From December 2024, comedian, actor, and entrepreneur, Hart and other stars will present the airline’s in-flight safety procedures in a short and entertaining film. Directed by renowned Hollywood director Tim Story, the video is created to engage passengers’ attention and focus on the important safety instructions.

Travellers will not want to miss a moment of Hart’s performance, or the star-studded cameo appearances that help him demonstrate the airline’s important safety instructions. Supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley assists him to reach new heights – in this instance, the overhead lockers – and Anwar and Amal Jibawi remind him to ensure seatbelts are tightly secured and kept on throughout the flight. Additionally, Khaby Lame supports Kevin Hart doing what he does best, and Adam Waheed demonstrates how to put on an oxygen mask.   

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “At Qatar Airways, the safety of our passengers and crew is our highest priority. Our main ambition for this project was to design an in-flight safety video that passengers will not want to miss.”

“As we continue to become more technologically advanced, we are seeing more and more passengers not paying enough attention to the in-flight safety video, instead opting for entertainment content on their other devices. We decided there was no better way to capture their attention than with their favourite celebrities and content creators. Shining a spotlight and amplifying this message, we are proud to welcome Kevin Hart, our latest Global Brand Ambassador, to help spread the word.” 

Qatar Airways Global Brand Ambassador, comedian, actor and entrepreneur, Hart, said: “Buckle Up! This safety video is unlike anything you have seen on-board a luxury airline before. I have loved partnering with Qatar Airways to produce a video that passengers will not only pay attention to but remember for a long time coming, or at least until their next flight.  Qatar Airways represents best-in-class service and attention to detail, and this video brings those elements to your seat-back screen. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the flight!”

Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), rose by 9.8% compared to October 2023 levels (10.3% for international operations) for a 15th consecutive month of growth.

Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 5.9% compared to October 2023 (7.2% for international operations). This was largely driven by an 8.5% increase in international belly capacity. Dedicated freighter capacity increased by 5.6%, the seventh consecutive month of growth with volumes nearing 2021 peak levels.

African airlines saw 1.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October, the slowest among regions. Capacity increased by 7.7% year-on-year. 

“Air cargo markets continued their strong performance in October, with demand rising 9.8% year-on-year and capacity up 5.9%. Global air cargo yields (including surcharges) continue to rise, up 10.6% on 2023 and 49% on 2019 levels. While 2024 is shaping up to be a banner year for air cargo, we must look to 2025 with some caution. The incoming Trump Administration’s announced intention to impose significant tariffs on its top trading partners—Canada, China and Mexico—has the potential to upend global supply chains and undermine consumer confidence. The air cargo industry’s proven adaptability to rapidly evolving geopolitical and economic situations is likely to be tested as the Trump agenda unfolds," said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.

Other October Regional Performance

Middle Eastern carriers saw 4.5% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October. Capacity increased 0.8% year-on-year.

European carriers saw 7.6% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October. Capacity increased 3.9% year-on-year.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw 13.4% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October. Capacity increased by 9.3% year-on-year.

North American carriers saw 9.5% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October. Capacity increased by 5.8% year-on-year.

Latin American carriers saw 18.5% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in October, the strongest growth among the regions. Capacity increased 5.8% year-on-year.

Testing for this aircraft will validate the cabin design and performance of the industry’s longest-range aircraft, focusing on the complete passenger experience to ensure interior comfort and reliability.

This first outfitted G800 took flight on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and flew 1 hour and 41 minutes, reaching an altitude of 46,000 feet/14,021 meters and a top speed of Mach 0.91. The aircraft joins the two other test aircraft in the mature certification programme and will undergo tests including repetitive operations of all systems during many different phases of flight and a variety of missions, including overnight trips, as well as hot and cold weather scenarios and turbulence.

“The G800 flight test programme is making great progress, reaffirming our confidence in the flexibility, durability and reliability this aircraft will provide,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “With its vast range of innovative customisation options, the ultralong-range G800 is a true testament to our industry- leading completions and interior and industrial design teams and their commitment to bespoke artistry.”

This will secure the airline among a roster of 15 big-name aviation clients aiming to provide sales, reservations and ticketing services to elevate its growth in the UK market.

AVIAREPS UK general manager Katerina Tomina said: "We are excited and proud about the appointment as General Sales Agent for flynas in the United Kingdom. Our sales team will support flynas to help strengthen the brand awareness of the airline and grow the airline’s sales in the UK market."

Cainiao, with its deep e-commerce insights and technological expertise, and Qatar Airways Cargo, with its extensive global connectivity, will together leverage their complementary strengths through this partnership to enhance global e-commerce logistics and stimulate economic growth at both regional and global levels.

Qatar Airways Cargo chief officer cargo, Mark Drusch, said: “Since the inception of our collaboration with Cainiao in 2021, the partnership has seen strong growth, driven by ongoing flying agreements and a shared vision to support the burgeoning e-commerce industry.

He continued: “We are now further deepening our ties with Cainiao to work even closer together. By utilising the Qatar Airways Cargo hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha, we aim to expedite shipments to customers in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, reinforcing our commitment to Cainiao.”

Cainiao chief executive officer, Wan Lin, said: “At Cainiao, we’re committed to building a smart, future-proof logistics network for e-commerce. We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with quality players like Qatar Airways Cargo to build a more robust global express network and better support our global customers with faster deliveries and enhanced supply chain efficiency."

This license – the first in the Middle East and Africa region for the HGT1700 APU – represents a significant achievement and establishes Qatar Airways as a pivotal player in the aviation MRO business regionally and globally.

The agreement also underscores Qatar’s Vision 2030 objectives, focusing on economic diversification and advancing Qatar as a centre for aerospace innovation. This project has impacts far beyond aviation, by generating upwards of 50 high-skilled jobs. These jobs will ensure the development of Qatari talent, and also act as a magnet for the best and brightest engineers to come to work and live in Qatar. In turn, this will bring further economic benefits, as Qatar Airways strengthens the nation’s skilled workforce.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “This milestone marks a transformative step for Qatar Airways, as we enter the MRO sector. Alongside servicing our own fleet’s APUs, we’ll also generate new revenue streams by offering maintenance services to third-parties. This partnership not only reinforces our position as an industry leader but also enhances our profitability and capacity to deliver exceptional service to our partners.”

At 534m2, Emirates World Casablanca is the largest store on Emirates global network to date, elevating the customer experience and reaffirming the airline’s longstanding commitment to market.

Located on the central and upscale Franklin Roosevelt Boulevard, Emirates World invites customers to visit for expert travel advice and destination inspiration, either from the airline’s seasoned consultants or via smart technologies.

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ deputy president and chief commercial officer said, “The opening of Emirates World in Casablanca comes just three weeks after the inauguration of our first store in Africa, delivering on our promise to enhance the customer journey across our network of 19 cities on the continent.”

He continued: “Our global retail strategy goes beyond a simple transaction and instead brings our ‘Fly Better’ promise to life, through dedicated and personalised services, smart and efficient technologies and hands-on product displays. Emirates World enables us to connect more deeply with our customers, inspiring them to discover more with Emirates.”

The flag carrier landed on Sydney soil for the first time on November 29th, marking a milestone as it expands to its second destination in Australia, reaching 351 destinations across six continents within its global network.

Flights between Istanbul and Sydney will be operated with the airline’s new, modern fleet of Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Following the launch of Turkish Airlines' first flight from Melbourne in March this year, Sydney becomes the second Australian city added to flag carrier’s ever-expanding network.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi said: “This momentous occasion marks Turkish Airlines' longest flight path in history, as we happily add our second Australian city to our flight network. The arrival of our first flight from Istanbul to Sydney represents our ongoing commitment to connect travellers across the globe, providing a seamless gateway between Europe and Australia with the comfort and hospitality of Turkish Airlines. Once we receive our aircraft capable of conducting the journey in a single leap, we look forward to further expanding our offering in the near future with Australia’s first non-stop flights to Istanbul.”

This collaboration brings episodes of the acclaimed media programs of Saudi Projects to Saudia’s BEYOND entertainment system, significantly enhancing the guests’ travel experience.

The agreement was signed by Khaled Tash, Group chief marketing officer at Saudia, and Mishal Al-Qassim, Founder and CEO of Saudi Projects.

Saudi Projects’ media programs will be highlighted in the "Discover Saudi" library of Saudia’s BEYOND entertainment system, providing guests with unique insights into the Kingdom's ambitious development projects. This is aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on tourism, economic growth, and enhancing the “Quality of Life” Program.

Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia, said: "This partnership brings numerous advantages, particularly in strengthening local content, which is a central focus of Saudia's new strategic direction. Our BEYOND entertainment system now offers 243 hours of diverse local content, available in both visual and audio formats. This initiative not only broadens the entertainment choices for our guests but also enhances a key aspect of their travel experience."

BEYOND, Saudia’s innovative in-flight entertainment system, offers an immersive and interactive experience, featuring over 5,000 hours of HD content tailored to a wide range of guest preferences and age groups, available in 16 languages.

Mishal Al-Qassim highlighted that this agreement will support Saudi Projects platform in expanding its publishing channels and reaching various audience segments, aiming to achieve the highest levels of engagement with all its programs and media products. These efforts focus on showcasing the Kingdom's projects, future, and diverse economic opportunities, while also aiming to enhance the participation of organisations and individuals in building and contributing to the Kingdom’s economy.

The airline has announced three new African routes in the past two months, adding more destinations and frequencies to its services.

Currently, Etihad serves four African destinations: Johannesburg, South Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Mahe, Seychelles; and Casablanca, Morocco. On 15 December, the airline will resume flights to Nairobi, Kenya, and next year will launch new routes to Tunis, Tunisia; Algiers, Algeria; and Al Alamein, Egypt.

Arik De, Etihad’s chief revenue and commercial officer, said: “As we prepare to return to Nairobi, Kenya next month, we are committed to growing our network in Africa and doubling our destinations over the next year. We are expanding our frequencies, including boosting both Johannesburg and Casablanca to daily services from next summer. This expansion will connect our guests across the continent with our growing network and bring them to our fantastic home in Abu Dhabi. 

"Currently, we serve four cities with 39 frequencies a week. By next summer, this will increase to 50 frequencies a week to six cities, and by this time next year, we will reach 57 frequencies a week to eight cities. 

"And we are not stopping there. We recently announced ten new global destinations, including Tunis and Algiers, and plan to announce at least ten more each year as we grow towards 2030. These will include new cities in Africa, and our goal is to make all of these flights daily. We are growing sustainably and offering our customers across Africa the flights and frequencies that make sense to them and fit with our global network.”