Saudi Arabia’s budget airline flyadeal has announced the launch of scheduled flights between Jeddah and Dubai, alongside the reinstatement of services linking Riyadh with Dubai. The changes take effect from 15 April 2026.

The addition of Jeddah to the airline’s Dubai network represents a notable step in expanding its footprint in the UAE’s busiest city. Initial operations on the new route will begin with three weekly flights, offering increased travel flexibility for both business and leisure passengers.

At the same time, flyadeal is restoring its Riyadh–Dubai International services, starting with daily flights and gradually scaling up to four services per day. The move reflects growing demand and confidence in one of the Middle East’s most active aviation corridors.

Jeddah, a major commercial centre and Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city, also serves as a key gateway for religious travel. Millions of pilgrims pass through the city each year en route to Madinah and Makkah, making the new route strategically significant.

Lloyd Misquitta, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of flyadeal, said Dubai continues to rank among the airline’s most popular destinations. He noted that the introduction of direct Jeddah flights, combined with the ramp-up of Riyadh services, will expand travel choices and support the airline’s broader strategy to grow its international network.

Source: ZAWYA

Qatar Airways is set to expand its global reach, operating flights to more than 150 destinations starting 16 June 2026, enhancing connectivity for international travellers during the summer season.

The airline’s revised timetable, which runs until 15 September 2026, includes the introduction of new routes along with increased flight frequencies to and from Doha. The changes are designed to provide passengers with greater flexibility when planning their travel.

Customers with confirmed bookings affected by the updated schedule will receive direct notifications containing revised flight details. The airline has advised passengers to regularly check its official website or mobile application and ensure their contact information is up to date to avoid missing important updates.

Travellers holding bookings for journeys scheduled between 28 February and 15 September 2026 are eligible for a range of flexible options. These include complimentary date changes for travel up to 31 October 2026 on Qatar Airways-operated flights, subject to availability and fare conditions.

If a booking is impacted, passengers may also continue to make fee-free changes until 31 October 2026 or request a refund for the unused portion of their ticket. Refund processing may take up to 28 working days.

The airline has also reminded passengers not to proceed to airports unless they have a valid and confirmed ticket. It further noted that flight schedules may be subject to alteration or cancellation due to operational, regulatory, safety, or other unforeseen factors.

Qatar Airways has introduced enhanced flexibility for passengers holding confirmed bookings, allowing them to make complimentary date changes on flights operated by the airline.

Under the new policy, customers with bookings for travel up to 15 June 2026 can now change their travel dates at no extra cost until 31 October 2026. Additionally, if the rebooked flight is subsequently affected, passengers remain eligible for further fee-free date changes within the same period.

The initiative aims to provide greater peace of mind to travellers amid ongoing uncertainties in global travel planning.

Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas has recorded operational reliability levels for its Airbus A320neo fleet that exceed both global and regional industry benchmarks, according to newly released performance data.

Figures from Airbus show that the airline’s fleet has consistently outperformed other operators within the A320neo family. Data compiled through Airbus’s Fleet Reliability Monitoring programme indicates that Flynas has moved ahead of worldwide averages.

For the six-month rolling period ending December 2025, the airline achieved an operational reliability rate of 99.78%. This surpasses the global average of 99.59% and the Africa and Middle East regional average of 99.67%.

The results were presented during Airbus’s Fleet Reliability Meeting in April 2026. The assessment is based on standard industry metrics that track the proportion of scheduled commercial flights completed without technical delays or cancellations.

Source: ZAWYA

Saudi Arabia’s budget airline flyadeal has announced the launch of scheduled flights between Jeddah and Dubai, alongside the reinstatement of services linking Riyadh with Dubai. The changes take effect from 15 April 2026.

The addition of Jeddah to the airline’s Dubai network represents a notable step in expanding its footprint in the UAE’s busiest city. Initial operations on the new route will begin with three weekly flights, offering increased travel flexibility for both business and leisure passengers.

At the same time, flyadeal is restoring its Riyadh–Dubai International services, starting with daily flights and gradually scaling up to four services per day. The move reflects growing demand and confidence in one of the Middle East’s most active aviation corridors.

Jeddah, a major commercial centre and Saudi Arabia’s second-largest city, also serves as a key gateway for religious travel. Millions of pilgrims pass through the city each year en route to Madinah and Makkah, making the new route strategically significant.

Lloyd Misquitta, Acting Chief Commercial Officer of flyadeal, said Dubai continues to rank among the airline’s most popular destinations. He noted that the introduction of direct Jeddah flights, combined with the ramp-up of Riyadh services, will expand travel choices and support the airline’s broader strategy to grow its international network.

Source: ZAWYA

Oman’s national airline, Oman Air, has posted a marked improvement in its financial and operational performance, signalling a turning point after years of sustained losses. The carrier transported 5.8 million passengers in 2025 and achieved positive EBITDA for the first time in more than 15 years, reflecting the impact of its ongoing restructuring programme.

During a joint media briefing on Monday, the airline outlined a strategy centred on tighter cost control, network refinement and enhancements to customer experience, aligning with Oman’s broader push for economic diversification.

Data presented by the airline showed a 34 per cent rise in point-to-point traffic compared with the previous year, with such यात्रers making up 64 per cent of total passenger volumes. The load factor increased to 82 per cent, indicating stronger demand alongside more efficient use of capacity.

Chief Executive Officer Con Korfiatis said the airline’s recovery efforts are beginning to deliver tangible results. He noted that the company has taken firm measures to restore financial stability while repositioning itself as a key contributor to tourism and economic development. The airline recorded a positive EBITDA of RO 3.2 million, marking a significant milestone in its turnaround.

Losses from operations also narrowed, falling to RO 52.2 million in 2025 from RO 72 million in 2024 and RO 103 million in 2023. Unit costs improved by 6 per cent year-on-year to RO 25.6 million, while total bank debt declined to RO 27 million, the first reduction recorded since 2009.

Korfiatis emphasised that efficiency and fleet optimisation remain central to the airline’s long-term plan, stressing a disciplined approach to growth focused on profitability rather than expansion alone.

At the same time, Oman Air continues to expand its network selectively. New destinations introduced in 2025 include Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Baghdad, with further additions such as Sochi, Taif, Singapore and Tashkent scheduled for 2026. The airline has also increased frequencies on key routes including Dubai and Salalah. Its planned entry into the oneworld alliance is expected to enhance global connectivity and strengthen inbound traffic.

Passenger growth has been supported by service upgrades, including the relaunch of the Oman Air Holidays platform, additional ancillary services, and a new digital servicing system and call centre. The introduction of a Net Promoter Score programme is also helping the airline track and improve customer satisfaction.

Domestically, the airline has maintained fixed fares for Omani nationals on the Muscat–Salalah route during the Khareef Dhofar season and throughout the year. Travel demand to Salalah has grown strongly, with double-digit increases in both capacity and passenger numbers since 2022.

The airline also demonstrated operational resilience during regional disruptions in early 2026, maintaining services across 80 per cent of its network. It operated an additional 1,378 flights and carried more than 393,000 passengers during the period, while cargo capacity rose sharply by 490 per cent to support essential supply chains.

Looking ahead, Oman Air plans to continue its transformation through further digitalisation, fleet upgrades and network development. The airline is also focusing on workforce development, with Omanisation levels reaching 80 per cent through training and leadership programmes.

The latest results highlight a significant shift in the airline’s trajectory, as it seeks to balance sustainable growth with financial discipline in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.

Source: ZAWYA