Category Archives: Aviation

SAUDIA has launched its innovative digital platform, the Travel Companion (TC), powered by advanced artificial intelligence. This move is part of a two-year plan to revolutionize the travel industry by embracing digital innovations. In collaboration with global professional services firm Accenture, Saudia’s Travel Companion is set to change how travelers interact with the airline and redefine the standards of digital travel. The Travel Companion offers personalized and tailored solutions to meet individual preferences and needs, providing search results from trusted and authenticated sources and utilizes image-supported responses. The platform is intended to be a comprehensive, one-stop solution that allows users to book concierge services such as hotels, transportation, restaurants, activities, and attractions, eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms. Additionally, it establishes seamless connections with transportation platforms and various train companies, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey. In the next stages, Saudia will introduce additional features, such as voice command and digital payment solutions. Through an always-on Travel Companion accessible via a telecom e-SIM card enabled by Saudia, users can enjoy global access without relying on other internet providers. Furthermore, users can purchase data packages for additional applications, ensuring continuous access to the platform’s services. The ultimate goal of the Travel Companion is to become the top app for travelers, providing unparalleled travel information. With aspirations to become the go-to platform for various services beyond flight bookings, the Travel Companion will aim to distinguish itself in the airline industry. His Excellency Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group said, “We are thrilled to introduce the Travel Companion, a game-changer in the airline industry that will revolutionize the digital travel experience. This platform, resulting from our ongoing collaboration with …

Victor announced the relocation of its headquarters to the iconic Erth Abu Dhabi: a beacon of Emirati hospitality in the heart of the capital. The move follows the recent acquisition of Victor by an investment group in Abu Dhabi and marks a significant milestone for business aviation in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. Founded in 2011 in the UK, Victor has a legacy of innovation within the aircraft charter marketplace by providing a unique global platform with unprecedented transparency. Its HQ move to Abu Dhabi will provide the Emirate with its first on-demand jet charter platform, opening up the market to a greater selection of choices when chartering and offering Victor’s sophisticated, high-touch service to Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals, government and corporate private aviation flyers. Aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategic target, Victor will contribute to the nation’s sustainability objectives through its climate action initiatives – namely its pioneering partnership with Neste, the world’s leading producer of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). With its backing by Abu Dhabi, Victor is perfectly positioned to achieve its ambition of becoming the number one choice for private jet flyers – not only in the MENA region, but worldwide. “We are thrilled to establish our headquarters in Abu Dhabi and embark on this exciting new chapter in Victor’s journey,” said James Farley, co-CEO of Victor. “Abu Dhabi’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure and supportive business environment make it the ideal base for expanding our operations and serving our customer base across MENA. The business aviation market is growing faster in the region than the rest of the world and Victor can uniquely service this market by offering more choice, transparency and best-in-class customer service.” …

Hamad International Airport (DOH) announces the commencement of four weekly flights from Guangzhou to Doha by China Southern Airlines, further enhancing connectivity between China and Qatar. Commenced on 22 April, 2024, the route was operated by a Boeing B787-9 aircraft with a capacity of 203 seats from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) to Hamad International Airport (DOH). This new service by China Southern Airlines supplements Qatar Airways’ existing operations to seven major cities in China – Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Xiamen, offering over 27,000 weekly seats to and from Doha through Hamad International Airport. This was following the codeshare announcement between Qatar Airways and China Southern Airlines in February this year. As one of China’s largest airlines, China Southern Airlines operates around 3,000 daily flights to more than 200 destinations globally. It joined Hamad International Airport as the second Chinese airline, following Xiamen Airlines, and marks the fourth airline to commence operations to the airport in 2024, after Akasa Air, Japan Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia. Commenting on the new partnership, Sujata Suri, Senior Vice President of Finance and Procurement at Hamad International Airport, said: “China is one of our strategic markets and plays a crucial role in the aviation and tourism industry. The commencement of China Southern Airlines’ flights to Hamad International Airport will bolster tradelines between both countries, cater to the anticipated growth in traffic movement and offer better connectivity for millions of travelers. This partnership will strengthen our position in becoming the preferred hub to connect China with Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.” The extensive network between China and Qatar underscores the importance of robust connectivity to facilitate travel demand, as travel recovery is expected …

Qatar Airways announces the latest expansion of its network to include Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), enabling greater frequencies and increased capacity to Luanda, Angola.  This latest network expansion  provides passengers with greater travel choices within a key region of Africa,  opening up a new entry point for international travel from Africa to China, Europe and the India Subcontinent using Doha, Qatar, as a gateway. The addition of Kinshasa increases the number of destinations in Africa served by the award-winning airline to twenty-nine. Starting from the first of June 2024, Luanda will see a frequency increase from one weekly flight to four weekly flights with a combined service to Kinshasa which Qatar Airways will serve for the first time. For a world-class experience, the new route will be served by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, equipped with 22 Business Class seats and 232 Economy Class seats. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Thierry Antinori, said: “We have seen significant milestones in our 2024 network expansion and this latest addition is particularly special, as it continues our strategic goal of increasing our footprint in Africa.” “The inclusion of Kinshasa in our network is the latest manifestation of our efforts to improve connectivity to Africa. Qatar Airways has showcased its commitment to the region by providing passengers in Africa with greater choice to explore different corners of the world through our network and our hub in Doha, Hamad International Airport.” Flight Schedule: (All local time) Flight QRQ1491   Doha (DOH) to Kinshasa (FIH) – QR1491 departing Doha at 02:45 and arriving to Kinshasa at 08:10.   Kinshasa (FIH) to Luanda (LAD) – QR1491 departing Kinshasa at 09:40 and arriving to Luanda at 10:55.   …

Air India announced that it will deploy its brand-new A350 aircraft on the busy Delhi-Dubai route this summer, marking the aircraft’s debut on short-haul international flights. Starting 1 May 2024, Air India guests flying between Delhi and Dubai can experience the A350 in its bold new livery. Operating as AI995/996, the aircraft is scheduled to depart Delhi daily at 20:45hrs, arriving at 22:45hrs in Dubai. The return flight departs Dubai next day at 00:15hrs and arrives in Delhi at 04:55hrs. All timings local. With this, Air India becomes the only carrier to operate the A350 between India and Dubai. The A350 seats on the Delhi-Dubai route are available for reservation on Air India’s website and mobile app or via travel agents. Air India’s A350 aircraft feature 28 private suites with full-flat beds in Business, 24 seats in a dedicated Premium Economy cabin offering extra legroom and other enhancements, and 264 spacious seats in Economy. All seats on the A350 come with the latest-generation Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system and HD screens that offer more than 2,200 hours of entertainment content from around the world. Air India started inducting the A350s earlier this year, which have since operated flights within India for crew familiarisation and regulatory compliance purposes. Air India currently operates a total of 72 flights a week to Dubai from five Indian cities, of which 32 flights are from Delhi. SCHEDULE OF AIR INDIA’S A350 FLIGHTS BETWEEN DELHI AND DUBAI Effective 01 May 2024 Flight No. Days of Operation Sector Departure Arrival AI995 Daily Delhi-Dubai 2045 Hrs 2245 Hrs AI996 Daily Dubai-Delhi 0015 Hrs 0455 Hrs  

Choice Hotels EMEA announced the launch of its global agreement with Miles&Smiles, the frequent flyer program of Turkish Airlines, unlocking an array of new rewards for over 63 million Choice Privileges members worldwide. This initiative empowers Choice Privileges members to seamlessly convert their earned points into Miles&Smiles Miles, in 1,000 points increments starting at 5,000 points, at a ratio of 5 points to 1 Mile. Frequent flyers can redeem their Miles for award tickets from Turkish Airlines and its partner carriers, as well as for cabin upgrades and extra baggage allowances. In addition, members shopping via Turkish Airlines’ online shopping platform shopandmiles.com can use their Miles to purchase products and services from the airline’s wide array of program partners. Commenting on the new partnership, Nick Bosworth – Director of Marketing, Brand and Loyalty at Choice Hotels EMEA – said: “Our Choice Privileges program has long been celebrated for providing members with a quick and easy path to earning and utilising points for rewards they truly care about. Today, we are excited to enhance our reward options by introducing Miles&Smiles, offering our members an opportunity to turn their points into unforgettable travel experiences with Turkish Airlines.” Choice Privileges members can earn points for their point-eligible stays at over 7,000 hotels worldwide. These include participating Cambria®, Clarion®, Clarion Pointe®, Comfort®, Econo Lodge®, Everhome®, MainStay Suites®, Quality®, Rodeway Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Suburban Studios®, and Ascend Hotel Collection® properties in Europe, the Middle East, North and South America, the Caribbean, and Asia. In the Americas, members can also accumulate points at Radisson Individuals®, Radisson Collection®, Radisson Blu®, Radisson, Radisson RED®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson®, and Country Inn & Suites® by Radisson properties.*  

KlasJet has entered a contract with Marabu Airlines. The agreement, spanning from April to November, will see KlasJet leasing two Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft will be utilized for flights from Munich Airport (MUC) to the most popular summer holiday destinations, building on the success of their ad-hoc collaborations from the previous summer. Augustinas Riskus, Deputy Chief Commercial Officer at KlasJet, shared his thoughts on the partnership: “After a series of successful collaborations with Marabu Airlines last summer, we are excited to take this partnership to the next level, this long-term contract is a natural progression of our relationship. We look forward to continuing to support Marabu Airlines in providing exceptional travel experiences to their clientele.” Axel Schefe, CEO at Marabu Airlines, also commented on the evolving partnership: “The transition from spontaneous agreements to a long-term partnership with KlasJet reflects our confidence in their ability to meet our needs and exceed expectations. Our experience working together has set a solid foundation for this collaboration, enabling us to offer even more quality and reliable services to our passengers. We are pleased to solidify our relationship with KlasJet and anticipate a productive cooperation that will benefit our valued passengers.” Currently, KlasJet operates a 14-aircraft fleet consisting of 5 Classic Boeing 737 and 1 BBJ Boeing 737 with capacities ranging from 23 to 68 seats, and 8 Boeing 737-800 NG with a capacity of 186 or 189 passengers for ACMI leasing. KlasJet is part of the Avia Solutions Group family, the world’s largest ACMI providers (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance), operating a fleet of 212 aircraft. The group also provides a range of aviation services including, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and …

Under the partnership of Qatar Airways, Hamad International Airport (DOH) announces the commencement of daily flights from Jakarta to Doha by Indonesian airlines ‘Garuda Indonesia’, further enhancing connectivity between Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This strategic partnership with Garuda Indonesia complements Hamad International Airport’s existing extensive network in Southeast Asia through its national carrier Qatar Airways, which operates three daily flights to Jakarta, three daily flights to Bali, and three weekly flights to Medan. The operation also reflects the significant increase in flight frequency between Qatar and Indonesia. Sujata Suri, Senior Vice President of Finance & Procurement at Hamad International Airport, said: “The collaboration with Garuda Indonesia marks a pivotal moment in Hamad International Airport’s strategic expansion into Southeast Asia. Welcoming Garuda Indonesia to Doha not only strengthens Hamad International Airport’s position as a global aviation hub but also deepens ties with the Southeast Asian travel industry. This partnership highlights the airport’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial alliances that drive economic growth, enhance connectivity, and position it as the preferred gateway between Southeast Asia and the Middle East.” Meanwhile, Irfan Setiaputra, President & CEO of Garuda Indonesia says “We are very pleased to be able to add Doha to our extensive global network. There are strong business, tourism, and cultural ties between Indonesia and Qatar, and we believe this new service will further boost those activities between the two countries while offering easier access for travelers from Qatar to Indonesia, which is now one of the fastest-growing economic centers in the world. This new route marks a significant milestone for Garuda Indonesia as the national flag carrier of Indonesia, providing our passengers departing from Jakarta as the main hub …

Beond will operate up to six flights per week from Dubai’s Al Maktoum  International Airport (DWC) to Maldives, providing discerning customers in Dubai with unparalleled comfort and exclusivity to one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Four flights per week are available for purchase between now and July, with an additional two flights per week beginning in July. “The launch of our Dubai to Malé service provides customers in the region with an unforgettable experience to the breathtaking Maldives, and with a wide selection of convenient flight options from which to choose. We have been very pleased with the receptivity to our new service so far, as we build Beond as the ultimate premium travel brand,” said Tero Taskila, CEO and Chairman of Beond. This premium leisure airline has redefined air travel, by delivering a private jet-like atmosphere. Each flight delivers a seamless journey from the journey’s start to finish, embodying the epitome of luxury flying. Beond’s state-of-the-art aircraft features modern cabin interiors and stylish seats designed to deliver the perfect travel experience and provide passengers with maximum comfort during their flight. Elegantly crafted lie-flat seats offer the perfect sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. Beond’s inaugural flight from Dubai to Malé follows recent announcements including the receipt of a second aircraft, an Airbus A321 presently undergoing refurbishment, and that the airline would be the first in the world to offer select customers the Apple Vision Pro on board for a fully immersive inflight entertainment experience. In addition to the Dubai inaugural flight, service from Milan, Italy begins later in the year. The company aims to offer flights from across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific to the …

Emirates will be expanding its schedules across the region with 19 additional flights during the upcoming Eid Al Fitr holiday period. This year, more than 150,000 customers are expected to fly with the airline during Eid Al Fitr across the region, with additional flights planned from Jeddah, Kuwait, Beirut and Amman. Emirates will add an extra seven flights to Jeddah from 7-13 April. The additional flights will provide Emirates customers with more flexibility to venture out to popular destinations like Dubai, London, the Maldives, or visit family and friends in Colombo and Karachi. In Kuwait, Emirates will be layering on six extra flights between 7-20 April, catering to the significant travel demand during that time to popular leisure gateways like Dubai, Bangkok, Osaka, as well as providing the opportunity for travellers to head home to Chennai, Hyderabad, Sialkot and Peshawar. Emirates’ flight schedule to Bahrain will also expand to 22 weekly flights starting 2 May to meet increased demand for travel to/from the Kingdom. With families coming together to celebrate after the Holy Month, the airline will also be adding four additional flights onto Amman and two additional flights for Beirut scheduled to accommodate for more travellers. Upholding Eid traditions and keeping in with its proud Middle Eastern heritage, the airline will be serving a specially crafted Eid menu for customers for flights departing from Dubai. Favourites like chicken biryani and lamb kibbeh labanieh, machbous and vanilla and rose mousse cake will be served onboard, among other savoury and sweet dishes. A variety of content will be available on ice for those travelling over Eid al Fitr, from up to 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment and more than 2,000 movies from around …