Abu Dhabi, UAE: Etihad Airways flight EY1 from Abu Dhabi to New York arrived at JFK Airport on Monday, 22 April, heralding the start of the airline’s A380 double-decker service featuring The Residence, the legendary, sumptuous three-room suite in the sky.
After a celebratory send-off in Abu Dhabi, Etihad pilots waved the US and UAE flags from the cockpit after the super-jumbo arrived on its stand in New York.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “We’re thrilled to introduce our A380 experience to New York, confident that our guests will relish the exceptional onboard journey. Whether travelling in Economy, Business, First Class, or our luxurious three-room suite, The Residence, passengers can expect unparalleled service from our award-winning crew.
“We want to ensure guests arrive in the Big Apple feeling refreshed and at ease. This commitment is crucial for all our travellers, not least our corporate clients who rely on us for business travel, and we have timed our A380 services, so customers arrive in New York or Abu Dhabi in time to make good use of the business day, or for their onward connections.
“Introducing the A380 to the popular New York route aligns with our strategy to meet increasing customer demand and expand our network. It comes just three weeks after we launched our new route to Boston, our fourth US gateway, underlining our commitment to serving and growing the North American market.”
The addition of the A380 significantly boosts Etihad’s capacity in the vital US market, providing seamless and convenient connections to the broader Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.
The increase in capacity will also make it easier to attract a greater number of visitors eager to explore the dynamic attractions of Abu Dhabi and savour the premium leisure experience on offer from Etihad.
One of Etihad’s two daily flights to New York will be serviced by the A380, while the other will be operated by a 787-9, offering First, Business, and Economy cabins.
Welcome onboard
Every guest in Etihad’s A380 is treated to a unique and elevated experience. For those in Economy, a dedicated welcome area sets the tone. The cabin boasts 68 extra legroom seats with an additional 4 inches of space, along with 337 Economy Smart seats featuring Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrests and large pillows for maximum comfort.
On the upper deck, the Business Studios™ provide an exclusive haven with 70 private spaces, ensuring a stress-free journey. The upper deck also houses The Lobby, a serviced lounge and bar area between the First and Business cabins. Collaborating with Armani/Casa, Etihad brings sophistication to the Business experience, offering premium ceramics, glassware, cutlery, and fabrics. Comprehensive Wi-Fi connection and extra levels of comfort and convenience make it easy for business travellers to remain productive and in touch.
First Apartments take luxury to new heights with nine private spaces, each equipped with designer tableware, a spacious leather lounge chair, and a separate ottoman that transforms into an 80” lie-flat bed. First-class guests can enjoy personal vanity units and access to the exclusive First-class shower room.
The Residence
At the pinnacle of luxury is The Residence, the world’s only three-room suite in the sky. Accommodating up to two guests, The Residence features a private living room, bedroom, and ensuite bathroom, complete with a shower at 40,000 feet. A dedicated team of Etihad cabin crew ensures unparalleled service.
Guests in The Residence can indulge in a culinary journey with an à la carte menu, served on designer tableware in the private living room, or even opt for breakfast in bed. From gourmet cuisine to champagne and caviar, The Residence Signature High Tea offers a range of lavish options.
Dubai, UAE: Emirates has commenced the activation of its fuel agreement with Neste this month at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Over 2 million gallons of blended SAF will be supplied into the fuelling system at Schiphol Airport over the course of 2024.
The airline will track the delivery of SAF into the fuelling systems and environmental benefits using standard industry accounting methodologies. Emirates’ partnership with Neste, announced late last year, represents one of the largest volumes of SAF that the airline has purchased to date.
Once fully supplied into Amsterdam Schiphol’s fuelling system, the blended SAF will have been comprised of over 700,000 gallons of neat SAF. The airline is also working with Neste to supply SAF into the fuelling systems at Singapore Changi Airport in the next few months.
“Collaborating with committed partners like Neste is one of the practical steps we are taking to reduce our emissions, and it’s an all-important milestone in our own sustainability journey as an airline. Strong partnerships like this, especially at major air transport hubs such as Amsterdam, lay the foundation for how we can work with partners and airports to increase access to and availability of SAF across our network,” said Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer, Emirates.
Alexander Kueper, Vice President Renewable Aviation, Neste, commented: “We are proud to support Emirates in their sustainability journey. SAF is an available solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from air travel and it is exciting that Emirates have started using our Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It is also a great example of how we are working together with partners to accelerate SAF usage and are looking forward to the next steps of our cooperation.”
SAF used as part of this agreement can be safely dropped into existing jet engines and airport fuelling infrastructure, and in neat form reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80%* compared to using conventional jet fuel.
Emirates’ first flight powered by SAF blended with jet fuel took place in 2017 from Chicago. The airline currently operates flights from Paris, Lyon and Oslo with SAF. In October of last year, Emirates, with the support of partners, also integrated SAF into Dubai Airport fuelling systems, allocating the SAF to a number of flights, including a flight to Sydney.
Earlier this year, the airline became the first international carrier to join the Solent Cluster in the UK, an initiative focused on low carbon investments with the potential to create a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) plant that can produce up to 200,000 tonnes (200 kt) per year if operational by 2032.
Emirates also actively contributes to a number of industry and UAE government working groups and is in continuous discussion with a range of stakeholders to help scale the production and supply of SAF. The airline, along with the UAE GCAA has actively played a part in developing the UAE’s power-to-liquid (PtL) fuels roadmap, driven by the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the World Economic Forum, in addition to contributing to the UAE’s National Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap which aims to transform the UAE into a regional hub for alternative aviation fuels with the ambition to produce 700 million litres of SAF by 2030.
Joining entities across aviation, government, regulatory, academic, fuel production and the manufacturer value chain, Emirates is a founding participant of the UAE research consortium Air-CRAFT, focused on developing, producing, and scaling sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) technologies for the industry.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Manchester City and global partner Etihad Airways are flying towards a better future for young people in India, with the announcement of a brand-new community football initiative in cities across the country.
The joint initiative will see Manchester City work in collaboration with Etihad Airways, Club charity City in the Community and non-governmental partner organisation (NGO) Magic Bus India Foundation, to deliver health and life skills training for local young people through football.
The project will launch this April in three cities from the airline’s network: New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, with more locations to follow.
This marks the latest in a series of impactful community collaborations between Manchester City and Etihad since the launch of the Official Partnership between the two organisations in 2009, including global and regional summits in Manchester and Abu Dhabi, which upskill young leaders in community football coaching and leadership.
The initiative will be delivered by local NGO Magic Bus India Foundation who have partnered with the club on various initiatives since 2016, including an Etihad supported programme in Kolkata, engaging 2,000 young people with health and hygiene education through football.
To kick-start the impact, Etihad will fly coaches from City in the Community, the Club’s official charity, to India to deliver world-class football and leadership training to Young Leaders championing the projects. The trainees will then put their skills into practice, as part of their commitment to using football to uplift the health of young people in their cities.
Tom Pitchon, Director of City Football Group’s global foundation, said: “We are proud to work with Etihad Airways to uplift the health and life skills of young people across India through the power of football.
“Etihad are a long-standing supporter of our community football impact, and it’s great to have them on board, helping us create real impact for young people around the world.”
Akhil Anumolu, Senior Vice President eCommerce, Digital, Marketing and Loyalty at Etihad Airways: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Etihad to work hand-in-hand with our partners at City Football Group to support the local community in India. Over the coming years, we’re committed to growing this programme across more locations in India, and we hope the unique power of football will have a lasting impact on the young people who take part and their wider community.”
Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus India Foundation, said: “Through the spirit of football, we are on a transformative journey with Manchester City, and Etihad Airways to enhance the life skills of young people across India. Together, we aim to create a lasting impact by empowering them through the universal language of ‘Sports for Development’. This initiative symbolizes our shared commitment to fostering positive change and building a better future for the Young Leaders and communities we touch.”
Dubai, UAE: FAI rent-a-jet GmbH’s Air Ambulance Division announced it has received its Commercial Airline Medical Escort (CAME) accreditation from the European Aeromedical Institute (EURAMI) for its Dubai-based medical escort service.
FAI is the first private company in the GCC with EURAMI CAME accreditation and the only European fixed-wing operator to receive both the CAME accreditation and the EURAMI-approved provider accreditation in the GCC. The CAME certification accredits aero-medical providers performing patient transfers, like FAI, to transport patients seated in the cabin or on a designated stretcher.
To qualify for CAME accreditation, operators must demonstrate sufficient operational experience of at least 100 completed missions; that they have dedicated qualified personnel and infrastructure suitable for CAME operations and suitable equipment to perform safe medical transportation on commercial flights. Additionally, providers must be compliant with at least 90% of the EURAMI CAME Standards including: Business Organisation and Ethics; Safety and Quality; Operations and Medical and Logistics.
“This is a fabulous endorsement for FAI and its medical escort service which underlines our unwavering attention to quality, safety and service excellence in our air medical operations. Our Dubai-based medical escort service is hugely popular with our largest Middle Eastern clients and we look forward to continuing to welcome patients and all who fly with us throughout 2024 and beyond,” said Barbara Baumgartner, Managing Director, FAI rent-a-jet DMCC branch.
FAI rent-a-jet is one of the world’s largest air ambulance jet operators. Its air ambulance operations boast a diverse and state-of-the-art 10-strong fleet of Bombardier aircraft (Learjet 60, Challenger 604s and Global Express aircraft), equipped with advanced medical technology to handle a wide range of air ambulance missions.
This diversity allows FAI to tailor its services to the unique needs of each patient, ensuring the highest level of care during transport which may include some of the most critical and challenging cases in the industry. FAI Air ambulance is supported by more than 250 full-time staff plus 50 part-time physicians, nurses and paramedics. The company also specializes in air support in hostile areas for the world´s largest NGO.
In November 2023, FAI Aviation Group was named Air Ambulance Company of the Year at the Middle East Aviation Awards and Barbara Baumgartner was named Aviation Business Innovative Leader.
FAI was named International Travel & Health Insurance Journal´s (ITIJ) Air Ambulance Company of the Year in 2021, 2020 and 2012. In December 2022, coinciding with MEBAA 2022 in Dubai, FAI was awarded “20 years of Aviation Excellence in the Middle East” by MEA Business at the Aviation Innovation Awards.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: flydubai, the Dubai-based low-cost carrier, reaped a record-breaking profit of AED 2.1 billion (USD 572 million) in 2023, up 75% from 2022 with its total revenue reaching AED 11.2 billion (USD 3 billion) last year from only AED 9.1 billion in 2022.
The carrier’s strongest-ever performance was fueled by significant growth in passengers it carried during the period. More than 13.8 million passengers travelled via flydubai in 2023, up 31 percent compared to 2022 and a new record surpassing its 11 million pre-pandemic figures.
Commenting on the announcement of the airline’s Full-Year Results for 2023, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, said: “In its 15th year of operations, flydubai has emerged as one of the key players in the UAE’s aviation industry and a major contributor to Dubai’s economy. Its solid business model has enabled the carrier to grow exponentially even during challenging times, doubling its operating fleet and expanding its network since the pandemic.
“This remarkable achievement has been made possible due to the vision of the UAE’s leadership and the progressive policies of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum which are conducive to the success of the aviation industry and flydubai as a key contributor to the sector.
“The decision to accelerate its aircraft deliveries during the pandemic, preserve its workforce and move forward with its ambitious network expansion plans has proven to be the correct strategy for the carrier resulting in its strongest-ever performance.”
Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said more than 108 million passengers have travelled via the airline since its inception.
“Building on the momentum from our previous strong performance, we continued to grow surpassing all pre-pandemic levels to achieve the most profitable year in the history of the airline. The confidence our leadership and key partners have in us has kept us steadfast in our commitment to connect more underserved markets to Dubai and to enable more passengers to travel conveniently more often. More than 108 million passengers have chosen flydubai since our first flight took off in 2009, proving the attractiveness of our offering and the city we carry in our name,” he said.
Closing cash and cash equivalents position: including pre-delivery payments for future aircraft deliveries, is AED 4.8 billion compared to AED 4.3 billion last year.
Fuel cost: continues to be the single highest operating cost for the airline accounting for 32% of total annual operating costs, due to elevated fuel prices. The airline continues to explore fuel hedging options and last year it hedged 12% of its fuel requirement.
Network expansion: flydubai launched 17 routes and ended 2023 with a network of 122 destinations in 52 countries including Ashgabat, Cairo Sphinx, Corfu (seasonal), Kabul, Milan, Mogadishu, Neom, Olbia (seasonal), Poznań, Shymkent and St. Petersburg. The launch of operations to Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand marked flydubai’s return to Southeast Asia.
Fleet size: flydubai took delivery of 13 new aircraft and ended 2023 with 84 aircraft: 29 Next-Generation Boeing 737-800, 52 Boeing 737 MAX 8, and 03 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft. Three Next-Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft were returned to the lessors at the end of their lease term.
flydubai’s 737 MAX 8 aircraft is 14% more fuel efficient than its predecessor and has enabled the airline to reduce its average fuel burn per block hour by 1.3% year-on-year.
Ongoing challenges with the aircraft manufacturer’s delivery schedule have resulted in four fewer aircraft being delivered in 2023. To mitigate the delays in aircraft deliveries and to meet the surge in demand for travel and add capacity, particularly during peak travel periods, flydubai entered another Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) agreement with Smartwings for six wet-leased aircraft.
At the Dubai Airshow 2023, flydubai placed a USD 11 billion order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be delivered from 2026. This marked the airline’s first wide-body order, diversifying its current fleet of all-Boeing 737 aircraft.
This year, Al Ghaith said the airline will continue with its growth trajectory, saying, “We are dedicated to supporting the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 to solidify its position as one of the world’s top three cities for tourism and business over the next decade. We will continue with our strategic network development plans that will see more destinations join the flydubai network this year starting with the five new routes announced since the start of 2024 including Basel, Riga, Sochi, Tallinn and Vilnius.”
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Turkish Airlines, one of the leading airlines in the world, announced a significant expansion in its flight frequencies to Italy, offering enhanced connectivity and convenience for travelers.
This strategic decision reflects Turkish Airlines’ commitment to meeting growing demand and expanding travel destinations for its passengers. By flying to 129 countries, the flag carrier offers 42.6 connection options to its passengers within its operational performance.
Turkish Airlines currently operates direct flights from Istanbul to eight cities in Italy, including Milano, Rome, Venice, Bologna, Naples, Bari, Catania, and Palermo.
As of March 31, 2024, Turkish Airlines will increase the number of round-trip flights from Istanbul to Bologna from 18 to 21 flights per week. Additionally, flights from Palermo will be raised from four to six flights per week, and Bari flights will be increased from five to seven flights per week. Furthermore, flights to Naples will also see an increase from 12 to 18 flights per week.
This expansion marks the introduction of a total of 13 new flights, symbolizing Turkish Airlines’
commitment to strengthening air connectivity between Istanbul and significant Italian cities.
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Bolat, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee at Turkish Airlines, commented: “We are so glad to increase flight frequency to Italy. This increase will offer more option to our passengers to discover the major cities of Italy. By adding new destination to our network and constantly renewing our services Turkish Airlines keeps to unite people, cultures, continents, countries and cities while providing unparalleled travel experiences. We look forward to welcoming more travelers on board from Italy with our new flight destinations.”
Turkish Airlines keeps carrying its unique service and unparalleled hospitality to every corner of the globe.
Istanbul, Turkiye: Pegasus Airlines has begun steps to set up its technology innovation lab in California’s Silicon Valley in a bid to keep up with its digital transformation in line with its campaign “Your Digital Airline” launched in 2018.
The airline said having its tech innovation hub will enable it to monitor and assess on-site the latest technological advancements worldwide. This will strengthen its global competitiveness and fortify its firm commitment to technological innovation.
“Our investments in technology stand out as one of the key elements that set us apart. Since launching our digital transformation in 2018, we have been making significant investments. In line with our vision to become ‘Your Digital Airline’, we launched many initiatives to make the travel experience of our guests and the work experience for our employees easier, faster, and more efficient,” said Güliz Öztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines.
“Now, we are getting ready to take an exciting new step to further the sustainable development of this digitalization journey,” Öztürk continued: “We will continue to enhance and add value to our processes and our guests’ experiences by experimenting with different technologies. This big move will further increase our company’s global competitiveness.”
Barış Fındık, Chief Information Officer at Pegasus Airlines, underscored the airline’s commitment to providing the best digital experience for its guests and achieving the most efficient operational management in the aviation sector.
“At Pegasus, we are determined to become one of the world’s most technologically advanced airlines. In pursuit of this, we are taking significant strides to evaluate collaboration opportunities with start-ups, universities, and other players in the field of technology and aviation,” he said.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Etihad Airways and Air Serbia have entered into a strategic bilateral codeshare, aimed at enhancing connectivity for customers of both airlines across a range of destinations.
Under this partnership, Etihad’s customers gain convenient access to 12 Southeast European destinations through Air Serbia’s Belgrade hub, with nine destinations being new to Etihad’s extended network.
The codeshare arrangement simplifies the travel experience for guests, allowing them to make a single booking and undergo a seamless check-in process, along with the added convenience of having their baggage effortlessly transferred to their final destination.
Air Serbia’s network becomes easily accessible to Etihad’s customers, who can connect to it from Etihad’s gateways in Athens, Milan, Rome, and Vienna.
Jurriaan Stelder, VP Alliances and Industry Affairs at Etihad, said: “This partnership further expands our codeshare network and provides our guests with convenient access to 12 of Air Serbia’s leisure and business destinations, including Belgrade, Bucharest, Budapest, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Skopje and Sofia.
“We also look forward to warmly welcoming Air Serbia customers travelling from Europe to Abu Dhabi, where they will have the opportunity to explore the inviting hospitality and rich culture of our home, including the stunning beaches, world-class cultural landmarks and theme parks, and the serene desert landscapes.”
Boško Rupić, Air Serbia General Manager of Commercial and Strategy, said: “By joining forces with Etihad we expand the reach of our services, offering our passengers a wider array of destinations and connectivity options.
“This translates into more choices, flexibility, and convenience for those who choose Air Serbia for their journeys. Passengers will now enjoy the ease of booking connecting flights and checking in once for their entire journey.”
Etihad Guest is the loyalty programme for both airlines and allows members to either earn or redeem Etihad Guest miles across the Etihad Airways and Air Serbia networks, as well as enjoy the benefits of tier status.
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, the ultra-low-fare national airline of the UAE, announced its outstanding operational results for 2023—operating more than 15,000 flights, carrying three million passengers, with more than 1.5 million point-to-point passengers to Abu Dhabi.
The joint venture established between ADQ and Wizz Air Holdings PLC, enjoyed a record-breaking year, more than doubling both the number of operated flights and passengers carried, with a completion rate of 99.6%.
Wizz Air Abu Dhabi continues to play a key role in supporting innovation, resilience and integration of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors to share the Emirate with the world and enrich lives.
The airline supports the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism’s target to reach 24 million visitors for 2023, and promote the Emirate as a year-round tourism destination that offers exciting, inspiring and restorative experiences that visitors can discover at their own pace. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is also supporting the development of the UAE’s tourism sector, in line with the UAE Tourism Strategy 2031, and further strengthening the position of the UAE as one of the best destinations in the world for tourism.
Wizz Air is constantly developing the UAE network and currently flies to a total of 40 destinations in 27 different countries from Abu Dhabi, sharing the love of travel to culturally rich destinations, including vibrant cities and hidden-gem resorts.
The airline has proudly introduced a new segment of travel in the UAE in line with the country’s socio-economic vision with recent exciting expansions into Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe allowing for convenient, self-connecting travel across the wider Wizz Air network via the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The airline solidified its position as the second largest carrier in Abu Dhabi, and continues to deliver on its promise of making travel possible for everyone. Wizz Air Abu Dhabi says it is ready to accelerate and expand operations further in 2024.
In 2023, the ultra-low fare national airline added four new A321 aircraft, taking the total fleet to 12 aircraft, and increased its seat capacity by 135% to 3.7 million seats on sale. The airline has grown in headcount by 100% in 2023, supporting local jobs, invested in the latest technologically advanced aircraft and worked collaboratively with partners, regulators, and stakeholders to lead the charge towards more sustainable air travel.
“We are very proud of all our achievements in this record-breaking year and we are delighted to continue building upon on our incredible year-on-year growth. In 2023, we operated more than 15,000 flights, unlocked 3.7 million affordable travel opportunities and carried three million point-to-point passengers. We would like to thank our passengers that travelled with us and we reaffirm our commitment to connecting people to create great memories next year and beyond, at the lowest fares possible,” said Johan Eidhagen, Managing Director of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi.
“Our phenomenal results this year reflect our commitment to delivering travel options that are more convenient and affordable for everyone and accelerating the growth of Abu Dhabi as one of the best destinations in the world for tourism. We are excited for 2024 and we look forward to seeing you on board our aircraft soon,” he added.
Strategically located in the UAE, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi provides ultra-low-fares and efficient travel options to Alexandria (Egypt), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Amman (Jordan), Ankara (Turkey), Aqaba (Jordan), Athens (Greece), Baku (Azerbaijan), Belgrade (Serbia), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Cairo (Egypt) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia). As well as routes to Kuwait City (Kuwait), Kutaisi (Georgia), Larnaca (Cyprus), Male (Maldives), Madinah (Saudi Arabia), Muscat (Oman), Nur Sultan (Kazakhstan), Salalah (Oman), Santorini (Greece), Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Sarajevo (Bosnia), Sohag (Egypt), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Turkistan (Kazakhstan), Tirana (Albania) and Yerevan (Armenia) among others.
TASHKENT–As part of its strategy to streamline flight operations by leveraging the latest technologies, Uzbekistan Airways has signed up to deploy SITA Mission Watch. The solution will drive greater agility and efficiency, including annual savings of over US$600,000 in weather-related incidence avoidance and 300 tons of fuel.
“We turned to SITA for their expertise in delivering reliable digital solutions for our industry. SITA Mission Watch will be a key operational tool for our flight dispatchers to support from a flight planning and safety perspective, including the ability to adapt when faced with disruptions like changing weather,” said Shukhrat Khudaykulov, CEO, Uzbekistan Airways.
SITA Mission Watch is a next-generation flight tracking tool used by dispatchers and operational teams. It aggregates and automates aircraft positions combined with real-time information such as weather. SITA Mission Watch’s best-in-class weather feed uniquely provides multi-source forecasts for greater reliability and accuracy, supporting flight planning and disruption management.
Increasing weather events are a primary cause of flight delays, costing the industry around US$1 billion annually. Delays also adversely impact passenger satisfaction and brand reputation. In response, airlines are leveraging the latest digital solutions that integrate different sources of operational information to adapt and better manage disruptions like weather hazards and be leaner and more agile.
Yann Cabaret, CEO, SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, said: “Inefficiencies – such as missed on-time performance due to weather disruptions – cost airlines money in fuel, compensation, repairs, etc. Our applications are designed to help airlines to stay ahead and improve aircraft safety and operational efficiency.”
Technology has made the world smaller and faster.Real time communication with people from all over the world at different time zones through phones and gadgets
