Abu Dhabi, UAE— Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has kicked off 2024 by introducing two new services. Daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India commenced on New Year’s Day.
These non-stop services to each destination bring the total number of Indian gateways served by Etihad to 10, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing easy access to its expanding global network for guests travelling to and from the Subcontinent.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, said: “We have established a fantastic group of non-stop routes between India and Abu Dhabi, providing customers with easier access to our growing network without transiting through one of the main Indian hub airports.
“Seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi ensure that our guests can easily access destinations across the GCC, Europe – including our four daily services to London – and North America. Moreover, they have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.”
The introduction of this service enhances accessibility to the picturesque countryside and beaches that Kerala is renowned for, creating increased inbound tourism to the region. Additionally, it streamlines travel for professionals visiting the burgeoning business hubs in the area.
In 2023, the airline reintroduced services to Kolkata, a vital Indian gateway connecting Eastern India to global destinations. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its most popular routes, from two per day to an impressive four flights per day.
For 2024 Etihad has already announced new flights to Boston, USA starting on 31 March, to Nairobi, Kenya on 01 May, and its exciting summer schedule includes an inaugural non-stop service to Nice, France and direct flights to the Greek isles of Mykonos and Santorini.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, proudly commemorates the UAE’s 52nd Union Day with a captivating musical tribute.
In a cinematic video, Etihad showcases the diverse talents of its personnel, including pilots, engineers, and cabin crew, as they skillfully perform the UAE national anthem on various musical instruments. The filming captures these skilled individuals at iconic locations, from the Etihad Airways Head Office to the iconic Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport.
The instrumental performance showcases a talented ensemble featuring Pilot Hamad Altaee on the piano; Marlon Leiva, a cabin crew member, displaying his drumming skills; Engineer Samia Mahfoudh skillfully playing the Korg; Pilot Khalifa Almansoori playing the Bagpipes; Joseph Michael, a cabin crew member, on the Bass Guitar; Osama Elmaghreby, another cabin crew member, playing the Violin, and Sepideh Jalilvand, a cabin manager, presenting her musical skills on the Hand Pan.
Dr Nadia Bastaki, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer for Etihad Airways, said: ” In celebrating UAE’s 52nd Union Day, our dedicated people at Etihad exemplify the spirit of unity and talent. Their remarkable instrumental performance not only pays homage to our rich Emirati identity but also reflects the harmony that defines our airline. It is a testament to the diverse skills and shared commitment of our team, making this occasion truly special for our passengers and reinforcing Etihad’s role as a symbol of national pride.”
To honour the rich heritage of the UAE, the “Al-Sadu” theme permeates various touchpoints throughout the travel experience, from the Etihad lounges at Terminal A in Abu Dhabi International Airport to selected Etihad flights. Travellers passing through the recently inaugurated three-floor Etihad lounge will be greeted with chocolates adorned with “Al-Sadu” toppers, along with access to a diverse range of facilities and dining options, ensuring a comfortable and convenient travel experience.
“Al-Sadu” is a traditional Emirati weaving technique, distinguished by its vibrant colours and geometric patterns. This craft, passed down through generations, stands as a symbol of the UAE’s rich heritage.
On board flights on 2 December, Etihad will distribute an exclusive and uniquely designed bookmark inspired by the “Al-Sadu” craft to all guests across all cabins on inbound and outbound flights. This authentic collectible serves as a giveaway that beautifully represents Emirati culture.
For Etihad guests travelling in December, a special E-BOX offering of in-flight entertainment content awaits, featuring compelling stories about the UAE. “Qesat Makan,” produced by Abu Dhabi TV, highlights historic areas such as Dalma Island and the Meliha area. Additionally, a selection of videos from ‘Abu Dhabi Stories,’ a platform that captures the essence of Abu Dhabi by the Abu Dhabi Media Office, includes “Faces from Abu Dhabi,” showcasing inspiring experiences from members of Abu Dhabi’s community, and the “Spotlight” series, which highlights Abu Dhabi’s landmarks.
Etihad Airways has expanded its operations and market presence this year by adding 12 new destinations. The airline’s future plans aim to attract millions of travellers to the UAE, promising substantial economic growth.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—After posting a record performance last year, the Emirates Group announced it made its best-ever six-month financial result for 2023-2024 with a net profit of AED 10.1 billion (USD 2.7 billion), surpassing its record half-year profit of AED 4.2 billion (US$ 1.2 billion) last year by 138%.
The Group also reported an EBITDA of AED 20.6 billion (US$ 5.6 billion), a significant improvement from AED 15.3 billion (US$ 4.2 billion) during the same period last year, illustrating its strong operating profitability.
Group revenue was AED 67.3 billion (US$ 18.3 billion) for the first six months of 2023-24, up 20% from AED 56.3 billion (US$ 15.3 billion) last year. This was driven by strong demand for air transport across the world, which has been on an upward trajectory since the last pandemic travel restrictions were lifted.
The Group closed the first half year of 2023-24 with a solid cash position of AED 42.7 billion (US$ 11.6 billion) on 30 September 2023, compared to AED 42.5 billion (US$ 11.6 billion) on 31 March 2023. The Group has been able to tap on its own strong cash reserves to support business needs, including debt payments. So far, Emirates has repaid AED 9.2 billion of its COVID-19 related loans. The Group also paid AED 4.5 billion in dividend to its owner, as declared at the end of its 2022-23 financial year.
His Highness (HH) Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “We are seeing the fruition of our plans to return stronger and better from the dark days of the pandemic. The Group has surpassed previous records to report our best-ever half-year performance. Our profit for the first six months of 2023-24 has nearly matched our record full-year profit in 2022-23. This is a tremendous achievement that speaks to the talent and commitment within the organisation, the strength of our business model, and the power of Dubai’s vision and policies that have enabled the creation of a strong, resilient, and progressive aviation sector.
“For the second half of 2023-24, we expect customer demand across our business divisions to remain healthy and we will stay agile in how we deploy our resources in this dynamic marketplace. At the same time, we are keeping a close watch on headwinds such as rising fuel prices, the strengthening US dollar, inflationary costs, and geo-politics,” he added.
To support increased operations and business activities, the Emirates Group’s employee base, compared to 31 March 2023, grew 6% to an overall count of 108,996 on 30 September 2023. Both Emirates and dnata have ongoing recruitment drives to support their future requirements.
Emirates airline
By 30 September, the airline was operating passenger and cargo services to 144 airports, utilizing its entire Boeing 777 fleet and 104 A380s.
In the first half of 2023-24, Emirates launched a new global brand advertising campaign featuring Hollywood actor Penelope Cruz; and introduced initiatives to enhance customer travel experience including a new city check-in facility at Dubai International Financial Centre, free onboard wi-fi for Emirates Skywards members, and a new meal pre-ordering capability for customers to select their meal options in advance of travel.
Emirates carried 26.1 million passengers between 1 April and 30 September 2023, up 31% from the same period last year.
Emirates Skycargo uplifted 1,035,000 tonnes in the first six months of the year, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year despite an overall softening in the global cargo market. This reflects the cargo division’s ability to meet customer demand with specialised products, and the excellent network options on offer with its freighter and bellyhold cargo operations.
Emirates revenue, including other operating income, of AED 59.5 billion (US$ 16.2 billion) was up 19% compared with the AED 50.1 billion (US$ 13.7 billion) recorded in the same period last year. The airline’s record performance is attributable to the strong passenger demand for international travel across markets and Emirates’ ability to activate capacity to match demand; and offer customers great value and services.
dnata
In the first half of 2023-24, dnata’s catering and airport services won significant new contracts and grew existing customers across its international operations.
Highlights in the first half of 2023-24 include: the acquisition of an additional 29% stake in Imagine Cruising, bringing to 81.4% its shareholding in UK’s leading cruise and stay holiday distributors; the implementation of AI-powered solutions to enhance dnata’s cargo handling operations and capabilities in Singapore; and the switch to a biofuel blend for road transport vehicles in the UAE used by dnata Logistics, Arabian Adventures, Alpha Flight Services, and City Sightseeing to reduce emissions and address rising customer expectations for transport options with lower environmental footprint.
dnata’s revenue, including other operating income, of AED 9.3 billion (US$ 2.5 billion) increased by 27% compared to AED 7.3 billion (US$ 2.0 billion) generated in the same period last year.
Overall profit for dnata is AED 709 million (US$ 193 million), compared to same period last year’s AED 236 million (US$ 64 million).
Dubai, United Arab Emirates— In a collaboration to strengthen sustainability in aviation, Boeing [NYSE: BA] is partnering with NASA and United Airlines for in-flight testing to measure how sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) affects contrails and non-carbon emissions, in addition to reducing the fuel’s life cycle climate impact.
Boeing’s second ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 737-10 destined for United Airlines, will fly with 100% SAF and conventional jet fuel in separate tanks and alternate fuels during testing. NASA’s DC-8 Airborne Science Lab will fly behind the commercial jet and measure emissions produced by each type of fuel and contrail ice particles. NASA satellites will capture images of contrail formation as part of the testing.
The researchers aim to understand how advanced fuels, engine combustor designs and other technologies may reduce atmospheric warming. For example, tests will assess how SAF affects the characteristics of contrails, the persistent condensation trails produced when airplanes fly through cold, humid air. While their full impact is not yet understood, some research has suggested certain contrails can trap heat in the atmosphere.
World Energy is supplying SAF for the tests from its Paramount, California, facility. Additional support includes: the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is providing funding through the ASCENT Center of Excellence; GE Aerospace is providing technical expertise and project funding, and; German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt or DLR) is providing experts and instrumentation
The project is the latest phase in a multi-year partnership between Boeing and NASA to analyze how SAF can reduce emissions and enable other environmental benefits. Compared to conventional jet fuel, SAF – made from a range of sustainably produced feedstocks – can reduce emissions by up to 85% over the fuel’s life cycle and offers the greatest potential to reduce aviation CO2 over the next 30 years. SAF also produces less soot which can improve air quality near airports.
“We are honored to collaborate with NASA, United Airlines, and other valued partners on research that will strengthen the industry’s understanding of the benefits of SAF beyond reducing carbon emissions,” said Boeing Chief Sustainability Officer Chris Raymond. “We’ve solved hard problems before, and if we continue to take meaningful actions, I’m confident we’ll achieve a more sustainable aerospace future, together.”
The 737-10 is the largest airplane in Boeing’s single-aisle 737 MAX family, which reduces fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to airplanes it replaces.
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Etihad Airways has appointed three accomplished UAE nationals to executive roles in flight operations, sustainability, and revenue management.
The UAE’s flag carrier said the move reflects the airline’s commitment to nurturing Emirati talent and highlight its long-term Emiratisation strategy as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The new positions: Vice President of Flight Operations, Director of Sustainability, and Director of Revenue Enhancement, are vital and highly specialised positions requiring exceptional knowledge, skills and leadership experience. Selecting internal talent with proven track records in their respective fields, Etihad has demonstrated its commitment to developing and rewarding Emirati employees who excel.
Commenting on the appointments, Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “As we proudly celebrate Etihad’s 20th anniversary and joins the celebrations for UAE Civil Aviation Day, we are witnessing the culmination of our long-term strategy to nurture and develop UAE national talent.
Dr. Nadia Bastaki, Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer at Etihad, said: “The remarkable achievements of our appointees speak for themselves, underscoring their invaluable contributions to our organisation. Their capabilities are not just beneficial; they are essential. I trust that their inspiring successes will ignite the ambitions of many young Emiratis, motivating them to embark on their own journeys within the aviation industry throughout all various sectors of society.”
Captain Mohamed Anwahi – Vice President of Flight Operations, Etihad
Etihad has promoted Captain Mohamed Anwahi to the role of Vice President of Flight Operations, a strategic position that oversees the airline’s entire aircraft fleet, flight operations, flight and cabin crew personnel, fuel efficiency and flight operations support. The role also bears the responsibility of being a registered post holder of the General Civil Aviation Authority.
Captain Anwahi joined Etihad in 2006 as a First Officer and graduated as a Captain in 2011. Over the last 17 years, he has fulfilled several roles in Etihad such as Head of Fleet for Airbus, Head of Cargo Fleet, Head of Fleet Technical and Director of Flight Operations.
In his capacity as Director of Flight Operations, Captain Anwahi spearheaded several key initiatives that delivered cost savings, improved operational efficiency, and played a major role in Etihad’s transformation programme. He also represented the airline in the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) during the covid-19 pandemic.
Captain Mohamed holds an MBA in Aerospace Management from the Toulouse Business School.
Mariam Al Qubaisi – Director of Sustainability, Etihad Airways
Mariam Al Qubaisi has been promoted to the position of Director of Sustainability, having joined Etihad in 2019 as the first Emirati leader of sustainability. During her tenure, Mariam has played an instrumental role in driving Etihad’s industry-leading sustainability efforts, resulting in the airline being named Environmental Airline of the Year by Airline Ratings in 2022 and 2023.
During her four years at Etihad, Al Qubaisi strengthened the airline’s sustainability credentials and has been the driving force behind Etihad’s partnerships with industry giants including Airbus, Boeing, GE and Rolls Royce to form the Greenliner and Sustainable50 research programmes. As well as spearheading eco-flights to test and improve the impact of flying on the environment, Al Qubaisi also led a partnership with Satavia to research the effect of contrails and identify contrail avoidance techniques to further reduce the carbon footprint of flying, not just for Etihad but for the benefit of the entire industry.
Al Qubaisi is a trailblazer for Emirati women in the field of environmental sustainability, having graduated from the UK’s Cambridge University with a masters in environmental engineering, and then joining the esteemed academia at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed University, before her time with Etihad.
The role is Etihad’s first Director of Sustainability position, which is a testament to the UAE national airline’s commitment to sustainability. As Director of Sustainability, Al Qubaisi’s role continues to support the UAE’s Year of Sustainability under the theme ‘Today for Tomorrow’.
Aysha Al Kaabi – Director of Revenue Enhancement and Strategic Pricing, Etihad Airways
Etihad has promoted Aysha Al Kaabi to the role of Director of Revenue Enhancement and Strategic Pricing. The business portfolio is responsible for revenue systems including solutions and innovation, pricing distribution, data analytics, revenue integrity as well as staff travel functions.
Al Kaabi’s promotion is a home-grown success story as she joined Etihad in 2014 as part of the airline’s respected graduate trainee programme, following the completion of her bachelor’s in mathematics from the UAE University.
Through Etihad’s highly regarded graduate trainee programme, Al Kaabi gained valuable experience in cross-departmental rotations, including Demand and Pricing and Market Manager, before taking on a Head of Revenue Management role.
At the age of 33, Al Kaabi is Etihad’s youngest Director, and is also the first female Emirati Director of Revenue, paving the way for further growth of Emirati women in the aviation industry.
Al Qubaisi and Al Kaabi’s promotions follow a long history of success stories for UAE nationals at Etihad.
In 2021, Dr Nadia Bastaki became the first female Emirati Chief at the airline, now holding the position of Chief People and Corporate Affairs Officer. In 2022, Captain Aisha Al Mansoori, became the first female Emirati to become a Captain in a commercial airline, having joined the airline’s cadet pilot programme in 2007. Fatma Al Mehairi, now Regional General Manager in the UAE, and the first Emirati female to lead the UAE sales team, was also the first female Emirati country manager in Canada in 2016.
Munich, Germany— Passengers will have a choice to travel to 172 destinations this winter from Munich Airport with airlines adding more places to serve from October 29 to March 30, 2024.
During this period, passengers will be able to choose between 43 long-haul and 116 medium-haul destinations, as well as 13 cities in Germany, Munich Airport said.
Deutsche Lufthansa, the biggest airline at Munich Airport, will be offering new destinations again this winter. For the first time, there will be flights to Bangalore, India, from the Bavarian capital. This new long-haul route will be operated three times a week with an Airbus A350, one of the most state-of-the-art aircraft in the world.
In addition to this new long-haul route, Lufthansa is also starting flights to new destinations in Europe: Oulu in Finland will be offered twice a week and Arrecife on Lanzarote once a week.
After a break lasting several years, flights to Glasgow will be resumed once a week and Marrakesh will be flown to twice a week again from Munich. The long-haul destinations Beijing and Shanghai that were already added by Lufthansa in the summer will be continued in the winter.
The routes to Bangkok and Los Angeles will now also be served with the popular Airbus A380, the world’s biggest passenger aircraft.
Other airlines are also expanding their offers. For example, SalamAir from Oman has been flying to Muscat and on to Salalah twice a week since September 30 already. Uzbekistan Airlines will start flying to Tashkent, also twice a week, and the Norwegian airline Wideroe will add Bergen to its winter flight schedule in January 2024.
The new airline BeOnd will be offering a special treat. On Wednesdays and Sundays, this Maledivian airline will connect Munich with Male using an Airbus A319 with business class seating only. SmartLynx will offer a twice-weekly service to the northernmost of the United Arab Emirates, Ras al Khaimah. In addition, Etihad Airways will increase the frequency of its existing connection to Abu Dhabi from one flight a day to 10 a week.
In the traditional tourism sector, the still fairly young airline Marabu will start flying to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife in the winter.
The complete 2023/2024 winter schedule and further information can be found at www.munich-airport.com/flight-search
Atlanta, Georgia—A first-of-its-kind coalition is launching in Minnesota to scale sustainable aviation fuel with the urgency commercial aviation needs to reach net zero by 2050.
Through the GREATER MSP Partnership, Bank of America, Delta Air Lines, Ecolab and Xcel Energy have established the Minnesota SAF Hub – the first large-scale SAF Hub in the US with unparalleled collaboration among key players across the value chain committed to scaling SAF production to replace conventional jet fuel.
These anchor members are joined by other leading institutions, including the State of Minnesota, to implement an ambitious shared strategy for aggressively decarbonizing the airline industry.
SAF is the best decarbonization lever the aviation industry has in the near- to mid-term on its journey to net zero. While airlines globally have committed to purchasing billions of gallons of SAF over the next few decades, there isn’t enough being produced currently to fuel commercial airlines globally for a single day.
Third on the World Economic Forum’s list of Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2023, SAF is a safe, fully certified jet fuel that can be used in today’s aircraft engines and transported via existing pipeline infrastructure.
Produced from many sources including renewable feedstocks and used cooking oil, SAF can reduce lifecycle carbon emissions of aviation by more than 80 percent, meaning exponentially fewer emissions from SAF than traditional jet fuel.
The project’s progress to date includes establishing a shared, multi-phase strategy, securing nation-leading financial incentives from the State of Minnesota, and building a growing coalition of Minnesota-based organizations including the anchor companies, State of Minnesota, the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the University of Minnesota, and knowledge partner McKinsey & Company.
“Our SAF Hub will accelerate progress toward decarbonizing the airline industry nationally while also creating thousands of good jobs across Minnesota,” said President and CEO of the GREATER MSP Partnership, Peter Frosch. “It is good news that some of the world’s most innovative companies are combining forces to build SAF production at the scale the market demands and at a pace the climate requires.”
Delta CEO Ed Bastian, added, “The Minnesota SAF Hub is the game changer aviation needs to start producing SAF at the volumes required to meet our aggressive goals. This coalition of heavy hitters from across the SAF ecosystem are collaborating to rapidly scale production, demonstrating the power of partnerships to meet our shared goal faster than any of us could do on our own.”
Dubai, United Arab Emirates—flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, announced the launch of a daily service to Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia, the first to connect the popular destinations with flights from the UAE and the Middle East.
Flights to Penang International Airport (PEN) and Langkawi International Airport (LGK) will start on 10 February 2024. Flights to Langkawi will operate via a short stop in Penang, offering passengers from the UAE and the region convenient travel options via Dubai’s aviation hub.
Commenting on the launch of flights, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “We are pleased to see our presence in Southeast Asia grow with the launch of operations to Langkawi and Penang. Flights from the UAE to these popular holiday destinations are vital for tourism and business connectivity. These destinations in Malaysia offer cultural diversity, leisure activities, and investment opportunities. Our new flights will be popular for passengers not only from the UAE, but from the GCC and the European markets as well.”
With the launch of flights to Langkawi and Penang, flydubai expands its footprint in Southeast Asia to four destinations including its operations to Krabi and Pattaya in Thailand.
flydubai will deploy its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on the Malaysian routes, featuring lie-flat seats in Business Class and the added comfort and enjoyable travel experience in Economy Class.
Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said: “Malaysia is an extremely important market for flydubai and we are pleased to see these flights become a reality. The daily service will prove popular for our passengers from around the network and will provide passengers from Malaysia with convenient options to travel to Dubai and beyond whether they are traveling for business, leisure or to visit family and friends.”
Langkawi is renowned for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests and stunning geological formations. Visitors can enjoy activities such as island hopping, cable car rides to the Sky Bridge and exploring the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park. The duty-free status of the island also makes it a shopping haven.
Penang, often called the “Pearl of the Orient,” offers a rich cultural tapestry, blending Chinese, Malay, Indian and British influences. Its UNESCO-listed George Town is renowned for its historic architecture, vibrant street art and street food.
Muscat, Oman—SalamAir, Oman’s first low-cost airline, kicked off on 30 September its permanent Muscat-Beirut flight as a year-round route amid increasing demand from Lebanese expatriates and tourists.
“This update is in response to the overwhelming public demand and significant success of bookings for the New Year holidays, as well as the summer season that the seasonal destination has operated in since December 2022,” said Capt. Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir.
“This new connection marks an exciting milestone for both countries and opens endless trade, tourism, and cultural exchange possibilities. Recognizing the growing interest and the remarkable seat factor on their flights, SalamAir has made the decision to include Beirut as one of its year-round destinations,” he added.
Since September, SalamAir has been operating weekly flights to Beirut every Saturday, offering passengers a convenient and affordable travel option between Oman and Lebanon. In addition to the weekly flight, the airline says it will operate additional flights during the new year holiday.
The addition of year-round flights to Beirut caters to the demand of Lebanese expatriates and tourists. It provides an opportunity for locals in Lebanon and Oman to explore and experience the unique offerings of both countries. This enhanced connectivity will foster greater collaboration, benefiting the economies of both nations and creating valuable opportunities for businesses and individuals alike.
SalamAir serves 41 destinations which include Muscat, Salalah, Suhar, Duqm, and Masirah in Oman; Dubai and Fujairah in the UAE; Doha; Bahrain; Kuwait; Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Madinah in Saudi Arabia as well in other international cities—Baghdad, Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad, Istanbul, Rize, Trabzon, Alexandria, Beirut, Almaty, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Sarajevo, Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo, Chattogram, Dhaka, Kathmandu, Karachi, Multan, Sialkot, Peshawar, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Trivandrum.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates—flydubai is launching flights to Mombasa from 17 January 2024, becoming the first national carrier to operate direct flights from Dubai and the UAE to the coastal city in southeast Kenya.
The airline said flights to Moi International Airport (MBA) will operate four times a week from Terminal 3 at Dubai International (DXB). With the launch of operations to Mombasa, flydubai grows its network in Africa to 11 destinations in 10 countries, which includes Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Asmara, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Entebbe, Hargeisa, Juba, Mogadishu and Zanzibar.
“We remain committed to opening up underserved markets and supporting Dubai’s aviation hub. Dubai has seen steady growth in investment from Africa since Expo 2020, with more than 26,000 African companies registered with Dubai Chamber. Our direct flights to Mombasa from January and our growing operations in Africa will further support free flows of trade and tourism between the UAE and the East African markets,” said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai.
“We see a lot of potential in the African markets and we look forward to growing our presence in the continent as we continue to grow our network and fleet in the coming years,” added Al Ghaith.
Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya and is known for its ancient architecture and beautiful sandy beaches. The city plays a vital role in import and export trade, and is a gateway into East Africa, serving not only Kenya but its neighboring countries as well.
Commenting on the start of flights, Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (UAE, GCC, Africa and the Indian Subcontinent) at flydubai, said: “Africa is very important for flydubai and we are always exploring opportunities to better serve the market with reliable options to travel conveniently to Dubai and further afield onto the combined flydubai and Emirates network.”
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