Aviation in the Middle East is going from strength to strength. Here’s the latest updates on awards and new routes: 

Qatar Airways wins Airline of the Year

For the eighth time, Qatar Airways has been awarded the Airline of the Year title by Skytrax. The airline also received other prestigious accolades for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge, and Best Airline in the Middle East. Qatar is also the first aviation group in the history of Skytrax to win Best Airport Shopping, Best Airline, and Best Airport in the same year.

Meanwhile, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Etihad and Saudia were listed in the Top 20, in 3rd, 7th, 19th and 20th place respectively.

flynas named Best Low-Cost Airline

Skytrax’s Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East has just been won for the seventh consecutive year by Saudi Arabia’s flynas. The airline provides more than 1,500 flights per week to 70+ domestic and international destinations and was also ranked among the top three low-cost carriers in the world.  

Most punctual airports in May 2024

Part two of Cirium’s On-Time Performance (OTP) report shows King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh was one of the most punctual airports globally for May 2024. RUH serves 55 routes, and across 19,620 flights had an average departure delay of 91 minutes. On-time departures increased from the previous month to 88.23%, and on time arrivals sat at 83.50%.

UAE airlines announce new destinations and direct flights

The UAE aviation industry is expanding to more than 603 destinations worldwide:

• Etihad aims to reach 76 total destinations by the end of Q1 2024 with their ultimate goal of reaching 125 destinations by 2030.
• Emirates will also increase to more than 150 destinations, including direct flights between Dubai and Antananarivo or Lagos.
• flydubai is launching flights Basel in Switzerland, Riga in Latvia, Tallinn in Estonia, and Vilnius in Lithuania following recent expansions into Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand.
• Finally, Air Arabia has announced direct flights from Sharjah to Krakow, Poland from 29 June. The airline will also enhance connectivity with direct flights to 29 destinations including Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt, Beirut in Lebanon, Tbilisi in Georgia, Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Chennai in India.

Oman Air wins best seat comfort

At the 2024 APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) Awards, Oman Air has won Best Seat Comfort in the Middle East. The ceremony was held in Dublin, Ireland, on 12 June and highlighted the airline’s spacious cabin layouts and seating arrangements. This is the second time Oman Air has won this award, winning it the first time in 2022. 

EOS X Space to begin operations in Abu Dhabi

We have lift-off! Having invested over $230 million, EOS X Space will start space flights in Spain and Abu Dhabi in Q3 2025. Validation tests have started on the eight-person capsule capacity that allows space tourists a five-hour view for €150,000 – €200,000. 

Etihad releases new seasonal routes 

Etihad Airways recently completed the first flight from Abu Dhabi to Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. The airline added the new route, which now makes four total to the Kingdom. To mark 20 years of connecting the Kingdom with Abu Dhabi, Etihad will operate the new route four times per week.

‘Chatting’ to Etihad

Etihad Airways has introduced a new live online chat service for travellers. This feature offers real-time assistance for various travel requirements, enhancing customer support and streamlining the travel planning process. The service aims to provide personalised and immediate responses to customer inquiries.

Emirates introduces Premium Economy to Osaka

Emirates has launched its premium economy class on the Dubai-Osaka route. Passengers travelling in this calss can look forward to enhanced comfort, more legroom, and upgraded services. The introduction is part of Emirates’ broader initiative to improve passenger experience on its long-haul flights. The offer joins the Tokyo Narita service, which announced Premium Economy in December 2023. 

SalamAir to Delhi and Chennai

Looking to strengthen its presence in the Indian market, SalamAir has released two new routes that will operate twice per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Muscat to New Delhi and Muscat to Chennai aim to cater to the growing demand for travel between Oman and India. Flights start from 2 July 2024, and will appeal to business and leisure travellers alike.