Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, celebrated the inaugural flight of its new direct route from Bahrain International Airport to London Gatwick Airport with special events held at both airports. 

 

This milestone marks a significant step in Gulf Air’s network expansion strategy, reinforcing its commitment to offering passengers enhanced connectivity and greater travel options, said the national carrier in a statement.

 

This launch adds London Gatwick as Gulf Air’s second destination in London, complementing its longstanding operations to London Heathrow Airport, which have been serving passengers for over 55 years since 1970. 

 

The addition of Gatwick strengthens Gulf Air’s presence in the United Kingdom, providing travelers with access to two major international gateways in London, said the statement.

 

The departure event at Bahrain International Airport included a welcome reception for passengers and guests, celebrating the airline’s ongoing efforts to connect Bahrain to key global destinations. 

 

Upon arrival at London Gatwick Airport, the inaugural flight was marked by a ceremonial reception attended by Gulf Air and London Gatwick Airport representatives, including Hanadi AlAali, Gulf Air Chief Customer Experience Officer, and Jonathan Pollard, London Gatwick Airport Chief Commercial Officer, it stated.

 

As part of Gulf Air’s broader network restructuring and expansion strategy, the introduction of this route aligns with the airline’s vision to enhance customer experience by offering seamless connections and more choices for travellers, it added.-TradeArabia News Service

Backed by almost four decades’ experience in keeping goods and people moving all over the world, Emirates has launched Emirates Courier Express, an end-to-end delivery solution that is set to redefine the express delivery experience.

 

To ensure Emirates Courier Express addressed industry-wide challenges, Emirates worked with various global customers to pilot and finesse the product, with the goal to make it as fast, reliable and flexible as possible, before launching to market, said the airline in a statement.

 

Over the last year, Emirates Courier Express transported several thousands of packages from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, South Africa and the UK. 

 

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: "Emirates Courier Express is an evolution in how we move goods across the globe, at speed and at scale. The average delivery time is less than 48 hours."

 

Traditionally, cross-border delivery is managed via a global hub-and-spoke model, with a package making multiple stops before arriving at its end destination. Emirates Courier Express has broken this mould, noted Abbas. 

 

"Just like passengers, packages will travel from origin to destination directly, leveraging the breadth of Emirates’ vast global network and near-unparalleled flight frequencies," he added.

 

According to Abbas, this approach significantly reduces time in transit, reduces package handling and offers Emirates Courier Express customers’ a competitive edge in getting their goods to end users. 

 

"Direct connectivity is matched with different service levels, ranging from next day urgent delivery to a two-day Premium service, along with a pipeline of innovative new products," he explained.

 

At launch, Emirates Courier Express will be active and available in seven markets, however the potential network growth is unlimited: wherever Emirates flies, Emirates Courier Express can deliver, he added.-TradeArabia News Service

SITA, a global leader in air transport technology, has announced the successful acquisition of Italian group CCM  in a move aimed at delivering smarter, more efficient and better airports with smoother passenger experiences.

 

Headquartered in Milan, CCM is a world-renowned expert and leader in the design, production, and creation of airport interiors. 

 

This strategic move is aimed at redefining how airports function by seamlessly blending technology and interior design to create future-ready spaces.

 

As airports invest heavily in automation, biometrics, security, self-service and personalized commercial services, terminal layouts too must evolve alongside these innovations, said industry experts.

 

The traditional model involving rows of check-in counters, static security areas, and inefficient passenger flows no longer makes sense, they stated.

 

Instead, airports need seamless integration, where smart technology and intelligent design work together to reduce congestion and make the most out of every square meter, they pointed out.

 

CCM is synonymous with world famous high-quality Italian design in the airport space. It works with leading architects and designers to create efficient, functional, memorable, and stylish traveler experiences.

 

"This isn’t just about expanding airports," remarked David Lavorel, the Chief Executive Officer at SITA. 

 

"It’s about reimagining them. With CCM’s deep design and execution expertise, we’re transforming airports to maximize their existing footprint, optimize passenger flow, and create smarter, more flexible and valuable airport terminal environments that evolve with the changing needs of the industry," he noted.

 

As the leader in passenger processing technology, SITA said it was at the forefront of managing airport space more efficiently. 

 

The industry’s transformation demands a new approach to space management, where traditional check-in counters are replaced with innovative designs that reflect modern travel habits, it added.

 

"Building efficient, tech-enabled environments is crucial for the future of travel. Airports are not just transit points; they mark a moment in a journey, no matter the destination," remarked Lavorel.

 

"By integrating our expertise, we bring to life the airports of the future - architecture that is built on tech solutions and driven by efficiency to improve the overall travel experience for passengers and the operations of airport staff," he noted.

 

The acquisition of CCM adds valuable design and customer advisory elements to SITA’s existing technology, reinforcing its commitment to leading the future of air travel, he added.

 

Sergio Colella, the President, Europe at SITA, said: "The market needs a fundamental shift - where technology and design work together to make airports smarter in using their space for more capacity and with flexibility to support the next generation of travel."

 

"That’s why we’re bringing CCM into the SITA family. By combining our technology and experience in airport operations with their deep understanding of design and space optimization, we are bringing to the market a unique ‘technology by design’ capability and end-to-end integration from design to operations, all in harmony since the conception of the idea," noted Colella.

 

For 35 years under the management of the Marinoni family, CCM has worked on more than 300 airports worldwide, designing and delivering terminal spaces that balance efficiency, flexibility, and passenger experience. 

Now, with SITA’s expertise in passenger processing, baggage handling, and AI-driven airport operations, this acquisition will help airport customers integrate technology and design as a single go-to solution, something that was not available up to now, he added.

 

According to the SITA 2024 Air Transport IT Insights report, 63% of airports are prioritising self-service, biometrics, mobile apps, and IT spending has surged to $8.9 billion as airports focus on automation, AI, and digitalization. 

 

But these investments will only deliver their full impact if airports are physically designed to support them. Technology alone won’t fix congestion. It needs smarter layouts, frictionless movement, and an infrastructure that evolves with it.

 

Monica Oberti has been appointed interim CEO of CCM, bringing decades of extensive expertise in reshaping and repurposing spaces at large scale globally within CCM. Oberti is a member of the founding Marinoni family.

 

"For too long, airports have had to choose between efficiency and passenger experience. Now, they don’t have to," stated Oberti. 

 

"By joining forces with SITA, we can finally bring together the best of both worlds – smart technology, intelligent design, and quality production. Together, we’re not just improving airports, we’re reshaping them for the future," she said.

 

According to her, SITA and CCM are moving fast to integrate their expertise, ensuring that existing customers experience no disruption in service, while opening up new opportunities to optimise their airport environments. 

 

The aviation industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and airports need solutions that don’t just help them catch up but allow them to get ahead, she added.-TradeArabia News Service