• Non-stop flights to Abu Dhabi and beyond now from two gateways in China - Shanghai and Beijing  • Convenient connections from China to 20 destinations via Abu Dhabi  • From Wellness Ambassadors to inclusive COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover, Etihad is doing everything to provide a secure and hygienic environment across the entire guest journey    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways will commence another service from China, with flights from Beijing to Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, from 7 December. The service will operate with a weekly flight using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring Etihad’s award-winning Business and Economy cabins.    Etihad resumed services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai in late July this year, which has ......read more

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 26, 2020 – Today, Genesis Middle East & Africa HQs officially launched The GV80, its first sport-utility vehicle.  The “G” in the GV80 marque represents Genesis and the "v" means versatility that only a Genesis SUV can offer. The production GV80 realizes the vision of the GV80 Concept first shown at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. Athletic Elegance Takes New Shape   The GV80 SUV joins the lineup alongside the G70, The All-new G80 and G90 sedans with more than a common thread of design identity. The interior and exterior styling of GV80 was the result of a collaboration between Genesis Design studios located in South Korea, the United States and Germany. “We enjoyed the challenge to apply ‘Athletic Elegance’ design ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 26, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data revealing that the COVID-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on international connectivity, shaking up the rankings of the world’s most connected cities.  • London, the world’s number one most connected city in September 2019, has seen a 67% decline in connectivity. By September 2020, it had fallen to number eight.    • Shanghai is now the top ranked city for connectivity with the top four most connected cities all in China—Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu.  • New York (-66% fall in connectivity), Tokyo (-65%), Bangkok (-81%), Hong Kong (-81%) and Seoul (-69%) have all exited the top ten.  • The study reveals that cities with ......read more

- View the Economic Performance of the Airline Industry Report - View the Outlook for Air Transport and the Airline Industry presentation - View the Industry Statistics Fact sheet   United Arab Emirates -  November 25, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a revised outlook for airline industry performance in 2020 and 2021. Deep industry losses will continue into 2021, even though performance is expected to improve over the period of the forecast.  • A net loss of $118.5 billion is expected for 2020 (deeper than the $84.3 billion forecast in June). • A net loss of $38.7 billion is expected in 2021 (deeper than the $15.8 billion forecast in June). Performance factors in 2021 will show improvements on 2020; and the second half of 2021 is expected to see ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 25, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) 76th Annual General Meeting (AGM) unanimously approved a resolution re-confirming the airlines’ unwavering commitment to safely and sustainably re-connect the planet. The resolution called on governments to:   • Ensure the industry’s viability with continued financial and regulatory support, • Aid the industry in reaching its 2050 goal of cutting emissions to half of 2005 levels while exploring pathways to net zero carbon emissions through economic stimulus investments in commercializing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), • Work with airlines to ensure safety standards and critical skills are maintained both during the crisis and in the subsequent re-start and scale-up of ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 24, 2020:    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the publication of the Manual on Testing and Cross Border Risk Management Measures by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). This document provides governments a risk-based assessment tool for using testing programs that could alleviate quarantine requirements.  It is a critical output produced by the ICAO Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation (CAPSCA). CAPSCA brings together the expertise of states, public health authorities (World Health Organization/WHO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) and industry experts (IATA, Airports Council International, International ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 23, 2020:    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it is in the final development phase of the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will support the safe reopening of borders.  Governments are beginning to use testing as a means of limiting the risks of COVID-19 importation when re-opening their borders to travelers without quarantine measures. IATA Travel Pass will manage and verify the secure flow of necessary testing or vaccine information among governments, airlines, laboratories and travelers.   IATA is calling for systematic COVID-19 testing of all international travelers and the information flow infrastructure needed to enable this must support: • Governments with the means to verify the authenticity of tests and the ......read more

MOU scope includes provision for: • Joint codeshare services  • Plans to offer reciprocal ‘earn and burn’ on frequent flyer programmes • Cooperation in the fields of Engineering and Cargo services in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates/Tel Aviv, Israel - EL AL Israel Airlines, the national airline of Israel, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, are set to explore deeper cooperation following the signing of a virtual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).   The wide-ranging MOU covers scope to introduce joint codeshare services between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, as well as on the global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ hubs.    The MOU also contains plans for greater commercial cooperation in the ......read more

The global travel industry has cautiously come back to life after months of inactivity. Many countries are now welcoming visitors and flights have resumed.  United Arab Emirates -  November 18, 2020:    However, travelling in the post-coronavirus world will bring its share of challenges as travel policies undergo necessary alterations. You as a traveller, must understand the changing world and take adequate measures to make your trip as smooth as possible. The key to doing so is to ensure that you understand the “new normal” for the very first step of your trip – applying for a visa. Experts at VFS Global, the world's largest visa outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, answer some of the most frequently asked questions from ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 17, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released guidance to ensure that the air cargo industry is ready to support the large-scale handling, transport and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine. IATA’s Guidance for Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Distribution provides recommendations for governments and the logistics supply chain in preparation for what will be the largest and most complex global logistics operation ever undertaken.     Reflecting the complexity of the challenge, the Guidance was produced with the support of a broad range of partners, including  the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),  International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA),  International Federation of ......read more

Event’s first virtual edition discusses opportunities and challenges during COVID-19 era Confidence in future of local tourism sector growing in light of UAE’s fast response in combating COVID-19 Rising need to develop and update current tourism strategies to meet new reality High turnout of international and local participants recorded November 16, 2020: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of Sharjah Executive Council, the Sharjah Hospitality Forum 2020 (SHF 2020) today (Monday, November 16, 2020) discussed the best and fastest recovery path for the emirate’s tourism sector with the participants proposing innovative solutions to support the stakeholders of the tourism, hospitality and travel industries and sustain their ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 16, 2020:   Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will launch daily scheduled year-round flights to Tel Aviv, the economic and technological centre of Israel.  The launch of flights follows the normalisation of diplomatic ties between the two nations, and the signing of the Abraham Accords between the UAE and Israel in Washington D.C. on 15 September. Only a month later, Etihad became the first GCC carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Tel Aviv on 19 October 2020.  Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Following the signing of the new bilateral agreement, Etihad is delighted to announce a direct link between these important cities. “The commencement of scheduled flights is a ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 15 November 2020:  Yas Theme Parks took home prestigious awards at this year’s Middle East and North Africa Leisure & Attractions Council (MENALAC) virtual awards ceremony. Each theme park, in addition to Farah Experiences, the management and operations company of Yas Theme Parks and attractions, walked away with an award or more during the exciting ceremony. Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi was awarded under three categories: Best Day Out, Best Theme Park, and Best New Leisure/Entertainment Concept for its Teen Titans Training Academy. Yas Waterworld was named Best Water Park, whereas Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s Speedy Recovery initiative was recognized as the Best CSR Program. Farah Experiences received the Best Sales and Marketing campaign award for its Summer Says Yas ......read more

• The candidates have been shortlisted from 4,305 applicants • The Programme is aimed at further strengthening the UAE’s position in human space flight   Dubai, UAE, 15 November 2020: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) today announced that 61 out of 4,305 applicants have been shortlisted for the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, that aims to find the next two astronauts who will join the UAE’s astronaut corps and further the country’s ambition for crewed space missions.    4,305 applicants had applied for the second batch of the UAE Astronaut Programme, which was a 7 percent increase from the first batch. The list was filtered down to 2099 applicants based on their age, educational background, and scientific research experience. The applicants then underwent ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 12, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the publication of the second edition of Take-off: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART).   The CART brings together the expertise of ICAO, public health authorities, individual member states, and industry bodies to support. Under its leadership, the first edition of the Take-off guidance was issued in June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and provided the groundwork for the multi-layered biosafety measures already implemented by the industry, such as physical distancing, the wearing of face coverings or masks, routine sanitation and disinfection, health screening, ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 10, 2020:   The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) issued a joint statement calling for urgent government intervention to prevent an employment catastrophe in the aviation industry.   Estimates from the Air Transport Action Group suggest some 4.8 million aviation workers’ jobs are at risk as a result of air travel demand falling more than 75% (August 2020 compared to August 2019). The impact of COVID-19 related border restrictions and quarantine measures has effectively closed down the aviation industry, grounding planes and leaving infrastructure and aircraft manufacturing capacity idle. The IATA and the ITF request to governments includes calls to: • Provide continued financial support ......read more

•         Decisive steps taken to implement new operating model for Etihad as mid-sized carrier •         New streamlined structure is leaner, flatter and scaleable to support organic growth as air travel resumes •         Continued focus on safety, security and service and industry-leading Etihad Wellness programme   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 09, 2020:   Etihad today announced a new organisational structure that will position the business to deliver on its mandate in the wake of COVID-19 and meet the challenges of the global downturn in aviation head on.   The restructuring sees the airline continuing its transformation into a mid-sized, full-service carrier concentrating on its fleet of widebody ......read more

Josh Giegel, CTO and Co-Founder, and Sara Luchian, Director of Passenger Experience, make history as the first to ride-- bringing hyperloop one step closer to realisation in the Middle East DP World’s Chairman and CEO watches event first-hand in Nevada Enormous potential for the GCC to lead the world in hyperloop manufacturing, investment and job creation   United Arab Emirates -  November 09, 020:   Virgin Hyperloop made history today as the first people successfully traveled in a hyperloop pod. Dubai-based leading global provider of smart logistics solutions, DP World, has made a multi-million dollar investment for the research and development of hyperloop technology, leading to today’s milestone. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop and Group Chairman and CEO of DP ......read more

United Arab Emirates -  November 05, 2020:    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released September data for global air freight markets showing that air cargo demand, while strengthening, remains depressed compared to 2019 levels.  • Global demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), was 8% below previous-year levels in September (-9.9% for international operations). That is an improvement from the 12.1% year-on-year drop recorded in August. Month-on-month demand grew by 3.7% in September.   • Global capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), shrank by 25.2% in September ( 28% for international operations) compared to the previous year. That is nearly three times larger than the contraction in demand, indicating a severe lack of capacity in the ......read more

- View the COVID-19 'Air travel slows in September, but cargo speeding up' presentation  - View the full September Air Passenger Market Analysis    United Arab Emirates -  November 05, 2020:     The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that passenger demand in September remained highly depressed.    • Total demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was 72.8% below September 2019 levels (only slightly improved over the 75.2% year-to-year decline recorded in August). Capacity was down 63% compared to a year ago and load factor fell 21.8 percentage points to 60.1%. • International passenger demand in September plunged 88.8% compared to September 2019, basically unchanged from the 88.5% decline recorded in August. Capacity ......read more

UAE 04 November 2020:  Airbus presents its Tactilon Agnet 500 critical collaboration platform tailored to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) during CCWeek, the digital version of Critical Communications World 2020.   The Airbus collaboration platform’ Tactilon Agnet is a state-of-the-art Mission-Critical communication Service (MCS) for business and mission-critical users, based on the mobile telecommunications standard of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).  For MNOs, Tactilon Agnet 500 gives smooth access to customers in the critical communications markets. As an end-to-end service, it is easy to integrate into operators’ infrastructures and to their sales funnels hence strengthening their enterprise and public sector portfolios. As a futureproof modern, easy-to-use, flexible and ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates –  November 04, 2020:  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has received aircraft wheel chocks from Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination. The wheel chocks bear the Bee Logo, a distinctive trademark which designates the wheel chocks as products by people of determination. Wheel chocks are wedges of latex material which are considered an essential element to any aviation operation, as they help keep the aircraft and ground staff safe while they work on the ramp. Each aircraft needs approximately six wheel chocks placed close to the aircraft wheels to secure its parking position and prevent movement that could lead to accidents. Initially, Etihad received two wheel chocks to evaluate and assess if they adhered to safety regulations and were the correct ......read more

Owing to its massive capacity and strategic location, the port is touted as a mega-hub for the maritime community in the region Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 4, 2020: DP World, UAE Region’s Mina Rashid has won the award for the Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port for the 13th consecutive year at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2020. Considered as a noteworthy accolade in the travel industry, the award included nominations of cruise ports from around the world. Over the years, Mina Rashid has gained recognition as one of the most preferred destinations for cruise lines around the world. Founded by the visionary leader and the father of Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Mina Rashid, inaugurated in 1972, was the region's first modern container port. The port's track record of growth and its ......read more

• Two-year Travel Fund and unlimited rebooking now covers travels until Dec. 31, 2020 • The Travel Fund, valid for two (2) years, can be used to book flights up to 12 months ahead, provided that transactions are done before the fund expires • This means customers can use their Travel Funds to book trips potentially until 2023   Dubai, UAE, November 04, 2020:  Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ largest flag carrier, has extended the coverage of its flexible booking options for passengers travelling until December 31, 2020, allowing everyone to travel with peace of mind.   “We continuously listen to our passengers in order to address their concerns and to review and improve our processes in a timely manner. As such, we are pleased to share that we have extended our options to ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 03, 2020:    Etihad Aviation Group celebrates UAE Flag Day with a group of socially distanced employees, to mark this important day in the UAE calendar. The ceremony was held today at the Etihad Aviation Group headquarters in Khalifa City in Abu Dhabi.

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