Author: holidayweekly

BEIJING: On August 29, 2024, Beijing’s Capital International Airport (PEK) witnessed a historic moment as Air China received its very first COMAC C919 aircraft. This milestone marks the debut of China’s first domestically produced airliner in Air China’s fleet. The aircraft was greeted with a traditional water arch salute, celebrating its arrival from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG), where COMAC’s final assembly plant is located. Air China’s acquisition of the C919 is part of a major deal signed in April 2024, where the carrier committed to purchasing 100 C919 aircraft with deliveries slated between 2024 and 2031. The inaugural aircraft, registered…

KARACHI: His Excellency Hattori Masaru, Consul General of Japan emphasised Pakistan’s abundant tourism resources, particularly in the northern areas, but expressed concern over security issues, citing the impact of recent terrorist attacks, such as the one in Balochistan, on Japanese tourists. “Pakistan’s government has been doing its best to stop terrorism, and I hope they will continue their efforts to create a safe environment that ensures an increased number of tourists from Japan,” Hattori said during a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), according to a statement issued by the KCCI on Thursday. He also assured…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is gearing up to offer a 75% stake in Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) to bidders by October 2024. The successful bidder will be required to invest a hefty $500 million within the first three years following the airline’s privatisation. This significant move was revealed during a Senate Standing Committee on Privatisation meeting, chaired by Senator Muhammad Tallal Badar on Thursday. According to the privatisation secretary, six parties have been pre-qualified to enter the bidding race. These include Fly Jinnah Limited, Air Blue Limited, Arif Habib Corporation Limited, and three consortia led by Y.B. Holdings…

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations, both countries have introduced visa-free travel policies for their citizens. Malaysians enjoy visa-free entry to China until the end of 2025, while Chinese travellers to Malaysia benefit similarly until the end of 2026. Mutual visa-free travel policies between Malaysia and China have seen more Malaysian travellers visiting Guilin in China, pictured These initiatives have sparked a significant surge in bilateral tourism. Sandy Ren, senior sales manager at Guilin-headquartered Tang Dynasty Tours, highlighted the positive impact of these policies on her inbound business. “With the continuation of the visa-free policies and…

Saudi’s national tourism brand ‘Saudi, Welcome to Arabia’ premieres its enthralling new international campaign, “This Land is Calling”. Launching across the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and the United States, “This Land is Calling” is anchored in insights from visitors to Saudi, showcasing the depth and breadth of a land still full of mystery for so many. Through its female protagonist, the viewer is taken on a whirlwind tour through time and space, demonstrating all the while: Saudi as the Heart of Arabia. The campaign pays homage to the spirit of adventure and wonder that permeates the Saudi landscape, with…

KARACHI: AirSial is set to expand its fleet by adding two new aircraft early next year as it prepares to launch international operations from Pakistan. The airline is acquiring two A320 aircraft, each with a seating capacity of 180 passengers, bringing the total number of planes in its fleet to seven. The announcement was made during a ceremony at Al Nafoorah – Jumeirah Al Qasr in Dubai, attended by key figures including Alban Cruiziat, Executive Vice President of Airline Leasing & Sales at BOC Aviation, Fazal Jilani, Chairman of AirSial, Vice Chairman Muhammad Umer Mir, and COO Tariq Amin. AirSial,…

The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) has issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in response to the rise in commercial flights entering Pakistan from Afghanistan, ARY News reported on Saturday. Due to deepened tensions in the Middle East, international airlines are increasingly opting to use Afghan airspace rather than Iranian routes, leading to a significant uptick in air traffic over Afghanistan. According to the new directive, all international flights from Afghanistan must inform Pakistan Air Traffic Control at least 15 minutes before entering Pakistani airspace. This measure is crucial as air traffic services in Kabul have been non-functional for…

DUBAI: Emirates has agreed to buy five Airbus A380 jets in a sign of the superjumbo jet’s renewed popularity. The Dubai-based carrier is the world’s largest operator of the type, with a fleet of 118, according to data from ch-aviation. In 2011, Emirates started to lease seven A380s from a firm called Doric Nimrod Air Two Limited, the latter said in a London Stock Exchange filing on Wednesday. When the first two leases expired last year, Emirates purchased them. When the remaining five expire later this year, Emirates will buy those jets too — for a total of $200 million,…

LAHORE: LAHORE: In an effort to alleviate the financial strain on travellers, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced a substantial 30% reduction in fares for flights from Karachi to Jeddah and Madinah. According to a spokesperson for the national airline, the new one-way fare from Karachi to Jeddah or Madinah is now set at Rs56,000, inclusive of taxes. The round-trip fare for these routes has been lowered to Rs88,000, also inclusive of taxes. These discounted tickets will be available for purchase until the end of this month. “Passengers can book these reduced-fare tickets until August 31, 2024, with travel permitted…

ISLAMABAD: ISLAMABAD: On Saturday last, a private company called Messers Sunshine Heights filed a petition with the Supreme Court. They want the court to review its decision from June 11, 2024, which said that all leases and allotments inside the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) were against the Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance of 1979. The company, represented by Barrister Khurram Raza, is asking the court to change its order regarding their plot, arguing it’s in the interest of justice. Earlier, on March 21, the Supreme Court had asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to list all leases it had given in…