Qatar Airways and Philippine Airlines have announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at improving travel connectivity across their international and domestic networks.

Beginning 1 June 2026, Philippine Airlines will add its “PR” flight code to Qatar Airways-operated services linking Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao with Doha. The arrangement will also provide Philippine Airlines passengers with access to more than 20 European destinations through transfers at Hamad International Airport, including major cities such as Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt.

As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways will place its “QR” code on selected Philippine Airlines domestic routes. The move is expected to simplify onward travel for international passengers arriving in Manila and Cebu, particularly those heading to tourist destinations such as Caticlan and Puerto Princesa.

The airlines are also strengthening cooperation between their frequent flyer programmes. Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club and Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles will now allow members to earn and redeem rewards across both carriers’ flight networks.

The agreement marks the 26th airline partnership for Privilege Club and further expands its reach in Southeast Asia. Members will be able to use Avios points on Philippine Airlines services across Southeast Asia, Australasia, the United States, and domestic destinations within the Philippines, including Cebu, Clark, and Davao City.

Meanwhile, Mabuhay Miles members will gain access to Qatar Airways’ global network spanning destinations across Europe and Africa, strengthening Philippine Airlines’ market presence in the Middle East through broader connectivity options.

Passengers enrolled in Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club can redeem Avios for flights with Qatar Airways, oneworld partner airlines, cabin upgrades, Qatar Executive bookings, holiday packages, duty-free shopping, and dining offers. Mabuhay Miles members will also continue to access travel, retail, and lifestyle rewards through the Philippine Airlines programme.

Qatar Airways, named the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2025, also received Cirium’s Platinum recognition this year for operational reliability and performance. Philippine Airlines was separately recognised by Cirium as the Asia-Pacific region’s most punctual airline for 2025.

Source: Qatar Airways

As part of the update, the airline will reinstate four weekly flights to Seychelles (SEZ) and two weekly services to Kigali (KGL) starting June 16. In addition, daily flights to Marrakesh (RAK) will resume from July 1, further improving access to North and East African destinations.

Several existing routes across the continent will also see higher frequencies. Flights between Doha and Alexandria (HBE) will rise from three to as many as seven per week, while services to Cairo (CAI) will increase from 28 to 35 weekly flights. Cape Town (CPT) will move from seven to up to 10 weekly flights, reflecting growing demand on the route.

In East Africa, Dar es Salaam (DAR) services will double from three to up to seven weekly flights. The Lusaka (LUN)–Harare (HRE) route will increase from five to seven weekly flights, while the Maputo (MPM)–Durban (DUR) connection will also rise from four to seven weekly services.

Separately, the carrier is preparing to introduce a new route to Port Sudan (PZU), with three weekly flights scheduled to begin on July 2. The service will connect the Sudanese city with Doha, offering onward connections through Hamad International Airport for travellers from regions including Oman and Pakistan.

The Port Sudan flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flight QR1319 will depart Doha at 09:00 and arrive in Port Sudan at 11:00, while the return service, QR1320, will leave Port Sudan at 12:25 and reach Doha at 16:20.

The expansion reflects Qatar Airways’ continued focus on strengthening connectivity across Africa while responding to rising passenger demand and supporting international trade links.

Source: ZAWYA

Qatar Airways and Philippine Airlines have announced an expanded strategic partnership aimed at improving travel connectivity across their international and domestic networks.

Beginning 1 June 2026, Philippine Airlines will add its “PR” flight code to Qatar Airways-operated services linking Manila, Cebu, Clark, and Davao with Doha. The arrangement will also provide Philippine Airlines passengers with access to more than 20 European destinations through transfers at Hamad International Airport, including major cities such as Paris, Rome, and Frankfurt.

As part of the agreement, Qatar Airways will place its “QR” code on selected Philippine Airlines domestic routes. The move is expected to simplify onward travel for international passengers arriving in Manila and Cebu, particularly those heading to tourist destinations such as Caticlan and Puerto Princesa.

The airlines are also strengthening cooperation between their frequent flyer programmes. Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club and Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles will now allow members to earn and redeem rewards across both carriers’ flight networks.

The agreement marks the 26th airline partnership for Privilege Club and further expands its reach in Southeast Asia. Members will be able to use Avios points on Philippine Airlines services across Southeast Asia, Australasia, the United States, and domestic destinations within the Philippines, including Cebu, Clark, and Davao City.

Meanwhile, Mabuhay Miles members will gain access to Qatar Airways’ global network spanning destinations across Europe and Africa, strengthening Philippine Airlines’ market presence in the Middle East through broader connectivity options.

Passengers enrolled in Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club can redeem Avios for flights with Qatar Airways, oneworld partner airlines, cabin upgrades, Qatar Executive bookings, holiday packages, duty-free shopping, and dining offers. Mabuhay Miles members will also continue to access travel, retail, and lifestyle rewards through the Philippine Airlines programme.

Qatar Airways, named the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2025, also received Cirium’s Platinum recognition this year for operational reliability and performance. Philippine Airlines was separately recognised by Cirium as the Asia-Pacific region’s most punctual airline for 2025.

Source: Qatar Airways

Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia has announced its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2026, showing a decline in profit despite steady revenue growth and strong passenger demand.

The airline posted a net profit of AED 278 million for the first three months of the year, down 22% from AED 355 million recorded in the same period last year. The company attributed the decline primarily to operational disruptions linked to ongoing regional conflict, which led to airspace closures and temporary capacity reductions.

Revenue for the quarter rose slightly to AED 1.8 billion, reflecting a 1% increase year-on-year. Despite reduced capacity in parts of March, demand for Air Arabia’s services remained strong across its network.

Passenger numbers reached 4.7 million across its operating hubs during the quarter, representing a 5% decline compared to the previous year. However, the airline’s average seat load factor improved to 86%, up by two percentage points, indicating higher efficiency in seat utilization.

Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammad Al Thani said the carrier had demonstrated resilience in a difficult operating environment, noting its ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions and maintain continuity across its operations. He highlighted disciplined cost control, a multi-hub operating model, and sustained customer demand as key contributors to the airline’s quarterly performance.

During the period, Air Arabia operated a fleet of 90 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft across hubs in the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Egypt, and Pakistan. The airline also confirmed additional aircraft deliveries are expected throughout the year as part of its existing Airbus order pipeline.

In February, the carrier was included in Forbes Middle East’s Top 100 Most Valuable Companies 2026, reflecting its market position and financial standing.

On the sustainability front, the airline secured a Limited Assurance Statement for its 2025 ESG report under the ISAE 3000 international standard, reinforcing its commitment to transparency and governance practices.

Looking ahead, the chairman warned that geopolitical uncertainty, fuel price volatility, inflationary pressures, and global supply chain challenges are expected to continue affecting the aviation sector. However, he expressed confidence in the regions served by the airline and said the company would continue to focus on operational discipline and efficiency while maintaining customer value.

Source: ZAWYA

Qatar Airways will expand its operations in the Americas with the launch of new flights to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia, starting on July 22, 2026. The move marks a major step in the carrier’s international growth strategy and strengthens air links between the Middle East and Latin America.

The airline said it will become the first Gulf carrier to operate services to Venezuela and the first airline to offer direct connectivity from West Asia to both Caracas and Bogotá. The expansion follows a broader commitment announced in 2025 to improve global access to the region.

Qatar Airways plans to operate two flights each week to the two cities. The schedule has been designed to provide convenient onward connections through Hamad International Airport to destinations including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.

According to the airline, the new routes will improve transfer flexibility for passengers travelling across its global network. Caracas and Bogotá will become the 15th and 16th destinations served by Qatar Airways in the Americas. The carrier first entered the South American market in 2010 with flights to São Paulo, Brazil.

Qatar Airways also said it is rebuilding its worldwide network to more than 160 destinations during the 2026 summer season.

Source: GULF TIMES

The United Arab Emirates has fully restored normal air traffic operations after lifting restrictions imposed during the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Authorities said the decision followed security assessments and coordination with relevant agencies as regional aviation activity continues to recover.

The United Arab Emirates has officially lifted all air traffic restrictions that had been introduced during the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, according to the country’s aviation regulator.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed that air operations across the country’s airspace have returned to normal conditions. The authority said the move followed an extensive review of operational and security circumstances conducted in coordination with relevant agencies.

Officials added that the situation would continue to be monitored closely to ensure the safety and stability of air navigation across UAE skies.

The development represents a major step toward recovery for the UAE’s aviation sector, particularly for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two of the region’s most significant international air transport hubs. Dubai is home to the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic.

The regional conflict had heavily disrupted aviation operations across the Middle East after retaliatory attacks and escalating tensions forced multiple countries to close or restrict parts of their airspace.

Several Gulf and regional states, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Jordan, imposed either complete or partial airspace closures during the peak of the crisis.

Major UAE carriers were also affected. Emirates and flydubai temporarily suspended operations, while Etihad Airways halted departures from Abu Dhabi during the conflict period.

According to aviation analytics company Cirium, more than 11,000 flights across the Middle East were cancelled during the early stages of the war, severely affecting travel between Europe and Asia and limiting available long-haul routes.

The UAE initially introduced a temporary partial closure of its airspace in late February before gradually easing restrictions in March.

Between March 1 and March 12, UAE airports handled approximately 1.4 million passengers and recorded 7,839 aircraft movements as operations slowly resumed. During that period, national carriers restored around 44.6 percent of their normal flight activity levels.

A ceasefire brokered by Pakistan last month helped bring the conflict to an end, paving the way for the UAE’s latest announcement on the full normalization of air traffic operations.

Elsewhere in the region, signs of aviation recovery are also becoming increasingly visible. Qatar Airways announced on Saturday that it would restart flights to three cities in Iraq from May 10. The airline had previously revealed plans to expand services to more than 150 destinations across six continents beginning in mid-June.