Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has announced the launch of a new daily service between Dubai and Helsinki, beginning 1 October 2026, further strengthening its presence in the Nordic region. The new route will be the only year-round, non-stop connection between Finland and the UAE, creating fresh opportunities for leisure and business travel while enhancing global connectivity for Finnish passengers.

The new service will be operated by Emirates’ Airbus A350, featuring the airline’s latest cabin products, including its acclaimed Premium Economy offering.

Flight EK167 will depart Dubai at 08:45 hrs, arriving in Helsinki at 14:55 hrs, while the return service EK168 leaves Helsinki at 16:45 hrs, landing in Dubai at 00:20 hrs the following day. The schedule is designed for smooth onward connections to key destinations across East and Southeast Asia, West Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, the GCC, and Australia, as well as to New Zealand cities Auckland and Christchurch.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“The launch of our Dubai–Helsinki route represents an important milestone in expanding our global network. We’ve seen strong travel demand between Finland and Dubai through our other Nordic gateways, and this direct year-round service will cater to that growing market. It also presents an opportunity to attract new travellers seeking seamless connectivity and high-quality travel experiences.”

Kazim highlighted that Finland’s innovative spirit, rich culture, and natural landscapes continue to attract global visitors, making it a strong tourism and trade partner for the UAE.

“We’re pleased to introduce the A350 on this route, offering passengers our latest generation of inflight comfort and technology. We thank the Finnish authorities for their support and look forward to welcoming travellers onboard soon,” he added.

With Tourism playing an essential role in Finland’s economy, attracting around 5 million international visitors in recent years, the new Emirates service will provide convenient access to over 150 destinations across six continents.

Recently named one of Lonely Planet’s must-visit destinations for 2026, Finland offers year-round attractions—from Arctic adventures under the Northern Lights to summer experiences illuminated by the Midnight Sun. Home to 41 national parks and a wealth of natural reserves, the country showcases pristine forests, shimmering lakes, and unique wildlife, including reindeer and the rare Saimaa ringed seal.

Ranked the world’s happiest country for the eighth consecutive year, Finland’s capital, Helsinki, combines modern urban living with proximity to nature, wellness traditions like the sauna, and a vibrant cultural scene.

Beyond tourism, the UAE and Finland share deepening bilateral ties across sectors such as renewable energy, digital innovation, education, space, and sustainable development. The new flight will also enhance trade links, with Emirates SkyCargo connecting Finnish industries to global markets. Each A350 flight will offer 16 tonnes of cargo capacity, supporting the transport of high-value goods including pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery, perishables, and timber products.

Emirates’ A350 features 298 seats across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy Class, offering the airline’s newest cabin design, quietest twin-aisle environment, and enhanced fuel efficiency. Onboard, passengers will enjoy fine dining inspired by local cuisines, complemented by Emirates’ extensive ice entertainment system with over 6,500 channels in multiple languages.

Tickets are now available for booking via emirates.com and travel agents.

Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Programme (ACP) has signed a cooperation agreement with Delta Air Lines aimed at expanding direct air links between the Kingdom and the United States.

The agreement, signed during WTM Spotlight Riyadh, supports plans for Delta to introduce direct flights between Riyadh and Atlanta. The new connection is expected to give US travellers greater access to Saudi Arabia while providing additional travel options between the two countries.

The planned service is expected to provide more than 85,000 round-trip seats each year and will be operated with Airbus A350 aircraft.

ACP CEO Ahmed Albrahim said the partnership represents an important step in strengthening direct connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the US.

According to Albrahim, the Riyadh-Atlanta route will also connect travellers to Delta’s broader North American network, improving access to Saudi Arabia from key international markets.

He said partnerships with major global airlines support ACP’s strategy of developing routes with significant strategic and economic value. Such connections, he added, can provide passengers with access to wider international networks rather than serving only as direct links between two cities.

Albrahim said ACP will continue working with aviation and tourism partners to attract more international airlines and increase seat capacity from priority markets.

The agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to expand international air connectivity, establish direct links with key markets and advance the Kingdom’s tourism and aviation objectives under Vision 2030.

Source: ZAWYA

Dubai Airports expects Dubai International Airport (DXB) to handle about 70 million passengers in 2026, a significant reduction from its earlier forecast of nearly 100 million, CEO Paul Griffiths said on Thursday.

The revision follows the Iran war and temporary closures of Gulf airspace, which disrupted flight operations across the region and forced the airport operator to abandon its previous passenger target.

DXB recorded 31.5 million passengers during the first half of 2026, compared with 46 million in the same period a year earlier. Griffiths said airport capacity has since recovered to 84% of pre-war levels, while passenger volumes have reached 78%.

The expected return of several European airlines that suspended regional services because of the conflict has helped underpin the revised outlook. Griffiths said he expects operations to be "pretty much back" to normal by the end of the year.

He added that both transfer and point-to-point travel markets remain strong, while business travel continues to perform well.

India, Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom continue to be Dubai's leading passenger markets, according to Griffiths.

Looking beyond 2026, he said advances in smaller, longer-range aircraft could enable DXB to expand its network further. The airport currently has direct connections to around 240 cities, a figure that could rise by mid-2027.

Griffiths said Dubai Airports is already in discussions with airlines about launching routes between Dubai and cities in Europe and Africa that currently have no direct services.

The disruption caused by the conflict could also influence the design of Dubai's planned new airport, he said, with possible changes aimed at making the facility more resilient to future disruptions.

Source: ZAWYA

Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah has secured Level 2 Airport Customer Experience Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI World), highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance services and improve the passenger journey.

The accreditation was granted under ACI World’s Airport Customer Experience Accreditation programme, which promotes best practices in understanding passenger needs, measuring satisfaction and improving service quality.

The recognition reflects the airport’s efforts to strengthen customer experience across its facilities and improve the quality of services provided to travellers.

The initiative also supports the development of Saudi Arabia’s air transport sector and aims to enhance services for visitors to Madinah, including pilgrims and Umrah performers, in line with the objectives of the Aviation Programme and Saudi Vision 2030.

Source: SPA

Oman’s airports handled a total of 7,689,967 passengers, including arrivals, departures and transit travellers, during the first seven months of 2026, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The figure was 8.1% lower than the 8,366,273 passengers recorded during the same period in 2025.

International flights arriving at and departing from Muscat, Salalah and Sohar airports totalled 45,904 by the end of July, down 9.5% from 50,747 flights a year earlier.

Muscat International Airport

Muscat International Airport handled 49,315 international and domestic flights through July 2026, representing a 7.3% decline from 53,170 flights during the corresponding period of 2025.

Passenger traffic fell 8% to 6,855,942, compared with 7,453,204 passengers a year earlier.

International flight movements decreased 8.4% to 43,970 from 47,986, while international passenger traffic declined 9% to 6,164,584.

Domestic operations, however, recorded growth. Domestic flights increased 3.1% to 5,345 from 5,184, while domestic passenger traffic rose 2% to 691,358 from 677,837.

During July 2026, Omani nationals accounted for the largest share of incoming and outgoing passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport, with 204,591 travellers, including 95,111 arrivals and 109,480 departures.

Indian nationals ranked second with 169,751 passengers, comprising 99,958 arrivals and 69,793 departures. Bangladeshi nationals followed with 46,665 passengers, including 23,171 arrivals and 23,494 departures.

Salalah Airport

Salalah Airport recorded 5,569 international and domestic flights through July, down 5.3% from 5,881 flights during the same period last year.

Passenger traffic declined 8.4% to 797,620 from 870,616.

International flight movements dropped 30.8% to 1,864 from 2,693, while international passenger numbers fell 32.9% to 246,257 from 367,168.

Domestic operations moved in the opposite direction. Domestic flights increased 16.2% to 3,705, while domestic passenger traffic grew 9.5% to 551,363 from 503,448.

Sohar and Duqm Airports

Sohar Airport handled 122 international and domestic flights through July, down 6.2% from 130 flights in the same period of 2025.

Passenger traffic decreased 24.6% to 5,150 from 6,831. International flights rose 2.9% to 70 from 68, although international passenger traffic dropped 33.2% to 199.

Domestic flights declined 16.1% to 52, with domestic passenger traffic falling 24.2% to 4,951.

At Duqm Airport, domestic flight movements decreased 9.4% to 326 from 360. Passenger traffic also declined 12.3% to 31,255 from 35,622 during the corresponding period of 2025.

Source: QCAA