Top 3 Headlines

Qatar Airways unveils Privilege Club Pro and completes Starlink Wi-Fi rollout on B777 fleet

Qatar Airways has launched its new loyalty subscription, Privilege Club Pro, that allows members to earn monthly Avios and Qpoints, marking the first such Avios-based programme globally. Available in four tiers, the service gives travellers enhanced flexibility to boost their rewards and maintain elite status. Members can redeem Avios for exclusive experiences, upgrades, and purchases across Qatar Duty Free and global partners.

This week, the airline also completed its Starlink Wi-Fi installation on all 54 Boeing 777 aircraft, making it the largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet in the world. Passengers now enjoy free high-speed internet up to 500 Mbps gate-to-gate, redefining in-flight connectivity across Qatar Airways’ growing global network.

Emirates named most recommended global brand for 2025 amid surge in summer travel interest, celebrates World AI Appreciation Day

Emirates has been crowned YouGov’s Most Recommended Global Brand for 2025 with an impressive 88.4% score, showcasing its commitment to delivering on its ‘Fly Better’ promise. The airline has been busy expanding its reach, introducing new destinations, and upgrading its fleet with A350 aircraft on 10 routes. Additionally, Emirates has reimagined travel retail experiences and achieved a significant milestone by becoming the world’s first Autism Certified Airline.

The airline’s summer travel trends show a 7% year-over-year rise in searches, with travellers flocking to cultural and nature-rich destinations like Vietnam, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Japan, and France. Meanwhile, Dubai-based content creator Khalifa Alfuqaei has showcased Emirates’ family-friendly services in an engaging animated video, leveraging AI tools to highlight the airline’s seamless and comfortable journeys for families. This creative collaboration reflects Dubai’s ambitions to become a global AI hub by 2031, driven by government initiatives, talent development, and a thriving startup ecosystem.

Etihad expands network with new routes, codeshare with SKY express, and strong June growth

Etihad Airways has announced robust growth and strategic network expansion, reporting a 16% YoY increase in passenger traffic for June 2025, carrying 1.8 million passengers with an 88% load factor.

The airline has also unveiled seven new destinations launching between November 2025 and March 2026, including Medina, Baku, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Almaty, Bucharest, and Tashkent. These additions bring Etihad’s total new routes for 2025 to 27.

Additionally, the airline has recently entered a codeshare partnership with Greece’s SKY express, granting access to 24 Greek islands and boosting connectivity through Athens.

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Noteworthy: 

1. Flyadeal has launched four new direct routes from Riyadh and Dammam to key cities in Pakistan, expanding its South Asia presence with flights to Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan to meet strong demand for business and visiting friends or relatives (VFR) travel.
2. Emirates has extended its Premium Economy service to Male and Colombo, offering enhanced comfort and value to passengers on select Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft starting from 1 July 2025.
3. Queen Alia International Airport has renewed its Level 4+ Airport Carbon Accreditation through 2028, maintaining its position as a regional leader in sustainability and climate action under ACI’s global programme.
4. Dubai Duty Free has signed an MoU with Crypto.com, paving the way for cryptocurrency payments at its retail outlets and embracing digital innovation in travel retail.
5. Oman Airports signed an MoU to develop tourism land projects aimed at enhancing airport zones and passenger experiences, while Oman Air was also named the official airline partner for COMEX 2025, supporting tech-driven initiatives.
6. Riyadh Airports Company received four accolades at the Hospitality Conference 2025, recognising its excellence in customer experience, innovation, and service quality at King Khalid International Airport.
7. Turkish Airlines and Airlink signed a new codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between Turkey and southern Africa.
8. Al-Ahsa has inaugurated its first-ever direct flight to Turkey, connecting the Saudi city with Istanbul as part of efforts to boost international tourism and regional air access.
9. Royal Jordanian has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, marking the start of a major fleet modernisation programme focused on fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and regional competitiveness.
10. EgyptAir has partnered with fintech company TRU to introduce flexible installment plans on flight bookings, giving Egyptian travellers new payment options to ease travel costs and boost bookings.