Etihad Airways has expanded its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Medina, reinforcing its growing regional network and commitment to serving religious, business, and leisure travelers. The first flight, operated earlier this week, departed fully booked, underlining strong market demand for the new route.
Air Astana Group has unveiled a broad expansion of its Middle East and Asian route networks for the autumn 2025 season, underscoring its dual-brand strategy through Air Astana and its low-cost subsidiary FlyArystan. The move combines new routes, resumed services, and frequency increases from multiple hubs across Kazakhstan.
Centrum Air, Uzbekistan’s largest privately held airline, has received its third Airbus A330-300, further strengthening its widebody fleet and international growth strategy. The aircraft, a 15-year-old unit registered UK33031, arrived in Tashkent on September 6. It is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and configured in a single-class economy layout with 358 seats, making it the largest aircraft in the carrier’s fleet.
Qatar Airways has revealed that it will introduce three Airbus A321neo aircraft into its fleet, marking a notable departure from its usual premium-focused strategy. The narrowbodies will be delivered in an all-economy layout of 236 seats, a high-density configuration that contrasts with the airline’s traditional cabin products.
