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Abu Dhabi Stopover passes 310,000 visitors and extends to Al Ain

The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, are marking the growth of the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme at Arabian Travel Market. More than 310,000 international visitors have chosen to extend their journey in the emirate since the Abu Dhabi Stopover programme was launched in 2024, and the offer now extends to Al Ain, giving guests connecting through Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport the option to spend their complimentary hotel stay in the UAE’s Garden City, alongside the existing option to stay in Abu Dhabi city and its popular islands.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News9h ago

Icelandair Celebrates Inaugural Flight to Gdansk

Icelandair today celebrated the launch of its first scheduled flight to Gdansk, marking the airline’s first destination in Poland. To commemorate the occasion, celebrations were held for passengers at both Keflavík International Airport and Gdansk Airport upon the aircraft’s arrival. The new service adds Gdansk to Icelandair’s growing route network and will operate three to four times weekly. The route strengthens connectivity between Iceland and Poland while providing travelers from northern Poland with convenient connections via Keflavík to Icelandair’s extensive North American network. At the same time, it offers passengers from Iceland and North America direct access to one of Poland’s most historic and vibrant cities.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News9h ago

RwandAir wins Best Airline Staff in Africa at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards

RwandAir has been awarded Best Airline Staff Service in Africa at the 2026 World Airline Awards, presented by Skytrax, recognising its consistently high standards of customer service across its growing network. The award was presented at the 2026 World Airline Awards ceremony in London, where RwandAir was recognised alongside the world’s leading airlines. The award reflects RwandAir’s continued focus on service excellence, with its people at the heart of the customer experience. From cabin crew and airport teams to customer service and operational staff, RwandAir’s employees play a central role in delivering the warmth, hospitality and professionalism for which the airline is increasingly recognised.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News9h ago

TUI Airline and GO7 launch industry-fi rst airline-controlled connectivity partnership

TUI Airline, part of one of the world’s leading travel groups, and GO7, the growth platform for airlines, today announced an industry fi rst: TUI Airline is the fi rst carrier to go live with GO7’s airline-controlled connection model. The partnership enables customers to combine two fl ights in one smoother journey, including through-checked baggage, while allowing airlines to retain ownership of pricing, settlement, operations and the customer relationship.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

Riyadh Air celebrates first flight from Manchester to Saudi capital

A new link between Manchester and the Saudi capital of Riyadh launched this morning – with Saudi Arabia’s new digital-led airline Riyadh Air making the North’s hub airport just its fourth destination in Europe. The service will not only open up connections to Saudi Arabia for travellers from the North but will also give them access via onward connections to Riyadh Air’s network of destinations across Africa and Asia.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority partners with Emirates to drive visitor arrivals

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost visitor arrivals and stimulate traffic to the emirate from select markets within the airline’s network.  The MOU was signed at the Arabian Travel Market by Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer and Her Excellency Phillipa Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

The battle for AI search starts before the prompt, says Icelandair marketing chief

The battle for visibility in AI-powered travel search begins long before a traveller types a prompt, according to Icelandair’s Director of Global Marketing, Gísli Brynjolfsson. His view is that airlines must build brands people already know, remember and feel something about if they want to be considered when customers turn to AI for travel advice. Brynjolfsson outlined the approach during a World Aviation Festival webinar on 7 September, titled “The secret behind Icelandair’s viral marketing campaigns”, ahead of his appearance at the event’s Marketing Summit in Lisbon next month.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

easyJet’s first flights to Munich take off

London Southend Airport and easyJet are today celebrating the inaugural flight to Munich. The first flight to the German city took off today and provides customers across Essex and the South East with even more choice at great value fares. Munich is renowned for its rich history, vibrant culture, world-famous food and drink scene, and proximity to the Bavarian Alps, making it an attractive destination for city breaks and those visiting Christmas markets.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

Emirates and KHDA partner to position Dubai as a top destination for pursuing higher education

Emirates and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner on key initiatives advancing Dubai’s ambition to become a leading global destination for higher education, international students, and lifelong learning. The partnership supports the goals of Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy by enhancing student accessibility, strengthening international connectivity, and promoting the City of Students game changer and Study Dubai programme in key global markets.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News17 Sept

Robust aviation infrastructure and data-led decisions central to post-conflict connectivity

The Middle East’s travel and tourism community must prioritise aviation infrastructure and data-informed decision-making in preparation for a swift post-conflict rebound, according to ministers and industry experts speaking at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026. The 33rd edition of ATM is being hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre until Thursday 17 September. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General, Arab Air Carriers’ Organization (AACO), Schubert Lou, CEO, Trip.com, H.E. Laura El Khazen Lahoud, Minister of Tourism, Lebanon, and H.E. Nicola Amanda Bernstein, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Republic of Seychelles, met on ATM 2026’s Global Stage to discuss post-conflict connectivity and explore ways to future-proof operations. The session was moderated by Thomas Shambler, Head of Business, ITP Media Group.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

Etihad to elevate premium ground experience with new generation of global lounges

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled the next generation of its global lounge experience, beginning with a transformed London Heathrow Lounge in summer 2027 and marking the start of a wider expansion of Etihad lounges around the world. The Heathrow lounge will be the first to introduce Etihad’s new Beyond Borders design language to the ground experience, beginning a new design cycle that will increasingly connect the airline’s lounges and aircraft through a recognisable Etihad look and feel.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

Emirates Skywards doubles the Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights

Emirates Skywards, the award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates (www.Emirates.com) and flydubai, is giving members more reasons to plan their next getaway, with the chance to earn double Skywards Miles on eligible Emirates and flydubai flights across their global networks. From 15 to 30 September 2026, members must register for the offer (https://apo-opa.co/3Twl99S)and book an eligible Emirates or flydubai flight for travel until 30 November 2026 and then earn 100% bonus Skywards Miles on top of the Miles they would normally earn. The offer spans the extensive networks of both airlines and is available across all eligible cabins including Emirates’ increasingly popular Premium Economy experience, as well as Economy Class, Business Class and First Class. On flydubai, members can earn double Miles when travelling in Economy Class or Business Class.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

Air Canada extends service to Guatemala from Montréal and Toronto

Air Canada has extended its Montréal-Guatemala City service through summer 2027 and confirmed its Toronto-Guatemala City route as a year-round service, offering UK travellers convenient one-stop connections to Guatemala through either Canadian hub. During the winter season, the extended and expanded service is particularly well timed for passengers connecting via London Heathrow, with a connection time of just over two hours* through Montréal, along with additional options from Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

ALEX WARREN JOINS STAR-STUDDED ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX LINE-UP

GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Alex Warren has been announced as part of the star-studded Yasalam presented by e& entertainment programme of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, organised by Ethara Live. Beyond the racing, Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week transforms Yas Island into a destination-wide celebration, with a packed programme of live music, dining and entertainment complementing the action at Yas Marina Circuit. For international visitors, the weekend also provides a gateway to discover more of Abu Dhabi, from its cultural landmarks and beaches to world-class attractions and experiences.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

Qatar Airways Showcases Innovation, Onboard Connectivity, and Next-Generation Travel at ATM

Qatar Airways marked its participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with a showcase of its latest advancements in premium travel and digital innovations. Visitors of Qatar Airways’ immersive pavilion were offered a closer look at how the airline is evolving the customer experience across every stage of their journey. Through a series of interactive screens highlighting the emerging technologies shaping travellers’ experiences, ATM attendees discovered and engaged with the airline’s digital and loyalty experiences, including ‘Q Search’, ‘Infinite Awards’, as well Qatar Airways’ first-ever digital destination, ‘QVerse Island’ in Fortnite.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

Emirates enters winter season with strong booking momentum

Emirates has closed the summer season ahead of expectations and enters winter with strong booking momentum across a broadening range of markets, as the airline continues to invest in its fleet and industry-leading products, in its global network, and in offering customers greater booking flexibility and comprehensive travel cover. Between July and August, Emirates carried more than 8.6 million passengers, maintaining healthy seat load factors across its network. The airline is currently operating at around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity, with demand continuing to build as the winter travel season approaches.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News16 Sept

flydubai accelerates network growth with more than 125 destinations

flydubai continues to strengthen its network and add capacity as it responds to resilient travel demand. The airline has restored operations to 85% of its network, demonstrating the agility of its business model and its ability to progressively adapt to a changing operating environment. This flexibility has enabled flydubai to grow to more than 125 destinations across its network in 56 countries. flydubai has also added capacity in key markets, built on the confidence in the long-term fundamentals of travel demand.

Breaking Travel NewsBreaking Travel News15 Sept