Tag Archives: November 2023

Middle Eastern airlines saw an 18.6% traffic rise in November compared to November 2022. November capacity increased 19.0% versus the year-ago period, and load factor fell 0.2 percentage points to 77.4%. Overall Air Travel reached 99% of 2019 Levels as recovery continues in November according to the latest data released for November 2023 by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). • Total traffic in November 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 29.7% compared to November 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 99.1% of November 2019 levels. • International traffic rose 26.4% versus November 2022. The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-over-year results (+63.8%) with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5% of November 2019 levels. • Domestic traffic for November 2023 was up 34.8% compared to November 2022. Total November 2023 domestic traffic was 6.7% above the November 2019 level. Growth was particularly strong in China (+272%) as it recovered from the COVID travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago. US domestic travel, benefitting from strong Thanksgiving holidays demand, reached a new high, expanding +9.1% over November 2019. “We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel. Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. International travel remains 5.5% below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing. And domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. Air passenger market in detail – November 2023 November 2023 (% year-on-year) World share1 RPK ASK PLF (%-pt) PLF (level) Total Market 100.0% 29.7% 28.6% 0.7% 81.8% Africa 2.1% 20.3% …

Sofitel Dubai The Palm unveils its ultra-luxury Signature Collection of bespoke suites and villas. This boutique hotel experience promises exceptional stays, seamlessly merging the French Riviera charm with the allure of Dubai. Ready for reservations from November 1, 2023, the Signature Palm Suites cater primarily to guests aged 12 and above; making them a dreamy escape for couples enjoying their honeymoon or those celebrating special occasions. Sofitel Dubai The Palm’s pivotal expansion marks a significant milestone in the resort’s unwavering commitment to world-class sophistication, propelling it into unparalleled luxury hospitality. The journey of personalised luxury and exquisite art de vivre begins at the enticing Signature Palm Suites and continues to the majestic Eden, Palm, Riviera, and Beach Villas. Each bespoke space is an impeccable sanctuary of serenity and seclusion. The prestigious hotel has a pipeline of captivating projects set to launch before the year’s end. Christophe Schnyder, Managing Director at Sofitel Dubai The Palm, commented, “We are always determined in our vision to provide unparalleled luxury experiences for our guests. Recognising the evolving landscape of luxury hospitality, our introduction of the Signature Collection suites and villas signifies thoughtful diversification. By curating an exquisite adult-only sanctuary alongside our esteemed family offerings, we aim to elevate and cater to the desires of our discerning clientele, solidifying our commitment to redefine regional hospitality benchmarks”. The newly unveiled Signature Palm Suites epitomise luxury. Designed with precision for the cultured traveler, these suites have elegant interiors, offering a realm of uniqueness with an exclusive check-in experience. The suites have access to a dedicated butler service and bespoke honeymoon amenities as well as privileged access to The Premier Lounge, Sofitel FITNESS, the tranquil retreat of Sofitel …

Further building on its commitment to provide customers expanded access to its route network, Emirates has announced that it will be upgrading its services to Sydney to an all-A380 operation. With all three of Emirates’ slots already in use at Sydney airport, the airline is able to commit nearly 2,000 extra weekly seats with the upgrade to its double-decker aircraft on its third daily flight, starting 4 November 2023. The Emirates A380 service, set in a three class configuration offering 489 seats, will replace the Boeing 777-300ER currently being deployed on EK 416 and 417. Each return flight adds more than 260 extra daily seats and more connection opportunities to and from Dubai, and  global access to popular onwards destinations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The third A380 service will complement the two other Sydney A380 four-class services, which both offer Emirates’ latest Premium Economy cabin. Emirates currently operates 63 weekly services to Australia, offering close to 56,000 seats to and from its four major gateways. Melbourne and Sydney operate three times daily, Brisbane is served with double daily flights, and the airline also operates its flagship A380 daily to Perth. Emirates has also reintroduced services from Melbourne to Singapore, in addition to connecting Sydney with Christchurch, offering travellers the only A380 experience across the Trans-Tasman. The introduction of the Emirates Airbus A350 in the summer of 2024 will facilitate further expansion of the airline’s global network by allowing its fleet to grow and freeing up more of Emirates’ long-range aircraft to serve points like Adelaide. The airline is in close discussions with Adelaide Airport to recommence nonstop services as part of its commitment to reconnect travellers from …

Etihad Airways is increasing its flight frequency between Abu Dhabi and Rome from seven to 11 times per week. The four extra services will commence on 4 November 2023, providing business and leisure travellers with better access and convenience through double-daily connections between the Italian and UAE capitals on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. “We’re delighted to announce the expansion of our Rome service, which underscores our commitment to providing more flexibility and better travel options to our guests in Italy, the UAE and across our network,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad Airways. “Rome is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and with over two millennia of history and culture, and countless attractions from the Colosseum to the Vatican City and the Roman Forum, it’s easy to see why. “With Etihad Airways increasing its Rome flight frequency, visitors from the UAE will now have even more opportunities to get a taste of la dolce vita or connect onwards to one of 45 Italian, European or Americas destinations with our codeshare partner ITA Airways. “Our second Rome service has also been timed to provide optimised local flight times for those visiting Abu Dhabi, with an evening departure and a convenient morning arrival that allows for maximised time in the capital.” Travellers can enjoy world-class service and comfort onboard Etihad’s flights between Rome and Abu Dhabi, operated on a fleet of state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with 28 seats in Business and 262 seats in Economy. With this increase in frequency, Etihad Airways is creating more opportunities for Italian travellers to explore the Emirati capital and connect on to other exciting destinations in East Asia, …