#SecureLandCommunications #CritComms #F1Jeddah Jeddah, KSA - 20 March 2023 – Airbus rolled out its mission-critical solutions in the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the motorsport spectacle’s official secure communication technology provider. Deployed in the vital points of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit were Airbus TMR880i, THR880i, TH1N, and TH9 Tetra radios and RCS9500 Radio Dispatch Console. Providing secure collaboration and connectivity between organisers and security teams, the technologies were pivotal to safeguarding the people and the venue whilst guaranteeing seamless on-site race activities and operations. Selim Bouri, Vice-president for Airbus Secure Land Communications in Africa, Asia and the Middle East said: “Clear, concise and secure communication is an important ......read more
08 March 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for January 2023 global air cargo markets showing that air cargo demand declined as economic headwinds persist. • Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), fell 14.9% compared to January 2022 (-16.2% for international operations). • Capacity (measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers, ACTK) was up 3.9% compared to January 2022. This was the first year-on-year growth in capacity since October 2022. International cargo capacity increased 1.4% compared to January 2022. The uptick in ACTKs reflects the strong recovery of belly capacity in passenger airline markets offsetting a decline international capacity offered by dedicated freighters. • Several factors in the operating environment ......read more
• The Dubai-based carrier adds two new destinations to its network with the launch of flights to Al Qaisumah and Neom and resumes flights to Jizan and Najran Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 03 March 2023: flydubai, the Dubai-based airline, has announced today the launch of four destinations in Saudi Arabia. This includes the start of flights to Neom from 16 March, Najran from 18 March, Al Qaisumah from 21 March and Jizan from 26 April. Earlier this year, the airline also resumed its operations to AlUla with a twice-weekly service from 12 January. Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at flydubai, said: “flydubai remains committed to opening up underserved markets and so we are pleased to offer our customers more options for travel with the launch of these four destinations. As Saudi Arabia continues on its ......read more
Launches New Premium Experience Campaign featuring the actor DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways has launched a new brand campaign in collaboration with world-renowned Indian actor, Deepika Padukone. The campaign launch is the culmination of the airline's endeavour to redefine Qatar Airways Premium experience, particularly through showcasing the world-class Qsuite along with the unparalleled surroundings of The Orchard, which are core to Hamad International Airport’s expansion. The timeless acoustic track ‘Ain’t Nobody’ accompanies the campaign that connects Padukone’s journey with Qatar Airways to a new level of luxury and elegance. She encapsulates the premium experience available to customers of Qatar Airways, transiting through the best airport in the world, Hamad International Airport. Qatar ......read more
Riyadh, KSA - 28 Feb 2023: Riyadh Airports Company (RAC), which operates and manages King Khalid International Airport (KKIA), has announced the successful trial of Smart Path, a facial recognition technology, at International Terminal 2 in partnership with the air transport technology company, SITA. The technology, which was tested at check-in counters and boarding gates recognizes the passengers’ digital identity when stepping up to the camera. The facial image is directly linked to the passengers’ physical passport and travel documents at check-in. This allows them to be identified at security or boarding by simply taking a picture. This trial is part of RAC’s effort towards digitally transforming King Khalid International Airport into a smart airport in the future in compliance with the standards of ......read more
26, February 2023: Creating a new milestone in its network expansion strategy, Oman’s value-for-money airline SalamAir has announced direct flights to two new destinations Mashhad in Iran and Almaty in Kazakhstan. Mashhad is the third destination in Iran for the airline, with flights to Shiraz and Tehran already in its network, and Almaty is the airline's first entry into Kazakhstan. Weekly flights from Muscat to Mashhad and Almaty are scheduled for starting from February 21 and 1st July 2023 respectively. These two routes serve a high demand for medical, business, and leisure tourism. The new flights will also offer convenient connections to the SalamAir network. Speaking of the two new routes, Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said, “Iran has been one of the key focus markets for us, and we are pleased ......read more
The national airline celebrates its first flight to Medina, expanding affordable, hassle-free travel for tourists and residents in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia 16, February 2023, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, has commenced operations on the new route of Medina, a centre of Islamic culture. The new destinations further strengthen regional connectivity with high quality point-to-point travel on WIZZ’s convenient flight schedule. Tickets are on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app with fares starting as low as AED 219 *. Medina, a historical city of religious significance, boasts breath-taking views and architecture. Known as ‘The Enlightened City’, Medina is home to Al Masjid an Nabawi, the Prophet Muhammad’s (Peace Be Upon Him) ......read more
• ADU is the first academic institution in the world to take this initiative • Trained GPT-3 will revolutionize the way ADU-related inquiries and services are delivered Abu Dhabi, UAE, 16 February 2023: In a continues bid to integrate breakthrough solutions and tap into the potential of the groundbreaking GPT-3 technology, Abu Dhabi University (ADU) to become the first educational institution in the world to train GPT-3 on its data and services. The integration of the technology seeks to better support students, faculty and staff through providing enhanced and efficient services while setting a new standard for education technology. By leveraging the power of GPT-3, ADU will support data-driven decision-making, enhance learning outcomes and promote the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) ......read more
7 February 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that 2022 full-year demand for air cargo took a significant step back from 2021 levels but was close to 2019 performance. • Global full-year demand in 2022, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was down 8.0% compared to 2021 (-8.2% for international operations). Compared to 2019, it was down 1.6% (both global and international). • Capacity in 2022, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), was 3.0% above 2021 (+4.5% for international operations). Compared to 2019 (pre-COVID) levels, capacity declined by 8.2% (-9.0% for international operations). • December saw a softening in performance: global demand was 15.3% below 2021 levels (-15.8% for international ......read more
7 February 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the recovery in air travel continued in December 2022 and for the full year. • Total traffic in 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 64.4% compared to 2021. Globally, full year 2022 traffic was at 68.5% of pre-pandemic (2019) levels. December 2022 total traffic rose 39.7% compared to December 2021 and reached 76.9% of the December 2019 level. • International traffic in 2022 climbed 152.7% versus 2021 and reached 62.2% of 2019 levels. December 2022 international traffic climbed 80.2% over December 2021, reaching 75.1% of the level in December 2019. • Domestic traffic for 2022 rose 10.9% compared to the prior year. 2022 domestic traffic was at 79.6% of the full year 2019 level. December 2022 ......read more
The new routes from Budapest, Bucharest and Rome will provide affordable point-to-point travel opportunities and enhance global connectivity Jeddah, 12 January 2023: On 9, 10 and 11 of January 2023, Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and globally most environmentally sustainable* airline, officially inaugurated three new connections between Bucharest and Jeddah, Budapest and Jeddah and Rome and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The new routes will be served twice a week. Tickets can be purchased on Wizz Air's website and via the WIZZ app from as low as 29.99 EUR*. Wizz Air kicked off 2023 further strengthening its presence in Saudi Arabia by launching five new routes from Hungary, Romania and Italy to Riyadh and Jeddah. The new routes to Jeddah from Bucharest, Budapest and Rome will boost the growing Saudi Arabian tourism ......read more
10, January 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the air travel recovery continued through November 2022. • Total traffic in November 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 41.3% compared to November 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 75.3% of November 2019 levels. • International traffic rose 85.2% versus November 2021. The Asia-Pacific continued to report the strongest year-over-year results with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2022 international RPKs reached 73.7% of November 2019 levels. • Domestic traffic for November 2022 was up 3.4% compared to November 2021 with travel restrictions in China continuing to dampen the global result. Total November 2022 domestic traffic was at 77.7% of ......read more
The Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah is no ordinary airport terminal. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and a winner of the 1983 Aga Khan Award, it became a port of entry and junction point for hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from around the world on their way to Awwal Bait – the First House of Allah, the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, a building at the centre of Islam’s most famous mosque. When the terminal opened, it had the world’s largest cable-stayed, fabric-roofed construction; as it was made on an unprecedented scale, the tensile structure made use of newly developed fabric as a permanent structural element instead of the cable-supported in two directions technique, making it a first-of-sorts in airport design. Today, the Islamic Arts Biennale re-imagines this ......read more
04 January 2023: “Several countries are introducing COVID-19 testing and other measures for travellers from China, even though the virus is already circulating widely within their borders. It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years. Research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections. At most, restrictions delayed that peak by a few days. If a new variant emerges in any part of the world, the same situation would be expected. That’s why governments should listen to the advice of experts, including the WHO, that advise against travel restrictions. We have the tools to manage COVID-19 without ......read more
Saudi Arabia has a unique opportunity to create the most advanced water parks in the world. - Jeremy Gray, VP of Business Development at WhiteWater Riyadh: Not wanting to be left out in the era of digitization when intelligent automation rules the roost, the water parks sector has been exploring new technologies to improve its operations. Organizations all over the world are looking to create touchless experiences to streamline operations to reduce costs and pain points, which makes countries like Saudi Arabia double the size of its economy to $1.6 trillion, adding an additional $293 billion by 2030, according to a new study by Automation Anywhere. WhiteWater, the world’s largest supplier of water parks and services, has expanded beyond the world of attractions with a software arm called Vantage, which was ......read more
The national airline enhances connectivity from the UAE and meets commitment for more convenient, high quality and affordable travel for the region 15 December 2022, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, is launching an exciting new route from Abu Dhabi to Medina in Saudi Arabia. Launching in February 2023, the new route will provide affordable, hassle-free travel for tourists and residents in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia with daily flights providing unique travel opportunities on a convenient WIZZ flight schedule. Tickets are already on sale on wizzair.com and the airline’s mobile app, with fares starting from AED 179 *. Medina, one of Islam’s two holiest cities, is a key destination for millions of pilgrims travelling for Hajj or Umrah, and boasts breath-taking views ......read more
• Kingdom’s growth strategy wins ringing endorsement from WTTC Chiefs on Day 1 of 22nd Annual Summit • Tourism from nature generates $600 bn, WTTC CEO Julia Simpson tells delegates • Saudi Ministry of Tourism signed MoUs with Oman, Indonesia and Barbados Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 29 November 2022: The leaders of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) have described Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become one of the top 5 destinations in the world in the next decade as “unparalleled” in the history of tourism and travel. Opening the 22nd edition of the Summit, Arnold Donald, Chair, WTTC & Vice Chair of the Board, Carnival Corporation, welcomed the nearly 3000 participants to what will be the biggest ever meeting of global tourism and travel industry ......read more
• HRH Crown Prince Announces King Salman International Airport Masterplan • King Salman International Airport will boost Riyadh’s position as a global logistics hub and stimulate transport, trade and tourism • The airport is expected to accommodate up to 185 million passengers and process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050 • It will cover an area of approximately 57 km2, allowing for six parallel runways and airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, and retail outlets • With sustainability at its core, King Salman International Airport will be powered by renewable energy As the 22nd WTTC Global Summit began in Riyadh today, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of ......read more
- A 1450 piece drone show with especially composed music and a live orchestra wowed guests at a stunning opening event to Khaybar, North West Saudi Arabia. AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 25 November 2022: The ancient oasis town of Khaybar, known for ancient burial structures and striking geology is offering a sneak peek, limited season of day-trip and overnight experiences for visitors. The event forms part of the inaugural Ancient Kingdoms Festival, which comes under the banner of AlUla Moments – the annual calendar of events for the ancient desert city of the AlUla region. The unique sound and light show took place at the AlRawan look out point which has epic views of the Khaybar old town and oasis. The drone show was conceived by HQWS, the same company ......read more
• Children in Saudi Arabia spend an average of 2 hours and 42 minutes on mobile devices — the third highest duration of the 10 countries surveyed. • WhiteWater aims to help accomplish the Vision 2030 goal of establishing more than 600 entertainment attractions in the Kingdom by 2030. • Waterparks offer family members the opportunity to engage with children in a more constructive way. Riyadh: Playing and outdoor fun have undergone a huge transformation over the past 20 years, as new technology-based games and fun activities have turned kids homeward, where they spend most of their time in isolation, glued to their personal devices such as mobile phones, tearing the family bond apart and making it a matter of concern for both parents and social scientists. According to ......read more
CzechTourism brings delegation of 14 Czech tourism partners to discuss business and drive tourists from Saudi Arabia to the Czech Republic Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism in cooperation with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and in association with Flynas successfully concluded its exclusive Saudi Arabia Roadshow from the 31st October 2022 – November 2nd 2022 covering Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar cities respectively. The aim of the roadshow was to highlight the multifaceted attractions of the country with a focus on its spa and wellness products, visa seminar by the Embassy of the Czech Republic and airline connectivity by Flynas, the airline partner for the roadshow. The presentations were followed by B2B meetings and networking dinner with travel agents and lucky prize ......read more
25, October 2022: Recognized for revolutionizing the travel experience for religious travelers and facilitating Umrah online booking services in the Middle East, Zamzam.com, is excited to announce its first-ever award from the prestigious “World Travel Awards” for ‘Middle East’s Leading Umrah Online Travel Agency’. This year, the Middle East Gala Ceremony of the World Travel Awards (WTA), was held in the capital of Jordan, Amman on October 23rd, marking the first ceremony in Jordan among the most influential figures and decision-makers in the region’s travel industry. Zamzam.com is the first-ever online travel agency of its kind to win a WTA award and defy the pandemic’s impact and the ongoing global challenges to make it in this highly competitive category. “It is with great ......read more
‘Travel for a Better Future’ revealed as event theme Travel & Tourism business leaders and government officials to take to the stage in Riyadh October 24, 2022: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) unveils its first round of confirmed speakers for its upcoming Global Summit to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, which includes leaders from some of the world’s largest Travel & Tourism businesses, Saudi officials, and tourism ministers from around the world. Taking place at the magnificent King Abdul Aziz International Conference Centre in Riyadh from 28 November to 1 December, the global tourism body's highly anticipated 22nd Global Summit is set to be the most influential Travel & Tourism of the year. Under the theme “Travel for a Better Future” the event ......read more
Cathay Pacific welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s latest measures to facilitate travel to Hong Kong, especially the decision to remove the hotel quarantine arrangement for passengers arriving in Hong Kong effective 26 September 2022. These adjustments will help boost sentiment for travel, thereby facilitating the gradual resumption of travel activities and strengthening of network connectivity to, from and through the Hong Kong aviation hub. We intend to add more than 200 pairs of passenger flights in October to both regional and long-haul destinations. In view of Japan’s relaxation of travel restrictions for inbound visitors, Cathay Pacific will resume daily flights to Tokyo (Haneda) from 1 November and four-times-weekly flights to Sapporo from 1 December. We will also increase flight frequencies to Tokyo ......read more
Dubai, UAE, 25 August 2022: Zamzam.com, the online platform facilitating Umrah booking services in the region, enters a strategic partnership with Merit Incentives to deliver on its brand promise ‘Umrah Simplified’. As part of this collaboration, Merit Incentives’ clients in the banking sector and its marketplace will equip their customers to redeem their loyalty points for Zamzam gift cards, providing all customers with the opportunity to gift their loved ones an Umrah experience. Registered users can redeem their loyalty points for a Zamzam gift card to plan their travel to Umrah and Hajj effortlessly and conveniently. In addition, customers can redeem their loyalty points on Zamzam.com to plan their pilgrimage to Mecca or visit Madina. Commenting on the partnership, CEO of Zamzam.com, Omar Seraj Akbar, said: ......read more
7 September 2022 (Geneva) - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced passenger data for July 2022 showing that the recovery in air travel continues to be strong. Note: We have returned to year-on-year traffic comparisons, instead of comparisons with the 2019 period, unless otherwise noted. Owing to the low traffic base in 2021, some markets will show very high year-on-year growth rates, even if the size of these markets is still significantly smaller than they were in 2019. • Total traffic in July 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was up 58.8% compared to July 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 74.6% of pre-crisis levels. • Domestic traffic for July 2022 was up 4.1% compared to the year-ago period and is now driving the recovery. Total July 2022 ......read more
Saudi Airport Exhibition to be held in Riyadh from November 7 Global airport industry leaders heading to the Kingdom Future Airport Development Summit to host international experts on the sidelines Debate on passenger-centric ‘airports of tomorrow’ Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 30, 2022: The global aviation industry will be heading to Riyadh in the first week of November to explore the untapped growth potential of the airport industry in the Kingdom, which is in the midst of massive expansion in line with the Saudi 2030 Vision, a unique transformative economic and social reform blueprint unveiled in April 2016. As the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula pushes massively to expand and upgrade airport facilities to serve 330 million air travelers by 2030, the year when 60 per cent ......read more
• Grand prize winner Sarah Raouf from Family Tours, Egypt, walks away with brand new BMW X2 • Over 1,500 winners and 6,000 rewards distributed during 120 days August 19, 2022: TBO Holidays, one-stop shop booking platform for all travel agents across MEA, which is owned by Tek Travels DMCC– announced the grand prize winner of BMW x2 car following the final raffle draw of its ‘Book n Win Bonanza’ mega promotional campaign for travel agents in the region. Launched in April earlier this year, the ‘Book n Win Bonanza’ campaign gave away over 1229 prizes across 387 bookers during the first 60 days of the promotion, with a total of over 1,500 winners and 6,000 rewards distributed during the 120 days of the campaign period, with lucky agent Sarah Raouf from Family Tours, ......read more
• New research finds that airport lounges remain extremely popular in the region • Loyalty rewards are considered the top payment card travel benefit • There is a correlation between travel benefits and increased use of payment cards 17, AUGUST 2022: The travel ecosystem is already making a comeback after a disruptive event that has impacted every industry. Travellers are again taking to the skies for business, leisure, and even bleisure. UNWTO World Tourism Barometer shows a 182% year-on-year rise in international tourism for the first quarter of 2022, with destinations worldwide welcoming an estimated 117 million international arrivals compared to 41 million in the first quarter of 2021. Collinson, a global leader in traveller experiences, recently performed a ......read more
Sustainability In The Air Lab’ saw us asking people who experienced our operations first hand, staff and guests, for their opinions and ideas. Airline a finalist in five categories in the SkyTeam Sustainable Flight ChallengeSAUDIA, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was announced as the winner of the customer engagement category in the SkyTeam Sustainable Flight Challenge.E This follows SAUDIA running the world’s first in-flight sustainability lab on a Jeddah to Madrid flight to crowd-source ideas from guests. The sustainability lab was staged on May 12th on SV 227 from Jeddah to Madrid onboard a SAUDIA 787-9 Dreamliner, which was also the world’s longest carbon net-positive flight. The lab was run in partnership with SimpliFlying, global leaders in helping airlines build brand ......read more
June 24, 2022 - Riyadh, KSA: Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road recently welcomed tour operators from East Europe as part of the Saudi Tourism Authority’s first familiarization trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In an aim to establish further business ventures and attract international travelers, the familiarization trip allowed participants from ten tourism agencies from across Eastern Europe. Participants experienced Riyadh’s rich culture and hospitality firsthand while discovering the city's diverse landscape and unique offerings. The two-day itinerary included an in-depth personal hotel tour and sight inspection of the facilities and amenities by Courtyard by Marriott Riyadh Northern Ring Road’s General Manager, Mahmood Omar, and Director of Sales, Bashar Naji, followed by a trip ......read more
Enhanced global connectivity brings our incredible Low Fares to Saudi Arabia in support of KSA’s Vision 2030, supporting rapidly expanding tourism and aviation sectors within the Kingdom 22 June 2022, Budapest, Hungary: Wizz Air, Europe’s fastest growing and most sustainable airline, is launching exciting new routes from Dammam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Rome, Vienna and Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi route will be operated by Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, Wizz Air’s joint venture airline with ADQ. Launching in September 2022, the new destinations are the first step towards a growing presence in KSA which will provide for the first time truly affordable, hassle-free, point to point travel for tourists and residents in the Kingdom, Europe and the UAE, strengthening global connectivity. The new routes by Wizz Air introduce a ......read more
• Travellers to the UK from The Kingdoms of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can now apply for the Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) • VFS Global now offers EVW assistance for applicants in six countries in the Middle East Nationals of The Kingdoms of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can now apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) when travelling to the UK. Travellers can apply in advance from the comfort of their home, anywhere between three months and 48 hours prior to their intended date of travel, for the purposes of tourism, business, study or medical treatment. Having extended to the two new locations, VFS Global now offers EVW assistance in six countries in the GCC - Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. With an EVW, travellers visiting the UK for up to six months need ......read more
20 June 2022: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Pegasus Airlines Vice-Chairperson of the Board (Managing Director) Mehmet Tevfik Nane has assumed his duties as Chair of the IATA Board of Governors (BoG) for a one-year term, effective from the conclusion of the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Doha, Qatar on 21 June. Nane is the 80th chair of the IATA BoG. He has served on the BoG since 2019. He succeeds JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes, who will continue to serve on the BoG. “I’m honored to take on this position at a time when the industry is emerging from our worst downturn. In addition to maintaining momentum toward re-opening the globe to travel and commerce, we have a very full agenda over the next 12 months. This includes achieving agreement at the ICAO Assembly on a Long ......read more
20 June 2022: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an upgrade to its outlook for the airline industry’s 2022 financial performance as the pace of recovery from the COVID-19 crisis quickens. Forecast highlights include: • Industry losses are expected to reduce to -$9.7 billion (improved from the October 2021 forecast for an $11.6 billion loss) for a net loss margin of -1.2%. That is a huge improvement from losses of $137.7 billion (-36.0% net margin) in 2020 and $42.1 billion (-8.3% net margin) in 2021. • Industry-wide profitability in 2023 appears within reach with North America already expected to deliver an $8.8 billion profit in 2022. • Efficiency gains and improving yields are helping airlines to reduce losses even with rising labor and fuel costs (the latter ......read more
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), announced that leaders of the global aviation industry are gathering in Doha, Qatar, for the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS), with Qatar Airways as the host airline. The event (19-21 June) attracts the industry’s most senior leaders from among IATA’s 290 member airlines, as well as leading government officials, strategic partners, equipment suppliers, and media. “In a few days, Doha will become the aviation capital of the world. The last time we met in Doha, in 2014, we were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first airline flight. This year’s AGM is another momentous occasion: Airlines are simultaneously recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, setting the path to achieving net zero carbon emissions by ......read more
The agreement will see the online portal provide IT development services to the charitable association Riyadh, KSA, 19 April 2022: Zamzam.com, the online portal facilitating Umrah booking services in the region, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AlBirr Charitable Society in Makkah Al Mukarramah. The MoU aims to help develop the Information Technology Unit at the association and was signed by the CEO of Zamzam.com, Mr. Omar Siraj Akbar, and Mr. Hisham Abderrahman Shilly, Vice Chairman of the Board of the AlBirr Charitable Society in Makkah Al Mukarramah. As part of its commitment to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to provide support to the society, and within the framework of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Zamzam.com joins hands with the first charitable association in ......read more
Zamzam.com launches B2C options to its portal A seamless booking experience with exclusive packages and services available directly to travelers Riyadh, KSA, 12 April 2022: Planning an Umrah trip could quickly turn into a daunting task given the many aspects that are involved. From booking flights and accommodations to ground transfers, the entire process could prove to be more than one person can handle. With this in mind, Zamzam.com, an online platform for Umrah travels, in joint venture with TBO.COM, one of the leading global travel distributions platforms in the world, is proud to announce that Zamzam.com is now the first OTA platform that offers B2C visa services directly to consumers. Curated and carefully designed packages that meet the needs of pilgrims coming from all over the country the wider GCC ......read more
Airline Shares Universal Greeting from SAUDIA to the World Celebrates EID With Special Flight Offers Jeddah, SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has released a special Eid Al Fitr campaign, marking the conclusion of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Eid is a period of celebration with family and friends to mark the end of Ramadan in which Muslims around the world fast for a month. The newly released campaign from SAUDIA conveys a heartwarming greeting to all guests. A video with the meaning and message of Eid featuring international award-winning music artist, Akon, can be viewed on both the airline’s and Akon’s social media channels. Akon was selected to represent the brand due to his international appeal, which resonates with SAUDIA’s vision of ......read more
This summer SAUDIA airlines resumes their international operations and direct flights to this magnificent island destination Dubai, UAE - April 22, 2022: SAUDIA Airlines resumes direct flights to Mauritius 3 times a week. With the resumption of flights Saudis are now able to travel again into this magnificent destination, and enjoy what this paradise island has to offer. From the start Saudis visiting Mauritius will instantly feel welcome, they are treated to a warm attitude by locals, the Mauritian hospitality, rooting from an extraordinary mix of cultures, religion and ethnicities. All the communities live in harmony by nurturing their own culture and heritage, and sharing them with visiting guests. Mauritius has plenty to offer to the Saudi travelers be it families, couples, adventure travelers, or Saudis who ......read more
May 19, 2021: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, SAUDIA, announced a new reciprocal loyalty agreement, expanding on the existing codeshare deal between the two airlines. Members of the Etihad Guest and ALFURSAN programmes can now earn and redeem miles on flights across both carriers’ ......read more
Airline’s inaugural service into new terminal operated by newest A380 with premium economy Emirates becomes first airline to operate A380 to Terminal 1 at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport March 30, 2021: Emirates has made its first A380 touchdown at Terminal 1 in Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), making it the first airline ......read more
• Future Hospitality Summit will welcome a comprehensive line-up of hospitality and government leaders, industry captains, founders, change-makers, insight experts, and media, on 26-27 October. • The jam-packed line-up includes Arne Sorenson (Marriott International), Arnold W. Donald (Carnival Corporation), Gloria Guevara (WTTC), Alexandre de Juniac (IATA), Geoffrey JW ......read more
• Managed and operated by VFS Global, the newly launched centres have started to accept passport renewal requests from Sunday to Saturday between 08:00 AM to 08:00 PM Saudi - October 08, 2020: In a bid to ease the passport renewal process for Philippine nationals living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), The Republic of the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs and VFS ......read more
• Etihad to resume flights to three destinations in Saudi Arabia in October 2020 • The ‘Choose Saudi Arabia’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flew to 46 destinations since 23 September 2019 September 23, 2020: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is honoured to celebrate the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the ......read more
141,000 searches were conducted on our platform following the announcement Dubai, 16 September 2020: Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), supports Saudi Arabia’s decision on the resumption of exceptional flights and explains the regulations and categories of travelers allowed to enter and exit the ......read more
• Health precautions introduced throughout the visa application system, including the doorstep ‘On Demand Mobile Visa’ service available for student visa customers. • UK Visas and Immigration has introduced greater flexibility in visa rules, allowing students to apply for visas when they are able to travel to the UK, rather than at the start of their ......read more
THC to expand its services to include scenic tourism and aerial work @AirbusHeli @thc_sa #MakingMissionsPossible Riyadh, 20 August 2020 – The Helicopter Company (THC), which is fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase 10 H125 helicopters. The deal comes as ......read more
Saudi - August 09, 2020: Focusing keenly on their growth in the Kingdom, The Ascott Limited continues its niche brand offerings as an exclusive ‘hotel apartment’ destination for business and leisure travellers in Jeddah. Catering to a wide sector of both long and short stay guests, the properties, namely Ascott Sari Jeddah, Ascott Tahlia Jeddah, Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah ......read more
Mandatory mask wearing will protect travellers and workers People need to learn to live with COVID-19 until a vaccine is widely available July 11, 2020: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has called upon all travellers to don protective face masks to show they ‘wear to care’ in the new normal of travelling. As countries transition from lockdowns to ......read more
Intra-Middle East travel demand as a region expected to perform best, with The Maldives ranked as number 1 standalone destination for expected demand 09, June 2020 – In a survey conducted by AVIAREPS of 94 of the Gulf Countries (G.C.C.) leading outbound travel agencies, demand for outbound travel from the G.C.C. is expected to return from August/September 2020, with a ......read more
June 04, 2020: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that demand for air services is beginning to recover after hitting bottom in April. Passenger demand in April (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs), plunged 94.3% compared to April 2019, as the COVID-19-related travel restrictions virtually shut down domestic and international air travel. This is a rate ......read more
2 June 2020: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to quickly implement the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) global guidelines for restoring air connectivity. Today, the ICAO Council approved Takeoff: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis (Takeoff). This is an authoritative and ......read more
13 May 2020, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is calling for aviation-specific financial relief measures from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to address the severe impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the air transport sector. IATA estimates that revenues generated by airlines in the Saudi market will fall by $7.2 billion in 2020, 35% below ......read more
Saudi Tourist arrivals jumped in January 2020 with a 137% increase compared to January 2019, making Saudi Arabia ranked top 9th market to Mauritius. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 27 February 2020: According to the latest statistics released from the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), visitors to Mauritius from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia increased 137% in January 2020 compared to the same ......read more
24 February 2020 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) will showcase opportunities for growth and development within the Kingdom’s defence sector at the Global Aerospace Summit 2020. The event, taking place in Abu Dhabi on 17-19 March, is one of the world’s leading thought leadership forums for the aviation, aerospace, space and defence ......read more
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – February 18, 2020: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will again operate a daily scheduled flight between the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s second largest city, Al Ain, and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the last ten days of Ramadan. The airline will operate the flights from 14 May to 23 May to meet increased demand ......read more
JLL’s City Momentum Index combines socio-economic and commercial property metrics of 130 markets to identify the world’s most dynamic urban centers January 25, 2020 – Cities in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) are gaining momentum, with Dubai, Riyadh and Nairobi all ranked within the top 20, according to JLL’s City Momentum Index 2020 which ......read more
November 24, 2019: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has received a special reception - welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute – at Jeddah’s new Terminal 1. The inaugural flight was operated on Etihad’s Dreamliner with the distinctive Kingdom of Saudi Arabia livery. The reception was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and was attended ......read more
KSA, 30 October 2019: The recent launch of international tourist e-visas in Saudi Arabia, as part of Vision 2030 initiatives to boost tourism and increase global competitiveness, is set to have a positive long term impact on the Kingdom’s real estate market, outlines JLL’s latest Q3 market reports. In efforts to diversify the economy away from oil the government ......read more
October 22, 2019: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, have marked the first anniversary of their commercial partnership by announcing 12 new codeshare routes to key destinations in Asia and Europe. Since signing their agreement in October, 2018, the two airlines have placed ......read more
The “Sport for Peace Awards” project is expected to have extensive global impact. October 02, 2019: Reaching to more countries and international destinations than any other airline in line with its goal to fly every corner of the world, Turkish Airlines carries its active stance in the development of its flight network to collaborating with prominent global brands, ......read more
27, August 2019: Turkish Airlines, flying to more countries that any other airline, continues to enhance its flight network. Flag carrier has launched scheduled flights to Mexico City, the second biggest city of Latin America and capital of Mexico along with Cancún, one of the favorite holiday centers of Central America. The flights to Mexico City and Cancún, ......read more
05, August 2019: Turkish Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines, the largest airlines and flag carriers of their countries, Turkey and Poland, announced today the enhancement of their current codeshare agreement with additional destinations both from Turkish Airlines’ and LOT’s flight network. Through this enhanced partnership, Turkish Airlines and LOT will reciprocally add ......read more
23 July 2019: DUBZ, a leading baggage technology and logistics company and part of dnata, has opened a new ‘check-in station’ in The Dubai Mall, the world’s most visited retail and lifestyle destination, to offer airline passengers another convenient option to take advantage of its innovative services. The station is located in the dnata Travel store ......read more
Saudi, 18 June 2019: Saudi Arabian Airlines, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has decided to expand its existing A320neo Family order from 35 to as many as 100 NEO aircraft including 35 options. The additional firm order takes SAUDIA’s order of A320neo Family aircraft to 65 of which 15 are A321XLRs. The agreement was announced at the Paris Air Show by His ......read more
Responding to the increasing demand on car parking slots during the Hajj and Umrah season, this facility will serve both the property guests and visitors of Makkah Makkah, KSA - 29 May 2019: M Hotel Makkah by Millennium, a 5-star hotel located at the heart of the holy city of Makkah, is pleased to announce that a new cars’ parking facility is now available and ready to serve ......read more
New daily Etihad flights to take place during the last ten days of Ramadan, facilitating travel to Saudi Arabia for the performance of Umrah Dubai, United Arab Emirates - May 27, 2019: Abu Dhabi Airports has welcomed new daily flights from Al Ain International Airport (AAN) to King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, designed to facilitate ......read more
UAE national airline demonstrates commitment to Abu Dhabi’s second largest city with 10 scheduled services May 09, 2019 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways will operate a daily scheduled flight between the oasis city of Al Ain in the UAE and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the last ten days of Ramadan. The airline will operate the flights from ......read more
2019 will see Turkish Airlines expand its extensive flight network with the introduction of 13 new routes including Sharjah and Marrakech which started operations in early April Turkey’s national carrier served a total of 1.58 million passengers in the Middle East during Q1 2019, rising by 2.5 percent since the same period in 2018 The airline also carried a total of 41.698 tons ......read more
Visa Application Center inaugurated in Riyadh by His Excellency, Mr. Gerard McCoy, Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia May 02, 2019: Citizens and expatriate residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can apply for visas to Ireland at the new visa application centers jointly launched by the Embassy of Ireland in Saudi Arabia and VFS Global, the ......read more
Day 3 of the Arabian Travel Market 2019 ended with tremendous success, as expected the day 3 also attracted innumerable travel enthusiast's from the globe to the largest and most awaited yearly event for the travel and tourism industry. ATM 2019 seems promising and would see huge crowd on it's last day tomorrow. Global Innovations, one of the exhibitors for the Travel Technology ......read more
April 30, 2019: The Arabian Travel Market 2019 embarked with tremendous success on its second day. It attracted innumerable travel enthusiasts from different regions of the world to this largest and most awaited yearly event for the travel and tourism industry. ATM 2019 is gaining traction each day with an increased in number of visitors each day. Global Innovations, one of the ......read more
April 28 2019: Travel trade professionals from across the globe arrived in Dubai to witness the region’s leading travel industry event "Arabian Travel market 2019" which kicked off successfully. ATM 2019’s first business day engagements showed promising outcomes with travel trade professionals who showed a renewed interest in Global Innovations, one of the ......read more
The new product, TassPro, will be an exceptional point of sale solution for travel agencies Global Innovations, with its state-of-the-art IT services, is all set to participate in the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019. The ATM is a leading international event focused on the travel and tourism industry. Envisaged with a goal, Global Innovations is dedicated to serve with strategy-inspired Travel ......read more
Game-changing, fully-enclosed First Class private suites to debut for first time in the GCC April 14, 2019: In a move to offer a range of experiences and greater choice for its customers travelling for business and leisure, Emirates will be operating its latest Boeing 777-300ER aircraft fitted with the ‘Game Changer' First Class suites from Dubai to Riyadh starting from 16 ......read more
The Kingdom is the second biggest aviation market in ME 100 million passengers passed through Saudi airports in 2018 The Kingdom working to privatize all 27 existing airports Dammam Airports takes up biggest stand Technology helping streamline business processes Dubai, April 10, 2019: The 19th edition of Airport Show from 29 April - 1 May at the Dubai ......read more
New leisure and tourism facilities forecast to fuel domestic tourism at 8% per year until 2023, says new Arabian Travel Market report 33% of delegates, exhibitors and visitors to Arabian Travel Market interested in doing business with the Kingdom Dubai, UAE, April 10, 2019: Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute $70.9 billion (SAR 263.1 billion) ......read more
[03 April 2019): British Airways has announced it will fly from Dammam to London Heathrow from December 1, 2019. Tickets are on sale now. The route is the first ever direct flight from Dammam to London Heathrow, with flights departing daily. The service will launch as a daily ‘tag’ service via Bahrain. Flights will be operated by a four-class Boeing 777-200 ......read more
SAMI, GACA and Many More to Exhibit at Dubai Airshow Dubai, UAE. 17 March 2019: Saudi Arabia continues to demonstrate its growing strength in the aerospace industry with participation of its biggest players in the Dubai Airshow in November this year. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) are the latest to announce participation joining the General Authority of Civil ......read more
DUBAI, U.A.E., 14 March 2019: The Emirates A380 drew in more than 3000 visitors in two days at the first ever Saudi International Airshow. The Emirates A380 was the largest commercial aircraft on display at the milestone event. The aircraft received a royal visit from HRH Sultan bin Salman, Chairman of the Board of Saudi Space Agency. HRH was received by Adel Al Ghaith, Senior Vice President, ......read more
Event on Record Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 14 March 2019: The eleventh Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2019, Saudi Arabia’s leading travel industry show, will be held from March 28-30 at Al Faisaliah Tower Hotel. It is expected to provide business networking opportunities, seminars, ministerial discussions, and highlight the tourism industry’s achievements of the past 12 ......read more
DUBAI, U.A.E., 23 February 2019: Emirates will be showcasing its flagship Airbus A380 for two days at the first ever Saudi International Airshow. The popular double-decker aircraft will be on display on March 12th and 13th at Al Thumamah Airport in Riyadh, giving visitors the opportunity to tour its interior and experience its award-winning products across all classes, including Emirates’ ......read more
It is the first extended stay property for Shaza Hotels and marks the debut of the brand in Riyadh taking its portfolio of operational hotels to three in Saudi Arabia Riyadh: Shaza Hotels, a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, has announced the opening of Shaza Hotel Residences, Riyadh. The property is the first for the brand in Riyadh and its third in KSA. It is also the first extended stay ......read more
14th February 2019 Turkish Airlines, flying passengers to more global destinations than any other airline, preparing for a brand new journey set to be started with its move to its new state-of-the-art home base, Istanbul Airport, continues its partnership with The LEGO® Movie franchise with the recent digital debut, of a new fun and original safety video. It stars characters from the ......read more
January 14, 2019: Turkish Airlines, who has recently announced its passenger and cargo traffic results for December 2018, reached 80.2% load factor in that month. Growth in the number of passengers, revenue per kilometer and load factor, is an important indicator of the continued growing interest in Turkey and Turkish Airlines at the end of the year as well. According to ......read more
January 08, 2019: British Airways’ new year’s resolution is to provide its customers with even more quality and choice in every cabin on every route - with a £6.5bn investment and 19 great reasons to look forward to flying with the airline in 2019. Here are some of the reasons to fly with British Airways this year: The January sale – on ......read more
IMAGES: https://we.tl/t-riYunpUUUZ December 06, 2018: Charm, atmosphere and pure relaxation are guaranteed when visiting Switzerland. Enjoy the Mediterranean flair in Summer while Island hopping in Ascona-Locarno, create your very own watch in Geneva or challenge your taste buds by tasting over 30 different kind of chocolates in Zurich. During the colder months, visit ......read more
14 November 2018: Turkish Airlines, who has recently announced its passenger and cargo traffic results for October, reached 83.4% load factor in that month. On top of the strong base effect of the last year, the growth in the number of passengers, revenue per kilometer and load factor, is an important indicator of the continued growing interest in Turkey and Turkish Airlines in the last ......read more
Codeshare to cover 41 destinations on the two carriers’ networks Etihad Airways Engineering to provide select maintenance services for SAUDIA fleet at Abu Dhabi hub Discussions taking place to explore commercial cargo joint opportunities Plans to offer reciprocal ‘earn and burn’ on frequent flyer programmes October 22, 2018: Etihad Airways, the national ......read more
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