As the world continues to evolve and grow, Qatar stands out as a vibrant destination that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. Known for its stunning architecture, rich cultural heritage, and warm hospitality, Qatar is set to become an even more exciting place to visit and live in April.

The month promises to be filled with a wide array of events that cater to diverse interests, from spectacular festivals and sporting competitions to cultural exhibitions and musical performances. Here's a glimpse into what April has in store for Qatar

As April unfolds, Qatar is poised to become a vibrant hub of diverse events, offering something for everyone. The month begins with the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations, which will be marked by spectacular festivities across the country. One of the highlights will be the Lusail Sky Festival, taking place at Al Saad Plaza in Lusail City from April 3 to 5.

This festival promises to dazzle audiences with breathtaking aerial displays, including acrobatic aircraft formations, drone parades, glider performances, laser displays, and fireworks. The event will create a festive atmosphere unlike any other, drawing in crowds from all over to witness the mesmerizing sky shows.

In addition to these celebrations, malls across Qatar will host a variety of activities designed to entertain both children and adults. Lagoona Mall will offer fun workshops for children from March 30 to April 4, providing a creative outlet for young minds. Meanwhile, Mall of Qatar will present A Wonderland of Soapy Bubbles from March 30 to April 5, featuring mesmerizing bubble performances that will captivate audiences of all ages.

Place Vendôme Mall will host "The Smurf-tastic Fair" from March 31 to April 15, bringing the beloved Smurfs characters to life in an interactive and immersive experience. Doha Quest will also offer festive attractions for all ages from April 1 to 5, ensuring that everyone has a memorable time during the Eid celebrations.

April will also be filled with exciting sporting events that will attract enthusiasts from around the world. The Lusail International Circuit will host the 2025 MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar from April 11 to 13, drawing in the world's top motorcyclists for a thrilling competition. The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour 2025 will take place from April 15 to 19, highlighting the growing popularity of padel as a sport.

Additionally, the 17th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup – Taishan will run from April 16 to 19 at the Aspire Dome, featuring some of the world's best gymnasts competing in various disciplines. Other notable sporting events include the Al Maha Island Aquathlon and the Al Zubarah Race on April 19, followed by the Beach Sports Festival at Aspire Park from April 20 to 26, which will offer a range of beach activities for participants and spectators alike.

On the cultural and creative front, Qatar will host Qumra 2025 at the Museum of Islamic Art from April 4 to 9. This event brings together filmmakers and creatives from around the world to share ideas, learn from each other, and showcase their work. The BilAraby Summit will take place from April 19 to 20 at Multaqa – Education City Students Centre, focusing on developments in the Arab media industry and providing a platform for networking and collaboration.

The EcoGreen Expo and the 2nd Edition of the Earthna Summit for a Sustainable Future will be held at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from April 22 to 25. These events will highlight innovations in sustainability and clean energy, attracting experts and enthusiasts interested in environmental solutions.

Music enthusiasts will have plenty to look forward to as well. Concerts featuring Abdulaziz Al-Duwaihi and Hisham Mahrous will take place at U Venue on April 4, offering a unique blend of music styles. The TUL8TE Concert will be held at Doha Golf Club on the same day, providing another exciting musical experience.

The Disney Musical Show: The Magic Box will run from April 3 to 12 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, offering a Disney-inspired musical experience for all ages. Other musical highlights include Candlelight: Mozart & Chopin Classics, which will bring classical music lovers together to enjoy timeless compositions, and Anirudh’s Hukum World Tour concert on April 11, featuring the renowned Indian composer and singer.

Additionally, Ed Sheeran's concert on April 30 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall promises to be a major draw, attracting fans from across the region.

Lastly, comedy fans can enjoy the 3a Ka3ba improve comedy show on April 26, which will offer a hilarious evening of improvisational comedy. Classical music lovers can experience the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Mahler’s Fifth Symphony on the same evening, providing a sophisticated and enriching musical experience. With such a diverse range of events, April promises to be an exciting month in Qatar, offering something for everyone to enjoy.

Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has reiterated that fees paid for exit and re-entry visas are strictly non-refundable, even if the visa is canceled—a policy that has been reconfirmed as thousands of expatriates plan their summer travel. This clarification was issued following a public inquiry from a resident, to which Jawazat responded unequivocally: “If the exit and re-entry visa is cancelled, the fees are non-refundable”.

Under current regulations, a single exit and re-entry visa costs 200 Saudi riyals and is valid for up to two months, with an additional 100 riyals for each extra month, provided the resident’s permit (iqama) remains valid. For multiple exit and re-entry visas, the fee is 500 riyals for up to three months, and 200 riyals for each additional month.

Notably, for residents who are already outside the Kingdom and need to extend their visas, the extension fees are doubled—200 riyals per month for a single visa and 400 riyals per month for a multiple visa.

The process for issuing, canceling, or extending these visas is managed digitally through the Absher platform. To cancel a visa, users must log in, access “Services for Sponsors,” select the relevant individual, and confirm the cancellation; however, the fee remains non-refundable regardless of the reason for cancellation.

Recent regulatory updates have also introduced higher fees for expatriates outside Saudi Arabia, including doubled extension charges and increased costs for renewing residency permits (Iqama) abroad. Penalties for not using or canceling a visa within the allowed time can be steep, starting at 1,000 riyals for the first offense and rising to 3,000 riyals for repeated violations. Overstaying outside Saudi Arabia after a visa expires incurs a fine of 100 USD per month.

These rules apply to all visa holders, including professionals, domestic workers, and dependents, and are part of broader changes to residency and travel regulations aimed at streamlining processes and ensuring compliance. Authorities urge residents to carefully plan their travel and visa applications, as changes or cancellations will not result in a refund of paid fees.

An easyJet flight from Geneva to Edinburgh was forced to declare a mid-air emergency and return to Geneva shortly after takeoff on Sunday evening due to a bird strike, cutting the journey short and causing flight cancellation.

The Airbus A320, flight EZY3294, took off from Geneva Airport around 6:06 PM local time but encountered a bird strike during its initial climb. The pilots immediately declared an emergency and circled near Geneva before safely landing back about 40 minutes after departure. The bird strike caused a technical defect on the aircraft that maintenance crews could not quickly resolve, leading easyJet to cancel the flight rather than attempt repairs, prioritizing passenger safety above schedule adherence.

EasyJet issued formal notices to affected passengers, apologizing for the inconvenience and providing information on rebooking options and accommodations for those impacted. Emergency services attended the aircraft upon landing as a precaution, and all passengers disembarked safely without incident.

This incident adds to a recent string of easyJet emergencies in mid-June 2025. Two other flights were forced to make emergency landings within days: one from Paphos to Bristol diverted to Izmir due to smoke detection, and another from Manchester to Enfidha diverted to Paris Orly for unspecified reasons. Both flights landed safely with no injuries reported.

These events underscore the operational challenges airlines face in ensuring safety amid technical issues and environmental hazards like bird strikes. EasyJet's response in following established emergency protocols demonstrates its commitment to passenger safety despite the disruption to travel plans.

In summary, the Geneva-to-Edinburgh easyJet flight's emergency return following a bird strike highlights ongoing aviation safety vigilance during the busy European summer travel period, with the airline taking all necessary precautions to protect its passengers.

Vietnam’s aviation authority has taken the unprecedented step of temporarily closing Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa Province after a series of unauthorized drone sightings near the runway raised serious safety concerns and disrupted flight operations over several days.

The suspension began at 6:00 p.m. on Monday and will last until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, affecting at least 10 civilian flights. This move follows three consecutive days of drone incursions near the airport, which forced multiple flight diversions and delays. On Sunday alone, two Vietjet Air flights from Ho Chi Minh City were rerouted one to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport and the other to Vinh Airport in Nghe An Province.

Authorities described the situation as “increasingly complex and difficult to control,” prompting the urgent suspension of all flights in and out of the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has directed airport officials to work closely with air traffic controllers, police, and military units to detect and neutralize unauthorized drones.

The Thanh Hoa People's Committee has been tasked with investigating the breaches and holding violators accountable. Joint patrols have been deployed in nearby residential areas to prevent further incidents and raise public awareness about aviation safety regulations.

Vietnamese law strictly prohibits any unmanned aerial vehicles within an 8-kilometer radius of airports, especially near takeoff and landing zones. This ban includes drones, flycams, sky lanterns, kites, balloons, laser pointers, and signal flares. Violators face fines ranging from VND 3 million to VND 40 million ($115–$1,530) and confiscation of their equipment.

Tho Xuan Airport, located in Sao Vang Town, north-central Vietnam, is a joint civil-military facility handling 10 to 15 commercial flights daily alongside military operations. The recent drone incidents have exposed vulnerabilities in airport security and prompted urgent measures to safeguard civil aviation safety in the region.

The first four months of 2025 have brought a mixed bag of passenger traffic trends across Oman’s airports, reflecting shifting travel dynamics in the region. According to the latest data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, a total of 4,701,055 passengers passed through the country’s airports from January to April, marking a slight 4.1% decrease compared to the same period last year.

Muscat International Airport, the nation’s primary aviation hub, handled 4,222,789 passengers by the end of April  down 4.7% from 4,428,726 in early 2024. Flight operations also saw a notable dip, with the number of flights falling 8.6% to 29,731, compared to 32,520 last year. Despite the decline, Muscat remains the busiest airport in Oman, serving as the gateway for millions of travelers.

Indian nationals continue to dominate the passenger demographic at Muscat International Airport, with 182,628 travelers recorded so far this year. Omanis rank second with 101,087 passengers, followed by Pakistanis at 47,078, highlighting the strong regional connectivity and expatriate travel patterns.

In contrast to Muscat’s slight downturn, Salalah Airport experienced a positive surge in passenger numbers, increasing by 6.8% to 458,394 compared to 429,181 last year. This growth underscores Salalah’s rising appeal as a travel destination and transit point. However, flight operations at Salalah saw a marginal decrease of 0.2%, totaling 2,974 flights.

Sohar Airport recorded the most dramatic drop in activity, with flights plunging 62.5% to just 72 from 192, and passenger numbers plummeting by a staggering 98.7% to only 307 travelers, down from 23,842 last year. This sharp decline signals significant operational challenges or changes in airline services at Sohar.
Duqm Airport also experienced a slight downturn, with flights decreasing by 1.9% to 204 and passenger numbers falling 2.7% to 19,565 from 20,106 in the previous year.

While Oman’s overall airport passenger traffic has softened slightly in early 2025, the varied performance across its airports highlights evolving travel trends and regional economic factors. Muscat International remains a vital hub, Salalah shows promising growth, and the steep declines at Sohar and Duqm suggest areas needing strategic focus to boost connectivity and passenger confidence.

As Oman continues to develop its aviation infrastructure and tourism offerings, monitoring these trends will be key to sustaining growth and enhancing the travel experience for both residents and visitors alike.

 

Following Qantas’s announcement to shut down its Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia on July 31, 2025, Singapore Airlines (SIA) and its low-cost subsidiary Scoot are set to expand their Asian services to fill the gap left by Jetstar’s exit.

Jetstar Asia, which operated about 180 weekly flights from Changi Airport and served approximately 2.3 million passengers in 2024, is closing due to rising operational costs, increased airport fees, and intense competition from other low-cost carriers. The closure will affect around 500 employees, but SIA is working with Jetstar Asia and unions to explore opportunities for affected pilots and cabin crew within the SIA Group.

Scoot plans to launch new flights to destinations previously served exclusively by Jetstar Asia, including Okinawa, Japan, and Labuan Bajo, Indonesia, starting from the Northern Winter 2025 season (October 26, 2025, to March 28, 2026). This will include four weekly flights to Okinawa and two weekly flights to Labuan Bajo, alongside daily flights to Medan, Indonesia.

From August 2025, Scoot will increase flights to key Southeast Asian cities: Bangkok from 35 to 39 weekly flights (rising to 42 from late October), Penang from 21 to 28 weekly flights, and Clark in the Philippines from 5 to 7 weekly flights. Additional increases will be made to services for Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta, Phuket, and Surabaya during the Northern Winter season.

Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines will boost its frequencies on several routes: Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 7 to 10 weekly flights; Jakarta, Indonesia, from 63 to 70; Manila, Philippines, from 28 to 35; and Phuket, Thailand, from 30 to 42 weekly flights. On some Manila routes, Scoot will deploy larger Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to replace smaller Airbus planes, increasing passenger capacity.

This expansion by Singapore Airlines and Scoot ensures continued connectivity and increased flight options across Asia, maintaining competitive pricing and supporting growing travel demand following Jetstar Asia’s closure. Travelers can expect seamless access to key destinations with enhanced frequency and capacity across the region.