Madurai will be the 16th Indian city with direct connectivity to Abu Dhabi and comes days after the airline announced direct flights from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

RwandAir Holidays caters to all travellers, whether looking to explore a vibrant city, dreaming of a relaxing beach escape, or heading on a business trip. 

The fully-integrated platform allows travellers to link flights, accommodation, airport transfers, and unforgettable local experiences in one convenient place, helping to curate a customised, stress-free trip.  

Integrated directly into RwandAir’s website, the platform allows travellers to design their ideal getaway with just a few clicks. Customers can choose their preferred destination, customise the holiday package, and enhance their journey with essential travel services, including seat selection, extra baggage, and travel insurance. 

Fouad Caunhye, RwandAir’s chief commercial officer, said: “RwandAir Holidays is a game-changer in African travel. Offering added convenience and personalisation for anyone travelling to, from and within Africa with RwandAir and our partners, this platform seeks to give our customers more choice, value, and freedom to create their perfect trip.”

The arrival of the Uganda Airlines Airbus A330-800 at Gatwick was a “dream come true” for the country and a major aspiration ever since the carrier was launched in 2019, said General Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport.

"This is more than a flight, it is a bridge for business, investment, and people-to-people connections,” said Wamala at the launch event at Gatwick Airport.

The Gatwick service, which will be operated four times weekly, is the 17th route for Uganda Airlines. The airline will offer onward services to its growing African network including Abuja, Lusaka, and Harare, which were launched in the second half of 2024, said Uganda Airlines CEO Jenifer Bamuturaki.

During the launch event, she told African Aerospace that the carrier has secured government approval to negotiate orders with Airbus to acquire two A320neos and two A321neos for delivery in 2031-33. It is planned to place the order in the first quarter of its next financial year which begins in July.

At present the carrier operates two 258-seat A330-800s and four 76-seat Bombardier CRJ900s. The addition of a 150-seater aircraft to sit in between its A330s and the CRJs is an important move for Uganda Airlines to achieve a more balanced fleet in capacity terms.

In addition, Uganda Airlines is in discussions with undisclosed lessors for the dry lease of one A320neo and a A321neo for induction into its fleet in October or November, said Bamuturaki.

In the meantime, a single A320ceo on short-term lease from Danish ACMI provider DAT arrived in Uganda on 19 May. The Airbuses will provide interim leased narrowbody capacity until its new aircraft arrive.

“We are looking at the routes where we can release the [A330-800] Airbus and put the dry leased aircraft on them,” said Bamuturaki. At present it is operating its A330-800s on its Dubai, Mumbai and Lagos/Abuja services.

The carrier will increasingly devote its A330s to intercontinental services and to ensure its London route can be sustained without any operational issues.

The carrier is also talking with the Ugandan government to gain approval to add more widebodies, with the airline leaning towards the Boeing 787 over the A330 currently. There is no timeline on a deal yet, however the carrier is talking with Boeing about acquiring a pair of 787-9s, said Bamuturaki.

The arrival of Uganda Airlines at Gatwick means the airport now has nine long-haul routes to Africa plus seven short-haul ones, said Jonathan Pollard, Chief Commercial Officer at London Gatwick. “The African market has been phenomenally successful for us,” he noted.

“This year, we will have over 555% more capacity operating from the UK to Africa than we had pre Covid,” said Pollard. This points to the improving economic prosperity of the continent with much more growth to come, he added.

Charlotte becomes Etihad’s sixth destination in the United States, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta, which launches 2 July. The route will operate four times per week on Etihad’s flagship Boeing 787 Dreamliner, delivering the airline’s award-winning service in both Business and Economy cabins.

“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our U.S. network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer, Etihad Airways. “We’re excited to be the first airline from our region to serve this market, and we look forward to connecting more travellers to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

Charlotte becomes Etihad’s sixth destination in the United States, joining New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and Atlanta, which launches 2 July. The route will operate four times per week on Etihad’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

“Charlotte represents a strategic addition to our U.S. network, unlocking direct access to one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions,” said Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer, Etihad Airways. “We’re excited to be the first airline from our region to serve this market, and we look forward to connecting more travellers to Abu Dhabi and beyond.”

The expansion is part of IndiGo’s strategic global growth plan and further strengthens its presence in the Middle East. This marks IndiGo’s fifth destination with direct connectivity in the UAE after Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah.

The newly launched direct flight from Fujairah to Mumbai and followed by Kannur, not only caters to the growing demand for travel from both business and leisure travellers but also comes at a favourable time, as Fujairah strengthens its position on the global adventure tourism map. In a recent development, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah are planning to launch UAE’s first cross-emirate adventure trial. This opens up new experiences for Indian travellers seeking immersive outdoor getaways.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to commence daily direct operations between Mumbai as well as Kannur to Fujairah, UAE's hidden gem known for its natural beauty and growing economic significance. IndiGo already flies to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and now also to Fujairah in the UAE. As our 41st international destination and fifth in the UAE, Fujairah offers immense potential for trade, tourism, & business. With these flights, IndiGo connects 20 Indian cities to the UAE with over 280 weekly flights furthering our goal of global connectivity while offering affordable, on-time, and seamless travel experiences to our customers.”

Jurriaan Stelder, SVP Network, Alliances and Industry Affairs, Etihad Airways, said: "The consistent growth we're seeing from the Italian market highlights Abu Dhabi's appeal as both a destination and global hub. Italian travellers are responding well to our offering, with steady demand across both leisure and business segments. This connectivity is strengthening tourism and supporting deeper ties across trade, culture and investment."

Italy has emerged as one of Etihad's fastest-growing European markets, with travel between Italy and Abu Dhabi increasing by 76% compared to 2023. This reflects the growing appeal of the UAE capital as a destination for Italian visitors.

This sustained demand has prompted Etihad to increase frequencies to triple-daily flights between Milan Malpensa Airport and Abu Dhabi, and double-daily flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport, providing Italian travellers with convenient options to visit Abu Dhabi.

The third daily frequency on Milan will be operated by Etihad’s new Airbus A321LR, offering a premium experience that includes a dedicated First class cabin, fully lie-flat Business seats, high-speed Wi-Fi, and an enhanced onboard dining service. This aircraft brings Etihad’s signature long-haul comfort to short- and medium haul travel, further elevating the travel experience for Italian guests.

From November, Etihad will be offering more than 10,000 weekly seats between Italy and Abu Dhabi per direction, representing an 80% capacity increase compared to November 2023. The number of premium seats available will double to more than 1,000 per week, responding to increased demand in this segment.

Starting from September 2025, Seville will become the airline’s sixth destination in Spain, following Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga, and Bilbao.

Beginning on September 17, Turkish Airlines will operate direct daily flights between Istanbul Airport and Seville Airport.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi stated: “As Turkish Airlines, we are pleased to launch flights to Seville, one of Spain’s oldest cities, thus facilitating new opportunities for both tourism and business. We believe that growing investments in the region will further enhance both countries’ tourism and trade potential. We will continue to diversify our gateways to the world in line with our mission of connecting continents.”

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo: “We are pleased to announce direct flights from Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam to Abu Dhabi, further growing our international network.  With the additions of these flights, IndiGo now operates over 100 weekly flights to Abu Dhabi from 15 cities in India. This also increases our frequencies to the UAE to 275 flights a week from 18 cities in India. As demand for direct international travel grows, we're committed to connecting India with global economic centres, ensuring on-time, affordable, and seamless travel across our expanding network.”

Starting 1 July 2025, the airline will offer up to 12 flights per day between Muscat and Salalah.

To meet growing demand, the airline has also added 70,000 additional seats on the Muscat-Salalah route through to the end of the year – an increase of 16% compared to the same period in 2024.