Airlines

Emirates to ramp up flights ahead of Hajj and Eid Al Adha surge

Emirates is adding more flights to significant regional locations as the Hajj season has begun and Eid Al Adha celebrations are soon to take place in order to accommodate the high demand for travel during this special occasion.

Emirates anticipates a busy travel period during Eid..!(Opens in a new browser tab)

For pilgrims to travel to and from the Holy City of Makkah, Emirates has set up additional flights. There are now ten extra flights to and from Jeddah. Up until 7 July, all flights will be flown on Boeing 777 planes reserved for Hajj pilgrims. The Hajj flights to Jeddah will run concurrently with Emirates‘ regular flight schedule to the Kingdom and are available to anyone with a valid Hajj visa who is at least 12 years old and has had a COVID-19 vaccination. Daily flights will also be available to Medina during this time.

10 ways to beat the Eid travel rush with Emirates(Opens in a new browser tab)

In preparation for a busy travel period around Eid Al Adha, Emirates has added 34 more flights to well-liked locations all throughout the region. The extra flights will make it easier for customers to fly home to celebrate Eid Al Adha with their family and friends because an estimated 78,000 people from throughout the area are anticipated to travel with Emirates during the six-day break.

For passengers traveling to the Levant, Emirates has added ten flights to Amman from 21 to 30 June, and ten additional flights to Beirut from 20 to 29 June. Within the GCC, the airline has added five flights to Dammam from 21 to 25 June and nine flights to Kuwait from 22 June to 2 July.

Hajj flights 2023 from India – schedules and updates(Opens in a new browser tab)

Emirates hosts a variety of multicultural celebrations onboard to cater to its international customer. From June 28 to 30, travelers will be able to take part in the traditional festivities of Eid Al Adha. On select outbound flights from Dubai and all flights across the Gulf and Levant, classic Eid dishes will be served across First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class, including regional favorites such as chicken moughalghal, beef sajiyeh, prawn morbian and lamb midfoot in First and Business Class, chicken zurbian and lamb chermoula in Premium Economy, and kebab khashkhash, prawn sayadieh, lamb tagine, Daoud basha and chicken hamsa in Economy.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.