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☆ Dubai is the economic jewel of the Middle East — now its Gulf neighbors are coming for a piece of the pie
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Pete Syme | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

According to Forbes' 2023 Travel Guide, Dubai has nine 5-star hotels , compared to Abu Dhabi's three and two in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it wants in on international travel, stating it aims to attract 100-150 million visitors by 2030. Saudi Arabia is catching up with a new airlineThe competition is perhaps the most heated in the aviation industry. On its double-decker Airbus A380, Dubai's airline, Emirates, has top amenities like a shower for business-class passengers, plus an on-board bar. AdvertisementAnd even if it succeeds in attracting tourists to Saudi Arabia, it is unlikely to knock Emirates off its perch.

Persons: —, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Abu, Abu Dhabi, Forbes, Abu Dhabi's, Faisal Alibrahim, Alibrahim, Mohammed Bin Salman, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ulrichsen, Skytrax, Pete Syme, Tony Douglas, Douglas, That's, OAG Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, Business, Saudi Crown, Etihad, Bloomberg, CNN, Saudi, Economic, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qatari, Etihad Airways, Riyadh Air, Air, Riyadh Air's Boeing, Boeing, Dubai International Airport Locations: Dubai, Gulf, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Abu, UAE, Qatar, Davos, Neom, Emirates, Still, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia

☆ Singapore’s Changi Airport fully reopens Terminal 2 following huge expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Singapore’s Changi Airport has fully reopened Terminal 2 following a massive 3.5-year expansion project. But it was the introduction of some previously unheard-of amenities that really got the world’s travelers to take notice. Changi Airport Terminal 3 – which now has a 12-meter-high mega slide and a butterfly garden – entered the picture in 2008. Featuring a dramatic, doughnut-shaped exterior framed in steel and glass, the 135,700-square-meter space is a multi-use complex that connects three of Changi Airport’s four terminals. Meanwhile, airport officials have already revealed plans for Terminal 5, which is expected to open to travelers in the mid-2030s.

Persons: ”, Lye, Tang, Li Bai’s, Li Bai, Nam Kee, what’s Organizations: CNN, Group’s, Lotte, Harry’s, CNN Singapore Changi Airport, Hamad International Airport, Changi, HSBC Locations: Changi, Lye Teck, Singapore, Doha, Qatar, Forest

☆ The majority of the world's most family-friendly airlines are in one continent
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Chelsea Ong | Harriet Akinyi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japan Airlines is the most family-friendly airline, according to a new ranking. Airlines from Asia dominated a new family-friendly airlines list compiled by travel website The Family Vacation Guide. The ranking was based on eight factors — including seat comfort, free seat selection and pre-boarding for families — for a total of 18 possible points. Yet lap fees are common: all airlines charged them but for Hawaiian Airlines and Lufthansa. Asia — big on familyPraowpan Tansitpong, an assistant professor at Nida Business School, attributed the dominance of Asian airlines on the family-friendly list to a difference in business priorities.

Persons: Tansitpong Organizations: Japan Airlines, Airlines, China's Hainan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, China Southern Airlines, Lufthansa, Hawaiian Airlines, Nida Business School Locations: Japan, Asia, Western

☆ Airline CEO who once said a woman couldn't do his job steps down after decades in post
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Qatar Airways announced that its CEO, Akbar Al Baker, is standing down after 27 years. Al Baker's leadership has seen the airline win an array of awards, including the World's Best Airline seven times. Since Al Baker took charge nearly three decades ago, Qatar's national carrier has grown hugely and picked up several awards along the way. AdvertisementAdvertisementBetween 2011 and 2022, it was named the World's Best Airline seven times by Skytrax. And this year saw Qatar Airways' business class offering named the world's best for the tenth time at the World Airline Awards.

Persons: Akbar Al Baker, Al Baker's, —, Badr Mohammed Al, Meer, Al Baker, hasn't, grandmothers Organizations: Qatar Airways, Service, Hamad International Airport, Skytrax, Association of, BBC, Qatar, FIFA, Associated Press Locations: Doha, Ireland

☆ Inside Japan Airlines’ new A350-1000 aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Japan Airlines (JAL) has done just that, this week unveiling the interiors of its high-tech new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, “which will become the airline’s new flagship for international service after nearly 20 years,” the carrier says in a statement. Business-class cabinsAn aerial view of the new business-class seats. Japan AirlinesThe JAL 777-300ER jets currently serving JAL’s long-haul flights have 49 business-class seats. Premium and economy cabinsThe new JAL premium economy seats have privacy partitions and electronic leg rests. Japan AirlinesA common question among travelers: is it worth paying the extra for premium economy?

Persons: ”, here’s, Safran, CNN Travel’s Francesca Street, what’s, There’s, “ Organizations: CNN, Japan Airlines, JAL, Airbus, ”, they’ve, Japan, Boeing Locations: Tokyo, Haneda, New York, JFK, Hamburg, Germany, Japan Airlines

☆ The world’s best airlines for 2023, according to Skytrax
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now, for the fifth time in the accolades’ 23-year history, it’s been named best airline in the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023. The Qatar flag carrier bossed it in business class, with wins for World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Seat, World’s Best Business Class Lounge (the Al Mourjan lounge at Hamad International Airport), World’s Best Business Class Lounge Dining and Best Airline in the Middle East. Scoot was the World’s Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline and Volotea won out in the very competitive Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe category. Garuda Indonesia’s cabin staff were voted the world’s best, Cathay Pacific won World’s Best Inflight Entertainment and Bangkok Airways was once again the World’s Best Regional Airline. Delta Air Lines was named Best Airline in North America, with the Best Airline Staff Service for the region, while Sun Country Airlines was named Best Low-Cost Airline in North America title for the first time Alaska Airlines was North America’s Best Regional Airline.

Persons: it’s, ”, Edward Plaisted, Goh Choon Phong, –, Al, Scoot, Volotea Organizations: CNN, Singapore Airlines, Air and Space Museum, Paris Air, SIA, Qatar Airways –, Japan’s ANA All Nippon Airways, Emirates, Japan Airlines, Qatar, World’s, Hamad International Airport, ANA, World’s Best, Services, Kuwait Airways, AirAsia, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Entertainment, Bangkok Airways, . Delta Air Lines, Best Airline Staff Service, Sun Country Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Airlines, Qatar Airways, ANA All Nippon Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air, Cathay, Korean, Hainan Airlines, Int’l Air, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Fiji Airways, Qantas Airways, British Airways, Air New Zealand, Delta Air Lines, Garuda, Thai Airways, Transavia, Southwest Airlines, Vueling, Ryanair, Jetstar Airways, Friendly, Virgin Atlantic Locations: Singapore, Europe, North America, Air France, Garuda Indonesia, Transavia France

☆ These are the 20 best airlines in the world, according to one survey of travelers — see the full list
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Airline ranking company Skytrax released its 2023 list of the 20 best airlines in the world. Delta Air Lines is the only US carrier to make Skytrax's top 20 list. Singapore Airlines has been voted 2023's best airline, taking the prestigious title over the previous seven-time winner Qatar Airways. And this year — as is usually the case — the US was a big letdown: only one US carrier made the top 20 list. Here's what travelers believe are the 20 best airlines according to Skytrax's list.

Persons: Skytrax Organizations: Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, Morning, Airline

☆ A coffin was accidentally left on a plane at Dublin Airport and flown back to Greece
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

One man's remains were accidentally left on a plane at Dublin Airport and flown back to Greece. An Irishman who passed away in Greece was transported by plane to Dublin Airport but an unloading mistake resulted in his coffin being flown all the way back to Greece, Irish newspaper the Sunday Independent reported. On May 22, the man's remains were transported in a coffin on an Aegean Airline plane from Athens International Airport to Dublin Airport where his family had been waiting for him with a hearse, per the Sunday Independent. However, due to a "misload," the coffin wasn't spotted by grounds service and thus never unloaded from the plane, the newspaper wrote. Swissport, the company responsible for ground handling at Dublin Airport, reportedly resolved the situation by arranging for the man's body to be returned on another flight the next day, the newspaper wrote.

Persons: Swissport Organizations: Dublin Airport, Morning, Irish, Sunday Independent, Athens International, Swissport, Aegean Airlines, Twitter, Skytrax Locations: Greece, Athens, Aegean, Europe

☆ Oryx Hotel at Hamad International Airport: One of the world's most luxurious transit hotels
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Passengers transiting through Hamad International Airport in Qatar’s capital can choose to leave the airport and join a free tour of some of the capital’s most famous attractions, including Souq Waqif and the Golden Masjid. Case in point: The Oryx lounge is just one floor (second) below the Oryx hotel (third), which means that a staff member is employed to hang out in the hotel lobby to run interference for lost travelers. “Hamad International Airport operates as a 24-hours, seven-days-a-week facility and therefore all the different passenger touchpoints follow the same timeline,” says Badr Mohammed Al Meer, chief operating officer for the airport. “We are constantly striving to offer the best and bespoke experiences for travelers, including our airport hotel offering. Considering that an average of 40 million people pass through Hamad International Airport per year, there is high demand for rooms at the Oryx.

☆ You could fly the 11 hours from San Francisco to Tokyo for as little as $100 this summer, thanks to a budget airline's new route
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Zipair is set to launch flights between San Francisco and Tokyo this summer. Japanese low-cost airline Zipair announced that it's offering a new route between San Francisco and Tokyo, according to the airline's press release on April 7. A one-way flight ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Narita International starts from just 10,000 Japanese yen, or $91. The airline is set to operate five flights a week between San Francisco and Tokyo. Tickets for Zipair flights between San Francisco and Tokyo are available for booking on its website.

☆ Budget airline launches 11-hour flight between San Francisco and Tokyo this summer for under $100
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Why Singapore Changi Airport was just named best in the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Dylan Bank | Victoria Barranco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Changi Airport won Skytrax's best airport award for the 12th time in March 2023. The tiny island nation has just 6 million residents but hosts between 30 and 70 million flyers a year. Singapore spends so much on its luxury airport because air transit brings in 10% of the country's GDP. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicySingapore's Changi Airport has been named the best airport in the world by Skytrax for the 12th time. But why does this tiny island country of just 6 million people host 30 to 70 million travelers a year?

☆ Here are the world's best airports for 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Audrey Wan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Singapore's Changi Airport has been named the "world's best airport" for a record 12th time. The city-state's airport reclaimed the title in the "World Airport Awards 2023" announced yesterday by the air transport research firm Skytrax. Changi Airport had previously won first place in Skytrax's annual ranking for eight consecutive years from 2013 to 2020, but placed behind Doha's Hamad International Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport for the past two years. Global travelers representing more than 100 nationalities participated in the Skytrax survey, which also named Singapore's Changi Airport as the:Best Airport in AsiaWorld's Best Airport — Dining, andWorld's Best Airport — Leisure Amenities. Customers rated airports according to many factors, including shopping, check-in, arrivals, transfers and security and immigration.

☆ The 20 best airports in the world according to passengers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Aviation ranking website Skytrax has revealed the world's best airports for 2023. "Changi Airport is honoured to be named World's Best Airport for the 12th time," Changi CEO Lee Seow Hiang said in a press release. Of the top 20 airports, nine are in Europe, eight are in Asia, two are in North America, and one is in Australia. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Vancouver International Airport came in at numbers 18 and 20, barely making the list. In fact, Seattle once again won the award for being North America's best airport, and LaGuardia's Terminal B won "world's best new airport terminal."

☆ I asked ChatGPT to help me plan a vacation. Here’s what happened next
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Chris Dwyer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

So the idea that artificial intelligence chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Bing, can research travel destinations and create itineraries is intriguing. I went to the developer's website, clicked on the word "ChatGPT," registered for an account — and started chatting. "All of the places I recommended have great online reviews," ChatGPT replied, providing ratings from Tripadvisor, Booking.com and Google for each hotel. But ChatGPT couldn't show photographs of the hotels or help book them — although it did provide ample instructions on how to do both. Every city I asked ChatGPT about resulted in the bot praising the local food scene.

☆ These are the top 10 airlines in the world for 2022—and not one U.S. carrier made the list
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Airline-ranking company Skytrax ranked the world's best carriers, and not a single U.S. airline made it to the top 10. Travelers participating in the Skytrax survey were asked to rate the airlines based on: customer servicecomfortcleanlinessThe no. 1 airline of 2022: Qatar AirwaysQatar Airways ranked at the top of Skytrax's list. It will be the first World Cup held in the Arab world and the second held entirely in Asia. Top 10 airlines in the world 2022

☆ These are the Top 8 airlines in the world, according to a group's survey of more than a million passengers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Airline Passenger Experience Association named its Top 8 airlines in the world for 2023. The organization says it used more than a million passenger surveys that asked people about their experiences on 600 airlines around the world. The winners were not much different from last year, when the group named seven top carriers. These include Japan Airlines, Dutch national airline KLM, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines; and Middle Eastern carriers Qatar Airways, Saudia, and Emirates. Here's a closer look at the Top 8 airlines named by APEX for 2023, listed in alphabetical order.

☆ In the 'Aviation Oscars', Delta is the best US airline – but it's still ranked only 24th in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Delta ranked highest amongst all US carriers in the 2022 World Airline Awards. The airline-ranking organization Skytrax this week revealed the winners of its 2022 World Airline Awards, dubbed the "Oscars of the aviation industry". Taking home the top spots are Qatar Airways, followed by Singapore Airlines and Emirates out of the 350 airlines included in the survey. Southwest Airlines trailed by more than ten spots behind Delta at number 35, followed by JetBlue Airways at 41. The staff award is also a testament to how our people around the world show the Delta Difference every day and provide excellent service to our customers."

☆ These are the 20 best airlines in the world, according to one survey of travelers: See the full list
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Qatar also won titles for having the world's best business class, the best business class seat, and the best business class lounge dining, according to the Skytrax survey. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines earned two titles, including the best low-cost airline in both North America and the US. Here's a closer look at the world's Top 20 best carriers for 2022, according to Skytrax's survey of travelers. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImageTurkish Airlines is based in Istanbul and flies routes throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Qatar AirwaysDoha-based Qatar Airways is the world's best airline, according to survey data collected by Skytrax.

☆ Kai Tak Airport in Hong Kong: Remembering the glory days
▼ + stars: | 2013-06-12 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —“Goodbye, Kai Tak, and thank you.”It’s been 25 years since Richard Siegel, Hong Kong’s then-director of civil aviation, bid farewell and turned off the lights at Hong Kong Kai Tak International Airport. The retired facility was rechristened as Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the largest cruise terminal in town, in 2013. Daryl Chapman, a teacher and aviation photographer from Britain who has lived in Hong Kong since 1987, spent countless hours photographing the amazing scenes of large aircraft swooping in over the Hong Kong skyline. “Kai Tak was very different to most international airports because it was right in the city,” recalls Chapman. It served Hong Kong for 73 years and was something of a city symbol, known to travelers worldwide.

Persons: CNN —, Kai Tak, ” It’s, Richard Siegel, Hong Kong’s, Hong Kong Kai, – it’s, Skytrax’s, It’s, Russell Davie, Kowloon Tsai, Daryl Chapman, “ Kai Tak, ”, Chapman, ” Davie, Daryl Chapman Chapman, “ Organizations: CNN, Hong Kong Kai Tak International, Hong Kong International, Former Cathay Pacific Airways ’, CNN Travel, Cathay, Air, Hong Kong International Airport, Cathay Pacific Locations: Hong Kong, Lap, Kowloon City, Kowloon, Britain, Air France, Japan, Taiwan, Green, Central

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