Airlines

Emirates unveils world-first robotic check-in assistant at DIFC

Emirates is set to launch a new City Check-in and Travel Store in the centre of Dubai’s thriving financial sector, giving consumers the convenience of booking travel, checking in for flights, dropping off luggage, shopping for travel necessities, and saving time at the airport. The cutting-edge facility, which is located in the prestigious ICD Brookfield Place in the DIFC, will start taking visitors on April 27.

The City Check-in and Travel Store, which is located in the financial district of Dubai, has a prime and premium location for busy professionals and enables customers to check their bags up to 4 hours before a flight, allowing them to arrive at the airport at their convenience. This is just one example of Emirates’ ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience.

Customers can visit the location and check in at any time between 8:00am and 10:00pm daily. They can start their travel experience with seamless service at self-check-in kiosks, at designated desks with Emirates agents or with Sara, the first check-in robot assistant in history.

Sara is a cutting-edge portable robotic check-in system that can recognise faces from scanned passports, register travellers, and direct them to the luggage drop location. The City Check-in and Travel Store is a stylish and roomy contemporary space that offers the chance to book tickets, browse travel goods, drop luggage and check-in. Paid valet parking and self-parking ensure an elevated, hassle-free check-in experience for Emirates passengers. It also features a striking 2.5 metre LCD screen showing the most recent destination content from Emirates, as well as additional screens showing an interactive touchscreen map.

Around the DIFC, visitors can enjoy a diverse range of services, shopping, world-class cuisine, and art galleries, including the extensive promenade at DIFC’s Gate Avenue.

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.

DAMAC Air: Dubai’s New Luxury Airline Offers Free Flights for Registration

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.

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

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.