| Middle East carriers witness 13% cargo demand growth in 2024: IATA
Middle Eastern air carriers saw a 13 percent increase in air cargo demand in 2024 compared to the previous year, driven by the e-commerce boom and various ocean freight restrictions, according to an analysis. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s flyadeal joins IATA, boosting Kingdom’s aviation growth
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier, flyadeal, has joined the International Air Transport Association, marking a significant step in its regional and global expansion while supporting the Kingdom’s growing aviation sector. |
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| Saudi-UK aviation ties set for growth amid investment push
Saudi Arabia aims to strengthen aviation ties with the UK as officials from both countries met to boost investment and collaboration, amid the Kingdom’s push to upgrade its airports and expand global connectivity. |
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| Riyadh Air secures license for advanced flight simulator
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has obtained a General Authority of Civil Aviation license for its first Boeing 787-9 full-flight simulator, a key step in its preparations for a 2025 operational launch. |
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| Kuwait awards design of railway project to Turkish firm Proyapi
The Central Agency for Public Tenders in Kuwait has awarded the design contract for the country’s railway project to Turkish engineering and consulting firm Proyapi, marking a significant step in the development of the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia railway. |
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| Emirates airline to resume flights to Beirut
Emirates airline will resume flights to Beirut on Feb. 1 after a four-month suspension triggered by conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a statement said on Friday. |
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| Saudia sets new heights in 2024, flying 20m international passengers with 16% growth
Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier Saudia reported a 16 percent year-on-year rise in its international passenger numbers in 2024, reaching 20 million, highlighting its growth and operational success. |
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| Saudi aviation authority imposes $5m in fines in 2024
The General Authority of Civil Aviation issued 542 fines totaling SR18.8 million ($5 million) in 2024 for violations of civil aviation law, its regulations, and authority instructions, the Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| New expansion increases Riyadh airport’s capacity to 7m passengers
The first phase of the Terminal 1 expansion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was inaugurated on Jan. 8, enhancing the airport’s capacity to accommodate up to 7 million passengers per year. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s flynas begins Jeddah-Djibouti flights; flyadeal launches 5 routes
Saudi low-cost airline flynas launched its first direct flight between Jeddah and Djibouti on Jan. 8, further expanding its network in Africa. |
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| Saudi Arabia sees 45% annual growth in domestic flight bookings: report
Saudi Arabia recorded a 45 percent annual growth in domestic flight bookings in 2024, fueled by the Kingdom’s expanding tourism offerings and increased connectivity through low-cost carriers. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz International Airport serves 49.1m passengers in 2024
King Abdulaziz International Airport in the Saudi port city of Jeddah served 49.1 million passengers in 2024, representing a 14 percent growth compared to the previous year. |
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| Saudi aviation soaring after record growth, major expansions
Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector reached new heights over the past 12 months, marked by a surge in passenger numbers, a fleet expansion with new jet acquisitions, and strategic global partnerships. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s flynas launches weekly Dammam-Red Sea flights to boost tourism connectivity
Saudi low-cost airline flynas has launched a new direct route connecting Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport to the Red Sea, enhancing access to the Kingdom’s premier tourism destination. |
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| Saudi Arabia accelerates digital transformation with new transport initiatives
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics has taken a significant step forward in its digital transformation with the launch of a new Digitalization and Technical Processing Center, alongside the unveiling of the Unified Documents and Records Platform. |
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| Saudi flyadeal records lowest complaint in November, 99% resolution rate: GACA
Saudi low-cost airline flyadeal recorded the fewest complaints among its competitors in November, with just 11 per 100,000 travelers, and achieved a 99 percent resolution rate, a recent report revealed. |
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| Dubai peak travel alert: Airport guidelines for passengers as DXB expects 5.2 million guests in 2 weeks
UAE residents who are flying out of Dubai for the winter holiday season are urged to plan their airport trips carefully as Dubai International (DXB) braces for an influx of travellers. More than 5.2 million guests are projected to travel through DXB between December 13 and 31, authorities said on Thursday. |
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| Right on time: Riyadh Metro engineers new era of urban mobility
In a city where rapid development has outpaced infrastructure, the Riyadh Metro is setting a new benchmark for urban transport in the Kingdom. The $23 billion mega-project, one of the largest metro systems built in a single phase, has six lines, 176 kilometers of track and 85 stations. |
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| Bahrain Airshow concludes with key deals, record aircraft displays
The Bahrain International Airshow 2024 concluded with a flurry of major business deals, including a contract between Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and Leonardo to modernize the country’s air traffic radar and surveillance systems. |
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| NBK offers 15% cashback on flight bookings with four airlines
National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) has announced offering 15 percent cashback on selected airlines when using eligible NBK Visa credit/prepaid cards. The offer comes within the bank’s dedication to rewarding customers all year round through a diverse package of exclusive benefits and offers tailored to meet their needs and expectations. |
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| Abu Dhabi Airports inaugurates new US customs and border protection facility
Abu Dhabi Airports on Friday inaugurated the new US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) preclearance facility at Zayed International Airport (AUH). |
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| Bahrain airshow sets stage for aerospace partnerships
The Bahrain International Airshow 2024 is poised to elevate Bahrain’s position as a leader in the global aerospace industry, foster economic growth, and forge vital industry partnerships. |
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| UrbanV joins forces with Cluster2 to revolutionize air mobility in Saudi Arabia
Saudi airports under Cluster2’s management will soon begin feasibility studies to explore the implementation of advanced air mobility solutions. |
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| Saudi Arabia to boost military sector, partnerships at Airshow China 2024
Saudi Arabia will participate in the 2024 China Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, aiming to foster partnerships and further develop its military sector. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s flyadeal boosts Dammam network with 3 domestic routes
Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, flyadeal, will launch three new domestic routes from Dammam starting in January, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives. |
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| Riyadh Air plans new jet order decision early next year
Saudi startup Riyadh Air is wading back into the jet market after buying dozens of Airbus and Boeing planes and aims to finalize a new deal involving the industry’s largest twin-aisle jets early next year, its CEO said. |
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| Saudi airline flynas expands African reach with new routes to Uganda and Djibouti
Saudi budget airline flynas will add two new African destinations to its network starting in January 2025, aligning with its broader expansion strategy across the continent. |
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| Saudi aviation to enhance innovation, sustainability through new alliance
The Saudi aviation sector will benefit from a strategic alliance between the King Salman International Airport Development Co. and the Future Investment Initiative Institute to enhance innovation and sustainability. |
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| Riyadh Air orders 60 next-generation Airbus A321 aircraft
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has signed an agreement to purchase 60 Airbus A321neo single-aisle aircraft, as it plans to commence its operations in 2025. |
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| UAE: Etihad cancels some flights to and from Kuwait for 4-day period
UAE's local airline Etihad Airways cancelled some flights to Kuwait for a four-day period, the airline announced. |
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| Kuwait, Malaysia to increase flight frequency, code sharing
Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) signed two memoranda of understanding with Malaysia and South Korea Thursday to enhance cooperation in civil aviation. Chief of the DGCA Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Sabah signed the agreements during the fourth day of the International Civil Aviation Agreements Conference (ICAO 2024) held in the Malaysian capital. |
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| Kuwait eyes boosting flight operations with India
Increasing flight operations between India and Kuwait is a “top priority” for the Kuwaiti airlines, said Head of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of Kuwait (DGCA) Sheikh Humoud Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. |
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| Saudi Arabia to appoint private operators to manage 4 airports soon, say Al-Falih
Saudi Arabia is strengthening the role of private entities in the logistics and transport sector through various initiatives, including a new investment law, according to a top minister. |
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| Kuwait Airways revenues jump by 16% in 2023
Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) reported a 16 percent increase in revenue for 2023, reaching KD 335 million (about $1 billion), announced Board Chairman Abdulmohsen Alfagaan on Thursday. |
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| Saudi Arabia adds 60 direct routes since launch of Air Connectivity Program
Saudi Arabia has introduced 60 new direct air routes since the launch of its national Air Connectivity Program, according to Majid Khan, CEO of the initiative. |
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| Etihad Airways' Abu Dhabi Stopover Programme achieves exceptional growth
Etihad Airways and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) announced that the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme welcomed 24,000 international visitors in the first half of 2024, compared to 7,000 in the latter half of 2023 - an increase of 242 per cent. |
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| Qatar Airways buys into Virgin Australia, raising the stakes against Qantas
Qatar Airways will buy a 25 percent stake in Virgin Australia from US private equity firm Bain Capital, posing a tougher contest for Qantas Airways that has dominated Australian routes and pushed back against giving access to the Middle Eastern carrier. |
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| Wizz Air expects 15-20% growth in passenger volume next year thanks to Mid East routes
Wizz Air expects 15-20 percent growth in passenger volume next year, its CEO told Reuters, with new low-cost routes to the Middle East, such as from Europe to the UAE, adding an extra boost. |
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| UAE travels: Emirates, Etihad flights delayed as typhoon Bebinca hits Shanghai
Typhoon Bebinca made landfall in Shanghai on Monday morning as a Category 1 storm, the most powerful tropical cyclone to directly hit the Chinese financial hub in more than seven decades. |
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| Riyadh Air begins non-commercial flights as part of certification process
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has launched its first non-commercial flight from the capital’s King Khalid International Airport as part of the airline’s certification process. |
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| Riyadh Air teams up with noon payments to enhance digital transactions
Passengers on Riyadh Air will benefit from a more seamless digital transaction experience as the soon-to-be-operational Saudi carrier has partnered with noon payments. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s PIF explores acquisition of Boeing, Airbus freighters for new cargo airline: Bloomberg
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is in discussions to acquire Boeing and Airbus freighters as part of a plan to establish a new cargo airline, according to Bloomberg. |
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| Riyadh Air partners with FIFA’s Concacaf as official airline
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has secured a multi-year agreement to become the official airline partner of Concacaf, the FIFA Confederation for North, Central America, and the Caribbean. |
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| UAE’s Etihad Rail launches sustainable finance framework in green push
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the United Arab Emirates’ rail network, has launched a sustainable finance framework to support its green investments in transportation and infrastructure, it said on Wednesday. |
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| Mawani, Aljeri launch $43m logistics zones in Jeddah and Dammam
Two
new logistics zones, spanning 150,000 sq. meters, will be established at Jeddah
Islamic Port and King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with a SR160 million ($42.6
million) investment. |
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| Saudi airport operator Cluster2 achieves new record with 1.73m travelers in July
Cluster2, the Saudi airport operating firm, has set a new passenger milestone by handling 1.73 million travelers in July, marking a 9 percent increase from the previous record set in July 2019. |
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| Etihad’s H1 profit surges 48% to Dh851m
Etihad Airways recorded a 48 per cent increase in profit after tax at Dh851 million driven by strong passenger and cargo revenue growth in the first six months of 2024. |
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| UAE: Airfares for visa-free countries surge 300% ahead of next public holiday
UAE residents will have to pay a whopping 300 per cent more on airfares to visa-free countries during the next long weekend. |
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| Air Arabia reports H1 net profit of Dh693 million
Air Arabia (PJSC), the Middle East and North Africa's first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator, on Monday announced strong financial and operational results for the second quarter and first half of 2024, as the airline continued to expand its network, further solidifying its leadership position in the market. |
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| US-Bangla Airlines given approval to operate regular Dhaka-Jeddah flights
Saudi Arabia is expanding its global air connectivity by allowing US-Bangla Airlines to operate seven weekly flights between the Kingdom and Bangladesh starting August 1. |