Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club (Image: Sourced from Qatar Airways Newsroom)

Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club can now be linked to select Visa and Mastercard credit cards

It will allow the airline’s loyalty programme members to collect and spend Avios on purchases at a range of partners in Qatar

Penelope Cruz onboard Emirates A380. Image credit: Emirates Airlines

Penelope Cruz is the new brand ambassador of Emirates Airlines

Academy Award-winning actor Penelope Cruz will star in a global advertising campaign for Emirates Airlines set to be launched come June 2023

Bahrain (Image: Supplied by Qatar Airways)

Qatar Airways resumes flights to Bahrain

It has commenced with a daily flight between the two destinations, and will increase it to thrice-daily services later this year

Flynas A320 neo aircraft (Image: Supplied by flynas)

Flynas passenger numbers climb to 2.4 million in Q1 2023

The number of flights it operated in Q1 2023 stood at 17,000, a 13 per cent increase year-on-year

France implements short-haul flight ban. Image credit: Groupe ADP

France short-haul flight ban comes into effect: What it means for travellers

Domestic flight journeys that can be completed by train in less than two-and-a-half hours banned by French Transport Ministry

Saudia

AI takes flight: Saudia, Accenture collaborate to develop over 260 new digital services

All the digital systems developed by Accenture will be designed specifically for the airline, increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs

Samara

Air Arabia launches new route to Samara in Russia

The airline will operate three flights weekly, starting from October 1, 2023

The aircraft, 9H-FIVE, pronounced Nine-Hotel FIVE, will be based in Dubai (Image: Supplied by FIVE Hotels and Resorts)

Dubai’s FIVE Hotels introduces private jet charter service

The ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft, 9H-FIVE, will be based in Dubai and has an approximate flying range of 12 hours

Seychelles (Image: Sourced from Qatar Airways Newsroom)

Qatar Airways signs codeshare with Air Seychelles

Qatar Airways will place its code on Air Seychelles’ operated flights between Mahé and Praslin

etihad airways CO2 emissions reduction in 2022

Etihad reports 26% drop in CO2 emissions per RTK in 2022

In its annual sustainability report, the airline stated that it had reduced CO2 emissions per revenue tonne kilometre to 482g compared to the 2019 baseline

drone project - DCCA and DM sign MoU for Dubai Horizons Project photo courtesy Dubai Media Office

Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Dubai Municipality ink MoU to further drone initiative

The MoU details a framework to achieve the goals of the Dubai Horizons project that is focused on planning drone flight routes and landing sites

Air Canada

Flydubai, Air Canada announce codeshare partnership

The partnership enables customers to conveniently travel to nine routes by obtaining a single ticket

Emirates SkyCargo Air Canada cargo partnership

Emirates SkyCargo, Air Canada strengthen cargo interline cooperation

This development builds on the broader strategic commercial partnership between Emirates and Air Canada announced last year

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways announces new route to Japan

The introduction of this route will support the growing trade and tourism ties between the countries and add to Etihad’s existing Tokyo service

Masdar - Airbus Agreement

Masdar, Airbus ink deal to boost global sustainable aviation fuel sector

The agreement marks a collaboration between the two companies focusing on sustainable aviation fuels, green hydrogen and direct air capture technologies

Etihad is offering discounted fares to Rome, among other destinations. (Image: Supplied by Etihad Airways)

Etihad Airways sale: Summer discounts announced on flights from Abu Dhabi

The airline is offering special fares to select destinations across its Asian, European, Middle Eastern and North American routes

Saudia

Saudia and Kuwait Airways sign codeshare agreement

Guests may expect to gain all the benefits of codeshare flights including connectivity, baggage transfer and the convenience of having their entire journey managed by one airline

Agility logistics park

Kuwait’s Agility reports 20% rise in net profit to KD15.3m for Q1 2023

The company’s EBITDA increased 30 per cent to KD44m, and revenue grew 17 per cent

Air Arabia aircraft (Image: Supplied by Air Arabia)

Air Arabia set to commence Sharjah-Bangkok flights

The daily service between the two destinations will begin from June 30

Emirates boarding pass (Image: Supplied by Emirates)

Emirates to phase out paper boarding passes for flights from Dubai

From May 15, most passengers departing from T3 at DXB will have to use a mobile boarding pass

Emirates Group

Dubai’s Emirates Group reports highest-ever annual profit of Dhs10.9bn for FY2022-23

Emirates Airline reported its most profitable year ever with a profit of Dhs10.6bn compared with Dhs3.9bn loss in the previous year

Emirates installation at Expo 2020 Dubai (Image: Supplied by Emirates)

Emirates unveils $200m aviation sustainability fund

The amount, disbursed over three years, will support R&D on projects aimed at reducing the impact of fossil fuels in commercial aviation

Emirates SkyCargo

Emirates SkyCargo to double capacity, expand network with over 20 new destinations

Emirates fleet of over 300 aircraft by mid-2030 will offer expanded cargo flexibility, capacity and capability

Etihad Cargo + Rotate partnership

Etihad Cargo, Rotate to develop sales optimisation solutions

Sales representatives will be able to enhance customer partnerships via customisable smart data accessible through a digital sales tool the carrier is co-developing with Rotate

Flyadeal

Online travel marketplace Wego joins forces with flyadeal to enable direct flight bookings

The airline currently operates scheduled flights to 17 domestic destinations across Saudi Arabia and six in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Flynas A320 new aircraft (Image: Supplied by flynas)

Saudi’s flynas receives three Airbus aircraft

It includes two new A320 neo and one widebody A330 aircraft

Tajikistan

UAE, Tajikistan sign air transport services agreement

The two documents aim to lift restrictions on designated carriers from the UAE and Tajikistan, and streamline trade and air traffic between the two nations

DXB T3 Dubai International

Dubai’s DXB sees passenger traffic reach 95.6% of 2019 levels in Q1 2023

India remained DXB’s top destination country with passenger traffic reaching three million, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK and Pakistan

Air Arabia reports Q1 2023 performance

Air Arabia reports net profit of Dhs342m for Q1 2023

Air Arabia added nine new routes to its global network from its seven hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, Armenia and Pakistan during Q1 2023

Globally, air traffic now 88% of March 2019 levels, says IATA

Middle Eastern airlines have seen a 43.1 per cent increase in traffic compared to March a year ago