Emirates has renewed its long-standing naming sponsorship of the Defender of the America’s Cup, Emirates Team New Zealand, extending one of the most enduring and iconic partnerships in international sailing through the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup and all associated preliminary regattas.

First established in 2004, the partnership now spans more than two decades of elite competition, innovation and shared success. Most recently, Emirates Team New Zealand claimed victory at the 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona, lifting the Auld Mug for an unprecedented third consecutive time — a historic milestone never before achieved in the competition’s history.

Under the renewed agreement, Emirates will continue as Lead Sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand, retaining naming rights alongside its designation as the team’s Official Airline and Carrier.

The sponsorship delivers extensive global brand exposure, including prominent placement on the mainsail and hull of the team’s AC75 yachts, as well as on defence chase boats, tenders, team bases and crew uniforms. Emirates’ branding will also feature across Emirates Team New Zealand’s digital and social platforms, live events, official communications and international broadcast coverage.

As Defender of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup, set to be held in Naples in 2027, Emirates Team New Zealand’s recent success provides a powerful platform for Emirates’ continued involvement, reinforcing a shared legacy of leadership, technical excellence and sustained performance at the pinnacle of world sailing.

This fifth renewal of the naming sponsorship reflects the strength and long-term value of the partnership, founded on a mutual commitment to excellence and innovation. Over the years, the collaboration has driven advancements in high-performance yacht design and foiling technology, closely aligned with Emirates’ leadership in aviation, global connectivity and customer experience.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said the longevity of the partnership speaks to its shared values. He noted that when the naming sponsorship was first agreed in Auckland in 2004, few could have anticipated it would still be thriving more than 20 years later.

He added that Emirates Team New Zealand’s historic third consecutive America’s Cup victory exemplifies an uncompromising pursuit of excellence — a philosophy Emirates proudly shares — and expressed pride in continuing the journey as the team prepares for the next regattas and the 38th America’s Cup in Naples.

Emirates Team New Zealand Chief Executive Grant Dalton welcomed the renewal, highlighting Emirates’ unwavering support since 2004 through both victories and challenges. He said the continued partnership provides strong confidence as the team undertakes the responsibility of defending the America’s Cup, noting the scale of the challenge ahead and the team’s clear focus on performing at the highest level.

The Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup will see all teams compete in AC75 America’s Cup class yachts. The Louis Vuitton Cup, serving as the Challenger Selection Series, will determine which challenger earns the right to face Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match. Further details on the event schedule and venues will be announced in due course.

The renewal also reinforces Emirates’ long-term commitment to New Zealand. The airline commenced services to the country in 2003 and today operates daily A380 flights to Auckland, in addition to services to Christchurch via Sydney. Emirates also operates A380 services across the Tasman, offering customers the opportunity to experience its flagship four-class double-decker aircraft between New Zealand and Australia.

Beyond its partnership with Emirates Team New Zealand, Emirates continues to play a significant role in supporting the global growth of sailing through high-profile collaborations, including the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and major international regattas such as the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Dubai, helping to expand the sport’s reach to audiences worldwide.

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