Category Archives: Aviation

Travelport and Iberia announced the launch of Iberia’s NDC content and servicing capabilities on the Travelport+ platform. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to view and compare NDC fares and ancillaries from Iberia all in one place, making it easier to identify and book the best options for their travelers.  “The addition of Travelport to our NDC program is a milestone in the travel industry’s transformation. With this alliance, we provide a wider range of options for travel agencies using Travelport+ and at the same time, customers will benefit from a greater number of options and an improved experience. Travelport is a trusted technology provider for the travel industry as it evolves into the next generation of travel retailing. It is important for Iberia to partner with technology providers that have proven expertise and can meet our demands for customer-centric innovation,” explained Celia Muñoz Espín, Commercial Strategy and Distribution Director at Iberia. Travelport is also providing its agency customers the capabilities needed to service travelers directly, enabling agents to modify, exchange or cancel Iberia NDC bookings when needed. Travelport’s agency customers in Portugal, the first country where this content is available, can access the complete Iberia NDC solution in Travelport+, with all other markets expected to gain access in the coming weeks. “Available from today, we’re delivering Iberia NDC content and servicing through Travelport+ so that our agency users can shop and manage their clients’ flights seamlessly with access to all of Iberia’s dynamic product offerings and ancillaries in one place,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “We’re accelerating the delivery of complete NDC solutions for our air partners, like Iberia, so that the source of content is …

The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub (MBRAH) at Dubai South continues to achieve outstanding private jet movements, with a record 16,657 movements in 2023, a growth of 8% over 2022, marking the highest-ever movements achieved in Dubai. The growth of movements is attributed to several factors, including the hosting of the Dubai Airshow, COP28, and the soft opening of the new ExecuJet FBO and hangar. The impressive milestone reaffirms Al Maktoum International Airport’s position as the busiest airport for international business aviation movements in the Middle East. 2023 was also a successful year at MBRAH, witnessing several agreements with new partners seeking to set up their facilities across different zones to provide different MRO services, including manufacturing aircraft parts and structures, sealing and painting, AOG and aircraft parts supply, sourcing engine assets, and refurbishing private jet interiors. Additionally, the MRO trade from MBRAH’s Aerospace Supply Chain, which includes import, export and re-export, has increased and is expected to reach over AED 8 billion over the next few years, emphasising the growth of MRO activities. In his comments, Tahnoon Saif, CEO of MBRAH, said: “Last year marked an extraordinary milestone for us at MBRAH; not only did we record the highest-ever business aviation movements, but we also enriched our portfolio with new companies and announced the expansion of facilities. These achievements underscore the trust and immense value we offer through our cutting-edge infrastructure and world-class facilities, all within Dubai’s strategic embrace of the sector’s global growth. At MBRAH, our commitment persists, in perfect harmony with our visionary leadership’s strategy, to cement Dubai’s position as an aviation capital.” MBRAH offers global aerospace players high-level connectivity and is a free-zone destination for the …

Emirates announced a fifth frequency on its Dubai – Rio de Janeiro route, starting 7 December 2024. The additional weekly flight on Saturdays will provide increased capacity on its service to the Brazilian city and will support the growing demand for travel on the route. Additionally, the linked service allows travellers to conveniently travel onwards to the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. Emirates’ increase of capacity on its Dubai/Rio de Janeiro/Buenos Aires route will help the airline to meet market demand and offer customers greater flexibility, choice, and connectivity. With the fifth scheduled service, customers will now have more choice when selecting flights to suit their travel plans. The additional weekly frequency between Dubai, Brazil and Argentina will operate as EK247 and EK248 in a 2-class configuration. Tickets can be booked immediately on emirates.com, the Emirates App, and travel agencies. EK247 and EK248 is scheduled to operate with timings as follows (all times are local): Flight Departure  Arrival EK247 (DXB/GIG) 08:05 15:55 EK247 (GIG/EZE) 17:30 20:55 EK248 (EZE/GIG) 22:30 01:15 (next day) EK248 (GIG/DXB) 02:55 00:30 (next day) The added flights to be deployed in December will offer 302 seats on each flight in Economy Class and Business Class. Customers can enjoy the spaciousness and privacy of the aircraft’s configuration in Business Class, in the coveted 2-2-2 layout. The airline’s boosted services to Brazil and Argentina are expected to facilitate additional connectivity for passengers travelling between these countries and other popular destinations in Emirates’ network including the UAE, Japan, Thailand, Maldives, Egypt, mainland China and Hong Kong, Turkey, South Korea, India, Australia and Indonesia. With Brazil and Argentina being home to the two largest Lebanese communities in Latin America, Emirates regularly serves …

Emirates will introduce an additional Premium Economy service between Melbourne and Dubai, available from the 1 February 2024 on EK408 and EK409. The additional service follows the debut of Emirates’ Premium Economy service from Melbourne in April 2023, when the new cabin was made available on the daily EK406 and EK407 services. This latest development means Emirates now offers close to 800 weekly Premium Economy seats between Melbourne and its Dubai hub. The Premium Economy cabin offers a signature experience unmatched in the industry, offering plush cream leather seats and a wood veneer, a generous baggage allowance and an exceptional dining experience, staffed by a team of Cabin Crew dedicated to Premium Economy passengers. The added Premium Economy service means that the airline will be serving Australia with close to 3200 seats, including two daily services from Sydney and two daily services from Melbourne, maintaining Australia’s position as one of the key markets served with the airline’s best-in-class Premium Economy cabins. Since tickets for the Emirates Premium Economy service went on sale in Sydney in August 2022 and in Melbourne in April 2023, the new cabin class has exceeded expectations and forecasts with more than 90,000 passengers flying to and from Australia opting for the new cabin experience. Premium Economy seats from Sydney and Melbourne have averaged over 80 per cent load factors and the airline continues to anticipate consistently high demand for the new cabin class in Melbourne as consumer confidence and travel demand continue to accelerate in the new year. Barry Brown, Divisional Vice President Australasia at Emirates, says “As one of the most important markets in our global network, we are committed to offering Australians not only greater connectivity but also more …

Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, successfully concluded its participation in the Wings India 2024 exhibition conference. This event was organized by the Ministry of Civil Aviation of the Republic of India in cooperation with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). The conference also witnessed the presence of leaders and heads of civil aviation organizations and bodies worldwide and took place from January 18 to 21, 2024, at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad. During Saudi Arabia’s participation, a delegation led by the President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, highlighted the vital role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom’s national economy. He also emphasized the promising investment opportunities offered by this sector, aligning with the Saudi Aviation Strategy’s objectives. Under this strategy, the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) aims to position Saudi Arabia as a leading player in civil aviation in the Middle East. Their goals include doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually, serving more than 250 destinations worldwide, and increasing cargo capacity to 5.4 million tons. On the sidelines of the conference, the President of GACA participated in a ministerial session with leaders of civil aviation from around the world. This session focused on reviewing the national aviation strategy’s role in supporting economic development in Saudi Arabia. It also discussed the various opportunities for global investors based on the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The aim is for Saudi Arabia to become a regional aviation hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents. The Saudi Aviation Strategy aims to emphasize the Kingdom’s pioneering role in the in the field of civil aviation in the …

Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), announced that under the Saudi Aviation Strategy, the Kingdom expects 330 million passengers annually by 2030 and it aims only 10 percent of them to be transit passengers. This strategy is a part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the Kingdom as a leading regional hub and a global logistics platform connecting three continents. Al-Duailej shared these insights at a ministerial session on the sidelines of Wings India 2024, an exhibition and conference organized by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), from January 18 to 21, 2024, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. (Saudi Gazette report) Al-Duailej emphasized the critical role of civil aviation in supporting Saudi Arabia’s economic growth and sustainable development. The Kingdom is redefining the future of its aviation sector, aiming to attract $100 billion in investments and create an unparalleled travel experience. The focus on sustainable and integrated growth is evident in the aim to have only a fraction of passengers as transit passengers. The Saudi Aviation Strategy includes a comprehensive plan to upgrade and develop airports, airlines, aircraft, and facilities, including shipping and logistics services. It aims to expand the Kingdom’s air connectivity to over 250 destinations worldwide through 29 airports. Additionally, the strategy plans to establish a network of airports with unique capabilities, led by two global connectivity centers in Riyadh and Jeddah. Al-Duailej also highlighted the strategy’s ambition to transform air freight and logistics services, increasing air freight capacity from 0.8 million tons to 4.5 million tons by 2030. This initiative is expected to attract global air carriers, logistics service providers, …

Emirates and Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras S.A (Azul) have taken their partnership to new heights with the launch of a reciprocal loyalty programme offering. Emirates Skywards and TudoAzul frequent flyer members can now earn and redeem Miles across a joint network of more than 290 destinations worldwide. The two carriers launched a codeshare partnership in 2021 to provide customers enhanced connectivity to/from eight cities in Brazil to Emirates’ global network via Sao Paulo. Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President Emirates Skywards, said: “We’re very pleased to be announcing a new partnership with Azul, the largest airline in Brazil. Skywards members can now rack up even more Miles while discovering hundreds of cities across Brazil and South America. Azul members can also look forward to earning and redeeming Miles on more than 130 destinations across Emirates’ global network. We look forward to the start of a great partnership and to unlocking fantastic benefits for our frequent flyer members.” Cristina Yoshida, Director of Loyalty Program & Ancillary Revenue at Azul, added: “Our partnership with Emirates, a company globally recognized for its excellence in service, means a significant progress in our mission to provide memorable experiences to the customers. We are expanding Azul’s destinations and portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to a loyalty program that offers the best options to the members.” More opportunities to “earn and burn” Miles Under the agreement, Emirates Skywards members can earn Miles while traveling across Azul’s network of more than 150 destinations. Skywards members earn up to 1 Skywards Mile per mile flown in Economy class, and up to 1.5 Skywards Miles per mile flown in Business Class. Members can also redeem flight rewards on Azul …

Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha to Medan touched down at Kualanamu International Airport this week marking Medan the airline’s third destination in the Republic of Indonesia. The new direct service will complement the award-winning airline’s over 40 weekly flights to Jakarta and Bali. His Excellency the Minister of State President of Qatar National Library Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari represented the State of Qatar at the inaugural event, which was organized by the award-winning airline in collaboration with the ‘Years of Culture’ to mark the successful completion of the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture. Qatar-Indonesia sought to deepen the understanding of Qatar as a hub for arts and culture, tourism, education, and sports while celebrating the unique aspects of Indonesian culture and building sustainable partnerships through more than 50 programs across both countries. The new route to Medan solidifies the ties between both nations as the The Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture comes to a close. During the inaugural event, passengers were greeted with cupcakes and music at the departure gate of Hamad International Airport (DOH). Onboard the inaugural flight, QR966 carried esteemed officials and were welcomed at Kualanamu International Airport by water cannon salute and high-ranking government officials and dignitaries.The official Gala dinner was also attended by officals and dignitaries from both countries, The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Indonesia, H.E Ms. Fawziya Edrees Salman Al-Sulaiti, Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar, H.E Ridwan Hassan, Medan Mayor Mr. Muhammad Bobby Afif, and Secretary General for Years of Culture Steering Committee & Director of Executive committee, Ms. Sara AlMohannadi. The Minister of State, H.E. Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari, said: “The success of the Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture laid …

Riyadh Season and Saudi Airlines to create new entertainment zone to provide a unique experience with specialized aircraft that perform commercial tasks other than transporting passengers in the air. This brings delight to travelers who enjoy the travel rituals without going too far. These planes are equipped to offer an entertaining experience and serve delicious meals. More information will be available and announced later. H.E. Advisor Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Entertainment Authority (GeA) has announced the start of construction of the new BLVD Runway, as one of the Riyadh Season zones, in cooperation with Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia). The zone offers fresh adventures on five planes. The new zone allows visitors to enjoy a variety of cuisines from renowned restaurants. Additionally, the zone features thrilling activities such as a horror themed experience on an airplane. The announcement came after GEA CEO Eng. Faisal Bafarat and Saudia Group Chief Marketing Officer Khaled Tash in the presence of H.E. Eng. Ibrahim bin Abdul Rahman Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, signed an MOU. This agreement is a joint effort between Riyadh Season and Saudi Airlines to create the zone.  

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi celebrated the inauguration of its first flight from Abu Dhabi to Turkistan, one of the most important and historic cities in central Asia. The new route reaffirms the airline’s commitment to unlocking an eclectic mix of travel opportunities for both residents and visitors of the UAE and Kazakhstan. Flights to Turkistan will operate three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with tickets already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app, available in the Arabic language, with fares starting as low as AED 179*. The national airline is currently flying to more than 40 destinations from Abu Dhabi, including three in Kazakhstan, and providing hassle-free, point-to-point travel for adventurous travellers across the Middle East, Central Asia and beyond. A gem in the heart of Kazakhstan, Turkistan is a captivating mix of history, culture, and natural beauty and testament to the country’s diverse heritage. Boasting architectural marvels, such as the revered Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage site that echoes the grandeur of Islamic art and architecture; Turkistan offers an immersive cultural experience. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the surrounding landscapes, from the scenic beauty of the Sayram-Ugam National Park to the tranquil waters of the Sasykkol Lake with warm Kazakh local delicacies and age-old traditions awaiting. Basking in glorious year-round sunshine, Abu Dhabi is a world-renowned family-friendly destination with incredible art, culture, tradition and hospitality offerings. The UAE capital, blessed with stunning beach resorts, excellent cultural offerings, and exciting attractions, offers visitors a warm welcome and breathtaking natural and built beauty. The city offers an enriching historical experience and a bustling culture to explore with a plethora of both relaxation and …