Qatar Airways wins four Skytrax Awards
Qatar Airways won four honours at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026 and retained its 5-Star Airline rating. The carrier was named World’s Best Business Class for the 13th time, Best Airline in the Middle East for the 14th time and World’s Best Business Class Lounge for the eighth time, recognising its Al Mourjan Business Lounge - The Garden.
Qatar Airways also became the first airline to receive the World’s Best Onboard Wi-Fi award. The airline operates the world’s first and largest Starlink-equipped widebody fleet, with more than 25 million passengers using connectivity across over 96,000 flights to date. Its Qsuite Business Class features private suites and a four-person seating configuration. Qatar Airways has also expanded services across the Middle East for the winter season, increasing daily flights by 14 per cent.
Etihad connects Abu Dhabi to Red Sea
Red Sea International Airport (RSI) will expand its GCC connectivity with a new year-round Etihad Airways service from Abu Dhabi, starting October 4, 2026. The airline will initially operate every Sunday, adding a second weekly flight on Thursdays from October 25. The route, operated by an Airbus A320, will connect Zayed International Airport with Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast in just over three hours.
RSI currently handles around 20 domestic and international flights weekly, connecting the destination with Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai, Doha and Milan. The Red Sea destination currently has 11 resorts open, with another six scheduled to open in the coming months. Located 90 kilometres south of Al Wajh, RSI is preparing to handle one million passengers annually by 2030 as its airline network continues to expand.
Delta expands LAX schedule for 2027
Delta Air Lines will operate its largest-ever schedule from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in summer 2027, with Delta and its partners offering more than 200 daily departures to nearly 70 destinations at peak periods. The expansion includes new nonstop services to Monterey and Philadelphia. Monterey flights will operate twice daily from December 19, 2026, while daily Philadelphia services will begin on June 7, 2027.
Delta will also increase frequencies to seven US destinations, including Boston, Seattle, Houston and San Diego. The airline continues to expand its international network from LAX, serving 25 international destinations. Delta has also invested $2.3 billion in its Sky Way terminal development and plans to operate four dedicated lounges at LAX by 2028, offering more than 60,000 square feet of lounge space.
Emirates expands into medical tourism
Emirates has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Medical Tourism Association (MTA) to expand its presence in medical, wellness and longevity travel. Under the partnership, Emirates will become MTA’s preferred airline for international medical and wellness travellers, combining its network of nearly 140 destinations with Dubai’s healthcare and medical tourism sector.
The partners will identify key medical travel markets and corridors, particularly across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and develop tailored travel solutions for patients, physicians, insurers and employers. Emirates and MTA will also collaborate with Global Healthcare Accreditation-accredited providers on industry standards, market intelligence and engagement.
The partnership will explore opportunities to help travellers identify accredited healthcare providers, coordinate treatment and travel arrangements, and make secure cross-border payments. It also supports Emirates’ ambition to become the world’s first GHA-accredited airline.