• 4.2 million passengers carried in 2020 with seat load factor of 52.9% • Network capacity reduced by 64% to 37.5 billion ASKs in wake of pandemic  • Industry-leading Etihad Wellness programme developed to safeguard travellers  • First airline in the world with 100% of operating flight crew vaccinated   United Arab Emirates -  March 04, 2021:   Etihad Airways has announced its financial and operating results for 2020, recording a 76% fall in passengers carried throughout the year (4.2 million, compared to 17.5 million in 2019) as a result of lower demand and reduced flight capacity caused by the unparalleled global downturn in commercial aviation.   As a consequence of the Covid pandemic and ensuing flight and travel restrictions, total passenger capacity was ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  March 03, 2021:    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released January 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that air cargo demand returned to pre-COVID levels (January 2019) for the first time since the onset of the crisis. January demand also showed strong month-to-month growth over December 2020 levels.  Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons to follow are to January 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. •       Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was up 1.1.% compared to January 2019 and +3% compared to December 2020. All regions saw month-on-month improvement in air cargo demand, and North ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  March 03, 2021:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that passenger traffic fell in January 2021, both compared to pre-COVID levels (January 2019) and compared to the immediate month prior (December 2020).  Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to January 2019 which followed a normal demand pattern. • Total demand in January 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 72.0% compared to January 2019. That was worse than the 69.7% year-over-year decline recorded in December 2020.  • Total domestic demand was down 47.4% versus pre-crisis (January 2019) levels. In December it was down 42.9% on the previous year. ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  March 02, 2021:   The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) new Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East (AME), Kamil Al-Awadhi, took up his position today. “This is the most challenging time for air transport—in AME and around the world. The top priority is reconnecting the world when governments are able to safely re-open borders without travel restrictions. And the immediate action is supporting governments in establishing benchmarks and plans for an orderly resumption of service. The crisis has also reinforced our determination to tackle some major issues—reducing emissions, modernizing process, and reforming air traffic management.  Under my watch, IATA will continue to be a driving force for asafe, reliable and sustainable aviation ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  March 01, 2021:   Emirates will boost its frequencies to Sudan with the introduction of daily flights to/ from Khartoum starting on 9 March 2021. The introduction of additional frequencies will provide more options and added convenience for those wishing to travel to Dubai and beyond to Emirates' network of over 90 destinations. Emirates continues to take measured steps to safely and gradually restart operations across its network whilst prioritising the health and safety of its customers and employees across every touchpoint of the travel journey.   Khalfan Al Salami, Country Manager Sudan commented on the boost of services to Khartoum: "The increase of frequencies to daily from Khartoum are a direct response to growing passenger demand for Emirates services, and are designed to ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  February 25, 2021:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released new analysis showing that the airline industry is expected to remain cash negative throughout 2021. Previous analysis (November 2020) indicated that airlines would turn cash positive in the fourth quarter of 2021. At the industry level, airlines are now not expected to be cash positive until 2022.   Estimates for cash burn in 2021 have ballooned to the $75 billion to $95 billion range from a previously anticipated $48 billion. The following factors play into this estimate:   • Weak Start for 2021: It is already clear that the first half of 2021 will be worse than earlier anticipated.  This is because governments have tightened travel restrictions in response to new COVID-19 variants. ......read more

SITA’s Air Transport IT Insights reveals a sharper focus on safety, automation, and efficiency   United Arab Emirates -  February 24, 2021:   The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused IT spending priorities for airlines and airports in 2020 as revenue plunged and the industry faced new health and operational requirements needed to keep flying.  Among the key findings from SITA’s 2020 Air Transport IT Insights, published today, was an accelerated investment in automated passenger processing focusing on touchless and mobile services. There was also a strong focus on virtual and remote IT services that allowed employees to work from home while ramping up communications with passengers. Cybersecurity and cloud services – that helped automate operations and drive new efficiencies – ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 23 February 2021 – Emirates has announced it will resume daily services to Newark via Athens from 1st June 2021. The resumed flight will provide global travellers with another access point to the popular New York Metropolitan area, serving the large Greek-American community in the United States while offering a convenient connection to travellers headed towards the Middle East, West Asia, and Africa via Dubai.    The addition of Newark via Athens will take Emirates' US network to 10 destinations following the resumption of services to Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Washington DC, Dallas and San Francisco (to resume on 2nd March).   The Dubai-Athens-Newark flight will operate daily with a three-class Boeing 777-300ER, complementing Emirates' double daily ......read more

NASA's Perseverance rover relies on Airbus built weather station and communications antenna    United Arab Emirates -  February 16, 2021:   When NASA's Perseverance rover lands on the surface of the Red Planet next Thursday, key Airbus technology will be on board: the MEDA meteorological station will provide scientists with valuable Mars weather data and the High Gain Antenna System will ensure a high-speed comms link with Earth for the duration of the MARS2020 mission. Perseverance will use seven scientific instruments to study the Martian biological and geological environment, including the MEDA (Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyser) meteorological station, designed and built by Airbus. The MEDA instrument will measure many environmental parameters using sensors distributed across the rover: ......read more

• Shortlist gathers innovative design solutions for a better tomorrow   Dubai, UAE - 16 February 2021:  Al-Futtaim Automotive, the official distributor of Lexus in the UAE, has announced that Lexus International has recently revealed the six finalists for the Lexus Design Award 2021, each of whom will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience and mentorship from renowned design leaders as they prototype their ideas with a budget of over USD 28,000 (over AED 100,000) per project. The finalists were selected by a distinguished jury from among 2,079 entries submitted by creators in 66 countries.    This year marks the ninth edition of the Lexus Design Award, which was established to support up-and-coming creators to demonstrate and further develop their talents. The program recognises fresh design talent and ......read more

Dubai, UAE; February 15, 2021: Leading air charter broker Delta World Charter has signed an exclusive agreement with Fly2Sky to be the General Sales Agent (GSA) for their Airbus A320 fleet. Delta World Charter (DWC) will be managing two A320 aircrafts. Dmitriy Korshunov, CEO of Delta World Charter said: “We are thrilled to lease our first Airbus A320 aircrafts; especially in current challenging times. With this strategic partnership with Fly2Sky, Delta World Charter is now ready to operate ACMI projects, repatriation flights, as well as flights for tour operators, crew change and other groups that require up to 180-seat capacity. As the worlds most advanced and fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft family, the A320s will expand route options and offer greater flexibility for our clientele.” Mathewos Gobena, Managing ......read more

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 14 February 2021:  Airbus will showcase a wide range of cutting-edge technologies, capabilities and solutions from Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Helicopters at the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2021.  The event is set to take place at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 21 - 25 February and is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.   Airbus will exhibit at stand 08B05. The company’s presence at the exhibition will be in strict accordance with COVID-19 protocols laid down by the UAE Government to ensure the safety of employees and visitors. Airbus Defence and Space will display a model version of the A400M, the most advanced airlifter ......read more

Bahrain International Airport's new Passenger Terminal includes SITA Smart Path biometrics, SITA Flex, and a sophisticated airport management system United Arab Emirates -  February 11, 2021:    Backed by SITA's state-of-the-art technology, Bahrain International Airport's (BIA) newly opened Passenger Terminal is better prepared to respond to the changing demands of travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ultra-modern facility positions BIA as the most advanced boutique airport in the Gulf, increasing its capacity to 14 million passengers per year. A key focus for Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the airport's operator and managing body, was to optimize the passenger experience and operations to quickly recover from the pandemic through 2021 and beyond. Using SITA's Operations at Airports ......read more

Marking the Arab world’s entry in space exploration   Hope Probe successfully arrives to Mars after complex maneuver    The UAE makes history as the first Arab nation, and fifth in the world, to reach Mars   •         Hope Probe entered Mars orbit at 7:42p.m. after critical manoeuvre •         Ground control station in Al Khawaneej received first signal from the probe at 8:08p.m. •         The Emirates Mars Mission is the first of three missions arriving at the Red Planet in February   •         Hope Probe to send the first picture of Mars within a week. •         Hope Probe’s arrival to Mars marks the UAE’s Golden Jubilee ......read more

• ‘Martian Ink’ created from same rocks found on the Red Planet   Dubai-UAE: 9 February 2021:  Visitors arriving at UAE airports will receive a Martian Ink stamp on their passports, in commemoration to the Hope probe’s historic arrival to Mars on Feb.9.    An emblem of the country’s ambition and guiding principle that “Impossible is Possible”, the stamp – produced by the UAE Government Media Office in collaboration with Dubai Airports – is offering a memorable reminder of a new era for Arabs in time and space with a special message reading: “You’ve arrived in the Emirates. The Emirates is arriving at Mars on 09.02.2021.”   The special passport stamp marks the spacecraft’s upcoming arrival to Mars on Feb.9, after it ......read more

• Thomas Erikson revealed how to spot a psychopath, and shared his insights into how we act and react depending on our personality type.  • Bolu Babalola shared her fantastical mythical love stories from around the world before it was colonised by western culture.  • A fascinating session called Fighting the Anti-Facts Movement which featured medical experts Jay Jayamohan, Nafea Alyasi, and Rupy Aujla, who took a scalpel to conspiracy theories and misinformation.  • A celebration of My Little World: The Stories of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a free session for children and families. • Walaa Kamal spoke to Max of Arabia about how what happens online affects our offline world.      Coming up tomorrow: • The one and only Malala. While her talk ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  February 04, 2021:    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that demand for air cargo decreased by 10.6% in 2020, compared to 2019. This was the largest drop in year-on-year demand since IATA started to monitor cargo performance in 1990, outpacing the 6% fall in global trade in goods.    • Global demand in 2020, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was 10.6% below 2019 levels (-11.8% for international operations).  • Global capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), shrank by 23.3% in 2020 ( 24.1% for international operations) compared to 2019. This was more than double the contraction in demand.  • Due to the lack of available capacity, cargo load factors rose ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  February 04, 2021:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2020 showing that demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) fell by 65.9% compared to the full year of 2019, by far the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history. Furthermore, forward bookings have been falling sharply since late December.   • International passenger demand in 2020 was 75.6% below 2019 levels. Capacity, (measured in available seat kilometers or ASKs) declined 68.1% and load factor fell 19.2 percentage points to 62.8%. • Domestic demand in 2020 was down 48.8% compared to 2019. Capacity contracted by 35.7% and load factor dropped 17 percentage points to 66.6%. • December 2020 total traffic was 69.7% below the same month ......read more

• Check-in baggage must not exceed 39 inches on any side    • Guests will be charged approximately AED62 (PHP800) for domestic flights, and AED100 (PHP1,300) for international flights, for oversized baggage     Dubai, UAE, 31 January 2021:   Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, has introduced a new policy for handling oversized baggage in line with its goal to improve processes for a more efficient and seamless customer journey for everyone.    Beginning February 1, 2021, CEB will be implementing a new policy setting a size limit for check-in baggage at 39 inches. Luggage with this dimension will be easier to fit in the conveyor belt, and will in turn, result in smoother operations, making the journey faster and more convenient ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Effective 15 February 2021, Etihad Airways will recommence passenger flights from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to Doha, Qatar, subject to the applicable government approvals. The service will operate daily using an Airbus A320 and a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “With ties between the UAE and Qatar restored, the restarting of passenger services between the two capitals will once again support the growth of trade and tourism between the two nations. “Adding a new destination to Etihad’s network during the COVID-19 pandemic is another step towards the gradual expansion of normal scheduled services to more cities across the airline’s global network.” To ......read more

Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 19, 2021:   Following the purchase of 80,000 tonnes of Carbon Offsets in November, Etihad Airways is expanding its offset programme in collaboration with Shell. Separately, the airline is also setting up a guest programme to allow guests to purchase additional voluntary offsets.  Shell’s nature-based carbon offsets Through its participation in Shell’s carbon credit programme, Etihad will expand its offset programme beyond the original Makame Savannah REDD project in Tanzania to include Peru’s Cordillera Azul National Park and Indonesia’s Katingan Mentaya Project, making Etihad’s efforts geographically diverse in the promotion of climate action.  Both the Katingan Mentaya and Cordillera Azul projects are certified by the Verified Carbon Standard and ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 19 January 2021:  Emirates has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to become one of the first airlines in the world to trial IATA Travel Pass – a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with any government requirements for COVID-19 testing or vaccine information.   IATA Travel Pass enables Emirates passengers to create a 'digital passport' to verify their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of the destination. They will also be able to share the test and vaccination certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel. The new app will also enable travellers to manage all travel documentation digitally and seamlessly throughout the travel experience.   Prior to a full roll out, Emirates will ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  January 19, 2021:   The International Air Transport Association and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, today announced a partnership to launch the IATA Travel Pass for Etihad Airways’ guests. The IATA Travel Pass is a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements for COVID-19 tests or vaccines.  IATA Travel Pass will initially be offered to Etihad’s guests on selected flights from Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2021. If successful, the pass will be extended to other destinations on the Etihad network. The IATA Travel Pass will enable Etihad’s guests to create a ‘digital passport’ to receive COVID test results and verify they are eligible to undertake their journey. Importantly, IATA ......read more

16 January 2021, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Yesterday marked the first time that Wizz Air Abu Dhabi took to the skies in the UAE. The eco-friendly aircraft, Airbus A321neo, departed from Abu Dhabi International Airport at 12.30pm local time bound for Athens, Greece.  Shareef Al Hashmi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports greeted Kees Van Schaick, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi as the plane prepared to depart. Photo 1: (Left) Shareef Al Hashmi, ADAC CEO and (right) Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s managing director, Kees Van Schaick mark the launch of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Photo 2: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Airports officials mark the first Wizz Air Abu Dhabi flight Photo 3: Passengers check in for Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s first flight Photo 4: Passengers board the first flight for Wizz Air Abu Dhabi Wizz Air Abu Dhabi’s ......read more

Dubai, UAE, January 16, 2021:  Due to the new COVID-19 variant, the Philippine government has extended the temporary ban for foreign nationals until January 31, 2021. During this period, only Filipino citizens will be accepted on flights from Dubai, Hong Kong, Nagoya (Japan), Singapore, and Seoul (South Korea).  Cebu Pacific (CEB) will not accept foreign nationals who originated from, transited via, or visited within 14 days prior to arrival in the Philippines, any of the 34 countries specified by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF). The list of affected countries and complete details may be viewed here: http://bit.ly/IATFResoNo94_011521      •    Free rebooking within 90 days – waived rebooking fee and fare difference   •    Full travel fund, valid for two ......read more