Tag Archives: aviation

According to the ATM Travel Trends Report 2025, developed in partnership with Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company, Middle East air passenger demand is projected to grow by 23% between 2025 and 2030, driven by ambitious national tourism strategies, record airport performance, and unprecedented aircraft investment throughout the GCC. The region’s four largest carriers, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and Saudia, have placed nearly 780 aircraft orders with Boeing and Airbus, underscoring long-term confidence in global demand. Meanwhile, Middle East airlines collectively account for 12% of all new unfilled aircraft orders worldwide, with GCC carriers responsible for 93% of those orders, according to the report. The expansion of fleet capacity is directly reflected in the scale of global connectivity now achieved by Middle Eastern carriers. The Middle East’s aviation and cruise industries are entering a phase of global expansion, solidifying the region’s status as a major international travel hub. These industries are set to be the focus of attention at the upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026, which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 4-7 May. Qatar Airways serves more than 170 destinations worldwide, while Etihad Airways is set to operate a fleet of over 110 aircraft, connecting to more than 90 destinations as of the end of 2025. Emirates currently flies to 140 destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific, and Saudia operates direct services to over 90 international destinations. Together, these networks underscore the region’s growing role as a global aviation super-connector, linking markets across six continents with increasing frequency and reach. Furthermore, Dubai-based Maldivian airline, Beond, has recently announced plans to set up operations in Bahrain, strengthening the …

beOnd announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain to explore the establishment of a Bahrain-based Air Operator Certificate (AOC). The LOI creates a framework for long-term collaboration in airline operations, workforce development, maintenance, and innovation. It reflects shared goals to boost Bahrain’s appeal as a premium destination and connecting hub between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North America. “Bahrain’s aviation legacy spans nearly a century and has consistently positioned the Kingdom as a regional centre of excellence in the region,” said Tero Taskila, CEO of beOnd. “Establishing a Bahrain-based airline is a natural next step in our multi-jurisdictional strategy. Together, we have the opportunity to build a premium aviation platform that strengthens connectivity, develops specialised talent, and supports innovation across the travel value chain.” “We are delighted today to sign a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and beOnd, and we were pleased to have beOnd present with us during the launch of our national aviation strategy of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications in the Kingdom of Bahrain. “It was an opportunity for us to showcase the partnership and to share our part in its realization. We look forward to having beOnd aircraft with a Bahraini AOC. It’s a pleasure to have beOnd as part of the aviation ecosystem and the Kingdom of Bahrain.” beOnd plans to operate and base up to ten premium-configured aircraft in Bahrain by 2030, serving high-value leisure and business markets. Over its first five years of operations in Bahrain, the airline projects a contribution …

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 …

flydubai has announced seven new interline agreements, boosting its total number of interline partners to over 40 and offering passengers access to more than 300 destinations across the combined networks. The Dubai-based carrier continues to expand connectivity across Asia and Europe, strengthening Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub. Passengers can now connect to over 30 European destinations through Greece’s Aegean Airlines and Italy’s ITA Airways, including Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, Thessaloniki, Turin, and Venice. In Asia, interline partnerships with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Myanmar Airways International open up more than 90 destinations across the Far East and South-East Asia, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Ho Chi Minh City, and Yangon. flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “These agreements provide our passengers with more flexibility and choice while enhancing Dubai’s accessibility for tourism and business. Our commitment to seamless travel ensures single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage across partner networks.” With a modern fleet of 95 Boeing 737 aircraft, flydubai offers an elevated travel experience in Business and Economy Class, featuring lie-flat seats, international menus, and immersive inflight entertainment. Interline flights are available for booking via flydubai.com, partner airline websites, and travel agents.

The Emirates Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub has been cleverly designed so that it can be seamlessly and swiftly updated with new information and improvements, as accessible travel requirements continue to evolve. In the design and build of the hub, Emirates utilised inclusive research methods including engaging a diverse range of users including those with disabilities, in the usability studies. Emirates new Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub on the flagship Emirates.com, is designed to contain all the information needed for accessible and inclusive travel, featuring accessibility-friendly navigation that allows customers to find information easily and explore the many ways that Emirates can provide travel assistance and support. Emirates’ Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub will continue to evolve and grow to meet customer needs. Aiming to reduce anxiety before travelling, the Accessible & Inclusive Travel Hub spent a year in development, resulting in a design that features a seamless visual style and thoughtful and user-friendly navigation options. To provide consistent, inclusive experiences, the website is built on a token-based architecture to enable seamless updates and simplified customization. Even the colour palette is rigorously tested for contrast compliance to support clarity and readability, and designs are tested with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice control, and keyboard navigation. Customers can choose to view and explore sections by disability; including Mobility Assistance, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment and Hidden Disabilities. If preferred, customers can search by looking at specific parts of the journey, which have been clearly arranged – Before your flight, Departure from Dubai, Onboard your flight, Connecting in Dubai and Arriving in Dubai. A third option allows customers to browse by specific needs, including Book Special Assistance, Prepare for travel with …