Sat, May 24 2025
Breaking News
Breaking News
20 minutes ago
Another ballistic missile fired from Yemen has targeted Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel on Friday, in reportedly the third such attack on Israel within 24 hours. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced the fresh attack in a televised statement, saying “The Houthi forces targeted Ben Gurion Airport with a hypersonic ballistic missile” and that the attack “successfully achieved its goal.” While the Houthis have repeatedly claimed “hypersonic” missile attacks over several weeks, there’s as yet no evidence that they possess this advanced technology. Still, it has become clear that Israel’s advanced air defense systems at time have trouble intercepting the inbound projectiles, as a May 4th attack demonstrated. The Houthis spokesman claimed of this new Friday attack that it caused “millions of Zionist settlers to flee to shelters and halted airport operations.” The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged an inbound missile, which set off warning sirens in central Israel, but did not indicate any ground strikes or damage: Early on Friday morning, sirens blared across Tel Aviv as a result of the Yemeni missile. The Israeli army said in a statement that it intercepted the missile. A Yemeni missile was also intercepted by Israeli air defenses on Thursday afternoon, following an earlier missile attack, which […]
3 days ago
Flydubai has announced the start of direct flights to Damascus from June 1, 2025. Flights to Damascus International Airport (DAM) will operate daily from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB). Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: “We are very pleased to be the first national carrier to resume flights to Syria after 12 years of halted operations. Damascus holds a special cultural and historical significance within the region, and we are excited to serve the city again with a direct daily service, highlighting our commitment to supporting the United Arab Emirates’ efforts to foster regional connectivity.” Flydubai flights to Damascus, Syria Damascus was one of the carrier’s first destinations, with flights commencing nearly 16 years ago in June 2009. Flydubai’s decision to restart its operations to Damascus comes after the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority’s (GCAA) announcement to resume flights between the two countries earlier this year in April. Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: “The relaunch of flights to Damascus will enable passengers from the UAE and around the network to enjoy convenient travel options to the market. “After working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that all necessary operational standards […]
5 days ago
Dubai will expand its dedicated bus and taxi lanes, adding six new ones spanning 13km. The expansion is expected to reduce journey times by 41 per cent and improve bus arrival times by 42 per cent, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It will encourage public transport use and help alleviate traffic congestion, said Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA. The authority previously announced that the lanes would be introduced on six major streets: Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, 2nd of December, Al Satwa, Al Nahda, Omar bin Al Khattab, and Naif. With this, the total length of dedicated lanes will reach 20km. The special lanes are marked with a distinctive red colour to prevent private vehicle drivers from mistakenly using them. Motorists caught driving on these lanes can be fined Dh600. The expansion was announced as the RTA revealed that its buses now cover nearly 90 per cent of Dubai. Its fleet of 1,390 buses completes 11,000 daily trips, transporting over 500,000 riders and covering approximately 333,000km. “The RTA is committed to enhancing the public bus service to encourage residents to choose public transport for their daily […]
6 days ago
Bahrain International Airport has achieved global recognition as the World’s Cleanest Airport for 2025 in the category of airports handling up to 25 million passengers, according to the UK- based air transport rating organization, Skytrax. This prestigious distinction places Bahrain at the forefront of global aviation hygiene standards, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to excellence in travel infrastructure and passenger experience. Japan also celebrated significant success, with Tokyo Haneda Airport earning the title of the World’s Cleanest Major International Airport, topping the global list for cleanliness among high- traffic terminals. The Japanese capital’s gateway outshined other prominent hubs, while Centrair Nagoya, Tokyo Narita, Kansai, and Osaka Itami were also ranked among the cleanest airports in the world across both main and mid-sized categories. In Skytrax’s World’s Cleanest Airports 2025 (Up to 25 Million Passengers) list, Bahrain led the top 10, followed by: Bahrain International Airport New Chitose Airport (Japan) Centrair Nagoya (Japan) Osaka Itami Airport (Japan) Helsinki-Vantaa (Finland) Adelaide Airport (Australia) Cam Ranh International Airport (Vietnam) Quito International Airport (Ecuador) Houston Hobby Airport (USA) Brisbane Airport (Australia) Singapore Changi Airport Meanwhile, Singapore Changi Airport reclaimed the top honor as the World’s Best Airport 2025, receiving multiple accolades including the World’s […]
1 week ago
Leading Indian airline IndiGo announced the commencement of daily direct flight service to Fujairah from Mumbai. Fujairah marks the Indian carrier’s fifth destination with direct connectivity in the UAE after Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. IndiGo also announced a discounted airfare sale plan – ‘Plan Ahead Sale’ – on its international and domestic routes, aimed to woo summer period travellers. The sale plan, which is open till May 18, offers one-way international fares starting from $53.84 (INR 4,599) and domestic fares at $14 (INR 1,199). The offer is valid for travel between June 1 and September 15, 2025, the airline said. IndiGo expands UAE connectivity On the new flight service to Fujairah, IndiGo said the expansion is part of its strategic global growth plan, besides to further strengthen its presence in the Middle East. Its newly launched direct flight to Fujairah from Mumbai, followed by direct services from the Kerala city of Kannur, is aimed at catering to the growing demand for travel from both business and leisure travellers, the airline said. It also comes at a favourable time, as Fujairah strengthens its position on the global adventure tourism map, it said. In a recent development, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah […]
1 week ago
Etihad Airways has announced it will launch non-stop flights to Charlotte, North Carolina, starting May 4, 2026. With this milestone, Etihad becomes the first airline from the region to fly directly to Charlotte – further strengthening connectivity between the UAE and the United States. Charlotte becomes Etihad’s sixth destination in the United States, joining: Etihad to launch Abu Dhabi to Charlotte flights The route will operate four times per week on Etihad’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner, delivering the airline’s award-winning service in both Business and Economy cabins. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our US network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions. “We’re excited to be the first airline from our region to serve this market, and we look forward to connecting more travellers to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”
1 week ago
Etihad Rail will launch its UAE passenger train service next year, according to a statement from the transport operator. When complete, the high-speed train is expected to contribute AED145bn ($39.5bn) to the UAE’s GDP over the next five decades. It will also slash travel time between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to just 30 minutes. Etihad Rail to launch passenger journeys in 2026 In a post on X, Etihad Rail said: “We’re honoured to have been hosted by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, where H.H. Sheikh Hamdan received a delegation from Etihad Rail at Al Dhanna Palace, led by H.E. Shadi Malak, CEO. “During the meeting, we briefed His Highness on the latest developments of the UAE National Railway Network and the passenger train service, which is set to launch in 2026. “The project stands as one of the country’s largest strategic transportation projects, reflecting His Highness’s ongoing commitment to monitoring national projects and his continued support for infrastructure development initiatives across the UAE”.
1 week ago
Boeing Co. won an order from Qatar Airways amid a flurry of deals between Gulf nations and the US during President Donald Trump’s visit to the region. The agreement signed by the Doha-based carrier is for 160 aircraft, according to the White House, in what it said is the largest order in the American company’s history. The commitment provides a big commercial win for Boeing, which has come under pressure from Trump for delays on the latest Air Force One presidential jets. Qatar has long been a loyal Boeing customer, though the carrier also flies a large fleet of Airbus SE short- and longhaul aircraft. Widebody aircraft have been in higher demand since the pandemic as global routes reopened and airlines sought to replenish their aging fleets. Emirates, Qatar Airway’s bigger regional competitor, ordered more than 100 Boeing planes at the last Dubai Air Show in 2023, and carriers including Air India and British Airways have also snapped up more long-range planes. The deal was announced during Trump’s visit to Doha as part of a four-day trip to the Gulf, where he is expected to sign agreements that span defense, aviation, infrastructure and technology. Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund […]
2 weeks ago
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced the official launch of three new stations on the Orange Line of the Riyadh Metro on Saturday. The newly opened stations are Al Malaz, Al Rajhi Grand Mosque, and Khashm Al Aan, marking an expansion in the capital’s public transportation network. The Orange Line stretches across Riyadh from west to east, running from Jeddah Road to the Second Eastern Ring Road near Khashm Al Aan, covering a total length of 41 kilometers. The Riyadh Metro is a central component of the capital’s urban transport development plan. It spans six main lines and 176 kilometers, connecting neighborhoods across the city through 85 stations, including eight major hubs that interlink the entire network. The full operation of all six lines and stations is expected to significantly improve mobility for residents and visitors alike, enhancing connectivity throughout the city. Metro services run daily from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. Passengers can plan trips and purchase tickets via the “Darb” mobile app, ticket offices, self-service machines at stations, or through digital payment methods including bank cards, credit cards, smartphones, and smart devices.
2 weeks ago
In light of escalating tensions with Pakistan, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has extended the temporary closure of 28 airports across the country until 5:29am on May 15, local media outlets reported. The decision, originally in place until May 10, was announced on Friday following a high-level meeting with key stakeholders. A senior government official confirmed to the media that both airlines and airport authorities have been duly notified of the extension, which is being implemented as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. IndiGo Airlines issued a statement confirming that all flights to and from several northern airports will remain suspended during this period. Affected airports include Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Leh, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Bikaner, Rajkot, Jodhpur, and Kishangarh. “These precautionary measures have been instituted with your safety and security as our highest priority. We remain fully committed to supporting passengers during this time,” the airline stated. National carrier Air India also released a travel advisory on social media platform X, announcing cancellations for flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Bhuj, Jamnagar, and Rajkot. Passengers with valid bookings during the affected period will be eligible for a full refund or a one-time waiver on rescheduling charges.
10 minutes ago
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