Sheikh Ahmed: The region’s airports are investing in the latest technology and concepts to delight customers and stay ahead of the competition Passenger experience and digitisation among topics to be debated  CAPA ties-up with Reed Exhibitions as Event Partner for GALF Event to explore strategic challenges facing airports Held at DICEC on May 7 Dubai, April 18, 2018: An impressive line-up of influential leaders and experts from the world of aviation will address this year’s Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) on the opening day of the 18th edition of  Airport Show at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) on May 7 under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and ......read more

Abu Dhabi partnership sees thousands of Houbara bustards transported in last three years   Abu Dhabi, UAE, April 18, 2018:   Etihad Cargo and the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), one of the world’s leading conservation programmes, have recently transported a shipment of more than 100 vulnerable Houbara bustards for release into their natural habitats. In the past three years, the partnership between the two organisations has led to the successful relocation and integration into the wild of more than 3,000 Houbara across the world.  The venture, which is part of the Sheikh Khalifa Houbara Reintroduction Programme, began in 2014, when the two organisations signed a partnership agreement. In 2017 alone, more than 2,000 birds were transported safely to countries in Asia and North ......read more

Dubai, 18 April 2018:   The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has announced its strong participation at the Arabian Travel Market 2018 (ATM) trade show, to be held in Dubai from 22-25 April. As part of its push to grow tourism from the GCC region, the German National Tourist Board, together with 21 leading tourism enterprises from Germany, will be attending the four-day travel trade show in Dubai with its redesigned 120 square metre stand. Visitors to the German National Tourist Board’s stand will be able to meet a wide range of premium German tourism brands, including luxurious hotels, department stores and state-of-the-art medical clinics. To reflect the great touristic diversity that ‘Destination Germany’ offers, visitors will also have the chance to meet a broad selection of tourism ......read more

    Only 0.1% will be successful     34% females     38 different careers     Official ‘Selection Committee’ has been appointed to screen applications and shortlist potential candidates for the programme  Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 16 April 2018:  Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre today announced that they have received over 4,000 applications from Emiratis across the UAE aspiring to go beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and become part of the UAE Astronaut Programme. The programme, funded by ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), was launched in December 2017 and was open for applications for a period of 3 months before closing registration on March 31, 2018.   For the past three months, Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center ......read more

HyperloopTT announces arrival of the first full-scale passenger and freight tubes and a first look at plans for the research and development facility in Toulouse, France.  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 16, 2018:  Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) announced today the arrival of the first set of tubes designed to move both people and freight to their research and development center in Toulouse, France. With an interior diameter of 4.0 meters, the system is optimized both for passenger capsules and shipping containers. The first phase includes a closed 320 meter system that will be operational this year. In addition, a second full-scale system of 1 km elevated by pylons at a height of 5.8 meters will be completed in 2019. Both systems are fully upgradeable and will be utilized by both ......read more

Special session at the 4th Global Aerospace Summit to examine the digital and data driven future of aircraft manufacturing 15 April, 2018 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates:   Big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are powering exciting innovations across the aerospace industry, many of which are happening in the background, invisible to everyday airline customers. Local and international experts in aerospace manufacturing will gather at a special session on the final day of the 4th Global Aerospace Summit, taking place at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort between the 30th of April to the 1st of May, to discuss the future of manufacturing and how it impacts the aerospace industry. Attendees will explore an environment where advanced digital technologies are used on the shop floor to optimize ......read more

April 12, 2018 United Arab Emirates:  Finnair is now offering a Light economy class fare, which includes hand baggage only, on its Helsinki-New York route. The change is part of a joint effort by Finnair and its Atlantic Joint Business (AJB) partners, British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines, to offer more options and aligned fare types for their customers on selected North Atlantic routes.  The Light fare, which has been available for Finnair’s domestic and European flights since 2015, is the lowest fare option in Finnair’s ticket offering and includes hand baggage only. Checked baggage can also be conveniently purchased in advance on Finnair’s website or at the airport. All other ticket types continue to include checked baggage.  “Our Light fare offers more choice and ......read more

Airport increasingly serving as a springboard for intercontinental travel April 12, 2018 United Arab Emirates:  With consolidated earnings after taxes at around €155 million, Munich Airport achieved the best result in its history in 2017. The Group again achieved a yearon-year increase of €100 million in annual revenues to around €1.5 billion – hanks in large part to a substantial 5.5 percent rise in total passengers to 44.6 million. The airport's strong economic performance also paid off for the neighboring communities, which will again take in business tax revenues of €35 million. In view of the record figures, Dr. Michael Kerkloh, the President and CEO of Munich Airport, is confident that the company is well prepared for the challenges that ......read more

The region’s leading theme park demonstrated its excellence and passion with resounding success at the MENALAC Gala Event     Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 11 April 2018: Last night, the Middle East & North Africa Leisure and Attraction Council (MENALAC) awarded Ferrari World Abu Dhabi accolades for ‘The Best Theme Park’ in their first industry gala event. The ceremony, held at the Ritz Carlton in DIFC, brought together leading decision makers and operators from the MENA region to celebrate the region’s success in the leisure and entertainment industry.       The MENALAC industry awards aim to reward quality entertainment operations, safety practices and exceptional industry personnel in the MENA region. The ‘Best Theme Park’ award recognized ......read more

    787 Dreamliner to Casablanca      Additional services to Rabat to meet seasonal demand Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 11, 2018:  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is boosting its popular services to Morocco to meet increased demand to and from its two gateways in the North African kingdom. Effective 1 May, a three-class Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will be introduced on the daily service from Abu Dhabi to Morocco’s commercial hub, Casablanca. The technologically advanced aircraft features 8 private First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats.  The introduction of the 787 Dreamliner will also see a scheduling change that will optimise timings for customers travelling to and from Casablanca. Etihad Airways will maintain an early morning ......read more

    Sleeping berths would fit inside the aircraft’s existing cargo compartments.     Improving the passengers’ experience while enabling airlines to differentiate.     To be included in catalogue of certified solutions by 2020, initially on A330. United Arab Emirates, April 10, 2018:  Airbus and Zodiac Aerospace have partnered to develop and market lower-deck modules with passenger sleeping berths. The modules, which would fit inside the aircraft’s cargo compartments, offer new opportunities for additional services to passengers, improving their experience while enabling airlines to differentiate and add value for their commercial operations. The new passenger modules will be easily interchangeable with regular cargo containers during a typical turnaround if ......read more

Up to 11 more premium economy seats or seven business class seats. To be available in service from 2019. Dubai, UAE, April 10, 2018:   As part of the efficiency-boosting A380 cabin enablers, Airbus has developed a new option: “A380 Cabin-Flex”. This solution consists in a new cabin door area arrangement on the upper-deck, suitable for premium configuration with lower density seat counts, allowing airlines to gain revenue-earning floor-space for extra seating without compromising on passenger comfort. The enhancement is available either for line-fit and retrofit. Qantas has chosen to be the launch operator of the A380 Cabin-Flex on its current A380 fleet from mid-2019.   A380 Cabin-Flex makes available the extra space for additional seats by allowing the upper-deck at “Doors-3” ......read more

Collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi to bring healthy eating options on-board its flights Etihad Airways becomes the first airline in the region to achieve Weqaya status Abu Dhabi,  UAE, April 9, 2018:  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has collaborated with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, to introduce ‘Weqaya,’ a range of healthy food items, on-board its flights and in its lounges in Abu Dhabi.   Weqaya, meaning 'prevention,' is a programme established by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi with the aim of encouraging people to eat a healthy and balanced diet to promote good health and wellbeing.   Starting in April, Etihad Airways will begin to offer a number of Weqaya dishes on menus in First and Business ......read more

One of the most interesting things about traveling is finding all the hidden places that aren’t part of a common travel guide. Bali is extremely famous for its great beaches but there are still some places that you that worth visiting. Let’s discover some of those. Explore all the leftover airplanes in Bali Bali has a big number of abandoned airplanes that are free to be explored for some strange reason. For all the adventurous travelers who want to live something besides sunbathing in one of Bali’s many beaches, you can also rent a car and set off on a hunt to find all these leftover airplanes. There is a big variety of airplanes, so you can find jets like Boeing 737, to small aircrafts with the ability to carry 4 persons the most. Go for snorkeling in Nusa Lembongan The hole area of Nusa Lembongan is a ......read more

5 April 2018 United Arab Emirates:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for February showing a rebound in traffic growth following the slower demand experienced in January, which was owing to temporary factors including the later timing of the Lunar New Year in 2018.  Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) for the month rose 7.6%, compared to February 2017, up from 4.6% year-over-year growth in January. Monthly capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 6.3%, and load factor rose 0.9 percentage point to 80.4%, surpassing the previous record for the month of 79.5%, which was set in February 2017.  “As expected, we saw a return to stronger demand growth in February, after the temporary slowdown in January. This is being supported by ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 03, 2018:  Etihad Airways has started trialing SkyLights Aero Virtual Reality (VR) entertainment technology at its flagship First Class Lounge and Spa and Business Class Premium Lounge, at Abu Dhabi International Airport’s Terminal 3. The aim of the month-long trial is to gather customer feedback to determine the airline’s future lounge entertainment offering at Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art Midfield Terminal.    SkyLights is a leading provider of entertainment solutions, working closely with leading airline industry partners to leverage the latest cinematic VR technology to transform their inflight and ground experience. The company has offices in San Francisco, Paris and Toulouse.    Linda Celestino, Etihad Airways Vice President Guest Experience ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 02 April 2018:  Emirates is looking for motivated and service-oriented candidates to join its multinational cabin crew team. The airline will be organising Open Days for cabin crew recruitment in Dubai in the month of April. Emirates will hold Cabin Crew Open Days on 13 and 28 April. Candidates can get details on the venue and the timing by visiting http://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/cabin-crew/ Emirates is looking for open-minded, helpful, and friendly candidates to deliver its award-winning onboard experience to customers. Applicants hoping to give their careers a flying start can walk in with an up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) in English, and a recent photograph. Prior online registration is not required to attend the Open Day. However, important information about the requirements for the ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates April 2, 2018:  Etihad Airways has officially opened its Etihad Eco Residence, Abu Dhabi’s first purpose-built, sustainable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rated cabin crew accommodation. The project is the result of a unique partnership between the UAE’s national airline and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar. The Etihad Eco Residence was inaugurated in the presence of Khaled Al Qubaisi, Chief Executive Officer, Aerospace, Renewables & Information Communications Technology (ICT) for Mubadala, by Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group. Also present was Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer for Masdar, alongside senior executives from Etihad Airways and Masdar.  The complex, which comprises 500 ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 02, 2018:  Etihad Airways successfully eliminated around 195,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2017, thanks to a wide range of fuel-saving initiatives across its network. Following a number of improvements aimed at enhancing operational efficiencies, Etihad was able to reduce the amount of fuel consumed by its aircraft by over 62,000 tonnes of fuel. The result represents a 3.3 per cent improvement from the year before, and is the equivalent of 850 flights between Abu Dhabi and London. For instance, flight plan adjustments across the network reduced approximately 900 hours of flying time, leading to a saving of 5,400 tonnes of fuel and eliminating approximately 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. Last year, Etihad Airways also retired several older aircraft in favour ......read more

SITA report outlines how biometrics in identity management will transform passenger processing United Arab Emirates, Dubai – 1 April, 2018:   Biometric technology is emerging as the top solution for airlines and airports to automate identity checks amid rising passenger numbers. This is according to Biometrics for Better Travel: An ID Management Revolution, a report published today by SITA. It outlines how using biometrics to check passenger’s identity will power faster and more secure self-service processes at airports as passenger numbers are set to almost double to 7.8 billion by 2036. Airlines and airports are already investing in various forms of biometric technology and SITA’s report explores innovative ID management programs that are transforming the travel experience today. In the future, these ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 29 March 2018:  Emirates is providing an immersive cinematic experience in its lounges in Dubai International Airport by providing Skylights theatre headsets to customers. The headsets are being trialled in the Business Class lounge in Concourse B for the month of April and in the First Class lounge in concourse B in May. The introduction of these innovative new headsets is part of Emirates’ continued commitment to improve the customer experience both on the ground and in flight. Offering a fixed-screen with a wide-angle field of view for 3D and 2D content, each Skylight theatre headset weighs only 120g and offers a Full HD viewing experience. Its in-built sound and video allow customers to fully immerse themselves in what they are watching. A mix of content will be available including 3D & 2D ......read more

Transatlantic mission capable single aisle on track for 2018 entry into service 29th March, Sharjah, UAE:   Airbus’ first A321LR has completed a set of hot weather tests at Sharjah International Airport. The hot weather tests which began on Tuesday 27th March, were performed to check the aircraft’s systems’ behaviour with a focus on the cabin, including cooling performance on the ground. The tests are part of a 100-hour flight test programme following the aircraft’s maiden flight on 31st January 2018. The trip marks the third time that Airbus has chosen to test its aircraft in the UAE due to the optimal weather conditions combined with excellent facilities. The aircraft, MSN7877, powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, will complete transatlantic missions for EASA and FAA Type ......read more

2017 an exceptional year for Dubai Air Navigation Services HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed: 2017 witnessed the launch of 3 strategic projects that transform the Aviation Sector H.E. Mohammed A. Ahli: The strategic projects included the establishment of the Contingency Approach Control Room, Dubai Academy for Air Traffic Management and the Air space restructuring project Expansion of Dubai’s airspace enabled annual savings of AED 53 million to carriers utilising Dubai Airports Dubai Academy for Air Traffic Management receives 24,000 applications prior to its official inauguration Air Traffic Control Officers at dans managed more than 500,000 air traffic movements across Dubai Airspace during 2017, and movement forecasts for 2020 indicate more than 600, 000 movements anticipated Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28th March ......read more

Abu Dhabi, UAE, March 27, 2018:  Etihad Airways launched its flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Abu Dhabi – Geneva route on Sunday, 25 March, beginning with the summer schedule.   Geneva is the second Swiss destination after Zurich served by Etihad Airways’ next generation aircraft which is fast becoming the backbone of the Abu Dhabi-based carrier’s long-haul fleet. The three-class aircraft, featuring eight First Suites, 28 Business Studios and 199 Economy Smart Seats, replaces the Airbus A330s previously operating daily on the route, and offers additional cargo capacity.   Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted that Switzerland, one of our most attractive markets for both business and leisure travellers, will now be exclusively served by ......read more

More than sixty 13-15 year old Emirati students, learn to identify A380 components and assembly process during interactive workshops. Dubai, 26th March 2018:  Airbus has announced that the Airbus Little Engineer A380 assembly workshop has taken place at the fourth annual ‘Future Aviators Youth Week’ organized by the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) in Fujairah.  During a two-day workshop, more than 60  Emirati students (males and females) between the ages of  13 and 15 years old, learned to identify the key components that are needed to build an A380 aircraft and familiarised themselves with the assembly and manufacture processes of the world’s biggest passenger airliner. Students also learned related aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Airbus ......read more