Emirates announced plans to introduce its newly retrofitted Boeing 777s to two more cities – Zurich and Riyadh from 1 October 2024*. The airline will also layer on refurbished B777s to Geneva and Brussels operations, making them the first two cities in the airline’s network to sport refreshed B777 cabins on all flights. The airline aims to offer customers more of its highly acclaimed Premium Economy product and newly configured Business Class cabin on the Boeing 777 in the coming weeks and months. Emirates’ enhanced B777s will operate as follows: To Zurich, Emirates will operate its retrofitted Boeing 777 on EK 85 and EK 86 starting from 1 October 2024*. Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777 featuring its latest cabins will also land in Riyadh for the first time, as EK 819 and EK 820 from 1 October 2024*. This will be the first debut of Emirates’ Premium Economy in the Middle East/GCC. From 22 September 2024*, Geneva will become the first city in the Emirates network to offer Premium Economy seats and newly refreshed Business Class cabins on all flights, with the introduction of the retrofitted B777 on EK 89 and EK 90. From 9 October 2024*, Emirates will operate its second retrofitted B777 to Brussels on EK 181 and EK 182 six times weekly. With an expanded list of cities served by both the refurbished Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft, Emirates is providing customers more choice and a better experience in the skies across every cabin class. The airline plans to serve 28 cities with Premium Economy by the end of this year. So far, 25 aircraft have been retrofitted, with 17 more aircraft to undergo a facelift by December 2024. The …
Read More »Saudia launches its first direct route between Riyadh and Zurich
SAUDIA inaugurated the first direct flight to its new international destination Zurich, Switzerland in collaboration with the Air Connectivity Program. To commemorate the occasion, SAUDIA organized an inauguration ceremony at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in the presence of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Switzerland to the Kingdom, Dr. Andreas Schaller, the Chief Commercial Officer of SAUDIA, Mr. Arved Nikolaus Von Zur Muhlen, the VP Strategy & Communication from the Air Connectivity Program, Mr. Sultan Alotaify, and the VP of Route Development Ms. Anita Gackowska, along with a number of government officials working at the airport. At the departure gate, a ribbon cutting ceremony took place to launch the new route as SAUDIA employees bid farewell to the traveling guests. Mr. Muhlen, the CCO of SAUDIA stated, “With continuous support from the Air Connectivity Program, we at SAUDIA are excited to begin transporting passengers along the milestone route, effectively utilizing our fleet of 150 premium aircraft to best accommodate travelers to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”. Mr. Sultan Otaify, the Vice President of Strategy and Communications of The Air Connectivity Program, indicated that this type of fruitful local partnerships is a foundation stone for a series of future partnerships that aim to support and stimulate the aviation sector, establish new air routes and enhance the pace of flights, which contributes to the development of tourism in the kingdom. The aircraft was received with a water salute to welcome the first direct flight from Saudi Arabia in Zurich International Airport where SAUDIA held another celebration for the return flight from Zurich to Riyadh in line with its goal to bring the world to the Kingdom. The …
Read More »Etihad and SWISS ink codeshare agreement
A new codeshare partnership was signed between Etihad Airways and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) with bookings effective immediately. Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will have its EY flight code on SWISS services between Geneva and Zurich, two key gateway cities served in Switzerland from Abu Dhabi. SWISS will market its LX code on Etihad Airways’ services between Zurich and Abu Dhabi, offering its passengers codeshare flights to and from the UAE’s capital city. The codeshare services are bookable now, for travel from March 26. Peter Baumgartner, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said, “This codeshare deepens Etihad Airways’ commitment to the Swiss travel market and Switzerland, a key destination for travellers from UAE, neighbouring Gulf countries, and across our Asia Pacific network. The partnership further strengthens the historic cultural, business and tourism ties that the UAE and Switzerland have enjoyed over many decades. For travellers from Switzerland, our new relationship with SWISS will provide access to Etihad’s award-winning service and the hospitality for which our Abu Dhabi home is known.”
Read More »IHG ropes in Holiday Inn® Dubai Science Park
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announced signing of Holiday Inn® Dubai Science Park.The newly built hotel will operate under a management agreement with an affiliate of the Rolaco Group, who also own InterContinental® Dallas, InterContinental® Semiramis, InterContinental®Geneva, Crowne Plaza® Geneva, and Crowne Plaza® Zurich. Holiday Inn Dubai Science Park will comprise of 402 rooms and suites, including five meeting rooms and a conference hall seating 600 guests. Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our global partnership with the Rolaco Group through the signing of their first Holiday Inn property in Dubai. The signing reinforces our current footprint in the UAE, which includes 19 hotels open and another 11 hotels in our pipeline. The UAE is home to our second largest portfolio of hotels in the Middle East and we continue to expand our portfolio in the region.”
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