Tourism & Aviation
Tourism and aviation news — covering travel technology, airline updates, Saudi tourism developments, and hospitality innovations in the Kingdom and the region.
beIN Studios Premieres ‘My Road to Red Bull’ Documentary on Isack Hadjar’s F1 Journey
beIN MEDIA GROUP premieres ‘My Road to Red Bull,’ a three-part documentary following Formula 1 driver Isack Hadjar’s rookie season and rise from karting to racing for Oracle Red Bull Racing, launching April 30 on TOD and beIN SPORTS.
HPE Powers Red Sea Global’s Luxury Resort Expansion with AI-Native Networking
HPE deploys self-driving AI-native network infrastructure for Red Sea Global’s luxury resort expansion, supporting $8.79 billion in economic contribution and 120,000 jobs aligned with Vision 2030 objectives.
Rixos Obhur Jeddah Unveils May Experiences, Staycation Deals, and Sports Club Membership
Rixos Obhur Jeddah launches May beach passes at SAR 299-349, staycation discounts of 25% off, and sports club memberships at SAR 9,000 annually.
IATA Ground Handling Conference 2026 to Address AI Integration in Airport Operations
IATA will host its 38th Ground Handling Conference in Cairo from May 19-21, 2026, examining how artificial intelligence and automation will reshape airport operations while maintaining human expertise.
Amazon Leo Aviation Antenna Targets Starlink’s In-Flight Wi-Fi Market
Amazon debuted the Leo Aviation Antenna this week, promising up to 1Gbps download speeds and single-day installation for commercial jets. The system competes with Starlink, which already serves United, Hawaiian, and Air France.
Booking.com Data Breach Exposes Customer Names, Contact Details and Reservation Information
Booking.com confirmed a data breach exposing customer names, contact details, and reservation information. Financial data was not accessed, the company said.
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Saudi Arabia Runs Hajj Transport Simulation with 3,000 Buses and 1.2 Million Virtual Pilgrims
The General Transport Center ran a virtual Hajj transport simulation with 3,000 buses and 1.2 million virtual pilgrims, testing readiness for the 1447 AH season.
Neo Space Group and Saudia Airlines Launch Free High-Speed In-Flight Internet Across the Fleet
Neo Space Group and Saudia Airlines have launched free high-speed in-flight internet across Saudia’s fleet, using the NSG Skywaves® system powered by SES Open Orbits™ multi-orbit satellite technology.
Freedom International Group Launches FIRSTLINE in Dubai with AED 10M Backing
FIRSTLINE, a performance-based loyalty platform for premium restaurants, launched in Dubai in April 2026 with AED 10 million in backing from Freedom International Group. The platform connects guest spending and social referrals to measurable revenue for venue operators.
EDECS and MEDLOG Sign Contract for 189,000 sqm Dry Port in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City
EDECS and MEDLOG signed a contract on April 8, 2026, to build a 189,000 sqm dry port in Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan City. The EPC project marks MEDLOG’s first dry port development in Egypt.
Almosafer Becomes First Saudi App on ChatGPT Platform, Offering AI-Powered Travel Planning
Almosafer has launched on the ChatGPT platform, becoming the first Saudi app to offer travel services through OpenAI’s AI interface. Users can now search over 1.5 million hotels via natural conversation in Arabic and English.
IATA Proofs of Concept Show Contactless Travel Is Ready for Global Rollout
IATA published results from digital identity Proofs of Concept showing that contactless travel using biometrics and mobile wallets is technically ready. The tests spanned airlines and airports across Europe and Asia-Pacific.
WINGIE Smart Refund Technology Cuts Airline Refund Wait Times with AI
WINGIE has launched an AI-powered refund system that lets passengers manage airline refund requests digitally, reporting a fivefold increase in operational efficiency after rollout.
elm Presents Umrah Digital Solutions at Madinah Forum 2026
elm participated as a strategic sponsor of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum 2026 in Madinah, presenting a portfolio of digital solutions covering pilgrim services, AI-powered guidance, and crowd management.
Careem Ramadan Trends 2026: Grocery Orders Triple at Suhoor, Bike Riders Cut 40 Tons of CO2
Careem released Ramadan 2026 usage data showing grocery orders tripled at Suhoor, one DineOut user saved SAR 2,388, and Medina bike riders removed 40.76 tons of CO2.
Trip.com Partners with Checkout.com to Streamline Global Travel Payments
Trip.com and Checkout.com have formed a strategic partnership to improve digital payment performance across Saudi Arabia, Japan, the UK, and North America. The deal targets faster transactions and higher acceptance rates for global travelers.
Edge Riyadh Al Rabie Names Kozhaya Tannous as Cluster General Manager
Edge Riyadh Al Rabie by Rotana has appointed Kozhaya Tannous as Cluster General Manager, bringing over 20 years of regional hospitality experience to the role as the brand expands across Saudi Arabia.
DP World Jeddah Adds Three Quay Cranes to Boost Red Sea Trade Capacity
DP World Jeddah has added three semi-automated quay cranes at Jeddah Islamic Port, part of an $800 million modernisation programme targeting 5 million TEUs in future capacity.
Eid Al-Fitr Travel Demand Rises in Saudi Arabia as Jeddah, AlUla, and Abha Lead Domestic Destinations
Booking data shows a notable rise in domestic travel demand across Saudi Arabia for Eid Al-Fitr 2026, with Jeddah, AlUla, and Abha emerging as top destinations. Hotel prices start from SAR 513.75 per night.
IATA Forecasts Air Travel Demand to More Than Double by 2050
IATA projects global air travel demand to exceed 20.8 trillion RPKs by 2050, more than doubling from 2024 levels under its medium growth scenario.
SalamAir Signs eSIM and e-Visa Partnership with UK-Based Arcube
SalamAir has partnered with UK-based Arcube to offer eSIM and e-Visa services to passengers, expanding its digital travel offerings beyond the flight.
Fairmont Riyadh Hosts Female Leadership Panel on International Women’s Day
Fairmont Riyadh hosted a female leadership panel on March 8, 2026, in collaboration with Alnahda Society, Art of Heritage, and Saut: The Voice of Down Syndrome Society. The event featured three prominent Saudi women leaders discussing entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and community advocacy.