Saudi, Qatar airlines adjust flights as regional tensions disrupt travel
Dubai, UAE -- Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to several Gulf destinations as regional tensions continue to affect aviation operations. The airline said flights to and from Oman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain will remain suspended until Thursday while the situation is closely monitored. In a statement...flydubai grows its presence in Romania, first UAE carrier to do so
Dubai, UAE -- flydubai inaugurated its new service to Iași, becoming the first UAE carrier to serve direct flights from Dubai. With the start of its twice-weekly service to Iași, the carrier grows its network in Romania to two destinations including Bucharest. In addition to flydubai’s new service to Iași,...Airlines suspend or reduce flights in Middle East after Iran strikes
British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran. Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until at least Tuesday inclusive, the airline said.UAE aviation sector’s 2024 milestone: 1 million air traffic movements
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) achieved a milestone in the aviation industry as it surpassed 1 million air traffic movements in 2024, said the country's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). On 22nd December 2024, the one-millionth annual air traffic movement was recorded with the arrival of...Saudi Arabia records 16% growth in air travel in first half: GACA
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The number of air passengers in Saudi Arabia increased by 17 percent during the past six months to 62 million, compared to 53 million during the same period last year, the Kingdom's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said. The number of flights also reached approximately...Dubai airport diverts flights as ‘exceptional weather’ hits Gulf
Dubai, the Middle East's financial centre, has been paralyzed by the torrential rain that caused floods across the UAE and Bahrain, and left 18 dead in Oman on Sunday and Monday. Dubai airport operations were suspended for 25 minutes in the afternoon before resuming.Turkish Airlines restarts Libya flights after almost a decade
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkey's flagship carrier, Turkish Airlines, has resumed flights to Libya's capital, almost 10 years after they were suspended over security concerns in the conflict-torn country. The airlines's chief executive, Bilal Eksi, attended a ceremony at Mitiga International Airport on Thursday to mark its first flight to Libya since...Air traffic in Saudi Arabia surges 16 percent in 2023
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's aviation sector soared to new heights in 2023, with a significant increase in both flight numbers and passenger traffic, according to a report by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). In a statement released by GACA, it was revealed that the Kingdom experienced...Saudi GACA issues air carrier, airport classifications for December 2023
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) issued its monthly classification index for air transport service providers, based on the number of complaints filed with GACA by travelers during December 2023. According to GACA, 1,308 complaints were filed by travelers on Saudi air carriers last December....Passenger traffic at Sharjah airport jumps to 15.3 million in 2023
Sharjah, UAE--The number of passengers travelling through Sharjah airport reached 15.3 million in 2023, as compared to 13.1 million in 2022, marking over 17.4 percent growth, according to Sharjah Airport Authority. The air traffic witnessed an increase of 12 percent with over 98,000 flight movements in 2023 as compared to...Gulf Air hit by data breach
It said client database may have been compromised.Jet fuel sales to reach over billion gallons by end of 2023: ENOC
Dubai, UAE--ENOC Group will reach more than one billion gallons of jet fuel sales at the end of this year by supplying more than 153,000 commercial, military, and general aviation flights around the world. The company made the announcement on the sidelines of the 18th edition of Dubai Airshow, which...Countries evacuate citizens as Israel-Hamas war rages
Thousands of foreigners are stuck in Israel and across the Palestinian territories, where a full-blown war has erupted since Hamas launched their attack. With the violence having already claimed thousands of lives on both sides, several countries have launched operations to repatriate their citizens, while others plan to do so...Libya and Italy sign MoU to boost cooperation in civil aviation
Tripoli, Libya--Libya and Italy have signed an agreement to enhance cooperation to enable air transport companies to operate charter and regular flights between the two countries. In this regard, the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority and the Italian civil aviation authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the Ministry of...Yemen carrier suspends international flights from rebel-held Sanaa
Yemenia operates near-daily commercial flights to the Jordanian capital Amman -- its only direct international destination from Sanaa's Houthi-controlled airport which reopened last year following a six-year hiatus.Airspace open for aid flights to quake-hit Morocco, says Algeria
ALGIERS, ALGERIA - Algeria will allow aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to quake-hit Morocco to pass through its airspace, the president's office announced on Saturday, suspending a two-year ban on flights to its regional rival. A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous area southwest of the Moroccan tourist hotspot of Marrakesh late Friday,...Iran looks to Arab states to propel its lackluster tourism sector
Avoided by western tourists, Iran is turning to wealthy Arab states and other nearby countries to bolster its sanctions-hit economy. It is also drawing visitors from Russia and China. Owing to the thaw in relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran is now interested in closer ties with the Arab world.Saudia raises seat capacity by 10%
The number of domestic, international flights will rise.Qatar and Bahrain to restart flights in signs of improving relations
Dubai, UAE-- Qatar and Bahrain have agreed to restart flights toward the end of the month, in a sign of warming relations between the estranged countries. According to Bahrain News Agency, the resumption of flights between Bahrain and Qatar “comes within the framework of the brotherly relations between the two...Israeli warplanes hit Syria’s Aleppo airport, says ministry
Israeli warplanes struck Aleppo airport before dawn, causing significant damage that halted flights to and from Syria's war- and quake-battered second city, the defense ministry said. The airport has been a major conduit for aid flights since a February 6 earthquake devastated southeastern Turkey and Syria, a transport ministry official...US operations and flights not affected by system outage: Etihad Airways
Abu Dahbi, UAE--Etihad Airways on Wednesday said its US operations and flights are not affected by the system outage at the Federal Aviation Administration. “Etihad Airways is aware of a technical issue affecting all airline flights in North America. At present, this is not having an impact on our operation, and...FIFA Cup helps Qatar, Egypt warm up bilateral ties
The two countries explore areas of joint cooperation to strengthen political, economic, investment and trade relations.Tourists, cruises, flights to Aqaba on the rise in December
AQABA, JORDAN - The southern city of Aqaba is welcoming an increasing number of local visitors and foreign tourists of various nationalities, especially from Europe, in the winter tourist season. The movement of cruise ships to the ports of Aqaba and flights to King Hussein International Airport is also witnessing...Abu Dhabi Airports announces 4.7m passenger traffic in Q3 2022
ABU DHABI, UAE - Abu Dhabi Airports Monday said that in Q3 2022 passenger traffic totaled 4.7 million passengers, a rise of 250 percent compared to the 1.3 million passengers in Q3 2021. Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator of the five airports in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, in its...Special World Cup flights to carry Israeli and Palestinian fans: FIFA
A deal was brokered between Qatar and Israel, who do not have diplomatic relations, so that flights are "temporarily operated" during the World Cup, said a statement from world football's governing body. The tournament starts November 20.Flydubai scales up flights
It will run new flights to Europe and Asia in 2023.World Cup: Saudia to operate 780 flights to ferry fans to Doha
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia---Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) has announced it will allocate 780 scheduled, additional and shuttle flights connecting Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam to Hamad International Airport and Doha International Airport, with a combined total of 254,000 seats for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches beginning November 20. "Football-loving guests...Air travel rebounds but still suffering from pandemic
Air travel rose sharply in the northern hemisphere summer, traditionally the peak vacation travel season, but still remains considerably affected by the pandemic, industry data showed Thursday.EU commercial flights surge 25 percent in August 2022
Brussels, Belgium - The number of commercial flights in August 2022 in the EU increased 25 percent compared to August 2021, Eurostat said in its report. It is still below the pre-pandemic levels, but the gap is contracting (-14 percent compared with August 2019), the report mentioned. The number of...Lufthansa pilots to strike again, escalating wage dispute
A week after the airline was forced to cancel all flights due to a pilots’ walk-out on Friday, affecting 130,000 passengers, Lufthansa pilots will strike again this week, escalating a wage dispute. Cockpit, the pilot union, said the airline has not yet approached them and not put forward a new...Airfares increase as demand soars for flights to UAE
Demand for air tickets to destinations outside the UAE also surged in June and July, even as the travel costs grew sharply due to the rising oil prices and global inflation.Sharjah Airport handles 6 million passengers in H1 2022
The airport also saw considerable growth in the number of flights, with a total of 41,189 aircrafts operating in H1 this year.British Airways staff halts strike after better pay offer
A strike by British Airways staff at London Heathrow Airport this summer has been called off after an improved pay offer, trade unions said Thursday. Members of the GMB and Unite unions had recently backed action as surging inflation erodes the purchase power of wages, sparking walkouts across multiple sectors....US airlines cancel hundreds of flights during holiday weekend
Airlines cancelled several hundred US flights Saturday at the start of a long and almost certainly messy holiday travel weekend as carriers struggled to staff their planes.Yemen’s warring parties renew truce under earlier terms: UN
Aid agencies and Western governments had urged the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels to extend the truce, which went into effect in April and significantly reduced the intensity of fighting in a conflict the UN says has triggered the world's worst humanitarian crisis.UAE firm inks airport deal as Afghanistan eyes international flights
A United Arab Emirates company signed a contract with the Taliban authorities Tuesday to provide ground handling services at Afghanistan's three airports, officials said, as the country seeks to resume international transit. Capital Kabul's only airport was trashed in August when tens of thousands of people rushed to evacuate as...Dust storm hits Iraq once again, grounding flights at airports
Iraq on Sunday was yet again covered in a thick sheet of orange as it suffered the latest in a series of dust storms that have become increasingly common.Iran sees windfall in Qatar World Cup
Iran is hoping to host visitors flocking to nearby Qatar for the 2022 World Cup finals, with officials boosting flights and readying hotels for an expected influx of football fans.EU passengers can claim compensation for delays even outside Europe
EU travelers who book flights through a European airline can claim compensation in the event of a major delay of the connecting flight -- even outside Europe, a court ruled on Thursday. In its judgement, the European Court of Justice said that the entirety of a journey that was subject...Flynas to take off for Belgrade
The airline will fly three weekly flights to Serbia's capital.Libya restarts domestic flights after two-week shutdown
Libyan authorities reopened the war-torn country's skies for domestic flights on Tuesday, an aviation official said, two weeks after they were grounded amid a tense political standoff.Israel to start direct flights to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh in April
Israel is to launch direct flights to Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt's Red Sea coast next month, in an expansion of air links between the two countries, officials said Wednesday. "The route from Ben Gurion International Airport to Sharm el-Sheikh will open soon. Flights are expected to begin during the intermediate...Dubai International Airport world’s busiest for eighth consecutive year
Dubai International Airport (DXB) continues to be the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year after clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021. The airport’s annual traffic exceeded forecasts for the year by more than half a million passengers, on the back of a...Abu Dhabi International Airport receives 5.26m passengers in 2021
Abu Dhabi International Airport has welcomed 5.26 million visitors in 2021 thanks to a fourth-quarter surge that saw 2.43 million, which equates to 46 percent of the full year's passenger numbers, pass through the UAE capital's hub. Compared to 2020, which saw traffic of around 5.57 million passengers, there was...Emirates to resume US flights after ‘temporary’ 5G reprieve
Emirates said Thursday it will lift a suspension of flights to several US destinations in a "temporary reprieve" after the launch of 5G networks was delayed near American airports over safety fears. Flights to six destinations will resume Friday, and on Saturday services to Boston, Houston and San Francisco will...Air Arabia named the most punctual airline by Moscow Airport in 2021
Air Arabia has been named as the most punctual airline in 2021 at Moscow Domodedovo Airport in the category of “Foreign Airlines with more than seven flights per week”, local media reports said. The airport announced the winners with the goal of further enhancing the quality of passenger service. The...Airbus delivers 611 passenger jets in 2021
A320 family planes, which are most frequently used for short and medium-range flights, accounted for more than three-quarters of last year's deliveries.Over 2,000 flights cancelled as Omicron hits holiday travel
Estimates from the American Automobile Association revealed more than 109 million Americans were scheduled to travel by plane, train or car between December 23 and January 2, a 34 percent increase since last year. But most of those plans were made before the outbreak of the Omicron variant, which has...Morocco halts incoming passenger flights over Covid variant
Morocco will halt incoming passenger flights for two weeks starting Monday night amid concern over the spread of a new, heavily mutated Covid-19 variant dubbed Omicron, a government committee said. "The decision has been taken because of the quick spread of the new Covid variant, Omicron, namely in Europe and...Arab countries ban travel from African nations
The United States and several European countries have taken similar steps, banning travel from at least seven southern African countries. South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla told reporters that he felt some of the reactions to the new Covid-19 variant that was found in South Africa were ‘unjustified.’



















































