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An emirati decree was issued to restructure Etihad Airway’s Board of Directors by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai. The new board will be chaired by Shaikh Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and its tenure will be for three years.
Flydubai CEO said they are looking beyond the recession this year and expect to achieve 70% in their bookings by year end. Ghaith Al Ghaith said they are not concerned about slower than expected air travel transportation. He said flydubai’s vision, and the vision of the Dubai government and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed is to look beyond the current economic recession the world is suffering from. Regarding…
Guest nights in Dubai fell 16% and revenues dropped 15% because of the impact of the global economic recession. The drop shows that the tourism industry in Dubai slowed during the first quarter. Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) data showed the number of hotel guest nights dropped to 3.87 million during the first three months of 2009. However the DTCM figures showed total number of…
Turkey is actively promoting tourism in their country to Saudi Arabian travelers. A delegation of representatives from the tourism industry in Turkey and Saudi Arabia met for workshop at the Sheraton Villa on Sunday night. The Turkish delegation hopes to receive 100,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia this year. The counselor of culture and information at said this is the first time a Turkish delegation has…
Flydubai is setting itself apart from other airlines with its recent push to promote simpler ways to travel during these economically difficult times. They will be the first carrier in the region to discontinue check-in counters and also charge for all luggage as it is checked in. The change will begin on 1 June when flydubai launches its first flight to Berlin using preprinted boarding passes. Flydubai will…
Chairman of flydubai unveiled the first of its Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft yesterday in Dubai. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum called it a tremendous moment for flydubai and the development of aviation in the region. Sheikh Ahmed said Dubai is one step closer now to providing a low cost carrier because of the vision and leadership of the UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al…
Following a three year absence, wireless internet service is now returning to air flight service, allowing passenger to surf the web, check their email, and log-on to their corporate network during their flight. Boeing at one time had a very expensive, multibillion dollar plan to equip planes with a satellite based system, but the idea was shelved. However, several small internet companies have now developed…
Emirates Airlines is disputing a report by the European Commission’s Consumer Affairs Division which charges that the airline is one of 12 to consistently mislead consumers regarding airfares on their website. During the commission’s 18 month long investigation these carriers, including Aeroflot, Northwest, and Olympic, did not adequately respond to charges of misleading fare advertising. Initially, 137…
Tourism Development and Investment Company (TCIC) said they are making every effort to ensure rights of workers involved in construction on Saadiyat Island are protected. The 27 square km island is adjacent to Abu Dhabi and is an important leisure, residential, and cultural destination. TDIC officials commented on workers rights at a press conference held to update journalists on progress made building the…
The Dubai Mall was officially launched on 8 May, opened in November, and has already attracted more than 160,000 visitors, more than ten percent of the city’s population. The mall is the largest indoor shopping center in the UAE as measured by internal floor space, and has the country’s largest collection of international retail brands in one building. More than 600 of the malls 900 shops are open and the…
Zabeel Investments has decided not to invest $1 billion in US hotels and instead will place more priority on finishing property projects in Dubai. Zabeel Investments executive chairman explained their focus is on investments and everything they do is in Dubai. Mohammad Ali Al Hashimi said “Right now, internationally, we do not have any intention of looking at anything.” Al Hashimi said they are closely…
The Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) met in Doha yesterday to discuss ways to boost tourism. QCCI represents the local hospitality and travel industry. Members favor simplification of tourist and family visa rules as a way to increase tourism. They maintain the current visa rules are strict and stall attempts to bring tourists to Qatar. QCCI members also discussed the need for reducing taxes on…
Luxury air carrier Saraya Skies has made several high level appointments coinciding with its participation in the European Business Aviation Convention (EBAC), the world’s largest aviation exhibition. Bilal Yousaf was appointed Managing Director and Ivan Tehaghapsao were appointed Sales and Marketing Director. Prior to joining Saraya Skies, Yousaf held management positions with several leading aviation…
The government confirmed again that Dubai World Central will open in June 2010. Dubai World Central is a 140 square kilometer aviation and logistics city in Jebel Ali. Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation said the integrated multi-modal logistics platform in DWC will “change all known air, land, and sea transportation parameters.” Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who is also President of Dubai Civil…
Middle East air bookings were 1% higher in the first quarter of 2009, and the region as a whole registered positive growth. However, Europe and Asia registered double digit drops in growth during this period according to industry data. Bookings through travel agents in the UAE between January and March 2009 fell 3.2% compared to the same period in 2008. Europe air bookings fell 12.95% and Asia fell 15.12%…
The worlds largest water feature, the Dubai Fountain, opened in downtown Burj Dubai last weekend. American designers WET and Emaar completed the 275 meter fountain whose height is matched by its technical innovation. The fountain is the length of two football fields and can shoot sprays of water more than 150 meters. The water sprays are set to the sound of classical Arabic and Western music, and when in…
The Rezidor Hotel Group will open its first Park Inn hotel in the UAE on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. A senior executive said that the economic slowdown has affected its high end hotels. The new Park Inn hotel will open in time for the formula Grand Prix event in November. The Middle East Vice President for Rezidor explained there is increasing demand from corporate and leisure travelers for less expensive…
Emirates Airlines dismissed recent criticisms about its promotion offering free air fare, hotel stays, and meals to children of two traveling parents. The airline explained it is quite normal to offer special promotions during the summer season, and the aim of this promotion is to give families a chance for an affordable holiday. Recent statements imply that the offer is being made because of falling demand for…
