ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, the national carrier of UAE, has reached agreements with Boeing and Airbus to restructure “a large portion of its previous orders”, the airline said. The airline said in a statement that it has committed to take delivery of five Airbus A350-1000s and 26 A321neos plus six Boeing 777-9s “over the coming years”. The move is part of the airline’s turnaround strategy following two consecutive years of losses, said a Gulf News report. It will also continue to take delivery of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, it said. The discussions to tweak the orders were initiated “following…
Author: holidayweekly
LONDON: Britain will impose a 5 kilometre drone exclusion zone around its runways as the government responds to illegal incursions that closed London Gatwick airport for 36 hours in December, disrupting travel for more than 120,000 people. The measures, taking effect March 13, extend the current 1-kilometer no-fly zone for unmanned and model aircraft, the Department for Transport said. Police will also gain new stop-and-search powers to help clamp down on violations. “The law is clear that flying a drone near an airport is a serious criminal act,” Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said in the release. “We’re now going even…
LONDON: Crowds gathered at Heathrow earlier to watch the much-anticipated arrival of a British Airways Boeing 747 painted in the design of its predecessor British Overseas Airways Corporation. The aircraft entered the IAC paint bay at Dublin Airport on February 5th where it was stripped of its current British Airways Chatham Dockyard design before being repainted with the BOAC livery which adorned the BOAC fleet between 1964 and 1974. Alex Cruz, British Airways chairman, said: “The enormous interest we’ve had in this project demonstrates the attachment many people have to British Airways’ history. “It’s something we are incredibly proud of,…
KARACHI: After reprioritising international routes, in accordance with changing traffic patterns, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has closed the Japan route. The national flag carrier flew twice a week from Karachi/Islamabad to Tokyo via Beijing. “The route had historical significance, as it started in the 1960s,” Pakistani businessman in Japan Shahid Aziz told The Express Tribune. He said the Pakistani community in Japan, estimated at around 30,000 people, also had an attachment and preferred to travel through it as it was their motherland’s national airline. PIA, which used to operate A310 aircraft on the route, had 200 seats and is grounded,…
DENPASAR: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed its objection to a plan of the Bali administration to impose a levy on foreign tourists that may be included in airline tickets. The group, which represents more than 290 airlines accounting for 82 per cent of total global air traffic, has sent a three-page letter to Bali Governor I Wayan Koster regarding the plan. “The imposition of a foreign tourist levy (or similar tax) would directly contradict accepted policies on taxation published by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations,” IATA regional Vice-President for…
KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and ARY Sahulat Wallet have entered into an agreement to facilitate cricket lovers to watch Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). ARY Sahulat Wallet, Mr. Saqib Chaudhry and General Manager Brand management PIA, Mr. Amir Memon signed the agreement. PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal Arshad Malik, welcoming the agreement, said it would promote sports in the country. PIA will always play its role for promotion of sports and development of the country, he added. As per the agreement, an in-flight lucky draw will be held, the winner…
KARACHI: Karachi Ramada Plaza Hotel put the city’s seafood cravings to a rest by hosting an exquisite seafood festival from the 8th to the 13th of February 2019, at its pool side. Chairman of the hotel Mr. Anwar Qureshi inaugurated the event. Sea Food is always considered as the most sought after food delicacy appreciated by the food lovers. Talking at the event Mr. Anwar Qureshi said “Ramada always strives to create such events in order to provide fun filled moments for the families.” The hotel also arranged a sea food cooking class with its Chief Executive Chef Raja Abdullah…
BANGKOK: Thailand has launched a new electronic visa on arrival system for international travellers. The service offers travellers a new experience when entering the country at the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueng airports in Bangkok, as well as at Phuket and Chiang Mai airports. It is part of a Thai initiative to promote tourism, and has been developed by the Immigration Bureau of Royal Thai Police and VFS Global. In 2017, Thailand welcomed a record 35 million tourists, with tourism-generated income in Thailand amounting to around 2.6 trillion. In 2018, over four million visitors used the conventional, time consuming visa on…
FAISALABAD: AusPak international Faisalabad branch organised a consulting program follow up session of 21st January session at Serena hotel Faisalabad. Mr. Hasan Sarfaraz, Director Auspak and renowned Education Consultant highlighted the importance of education and role of Auspak in sharing valuable knowledge and promoting education. He said that Auspak is a trusted name that helps students for their education in Australia, Auspak international is the largest educational consultants in Pakistan and the only career counselors which hold a license to officially use the “Future Unlimited” brand of Amstrade an Australian Government body. Mr. Umair Shabbir incharge Auspak Faisalabad said that…
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, will fly daily to Athens, Greece, from its hub in Muscat, Oman, as of June 1. The daily flight to and from Athens will be operated with the new-state-of-the-art Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Oman Air offers a wide network of destinations in the Middle East, Indian-Subcontinent, Africa, Europe and the Far-East. Moreover, in January, Oman Air received level 3 New Distribution Capability (NDC) certification; the highest certification awarded by International Air Transport Association (IATA). NDC enables Oman Air to have better control of the distribution as offers and orders…