Etihad Airways is maintaining strong operational momentum as robust travel demand supports continued growth in seat capacity, fleet size and network reach, according to Majed Al Marzouqi, Chief Operations and Guest Officer at the airline.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of Arabian Travel Market, Al Marzouqi said Etihad completed the summer season with a seat load factor of more than 88%, rising to 92% in August.

The airline increased available seat capacity by about 15% compared with the previous year, with further expansion expected as additional aircraft are delivered and new destinations are added to its network.

Etihad expects its fleet to reach 130 aircraft by the end of 2026 following the arrival of around 15 new aircraft. The airline’s longer-term strategy targets a fleet of more than 200 aircraft by 2030.

The fleet expansion will include Airbus A321LR and Airbus A350 aircraft, among other types supporting the carrier’s network growth.

Al Marzouqi said Etihad plans to invest approximately $20 billion in new aircraft and guest experience initiatives over the next decade. Around $1 billion of that investment is earmarked for retrofitting the existing fleet.

At Arabian Travel Market, Etihad is presenting several of its latest products, including its Airbus A321LR passenger experience and a new Airbus A330 cabin, which is being displayed at the exhibition for the first time.

The upgraded A330 aircraft are scheduled to enter service from September 2027, with 15 aircraft expected to join the fleet over a five-year period.

The new A330s will support Etihad’s regional and medium-haul operations, providing additional capacity and flexibility on high-demand routes across Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Source: ZAWYA

Oman Air will introduce its Winter 2026/27 schedule on October 25, increasing flight frequencies and capacity across the Gulf, Europe, Russia and Asia while expanding codeshare partnerships to improve global connectivity.

The airline will significantly increase European capacity, tripling its Zurich capacity compared with the summer season through the deployment of widebody aircraft on up to five weekly flights. Services to Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan and Istanbul will also rise to as many as five flights per week.

Flights to Moscow will double from four to up to eight weekly services, building on Oman Air’s 11-city European network and offering travellers more options for winter travel while improving access to Oman for international visitors.

The new schedule will also provide the first full winter operations for several destinations launched earlier this year. Singapore will receive four weekly flights, while Tashkent will retain twice-weekly services and Sochi will operate once a week.

To meet demand on popular routes, Oman Air will introduce weekly widebody services to Mumbai and Dhaka, adding capacity and offering passengers the comfort of its Boeing 787 aircraft.

Domestic services will also increase, with flights between Muscat and Khasab rising to up to four per week. The Muscat-Salalah route will operate up to five times daily throughout the winter season.

Oman Air is also broadening its codeshare network through new and expanded partnerships. Agreements with Lufthansa and SWISS will connect passengers to destinations including Edinburgh, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Bergen, Billund, Gothenburg and Oslo via the airlines’ hubs in Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.

An expansion of the existing codeshare partnership with Malaysia Airlines will add Shanghai, Beijing Daxing and Guangzhou, extending Oman Air’s reach across Greater China.

Members of both airlines’ loyalty programmes will also benefit from oneworld recognition, including tier privileges and service benefits throughout their journeys.

The expanded winter schedule underscores Oman Air’s focus on improving international connectivity, adding capacity to high-demand routes and supporting inbound tourism to Oman.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

KLM is preparing to cancel selected flights over the coming months as delays in aircraft maintenance and repairs leave more aircraft unavailable than anticipated.

The cancellations will run from 26 October 2026 until early March 2027. The Dutch airline aims to keep additional long-haul aircraft available as reserves to reduce last-minute schedule changes and improve operational reliability.

A KLM spokesperson told Dutch broadcaster NOS that the aircraft shortage has been caused by unplanned maintenance requirements, damage repairs and scheduled maintenance work taking longer than expected. Delays in spare-parts deliveries have also contributed to the situation.

In some cases, KLM has been operating services with aircraft different from those originally scheduled.

The airline has not yet disclosed the number of flights that will be cancelled or identified the affected destinations.

KLM said it would select flights for cancellation based on minimising the impact on passengers and providing opportunities for rebooking. The approach is intended to deliver a more reliable schedule throughout the winter period.

Source: QCAA

Turkish Airlines carried 9 million passengers in September 2026, achieving an overall passenger load factor of 86.8%, according to its latest traffic figures.

The airline reported an international load factor of 86.6%, while domestic services recorded a higher rate of 88.2%.

Available seat kilometres (ASK), a measure of passenger capacity, rose 2.5% year-on-year to 24.6 billion in September, compared with 24 billion during the same month in 2025.

Cargo operations also posted significant growth. Combined cargo and mail volumes increased by 13% year-on-year to 205,700 tonnes during the month.

For the first nine months of 2026, Turkish Airlines transported 73 million passengers, marking a 5.2% increase from the corresponding period last year.

The airline's overall load factor reached 85% during the January-September period. International services recorded an 84.8% load factor, while domestic operations achieved 86.7%.

Passenger capacity, measured in ASK, expanded by 4.4% to 212.2 billion, up from 203.3 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Cargo and mail traffic continued to grow, rising 10.6% year-on-year to 1.8 million tonnes, compared with 1.6 million tonnes during the same period a year earlier.

By the end of September 2026, Turkish Airlines operated a fleet of 567 aircraft.

The reported traffic figures are consolidated and cover operations under both the Turkish Airlines main brand and its subsidiary AJet.

Source: Trade Arabia News Service

Qatar Airways has announced the cancellation of additional flights scheduled for October 11, 2026, citing operational reasons, as disruptions affecting services between Doha and Riyadh continue.

The latest travel alert adds to previously announced cancellations affecting flights on October 9 and 10. The airline said it is continuing to monitor its operations and provide passengers with updated travel information through its official channels.

Three Flight Pairs Cancelled

The Qatar Airways flights cancelled for October 11 are:

• QR1170/1171
• QR1172/1173
• QR1236/1237

The cancellations affect services between Doha and Riyadh in both directions.

Qatar Airways said the safety of its passengers and crew remains its highest priority while it manages the operational situation.

Passengers Advised to Check Before Travel

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to check the latest information through the Qatar Airways website or mobile application.

Travellers are also encouraged to verify their individual flight status before heading to the airport, as further operational updates could affect scheduled services.

Qatar Airways has indicated that additional information will be provided through its official channels as the situation develops.

Further Updates Expected

The October 11 cancellations follow the airline’s earlier cancellation announcements for October 9 and 10. Information concerning services between Doha and Riyadh may be updated as Qatar Airways issues further notices.

Passengers are advised to rely on the airline’s latest official updates for changes to their flight schedules, booking arrangements and travel plans.

Dubai-based airline flydubai has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Yanbu until October 10, while services to Abha will remain suspended until October 11 as regional tensions continue to disrupt air travel in Saudi Arabia.

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations, saying the airline was closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities. The carrier said passengers would receive updates on schedule changes through its official communication channels.

The suspensions follow attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Thursday. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Friday that three Saudi nationals had been killed and several others injured in two separate attacks.

According to the authority, the first attack targeted airport facilities, while the second struck an aircraft operated by Saudia. Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attacks. Airport operations subsequently resumed.

flydubai has advised affected passengers to visit the Manage Booking section of its official website, flydubai.com, to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents have been advised to contact their agents directly.

The airline apologised for the disruption and said it would continue to communicate relevant updates to passengers as the situation develops.

Source: Gulf News