İGA Istanbul Airport achieved a historic milestone on April 17, 2025, becoming the first airport in Europe to fully operationalize Triple Independent Parallel Runway Operations (TRO), allowing three aircraft to take off or land simultaneously across dedicated runways.

The landmark launch, overseen by Türkiye’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, showcased three Turkish Airlines flights departing in unison: an Airbus A321neo (TC-LSP) bound for Kayseri, an A350-900 (TC-LGU) en route to Amsterdam, and a Boeing 777F freighter (TC-LJL) headed to Almaty.

This innovation boosts the airport’s hourly flight capacity by 23%—from 120 to 148 movements—streamlining operations, minimizing delays, and reducing environmental impact through optimized air traffic management.

Cutting-Edge Infrastructure and Safety Protocols

The system, developed with 1,035-meter lateral spacing between runways (exceeding international standards), integrates advanced radar technology, AI-driven predictive analytics, and Airport Collaborative Decision-Making (A-CDM) platforms to ensure seamless coordination.

Automated tools monitor real-time flight paths, prevent runway conflicts, and allocate slots efficiently, while enhanced navigation systems guarantee precise aircraft separation. Over 500 air traffic controllers completed 4,500 hours of rigorous training using state-of-the-art simulators to master complex traffic scenarios, ensuring flawless implementation.

Collaborative Milestone for Global Connectivity

Initiated in late 2022, the project involved Türkiye’s General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI), Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM), Turkish Airlines, and Eurocontrol, with airspace redesigns adhering to strict safety protocols. Istanbul Airport, which managed 80 million passengers and 517,284 flights in 2024, now connects 321 global destinations via 110 airlines.

The upgrade aligns with its long-term vision to serve 200 million annual passengers, solidifying its status as a critical nexus between Europe, Asia, and Africa for both passenger and cargo traffic.

Sustainability and Global Leadership

By reducing aircraft idle times and fuel consumption, the TRO system advances Türkiye’s sustainability goals, curbing emissions in line with global climate targets. Istanbul joins elite airports like Atlanta and Dallas Fort Worth in operating triple-runway systems, but stands apart in Europe for its fully independent operations—surpassing Amsterdam Schiphol’s segregated model.

Mehmet Kalyoncu, İGA Board Member, hailed the achievement as a “transformative leap” in aviation technology, positioning Türkiye as a pioneer in next-generation air traffic solutions and reinforcing Istanbul’s role in shaping the future of global aviation networks.

In a bold leap toward environmental leadership, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport (RAK Airport) is integrating cutting-edge sustainable technologies as part of a major terminal expansion—becoming the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to adopt DYNAES’s revolutionary thermodynamic energy efficiency system.

This milestone initiative is more than a technical upgrade; it’s a statement of intent. With Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism and economy rapidly accelerating, airport authorities are ensuring that growth goes hand-in-hand with sustainability. The move reflects a broader commitment to reducing environmental impact while meeting rising air travel demands.

Cooling Innovation, Warming Planet's Hope

Recognizing that air conditioning systems account for some of the highest energy consumption in airport operations, RAK Airport—guided by consultants ARTELIA Airport and STG Contracting—has turned to DYNAES’s breakthrough technology, first unveiled at Dubai COP28. The system’s installation in the terminal extension marks a regional first.

“Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation, highlighted the vision behind the move: “RAK Airport joined the Retrofit Energy Program in 2023. Now, we are proving how even older infrastructure can lead the way in sustainability.”

Developed alongside leading scientific institutions including Mines Paris PSL, TÜV, and CNRS, DYNAES’s patented system enhances thermal performance without increasing compressor power or requiring complex electronics. It works by optimizing the interaction between refrigerants and lubricating oils in air conditioning systems—delivering improved reliability, maintainability, and energy savings.

Professor Assaad Zoughaib of Mines Paris PSL called the innovation “a major scientific breakthrough in the field of thermodynamics.”

Big Impact, Low Footprint

The environmental potential is massive. If deployed globally, DYNAES’s system could slash carbon emissions by up to 7%—equivalent to the total emissions from the internet and air traffic combined. At RAK Airport, the technology is supported by seasoned partners Airchal and Takyeef Factory, ensuring a strong foundation for its regional rollout.

This technology boost also aligns with RAK’s broader goals of economic diversification and sustainable development. With a 28% rise in passenger traffic last year, the airport is rapidly scaling up. Recent route expansions include Air Arabia’s new service to Uzbekistan and planned connections to Kenya, Georgia, and India via IndiGo.

A Model for Green Growth

RAK Airport’s ambitious blend of infrastructure growth and environmental responsibility is setting a new regional standard for sustainable aviation. As the airport continues to grow as a vital hub for tourism and trade, it is doing so with an eye firmly fixed on the future—one where economic and environmental priorities go hand in hand.

Ras Al Khaimah may be a smaller Emirate, but with RAK Airport leading the charge in clean technology, it’s making a big impact in global sustainability conversations.

Etihad Airways has officially become a participant in IATA’s Turbulence Aware initiative, bringing its entire fleet-comprising nearly 100 Airbus and Boeing aircraft-into the programme. By doing so, every Etihad flight will now automatically feed anonymized, real-time turbulence data into a global network.

This development is set to further enrich the world’s largest database on in-flight turbulence, empowering pilots and dispatchers to make better-informed decisions about flight routes, thereby enhancing safety, comfort, and operational efficiency for all passengers and crew.

The Turbulence Aware programme is an aviation industry-wide collaboration that aggregates and shares precise, up-to-the-minute turbulence readings-known as Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) data-from aircraft operated by participating airlines, business aviation, and ground-based systems.

All the information is processed within seconds, ensuring that pilots, dispatchers, and operational teams can access the latest turbulence updates through their own flight planning tools, third-party apps, or IATA’s MET Viewer, a web-based interface that visualizes turbulence in vivid detail, including intensity, location, altitude, and relevant weather patterns.

The advantages of this programme are far-reaching. By providing objective, real-time turbulence data, Turbulence Aware helps flight crews steer clear of hazardous weather, uphold the highest safety standards, and reduce the likelihood of injuries among passengers and crew-an area of concern that remains a leading cause of in-flight incidents.

Furthermore, optimized routing supported by the programme leads to significant fuel savings, lower CO₂ emissions, and reduced operational expenses. The predictive power of the data also aids in minimizing aircraft wear and tear, which in turn helps decrease maintenance costs and increase fleet reliability.

With more than 2,600 aircraft now actively contributing to the data pool-and over 54 million turbulence reports generated in 2024 alone-the programme’s reach and data quality are rapidly expanding as additional airlines join the effort. Etihad’s involvement is especially significant, as it extends the programme’s coverage across the Middle East and all five continents it serves.

This ensures that pilots and dispatchers worldwide have access to the most accurate and timely turbulence information, supporting safer, smoother, and more efficient flights for everyone.

Captain Majed Al Marzouqi, Interim Chief Operations and Guest Officer at Etihad Airways, highlighted the airline’s strong commitment to safety, stating, “Having access to real-time, accurate turbulence data allows our pilots to make better decisions, resulting in smoother and more comfortable journeys for our guests.”

Kamil Al-Awadhi, IATA Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East, also welcomed Etihad’s participation, emphasizing that timely, reliable turbulence data is key to improving flight safety and enhancing the overall passenger experience.

In essence, by joining the Turbulence Aware programme, Etihad Airways is not only reaffirming its dedication to safety and operational excellence but also playing a vital role in a global, collaborative movement to make air travel safer, more comfortable, and more sustainable for everyone involved.

Qatar Airways, acclaimed as the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax in 2024, made a powerful statement on the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) Dubai 2025, unveiling a suite of industry-leading digital and experiential innovations designed to redefine the future of air travel. At the heart of the airline’s showcase was the debut of Sama, the world’s first AI-powered digital human cabin crew, now with advanced Arabic-speaking capabilities.

Sama, whose name means ‘sky’ in Arabic, is powered by UneeQ-a New Zealand-based leader in intelligent digital human interfaces-and is designed to engage with passengers in both Arabic dialects and Modern Standard Arabic, offering a uniquely personalized and culturally attuned travel experience.

Sama’s new role extends beyond ATM, as she is now accessible across Qatar Airways’ digital ecosystem, including the award-winning mobile app and the immersive QVerse web platform. Travelers can interact with Sama through voice and chat, receiving real-time assistance with flight bookings, destination recommendations, and personalized itineraries.

Sama’s AI is also emotionally aware, capable of interpreting user moods to suggest the perfect holiday destination, marking a significant leap in the field of emotionally intelligent AI assistants. Beyond the booking process, Sama has become a social media ambassador, engaging a global audience on Instagram (@SamaOnTheMove) with travel tips, behind-the-scenes stories, and insights into the airline’s operations, further humanizing the brand and connecting with digitally native travelers.

Qatar Airways’ ATM stand also introduced The ORCHARD, a hyper-realistic virtual recreation of the iconic indoor garden at Hamad International Airport, allowing visitors to explore and preview the tranquil, nature-inspired environment in immersive VR. This experience is designed to make the unfamiliar feel familiar, setting a new standard for digital engagement in travel.

A major highlight was the Qsuite Next Gen, the latest evolution of Qatar Airways’ award-winning business class. The new suites feature fully customizable Quad and Companion Suites, movable 4K OLED Panasonic Astrova in-flight entertainment screens, increased dining space, taller digitally controlled privacy dividers, ambient lighting, and a dedicated ‘Make My Bed’ button for a 5-star turn-down service.

These innovations are set to debut on the Boeing B777-9 aircraft, offering passengers unprecedented levels of comfort, privacy, and connectivity. Complementing the Qsuite Next Gen was a multi-sensory pod, which brought the suite’s atmosphere to life through visuals, sound, scent, and motion, providing a fully immersive preview of the onboard experience.

Qatar Airways also announced expanded flight frequencies to key destinations, including Dar Es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Entebbe, Tokyo Narita, Maputo–Durban, Larnaca, Trabzon, Sharjah, Manchester, Madrid, Lisbon, and London Heathrow for the peak summer season. In parallel, the airline signed new Memoranda of Understanding with Visit Maldives and Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism to boost visitor arrivals and explore new tourism promotion opportunities via Hamad International Airport.

Additionally, the airline revealed that more than half of its Boeing 777 fleet now features Starlink’s high-speed Wi-Fi, with plans to equip all wide-body aircraft by the end of 2025, ensuring seamless connectivity for passengers.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, emphasized the airline’s commitment to innovation and regional relevance: “We are proud to return to ATM with industry innovations that reflect the diversity and spirit of our region. Sama, The ORCHARD in VR, Qsuite Next Gen, and our multi-sensory pod are all part of how Qatar Airways is shaping a future of travel that is not only digital, but also deeply human.”

Visitors can experience these innovations firsthand at Qatar Airways’ stand ME1420, located between Halls 3 and 4 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, until May 1, 2025. Through these advancements, Qatar Airways continues to set new benchmarks in digital transformation, personalized service, and customer engagement, reaffirming its leadership in the global aviation industry.

SalamAir, Oman’s prominent low-cost airline, has introduced a new WhatsApp service designed to enhance the passenger experience by delivering flight tickets and boarding passes directly through the popular messaging app. This convenient feature allows travelers to bypass the traditional hassle of sifting through emails or printing documents, making the check-in process smoother and more efficient.

For a nominal fee of 0.250 OMR per booking, customers who provide their WhatsApp number during reservation will receive automated notifications with their booking confirmation and boarding passes, although the service currently supports only one-way communication from the airline to the passenger.

This innovative move is part of SalamAir’s ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at offering more flexible and customer-friendly travel solutions. The airline, which operates a fleet of 13 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and conducts over 80 daily flights, plans to expand its fleet with a new A321neo arriving in early 2025 and an additional 10 Airbus A320s by 2028, supporting its growth strategy aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040.

SalamAir’s leadership, including Chief Commercial Officer Steven Allen, has emphasized the airline’s commitment to leveraging technology to provide travelers with seamless, personalized services.

Alongside the WhatsApp ticketing service, SalamAir has recently introduced other enhancements such as Express Bag and Priority services, further improving the overall travel experience. While the WhatsApp service improves convenience, passengers are responsible for ensuring their devices have adequate connectivity to receive messages.

The airline also maintains strict privacy policies to protect customer data and limits third-party sharing to essential service functions. This latest development reinforces SalamAir’s position as a trusted and innovative carrier in the Gulf region, continuing to prioritize customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

Shradha Dabral, a junior aircraft maintenance technician at Delhi Airport, is challenging long-standing stereotypes in the aviation industry by excelling in a field traditionally dominated by men. As part of Air India’s workforce, where women account for an impressive 46% of employees, Shradha’s role involves ensuring aircraft safety and operational readiness through meticulous pre-flight inspections, troubleshooting mechanical issues, and performing routine maintenance checks.

Her work is critical to ensuring passenger safety and maintaining the reliability of Air India’s fleet—a responsibility that demands technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and unwavering attention to detail.

Aircraft maintenance is one of the most demanding areas in aviation, requiring technicians to work under high-pressure conditions and adhere to strict deadlines. The job often involves physically intensive tasks such as inspecting engines, repairing landing gear systems, and handling heavy equipment.

Despite these challenges, Shradha has embraced her role with determination and passion. She shares that one of the most rewarding aspects of her work is witnessing the planes she has serviced take off successfully, knowing her contributions play a vital role in the aviation ecosystem.

Shradha also reflects on societal perceptions that often associate technical roles like aircraft maintenance with men due to the physical demands and complexity involved. However, she firmly believes that gender should never be a barrier to pursuing one’s dreams.

She credits Air India for fostering an inclusive environment that values merit over stereotypes, allowing her to grow professionally without bias or discrimination. Her story is a shining example of how organizations can empower women by providing equal opportunities and support.

Beyond her technical expertise, Shradha cherishes the personal connections her career has enabled her to make. One particularly memorable moment was booking a flight for her grandmother, who had never traveled by air before. Watching her grandmother experience flying for the first time was a deeply fulfilling experience that underscored the personal impact of her professional achievements.

For aspiring women looking to enter aviation maintenance or other technical fields, Shradha offers valuable advice: focus on building your skills, stay resilient in the face of challenges, and don’t let societal expectations define your path. She emphasizes that the growing presence of women in aviation is gradually breaking barriers and inspiring change across the industry. 

Programs like mentorship initiatives, scholarships for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and targeted recruitment campaigns are also helping pave the way for more female representation in technical roles.

Shradha’s journey highlights not only her personal triumphs but also broader shifts within the aviation sector. As more women step into roles traditionally dominated by men—such as pilots, engineers, and technicians—they are reshaping perceptions and proving that success knows no gender.

Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunities in empowering individuals to achieve their full potential in challenging yet rewarding careers like aircraft maintenance.