Gulf Air has announced the addition of three new destinations to its temporary network operating via Dammam, as part of its extended schedule through April 2026.

The newly introduced routes include Istanbul and Athens, both scheduled to operate from April 8 to April 29, 2026. A third destination, Thiruvananthapuram, will be served from April 9 to April 30, 2026.

These additions complement the airline’s broader temporary network, which includes connections to major global cities such as London, Paris, Mumbai, Bangkok, Frankfurt, and Manila, among others, operating on varying timelines throughout April.

The airline confirmed that transport between Bahrain and Dammam is being arranged for passengers holding confirmed bookings, ensuring continuity of travel during this temporary operational adjustment.

Etihad Airways has announced plans to introduce a seasonal service connecting Dhaka with the United Arab Emirates starting 26 June 2026.

The new route is expected to enhance both passenger travel and cargo movement along the South Asia corridor. The airline said the decision reflects continued growth in demand for air connectivity between the UAE and Bangladesh, particularly in trade and logistics sectors.

By adding Dhaka to its seasonal network, Etihad aims to support stronger economic ties while offering more flexible travel options for passengers and businesses operating between the two markets. The service is also expected to facilitate increased cargo capacity, benefiting exporters and supply chains across the region.

Saudi Arabia’s budget airline flyadeal has introduced a new scheduled service linking the capital, Riyadh, with Neom in the country’s northwest, marking a further expansion of its domestic network.

The route will operate four times per week to Neom Bay Airport and is primarily designed to accommodate commuter and workforce travel associated with large-scale infrastructure developments in Tabuk Province.

This addition represents flyadeal’s second connection to Neom, complementing its existing twice-weekly service from Dammam in the Eastern Province.

Neom Bay Airport, inaugurated in 2019, is the fourth airport serving the province and plays a key role in supporting the region’s ambitious development plans.

Lloyd Misquitta, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of flyadeal, said the new route reflects the airline’s strategy to enhance connectivity in line with national economic priorities. He noted that Neom remains a central focus of development, hosting several major projects that are reshaping the Kingdom’s economic landscape.

He added that the airline continues to expand its domestic footprint by introducing new routes and increasing flight frequencies, with the local market now accounting for approximately 70 percent of its total capacity.

Flights on both Neom routes are operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, configured with 186 all-economy seats.

Source: ZAWYA

Oman Air has announced that the majority of its flight operations are proceeding as scheduled, supported by additional services across its network. Nevertheless, ongoing airspace limitations in the region have forced the airline to temporarily halt flights on several routes.

The carrier stated that services to and from Dubai (DXB), Bahrain (BAH), Doha (DOH), Kuwait (KWI), Copenhagen (CPH), Baghdad (BGW), and Khasab (KHS) will remain suspended through 30 April 2026.

Travelers impacted by these cancellations are encouraged to modify or review their bookings via Oman Air’s official website or mobile app. The airline has apologized for the disruption and said it is closely tracking developments related to the airspace situation.

Gulf Air has announced an expansion of its temporary network operating through Dammam, extending services to multiple cities across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe throughout April 2026. The move is part of the airline’s short-term operational adjustments, with services scheduled to run until the end of the month.

Newly introduced destinations include Lahore, operating from April 7 to April 30, Dhaka from April 11 to April 26, and Islamabad between April 14 and April 28. Additionally, flights to Kochi will run from April 17 to April 29, though only in one direction from Kochi to Dammam.

The airline’s broader temporary network includes several international routes with varying end dates. Services to London are scheduled until April 11, while Paris operations will continue until April 12. Flights to Dhaka and Islamabad align with their respective late-April end dates.

Other destinations such as Athens, Istanbul, and Kochi are set to operate until April 29. Meanwhile, a wider group of routes—including Mumbai, Nairobi, Chennai, Bangkok, Casablanca, Frankfurt, Cairo, Manila, Thiruvananthapuram, and Lahore—will remain in operation until April 30.

The temporary network reflects Gulf Air’s ongoing adjustments to its scheduling and route planning, with Dammam serving as a key operational hub during this period. The airline has indicated that these services are time-limited, with all flights scheduled to conclude by the end of April 2026.

Ethiopia’s flagship airline, Ethiopian Airlines, is adjusting its flight operations to manage tightening fuel supplies while benefiting from a surge in rerouted global traffic through East African hubs.

Central to the airline’s strategy is the expanded use of technical stopovers on long-haul flights. These stops enable Ethiopian to preserve fuel at its high-altitude Addis Ababa hub while carrying full passenger and cargo loads. By breaking longer journeys into segments, aircraft can depart Bole International Airport with maximum payload and refuel at lower-altitude destinations, bypassing the performance limitations of “hot and high” conditions.

The airline has increased its use of tactical stops such as Muscat for Asia-bound flights and Entebbe for services to São Paulo. While not a new practice, the expansion reflects mounting pressure on fuel supply chains amid disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis.

With Gulf hubs facing operational constraints, Ethiopian—Africa’s carrier with the largest network to Asia—is playing an enhanced role as a connector between Asia, Europe, and North America.

Regional fuel supplies remain relatively stable. In Uganda, the Uganda National Oil Company reported reserves of 81 million litres of petrol, 80 million litres of diesel, and 18.5 million litres of Jet A-1 fuel as of March 27, enough to cover 22–30 days of demand. Scheduled deliveries in April are expected to extend this buffer. Airlines, however, are increasingly focused on actual fuel availability rather than price fluctuations as supply chains tighten.

Ethiopian’s approach balances operational priorities: either reduce payload for direct flights or maintain full loads with en-route refueling. The airline is pursuing the latter to maximise revenue amid strong passenger demand, driven partly by temporary disruptions at major Gulf hubs.

Other East African carriers are seeing similar traffic shifts. Kenya Airways reports higher volumes on routes connecting Asia to Europe and North America via Nairobi, while Uganda Airlines notes near-full capacity on its Mumbai–London service through Entebbe.

Industry analysts, including Behramjee Ghadially, note that the traffic gains are largely northbound, suggesting a temporary shift. As Gulf carriers restore operations, these gains may face growing pressure.

Source: ZAWYA