The Luxury Collection NEOM, located in Saudi Arabia’s Sindalah Island, put out a call for mixologists and bartenders ahead of its opening next year – though the hotel’s operator, Marriott, says the job listings were a mistake and being removed.
17.09.2023 - 06:51 / breakingtravelnews.com / John Pagano
Saudia will become the first airline to operate in and out of the Red Sea International airport (RSI).
This is after the airline signed an MoU with the Red Sea Global (RSG) and daa International.
RSI is on track to open this year along with the first three resorts at The Red Sea destination. Initially it will open for domestic flights to and from Riyadh and later Jeddah, before expanding to handle international flights from 2024.
“In 2016, His Royal Highness, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, set out a vision for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A vision for a thriving country, one that was recognized as a global hub, where people from all around the world would come to experience the best of Saudi culture, hospitality and nature,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.
“When the first commercial flight lands at Red Sea International, it won’t just be a point of personal pride for Red Sea Global. It will be a milestone moment for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in making that vision a reality. It is fitting, therefore, that the Kingdom’s flag carrier, Saudia, will be first to operate from our destination,” said John Pagano, Group CEO, Red Sea Global.”
The agreement will see Saudia commence regular scheduled services to and from RSI. It also provides a framework for the three organisations to undertake joint research on the use of Lower Carbon Aviation Fuel (LCAF) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) at Red Sea International Airport. The use of electric vertical take-off and landing jets (eVTOL) to reduce emissions from air travel to The Red Sea will also be evaluated.
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Capt. Ibrahim Koshy, CEO of Saudia, said: “Today’s agreement marks a new chapter in Saudi Arabia’s aviation history. As wings of Vision 2030, Saudia’s contribution is to be an enabler in attaining giga projects targets, and our involvement as the first airline to operate from and to Red Sea International airport is a source of pride for us all. This agreement will strengthen our position in the Kingdom and allow us to collaborate with RSG and daa International to boost tourism and enhance the country’s standing within international aviation.”
The agreement expands on daa International’s existing relationship with RSG as the operator of its international airport. daai will continue to manage the airport and work with Saudia on various activities, such as the allocation of airport gates and counters.
Nicholas Cole, CEO of daa International, said: “Red Sea International is a new gateway for travellers to experience the wonders of Saudi Arabia. Bringing our unmatched airport management expertise, we will work with RSG and SAUDIA to ensure RSI delivers a truly unique experience for all who pass through it.”
The Luxury Collection NEOM, located in Saudi Arabia’s Sindalah Island, put out a call for mixologists and bartenders ahead of its opening next year – though the hotel’s operator, Marriott, says the job listings were a mistake and being removed.
Amid a turbulent season of delays and cancellations impacting air travel, airline passengers are reporting a higher level of satisfaction with the overall airport experience itself. The findings come from the new J.D. Power 2023 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, which surveyed 27,147 travelers between August 2022 and July 2023 to find that overall satisfaction with airports is up three percent. Airports in the Midwest took most of the top spots, while passengers traveling through coastal airports reported lower satisfaction. The Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) was ranked highest overall amongst “mega” airports for the second year in a row. The airport provides air travel for 36.7 million travelers per year and operates over 1,000 daily flights. (J.D. Power defines a mega airport as one with 33 million or more passengers annually.) “We are always looking to raise the bar for customer service as we take Detroit to the world and bring the world to Detroit,” Chad Newton, Wayne County Airport Authority's CEO, said in a statement on the airport’s Facebook page. Detroit’s airport features a variety of amenities, dining, and shopping including Be Relax Spas, Illy Coffee Cafe, Gordon Biersch, P.F. Chang's, Pandora, and more. The airport also has a Westin hotel attached to it, with a dedicated TSA security entrance that connects the hotel to the airport for travelers on a tight layover to save time. The top-ranked mega airports, after DTW, are Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada. The lowest-ranked mega airports are Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), and New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
While you might expect to come into contact with germs when flying in close quarters on a plane with hundreds of people, it’s fair to assume that being exposed to blood, vomit, and diarrhoea is not something most people are prepared for.
This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.
Air Canada has issued an apology after two passengers were told to sit in poorly cleaned seats that had been covered in vomit on a previous flight.
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