VFS to begin Saudi visa processing in Nigeria

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has mandated VFS TasHeel International with managing and administrating the Saudi Arabian visa application process from Nigeria.

It will also combine the mandatory enrolment process of fingerprint collection and photo capture for all applicants.

Hacking threatens airline safety – aviation chiefs

Cyber crime is a serious threat to safety in the skies, aviation industry heavyweights said Wednesday, vowing to fight the growing scourge before it causes a catastrophic incident.

Hackers, cyber criminals and other “terrorists” are stealing information but in a worst-case scenario could endanger lives by tampering with airline systems.

Airline fares to fall in 2015

Savings made on plummeting oil prices will be passed on to passengers, say carriers

Flying could get cheaper next year as airlines say they will finally start passing on some of the savings made on plummeting oil prices.

Carriers are forecasting record profits for 2015 due to cheaper fuel and rising demand and they expect to cut the average ticket price by 5%, excluding surcharges and taxes.

Nigeria launches Aviation Passengers Service portal

As part of effort to make the aviation a customer friendly industry, the Federal Ministry of Aviation on Monday launched the Aviation Passengers Service portal.

Designed as a single online platform for the flying public to access real time information about airlines operations and services at any airport in Nigeria.

The APS portal is said to be a reliable source for verified information purposely designed to empower the passengers traveling by air from within and outside Nigeria with accurate data with which they can make informed decision and plan their journey.

Woman gives birth at 10,000 feet minutes after take-off

A Southwest Airlines flight from San Francisco to Phoenix had to make an emergency landing today after a woman went into a labor and gave birth to a baby just minutes after takeoff.

The flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport after the heavily pregnant mother began having contractions at 10,000 feet.

An emergency room nurse and a doctor who happened to be aboard the flight delivered the child – with the help of a very rattled flight attendant.

There were 111 people aboard the plane at the time.

Dana Air passengers receive iPhones

Dana Airlines has rewarded three of its loyal passengers with iPhone 5s as part of initiatives by the airline to consistently reward its guests.

The winners emerged from the recent introduction of the flyDana mobile app that offers the convenience of searching, booking and paying for preferred flights while using mobile devices on the go.

Dubai multiple-entry visa to enhance tourism sector

New UAE multiple-entry visa system makes multi-stop trips easier and cheaper for cruise tourists

Recent regulatory changes to the UAE’s visa system will have a transformative effect on Dubai’s cruise sector and further boost medical tourism in the emirate.

Study reveals the most annoying air passenger behaviour

“Rear Seat Kickers,” “Inattentive Parents” and “The Aromatic Passenger” top the list of the most-annoying airline passengers.

This is according to the second annual “Airplane Etiquette Study” released Tuesday. The survey, commissioned by Expedia and conducted by market research company Gfk, asked 1,000 passengers to rank the most annoying on-board behaviors of fellow passengers.

Air France re-opens lounge at JFK

Air France has opened its renovated lounge at New York JFK airport.

The Terminal 1 facility is available to La Première (first class) and business passengers and Flying Blue Elite Plus members.

It contains a large mezzanine with a view of the runways, a “relaxation area with subdued lighting and comfortable seats”, a Clarins well-being area offering free beauty treatments, and showers with Clarins products.

Etihad expands partnership with SAA

Etihad Airways and South African Airways have extended their strategic partnership with measures including more codeshare routes and further integration of their frequent flyer programmes.

The expansion will also see SAA launch a daily flight between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi on March 29, to run alongside Etihad’s existing service on the route.

Delta Arrivals Lounge opens at Heathrow

Delta Air Lines has opened an arrivals lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 3.

The Delta Arrivals Lounge is complimentary to all Business Elite passengers and to Sky Miles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members arriving from the US.

Delta Arrivals Lounge

India kicks-off e-visa facility for 43 countries

Visitors from 43 countries no longer have to queue up at local consulates, but can instead apply for their visas online and collect them at airports.

The country received 6.58 million tourists in 2012, far fewer than Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said the change would be boost to the industry.

The scheme was “a dream come true for the entire tourism industry of India and is bound to positively impact the economy,” he said in a statement.