Emirates, one of the fastest growing international airlines, continues its expansion in South East Asia with the addition of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to its global network from 4th June 2012.
The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam has been one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, with Ho Chi Minh City, home to over seven million people, recognised as its commercial capital. (more…)
Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has extended its South American network by linking Dubai with Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, further broadening the airline’s reach across the Americas.
Emirates’ inaugural Flight 247 made its first landing at Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, where it was initiated by a traditional water cannon salute.
The flight, operated by Argentine Captain Marcos Medina, then departed for its first onwards connection to Buenos Aires, where government and airport officials led by Enrique Meyer, the Argentinean Minister of Tourism, welcomed the Emirates VIP delegation headed by Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President – Passenger Sales Worldwide. (more…)
The launch of a new airline that would fly daily between Fujairah and Abu Dhabi has been delayed.
Eastern Express was expected to have its first flight this month, but owing to a “glitch” in the paperwork submitted to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) that could be a while longer, said Alex de Vos, the chief executive. (more…)
Cruise tourism is gaining momentum in the UAE as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah have been adopting drastic steps to attract big players of the industry, experts say.
All three emirates have been making significant investments in infrastructure to support cruise tourism facilities and services in the country. Abu Dhabi has erected a new tented cruise terminal at Mina Zayed, Dubai is reshaping Port Rashid and Sharjah is focusing on Khorfakkan to attract around 700,000 cruise visitors during this season.
Dubai will take the lead in total cruise visitors as it is expected to welcome 475,000 passengers at Port Rashid during this season. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, or DTCM, forecasts a steady growth for the next four years with 625,000 passengers by 2015, a 38 per cent increase over 2010 figures.
Realising the potential in cruise tourism, DP World is expanding Port Rashid cruise terminal facilities to continue its leading position as the largest cruise centre in the Middle East. It will expand the current facilities by the end of 2012 to cater for as many as five cruise ships at one time, against its current capacity of accommodating only two ships. (more…)
Economy Class passengers arriving at Abu Dhabi airport will have the use of a dedicated Air Astana coach transfer to central Dubai. Passengers should contact ground staff on arrival and proceed to the arrivals lower level car park. The coaches will transport passengers to the Emirates and DNATA Building near the Clock Tower in central Dubai.
Economy Class passengers departing Abu Dhabi airport will have the use of a dedicated Air Astana coach transfer from central Dubai to Abu Dhabi Airport. This service will depart from the Emirates and DNATA Building near the Clock Tower in central Dubai as per the schedule below.
Bus departures from Dubai for flights Abu Dhabi – Almaty (01 Dec 10 until further notice)
- Flights operating on Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat: 07:00
- Flights operating on Tue, Fri, Sun: 19.00
Bus departures from Dubai for flights Abu Dhabi – Astana (01 Dec 10 until further notice)
- Flights operating on Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun: 20.00 (note these flight services depart at 00:15 on the days mentioned above so departure from Dubai will be at 20.00 on the proceeding day)
Business Class passengers are entitled to a private car transfer to and from Abu Dhabi Airport. This service must be pre-booked 72 hours ahead of travel. Please contact your travel agent or directly Air Astana 24 hour ?all ?entre on +7 (727) 244 44 77 to arrange private transfer. (more…)
It’s ‘Mission Accepted’ for the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff) as the world’s media descended on the city for the launch of arguably the biggest film of the year.
More than 1,100 industry professionals and hundreds of international journalists, photographers, television crews and presenters will be fighting for spots on the busiest red carpet Diff has ever experienced tonight when Tom Cruise and his fellow cast members Paula Patton, Simon Pegg and Anil Kapoor, along with director Brad Bird and producer Bryan Burk, launch Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol. A large proportion of the film was shot in Dubai, and more specifically at the Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest building. (more…)
Airlines in the UAE are continuing to fly to Syria after the Arab League issued a deadline of yesterday for sanctions.
A commercial ban on flights has not been confirmed and there is little clarity over whether such a measure could even be enforced, industry insiders say.
Saj Ahmad, an analyst at FBE Aerospace, said many airlines were against such a move. (more…)
Dubai hotels are renowned worldwide for being glitzy and glamorous – but not often for being green.
That is changing fast as the emirate once famed for proposing underwater hotels and air-conditioned beaches approaches its target of reducing the carbon footprint of its top hotels by almost a fifth.
These days the emirate is taking a far more measured approach to hotel development and some operators are even managing to boost their bottom line by reducing their environmental impact.
Raki Phillips, the area director of sales and marketing at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, said it had managed to reduce costs by Dh3.5 million (US$952,769) last year by introducing eco-friendly measures.
These included changing the lighting on the outside of the building. This cost Dh1.5m, but the hotel got a return on its investment after one year, Mr Phillips said. (more…)
11% increase in hotel establishment guests in the first three quarters
26 % increase in guest nights and 19% increase revenues in Jan-Sep 2001
Hotel establishments played host to 6.64 million guests in Jan-Sep period
Bin Sulayem says achievement due to aggressive promotion and marketing
The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) announced the emirate’s tourism industry’s impressive performance in the first three quarters of 2011, thereby consolidating the position of Dubai on the world tourism map.
Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, DTCM Director General, said: “The stellar performance of Dubai’s tourism industry is a testimony to the aggressive promotional and marketing drive that the department has been pursuing to enhance the number of tourists to the destination by tapping established and emerging markets across the world. The impressive gains made during the January-September period this year also reflect the inspiring public-private sector partnership to tap the tourism potential of Dubai.” (more…)
One of Dubai’s oldest hotels, the Metropolitan Hotel Dubai will be demolished starting mid-next year (2012). Owner Khalaf Al Habtoor, chairman of Al Habtoor told local radio station Dubai Eye the group could not expand the 200-room hotel which has stood for more than 33 years.
“Therefore we have no choice but to demolish it and rebuild a new project. The flexibility in that hotel is not there.”
Options for what could take its place included another hotel or even an attraction. (more…)
