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flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline, has launched five routes from Madinah, its newest operational base in the Kingdom. The introduction of scheduled flights to Sabiha Gökçen in Istanbul and four domestic cities of Abha, Al Hofuf, Jazan and Tabuk, takes the number of flyadeal destinations from Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport up from three to eight. Until now, flyadeal had served Dammam, Riyadh and the Egyptian capital Cairo from the Holy ci

Do the deal Airlines are less willing than in the past to give discounted fares to corporate clients, and the size of those discounts has in many cases shrunk. But there are still good deals to be negotiated, especially if your company flies in first, business and premium economy classes, and on long-haul routes.   Step 1 – Find the data As always, you can only manage what you can measure – and airlines will respond much better to buyers who demonstrate detailed knowledge of

Taking a business trip can be difficult for any traveller. But if you use a wheelchair, or are blind, or in some other way among the estimated one in six of the world population with a significant disability according to the World Health Organization, those challenges multiply exponentially.   Facing the same problems as other people, like delays and missed connections, is hard enough. But disabled travellers often encounter additional hazards. To take just one example, the U

Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has announced the launch of direct flights to Kigali, Rwanda, marking a significant step in strengthening air connectivity between Oman and the African continent. The new route was announced during a formal signing ceremony hosted by His Excellency Saeed Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in Muscat, during the official visit of Hon. Amb. Uwihanganye Jean de Dieu, Rwanda Minister

Oman Air has announced the launch of direct flights between Muscat and Singapore, commencing 2 July 2026. The new service marks the airline’s latest link to Southeast Asia, increasing accessibility between the two regions. Guests will now be able to fly direct from Muscat to Singapore four days a week - Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - and experience the vibrant multicultural heritage, award-winning food scene and innovative attractions that the city-state is known

Raffles is preparing to open a new ultra-luxury hotel on Jeddah’s Corniche, adding a high-profile coastal address to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape. Set overlooking the Red Sea, the impending arrival of Raffles Jeddah comes at a time when Jeddah is positioning itself as a cultural and lifestyle hub, alongside its long-established role as a commercial gateway. The property is intended to blend Raffles’ heritage of personalised service with design and pro

Abu Dhabi, UAE  – Leveraging its existing collaboration with CarbonClick*, Etihad Airways has introduced a new enhancement to its Etihad for Business (EYB) platform, enabling corporate clients to redeem EYB credits for carbon-offsets directly through the Etihad for Business portal. Javier Alija, Vice President Global Sales & Distribution at Etihad Airways, said:  “This enhancement provides our corporate clients with a practical tool to assist in achieving their voluntary envi

Pegasus Airlines has taken a major step toward its international growth goals with the agreement to acquire Czech Airlines, one of the world’s oldest airline brands and its subsidiary Smartwings, the leading leisure carrier based in the Czech Republic. The strategic investment aims to strengthen the company’s presence in Europe and support its continued global expansion. The total transaction value is 154 million euros which encompasses both companies and related receivables.

Q: When did you join Air France-KLM and what is your role there?                       A: I joined seven years ago, having spent almost my entire career in the airline business. My role is to ensure Air France-KLM continues to grow strongly in the market. I lead the sales strategy, oversee pricing and revenue performance, and focus heavily on delivering a great customer experience. I work with an incredibly passionate and committed team, and we collaborate closely with our pa

An essential component of your travel programme Introducing corporate payments for travel has huge benefits for many different stakeholders within a company. Your travellers will have a much more convenient way to pay, your finance department can retain funds for longer and improve compliance, and as travel manager you will open up a new source of detailed management information about your organisation’s travel spend.   But how do you make sure you end up with the best-fittin

Emirates will continue rolling out its retrofitted Boeing 777 and new A350 aircraft to key destinations across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia, bringing Premium Economy and its latest onboard products to more cities across its network. The airline will deploy its A350 on new daily services to Copenhagen, Phuket and Cape Town, adding an extra frequency and offering customers greater connectivity alongside an elevated onboard experience.  Add

Business travel is always a fast-changing sector and 2026 will be no exception. Here are our predictions for the big issues set to cross travel managers’ desks over the next 12 months.   The Middle East will lead fast-rising hotel rates Average daily hotel rates will rise 4.9 per cent globally in 2026, according to a Travel Market Report  published by BCD Travel. The steepest increases will be in the Middle East, the report says: up 8.2 per cent. The only region where rates w

Geneva  – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released new estimates for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production showing that: In 2025, SAF output is expected to reach 1.9 million tonnes (Mt) (2.4 billion liters), double the 1 Mt produced in 2024. However, in 2026, SAF production growth is projected to slow down and reach 2.4 Mt. SAF production in 2025 represents only 0.6% of total jet fuel consumption, increasing to 0.8% the following year. At current price

Making self-service reservations through a corporate online booking tool (OBT) is by far the most common way for business travellers to arrange their trips in Europe and North America. Self-booking is less common in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, where executives are much more likely to have a personal assistant to handle their travel needs.   But times are changing: the region is embracing a digital transformation, and younger employees now often prefer to arrange thei

Managing travel for an executive flying between two well-connected cities like Dubai and Paris is complicated enough. But if you’re a business which moves personnel to ships or oil and gas platforms, the challenges multiply quickly. Welcome to the specialised world of crew travel, also known as rotational, marine or offshore travel.   Almost everything about crew travel is more complex. Multi-sector journeys, often to remote locations, are the norm. Time spent away is measure

Explore the future of corporate mobility with  Sabah Kahoul , 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐁𝐓𝐅, in conversation with  Maria E.  𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫, 𝐔𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.  Discover how Uber for Business is transforming business travel through tailored solutions, seamless integration, and a focus on sustainability and efficiency. Watch the interview to gain insights.

Committed to rewarding loyalty at every stage of the travel journey, today Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced exciting changes to its award-winning Hilton Honors loyalty program. Debuting this January, Hilton will introduce its most elite tier yet - Diamond Reserve – with new elevated benefits, including a Confirmable Upgrade Reward that can be instantly redeemed at the time of booking, guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, and exclusive customer service support. What’s more, Hilton Hon

The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship today announced that Canada has lifted the visa requirement for citizens of Qatar. This change took effect this morning at 5:30 a.m. EST.    Introducing visa-free travel for Qatari citizens makes it faster and easier for travellers to visit Canada for business or leisure. This milestone underscores the strength of our bilateral cooperation, and helps boost growth in tourism, business, and inve

UTRECHT, The Netherlands, November 20, 2025  – BCD Travel has released its next Travel Market Report dedicated to a 2026 Outlook on key risks and solutions, updates on the state of air travel pricing, hotel room rates and car rentals, and a summary of important sustainability trends. Key highlights from the report for corporate travel programs to consider include: Risks and mitigation strategies In 2026, as the global effects of tariffs continue to unfold, Oxford Economics b

Marriott International has reached a new development benchmark in Saudi Arabia, announcing a combined total of 100 open and pipeline hotels across the kingdom following the just-announced signing of a 1,100-room Courtyard by Marriott in Makkah. The agreement was signed with a fund managed by SEDCO Capital. Set within Masar, a major urban development led by Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction, the new Courtyard by Marriott hotel is expected to open in 2030. The hotel