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    Boeing Delivers First P-8A Poseidon to New Zealand

    New Zealand received the first of four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in a ceremony at the Museum of Flight.“As a maritime nation, delivery of the P-8A will ensure New Zealand maintains a patrol and response capability that will protect and support law enforcement in our Exclusive Economic Zone and Southern Ocean,” said Sarah Minson, acting Deputy Secretary Capability Delivery, New Zealand Ministry of Defence. “The P-8A will also assist our South Pacific neighbors and deliver long-range search and rescue capability.”
    The milestone comes four years after the New Zealand Government entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy for the P-8A.
    “The unmatched, multi-mission maritime patrol capabilities of the P-8 will provide New Zealand the ability to extend their reach into the Pacific and beyond,” said Philip June, vice president and program manager, P-8 Programs. “New Zealand joins eight other global customers including nearby Australia that have selected or already operate the P-8 and benefit greatly from its long-range maritime surveillance and warfare capabilities.”
    Boeing Defence Australia will provide sustainment services for New Zealand’s fleet with the support of the P-8 International Program.
    New Zealand’s three remaining P-8 aircraft are all in advanced stages of production and will be delivered in 2023. The aircraft will replace New Zealand’s current fleet of six P-3K2 Orions and will be based at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea.ADVERTISEMENTTo date, the global operating P-8 fleet has amassed more than 450,000 mishap-free flight hours. The P-8 is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft capable of broad-area, maritime and littoral operations. In addition, the P-8 performs humanitarian and search and rescue missions around the globe.

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    Discover Qatar Offers Educational Tours to School and College Students

    Discover Qatar (DQ) is offering specially-designed tours to showcase Qatar’s top-tier educational and tourism resources as well as the distinctive features of Doha. Custom-made for school and college students from across the globe, these tours present a unique opportunity for a holistic view of Qatar’s premier academic ecosystem, while immersing guests in the culture of the country.Through these tours, Discover Qatar aims to provide life-enhancing travel experiences to empower students to learn beyond the classroom. These tours will enable cross culture connections for the students to develop new ideas and perspectives through special experiences, training, and networking opportunities.
    Mr. Steven Reynolds, Senior Vice President, Discover Qatar, said: “The successful development and launch of our educational tours for school and college students is a testament to Qatar’s dynamic offerings as a unique global destination for educational pursuits. We look forward to enriching the academic growth of students around the world with resources, insights, and experiences from leading academic and cultural institutions in Qatar.”
    DQ’s educational tours focus on a range of subjects including architecture, art and culture, sports and performance excellence, fashion and design, business management, and gastronomy, all with the goal of stimulating learning for students through curated activities and workshops. Bringing learning curriculums to life, students can develop problem-solving skills, improve critical thinking, broaden their worldview, and learn through a variety of custom-designed workshops, activities, and interactive experiential sessions. The specially-designed programmes are offered for five days and can be extended up to 10 days based on the subject or expected learning outcomes. These are all-inclusive group programmes that combine services such as hotel accommodation, meals, airport & local city transfers, sightseeing activities & a guide who escorts the group for a complete stay in Doha. More details can be found on the Discover Qatar website https://www.discoverqatar.qa/education-tours/.
    DQ recently conducted familiarisation tours during which participants discovered diverse opportunities through interactions at Qatar Foundation and Education City, mainly at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Texas A&M University at Qatar, and Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar. DQ also arranged visits to National Museum of Qatar, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, Fire Station, Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, M7, Katara Cultural Village, and Aspire Academy to present an all-inclusive understanding of Qatar.
    Mr. Mark Alexander, Founder and CEO, Happymiles Outdoor Learning, who was part of familiarisation tour said : “I was pleased to witness things beyond my imagination in Doha. Fascinating architecture influenced by its traditions and culture, priceless art treasures, sumptuous gastronomy diversity, state of art interactive museums, fantastic education infrastructure in form of modern campuses, labs, classrooms, teaching facilities and open spaces – there is so much to learn from. Qatar is one-step ahead in fashion & design uniquely maintaining its culture and a country that encourages top quality sports in world-class facilities. It was a treat for my eyes to see the serene white sand dunes merging with blue sea. Qatar has a high focus on innovation and sustainability, I truly believe there is a lot to learn from this forward-looking country.” Happymiles Outdoor Learning is aiming to send approximately 25 student groups to Qatar in next 6 months. “ADVERTISEMENTDQ has already signed several agreements with key travel partners in India and is looking to Europe and USA markets for strategic key partnerships.
    Qatar combines globally renowned education with a rich culture, world-class facilities, and social stability, all-while offering it in a safe environment. Doha, which is up to a seven hour flight away from countless major cities around the world, offers a visa-free entry to eligible citizens of 95 countries. With the national carrier, Qatar Airways, currently flying to more than 150 destinations worldwide through the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International Airport, Qatar is an ideal destination for students’ educational tours. Students arriving in Doha will discover a vibrant, forward-thinking city presenting unparalleled learning resources in the fields of arts and culture, architecture, sports, fashion and design, gastronomy, business management and higher education, set against the multi-faceted backdrop of modernity and heritage with unique attractions, architectural marvels, museums, theme parks, shopping boulevards and much more. 
    Students between the ages of 18 and 30 can also benefit from Qatar Airways’ exclusive Student Club programme, which is powered by the airline’s loyalty programme, by receiving special fares on flights, extra baggage allowances, flexibility to change flight dates, complimentary Super Wi-Fi onboard, and more.

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    Emirates Flight Training Academy hits three key milestones at the third graduation ceremony

    As the aviation world grapples with pilot shortages, Emirates Flight Training Academy’s (EFTA) third graduation ceremony held earlier today welcomed 53 new pilots trained at their world-class facility into the industry.
    With the latest ceremony, EFTA celebrated crossing three major milestones, including graduating –
    international cadets for the first time since the academy opened its doors for non-Emirati cadets in late 2019the largest cohort – more than 50 cadets and double that of previous eventsmore than 100 cadets since its first graduation in 2020.At the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group congratulated and awarded certificates to the cadet graduates. Emirates’ executive management team in attendance included: Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, Adel Al Redha, Chief Operating Officer; Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer and Ali Al Soori, Executive Vice President Chairman’s Office & Facilities/Projects Management.
    EFTA also hosted senior leaders from across the UAE aviation community including His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Ahli, Director General of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA); His Excellency Khalifa Al Zaffin, Executive Chairman of Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC);  Tahnoon Saif, Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Bin Rashid Aerospace Hub; Major General Ali Atiq Bin Lahej, Director of the General Department of Airports Security at Dubai Police, and a delegation from the UAE Armed Forces.
    His Highness Sheikh Ahmed said: “Years ago, we realised there would be a huge demand for trained pilots to support commercial aviation’s needs, and as a global airline and an industry leader, we felt compelled to act. Today’s graduation ceremony marks the achievement of our long-term vision for establishing the state-of-the-art Emirates Flight Training Academy to welcome and nurture young talent not just locally, but globally. Our next generation of highly skilled, well-trained cadets is a demonstration of the academy’s contribution to the aviation industry. We’re incredibly proud of our graduates and our team at EFTA.”ADVERTISEMENTCaptain Abdulla Al Hammadi, Vice President Emirates Flight Training Academy said: “To say that our cadets, instructors and our teams at EFTA have flown through an incredibly turbulent two years is an understatement. We have great admiration for our cadets’ spirit, positivity and the gusto with which they went through the rigours of ground school and sailed through their flying lessons.
    “They are bidding goodbye to the academy, not just with a clutch of certificates and trophies, but with a range of professional and life skills, an array of amazing competencies, and vibrant memories. They’ve left their mark at EFTA, and we are confident they will be captivating the hearts and minds of the aviation industry. Today marks their last day of one journey and the exciting first day of another.”
    Ali Al Ali, cadet graduate, echoed the sentiments of the cohort in his address: “Before we move on to the future, we would like to remember the past couple of years. There are several moments etched in our collective consciousness. We remember the feeling of pride when we first joined the academy, when we first wore our uniforms, on our first solo flight. We loved ground school and our high-tech classrooms, even the sleepless nights we spent studying. But then, we loved our flying lessons even more – the hours we spent honing our skills in the open skies and knowing this is what we will be doing our entire professional lives. What can be more extraordinary than having an office 38,000 feet up in the sky? The academy has taught us all how to be leaders, how to be responsible, disciplined, and professional. On behalf of the Class of 2022, our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who made our graduation possible.”
    The ceremony evoked a range of emotions as the young graduates took to the stage, cheered on by their proud families and friends. And rightly so, as the young cadets had successfully completed the rigorous programme with 900 hours of ground-based training and 250 hours of flight instruction to obtain their Integrated Air Transport Pilot Licence.
    EFTA also honoured the highest performing and most diligent cadets for their achievements across all facets of the training programme.
    According to Oliver Wyman’s latest research, the aviation industry will experience a global gap of 34,000 pilots by 2025, which could increase to 50,000 given the impact of furloughs and retirements. Driven by a projected sharp increase in air travel demand, the Middle East region could face a shortage of 3,000 pilots by 2023 and 18,000 by 2032. Boeing estimates that by 2041 the gap will widen to 602,000 pilots globally and 53,000 in the Middle East.

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    AirTrip International signs multi-year agreement to use Sabre GDS

    NFINI Travel Information, the exclusive Sabre GDS distribution partner in Japan, and Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR), a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced a new, multi-year GDS agreement with AirTrip International Corp. The deal will see AirTrip International capitalizing on Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS) as part of its strategy to spur growth of its outbound business with advanced technology.
    Using Sabre’s rich GDS content, including NDC offers, as well as Sabre’s Bargain Finder Max API, AirTrip International will be able to expand its content regime while creating compelling offers for its customers.
    Bargain Finder Max utilizes Sabre’s proprietary shopping algorithm and broad array of rich content to deliver optimal itinerary offers in seconds. This will enable AirTrip International to create customized booking experiences for travelers by tailoring search results for the most relevant fares, based on itinerary preferences.
    “This is an important partnership for AirTrip International, and we are excited by the prospects of this collaboration,” said Yusuke Shibata, President & Representative Director / CFO of AirTrip International. “Our mission at AirTrip is to use advanced products and technologies with our unique position in the Japanese market to deliver a best-in-class travel experience for our customers. This mission is even more relevant as travel recovery gains momentum in Japan. Sabre is well-positioned to share its next-generation content and technology which will be an essential component in providing a superior customer experience.”
    AirTrip International established itself as a preferred choice of travelers in Japan’s highly competitive markets by focusing on meeting customer needs through a superior product experience. The OTA has proved itself to be resilient in its ability to adapt its business model quickly to the challenges which have emerged throughout the pandemic and is now focused on technological advancement for future growth.ADVERTISEMENT“We very much welcome the AirTrip International decision to choose the Sabre GDS as a distribution channel in Japan,” said Kimio Uemura, CEO, INFINI Travel Information. “It validates our vision for the Sabre/INFINI partnership and the need for advanced industry solutions that meet service needs, while effectively supporting travel agents’ desire to expand the breadth of their business models globally.”
    “As travel agencies look to secure a competitive edge amid continuing recovery, they need a technology partner with the stability and resources to continue investing in advanced and new technology solutions,” said Brett Thorstad, Vice President, Sabre Travel Solutions, Agency Sales, Asia Pacific. “There’s a huge opportunity for AirTrip International to act fast and position itself for growth. AirTrip’s decision to become part of Sabre’s GDS will enable the OTA to tap into expected increased demand, during the recovery period and beyond.”

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    Heathrow to kick off the holiday season by giving away 10,000 Christmas gifts

    Heathrow has enlisted hundreds of ‘Little Here to Helpers’ to kick off the festive season for passengers by giving away 10,000 Christmas gifts.
    The presents will be given out across all four terminals in the run up to new year in a bid spread Christmas cheer. All gifts will be from the airport’s shops, bars and restaurants and include free flights and lounge access, with other Christmas presents including Chanel perfumes, Pret breakfasts and designer makeup from World Duty Free.
    This December will be the biggest Christmas getaway in three years. Over three million passengers are expected to travel through Heathrow in the last two weeks of the month for festive breaks at home and abroad – double that of the same period last year. Holidaymakers are split in what they look for in a winter trip, with the most popular destinations set to be chilly New York and sunny Dubai.
    To further add to passengers’ Christmas spirit, Heathrow has launched an advent calendar on its website and app, containing offers for those travelling through the airport until 25th December. Behind the windows lie discounts from Heathrow shops, bonus points from Heathrow Rewards, exclusive World Duty Free promotions and deals on festive-inspired food and beverage menus.
    Tonia Fielding, Director of Services at Heathrow said: ADVERTISEMENT“After three years of restricted travel, we are looking forward to welcoming millions of passengers who will be passing through Heathrow this December to go on festive breaks with family and friends. We have been working closely with all our partners across the airport to recruit more colleagues to provide a great airport experience. We want to ensure passengers can depart as they mean to go on and enjoy the holiday season from the moment they arrive at Heathrow. We hope our Little Here to Helpers will spread a bit of festive spirit this Christmas.”
    Heathrow’s Little Here to Helpers are staffed from the airport’s Here to Help programme, which is now in its twelfth year and forms part of Heathrow’s efforts to ensure the very best airport experience for passengers. Over 750 Heathrow colleagues from non-operational and office-based roles took to the airport this summer to contribute 10,000 hours’ worth of additional customer support and help manage the pressures in the airport.
    The Little Here To Helpers will be easily recognisable, donning purple Santa hats and located near one of the 25 Christmas trees spread across the terminals. Passengers just need to keep an eye out to kick start their festivities ahead of their flight.
    Try Heathrow’s advent calendar at https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/advent-calendar.

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    Dubai-based DAMAC Group signs contract with Mandarin Oriental

    Announced at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes France (ILTM), the Dubai based DAMAC Group, under its property development arm DAMAC Properties — one of the region’s foremost luxury real estate developers, has signed a contract with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to operate a new resort on a group of private islands in The Maldives.The 34-hectare luxury resort, which is currently under development and is scheduled to open in 2025, will be DAMAC Group’s first foray in the tourist islands, known for its premium five-star offerings.The Indian Ocean resort stretches across three private islands on Bolidhuffaru Reef in South Male Atoll, accessed by an easy 20-minute speedboat ride from Male’s Velana international airport.
    Surrounded by white sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs for which The Maldives is renowned, the resort will provide a picturesque backdrop from where guests can enjoy a variety of activities including culinary experiences through various specialty restaurants around the island in addition to wellness retreats and water sports.
    The Mandarin Oriental Bolidhuffaru Reef’s accommodation comprises 130 stand-alone villas, made up of 61 overwater villas and 66 beachfront villas, including 10 branded residences. Ranging in size from 100 to 600 square metres (internal), the villas will be some of the largest in the market, each providing exclusivity and seclusion, with private pools and beautiful ocean views. The Group is working with a number of international consultants to ensure sustainability best practises are followed in all stages of the development.
    Seven dining outlets, including three speciality restaurants and an exclusive dining venue along with a pool bar will ensure that guests have a varied choice of cuisines during their stay.
    In addition, creative indoor and outdoor event spaces will provide unique locations for meetings, social gatherings and weddings. ADVERTISEMENTSpacious wellness facilities will be located in the resort’s tropical gardens, and will include 12 treatment suites, vitality pools, sauna and steam rooms as well as a beauty salon. Mandarin Oriental’s expert team of wellness practitioners will offer tailored experiences and the Group’s signature treatments.
    Additional leisure activities will include a water sports and a dive centre, tennis courts, a world class kids and teens club designed by international consultants, a swimming pool and numerous private coves and beaches to explore.

    “The DAMAC brand is synonymous with luxury products and service, and we felt The Maldives was a perfect location for us. DAMAC has extended its global footprint outside of the Middle East, from the UK to Canada, and we are thrilled to have now reached The Maldives as well. We look forward to working with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group to manage our new resort on this beautiful island,” Hussain Sajwani, Chairman and founder of the DAMAC Group said.
    ‘‘We are continuously entering into partnerships with established world class brands that mirror DAMAC’s reputation and standards for luxury offerings and are confident that Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will excel in its mandate,” Sajwani added.
    Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences. Having grown from its Asian roots into a global brand, the Group now operates 36 hotels and seven residences in 24 countries and territories, with each property reflecting the Group’s oriental heritage and unique sense of place.
    Mandarin Oriental has a strong pipeline of hotels and residences under development and is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
    “Mandarin Oriental is focused on developing its resort portfolio and has been looking to enter The Maldives for some time. This project represents the right opportunity for the Group” said James Riley, Chief Executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

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    JOYÀ Celebrates its 8th Anniversary as the Only Cirque du Soleil Resident Show in Mexico More

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    JOYÀ Celebrates its 8th Anniversary as the Only Cirque du Soleil Resident Show in Mexico

    Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ celebrated its 8th anniversary as Latin America’s first resident Cirque du Soleil show, the first show of its kind at a resort and the only Cirque du Soleil show to include an immersive culinary experience. JOYÀ marks the beginning of a strong collaboration between Grupo Vidanta, the leading developer of resorts and tourism infrastructure in Mexico and Latin America, and Cirque du Soleil.JOYÀ is an homage to Mexico, a creative conquest, a celebration of nature, and a tribute to the power of friendship and family. Over the seasons, Cirque du Soleil assembled for this show, a team of the best acrobats, aerialists, actors, jugglers, dancers, singers, and technicians from different parts of the world, including Mongolia, Ukraine, France, Spain, England, Japan, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, China, Colombia, USA, of course, Mexico.
    “JOYÀ is a must see show in the Riviera Maya; through this eight-year partnership between Grupo Vidanta and Cirque du Soleil, over 1,135,500 guests experienced an entirely new category of immersive entertainment in Mexico,” said Iván Chávez, Executive Vice President of Grupo Vidanta. “We are extremely proud to work with the hundreds of performers, artisans, designers, chefs, waiters and crew who come together to make JOYÀ possible, and to have the opportunity to share this extraordinary experience with people from around the world.”
    As a place where anything is possible, JOYÀ is the only dining experience of any Cirque du Soleil production worldwide, presenting an exquisite three-course dinner that tempts every sense with culinary wonders as spectacular as the theater, music, and performances. “The JOYÀ dinner experience should be as enjoyable and surprising as the show itself,” said Alexis Bostelmann, Executive Chef at Vidanta.
    To celebrate eight years of being a fantastic, genre-blending show, here is a journey through JOYÀ numbers and fun facts over the years:
    ADVERTISEMENTOver 2,430 shows performedMore than 1,135,500 guests in attendance300+ collaborators of over 20 nationalities on and off stage to make the show happen18 months taken to build the theatre6 months to build the setMore than 360,000 dinners. Servers must prepare for the second show in the dark!The multi-sensory dining offers regular, vegetarian and vegan menu options along with gluten-free food. And the menu card is edible!Each night, around 200 bottles of champagne and 1,428 canapes are served100 costumes were hand-crafted in 15,000 hours!It takes 5 months to create the masks worn by Zelig’s Masters; the masks have 10,000 beads and jewels, each glued by hand35 full-time theatrical technicians33 full-time performers, who rehearse 4 times per weekThe artists use more than 110 colors for their makeup and apply it in 30 steps.6 wardrobe staff take care of the artists’ wardrobeLyrics are in an invented language that refers to the world’s cultural diversity.There are hidden symbols with references to Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, allusions to the stories of Octavio Paz and Carlos Fuentes, and hints at the work of Guillermo del Toro.… and many more secrets and references to discover! It takes more than one visit to spot them all.
    JOYÀ reminds audiences that everyone has important stories to tell, and somewhere inside, there is a curious child who wants to play and a spark of imagination waiting to ignite. If anyone has experienced JOYÀ, there is an opportunity to relive the journey as new elements and surprises are constantly added.
    Tickets are available at: www.cirquedusoleil.com/joya

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    Final Boeing 747 Airplane Leaves Everett Factory

    The last Boeing 747 left the company’s widebody factory in advance of its delivery to Atlas Air in early 2023.
    “For more than half a century, tens of thousands of dedicated Boeing employees have designed and built this magnificent airplane that has truly changed the world. We are proud that this plane will continue to fly across the globe for years to come,” said Kim Smith, Boeing Vice President and general manager, 747 and 767 Programs.The 747 has played a key role in Boeing’s history of aerospace leadership.

    Production of the 747, the world’s first twin-aisle airplane, began in 1967 and spanned 54 years, during which a total of 1,574 airplanes were built.At 250 ft 2 in (76.2 m), the 747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft in service. At typical cruising speeds, the 747-8 travels roughly the length of three FIFA soccer fields or NFL football fields, per second.The final airplane is a 747-8 Freighter. This model has a revenue payload of 133.1 tonnes, enough to transport 10,699 solid-gold bars or approximately 19 million ping-pong balls or golf balls.As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity.

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