Airbus is preparing to secure significant orders for its A350 wide-body aircraft at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, aiming to strengthen its market position amid growing competition with Boeing.

A key focus for Airbus is Riyadh Air, the new Saudi Arabian carrier planning to expand its long-haul fleet. The airline is expected to announce an order for up to 50 Airbus A350 aircraft during the show, complementing its existing Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.

This move highlights Riyadh Air’s emphasis on operational efficiency and reliability, favoring the A350 over Boeing’s delayed 777X.

Airbus is promoting the A350’s fuel efficiency, extended range, and enhanced passenger comfort to appeal to airlines targeting premium international routes in the Middle East.

The anticipated order will likely include a combination of firm commitments and options, giving Riyadh Air flexibility as it grows toward a fleet of more than 200 aircraft.

 This deal will significantly enhance Airbus’s presence in the region, where demand for wide-body jets is rising due to expanding long-haul travel and Saudi Arabia’s growing tourism and business sectors.

In addition to the A350, Airbus is also focusing on growth in the single-aisle market with its A320neo family. These aircraft continue to attract airlines seeking modern, fuel-efficient narrow-body jets, especially as Boeing faces ongoing delays and quality control challenges with its 737 MAX line.

The competition between Airbus and Boeing has intensified in 2025. Boeing has gained ground in wide-body orders, driven in part by diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and renewed airline confidence. However, Boeing still faces low production rates and the challenge of rebuilding trust.

Airbus, although not restricted by government production caps, is dealing with supply chain constraints and assembly delays that affect aircraft output.

 The company is focused on restoring order momentum and improving manufacturing efficiency. The Paris Air Show will be an important opportunity for Airbus to demonstrate its competitiveness in a changing market.

Despite some easing, supply chain disruptions are expected to continue through 2027 or 2028, making backlog management and converting airline interest into firm orders a top priority. Airbus aims to deliver 820 jets in 2025, a 7% increase over 2024, even as the A350 freighter variant experiences delays.

The Paris Air Show will allow Airbus to showcase technological advances such as the A350’s composite airframe and Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, which reduce fuel burn by 25% compared to older models.

 Securing major orders like Riyadh Air’s will be crucial for Airbus to counter Boeing’s resurgence and maintain its growth trajectory in the global aviation market.

Further updates from the Paris Air Show 2025 will provide insights into the evolving aerospace industry landscape.

 

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.

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.

Bahrain has become the first destination in the Emirates network to be served exclusively by the Airbus A350, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet modernization strategy. This achievement was realized with the introduction of Emirates’ third daily A350-operated flight (EK835/836) between Dubai and Bahrain on June 2, 2025.

Now, all Emirates flights to Bahrain utilize the advanced A350-900, replacing the previous Boeing 777 service and underscoring the airline’s commitment to delivering a superior travel experience on this key regional route.

The Emirates A350-900 features a three-class configuration, offering 32 lie-flat Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, 21 Premium Economy seats in a 2-3-2 layout, and 259 Economy Class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. Passengers benefit from higher ceilings, quieter cabins, wider aisles, and advanced lighting systems designed to enhance comfort.

The aircraft is also equipped with Emirates’ award-winning inflight entertainment system, ICE, which now provides a more cinematic experience and faster onboard Wi-Fi.

This exclusive deployment is part of Emirates’ broader ‘Fly Better’ initiative, aimed at elevating the customer journey through innovation and world-class amenities. The move also reflects Emirates’ strong and growing relationship with Bahrain, as well as the airline’s focus on offering enhanced passenger experiences in both short- and medium-haul markets.

The A350’s introduction brings notable operational and environmental benefits. The aircraft is recognized for its fuel efficiency, with a substantial reduction in fuel burn compared to older models like the Boeing 777—potentially as much as 25% less. This not only supports Emirates’ sustainability goals but also helps optimize operational costs on shorter regional sectors such as the Dubai-Bahrain route, which is just 260 nautical miles with a flight time of around 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Bahrain’s exclusive A350 service is just the beginning of a wider Emirates network expansion. The airline has plans to deploy the A350 to 17 destinations worldwide by the end of 2025, further reinforcing its leadership in fleet modernization and passenger service innovation.