SAUDIA retained its position as the global leader in July, with an OTP of 88.15% according to Cirium’s latest report. It further stated that  the CrowdStrike outage had less impact in the Middle East and Africa region. Affected airlines and airports were able to quickly resolve the situation and return to normal operations by using an alternative system for the check-in processes. King Khalid International Airport (RUH) secured the third-place position in the Global Airports category with an OTP of 83.27%.

According to the latest figures released by Qatar tourism, during the first seven months they received a total of 2.956 million visitors which is an increase of 26.2 per cent from the same period last year. During the month of July 2024 they welcomed 317,000 visitors. Saudi Arabia maintains its position as the number one source market with 0.86million visitors followed by India with 238,000 visitors and Bahrain with 135,000 visitors. Other top source markets on top are Kuwait, Oman, the US, UK, UAE, Germany and China.

The first Emirates Boeing 777 with a nose-to-tail cabin refresh sporting a new look has rolled into service, as it prepares to take off to Geneva this afternoon as EK 83. The aircraft took a total of 37 days for a complete revamp and will be entering service four days ahead of its officially announced deployment schedule. Watch this timelapse video offering a glimpse into how the first Emirates 777 cabins were gutted, fitted and refurbished by the airline’s seasoned in-house engineering team. Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline said: “Emirates continues to carry out our commitment to deliver an unmatchable onboard experience with the introduction of our latest Boeing 777 with new signature interiors, raising the industry benchmark when it comes to premium travel. Our latest Business Class cabin offers customers a sense of exclusivity and privacy, complemented by our best-in-class suite of onboard products. The addition of our popular Premium Economy cabin, rated one of the best in the industry, injects modern sophistication to the flying experience and is carefully designed for more comfort. With more Boeing 777s and A380s refreshed to sport our latest generation onboard products, customers can consistently have the very best experiences in the sky across both aircraft types.” The Emirates Boeing 777 entered refurbishment in early July, with a planned reconfiguration of the aircraft to make way for a new Premium Economy cabin consisting of 24 seats set in three rows in a 2-4-2 abreast layout. The cream leather seats, accentuated by wood panel finishings across the cabin, offer enhanced comfort with a 38-inch pitch, 19.5-inch-wide seats that recline 8 inches providing more space for stretching and relaxing, in addition to 6-way adjustable headrests. …

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) celebrates yet another milestone as over 5,000 properties across more than 80 countries have now embraced its Hotel Sustainability Basics (Basics) programme. Independent hotel management companies and unique accommodation providers have also taken their first steps in sustainability by adhering to the Basics criteria. Aleph Hospitality, the largest independent hotel management company in the Middle East and Africa, Sanctuary Retreats by Abercrombie and Kent, luxury African safari lodges, amongst others, are now entering their second year of verification. Hotel Sustainability Basics has also gained endorsements from destinations worldwide, including the Caribbean, Mauritius, Colombia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Mexico, and Ecuador. This milestone signifies a pivotal step forward for Travel & Tourism. The global tourism body remains committed to leading the sector towards a more sustainable and responsible future. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, stated: “WTTC’s Hotel Sustainability Basics is a powerful testament to our collective effort in promoting sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. Surpassing 5,000 verified properties is more than just a milestone; it demonstrates Travel & Tourism’s readiness to embrace sustainability globally. This initiative unites hotels, industry partners, and sustainability standards to create a resilient, responsible, and planet-friendly future.” Hotels in major destinations across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific have adopted Basics, and the programme continues to receive global support with new partnerships in tourism powerhouses such as Japan, the Philippines and India. Designed to guide hoteliers in their initial steps towards enhanced sustainability, Basics is an independent verification program, supervised by renowned assessors Green Key and SGS, ensuring rigorous standards and credibility. The programme empowers hotels of all sizes with a comprehensive 12-step criteria aimed at reducing carbon emissions, energy, …

UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance will work together to implement a common framework for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) for the sector. The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses, developed by UN Tourism in collaboration with the University of Oxford SDG Impact Lab, is aimed at helping enterprises across the sector measure and report their sustainability efforts and impacts more consistently and reliably. With this new agreement, UN Tourism will work alongside the Alliance to test the Framework, refine its indicators and relevant tools, and foster stakeholder engagement. UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic says: “The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is set to transform the tourism sector by establishing harmonised and essential standards for companies to assess and report their sustainability efforts. The collaboration between UN Tourism and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance highlights how commitment and strategic partnerships can drive alignment and significant progress in ESG.” Glenn Mandziuk, Chief Executive Officer of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, adds: “Collaborating with UN Tourism on the development of a harmonised ESG Framework represents a significant milestone for the global tourism industry. This partnership not only underscores our commitment to sustainability but also highlights the collective power of our industry to drive meaningful change. By establishing standardised metrics and fostering greater alignment between the private and public sectors, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for tourism worldwide.” Partners leverage fields of expertise The partnership comes as tourism businesses face increasing pressure to disclose their ESG actions and impacts. The ESG Framework for Tourism Businesses is rooted in the Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (SF-MST), endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission with …

Sabre Hospitality announced a long-term partnership with Protect Group to integrate trip guarantee services into the SynXis Booking Engine. This partnership aims to provide guests with increased peace of mind when booking their stays. With this new integration, hotels using SynXis Booking Engine can offer Protect Group’s trip protection guarantee at checkout. This feature allows guests to book with confidence, knowing they can receive a refund for covered events. The SynXis Booking Engine, known for its scale and stability, will now deliver even greater value to hoteliers and their guests through this collaboration. “Partnering with Protect Group complements SynXis Booking Engine by adding a critical layer of assurance for the guest and increased conversion for our hoteliers” said Ethan Wiseman, Head of Distribution, Sabre Hospitality. “This integration supports our strategic imperative to advance retailing and travel-centric eCommerce capabilities in the travel industry. By offering trip protection guarantees, we are providing our hotel partners and their guests with the confidence and security they need.” The partnership with Protect Group underscores Sabre’s dedication to improving the booking experience for hotel guests and offering innovative solutions to its hotel partners. By incorporating Protect Group’s trip guarantees, Sabre Hospitality continues to set the standard for customer-centricity in the hospitality industry. “We are thrilled to partner with Sabre Hospitality and integrate our trip protection services into SynXis Booking Engine,” said Stuart Barclay, chief revenue officer (CRO), Protect Group. “This collaboration allows us to reach a broader audience and provide a valuable service that enhances the guest booking experience. We look forward to working together to deliver exceptional value to hoteliers and their guests.” Sabre Hospitality’s SynXis Booking Engine, one of the largest in the hospitality industry, …

Air India Express launched its virtual interline platform enabling users to book flights from India and the Middle East to 60 destinations. Scoot joins in as the inaugural partner on this platform. Air India Express has become the first Indian airline to launch a Virtual Interline platform, offering flyers a wider range of booking options. Starting their flight search from the airline’s website, airindiexpress.com, users can connect to the new platform, enabling them to book connecting flights where one leg of the journey is operated by Air India Express and the other leg by the partner airline. Developed in collaboration with leading travel solutions technology company Dohop, the Virtual Interline platform “AIX Connect” enhances the connectivity of Air India Express’s network by enabling travellers to book self-connect itineraries between flights of Air India Express and those of the partner airline. Singapore-based airline, Scoot, joins as the inaugural partner, enabling users to book flights from India and the Middle East to 60 destinations across Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India Express, said, “As Air India Express strengthens its footprint across domestic and international markets, we are strategically leveraging virtual interline partnerships to unlock new destinations with seamless connectivity to the East and West. We welcome Scoot as our first airline partner on this platform and look forward to onboarding more airlines, which will be instrumental in expanding the network further to cater to the growing outbound travel demand from India, while simultaneously enhancing inbound tourism by attracting international travellers to our vibrant nation.” “We are honoured to be Air India Express’ inaugural interline partner on …

Residents of Qatar can now apply for their Bulgaria visas at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Doha. Inaugurated this week the centre will accept documents for short-term and long-term visas, as well as requests for the legalisation of Police Clearance Certificates to Bulgaria. The contract for VFS Global to provide Bulgaria visa services in Qatar was signed by H.E. Plamen Delev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Qatar on 22, July 2024. H.E. Plamen Delev, Ambassador of Bulgaria in Qatar, said, “Globalization demands efficient visa services. The strategic outsourcing of the Bulgaria Visas and Police Clearance Certificates legalization with VFS Global in Qatar streamlines the process, leveraging their expertise for smoother travel and business opportunities. This commitment to innovation ensures that our Embassy sets higher levels of exceptional visa services.” Marita Bachhav, Regional Head, VFS Global, said, “We are delighted to be expanding our partnership with the Bulgarian government to offer convenient and efficient visa application services to residents in Qatar. The opening of our new Visa Application Centre in Doha reflects our commitment to providing a seamless and hassle-free experience for travelers seeking Bulgarian visas.” VFS Global has been a trusted partner for the Government of Bulgaria since 2008, and currently operates a network of 92 Bulgaria Visa Application Centres in 16 countries worldwide. Applicants can also choose from a range of optional services* offered by VFS Global for an enhanced customer journey, including SMS updates at every stage of the application process and courier return service for delivery of processed passports to the applicants’ doorstep. VFS Global’s Premium Lounge will also be available to Bulgaria visa applicants, which includes end-to-end professional guidance, a faster application and biometric submission process, and …

H.I.S integrates IBS Software’s innovative technology solutions to modernise the air shopping experience for customers. Extending a 14-year strong partnership with IBS Software – a leading SaaS solutions provider to the global travel industry globally – H.I.S. will continue a transformative technology approach to travel. The renewed partnership allows H.I.S. to continue to create a modern customer experience using next-generation digital solutions. This is achieved by leveraging IBS Software next-generation technology solutions to integrate suppliers and/or partners within the customer offers process. This shift towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning enabled automation will allow H.I.S. to deliver an enhanced shopping experience for customers, with heightened personalisation and targeted offers. The collaboration reflects H.I.S.’ ambition to meet the needs of the changing digital consumer. By continuing to implement IBS Software’s forward thinking technical solutions, H.I.S. will be ready to serve and adapt to their customers digital travel needs. Kiyoshi Takano, Executive Officer of IT&DX Division, H.I.S., said, “Understanding Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) is crucial for H.I.S. business for sustainable growth. It’s not just about the first sale—it’s about building lasting relationships that keep customers coming back for more. Our extended partnership with IBS Software will help us remain digitally innovative and meet the changing needs of our customers, enhance customer satisfaction, foster loyalty, and drive repeat business. Continuing to focus on our digital transformation is a key business priority for us, and IBS Software’s expertise will not only allow us to use technology to deepen our offerings and modernise our shopping experiences, but also benefit our internal operational efficiencies.” “H.I.S. recognizes the role that advanced technology plays in transforming customer service. Our combined expertise and shared vision for innovation will enable us …

Dubai International (DXB) has raised the bar on its contribution to Dubai’s economy by welcoming a record 44.9 million guests during the first six months of this year. Marking an 8% year-on-year increase in guests, DXB has established its position as a globally preferred gateway, boosted by strong connectivity with key international markets, while reaffirming its central role in supporting Dubai’s economic growth. Dubai attracted 9.31 million international visitors in H1 2024, reflecting its burgeoning appeal as a global hub for talent, enterprises, and investors. These figures, recently released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, tie in closely with the growth of Dubai’s GDP, which reached AED 115 billion in Q1 2024, up 3.2% from the previous year. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented, “The record-breaking performance in the first half of this year highlights our strategic importance as a global aviation hub. Dubai is at the forefront of global cities when it comes to attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from around the world, and we are proud to be the gateway to the city, driving growth and enhancing the airport experience for every guest. Strong demand from key source markets such as India and the gradual but certain resurgence of markets such as China, have been instrumental in our success. We have a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, and we are on track to break records with 91.8 million annual guests forecasted for 2024.” The size and significance of DXB’s established and growing markets including South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia has played a crucial role in the airport’s continued success. In the first half of 2024, India remains DXB’s top …