This week in aviation, leading airlines across the Middle East continue to make strides in service and performance. Saudia celebrates its top on-time ranking and a noteworthy business class offer, while Etihad Airways shares impressive July statistics. And while Riyadh Air partners with Concacaf, marking a major step in sports sponsorship, and Emirates introduces a new elite wine program for its cabin crew, Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport reports a slight dip in passenger numbers.

Middle Eastern airports recognised as world’s most well-connected

Istanbul Airport has been crowned the world’s most connected airport in 2024, offering direct flights to 309 destinations, bolstered by Turkish Airlines, which flies to 130 countries as of June 2024. In sixth place is Dubai Airport (DXB) offering flights to 269 destinations, mostly driven by Emirates Airlines; and in 12th place is Saudi’s King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah offering 219 connections.

(As one of Europe’s busiest airports, Frankfurt Airport holds the second position with 296 destinations; while Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport which connects 282 destinations ranks thrid.)

UAE aiports report 14% rise in passenger traffic

The UAE’s airports have enjoyed a significant increase in passenger traffic in the first half of 2024, with nearly 72 million passengers, a 14% YoY improvement. The growth was driven by the competitive performance and international reputation of UAE national carriers, according to Saif Mohammed Al Suwaidi, Director-General of the General Civil Aviation Authority.

Air cargo traffic also grew, reaching 2.2 million tonnes, with national carriers accounting for 68% of the total. Air traffic movements increased by 12% YoY, with February recording the highest growth rate of 15%. The UAE’s aviation sector continues to expand, with Dubai Airports forecasting a record 92 million passengers in 2024 and Abu Dhabi International Airport seeing a 67% increase in passenger traffic in the first half of the year.

Qatar Airways ups flights to London, Male, Miami and Tokyo; acquires stake in Airlink

Thanks to increased demand, Qatar Airways will add an eigth daily flight to London from 27 October 2024. Along with the two daily flights operated by its joint business partner, British Airways, there will be 10 daily flights between London Heathrow and Doha. The carrier will also serve Male with up to 28 weekly flights starting 13 December, Miami with up to 12 weekly flights from 16 December, and Tokyo with 11 weekly flights from 14 February 2025.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways Group has acquired a 25% stake in Southern Africa’s Airlink, enhancing the carriers’ code-sharing partnership and bolstering Qatar’s Africa growth strategy, as it expands its operations across the continent. Airlink operates flights to more than 45 destinations across 15 African countries.

Saudia tops on-time performance, offers 50% discounts

Saudia has once again claimed the top spot in global on-time performance, marking its second consecutive achievement. According to Cirium’s July 2024 report, Saudia boasts an impressive on-time arrival rate of 88.12% and an on-time departure rate of 88.15%, solidifying its position as a leader in punctuality. Operating an extensive network of over 100 destinations across four continents, Saudia successfully executed 16,503 flights in July 2024.

Meanwhile, the airline is offering compelling discounts of up to 50% on international routes for Guest and Business Class passengers flying via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The offer ends 31 August and is valid for travel between 1 September and 30 November 2024.

Oman Air boosts connection to Salalah

Oman Air is strengthening its commitment to Khareef Dhofar by boosting connectivity to Salalah. Operating up to 11 daily flights during peak periods and upgrading select services to wide-body aircraft, the strategic move will see an additional 4,500 seats being made available throughout the season. In July, Oman Air welcomed nearly 50,000 passengers to Salalah, with a significant 70% of them taking advantage of the airline’s fixed national fare tickets. Priced at OMR54 (US$166) return during the khareef season and OMR64 (US$140) for the rest of the year, the fixed national fare is offered exclusively through the airline’s website and mobile app.

Surging stats for Etihad Airways in July 2024

Etihad Airways has reported a strong performance for July 2024, carrying over 1.7 million passengers with a seat load factor of 89%. The airline operated over 7,000 flights in July, reaching more than 60 destinations worldwide and the increase in passenger numbers reflects a 33% YoY increase. These latest statistics bring Etihad’s year-to-date passenger numbers to 10.4 million as its fleet increases to more than 93 aircraft. 

Riyadh Air is Concacaf’s ‘Official Airline Partner’

Riyadh Air has announced a major multi-year partnership with Concacaf, becoming the official airline of the FIFA Confederation for North, Central America, and the Caribbean. This strategic alliance marks Riyadh Air’s positioning on the global sporting stage just a year after its launch. 

The partnership will see Riyadh Air playing a prominent role in key women’s, men’s, and touch football tournaments from 2025, further enhancing its brand visibility and fostering connections with sports enthusiasts worldwide.

Bespoke ‘L’art du vin’ wine classes for Emirates’ cabin crew

Emirates is elevating its in-flight service by launching L’art du Vin an elite wine learning opportunity for its cabin crew. This initiative aims to further enhance the airline’s world-class service by empowering crew members to appreciate the value of Emirates’ exceptional wine program and explore the world of wine. Designed by the Emirates Crew Training team, the program consists of three intensive courses tailored to different levels of expertise: Introduction, Business Class, and First Class. This training aims to set a new standard in wine knowledge and service among Emirates’ crew members, ensuring they can expertly guide passengers through the airline’s impressive selection of acclaimed wines and rare vintages.

Nile Air operated its first Cairo-Arar international flights

Nile Air has launched its first international flight route from Cairo to Arar. The new service aims to boost passenger traffic between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and is a welcome to the Kingdom, alinging with its Vision 2030 to increase flight route capacity and welcome more than 150 million visitors by 2030. The launch marks a major expansion in the Kingdom’s air connectivity, and reflects its ambition to become a key aviation hub connecting the East and West.

Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport reports passenger number drop

Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has recorded a 7.5% decrease in passenger numbers to 952,177, compared to the same period in 2023. Aircraft movements (ACM) also declined by 6.8% to 7,592, while cargo handling saw a significant 32.1% increase to 6,924 tonnes. Year-to-date passenger figures have dropped 5.1% to 5,104,710, with ACM decreasing by 5.0% to 43,154. However, cargo handling has seen a substantial 24.7% rise to 45,348 tonnes, compared to the same period last year.

“The ongoing Gaza war continues to adversely impact airline operations and tourism flow, thus affecting our traffic numbers for the month of July,” said Nicolas Deviller, Airport International Group CEO. He added the aiport remains committed to diversifying airline and destination networks to boost tourism.