Etihad Airways’ award-winning loyalty programme, Etihad Guest, is accelerating its expansion in India with the addition of five prominent partners — BOBCARD, The Postcard Hotel, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Shoppers Stop India. The partnerships were officially revealed at a star-studded event in Mumbai, attended by business leaders, media representatives, and Bollywood celebrities.

India has emerged as Etihad Guest’s fastest-growing market, contributing significantly to the programme’s global membership of more than 13 million. With over 250,000 new sign-ups each month — roughly six every minute — Etihad aims to give Indian members greater lifestyle and travel value through everyday earning opportunities across dining, shopping, and digital platforms.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways, said the new collaborations highlight the airline’s continued investment in one of its key international markets.

“India plays a pivotal role in our global network, with 185 flights each week connecting to 11 cities. These new ties enhance the Etihad Guest experience for our Indian members and international travellers visiting this dynamic country,” he noted.

De added that working with trusted local brands strengthens the airline’s relationship with Indian consumers and makes the programme more relevant to their daily routines.

Etihad Guest and BOBCARD Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Baroda, have partnered to launch a co-branded credit card giving members exclusive travel and lifestyle perks. Travellers who sign up before 28 February will enjoy double welcome miles. The card is designed to seamlessly connect everyday purchases with international travel rewards, offering Indian consumers a smarter, more rewarding payment option.

Boutique luxury brand The Postcard Hotel has become the first hospitality partner from India to join a Middle Eastern airline loyalty programme. Etihad Guest members can now earn miles on stays at its distinctive properties across India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Members staying two or three nights will earn 2,000 miles, while those staying four nights or longer will receive 4,000 miles plus an additional complimentary night. Guests booking a stay before 28 February will receive double miles as part of the launch offer.

In a major move bridging e-commerce and travel, Etihad Guest has teamed up with Flipkart, one of India’s leading online marketplaces. The alliance will allow over 500 million Flipkart users to convert their Supercoins into Etihad Guest Miles for flight redemptions — while Etihad Guest members can convert their miles into Supercoins for online shopping. The scheme will officially launch in the coming weeks.

Etihad Guest has also partnered with Swiggy, one of India’s leading on-demand platforms spanning food delivery, quick commerce, and dining out. Members will receive six months of complimentary Swiggy One membership, unlocking discounts and exclusive benefits. Soon, members will also be able to earn Etihad Guest Miles on every Swiggy purchase, turning routine food orders into potential flight rewards.

Etihad has become the first airline to collaborate with Shoppers Stop India, the country’s leading department store brand. As part of the launch campaign, Etihad Guest members can opt in to receive a one-year complimentary Platinum membership in the Shoppers Stop First Citizen programme until 15 February.

The next phase of the partnership will allow customers to earn Etihad Guest Miles on spending both in-store and online, converting shopping experiences into travel rewards.

The addition of these five high-profile partners signals Etihad Airways’ ongoing commitment to the Indian market — one of its most strategically significant regions. Beyond loyalty tie-ups, the airline continues to engage Indian travellers through sponsorships with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai City FC, locally inspired cuisine on board, and digital experiences in Hindi.

Through these initiatives, Etihad is positioning Etihad Guest as a deeply integrated lifestyle programme for Indian consumers — one that connects daily moments with global travel rewards.

Malaysia Aviation Group, the parent company of Malaysia Airlines, is considering whether to introduce a green tax on passengers to help cover the rising cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), potentially adding to airfares.

Group chief Capt. Nasaruddin A. Bakar said Monday that the company was examining different options as airlines worldwide seek to reduce carbon emissions while facing high SAF prices and limited supplies.

“We are looking at all options,” Nasaruddin told The Associated Press on the sidelines of an aviation sustainability conference. He stressed that both passengers and airlines needed to be able to afford the transition to cleaner fuel.

Singapore, Malaysia’s neighbour, has already announced a government-mandated green aviation levy set to take effect in January 2027. Charges will vary according to destination and cabin class, making Singapore the first country to announce such a measure.

The aviation sector faces growing pressure to address its environmental impact as global air travel demand increases. The International Energy Agency estimates that aviation accounts for about 2.5% of annual global carbon emissions, while the UN-backed International Civil Aviation Organization has established a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

According to the aviation organisation, sustainable aviation fuel could reduce the industry's emissions by around 65%.

SAF is typically made from renewable materials, including used cooking oil, waste fats and agricultural residues. It can be blended with conventional jet fuel and used in existing aircraft without requiring changes to their engines.

However, its widespread adoption remains constrained by higher production costs, limited manufacturing capacity and restricted access to sustainable raw materials.

The International Air Transport Association estimates that SAF currently represents less than 1% of global jet fuel consumption, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing airlines as they work towards their emissions targets.

Source: Associated Press

SalamAir has entered into a distribution agreement with travel technology company Amadeus as the Omani low-cost airline steps up efforts to expand its international presence and reach new customer segments.

Under the agreement, travel sellers connected to the Amadeus Travel Platform will gain access to SalamAir's fares and services, allowing the airline to expand its distribution network and improve the availability of its products across global markets.

Steven Allen, chief commercial officer of SalamAir, said the partnership would support the airline's growth ambitions by strengthening its international market presence and making its services more accessible to travellers seeking affordable air travel.

The agreement forms part of SalamAir's broader strategy to diversify its sales channels, increase its global visibility and respond to rising travel demand across its expanding network.

Maher Koubaa, executive vice-president of the Travel Unit and managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Amadeus, said the partnership reflected the company's commitment to supporting the low-cost airline sector. He added that Amadeus' technology solutions were designed to help low-cost carriers expand and compete in international markets.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Emirates is expanding its Dubai-Durban schedule with 14 additional flights during the 2026-27 festive season, offering travellers more options during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The additional services will operate as a second daily flight between December 17 and 23, 2026, and January 2 and 8, 2027. The airline will deploy a three-class Boeing 777 on the route.

Flight EK2535 will depart Dubai at 04:00 and arrive in Durban at 10:30. The return service, EK2536, will leave Durban at 12:15 and land in Dubai at 22:30.

Emirates' existing daily flights, EK775 and EK776, will continue to operate according to their regular schedules.

The airline is also providing flexible booking options to help passengers manage changes to their travel plans. Customers booking flights to Dubai can change their travel dates an unlimited number of times without fees across all cabin classes. For tickets to other destinations, passengers are entitled to one complimentary date change.

Emirates' Hold My Fare service allows customers to reserve a ticket price for 24 hours at no additional cost. The airline has also reduced its refund fees.

Source: TradeArabia

Lufthansa has increased fuel loading on flights bound for Frankfurt Airport as a precautionary measure amid tighter jet fuel supplies caused by reduced pipeline capacity.

The airline said on Thursday that the move was intended to manage potential supply constraints at Germany’s largest aviation hub. Airport operator Fraport confirmed that routine maintenance was under way on a pipeline supplying jet fuel to the airport.

Fraport said the maintenance had been factored into its operational planning and was not expected to cause a fuel supply bottleneck. Alternative supply routes and sufficient storage capacity were helping to mitigate potential disruption.

“The airport's operational capability is therefore not affected,” Fraport said.

Lufthansa said it was not currently anticipating any flight cancellations as a result of the situation.

German newspaper Bild first reported the additional fuelling measures, citing internal instructions reportedly issued to Lufthansa pilots on selected routes. The practice, known as “tankering”, involves carrying more fuel than required for a flight so that an aircraft needs less or no refuelling at its destination.

According to Bild, the additional fuel carried by Airbus A320-family aircraft is limited to eight tonnes to ensure the planes can still be towed on the ground. The measures primarily affect short-haul services, although some long-haul flights are increasingly being included.

The precautionary steps are intended to give Lufthansa greater flexibility in managing its fuel requirements while pipeline maintenance continues at Frankfurt Airport.

Source: Reuters

Turkish Airlines has signed a strategic agreement with CFM International to strengthen engine maintenance capabilities and support the expansion of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

The long-term services agreement will cover the airline group's entire LEAP-1B engine fleet, including engines already ordered and delivered, spare engines, units installed on leased aircraft and potential future options. The combined total exceeds 600 engines operated by Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary, AJet.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed during a ceremony in Istanbul by Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, Prof. Murat Şeker; Turkish Technic CEO and Board Member, Mikail Akbulut; and Safran CEO Olivier Andriès. Safran is one of the two parent companies of CFM International.

The agreement also includes a material services arrangement to support the development of an engine maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Türkiye.

Şeker said the partnership would help Turkish Airlines accommodate fleet and network growth while improving operational efficiency. He added that the expanded services agreement would provide the technical expertise and long-term support required to develop LEAP engine maintenance capabilities.

Akbulut said the agreement would enable Turkish Technic to undertake comprehensive LEAP engine maintenance. He also reaffirmed the company's commitment to investing in engine services alongside its existing aircraft and component maintenance operations.

Andriès described the MoU as another milestone in a relationship with Turkish Airlines that has lasted nearly four decades. He said the agreement reflected both companies' ambitions to support the airline's growth and fleet expansion, while promoting an open MRO ecosystem offering flexible, competitive services to improve operational performance and control costs.

GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp Jr. also welcomed the agreement, highlighting Turkish Airlines' extensive international network and its confidence in CFM engines. He said the partnership would build on the companies' established relationship as the airline expands its Istanbul operations and engine maintenance capabilities.

Turkish Airlines currently operates 96 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines and 79 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft equipped with LEAP-1B engines.

CFM said it had delivered more than 10,000 LEAP engines during the 10 years since the engine entered service, with the fleet accumulating over 100 million flight hours. The manufacturer continues to introduce upgrades, including a high-pressure turbine durability kit designed to extend time on wing and a reverse bleed system (RBS).

The agreement is expected to strengthen Turkish Airlines' long-standing relationship with CFM International and support the integration of newly ordered Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into its expanding fleet. The planned engine MRO facility will also enhance Turkish Technic's ability to provide comprehensive maintenance services.

Source: Turkish Airlines