Emirates SkyCargo has completed the transport of Altair-1, the UAE’s first commercial AI-enabled earth observation satellite. Part of Orbitworks’ Altair constellation, the movement of the satellite highilghts a landmark achievement in the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in space and advanced technologies. Altair-1 was flown on an Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 777 freighter aircraft from Dubai (DWC) airport to Los Angeles (LAX) ahead of its scheduled launch in October 2026.

barq and Riyadh Air have signed a strategic agreement to develop a comprehensive payment technology solution for the airline. The long-term partnership will support Riyadh Air’s commercial operations through an integrated, secure, and scalable payments ecosystem.

Etihad Airways today announced a new seasonal service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg, starting 17 December 2026 and operating four times a week until 21 March 2027. The new service will create Gothenburg’s first direct air link to the Middle East and Asia, connecting Sweden’s west coast directly with Abu Dhabi and providing some of the fastest one-stop journeys to sought-after destinations across India and Asia through Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub.

Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, announces a frequent flyer partnership with Taiwan-based STARLUX Airlines’ COSMILE loyalty programme. The partnership marks the next stage in the airlines’ strategic relationship, building on the codeshare agreement signed in June 2025 and the launch of Etihad’s direct services to Taipei in September last year. From 4 August, Etihad Guest members can redeem Etihad Guest Miles for flights in Business and Economy cabins across STARLUX’s network, giving them expanded access to destinations across Asia, North America, and Europe; including onward connections to popular destinations such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and Seattle in the US and Okinawa, Kobe and Nagoya in Japan.

Blacklane, the global chauffeur service, has partnered with Berlin’s professional football club Hertha BSC to support the club’s junior football community and create a seamless match day experience for VIP guests. From the first Hertha BSC home game of the 2026–27 season on 15 August 2026, hospitality guests will be able to arrive and depart with Blacklane via a dedicated convenient drop-off and pick-up point at the stadium’s VIP entrance, embedded in the claim “Unsere Alte Dame fährt Blacklane.”

Virgin Atlantic customers can now watch a new collection of dementia-friendly short films curated by Women Over 50 Film Festival (WOFFF), as the airline continues its partnership with the festival for a third year. The new collection marks the third year of the partnership and will be available throughout the year on Virgin Atlantic’s in-flight entertainment platform, Vera. The films have been selected to offer a calm, engaging and accessible viewing experience for passenger’s people living with dementia, who may find full-length films, complex plots or fast-paced editing harder to follow during a flight. The collection can also support families, friends and carers travelling together by offering a shared viewing experience that feels gentle, manageable and inclusive.

Travel Trends has officially released the full agenda for Travel Trends Summit V3 sponsored by TourRadar, revealing an ambitious two-day program that brings together more than 40 of the travel industry’s leading founders, executives, investors, marketers, and innovators to explore one central question: What’s Beyond AI? Taking place October 28-29, 2026, the virtual event moves beyond the hype surrounding AI to examine the practical technologies, leadership strategies, and business models reshaping the global travel industry. Now in its third year, the Summit has doubled attendance year over year since launching in 2024, with previous editions attracting more than 2,000 participants from 50+ countries.