The European Union is facing growing calls to suspend its high-profile Air Transport Agreement with Qatar after it emerged that a senior EU official involved in brokering the deal had accepted complimentary Business Class flights from Qatar Airways.

European Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen confirmed last month that a top transport department official resigned for breaching ethics regulations. Although the Commission has not disclosed his name, several sources have identified him as Henrik Hololei, who served as Director-General for Mobility and Transport during the negotiations with Doha.

Qatar began talks in 2016 to establish a comprehensive aviation pact with the EU, becoming the first country to do so. The negotiations concluded in 2019, resulting in a landmark deal that gave airlines from both sides unrestricted access to each other’s markets. However, critics argue the arrangement significantly favors Qatar and its state-owned flag carrier.

Under the agreement, Qatar Airways can introduce unlimited routes across the EU’s 27 member states, so long as it can secure available airport slots. Other Gulf carriers, meanwhile, remain tightly bound by long-standing bilateral agreements. Dubai-based Emirates, for instance, is still restricted to operating flights to only four German cities—Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, and Munich—and has been lobbying unsuccessfully for years to add Berlin to its network.

Qatar Airways faces no such limitations. The EU-level accord overrides individual national restrictions, allowing the airline to fly freely to Berlin and Germany’s other major hubs.

In 2023, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) launched a formal inquiry into Hololei’s conduct—two years after the deal provisionally came into effect—amid allegations that he accepted free Business Class tickets and hotel stays funded by third parties while the negotiations were ongoing.

A coalition of European aviation unions has since demanded that the agreement be suspended pending the results of the investigation. “Market access to the EU should not stem from tainted negotiations,” their statement warned.

Many European airlines and labor groups contend that the pact disproportionately benefits Qatar, offering few gains for EU carriers, except those already aligned with Qatar Airways through the oneworld alliance, such as Finnair and Iberia.

The European Cockpit Association (ECA) also voiced concerns that the deal undermines fair competition. The group said the scandal underscores the urgent need for greater transparency and accountability in the EU’s dealings with Qatar, particularly as scrutiny of the relationship intensifies.

The controversy revives uncomfortable memories of the 2022 “Qatargate” bribery scandal, which shook EU institutions and led to the arrest of at least one member of the European Parliament. Although the Qatar aviation pact remains only provisionally in force, labor unions are now pressing EU member states to withdraw their support until the corruption allegations are fully resolved.

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