Category Archives: Aviation

The airline’s 2024 achievements showcase its commitment to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aviation goals Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, continues to lead the way in advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, showcasing a strong commitment to the nation’s aviation goals throughout 2024. Through innovation, network expansion, and strategic collaborations, Saudia reinforces its pivotal role in supporting the Kingdom’s broader objectives of enhancing global connectivity, fostering economic growth, and creating new opportunities, while positioning itself at the forefront of the aviation sector’s transformation. In line with Vision 2030’s aspirations to transport 330 million travellers, facilitate 150 million visits, and serve 30 million pilgrims annually, Saudia has made significant strides in advancing its growth and development strategy this year. Saudia’s Network Expansion In 2024, Saudia strengthened its position as a global aviation leader by expanding its international network. The airline launched new routes to key destinations, including Beijing, China; Medan, Indonesia; and Phuket, Thailand, in line with Saudia’s strategic vision to increase its global presence and enhance its competitive advantage in the international market. The new Dammam–Beijing route has set Dammam as the third Saudi city to offer direct flights to Beijing, driving a 16.2 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared to 2023 and enriching King Fahd International Airport’s international offerings. Furthermore, the direct connection to Medan strengthens Saudia’s role in supporting Vision 2030’s goals to facilitate seamless travel for pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques. Seasonal flights to Phuket have also commenced on 2 December 2024, positioning it as Saudia’s second destination in Thailand and further catering to the growing demand for leisure travel. Codeshare Agreements in 2024 Throughout 2024, Saudia has continued …

As a continuation of its globally recognised ‘Time for’ campaign, Malaysia Airlines unveiled ‘Time for Premium Leisure,’ a campaign that redefines Business Class travel by showcasing its unparalleled comfort, personalised service, and worldclass amenities. From spacious seating and bespoke in-flight experiences to exclusive access to award-winning lounges and gourmet dining, travellers can indulge in a seamless and luxurious journey. Running until 20 February 2025, this exclusive Business Class campaign offers special fares across its network. In addition, members of the airline’s award-winning Enrich programme can also enjoy an additional five per cent off fares, while non-members are encouraged to sign up for free to unlock this exclusive benefit. Whether it is a dream escape to the Maldives, a romantic getaway to Paris, or a coastal retreat in Da Nang, now is the perfect time to experience premium travel at exceptional value. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer, Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, said, “At Malaysia Airlines, we continuously elevate the premium travel experience, ensuring that every journey is defined by comfort, exclusivity, and our signature Malaysian Hospitality. This commitment is exemplified in the introduction of our next-generation A330neo, setting a new benchmark in business class travel. Designed for discerning travellers who seek more than just a seat, our Business Class offers spacious suites with privacy doors, direct aisle access, and our state-of-the-art elevation seat, designed for ultimate relaxation. Whether traveling for business or leisure, our goal is to ensure that every moment onboard is an indulgence in premium comfort.” As part of this journey, Business Class passengers can enjoy an elevated end-to-end travel experience from the moment they arrive at the airport, including personalised Meet and Greet assistance, access to the …

Ethiopian Airlines announced the launch of a new thrice-weekly passenger service to Hyderabad, India, starting from 16 June, 2025. This new route exemplifies Ethiopian Airlines’ commitment to expanding its global network and enhancing connectivity between Africa and Asia, providing passengers with convenient travel options. The new flight will commence operations with three mid-day departures from Addis Ababa to Hyderabad and morning arrivals on the return leg as per the details below: ET 682 Addis Ababa (ADD) to Hyderabad (HYD) – Mon, Wed, Sat ET 683 Hyderabad (HYD) to Addis Ababa (ADD) – Tue, Thu, Sat Regarding the launch of the new service Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO, Ethiopian Airlines, remarked, “We are delighted to commence a new passenger service to Hyderabad. Since our first flight to Mumbai, India, in 1971, we have expanded our footprint throughout the country, offering convenient passenger and cargo transportation services. This new service will not only enhance travel options for our esteemed passengers but also strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two countries and beyond. Additionally, it is also a testament to Ethiopian’s commitment to enhancing its position as the continent’s top carrier with wide connectivity and world-class service.” Currently, Ethiopian Airlines offers over fifty weekly dedicated passenger and cargo flights to five Indian cities; Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Chennai, With the opening of this new passenger route to Hyderabad, Ethiopian will solidify its presence in India and enhance flight alternatives for passengers travelling between and outside the region.

Egyptair is pushing India’s MICE traffic to Egypt by offering competitive fares. Amr Aly, Country Manager, India, Vietnam & Hongkong, Egyptair, said, “For Cairo, we have an offer till March end, 40 per cent discount on economic class, 30 per cent on business class. Due to high demand, we may extend it till July.”

SriLankan Airlines is presenting a game-changer with the introduction of ‘Yaana,’ an AI-powered chatbot. Yaana is set to transform customer support and the way passengers interact with the airline by leveraging advanced AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies to intelligently assist with a wide range of passenger inquiries. Developed in collaboration with CodeGen International, Yaana is now live on SriLankan Airlines’ corporate website. Chamara Perera, Group Head of Information Technology, SriLankan Airlines, commented on this latest advancement in customer engagement technology stating, “Yaana features a generative AI virtual assistant powered by GPT-4 technology and is equipped with sophisticated retrieval capabilities to enhance customer interactions and efficiently address inquiries. The system also utilises a conversational AI framework and custom AI algorithms to deliver rapid, accurate, empathetic and contextually relevant responses. By cross-referencing multiple policy documents, real-time data sets, including flight schedules, Yaana ensures that passengers receive reliable, tailored information.” Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales and Distribution, SriLankan Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm about Yaana’s potential, stating, “Since going live, Yaana has handled close to 12,000 inquiries with remarkable efficiency, autonomously resolving 88 per cent of them. Furthermore, with its scalability, we anticipate Yaana will manage five times the current volume. By providing 24/7 assistance, including real-time updates during disruptions, streamlined booking guidance and personalised support for complex queries, Yaana will significantly enhance customer service every step of the way.” The chatbot will prove especially indispensable during unplanned flight disruptions, a common occurrence in the airline industry, by assisting passengers in swiftly finding alternative travel options. Available globally, Yaana also has multilingual capabilities, making it accessible to SriLankan Airlines’ diverse, global customer base. For SriLankan Airlines, an airline committed to using …

Sharing his perspective on the India market, John Grant, Chief Analyst, OAG, says that while India has for many years been an emergent market it has also seen a fair degree of boom-and-bust periods as local airlines have struggled to survive in a market where seemingly uniforms and working conditions were more important than fuel. “Today, that has changed and anyone who has travelled recently in India will be impressed with the levels of digital technology and biometrics in place across every major airport. India is no longer an emergent market – it is the market of international focus and the centre for aviation growth in the next decade,” he adds.

Digi Yatra has ambitious plans for 2025. Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO, Digi Yatra Foundation, reveals, “Our partnership with IATA for the IATA One-ID X Digi Yatra for enablement of Digi Yatra for International flow will drive growth in 2025. The platform intends to support all 22 official Indian languages. It also aims to conduct an international pilot project, enabling foreign passengers with e-passports to experience its seamless ecosystem.”

The Airbus A321XLR has proven a popular choice with airlines says Gavin Eccles, Managing Partner, GE Consulting & Advisory. “It can fly up to 10 hours, similar to an A330, the difference being we can fly with such distances with 160 people rather than 360 people. This means that tourist boards can start fishing in markets that they have not been to before because the traditional widebody was either too big for most airports or had too many seats that would mean less yield for the airline, resulting in a reluctance to serve certain destinations. But that will now soon change,” he says.

Signs contract for one Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft Will explore further opportunities with Norse Atlantic Airways for contracting more aircraft IndiGo has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways for damp lease of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The aircraft will be arriving in India in the next few weeks and is expected to start operations in March 2025. This partnership underscores IndiGo’s strategic efforts to expand its geographic reach and provide its customers with more options for international travel. The initial term of the agreement is six months, extendable to up to 18 months, subject to regulatory approvals. Both parties remain committed to exploring opportunities to further extend this period, subject to regulatory approvals. IndiGo and Norse will continue exploring opportunities to contract additional aircraft and increase their collaboration further. IndiGo is committed to providing an exceptional travel experience to its customers and expanding its international footprint to cater to the growing demand for international travel to and from India. To support and accelerate its long-haul expansion, IndiGo has placed a firm order for 30 Airbus 350-900 wide-body aircraft with an option for an additional 70 aircraft, with deliveries expected to commence from 2027. Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, said, “As part of our broader strategy to significantly expand our international network, we are pleased to confirm this damp lease of one Boeing 787-9 aircraft from Norse Atlantic Airways. Our vision is to transform into a global player by 2030 while having strong roots and continuous expansion in India, and we are strategically moving ahead in that direction.”  

Informing Rajya Sabha about the progress made in the Nodia Airport, KR Naidu, Minister for Civil Aviation, GoI, said, “Jewar International Airport, poised to become Asia’s largest, will commence regular operations from April. He highlighted the enthusiasm among airlines to operate from the airport, which is expected to boost global connectivity significantly.”