Qatar Airways, voted the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2025, is embracing its role as the Official Lifestyle and Travel Partner of Web Summit Qatar 2026 for the third year in a row. From 1–4 February, the airline invites visitors to its Innovation Pavilion, where it is reimagining the future of travel through user-driven technology and immersive digital experiences.

Continuing to set new standards in aviation innovation, Qatar Airways is unveiling a collection of intelligent, customer‑first products designed to make every stage of travel — from inspiration to booking and beyond — more personalised, connected, and efficient.

Leading the Digital Travel Revolution

The airline’s Innovation Capsule at the pavilion showcases its latest advancements in digital engagement, loyalty programs, and passenger experience. Visitors will discover how emerging technologies are shaping a smoother, more interactive journey for travellers around the world.

‘Q Search’: Smarter, Faster Travel Assistance

Among the highlights is ‘Q Search’, Qatar Airways’ newest digital innovation and a first for the aviation industry. The system allows users to interact with the airline in natural conversation, asking questions and receiving fast, tailored answers about its products and services.

‘Q Search’ represents Qatar Airways’ vision of creating a smarter digital ecosystem — one that blends artificial intelligence with human‑level understanding to make trip planning effortless and intuitive.

‘Infinite Awards’: AI That Inspires Travel Goals

Qatar Airways Privilege Club has also introduced ‘Infinite Awards’, an AI-powered inspiration engine that guides members through earning and using Avios points. The system helps travellers set their goals, find new destinations based on their interests, and see how everyday activities can bring them closer to their next dream getaway.

As part of its community commitment, Privilege Club members can also use their Avios to make a global impact by donating directly to the Education Above All Foundation, supporting equal access to quality education worldwide.

Expanding Everyday Rewards with Himyan

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Qatar Airways Privilege Club is partnering with the Qatar Central Bank to integrate rewards into daily spending through Himyan, Qatar’s national prepaid card. The collaboration supports Qatar National Vision 2030 by promoting financial technology and digital inclusion.

Himyan users now earn 1 Avios for every QAR 8 spent on purchases across Qatar — from retail to dining — and enjoy Card-Linked Offers for extra earning opportunities with Privilege Club’s partner network.

Seamless Mobility Through Karwa Partnership

Qatar Airways has teamed up with Mowasalat (Karwa), the country’s leading transport provider, to extend Avios rewards to local travel. Soon, Privilege Club members will be able to collect or redeem Avios for taxi and chauffeured rides by simply linking their accounts via the Karwa Taxi App. This integration makes earning rewards as easy as catching a ride.

Enhanced Avios–Nojoom Conversion

The airline’s strong partnership with Ooredoo continues to evolve, introducing improved Nojoom Points conversion rates — 4:1 from Nojoom to Avios, and 2:1 from Avios to Nojoom — enabling customers to enjoy greater flexibility between air travel and telecommunications rewards.

QVerse Island: Merging Gaming and Travel

At Web Summit Qatar 2026, Qatar Airways is also showcasing ‘QVerse Island’ within Fortnite, marking its first venture into the world of immersive gaming. The digital universe recreates Doha and Hamad International Airport in stunning detail, allowing players to explore and interact with the airline’s brand in a dynamic virtual space. Visitors can experience the game firsthand through three interactive stations at the pavilion.

Thought Leadership at ‘Tarmac Talks’

Throughout the four-day event, the airline will host ‘Tarmac Talks’, a live discussion series where experts share insights on key topics such as digital transformation, loyalty analytics, and cargo innovation. The sessions offer an inside look at Qatar Airways’ vision for the next era of aviation.

Visitors and tech enthusiasts are invited to explore the future of travel at Qatar Airways Pavilion 1212-03 at Web Summit Qatar 2026, where innovation and imagination meet to shape the journeys of tomorrow.

About Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Founded in 2000, Qatar Airways Privilege Club rewards travellers through its four tiers — Burgundy, Silver, Gold, and Platinum — offering exclusive benefits and access across a global network. Members can earn and redeem Avios when flying with Qatar Airways, oneworld® partners, or through its extensive portfolio of financial, hospitality, and lifestyle collaborators.

For further information, visit www.qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile app.

Qatar Airways has cautioned passengers that refund processing times may be extended due to ongoing operational pressures, while emphasizing that teams are actively working to handle requests as efficiently as possible.

The airline confirmed that travelers holding confirmed bookings with departure dates between February 28 and April 30, 2026, can opt either to request a full refund or modify their travel dates without penalty.

According to the carrier, refunds returned to the original method of payment could take as long as 28 working days to complete. Passengers are advised to monitor their email for updates after submitting a request, as this will provide the latest status of their application.

Qatar Airways noted that reimbursement amounts will reflect the unused portion of the ticket. Any additional services purchased, such as seat selection, will be processed and refunded separately.

Customers looking for further information or support with their bookings are encouraged to consult the airline’s official travel updates portal for the most recent guidance.

Source: Zawya

India is set to abolish temporary limits on domestic airfares from Monday, according to a government directive reviewed by Reuters, as the aviation sector shows signs of recovery and carriers face mounting cost pressures.

The fare restrictions were introduced in December after widespread flight cancellations by leading airline IndiGo led to a spike in ticket prices across the market. The government intervened to stabilise fares during a period of reduced capacity.

In its latest order, the civil aviation ministry said operating conditions have improved, pointing to restored flight capacity and a return to more stable operations. The directive, dated Friday and examined by Reuters on Saturday, has not been officially released. Officials from the ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Airlines had called for the removal of the caps, saying the controls were contributing to substantial revenue losses while operating expenses continued to rise. Higher jet fuel prices, partly driven by the conflict involving Iran, have added to the financial strain.

Although airlines have not disclosed specific loss figures, analysts at HSBC estimate that a $1 per barrel increase in fuel prices could raise IndiGo’s annual fuel costs by roughly 3 billion rupees.

Under the temporary rules, fares for flights up to 500 kilometres were capped at 7,500 rupees ($80.07), while routes between 1,000 and 1,500 kilometres—including New Delhi to Mumbai—had a maximum fare of 15,000 rupees.

Despite lifting the caps, the government has directed airlines to keep ticket prices fair and transparent, ensuring they reflect market conditions without harming passenger interests.

Source: Khaleej Times

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced plans to begin non-stop services between Singapore and Riyadh from June 2026, marking a significant step in its Middle East network expansion. The airline intends to operate the route four times a week using its Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft.

The aircraft will be configured with 303 seats, including 40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class, offering passengers a two-cabin travel option.

Pending regulatory approval, flight SQ498 will depart Singapore at 18:20 local time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving in Riyadh at 21:45. The return service, SQ499, is scheduled to leave Riyadh at 23:00 on the same days, landing in Singapore at 12:15 the following day.

From 25 October 2026, minor schedule adjustments will take effect. Departures from Singapore will shift to 17:40, arriving in Riyadh at 21:35, while return flights will depart Riyadh at 22:50 and arrive in Singapore at 11:50 the next day.

Lee Lik Hsin, Chief Commercial Officer of Singapore Airlines, said the move reflects Riyadh’s growing economic significance. He noted that the Saudi capital’s rapid development and strong business environment position it as a key destination in the region. He added that the new route could also enhance collaboration with partner airlines, providing customers with broader travel options across the Middle East.

Riyadh will become the second Saudi destination served by the SIA Group, complementing Scoot’s existing four-times weekly flights to Jeddah.

As the capital and financial hub of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh offers a mix of cultural and modern attractions. Visitors can explore historic landmarks such as Diriyah and Masmak Fortress, alongside museums, high-end hotels, and diverse retail and dining experiences.

Ticket sales for the new service will be introduced gradually through Singapore Airlines’ distribution channels, subject to final approvals.

Philippine Airlines has suspended all flights between Manila and the Gulf hubs of Dubai and Doha until April 30, leaving thousands of overseas Filipinos and other travellers rushing to adjust their plans.

The flag carrier’s decision, driven by heightened security risks and airspace uncertainties in parts of the Middle East, extends an earlier series of short-term cancellations and effectively wipes out PAL’s Dubai (PR 658/659) and Doha (PR 684/685) services for the rest of April.

For affected passengers, PAL is offering a range of options. Travellers can rebook to a later date once services resume, with the airline waiving rebooking fees in line with its current advisories. Those who no longer wish to push through with their trip may opt to convert the value of their ticket into a travel credit for future use, or request a refund subject to the fare conditions.

Passengers are urged to first check if their flight falls within the suspension period using PAL’s online manage booking facility or by contacting the carrier’s customer service channels. From there, they can decide whether to secure the earliest possible rebooked flight after April 30, bank their ticket value for a later trip, or cancel altogether.

Travel agents and community groups in the Gulf are also advising Filipino workers and residents to consider alternative routings on other airlines while PAL’s Middle East operations are on hold, especially for those with urgent travel needs such as contract changes, medical emergencies or planned vacations.

With the situation in the region still fluid, Philippine Airlines has encouraged passengers to monitor its official advisories regularly, noting that any further extensions, resumptions, or special flights will be announced through its website and social media channels.

Saudia announced an increase of 20 flights connecting Riyadh and Jeddah with the Red Sea destination during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. Carried out in coordination with the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and the Red Sea destination, the move raises the total number of round-trip services on these routes to 44.

The expanded schedule is part of a broader partnership between Saudia and the STA designed to promote Saudi tourist sites and support the tourism sector’s development. Officials said the collaboration focuses on offering travelers more convenient flight options and enhancing the onboard experience.

The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s wider tourism ambitions, which include a target to welcome 150 million visitors by 2030.