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

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247