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Etihad Guest unveils five million miles travel challenge
Etihad Airways has launched a new competition offering Etihad Guest members the chance to win up to five million miles by flying to each of its new 15 destinations launched in 2025. The challenge is open to both new and existing members, who must complete trips to cities including Atlanta, Tunis, Taipei, and Prague by May 25, 2026.
The first to complete the challenge wins five million miles, second place gets three million, and third gets a million. A live leaderboard and digital passport will track progress.
Flydubai launches pilot training program amid fleet expansion
Flydubai has launched a new Ab Initio Pilot Training program to prepare cadets for commercial flying as it rapidly expands its fleet. With 88 Boeing 737s in service and more than 125 737 Max aircraft on order, including 12 due this year, alongside plans to introduce 30 Boeing 787s for long-haul operations, the airline is investing heavily in its training infrastructure. The new multi-crew pilot licence (MPL) program, developed with international partners, aims to take cadets with minimal flight experience to full readiness for 737 operations within 18-24 months.
Training will include ground school, simulators, flight instruction, and line integration. The first group is expected to start training by the end of 2025 at Flydubai’s advanced training centre, which already houses three Boeing 737 full-flight simulators, with a fourth on the way. The airline is also considering acquiring a Boeing 787 simulator ahead of its widebody deliveries in 2027.
Air Arabia adopts AE Coin for flight payments and releases seasonal Giza route
Air Arabia has become the first airline in the region to accept stablecoin payments, following a partnership with Al Maryah Community Bank (Mbank). The integration allows customers to use AE Coin, an AED-backed stablecoin, via the AEC Wallet App when booking flights on Air Arabia’s website. Backed as 1:1 to the UAE Dirham, AE Coin offers secure, low-fee, and stable transactions, supporting the UAE’s digital-first economy goals.
The airline has also announced a new seasonal route running three times a week between Abu Dhabi and Giza, Egypt from 26 June to 11 September, 2025.
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ICYMI …
- Jazeera Airways has launched a summer sale with one-way fares starting from KD19 to destinations including the UAE, Nepal, Egypt, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, India, and Georgia, valid for travel through August.
- Abu Dhabi Airports has announced a new Air Seychelles service between Seychelles and Abu Dhabi, operating six times per week.
- Emirates is adding 46 flights for Eid Al Adha and Hajj, including 33 to Jeddah and Madinah, and 13 to regional destinations like Amman, Dammam, Kuwait, and Bahrain, to accommodate increased travel demand. This comes as Emirates and Air Mauritius have also renewed and expanded their codeshare and cargo partnership.
- Etihad co-hosted the IATA Regional SAF Workshop in Abu Dhabi on 22-23 May, which focused on accelerating sustainable aviation fuel adoption.
- EgyptAir has announced the purchase of 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft to modernise its fleet and expand long-haul operations.
- Kuwait Airways has added the Airbus A321neo to its fleet, featuring 16 flat-bed business class seats, marking the airline’s first narrow-body aircraft with these amenities.
- Bilt and Qatar Airways have partnered to allow Bilt members to transfer points to Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios at a 1:1 ratio, enhancing travel reward options.
- Air France has launched a direct Riyadh-Paris route operated by Airbus A350-900 aircraft, starting from 20 May 2025.
- Flydubai is expanding its Prague-Dubai flight schedule to ten weekly connections starting October through April, and has unveiled a refurbished Travel Shop in Deira to enhance customer experience.
- AJet, is launching three new routes between Turkey’s Ankara, Diyarbakir, and Mersin cities and Skopje, North Macedonia linking more of Europe with Turkey.
