Dubai Police have warned people of the dangers of buying last-minute airline tickets for just a fraction of the usual price after arresting a man who booked several tickets for people using a stolen credit card.

The man, from an Asian country, defrauded dozens of people and bought airline tickets by creating a fake online travel agency and using a stolen credit card.

Dubai Police did not specify how many tickets were bought or their value.

Col Saeed Al Hajiri, director of the Cybercrime Department at Dubai Police, said airline ticket fraud usually flourishes in the summer and holiday seasons, but the number of cases in the emirate has dropped significantly.

Dubai Police recorded 36 cases of airline ticket fraud between 2009 and June of this year.

The Asian suspect has been the only case so far this year, compared with eight cases last year. Dubai Police recorded two cases in 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent drop in overall travel.

“Fake airline ticket scammers are usually active during the summer season but there has been a dramatic drop in the number of cases in Dubai. This year we recorded one case,” Col Al Hajiri told The National.

Dubai Police said the arrest was part of an continuing operation called “Bats Hunt”, which is in co-operation with Interpol, airline companies and global airports.

Col Al Hajiri urged the public to book their airline tickets through verified airline companies and agents.

“Be careful before you buy or you could wind up with no ticket and losing your money to criminals,” he said.

“Always buy the ticket from official channels. Sometimes scammers make a fake website posing as an official agent or airline company.”

He advised travellers to check the approved list of travel agents in the UAE with the Economic Development Department, as well as the travel agent’s permission or licences.

Social media advert for tickets

Fatima Jameel, an Egyptian resident in the UAE, said her friend was a victim of an airline ticket swindle after buying tickets through an advert on a social media platform.

“She contacted the number to buy a ticket to an Arab country and wired the money to an unknown woman. Upon receiving the tickets, my friend discovered it was fake,” said Fatima.

The fraudster, who was living outside the UAE, blocked the woman’s number and did not reply to her messages. The victim filed a case — which is still under investigation — but her travel plans were ruined.

Dubai Police said criminals have also targeted people staying illegally in the country by promising a work visa for a country outside the UAE and airline tickets in exchange for money.

“Despite the awareness campaigns, some people fall prey while searching for low-cost tickets. We recorded 390 cases in the last three years where violators were conned by scammers,” Col Al Hajiri said.

Police advise the public to report any fraud via the Dubai Police E-crime platform on Dubai Police’s website, the Smart Police Station or the Dubai Police application on smartphones.

Source: The National News

The US Embassy in Nairobi has suspended appointments for visa interviews until June 2024 owing to high demand and Covid-linked backlogs.

In a statement released on Monday, the embassy acknowledged the frustrations that Kenyans travelling to the US are going through.

“Currently, the first available dates for a visitor visa appointment in Nairobi are in June 2024. U.S. Embassy Nairobi recognizes the significant challenges and frustrations this poses for Kenyans planning to visit the United States for business and tourism,” read the statement seen by Business Daily.

Kenyans on social media have expressed their frustrations in recent days over what they have termed as unfair visa rules. Others have been forced to cancel travel plans over delays in processing the critical document.

The embassy said that non-immigrant visa interviews at the Nairobi office ceased for over a year due to Covid-19 safety measures.

“As we work through the backlog of applications and address the high demand for services, we recognize that some applicants may face extended visa interview wait times. This is a worldwide problem that US embassies are diligently striving to address,” the embassy said.

However, the embassy has committed to expediting appointments for emergencies such as the death of an immediate family member and people travelling for urgent medical care.

Students whose programmes start in less than 30 days and are likely to lose their scholarships will also be given priority. 

Further, the embassy has committed to doubling the number of interviews to clear the current backlog. 

“We instituted a visa renewal process that does not require an in-person interview for certain applicants. Kenyans renewing visitor (B1/B2 category) or student visas (F category) whose visas expired less than one year ago may be eligible to renew without an interview,” said the embassy.

Source: Business Daily

Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President, Africa & Middle East, says governments must walk the walk and support African aviation.

Aviation’s post-pandemic recovery was predicted to be uneven across markets and dependent on financial and economic factors, government policies, and the relaxation of travel restrictions and requirements.

Partly, this was caused by the aviation industry grounding to a halt worldwide in 2020. To stay afloat, airlines, airports, ground handlers, and other services suppliers accumulated debt in various shapes and forms, which they now must repay.

At the same time, across the board, in industry and governments, hundreds of thousands of staff were retrenched, retired, or furloughed to cut costs and preserve cash. Many industry players are now trying to rehire or hire new people, but for various reasons—such as the slow pace of security vetting of new airport-based workers in the United Kingdom—many entities are ill-equipped to take full advantage of the surges in demand that are being seen as markets reopen. Instead, we have entered the surreal, where airlines are forced to cancel thousands of flights. And London-Heathrow, an iconic global hub, has capped traffic at 100,000 passengers a day to prevent operational gridlock.

Traffic flows

Although Africa’s airlines and airports are not experiencing the same chaos as many of the big northern hemisphere gateways, their recovery and sustainability are affected as they are heavily dependent on north-south traffic flows. They are struggling to find a sure footing in the face of numerous other factors facing them too.

For most African carriers, this is an arduous journey with no relief or support from any of the continent’s governments, despite public acknowledgement of the vital social and economic contributions airlines make. And so, those African airlines that have survived COVID are once again being pushed to the brink, with at least one carrier, Comair, going into bankruptcy.

These factors include rising charges for infrastructure and other services, as airports, air navigation service providers, regulatory bodies, and other suppliers look to recoup foregone revenues and cover their inflationary costs. 

In some countries, notably Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, the situation has exacerbated shortages of foreign exchange, prompting central banks to block or severely limit the repatriation of more than $800 million of foreign airlines’ revenues derived from sales in those territories.

On top of this are increasing demands and pressure to invest in and adopt environmentally sustainable technologies and processes.

Fuel prices

By far the biggest headache for every airline is the sharp increase in fuel prices.  Even though Africa only accounts for 1.9% of the global air travel market, the continent’s carriers are not immune to this geopolitical shock.

According to IATA’s most recent analysis, the global average jet fuel price in mid-July was $146.4/barrel. At this level, airlines worldwide will incur an extra $134.3 billion to their combined total fuel bill for 2022.

Although fuel prices have come off their June 2022 peak, in Africa, jet kerosene sells at a premium and averaged $160.63/barrel for the first ten days of July. This was 79.8% higher than it had been over the same period last year. 

To put this in perspective, aviation fuel historically accounted for between 20%– 25% of most African airlines’ cost base. Today, it can be as much as half, if not more, and is their biggest single line item. Although airlines are trying to mitigate the combined impact of jet fuel prices and other inflationary costs, they are running out of headroom. 

Jet fuel usually trades at a $20 premium over crude oil, but this gap has widened to more than $50 since March.

This compounds the challenge many African carriers face. They generate most of their revenues in weaker home currencies but incur their input costs, often including fuel, in US dollars and euros.  Every time the dollar price of fuel goes up or the dollar strengthens against softer local currencies, the revenue-cost gap widens.

It may seem incongruous that jet fuel in Africa, which boasts several oil-producing nations, should sell at such a premium. A large component of the additional cost relates to transport and logistics. Because jet fuel is no longer refined in Africa, it must be imported, shipped by sea, and transported from harbors to inland storage depots and airports, often far from the coast. In some places, it is carried by rail or pipeline, but for the most part, it is transported by road. 

In addition to the logistics and associated costs, recent events, such as the trucking blockades on South Africa’s motorway between Durban and Johannesburg and the floods that swept away sections of the rail tracks linking the two cities underscored the vulnerability of these supply lines.

The floods around Durban triggered a jet fuel supply crisis at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is unlikely to be resolved before Q4 this year. At its onset, this caused some airlines to cancel flights, with others incurring additional expenses as they diverted flights to refuel at other airports or carried extra fuel (if they could do so). Recently, pressure on fuel supplies intensified with the National Refinery (NATREF) in South Africa shutting down. It operates the dedicated jet fuel pipeline to the airport.

Political will

With so much of Africa’s fortunes dependent on safe, efficient, and affordable air transport, the sustainability of its airlines—both state and privately owned—is crucial.   It is time for governments to do more than pay lip service.

The industry does not require state bailouts. Relief from rising statutory charges and taxes on fuel and aviation would be far more effective. The release of blocked funds is crucial, as is the guarantee of secure, reliable, and efficient fuel supplies. Lifting caps on foreign investment and equity in African airlines would also bring much-needed liquidity.

At an intra-Africa level, the biggest and most achievable wins require all African governments to demonstrate their political will by removing the barriers to market entry and ensuring fair and equal treatment for all carriers in each market. This is the basis for the African Union’s Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM). Africa’s leaders have been talking about it and signing solemn undertakings since 1988. Having talked the talk, now it is time to walk the walk!

Source: Airlines.

The current labour shortage could have serious implications on the recovery of Europe’s travel and tourism sector, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the European Travel Commission (ETC).

According to the industry bodies, close to 1.2 million jobs across Europe will remain unfilled during the summer period, with travel agencies forecasted to be the hardest hit with a 30 per cent shortfall of workers.

Meanwhile, the air transport and accommodation segments are likely to suffer one in five unfilled vacancies, representing 21 per cent and 22 per cent staff shortage respectively.

WTTC president and CEO, Julia Simpson said: “Europe showed one of the strongest recoveries in 2021, ahead of the global average. However, current shortages of labour can delay this trend and put additional pressure on an already embattled sector.

“Governments and the private sector need to come together to provide the best opportunities for people looking for the great career opportunities that the travel sector offers,” she added.

In 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, close to 1.7 million jobs (direct employment) were lost across Europe’s travel sector. As governments eased restrictions and borders reopened in 2021, the sector’s direct contribution to the region’s economy recovered by 30.4 per cent and recovered 571,000 jobs, according to WTTC.

This year, WTTC projects the sector’s recovery will continue to accelerate and almost reach pre-pandemic levels, but only if “urgent action” is taken to address the labour shortfall.

Together with ETC, the council urged governments to implement new policies to facilitate labour mobility across borders. 

The industry bodies also called upon the private sector to offer comprehensive training to upskill workers and adopt digital solutions to improve daily operations.

ETC president, Luis Araujo, said attracting and retaining new talent is one of the sector’s “biggest challenges” and requires a “coordinated, multi-layered and joint (public and private)” response. 

Source: BTN Europe

Air fares are rising but traveler numbers keep increasing. At what point will people say enough is enough and wait for air fares to settle?

We all know air fares are going up. It’s a function of too many passengers and not enough seats. We all know how that happened, with the aviation industry underestimating the speed of the recovery and getting caught on the hop. It’s still possible to jag a bargain, particularly if you are flying short haul domestic and not fussed about which airline you fly. But if you are flying further afield and pickier about your carrier, then these days, you are likely to pay considerably more than you once did.

When will passengers say enough is enough regarding fare rises?

But how much is enough? At what price point will travelers put their credit card away and not fly. Airline analytics business OAG surveyed 1,442 passengers using their app in May and came up with some figures. Now, 1,442 people isn’t a huge sample size and if you’ve downloaded their app you are probably already a bit of an airline industry stalker and keen on a plane ride, but let’s take a look at the results with this in mind.

According to OAG, 79% of respondents said a US$50 fare increase wouldn’t make any difference to their travel plans. Increase the fare by $100 and 43% of travelers would go ahead with the trip. Increase the fare by $200 and the proportion of travelers still keen to fly drops to 17%. A $300 fare increase would reduce the number of respondents still willing to fly to just 9%.

Context is everything with air fare rises

Of course, context is everything. If I’m paying $150 to fly five hundred miles on a low-cost carrier, then a $50 fare rise might sting. It’s not a lot of money, but a 33% fare increase seems like an opportunistic sting. If I’m paying $10,000 to fly business class from Los Angeles to Bangkok the long way around, a $1,000 fare increase probably wouldn’t sway the purchase decision. It’s much more money than the low-cost-carrier sting, but as a proportion of the overall fare it is less so (only 10%) and more agreeable to my headspace that is already (apparently) ready to part with $10,000.

“Most travelers are eager to get to their destinations as quickly as possible. Few are willing to wait three to four hours during a layover, even if it means they can save $100-$200 on ticket prices,” says OAG. “More are willing to wait three to four hours to save $300 to $400 on ticket prices. The willingness to wait five hours plus during layovers drops no matter the ticket price.” What OAG didn’t say, and probably should, is what was the baseline ticket price quoted when surveying the respondents. Acceptance (or non-acceptance) of price rises and other travel pains is usually all about percentages of the fare rather than raw dollar values.

People are mostly happy to pay a premium to fly

The survey respondents lived in North America where OAG notes ticket prices jumped 18.6% in April alone (based on Bureau of Labor statistics).

Other than fare rises, what else gets up North American travelers noses and deters travel. 52% of respondents cited scheduling problems like delays and cancelations. 19% of respondents have issues with customer service in the airline industry and 14% mentioned the lack of flight options to where they wanted to go.

The airline industry in the North America and many other parts of the world is pretty messed up right now. Logically, most people would avoid non-essential air travel just to dodge the chaos. But perfectly sane humans are buying expensive flight tickets by the millions to undertake non-essential travel and get caught up in the mess. OAG reckons 300 million North Americans and 1.6 billion people worldwide plan to fly within the next three months. That’s a lot of gluttons for punishment – me included.

Source: Simple Flying

Results from a recent survey conducted by global travel network Virtuoso highlight how some of the world’s most discerning travelers view sustainable tourism.

The results found that while travel rebounds in new and innovative ways, travelers remain ever conscious of their place and impact in the world, with more than 80% of respondents indicating that the pandemic has made them want to travel more responsibly in the future. This figure echoes identical findings from a survey conducted last year, proving that traveling sustainably continues to be a top priority for luxury travelers.

Assessing high-end travelers’ sentiment regarding purposeful travel, Virtuoso’s 2021 sustainability survey found that 78% believed it’s important to choose travel companies that have a strong sustainability policy, moving them to seek out companies committed to Virtuoso’s three pillars of sustainability: protecting the planet, supporting local economies and celebrating cultures.

In addition, 70% agreed that traveling sustainably enhances their vacation experience, and the overwhelming majority of respondents said they would be willing to visit a popular destination during off-peak seasons or opt for an alternative, less-touristed destination to help combat over-tourism.

This eagerness to explore the planet in a way that protects it for future generations has persevered throughout the pandemic, and its influence is present today.

In Virtuoso’s 2022 sustainability survey, affluent consumers reported that cost is less of a factor when planning to implement sustainable travel practices, but transparency is: 75% of travellers are willing to pay more to travel responsibly if they know how the funds are being used.

Travellers also expressed a strong desire for deeper knowledge and assistance with making more informed decisions around sustainable travel, with 40% of respondents saying they would be encouraged to travel more responsibly if they had guidance from a trusted source, such as a professional travel advisor, who could help them determine where to begin.

“The pandemic has led to an interesting phenomenon, taking sustainable travel from afterthought to forethought for travellers who are now searching for more meaning in their lives, their actions and ultimately with their spend,” said Vice-Chair and Sustainability Strategist Jessica Hall Upchurch.

“Travellers want to know that they, and their money, are making a difference. The pandemic disrupted the industry unlike anything before, but it also shifted priorities, resulting in a renewed commitment from travelers to safeguard the planet and each other. This conscious comeback will continue to transform the way we travel, and it reaffirms our belief that travel can be a force for good.”

The 2022 sustainability survey also revealed the ways in which travellers support sustainable tourism and the top destinations / trips associated with sustainable tourism:

Top 5 Ways Travellers Support Sustainable Tourism

1. Reduce food and plastic waste by bringing their own water bottle, carrying reusable bags, etc.
2. Support wildlife conservation
3. Travel during the off-season or to lesser-known destinations
4. Contribute to causes that benefit the destination and community they’re visiting
5. Support travel companies with a strong sustainability policy

Top 5 Trips/Destinations Travellers Associate with or Prioritise for Sustainable Tourism

1. Cultural tours (land-based)
2. River cruising
3. Heritage sites
4. African safaris and ocean cruising (tie)
5. Island destinations

Source: Luxury Travel Magazine

China recently started operations of international flights after a two-year ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as per the reports, there is no confirmation yet on the resumption of air services to India even after Beijing lifted the visa ban for Indian professionals and their families last month.

Reports state that China has also reduced the quarantine time to 7 days in designated hotels in the process of streamlining procedures for those arriving into the country, which is followed by 3-day isolation at home from the previous 2-day isolation for inbound travellers.

Reportedly, the said policy led to an increase in flight operations connecting China with other countries, especially the United States, along with the number of people travelling out of the country.

China has also made substantial adjustments since the COVID-19 pandemic, as consulates and embassies in 125 countries announced policies to streamline the process for those entering the Chinese mainland.

However, there have been no regular routes between India and China since November 2020, and no flights from both the countries have been notified yet.

As reported earlier, Beijing last month lifted a two-year visa ban for Indian professionals and their families working in various Chinese cities, but their travel to China remained a challenge as no flights between the two countries have started yet.

Meanwhile, China has permitted limited flight services to several countries in the neighbourhood, such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

With regard to those Indian professionals and their families who began getting Chinese visas in India to return, they added that they are facing problems as there are no direct flights to China.

Source: Times Travel

Flying to Europe this year might sound as absurd as opting for premium gasoline. With prices this high, is it really the right time to splurge?

“As a result of labor shortages and all these things going on, travel is more expensive than it’s been in a while,” says travel journalist Oneika Raymond. “Flights are really expensive. Accommodation is really expensive. And revenge travel is a thing.”

Although travel prices continue to soar overall due to constrained supply and mounting demand, pockets of affordability remain.

Europe represents one of these pockets, where weakening currency exchange rates against the dollar and tepid demand have left prices relatively unscathed. In fact, flights within the U.S. have become so expensive this year that some international destinations, including many in Europe, offer a relative bargain.

“If you are willing to pay to fly domestically, check out international destinations,” suggests Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, a travel booking app. “Because there is a good chance that there is a flight to somewhere else in the world for about the same price.”

Airfare Is Less Inflated In Europe

Domestic airfare was 30% higher at the end of May 2022 compared with May 2019, according to data from Hopper.

“Airfare this summer within the U.S. will cost $600 to $800,” says Berg. “At those prices you can get to Reykjavik, Iceland, or Dublin, Ireland.”

Indeed, flights from the U.S. to Europe were only up 13% at the end of May 2022 compared with the same period in 2019, according to Hopper. That trend squares with tourist demand, which remains below pre-pandemic levels: About 19% fewer U.S. travelers left for Europe in May 2022 compared with May 2019, before the pandemic, according to data from the International Trade Administration.

Put simply, prices and demand for flights to Europe are increasing, but not as quickly as they are elsewhere.

“Given how high domestic airfare is, you can get more bang for your buck with longer-haul destinations,” explains Berg.

The Dollar Is Strong

Although 2022 may go down as a bear market for everything from stocks to cryptocurrency, the U.S. dollar has gained ground on many foreign currencies. The dollar was 15% stronger against the euro in May 2022 compared with May 2021, according to data from the Federal Reserve.

“Today what we’re seeing is that a dollar can buy more euros than it has been able to essentially since the euro launched,” says Berg.

This means that anything purchased while traveling in countries that use the euro will be at a 15% discount, if currency exchange rates remain stable. U.S. travelers will enjoy this benefit on everything from food and lodging to events and transportation.

Of course, global inflationary pressures continue to drive up prices everywhere, including Europe. Annual consumer prices in Germany were up 7.9% in May, according to the Financial Times, just shy of the 8.6% increase in the U.S. Yet, while prices may remain elevated nearly everywhere, the relative strength of the dollar can help soften the blow.

Public Transportation Can Help You Save

Inflation has hit no aspect of travel more directly and dramatically than the cost of renting and operating a vehicle. Rental cars prices were up a budget-busting 69% in May 2022 compared with May 2019, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. And everybody knows how high gasoline prices have jumped.

These factors should make this the summer of public transportation for money-conscious travelers. Yet the U.S. offers few tourist destinations that can be explored by train.

Not so in Europe, where most popular cities offer safe, affordable and dependable transit. Cities such as Amsterdam, London and Copenhagen can be explored for only a few euros, which is equivalent to only a few U.S. dollars with favorable exchange rates.

Visiting national parks in the U.S. made sense in 2020 and 2021 for a host of reasons. But saving money in 2022 means skipping cars outright when possible.

Off The Beaten Path?

We are in strange times indeed when traveling to Europe represents an off-the-beaten-path, budget-friendly choice. Yet the facts speak for themselves. Airfare to Europe is rising less quickly than domestic tickets, and fewer travelers are visiting the continent. The dollar is strong, and the U.S. has dropped its testing requirement for arriving travelers, which made leaving the country a pain.

All this has combined to make Europe a good choice for travelers in an upside-down year. Riding the rails in Zurich could prove cheaper than renting a car in Cleveland.

Source: AP

Dubai hotels will continue to lead the ongoing robust recovery in the Middle East hotel sector in 2022 with occupancy levels as high as 77 per cent.

Hotels in Dubai Creek/Festival City and Dubai Marina/JBR areas will be the busiest with the highest occupancy rates, according to the Mena Hotel Forecast by Colliers.

“The impact of Expo 2020 has had a positive impact on all markets in the UAE, while the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is expected to result in overspill demand to the key transit hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” Colliers said in its latest report.

However, rising instability in key CIS source markets is expected to suppress demand, with the largest impacts expected in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, it said.

“Given the diversity of source markets for the UAE, additional hotel demand may be induced from alternative markets at a lower price positioning,” Colliers said in its report.

In Dubai, across almost 800 hotels, occupancy rates in Dubai have averaged 76 per cent throughout the first half of 2022. The achievement makes Dubai the world leader for hotel occupancies, head of New York, London, and Paris, according to the recent tourism data revealed by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).

Dubai has welcomed 6.17 million international overnight visitors up to May 2022, a 197 per cent YoY increase. The 76 per cent occupancy figure was maintained from January to April 2022.

Hotels in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah also have recorded above 60 per cent occupancy

Dubai is building on the massive momentum generated by the hugely successful Expo 2020 to drive growth across all its tourism pillars from cultural to culinary experiences. “As we look ahead to the remainder of 2022 and beyond, we will harness the key elements that have ensured the industry’s steady growth year after year since we reopened to international visitors in 2020 – providing an unparalleled diverse destination offering that offers unique value and memorable experiences for our guests,” said Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of DET.

Christopher Lund, the executive director, Colliers, said most markets would have improved on their year-on-year performance in the second half of 2022. “However, increased geopolitical tension, a rising price of oil, and a significant increase in inflation have affected key inbound source markets for the region resulting in a slower than expected recovery. When factored with an increase in outbound travel from the region, this has reduced the rate of recovery in domestically oriented markets.”

“While ongoing monitoring of the Covid-19 pandemic by key touristic stakeholders continues to influence how markets recover, consumer confidence will be the principal determiner of growth. A transparent and consistent approach to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions to support further recovery and growth remains a key factor in improvement,” said Lund.

In the Middle East, the sharpest jump in occupancy was demonstrated by hotels in Makkah at 106 per cent and Madinah at 80 per cent due to the restart of the pilgrimage travel while negative occupancy growth was recorded by hotels in Sharm El-Shaikh and Alexandria, at 12 per cent and 7.0 per cent respectively.

“The Riyadh Season and growing consumer confidence has benefitted both the Riyadh and Jeddah markets. While positive indications on the return of pilgrim demand has improved the outlook for the Makkah and Madinah markets. The rising price of oil has historically led to increased corporate demand in Al Khobar/Dammam, however, an increase in outbound travel may reduce this impact,” said the report.

Cairo has maintained its rate of growth, however, leisure-oriented markets have experienced a marked reduction of demand stemming from increased competition in the region as well as travel uncertainty from the key CIS markets. The exception here is the Hurghada market which has maintained its levels of demand.

Doha has experienced a slight decrease in occupancy over H1 2022 compared to the previous year. However, Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 is expected to result in super-normal levels of demand for its duration in the final quarter of the year.

Source: Khaleej Times

Emirates and Air Canada have announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement that will create more options for customers when travelling on the carriers’ networks.

Emirates and Air Canada intend to establish a codeshare relationship later in 2022 to offer enhanced consumer travel choices for Air Canada customers to travel to the United Arab Emirates and to destinations beyond Dubai, and vice versa.

Customers will have opportunities to book connecting travel between both airlines’ networks with the ease of a single ticket, seamless connectivity at the carriers’ respective global hubs and baggage transfers to their final destinations.

President of Emirates Airline, Sir Tim Clark, described the pact as a significant partnership that would enable customers’ access to more destinations in Canada and the Americas, via the Toronto and U.S. gateways.

“It also opens up many new route combinations for travellers across Emirates’ and Air Canada’s extensive networks in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

“We are pleased to partner with Air Canada, one of North America’s most established airlines and Canada’s flag carrier and we look forward to jointly progressing in various areas to provide even better customer flight choices and experiences.”

President and CEO of Air Canada, Michael Rousseau, added that they were very pleased to form a strategic partnership with Emirates, a highly respected flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates with a hub in the vibrant city of Dubai.

“This strategic agreement will create network synergies, and Air Canada customers will have additional, convenient options when travelling between Canada and the United Arab Emirates as well as destinations beyond Dubai. We look forward to introducing Air Canada codeshare service on key Emirates flights, as well as adding the EK code on select Air Canada flights, and welcoming Emirates customers on our services later this year.”

To further enhance the customer experience, the carriers will also establish reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and reciprocal lounge access for qualifying customers. Further details of the partnership and specific codeshare routes will be announced when finalised and will be subject to regulatory approvals and final documentation.

Source: The Guardian