Category Archives: Aviation

The ninth edition of Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, today at the Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Under the theme ‘Roadmap to recovery’, hundreds of international and local industry experts as well as media representatives gathered to discuss an array of aviation and tourism topics. Since its inception, the Summit has proved to be an ideal platform to shed light on the status of the region’s aviation-tourism requirements and its prospects. This year’s edition aimed to create a post-pandemic roadmap to recovery. It also amplified the messaging that emanates from discussions on important topics and issues, including knowledge sharing that are vital to helping industry players unify their efforts towards uplifting the aviation and tourism sector. Endorsed by Arab Governments, the 2022 AAS is hosted in collaboration with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and supported by global industry partners such as Airbus, CFM, Air Arabia, Turkish Technic, Collins Aerospace, and others. Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah, the location of the 2022 Arab Aviation Summit, offers state-of-the-art, elegantly designed meeting facilities, and is the first safe meeting facility in the world, as certified by Bureau Veritas, the international leader in testing and inspection services and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travel Stamp. The certification follows the implementation of stringent safety and security protocols by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, offering hospitality and event providers access to global best practice, supportive policies and professional guidance on safety …

Emirates will operate an extra five flights to and from Kuwait, with the additional services running through 5 March. The extra flights are operating in response to a surge in demand with travelers flocking abroad for their National and Liberation Day nine day holidays after two years of missed breaks, and amid the easing of entry protocols in Kuwait and in other destinations around the world. According to booking data, Emirates customers in Kuwait are choosing Dubai for their holidays, for its accessibility as well for its commitment to always offer something new and unique to visitors. New attractions awaiting Kuwaiti travelers include Ain Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Hatta Dome Park and The View at The Palm, to name a few, as well as Expo 2020 Dubai, which is in its final weeks and has already attracted close to 15 million visitors. This is in addition to Dubai’s world-class hotels, shopping and iconic culinary experiences. Emirates customers travelling to Dubai anytime now or during the final month of Expo 2020, will be eligible to receive a free Emirates Expo Season Pass for every flight ticket booked with the airline, to visit the event as many times as they like until 31 March 2022. Travelers from Kuwait are also jet setting to London, Munich, Geneva and Amsterdam for winter getaways, and are also taking in the sun in the Maldives during the holiday period.   For more information to book a journey, travellers can visit www.emirates.com/kw, travel agents or contact the local Emirates Sales Office.

Kuwait Airways signed an agreement with Airbus to restructure the Company’s fleet of Airbus aircraft. The agreement was signed by the Chairman of Kuwait Airways, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan, representing Kuwait Airways and by the President of Airbus for Africa and Middle East, Mr. Mikail Houari as representative of Airbus, and in the presence of the President of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, the Ambassador of Germany to the State of Kuwait, HE Stefan Mobbs, the Ambassador of the Republic of France to the State of Kuwait, HE Claire Le Flecher, Board Members of Kuwait Airways, the Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi, and various senior officials and Heads of the Company. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Mr. Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to announce the signing of the agreement to restructure the Company’s Airbus aircraft, which aligns with the plans and strategies of the Blue Bird to develop the fleet with the addition of new models, different types, capacities and sizes appropriate to the vision of Kuwait Airways in the coming years and in line with its ambitious plan to expand its network around the world and provide the best, distinguished services to its passengers.” Al-Dukhan added, “This agreement is one of the largest agreements concluded between Kuwait Airways and Airbus, as our relationship with Airbus extends over four decades of successful and fruitful partnership, and we always strive to strengthen and develop it for the benefit and public interest of both parties. Airbus has greatly contributed to the development of the Kuwait Airways fleet, with its modern and diverse aircraft that has the best technological characteristics that keep pace with the latest and finest …

Sabre Corporation and Gulf Air have reaffirmed their long standing relationship with an expanded, multi-year agreement. Under the renewed agreement, Gulf Air will continue to use Sabre’s passenger service system (PSS) SabreSonic to help power its digital transformation, provide a seamless traveller experience, and drive revenue growth. The PSS is designed to automate sales and reservations with enhanced functionalities that can help provide increased revenue opportunities by tailoring offers to meet the needs of travellers and help create an efficient airport experience. Gulf Air has also renewed a suite of solutions that will help ensure the airline’s operational efficiency and help incremental revenue opportunities through advanced fares management, schedule and network optimization and state-of-the-art revenue management. The agreement has also been expanded to include Sabre’s Dynamic Availability tool. A key building block for personalized retailing, the dynamic pricing engine will allow Gulf Air to identify ways to unlock greater value. “We’re delighted to reaffirm our relationship with Sabre and leverage its technology to further support our strategic plans,” said Captain Waleed Al Alawi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air. “We are currently undergoing a major transformation to upscale our technology strategy, advance operational efficiencies and improve traveller experience. As we move into recovery, we are confident that the flexible and intelligent nature of Sabre solutions, including SabreSonic, will enable us to be more efficient and offer a modern retail experience that enables personalized travel at scale, increases growth opportunities and allows us to create a differentiated brand experience in a highly competitive environment.” Sabre’s high performance, flexible PSS enables Sabre’s valued partners to realize increased growth opportunities through merchandising, codeshare agreements and alliance partners, plus cost savings from better …

Emirates has pledged its support to promoting tourism in Thailand through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Under the agreement, both the tourism body and Emirates will explore joint initiatives and opportunities for collaboration that will enhance each party’s marketing and promotional efforts to attract travellers to Thailand. The MoC was signed by Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Far East at Emirates and Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and HE Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports. Also present at the signing ceremony were Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, HE Chairat Sirivat, Consul-General of Thailand to the UAE and Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates. Through the MoC, Emirates will develop initiatives to boost tourism to the Kingdom by showcasing it to customers across its global network. The airline will also engage in efforts to promote the country through its network of agents in key strategic markets in addition to collaborating on joint familiarisation trips designed to appeal to various customer segments. Orhan Abbas, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – Far East at Emirates said: “Emirates launched operations to Thailand more than 30 years ago, and its destinations are among the most popular in our Southeast Asian network, especially amongst holidaymakers from the US, Europe, and the Middle East. We are delighted to join hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to boost tourism to the country, and build on the success achieved over the years, thanks to our …

Following the latest UAE government directive, from 26 February, guests who are fully vaccinated and travelling with Etihad Airways to Abu Dhabi will no longer need a PCR test before their flight. Guests who are fully vaccinated and departing or transiting through Abu Dhabi also do not need a PCR test, unless it is a requirement of their end destination. Vaccination certificates must have a QR code. Guests who are not vaccinated and travelling to or from Abu Dhabi must present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of departure, or a Covid-19 recovery certificate with a QR code dated within 30 days of departure. Children younger than 16 are exempt from the vaccination and testing requirements to fly, on arrival, or to transit. Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi as their end destination will continue to receive a free-of-charge PCR test on arrival at Abu Dhabi International Airport. No further tests are required once in Abu Dhabi. Etihad continues to follow UAE and international government, regulatory and health authority directives, and is playing its part in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19. Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing, Etihad Airways, said: “We warmly welcome this move by the UAE authorities to make travelling to and from Abu Dhabi and the UAE even easier, while maintaining a safe environment. Abu Dhabi has built a reputation for delivering a robust response to the pandemic with high vaccination rates and a comprehensive approach to health and safety measures. Similarly, through the Etihad Wellness programme, we’ve ensured a healthy inflight environment with fully vaccinated crew to look after our guests on board. With this in mind, we look forward …

Kuwait Airways announces the operation of its scheduled commercial flights to Madrid, Spain, starting from 11th June 2022, with three flights per week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. In this regard, Kuwait Airways Chairman, Captain Ali Al-Dukhan stated, “Madrid is one of the most important new destinations for Kuwait Airways. The selection of Madrid is a result of systematic research, in view of its demand from our valued passengers for this destination which is an excellent touristic location as well as related to historical, and cultural aspects and other attractions featuring new and diverse options to meet the requirements of passengers.” Al-Dukhan added, “Kuwait Airways is keen to assist its passengers and provide them with all means of comfort during their travel on its aircraft; in addition to providing its services in an integrated manner, as well as eliminating any hindrances during their travel, beginning with providing reservations for customers through all available channels and offering them appropriate services, to the check-in at Terminal 4 and completing their travel procedures with ease. Customers can book their tickets through several different methods by visiting the Company’s offices at the Avenues Mall, the Ministries Complex, the Farwaniya Office and Terminal 4, which provide numerous services, including reservations, amending, upgrading and ticket cancelations, as well as assisting with all inquiries, complaints and comments from customers and working to assist them or by contacting the Call Center on 171 or by downloading KAC’s application or by visiting the Kuwait Airways website.” In the same context, Kuwait Airways Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways was honored to receive the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Kuwait, His Excellency, …

SriLankan Airlines adorns one of its aircraft with customized livery to reaffirm its status as the official airline of the much-awaited ‘Raid Amazones 2022.’ Raid Amazones 2022 is an annual sporting event that features a large number of French female athletes competing their way to victory through multiple sports events and activities against the backdrop of an iconic tourist destination. Every year, the event highlights an attractive tourist destination through inherent features such as its ecological beauty, citizens’ way of life and culture, which are prominently showcased to the world through global media that follow the athletes in their trail. The 20th edition of the event will take place in the areas surrounding the iconic Sigiriya rock fortress, rich in ecological beauty, cultural heritage and attributes of authentic village life in Sri Lanka.  The first leg will take place from 13 – 23, March 2022 and the second leg is scheduled from 27 March – 6 April 2022. Over 550 participants are expected to join the event, including athletes and officials. The SriLankan aircraft with the special livery features iconic Sigiriya, the vibrant and unique backdrop of this year’s event. This aircraft will be deployed to bring in athletes and officials from Paris to Sri Lanka for the event and would also continue to fly to many of the airline’s other destinations in its scheduled operations, thus portraying Sri Lanka’s stature as a sports and adventure destination. SriLankan Airlines, a forerunner in the country’s tourism promotion endeavors, expects this to inspire many discerning travellers from France to explore Sri Lanka in the future, supported by the airline’s direct connectivity between the two countries.

Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines Berhad announced a new chapter in their long-standing relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The new agreement will further facilitate a strategic cooperation that will see both airlines working closely together across multiple areas of the business to offer an unrivalled and range of value-added services to passengers. With the enhanced partnership, both airlines will leverage each other’s network strengths and provide more access for passengers to travel to new destinations beyond their individual networks while offering new and exclusive product to their customers soon. Qatar Airways’ passengers will gain better access to the wider domestic Malaysia market and key destinations in Asia such as Penang, Langkawi and Medan, Indonesia. Operated by Malaysia Airlines via its hub, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Passengers will enjoy seamless connectivity to popular destinations in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas with Qatar Airways’ extensive network via Doha. Building on the close links between Qatar Airways and Malaysia Airlines’ networks and rapid expansion of codeshare flights, the two oneworld partners have also agreed to maximise synergies in other areas of the business such as air cargo, operations or commercial services, that will create a game-changing innovative synergy for both carriers in leading the new travel demand ahead. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “This is a significant moment for us as we have just celebrated 20 years of serving Malaysia, and this new strategic cooperation with our oneworld partner, Malaysia Airlines, further cements our commitment to the country. This partnership will serve to link both our networks and allow us to work together across different aspects of the business …

The ninth edition of the Arab Aviation Summit (AAS), the region’s leading aviation and tourism industry event, has announced the participation of a top-notch panel of global experts, which will take place from February 28 to March 2nd at Al Hamra International Exhibition & Conference Centre in Ras Al Khaimah. Following the overwhelming success of the eighth edition, which was also the first in-person aviation industry event held after the pandemic in the region, this year’s summit focuses on the theme, ‘The Roadmap to Recovery.’ With the global aviation and tourism sector gaining traction, the high-level event will underline the opportunities and challenges in ramping up the sector’s growth, with a particular focus on the Middle East region. Ahead of the Summit on March 1, extensive workshops will be held to discuss the regional trends in aviation and tourism. Referred to as the ‘voice of the industry’, this initiative will also bring the largest assembly of Arab media together and top executives from the aviation and tourism sector. The Summit will also reiterate the strong linkages between tourism, aviation and hospitality, three core growth sectors, which have a dominant role in post-pandemic recovery for local economies. Experts will discuss global best practices, and measures taken to build the resilience of the aviation and the tourism sector. A white paper, based on deliberations of participants, will be created post the Summit as a data bank on the insights shared during the event. The keynote speakers, with several more coming on board, include CEOs, Presidents, global aviation & tourism experts, distinguished airline officials, policy makers and representatives. They include: Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers Organisation; Kamil Al-Awadhi, Regional Vice …