Saudi Arabia's Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser recently conducted a comprehensive inspection of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to ensure smooth operations during the holy month of Ramadan.

The minister, who also serves as the chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, emphasized the importance of providing top-notch services to enhance guests' comfort and convenience. The inspection covered various areas of the airport, including Terminal 1, the Northern Terminal, and the Hajj Terminal Complex.

During his visit, Al-Jasser toured the baggage-handling area and air-conditioned lounges, which can accommodate up to 6,000 passengers per hour. He also inspected the Northern Terminal's sorting area, spanning 1,430 square meters, with a waiting area for 522 passengers.

At Terminal 1, the minister examined the impressive 24,000-square-meter sorting area, a waiting area capable of handling 1,800 passengers per hour, and parking facilities for 83 buses.

The inspection revealed that from February 11 to March 20, the airport handled over 5.4 million passengers on 30,572 flights, with the busiest day recorded on March 13, 2023, involving 157,800 passengers. This demonstrates the airport's significant capacity and efficiency in managing high volumes of travelers, particularly during peak periods such as Ramadan.

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in its aviation infrastructure, the country is also planning the development of the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, which aims to boost the kingdom's position as a global logistics hub and stimulate transport, trade, and tourism.

These developments align with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 objectives, focusing on diversifying the economy and enhancing the country's transportation capabilities.

Southeast Asia is edging closer to a tourism revolution that could make cross-border travel as effortless as in Europe’s Schengen Area. Thailand is at the forefront of a plan to introduce a single visa—“Six Countries, One Destination”—that would allow tourists to seamlessly visit Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos with just one application.

The initiative, expected to launch as early as late 2025 or early 2026, is part of a broader ASEAN strategy to boost tourism, foster economic integration, and recover from the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Would the Single Visa Work?

Currently, travelers face a patchwork of visa requirements, with some countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access and others requiring advance applications. The new system would unify entry procedures, allowing tourists to apply once for a visa granting access to all participating countries. This would reduce costs, paperwork, and waiting times, making the region far more attractive to visitors from key markets like the US, Europe, India, and China.

Why Now?

Tourism is vital to Southeast Asia’s economies, contributing over $90 billion annually and supporting millions of jobs. In 2023, the six countries together welcomed about 70 million foreign tourists, with Thailand and Malaysia accounting for more than half of arrivals and $48 billion in revenue. The unified visa aims to help the region surpass pre-pandemic tourism levels, encourage longer multi-country trips, and distribute tourism benefits more evenly—including to lesser-known destinations in Laos and Cambodia.

Who Is Involved?

While the core group includes Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, discussions are ongoing to possibly include Myanmar, the Philippines, and Indonesia in the future. Thailand has been actively coordinating with its neighbors, and Singapore’s participation is seen as crucial due to its role as a major air transit hub.

What Are the Benefits?

Tourists can move freely across borders, saving time and money.

Travel companies can offer integrated packages—such as Mekong River cruises and multi-country tours—spurring new business opportunities.

The region can market itself as a single, diverse destination, potentially increasing annual arrivals from 50 million to as many as 80 million by 2027.

Economic gains would be significant, with tourism already accounting for up to 12% of Thailand’s GDP and about 20% of its jobs.

What Challenges Remain?

Implementing the single visa is complex. Each country must align its immigration policies, security protocols, and border control procedures. There are also technical hurdles, such as developing a shared digital visa platform and upgrading border infrastructure. Revenue-sharing mechanisms and agreements on permitted stay durations are still under negotiation. Thailand, for example, is introducing a Digital Arrival Card to streamline processing and enhance security, while Vietnam is considering a “Golden Visa” for long-term stays.

What’s Next?

A joint working group of tourism and immigration officials from all participating countries is being formed to finalize the details. The rollout will likely begin with countries that are ready and expand as others join. If successful, the “Six Countries, One Destination” visa could serve as a model for other regions and solidify Southeast Asia’s status as a global tourism powerhouse.

In Summary:

The unified visa represents a bold step toward regional integration, promising to make Southeast Asia one of the world’s most accessible and attractive destinations. While significant policy and technical challenges remain, the economic and tourism potential is driving strong political will to turn this vision into reality.

Paraphrase as a news in Paragraph style with more details:Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) returned triumphantly to Paris after their UEFA Champions League victory, flying on a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER adorned with a striking, specially commissioned livery celebrating their achievement.

The aircraft, registered A7-BED, featured an eye-catching navy blue and white design with the Champions League logo prominently displayed, symbolizing both the club’s historic win and Qatar Airways’ deep involvement in the football world. The livery was meticulously applied in Haikou, China, where the plane underwent a complete strip-down and respray before being ferried back to Doha and then positioned in Munich to collect the champions.

On June 1, 2025, following PSG’s record-breaking 5-0 victory over Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena, the team, their management, and the Champions League trophy boarded this unique aircraft for their return to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, where celebrations and a victory parade awaited them. The flight, operating under the callsign ‘5PSG’, underscored the magnitude of PSG’s win and the airline’s commitment to marking the occasion in grand style.

Qatar Airways’ involvement in this year’s Champions League final was unprecedented, as the airline was not only the official sponsor of both finalists—PSG and Inter Milan—but also of the competition itself, achieving a “sponsorship treble” that highlighted its global vision and passion for football. The airline’s CEO, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, described this partnership as a landmark moment, emphasizing how it united values of ambition, precision, and global connectivity.

Beyond the livery and sponsorship, Qatar Airways enhanced the fan and player experience through exclusive travel packages, special events such as a live podcast with football legends, and community initiatives that included inviting children from PSG and Inter’s social programs to enjoy a “Dream Night” at the final. The airline’s cabin crew also participated in the matchday spectacle, lining the players’ tunnel for the world to see.

The special livery is expected to remain on the aircraft for some time, making appearances at airports worldwide and serving as a flying tribute to PSG’s Champions League triumph and Qatar Airways’ prominent role in international sports partnerships.

Emirates and Air Mauritius have further strengthened their longstanding strategic partnership by signing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2025, building on a collaboration that began in 2003 and was previously expanded in 2013. This enhanced agreement encompasses a reciprocal codeshare arrangement, cooperation on frequent flyer programs, and joint cargo handling services, all aimed at providing travelers with greater flexibility, connectivity, and benefits.

Under the new terms, Air Mauritius will codeshare on Emirates-operated flights to key destinations such as Cairo, Colombo, Karachi, and six cities in Saudi Arabia—including Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh—while Emirates will continue to codeshare on Air Mauritius’s service between Mauritius and Antananarivo.

This means passengers can book a single ticket that combines flights from both airlines, ensuring seamless connections and simplified travel logistics. Additionally, Air Mauritius can sell seats to destinations across Emirates’ entire global network on an interline basis, further expanding travel options for its customers.

The partnership also allows members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programs—Emirates Skywards and Air Mauritius’s Kestrelflyer—to earn and redeem miles on each other’s flights, delivering enhanced loyalty rewards and travel perks. Cargo operations are another area of collaboration, supporting trade between the regions and contributing to the economic development of Mauritius.

Since the inception of Emirates’ services to Mauritius, the partnership has had a substantial impact on the island nation’s economy and tourism sector. Emirates has carried over 8.8 million passengers and uplifted more than 126,000 tonnes of cargo to and from Mauritius, contributing an estimated $900 million annually to the economy.

This includes $119 million from Emirates’ 14 weekly passenger flights, $264 million in tourism receipts, and $530 million in tourism-related spending, while also supporting the creation of approximately 3,600 jobs.

Emirates currently operates 14 weekly flights between Dubai and Mauritius using its flagship A380 aircraft, offering the only First Class service on this route. The renewed partnership is expected to further promote Mauritius as a premier tourism destination, enhance global connectivity, and deepen economic and cultural ties between the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius.

Emirates has launched its first-ever Travel Store in Switzerland, choosing the prestigious Rue du Rhône in the heart of Geneva as its flagship location. This 134-square-metre store, officially inaugurated on May 20, 2025, represents a major milestone in the airline’s investment in the Swiss market and is designed to bring Emirates’ renowned hospitality and services directly to Swiss travelers.

The opening ceremony was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, the UAE Ambassador to Switzerland, and senior representatives from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and Geneva Airport, highlighting the store’s significance for the region.

Inside, the Travel Store blends modern luxury with functionality. The lounge-inspired interior features soft beige seating and sleek, contemporary décor, creating a welcoming atmosphere where customers can relax while consulting with Emirates’ travel experts. Three dedicated service counters provide personalized assistance for flight bookings, itinerary planning, and information on the latest offers and destinations. Customers can also browse exclusive Emirates merchandise and travel accessories.

The store is equipped with immersive technology, including a large LED screen displaying updates on Emirates’ destinations and promotions, a self-service kiosk for quick access to flight details, and a voice-activated selfie wall. This interactive wall allows visitors to take photos against digital backdrops of popular Emirates destinations, which can be accessed via QR codes for easy sharing and sustainability. A full-scale Emirates Business Class seat is also on display, giving visitors a tangible preview of the airline’s premium onboard experience.

Strategically, this new retail presence complements Emirates’ robust operations in Switzerland, where the airline operates two daily flights from both Zurich and Geneva to Dubai, connecting Swiss travelers to over 140 destinations worldwide. Geneva was recently the first city in Emirates’ network to receive the modernized Boeing 777 with a four-class configuration, including the new Premium Economy cabin—a testament to the airline’s ongoing commitment to the Swiss market.

The Emirates Travel Store in Geneva is open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:30, and Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00, offering Swiss travelers a unique blend of personalized service, innovative technology, and brand immersion—all in a convenient city-center location.

Emirates Airlines will resume its flights to Damascus starting July 16, 2025, marking the end of a 13-year suspension that began in 2012 due to the Syrian conflict. This decision follows a comprehensive operational evaluation conducted in partnership with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), ensuring that all safety and regulatory standards are met before relaunching services.

Initially, Emirates will operate three weekly flights between Dubai and Damascus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, using a Boeing 777-200LR with 302 seats. The schedule will expand to four weekly flights from August 2, 2025, with the addition of a Saturday service. Daily flights are set to commence from October 26, 2025, further enhancing connectivity between the two cities.

The outbound flight EK 913 will depart Dubai at 12:00 PM and arrive in Damascus at 2:10 PM local time, while the return flight EK 914 will leave Damascus at 4:30 PM and arrive in Dubai at 8:30 PM.

The resumption of this route is expected to provide essential connectivity for the large Syrian diaspora, particularly those residing in the Americas, Europe, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Over 350,000 Syrians live in the UAE alone, and the restored air link will make it easier for them to visit family, support reconstruction efforts, and contribute their skills and resources to Syria’s ongoing development.

Emirates’ extensive network of nearly 150 destinations will also open up new travel and trade opportunities for Syrian businesses and investors, supporting key sectors such as energy, construction, and agriculture.

The reintroduction of flights is expected to further stimulate economic and trade relations between the UAE and Syria. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $680 million, a 23% increase over the previous year, and the new flights are anticipated to boost these figures by facilitating easier movement of people and goods.

Emirates customers will also benefit from the airline’s codeshare partnership with flydubai, which recently resumed its own daily flights to Damascus, providing even more options and flexibility for travelers.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, emphasized the importance of this move, stating that it will provide better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inward investment, and open new trade lanes and market access for Syria.

He also expressed gratitude to Syrian authorities for their support in restoring air links and looked forward to further strengthening ties through regular operations.

Emirates originally launched flights to Damascus in 1988 and had carried over 2.1 million passengers on the route before suspending services in 2012. The airline currently serves 13 cities across the Middle East and GCC, operating 191 weekly flights in the region, and the return to Damascus is seen as a significant step in reconnecting Syria with the global aviation network.