| Emirates boosts services to Dublin with a third daily flight
United Arab Emirates: In a significant enhancement to its Irish operations, Emirates is set to operate a third daily service to Dublin this winter starting from 26 October 2025. The world’s largest international airline will offer customers more travel choices to Dubai and beyond, as well as increased cargo capacity to/from Dublin. |
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| Etihad Airways, SKY express sign codeshare partnership
United Arab Emirates: Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Greek regional carrier SKY express, opening access to 24 Greek island destinations and three additional Eastern Mediterranean cities for customers travelling via Athens. |
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| Saudia, flyadeal rise high in Cirium’s June punctuality rankings
Saudia emerged as the world’s most punctual airline in June, topping global rankings for both on-time departures and arrivals, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. |
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| Air France eyes daily Paris-Riyadh flights amid soaring demand
Air France is planning to operate daily flights between Paris and Riyadh, a senior airline official told Arab News in an exclusive interview. |
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| Saudi Arabia, France civil aviation authorities discuss boosting cooperation
A delegation from the Saudi civil aviation sector, led by General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, visited the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, as part of the 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, which ends on June 22. |
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| Riyadh Air to launch new destination every 2 months as 787 deliveries near
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air is gearing up to introduce a new international destination every two months once it begins operations, as the carrier prepares to receive its first Boeing 787 aircraft. |
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| PIF’s AviLease to acquire up to 77 Airbus jets in expansion drive
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-owned AviLease has signed a deal to purchase up to 77 Airbus aircraft, further expanding its next-generation, fuel-efficient fleet to meet rising global demand across passenger and cargo operations. |
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| Riyadh Air orders up to 50 Airbus A350 jets to expand long-haul fleet
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed a deal to acquire up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as it gears up to launch operations later this year. |
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| Saudi airline flynas’ IPO oversubscribed by nearly 350%
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas finalized its initial public offering share allocation at SR80 ($21) per share, the top of its indicated range, following robust demand from institutional and retail investors. |
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| Middle East airlines to lead global profit margins in 2025, IATA says
Middle East airlines are forecast to post the world’s highest net profit margin in 2025 of 8.7 percent, outpacing global peers, according to the latest industry report. |
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| Global production of sustainable aviation fuel to reach 2m tonnes in 2025: IATA
Global sustainable aviation fuel production is expected to double to reach 2 million tonnes in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the International Air Transport Association. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah airport soars to top three in Middle East airport rankings
King Abdulaziz International Airport has secured third place in the 2024 Airport Connectivity Index for the Middle East, marking a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s ascent as a global aviation hub. |
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| Riyadh airport tops Saudi on-time performance rankings in April: GACA data
Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport recorded the highest on-time departure rate among the Kingdom’s international airports in April, achieving 90 percent punctuality, official data showed. |
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| Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities
Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has called for studies into developing metro systems in the Kingdom’s major cities, Asharq Al-Awsat has reported. |
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| Saudi air passenger traffic up 15% to over 128m in 2024
Saudi Arabia’s air travel sector experienced a 15 percent growth in passenger traffic in 2024, with more than 128 million passengers traveling through the Kingdom’s airports, a report revealed. |
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| ‘A revolution in the way people travel’ — Saudi aviation industry soaring with sky-high ambition
Increased technology integration and greater connectivity over the next five years will see Saudi Arabia cement its position as a global aviation hub, experts have told Arab News. |
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| Saudi Arabia explores helicopter manufacturing partnership with Airbus
Saudi Arabia is exploring joint manufacturing opportunities with Airbus Helicopters as part of its broader effort to localize advanced aviation technologies and strengthen the domestic industry. |
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| Flynas to float 30% stake in Saudi IPO after record profit
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas plans to float 30 percent of its share capital in an initial public offering on the Kingdom’s main stock market, becoming the country’s first airline to list on Tadawul. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s flynas Middle East’s fastest-growing airline from 2019-2024: report
Saudi low-cost carrier flynas’s capacity increased by 63 percent from 2019 to 2024, making it the fastest-growing airline in the Middle East region, according to an analysis. |
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| UAE jobs: Etihad Airways to hold career fair for Emiratis on May 22
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, announced on Friday the launch of its first career fair, in an attempt to connect ambitious Emirati talent with a wide range of career opportunities in aviation and beyond. |
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| Saudia Group expands historic deal with Airbus to include 20 more aircraft
Saudia Group has expanded its historic deal with Airbus to include an additional 20 aircrafts for its Saudia and Flyadeal airlines. |
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| Saudi, Egypt transport ministers discuss enhancing cooperation
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser met Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir recently in NEOM. |
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| UAE to resume flights to Syria after 12-year hiatus
The UAE is set to reestablish air links with Syria, announcing the resumption of flights after more than a decade-long suspension, according to the country’s official news agency. |
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| Kuwait, Saudi Arabia ink MoC to boost civil aviation cooperation
Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) with the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on Wednesday, aimed at strengthening technical collaboration and expertise exchange in the civil aviation sector. |
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| Riyadh Air receives Air Operator Certificate, set to launch flights in 2025
Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has received approval from the General Authority of Civil Aviation to commence its flight operations, according to a statement released on Sunday. |
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| Middle East airlines witness 3.3% passenger demand growth in February: IATA
Airlines operating in the Middle East recorded a 3.3 percent year-on-year increase in passenger demand in February, with total flight capacity rising 1.3 percent during the same period, an industry report showed. |
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| Saudia launches direct flights to Bali
Saudia has launched a scheduled service to Bali with three weekly flights from Jeddah, marking the airline’s second regular destination in Indonesia after Jakarta. |
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| Riyadh’s international airport tops Saudi aviation rankings
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh led Saudi Arabia’s aviation performance rankings for February, driven by improved passenger services and faster processing times, official data showed. |
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| 2.5m Syrians in Saudi Arabia to benefit from Dammam-Damascus flights
Over 2.5 million Syrian residents in Saudi Arabia will benefit from direct flights between Dammam and Damascus, reconnecting families and enhancing transport between the two countries. |
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| Direct flights from Stuttgart to Jeddah to begin later this year
Direct flights from Stuttgart, Germany, to Jeddah, will begin in the second half of 2025 and operate twice a week, the Saudi Air Connectivity Program has announced. |
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| Wizz Air to launch Gatwick-Madinah flights
European budget airline Wizz Air is launching direct flights between London Gatwick Airport and the Saudi city of Madinah this summer. |
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| UAE's Air Arabia offers 500,000 seats for as low as Dh129 starting February 17
Sharjah-based Air Arabia’s super seat sale is back. The budget airline is offering 500,000 seats across its entire network at discounted fares starting from Dh129. |
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| Air Arabia posts record Dh1.6 billion pre-tax net profit, 11% total turnover growth
Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier operator in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced its financial and operational results for the full year ending December 31, 2024. |
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| Saudi Arabia bets on flying taxis and autonomous vehicles to transform mobility
Saudi Arabia is positioning itself at the forefront of mobility innovation, with industry leaders highlighting the potential of flying taxis and autonomous vehicles at the LEAP conference in Riyadh. |
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| UAE flights: Etihad Airways announces daily service to Atlanta from November 1
UAE's flagship carrier Etihad Airways will increase its frequency to Atlanta to daily flights from November 1 after it launches its new service to the American city four times a week on July 2. |
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| Riyadh airport to revolutionize retail with major expansion: official
Saudi Arabia is set to elevate the retail experience at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh by expanding its duty-free offerings and upgrading infrastructure to better serve passengers. |
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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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| 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-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. |