The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is set to host the 31st edition of the prestigious Routes World conference from October 18 to 20, 2026. The event, supported by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Airports Holding Company, the Air Connectivity Program, and organized by the "Alliance" company, promises to be a landmark gathering for the global aviation industry.

Routes World is recognized as the premier international forum dedicated to the future of air transport routes worldwide, bringing together airlines, airports, tourism stakeholders, and aviation decision-makers. The conference serves as a critical platform for discussing strategies to enhance global air connectivity, stimulate tourism growth, and support international travel.

Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, Chairman of GACA and the Saudi Airports Holding Company, highlighted the significance of hosting Routes World 2026 in Riyadh. He stated that the event marks a pivotal milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey to cement itself as a global aviation hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Al-Duailej emphasized the rapid growth of the Saudi aviation sector, driven by substantial investments in infrastructure aligned with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 for tourism and economic development.

"Hosting this global event in Riyadh reflects the Kingdom’s substantial progress as a worldwide aviation center and a leading tourist destination," he noted. "It coincides with Saudi Arabia’s preparations for Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, underscoring the Kingdom’s capacity to host major international events and enhance air connectivity for these landmark occasions."

Fahad Humaid Aldeen, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s growing stature as a top destination for tourism and air connectivity. He revealed that the Kingdom welcomed over 116 million visitors in 2024, marking a 6% increase compared to 2023, with air connectivity playing a vital role in enabling this unprecedented tourism boom thanks to Saudi Arabia’s strategic position at the crossroads of global travel.

Majid Khan, Executive Director of the Air Connectivity Program, noted his organization’s enthusiasm in partnering for Routes World 2026. He emphasized the event’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s national strategic ambitions in tourism and aviation, highlighting the conference as an opportunity to showcase promising prospects for the future of travel.

Stephen Small, General Manager of Routes, praised the exceptional growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, emphasizing the $40.95 billion spent by international visitors in 2024 alongside the Kingdom’s strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, which together make it an ideal host for this prestigious conference.

Looking ahead, King Salman International Airport in Riyadh aims to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. Simultaneously, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing multi-phase expansions to increase its capacity from approximately 50 million passengers currently to a range between 80 and 114 million by 2030, reaching 100 million by 2035.

Beyond infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is also investing in new airlines and advanced facilities, including the upcoming launch of Riyadh Airlines by the end of 2025, which will serve over 100 international destinations.

The air transport sector in Saudi Arabia recorded record growth in 2024, exceeding 128 million passengers across the Kingdom’s airports—a 15% increase from the previous year and 25% above pre-pandemic levels. This robust momentum continued into the first half of 2025 with 66.7 million passengers handled across 467,000 flights and 575,000 tons of air freight processed, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has once again been celebrated among the world’s elite airlines, securing the esteemed APEX Five Star Major Airline rating for the third consecutive year. The accolade was officially presented at the APEX Global EXPO held from September 9–11, 2025, in California, USA.

This prestigious rating is exclusively based on certified passenger feedback, underscoring the airline’s ongoing strategic transformation and customer-centric improvements to its products and services over recent years. Gulf Air’s recognition as a 2026 APEX Five Star Major Airline firmly places it within the top 7% of global carriers, reflecting excellence in passenger experience.

Jeffrey Goh, Gulf Air Group Chief Executive Officer, expressed pride in the achievement: “We are deeply honoured to receive the 2026 APEX Five Star Major Airline award for the third consecutive year. This recognition reflects the relentless dedication, innovation, and passion of the entire Gulf Air team in delivering excellent customer experience.

It stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing a world-class travel experience enriched by the warmth of Bahraini hospitality. We also extend our sincere thanks to our customers for their trust and confidence as we continue our journey of growth and transformation to exceed expectations and proudly represent Bahrain on the global aviation stage.”

The APEX EXPO, the industry's largest passenger experience event, is exclusively dedicated to experts and decision-makers focused on elevating airline passenger service worldwide. The event showcases the latest technologies, products, and services that shape the future of air travel.

The APEX Five Star and Four Star Airline Awards are uniquely grounded in neutral, third-party passenger ratings collected through APEX’s partnership with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s leading travel-organizing app. For the 2025 awards cycle, over one million verified passenger flights across more than 600 airlines worldwide were rated on a five-star scale. The awards are independently certified by a professional external auditor, with tightened criteria this year limiting the Five Star designation to just the top 40 airlines globally.

Gulf Air’s ongoing dedication to elevating the passenger experience complements its recent expansion efforts, including new routes and fleet modernization, positioning it as a key player in the global aviation landscape. The airline carried 14.2 million passengers year-to-date in 2025, marking an 18% increase over the same period in 2024, supported by a strong average passenger load factor.

This third successive APEX Five Star rating underscores Gulf Air’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, enhancing Bahrain’s reputation on the world aviation stage and signaling promising growth ahead.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, is set to host the 31st edition of the prestigious Routes World conference from October 18 to 20, 2026. The event, supported by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi Airports Holding Company, the Air Connectivity Program, and organized by the "Alliance" company, promises to be a landmark gathering for the global aviation industry.

Routes World is recognized as the premier international forum dedicated to the future of air transport routes worldwide, bringing together airlines, airports, tourism stakeholders, and aviation decision-makers. The conference serves as a critical platform for discussing strategies to enhance global air connectivity, stimulate tourism growth, and support international travel.

Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, Chairman of GACA and the Saudi Airports Holding Company, highlighted the significance of hosting Routes World 2026 in Riyadh. He stated that the event marks a pivotal milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey to cement itself as a global aviation hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Al-Duailej emphasized the rapid growth of the Saudi aviation sector, driven by substantial investments in infrastructure aligned with the ambitious goals of Saudi Vision 2030 for tourism and economic development.

"Hosting this global event in Riyadh reflects the Kingdom’s substantial progress as a worldwide aviation center and a leading tourist destination," he noted. "It coincides with Saudi Arabia’s preparations for Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, underscoring the Kingdom’s capacity to host major international events and enhance air connectivity for these landmark occasions."

Fahad Humaid Aldeen, CEO and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority, expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s growing stature as a top destination for tourism and air connectivity. He revealed that the Kingdom welcomed over 116 million visitors in 2024, marking a 6% increase compared to 2023, with air connectivity playing a vital role in enabling this unprecedented tourism boom thanks to Saudi Arabia’s strategic position at the crossroads of global travel.

Majid Khan, Executive Director of the Air Connectivity Program, noted his organization’s enthusiasm in partnering for Routes World 2026. He emphasized the event’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s national strategic ambitions in tourism and aviation, highlighting the conference as an opportunity to showcase promising prospects for the future of travel.

Stephen Small, General Manager of Routes, praised the exceptional growth of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector, emphasizing the $40.95 billion spent by international visitors in 2024 alongside the Kingdom’s strategic location and modern aviation infrastructure, which together make it an ideal host for this prestigious conference.

Looking ahead, King Salman International Airport in Riyadh aims to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. Simultaneously, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah is undergoing multi-phase expansions to increase its capacity from approximately 50 million passengers currently to a range between 80 and 114 million by 2030, reaching 100 million by 2035.

Beyond infrastructure, Saudi Arabia is also investing in new airlines and advanced facilities, including the upcoming launch of Riyadh Airlines by the end of 2025, which will serve over 100 international destinations.

The air transport sector in Saudi Arabia recorded record growth in 2024, exceeding 128 million passengers across the Kingdom’s airports—a 15% increase from the previous year and 25% above pre-pandemic levels. This robust momentum continued into the first half of 2025 with 66.7 million passengers handled across 467,000 flights and 575,000 tons of air freight processed, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as one of the fastest-growing aviation markets globally.

Dubai-based flydubai and Romania’s national carrier TAROM have forged a strategic interline partnership, significantly expanding travel options between the UAE, Romania, and Europe. Announced on September 10, 2025, this agreement enables seamless connections via Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), bringing 15 key European cities such as Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid, Athens, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Cluj-Napoca onto a single booking system from Dubai.

This marks a major convenience for travelers seeking multi-city European itineraries with just one fare, one ticket, and through-checked baggage.

Flydubai operates double-daily flights on the Dubai-Bucharest route, facilitating well-timed connections to TAROM flights across Eastern and Central Europe. The ease of combining flights eliminates the hassle of separate bookings and baggage re-checks, which often complicate self-connecting itineraries. This arrangement not only simplifies travel plans but also offers greater protection to passengers in case of delays on inbound flights.

The partnership aligns with flydubai’s expansion strategy in Romania, where it has operated since 2012. Later in September 2025, flydubai will launch flights to Iași, Romania’s second destination, further enhancing connectivity between Dubai and Romanian cities. Additionally, flydubai is broadening its European footprint with new direct routes to Vilnius (Lithuania), Riga (Latvia), and Chișinău (Moldova) starting autumn and winter 2025, making it the UAE’s first carrier on some of these underserved markets.

Executives from both airlines highlighted the partnership's broader benefits. Ramesh Anantharaman, flydubai’s Divisional SVP of Revenue Management, emphasized how the collaboration strengthens trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the UAE and Europe. TAROM’s General Manager Costin Iordache described the move as a natural progression to provide safer, more reliable, and convenient travel options that connect the regions.

Bucharest’s OTP airport is evolving as a crucial gateway linking Eastern Europe to Western Europe and the Middle East, with TAROM’s network playing a key role in regional connectivity. TAROM offers competitive fares across its European network, which includes direct flights to iconic cities such as Rome, Prague, Madrid, Paris, Athens, and Frankfurt—ideal for flydubai passengers aiming for diverse European experiences.

Flydubai’s CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith described the airline’s growth to over 135 destinations worldwide, with a particular focus on underserved routes, underscoring their commitment to opening new travel corridors and supporting Dubai’s status as a global aviation hub. The flydubai-TAROM interline complements this vision by uniting extensive networks for the convenience of travelers.

Booking for these combined flights is available now across flydubai’s website, app, and through travel agents, offering travelers smooth access to dozens of European cities with minimal travel fuss.

What This Means for Travelers:

• Single booking for Dubai to any of the 15 TAROM-served cities beyond Bucharest.
• Baggage checked through to final destination.
• Convenient timing and seamless transfers due to flydubai’s frequent DXB-OTP schedule.
• Access to emerging and underserved European markets via flydubai’s expanding route map.
• Enhanced opportunities for tourism, trade, and cultural connections between the Middle East and Europe.

This partnership is a landmark step in improving air connectivity between Dubai and Europe, especially for travelers seeking flexibility in city-hopping trips and efficient travel through Romania’s capital airport. With expanded routes and a simplified booking process, exploring Europe from Dubai has never been more accessible and convenient.

Air Cambodia is poised to expand its fleet with up to 20 Chinese-made C909 regional jets, marking Cambodia’s entry into a growing roster of Southeast Asian customers for China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer, COMAC. The move was confirmed through a memorandum of understanding signed on Tuesday in China, guaranteeing 10 firm orders with an option to acquire 10 more.

COMAC, aiming to challenge aviation giants Airbus and Boeing, is developing commercial jets to increase its global footprint. While its larger narrow-body jet, the C919, competes with popular models like the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX, it remains operated exclusively by Chinese airlines. Conversely, the smaller C909 regional jet has gained traction in Southeast Asia, already in service with carriers in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Laos, and with orders placed by an airline in Brunei.

Recently, Lao Airlines received its second C909 and began cross-border flights to Bangkok, signaling successful regional deployment. COMAC has also shown interest in expanding its influence by proposing a majority stake acquisition in Laos’ national carrier, which is facing debt challenges.

Cambodia maintains strong ties with China, underscored by King Norodom Sihamoni’s attendance at China’s largest-ever military parade last week. COMAC emphasized that it will work closely with Air Cambodia on aircraft delivery, operational support, and industry development as part of the partnership.

The C909, formerly known as the ARJ21, seats up to 90 passengers and represents China’s first jet-powered commercial plane to reach production, having entered service in 2016. Details on the delivery timeline of the jets to Air Cambodia have yet to be announced.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a renewed safety alert warning airlines about the ongoing risks posed by lithium batteries carried onboard by passengers and crew. These batteries, found in common devices such as cell phones, laptops, portable power banks, e-cigarettes, and hearing aids, carry the potential to malfunction and ignite fires through a phenomenon known as "thermal runaway."

According to the FAA, lithium batteries stored in passenger overhead bins or inside carry-on bags are particularly hazardous because they can be hidden, hard to access, and difficult to monitor. This obscurity can delay the detection of overheating or fire, increasing danger during flight. The alert warns that firefighting efforts may also be hampered if the battery is not easily reachable.

The warning follows a recent on-camera demonstration for CNN by the FAA, showing how quickly a thermal runaway in a battery power pack stowed in a seat-back pocket can erupt, showering sparks and igniting flames. While Halon fire extinguishers can temporarily suppress flames, they do not stop the dangerous runaway reaction, which requires large volumes of water to cool and extinguish effectively.

Through August 2025, the FAA has documented 50 verified incidents involving battery-related fires or malfunctions on aircraft, highlighting the persistent nature of this threat. Airlines are urged to rethink how lithium batteries are stored, especially discouraging their placement in areas that are not visible or easy to reach during the flight, such as overhead bins or packed carry-on compartments.

Among major U.S. carriers, Southwest Airlines stands out for its policy requiring portable chargers and power banks to remain in plain sight when in use onboard to help mitigate risks.

Passenger safety guidelines continue to prohibit spare lithium batteries in checked luggage altogether, signaling the FAA's commitment to reducing fire hazards linked to these powerful but potentially dangerous power sources.
As air travel grows busier and device use more prevalent, this FAA safety alert serves as a crucial reminder for airlines and passengers alike to remain vigilant about the risks of lithium batteries in the skies.