Aviation

Visit 6 Gulf nations on ONE visa ! Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The eagerly awaited Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tourist visa, dubbed ‘GCC Grand Tours,’ will enable travelers to explore all six GCC countries and enjoy an extended stay of over 30 days in the region.

On Monday, the 6th, UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri unveiled the news during the inaugural day of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024. Al Marri emphasized in his address that the unified visa will streamline travel to the region, making it more accessible and cost-effective for tourists.

Consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, the GCC, alternatively referred to as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, has introduced the GCC Grand Tours visa.

The primary aim is to entice more tourists by simplifying visits to multiple countries within the region, similar to the concept of the Schengen visa within the European Union.

The objective is to spur economic growth in the region by streamlining tourist travel. Salem bin Mohammed Al Mahrooq, Oman’s Minister of Heritage and Tourism, affirmed that feedback on the unified visa plan was sought by December 2023.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.