Emirates is extending warm wishes of “Ramadan Mubarak” to its customers worldwide and marking the Holy Month with a series of thoughtful initiatives that reflect the values of compassion, generosity, and community togetherness.

Throughout Ramadan, the airline will distribute thousands of iftar boxes for fasting customers at boarding gates and onboard, offer complimentary prayer mats, feature dedicated religious and family programming on its ice inflight entertainment system, and serve traditional Ramadan dishes in its lounges.

To support customers who are fasting, Emirates will provide complimentary iftar boxes at select boarding gates during iftar time, each containing water, laban, dates, and a banana, allowing passengers to break their fast comfortably before or after boarding. Onboard, customers across all cabin classes on select routes will be offered specially curated, nutritionally balanced Ramadan meal boxes presented in bespoke packaging inspired by traditional Islamic geometric art.

These boxes include dates, light cold mezze such as hummus, moutabel or muhammara with Arabic bread, a hearty chicken mosakhan or herbed chicken sandwich, sweet items like chocolate-coated almonds and assorted baklawa, and laban, served in addition to the regular hot meal service.

To ensure that religious timings are observed accurately inflight, Emirates uses a dedicated system that calculates precise imsak and iftar times based on the aircraft’s location, altitude, and the corresponding sunrise and sunset. Once the sun has set along the flight path, the captain will make an announcement to inform fasting customers that it is time to break their fast. Passengers may also request special keepsake prayer mats, which are available on all flights.

Across the seven Emirates Lounges at Dubai International Airport (DXB), customers will be able to enjoy a wide range of traditional Ramadan refreshments including Arabic sweets, dates, and coffee.

First and Business Class lounges will feature classic regional dishes such as hot and cold Arabic mezze, lentil soup, Arabic mixed grill with tahina, lamb kabsa, chicken machboos with cucumber yoghurt, lamb ouzi with hashweh rice and dakous, followed by desserts like pistachio kunafa, katayef, saffron basbousa, cheesecake, cheese kunafa, walnut katayef, and specialty ice creams including Arabic coffee and dates or baklawa flavours.

Guests can also enjoy traditional beverages such as jallab and laban, while Emirates lounges in Cairo and Jeddah will similarly offer a selection of Ramadan-inspired dishes. All Emirates Lounges are equipped with dedicated prayer rooms and ablution facilities to provide a calm environment for worship.

During the Holy Month, Emirates’ award-winning ice entertainment system will highlight a curated selection of Islamic and Ramadan-focused content, including Arabic programmes such as “Kheir Qodwa,” “Qalb Al Mo’men,” “Wa Yatoub Allah Alaykom,” “Al Huqooq Al Sharaeya,” and “Nafhat,” as well as Urdu titles like “Ramadan Mah e Rehmat” and “Hoshyarian.”

Popular Arabic series and dramas including “Ma Taraho Laysa Kama Yabdo,” “Febrayer Al Aswad,” “Al Mtwassf,” and “Hazza” will also be available, alongside an extensive library of more than 6,500 channels of on-demand entertainment, including up to 450 Arabic movie and TV channels and around 400 Arabic music and podcast channels.

To extend the Ramadan ambiance into customers’ homes, Emirates has launched a new collection of Bukhoor fragrances through the Emirates Official Store.

The range features the bestselling Oud Rose, blending raspberry, rose, geranium, oud, patchouli, and vanilla, along with two new scents: Dreamy Nights, with sweet green citrus, balsam, jasmine, amber, cedar, and spicy vanilla, and Sacred Ember, combining saffron, lavender, bergamot, musk, tobacco, and cedar. Each 70g pot, priced at USD 52, is presented in an elegant white-and-gold design bearing Emirates’ signature Ghaf tree motif, making it an ideal Ramadan gift.

Emirates is also enhancing the travel experience for customers performing Umrah during Ramadan. Umrah groups travelling to Jeddah and Medina will be served Ramadan meal boxes inflight, while each customer is entitled to check in one bottle of Zamzam holy water of up to five litres from Dubai International Airport and various airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In line with its commitment to cultural awareness and service excellence, Emirates has introduced Ramadan awareness training for cabin crew and ground staff across its network. The training provides teams with guidance on the religious and cultural significance of Ramadan and familiarises them with common practices during the Holy Month, ensuring they can better anticipate the needs of fasting customers and deliver a considerate and respectful travel experience.

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.