Boeing marked a milestone on Tuesday, March 7, as the first 737 MAX 9 made its debut in front of thousands of Boeing employees. The 737 MAX 9 is the second member of Boeing’s industry leading 737 MAX family, with a maximum capacity of 220 passengers and a range of 3,515 nautical miles. The airplane now begins system checks, fueling and engine runs on the flight line. Once completed, the airplane will begin flight-testing in the coming weeks – the final phase of verification of the operational characteristics and overall performance of a new airplane. “The 737 MAX team continues…
Author: holidayweekly
BERLIN: Qatar Airways has hosted a stand-side reveal to unveil its new Business Class experience to the world’s media and travel trade leaders at ITB Berlin. Ushering in a never-before-seen standard in Business Class travel, the customisable private suites, named QSuite, introduce a host of firsts to Premium Class travel, reshaping expectations for global business travellers. The new seat design was first unveiled by Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker at ITB Berlin exhibition on the Qatar Airways stand. Launched at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show, the unique and patented seat has been two years in…
HAWAII: The State of Hawaii has reportedly requested an emergency court intervention against Trump’s latest travel ban, which restricts entry for travellers from six Muslim-majority nations. Following Hawaii’s move, the states of Minnesota and Oregon are also reportedly following suit to seek to block the ban. Meanwhile, tourist hot spot New York, Washington and Massachusetts also claim the new ban is harmful to their states. Hawaii argues that the new travel ban would affect its economy, as it would potentially be hit a tourism slump, which it claims in the court papers “took a nosedive” with travel to the United…
MALTA: Malta’s Azure Window has collapsed according to Visit Malta’s official. The iconic landmark was also known as Dwerja Window, and was even used as a backdrop for episodes of Games of Thrones. Visit Malta claims it has been described as one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, and in 1998 was added to the country’s tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The area, popular with diving enthusiasts, had reportedly been on the downfall with parts of the Azure Window collapsing since the 1980s and most recently in 2016, access to it had been restricted. It is…
LONDON: The Airports Council International (Global) has announced the winners of the 2016 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, naming Heathrow as the Best Airport in Europe amongst airports with over 40 million passengers for 2016. The awards are particularly significant for Heathrow as passengers themselves, reflecting the views of travellers from right across the globe, vote them. Alongside the award of ‘Best Airport in Europe’, Heathrow achieved its best ever annual ASQ passenger satisfaction score while welcoming a record 76 million passengers through the UK’s hub. Normand Boivin, Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this…
RAWALPINDI: Managing Director PTDC Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan while talking to media after coming back from his 4 days official visit of Thailand said that during his stay in Bangkok, he met Pakistani Ambassador Dr. Sohail Khan and discussed that now it is the right time for Pakistani Mission overseas to act more efficiently and at accelerated pace for sending more tourist to Pakistan. Pakistani living abroad is the ambassadors of peace and also assets for the country. On invitation of Ambassador Dr. Sohail Khan, MD PTDC visited the Embassy in Bangkok where they also discussed the visa issues being…
MADRID: On March 6, in Madrid, Mr. Márcio Favilla made it official when he handedover his documents to compete for the UNWTO Secretary General position to current Secretary-General Mr. Taleb Rifai. Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula is currently Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) based in Madrid, Spain. He has been in this position since January 2010. From April 2007, Mr. Favilla Lucca de Paula was Vice Minister of the Secretariat of Institutional Relations of the Presidency of Brazil. Prior to this appointment, he was Brazil’s first Vice Minister of Tourism (2003-2007)…
KARACHI: The SKAL-International Karachi Chapter, which has been activated this year, hosted a lunch for its members and guests at Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi. In his opening remarks the President of Karachi Chapter, Syed Javaid Hasan welcomed the guests and introduced the SKAL International Karachi founder members/Directors and office bearers. Mr. Amin Wali Mohammad is elected as the Vice President while Mr. Khadim Rasool is the Secretary and Ms Tahira Bhojani as Deputy Secretary. Mr. Syed briefly informed the guests on the SKAL International working, aims and objectives. He emphasized on the importance of SKAL Club, which is a networking club…
BERLIN: The refurbished ITB App provides users with all information about ITB and assists as a guide on the exhibition grounds. With the app exhibitors and visitors alike can organise their entire visit to the world’s largest travel show and get all the information and services they need at any time on their mobile device. The new 3D floor plan displays all exhibition and convention halls. In addition the new navigation feature makes it easier to find one’s way from one to another hall. The new private chat room is available to organise the visit much easier than before. The…
BERLIN: Focusing on how to foster sustainable tourism development along the ancient route, the seventh UNWTO Silk Road Ministers Meeting was held earlier at ITB Berlin on 8 March, 2017. 33 countries from the Silk Road and beyond exchanged best-practice on how to advance the contribution of tourism to the Sustainable Development Goals. The Silk Road Programme engages 33 UNWTO Members States including Pakistan, UN agencies, UNWTO Affiliate Members, as well as an extensive network of private sector stakeholders. Addressing the meeting, UNWTO secretary general, Taleb Rifai, said: “2015 was a landmark year with the approval of the universal SDGs…