Category Archives: Aviation

Gulf Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RAK International Airport), aiming to build connectivity between the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and the Kingdom of Bahrain.Heralding a new phase of operations for RAK International Airport, which is quickly establishing itself as a major transport and logistics hub for the UAE, the MoU was signed in a virtual ceremony that brought together high-ranking executives from both organizations. “We are always keen to explore ways to enhance the connectivity between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the UAE. As a Boutique carrier, we look forward to adding Ras Al Khaimah to our network of destinations,” said Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air. For his part, Sanjay Khanna, Chief Executive Officer of RAK International Airport, said, “The aviation industry has its eyes set on recovery following the difficult year we had in 2020. The air ways are opening up as COVID-19 restrictions gradually ease, and passengers increasingly confident to take to the skies once again. With this in mind, we are delighted to sign this Memorandum of Understanding with Gulf Air to set the stage for flight services between Bahrain and Ras Al Khaimah – along with the Northern Emirates – and enhance Ras Al Khaimah International Airport’s connectivity to destinations around the world.” “Gulf-state connectivity is a key tenet of our expansion strategy, and with its long history, commendable track record, and vast network, Gulf Air is an ideal partner for this mission. Aiming to build connectivity between the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and the Kingdom of Bahrain. This move will allow residents, expats, and tourists in the Northern Emirates …

Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. The announcement follows a detailed audit, carried out by the Skytrax team in December 2020, which assessed how effectively and consistently the airline’s stringent COVID-19 hygiene and safety standards and procedures are adhered to, from flight check-in to on-board aircraft. This included a full review of procedural efficiency checks, visual observation of hygiene and safety levels at all stages of the passenger journey, and on-board Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) sampling tests to measure the potential level of contamination of contact surfaces. The achievement of the Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating is in addition to Qatar Airways’ home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), recently being named as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating in December 2020. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said: “As an industry leader and the ‘World’s Best Airline’, as named by Skytrax, we are well-used to setting the standard for others to follow. We are delighted that our commitment to providing the most rigorous and comprehensive COVID-19 safety programme in existence within the global aviation community has been recognised with the Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating. “This achievement highlights the fastidious measures and procedures Qatar Airways have employed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our passengers throughout the global pandemic to date, and follows HIA’s recent success as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. It also provides …

International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Etihad Airways announced a partnership to launch the IATA Travel Pass for Etihad Airways’ guests. The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines. The Pass will initially be offered to Etihad’s guests on selected flights from Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2021. If successful, the pass will be extended to other destinations on the Etihad network. The Pass will enable Etihad’s guests to create a ‘digital passport’ to receive COVID test results and verify they are eligible to undertake their journey. Importantly, IATA Travel Pass will keep passengers in control of their data and facilitate the sharing of their test with airlines and authorities for travel. It will also make it convenient for passengers to manage travel documentation throughout their journey. “COVID-19 tests and vaccinations will be key to get the world flying again. Since 1 August 2020, Etihad is the only airline requiring a pre-departure negative PCR test result for all passengers worldwide, and again on arrival in Abu Dhabi, giving our guests the added assurance of safety when they travel with us. A high priority for Etihad is for our guests to have an easy, secure and efficient way to identify and verify their information.” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. “Our aim is to give all governments the confidence to re-open borders to travellers based on verified vaccine and testing data. The initial stage of the Etihad launch will focus on all four elements of the IATA Travel Pass modules, one of the first airlines in …

Turkish Airlines launched a new hygiene programme ‘TK Extra Care’, which highlights new protective hygiene measures, in collaboration with the global carrier’s ambassador Dr. Mehmet Oz, the producer and host of the world-renowned ‘The Dr. Oz Show’. The announcement of the new animated in-flight video comes at a time when health and safety is a top consideration on travelers’ checklists. Inspired by the airline’s ongoing dedication to its passengers’ well-being, the three-minute video follows Dr. Oz through the travel experience passengers should expect when flying with the global airline today. From the moment Dr. Oz checks-in for his flight to when he arrives at his destination, viewers will not only be reminded of the airline’s hygiene protocols necessary for a safe flying experience, but will have full assurance that Turkey’s flag carrier is enforcing a higher level of protection for every stage of the journey that goes above and beyond industry standards. M. İlker Aycı, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, commented on the video’s debut, “There is no question that travelers around the world are facing an immense need for enforced safety measures and peace of mind while traveling. At Turkish Airlines, the hygiene standards for our passengers are our top priority and we offer the highest standards. These extra safety precautions have been introduced following the authorized committees’ evaluations and approvals. With the release of ‘TK Extra Care’, we are hopeful that viewers will recognize Turkish Airlines’ hard work and dedication in keeping both passengers and crews safe, and we are pleased to have Dr. Oz share our message with the world.”

Air Arabia has announced the resumption of directs flights between Sharjah and Doha, Qatar’s capital, starting January 18, 2021. Customers can now book their direct flights between Sharjah and Doha by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies. Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.

Due to operational reasons, Emirates flights to/from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne will be suspended until further notice. Emirates’ last flights to / from these Australian destinations are below: Dubai ‑Melbourne  ‑ EK408/19JAN, Melbourne – Dubai ‑ EK409/20JAN, Dubai ‑ Sydney ‑ EK414/18JAN, Sydney – Dubai ‑ EK415/19JAN, Dubai ‑ Brisbane  ‑ EK430/16JAN, Brisbane – Dubai ‑ EK431/17JAN Customers holding tickets with final destinations Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin after the completion of the above flights. Emirates regrets any inconvenience caused. Affected customers should contact their travel agent or Emirates contact centre for rebooking options. To receive update notifications, customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting Manage Your Booking.

Singapore Airlines takes you back to the skies as it resumes flights between Dubai and Singapore starting January 18, 2021 five times a week.Introducing one of SIA’s newest aircraft to operate the DXB-SIN route– Airbus A350-900 – which features Business Class seats in a 1-2-1arrangement that ensures direct aisle access for every single customer,and their latest Economy Class product arranged in a comfortable 3-3-3seat configuration. For contactless travel use the Singapore Air mobile app to generate your mobile boarding pass, access the e-Library and explore more features for a contactless journey. All passengers undergo temperature screening before immigration.Hand sanitisers are available at all touchpoints throughout the airport and inside your SIA care kit.All staff wear masks and follow safety standards mandated by local authorities.Passengers, including children aged six years and above,are required to wear a mask throughout the flight. Pleaseobtain a doctor’s letter of exemption, if you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons.Safe distancing* – Markers on the ground and alternate check-inkiosks help everyone keep a safe distance from each other.You will receive a complimentary kit containing a face mask, hand sanitiser and disinfectant surface wipe for your well-being.Increased sanitisation and disinfection*Cleaning frequencies have been increased and long lasting disinfectants are applied to frequently touched surfaces.Meal services – to ensure the safety of our customers and crew,meal and beverage services have been simplified. Customers who require special meals can request for one from a reduced list based on IATA guidelines.

Adults who book their next flight to Abu Dhabi or Dubai with Etihad Airways can take their children for free. With every adult ticket booked before January 28, 2021, for travel until September 30, 2021, up to two children will travel free – so two adults can bring four children, free. Fares to Abu Dhabi and Dubai start from just GBP 299 in Economy class. To give guests peace of mind and to offer an extra level of reassurance to travel, Etihad is the only airline in the world requiring 100% of its passengers to show a negative PCR test before departure, and on arrival in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is a diverse destination with desertscapes, fabulous beaches and warm, clear waters. The modern, cosmopolitan capital city features thrilling headline attractions such as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, as well as cultural highlights including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Adventurers will appreciate the opportunity the emirate presents for kayaking in the mangroves, sand boarding in the desert, jet-skiing, go-karting and more. Travellers in need of rest and rejuvenation will find peace in the many tranquil spaces across the city, from serene beaches to luxury spas. Flying to, from, and via Abu Dhabi is supported by the airline’s fully redesigned Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey. This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with …

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced a new initiative to reimagine travel for Singapore and the rest of the world, by sparking conversations, stories and ideas to collectively shape the future of our sector.Called SingapoReimagine, this platform will kick off with ‘Reimagine Travel – Global Conversations’, a series of forums around the world to catalyse discussions on how to reshape global travel. For a start, STB will share our learnings on how the public and private sectors have come together to create new possibilities for our visitors. As part of the forums, global partners will be invited to share knowledge and exchange ideas, with the first one in Singapore this year before being hosted in other parts of the world. Closer to home, STB will also roll out “Reimagine Travel in Singapore”, a series of engagements with passionate members of the local community and tourism partners to co-create ideas and spur the renewal of Singapore tourism. This complements the SingapoRediscovers domestic campaign , which encourages locals to rediscover and reconnect with Singapore’s hidden gems and experiences. Keith Tan, Chief Executive, STB said, “COVID-19 is the biggest crisis we have ever faced in travel and tourism. But it also offers us an opportunity to reset and revive our industries in ways that we never imagined was possible a year ago. The journey to reimagine travel has already started in Singapore, and we want to continue this journey with those whose voices matter – our community in Singapore, and our partners here and around the world. We look forward to co-creating ideas and strategies with all of them, to make travel better.”

Lufthansa Group airlines and Sabre Corporation announced a new, mutually flexible distribution agreement that enables modern airline retailing as well as technology innovation. Under the agreement, which covers the carriers Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines, Sabre will continue to distribute Lufthansa Group airlines’ content through traditional connectivity to hundreds of thousands of travel agents and thousands of corporations through its global distribution system (GDS). In addition, the agreement enables the distribution of Lufthansa Group airlines’ content via the New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard in the Sabre travel marketplace. “Our agreement with Sabre is a landmark deal for airline distribution. I am very excited to shape our joint path towards modern airline retailing and innovate by introducing a diversified NDC program with associated commercial models, – enabling agencies to agree bilaterally on NDC with Lufthansa Group airlines”, says Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Senior Vice President Revenue Management and Distribution Lufthansa Group Network Airlines and Chief Commercial Officer SWISS. “Sabre and Lufthansa Group airlines share an ambition to innovate at the forefront of our industry. Through this new level of flexibility, we jointly enable a diverse distribution ecosystem, extend the reach of NDC and allow for differentiated commercial models. With this customer-oriented agreement, Sabre and the Lufthansa Group airlines team up to put the interests of our travel agency partners and our joint clients at center stage.” “Today maybe more than ever, we are looking to engage creatively with our airline and agency partners to deliver outcomes that provide added value to all players in the travel ecosystem,” says Dave Shirk, President, Sabre Travel Solutions. “Sabre is committed to finding flexible, sustainable solutions that address traveler expectations, deliver against …