Top 3 Headlines
Kuwait’s aviation sector steps up
Kuwait’s aviation sector is stepping up regional connectivity and traveller choice with two major updates. Jazeera Airways has relaunched direct flights from Kuwait to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain from 2 October 2025, complementing its existing three daily services to Dubai. With one-way fares starting at just KD 9, the move strengthens affordable links to the UAE, catering to both leisure and business travellers drawn to Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene and Al Ain’s “Garden City” appeal.
Meanwhile, Kuwait Airways has introduced a new “Economy Class Without Baggage” option, tailored for backpackers and short-stay passengers travelling light. Allowing one 7 kg cabin bag and offering 50% mileage accrual, the fare forms part of a four-tier economy structure designed to give passengers greater flexibility and value. Together, these developments highlight Kuwait’s commitment to broadening travel access while keeping costs competitive.
flyadeal adds more services to Pakistan
Saudi low-cost airline flyadeal has expanded its Pakistan operations with the launch of non-stop scheduled flights from Riyadh to Islamabad, Peshawar, and Sialkot. The new routes increase the airline’s frequency between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan from six to 13 flights a week.
The airline began its Pakistan operations in February with flights to Karachi and has now added three more destinations, signaling its growing presence in the South Asian market. flyadeal plans to increase its frequency further as it takes delivery of more aircraft, with ambitions to triple its network to over 100 destinations by 2030 in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Qatar Airways expands Red Sea and China links
Qatar Airways has launched a new route from Doha to The Red Sea International Airport in Saudi Arabia, starting 21 October, with three weekly flights. This service connects the luxury tourism destination to Qatar Airways’ extensive global network of over 170 destinations. The Red Sea becomes the 12th destination in Saudi Arabia served by Qatar Airways, and the new route is expected to boost tourism and travel between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the airline has also expanded their codeshare partnership with China Southern Airlines, increasing frequencies between Doha and Beijing and adding new destinations, ahead of the Golden Week holiday period in China. The partnership will offer 64 weekly flights across eight gateways in Greater China, providing travelers with increased connectivity and access to over 170 destinations worldwide through Doha’s Hamad International Airport.
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Noteworthy:
- Riyadh Air is holding a recruitment fair in Manama, Bahrain on Friday 12 September to hire cabin crew. Read our guide on how to be part of one of the most stylish airline crews.
- Royal Jordanian is set to launch non-stop flights from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Amman, Jordan, from May 2026. Operated on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, this new route will enhance connectivity between North Texas and the Middle East.
- Royal Air Maroc is launching four new direct routes from its Casablanca hub to Zurich, Ndjamena, Sal Island, and Munich, starting in September and October 2025.
- EGYPTAIR has integrated its New Distribution Capability (NDC) content on TPConnects’ Iris platform, enabling travel agencies to access its full range of airfares and ancillaries, and enhancing the airline’s global distribution and service offerings.
- Gulf Air is set to launch a new seasonal service to El Alamein in Egypt from 2026, offering direct flights between Bahrain and this historic Mediterranean city.
- Wizz Air Wizz Air is resuming direct flights between Larnaca and Abu Dhabi from November 15, 2025, with fares starting from US29, showcasing its commitment to affordable travel options in the Middle East. Meanwhile the carrier also has plans to establish a hub in Tel Aviv, but faces opposition from Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, and Israir, who cite concerns over harming local airlines and national resilience.
- Muscat has received its first Iraqi Airways flight from Basra, marking a new development in air travel between Oman and Iraq. Meanwhile, Oman has seen a 26% surge in charter tourist flights, reflecting the country’s growing popularity as a tourist destination.
- Middle Eastern hubs are strengthening ties with China with more services: While Emirates is deploying daily services aboard its Airbus A350 to Hangzhou, China from 26 October, China Southern Airlines has launched four-weekly direct flights from Guangzhou to Riyadh.
- Turkish Airlines carried 60.7 million passengers in the first eight months of 2025, a 5.8% increase year-over-year, with an 82.7% load factor, and its fleet reached 501 aircraft by the end of August. Meanwhile, the carrier has resumed flights to Misrata, Libya, operating three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays).
- Egypt’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Sameh El-Hefny, has announced plans to add Terminal 4 to Cairo International Airport within four years, with an estimated cost of $4.5 billion, increasing the airport’s capacity to 65 million passengers. The new terminal will accommodate 30-40 million passengers and feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a new runway and solar-powered car parks, as part of Egypt’s efforts to boost tourism and aviation sectors.
