Top 3
Etihad launches direct flights to Peshawar
Etihad Airways has inaugurated its first direct service from Abu Dhabi to Peshawar, expanding its Pakistan network to four cities alongside Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The new route caters to the 1.5 million Pakistanis living in the UAE and supports trade, business, and leisure travel. Initially operating five flights per week on Airbus A320 aircraft, the service will increase to daily from 20 November 2025.
A new host for Routes World 2026
Riyadh has been selected to host Routes World 2026, the leading global forum for air connectivity. The event will be organised by GACA with support from the Saudi Tourism Authority, Air Connectivity Program, and Matarat Holding.
More than 8,000 meetings are expected, driving new routes and partnerships. The win follows Saudi Arabia’s record 128 million passengers in 2024, reinforcing its Vision 2030 goals to become a global aviation and tourism hub.
Dubai Airports adds accessibility advisors
Dubai Airports has appointed Paralympian Jessica Smith, advocacy foundation Team AngelWolf, and disability rights expert Fatma Al Jassim as strategic advisors to advance inclusive travel at DXB. Their expertise will help shape solutions based on lived experiences of People of Determination.
DXB is already the first global airport to achieve Certified Autism Centre status, with more than 53,000 employees trained in hidden disabilities practices. This initiative supports Dubai’s wider goal of becoming a fully disability-friendly city, following its recognition as the first Certified Autism Destination in the Eastern Hemisphere earlier this year.
Noteworthy
- Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, celebrates its 25th anniversary with promotions and a special silver-themed Airbus A380 livery. The program, was also recently awarded “Best Global Frequent Flyer Program”.
- Air Arabia has received its first Airbus A320neo from a 120-aircraft order placed in 2019, marking a milestone in its expansion and sustainability strategy. The delivery was celebrated in Sharjah.
- EgyptAir has announced it will take delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX in January 2026 as part of a lease agreement with Air Lease Corporation covering 18 aircraft.
- Airline connectivity is boosting tourism in Bahrain with airlines including Gulf Air, flydubai, Emirates, and Saudia contributing to Bahrain’s record tourism numbers in 2025.
- The World Aviation Festival (WAF) has revealed five finalists for its 2025 Start-up Pitch Competition, taking place 7 October in Lisbon. Startups including Arcube, Ganiga.ai, Acai Travel, Modifly, and FlightMinds will pitch innovations spanning sustainable infrastructure, AI-driven operations, flexible ticketing, and fuel efficiency to more than 4,500 aviation leaders.
- Oman Air has broadened its codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines to include new routes such as Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai, Denpasar, and Sibu.
- Ras Al Khaimah has signed an MoU with Joby Aviation and Skyports Infrastructure to introduce the emirate’s first air taxi service by 2027. The service aims to reduce travel time to Dubai by 45 minutes.
- Thai AirAsia X will expand to the Middle East in December 2025 with flights to Riyadh, alongside new services to Almaty and Sendai. The long-haul low-cost carrier aims to capture growing demand from diverse regions, using its A330 aircraft to attract both outbound and inbound travellers.
- Saudi Arabia’s flynas will start direct flights between Riyadh and Nairobi from 2 October 2025. Operating three times per week with A320neo aircraft, the service enhances Saudi-Kenya connectivity for tourism and business travel.
- An IATA study confirms that achieving net zero aviation emissions by 2050 hinges on scaling up sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies rather than feedstock availability. While biomass could supply 300m tonnes annually, significant investment and global policy support are needed to accelerate power-to-liquid and other next-generation production methods.
