Swiss flight makes emergency landing after smoke detected in cabin
The landing was 'uneventful', and buses are being arranged to transport passengers onward to Zurich, said Swiss, adding the cause of the incident with the Airbus A220 was under investigation.
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Arab News
2 days ago
- Arab News
UAE air traffic climbs 6.2% as airports handle 75.4m passengers in H1
ABU DHABI: The UAE's civil aviation sector posted robust growth in the first half of 2025, with passenger traffic climbing 5 percent to 75.4 million, up from 71.7 million a year earlier, according to the Emirates News Agency or WAM. January was the busiest month, handling more than 13.7 million travelers across the nation's airports. The surge in passenger and cargo activity reflects a broader global rebound in aviation, as Middle Eastern carriers leverage their strategic location to capture long-haul transit traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Air traffic movements increased 6.2 percent to 531,000 operations in the first six months, compared to nearly 500,000 in the same period of 2024. Riyadh, Jeddah, Kuwait, Mumbai, and Bahrain ranked among the top five most active routes. Cargo volumes also strengthened, rising 4.74 percent to more than 2.2 million tonnes. National carriers handled 67 percent of total freight, underscoring the UAE's dominance in regional logistics. The expansion of UAE-based airlines — with 15 new destinations launched across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East — further fueled the sector's momentum. Abdullah bin Touq Al-Marri, minister of economy and chairman of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said the UAE is reinforcing its international and regional aviation standing through 'record-breaking growth.' 'This growth stems from innovative national strategies that have elevated our competitiveness and leadership in a vital sector that now plays a central role in economic development, trade, tourism, investment, and job creation across aviation-linked industries,' Al-Marri said, reported WAM. He added: 'The performance indicators for the first half of 2025 demonstrate the sector's resilience and sustainability, as well as the competitiveness of our airports, national carriers, and air traffic management. Aviation serves as a critical bridge connecting the UAE to the world and is a key enabler of our long-term economic goals.' Al-Marri noted that the UAE would continue expanding its air connectivity through advanced legislation, open-market policies, and infrastructure development. Saif Mohammed Al-Suwaidi, director general of the General Civil Aviation Authority, said the aviation sector is on a steady growth trajectory. 'These positive indicators reflect the sector's strong infrastructure and the unified efforts of all partners, from airport operators and airlines to air traffic controllers,' Al-Suwaidi said. He expressed pride in the consistent growth in passenger and cargo volumes, citing ambitious development projects aimed at supporting this expansion. The current combined capacity of the UAE's airports now exceeds 160 million passengers annually. Al-Suwaidi reaffirmed confidence in the sector's ability to sustain its pivotal role in boosting the national economy, driving tourism and trade, and strengthening the UAE's role as a key regional and global air transport hub. The new routes include cities in Russia, the Czech Republic, and Poland, as well as Armenia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, and Cambodia, among others. These additions complement the existing network, bolstering the country's status as a global aviation hub.
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-08-2025
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Riyadh Air Signs Global Distribution Deal with Spain's Amadeus to Fuel Expansion Plans
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has signed a global distribution agreement with Spain-based Amadeus, a leading travel technology provider. The strategic move will give the airline access to one of the world's largest networks of travel agents, bolstering its growth strategy and supporting the Kingdom's transformation drive under Vision 2030. According to an Amadeus statement issued Thursday, the partnership will enable Riyadh Air to join the Amadeus Travel Platform, connecting it with travel agents and distributors in over 190 countries. The agreement is aimed at ensuring the airline's offerings reach travelers worldwide, enhancing Saudi Arabia's appeal as a global tourism destination and reinforcing its role as a central hub for aviation and travel. Vincent Coste, Chief Commercial Officer of Riyadh Air, said the company's mission is to build a world-class airline that embodies Saudi Arabia's ambitions. He added that the partnership with Amadeus provides the global reach, distribution strength, and retailing capabilities needed to achieve the airline's goal of serving more than 100 destinations by 2030. 'This collaboration is not only about enabling seamless travel experiences,' Coste said, 'but also about contributing to the broader national vision of diversifying the economy, growing tourism, and enhancing global connectivity.' The agreement also covers the future distribution of Riyadh Air's content through Amadeus' New Distribution Capability (NDC) framework, giving the airline greater ability to offer dynamic, personalized deals to travelers while maintaining stronger control over indirect sales strategies. These advanced capabilities will help Riyadh Air deliver a modern, flexible, customer-focused retail experience. Maher Koubaa, Executive Vice President for Travel and Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Amadeus, described the deal as a milestone in the development of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector. He said the launch of Riyadh Air marks a significant moment for the Kingdom's aviation industry, and that Amadeus brings not only global reach but also advanced retailing, marketing, and data analytics tools to help the airline compete internationally. Founded in 2023 under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Riyadh Air is a key part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to diversify its economy, invest in tourism and infrastructure, and position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub. Backed by the Public Investment Fund, the carrier is expected to contribute more than $20 billion to Saudi Arabia's non-oil GDP and create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the domestic market.
Arab News
07-08-2025
- Arab News
Riyadh Air taps travel tech platform Amadeus for global distribution ahead of launch
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Riyadh Air has signed a global distribution agreement with Amadeus to expand its international footprint, connecting to more than 190 travel markets ahead of its commercial launch. The deal links the Public Investment Fund-owned carrier to one of the world's largest networks of travel sellers via the Amadeus Travel Platform, boosting its retail capabilities and global reach. The partnership is expected to support the Kingdom's National Aviation Strategy, which targets doubling passenger capacity to 330 million annually from over 250 global destinations and increasing cargo handling to 4.5 million tonnes by the end of this decade. Announced in 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh Air is expected to contribute over $20 billion to the non-oil gross domestic product and create more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. In a statement, Vincent Coste, chief commercial officer of the airline, said: 'Partnering with Amadeus gives us the global reach, distribution power, and retailing capabilities needed to support our goal of flying to over 100 destinations by 2030.' He added: 'This partnership is not only about enabling seamless travel experiences, but also about contributing to the broader national vision of economic diversification, tourism growth, and enhanced global connectivity.' The agreement includes future distribution of Riyadh Air's New Distribution Capability content, enabling the airline to offer more dynamic and personalized products. It will give Riyadh Air greater control over its indirect sales strategy as it builds toward full operations, according to a press release. 'Amadeus brings not only global reach, but also advanced retailing, merchandising, and data-driven tools that will help Riyadh Air differentiate itself on the global stage,' said Maher Koubaa, executive vice president of the travel unit and managing director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at Amadeus. He added: 'We are excited to support Riyadh Air's contribution to Vision 2030 and the Kingdom's aspirations to become a global tourism and travel leader.' Riyadh Air plans to launch a new international destination every two months once operations begin, as it prepares to take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the airline's CEO Tony Douglas told Bloomberg in June. The carrier, which requires two aircraft to operate a round-trip route, is awaiting delivery of its initial jets to commence services. Four Dreamliners are currently in various stages of assembly at Boeing's facility in Charleston, South Carolina, with operations expected to begin once the first two are delivered. In addition to its Boeing orders, Riyadh Air announced at the Paris Air Show in June that it will purchase up to 50 Airbus A350 long-range aircraft, with deliveries expected to start in 2030. The airline has also placed orders for 60 Airbus A321neo narrowbody jets and up to 72 Boeing 787s, including options.
