October is the cheapest month to fly from UAE to the UK
Direct flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to London cost an average of more than AED 4,000, and airfares between the UAE and London appear certain to remain expensive for the remainder of the summer. However, those who can wait and book flights later in the year will be able to benefit from reduced average fares. The cheapest time to fly from the UAE to London is in October. With prices starting at £568 ($669), October currently offers the best value for direct economy round-trip flights from the UAE to London.
UAE-India flights: August saw a nearly 60% decrease in ticket prices
Many Indian cities now offer significantly cheaper airfares. According to travel industry leaders, prices have decreased by close to 60% in the past month compared to the peak travel season. They further stated that summer vacations for students, Eid holidays, and summer travel to the UAE were the causes of the previous month’s increase in airfare.
India’s Vistara to offer direct flights to Abu Dhabi
The full-service airline of India, Vistara, will soon begin offering new direct flights from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi. It is planned for the new flight service to start on October 1, 2022. Additionally, special introductory roundtrip flights for the economy, premium economy, and business classes of Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and the Indian conglomerate Tata Group, would be available for $222 (AED 799), $288 (AED 1,199), and $576 (AED 3,999), respectively. The airline will conduct the daily flights between the two cities using its A320neo aircraft.
Etihad adds four weekly flights to New York
To meet the growing demand for air travel following the epidemic, Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi-based airline, will begin offering four additional weekly flights to New York on Nova Aircraft. With the addition of the new flights, there will now be 11 weekly stops at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The new flights will be run with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, one of the most fuel-efficient aeroplanes in the world with much lower fuel burn and carbon emissions, while the everyday services will continue to be operated by Etihad’s new Airbus A350 aircraft.
Emirates halt business in Nigeria
Emirates said it is suspending flights to Nigeria starting September 1, as the Dubai carrier struggles to repatriate funds of around $85 million from the African country. The airline said “there has been no progress” in collecting the payments, resulting in the decision “limits further losses and impact on our operational costs that continue to accumulate in the market.” In June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said airlines are owed $1.6 billion from 20 countries. Nigeria, the most populous African nation, takes $450 million in that chunk of blocked remittances.
Abu Dhabi’s private airport reopens following extensive renovation
Abu Dhabi’s Al Bateen Executive Airport, which serves only private aircraft, has reopened after undergoing extensive renovations to increase capacity. The runway was resurfaced and expanded during the 90-day renovation project to handle wide-body aircraft. The airport will be able to handle the additional operating demand thanks to the renovation. The Al Bateen Executive Airport renovation project “embodies the commitment of our aviation partners in the UAE to invest in the safety, modernization, and sustainability of the region’s only dedicated executive airport,” Over 800 people were employed by the airport in close collaboration with GACA and the Abu Dhabi Airports to complete the project.
Emirates set to launch A380 on the Dubai-Perth service
Beginning on December 1, Emirates plans to reintroduce its signature A380 aircraft on the Dubai-Perth route. The daily Boeing 777-300ER flight between Dubai and the Australian capital will be replaced by the A380 service as part of the UAE carrier’s expansion of services to Australia. With around 500 seats available on each trip, Emirates’ capacity between Dubai and Perth will grow. Emirates will also run twice-daily A380 flights from Dubai to Perth in addition to its Perth services. Since its inaugural flight to Perth back in August 2002, Emirates has flown close to 6 million passengers between Perth and its Dubai hub.
Emirates to over $2 billion to upgrade its airline offerings
The Dubai-based airline Emirates is spending over $2 billion to improve the in-flight traveller experience. The upgrades include a sizable initiative to revamp 120 aircraft interiors, along with other amenities available in all cabins beginning in 2022. According to Emirates, travellers may anticipate “elevated dining options, a brand-new vegan cuisine, a “theatre in the sky” experience, upgraded cabin interiors, sustainable choices, and a generous commitment to the little details that make travel unforgettable.”Additionally, fresh vegetables from the largest hydroponic farm in the world a $40 million facility built by the airlines in Dubai will be served to passengers.
