Qatar Airways and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) recently announced the extension of their partnership, which aims to facilitate the delivery of emergency supplies to refugees and internally displaced persons globally. This extension was formalized at a ceremony featuring speeches from Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi. Also present were UNHCR’s Representative to Qatar, Mr. Ahmed Mohsen, and Qatar Airways Chief Cargo Officer, Mr. Mark Drusch. During the event, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer highlighted the c ..read more

Britons warned after a shark attack in Tobago. A British tourist was injured near Turtle Beach, prompting an urgent travel alert. The Caribbean island of Tobago, renowned for its pristine white sand beaches and lush forests, has recently issued a critical safety warning for British tourists. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has urged visitors to heed local advisories following a significant incident at Buccoo Reef Marine Park, which has temporarily closed due to safety concerns. The alert was intensified after a British tourist suffered a shark attack near Great Courlan ..read more

Qatar Airways, renowned for its excellence in aviation, will be a key participant at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai from May 6 to 9, 2024. This engagement is part of the ATM’s 31st session, themed ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’. As Qatar’s flagship airline, it will showcase its advanced AI-driven digital human cabin crew member, Sama 2.0, to industry leaders and travel collaborators from the Gulf and beyond. Sama 2.0, a pioneering second-generation AI digital assistant, embodies the future of top-tier customer service and hospitality within the ..read more

In a recent announcement, American Airlines revealed the postponement of its new preferred agency program until July 2024, a decision met with relief and gratitude within the travel industry. This development signals a significant win for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) and underscores the importance of advocacy in shaping policies that impact travel advisors and agencies. The postponement of American Airlines’ preferred agency program comes amidst mounting concerns over the readiness of the airline’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) technology and the implications it holds fo ..read more

Houston Airports is collaborating with Southwest Airlines to manage the transition of air service following its challenging choice to discontinue operations at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Today, Southwest Airlines disclosed its financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Bob Jordan, President and Chief Executive Officer for Southwest Airlines stated, “While it is disappointing to incur a first quarter loss, we exited the quarter with healthy profits and margins in the month of March. We are focused on controlling what we can control and have already taken swift action to addres ..read more

Korean Air will inaugurate a fresh daily route linking Seoul Incheon with Macau starting July 1. Departures from Incheon International Airport are set for 9:15 pm, touching down at Macau International Airport by 11:55 pm. The return leg takes off from Macau International Airport at 1:10 am the following day, landing back at Incheon International Airport at 6:00 am. The flight duration averages around 3 hours and 40 minutes. Macau, an autonomous region of China, boasts a captivating fusion of Chinese and Portuguese influences. Known for its mild winters, it beckons travelers year-round with it ..read more

Mohammed Hakeem’s love affair with aviation began in childhood, as he embarked on Boeing 747-400 journeys from Los Angeles to Fiji with his family. These experiences ignited a lifelong passion for flight within him. In 2017, Mohammed embarked on his aviation career, starting as a customer service agent (CSA) with Alaska Airlines at San Francisco International Airport. Swiftly rising through the ranks, he assumed leadership as a CSA in Oakland before transitioning to a flight attendant role in 2019. Despite finding fulfillment in these positions, Mohammed harbored a persistent dream of pilotin ..read more

Exactly 30 days following the announcement of their commencement of award-winning flight and holiday services from Bournemouth Airport, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are celebrating an overwhelming response to their establishment as the 12th UK airport base. Today, they laud the reaction as “truly phenomenal,” with both customers and independent travel agents flocking to book flights and holidays. On March 26th, the UK’s largest tour operator and the third-largest airline revealed the availability of 16 sunny destinations spanning Europe, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean from Bournemouth ..read more

ITA Airways is gearing up to launch its Rome Fiumicino Airport to Toronto Pearson International Airport flight slated to begin next month. The service is a testament to the airline’s growing focus on North America. It marks its first direct entry route into Canada and follows its recent Chicago service launch. The new Toronto route ITA Airways will begin services to Canada’s largest and most populated city on May 10. Flights will initially operate six times a week with its Airbus A330 fleet, increasing to daily during the busy summer months between June and September. ITA Airways’ Chief Comme ..read more

Air travellers tend to have plenty of worries as their trips near including concerns about costs, weather, baggage fees, security lines and delays. Airline passengers understandably also get nervous about disruptions to their flight plans when they hear of labour disputes that rise to the level of strike threats. And that is exactly what American Airlines (AAL) is currently dealing with and hopes to avoid. “Flight attendants are ready to strike,” Association of Professional Flight Attendants President Julie Hedrick told American Airlines CEO Robert Isom at a company all-hands on April 25. “If ..read more