19 January 2025 (Geneva) - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) opposes the UK Home Office proposal to increase the costs of UK Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) by 60% to GBP 16. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, commented as follows: “Proposing to increase ETA costs just a week after the system was introduced is bewildering. If implemented it would be a self-inflicted blow to the UK’s tourism competitiveness. In November the government laid out plans to increase tourist arrivals by 30% to reach 50 million annually by 2030 in pursuit of tourism’s economic benefits. Gouging these travelers with a 60% increase in the ETA is a very bad start. The added cost would come on top of the Air Passenger Duty (ADP)—the biggest travel tax in the world—which itself will ......read more

SalamAir, Oman’s Low Fare Airline, today released its On-Time Performance (OTP) for the 4th Quarter of 2024. OTP is a measurement of how often an airline is on time and is a good measure of the ability of the airline to meet its commitment to punctuality to its customers. In the 4th Quarter (October, November, and December), SalamAir flew 4,591 flights and completed 89% of its flights on time. This is a 4% improvement on the airline’s Q3 result and is significantly above the airline's global OTP benchmark that 85% of flights should depart on time. During the Q4 period, the airline carried 755,675 passengers. "We began to share our OTP results in Q3 of 2024, and the feedback was very positive," said Captain Ahmed Al Shidhani, SalamAir’s Chief Operations Officer. “The increased ......read more

09 January 2025 (Geneva) - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for November 2024 global air cargo markets showing: Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK), rose by 8.2% compared to November 2023 levels (9.5% for international operations) for a 16th consecutive month of growth. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK), increased by 4.6% compared to November 2023 (6.5% for international operations). "It was a good November for air cargo with 8.2% demand growth nearly doubling the 4.6% growth in cargo capacity. Fuel costs tracked at 22% below previous-year levels and tight market conditions supported yield growth at 7.8%. All things considered we are looking to close out 2024 air cargo performance on a profitable note. While this strong performance is ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 31 December 2024: Emirates is bringing forward the deployment of its Airbus A350 to Kuwait and Bahrain. Services will start 8 January, making them the second and third destinations to be served by the airline's newest aircraft. Emirates will operate its Airbus A350 on the following services to Kuwait and Bahrain: Kuwait: The Emirates A350 will operate on EK853 and EK854. EK 853 departs Dubai at 0125hrs, arriving in Kuwait at 0215hrs. The return flight, EK 854 leaves Kuwait at 0340hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0625hrs. Bahrain: The Emirates A350 will operate on two of the three daily flights to the Kingdom - EK837/838, and EK839/840. EK 837 departs Dubai at 0820hrs, arriving in Bahrain at 0840hrs. The return flight, EK 838, departs Bahrain at 1000hrs, arriving back to Dubai at 1215hrs. The second flight operated by the ......read more

Turkish Airlines has a 30-country lead over its closest competitor in this hard-to-break record Turkish Airlines, which has held the title of flying to the most countries in the world since 2012, has been officially recognized by Guinness World Records™ as the record holder. The national flag carrier has successfully achieved the Guinness World Records™ title for the “Most Countries Flown to by an Airline”. The record certificate was presented at Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport following Turkish Airlines’ inaugural flight to Chile. The ceremony was attended by Turkish Airlines executives and Guinness World Records™ officials. Based on Guinness World Records™ evaluation criteria, Turkish Airlines set the record with flights to 120 countries, reflecting only the ......read more

11 December 2024 (Geneva) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched the IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment Program to validate air cargo tracking devices, data loggers and sensor-equipped devices for compliance with rigorous industry safety standards. "The fastest-growing segments of air cargo are pharmaceuticals, perishables, electronics, and high-value goods. Shippers rely on various battery-powered electronic devices to monitor these sensitive shipments to ensure their integrity. The IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment will confirm that these devices comply with strict industry safety standards," said Brendan Sullivan, IATA's Global Head of Cargo. The IATA Air Cargo Device Assessment validates compliance with IATA's Recommended Practice 1693, which provides critical safety guidance ......read more

10 December 2024 (Geneva) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released new estimates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production showing that: In 2024, SAF production volumes reached 1 million tonnes (1.3 billion liters), double the 0.5 million tonnes (600 million liters) produced in 2023. SAF accounted for 0.3% of global jet fuel production and 11% of global renewable fuel*. This is significantly below previous estimates that projected SAF production in 2024 at 1.5 million tonnes (1.9 billion liters), as key SAF production facilities in the US have pushed back their production ramp up to the first half of 2025. In 2025, SAF production is expected to reach 2.1 million tonnes (2.7 billion liters) or 0.7% of total jet fuel production and 13% of global renewable fuel capacity*. "SAF volumes ......read more

@Airbus @KuwaitAirways #A330-900   Kuwait City, Kuwait, 10 December, 2024 – Kuwait Airways, the national carrier of Kuwait, has taken delivery of its first A330-900 aircraft, becoming the first airline in the Middle East to operate the aircraft. The milestone delivery marks a key step in Kuwait Airways' transformation strategy, which includes enhancing its fleet to drive future growth. Kuwait Airways already operates a fleet of four A330-800s.   Kuwait Airways' A330-900 will feature three modern and highly comfortable cabin classes with 278 seats: 32 business class, 21 premium economy and 225 economy class seats.   Kuwait Airways' passengers will enjoy the award-winning Airspace cabin, designed for a quieter, more spacious and comfortable environment. Passengers will also benefit from the latest ......read more

9 December 2024 (Geneva) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that $1.7 billion in airline funds are blocked from repatriation by governments as of the end of October 2024. This is a small improvement compared to the $1.8 billion reported at the end of April. "Over the last six months, we have seen significant reductions in blocked funds in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria and Ethiopia. At the same time, amounts are rising in the XAF XOF zones and Mozambique. Bolivia has also emerged as a problem, where repatriating sales revenues is becoming increasingly difficult and unsustainable for airlines. This unfortunate game of 'whack-a-mole' is unacceptable.  Governments must remove all barriers for airlines to repatriate their revenues from ticket sales and other activities in accordance ......read more

04 December 2024 -The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for October 2024 global air cargo markets showing continuing strong annual growth in demand. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 9.8% compared to October 2023 levels (10.3% for international operations) for a 15th consecutive month of growth. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 5.9% compared to October 2023 (7.2% for international operations). This was largely driven by an 8.5% increase in international belly capacity. Dedicated freighter capacity increased by 5.6%, the seventh consecutive month of growth with volumes nearing 2021 peak levels. “Air cargo markets continued their strong performance in October, with demand rising 9.8% year-on-year and capacity up ......read more

22 November 2024 - The International Air Transport Association’s Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event concluded with a call for industry and governments to work together with practical actions to make Europe more competitive and sustainable. Highlights included: In his keynote, Filip Cornelis, Director for Aviation, DG MOVE, European Commission, explained that the new Commission would likely offer continuity of policy direction, but with a greater focus on improving competitiveness, through a focus on the recommendations of the Draghi report. He was clear that there would be no change of course on aviation sustainability, arguing that aviation needed to be a ‘bright green, not hopelessly brown” sector. A CEO panel discussion with Andrea Bernassi (ITA Airways), Luis Gallego (IAG), Christian Scherer (Airbus) and ......read more

Kuwait, November 5, 2024: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) proudly announces the launch of the H.I Innovation Program in collaboration with Visa and five prestigious universities in Kuwait. The H.I Innovation program is a unique six-week initiative designed to bridge the gap between academia and the business world where teams from the five participating universities would get to solve real-world challenges. This program aims to empower university students by giving them the opportunity to tackle real-life problems faced by the banking sector today, providing a unique prospect to develop practical skills and gain valuable industry experiences. In collaboration with Visa – a global leader in digital payments, and SIA Partners – a renowned global management consulting and Innovation firm, KIB's H.I Innovation Program will ......read more

05 November 2023 (Geneva) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airport Services Association (ASA) are strengthening their collaboration to improve ground handling safety and efficiency. Together, the organizations will work to reinforce standardization, promote safety data sharing, and explore new approaches to enhance sector resilience. “Global standards make aviation safer, and ASA and its members have been pivotal in helping develop the IATA ground handling standards we rely on today. By sharing data, we will be able to support this vital activity with data-driven insights and decisions. Maximizing the impact of data relies on broad contributions. We encourage ground handler participation to strengthen our collective insights,” said Nick Careen, Senior Vice-President Operations, Safety ......read more

Innovative collaboration between technology leader and industry association aims to deliver revolutionary solution for a more sustainable future in air travel GENEVA – 30 October 2024 – The aviation industry remains at a critical crossroads as it works to reduce its carbon footprint and meet global sustainability targets, all while navigating increasing regulatory pressure. Responsible for around 2% of global carbon emissions, according to the World Economic Forum, and with air travel demand projected to grow by 4.3% annually according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the industry must act swiftly. In a bold continuation of their longstanding collaboration, SITA, the global leader in air transport technology, and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) are driving forward SITA Eco ......read more

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it will offer digital currencies in the financial settlement systems it operates for the aviation industry. “Digitalization impacts many aspects of our daily lives, including the currency we use. With the increasing use of digital currencies, it is imperative that IATA’s industry financial settlement systems adapt to support the needs of those using our services,” said Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Financial Settlement and Distribution Services. The first digital currency to be offered is the digital Renminbi, which will be available in the China Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) by the end of 2024.  “China is one of the most advanced countries in the world in the adoption of digital currency. Recognizing the ......read more

Dubai, UAE, 17 October 2024: Emirates today announced plans to debut newly retrofitted Boeing 777s featuring its latest Business Class and Premium Economy cabins to Kuwait and Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as more aircraft sporting refreshed cabins roll out into scheduled service. The airline aims to offer customers traveling on short flights more opportunities to experience its latest-generation products, in addition to raising the bar for premium travel, with Kuwait and Dammam becoming the second and third cities in the GCC to be served by the refurbished Emirates Boeing 777s. Emirates’ enhanced Boeing 777s with the airline’s signature Premium Economy and next generation Business Class will operate as follows: Kuwait: The retrofitted Emirates Boeing 777 will operate on EK855 and 856 from 27 October. Dammam: The ......read more

02 October 2024 (Marrakech) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airbus, Embraer and Rolls-Royce have established five key principles for access to, and the use of, Aircraft Operational Data (AOD). These are: Consent: AOD can only be extracted with the airline's written consent. Transparency: Airlines have visibility of the data generated by their aircraft and how it is used. Sharing: Airlines can choose the parties they share AOD with and control such sharing. Accessibility: Airlines can access, analyse, and use AOD from aircraft they operate without interference. Responsible Use: Airlines provide AOD to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to improve safety and, if they choose, to support aircraft reliability. The principles apply to AOD generated by aircraft once delivered to the ......read more

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launched its 2024 Economic Impact Trends Report, which has revealed the U.S. as the world’s most powerful Travel & Tourism market, contributing a record-breaking $2.36 TN to the nation’s economy last year. Despite the slow return of spending from international travellers, the U.S. keeps pole position, with almost double the economic contribution of its nearest rival. Following a record-breaking year for Travel & Tourism, the sector continues to be the backbone to many country economies, while supporting millions of jobs globally. The latest report from the global tourism body reveals China as the world’s second most powerful market with a GDP contribution of US$1.3 TN in 2023, underscoring its impressive rebound, despite the late reopening ......read more

29 August 2024 (Geneva) - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for July 2024 global passenger demand with the following highlights: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 8.0% compared to July 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.4% year-on-year. The July load factor was 86.0% (+0.5ppt compared to July 2023). There was no significant negative demand impact from the CrowdStrike IT outage on 19 July. International demand rose 10.1% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 10.5% year-on-year and the load factor fell to 85.9% (-0.3ppt compared to July 2023). Domestic demand rose 4.8% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 2.8% year-on-year and the load factor was 86.1% (+1.7ppt compared to July 2023). July was ......read more

[Kuwait City, 20th July 2024] – In line with the busy travel season, Ooredoo Kuwait announces the upgrade of its global roaming services. With unmatched coverage, competitive rates, and exceptional service quality, the leading telecommunications provider is committed to ensuring seamless connectivity for its customers, no matter where they are in the world. Ooredoo customers traveling this summer can rest assured they will have access to voice and data connectivity without incurring expensive roaming charges. The telco leader’s reach extends further across the globe, providing reliable and affordable connectivity. Customers can benefit from the comprehensive Ooredoo Passport package, which now includes new networks in countries such as Argentina, Peru, and many more. This extensive network expansion ensures that ......read more

Through the newly introduced Luxe car type in Kuwait, customers will be able to book luxurious commutes in premium vehicles in and around the city. Luxe becomes the latest addition to the already existing car types from Careem Rides which customers rely on for reliable everyday commutes in Kuwait. Kuwait, June 2nd, 2024: Careem Rides, the region’s choice for facilitating reliable, convenient and stress-free everyday commutes through the Careem Everything app, is excited to announce the official launch of the new “Luxe” car type in Kuwait. The new service will allow customers to book everyday reliable commutes in elegant premium vehicles, offering customers an experience that combines luxury with comfort and convenience. The newly introduced service available today in Kuwait, caters to customers who choose an ......read more

Kuwait, 30 June 2024: Kuwait International Bank (KIB) announced the conclusion of its gold sponsorship and active participation in Tourista Expo 2024, which was recently held at Assima Mall. The travel and tourism exhibition brought together the best travel agencies, travel insurance providers, airlines, travel accessories and products suppliers, local and international hotels, and more to engage with a diverse audience. Commenting on the occasion, Saifaldin Al-Nasser, Senior Marketing Officer at KIB, said: “We are pleased with our gold sponsorship and participation in Tourista Expo 2024. We are always keen to be present at such prominent events, which provide a distinguished platform that brings together various leaders in this sector under one roof to offer diverse services and great deals for travel ......read more

Kuwait - June 23, 2024: As part of its commitment to engaging with all segments of the community, Burger King places greater emphasis on children as the future generation, aiming to support their lives with more interactive experiences and activities that bring them joy and unleash their creative energy. Thus, Burger King developed a new interactive initiative through its JR Club kids' app, which included inviting and sponsoring a group of children to visit the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center and get a close-up look at the fascinating dinosaur world that sparks amazement and curiosity in young minds. This initiative came to enhance the spirit of optimism and fun among the children who attended from Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice and the Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital, with significant ......read more

Kuwait, 13th June 2024: Reaffirming its role as a leader in corporate citizenship, tech pioneer, talabat, recently partnered with non-profit organization for community empowerment, LOYAC, to support the "Farhat Al-Eid" initiative. This effort, part of talabat’s community engagement program, aimed to celebrate Eid Al-Adha with needy families in Kuwait by providing Eid clothes for their children. Volunteers from LOYAC and talabat’s employees took 125 children on a fun shopping spree at a major department store in Kuwait, for children to buy new Eid garments of their choice. talabat and LOYAC’s "Farhat Al-Eid" initiative seeks to alleviate the financial burden on needy families by providing new Eid clothes for their children, bringing joy through an exciting shopping tour. Volunteers from ......read more

[Kuwait, 9  June 2024] In a bid to enhance the well-being of delivery riders, talabat, the leading technology company, has launched the “Make a Wish '' campaign this May. This innovative initiative, part of talabat’s social responsibility program, aims to fulfill the personal wishes of riders, showing gratitude for their dedication and hard work. Commenting on the campaign, Abdullah Al Mansour, Director of Communications, Public Affairs, and Corporate Responsibility at talabat Kuwait, said: “Our success is deeply rooted in the efforts and dedication of 3rd party delivery riders. Through the “Make a Wish” campaign, we seek to express our profound gratitude and appreciation in a unique and meaningful way.” The campaign gathered individual wishes from delivery riders, which ranged from ......read more

02 June 2024 (Dubai) – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that it will establish the SAF Registry (Registry) to accelerate the uptake of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) by authoritatively accounting and reporting emissions reductions from SAF. Seventeen airlines, one airline group, six national authorities, three Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and one fuel producer are already supporting the effort to develop the Registry. The Registry is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2025. SAF is expected to account for up to 65% of the total carbon mitigation needed to achieve net zero carbon emissions in air transportation by 2050. "SAF is key to aviation's decarbonization. Airlines want more SAF and stand ready to use every drop of it. The SAF Registry will help meet the critical ......read more

29 May 2024 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for April 2024 global air cargo markets showing strong annual growth in demand into the second quarter (Q2). Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 11.1% compared to April 2023 levels (11.6% for international operations). This is the fifth consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth.   Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 7.1% compared to April 2023 (10.2% for international operations).   "Air cargo demand started Q2 with a solid 11.1% increase. While many economic uncertainties remain, it appears that the roots of air cargo's strong performance are deepening. In recent months, air cargo demand grew even when the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was indicating ......read more

07 May 2024 (Reykjavík)  -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted three priorities for ground handling at the IATA Ground Handling Conference (IGHC) which opened in Reykjavík today hosted by Icelandair: Improving safety through reducing operational risk  Implementing global standards Embedding sustainability – people, planet, and prosperity – in all activities “Ground handling forms the backbone of aviation. It is critical to ensuring the safe and efficient transport of millions of travelers each year. With travel demand for the upcoming peak Northern summer season predicted to surge by 12% over last year, the ground handling sector will need to be ready. Our priorities are clear: improving safety, implementation of global standards and embedding sustainability ......read more

Kuwait – April 3rd, 2024- During the peak travel season for visiting Saudi Arabia in the last days of Ramadan and performing Umrah rituals, Ooredoo Kuwait, the country’s leading telecom company in integrated and innovative communication services, has unveiled its new and distinctive offers for comprehensive roaming services dedicated to customers planning to visit the Kingdom in the upcoming period. To ensure that these travelers maintain seamless communication with their loved ones, friends, and families in Kuwait, without concerns about exorbitant roaming charges or service disruptions, Ooredoo presented a special plan for both current postpaid and prepaid customers during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. It's noteworthy that both new and existing customers can seamlessly activate the roaming offer through their Ooredoo ......read more

12 March 2024 (Hong Kong) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reviewed progress in digitalization, safety and sustainability at the opening of the IATA World Cargo Symposium with the aim of accelerating progress on these critical priorities. “Air cargo volumes are now firmly back to pre-pandemic levels. The challenge now is to ensure that air cargo growth is efficient, safe and aligned with achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through the hard work of the air cargo industry, the building blocks are in place to significantly accelerate progress in all these areas,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo at the World Cargo Symposium (WCS), which opened in Hong Kong, today. Digitalization “The biggest opportunity for the air cargo industry is digitalization. This has ......read more

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 7, 2024 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today marked a significant milestone with the departure of the first ferry cell of three F-16 Block 70 jets from Greenville, South Carolina, to Bahrain. This event highlights Bahrain's role as the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to operate the F-16 and now the first to integrate the F-16 Block 70 variant into its fleet. To date, Lockheed Martin has produced five F-16 Block 70 jets for Bahrain, with an additional 11 in various stages of production and testing. The initial aircraft are performing flight test missions at Edwards Air Force Base, California, with the 416th Flight Test Squadron. OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the importance of the F-16 in the joint 21st Century ......read more

28 February 2024 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its 2023 Annual Safety Report for global aviation. Aviation continues to make progress on safety with several 2023 parameters showing “best-ever” results. There were no hull losses or fatal accidents involving passenger jet aircraft in 2023. However, there was a single fatal accident involving a turboprop aircraft, resulting in 72 fatalities. There were 37 million aircraft movements in 2023 (jet and turboprop), an increase of 17% on the previous year. Report highlights include: The all accident rate was 0.80 per million sectors in 2023 (one accident for every 1.26 million flights), an improvement from 1.30 in 2022 and the lowest rate in over a decade. This rate outperformed the five-year (2019-2023) rolling average of 1.19 (an average ......read more

22 February 2024  – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expanding the transmission of its Turbulence Aware data for use within industry-leading aviation solutions by The Weather Company, which serves a majority of North American commercial airlines and many others globally. With this enhancement, participating airlines can now access Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) turbulence data directly through Fusion™ and Pilotbrief® tools by The Weather Company. IATA Turbulence Aware will be enabled as an additional data layer within these tools, allowing pilots, dispatchers and flight planners to have needed turbulence observations integrated directly into their mission critical applications in one place rather than relying on multiple screens. Turbulence can impact crew and passenger safety, route planning, ......read more

31 January 2024 - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that air cargo demand rebounded in 2023 with a particularly strong fourth quarter performance despite economic uncertainties. Full-year demand reached a level just slightly below 2022 and 2019.   • Global full-year demand in 2023, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), was down 1.9% compared to 2022 (-2.2% for international operations). Compared to 2019, it was down 3.6% (-3.8 for international operations). • Capacity in 2023, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), was 11.3% above 2022 (+9.6% for international operations). Compared to 2019 (pre-COVID) levels, capacity was up 2.5% (0.0% for international operations). • December 2023 saw an exceptionally strong ......read more

30 January 2024 – The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the conclusions of a workshop jointly hosted at EASA’s headquarters to combat incidents of GNSS spoofing and jamming. The workshop’s high-level conclusion was that interference with satellite-based services that provide information on the precise position of an aircraft can pose significant challenges to aviation safety. Mitigating these risks requires short-, medium- and long-term measures, beginning with the sharing of incident information and remedies. “GNSS systems offer tremendous advantages to aviation in increasing the safety of operations in a busy shared airspace,” said EASA Acting Executive Director Luc Tytgat. “But we have seen a sharp rise in attacks on ......read more

17 December 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has rolled out the next generation travel documentation and verification system which supports contactless travel and enhances the passenger experience. To achieve this, Timatic has undergone a complete redesign, setting a new benchmark in travel compliance solutions. Building on the success of its predecessor, Timatic AutoCheck offers a streamlined and interactive experience enabling travelers, airlines and travel professionals to easily access accurate and clearly worded immigration information. The entire document checking process has been automated with tailored instructions for each passenger.   With passenger traffic set to double by 2040, the optimization and enhancement of airport processes will need to continue. Verifying passengers’ travel ......read more

5 October 2023:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the strong post-pandemic passenger traffic trend continued in August.  • Total traffic in August 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 28.4% compared to August 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 95.7% of pre-COVID levels. • Domestic traffic for August rose 25.4% versus August 2022 and was 9.2% above the August 2019 results. This is largely driven by Chinese domestic demand. • International traffic climbed 30.4% compared to the same month a year ago. All markets saw double-digit percentage gains year on year. International RPKs reached 88.5% of August 2019 levels. “Demand for air travel performed well in August. For the year to date, international traffic has increased by 50% versus last year ......read more

05 October 2023:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) will be adding further airlines and airline groups as data contributors to its CO2 Connect emissions calculator, hence improving the quality and accuracy of the tool. Respective agreements were signed with Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Baltic, LATAM Airlines Group, Luxair and Nile Air during the first World Sustainability Symposium held on 3-4 October 2023 in Madrid, Spain.   “Accessing the most accurate operational data is key to achieving global consistency and alignment in CO2 emissions calculations. Expanding this data pool is essential in providing greater transparency and coherence to passengers and stakeholders alike. This allows for more informed CO2 compensation choices while supporting ESG reporting. In continuously expanding our data ......read more

• Qatar Tourism leads delegation at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, meeting with dignitaries from seven nations including Turkey, Jordan, Spain, China and Uzbekistan. • Qatar Tourism signs MoU with leading Saudi tour operators Al Mosafer and Al Matar to promote Qatar as leisure tourism destination.   On World Tourism Day (September 27) by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, Qatar Tourism lead a strong delegation at this year’s host city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, participating in numerous discussions with regional tourism ministers and dignitaries to discuss the rapid development taking place across Qatar’s tourism sector.   As part of the event, Qatar Tourism signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with leading Saudi tour operators, Al Matar and Al Mosafer, to promote Qatar as a ......read more

4 September 2023, Kuwait: Menzies Aviation, the leading service partner to the world’s airports and airlines, has successfully extended its agreement with Jazeera Airways, the leading low cost carrier in Kuwait. The announcement marks the next step in an expanding partnership with the Kuwaiti airline, which includes passenger, ramp, and air cargo services at seven airports in five countries. At Kuwait International Airport (KWI), the extended five-year agreement will see Menzies Aviation, operating as National Aviation Services (NAS) at KWI, continue to deliver ground and air cargo handling services, managing more than 1,400 flights a month. In addition, it will oversee the airline’s dedicated T5 Pearl lounge in the exclusive Jazeera Terminal 5, offering passengers a dedicated space to work or relax before they ......read more