Etihad flies to Jeddah and Doha
Etihad Airways has now added Jeddah and Doha as destinations to its list. A special delegation led by the Saudi government’s department of civil aviation, including members of the business and tourism industry celebrated the first Etihad flight's arrival at the King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The airline also started operations to Doha on June 18. The service will operate every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with EY 725 departing Abu Dhabi at 1pm, arriving in Jeddah at 2:45pm. The return flight, EY 726, departs Jeddah at 4pm, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7:45pm.

The Abu Dhabi based airline starts its operations to Doha with a six-flights-a-week schedule It will operate flights every day of the week except Tuesday.

Summer special from Emirates
Enjoy up to two complimentary nights in Dubai when you fly Emirates First or Business Class this summer, between June 15 and August 31.

For passengers travelling first class, the airline will reserve two nights with breakfast at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai. Passengers in the Business Class will receive a night's free accommodation, with breakfast, at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. For more information, log on to www.emirates.com/om.

First timers

• Reconfirm
  Reconfirm the flight’s status 24 to 48 hours before departure. Confirm again before leaving for the airport
• Pack smart
  Put all your medicines, papers, essentials and one change of clothing in the cabin baggage as a precaution against lost luggage
• Label your baggage
  Place identification stickers on the outside of your bags. Also place a tag inside in case the one outside is torn. Give full contact details along with your name
• Check your ticket
  Check your ticket carefully before you travel. Mak sure you understand the timings of the flight correctly, or you might miss your plane
• Be careful
  Do not ever leave your luggage unattended or under the watch of a stranger. Bags do get stolen at airports
• Take your time
  Give yourself enough time to reach the airport without having to hurry. Anxiety and tension are the last things you need before travelling on a long journey

 celebrate QATAR AIRWAYS’ SUMMER SPREE
Qatar Airways has been named the Airline Of The Year at the annual Middle East and North Africa (MENA) travel awards held in Dubai recently.

Its subsidiary Qatar Duty Free was also awarded gold for its outstanding achievements in running duty free operations at Doha International Airport.

The airline will also be introducing its new Airbus A340-600 aircraft, providing passengers travelling in the premium cabins with dedicated onboard first class and business class lounges.

 Air Arabia flies straight into Europe
Air Arabia, the low-fares airline in the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the start of flights to Istanbul from May 28 with two flights a week every Thursday and Sunday. Fares start from AED300 for flights to Istanbul, exclusive of taxes and surcharges with similar fares for return trips.

The airline also announced the start of flights to Kabul from May 4 with four flights a week. Fares start from AED450 for a one-way flight to Kabul, exclusive of taxes and surcharges.