UPFRONT
SAUDIA LAUNCHES NEW IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM SAUDI ARABIAN AIRLINES (SAUDIA) has
Etihad Airways unveils new sustainability driven economy class experience ETIHAD AIRWAYS HAS UNVEILED its new sustainability driven guest
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experience in its economy cabin, with new soft furnishings and tableware set to be launched on board in the fourth quarter of the year. The soft furnishings upgrade will include a 35 per cent larger pillow with a 200 thread-count cotton cover made locally in the UAE, complemented by a soft blanket made from recycled plastic for additional comfort. Etihad’s new dining experience features reusable tableware made from recycled high-quality plastic and eliminates the use of single-use plastic. The tray, serving plates and their lids are part of a closed loop recycling system. At the end of their lifecycle, they are collected, washed, ground and reused to make new replacement products. Etihad is also introducing quality stainless steel cutlery in the economy cabin, which upgrades the experience and also reduces single-use plastic. In 2019, Etihad committed to remove 80 per cent of single-use plastic from its operation by the end of 2022. The introduction of this new in-flight equipment ensures the airline meets this sustainability goal. Where possible, Etihad is also moving towards locally produced items to further improve the overall environmental impact of the operation.
unveiled its new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system, Beyond. The new IFE system will enhance SAUDIA’s onboard experience with more than 5,000 hours of HD content, including, but not limited to, Western and Eastern films and TV shows, as well as a library of e-books, weather reports, shopping, meal ordering, flight information and agenda timeline. Beyond also features the largest Islamic content in the skies with guests notified of prayer times throughout the journey. A distinct Kid Mode allows younger guests to enjoy a selection of their favourite cartoons, movies, and games. In addition to entertainment, Beyond offers a range of other practical features, such as the ability to check the status of the flight and a real-time camera view of the sky during take-off and landing. Guests onboard can also enjoy shopping and browsing the latest products from the comfort of their seat. Beyond will be implemented across the SAUDIA fleet by the end of this year.
DXB records its busiest quarter since 2020 with 13.6 million passengers DUBAI INTERNATIONAL (DXB) has recorded its busiest quarter since 2020 with 13.6 million passengers in Q1 2022 – an indication the travel sector’s post-pandemic recovery is accelerating. This is the second consecutive quarter that passenger traffic at DXB has surpassed the 10-million mark. The airport reported 5.5 million passengers in March, taking its quarterly total to 13.6 million, up 15.7 per cent compared to 11.8 million passengers in the final quarter of 2021. By comparison, DXB recorded 5.7 million passengers in the first quarter of 2021.
JUNE 2022
DXB is currently connected to 193 destinations across 92 countries via 73 scheduled international carriers. India held its longstanding position as DXB’s top destination country with passenger traffic reaching 1.6 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.1 million), Pakistan (997,000) and the UK (934,000 passengers). The top three cities in terms of passenger numbers were London (617,000 passengers), Riyadh (517,000), Jeddah (337,000), followed closely by Istanbul (324,000 passengers). The outlook for the year remains strong according to DXB, with annual traffic now projected to reach 58.3 million.
