wholly owned company. The new national carrier will leverage Saudi Arabia’s strategic geographic location between the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, enabling Riyadh to become a gateway to the world and a global destination for transportation, trade, and tourism. Riyadh Air will be chaired by His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of PIF, while Tony Douglas, who brings more than 40 years of experience in the aviation, transportation and logistics industries, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. The airline’s senior management will include Saudi and international expertise. Operating from Riyadh as its hub, the airline will usher in a new era for the travel and aviation industry globally. Riyadh Air will be a world-class airline, adopting the global best sustainability and safety standards across its advanced fleet of aircraft equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology. The airline is expected to add USD20 billion to non-oil GDP growth, and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. As a wholly owned PIF subsidiary, the new national airline is set to benefit from PIF’s investment expertise and financial capabilities while expanding on the company’s operations to become a leading national carrier. The new national airline represents PIF’s latest investment in the sector, along with the recently announced King Salman International Airport masterplan. Riyadh Air aims to enhance customers’ journey while connecting them to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030; through offering an exceptional experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart. The airline will provide tourists from around the …

The Emirates Group and Dubai Future Foundation have today signed a significant partnership to launch the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics (ECEAR). The agreement was signed at ForsaTEK, the Group’s innovation forum. Adel Al Redha, Emirates’ Chief Operating Officer said: “This is a key milestone in the Emirates Group’s innovation journey and a remarkable step for the aviation industry. Our partnership with Dubai Future Foundation helps realise our own vision for aviation and supports Dubai’s vision to be one of the world’s leading futuristic cities. This will give us a true opportunity to take advantage of evolving technology, allowing us to continually expand the use of robotics and technological applications in our customer journey and improve operational efficiency. Investing in focused R&D will allow us to transform our business in the digital era, make more use of AI, give tangible benefits to our customers and stakeholders, and will keep us ahead.” His Excellency Khalfan Juma Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, said the launch of the Emirates Centre of Excellence for Aviation Robotics embodies the importance of incubating top national and international talents in Dubai to develop robotic solutions that support the growth of the aviation sector. Belhoul said the agreement will provide fresh and diverse economic opportunities centred on developing technologies of futures. He added: “The outputs of this initiative will contribute to advancing “Dubai Robotics and Automation Program”, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Future Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which aims to make Dubai one of the leading cities in the world within this field, …

‎Qatar Airways drew major attention at ITB Berlin 2023, Airline’s Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, unveiled new destinations, and announced flight resumptions and frequency increases during a press conference held on the first day of the exhibition. Highlighting the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Qatar Airways revealed its new sports sponsorship portfolio as well as a multitude of other projects and partnerships lined up for the year 2023, continuing on the path of bringing people together all while boosting the tourism industry in the State of Qatar. The press conference was also attended by His Excellency, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, Ambassador for the State of Qatar to Germany. At the press conference, H.E. Mr. Al Baker announced over seven new destinations planned for launch in 2023, including Chittagong, Juba, Kinshasa, Lyon, Medan, Toulouse, and Trabzon. Qatar Airways is also resuming flights to 11 destinations: Beijing, Birmingham, Buenos Aires, Casablanca, Davao, Marrakesh, Nice, Osaka, Phnom Penh, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Tokyo Haneda. Multiple destinations also saw frequency increases scheduled for the year 2023.* Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is dedicated to enrich the global community which it serves. As the World’s Best Airline, we are excited to offer more ways of bringing the world together, increasing connectivity and bridging gaps within the travel industry. As we expand our fleet, network, partnerships and international presence we look forward to working together to deliver sustainable growth and a compelling future for the industry. “We continue to look forward to our bright future here in Qatar, with multiple projects lined up for 2023 and beyond, such …

‎Qatar Airways, will once again participate at ITB Berlin, from 7-9 March 2023, and is planning to make a significant network announcement. These plans will be revealed during Qatar Airways press conference for global media on the first day of the exhibition. The conference will highlight the spectacular success of the World’s Best Airline’s achievements during the historic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, as well as expectations for the year ahead in the presence of the world’s most notable gathering of travel and tourism professionals. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We look forward to reuniting with the leaders of the global travel industry, especially our travel trade partners, to celebrate our achievements and to introduce our latest products and services to the industry dating back to before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our track record speaks for itself and over the years my country has strived towards being a beacon of positivity in the world of aviation and beyond, most notably as the host country of the greatest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.  I look forward to this year’s edition of ITB Berlin 2023 to share our plans for the year ahead and to continue to make Qatar a more connected place through HIA, The World’s Best Airport.” In light of Qatar Airways latest expansion announcement of its sports partnership portfolio as  the Official Airline and Global Partner of Formula 1, the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, Trade show exhibitors are welcome to visit the stand and experience the F1 Car Racing Simulator setting a new standard of excitement for international travel and tourism guests. The world-leading travel …

Emirates will upgrade two of its services to Bahrain on 6 March to the A380 to serve high demand from those visiting and attending the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix 2023. Flights EK 835/836 and EK 837/838, all previously operated by the Boeing 777-300ER, have been upgraded to the flagship and customer favourite, the Emirates A380, and underscore the airline’s commitment to make connections for travellers to and through Dubai even easier. EK 835 departs Dubai at 0150hrs, arriving in Bahrain at 0205hrs, while EK 836 departs Bahrain at 0350hrs, arriving back in Dubai at 0605hrs. The other conveniently timed morning EK 837 flight departs Dubai at 0820hrs and will arrive in Bahrain at 0840hrs. EK 838 then leaves Bahrain at 1025hrs arriving in Dubai at 1240hrs. Both Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft serving the Dubai-Bahrain route on 6 March will offer a total of 517 seats in a three-class configuration, with 427 spacious seats in Economy Class, 76 fully flat-bed seats in Business Class and 14 First Class Private Suites. The two A380s join Emirates’ other daily flight to and from Bahrain, operated with the Boeing 777-300ER. Passengers in all classes can enjoy Emirates’ multi award-winning ‘ice’ Digital Widescreen entertainment system, offering over 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment including sports on Live TV, and a robust selection of Arabic programming. Emirates has been serving the Kingdom of Bahrain for over two decades delivering the best in terms of network, convenient schedules and onboard products and services to travellers. The airline has in the past deployed numerous one-off and scheduled A380 missions to Bahrain in celebration of the Kingdom’s National Days, to serve high summer demand and has also displayed its …

SAUDIA has collaborated with the Saudi Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and Saudi Tourism Authority, to launch four new international destinations: Beijing (PRC), Birmingham (UK), Kano (Nigeria), and Johannesburg (South Africa). Representing a significant expansion program for 2023, the route development follows the national carrier’s signing of an agreement with ACP, and is in line with the program’s objective of enhancing the Kingdom’s point-to-point air connectivity and its reach to target international markets. By collaborating with airlines to expand their operations in Saudi Arabia, ACP seeks to promote growth and development within the tourism and aviation sectors, working to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination for international travel. “The opening of four new air routes across three different regions is the result of strong collaboration between the Saudi tourism and aviation ecosystems,” said Ali Rajab, CEO of ACP. “We are proud to have been part of these efforts. These new routes offer a diverse mix of travel opportunities in the Kingdom, unlocking its rich cultural heritage and inviting travelers from around the world to experience the beauty and diversity of this remarkable destination. “Air connectivity will play an increasingly important role in enabling tourism growth and creating new opportunities for businesses and tourists alike. We look forward to building on this momentum to unlock new destinations, and create a brighter future for the Kingdom,” Ali Rajab added. Capt. Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of SAUDIA, highlighted the airline’s ongoing commitment to investing in operational expansion. “We are dedicated to continue optimizing our modern fleet to meet current and future expansion requirements,” he said. “In addition to the recent launch of the new service “Your Ticket, Your Visa” which is the first …

Vistara inaugurated its daily non-stop service between Mumbai and Dammam. This is Vistara’ s second destination in Saudi Arabia, complementing its 7x weekly connectivity between Mumbai and Jeddah. Deploying its A320neo aircraft with a three-class cabin configuration and enhanced features, Vistara is the only airline to offer travellers the choice of Premium Economy cabin in addition to Business and Economy Class on this route. Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We are delighted to commence operations to Dammam, a major administrative hub in Saudi Arabia and home to a large Indian diaspora. The addition of Dammam to our growing international network is in line with our goal to further strengthen our presence in the Middle East. Dammam will be the fifth Vistara destination in the region – after Dubai, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. We are certain that, Vistara, with its award-winning product and services will be a preferred carrier on the Mumbai-Dammam route.” SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS TO AND FROM DAMMAM (SAUDI ARABIA) Sector Flight No. Days of Operation Departure Arrival Mumbai – Dammam UK 0237 Daily 21:20 hrs 23:10 hrs Dammam – Mumbai UK 0238 Daily 23:55 hrs 06:15 hrs (+1) * All timings shown are in local time zones *+1 indicates next-day arrival Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings. Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The airline has recently been featured amongst World’s …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to start direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Baku in Azerbaijan from 13th September 2023. The direct flights will connect Abu Dhabi International Airport to Heydar Aliyev International Airport with a frequency of three flights per week.     Schedule to Baku, effective September 13, 2023 (all times local): Flight Departure Time Arrival Time Aircraft Frequency 3L 730 Abu Dhabi 10:10 Baku 13:15 Airbus 320 Wednesday/Friday/Sunday 3L 731 Baku 14:15 Abu Dhabi 17:15 Airbus 320 Wednesday/Friday/Sunday               Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia, said: “We are excited to start our direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Baku, a city which offers a unique blend of Europe and Asia. Baku is a significant route in our expansion plans from UAE’s capital and reinforces our commitment to providing our customers with more choices, convenience, and enhanced connectivity, while supporting both countries’ aviation sector and tourism industry”. Air Arabia Abu Dhabi continues to enhance global connectivity to and from the capital of the UAE, serving a total of 32 destinations directly from Abu Dhabi International Airport. Air Arabia operates a total fleet of 68 Airbus A320 and A321 neo-LR aircraft, the most modern and best-selling single aisle aircraft in the world. The cabin configuration across Air Arabia’s fleet provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat-pitch of any economy cabin. The aircraft is equipped with ‘SkyTime’, a free in-flight streaming service that will allow 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. The …

Emirates and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have signed an interline agreement to boost connectivity for passengers of both air carriers to new points on each other’s networks via Manila and Dubai, using a single ticket and one baggage policy. Now in effect, the reciprocal interline partnership provides Emirates’ passengers access to 19 Philippine domestic destinations operated by Philippine Airlines, including Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Cotabato, Davao, Iloilo, Kalibo and more, as well as two Asian regional points via Manila. Philippine Airlines’ passengers also benefit from access to Emirates’ global network and seamlessly connect to 21 cities operated by Emirates beyond Dubai to European destinations such as London, Rome, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Paris and Kuwait, as well as to Jeddah and other points in the Middle East , Africa and India. Travel itineraries can be booked on emirates.com, philippineairlines.com, the Emirates and PAL mobile apps, or via both online and offline travel agents. Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer commented: “The Philippines is one of our strongest consumer markets and we’re pleased to sign a new interline agreement with the country’s flag carrier. The partnership with Philippine Airlines will help open new links for trade and tourism that will drive more inbound traffic into the market, and expand Emirates’ footprint in East Asia. We look forward to serving our partner airline’s customers with additional travel choices to Emirates destinations across the Middle East, Europe as well as the Americas, and to expanding our cooperation with plans to include additional points via Cebu in the coming months.” Bud Britanico, Philippine Airlines Vice President for Sales commented:  “We are happy to embark on this new interline partnership with Emirates that expands the choices available …