Welcome to the Arabian Aviation thread - 2022 edition. Please continue to post your news and discussions below.

Link to now locked 2021 edition:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1455921

Flydubai will receive 20 B737MAX in 2022.

flydubai to grow in former Yugoslavia market.
https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/01/fl ... ormer.html

Did SV finally complete the rollout of their new uniforms? It was to start on LHR and CDG and then rollout by end of 2020 or early 2021. Of course Covid delays, but we're now almost in February 2022 and most of their ad campaigns still seem to feature the old uniforms.

Kuwait Airways is launching 3 new destinations, Moscow, Manchester, Madrid, Affective next June, KAC’ Europe Regional Director announced this information today on his Twitter account, These routes will be served by B777,A330neo, A320neo.

Saudia is resuming Bangkok from May 2022 following a 30 year pause due a now-resolved Diplomatic conflict.

Hopefully Thai will also announce a resumption. I recall as a kid that their planes used to land in Dhahran Airport (old airport near Dammam)

flydubai starts Al Ula in Saudi Arabia with a twice weekly service on B737-800. It is also restarting Yanbu in Saudi.
https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/News/ ... s-to-Yanbu

EgyptAir has announced the launch of a second low-cost subsidiary, Air Sphinx, from April 2022.

The new airline will have an initial fleet of two B738s (from the parent company) operating domestic services from Sphinx International Airport SPX (located West Cairo/Giza).

flydubai to restart SAW with 5 weekly flights from March 2nd. Aircraft: 737 MAX 8.
https://gulfnews.com/amp/business/aviat ... 1.85728323

Flydubai cancels flights to Kiev effective from tomorrow 16/2/2022.

Saudia announced 10 new routes incl: Beijing, Marrakech, Bangkok, Seoul, Chicago, Moscow, Malaga, Barcelona. Hope to see these start. Still curious what's going on with new uniforms.

Anyone have intel on status of Kuwait T2? Says opening Aug 2022, which would be convenient for World Cup in Doha but I have a hard time believing it. Any news on AUH?...

deltatrav wrote:

Anyone have intel on status of Kuwait T2? Says opening Aug 2022, which would be convenient for World Cup in Doha but I have a hard time believing it. Any news on AUH?...

Nope, there is no way it’ll be completed by then. The building is around 75% complete according to local sources, so I would safely say not before the end of 2023.

Saudia has announced ten new destinations for 2022:

-Bangkok
- Chicago ORD
- Barcelona
- Malaga
- Moscow
- Beijing
- Seoul
- Entebbe
- Amsterdam
- Marrakesh

Kuwait Airways has restructured its order book with Airbus.

The new order book after restructuring:

- 9 A320NEO
- 6 A321NEO
- 3 A321neo LR
- 4 A330-800NEO
- 7 A330-900NEO
- 2 A350-900

Flydubai has suspended the following flights:

-Kiev (KBP) ‑ up to and including 08 March 2022
-Odessa (ODS) ‑ up to and including 08 March 2022
-Krasnodar (KRR) ‑ up to and including 08 March 2022
-Rostov (ROV) ‑ up to and including 08 March 2022
-Minsk (MSQ) – up to and including 08 March 2022

Flydubai has announced thrice weekly services to Pisa, Italy starting from 24JUN22. The airline will also resume flights to Catania.

The new flights will codeshare with Emirates and operate out of T3.

https://news.flydubai.com/flydubai-laun ... -in-sicily

xwb777 wrote:

Saudia has announced ten new destinations for 2022:

-Bangkok
- Chicago ORD
- Barcelona
- Malaga
- Moscow
- Beijing
- Seoul
- Entebbe
- Amsterdam
- Marrakesh

Any further intel on the schedules for some of these (namely, Seoul and Chicago)? Hoping that Seoul is not a tag on to Beijing but that could be interesting to if they get 5th freedoms on it.

deltatrav wrote:

xwb777 wrote:

Saudia has announced ten new destinations for 2022:

-Bangkok
- Chicago ORD
- Barcelona
- Malaga
- Moscow
- Beijing
- Seoul
- Entebbe
- Amsterdam
- Marrakesh

Any further intel on the schedules for some of these (namely, Seoul and Chicago)? Hoping that Seoul is not a tag on to Beijing but that could be interesting to if they get 5th freedoms on it.

According to these links: https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220329-svns22intl and https://www.flightconnections.com/route ... arabian-sv
Bangkok: 4wk 789/78X (Sun, Mon, Wed and Fri) from JED nonstop (eff. 01/05/22) and 3wk 789/78X (Tue, Thu and Sat) from RUH (eff. 28/02/22)
Barcelona: 2wk 789 from JED (Tue and Sat) and 2wk 789 from RUH (Mon and Thu). Both are seasonal, from the start of July to the end of August.
Malaga: 2wk 789 from JED (Sun and Thu) and 2wk 789 from RUH (Tue and Sat). Both are seasonal, from the start of July to the end of August. Both flights operate as JED-AGP-MAD-JED or RUH-AGP-MAD-RUH.
Beijing: 4wk 789 from RUH (Sue, Tue, Wed and Fri) (eff. 03/06/22). This service goes to Daxing, not PEK.
Seoul: 3wk 789 from RUH (Tue, Thu and Sat) (eff. 03/05/22).
Entebbe: 2wk A333/A33R (A330 Regional, with C30Y300) from RUH (Mon and Wed) (eff. 02/02/22)
Amsterdam: 4wk 789 (Sun, Tue, Thu and Fri) from JED and 2wk 789 from RUH (Sun and Fri) (eff. 30/10/22).
Marrakesh: 3wk 789 from JED (Mon, Wed and Sat). This service is seasonal, from the end of May to the end of August.

While Moscow services were planned (initially to VKO but then changed to SVO), they were recently removed. Chicago has not been added to the schedule as of writing.

Anansaudiajet wrote:

deltatrav wrote:

xwb777 wrote:

Saudia has announced ten new destinations for 2022:

-Bangkok
- Chicago ORD
- Barcelona
- Malaga
- Moscow
- Beijing
- Seoul
- Entebbe
- Amsterdam
- Marrakesh

Any further intel on the schedules for some of these (namely, Seoul and Chicago)? Hoping that Seoul is not a tag on to Beijing but that could be interesting to if they get 5th freedoms on it.

According to these links: https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220329-svns22intl and https://www.flightconnections.com/route ... arabian-sv
Bangkok: 4wk 789/78X (Sun, Mon, Wed and Fri) from JED nonstop (eff. 01/05/22) and 3wk 789/78X (Tue, Thu and Sat) from RUH (eff. 28/02/22)
Barcelona: 2wk 789 from JED (Tue and Sat) and 2wk 789 from RUH (Mon and Thu). Both are seasonal, from the start of July to the end of August.
Malaga: 2wk 789 from JED (Sun and Thu) and 2wk 789 from RUH (Tue and Sat). Both are seasonal, from the start of July to the end of August. Both flights operate as JED-AGP-MAD-JED or RUH-AGP-MAD-RUH.
Beijing: 4wk 789 from RUH (Sue, Tue, Wed and Fri) (eff. 03/06/22). This service goes to Daxing, not PEK.
Seoul: 3wk 789 from RUH (Tue, Thu and Sat) (eff. 03/05/22).
Entebbe: 2wk A333/A33R (A330 Regional, with C30Y300) from RUH (Mon and Wed) (eff. 02/02/22)
Amsterdam: 4wk 789 (Sun, Tue, Thu and Fri) from JED and 2wk 789 from RUH (Sun and Fri) (eff. 30/10/22).
Marrakesh: 3wk 789 from JED (Mon, Wed and Sat). This service is seasonal, from the end of May to the end of August.

While Moscow services were planned (initially to VKO but then changed to SVO), they were recently removed. Chicago has not been added to the schedule as of writing.

fantastic, thanks

Additional world cup flights to Doha have been announced by flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudi:

According to data shared by Qatar Airways, flydubai will operate 60 flights per day from Dubai while Kuwait Airways, Oman Air and Saudi will operate 20, 48 and 40 flights per day, respectively.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/aviation/f ... -world-cup

Royal Jordanian to launch flights to Milan starting from September 2022.

Source: RJ website booking engine

Royal Jordanian shelves planned Amman-Sarajevo service.

https://www.exyuaviation.com/2022/06/ro ... anned.html

Gulf Air is boosting Moscow from 5 to 7 weekly flights.

GF012 BAH0135 – 0800DME 32N x456
GF014 BAH0900 – 1525DME 32N 456

GF013 DME0850 – 1505BAH 32N x456
GF015 DME1610 – 2225BAH 32N 456

https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220701-gfjul22dme

Cham Wings adds two new destinations in the UAE. I wonder if this has to do with Assad's recent visit to the UAE.

Aleppo – Abu Dhabi 08JUL22 – 17SEP22 1 weekly A320
6Q735 ALP2145 – 0200+1AUH 320 5
6Q736 AUH0300 – 0530ALP 320 6

Latakia – Sharjah 12JUL22 – 27SEP22 1 weekly A320
6Q749 LTK0930 – 1400SHJ 320 2
6Q750 SHJ0530 – 0800LTK 320 2

https://aeroroutes.com/eng/220706-6q3q22ae

AUH flights seem like they fit perfectly to offer connections via Etihad. I suppose Sharjah flights will be used by expats working in the region.

Egyptair has announced some network increases (mostly seasonal stuff around Christmas) but starting from 30.10.2022 they are going to be increasing Moscow from 7 to 10 weekly. There are going to be daily flights on the A220 and three weekly on the B738,

Now that's one long flight on the A220.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220812-msnw22eu

IndiGo will launch direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah, effective September 22. This will be 6E's 100th destination.

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/ ... 1.89832878

Does anyone have more information about this proposed startup airline called Arabesque?

https://www.arabesque.aero/

https://centreforaviation.com/data/prof ... /arabesque

AirIndia wrote:

IndiGo will launch direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah, effective September 22. This will be 6E's 100th destination.

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/ ... 1.89832878

How many of those 100 destinations are international?

Etihad has rescheduled AUH-MNL service increase from January 1st 2023 to October 30th 2022. Flights will be increased from 7 weekly flights to 14.
Hopefully this is a positive sign when it comes to Etihad and the reconstruction of their international network.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220812-eynw22mnl

Blerg wrote:

AirIndia wrote:

IndiGo will launch direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah, effective September 22. This will be 6E's 100th destination.

https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/ ... 1.89832878

How many of those 100 destinations are international?

RKT will be the 26th Intl destination. Currently 74-25 is the split.

EK to boost Moscow flights from current 14 weekly to 17 weekly. Double daily flights are operated by the A380 while the additional three frequencies by the 777.

Additional flights start from September 1st.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220815-eksep22dme

Air Arabia has launched flights between Sharjah & Milan Bergamo starting from 07SEP22.

Source: Air Arabia Social Media Channels

xwb777 wrote:

Air Arabia has launched flights between Sharjah & Milan Bergamo starting from 07SEP22.

Source: Air Arabia Social Media Channels

What plane are they going to use? Can they operate it without any weight restrictions? That's over 6 hours flying.

Blerg wrote:

xwb777 wrote:

Air Arabia has launched flights between Sharjah & Milan Bergamo starting from 07SEP22.

Source: Air Arabia Social Media Channels

What plane are they going to use? Can they operate it without any weight restrictions? That's over 6 hours flying.

A321NEO

Oman Air is the latest Middle Eastern carrier to resume Moscow flights. Starting from 30.10.2022 these will run 4 times per week onboard the A330.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220822-wynw22ru

Etihad increases JFK from 7 to 11 weekly starting from November 15th. It's interesting how EY is slowly adding frequencies to its long-haul network. Recently they boosted Manila flights. Hopefully things are looking up at EY.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220822-eynw22jfk

After Oman Air, now it's Royal Jordanian's turn to resume flights to Moscow. Flights start on October 30th three times per week (A319/320). Initially RJ planned to resume this route twice per week with the E75. I guess they expect strong bookings so good for them.

Flights are already in the system.

Hello

I noticed that since few days, there are plenty flights from various Spanish cities to Luxor. Anyine knows why ? Thanks

Today

Flights from Barcelona (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ft3712), Malaga, Madrid, Santiago Compostella. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airp ... r/arrivals

Other cities: Seville Valladolid, Bilbao: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3916 & https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3917

Some flights were also operated by Iberia

rukundo wrote:

Hello

I noticed that since few days, there are plenty flights from various Spanish cities to Luxor. Anyine knows why ? Thanks

Today

Flights from Barcelona (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ft3712), Malaga, Madrid, Santiago Compostella. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airp ... r/arrivals

Other cities: Seville Valladolid, Bilbao: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3916 & https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3917

Some flights were also operated by Iberia

I’m not 100% sure, but Luxor is a starting/ending point for Nike cruises. Tourists fly in Luxor, cruise the Nile and depart CAI or vice versa. Also, Luxor is a good starting point for pyramids/archeological sites in Southern Egypt.

I know SV is expanding it's international network, but without a major connecting hub in Saudi Arabia I find it hard to see them fill flights to these new destinations. I don't really see any more room for another connecting carrier after QR and EK, the market is already full it seems.

VX321 wrote:

rukundo wrote:

Hello

I noticed that since few days, there are plenty flights from various Spanish cities to Luxor. Anyine knows why ? Thanks

Today

Flights from Barcelona (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ft3712), Malaga, Madrid, Santiago Compostella. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airp ... r/arrivals

Other cities: Seville Valladolid, Bilbao: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3916 & https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ms3917

Some flights were also operated by Iberia

I’m not 100% sure, but Luxor is a starting/ending point for Nike cruises. Tourists fly in Luxor, cruise the Nile and depart CAI or vice versa. Also, Luxor is a good starting point for pyramids/archeological sites in Southern Egypt.

Thanks a lot for the answer. I can confirm it, Luxor is a great place. I was lucky to fly there with my mom in 2003 with Lotus Air A320 from Paris Cdg.

3D101CA wrote:

I know SV is expanding it's international network, but without a major connecting hub in Saudi Arabia I find it hard to see them fill flights to these new destinations. I don't really see any more room for another connecting carrier after QR and EK, the market is already full it seems.

JED has flights to a fair amount of places, it just doesn't have the frequencies. Consequently, many Europe-East Asia connections in JED have hours-long layovers.

AsoRock wrote:

Saudia is resuming Bangkok from May 2022 following a 30 year pause due a now-resolved Diplomatic conflict.

Hopefully Thai will also announce a resumption. I recall as a kid that their planes used to land in Dhahran Airport (old airport near Dammam)

I lived in Dhahran and the locals talked about how they would get around the Thailand travel restrictions via Malaysia. Glad the 'Blue Diamond Affair' has been resolved.

AsoRock wrote:

Saudia is resuming Bangkok from May 2022 following a 30 year pause due a now-resolved Diplomatic conflict.

Hopefully Thai will also announce a resumption. I recall as a kid that their planes used to land in Dhahran Airport (old airport near Dammam)

I lived in Dhahran and the locals talked about how they would get around the Thailand travel restrictions via Malaysia. Glad the 'Blue Diamond Affair' has been resolved.

AsoRock wrote:

Hopefully Thai will also announce a resumption. I recall as a kid that their planes used to land in Dhahran Airport (old airport near Dammam)

Thai resumed flights to Saudi Arabia two weeks ago on August 19. They're flying 4x weekly Bangkok - Jeddah with Boeing 787-8.

It'll change to the 777-200ER after October 30. https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220712-t ... ed?rq=Thai

Kuwait airways lunches 8 new destinations, Medina- Taif - Abu Dhabi - Addis Ababa - Maldives - Hyderabad - Kuala Lumpur - Kathmandu, With Madrid & Izmir being all year destinations.

According to Etihad's website, they are boosting two more destinations: Moscow and Zanzibar.

Zanzibar is increased from 3 to 4 weekly onboard the A320. Additional frequency starts from 26.11.
Moscow was boosted from 7 to 10 weekly, these will be operated with the B789 and will depart from AUH in the morning.

It's interesting to see EY slowly growing its network once again. What makes me happy is that this time around they are not rushing but are doing it cautiously.

Air Arabia will temporarily shift operations from Hamad International Airport in Doha to the old Doha International Airport (DIA) between the 15th of September to the 30th of December.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220906-g9sep22qa