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

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

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