Qatar Airways grows to 13 Saudi destinations
Qatar Airways has announced a significant expansion of its operations in Saudi Arabia, introducing a new route to Hail (HAS) and increasing frequencies to Jeddah and Riyadh starting January 5, 2026. The airline will operate three weekly flights to Hail, making it the 13th Saudi city in its network, and will increase its Jeddah and Riyadh services to seven daily flights each.
With this expansion, Qatar Airways will serve 13 destinations across the Kingdom with more than 150 weekly flights, offering seamless connections to over 170 global destinations through Hamad International Airport. The move reflects the airline’s long-term commitment to the Saudi market, following a year of strong growth that included resumed flights to Abha and new services to The Red Sea. Qatar Airways connected nearly 2.5 million passengers in Saudi Arabia to its global network over the past year.
Empire Aviation expands regional footprint
Empire Aviation Group will support Dubai Airshow 2025 with a dedicated pavilion as the region’s private aviation sector expands. The Dubai-based company operates one of the Middle East’s largest managed business jet fleets, with around 25 aircraft, including Gulfstream G700/G600/G280, Global XRS, Airbus ACJ and Legacy 650 models. One-third of the fleet is available for charter.
Empire Aviation holds AOCs in the UAE and San Marino and manages aircraft across the USA, Europe, India, Africa, Indonesia and the Middle East. The company is also the authorised Independent Sales Representative for Gulfstream in India.
Construction of its new corporate facility at MBRAH is underway and will be completed in 2026. The company continues to see strong demand from private owners, corporates, governments and global charter clients.
Etihad Airport Services rebrands as Velora
Etihad Airport Services (EAS) has rebranded its Ground Handling, Cargo & Logistics, and Security divisions under a single new identity: Velora. The launch marks a major step in transforming Abu Dhabi’s aviation services through greater integration, efficiency, and customer focus. Velora unifies these essential operations to deliver end-to-end aviation solutions, enhancing performance, innovation, and service quality across the entire ecosystem.
Jubran AlBreiki, CEO of Velora, said: “By uniting our services under one brand, we aim to elevate every journey for our guests and partners, set new standards in operational excellence, and support Abu Dhabi’s growth as a global aviation hub.”
With a workforce of more than 5,000 professionals, Velora will continue to play a central role across Abu Dhabi’s airports, advancing the sector through innovation and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Turkish Airlines reports strong Q3 2025
Turkish Airlines continued strong growth in Q3 2025, reporting $1.1 billion profit from main operations and $7 billion in quarterly revenue, up 4.9 per cent year-over-year. Total revenues for the first nine months reached 1$7.8 billion, with $1.7 billion in operating profit. The airline carried 27.2 million passengers, its highest-ever Q3 figure, and increased capacity by 8.2 per cent, now 43 per cent above pre-pandemic levels.
Investments reached $3.6 billion, supporting its 2033 growth targets. With October traffic showing a 19 per cent rise in passengers and 16 per cent in cargo, Turkish Airlines expects a 2025 EBITDAR margin of 22–24 per cent. The fleet grew to 506 aircraft, with major Boeing orders placed to support expansion toward 800 aircraft by 2033.