JEDDAH: Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation has signed an agreement to buy CFM International LEAP-1A engines to power its new fleet of 35 Airbus A321neo and 30 A320neo aircraft. This agreement also includes a rate-per-flight-hour (RPFH) services contract to cover engines from this new order as well as an additional 20 leased A320neo aircraft. This comprehensive agreement is valued at approximately SR 32 billion ($8.5 billion) at list price, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabian Airlines operates 61 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320ceo aircraft, and Saudia Group’s low-cost subsidiary, flyadeal, operates 11 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320ceo aircraft and 5 A320neo…
Author: holidayweekly
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate, has resumed its Muscat-Zurich-Muscat route on December 1, marking the airline’s 10th anniversary flying to Zurich (ZRH) from its base in Muscat (MCT). The route was paused temporarily due to the unprecedented pandemic and subsequent downturn in global aviation and travel. Due to strong demand for the route, however, and with the reassurance of its 5-Star Covid-19 Airline Safety Rating from Skytrax, Oman Air is once again delighted to welcome its valued guests on board. In a scaled-down, socially distanced ceremony held at Zurich Airport, Lina Samman, Oman Air Country Manager…
ISLAMABAD: In a bid to address the concerns of the global aviation industry on the issue of alleged fake licences of Pakistani pilots, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has finally decided to outsource the process of holding licensing exams to the United Kingdom’s aviation authority. An agreement has been reached between the civil aviation authorities in Pakistan and United Kingdom for three years after the cabinet approved a framework agreement between the two entities. The British aviation authority will conduct exams for licenses of Flight Operations Officer (FOO), private pilot license (PPL), and commercial pilot license (CPL). The pilots will…
KARACHI: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote religious tourism in the country. The memorandum was signed by PIA CEO Air Marshal (Retd) Arshad Malik and Patron-in-Chief PHC Dr. Ramesh Kumar. Under the agreement, PIA and PHC will work together to promote religious tourism in the country. For this purpose, PIA will provide special flights for Hindu pilgrims within the country, UAE, and other countries. Dr Ramesh appreciated the facilitation of the Pakistani institutions on immigration, travel facilities, and security for Hindus coming to Pakistan and added that…
BAHAWALPUR: A meeting of the steering committee was held at TDCP Resort in Cholistan under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Irfan Ali Kathia to review the arrangements of the 17th Cholistan Desert Rally Festival. Regional Police Officer Sher Akbar, DPO Muhammad Faisal Kamran, Additional Deputy Commissioner Headquarters Farooq Qamar, and Deputy Director Archeology Amir Nawaz were present on the occasion. The deputy commissioner said that the repair, maintenance, and renovation work of Fort Derawar should be completed with high quality. The meeting was briefed on the establishment of Model Village in Cholistan. It was informed that solar LED lights and…
KARACHI: The largest cruise liner in the history of ports and shipping in Pakistan has reached the Gadani ship-breaking yard, opening up a possible avenue for sea tourism in the region. A 14-story Italian cruise ship has arrived at Karachi’s Gadani Shipyard with no plans to return. The ship is consists of 1,411 rooms furnished with luxuries and amenities. 56,800 gross-ton cruise ship was built in 1993 by an Italian company, and in November 2011, 90 million euros were spent on the renovation of the ship. The massive cruise ship has been brought to Pakistan for dismantling due to the…
LONDON: Paris ranks top and Dubai second in the 2021 Top 100 City Destinations Index developed by Euromonitor International. Eight of the top 10 cities in the Top 100 City Destinations Index are European. Surprisingly, Asia lacks any representation. Tokyo is the highest-ranking Asian city, ranked 15th. The index, which delivers a comprehensive and multi-layered analysis of key and emerging city hubs, aims to help businesses, tourism organizations, and destinations identify cities that are showing strong tourism growth potential as well as uncovering areas of attention for tourism strategy developers. The index highlights attributes that can help attract international investment,…
PESHAWAR: The Balochistan team declared the overall winner while Karachi-based cyclist Ali Ilyas clinched first position in individual ranking as the final phase of the three-day Tour de Waziristan National Cycle Race 2021 competitions concluded in Wana on Wednesday, . National level cyclists from across the country participated in the Tour de Waziristan National Cycle Race. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cycling Association, Pakistan Cycling Federation, Frontier Corps (South) and Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Division had jointly organised the thrilling event. Later, a prize distribution ceremony was held with Commissioner Dera Ismail Khan Division Amir…
ISLAMABAD: Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan organized a Plenaire Painting trip to Rohtas Fort from 26 to 28 November. Rohtas Fort is a world heritage site located at distance of around 115 km from Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. 10 artists from different cities of Pakistan participated in this event and each one is producing at least two to three paintings for exhibition and sale for fund raising to support the local community women heritage crafts enterprise at Rohtas Fort which STFP has established to engage local women in heritage conservation and responsible heritage tourism. These artists also engaged local…
GRENADA W.I: The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) announced that the renovation project for the Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park (USP), located off the West Coast of Grenada in Molinere Beauséjour Marine Protected Area, has been completed. Heralded as one of the Top 25 Wonders of the World by National Geographic, the park was envisioned by British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor and is accessible to both snorkelers and divers. The Grenada Underwater Sculpture Park was opened in 2006 and was the first of its kind in the world. It has become one of the destination’s most beloved attractions. The installation includes 82…