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Gulf Air is considering legal action in response to Regional Paraguaya Airlines new livery, which is virtually the same as their gold and white design. Regional Paraguaya, which is based in Asuncion, has new markings very similar to Gulf Air’s, with the same color scheme, purple diagonal stripe, and golden falcon on the tail. Regional Paraguaya is a charter airline that began services last July. Gulf Air…
Sharjah International Airport is the first in the country to offer self check in services through the Common Use Self Service kiosks for all airlines. The kiosks are expected to be operational for various airlines by the end of the month. Following security screening, the passenger may choose the airline from the kiosk monitor and enter the ticket number. The kiosk then scans and reads the passengers…
Flydubai said their talks with Indian aviation authorities continue, dismissing reports that there is a stalemate. According to reports from India, the Indian Air Force (IAF) denied the budget carrier flydubai permission to land in Chandigarh at night. IAF controls this hub and no civilian planes are allowed to land. A flydubai flight was expected to arrive in Chandigarh at about 11 pm, which is past the IAF…
Bahrain’s Amwaj launched its first hotel in Manama - The Dragon. The luxury hotel and resort was designed to look like a dragon and cost an estimated BD 22 million. The structure resembles a sleeping dragon with a long neck stretching across the water forming a conical dragon shaped head. It resembles a giant majestically looking over the Arabian Gulf. The Dragon Hotel and Resort has incredible seafront…
The star ratings of some hotels in Abu Dhabi will be downgraded this summer when a strict new classification system comes into effect. All hotels in Abu Dhabi will be required to display a plaque showing their star rating within the next several weeks. The plaque will be issued by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). Eighteen months ago, the ADTA issued hotels a manual detailing the new classification…
Travel bookings in Jeddah have dropped 25% this year due to a shorter summer schedule and the swine flu virus, according to one Jeddah based travel agent. CEO of Departure Point Travel and Tourism Company said “The rates are competitive this year compared to last year, but still demand is less than expected.” Al Faqeeh said this year tourists are tending to go to cheaper countries like Egypt, Malaysia, and…
The Saudi Arabian Airlines Jet which had two tires burst on landing in Mumbai returned safely to Jeddah on Sunday. Saudia’s vice president for public relations explained the pilot believes the tire burst was caused by debris hitting the tires. Abdullah Alajhar said ongoing renovations and bad weather may have also contributed to the accident. After a complete check of the aircraft, it left for Jeddah on…
A Saudi Arabian flight landing in Mumbai had a close shave when two tires burst, causing the plane to skid. The landing occurred during inclement weather at the International Airport in Sahar on Saturday. Passengers were deplaned but then had to wait six hours for their luggage to arrive. One of the passengers explained “We were told, after a three hour wait on the runway, that we had to wait another six…
A top government official reported the Dubai tourism sector is performing well with an average 81% occupancy rate during the first quarter of 2009. The Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing spoke about Dubai’s tourism sector at a meeting of the Dubai Economic Council on Saturday. Khaled bin Sulayem said Dubai has maintained the average 81% occupancy rate since 2004 and it is…
The AED2.3 billion ($626 million) Palazzo Versace Dubai project is well under way, although plans for a refrigerated beach have been cancelled due to concerns about environmental effects. The developer for the project, Emirates Sunland group, said 80% of the units were sold before the global financial crisis. Managing Director Soheil Abedian said financing has already been secured through a syndicate of…
The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said yesterday tourism in the UAE grew 3% in the first four months of the year, bucking the global trend. However, tourist numbers in the Middle East dropped more than in any other region of the world. The UN groups World Tourism Barometer said tourism fell 18% between January 2009 and April 2009 compared to the same period last year, while tourism declined 8%. In…
Blue City Company signed an agreement with the Intercontinental Hotel Group to develop a five star beachfront property in Oman. The Intercontinental Al Madina A’Zarqa will have 200 rooms including 50 suites. The coastline hotel will be near the Al Na’man community, creek marina, golf course, and shopping district. Chief Operating Officer for Intercontinental Hotel Group – Middle East and Africa said the Al…
Jeddah Labor Minster urged coffee shop and restaurant owners to create a conducive working environment for the Saudi worker. Speaking to the Hospitality Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said he will do his best to remove any obstacles “facing the Saudization of jobs in this sector. He said “Restaurants and coffee shops are important areas of work Saudis…
Air Arabia and Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) launched a new online ticket payment system for Air Arabia customers. Payments for Air Arabia tickets can now be made using DIB’s Al Islami online banking services from the comfort of one’s own home. DIB previously signed an agreement with Air Arabia to provide a ticket payment facility for Air Arabia customers, and now the bank is enabling payments through their…
The number of outbound tourists traveling on round trip tickets increased to 80%, indicating travelers are returning to Dubai. Travel agents said 20% of travelers are departing on one way tickets because seats are not available. Those who travel on round trip tickets must wait ten days for the return trip departure date to be confirmed by the travel agent. According to Dubai based travel agents and tour…
Emirates Airlines announced it added flight services to West Asia to meet an expected increase in demand. Four flights to Colombo and five flights were added to Malee bringing its services to Sri Lanka and Maldives to 18 and 14 flights respectively. Flights from Dubai to Malee, and Columbo to Dubai will operate on an A330 every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The A330 is configured with 12 first class, 42…
The UAE is gearing up to be the center for global events, preparing promotions that will bring the business meetings and convention sector to new heights. UAE is already seen as the MICE hub in the region (Meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions). Managing Director for Epoc Messe Frankfurt said Dubai has “emerged as the definitive MICE hub in the region.”. Elisabeth Brehl said the MICE sector is…
More than 200 back office employees at Dubai Airport have moved to the frontline to help process transiting passenger during the peak summer season. During their second annual “summer mission” airport employees normally working in the back office will be deployed in the arrival and departure areas at three different terminals – from 1 July 2009 until mid September. They will welcome and assist passengers at…
