Tag: Middle East
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Saudia Goes In a Different Direction: It Now Operates the A321XLR
Passenger reviews are not the best of the A321XLR, as you get less comfort at the same price. However, airlines such as Saudia love its flexibility and efficiency. Saudia has now become the first operator of the A321XLR in the Middle Eastern region. The aircraft will feature 24 business class suites and 120 economy class…
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Qatar Airways 2025/2026 FY Report: Not all That Transparent
Qatar Airways releases its financial 2025-26 report. However, there are a lot of questions unanswered regarding the latest developments in the Middle Eastern aviation industry situation. The airline suffered massively from air space closures in the final stages of the financial year, but they were kind of left out of all accounts. Additionally, Qatar Airways…
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Riyadh Air Flights To London Heathrow Finally On Sale
Finally, Riyadh Air opens bookings for its flights between Riyadh and London Heathrow on service RX401. First flight is scheduled for July 1st, 2026, with the service being daily aboard a Boeing 787-9 featuring a 3-class configuration (Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class). Sfeer loyalty program early members (Founding Members) get free high speed wi-fi…
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Etihad Airways adds an A380 to Paris for Summer 2026
Etihad Airways makes Abu Dhabi to Paris a 3 times daily service from July 1st to October 24th 2026. 2 of the 3 services are aboard the Airbus A380. The addition of a second daily A380 flight dramatically increases the availability of Etihad’s top-tier First Apartments and The Residence on the Paris route. However, this…
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Etihad’s A321LR Route Map Exposed: How to Hunt Down the Elusive 2-Seat First Class Suite
The A321LR has proven to be an extremely useful aircraft for Etihad. Particularly in the last few months, the airline has been deploying its fleet of A321LR to different destinations than it usually to address demand and capacity needs that have changed due to the conflict in the Middle East and the disruptions that it…
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Economy Class Baggage Comparison: Middle Eastern Airlines
Traveling in economy is kind to your wallet, but let’s be honest – it’s not the most comfortable way to travel. There are many limitations we have to endure in exchange for a reasonable fare. Among the most hated limitations is baggage weight restrictions (both carry-on and checked). Since we’re in summer vacation season, let’s…
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2025/26 Emirates earnings hit record highs despite conflict in the Middle East
Emirates posts a $35.7 billion revenue in FY2025-26 that boiled down to a $6.2 billion profit before tax, which in turn translates to a 17.4% operating margin. Extremely impressive numbers from the Emirates group. What is interesting from the airline’s point of view is that passengers didn’t grow in FY2026 signaling that the airline is…
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Emirates’ Unveils New “Statement” Flag Special Livery
Emirates unveils a new special livery featuring the UAE flag in a 3D stylized look. The new livery is more than just a color scheme touch-up. It is a statement by the airline and the country it represents. It is an attempt to project strength and security to passengers to re-attract them to fly via…
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Etihad Slashes Tier Qualifications by 25% for 2026
As regional volatility reaches a breaking point in 2026, Etihad is pivoting from growth to grit. By slashing tier qualification requirements by 25%, the Abu Dhabi carrier is effectively subsidizing the loyalty of its frequent flyers grounded by airspace closures and cancellations. This isn’t a gift – it’s a calculated defensive maneuver to prevent a…
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Gulf Air Orders 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in Major Fleet Expansion Deal
Generally when we put the words Middle East next to aircraft order we expect to see massive numbers follow. However, there are also smaller sized carriers in the region, such as Gulf Air what now is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Gulf Air has just announced an additional order of Boeing 787…