GCC spurs German tourism growth

The GCC is among the top 15 source markets globally for Germany

New passenger terminal at Oman’s Duqm airport begins operations

The terminal has the capacity for 500,000 passengers a year

WhatsApp can officially hide online status, announces rollout of Communities

Saudia to provide free WhatsApp, Facebook messaging onboard flights

The texting-only service will be provided to passengers across all the classes

Saudi’s Flyadeal to decide on 50-plane order with Airbus or Boeing next month

The airline began operations last September

Kuwait regulator says 2,266 Wataniya passengers flown home

The airline had its licence suspended for three months after cancelling flights and leaving passengers stranded

Low-cost airline Flynas plans to recruit Saudi women as co-pilots

Last month, it was reported that Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) had issued five licences to female pilots

Dubai’s Emirates to briefly operate A380 to St. Petersburg in October

The jumbo jet will be deployed to the Russian city from October 25-29

Saudia to begin flights to Iraq’s Erbil

The Saudi flag carrier resumed flights to Iraq last October after 27 years

Saudi will require 8,800 pilots by 2024 – official

Saudi Arabia’s aviation market is seeing strong growth

Emirates says 11 people hospitalised after falling ill during Dubai-New York flight

The patients’ histories and symptoms – fever, cough and vomiting – indicate influenza, say officials

Kuwait suspends Wataniya’s licence after flight cancellations

The airline has left hundreds of passengers stranded after suspending flights

Flydubai doubles losses in first half of 2018

The airline blamed tough market conditions and rising fuel prices

Etihad flight to Jakarta forced to return to Abu Dhabi after engine problem

A passenger confirmed on Twitter that he heard an “explosion” from the right engine soon after take-off

Dubai’s Emirates cancels flights to Osaka due to Typhoon Jebi

The storm is the most powerful to hit Japan in 25 years

China Eastern airline to launch direct flights from Shanghai to Dubai

The three-times weekly services will begin on September 17

Emirates signs codeshare agreement with Vietnam’s Jetstar Pacific

The new codeshare will connect Emirates passengers travelling to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi to 14 Vietnamese cities

Latvia’s AirBaltic extends seasonal Riga – Abu Dhabi service

The airline first began the direct route onOctober 29 last year

Kuwait’s Wataniya says ‘unexpected’ plane issues led to flight cancellations

The airline has been issued an ultimatum by Kuwait’s aviation regulator after leaving hundreds of passengers stranded

Ras Al Khaimah airport re-opens duty-free area after revamp

The upgrade came in response to an increasing number of passengers in recent years, airport authorities said

Pictures: Emirates SkyCargo operates world’s largest air horse charter

A total of 19 flights will transport over 500 horses for the FEI World Equestrian Games

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad launches hand-baggage only fare to certain cities

The fare is available on flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Azerbaijan

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to continue losses through 2022 – Fitch

The airline posted a $1.5bn annual loss in June

Dubai International Airport July passenger traffic up 1.8%

Passenger traffic growth has slowed at the airport so far this year

Oman says new Duqm airport terminal to open next month

Oman is working to transform Duqm into an industrial and transshipment centre

Etihad-backed Jet Airways seeks to reassure investors with cost-cutting plan

The Indian airline expects to cut costs in excess of 20bn rupees ($285m) in two years

Flydubai sacks pilot who failed alcohol test before flight

The captain was found to have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit

Air France to deploy A380 on Paris-Dubai route

The jumbo jet will be deployed on the route from January 14 to 27 on a daily basis

Saudi aviation regulator issues licences to five female pilots

The kingdom’s economic diversification plans have seen a number of previously barred roles opened to women

Dubai’s Emirates adds fourth daily flight to Riyadh

The addition will bring the airline’s total number of weekly Riyadh flights to 28

Kuwait’s Wataniya faces three-month ban after cancelling flights

The airline is facing calls for compensation after Kuwait’s crown prince was forced to intervene to return stranded passengers