UPFRONT

Global air passenger numbers to recover in 2024 says IATA

THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA) expects passenger numbers to reach four billion in 2024, exceeding pre-COVID levels. e recent update to the association’s long-term forecast revealed traveller numbers in 2021 were 47 per cent of 2019 levels. is is expected to improve to 83 per cent this year, followed by 93 per cent in 2023, 103 per cent in 2024 and 111 per cent in 2025.

International traveller numbers were 27 per cent of 2019 levels in 2021. is is expected to improve to 69 per cent this year, 82 per cent in 2023, 92 per cent in 2024 and 101 per cent in 2025.

“ e trajectory for the recovery in passenger numbers from COVID-19 was not changed by the Omicron variant. People want to travel. And when travel restrictions are li ed, they return to the skies,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh.

“ ere is still a long way to go to reach a normal state of a airs, but the forecast for the evolution in passenger numbers gives good reason to be optimistic.” e Middle East will see a slower recovery than the global average, said IATA, with numbers forecast to reach 81 per cent of 2019 levels this year, 98 per cent in 2024 and 105 per cent in 2025.

IATA continues to urge governments to remove all travel bans and ease restrictions, including the removal of quarantine and testing for fully vaccinated travellers and the introduction of pre-departure antigen testing for quarantinefree travel for non-vaccinated travellers.

UAE CARRIERS RAMP UP SERVICES

EMIRATES AND ETIHAD have announced several new or resumed services, upped frequencies, and deployed larger aircraft on multiple routes. Emirates has increased its Gatwick service to twice daily, added a second daily A380 service to Sydney, resumed its A380 services to Brisbane, confirmed a codeshare deal with Garuda and set a June 23 launch date for its Tel Aviv service. Etihad has added flights to the French city of Nice to its summer schedule. The airline will operate a twice-weekly B787 service on Wednesdays and Sundays from June 15 between Abu Dhabi and Nice Côte d’Azur airport. This marks the fifth summer route announced by Etihad, with flights to Crete, Malaga, Santorini and Zanzibar also starting in June.

Qatar Airways heads back to Gatwick

QATAR AIRWAYS will resume daily ights from Doha to London Gatwick from June 5. e airline will operate a B787-8 Dreamliner service featuring 22 seats in business class and 232 seats in economy. is comes a er its joint business partner British Airways relaunched daily ights from Gatwick to Doha in December 2021. Passengers will be able to earn Avios points when travelling on both airlines by the end of the month. Qatar Airways already operates a ve-times daily service from London Heathrow, 18-times weekly from Manchester and four-times weekly (rising to daily from June 2) from Edinburgh.

UAE TRAVELLERS CAN NOW VISIT ISRAEL

ISRAEL IS NOW OPEN to all travellers residing in the UAE, the Israel Ministry of Tourism announced last month.

All vaccinated and unvaccinated tourists of all ages are permitted to enter Israel upon presenting a negative PCR test before departure and a er arriving in Israel. e announcement follows a recent agreement between the UAE and Israel extending visa-free entry to all UAE nationals as part of the ongoing strategic partnership between both countries.

Air connectivity between the UAE and Israel is ramping up: ydubai operates 14 ights a week, twice a day, between Dubai and Tel Aviv-Yafo and both Etihad Airways and Wizz Air o er direct ights from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv-Yafo. Travellers can also opt for Israeli airlines like El-AL, Israir, Arkia Airlines for direct connectivity between both destinations.

Emirates has con rmed that it will be commencing daily services to Tel Aviv from June 23, operating a three-class Boeing 777-300ER on the route from Dubai.

UK removes all travel restrictions

THE UK GOVERNMENT lifted all remaining restrictions on international travel for all passengers on March 18, including the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) for arrivals into the UK, as well as all tests for passengers who do not qualify as vaccinated. This change removes the need for unvaccinated passengers to take a pre-departure test and a day two post-arrival test. The removal of restrictions is part of the UK government’s Living with COVID plan and reflects the success of the UK’s vaccine and booster rollout, with 86 per cent of the population having received a second dose and 67 per cent of the population with a booster or third dose.

MICROSOFT TAKES BOLD STEPS TO REDUCE BUSINESS TRAVEL IMPACT

MICROSOFT HAS TAKEN a bold step to further reduce its impact on the environment by upping the cost of internal penalties for business travel.

The technology giant will raise its carbon emission fees by 567 per cent this year, in what it has called “aggressive measures” to slash the Scope 3 emissions it produces, with corporate travel falling under this category.

The company currently charges a business travel fee of $15 per metric tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (or “mtCO2e”), but from July 2022, this will increase to $100 per metric tonne.

The money raised is invested in initiatives that enable Microsoft to become a greener company.

Employee travel is one of the business world’s greatest contributors to carbon emissions, dominated by car and air travel. This was clearly demonstrated during the pandemic, which halted most commuting and travel, resulting in global cardon emissions dropping seven per cent, according to a recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

See page 18 for a closer look at the steps airlines and Travel Management Companies (TMCs) are taking to help corporates make greener travel choices.

Citadines makes its Oman debut

THE ASCOTT LIMITED has opened Citadines Al Ghubrah Muscat, its rst Citadines property in Oman.

To mark the occasion, guests are being o ered Triple ASR points and up to 60 per cent o on bookings as part of the Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) loyalty programme. Business travellers can opt to stay in Studio Deluxe apartments, ideal for extended stays and featuring a kitchen, or Studio Premier apartments with views of the city’s scenic skyline. Other options include One-Bedroom Executive and Premier apartments.

Amenities include a swimming pool, gymnasium, residents’ lounge, restaurant, ballroom, meeting rooms and a co ee shop. Citadines Al Ghubrah Muscat is close to Sultan Qaboos Road, Muscat’s arterial link to Muscat International Airport, as well as key business districts, exhibition centres and embassies.

SECOND STUDIO M FOR DUBAI

MILLENNIUM HOTELS & RESORTS MEA has opened its second Studio M lifestyle hotel in Dubai.

Studio M Al Barsha o ers 155 rooms and has been “thoughtfully designed” with vibrant colours, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and premium amenities to suit modern travellers. The hotel is close to Mall of the Emirates and the Mall of the Emirates Metro station. Dining venues include Hello Grab N Go for dining in or out, Level ONE for breakfast, and a café. There are co-working spaces available at the restaurant and in the lobby, while leisure facilities include an ‘M FIT’ gym with Technogym equipment, a temperature-controlled rooftop pool, and a spa concept.

SAUDI ARABIA HOTEL UPDATE

The highly anticipated JW Marriott Hotel Riyadh (pictured) will make its debut in the Saudi capital’s new commercial and business district in early Q2, Marriott has announced. Occupying a coveted address in the city, and a stone’s throw away from King Abdullah Financial District, the new property will stand tall amongst Riyadh’s skyscrapers of the city. The flagship hotel, spanning 66 floors, will feature 349 rooms and suites, world-class dining outlets, and “exceptional” business and wellness facilities.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), the developer of the Diriyah master plan, have announced plans for the Four Seasons Hotel Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The luxury property will include approximately 150 rooms and suites, expansive meeting and event spaces, a wellness spa with seven treatment rooms and a fitness centre, as well as two outdoor pools with private cabanas. It will also o er four culinary outlets, including a poolside restaurant and Sunset lounge.

IHG Hotels & Resorts is to relaunch its Holiday Inn brand in Narjan, Saudi Arabia. The hospitality firm has signed an agreement with Al Rabea Hotels and Trading Co. to manage the Holiday Inn Najran – a conversion property. This hotel is returning to the IHG family having operated as a Holiday Inn property from 1995 to 2015. The new hotel is expected to be fully rebranded by end of 2023 and will o er 82 rooms, five villas, an outdoor pool, gym, sauna, steam rooms, and Jacuzzi, four meeting rooms, and four dining venues.