Airline News Page 75
Qatar Airways Expands Services in Saudi Arabia with New Hail Route
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, has announced another expansion of the airline’s service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during his panel discussion, “Tourism Rising: A New Era of Influence and Impact”, at the TOURISE Summit 2025 in Riyadh. From 5 January 2026, Qatar Airways will launch three weekly flights to Hail (HAS), making it the 13th Saudi city to be served by the airline. The World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2025 for the ninth time, will also increase flights to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) from six to seven daily flights.
Inside Emirates Flight Catering’s mission to serve 300,000 meals at the Dubai Airshow
When the Dubai Airshow opens its doors on 17 November, behind the incredible aircraft displays and billion-dollar deals will be an equally impressive operation: Emirates Flight Catering’s (EKFC) culinary mission to blend extraordinary scale with precision. EKFC, the official caterer for Dubai Airshow 2025, is preparing to serve over 300,000 meals to a diverse audience of aviation and aerospace executives, government ministers, military delegations, industry professionals, guests and visitors from over 98 countries. This feat requires building two complete central kitchens from scratch, deploying nearly 2,600 staff members, and catering to over 150 chalets, country pavilions and exhibition stands with cuisine as diverse as the global aviation and aerospace community itself.
Dubai International Soars to World’s Busiest Airport as DXB Overtakes Atlanta
Dubai International Airport (DXB) has officially become the busiest airport in the world in 2025, overtaking Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for the first time. The achievement marks a defining moment in global aviation and reflects Dubai’s long-term investment in innovation, connectivity, and passenger experience. Speaking at the TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said the future of aviation is no longer defined solely by size or scale but by emotion and experience. “The future of travel isn’t just about moving people faster, it’s about how they feel along the way,” he noted. “From biometric boarding to frictionless terminals, we’re creating airports where speed, culture, and comfort converge.”
Fastjet and WorldTicket by GO7 forge strategic partnership to expand global distribution
Fastjet, the Zimbabwean multi-award-winning regional airline, and WorldTicket by GO7, a leading global airline distribution solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance ticketing, connectivity, and international visibility across Southern Africa. Through this collaboration, fastjet’s flights are now available for booking via WorldTicket’s W2-365 platform, giving travel agents worldwide access to the airline’s domestic and regional services. The partnership enables fastjet to grow international sales and connectivity without the need for traditional BSP membership or complex GDS infrastructure.
HALO space unveils 10-year plan to launch near-space tourism from saudi arabia
HALO Space, a global pioneer in near-space tourism, has unveiled an ambitious 10-year roadmap to make commercial near-space flights a reality—beginning with the first-ever launches from Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made at the inaugural TOURISE Summit in Riyadh, a global platform redefining the future of tourism through innovation and cross-sector collaboration.
Etihad Airways Expands its Saudi Arabia Network with Launch of Flights to Medina
Etihad Airways has commenced flights from Abu Dhabi to Medina this week, further expanding the airline’s strong footprint in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and enhancing travel options for guests across religious, business and leisure segments. The resumed direct service connects Abu Dhabi with Medina, one of the most spiritually significant cities in the world and a key destination for visitors performing religious travel throughout the year. The route will support growing demand from pilgrims and travellers across the world seeking seamless connections to the Kingdom’s holy city. Medina becomes the latest addition to Etihad’s operations in the Kingdom, reinforcing the UAE’s national carrier as a major facilitator of travel to and from Saudi Arabia. With the launch of flights to Medina, Etihad will operate 93 flights per week to five cities across the Kingdom, flying four times per day to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and three services per week to Al Qassim. This expansion is part of Etihad’s ambitious growth strategy, announcing 31 new destinations in a year.
SITA, AMADEUS AND AACO COLLABORATE TO DRIVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY ON EMISSIONS IN AIR TRAVEL
AACO, SITA, and Amadeus have come together to explore how data and technology can bring greater accuracy and transparency to aviation’s sustainability efforts. The initiative represents a concrete step toward helping airlines and passengers make informed decisions based on the environmental impact of air travel, and building the trust needed to support meaningful climate action. Conscious of the criticality of the challenge, two of aviation’s leading technology providers are working together. The collaboration pairs SITA Eco Mission, which draws on real aircraft performance and operational data to deliver accurate emissions and fuel-burn calculations, with Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, which aggregates carbon emissions calculations from multiple recognized sources and standards. Together, they provide the ecosystem with detailed emissions information so that travelers can make more informed decisions. Their shared goal is to demonstrate how accurate data can support decision-making on sustainable travel and facilitate climate action, such as carbon offsetting.
SITA, AMADEUS AND AACO COLLABORATE TO DRIVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY ON EMISSIONS IN AIR TRAVEL
AACO, SITA, and Amadeus have come together to explore how data and technology can bring greater accuracy and transparency to aviation’s sustainability efforts. The initiative represents a concrete step toward helping airlines and passengers make informed decisions based on the environmental impact of air travel, and building the trust needed to support meaningful climate action. Conscious of the criticality of the challenge, two of aviation’s leading technology providers are working together. The collaboration pairs SITA Eco Mission, which draws on real aircraft performance and operational data to deliver accurate emissions and fuel-burn calculations, with Amadeus Travel Impact Suite, which aggregates carbon emissions calculations from multiple recognized sources and standards. Together, they provide the ecosystem with detailed emissions information so that travelers can make more informed decisions. Their shared goal is to demonstrate how accurate data can support decision-making on sustainable travel and facilitate climate action, such as carbon offsetting.
Jet Lag No More: Expert Tips for Beating Travel Fatigue
Learn how to reduce jet lag and travel fatigue with simple tips. Discover how to prepare before your flight, stay comfortable during travel, and adjust quickly after arrival.
Avianca Announces Leadership Transition
Avianca announced its succession plan for the airline. Frederico Pedreira will step down from his role as Chief Executive Officer, effective February 28th, 2026, after five years with the company. To further strengthen the airline's leadership structure and ensure a smooth transition, Avianca's Board of Directors has approved the creation of a President position, to be filled by Gabriel Oliva concurrently with his COO role, effective immediately. Frederico will remain as CEO until February 28th to ensure full continuity and alignment across the organization.
Air Serbia and Loyalty Juggernaut Partner to Launch a Next-Generation Frequent Flyer Program
Air Serbia has signed a five-year strategic partnership with Loyalty Juggernaut Inc. (LJI) to launch a new-generation frequent flyer program, marking a significant milestone in customer engagement and digital innovation.
Korean Air expands direct system connection for cargo customers
Korean Air has launched a new Application Programming Interface (API)-based solution that enables direct integration between its cargo system and its customers' in-house systems. This initiative is part of the airline's response to rapid e-commerce growth and the increasing market demand for greater logistics transparency and efficiency. The new API solution allows for the real-time exchange of data. This integration enables customers to perform key tasks such as checking schedules, viewing rates, making reservations, and transmitting waybills directly from proprietary platforms without having to access a separate system.