Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, commemorated four decades since its inaugural flight by returning to where its journey began — Karachi. The airline marked the milestone with a special showcase of its newly retrofitted Boeing 777, featuring the much-acclaimed Premium Economy cabins, at Jinnah International Airport.

The event, held on the eve of Emirates’ 40th anniversary, brought together senior officials, aviation stakeholders, and media representatives for an exclusive walkthrough of the refreshed four-class aircraft. The special flight, operating as EK600, landed in Karachi at 10:45 a.m., offering guests a firsthand look at the airline’s latest cabin product, now available on an expanding network of routes worldwide.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Sharjeel Wasan, DG Customs Local Head; H.E. Bakheet Ateeq Al-Rumaithi, Consul General of the UAE; Ehsan Ullah, Director AvSec Ops & Plans, Airport Security Force; and other senior representatives from airport and aviation authorities. The delegation was hosted by Mohammed Alhashmi, Emirates’ Vice President for Pakistan.

“Karachi holds a special place in Emirates’ history as the destination of our very first flight from Dubai in 1985,” said Alhashmi. “Over the past 40 years, we’ve proudly connected Pakistan to the world, supported communities, and contributed to the nation’s aviation sector and economy through trade, tourism, and employment.”

Alhashmi added that Emirates continues to innovate in line with evolving travel trends: “Our Premium Economy has transformed the travel experience for customers seeking greater comfort and value. We hope to introduce this cabin on flights to Karachi in the near future.”

Since launching operations to Karachi, Emirates has transported more than 19 million passengers between Dubai and Karachi on over 87,000 flights. Across Pakistan, over 36 million travellers have flown on 146,000 flights connecting Dubai with five major cities.

The airline also supports Pakistan’s trade by carrying over 73,000 tonnes of cargo annually — a tradition dating back to its first flight, when all passengers were flown free and revenue came solely from cargo.

Today, Emirates operates three daily flights from Karachi, linking the city with major global hubs such as Dubai, London, Toronto, Jeddah, New York, and Kuala Lumpur. Its customer base spans leisure travellers, business professionals, and students pursuing higher education abroad.

The showcased retrofitted Boeing 777 features Emirates’ latest Premium Economy cabins — a new standard of mid-tier luxury. The seats offer plush leather upholstery, deep recline, full leg and footrests, adjustable headrests, a wood-finished side cocktail table, in-seat power, and a 13.3-inch personal entertainment screen.

Passengers can enjoy regionally inspired gourmet meals and an extensive beverage selection, complemented by larger pillows, cozy blankets, and amenity kits on select routes. The upgraded ice inflight entertainment system now includes over 6,500 channels, with expanded Urdu-language content.

With its 40th anniversary celebration, Emirates not only reflects on its pioneering journey from Dubai to Karachi but also reaffirms its commitment to connecting Pakistan to the world with innovation, comfort, and care.

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA