Author: holidayweekly

ISTANBUL: The Flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh Air (RX) operated its first test flight from King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh to Istanbul Airport (IST) on January 23, 2025. The Saudi carrier is set to capitalize on the Saudi Vision 2030 mission as it plans to serve over 100 destinations by 2030. So far it has partnered with 8 airlines including Turkish Airlines (TK). Further, it has 132 aircraft orders and plans to create over 200,000 jobs. The aircraft was handled by Havas, a ground-handling company. Havaş delivers ground handling services to over 200 airlines across airports in…

MUZAFFARABAD: In a bid to promote safe tourism and ensure the safety of visitors, the administration in the breathtaking Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has launched an internet application alongside policy guidelines for the tourism sector. The app, developed in collaboration with the AJK Information Technology (IT) Board, aims to keep the administration updated on tourist accommodations, contact details, and itineraries, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Neelum, Nadeem Ahmed Janjua, told Dawn on Thursday. Last year, the valley, which boasts a 150-kilometre main road stretching from Nauseri to the scenic village of Taobutt along the Neelum River, welcomed…

Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, has officially registered with Pakistan’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) under the name “Starlink Internet Services (Private) Limited.” As part of its plans, Starlink has applied to establish two or three ground stations in Pakistan, aiming to offer direct satellite internet access to customers across the country, local media reported. According to a written response from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to the Senate Standing Committee, the company is in the process of obtaining the necessary licenses to operate in Pakistan. Starlink first submitted an application for a long-distance international (LDI)…

KARACHI: The Culture and Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, is set to redefine travel with the launch of the Thar Desert Train Safari on 8th February 2025. This one-of-a-kind journey offers an immersive experience through the cultural and scenic beauty of Sindh. The announcement came during a meeting chaired by Provincial Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, with representatives of the Association of Karachi Tour Operators in attendance. The safari train will depart from Karachi Cantt Station, taking travelers through Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, and Chhor before reaching Khokhrapar Zero Point near the border. The journey promises breathtaking views…

ISLAMABAD: Telenor Pakistan has signed a MoU with the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), the country’s foremost body for travel and tour operators, to redefine how travelers experience connectivity outside of Pakistan. This strategic collaboration empowers travel agents to offer Telenor’s cutting-edge Travel SIM solutions as part of their travel packages, ensuring a seamless communication experience for travelers going outside Pakistan, while using Telenor’s roaming services. The partnership introduces tailored connectivity solutions to meet the unique needs of international Pakistani travelers. With affordable international roaming packages covering key global destinations, the Travel SIM is designed to simplify travel while…

DOHA: Qatar Airways, the national carrier of Qatar, has refuted claims about the closure of its offices in Pakistan, assuring that its operations in the country remain unaffected. “Qatar Airways flights to and from Pakistan are operating as usual, and our offices remain open,” the airline stated on Wednesday on the social media platform X. “Recent published reports claiming that Qatar Airways has closed offices in Pakistan are incorrect,” the statement added. The clarification comes in response to reports alleging that the airline had shut down its offices across Pakistan as part of cost-cutting measures. A few days ago, the…

LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (AKCS-P). The agreement was signed during an official meeting held at AKCS-P’s office in Zaman Park. The MoU laid out a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate selected structures of Lahore’s iconic spice market. Located at the Akbari Gate in the Old City, the site was considered one of the largest spice markets in Asia. Named after the Mughal emperor Akbar, the wholesale spice market was around 500 years-old, making it one of the oldest centres which trade in hundreds of different…

HONG KONG: On 1st January, Hong Kong celebrated the arrival of the first scheduled commercial flight of China’s domestically developed and built Comac C919 passenger jet aircraft. Operated by China Eastern Airlines, the C919 has commenced a daily round-trip route between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. This marks a historic achievement for the home-grown narrow-body aircraft, adhering to international airworthiness standards, and signifies a new phase for Hong Kong as a global aviation hub. “We hope that through this scheduled commercial flight, we can bring this historic innovation breakthrough in the Mainland’s production of civil…

TOULOUSE: Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft to 86 customers around the world in 2024. The Commercial Aircraft business registered 878 gross new orders. As a result, its 2024 yearend backlog stood at 8,658 aircraft. Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said, “2024 confirmed sustained demand for new aircraft. We won key customer decisions with most important customers and saw phenomenal momentum for our widebody orderbook, complementing our leading position in the single aisle market. On deliveries, we kept our trajectory and celebrated several landmark firsts. These include the first ever A321XLR as well as first A330neo and A350 deliveries…

ISLAMABAD: Hitit reaffirmed its strong partnership with PIA during a courtesy visit to congratulate AVM Muhammad Amir Hayat on his appointment as Acting CEO. Hitit, a leading technology provider for the airline and travel industry, reaffirmed its strong partnership with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) during a visit to its headquarters. Hitit’s Co-Founder and Chairwoman, Nur Gökman, and Chief Transportation Solutions Officer, Atilla Lise, traveled from Türkiye to meet with PIA’s leadership and congratulate AVM Muhammad Amir Hayat on resuming his role as Acting CEO. They were joined by Hitit’s Pakistan Sales and Channel Management Coordinator Ms. Gamze Başar, PIA’s CIO…