Sharjah Airport and Air Arabia Celebrate the Resumption of Direct Flights to Damascus
Sharjah Airport Authority continues to strengthen its efforts to attract more regional and international airlines and expand its network of strategic partnerships to launch new routes in line with the rapid growth in travel demand. These efforts are supported by the adoption of cutting-edge technological solutions that ensure the highest levels of operational efficiency, along with the development of innovative services aimed at enhancing the overall experience for passengers and stakeholders.
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Jordan Times
2 days ago
- Jordan Times
British Airways owner sees profit jump on 'strong' demand
LONDON — IAG, the owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, said recenetly that its net profit jumped 44 per cent in the first six months of the year on "strong demand". Profit after tax came in at 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) compared with 905 million euros in the first half of 2024, IAG said in a statement. Group revenue increased eight per cent to 15.9 billion euros in the January-June period, "reflecting strong demand for our network and brands", it added. The company, which in May announced a multi-billion-dollar order for Boeing and Airbus planes, owns also Spanish carrier Vueling and Irish airline Aer Lingus. "Our strong performance in the first half of 2025 reflects the resilience of demand for travel," IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said in Friday's statement. "We continue to benefit from the trend of a structural shift in consumer spending towards travel," he added. Positive outlook IAG expressed confidence "in delivering good earnings growth" for the full year, "whilst being mindful of the ongoing uncertainty that may result from the geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop". Shares in the group initially jumped following the update, before showing a loss of 0.9 per cent on London's benchmark FTSE 100 index, which was down overall in morning deals as investors tracked developments over US tariffs. IAG "shares have had a turbulent time more recently, weighed both by geopolitical uncertainty as well as fears that travel to the US would be impacted in reaction to its decision to declare a trade war on many countries", Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said Friday. "However... while there has been some pressure of late on economy flights to the (United) States, the strength of its premium cabin offering has more than offset any weakness." IAG said the group's total passenger revenue grew 5.6 per cent to 13.8 billion euros in the first half. The earnings were impacted by a £40-million ($53-million) hit to BA after a fire at an electrical substation forced a shutdown at London's Heathrow Airport in March. The airline meanwhile in June cancelled flights between Heathrow and some Middle East destinations following US strikes on Iran. Heathrow, Europe's busiest hub by passenger numbers, unveiled Friday a £49-billion expansion plan, including the costs of building a long-awaited third runway, approved by the UK government after years of legal wrangling. The commercial aviation sector has recovered from the turbulent Covid years when airlines were forced to ground planes, triggering a sector-wide jobs cull. Consumers are meanwhile prioritising leisure travel following the pandemic lockdowns — and despite big jumps to air fares in recent years as overall inflation soared.
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Sharjah Islamic Bank Promotes a Culture of Saving Among the Younger Generation in Collaboration with 'Sharjah Children'
As part of its ongoing commitment to enhance financial awareness across society, Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) organized a series of specialized workshops in collaboration with Sharjah Children, a subsidiary of Rubu' Qarn Foundation for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators. The initiative aimed to instill core concepts of saving and sound financial planning among children, equipping them with practical money management skills from an early initiative received wide participation from various Sharjah Children centers, where 13 awareness workshops were held across Sharjah and surrounding areas, engaging more than 260 children aged 9 to 12. Delivered in a fun and engaging educational environment, the workshops used interactive methods to simplify financial messages and make them appealing and memorable for Aware Generations: An Investment in Society's FutureHassan Al Balghouni, Head of Corporate Communications; Customer Awareness at Sharjah Islamic Bank, stated: "At SIB, we believe that financial literacy starts at a young age. Building financially aware generations is a true investment in the future of our society. These initiatives lie at the heart of our social responsibility strategy, as we continuously support awareness programs that promote a culture of saving and embed financial planning and responsible resource management in children's mindsets."He added: 'Through these workshops, we aim to deliver simplified educational content that enables children to understand and handle money responsibly. This early exposure can positively shape their financial behaviors and help prepare future generations to make thoughtful financial decisions.'Hands-On Learning That Reflects Real-Life ScenariosThe workshops were designed to suit the age group, starting with storytelling-based educational sessions about basic saving principles. These were followed by hands-on activities simulating real-life scenarios, helping children internalize positive financial behaviors. Each session concluded with a prize draw to reward engagement and encourage the adoption of smart financial her side, Noura Al Shamsi, the Deputy Director of Sharjah Children of Rubu' Qarn, emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Sharjah Islamic Bank, saying: "This partnership reflects our mutual commitment to promoting financial awareness among children and creating interactive learning environments that reinforce saving and sound planning from a young age."She added: 'At Sharjah Children, we aim to build a generation that is aware, capable, and equipped with essential life skills. Financial literacy is a cornerstone of that goal, and we regularly integrate such programs into our institution's development pathways.'Al Shamsi continued: 'This collaboration empowers children with essential financial basics such as responsibility, personal budgeting, and balancing spending with saving. We use interactive tools tailored to their age group to ensure these lessons stay with them as they grow.'She concluded: 'We believe that introducing these concepts in an inspiring and simplified way helps build genuine awareness that aligns with the needs of the modern world and supports the UAE's vision for financial sustainability and knowledge-based development.'A Leading Role in Spreading Financial AwarenessThese workshops are part of a broader series of initiatives led by the Customer Education and Awareness Unit within SIB's Corporate Communication Department. The unit plays a pivotal role in implementing community engagement programs and advancing financial literacy across different population recent months, the unit has successfully delivered a diverse range of impactful programs aimed at enhancing financial literacy across various segments of the community. These included awareness lectures under the 'Zoud' campaign targeting government employees; financial freedom sessions held in collaboration with Badiri Academy, the educational arm of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment; and a summer awareness lecture for children in partnership with Al Bataeh Club. Additionally, the unit launched the interactive 'Hafiz Ala Feloosek' initiative during Sharjah's Dhai Festival, engaging the general public, and produced the financial education radio program 'Your Financial Advisor' in collaboration with the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority. These initiatives align with SIB's ongoing commitment to support national efforts aimed at empowering individuals with sound financial planning tools and promoting long-term financial sustainability across the UAE community.
Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Emirates lands in Hangzhou, expanding its Chinese mainland network to five gateways
Emirates has officially launched its new daily service to Hangzhou, marking its fifth gateway in the Chinese mainland and the second new destination added in under a month, following EK310 landed at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport on 30 July to a warm welcome from local dignitaries, airport officials, and a ceremonial water cannon salute. Passengers on the inaugural flight from Dubai were treated to commemorative keepsakes including keychains, certificates, and Chinese tea tasting sets to mark the inaugural flight carried passengers from across Emirates' global network, including key markets like the UAE, Nigeria, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, as well as a VIP delegation led by Emirates' senior management, and members of the international Kazim, Emirates' Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, commented on the launch: 'China has become one of the world's leading aviation markets, and Emirates is proud to have played a role in its development. Adding two new gateways within just one month is a major milestone that underscores our deepening commitment to the Chinese mainland. This expansion also demonstrates the strong momentum our East and Southeast Asia growth strategy has gained over the past year. With rising demand, we're optimistic our global network will continue connecting people, businesses, and economies across Asia and beyond. Emirates remains committed to delivering seamless, reliable connectivity between this dynamic region and the extend our sincere appreciation to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, and all our local partners for their invaluable support in enabling the successful start of this route."Operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, flight EK310 departs Dubai at 0940hrs and arrives in Hangzhou at 2200hrs. The return flight, EK311, departs Hangzhou at 0010hrs, landing in Dubai at 04:55hrs.*Emirates' conveniently timed service offers optimal connectivity for customers from 40 destinations in Europe, 21 in Africa, 13 in the Middle East as well as Brazil and Argentina, to Hangzhou via Dubai. The airline also offers convenient two-way connections from Hangzhou to key cities including Istanbul, Barcelona, Cairo and Johannesburg via cargo solutionsThe Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft offers up to 16 tonnes of bellyhold cargo capacity per flight, enabling the efficient transport of time-sensitive shipments such as e-commerce goods, pharmaceuticals, smart devices, and other high-value one of the world's largest hubs for cross-border e-commerce, Hangzhou boasts a complete digital trade ecosystem and advanced logistics infrastructure, serving as a key international gateway for many Chinese Emirates SkyCargo's expansive network spanning six continents and high-speed connectivity through its Dubai hub, goods from Hangzhou and the broader Yangtze River Delta can reach emerging markets in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America faster, reducing delivery timelines and enhancing supply chain in Chinese mainlandEmirates now operates 49 weekly flights to five major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou. The airline has also introduced its signature complimentary chauffeur-drive service for First and Business Class passengers in Hangzhou, extending its luxury offering to over 70 global cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, London, Paris, Dubai, and Milan. Eligible passengers can now enjoy exclusive, complimentary transfers within an 80-kilometre radius of Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, served by Mercedes-Benz E-Class vehicles. **With the addition of Hangzhou to its growing Chinese mainland network, Emirates is building a powerful air corridor for trade, tourism, and digital exchanges between China and the Middle East, as well as beyond. The new route will further open new opportunities for Chinese brands to reach global audience while offering customers from across Emirates' global network better access to this powerful tech the Dubai–Hangzhou route, Emirates operates a Boeing 777-300ER, featuring 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class seats, and 304 Economy Class seats. Passengers can enjoy Emirates' award-winning ice entertainment system, offering over 6,500 channels in more than 40 languages, including Chinese. The onboard experience is rounded off with regionally inspired menus incorporating a variety of popular Chinese dishes and interline and codeshare agreements with China Southern Airlines, Air China and Sichuan Airlines, Emirates provides enhanced connectivity to destinations beyond its own network across air services, Emirates is also committed to supporting the development of China's tourism sector and has established meaningful partnerships across various fronts. Last year, the airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE China Cultural Centre to jointly promote China as a key destination across the airline's global network. Travelers from the UAE and other GCC countries can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days, making both business and leisure travel to the Chinese mainland even more convenient.
