Category Archives: Aviation

SAUDIA and Lilium N.V. developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) jet, at the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the proposed development and operation by SAUDIA of an eVTOL network across Saudi Arabia. The proposed arrangement will make SAUDIA the first airline in the MENA region to purchase 100 Lilium Jets alongside yearly support services. With zero operating emissions, the Lilium Jet will enable sustainable and time-saving travel. With a planned purchase of 100 Lilium Jets, SAUDIA intends to launch a state-of-the-art service with new electric point-to-point connections as well as seamless feeder connections to SAUDIA’s hubs for business class guests. Lilium Jet’s flexible cabin architecture is expected to enable a range of spacious interior configurations that are well suited to the needs of the premium market, which Lilium believes can help drive the early adoption of eVTOL aircraft required to scale. SAUDIA also expects to support Lilium with the necessary regulatory approval processes in Saudi Arabia for certification of the Lilium Jet and any other required regulatory approvals. As the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, SAUDIA currently serves a network of more than 100 domestic and international destinations with its world-renowned service and hospitality. Lilium and SAUDIA plan to combine SAUDIA’s unrivalled market knowledge and Lilium’s unique eVTOL aircraft to transform the Kingdom’s domestic air transport sector. Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, Chief Executive Officer of SAUDIA said: “SAUDIA, building on its commitment to be an industry leading airline committed to sustainability, consider our eVTOL network project with Lilium to be an undertaking of great significance for the Kingdom’s aviation industry and will contribute effectively to …

Qatar Airways and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer Gevo, Inc. have signed an offtake agreement, where the airline will purchase 25 million US gallons of neat SAF over the course of five years with deliveries expected to commence in 2028 at various airports in California. Qatar Airways will be uplifting 5 million US gallons of neat SAF every year and will blend it with its existing supply of conventional jet fuel. The airline became the first airline in the Middle East and Africa region to announce its commitment to an international SAF offtake agreement. This partnership is part of the airline’s earlier commitment, along with other oneworld® Alliance members to purchase up to 200 million US gallons of SAF from Gevo. SAF is one of the pillars in Qatar Airways and oneworld’s plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In September 2020, oneworld became the first global airline alliance to unite behind a common target to achieve carbon neutrality with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The alliance subsequently committed to a target of 10% sustainable aviation fuel use across the alliance by 2030. Qatar Airways is very keen to ramp-up the use of SAF at a commercial level, noting that the SAF to be purchased will be certified under the sustainability criteria laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Compared with fossil-based jet fuel, SAF results in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions across its lifecycle. Today’s technology allows for CO2 reductions from the use of SAF to reach 85% when compared to conventional jet fuel. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways continues to prioritise our commitment to …

Oman Air will offer four flights a week between Muscat and Phuket, one of Thailand’s most popular resort islands, starting from 15th November 2022. The flights will operate on (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The Tuesday flight from Muscat will depart at 09:40 and arrive in Phuket at 18:50. The Thursday flight from Muscat will depart at 22:50 and arrive in Phuket on Sunday at 08:00. The first flight on Saturday will depart Muscat at 09:40 and arrive in Phuket at 18:50, while the second flight will depart at 22:50 and arrive on Sunday at 08:00. Economy Class tickets start at OMR 299 and Business Class tickets start at OMR 650, inclusive of taxes. Guests travelling to Muscat and Phuket should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through the country. Guests can also book a customised Phuket holiday package through Oman Air Holidays.

SAUDIA Group is proud to announce its strategic sponsorship to the third edition of Riyadh Season, which kicked off in the Saudi capital on Friday with a grand opening ceremony under the slogan “Beyond Imagination”. Supporting the largest cultural and entertainment event in the Kingdom falls in line with SAUDIA Group’s commitment to contributing to Vision 2030 through promoting key sectors such as tourism, entertainment, culture, and civil and logistical transport, which are essential for Saudi Arabia to become one of the top tourist and entertainment destinations in the world. Last year, SAUDIA Group contributed to the transfer of more than one million visitors from 125 international destinations for the second edition of Riyadh Season, which ran under the slogan “Imagine More”. This year, SAUDIA Group has expanded the scope of its sponsorship by supporting the promotion of the event and help it further achieve its goals. Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Logistics Services Company (SAL) are strategic partners for this season, while Flyadeal will contribute as a co-sponsor to support the event. Moataz Alandijani, General Manager – Partnerships and Sponsorships at the SAUDIA Group said: “For the third consecutive year, we are proud to be strategic sponsors to Riyadh Season. I invite everyone to visit the largest entertainment event in the region and enjoy a unique and impressive experience, which includes exclusive and distinctive surprises provided by SAUDIA.” As the Wings of Vision 2030, SAUDIA Group seeks to contribute to the Kingdom’s aspirations by sponsoring several forums and cultural and sports events in Saudi Arabia to help transform the country into the leading tourism, culture, and entertainment destination in the …

Etihad Airways has partnered with World Energy, a carbon-net-zero solutions provider, to operate the first NetZero flight powered entirely by Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Book & Claim, delivering delegates to COP27 with zero net emissions. The airline will operate its Washington Dulles to Abu Dhabi service, routed via COP27 venue Sharm-El-Sheik to demonstrate the only feasible path to net-zero commercial aviation using current technology, while showcasing the challenges and opportunities of SAF. Mariam Alqubaisi, Head of Sustainability & Business Excellence, Etihad Airways, said: “This initiative is about proving NetZero commercial aviation is possible, but equally facing up to the significant logistical challenges the industry faces to turn the possible into the routine. Etihad endeavors to make good on its rigorous commitment towards sustainable aviation through the Greenliner programme in partnership with Boeing, GE and other aviation leaders in 2020, followed by the addition of the Sustainabile50 programme in partnership with Airbus and Rolls Royce, coupled with our commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and halving our net emission levels by 2035. “Through these programmes, we have run a series of ecoFlights over the past two years to test and validate several concepts, and we have made refining and implementing sustainability initiatives an intrinsic part of our day-to-day operation. The NetZero flight is the next logical step after our EY20 operation from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi in October last year, where we reduced emissions by 72% compared to the same flight in 2019. “This isn’t about solving only Etihad’s emissions, but about supporting the entire industry to address the biggest challenge we face over the next three decades.” Gene Gebolys, CEO, World Energy, said: “Aviation is how the …

Emirates has recently activated its codeshare partnership with Batik Air, expanding choice and connectivity options for its customers with access to 25 Indonesian points on a single ticket and one baggage policy. Under the newly activated agreement, Emirates has placed its code on 8 routes operated by Batik Air via Jakarta to – Balikpapan (BPN), Denpasar (DPS), Medan (KNO), Manado (MDC), Padang (PDG), Surakarta (SOC), Surabaya (SUB) and Makassar (UPG). In addition, via an interline agreement, Emirates customers can also easily access  17 more domestic Indonesian points via Jakarta and Denpasar, to cities such as Praya (LOP), Semarang (SRG), Sorong (SOQ), and more. Tickets can be booked on www.emirates.com, Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s) and via travel agents, for travel immediately. Emirates has been serving Indonesia for over 30 years, since the commencement of its first flight to Jakarta back in 1992. The airline continues to contribute to the recovery and growth of Indonesia’s travel and trade sectors, carrying international tourists and business travellers, as well as transporting essential air cargo to and from global markets. Earlier this year, Emirates had launched its codeshare agreement with Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda, allowing its customers to access eight domestic points in Indonesia, beyond Jakarta and Bali. Emirates currently has codeshare cooperation agreements in place with 26 airline partners and two rail companies around the world, as well as 110 interline partners worldwide. The airline offers its customers truly global connectivity to over 130 destinations across 6 continents.

SAUDIA Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University to collaborate on increasing women’s empowerment efforts. According to the MoU, the two sides will extend joint efforts to increase women’s presence in the commercial aviation industry through multifaceted training programs. The agreement was signed by Dr. Norah Almotrefi, Dean of Applied College, and Mrs. Rania Al-Turki, Executive Vice President of Human Resources at SAUDIA Group. The MoU was signed during the first annual Nourah Partners Exhibition at the university’s conference center, the MoU provides the framework for academic collaboration to launch training programs that cover the activities of SAUDIA Group and its subsidiaries. SAUDIA would also provide volunteering and internship opportunities as well as collaborative training for female students. Hailing the remarkably constructive cooperation with a renowned academic institution such as Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Ms. Al-Turki said that the objectives of the MoU are in line with SAUDIA Group’s strong focus on academic learning and intensified training programs, two factors that are crucial to an ever-changing industry that thrives on innovation and creativity. SAUDIA, she added, is pressing on with job localization that encompasses hiring more women throughout the group, from board membership and executive management – 10 of the group’s top executive positions are held by women – to the airline’s cabin crew, where 154 women are relied upon to fly guests in safety and comfort, as well as guest care relations, ground operations, and in-flight technical support teams.

‎With the countdown to hosting the world’s largest football event advancing, Qatar Airways Group and Qatar Tourism unveil major events to provide football fans with world-class entertainment  including Qatar Live – which hosts more than 60 international artists throughout the World Cup. The conference displayed synergy between travel and tourism as Qatar Airways revealed over ten projects developed with partners including Qatar Tourism, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and Qatari Diar. The airline announced the development of beach clubs, fan zones and theme parks, in addition to hosting Qatar Live, Daydream Music Festival, Lusail Boulevard brand activation, Qatar Airways Sky House, Winter Wonderland and the naming ceremony for the MSC World Europa cruise ship. At an insightful press conference, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker was joined by FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nasser Al Khater and MATAR Chief Operations Officer, Eng. Badr Al Meer. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Today we see the breadth of what can be accomplished when aviation and tourism work together. We are very proud to announce a wide range of world-class live entertainment coming to Qatar to celebrate the most exciting tournament that will take place in the Middle East. We look forward to our locals and tourists alike having the best of the entertainment industry readily available for their enjoyment.” Chief Executive Officer, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Mr. Nasser Al Khater, said: “Qatar is ready to welcome the world and host a unique edition of the FIFA World Cup – the first to take place in the Middle East and Arab world. Fans can expect …

Etihad Airways, in partnership with Armani/Casa, announced a new collaboration to deliver an unparalleled premium travel experience, setting an elevated new benchmark for the aviation industry. Launching onboard in December 2022, the partnership creates a unique vision for Etihad’s premium offering, exclusively designed with celebrated designer Giorgio Armani. The Etihad and Armani/Casa collaboration introduces ‘The Constellation Collection’, inspired by the stars. Offering a ‘beyond Business’ experience for Etihad’s guests, the range is embellished with a unique geometric pattern that subtly adorns the collection. The collection includes a new dining service featuring ceramics, glassware, cutlery and serving ware, as well as premium textiles for a completely luxurious inflight experience. Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad, said: “Today we unveil a completely new and elevated way to fly with Etihad Airways—an experience defined by our Emirati heritage yet shaped by a clear vision for our future. Known globally for its Italian luxury and elegance, Armani/Casa is the ideal brand partner to create an unparalleled level of bespoke service and refinement for our guests.” Redefining Business class travel The dining service features refined silhouettes with elevated contemporary finishes, mixed materials and embossed patterns. The use of multiple textures represents the cultural diversity of the UAE. The colour palette reflects the surroundings of Abu Dhabi; dark green inspired by the region’s date palm trees, aquamarine representing the beauty of the mangroves and slate to symbolise the modernity of the iconic Abu Dhabi skyline. The signature cutlery is elegantly tactile with patterned handles bringing the unmistakable Armani/Casa experience directly to the guest. The collection is designed in line with the airline’s commitment to sustainability. Durable, high-quality material and innovative designs have reduced equipment weight …

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has signed a global strategic agreement with Visa, world’s leader in digital payments, part of a new 10-year exclusive partnership. This latest collaboration enables Privilege Club to enhance and expand its portfolio of co-branded payment initiatives with key financial partners across key markets worldwide. With the strength of Visa’s global platform and digital-first approach, the partnership will unveil new products to further augment Qatar Airways Privilege Club’s ambitions. The roll-out of the Visa co-branded payment cards means members can look forward to enjoying several new features, such as complimentary worldwide airport lounge access, travel insurance, premium concierge service and much more. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: “We are excited to announce our latest partnership with Visa, a leader in the global payments industry. Visa connects our Privilege Club members to the world through their vast relationships and new opportunities for co-branded payment cards. “This strategic collaboration is the latest development in our mission to provide an unmatched loyalty programme with the greatest offerings available, complementing other recent initiatives like the adoption of Avios as the new reward currency, refreshing the digital experience and enhancements in products like Cash + Avios.” Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President and Group Country Manager for GCC at Visa, said: “Visa works closely with leading airline partners to deliver innovative and rewarding co-brand products that enhance the travel experience for our cardholder passengers. We are delighted to sign an exclusive long-term agreement with Qatar Airways to create experiences that serve Qatar Airways Privilege Club members’ travel and lifestyle interests. Our cardholders will soon be able to enjoy new payment products and benefits, while enjoying convenient and secure payments …