Wizz Air Abu Dhabi carried 3.5 million passengers in 2024, while Turkish Airlines launched new routes and was named the safest airline in Europe. Emirates expanded its vegan options with over 300 plant-based recipes, and Virgin Australia tripled reward seats on its Doha services. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia saw a 33% rise in winter travel searches amid declining costs, with top destinations including Egypt, Pakistan, and India.
Emirates on the Lunar New Year, new A350, Premium Economy and employee lounge
Emirates is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a range of special offerings. From 22 January to 5 February, passengers can enjoy traditional dishes and festive treats in Emirates’ lounges in Dubai, Singapore, and Bangkok. Onboard, the airline is showing blockbuster movies in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Vietnamese, and its duty-free shopping service, EmiratesRED, is featuring special offers.
In other news, Emirates has announced that its new A350 aircraft will begin serving destinations in India, including Mumbai and Ahmedabad, from September 2024. The A350 features the airline’s latest cabin products, including Premium Economy seats, which will be available on 42 destinations by February 2025. Emirates has also introduced Premium Economy on flights between Dubai and Brisbane, and has unveiled a new employee lounge, ‘Wejhaty’, at its Dubai headquarters. The lounge offers a range of services, including biometric processing, medical fitness tests, and HR consultations.
Qatar Airways flying to BogotΓ‘ and Caracas
Qatar Airways has announced the launch of two new weekly flights connecting Doha to BogotΓ‘, Colombia, and Caracas, Venezuela, starting in early summer 2025. These flights will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, with the route from Doha to BogotΓ‘ continuing to Caracas, and the return flight from Caracas to Doha being non-stop. This development makes Qatar Airways the first airline to offer non-stop flights from the Middle East to Colombia and the only Middle Eastern carrier operating in Venezuela. The service will utilise Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, featuring 42 Business Class seats and 234 Economy Class seats. With the addition of these destinations, Qatar Airways’ network in the Americas expands to 16 cities, including major hubs such as Dallas, Miami, New York City, SΓ£o Paulo, and Toronto.
Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Damascus
Turkish Airlines has resumed its flights to Damascus, Syria, which had been suspended since April 2012. Starting from 23 January 2025, the airline will operate three weekly flights to the Syrian capital on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The decision to recommence this route reflects Turkish Airlines’ commitment to strengthening historical ties and contributing to the trade and cultural potential of the region.
Jazeera Airways to start Kuwait-Budapest service
Budapest Airport, in collaboration with Visit Hungary, has announced the launch of the first direct connection between Kuwait and Hungary. Operated by Jazeera Airways, the new route will commence on 5 June 2025, with twice-weekly flights on Wednesdays and Sundays, continuing until 25 September 2025. The service will utilise Airbus A320 aircraft, offering 174 seats per flight. This addition marks Budapest Airport’s seventh Middle Eastern destination, alongside Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The route is anticipated to facilitate travel not only from Kuwait, but also from India, enhancing Budapestβs position as a gateway to the Middle East and beyond.
Gulf Air leads the way in sustainability and excellence
Gulf Air recently hosted its annual international conference, “Towards a Sustainable Future”, which brought together industry leaders to discuss the synergy between tourism and aviation. The conference highlighted Gulf Air’s role in promoting Bahrain as a tourist destination and featured workshops and panels on strategic alignment, performance recognition, and industry trends.
In addition to its commitment to sustainability, Gulf Air has also been recognised for its exceptional passenger experience, earning a prestigious five-star airline rating at the APEX Awards. This accolade reflects the airline’s dedication to delivering high-quality service, amenities, and overall customer satisfaction, solidifying its position as a leading carrier in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s business jet flights surge 24% in 2024
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced a 24% increase in Saudi Arabia’s business jet flight volumes in 2024, totalling 23,612 flights. Domestic flights rose by 26% to 9,206, while international flights increased by 15% to 14,406. Major hubs like King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh saw significant growth. The surge is attributed to new tourism destinations and major events such as the Future Investment Initiative and the Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah. GACA’s General Aviation Roadmap aims to develop the sector into a $2 billion industry by 2030, supporting 35,000 jobs and enhancing infrastructure across the kingdom.
Flyadeal celebrates milestone and plans for Hajj 2025
Flyadeal has celebrated a significant milestone by transporting 20 million passengers through its Riyadh base. This achievement highlights the airline’s rapid growth since its launch in 2017. The airline has also announced plans to transport 75,000 international pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj season, a 7% increase from the previous year. To achieve this, flyadeal will operate additional charter flights from countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and India. The airline will also expand its year-round Umrah services to accommodate more pilgrims, providing affordable and reliable travel options.
Flydubai to resume flights from Dubai to Beirut soon
Flydubai has announced plans to resume its flights between Dubai and Beirut in the near future. The airline had previously suspended this route due to regional developments but is now preparing to reinstate services as conditions improve. Passengers are advised to check flydubai’s official channels for the most up-to-date information on flight schedules and bookings. The resumption of this route aims to enhance connectivity between the UAE and Lebanon, catering to the travel needs of passengers in both countries. Flydubai remains committed to providing safe and reliable travel options for its customers.
Flynas expects IPO approval soon
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier, Flynas, anticipates receiving approval from the Capital Market Authority for its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the Riyadh stock exchange. The airline intends to list 30% of its shares, aiming to raise capital to support its aggressive expansion plans. Flynas operates an all-Airbus fleet, serving over 70 domestic and international destinations with more than 1,500 flights weekly. The IPO is expected to attract significant investor interest, reflecting confidence in the airline’s growth trajectory and the broader Saudi aviation sector.
Egypt to enhance Cairo Airport capacity to 40 million passengers
Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced plans to expand Cairo International Airport’s capacity to 40 million passengers annually through a series of service upgrades and infrastructure developments. A key component of this initiative is the construction of a new terminal, referred to as Terminal 4, which will initially accommodate 30 million passengers per year, with the potential to increase capacity by an additional 10 million. The project also includes the development of a new runway equipped with advanced navigation and ground lighting systems to enhance operational efficiency. These efforts align with Egypt’s broader strategy to modernise its airport infrastructure, improve passenger services, and position Cairo International Airport as a competitive hub in the region.
Earlier this week…
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi carries 3.5 million passengers in 2024
In 2024, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi operated over 19,000 flights, offering more than 4.4 million ultra-low-cost seats and transporting over 3.5 million passengers, marking a 20 per cent year-on-year growth in both seat capacity and passenger numbers. The airline facilitated the arrival of more than 1.2 million international visitors to Abu Dhabi, accounting for 25 per cent of Zayed International Airportβs point-to-point traffic and bolstering the emirateβs tourism sector. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi currently connects the emirate to over 30 destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Turkish Airlines to launch flights to Minneapolis and Auckland, named safest airline in Europe
Turkish Airlines has announced plans to launch flights to Minneapolis, USA, in April or May 2025, marking its 15th US destination. The airline also intends to introduce flights to Auckland, New Zealand, via Singapore. Additionally, Turkish Airlines is resuming services to Benghazi, Libya, and preparing to re-enter the Syrian market with flights to Damascus.
Meanwhile, the airline was recently recognised as the safest in Europe and 13th globally by AirlineRatings, and received multiple awards in 2024 for its catering, inflight entertainment, and service excellence.
Emirates expands vegan options
Emirates has enhanced its vegan menu with over 300 plant-based recipes, using innovative ingredients like legume-based egg substitutes and eggless pastry. The airline sources high-quality products globally, including Beyond Meat’s plant-based proteins and organic dark vegan chocolate. Fresh produce is also sourced from Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm. Vegan options are available across all cabin classes, lounges, and can be pre-ordered on all flights.
Virgin Australia triples reward seats on Doha services
Virgin Australia has announced a significant increase in reward seat availability for its Velocity Frequent Flyer members. The airline is tripling the number of reward seats on flights between Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Doha, operated in partnership with Qatar Airways. Available for travel from 12 June to 10 December 2025, Economy reward seats start at 42,000 points from Perth and 56,000 points from Sydney or Brisbane, plus applicable fees and charges. Business class seats are available for 89,500 points from Perth and 119,500 points from Sydney or Brisbane, offering access to Qatar Airways’ Qsuite Business Class.
Saudi Arabia sees 33% rise in winter travel searches amid declining costs
Wego has reported a 33.58% increase in international flight searches from Saudi Arabia compared to the previous winter. This surge is accompanied by a 25.47% decrease in flight costs compared to the summer 2024 peak season, and a modest 3% year-over-year reduction in airfares. Top destinations for travellers from Saudi include Egypt, Pakistan, and India, reflecting a trend of expatriates returning home for the holidays. TΓΌrkiye and the United Arab Emirates also remain popular, while growing interest is seen with Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, and Italy.
