Category Archives: Aviation

Etihad Airways will resume passenger flights from Abu Dhabi, UAE, to Casablanca and Rabat, in the Kingdom of Morocco. Effective September 19, the airline will operate returning flights three times a week from Abu Dhabi to Casablanca. This service will be followed by direct flights between the two capitals, Abu Dhabi and Rabat, on October 28. Those wishing to book are advised to visit www.etihad.com to view their options and to remain informed on the appropriate entry regulations at their end destination. Flights are also available for booking through the mobile app, by calling the Etihad Airways Contact Centre on +971 600 555 666 (UAE), or through a local or online travel agency. The addition of Casablanca and Rabat brings the total number destinations Etihad is operating to 58 destinations worldwide.

Etihad Airways is introducing COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover as part of Etihad Wellness, the airlines new health and hygiene programme. Guests who are diagnosed with COVID-19 during their trip won’t have to worry about medical expenses or quarantine costs when they fly with Etihad. Duncan Bureau, Senior Vice President Sales and Distribution, Etihad Airways, said, “The safety, health, and wellbeing of our guests and employees is our top priority, during and beyond the flight. The introduction of global COVID-19 insurance, in partnership with AXA, builds on stringent measures already in place as part of our Etihad Wellness programme, championed by our Wellness Ambassadors. “This additional cover will not only instil confidence to travel but also reassure our guests that we are doing all we can to keep them safe and protected. As more countries start opening their borders, we are making it as easy as possible for our guests to plan their next trip, hassle free.” Adelane Mecellem, Chief Executive Officer Asia, Middle-East, Turkey and Africa, AXA Partners said, “At AXA, we are focused on improving the customer experience and wellness of individuals during these times. As such, we are proud to partner with one of the world’s leading airlines, Etihad Airways, and provide their extensive loyal travellers with new protection solutions when needed most.”

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi celebrates the arrival of its first state-of-the-art new Airbus A321neo aircraft to Abu Dhabi International Airport. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the joint-venture established between ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies, and Wizz Air Holdings Plc, has recently received national carrier status from the UAE government subject to meeting regulatory standards prior to starting operations. The arrival of the first Airbus A321neo aircraft will enable the airline to have the lowest environmental footprint and the lowest cost base among its competitors in the region. Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi said, “We contribute to the local economic diversity while offering ever more affordable travel opportunities on our low fare network. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s new state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, as well as our enhanced protective measures, will ensure the best possible sanitary conditions for travellers.” Mohammed Husain Ahmed, General Manager of Abu Dhabi International Airport, commented, “The establishment of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and its commencement of operations is a milestone in the growth and development of the LCC market in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It is also a reflection of the success of our implementation of comprehensive health and safety measures across our airports, as well as our investments in transforming Abu Dhabi International Airport into a strategically positioned global hub for airlines from across the world.” Saeed Rashed Al Saeed, Destination Marketing Director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), said, “Abu Dhabi’s status as a destination of choice for business and leisure travellers from around the world will be well served by the arrival of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s first aircraft. …

Travelport announced the renewal of a multi-year content agreement with Korean Air, the country’s largest airline and national carrier.Under the agreement, Travelport will continue to provide Korean Air’s content and inventory to more than 68,000 Travelport-connected agencies around the world, enabling them to search, sell and book the airline’s fares. Kenneth Chang, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Korean Air, commented, “As travel recovers, Korean Air fully intends to be leading the way. Our partnership with Travelport has proven itself many times over, and its global network remains a cornerstone of our plans for international growth.” Sue Carter, Head of Asia Pacific, Air Partners at Travelport, added, “We’re extremely pleased to continue supporting Korean Air’s ambitions to be a global aviation leader with our technology solutions. Taking advantage of cutting-edge advancements like New Distribution Capability will be crucial for airlines to lead in a world of heightened traveller expectations, and we look forward to further extending our support with Korean Air in time to come.” In addition to providing Korean Air content to travel agencies around the world, Travelport is also supporting Korean Air’s organization-wide digital transformation with its Data and Business Intelligence, as well as Airline Insight solutions. These tools provide timely analysis and insights which help airlines recognise and respond to market trends swiftly. A founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, Korean Air was recently rated one of the top three airlines in the world in the 2020 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards for Airlines.

Emirates will resume passenger services to Amman, Jordan from today. The resumption of flights to the Jordanian capital takes the number of destinations Emirates serves in the Gulf and Middle East to eight cities, as the airline gradually resumes operations with the safety of its customers, crew and communities as its top priority.Flights from Dubai to Amman will operate as a daily service on the Emirates Boeing 777-300ER and can be booked on emirates.com or via travel agents. Emirates flight EK903 will depart Dubai at 1500hrs, arriving in Amman at 1655hrs. EK 904 will depart Amman at 1900hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2300hrs. Passengers travelling between the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia Pacific can enjoy safe and convenient connections via Dubai, and customers can stop over or travel to Dubai as the city has re-opened for international business and leisure visitors. Ensuring the safety of travellers, visitors, and the community, COVID-19 PCR tests are mandatory for all inbound and transit passengers arriving to Dubai (and the UAE), including UAE citizens, residents and tourists, irrespective of the country they are coming from.

Lufthansa has announced that it will ramp up flight operations on its Frankfurt-Dubai route in September by 30 per cent, an increase of eight flights compared to the month of August. The addition of new flights follows the airline’s resumption of scheduled services from the UAE in early July in view of the steady growth in demand for intercontinental travel. There will be a total of five flights a week from 3 to 13 September and four weekly services as of September 14, 2020. Heinrich Lange, Senior Director Sales, Gulf, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Lufthansa Group, commented, “As an unparalleled mode of transportation that provides speedy connections between people, places and goods, aviation has become an integral part of modern life. The suspension of air travel due to border closures and mobility restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic had caused significant inconvenience to people around the world. At Lufthansa Group, we are working towards resuming regular operations to all our destinations to meet the needs of our customers.” “We are pleased with increasing weekly flight operations on our Frankfurt-Dubai route. Our decision to increase services is in response to strong demand for flights between the two major cities and to the growing number of destinations offered via our hub. The recent revelation by the authorities in Dubai that the emirate’s main airport has been witnessing a massive increase in passenger numbers, with more than 20,000 travellers daily, is truly encouraging and underscores the need and importance of our flight services for the UAE,” Lange added.

flydubai has announced that passengers booking with flydubai for travel between 01 September and 30 November 2020 will automatically receive free global cover for COVID-19.The new service covers passengers’ health expenses and quarantine costs if diagnosed with COVID-19 during their trip and is valid for 31 days from the time they take their first flight on their itinerary. The service enables passengers to benefit from coverage for their medical expenses up to EUR 150,000 and quarantine costs up to EUR 100 per day for 14 days. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai said, “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. The new COVID-19 cover we are offering to our passengers will encourage more people to travel with ease of mind knowing that they will be looked after at every step of their journey. We see the demand for travel starting to increase as more countries gradually lift restrictions on international travel. Safeguarding the passenger journey with added precautions and enhanced procedures will help to stimulate the flow of trade and tourism globally.”

Tajawal has entered a strategic partnership with Mediclinic to offer UAE based travellers planning their international trips a 20% discount on their pre-travel PCR tests, which are considered a mandatory requirement at a number of destinations across the world. Upon making a flight or hotel booking through tajawal, travellers will receive their booking confirmation emails which they can present at select Mediclinic establishments in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to avail the discount on their PCR tests. Muzzammil Ahussain – EVP, tajawal commented, “With International travel slowly returning, our customers will expect more from us when booking their flights and accommodation, prioritising the need to know crucial information such as the safety guidelines for airports, hotels and in destination procedures. We understand that obtaining the latest travel safety and destination updates when planning an International trip can be confusing during these times, therefore have created a dedicated online portal comprising all the necessary safety information travellers would need to come to a travel decision. Our team of experts aggregate and maintain data from over 100 sources, through which the safety guidelines content is carefully vetted and updated to ensure accuracy, offering travellers access to the latest developments on travel guidelines from key destinations across the globe”. “We have also partnered with Mediclinic to ensure that our travellers have access to highest-quality testing facilities when undergoing pre-travel PCR tests. Through this partnership, we hope to offer our customers more flexibility and confidence to travel all the while armed with a valid PCR test health assurance that will encourage them to revive their delayed travel plans and explore the world” Ahussain added.

Etihad Airways has extended its digital reach with an update to its mobile application for Android, Apple and Huawei smartphones, enabling guests to manage their journey with even greater ease. New key features allow guests to purchase upgrades or other extras, use Etihad Guest Miles as a form of payment or choose from 10 other payment options, including Travel Bank, which have been added to the booking flow. Frank Meyer, Chief Digital Officer, Etihad Airways said, “To increase flexibility during the coronavirus pandemic, we established Travel Bank, an account which guests can use for future redemption on flights. With the new app, guests are now able to book their next flight with travel credits they have saved while being unable to fly due to travel restrictions. As we strive to make travel as convenient as possible, this is a step forward in our innovation strategy.” The refreshed mobile app is simple to use and allows guests to manage their details, book flights with voice search and enrol into the airlines loyalty programme, Etihad Guest. Uber and Google Maps are now also integrated into the app to direct travellers to and around the airport. If the status of a flight should change, an update is automatically pushed to guests through the app.