Salalah Airport has welcomed its first direct charter flight from Kazakhstan, opening a new air link intended to attract more visitors to Oman’s Dhofar Governorate and support the region’s tourism industry.

The new services will operate twice a week from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, and Almaty, its largest city. Flights are scheduled to continue until the end of 2026.

The initiative aims to draw more travellers from the Kazakh market and help Dhofar attract visitors beyond its traditional peak tourism season.

The inaugural arrival was attended by Dr Salem bin Abdullah al Shanfari, Honorary Consul and Chairman of the Omani-Kazakh Business Council, alongside representatives from relevant authorities and tourism companies.

Zakaria bin Yaqoub al Harrasi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Salalah Airport at Oman Airports, said the flights would broaden the airport’s international network. He highlighted the role of cooperation between government agencies, airlines and tour operators in strengthening connectivity and encouraging tourism throughout the year.

Talal bin Hamid al Khasibi, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, said the new services would help diversify the region’s visitor markets and increase arrivals.

He added that improved access would support the promotion of Dhofar’s natural landscapes, cultural experiences and heritage sites, while creating opportunities for hotels, tourism businesses, airlines and tour operators.

The charter services form part of broader efforts to develop direct international links, attract visitors from emerging markets and strengthen Dhofar’s position as a year-round tourism destination.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Sydney’s new Western Sydney International Airport welcomed its first passengers on Sunday, completing a project shaped by decades of planning and investment worth A$5.6 billion ($3.94 billion).

Located in Badgerys Creek, about 60 km (37.3 miles) west of central Sydney, the airport will operate around the clock, offering airlines greater scheduling flexibility and access to a rapidly expanding, ethnically diverse population centre.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the opening as a major milestone for Australia’s most populous city, saying the country was opening a major new airport for the first time in more than 50 years.

The new facility offers an alternative to Sydney’s existing airport, which is closer to the central business district but restricts takeoffs and landings between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. These operating limits constrain airline schedules compared with those at other major Australian cities, including Melbourne.

Qantas’ low-cost subsidiary Jetstar was scheduled to operate the airport’s first departing passenger flight on Sunday, bound for the Gold Coast, according to an airport statement.

Western Sydney International has the capacity to handle more than 80 million passenger movements annually. Cargo operations began in July, ahead of the launch of passenger services.

The airport occupies a 1,780-hectare (4,398-acre) site acquired by the federal government in the 1980s. Construction was completed in July 2025 after seven years of building work, following 15 years of planning.

Source: Reuters

Salalah Airport has welcomed its first direct charter flight from Kazakhstan, opening a new air link intended to attract more visitors to Oman’s Dhofar Governorate and support the region’s tourism industry.

The new services will operate twice a week from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, and Almaty, its largest city. Flights are scheduled to continue until the end of 2026.

The initiative aims to draw more travellers from the Kazakh market and help Dhofar attract visitors beyond its traditional peak tourism season.

The inaugural arrival was attended by Dr Salem bin Abdullah al Shanfari, Honorary Consul and Chairman of the Omani-Kazakh Business Council, alongside representatives from relevant authorities and tourism companies.

Zakaria bin Yaqoub al Harrasi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Salalah Airport at Oman Airports, said the flights would broaden the airport’s international network. He highlighted the role of cooperation between government agencies, airlines and tour operators in strengthening connectivity and encouraging tourism throughout the year.

Talal bin Hamid al Khasibi, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Heritage and Tourism in Dhofar Governorate, said the new services would help diversify the region’s visitor markets and increase arrivals.

He added that improved access would support the promotion of Dhofar’s natural landscapes, cultural experiences and heritage sites, while creating opportunities for hotels, tourism businesses, airlines and tour operators.

The charter services form part of broader efforts to develop direct international links, attract visitors from emerging markets and strengthen Dhofar’s position as a year-round tourism destination.

Source: Oman Daily Observer

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation has said a new circular requiring airport fees to be itemised on airline tickets is intended to improve transparency and help passengers understand the charges included in their travel costs.

Spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi said Circular No. 58 of 2026, issued on October 19, requires airlines and travel agencies to clearly display applicable fee codes and amounts separately on tickets.

He noted that the circular does not introduce all the fees for the first time. Some charges were already in place, while others were introduced more recently.

The new requirements will allow passengers to review charges when booking tickets and when seeking cancellations or refunds, subject to the relevant terms and regulations.

Separately, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health has reviewed medical preparedness at Kuwait International Airport as part of efforts to assess emergency response capabilities and the readiness of airport health facilities.

Health Ministry Undersecretary Sheikh Dr Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah conducted an inspection tour on Thursday, visiting the airport health centre and terminals T1, T4 and T5, as well as the new Terminal 2 (T2).

The inspection covered medical facilities serving arriving and departing passengers, including airport clinics and quarantine facilities.

During the tour, Al-Sabah examined medical equipment, staffing arrangements, round-the-clock healthcare services, thermal screening and procedures for identifying infectious diseases and responding to emergencies.

He also met Public Works Ministry Undersecretary Kifaya Al-Najdi at T2 to discuss medical and technical preparations, operational requirements, health surveillance and preventive measures.

The discussions focused on ensuring that airport medical services and supporting facilities are prepared to meet operational needs and respond effectively to potential public health emergencies.

Source: KUNA

Kuwait has introduced new requirements for airlines and travel agencies to clearly disclose Kuwait International Airport fees when passengers purchase air tickets.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued Circular 58 (2026) on Monday to standardise how fees are presented during the booking process and give passengers a clearer breakdown of the charges they pay.

DGCA spokesperson Abdullah Al-Rajhi told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Thursday that the measure is designed to improve transparency by ensuring passengers can identify the fees included in their bookings.

He said the circular also establishes guidelines governing the relationship between passengers, airlines and travel agencies. It provides reference points for passengers who need to cancel their tickets.

Al-Rajhi clarified that the circular does not introduce all the listed fee codes for the first time, as some were already in use before the new rules were issued.

He emphasised that airlines and travel agencies must comply with the circular and use the specified fee codes to prevent confusion and ensure passengers receive consistent, clear information about ticket charges.

The move forms part of the DGCA’s efforts to standardise fee disclosures and improve transparency across Kuwait’s air travel booking process.

Source: KUNA

Turkey is waiting for Qatar to provide a draft sales contract and a proposed training programme for the potential transfer of additional Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, the Turkish Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

Turkey and the United Kingdom, both NATO members, signed an agreement last year for the purchase of 20 Typhoon aircraft. The deal aims to strengthen defence ties between the two countries and improve Turkey’s air defence capabilities.

Ankara has also expressed interest in acquiring 24 additional aircraft from Qatar and Oman, although progress on the proposed purchases has remained limited.

Under the agreement with Britain, Qatar and Oman are permitted to transfer some of their existing Typhoon aircraft to Turkey, subject to separate sales contracts.

Speaking at its weekly press briefing, the Turkish Defence Ministry said negotiations over the additional aircraft were continuing. Turkish and Qatari delegations held discussions in August and September on technical and logistical arrangements, including the number of aircraft and ammunition to be acquired, as well as training for pilots and maintenance personnel.

The ministry said Qatar was expected to prepare and send Turkey a draft training programme and a sales contract.

Separately, Turkey signed an agreement with Qatar, Pakistan and Indonesia on Wednesday to expand defence cooperation and strengthen their military capabilities. The arrangement includes cooperation on the joint development and production of defence equipment.

The Turkish Defence Ministry also said the country’s defence budget had been increased for 2027 to support ongoing domestic defence industry programmes. These include air defence systems, military platforms, the development of Turkey’s indigenous KAAN fighter jet, drone technology and shipbuilding.

Source: Reuters News