Riyadh Air has reached a major step toward taking delivery of its first aircraft after completing the initial manufacturer test flight—known as the B1 flight—for its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The aircraft took off from Boeing’s manufacturing site in Charleston, South Carolina, beginning a wider programme of test flights inside the United States. These flights form part of Boeing’s standard certification, quality assurance, and performance verification process, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The milestone flight was conducted by Boeing test pilots. Once the manufacturer’s testing phase is completed and official certifications are issued, the programme is expected to move into the next stage—flight tests led by Riyadh Air’s own pilots and flight crews. That transition is a key step on the path to the Dreamliner’s formal delivery to the airline.

Riyadh Air has officially commenced domestic operations, operating its first flight between Riyadh and Jeddah on Sunday, June 15, marking a significant step in the carrier's expansion strategy within Saudi Arabia.

The inaugural service departed from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Among those travelling on the flight were Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah, General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, Riyadh Air board member Raid Ismail, and several senior figures from the Kingdom's aviation sector.

Upon arrival in Jeddah, the delegation was welcomed by Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) Chairman Raed Al-Mudaiheem, Chief Executive Officer Mazen Johar, along with representatives from government bodies and airport security authorities.

The newly launched route initially operates with two daily services connecting the Kingdom's two largest cities. Riyadh Air plans to increase the schedule to three daily flights beginning June 18, followed by four daily flights from July 2 as passenger demand continues to grow.

The expansion comes as air travel between Riyadh and Jeddah remains one of the busiest domestic markets globally. Data from aviation analytics company OAG ranked the corridor as the world's fifth-busiest domestic route in 2025, offering approximately 9.8 million seats during the year.

Riyadh Air said the additional capacity will contribute to national development goals by supporting tourism growth, facilitating business travel, and strengthening economic activity across Saudi Arabia.

Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas described the launch as a major milestone for the airline, highlighting its role in building a comprehensive network that will connect Saudi Arabia with destinations worldwide. He added that the Riyadh-Jeddah service caters to both business and leisure travellers while supporting the aviation and connectivity objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030.

JEDCO CEO Mazen Johar said the new operation demonstrates the coordination and integration of Saudi Arabia's aviation sector and will provide passengers with greater travel flexibility and improved service options.

He also noted that King Abdulaziz International Airport handled more than 14.8 million passengers through nearly 84,000 flights during the first quarter of 2026, underlining continued growth in airport operations and passenger traffic.

Source: ZAWYA

Etihad Airways and Condor have strengthened their growing strategic partnership by signing a new frequent flyer agreement and announcing an additional route linking Bangkok with Abu Dhabi.

The announcements were made during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and represent the latest phase of the cooperation agreement first unveiled in December 2025.

Bangkok will become the third destination in Condor's planned Abu Dhabi operation, joining the airline's upcoming daily services from Frankfurt and Berlin. The Berlin route will provide the only direct air connection between the German capital and the UAE.

Under the newly signed loyalty partnership, members of Etihad Guest will be able to redeem miles on flights operated by Condor, opening access to destinations across Europe, North America, the Caribbean and other regions served by the German carrier.

The partnership already includes an extensive codeshare arrangement and continues to expand into areas such as network development, loyalty programmes, commercial cooperation and operational initiatives aimed at improving the passenger experience.

By combining Condor's strong leisure travel presence in Germany with Etihad's expanding global network through Abu Dhabi, the two airlines are creating additional travel opportunities between Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia while supporting tourism growth in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De said the relationship has rapidly developed into a strategically important partnership that benefits both airlines and their customers. He noted that the addition of Bangkok further enhances connectivity between Europe, Asia and the Middle East while strengthening Abu Dhabi's position as a global travel hub.

Condor Commercial Director and Executive Committee member Jens Boyd said the collaboration continues to deliver tangible benefits for travellers. He added that the new Bangkok route will expand travel options and improve connectivity across multiple regions.

Once operational, Condor's Abu Dhabi network from Frankfurt, Berlin and Bangkok will offer passengers convenient access to Etihad's extensive route network throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Australia, including destinations such as Zanzibar and Salalah.

The expanded cooperation is expected to complement Etihad's existing Germany services, strengthen links between Europe, the UAE and Asia, and support Abu Dhabi's broader tourism and economic development goals.

Source: ZAWYA

Oman Air has been named the winner of the 2026 APEX Best™ Award for Best Seat Comfort in the Middle East, reinforcing its reputation for delivering a premium onboard experience across the region.

The award was presented to Renata Rached, Vice President of Guest Experience, Loyalty and Brand, during the Future Travel Experience EMEA, Ancillary & Retailing 2026 event held in Dublin, Ireland, on 10 June.

This latest achievement represents Oman Air’s third recognition in the seat comfort category, following previous wins in 2022 and 2024. The carrier also earned APEX awards in 2025 for Best Food & Beverage and Best Cabin Service in the Middle East.

Commenting on the recognition, Rached said passenger feedback remains the most meaningful measure of an airline’s performance. She noted that Oman Air continues to focus on providing a travel experience that allows guests to feel comfortable and well-rested throughout their journey.

The APEX Best™ Awards are based on independently verified traveller reviews and recognise airlines for excellence in areas including seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage offerings, inflight entertainment, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

According to the airline, the award reflects ongoing investments in enhancing the passenger experience through spacious cabin designs, upgraded seating, modern interiors, premium amenities, and refined dining options, complemented by its customer-focused service standards.

Source: QCAA

Airlink has announced the introduction of direct flights between Cape Town and Mauritius, with the new service scheduled to commence on 2 October 2026.

The airline will operate the route twice a week, marking its first-ever service to Mauritius and further expanding its regional network. Tickets for the new connection are now available for booking.

Flights will be operated using Airlink's Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, providing passengers with a nonstop link between South Africa’s legislative capital and the Indian Ocean island nation.

The new route is expected to strengthen Cape Town’s role as a key gateway for regional travel. Mauritius continues to attract international visitors with its renowned beach resorts, golf destinations, and visa-on-arrival access for travellers from more than 140 countries.

Beyond tourism, Mauritius is also recognised as a significant business and investment hub. Its economy is supported by sectors such as financial services, information technology, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.

Airlink Chief Executive Officer de Villiers Engelbrecht said the introduction of the service would offer travellers a more efficient alternative by eliminating the need to connect through Johannesburg.

According to Engelbrecht, the airline’s Embraer E195-E2 fleet enables the launch of the direct route while supporting growing demand from both leisure and corporate travellers. He added that Cape Town serves as an important origin and transit point for passengers travelling to Mauritius.

Cape Town remains Airlink’s second-largest hub, providing access to the carrier’s domestic and regional network, as well as onward connections through its international airline partners.

Source: ZAWYA