Gulf Tourism and Aviation
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Dubai hotel room rates climb 19% in November
Average room rates at hotels in Dubai jumped 19% in November compared to the previous month a year ago boosted by a rise in corporate travellers to the emirate, according to a new report by TRI Hospitality.
Air Arabia increases flights to Moscow
Air Arabia has expanded its services to Moscow via the carrier's primary hub in Sharjah, UAE.
Gulf carriers likely to raise fares to offset new EU carbon tax
A recent move by the European Union to impose a carbon tax - the EU Emission Trading Scheme - on airlines that use European airspace is likely to prompt Gulf carriers to boost fares on their flights to and within the continent.
Flydubai adds new route to Saudi Arabia
Low-cost carrier Flydubai has announced that it is launching a new service to the city of Taif in Saudi Arabia and increasing the frequency of flights to other localities in the kingdom.
Etihad ups stake in Air Berlin as part of European expansion
Etihad Airways has announced that it will spend $94.9m to boost its stake in Air Berlin, Europe's second largest airline, from 3% to more than 29% in a move that will give the Abu Dhabi-based carrier greater access to the European market.
Rapid growth puts strain on pilot recruitment in Middle East
While Middle East carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways continue to place huge orders for aircraft as part of their global expansion strategies, they also face challenges finding qualified pilots to fly the new planes being added to their fleets.
Emirates to launch Wi-Fi service on its A-380s
Dubai-based Emirates Airline has announced plans to launch Wi-Fi services across its fleet of A380 jumbo jets, becoming the latest carrier in the region to ramp up its in-flight entertainment offerings.
Etihad orders more Boeing Dreamliners as part of longer-term expansion plans
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced this week that it is buying 10 more Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, making it the largest customer for that version of the much-delayed carbon fibre jet. The deal is seen as allowing Etihad to open up more nonstop routes given the 787-9's extensive range capability.
Mixed views on tourism potential for post-Gaddafi Libya
Despite offering unspoilt landscapes and a rich history dating back thousands of years, Libya's tourism sector languished during the reign of Colonel Gaddafi. However, while his ouster opens up new possibilities for attracting greater tourism revenues, the country faces a host of challenges in its efforts to rebuild its tourism industry.
IATA cuts Middle East carriers' profit forecast by half
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has slashed its 2011 profit forecast for Middle East carriers by 50%, citing tighter margins on long-haul routes due to high fuel costs. The trade body also warned that failure to stem the Eurozone banking crisis could lead to heavy losses for the global aviation sector next year.
Gulf carriers face challenges beyond the global economy
The scale of the economic fallout means that very few places or businesses in the world have not been affected. As experts attempt to make sense of the damage inflicted and potential future scenarios for their respective fields, it would appear that airline carriers in the Gulf have less to worry about than most.
Saudi Arabia looks to bolster internal tourism
Saudi tourism officials and hotels in the kingdom have been stepping up their efforts to entice local residents to travel within the country in hopes of capturing a larger share of the billions of dollars that Saudis spend on vacations overseas each year.
Middle East carriers ramp up in-flight entertainment offerings
In addition to spending billions of dollars on new aircraft, Middle East carriers are also splashing out big money on new and improved in-flight entertainments systems to keep in step with the latest technology being developed for the aviation sector.
Dubai, Abu Dhabi hotels on divergent paths in 2011
While hotels in Dubai have enjoyed a strong rebound so far this year, Abu Dhabi's hospitality sector is struggling to deal with an oversupply of rooms and a relatively limited range of offerings that limits its ability to attract a wide variety of tourists.
Are the Gulf's big carriers at risk of growing too fast?
Once again the region's carriers placed huge orders at the Dubai Airshow, with Emirates and Qatar Airways leading the way. But as these megacarriers continue their unprecedented growth, are they at risk of over-expansion?
