Tuesday, 12 August 2025

US Quietly Withdraws Military Jets from Qatar Base Amid Growing Iran Strike Fears

Published: Saturday, June 21, 2025
US Quietly Withdraws Military Jets from Qatar Base Amid Growing Iran Strike Fears

The United States has quietly withdrawn nearly 40 military aircraft from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, its largest airbase in the Middle East, amid escalating fears of potential Iranian strikes as tensions rise between Iran and Israel.

Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC, analyzed by multiple news agencies, show that between June 5 and June 19, the previously crowded tarmac—home to C-130 Hercules transport planes and advanced reconnaissance jets—was largely emptied, with only three aircraft visible by June 19.

The move is widely seen as a preemptive measure to protect US military assets from possible Iranian attacks, especially as Washington weighs whether to support Israel’s ongoing military operations against Iran.

US officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the aircraft were removed due to their vulnerability to potential Iranian missile or drone strikes, given the base’s proximity to Iran. In addition to the aircraft, some US naval vessels have also been repositioned from the region as a precaution.

The US Embassy in Qatar has responded by restricting access to the base, citing “an abundance of caution and in light of ongoing regional hostilities,” and has urged personnel to exercise increased vigilance.

Meanwhile, public flight tracking data shows that at least 27 US military refueling aircraft, such as the KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker, were redeployed from the US to Europe between June 15 and 18, with most remaining in Europe as of June 19—an indication that the US could be preparing for extended operations or repositioning assets for greater security.

Al Udeid Air Base, located near Doha and established in 1996, houses around 10,000 US troops and serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM). It has played a pivotal role in US operations across Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

The current redeployment comes as US forces across the Middle East are placed on high alert, with military families offered voluntary evacuation from bases in the region due to the heightened risk of Iranian retaliation.

President Donald Trump has not yet decided whether the US will join Israel’s campaign against Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure, but a decision is expected within the next two weeks, according to White House officials. Iran has warned that any US involvement in the conflict would trigger direct attacks on American bases in the region

Croatia Pushes for Expanded Nonstop Flight Links to US.

Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Croatia Pushes for Expanded Nonstop Flight Links to US.

Croatia is ramping up efforts to strengthen direct air links with the United States, aiming to boost tourism and accessibility between the two nations. The country’s Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlić Radman, recently engaged with local leaders in Florida to explore the “potential establishment of nonstop flights between Croatian and American airports,” signaling a renewed push to enhance transatlantic connectivity.

Long-haul markets, particularly the US, remain vital to Croatia’s tourism growth strategy. The Croatian National Tourist Board emphasized the importance of actively encouraging new routes to improve accessibility for American travelers. This push aligns with the rising numbers of visitors from the US, with over 260,000 Americans journeying to Croatia in the first half of the year—a notable 16% increase compared to the same period last year.

At the forefront of these efforts is Dubrovnik Airport, currently the only Croatian gateway offering nonstop flights to the US through United Airlines’ daily service from Newark throughout most of the summer. Dubrovnik previously welcomed Delta flights from New York’s JFK for a single season in 2021 and American Airlines’ Philadelphia route in 2019. Viktor Šober, CEO of Dubrovnik Airport, highlighted the urgency of expanding these connections: “We are the only airport in Croatia with nonstop service to the US.While currently connected to New York, one route is proving insufficient. We need another, similar to what we had a few years ago.”

However, Šober pointed to significant challenges: “The primary obstacle is the shortage of aircraft and delays in the arrival of new jets due to manufacturing and supply chain issues. It’s a complex situation, making it difficult to secure these flights. Nonetheless, I am confident that within the next year or two, we will have something concrete.”

Looking ahead, major US carriers are gearing up to announce their network plans for the 2026 summer season. American Airlines has already revealed new daily routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, as well as flights between Dallas and Athens, operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

Delta is set to launch West Coast services from Los Angeles to Barcelona and Rome next year, with a broader expansion plan expected in September. United Airlines typically unveils its network growth plans in early October, leaving the industry hopeful for further additions connecting Croatia and the US.

As demand for direct flights continues to rise, Croatia’s commitment to expanding nonstop services with American cities promises to enhance travel convenience, support tourism growth, and strengthen transatlantic ties in the coming years.

Cebu Pacific Boosts Services with Additional Flights to Four Major Destinations

Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Cebu Pacific Boosts Services with Additional Flights to Four Major Destinations

Riding high on a blockbuster first half, Cebu Pacific is set to add more flights to four important foreign routes to meet the surging travel demand.

Starting October 26, the low-cost carrier will add a Sunday flight to Bangkok, Thailand, increasing options for travelers seeking a Southeast Asian getaway. Just two days later, on October 28, flights between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam, will ramp up to an impressive 10 times weekly.

For Filipinos heading down under, Cebu Pacific will boost its Manila-Melbourne service to five flights weekly, starting December 12, offering greater flexibility for leisure and business travelers alike. Meanwhile, winter adventurers can look forward to daily flights to Sapporo, Japan, operating from December 10 through February 27, 2026, perfect for those wanting to experience Japan’s snowy season.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao emphasized the benefits of the expansion: “As travel demand continues to rise, these expanded services allow us to better connect Filipinos to the rest of the world and welcome more visitors to the Philippines.”

He added that the increased connectivity not only enhances convenience but also stimulates tourism, unlocks business opportunities, and strengthens economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region.
Last week’s financial results confirmed the airline’s growth momentum, with a remarkable 153 percent jump in net income to P8.97 billion, fueled by a surge in passenger numbers.

With these new and enhanced flight services, Cebu Pacific is poised to play a key role in the country’s post-pandemic travel recovery and regional integration.

Maldives Opens New Airport Terminal to Drive Tourism Expansion

Published: Monday, August 11, 2025
Maldives Opens New Airport Terminal to Drive Tourism Expansion

On July 26, 2025, Maldives marked its 60th Independence Day with a landmark event: the grand opening of the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (MLE). President Mohamed Muizzu hailed the $585 million facility as “a pillar of economic independence,” spotlighting the terminal’s pivotal role in transforming the island nation’s tourism-driven economy.

Spanning 72,000 square meters and designed to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually—more than triple the previous capacity—the terminal is the largest building ever constructed in the Maldives. It features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, six boarding gates, and 12 aerobridges, along with state-of-the-art baggage handling and real-time tracking systems. The design elegantly blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs, reflecting the natural beauty and culture of the islands.

Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the Maldives’ GDP, and this expansion aims to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks that previously restrained growth. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 report, the facility could bolster average economic growth by 5.2% in the medium term, while the International Monetary Fund expects the expanded terminal to sustain tourism momentum crucial to the country’s prosperity.

The project has a complex political and financial history. Originally initiated with India’s GMR Group in 2010, the contract was canceled in 2012 amid political shifts, leading to alternate funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and OPEC development funds alongside national budget contributions. These delays and shifting partnerships have significantly increased Maldives’ foreign debt, which now exceeds $8 billion.

Recent years saw diplomatic strains with India, including a 2024 “Boycott Maldives” campaign. However, relations have warmed considerably post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit, with tourism officials targeting 300,000 Indian visitors in 2025 through enhanced air connectivity and marketing featuring Bollywood star Katrina Kaif. Early 2025 arrivals rose 9%, fueled by strong interest from China and Europe, signaling a recovery and expansion in key markets.

The terminal’s inauguration was celebrated nationwide with dazzling drone light shows, fireworks, and cultural performances across Malé and neighboring islands, drawing some 6,000 guests.

With this state-of-the-art terminal now operational, Maldives is poised to solidify its standing as a premier global destination, supporting the government’s ambitious $5 billion tourism revenue target for the year. Experts and officials alike regard the enhanced airport capacity and facilities as essential to accommodating growing tourist numbers, diversifying market segments such as multi-generational travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), adventure, and wellness tourism, and securing the nation’s economic future.

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport Achieves Level 3 ACI Customer Experience Accreditation

Published: Monday, August 11, 2025
Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport Achieves Level 3 ACI Customer Experience Accreditation

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) has reached a significant milestone by securing Level 3 accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation programme, awarded in July 2025. This achievement highlights the airport’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences and reflects its progress in integrating customer experience into every facet of operations, placing passengers at the core of its service philosophy.

The accreditation comes amid strong passenger growth, with AUH welcoming 15.5 million passengers in the first half of 2025—a 13.2% year-on-year increase. This follows impressive growth rates of 28.1% in 2024 and 44.5% in 2023. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, “As we celebrate 17 consecutive quarters of growth, including a strong performance in the first half of 2025, we remain sharply focused on enhancing the guest experience. Achieving Level 3 accreditation demonstrates our ability to balance expansion with service excellence.”

To earn the Level 3 status, AUH introduced several passenger-centric initiatives praised by ACI. These include dedicated passenger focus groups to gather traveller insights and a guest shadowing programme where staff experience the end-to-end airport journey from a passenger’s viewpoint. Enhanced collaboration is fostered through internal sharing of Voice of the Customer reports and strong cooperation with service partners, embedding a customer-centric approach across the operational ecosystem.

The ACI accreditation, the only global programme evaluating how airports integrate customer experience into their core strategies, reflects a deeper cultural transformation at Zayed International Airport. Employees, stakeholders, and passengers actively contribute to shaping the guest journey, underscoring a commitment to continuous improvement.

This achievement reaffirms Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision of elevating every passenger touchpoint through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, setting new benchmarks in the global aviation industry.

Man Held for Alleged Theft from Business Class Passenger on Singapore-Bound Flight

Published: Monday, August 11, 2025
Man Held for Alleged Theft from Business Class Passenger on Singapore-Bound Flight

A 25-year-old Chinese national is slated to face court on August 10 following his arrest for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Dubai to Singapore.

The incident came to light early on August 8 at around 5:30 a.m., when the police received a report regarding a suspected theft in the business class cabin of the flight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that while the victim was asleep, his wife witnessed the suspect allegedly removing the victim’s bag from the overhead compartment. Upon being questioned by the victim’s wife, the man promptly returned the bag but aroused suspicion.

The victim was then alerted, and after the plane landed at Changi Airport, authorities from the Airport Police Division confronted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, the man was arrested before he could board his next flight.

The specific airline involved has not been confirmed, though the route from Dubai International Airport to Changi Airport is served by Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

If found guilty, the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both. This case highlights the vigilance of passengers and the swift response by law enforcement in safeguarding travel security.