In addition, the OEM received the status of ‘Preferred Supplier’ for flight controls.

“We are grateful and very honoured to receive this outstanding recognition. The award and status not only highlight our joint achievement in current development activities, but also recognise the more than 40-year partnership between Embraer and us”, said Dr. Klaus Schneider, managing director and chief technology officer of Liebherr-Aerospace & Transportation SAS.

Technology from Liebherr can be found in many different Embraer aircraft models. The OEM develops, manufactures, and provides customer services for various components and systems such as landing gears, flight controls as well as environmental control and thermal management systems to several Embraer programs, including the E-Jet E1 and E2 families, the C-390 Millennium, the Super Tucano, and the Praetor 600.

This represents a 15% year-on-year increase in attendees compared to ATM’s landmark 30th edition, setting a new record for the show and demonstrating the strength, resilience and momentum of the global travel and tourism sector.

In line with ATM 2024’s theme, ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, over 2,600 exhibitors gathered at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to explore the drivers behind industry growth and identify future opportunities within the global tourism sector.

Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “My colleagues and I are delighted that so many industry professionals from around the world were able to join us in Dubai to explore how innovation and entrepreneurship are shaping a more efficient, profitable and sustainable tourism sector for future generations. We are thrilled to have set a new show record, underscoring our position as the travel and tourism exhibition of choice as we continue to drive global growth within the industry.”

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025 will take place from 28 April to 1 May.

Ahmed Khoory said: “Emirates is proud to continuously serve Mauritius since 2002 and to be playing a key role in achieving the country’s tourism targets through our partnership with Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority. By operating double daily A380 services, we have the capacity to transport up to 1,000 tourists per day into the island, and we hope to continue making a positive impact on the country’s tourism economy. We are fully committed to continuing our efforts to promote the destination to our global customers.”

Arvind Bundhun, Director, MTPA, said: “We are thrilled about the renewed partnership between Emirates Airline and MTPA. The arrival of Emirates in Mauritius has boosted our tourism sector by opening the Emirati market and allowing us to reach Russia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. With Dubai’s hub to nearly 140 destinations, Emirates also provides global connectivity to the island. We do not doubt that Emirates will continue to provide unparalleled daily service and look forward to an enhanced cooperation.”

Emirates and the Uganda Tourism Board signed an MoU to drive inbound tourism and boost visitors to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa.

Badr Abbas, said: “Uganda has been a key destination on our global network for over two decades, and one of the most loved in Africa. Through this partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board, we are solidifying our commitment to driving international travellers to experience Uganda’s stunning natural landscapes where some of the world’s most exotic wildlife roam free, thrilling adventure sports and activities and, of course, the warm hospitality that characterizes Ugandan culture.”

Lilly Ajarova the Uganda Tourism Board CEO said: “The signing of this MoU is a significant milestone in promoting Uganda which is also affectionately known as the Pearl of Africa as a competitive tourism destination. The Uganda Tourism Board is excited to partner with Emirates to benefit from its vast network across the world and attract tourists to Uganda.”

The Forum's Investment Showcase from 20-22 May, in Riyadh, will highlight projects and incentives to attract investment into the Kingdom's booming aviation sector across airports, airlines, ground services, cargo and logistics.

As part of the $100 billion of investment opportunities, airports account for more than $50 billion, new aircraft orders around $40 billion, while the remaining $10 billion is comprised of other projects, including $5 billion in special logistics areas around the three main airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. 

His Excellency the Minister for Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh-Al-Jasser, who will open FAF24 said: “Saudi Arabia is presenting aviation investment opportunities that are unmatched globally, as the Saudi Aviation Strategy triples passenger numbers, connects to more than 250 destinations and handles 330 million passengers and 4.5 million tons of cargo by 2030." 

His Excellency the Minister for Investment Khalid Al-Falih, who will open the Investment Showcase, added: “Saudi Arabia is the world’s new investment hub, targeting $3.3 trillion in investment by 2030. Aviation is a key investment sector and enabler of the Kingdom’s broader economic transformation. The aviation investment showcase will provide investors with unparalleled access to participate in the Kingdom’s transformation.”

The session, ‘Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation’, was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and included panellists from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.

Research from IATA shows that international passenger traffic increased by 20% in March 2024 compared with the same month last year. According to Kashif Khalid, Regional Director, Africa & Middle East, IATA, innovation is essential for enabling the industry to accommodate this significant growth in air traffic.

Khalid said: “Without innovation, the future will be very challenging. We cannot continue building bigger infrastructure with the level of passengers we anticipate, so we have to look at how we manage passengers and cargo differently through digital solutions and innovation.

On the ground, the industry is working on several innovations, not only to make aviation more sustainable but also to use infrastructure more efficiently. One of these solutions is One ID, where we digitalise tokens for passengers, which enables us to facilitate passengers seamlessly. How we use the traditional infrastructure of airports is going to change dramatically.”

IATA One ID is a digital identity initiative that aims to streamline and enhance passenger travel. The ground-breaking system consolidates a variety of travel documents, such as passports, tickets, and boarding passes, into a single digital token, eliminating the need for multiple physical documents. By providing a unified and efficient identity management solution, IATA One ID enhances security, simplifies check-in processes, and facilitates seamless travel across airports.

During the panel discussion, Kevin Hightower, Vice President of Product, Cirium, stated that data sharing is the key to increasing efficiency in the aviation space and helping the industry accommodate increased demand. Hightower said, “That which is measured can be improved. As we share more data across boundaries, we will start to see the benefits today. Where a decision used to take hours, technologies such as Generative AI enable us to make decisions in seconds.”

Riyadh Air, Saudi’s new national carrier, will launch in 2025 and will be the first digitally native airline, according to Abe Dev, Vice President, Digital and Innovation, Riyadh Air. He said: “Technologies such as AI and cloud computing have matured in the last few years, and so have customer expectations, so we have a unique opportunity to deliver a technology-enabled guest experience that has never been seen before.”

Dev also outlined that Riyadh Air would provide a solid platform for startups to collaborate with the airline, providing further opportunities for innovation. Aviation X Lab, part of Emirates Group, is an aviation-specific incubator based in the UAE, which is already making a significant impact in this area.

Aviation X Lab brings together industry leaders, startups and experts to collaborate on solving key challenges and driving innovation in the aviation sector. Focusing on sustainability, safety, passenger experience and operational efficiency, Aviation X Lab aims to transform the future of air travel through cutting-edge technologies and collaborative partnerships.

“When we look at the travel experience, we look at the passenger journey holistically and try to map out the various touchpoints where technology and innovation can bring advancements,” said Amna Al Redha, Manager, Aviation X Lab.

She added: “We can’t talk about the future without having a sustainability focus - it’s not about being the fastest and biggest anymore; it’s about which aviation companies are going to operate in a sustainable way.”

As part of this partnership, members of JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty programme and members of Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, will now be able to earn and redeem Miles in the programme of their choice when flying across the network of either airline. 

Mark Potter, managing director Etihad Guest, said: “JetBlue has been an important partner for Etihad for almost a decade and we’re thrilled to be extending this partnership to our loyalty programmes, benefitting both of our airlines’ valued members. We look forward to welcoming and rewarding TrueBlue members. 

“This also further bolsters Etihad’s commitment to the US market, following the recent launch of our direct service connecting Abu Dhabi and Boston, as well as introducing our popular A380 onto the New York route, expanding capacity.” 

“As a successful partner since 2014, we are excited to introduce loyalty benefits as part of our codeshare partnership with Etihad,” said Christopher Buckner, Vice President Loyalty and Partnerships, JetBlue. “This partnership extension delivers both JetBlue TrueBlue and Etihad Guest members more ways to earn and redeem on travel, making exploring either airline’s network of top global destinations even more rewarding.” 

The Business Traveller ME Awards took place a ceremony at The Ritz, Dubai, with Etihad taking to the stage to receive the award for the Best Cabin Crew for the fourth consecutive year, as well as Best Economy Class.

The winners were decided by votes cast online by travellers and readers of Business Traveller Middle East magazine and independently verified.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive officer at Etihad Airways, said: “Our people are our most important asset, and I couldn’t be prouder of our team at Etihad Airways. We are honoured to receive these awards which are a testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of our people.

“On behalf of the Etihad family, I would like to express our sincerest thanks to our guests, our partners and the travel and tourism industry.”

Announced at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, UAE, the partnership builds on an existing 10-year relationship and will leverage the strengths of the airline and MSC Cruises to enhance the guest experience and support the growth of Dubai’s cruise tourism eco-system.

For the next two years, guests will be able to book a Fly&Cruise holiday package with MSC Cruises, which includes Emirates return flights from 21 airports across Europe and South America.

Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President for Passenger Sales and Country Management said: “We’re eager to continue our partnership with MSC Cruises who have been an integral part of Dubai’s growing cruise tourism industry. We’re confident that we have the right plans in place, as we work closely to deliver a seamless sea-to-air experience for our customers. Our partnership with MSC Cruises is also one of the ways we’re working to strengthen Dubai’s position as the world’s preferred winter cruising destination.”

Gianni Onorato, CEO of MSC Cruises, said: “We are delighted to further extend our partnership with Emirates for MSC Euribia Fly&Cruise packages from Dubai this winter season. Both Emirates and MSC Cruises are recognised as leaders in their fields, so it’s a perfect match to offer Emirates’ high-quality flight service with the outstanding experience waiting for guests on board our ship. Guests will benefit from a streamlined journey from home to ship and dedicated support team for a stress-free start and end to their holiday.”

Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ SVP Commercial - West Asia & Indian Ocean, said: “Seychelles is a key leisure destination in our network that we have proudly been operating in since 2005. Our partnership aimed at promoting tourism to the nation goes back to 2013 and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting its tourism industry. Seychelles is a tourist destination which is highly popular amongst travellers from key markets in our network and we are proud to play a role in driving traffic flows to the island through our efforts.”

Emirates also reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to promoting tourism to Sri Lanka.

Khoory said: “Sri Lanka is one of the very first destinations Emirates launched operations to so our 38-year relationship with the country is one we take special pride in.  We remain committed to deepening our relationship and playing a key role in promoting Sri Lanka as a key leisure destination in our network and contributing to the tourism and trade sectors through our passenger and cargo services.”

The airline has also forged a new partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Emirates and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will work together with the aim to boost inbound tourism into Hong Kong from key target markets in the Middle East and Europe.

Orhan Abbas, senior vice president commercial operations Far East said: "We are delighted to establish this strategic partnership with the HKTB to spur growth in the local travel and tourism industry. The city has always been popular among our global customers and it continues to attract visitors all year round thanks to its unique cosmopolitan attractions. Through our extensive global network, we will work closely with the HKTB to introduce travellers from key Middle East and GCC markets to the vibrant culture, Michelin-starred culinary scene and dynamic attractions that Hong Kong has to offer."

The companies will establish their commitment to fostering Saudi Arabia as a global tourism hub. This partnership combines Saudia's extensive air services with Season Tours’ travel experiences, aimed to redefine Saudi tourism's accessibility and connectivity.

Arved Von Zur Muehlen, CCO at Saudia, stated: "We are delighted to partner with Season Tours. Together, we are dedicated to maximizing Saudi Arabia's tourism appeal and delivering unparalleled experiences to our guests, highlighting the Kingdom's rich culture."

Ayman Yousef Khalawi, CEO of Season Tourism, added: "At Season Tours, we are thrilled to aboard this transformative journey with Saudia. This partnership signifies a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia's tourism landscape, as we work hand in hand to unlock the Kingdom’s unparalleled beauty and cultural heritage."