Etihad Airways has introduced significant fare reductions on long-haul routes departing from London Heathrow, cutting prices by as much as half in a move that is stirring competition among major Gulf airlines. The pricing shift comes as ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to suppress travel demand across the region.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is offering some of its lowest recorded fares from the United Kingdom to key international destinations, including Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Maldives, Bangkok and Tokyo. In some cases, ticket prices are as low as one-sixth of comparable fares offered by British Airways.

The promotional fares apply to return journeys completed before 1 July 2026. Economy class tickets from London to Sydney, routed via Abu Dhabi, are available from £688 for departures in May with returns in June. Business class fares on the same route start at £2,465, inclusive of taxes.

By comparison, British Airways is currently pricing similar London–Sydney itineraries at around £1,850 in economy and £10,435 in business class, typically via Singapore. Similar pricing gaps are evident across other routes, including services to Singapore, where Etihad’s business class fares begin at £1,521, significantly lower than British Airways’ £8,485 for the same cabin.

Passengers departing from other European cities are seeing fares approximately 10% lower than those from Heathrow, reflecting the higher airport charges in London, which airlines pass on to customers.

Industry observers say Etihad’s strategy is focused on stimulating demand and increasing seat occupancy in the short term. The airline is aiming to restore full cabin load factors across all classes by the end of June, with expectations that travel demand will recover as regional conditions stabilise. Prices displayed on Etihad’s booking platform indicate a return to higher fare levels from July onward.

As part of the campaign, Etihad is also offering eligible travellers up to two complimentary hotel nights in Abu Dhabi, encouraging stopovers. However, uptake may be limited due to current UK government travel advisories recommending against non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.

The airline is also promoting its new hub at Zayed International Airport, positioning it as a key part of the travel experience.

Rival carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways have not matched the fare reductions. Instead, both airlines are maintaining pricing levels while offering more flexible booking policies, such as complimentary date changes.

Some industry executives have criticised Etihad’s approach, suggesting that aggressive discounting could weaken its brand positioning and attract only price-sensitive travellers. However, aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt noted that similar pricing strategies have been used successfully in the past, particularly by US airlines following the September 11 attacks to rebuild passenger confidence.

Harteveldt added that competitors may eventually respond, as airlines across the region face reduced demand and unfilled seats, increasing pressure to remain competitive.

Source: AVIATION A2Z

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

A business class passenger flying with TAP Air Portugal missed his scheduled departure after being caught in prolonged passport control queues at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, despite arriving more than two hours before takeoff.

The traveler, who was flying from Brussels Airport to Marrakech Menara Airport via Lisbon, had an overnight layover before his onward journey. He and his fiancée reached the airport at approximately 7:00 AM for their 9:20 AM flight, allowing what should have been sufficient time to complete departure formalities.

While security clearance was completed quickly through a priority lane, the couple encountered significant delays at passport control. Airport displays initially indicated a waiting time of under 30 minutes for non-European Union travelers, but the queue ultimately extended to nearly two hours.

According to reports, the passengers repeatedly informed airport personnel about their imminent departure. They were joined by at least seven other travelers booked on the same flight who faced identical delays. However, staff reportedly did not permit passengers to move ahead in the line until roughly 10 minutes before departure.

After clearing passport control at around 9:10 AM, the group rushed to the gate but found it had already closed shortly before the scheduled takeoff.

Limited Airline Assistance

Following the missed flight, affected passengers were directed to the airline’s service desk outside the terminal. TAP Air Portugal offered no complimentary rebooking or compensation. Instead, the business class passenger was told he could purchase a new ticket for a flight departing two days later.

Seeking an alternative, he booked a same-day flight with easyJet and successfully reached Marrakech later that day. Notably, the next TAP-operated flight arrived only minutes before his EasyJet service, and several passengers from the same passport queue were seen onboard.

Those travelers, initially holding economy tickets, were reportedly offered rebooking options only in business class at full cost.

Legal Framework and Gaps

European air travel is governed by EC261/2004, which outlines compensation for delays, cancellations, and denied boarding. However, the regulation does not extend to missed departures caused by external factors such as immigration processing delays.

Because passport control is managed by state border authorities rather than airlines or airport operators, carriers are not legally obligated to provide assistance in such cases.

An airline representative reportedly advised the passenger that he should have arrived earlier, despite his arrival exceeding the commonly recommended check-in window.

Broader Operational Concerns

The incident appears to reflect a wider operational issue rather than an isolated occurrence. At least nine passengers missed the same flight due to the bottleneck at passport control, suggesting systemic inefficiencies in queue management at the Lisbon hub.

Given that both TAP Air Portugal and the airport have links to the Portuguese state, the lack of coordinated support for affected travelers has raised questions about accountability and passenger care standards.

Industry comparisons highlight a contrast with practices in the United States, where airlines often accommodate passengers who miss flights due to delays by placing them on standby for the next available service. In Europe, stricter no-show policies can result in forfeited tickets and additional costs.

Practical Advice for Travelers

Passengers encountering similar disruptions may consider taking precautionary steps, including securing comprehensive travel insurance, documenting delays with photos or screenshots, and requesting written explanations from airlines regarding rebooking decisions.

Filing complaints with regulatory bodies such as Portuguese Civil Aviation Authority or relevant consumer protection agencies may not guarantee compensation but can help establish an official record of the incident. Additionally, some credit cards offer travel protection benefits that may cover unexpected expenses in such situations.

Source: AVIATION A2Z

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.