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Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
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- Tourism Breaking News
flyadeal joins Saudia's Alfursan loyalty programme
Post Views: 133 flyadeal has joined sister airline Saudia's AlFursan loyalty programme giving members additional travel options to earn and redeem reward miles with the Kingdom's fast-growing low-cost carrier. It's the latest move by flyadeal towards further integration with national flag carrier Saudia, which codeshares on its entire domestic and international network. The new partnership was signed at a ceremony held at Saudia's headquarters in Jeddah by Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, and Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of AlFursan. The event was presided by His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Saudia Group Director General. Steven Greenway, flyadeal CEO, said: 'Joining AlFursan was just a matter of time for flyadeal. We've scaled our operations significantly across Saudi Arabia and internationally that now give members of the AlFursan loyalty programme more travel options with great flexibility to earn and redeem reward miles on flyadeal's rapidly growing network. 'Being the leading loyalty programme in the Kingdom, AlFursan has developed a diverse membership and partnership base for which we are delighted to be joining. With the sharp rise in the number of tourists, business travellers and pilgrims to, from and within Saudi Arabia, we are creating a dynamic aviation ecosystem built on demand, appeal, choice and loyalty.' Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of AlFursan, added: 'We are focused on expanding our member base while introducing exceptional partnerships such as the one with flyadeal, to enhance the programme and offer more exclusive rewards than ever before. This includes increasing our partner network and launching new features designed to provide more options for members to earn and redeem their reward miles. Our goal is for AlFursan to be the most rewarding loyalty programme in Saudi Arabia, and one of the best globally.' Unlike many airline-led loyalty programmes, AlFursan reward miles can be redeemed for available seats on any flyadeal flight without blackout restrictions or limited inventory. Redemption covers the full cost of the flight, including fees and taxes. When redeeming reward miles for a flight on flyadeal, AlFursan members are guaranteed the same high level experience and support as flyadeal paying passengers. Being the largest loyalty programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with over nine million members, AlFursan provides its membership with an extensive range of benefits, offers and rewards through over 40 global partnerships including banks, hotels, car rental companies, retailers and insurance providers. Since inception in 2017, flyadeal has been catapulted into the region's fastest growing airline with a current fleet of 39 Airbus A320 family aircraft serving over 30 seasonal and year-round destinations in Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. The airline is set to more than triple in size in fleet and destinations served by 2030. Last week, flyadeal embarked on its summer seasonal flying programme to five destinations from bases in Riyadh and Jeddah. Over the next two months, flyadeal will serve Baku (Azerbaijan), Tbilisi (Georgia), Trabzon (Turkey), Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina) and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt). New year-round scheduled services were introduced last month to Alexandria (Egypt) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (Turkey). And beginning July 2, flyadeal will operate flights from Jeddah to Assiut in central Egypt.
Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
DXB set for summer surge with over 3.4 million guests expected in the season kick-off
Post Views: 49 Dubai International (DXB) is entering a period of sustained peak operations, with more than 3.4 million guests expected to travel through the airport between 27 June and 9 July 2025. Daily volumes are forecast to average over 265,000 with the busiest day on 5 July for both departures and transfer traffic. Dubai Airports, alongside its stakeholders, has activated an integrated summer readiness plan to ensure guest journeys remain safe and efficient. While the wider regional situation has led to some delays and cancellations across the network, the oneDXB community has been working around the clock to support guests, provide welfare, and maintain service continuity. Supported by a real-time monitoring and predictive system to optimise manpower and resource utilisation. DXB continues to monitor the situation in close coordination with authorities and airline partners, prioritising the safety of all guests and employees on the ground and through to take-off. Guests departing in the coming days are encouraged to follow these key tips to ensure a smoother airport experience: • For those travelling with families, children over the age of 12 can use Smart Gates to speed up the passport control process. • Arrive no earlier than three hours before departure. • Utilise online check-in, self-service kiosks and bag drop at DXB Terminal 3. • DUBZ provides home check-in and baggage collection services, allowing guests to complete their airport formalities from the comfort of their home or hotel. • Stay informed on flight and gate updates with DXB Express Maps, the wayfinding platform that helps you navigate the airport with a quick QR code scan and search. • Enhanced support is available for People of Determination, including marked accessibility routes, discreet assistance for guests wearing Sunflower Lanyards from trained staff, and a dedicated Assisted Travel Lounge in DXB Terminal 2. • Once at the airport, travellers can enjoy DXB's full range of facilities including restaurants, duty free shopping and lounges to relax before their flight.
Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Egypt's Travel & Tourism Sector contributes EGP 1.4 Trillion to GDP in 2024 : WTTC
Post Views: 52 According to WTTC's latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), developed in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the sector contributed EGP 1.4TN to Egypt's GDP in 2024, accounting for 8.5% of the national economy. Looking ahead, 2025 is projected to set a new all-time high with a forecast annual growth of 4.9% and increase in the sector's share to 8.6% of national GDP. This underlines the central role of Travel & Tourism in Egypt's continued economic development. 2024 also marked the strongest year on record for visitor spending. International visitor expenditure reached EGP 726.9BN, up 36.1% compared to 2019, while domestic visitor spending rose to EGP 449.9BN, 31.8% above pre-pandemic levels. This upward trend is set to continue. In 2025, international visitor spending is projected to increase to EGP 768.2BN, and domestic spending is expected to reach EGP 460.6BN, maintaining the country's strong recovery and sustained demand across both international and local travel. In addition to record-breaking economic contribution and visitor spending, in 2024, the sector supported 2.7 million jobs, exceeding the 2019 peak. This growth is set to continue, with 2025 employment forecast to rise to 2.9 million, marking a 22.3% increase compared to 2019. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: 'Egypt's Travel & Tourism sector is experiencing a powerful resurgence, with record-breaking economic contribution and a sustained surge in visitor spending. These numbers reflect a sector on the rise: dynamic, resilient, and vital to the country's growth. 'With its rich cultural heritage, world-class attractions, and growing connectivity, Egypt continues to captivate travellers from around the globe. The government's focus on investment, infrastructure, and sustainable tourism is clearly paying off.' WTTC forecasts a decade of sustained expansion for Egypt's Travel & Tourism sector. By 2035, the sector is expected to contribute EGP 2.1TN to the national economy, accounting for 8.4% of GDP. Employment is projected to reach 3.8 million jobs, representing 10.5% of total employment, and highlighting the sector's critical role in job creation. Over the same period, international visitor spending is expected to rise to EGP 1.1TN, while domestic spending is forecast to reach EGP 627BN, reflecting Egypt's potential to become one of the region's most vibrant and sustainable tourism economies.
Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
chatlyn opened its Dubai office to strengthen its presence in the Middle East
Post Views: 34 chatlyn recently opened its Dubai office to strengthen its presence in the Middle East. chatlyn, the AI communication hub transforming how hotels engage with guests across every touchpoint, announced it has secured €8 million in Series A funding led by Smedvig Ventures. With this investment, chatlyn aims to accelerate its mission to become 'the AI brain for hotels'—an intelligent system that supports hotel operations (front desk, reservations, marketing, and guest services) and autonomously optimizes guest communications to maximize revenue and satisfaction. 'Every day, hotels are missing revenue because a guest inquiry comes in at 2 AM and gets lost in the shuffle, or a staff member can't quickly find the right response in the right language. In today's world, you lose potential guests when you don't respond immediately,' said Nicolas Vorsteher, CEO and Co-founder of chatlyn. 'We want to bring back meaningful conversations to the hospitality industry and free up staff's valuable time for in-person guest interactions. We're building the AI brain for hotels – an AI that understands hospitality context, speaks 35+ languages fluently, and learns each property's unique voice to deliver experiences that feel both personal and effortless.' 'chatlyn has fundamentally transformed our guest experience from reactive to proactive,' said Garry Loefgen, Head of Commercial at InterContinental Vienna. 'Our AI assistant handles over 70% of inquiries instantly in perfect German, English, Arabic, and many other languages, while our team focuses on creating magical moments. It's like having a multilingual concierge that never sleeps and gets smarter every day.' The round included participation from AnyDesk founder Andreas Burike, Austrian transport leader Blaguss, business angel Mathias Hiebeler (former owner of Grob aircraft, acquired by Helsing), and strategic hospitality angels. The company also received an innovation grant from the FFG, Austria's national funding institution for industry-related research and development.
Tourism Breaking News
2 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Etihad increases capacity by 31% to Canada, touches down in Toronto
Post Views: 41 Etihad Airways has begun operating its iconic Airbus A380 on daily flights to Toronto, boosting capacity by 31% and marking a new chapter in the airline's long-standing commitment to Canada ahead of its 20th anniversary. Etihad's famous big bird was welcomed with a water-cannon salute at Toronto Pearson International Airport. The upgraded service introduces the unparalleled luxury of Etihad's flagship A380 aircraft to Canadian skies for the first time. This includes the airline's award-winning First Apartments and the world's only three-room suite in the sky, The Residence, offering an exceptional flying experience for guests on the route between Zayed International Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport. The increased capacity responds to strong demand for travel between the UAE and Canada, particularly across business, leisure and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segments. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: 'We are proud to introduce the A380 and offer guests flying between Abu Dhabi and Canada an extraordinary new travel experience with Etihad. Toronto has been a cornerstone of our North American network since 2005, when we became the first airline from the Gulf region to operate flights to Canada. The introduction of our flagship aircraft on this route reflects our deep commitment to the Canadian market.' Etihad's A380 features 486 seats across four cabins, including: • The Residence: A private three-room suite with living room, bedroom and ensuite bathroom with shower • First Apartments: 9 fully enclosed suites with personal space, 80-inch lie-flat beds and separate ottoman seat • Business Studios: 70 lie-flat seats with aisle access, premium dining and exclusive access to The Lobby, a serviced lounge in the sky • Economy Smart Seats: 405 seats with fixed-wing headrests and adjustable support, including 68 extra legroom seats Guests flying to or from Canada via Abu Dhabi can also take advantage of Etihad's stopover programme, with complimentary hotel stays offering a chance to experience the UAE capital's rich cultural landmarks, pristine beaches, and world-class attractions.
