Aviation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Airlines has revealed that 20 countries, on which a travel ban was imposed in early February, will not be included in the decision to resume international flights from May 17, said a report.

 The Saudia sources said this in a statement on its Twitter account while replying to a query regarding if the travel suspension will be lifted for all countries, including the banned ones, reported Saudi Gazette.

 “Welcome, our dear guest, the suspension of all international flights will be lifted starting from 1 am on Monday, May 17. But this won’t be applicable to countries where the relevant official committee decided to suspend travel to or from due to the outbreak of coronavirus,” the statement from the national carrier said.

 The countries facing the ban are Argentina, the UAE, Germany, the US, Indonesia, India, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, Swiss Confederation, France, Lebanon, and Egypt.

 The decision includes those coming from other countries if they had passed through any of the above-mentioned 20 countries during the 14 days preceding their application to enter the kingdom, the report said.

HONG KONG: A new sea-to-air ferry transfer service from Shenzhen Shekou Port to the SkyPier in the airside of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will be offered from April 15 by Qatar Airways, which hopes to improve passenger movement in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

Qatar Airways customers can purchase their ferry tickets from SkyLink or the port’s website. They will be provided with boarding passes and baggage check-through service to their final destinations at the Shenzhen Shekou terminal, where they will also clear their customs and immigration.

Southern China travelers can soon enjoy a convenient sea-to-air service with Qatar Airways

Upon arrival at SkyPier, customers can proceed directly to their Qatar Airways boarding gate or explore HKIA facilities prior to boarding.

Thomas Scruby, Qatar Airways vice president of sales for Australasia & North Asia, said the new ferry transfer service would boost the airlines’ footprint in the GBA by providing Southern Chinese customers more flexible flying options via HKIA and onwards to more than 80 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

“We know connectivity within the region and to the wider world is critical for the success of the GBA. Therefore, we are excited to do our part to build the infrastructure necessary to make it easier and smoother for local customers to travel despite the disruption caused by the pandemic around the world,” said Scruby.

“We are confident in the market’s demand and our commitment to the region remains resolute. The next phase of our partnership with Airport Authority Hong Kong will see the ferry transfer service be further expanded to other key GBA metropolis such as Macau and Dongguan once government restrictions are lifted, allowing even more customers in the region to enjoy the world-class experience that Qatar Airways has to offer,” he continued.

ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines has resumed their premium onboard dining and hot meal service, on all Business and Economy Class flights longer than two hours 15 minutes flight time.

The global carrier offers a premium traveling experience and is world-renown for its cuisine and hospitality. In 2020 Turkish Airlines made some changes to meal services on flights, in line with additional coronavirus-related measures. I flew on Turkish Airlines in February this year and documented their changes onboard.

In an interview, the Chairman of Turkish Airlines while speaking about their drastic cost-cutting earlier in February promised to bring back the meals.

Turkish Airlines is now offering full premium menus prepared with fresh ingredients, in accordance with health and hygiene applications, courtesy of Turkish DO & CO.

NEW YORK: The empty middle seat on airplanes, one of the few advantages of pandemics, is about to disappear.

Delta Air Lines, the last remaining US airline to keep middle seats unbooked, has lifted that prohibition as of May 1, the company announced Wednesday. It is another sign of a rebound in demand for air travel and greater willingness of people to resume pre-pandemic activities.

“As vaccinations become more widespread, consumer demand and behaviors show us that confidence in travel is on the rise and customers are ready to reclaim their lives,” said Delta’s statement Wednesday.

Airlines have insisted that even with the planes fully booked, measures they have taken during the pandemic have greatly reduced the threat of Covid-19 being spread among passengers. Those provisions include the frequent exchange of fresh air in the cabin, enhanced cleaning measures, and a requirement that passengers wear masks.

Expanded vaccine availability factored into Delta’s decision. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the company’s research shows that 64% of its pre-pandemic passenger base anticipate having at least a dose of the vaccine by May 1.

“Don’t confuse these actions with a return to ‘normal,'” said Bastian in a memo to employees Wednesday. “We’re still operating in a pandemic, and many of the changes we’ve made over the past year, such as strengthening our cleanliness protocols and eliminating change fees, will be permanent. Importantly, masks remain critical to our ability to safely welcome more people on board our planes, and we remain committed to enforcing these requirements.”

Delta also announced Wednesday that the customers of the credit received for canceling flights last year, which were to expire after 12 months, have been extended through the end of 2022. The same is true of any tickets purchased in 2021 that were later canceled.

In the early days of the pandemic, when demand for flights ground to a near halt, all the airlines were keeping the middle seats open as a way to promote social distancing and increase customer confidence in flying. But most of the other airlines started filling the seats last summer.

Delta’s move regarding middle seats is not a surprise given that the airline previously said it would keep the prohibition in place only through April 30. People booking flights on May 1 and later have already seen the middle seat available for seat selection on the Delta website. The airline has not broken down the cost of keeping the seat open longer than other airlines.

MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, has extended its complimentary Covid-19 coverage until December 31, 2021.

The complimentary coverage is for expenses incurred by medical treatment or quarantine related to the pandemic and is applicable to those tickets issued for travel after October 1, 2020, until December 31, 2021.

It will also cover Oman ex-pat residents who are required to present medical coverage for their destination and return to Oman if travel is completed within 31 days.

As per the directive issued by Oman’s Supreme Committee for Covid-19 safety, Omani and GCC nationals have been exempted from Covid-19 insurance.

Oman Air said it will maintain its comprehensive safety program throughout all elements of the travel journey. Masks are required when guests are onboard the aircraft and in Oman’s airports.

“Distancing is maintained while guests board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day. Cabin crew all wear a full set of personal protective equipment, meal service has been modified to further ensure safety and a number of other steps have been taken to ensure that the airline’s guests and crew are safe at all times,” said a company spokesman.

“Guests who are planning to travel to Muscat should visit the Civil Aviation Authority website to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the Sultanate,” he added.

LONDON: Travellers who are missing the skies and want to experience the culinary delights of first-class dining can do so from their home thanks to a new partnership between British Airways, Feast Box, and Do & Co.

The airline has teamed up with its catering partner Do & Co, and Feast Box, a provider of internationally inspired recipe boxes, to create a limited-edition cook-at-home meal kit that mirrors British Airways’ First cabin dining experience.

Each meal kit includes a four-course menu inspired by the luxurious food served in British Airways’ First cabin. Customers can choose vegetarian, fish, and meat dishes in their kit.

They will receive the full ingredients as used in the First cabin to cook the meal at home, along with a recipe sheet and an information card in the form of a passport. The meal kits can be ordered here to be delivered directly to a customer’s door. Each meal kit will cost £80 and serve two people.

The kits are available to order from today with deliveries beginning next week.

Hamish McVey, head of brands and marketing at British Airways, said: “We hope that this exclusive First experience will allow our customers who are missing flying to enjoy an amazing dining experience at home.

“British Airways, Feast Box, and Do & Co take huge pride in offering top quality international cuisine, and although it might appear a little different being delivered to a customer’s door rather than at 38,000 feet, we hope it will be just as exciting.”