
Saudi Arabia announces new low-cost airline with fleet of 45 planes
CAIRO : Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday the planned establishment of a new national low-cost airline with a fleet of 45 planes to be ready by 2030, state media reported.
The UAE's carrier Air Arabia was among an alliance of three companies that won a bid to operate the new airline, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said.
The new carrier would operate domestic and international flights from and to King Fahd international airport in Dammam, the authority added.
The airline will serve 24 domestic destinations and 57 international destinations, with the aim of transporting 10 million passengers annually, state media said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Air India audit finds 51 safety lapses, from unapproved simulators to training gaps
NEW DELHI, July 29 — India's aviation watchdog found 51 safety lapses at Air India in its July audit, including lack of adequate training for some pilots, use of unapproved simulators and a poor rostering system, according to a government report seen by Reuters. The annual audit was not related to the deadly Boeing 787 crash last month that killed 260 people in Ahmedabad, but its findings come as the airline faces renewed scrutiny after the accident. The Tata Group-owned airline is already facing warning notices for running planes without checking emergency equipment, not changing engine parts in time and forging records, along with other lapses related to crew fatigue management. The 11-page confidential audit report from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted seven 'Level I' significant breaches which need to be fixed by July 30, and 44 other non-compliances classified which need to be resolved by August 23. Officials said they found 'recurrent training gaps' for some unspecified Boeing 787 and 777 pilots, saying they had not completed their monitoring duties - where they don't fly but observe functioning of instruments in the cockpit - ahead of mandatory periodic evaluations. Air India's fleet includes 34 Boeing 787s and 23 Boeing 777s, according to Flightradar24 website. Flagging operational and safety risks, officials wrote in their report that Air India did not do 'proper route assessments' for some so-called Category C airports - which may have challenging layouts or terrain - and conducted training for such airfields with simulators that did not meet qualification standards. 'This may account to non-consideration of safety risks during approaches to challenging airports,' the DGCA audit report said. In a statement to Reuters, Air India said it was 'fully transparent' during the audit. It added it will 'submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions.' A preliminary report into the June crash found that the fuel control switches were flipped almost simultaneously after takeoff and there was pilot confusion in the cockpit. One pilot asked the other why he cut off the fuel and the other responded that he hadn't done so, the report said. The DGCA has often flagged concerns about Air India pilots breaching the limits of their flight-duty periods, and the audit report said an AI-787 Milan-New Delhi flight last month exceeded the limit by 2 hours and 18 minutes, calling it a 'Level I' non-compliance. The audit was conducted by 10 DGCA inspectors, and included another four auditors. It also criticized the airline's rostering system, which it said 'doesn't give a hard alert' if a minimum number of crew members were not being deployed on a flight, adding that at least four international flights had flown with insufficient cabin crew. Tata acquired Air India from the government in 2022. While it has aggressively expanded its international network, it faces persistent complaints from passengers, who often take to social media to show soiled seats, broken armrests, non-operational entertainment systems and dirty cabin areas. Reuters reported last week that Air India's senior executives, including the airline's director of flight operations and its director of training, were sent notices on July 23 flagging 29 'systemic' lapses, pulling up the airline for ignoring 'repeated' warnings. Air India has said it will respond to the regulator. The audit report noted that 'door checks and equipment checks' showed inconsistency with procedures and there were gaps in training documentation. Further, it said no chief pilots were assigned for Airbus A320 and A350 fleet. 'This results in a lack of accountability, and effective monitoring of flight operations for these aircraft types,' the report said. Last year, authorities warned or fined airlines in 23 instances for safety violations, with 11 involving the Air India Group. The biggest fine was US$127,000 (RM537,782) on Air India for 'insufficient oxygen on board' during some international flights. — Reuters


Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Triathlon-PTO announces investment by Saudi Arabia-backed sports fund
The Professional Triathletes Organisation and World Triathlon jointly launched the 'T100' race series last year. (PTO pic) LONDON : The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), a governing body which organises professional triathlons around the world, said today that it had secured investment from Saudi Arabia-backed sports fund SURJ. Sources close to the deal valued it at around US$40 million. 'The funding will support the PTO's continued international growth, innovation in race formats, and long-term athlete and fan engagement,' the PTO said in a statement. 'It will also help accelerate the PTO's expansion into the MENA region, with Saudi Arabia a likely future host market for its flagship T100 Triathlon World Tour. 'Today's announcement follows a US$10 million investment from Cordillera Investment Partners in March 2025 and builds on previous rounds led by Divergent Investments, Warner Bros Discovery, and health-focused venture fund Eckuity,' it said. The PTO and governing body World Triathlon jointly launched the 'T100' race series last year, which features races comprising a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run. The series is made up of eight races and a final, which will take place in Qatar later this year. 'The PTO is redefining endurance sport for modern audiences – blending elite racing with inclusive, mass participation formats, global storytelling and community engagement,' SURJ CEO Danny Townsend said in a statement. 'We're proud to support this next phase of growth and to explore how the model can inspire more people across the region to get active,' he said. SURJ Sports Investments, a unit of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), in February said it had bought a minority stake in sports streaming platform DAZN. Reuters reported in March that SURJ was considering investing in a new body which World Athletics may potentially set up to manage the sport's commercial rights. Women's rights activists and members of the LGBTQ community have accused Saudi Arabia of 'sports-washing' and criticise the country's human rights record, even as it pumps huge amounts of money into sports including soccer, Formula One, tennis and golf. The country denies accusations of human rights abuses and says that it protects its national security through its laws.


Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Railtown AI Technologies Inc. and AI Partnerships Corp. Partner with Braiyt AI Inc. to Bring Canadian AI Innovation to Dubai and the Middle East
Vancouver, British Columbia - Newsfile Corp. - July 28, 2025 - Railtown AI Technologies Inc(CSE: RAIL) (OTCQB: RLAIF) ("Railtown" or the "Company") a leader in Canadian-built artificial intelligence solutions, together with AI Partnerships Corp. ( ), today announced a strategic joint partnership Braiyt AI Inc. ( to deliver cutting-edge AI technologies to Dubai and the broader Middle East alliance marks a significant step in expanding the footprint of Canadian AI innovation into one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly growing markets for artificial intelligence. Under the partnership, Braiyt AI Inc. will act as a regional consultant and service provider, representing Railtown and AIP across Dubai and the Gulf states."Braiyt has built a reputation as a trusted Canadian AI solutions provider in the Middle East," said Cory Brandolini, CEO at Railtown AI Technologies. "Their insight into the regional market, combined with their strong local presence, makes them the ideal partner to help meet the increasing demand for advanced AI capabilities in the region."As Middle Eastern organizations continue to pursue digital transformation, the demand for specialized AI solutions has outpaced the capacity of homegrown providers. This partnership ensures that businesses and government agencies across the Gulf can access proven, scalable technologies developed by Canadian innovators."Our collaboration with Railtown and AI Partnerships allows us to bring best-in-class AI solutions into a market that is eager for growth and transformation," said Warsame Ahmed, CEO of Braiyt AI Inc. "We're proud to be the bridge that connects Canada's innovation with the Middle East's bold digital ambitions.""The relationship with Braiyt AI, in partnership with Railtown AI Technologies, opens the door and unites our shared vision and complementary strengths to deliver transformative AI solutions to the Middle East," said Dr. Tom Corr, CEO of AI Partnerships Corp. "By integrating Railtown's pioneering technology with our global network, we are co-creating a powerful platform for innovation, driving unparalleled value for businesses across diverse markets together.""This partnership also opens the door for future collaboration with other members of AI Partnerships Corp.'s growing global network of Affiliates who provide AI based solutions and tools addressing varies vertical market sectors," said Dr. Tom Corr, CEO of AI Partnerships Corp. "This partnership is another notable example of the AI Partnerships Affiliates leveraging their technical strength and world-wide presence."AI Partnerships Corp. is on a mission to make AI more accessible and affordable to businesses of all sizes. By leveraging the technology and expertise of its Affiliate Network-comprising over 150 AI solutions providers-AI Partnerships supports the mass adoption of enterprise AI globally. Learn more at Braiyt AI Inc. is a Canadian technology company specializing in delivering next-generation solutions in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision. Originally founded with a mission to reshape metrics in retail environments, BR[AI]YT has since expanded its capabilities across multiple company supports both business and government clients in planning and executing effective AI implementation strategies-whether they're just beginning their AI journey or enhancing existing capabilities. BR[AI]YT focuses on harnessing the transformative power of AI to create smarter, more efficient, and seamlessly connected physical innovative, AI-powered solutions, BR[AI]YT aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve user experiences, and drive sustainable growth. With a strong presence in the Middle East and a growing reputation for excellence, BR[AI]YT is on a mission to become the leading force in AI-powered digital transformation in the region and beyond. Learn more at Railtown AI Technologies Inc. (CSE: RAIL) (OTCQB: RLAIF) is a leader in developer productivity tools and agentic frameworks. Based in Vancouver, Canada, Railtown delivers solutions that streamline software development workflows, reduce downtime, and increase the speed of innovation for engineering teams worldwide. By embedding intelligence into every stage of the software lifecycle, Railtown is redefining how modern development teams work. Learn more at Click here to receive our latest investor news alerts."Cory Brandolini"Cory Brandolini, Chief Executive OfficerRebecca KerswellInvestor Relations ContactEmail: [email protected] Phone: 1-604-417-4440This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will," "may", "should", "intends", "anticipates", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, the commencement of trading of the Company's common shares on the CSE, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will only update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.