Browsing: Travel

Etihad Airways is set to commence nonstop flights from Abu Dhabi to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea shoreline starting on Oct. 4, 2026. The new service will link Zayed International Airport with Red Sea International Airport located in Tabuk Province. Initially, the airline will operate one weekly flight, increasing to two flights each week beginning Oct. 25. The flight duration will be just over three hours, marking Etihad’s sixth destination within Saudi Arabia’s network.

Anak Krakatau ash disrupted air travel across Indonesia before major airports reopened. The Ministry of Transportation announced that Soekarno-Hatta, Halim Perdanakusuma, and Husein Sastranegara airports resumed their operations at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday. Atung Bungsu Airport in South Sumatra reopened earlier on Monday morning, while Budiarto Airport in Curug and Pondok Cabe Airport started at 2:25 a.m. Currently, Radin Inten II and Muhammad Taufiq Kiemas airports in Lampung are still under assessment according to the latest official transportation update. Prior to resuming normal flights, authorities mandated safety inspections for all aircraft. The airspace closures occurred after Anak Krakatau’s volcanic ash was dispersed across regions serving Jakarta and nearby areas. During the disruption, eight airports suspended operations, including Indonesia’s busiest international hub, Soekarno-Hatta. Volcanic ash poses serious risks to aircraft engines and visibility, making it a significant hazard in aviation. The authorities also imposed restrictions on aircraft entering zones where ash was detected. As airlines adjusted schedules, the disruption impacted both domestic and international flights, with departures, arrivals, and aircraft movements affected across the affected airports. Major airports reopen following ash clearance

Air Arabia Announces Quadrupling of Bangkok Flights to Meet Rising Travel Demand. From October 25, 2026, the airline will operate a new fourth daily non-stop service linking Sharjah International Airport with Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. This expansion brings the total weekly non-stop flights on the Sharjah-Bangkok route to 28, offering greater scheduling options for leisure and business travelers.

In July 2026, South Korea welcomed over 2 million international visitors, maintaining a level of inbound tourism that exceeds pre-pandemic figures. The Korea Tourism Organization reported that the country received a total of 2,093,223 foreign travelers during the month. This represents a 20.8% increase from the 1,733,199 visitors recorded in July 2025 and amounts to 144.6% of the July 2019 total, prior to the disruptions caused by COVID-19 to global travel patterns.

Air Arabia is set to commence nonstop services connecting Sharjah and Gdansk beginning on Dec. 14, 2026. The new route will link Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport five times weekly, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This addition offers another direct UAE route to northern Poland and broadens Air Arabia’s scheduled flight network within the country. Ticket reservations for these flights are already accessible via the airline’s sales outlets.

Etihad Airways has confirmed the start of seasonal nonstop flights connecting Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg beginning December 17, 2026. The airline will operate this service four times weekly until March 21, 2027, providing a winter route between the UAE capital and Sweden’s second-largest city. Tickets for the new route from Abu Dhabi to Gothenburg are now available. The flights will operate between Zayed International Airport and Göteborg Landvetter Airport.

South Korea achieved a $596.6 million tourism surplus in June 2026, marking its strongest monthly figure since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, when the country experienced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicate that June’s surplus was the second-highest on record, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.

Spain has initiated provisional border inspections for individuals arriving from Italy by air and sea. These checks commenced at midnight on Aug. 8 and are set to continue until Sept. 7. The measure was introduced by Spain following Italy’s decision to enforce its own temporary controls on arrivals from Spain. This step introduces document verification processes along routes that typically operate under the European Union’s Schengen zone of internal travel.

Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday a significant expansion of its European route network, aimed at boosting service frequencies to major Italian gateways to meet rising international travel demand. According to statements issued by Emirates News Agency, the carrier is strengthening its presence in Italy with increased flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby deepening direct transport links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Effective July 31, 2026, flydubai will operate twice daily between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also increasing its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.

Emirates, the flagship airline, announced on Tuesday the rollout of a new cryptocurrency checkout feature, allowing eligible travelers to purchase flights using digital assets via its website and mobile application. Confirmed through Emirates News Agency, the partnership between Emirates and Crypto.com introduces a novel payment method for customers, following a strategic memorandum of understanding first signed in July 2025. This digital asset payment gateway is accessible to residents of the United Arab Emirates, facilitating both domestic and international flight bookings paid and settled in Emirati Dirhams (AED). Payments are processed through Crypto.com’s checkout portal, providing travelers direct access to their digital wallet balances while booking tickets.