Browsing: Travel

As digital transformation sweeps across various sectors, the travel industry is not far behind. The latest innovation? Digital passports, with Finland leading the charge. Departing Finnish travelers flying from Helsinki to the UK can now opt for a mobile-based digital ID, ditching the traditional passport, as reported by Euronews. This pioneering move, lauded by the Finnish Border Control, ushers in an era where travelers can cross international borders equipped solely with their smartphones, ensuring a swift and hassle-free journey. The birth of this digital initiative on August 28 was a collaborative effort involving Finnair, the Finnish police, and airport operator Finavia, all…

The anticipation for World Tourism Day 2023 is palpable, with this year’s theme shining a spotlight on “Tourism and Green Investments.” Riyadh, the bustling capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is poised to host the grandest celebration of this event on 27th September. Organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the day will witness a plethora of special events and programs spanning across its Member States. These events aim to highlight the pivotal role of tourism as a catalyst for global economies and societies. UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, encapsulated the sentiment, emphasizing the transformative potential of tourism. He remarked…

In a disturbing incident on an Air Canada flight, two female passengers were asked to disembark after refusing to occupy seats stained with vomit residue, narrates a fellow traveler. Traveling between Seattle and Montreal, the incident came to light when Susan Benson, another passenger on the flight, reported witnessing the scene. Positioned nearby, Benson noticed the commotion between the passengers and the flight crew. Detailing the event in a Facebook post that quickly gained traction, Benson stated that not only were the two passengers removed from the aircraft, but the pilot also accused them of being disrespectful towards the cabin crew. “At first, there…

Dubai-based airline flydubai is set to make history with the inauguration of direct flights to Mombasa, Kenya, starting January 17, 2024. The carrier is the first from the United Arab Emirates to offer a direct air connection to this key southeast coastal city in Kenya. Flights will operate four times a week from Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Mombasa’s Moi International Airport (MBA). With the new Mombasa route, flydubai expands its African network to 11 destinations across 10 countries, including Addis Ababa, Alexandria, Asmara, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Entebbe, Hargeisa, Juba, Mogadishu, and Zanzibar. The expansion demonstrates flydubai’s commitment to connecting underserved…

In the wake of two significant events, Paris finds itself grappling with security and image concerns, affecting its position as a sought-after tourist destination. While the Eiffel Tower faced a temporary closure following a bomb threat, the French tourism sector has been hit hard due to a series of violent protests instigated by the tragic police shooting of a teenager named Nahel. The iconic Eiffel Tower was briefly closed to the public after receiving a bomb threat, which led to the evacuation of visitors from all its three levels. This incident saw a swift response by SETE, the body responsible for the tower’s operations, as…

Etihad Airways is taking a bold step towards enhancing global connectivity from its home base in Abu Dhabi. Revealing a strategic overhaul of its flight network, the airline is focusing on sustainable growth while reinforcing Abu Dhabi as a premier global hub. Central to this ambitious plan is the introduction of new travel destinations and ramped-up frequencies to prominent international markets. These measures align with the overarching goal of bolstering tourism in Abu Dhabi, providing travelers an expanded array of choices and deepening ties with worldwide markets. Strategically timed, the updated schedules set departures from Abu Dhabi at 2:00 PM, ensuring…

Dubai Airports recently marked the arrival of the first inbound flight from Air Canada at Dubai International’s (DXB) Terminal 3. The landmark event makes Air Canada the fourth international airline to commence operations out of this terminal. Air Canada flight AC056, originating from Toronto, landed at its new hub, one of the world’s largest airport terminals, at 18:56 UAE time on Wednesday. Prior to this, Air Canada flights were operated out of DXB Terminal 1. The transition to DXB Terminal 3 serves to solidify the enduring partnership between Dubai Airports and Air Canada, Canada’s flag carrier and the nation’s largest airline. Canada holds significant…

Europe is in the vice-like grip of unprecedented temperatures, leading authorities to sound the alarm with urgent travel advisories. Visitors are being sternly warned to brace for the extreme heat or, preferably, reassess their travel plans altogether, particularly those burdened by health conditions. The situation, forecasted to worsen over the coming days, has set off alarm bells across nations, threatening to derail the peak travel season in a terrifying testament to the ferocity of the climate crisis. A snapshot of the ongoing heatwave is seen in Rome, Italy, where temperatures are expected to surpass 40°C on Wednesday. Tourists can be…

Emirates celebrated the maiden voyage of its first passenger flight to Quebec’s vibrant cultural hub, Montreal, marking the airline’s second gateway in Canada. The inaugural Emirates flight EK243 took to the skies at 0300hrs, carrying 340 passengers, including a VIP delegation and members of the media. This new daily service to Montreal enhances Emirates’ Canadian operations, supplementing its seven weekly flights to Toronto. This expansion takes the airline’s North American network to 14 destinations, and a cumulative total of 18 across the Americas. The new route will facilitate enhanced connectivity to Canada via Dubai for travelers originating from a range…

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced in its recent Quarterly Economic Review that UAE airports welcomed a whopping 31.8 million passengers in the first quarter of 2023. This figure represents a notable surge from the same period in 2022 when the passenger count was around 20.4 million, marking an increase of 11.5 million passengers. The CBUAE report suggests that the civil aviation sector has successfully recouped its pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels. Furthermore, the cumulative investments in UAE’s civil aviation sector have soared past AED 1 trillion. In particular, the development and expansion of airports have received investments…