This marks the beginning of a new partnership with Translanka Air Travels as the appointed General Sales Agent (GSA) for South Kerala.

Head of Worldwide Sales and Distribution of SriLankan Airlines, Dimuthu Tennakoon, said: “44 years ago, SriLankan Airlines was one of the first international airlines to launch flights to Trivandrum, and we have not looked back since. It has been our absolute privilege to serve the people of Southern Kerala and Trivandrum and connect them with the world through our comprehensive flight service that comes with a touch of true Sri Lankan hospitality. I am confident that this new partnership will enable us to take our service to even greater heights in the future.”

The contracts are worth an estimated total value of over US$ 210 million over their lifespan. 

dnata has already committed orders worth over US$ 29 million from the agreements, setting firm foundations for future transactions over the next five years. The advanced vehicles will further enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability across dnata’s global network, helping it to continue to deliver world-class services for its over 330 airline customers.

The contracts include a planned investment of over US$ 100 million in GSE for dnata’s Dubai fleet, driven by sustained solid demand and projected further, significant growth. dnata currently operates a fleet of 2,500 motorised GSE at Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) airports, providing quality and safe services to over 190 airlines. 

The GSE will be provided by eight international manufacturers, with deliveries starting from May 2024. 

Steve Allen, CEO of dnata Group, said: “We are committed to investing in best-in-class equipment and working with renowned partners to provide superior value and services to our customers. Today’s newly announced deals reflect our long-term strategy to constantly enhance our capabilities and adapt to the evolving needs of our industry.  We will continue to invest in modern fleet and the latest technologies to remain at the forefront of the industry.” 

Globally, dnata operates over 8,000 pieces of motorised GSE across its ground handling, cargo and catering & retail operations which cover over 130 airports across six continents.

Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew, said: “We are more than an airline; we are a family. By granting these honeymoon packages, we honour the love and dedication of our employees, not just to each other but also to our great company.”

Zenebework G/Tsadik, Group VP Human Capital Management, added: “Our employees are our greatest asset. We strive to support them professionally and personally. This gesture is a testament to the holistic benefits we offer, which include free tickets, subsidised meals, comprehensive medical and insurance plans, housing projects, and transportation facilities.”

In a ceremony held at the Ethiopian Skylight Hotel, a pair of newlyweds, accompanied by their relatives and members of the Ethiopian Airlines Group’s executive team, commemorated their nuptials.

Committed to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion (DE&I) at the workplace and across its operations, the airline has dedicated a newly designed desk to facilitate check-in for passengers with special needs. Currently, IndiGo has over 20 specially-abled employees and staff at the Delhi Airport, who will also be deployed at these desks for assistance.

The agreement was signed during a signing ceremony which included a speech by Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, in the presence of the UNHCR’s Representative to the State of Qatar, Ahmed Mohsen, and Qatar Airways, chief cargo officer, Mark Drusch.

Badr Mohammed Al-Meer announced the two-year renewal of the partnership between Qatar Airways Group and UNHCR to provide humanitarian relief and assistance to those globally displaced. For the past two years, Qatar Airways Cargo has been working closely with UNHCR to help provide humanitarian aid to better the lives of people worldwide. With this partnership, Qatar Airways will provide another 400 tonnes of free tonnage to UNHCR to help support them in the delivery of crucial aid supplies to those most in need.

To meet these goals, the award-winning airline utilises the airline’s hub-and-spoke network out of Hamad International Airport, which was once again voted the ‘World’s Best Airport’ at the Skytrax Airport Awards this year. Additionally, the airline’s cargo division, which is the largest global air cargo operator in the world, has a robust fleet of 28 freighters with access to utilise a passenger fleet of over 200 aircraft, to a network of 70 freighter destinations and over 170 belly-hold destinations.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive officer, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “We are proud of what we have accomplished through our relationship with UNHCR over the past four years, which has helped support displaced communities around the world.” He added: “We look forward to the significant renewal of our partnership and in continuing to aid those who are most vulnerable. Qatar Airways Group is committed to fulfilling its humanitarian role by helping refugees and internally displaced people worldwide.”

Ahmed Mohsen, UNHCR’s Representative to the State of Qatar expressed his appreciation for the strategic humanitarian partnership with Qatar Airways and stated: “We highly appreciate this vital partnership and are proud to renew it for two additional years, which reflects Qatar Airways’ solid commitment towards supporting our humanitarian efforts, in terms of delivering essential relief items to those most in need.”

The new partnership will see dnata provide quality inflight catering services to the Abu Dhabi-based airline from its facility at Boston Logan Airport (BOS).

dnata’s highly trained teams will produce and uplift more than 125,000 meals annually to ensure a world-class dining experience on board the airline’s four weekly flights to Abu Dhabi, starting 31 March 2024.

Peter DeVito, chief executive officer, dnata Catering North America, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed as the exclusive catering supplier to Etihad Airways in Boston. Our experienced team will consistently deliver outstanding culinary products that contribute to the passenger’s exceptional journey. 

“We look forward to working closely with Etihad and will continue to invest in our people, infrastructure and products to be the best in everything we do.” 

Including Etihad Airways, dnata provides catering and retail services to 40 airline customers at 12 airports with a team of more than 1000 hospitality professionals throughout the USA. In Boston, dnata uplifted 1.5 million meals for 8000 individual flights at Boston Logan Airport in the last financial year 2022-23.

These include; Emirates City Check-in & Travel Store in DIFC, Emirates Cruise Check In - Port Rashid, Emirates Cruise Check In - Dubai Harbour and Emirates City Check-In Ajman, in addition to the Emirates’ dedicated hub in Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The certification, awarded by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) ensures that all Emirates facilities in Dubai have taken a significant step towards making travel more inclusive and accessible to neurodiverse customers, meeting criteria required for a comfortable and supported travel experience.

As part of the designation, Emirates employees at the various facilities underwent specialised training on autism and sensory awareness, to equip them with the understanding and skills to address needs of autistic travellers or those with sensory sensitivities, along with their families. Comprehensive facilities audits were conducted across the locations, measuring all sensory inputs in public areas such as sound levels, lighting, and potential sights and smells to develop sensory guides, empowering travellers to make informed decisions and choose the environment that best suits their needs and preferences.

This achievement builds on the recent recognition of Dubai International Airport as the first international airport to earn the designation from IBCCES and aligns with the Department of Economy and Tourism's (DET) vision of becoming the first Certified Autism Destination (CAD) in the Middle East.

Emirates' City Check-Ins across Dubai offer a seamless and stress-free pre-airport experience in convenient and easily accessible locations, where Emirates customers can check in for flights up to 24 hours in advance, drop off luggage between four and 24 hours before departure, and choose between agent-assisted check-ins, robot-assisted check-ins, or self-service kiosks, allowing a more relaxed travel experience.

Mohammed H. Mattar – Emirates DSVP Airport Services commented: “As a global airline, Emirates is committed to providing a seamless travel experience for everyone. We recognise the challenges customers with autism and sensory sensitivities face in airport environments. That's why we've proactively partnered with Dubai’s DET and IBCCES to certify all our city check-in locations across the UAE. This initiative is a crucial step forward in our ongoing mission to make travel inclusive and accessible for all.”

The collaboration, facilitated by the Ehsan National Platform for Charitable Work, aims to bolster solidarity and community engagement in supporting charitable initiatives. This partnership allows AlFursan loyalty program members to contribute their miles to charitable causes through Ehsan.

The MoU was signed by Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of the AlFursan Loyalty Program at Saudia, and Engr. Ibrahim Alhusaini, CEO of Ehsan.

The agreement is seen as an incentive to facilitate the digital donation process for AlFursan members through the Saudia website and mobile application.

Essam Akhonbay, Vice President of the AlFursan Loyalty Program at Saudia, stated: “Saudia is proud and honoured to partner with SDAIA to empower AlFursan members to make digital donations to the leading charity platform, ‘Ehsan,’ which is committed to advancing the charitable sector. Charity holds special significance during Ramadan, making the launch of this initiative during the holy month more meaningful as it encourages giving.”

ProtecTasbih, created in collaboration with creative agency partners, are the first prayer beads that offer a dual function, seamlessly combining the spiritual practice of tasbih with the added benefit of hand sanitization. This innovative creation redefines the traditional prayer beads, reflecting a harmonious blend of cultural reverence and modern health consciousness.

The prayer beads use tea tree oil as a sanitising element as it is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria and disrupts the cell membrane of the bacteria itself. Using a molding technique, the oil was integrated into a semi-solid compound to create a solid bead.

Essam Akhonbay, VP Marketing at Saudia says, "At Saudia, our commitment to the well-being of all our guests is paramount. We take pride in introducing a unique product that enhances the pilgrimage experience, allowing our guests to fully immerse themselves in their spiritual journey."

In addition, the UAE’s national airline has introduced a range of complimentary tote bags for guests on longer flights in Economy.

The stylish new range features bespoke amenity kits for each premium cabin, as well as luxurious designer loungewear and slippers. The range will be progressively rolled out on flights from the end of February.

Turky Al Hammadi, Head of Product and Hospitality, Etihad Airways said: “As well as offering convenience, style and luxury inflight, our guests will take home their own co-branded Giorgio Armani amenity bag for use when travelling or at home. These sought-after bags come in collectable colours and styles meaning frequent flyers can build their personal Giorgio Armani collection.

“We’re also very proud to introduce a complimentary range of stylish and functional tote bags to our guests on longer flights in Economy. Not only will these bags be a handy gift, but they’ll help us to further reduce single-use plastic.”