A380 service effective from 21 April Riyadh to become 51st destination on Emirates A380 network Dubai, UAE, 18 April 2019:  Emirates will be providing more options and choice for its customers in Riyadh with the introduction of the first scheduled Airbus A380 service to the capital city, effective 21 April 2019. Riyadh will be the 51st destination to join the Emirates A380 network. Flight EK 817/818, currently operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, will now be operated by the iconic and highly popular Emirates A380. The Emirates A380 aircraft will be operating on the route five times a week. Emirates flight EK 817 will depart Dubai at 1850hrs, arriving in Riyadh at 1935hrs. The return flight EK 818 leaves Riyadh at 2125hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0035hrs the next day. The deployment of the iconic double-decker aircraft will ......read more

New agreement will connect passengers to West African destinations Dubai, U.A.E, 16 April, 2019:   Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, and Africa World Airlines (AWA), the Ghanaian airline headquartered in Accra, have announced a one-way interline agreement whereby Emirates customers can connect onto selected routes of Africa World Airlines’ network, opening up new African destinations for Emirates customers from May 2019. “The agreement between Emirates and Africa World Airlines underpins our commitment to provide greater connectivity across West Africa. This partnership will allow us to further extend West Africa via the selected domestic and regional routes of Africa World Airlines,” said Orhan Abbas, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Africa. "Africa ......read more

AFZ representatives exhibit and speak at the BOSCO conference in Moscow highlighting wealth of advantages for investors in the Emirate Dubai, UAE, April 15, 2019:   Representatives from Ajman Free Zone showcased the benefits of establishing a business in Ajman to a Russian delegation at the BOSCO Conference in Moscow this week, held at the Marriott Grand Hotel.  Bosco Conference events are well known for their annual international VIP-class conferences, InvestPro and WealthPro, which the company holds in the countries of the European Union, the Middle East, the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.  Ajman Free Zone has attended previous events held in the UAE, Russia and Azerbaijan.  The conference’s speakers and partners are the world's leading experts in providing corporate and banking ......read more

Measures result from 14 months of careful planning with stakeholders Customers urged to arrive early to airport to minimise delays Dubai, UAE, April 15, 2019:   With the Southern Runway revamp starting tomorrow at Dubai International Airport, Emirates has been working hard to implement measures to further maximise operational efficiencies at DXB and deliver a seamless experience for its customers departing and transiting through Dubai. The Southern Runway Closure at Dubai International Airport will be taking place from 16 April to 30 May 2019. On Time Performance (OTP) is a key factor for smooth operations and a consistent customer experience on the ground and in the air, and is even more critical during the Southern Runway Closure with all flights at Dubai International utilising a single runway. One of ......read more

Marking an extraordinary celebration of the Year of Tolerance Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 13 April 2019:   Following an initiative held by the World’s Leading Waterpark to celebrate the Year of Tolerance, which took place on Friday April 12, Yas Waterworld succeeded in its attempt to grab the Guinness World Records title for ‘Most Nationalities in a Swimming Pool.” The event kicked off at 10:00AM and was held in the presence of Guinness World Records representative as well as Farah Experiences and Yas Waterworld senior management, seeing 102 nationalities come together to represent their home countries and celebrate the values of co-existence and tolerance that the UAE has long embraced. Commenting on the record-breaking event, Leander De Wit, General Manager of Yas Waterworld said: “It fills ......read more

Event organizer benefited from Airbus’ reliable technology to ensure secure communication during yearly event in the Middle East Dubai, UAE, 11 April 2019 -   Airbus provided secure communications technology for the recently concluded formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.The Bahrain International Circuit Organization used the Kingdom of Bahrain’s extended Tetra network infrastructure to ensure a smooth organization and secure the race. “Events, such as Formula 1 races, draw massively people’s attention on the Arabian peninsula. To keep the Bahrain Grand Prix safe and well-organised, a Tetra system from Airbus was primordial,” says Selim Bouri, Vice-President and Head of Middle East, North Africa and Asia-Pacific of Secure Land Communications at Airbus. “It is an honour to serve the ......read more

DUBAI, UAE, 10 April 2019:   Emirates has completed the installation of bespoke Expo 2020 Dubai liveries on 40 aircraft, with its final A380 aircraft emblazoned in the distinctive orange ‘opportunity’ decal rolling out of the Emirates Engineering hangar. The first decal was unveiled in 2017 on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft decorated in the blue ‘mobility’ decal. Since then, Emirates’ mini-fleet of Expo 2020 Dubai aircraft have collectively flown to 134 destinations across the airline’s global network, travelling 66 million kilometres on over 15,000 flights, amplifying the message of Expo across borders. Watch all of Emirates’ special Expo 2020 liveried aircraft take off and land within the Emirates network. EXPO 2020 Dubai, will be held between 20 October 2020 and 10 April ......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 International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) will see the participation of Saudi Arabia’s prominent aviation industry players as the ongoing efforts to develop airport facilities and infrastructure picks up the pace ahead of plans to privatize the 27 existing airports.  Leading the companies participating in terms of biggest stand size will be Dammam Airports Company (DACO) which operates and manages King Fahd Airport and its ......read more

Dubai, UAE, April 09, 2019:  Turkish Airlines’ first flight from its new home, Istanbul Airport, after its final transfer operation, was to the capital, just like the first flight of the flag carrier 86 years ago.   Atatürk Airport was the witness to the flag carrier airline’s steady local and global rise since its founding and Turkish Airlines’ final passenger flight from this transfer hub was the Singapore flight that took place at 02:00 on April 6th.   After this significant final flight that will find itself in the annals of Turkish Airlines, another similarly important flight was the first one from Istanbul Airport following the “Great Move” process. Just like the first flight of the national flag carrier 86 years ago, the first flight from Istanbul Airport was bound for the ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 08, 2019:   This Summer, Etihad Airways will introduce the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its scheduled services from Abu Dhabi to Johannesburg, effective 1 August, Lagos, effective 2 August, and Milan, effective 1 September, replacing the Airbus A330s currently operating the routes.   All three destinations will feature Etihad Airways’ next-generation Business and Economy cabins, configured with 299 seats - 28 Business Studios and 271 Economy Smart Seats.   Etihad Airways extensive global network to and from Abu Dhabi will see more 787 Dreamliners introduced on key destinations as the airline takes delivery of more of the type.   Timetable   Boeing 787 schedule to Johannesburg, effective 01 August ......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 departing year-round from Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport and landing in Terminal 5 at London Heathrow.  Dammam will be the third city in Saudi Arabia that British Airways flies to, with the airline already serving Riyadh and Jeddah with non-stop daily flights. This daily direct flight between Dammam and London Heathrow will cut journey times by three hours or more because passengers will no longer need to either drive to Bahrain ......read more

3rd April 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE:   Abu Dhabi Airports has received a certificate from the Airports Council International (ACI) acknowledging Abu Dhabi International Airport’s (AUH) accreditation level of ‘reduction’ under the ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. Mohammed Al Katheeri, SVP Strategy & Communications at Abu Dhabi Airports received the certificate during the ACI Asia-Pacific World Annual General Assembly, Conference and Exhibition which took place in Hong Kong, on April 3, and was attended by senior executives from the international airport industry. Commenting on the accomplishment, Al Katheeri said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to represent Abu Dhabi Airports and receive this certificate from the ACI. We are committed to operating our airports sustainably ......read more

Dubai, April 3, 2019:   Emirates District Cooling LLC [Emicool], a leading district cooling service provider in the region, and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Investments PJSC, has underlined its efforts towards sustainability with a decision to convert to an all-electric vehicle fleet comprising Renault ZOE cars delivered by Arabian Automobiles, the flagship company of the AW Rostamani Group and the exclusive dealer for Renault in Dubai, Sharjah and the Northern Emirates, and a commitment to providing six EV (electric vehicle) charging spots for the general public with the support of DEWA. Emicool will launch phase 1 of the project by adopting the Renault Zoe, a compact, noise free model, for 40% of its fleet, and will add another 30% pickup style vehicles in September before transforming 100% of its fleet by quarter 1 of ......read more

Himalaya Airlines connects Nepal and Abu Dhabi with three weekly return flights 1st April 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE:   Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed Himalaya Airlines’ inaugural flight from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), an international airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday, 31st March. Himalaya Airlines launched three weekly flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu, Nepal.   Maarten De Groof, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are delighted to add Himalaya Airlines to our growing list of carriers operating at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Nepal has always been a sought-after destination for UAE residents, and the UAE is also home to many Nepali expatriates. We look forward to ensuring passengers departing for, or arriving from Nepal enjoy a seamless ......read more

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 1 April 2019:   Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) broke ground last week on the construction of a new, dynamic skatepark at Saqr Park, in attendance of Haitham Mattar, Chief Executive Officer, RAKTDA and Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al Hammadi, the Director General of Public Works and Services Department (PWSD).  As part of the ongoing initiatives by RAKTDA to cater to the different interests of the Emirate’s visitors and the local community, the development of the skatepark facility will further expand the recreational offering of the largest public park in Ras Al Khaimah.  Scheduled to open in May this year, the 620 square metre skatepark will feature a unique design, as the only skatepark within a park in the UAE, built around greenspace in a Ghaf Tree reserve at ......read more

Events over the weekend attended by more than 25,000 residents and visitors  Abu Dhabi, 1 April 2019 –   The first-ever Abu Dhabi Engine Week launched last weekend in the UAE capital, with tens of thousands of visitors and residents taking part. The event, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and taking place until 6 April, brings together three of the UAE’s biggest and most-anticipated motoring events along with a festival of entertainment. Engine Week’s first two events were a resounding success. Custom Show Emirates, which took place between 28 and 30 March at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), attracted a record 25,000 visitors.  Abu Dhabi Club Social, hosted on Yas Island on March 29 and 30, was another popular attraction, with ......read more

As part of its strategic partnership with flydubai, Emirates will resume flights to Zagreb until 26 October 2019    Dubai, UAE, 1 April 2019 –   Emirates has resumed its operations to Zagreb for summer, serving the route until 26 October 2019. Its partner airline, flydubai will then begin to operate during the winter season. The strategic partnership between both airlines ensures capacity is deployed to best serve customer demand.   Flight EK 129 will depart Dubai at 8:30 am and arrive in Zagreb at 12:35 pm local time, utilizing a Boeing 777-300ER. The return flight, EK 130 will depart Zagreb at 15:25 pm and arrive in Dubai at 23:00 pm local time.   Due to the planned upgrade works on the southern runway at DXB, from 16 April until 30 May 2019, Emirates’ flights to Zagreb will ......read more

Greece’s largest airport becomes Europe’s first to use biometric identity at security UAE, Dubai – 31 March 2019 –   Passengers flying with Aegean Airlines from Athens International Airport are being offered a faster, more efficient journey through the airport by merely scanning their face at check-in and at security points.  Athens Airport has become the first airport in Europe to trial SITA Smart PathTM, a unique solution where passengers can use their facial biometrics to identify themselves at key steps in the journey without having to show their passport or boarding card.  When arriving at Athens Airport to check-in, passengers who utilize the trial service, scan their passport and have their photo taken. Once completed, passengers can then proceed to security where they can ......read more

Etihad Airways continues its commitment to Abu Dhabi as a global sporting destination Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 28, 2019:  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is welcoming golfers to Abu Dhabi’s renowned courses, allowing them to bring their golf clubs free-of-charge, enhancing the city’s sporting credentials and improving the experience of every golfer who touches down in the capital.   Hareb Al Muhairy, Senior Vice-President Destination and Leisure Management at Etihad Airways, said: “The capital’s golf courses are some of the many highlights of a visit to the UAE and it is our pleasure to welcome and encourage golfers to the city. The launch of this free service will encourage golf lovers worldwide to enjoy the sport with greater ease in one of the most ......read more

Updates at arrivals are an added benefit of baggage tracking   Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 28 March 2019 –   While the adoption of technology has improved passenger satisfaction across the airport journey, the biggest jump by far over the past year was at baggage collection. SITA’s  2019 Passenger IT Insights shows that passengers are demanding more mobile services in relation to their baggage and where these are available, satisfaction levels have surged.                 SITA’s research shows that 26% of passengers in 2018 used their mobile device to receive status updates on their baggage at arrival, up from 14% in 2017. At the same time, there is a growing demand from passengers to receive more baggage information via their mobile devices. A ......read more

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority successfully concludes a series of trade roadshows targeting key cities in Eastern Europe  Visitor numbers to Ras Al Khaimah from Eastern European countries witnessed double digit growth in 2018  New Destination Strategy 2019-2021, latest product launches and summer campaign offerings showcased during the roadshows Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, 28 March 2019: In light of the double-digit growth figures recorded in 2018, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has kicked off 2019 with a series of roadshows targeting key Eastern European countries to promote the destination, highlight the Emirate’s latest product developments and unique offerings.   The special delegation from Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority visited the cities of Budapest, ......read more

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, March 27, 2019:  Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is a regional leader by having successfully implemented the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) recommendations for flight tracking ahead of the General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA’s) proposed deadline of 1 June 2019.  With an ICAO completion date of 8 November 2018, Etihad Airways not only met the GADSS recommendation of tracking its flights with position updates every 15 minutes under normal conditions, but also at the frequency of once-per minute when an aircraft is in distress - exceeding a component of ICAO’s 2021 requirements.    In partnership with SITA, Etihad Airways has achieved this superior capability with the ......read more

Cathay Pacific Services Limited recognised for perishables handling; world’s first to receive IATA CEIV Fresh certification Dubai, UAE, March 25, 2019:  Cathay Pacific congratulates Cathay Pacific Services Limited (CPSL), its wholly-owned subsidiary, on becoming one of the first organisations to be awarded IATA CEIV Fresh certification, a globally-recognised perishable product handling accreditation. The certification, which was also awarded to the Hong Kong Airport Authority at the IATA World Cargo Symposium, underscores the speed, consistency and efficiency of all stakeholders in Hong Kong International Airport when it comes to the treatment and transportation of perishable products. Cathay Pacific is working to become the world’s first airline to be CEIV Fresh certified, in May 2019. In harness with ......read more

25th March 2019, Abu Dhabi, UAE:   Abu Dhabi Airports has contributed to Operation Smile UAE’s textile recycling initiative by hosting three of its textile donation banks at its facilities, and inspiring its employees to donate hundreds of kilos of clothes and accessories to the internationally recognized medical humanitarian organization.  The initiative was launched by Operation Smile UAE in an effort to increase funding for its organization of free and safe reconstructive surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities. Abu Dhabi Airports hosted one textile donation bank at its Headquarters near Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), and a further two banks spread across the Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) project site. The banks collected a total of ......read more

Dubai, UAE, March 25, 2019:  The successful sub brand of Turkish Airlines, AnadoluJet added a new international destination to its flight network with flights to Erbil (Iraq) after its previous flights to TRNC -Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.   AnadoluJet offers its advantageous prices to the passengers flying from Gaziantep and/or Diyarbakır to Erbil. The flights from both cities started on March 21, 2019.   On the new Erbil flights of AnadoluJet, Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee M. İlker Aycı stated; “Turkish aviation history is undergoing a significant period of change. Istanbul Airport gives courage to Turkish Airlines and its sub brands to make strides towards their goals. I am quite happy to see that AnadoluJet, our successful sub brand, aims ......read more