Tag Archives: Dubai

Emirates will now operate the last Airbus A340-500 flight on October 3

Emirates (Dubai) will now operate the last Airbus A340-500 revenue flight on October 3 (extended from September 30) per Airline Route.

The last flight will be EK 641 from Kabul, Afghanistan to Dubai arriving at DXB at 1620 (4:20 pm) local time.

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Airline Aircraft Type Endangered Species List (click on the photo link below for the full list with details):

Oman Air to lease 14 aircraft from ALC including a new Boeing 787-9

Oman Air (Muscat) and Air Lease Corporation (Los Angeles) have announced long term lease agreements for 14 jet aircraft. The lease agreements cover three new Boeing 737-800s, seven new Boeing 737 MAX 8s, and one new Boeing 787-9, all from ALC’s order book with Boeing. This transaction also includes one used Boeing 737-700 (msn 33103) and two used Boeing 737-800 aircraft (msns 33104 and 34242). The deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2015 and continue through to 2019.

Oman Air’s Chief Financial Officer, Japeen Shah, said, “We are very pleased to sign these agreements with Air Lease Corporation. They enable Oman Air to continue its ambitious fleet and network expansion program, and deliver even greater choice and convenience for our customers. Our expansion plan will see Oman Air’s fleet expand to 57 aircraft by 2018, and to 70 aircraft by 2020. This agreement represents a significant step towards achieving our strategic aims. Furthermore, Air Lease Corporation is at the forefront of the aircraft leasing industry and shares Oman Air’s commitment to realising excellence in all aspects of its work. We look forward to a fruitful partnership.”

Oman Air’s increased fleet size is enabling it to offer even more exciting destinations within its global network. Over recent months, new services have been launched to Manila, Jakarta, Goa and Singapore. Further new services will be announced closer to the time of their launch, and are expected to include, amongst others, destinations in Bangladesh and China.

Oman Air aircraft slide show:

Emirates to launch the world’s longest air route

Emirates (Dubai) has announced plans to launch services to Panama City, beginning February 1, 2016.

The new service will be the longest nonstop flight in the world (17 hours 35 minutes in the westbound direction) and will be Emirates’ first gateway destination in Central America.

Service to Panama City, Panama’s capital and largest city by population, will commence with a daily flight operated by a Boeing 777-200 LR aircraft in a 3-class layout – 8 in First, 42 in Business, and 216 in Economy. The aircraft can carry up to 15 tons of cargo. Key imports to the country include pharmaceuticals, machinery products, iron/steel rods, and electronics. Service to Panama City will operate through Tocumen International Airport (PTY).

Later this year, Emirates will be adding four additional routes to its global network including Mashhad, Iran and Orlando in September; Bamako, Mali in October; and Bologna in November.
Service to Panama City to begin on February 1, 2016

Emirates flight EK251 will depart Dubai at 08:05 and arrive in Panama City at 16:40 daily. The return flight EK252 will leave Panama City at 22:10, arriving in Dubai at 22:55 the next day.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-21H LR (Longer Range) A6-EWH (msn 35587) departs from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Austrian Airlines is dropping the Vienna – Dubai route

Austrian Airlines (Vienna) will drop the nonstop Vienna – Dubai route due to “over capacity” and the route is “unsustainable” for the carrier.

The airline issued this statement:

Austrian Airlines will no longer offer direct flights to Dubai. Passengers of the Lufthansa Group will still be able to reach this city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the future by flying via Frankfurt, Zurich or Munich. The over capacity, built up in recent years, resulted in fierce price competition as up to 800 seats per day were on offer. This ultimately made the Vienna-Dubai route unsustainable for Austrian Airlines.

Austrian Airlines has been offering flight service to the largest city in the UAE since 1996. The last Austrian Airlines flight will take place on September 13, 2015 from Vienna to Dubai, and from Dubai to Vienna on September 14, 2015.

“Unfortunately, the Vienna-Dubai route has become unsustainable for us. The capacities which will become available will be deployed for attractive, new destinations, such as Miami, Mauritius and Colombo in Sri Lanka starting in October“, says Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto.

As of October 16, 2015, Austrian Airlines will operate flights to Miami in the USA five times per week. Starting October 27, 2015, the national carrier will fly every Tuesday to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. And from October 29, 2015 onwards, Austrian Airlines will offer nonstop flight service twice a week to Mauritius.

Austrian Airlines aircraft slide show:

Virgin Atlantic to operate the Boeing 787-9 from London to Dubai

Virgin Atlantic Airways (London) will start using the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the daily London (Heathrow) – Dubai route commencing on July 21, 2016 according to Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: AirlinersGallery.com. Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787-9 G-VAHH (msn 37967) named “Dream Girl” taxies at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Virgin Atlantic aircraft slide show:

Emirates to inaugurate the Orlando route with a one-time Airbus A380 flight

Emirates (Dubai) has decided to enter the Orlando market with a big impression. The fast-growing airline has decided to substitute the larger Airbus A380 for the regular Boeing 777-200 LR on the inaugural flight scheduled for September 1 according to Airline Route.

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Hainan Airlines is coming to Prague

Hainan Airlines (Haikou and Beijing) will start the Beijing – Prague route three days a week beginning on September 23. The new route will operate with Boeing 767-300 aircraft per Airline Route.

Hainan Airlines aircraft slide show:

Gulf Air increases the number of flights to Frankfurt, Larnaca and Paris

Gulf Air (Bahrain) will increase the number of flights to and from Frankfurt, Larnaca and Paris (CDG) during the upcoming peak summer travel period until September 2015, due to growing passenger numbers.

This follows the airline’s recent announcement of its enhanced Istanbul summer schedule which now offers seven weekly flights during the summer period.

Gulf Air will operate eight weekly flights from Bahrain to both Frankfurt and Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport) and six weekly flights to Larnaca.

Gulf Air’s European summer schedule further supplements the airline’s existing four weekly Athens service and double daily London Heathrow service.

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

Bloomberg: Air India wants to order 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft

Air India (Mumbai) according to Bloomberg, quoting unnamed sources, is in negotiation with Airbus in order to acquire 14 new A320neo aircraft.

The flag carrier is also considering converting some Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners orders (seven remain on order) to the larger 787-9.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo below: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. The newer Airbus A320s would replace the older models. Airbus A320-214 VT-EDF (msn 4237) arrives in Dubai.

Air India aircraft slide show:

Qatar Airways launches Airbus A350-900 service to Singapore, will offer a Doha-Dubai shuttle

Qatar Airways (Doha), as the global launch customer for the Airbus A350-900 XWB, became the first airline to operate the world’s newest aircraft to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region today (May 11), with the inaugural A350-900 XWB service arriving in Singapore’s Changi Airport.

Upon touching down at Singapore Changi Airport, flight QR 944 was greeted by a traditional water cannon salute (above), a long-held tradition to welcome special flights or planes to an airport, and an exclusive welcome ceremony.

Qatar Airways currently operates a double-daily service to Singapore with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (below) and the aircraft will be progressively replaced by the next-generation A350-900 XWB.

Photo Above: Qatar Airways. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner A7-BCB (msn 38320).

In addition, from later this summer, Qatar Airways will add an additional daily flight to Singapore, as part of its global expansion drive and to cater to the increase in passenger demand. All three daily flights will be operated using the A350-900 XWB by mid-August.

In addition, Qatar Airways has announced an expansion to its UAE services with the launch of nonstop flights to Ras Al Khaimah, commencing on October 1, 2015.

Operating daily, flight QR 1120 will depart Doha’s Hamad International Airport at 20:15 hours and arrive at Ras Al Khaimah International Airport at 22.30 hours. The return flight QR 1121 will depart at 23:30 hours and arrive in Doha at 23:45 hours.

Additionally the carrier announced the introduction of Qatar Airways’ newest offering, the Doha-Dubai Shuttle. Having launched this week, the Doha-Dubai Shuttle will offer flights from Doha’s Hamad International Airport to Dubai International Airport, as well as Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

The new service which is the first of its kind flying between the two cities brings with it a number of enhanced services that will reduce overall travel time and increase convenience for passengers. The shuttle service, along with its many perks, will be offered on each of the 18 daily flights between the two cities, with 14 flights to and from Dubai International Airport and four to and from Al Maktoum International Airport.

Copyright Photo Above: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A321-231 A7-ADX (msn 3397) departs from tropical Doha, Qatar.

According to the airline, “passengers on the Doha-Dubai Shuttle will also be able to enjoy the newly unveiled Qatar Airways inflight entertainment system with its brand new design and identity. The new brand “Oryx One – Explore. Play. Share.” embraces Qatar Airways’ corporate colours and will provide passengers with a comprehensive experience of entertainment, information and connectivity.

Video: Qatar Airways. The new Oryx One on Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker (below) announced the launch of the Doha-Dubai Shuttle and the unveiled new brand identity of the airline’s inflight entertainment during a press conference on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) – the Middle East’s premier travel show – taking place in Dubai this week.

Photo Above: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker announces the carrier’s 2015 expansion plans and latest undertakings during a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

Specially branded and dedicated check-in counters located at Row 5 at Hamad International Airport will be available for all passengers travelling from Doha to Dubai on the Doha-Dubai Shuttle. Passengers who plan on checking in baggage must check in no later than one hour before their scheduled departure time. Return flights from Dubai to Doha also require check in of a minimum of one hour before the scheduled departure time for all passengers, including those with only hand baggage.

Passengers flying on the Qatar Airways Doha-Dubai Shuttle will also be able to take advantage of fast-track immigration in Doha, allowing them to clear passport control in a minimum amount of time before proceeding to their boarding gates located in either Concourse A or B, which are no more than a seven to 10 minute walk, on average, from passport control.

Qatar Airways has so far announced an the addition of seven destinations to its international map this year – Amsterdam, Ras Al Khaimah, Zanzibar, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Durban – and is gearing up for more route expansion in 2016 with three new US cities, Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta.

Finally, Qatar Airways and Royal Air Maroc (Casablanca) have announced the launch of a strategic joint business agreement on their services between the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Morocco.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker and Royal Air Maroc Chairman and CEO, Mr. Driss Benhima signed the joint business agreement today at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, in the presence of international press and travel trade partners.

The joint business will benefit passengers by providing enhanced links between Qatar and Morocco, greater choice of flights to more destinations and improved frequent flyer benefits. With this new agreement, passengers will be able to purchase a single itinerary combining flights on both carriers’ global networks, affording them the ease of one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in.

Royal Air Maroc will be operating three weekly flights with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Doha complimenting Qatar Airways’ existing seven times weekly flights to Casablanca, giving passengers the flexibility of using a combination of flights from both airlines between Qatar and Morocco, significantly increasing their options.

Video Below: Qatar Airways. Qatar Airways First Officer Robby and his wife talk about the wonderful life they have made for themselves in Doha since he joined the airline. Find out how they have rapidly adapted to the Middle Eastern way of life and why they plan to spend the foreseeable future in this fast-growing, dynamic city, which has so much to offer pilots and their families looking for an exciting new chapter in their lives.