Category Archives: Aviation

Etihad Airways returns to London Heathrow

Etihad Airways has confirmed it will return to London Heathrow’s Terminal 4 from 22 June 2022. Etihad is returning to Terminal 4 following a temporary home at Terminals 2 & 3 during the pandemic. Transport connections including the London Underground and Heathrow Express will also reopen. The Etihad Lounge will also re-open for Etihad’s First and Business class guests, as well as Etihad Guest Platinum and Gold members. The lounge has separate areas for relaxing and dining, as well as a children’s playroom to entertain Etihad’s ‘Little VIPs’. Etihad has also confirmed that from July to September 2022 it is increasing its current four daily flights from London Heathrow to five daily flights. Also from July, Etihad will increase its services into Dublin to offer a daily flight, and continue to operate daily to and from Manchester. Following the official opening of Terminal 4 on 22 June, London Heathrow is expecting a large number of guests for travel. To ensure a seamless and quick journey time, Etihad is asking all passengers to check in online, arrive at the airport early during this time – the Etihad check-in desks at London Heathrow will be open three and a half hours before departure – and also check whether they need to get Verified to Fly at etihad.com/destinationguide.

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Emirates launches complimentary home check-in service for first class passengers

Emirates adds another First Class experience with a new Home Check-in Service that offers customers the option to check in from home in a comfortable and convenient manner. This service is provided free of charge to Emirates’ First Class customers based in Dubai and Sharjah, where the Check-in Agents will visit their homes or hotels at pre-booked timings to complete all check-in formalities, including document verification, checking-in of baggage, and issuing boarding passes. There is an allocated counter at the airport for any last-minute extra luggage. The Check-in Agents will take the luggage directly to the airport, while customers can choose to go to the airport at their convenience using the pre-booked Emirates complimentary chauffeur-drive service. The complimentary Home Check-in service must be booked at least 24 hours prior to flight departure time and the latest check in for the home service is six hours before the flight’s departure. On arrival at Dubai International airport (DXB), which must be minimum of 90 minutes prior to the flight, customers can proceed directly to immigration and security, and then continue to Emirates’ dedicated First Class Lounge. All Emirates customers can experience a smooth and contactless experience at the airport by using the Emirates App to check-in and issue a mobile boarding pass and using the Emirates’ self-service bag drop. Registered customers can continue hands-free through the airport by using the integrated biometrics tunnel and smart gates at DXB. First Class customers can enjoy a full complement of trademark services located within the Emirates First Class Lounge, such as: a complimentary facial treatment at the Timeless Spa, complimentary services at Shoeshine by Mr Cobbler, four fine champagne vintages at the dedicated Moet and …

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Oman Air increases the number of flights to destinations in India for summer

Oman Air has amended its summer schedule to reflect increased frequency and flight resumptions. Based on the table below, the airline is boosting frequency to 8 Indian destinations: Bangalore, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Kochi, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, and Chennai as demand increases. Between Muscat and its operational India destinations, the airline introduced wide-body service, including the B787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330 in addition to the Boeing 737. Guests should check omanair.com for the most up-to-date flight schedules and times, as they are subject to change. Oman Air welcomes all guests to the Sultanate of Oman on board its award-winning flights. As of May 22, 2022, all COVID-19 preventive safety precautions and procedures previously in place at airports across Oman have been lifted. Guests departing Oman should ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, which are provided at omanair.com.

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Visa and Qatar Airways partner for FIFA special packages for ME

Qatar Airways passengers who are Visa cardholders in Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Pakistan are being rewarded with the chance to win special savings and prizes, including a fantastic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ package thanks to Visa and Qatar Airways. The package includes match tickets along with 3-4 nights of hotel accommodation in Qatar. Some of the packages offered as prizes include airline tickets to / from Qatar. In time for making travel plans for this summer, the promotion also gives Visa card holders up to 12% discount for flight tickets booked from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Pakistan. The offer will be valid for online bookings completed through www.qatarairways.com using the promotional code VISA22, payment made with Visa cards and travel starting within the campaign period. The promotion will be offered for all Qatar Airways-operated destinations subject to certain exclusions. Qatar Airways VP Sales – Middle East, Levant, Caucasus and Pakistan, Mr. Dersenish Aresandiran, said: “The FIFA World Cup coming to Qatar this year is a major draw for passengers from all over the World. As the World’s Best Airline, we are delighted to be able to work with Visa to offer passengers the opportunity to join us here in Qatar for this extraordinary event.” Madhur Mehra, Visa’s Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring for MENA, said: “As travel continues to reopen post-pandemic, this promotion is a great way to reward Qatar Airways passengers when they use their Visa card to book their travel. We are delighted to partner with Qatar’s national carrier to enrich Visa cardholders’ payment experiences with chances to win once in a lifetime and unique prizes.” Qatar Airways is providing incredible travel …

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Kuwait Airways launches flights to Vienna

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flight to Vienna, the capital of Austria, commencing from 12th June 2022, with two flights a week on Sundays and Thursdays. On this occasion, the Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Khalid Al-Bustan stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its first flight to Vienna, which is among the most important destinations, due to its distinction as one of the largest cities in Europe for tourism and is well-known for its historical and cultural attractions such as palaces and museums, along with its musical legacy and renowned restaurants. The selection of this destination came after systematic research and also considering the preferences of customers to travel to this destination, especially during the summer season, mainly due to its moderate climate.” Al-Bustan indicated that Kuwait Airways was successful in implementing its plans to expand its network as it recently launched several destinations, primarily Casablanca, Manchester, Alexandria, Sharm El-Sheikh, Sohag, Trabzon, Bodrum, Izmir, Mykonos, Salalah, Sarajevo and most recently to Madrid and Malaga, which will be followed shortly by operations to Nice in France. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in the coming months. He explained that Kuwait Airways was steadily progressing towards digital transformation, and to attain the best levels of excellence. Moreover, he pointed out that customers could make their reservations through different channels, starting with the Kuwait Airways website and KAC application. In addition, customers can receive assistance or make enquiries through KAC’s WhatsApp, …

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Kuwait Airways launches flights to Madrid and Malaga

In its continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of first scheduled commercial flights to the cities of Madrid and Malaga in Spain, with three flights per week on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, commencing from 11th June 2022. Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi stated, “Kuwait Airways is pleased to launch its flights to Madrid and Malaga in Spain, which are among the most important destinations for our customers, and the commencement of operations is in response to the significant and growing requirements of customers in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region.” Razouqi added, “Kuwait Airways is steadily progressing in its strategic plans to expand its network, as it has recently launched a number of destinations, foremost of which are Casablanca, Manchester, Alexandria, Sharm El-Sheikh, Sohag, Trabzon, Bodrum, Izmir, Mykonos, Salalah, and most recently to Sarajevo, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in the coming months.” Razouqi explained that the Airbus A330neo, which was recently included to Kuwait Airways’ fleet of aircraft was designated to facilitate the travel of passengers to Madrid and Malaga, due to its unique technological features and characteristics, spacious seating arrangements, which are in accordance with its latest features present in the air transport sector. The inaugural ceremony for the commencement of operations to Madrid and Malaga was attended by Kuwait Airways CEO, Eng. Maen Razouqi, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Kuwait, H.E Miguel Jose Aguilar and …

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Wizz Air and Airbus sign agreement on hydrogen powered aircraft operations

Wizz Air signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to explore the potential for hydrogen-powered aircraft operations. The cooperation means Wizz Air will analyse the potential for highly efficient, ultra-low-cost hydrogen powered operations. It will provide WIZZ with a much deeper understanding of how operating a zero-emission hydrogen aircraft could positively impact the airline’s future business model. The objective of this MoU is to identify both operational and infrastructure opportunities and challenges of hydrogen aircraft. Both parties will collaborate to develop a deep understanding of: The evolution of the global hydrogen ecosystem from the perspectives of society, regulation, energy pricing and hydrogen infrastructure The impact of hydrogen aircraft on Wizz Air’s fleet, operations and infrastructure, including its network, scheduling, ground bases and airports, by considering specific aircraft characteristics, such as achievable range and refuelling time Johan Eidhagen, Chief People & ESG Officer, Wizz Air said: “At Wizz Air, we remain ambitious with our growth strategy to deliver on our commitment to make travel affordable for all, while delivering a great customer experience on-board one of the youngest and greenest fleets in Europe. We believe that growth and sustainability are not mutually exclusive, with leading-edge new technology paving the way to more sustainable air travel. This momentous agreement with Airbus will advance sustainable aviation across the globe through development of ultra-efficient operations and business models of the future. We are absolutely thrilled and look forward to beginning our co-operation.” Glenn Llewellyn, Vice President Zero Emission Aircraft, Airbus said: “Working with our customers is paramount to developing a climate-neutral, zero-emission aircraft by 2035. We are very pleased to have Wizz Air on board to collaborate on the ongoing research and development …

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Qatar Airways touches down in Santorini, Greece ‎

As the holiday season gets under way, Qatar Airways is making it easier for customers to enjoy the Greek Isles with the launch of its new service to Santorini (JTR), and the resumption of flights to Mykonos (JMK). The first flight from Doha to Santorini on Tuesday 07 June, was operated by an A320 aircraft featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 132 seats in Economy Class and was welcomed by Senior Executives from Fraport Greece as the aircraft landed at Santorini International Airport for the first time. The airline marked the occasion by creating a bespoke in-flight food menu, designed to embrace traditional Greek cuisine, with specially decorated cutlery bands for all passengers, and an illustrated menu card for Business Class customers. Passengers were also gifted celebratory cupcakes to mark the occasion. The inaugural flight from Doha was operated by Qatari Captain Abdulaziz Al Kaabi and Greek Captain Andrew Evlambides, in honour of the first flight to Santorini. The island destination joins Athens and Mykonos to become the third Greek gateway to be served by the national carrier of the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The Greek Isles are a leading tourist destination and an important market for Qatar Airways. There is high interest from across our network for flights to Santorini, specifically in the leisure segment. We are committed to offering our passengers as many seamless one-stop connection choices as possible. I am sure visitors from the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Americas will be pleased to have Santorini served by our airline.” Mr. Alexander Zinell, CEO Fraport Greece said: “We feel honored that Qatar Airways’ has …

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Kuwait Airways launches flights to Izmir and Mykonos

As part of the continuous efforts to expand its network of destinations and develop its services to the highest levels of quality, Kuwait Airways announced the launch of its first scheduled commercial flights to Izmir, in the Republic of Turkey, with two flights a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. This coincided with the launch of the first scheduled commercial flight to the city of Mykonos, in the Republic of Greece, with two flights per week on Mondays and Wednesdays, both commencing from 6th June 2022. The Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Kuwait Airways, Mr. Khalid Al-Bustan, expressed his happiness on this important launch, which is in response to the significant and growing requirements of customers in Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf region. He pointed out that Kuwait Airways had recently launched operations to Casablanca, Manchester, Sohag, Alexandria, Sharm El-Sheikh, Trabzon and Bodrum, which will be followed shortly by operations to destinations such as Nice in France, Madrid and Malaga in Spain, Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, Sarajevo in Bosnia, and Vienna in Austria. This is also in addition to commencing operations to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kathmandu, Nepal in the coming months. Al-Bustan added that the Airbus A320neo, which was recently included to Kuwait Airways’ fleet of aircraft, was selected to facilitate the travel of passengers to the cities of Izmir and Mykonos, due to its unique technological features and characteristics, and in accordance with its latest features present in the air transport sector. Al-Bustan explained that Kuwait Airways was steadily progressing towards digital transformation, and to attain the best levels of excellence. Moreover, he pointed out that customers could make their reservations through different channels, …

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Qatar Airways installs an eco-friendly Air Ionisation system in their new jets

Qatar Executive is set to introduce a new Air Ionisation System on its state-of-the-art G650ER aircraft. The active system is capable of eliminating potentially harmful pathogens and allergens, including bacteria, viruses, and mould spores. The eco-friendly technology has a minimum impact on the environment and adds an additional layer of hygiene onboard by eradicating volatile organic compounds (VOCs), visible smoke and undesirable odours. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Executive is always at the forefront when it comes to introducing the latest safety and hygiene innovations. Enhancing the comfort and well-being of our passengers throughout their journey is paramount, therefore, we are pleased to be retrofitting our G650ER fleet with this cutting-edge Air Ionisation System. Qatar Executive will continue to adopt and introduce meticulous on-board safety measures which offer an unparalleled private jet experience each time.” Qatar Executive has already retrofitted two of its G650ER jets with the pioneering Air Ionisation System, and will continue installing the new device across the fleet within the next three months. Qatar Executive is the world’s largest owner-operator of the Gulfstream G650ER, one of the most sought-after jets due to its exceptional range capabilities, industry-leading cabin technology, fuel efficiency, and unrivalled passenger comfort. The G650ER is the industry’s fastest ultra-long range business jet. The jet is known for its incredible 7,500 nautical mile range, cutting-edge cabin technology, and unrivalled passenger comfort. Last month, Qatar Executive’s flagship G650ER jet operated to and from Geneva, Switzerland using a high blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); reflecting Qatar Airways Groups’ commitment to working on its environmental sustainability goals. The ultra-modern aircraft was on display for spectators to tour and experience …

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