Browsing: Travel

Air Arabia’s New Gdansk Route to Enhance Connectivity with Northern Poland Starting December

Air Arabia is set to commence direct flights between Sharjah and Gdansk on Dec. 14, 2026. The new route will connect Sharjah International Airport with Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, operating five times weekly. Flights will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This addition provides a direct link from the UAE to northern Poland, broadening Air Arabia’s scheduled network within the country. Tickets for the new service are already available via the airline’s sales platforms.

Gothenburg Gains New Direct Flights to Abu Dhabi Starting in December

Etihad’s Abu Dhabi-Gothenburg service will operate four times weekly this winter. This service marks Gothenburg’s first direct air link with the United Arab Emirates and establishes its initial nonstop connection to the Middle East and Asia. Western Swedish travelers can now connect through Abu Dhabi to various destinations across India and Asia. Additionally, the new route provides direct access to Abu Dhabi for those traveling from the Gothenburg region. The airport serving the city, Göteborg Landvetter Airport, caters to Gothenburg and the broader western Sweden area. The airline will operate the route using an Airbus A321LR configured for 160 passengers, featuring two First Suites, 14 Business seats, and 144 Economy seats. Both First and Business classes offer seats that convert into fully flat beds with direct aisle access. Economy passengers will enjoy 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems, and high-speed Wi-Fi will be available in all three classes. The A321LR, a long-range narrow-body aircraft, is now part of Etihad’s fleet.

South Korea Achieves Highest Tourism Surplus Since the Pandemic Era

South Korea posted a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking the most significant monthly gain since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This figure represents a $1.44 billion increase compared to June 2025, when the balance showed an $846.8 million deficit. According to data from the Korea Tourism Organization, June’s surplus ranks as the second-highest monthly record ever, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.

Spain enforces temporary border checks on arrivals from Italy amid ongoing tensions

Spain has initiated temporary border inspections for travelers arriving from Italy by air and sea. These controls started at midnight on Aug. 8 and are expected to stay in effect until Sept. 7. The measure was implemented following Italy’s own temporary restrictions on arrivals from Spain. The move involves adding document verification to routes that usually operate under the European Union’s Schengen system of internal travel.

flydubai’s Expanded Flight Schedule Boosts Connectivity to Milan Bergamo and Naples

Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday a significant increase in its European route offerings, aiming to meet rising international travel demand by adding more flights to major Italian airports. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is strengthening its operations in Italy through increased flight frequencies to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby deepening the direct transport links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate twice daily between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, and it will also expand its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily service.

Digital Wallet Payments Revolutionize Emirates and Crypto.com Flight Booking Experience

Emirates, the flagship airline, introduced a new cryptocurrency checkout feature that allows eligible travelers to purchase flights using digital assets via its website and mobile application. The digital asset payment platform is accessible to residents of the United Arab Emirates for both international and domestic flights, with payments processed in Emirati Dirhams (AED). The checkout process is managed through the Crypto.com platform, granting travelers direct access to their digital wallet balances during ticket purchase.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Set to Launch on December 11, 2026, Marking a Major Cultural Milestone

The museum’s architecture features 30 indoor galleries offering 11,600 square metres of exhibition space, complemented by 23,000 square metres of outdoor display zones. The galleries are linked through a central atrium, with the skyline defined by ten sculptural cones, nine of which are clad in stainless steel mesh and one finished with onyx and glass. Beyond their visual appeal, these architectural cones—standing up to 88 metres tall—are designed to harness natural breezes and provide shade, utilizing traditional passive cooling techniques to minimize energy use in the desert climate. The facility also includes a dedicated art and technology center, specialized spaces for children’s education, archives, a research library, and a cutting-edge conservation lab.

South Korea Achieves Over 10.7 Million Foreign Visitor Arrivals in First Half of the Year

The data released by Emirates News Agency confirmed that Korea’s inbound tourist numbers exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth from key regional source markets. Throughout the first half of the year, neighboring East Asian countries continued to be the main drivers of South Korea’s tourism growth. Data on inbound travel indicates that mainland China remained the top source of international visitors, with 650,000 arrivals in June and the fastest year-on-year growth rate among major source countries. Experts noted that visitor numbers from Taiwan and the U.S. experienced particularly strong growth, increasing by over 160 percent compared to baseline figures from the first half of 2019, before global travel restrictions were imposed.