Browsing: Travel

Etihad Announces Four Weekly Nonstop Flights Between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg Starting December 17, 2026

New seasonal flights will connect Abu Dhabi directly with Gothenburg from December. The Gothenburg route will mark the first direct air link between western Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. According to Etihad, it also represents Gothenburg’s inaugural nonstop connection to the Middle East and Asia. Passengers can connect via Abu Dhabi to destinations across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, including Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Singapore, Hanoi, Bali, Shanghai, Taipei, Bengaluru, and Colombo. Additionally, the route offers UAE travelers a direct flight option to western Sweden. Etihad will operate these flights using an Airbus A321LR, capable of carrying up to 160 passengers. The aircraft’s cabin features 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 class passengers are equipped with 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen entertainment systems, and high-speed Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the aircraft. The long-range narrow-body jet enables the airline to offer three cabin classes on the Gothenburg route. Enhanced international connectivity for Gothenburg through direct service This schedule provides passengers with access to Abu Dhabi and Etihad’s extensive connecting network. Travelers eligible for the airline’s Abu Dhabi Stopover program can enjoy hotel stays of up to two nights in the UAE capital. For those traveling from Gothenburg, the new route reduces the need for aircraft

$596.6 Million Tourism Surplus Achieved by South Korea in June 2026, the Highest Since the Pandemic

South Korea’s tourism balance reached $596.6 million in surplus during June 2026. This figure signifies South Korea’s fourth consecutive month of positive tourism balance after a long stretch of deficits. From March 2020 through February 2026, the nation endured 72 consecutive months of negative figures. January’s deficit was $1.4034 billion, followed by February’s $1.0993 billion shortfall. The situation shifted in March, with a surplus of $263.8 million. April and May continued the trend, with balances of $159.9 million and $220.5 million, respectively. Tourism revenues reached $2.784 billion in June, while South Korean residents spent $2.1874 billion abroad. The average expenditure per foreign visitor was $1,397, whereas outbound South Korean travelers spent an average of $1,091 each. The difference between inbound tourism income and outbound expenses resulted in the $596.6 million surplus, the largest positive monthly balance in over 17 years.

Spain Implements Temporary Border Checks for 2 Months on Travelers from Italy

The Spanish government has begun implementing short-term border inspections for individuals arriving from Italy by air and sea. These measures started at midnight on Aug. 8 and are set to remain in effect until Sept. 7. Authorities now scrutinize travel and immigration documents along routes that normally operate without routine internal border controls. This decision follows Italy’s earlier move to reintroduce checks on certain passengers arriving from Spain. Travelers from Italy face temporary passport checks at Spanish airports and seaports. (AI-generate image)

flydubai’s Italian Network Grows by Adding More Flights to Milan and Naples, Reaching 2x Daily to Milan-Bergamo

Exterior view of the historic Church of San Francesco di Paola in Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples, Italy. This expanded timetable broadens the airline’s operational reach in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and twice-weekly seasonal summer services to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, running through August’s end. Alongside the increased flight frequencies, flydubai has outlined operational adjustments caused by scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Due to planned maintenance at Naples International Airport, the airline will temporarily reroute its daily Dubai International Airport service to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Normal flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period. Trade and Tourism Growth Supported by Expanded Flight Operations The extended routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples operate under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership offers passengers integrated travel plans, single-ticket options, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage handling across both networks. Leveraging the Dubai hub for connectivity, travelers connecting from Italian airports gain easier access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct flights to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar. The capacity expansion

Emirates Introduces Cryptocurrency Payment Method for Flight Reservations Amid Strategic Expansion

Emirates, the flag carrier airline, announced the implementation of a new digital asset checkout feature on Tuesday. This addition allows qualified travelers to complete their ticket purchases using cryptocurrency via the airline’s website and mobile app. Transactions involving digital assets are processed through Crypto.com’s checkout portal, giving travelers immediate access to their digital wallets during the ticket booking process. The system operates under the oversight of the Central Bank of the UAE, which granted Crypto.com’s Dubai-based entity a Stored Value Facilities license. Industry analysts in fintech highlight that adopting digital wallet checkout solutions enables international airlines to appeal to tech-savvy consumers while reducing reliance on traditional card-processing.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Scheduled to Open Doors on December 11, 2026

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 building is anchored by a central atrium and is visually characterized by ten sculptural cones—nine clad in stainless steel mesh and one finished with onyx and glass. These cones, reaching up to 88 metres in height, serve functional purposes beyond aesthetics, capturing natural breezes and providing shade. This design employs passive cooling techniques suited to the desert environment to help reduce energy use. The complex also includes a dedicated center for art and technology, specialized children’s educational facilities, archival collections, a research library, and a sophisticated conservation laboratory.

Over 10 Million Foreign Tourists Visited Korea in the First Half of the Year

The Republic of Korea reported that nearly 2 million international visitors arrived in June, propelling the total foreign arrivals during the initial six months of 2025 beyond a significant threshold. Data released by Emirates News Agency confirm that Korea’s foreign tourist numbers exceeded 10 million in H1, driven by consistent double-digit growth in key regional source markets. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, June alone saw 1.99 million foreign visitors, marking a 23.1 percent rise from the same month last year. This strong monthly performance pushed the cumulative count for the first half of the year to 10.71 million, reflecting a 21.3 percent increase compared to the 8.8 million recorded during the same period in 2025 and surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels by 26.9 percent.