This summer, Air France is poised to enhance its global connectivity with the launch of a new direct route between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Riyadh, the vibrant capital of Saudi Arabia. This strategic move underscores Air France's commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East, a region that has seen significant growth in air travel.

The service is scheduled to commence on May 19, 2025, with an initial frequency of three flights per week, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. As the summer season progresses, the frequency will increase to five flights per week starting June 2, 2025, with additional departures on Tuesdays and Sundays.

This expansion will not only cater to the increasing demand for travel between France and Saudi Arabia but also provide seamless connectivity for passengers traveling from Europe to the Middle East.

The new route will be operated using the state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, renowned for its comfort and efficiency. The aircraft will offer a total of 324 seats across three cabin classes: 34 in Business, 24 in Premium Economy, and 266 in Economy. This configuration ensures that passengers have a range of options to suit their travel preferences, whether they prioritize luxury, comfort, or affordability.

The Business class will provide an upscale experience with lie-flat beds and gourmet dining, while Premium Economy offers additional legroom and enhanced amenities. Economy class passengers will also enjoy modern entertainment systems and ergonomic seating.

The introduction of this new route is part of a broader strategy by Air France to strengthen its partnership with Saudia Airlines, Saudi Arabia's national carrier. This collaboration will enhance the travel experience for passengers by offering more seamless connections and a wider range of destinations.

All three airlines within the Air France-KLM Group—Air France, KLM, and Transavia—will now offer services to Saudi Arabia, further solidifying the group's commitment to the region. This strategic alignment is particularly timely given Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to expand its aviation sector, which includes significant investments in infrastructure and tourism development.

The flights will depart Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 23:20 local time, arriving in Riyadh at 06:25 the next day, while the return leg departs Riyadh at 08:40, landing in Paris at 14:20. This schedule is designed to optimize travel time and ensure that passengers can make the most of their day, whether they are traveling for business or leisure.

The new route is expected to boost tourism and business travel between France and Saudi Arabia, capitalizing on the growing interest in cultural and economic exchanges between the two nations. Paris remains a highly popular destination for travelers from Saudi Arabia, drawn by the city's rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, and luxury shopping opportunities.

Conversely, Riyadh offers a unique blend of traditional Middle Eastern hospitality and modern urban development, making it an increasingly attractive destination for European travelers.

Emirates has unveiled its newly reimagined Travel Store in Jakarta, Indonesia, a 221-square-meter retail space located in Sequis Tower in the city’s business district, underscoring the airline’s commitment to enhancing the travel experience for Indonesian customers.

The grand opening was officiated by Orhan Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations for the Far East, alongside H.E. Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri, UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, and other dignitaries, trade partners, and media representatives.

The Jakarta Travel Store is designed as a luxurious, modern lounge offering a seamless blend of comfort, technology, and personalized service. The interior features soft beige sofas and sleek contemporary furnishings that create a relaxed atmosphere where customers can browse a curated selection of exclusive Emirates-branded merchandise and premium travel accessories.

At the heart of the store are four dedicated customer service counters staffed by trained Emirates travel advisors who provide expert assistance with flight bookings, ticketing, Emirates Skywards loyalty program inquiries, and travel planning, ensuring a tailored and elevated service experience from the moment customers enter.

A standout feature is the voice-activated LED selfie screen near the entrance, allowing visitors to take photos with dynamic backdrops of iconic Emirates destinations. These images are instantly accessible via QR codes, eliminating the need for physical prints and integrating interactive technology into the retail experience.

Above a large LED screen showcasing Emirates’ milestones, destinations, and exclusive offers, a striking wall installation of the UAE’s national Ghaf tree symbolizes heritage and endurance, adding cultural significance to the space.

Notably, the Jakarta Travel Store is the first in Emirates’ global network to implement an advanced queue management system. This innovation reduces wait times, offers personalized service especially for Skywards members, and enables customers to provide instant feedback via WhatsApp, marking a new era of digital-first customer care and operational efficiency.

This launch follows similar successful openings in Hong Kong and Manila, reflecting Emirates’ strategic investment in Asia’s travel retail sector. Emirates has served Indonesia for over 30 years, currently operating double daily flights from Jakarta and Denpasar to Dubai, with onward connections to more than 140 destinations worldwide.

The airline also operates the only scheduled daily Airbus A380 service to Bali, significantly increasing seat capacity on this popular route.

Through this new Travel Store concept, Emirates aims to bring its world-class hospitality closer to Indonesian travelers, offering an immersive, end-to-end travel experience that begins well before boarding the aircraft and reinforcing its dedication to innovation, customer-centricity, and premium service in Southeast Asia.

Emirates has solidified its commitment to French football by renewing its partnership with Olympique Lyonnais through the 2029-2030 season, ensuring the iconic “Fly Better” logo remains on the club’s jerseys and training kits for all domestic and European matches.

The agreement, announced on April 25, 2025, builds on a five-year collaboration that began in 2020, which provided Emirates with extensive branding rights at Groupama Stadium and hospitality perks. This renewal includes amplified visibility across the stadium, marketing campaigns, and exclusive fan engagement opportunities, such as player access and social media activations.

Community-Centric Programs Take Center Stage

A hallmark of the partnership is Emirates’ focus on youth outreach. In December 2024, the airline collaborated with Lyon’s Léon Bérard Cancer Center and Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant to host over 23 children as player escorts during a match against OGC Nice, offering behind-the-scenes access and on-pitch experiences. These initiatives align with Emirates’ broader strategy to foster local connections, leveraging its sponsorship to create “unforgettable moments” for young fans.

Economic and Regional Synergies

Emirates’ daily flights between Dubai and Lyon—operated by Boeing 777s and transitioning to Airbus A350s by June 2025—underscore its investment in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Since launching the Lyon route in 2012, the airline has transported over one million passengers and facilitated cargo operations critical for pharmaceuticals and regional trade. Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, emphasized the partnership’s role in driving tourism and economic growth, calling Lyon a “gateway to global opportunities”.

Leadership Perspectives

John Textor, Olympique Lyonnais’ owner, highlighted the “trust built since 2020” and the shared vision for innovation and fan engagement. The club’s storied history—including seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles and a world-class academy producing talents like Karim Benzema—complements Emirates’ reputation for excellence. Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon’s president during the initial deal, previously praised Emirates as a “premium brand with a proven track record in sports,” a sentiment echoed in the renewed collaboration.

Broader Sports Sponsorship Portfolio

Beyond football, Emirates reinforces its French ties through sponsorships like UAE Team Emirates’ Tour de France campaigns and its role as Official Airline of Roland-Garros. The airline’s global sports strategy, spanning tennis, rugby, and motorsports, reflects its ambition to connect with diverse audiences while supporting community-driven projects.

Qatar Airways and Philippine Airlines have unveiled a new strategic alliance designed to significantly improve air travel links between Doha and Manila, commencing on June 16, 2025. Under this agreement, Philippine Airlines will operate daily nonstop flights connecting Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport with Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

Qatar Airways will place its flight code on these seven weekly services during the initial stage, thereby expanding travel options and enhancing connectivity for passengers.

The flights are scheduled to depart Manila at 6:50 PM, arriving in Doha at 11:40 PM, perfectly timed to facilitate smooth transfers onto Qatar Airways’ extensive global network, which spans more than 170 destinations across Africa, the Americas, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

In the reverse direction, Philippine Airlines will operate a daily service leaving Doha at 1:30 AM and landing in Manila at 4:15 PM, enabling convenient onward connections for travelers arriving from various parts of the world.

Philippine Airlines will utilize its long-range Airbus A330-300 aircraft for this route, featuring a two-class cabin layout with 18 lie-flat Business Class seats and 341 Economy Class seats. This partnership is expected to not only broaden travel choices for both business and leisure travelers but also to strengthen economic and cultural ties between Qatar and the Philippines, providing particular benefits to the large Filipino expatriate community working in Qatar.

During the announcement, Qatar Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, emphasized the airline’s commitment to enhancing global connectivity and fostering stronger bilateral relations through this partnership. Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines’ President and COO, Captain Stanley K. Ng, highlighted how the collaboration will help expand PAL’s international reach and stimulate tourism, trade, and investment between the two countries.

Looking forward, the two airlines plan to deepen their cooperation by exploring joint marketing initiatives and potentially integrating their frequent flyer programs. Such integration would allow passengers to earn and redeem loyalty points across both carriers, offering greater value and convenience.

This codeshare agreement complements Qatar Airways’ existing network of partnerships with major global airlines, reinforcing its role as a premier international connector while maintaining high standards of service and passenger experience.

 

Saudi Arabia’s national airline, Saudia, achieved a 9% year-on-year surge in passenger traffic during the first quarter of 2025, carrying over nine million travelers. Domestic routes led the growth with a 12% increase, serving four million passengers across 27,100 flights—a 4% rise in domestic operations.

International demand climbed 8%, with five million passengers flown on 20,900 flights, reflecting a 2% uptick in overseas services. The airline operated a total of 48,100 flights, up 3%, accumulating 143,600 flight hours, underscoring its expanded operational footprint.

The airline credits its success to a dynamic operational strategy that adapts seat capacity to seasonal demand spikes, supported by a state-of-the-art fleet and a predominantly Saudi workforce trained to meet global aviation standards. This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals to position the Kingdom as a global aviation hub.

In March 2025, Saudia secured the world’s top on-time performance ranking, achieving 94.07% punctuality for arrivals and 94% for departures during the high-demand Umrah season, as validated by aviation analytics leader Cirium.

Looking ahead, Saudia is accelerating its fleet modernization, with plans to expand from 147 to 265 aircraft through strategic orders. Recent acquisitions include 49 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners for long-haul routes and 54 Airbus A321neos for regional connectivity.

Additionally, the Saudia Group finalized an order for 20 Airbus A330neo wide-body jets, with 10 earmarked for its budget subsidiary flyadeal, marking flyadeal’s debut in long-haul markets by 2027. These fuel-efficient additions aim to support Saudi Arabia’s target of serving 330 million annual passengers by 2030.

Passenger experience enhancements remain a priority, with AI-driven virtual assistants now integrated into Saudia’s digital platforms, offering end-to-end travel support. The airline continues to refine its ground and in-flight services, including premium lounges and tailored onboard offerings, to elevate customer satisfaction.

As the Kingdom’s aviation sector expands under Vision 2030, Saudia’s investments in technology, workforce development, and fleet modernization solidify its role as a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious connectivity agenda.

Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo, and MASkargo have unveiled plans to establish a pioneering Global Cargo Joint Business, subject to regulatory approvals, in a strategic move set to redefine international air freight operations.

The collaboration will integrate Qatar Airways’ formidable fleet of 28 dedicated Boeing 777 freighters and belly capacity across its 230 passenger aircraft, IAG Cargo’s expansive six-continent network (encompassing British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling), and MASkargo’s Malaysia-based logistics hub, which operates three Airbus A330-200 freighters and serves over 100 destinations worldwide.

By combining resources, the alliance aims to offer customers unprecedented connectivity, leveraging harmonized safety protocols, synchronized digital platforms, and streamlined operational workflows to reduce transit times and enhance routing flexibility. The partnership will also address evolving global trade dynamics, including supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tariff shifts, by pooling expertise in temperature-sensitive shipments, e-commerce logistics, and specialized cargo handling.

Leadership from all three carriers emphasized the venture’s transformative potential: Qatar’s Mark Drusch highlighted plans to deliver “unparalleled service” through shared infrastructure and innovation, while IAG’s David Shepherd stressed the role of unified networks in fostering resilient global trade.

MASkargo’s Mark Jason Thomas underscored commitments to “cutting-edge solutions” tailored to shifting market demands, including sustainable aviation initiatives and AI-driven logistics optimization. The joint business, aligned with Qatar Airways’ existing 25% stake in IAG under the Oneworld alliance, is expected to launch imminently following regulatory clearance, positioning the trio to capitalize on post-pandemic air cargo growth and emerging trade corridors in Asia, Europe, and the Americas.