Gulf Tourism and Aviation
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Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum Airport set to make history
This week Emirates Airline became the first carrier to land its aircraft on Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International, the world's largest airport, as part of final preparations prior to the official launch of the airport. The successful test paves the way for the airport to open as scheduled on June 27, launching a new chapter in Dubai's emergence as one of the world's leading aviation hubs.
UAE positions itself as sports hub
Sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup have become an increasingly popular way for countries to gain visibility and grow their economies, experts say, and the UAE is no exception. It has successfully staged a number of high-profile events over the years that have attracted some of the biggest names in sports and helped raise the country's profile.
Dubai hotels expect World Cup boost
The FIFA World Cup could not come at a better time for hotels in Dubai, as they are expecting hordes of customers to watch the games at their food and beverage outlets, providing a welcome extra revenue boost during the slow summer period.
Mideast aviation sector to swing to profit this year, says IATA
The International Air Transport Association has revised its 2010 forecast upward for Middle East carriers, predicting that that they will post a profit of $100m - their first since 2005. In its previous forecast released in March IATA had predicted that the region's carriers would lose $400m this year.
Emirates to add 750 pilots as expansion continues
Emirates Airline said last week that it plans to hire more than 750 pilots over the next 18 months to support new routes, new aircraft and increased frequencies. The statement follows on the heels of the carrier's recent announcement that it posted record profits for the 2009/2010 financial year, with the group's annual results showing net growth of 248%.
Middle East carriers top global recovery
Middle East carriers continued their strong recovery in April, posting the highest traffic growth in the world at a time when passenger demand slowed across the globe due to the fallout from the volcanic ash cloud in Europe, according to a new report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Iraq's aviation sector in flux
Iraq is investing heavily to revive its aviation sector in the hope that increased passenger traffic to and from the country will help boost its economy. However, although a slew of international carriers have launched services to the country in recent months, the industry still faces a number of challenges that could derail its growth, including security issues and the closure of its national carrier.
Dubai downplays concerns on hotel oversupply
Dubai has the largest hotel pipeline in the Middle East, but the influx of new rooms into the market should not be viewed as a source of concern, but rather an opportunity for the emirate to attract more guests in the wake of the recession, a Dubai tourism official has said.
Ras Al Khaimah eyes tourism growth
Eager to capitalise on its tourism potential and develop its own niche as a travel destination in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah has made tourism a centrepiece of its growth strategy and is investing heavily to boost visitor numbers. Several luxury hotels have recently opened in the emirate and many other projects are in the works as part of an effort to boost its tourism sector.
Qatar makes tourism push
Flush with cash thanks to its large natural gas reserves, Qatar is investing heavily in efforts to boost tourism as part of an initiative to diversify its economy. However, tourism officials are quick to point out that Qatar has no plans to compete with the likes of Dubai for leisure guests due to its continued focus on preserving its heritage and cultural identity.
Airline mergers unlikely in Middle East
Earlier this month the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said more airline mergers were needed across the globe to help cut costs and boost competitiveness in the industry. However, while merger and acquisition activity has picked up throughout the world, experts say consolidation is less likely to occur among carriers in the Middle East due to a variety of social, political, and economic factors.
Four Seasons eyes growth in the Middle East
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts says that it is seeing encouraging signs of recovery in the hospitality industry in the Middle East, especially in the leisure sector. The Canada-based luxury operator recently announced plans to open its first hotel in the UAE, one of several projects that it has underway as part of its expansion drive in the region.
Limited resumption of European flights
Flights to most European airports have resumed as carriers question whether government agencies over-reacted in imposing a blanket ban on air travel. Following six days of restrictions, airspace over Europe's skies reopened, with the civil aviation authorities approving a number of flights in and out of the region's major airports - although a number of no-fly zones remain in place. Half of the region's 27,500 daily flights were expected to have resumed by the end of yesterday, according to the Brussels-based Eurocontrol aviation traffic agency.
Downturn favours big-name hotel operators
In the wake of the economic downturn, funding for hotel projects has grown scarce and hotel operators are finding themselves competing for fewer management contracts. Large international hotel management companies are in a better position to capitalise on these trends than smaller regional brands, but they also face challenges in the current environment, experts say.
Volcano eruption slams Gulf carriers' revenues
The volcanic eruption in Iceland continues to wreak havoc on Middle East carriers as flights to Europe remain cancelled. Meanwhile, European airlines have started test flights to determine how soon their fleets can take to the air.
