Browsing: Travel

Indonesia restarted operations at Jakarta’s primary airport along with several regional hubs on Tuesday after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau caused widespread interference with air travel. Nearly 3,000 flights and over 340,000 passengers across the nation were affected by the volcanic activity. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport resumed its services once authorities confirmed the ash levels had decreased. On Tuesday morning, monitoring teams recorded three smaller eruptions. The volcano remains at Level III, the second-highest alert status in Indonesia.

Travelers navigate modern airport terminal corridors carrying personal luggage and hand baggage. The expanded schedule complements the airline’s existing route to Thailand, which includes 21 weekly non-stop flights from Sharjah to Phuket. With the new fourth daily Bangkok flight, Air Arabia will operate a total of 49 weekly non-stop flights connecting its main hub in Sharjah with destinations in Thailand. This route expansion enhances air links between the Arabian Gulf and key Southeast Asian tourism and trade hubs. Based on official fleet disclosures, the route will be served by the airline’s Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft. These single-aisle planes feature cabin configurations designed to maximize passenger comfort while maintaining low-cost operational efficiency. Passengers on the nonstop route can enjoy amenities such as the SkyTime complimentary in-flight streaming entertainment system and SkyCafe catering service.

The number of international visitors arriving in South Korea reached 2,093,223 in July 2026, reflecting a significant rebound in global tourism. This figure represents a 20.8% increase compared to the 1,733,199 arrivals recorded in July 2025. Furthermore, it is 44.6% higher than the pre-pandemic July 2019 level. The Korea Tourism Organization announced these latest monthly tourism statistics on August 25.

The new route to Gdansk introduces a Baltic coast destination to Air Arabia’s European network from Sharjah. The airline also services prominent European cities including Athens, Vienna, Prague, Milan, Munich, Rome, and London Gatwick. Gdansk Airport serves the broader Tri-City region—comprising Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot—as well as other parts of northern Poland, offering both domestic and international connections for leisure and business travelers across the area. Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali remarked that Gdansk would broaden the airline’s footprint in Poland. Tomasz Kloskowski, President of Gdansk Airport, emphasized the direct link between the Pomeranian region and the UAE. The airport has identified Sharjah as a transfer hub for onward travel to destinations including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and East Africa. Consequently, the new flights will connect Gdansk passengers to Air Arabia’s wider network via its Sharjah hub. Scheduled Launch in December with Five Flights Weekly Air Arabia’s fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft will operate the Gdansk route, and bookings are now open. The schedule features flight G9 0628 from Sharjah on Mondays and Saturdays, with the return segments operated by G9 0629. Flights on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays will use G9 0626 from Sharjah and G9 0627 from Gdansk. All timings listed are local, and the route

New seasonal flights will connect Abu Dhabi directly with Gothenburg from December. The Gothenburg route will mark western Sweden’s first direct air link with the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Etihad describes this as Gothenburg’s inaugural nonstop connection with the Middle East and Asia. Travelers will have the option to connect through Abu Dhabi to numerous destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. The airline’s listed onward flights include Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru, and Colombo. For UAE residents, this route also offers direct access to western Sweden. The airline plans to operate these flights using an Airbus A321LR, which can seat up to 160 passengers. The aircraft’s cabin configuration comprises two First Suites, 14 Business seats, and 144 Economy seats. The First and Business Class seats convert into fully flat beds and provide direct aisle access. Economy travelers benefit from 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems, and high-speed Wi-Fi is available throughout the aircraft. The long-range narrow-body aircraft enables Etihad to offer three cabin classes on the Gothenburg route. Enhanced international connectivity for Gothenburg through direct service This schedule allows passengers arriving in Abu Dhabi to access Etihad’s extensive connecting network. Eligible travelers can also take advantage of the carrier’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program, which offers qualifying guests hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For

South Korea registered a tourism surplus of $596.6 million in June 2026, marking its most robust monthly result since the COVID-19 crisis. This figure reflects an improvement of approximately $1.44 billion compared to June 2025, when the nation experienced an $846.8 million deficit. Data from the Korea Tourism Organization indicated that June’s surplus was the second-highest ever recorded, with only October 2008 surpassing it at $661.5 million.

Temporary border inspections have been introduced by Spain for travelers arriving from Italy via air and sea routes. Starting at midnight on Aug. 8, these measures are expected to last until Sept. 7. Authorities are now verifying travel and immigration documents on routes that usually operate without routine internal border checks. This step follows Italy’s earlier decision to re-establish controls on specific passengers arriving from Spain. Travelers from Italy face temporary passport checks at Spanish airports and seaports. During the first day of enforcement, Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that 199 passengers traveling on 12 flights from Italy underwent checks. The controls were conducted at airports in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Bilbao, Alicante, and Valencia. The process involved verifying passports, nationality, and visa status where relevant. Despite the temporary controls, flights and maritime services between Spain and Italy continue to operate normally. Italy implemented its own temporary border controls on Aug. 1, following a significant influx of migrants into Ceuta from Morocco. The Italian authorities applied these checks to non-EU nationals arriving by air or sea from Spain. Citizens of Italy, Spain, and other EU countries were not subject to these restrictions. Italy announced that its controls would remain in place through Sept. 1, according to the current schedule. Ceuta arrivals came ahead of border control measures Approximately 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the large surge from Morocco that began in late July. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that by Aug.

Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed a significant expansion of its European route network on Wednesday, aiming to meet increasing international travel demand by adding more flights to key Italian hubs. Confirmed by statements from Emirates News Agency, the carrier is strengthening its presence in Italy through additional services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, enhancing direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate twice daily flights between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport. At the same time, service to Naples International Airport has been increased to a daily operation, reinforcing its commercial footprint in major Italian urban centers.

Digital currency payment gateways enable travelers to complete online airline ticket checkouts. The checkout infrastructure allows users of the mobile app to directly open their digital wallets to authorize flight payments before returning to the airline app to receive electronic tickets. Desktop users choosing the digital payment method at checkout can scan an on-screen QR code with their mobile device and approve the payment within the wallet interface. After validation across the payment network, automated systems instantly generate flight itineraries and electronic travel documents.

The museum’s architecture includes 30 indoor galleries offering 11,600 square metres of exhibition area, complemented by 23,000 square metres of outdoor display zones. A central atrium connects these spaces, while ten sculptural cones dominate the skyline; nine are clad in stainless steel mesh and one features onyx and glass. These cones, which reach heights of up to 88 metres, not only serve as striking visual elements but also function to harness natural breezes and provide shade, employing passive cooling techniques to help reduce energy use amid the desert climate. The institution also features a dedicated centre for art and technology, specialized facilities for children’s education, historical archives, a research library, and an advanced conservation laboratory.