50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United Arab Emirates aviation news

Al Ain Air Championship opens

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) has announced the full programme of aerobatic activities for the Ain Air Championship 2015, taking place from 17-19 December. At a press conference at the Al Ain International Airport was attended by Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director of tourism sector at TCA Abu Dhabi and alongside the captains of the participating teams inclu...

Etihad Partnership Aims at Bespoke Digital Travel Technology

Etihad Airways has announced a new strategic agreement with Information Technology consultants Cognizant to transform its digital platforms and improve the passenger experience throughout the journey with personalized product offerings and services. The three-year, multi-million dollar deal, will have Cognizant take over the management of Etihad Airways’ existing web applications and...

Emirates to add two more Chinese destinations in 2016

Emirates will start flying to two new cities in China as the Dubai carrier taps rising demand for travel in the world’s most populous country. From May next year, Emirates will start flying four times a week to Yinchuan and Zhengzhou. The airline already flies to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou on the mainland. Yinchuan, the capital of Ning xia, is west of the Yellow River and east of...

Emirates emblazons Airbus A380 with Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid teammates

The world is used to seeing Cristiano Ronaldo fly down the wing for Spanish footballing giants Real Madrid. But now he’ll flying at a rather higher altitude - this time on the side of an Emirates Airbus A380. The Dubai carrier, which sponsors Real as well as a number of other top European clubs, has unveiled a new decal on the world’s largest passenger plane. The A380 has been...

UAE to Miami business class with British Airways – review

With no Middle East airlines flying direct to Miami, British Airways has stepped in with a new route from the UAE to the Florida city via London Heathrow. Travelling with a Club World business class ticket on the leg from London to Miami, the relaxation began in BA’s Heathrow lounge with a complimentary massage followed by a light snack – a classic British breakfast sandwich. On...

Etihad raises more than Dh1m for charitable causes

Etihad Airways has raised more than Dh1 million for charitable causes in Yemen and Kenya. The national airline raised approximately Dh1 million to support the Yemen: We Care campaign and has helped renovate two schools in Kenya as part of the company’s annual charity fund-raising, in cooperation with Emirates Red Crescent. “As the UAE’s national airline, we are pleased to r...

Etihad Airways Wins "World's Leading Airline" Award for Seventh Consecutive Year

Etihad Airways has crowned a momentous 2015 by collecting the coveted "World's Leading Airline" award for the seventh consecutive year at the annual World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2015. Last night's red-carpet event was held before an audience of the industry's leading luminaries and international media at the exclusive Mazagan Beach & Golf Resor...

On a trip to somewhere far, far away

On an Emirates flight to somewhere far, far away passengers will soon be able to watch the first six Star Wars films back-to-back. The airline is adding all six films, including the original trilogy A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and the later release prequels to its in flight entertainment systems next month. The original t...

Challenges Remain for Airline Industry Despite Bright Outlook

The airline industry looks forward to improved performance in 2016 on the back of a projected higher global GDP growth and lower oil prices, although some markets may slow down because of huge depreciation of their currencies against the rising dollar.  Recently, the International Air Transport Association, the global body of some 250 major airlines, announced its airline industry out...

Emirates to end A340 operations next year

Emirates (EK, Dubai Int'l) is planning to conclude commercial A340 operations later next year in line with its fleet renewal strategy. In a statement, the Dubai-based carrier said it would retire its four remaining A340-300s and lone A340-500 alongside twenty-one other ageing aircraft including twelve A330-200s, six B777-200(ER)s, two B777-300s, and one B777-300(ER). Emirates currently u...

Eighty Emirati pilots graduate as Emirates keeps expanding

Emirates airline is optimistic about meeting its rising demand for pilots after 80 Emirati pilots graduated from its national cadet pilot programme. It was the largest graduating class in the programme’s 23-year history. Emirates also said that it would open the Emirates Flight Training Academy by the end of next year. The Dubai airline, which aggressively keeps on adding routes and fr...

Emirates Offers Special Deals for World's Longest Flight

Emirates is offering special pre-launch fares for its Dubai to Panama route, which will start from February 1. The route, operated by a Boeing 777-200 LR, will take a whopping 17 hours and 35 minutes, making it the longest in the world. Emirates said that fares would start from Dh7,205 in economy class and Dh20,250 in business class when booked for travel between February 1 and March 23....