Oman Air and SalamAir, via their respective Twitter accounts, announced (02/03-Mar-2026) passengers wishing to depart the UAE can travel from Sharjah Airport to Muscat International Airport on integrated bus services, and board departing international services with Oman Air and SalamAir from Muscat.
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Latest News Headlines
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3-Mar-2026 12:39 PM
UAE airlines, airports and civil aviation authority confirm partial resumption of services
UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation, Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, Dubai Airports, Abu Dhabi Airports and Sharjah Airport, via their official websites and social media accounts, confirmed (02-Mar-2026) the following updates for UAE services as of 02-Mar-2026:
- UAE General Authority of Civil Aviation: "Exceptional flights have begun operating at the country's airports. Please do not go to the airport until your airline has contacted you and confirmed your flight time to ensure a smooth process";
- Emirates Airline: "Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights commencing on the evening of" 02-Mar-2026. "All other flights remain suspended until further notice";
- Etihad Airways: "All flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on" 04-Mar-2026;
- flydubai: "flydubai will operate a limited number of flights on the evening of" 02-Mar-2026;
- Air Arabia: "Flights to and from the UAE are temporarily suspended until 15:00 UAE time on" 03-Mon-2026. Flights to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq are suspended until 04-Mar-2026;
- Dubai Airports: "A limited resumption of operations will begin later today... [02-Mar-2026], with a small number of flights permitted to operate from" Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International Airport);
- Abu Dhabi Airports: "Operations partially resumed at" Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport on 02-Mar-2026;
- Sharjah Airport: "Limited resumption of flight operations" on 02-Mar-2026. [more - original PR - Emirates] [more - original PR - Etihad - II] [more - original PR - flydubai - III] [more - original PR - Dubai Airports - IV]
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3-Mar-2026 12:35 PM
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport begins transition to new international check-in process
Houston Airport System announced (25-Feb-2026) the introduction of a new international check-in process at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport from 27-Feb-2026, with Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to transition from Terminal D to the newly expanded Terminal E. Additional airlines are scheduled to transition to the facility in coming weeks. The change is a major milestone in the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Programme and the beginning of the final phase. Passengers will check-in at Terminal E and clear security at a 17-gate US TSA checkpoint featuring PreCheck and CLEAR+. Lounge locations remain unchanged. Terminal E features a new Amadeus bag drop system, self-service check-in kiosks, expanded curb space, pre-security F&B options and more. [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Houston Airport System expanded the Terminal E Ticketing Lobby as part of a USD1.5 billion overhaul of IAH’s international facilities, adding 10 US TSA lanes, a streamlined layout and expanded curbside drop-off space.1 It also opened a new US TSA ‘Recheck’ screening area within the International Central Processor, as an initial step towards a consolidated 17-lane checkpoint.2
American Airlines expanded (02-Mar-2026) its digital wallet integration to Samsung Wallet, becoming the first US airline to offer direct boarding pass integration for Samsung users. The integration enables customers to access real time boarding pass updates. [more - original PR - American Airlines] [more - original PR - Samsung]
Background ✨
American Airlines introduced broader digital upgrades across its website and app, including allowing customers to add up to three checked bags during booking and enabling confirmed same-day changes for customers who prepaid bags online, alongside changes to second checked-bag fees for travel booked on or after 18-Feb-20261. It also planned to roll out boarding-technology enhancements to over 100 airports after trials at Albuquerque, Washington Reagan National and Tucson2 3.
EASA extended (02-Mar-2026) the duration of its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) for the Middle East and Persian Gulf until 06-Mar-2026. The CZIB states that operators should not operate in the airspaces of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. [more - original PR]
Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services confirmed (24-Feb-2026) aircraft are excluded from the new regime of tariffs established in an executive order by US President Donald Trump on 20-Feb-2026. Brazilian aircraft will now have zero tariffs when exported to the US, compared to 10% under the previous regime. [more - original PR - Portuguese]
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2-Mar-2026 12:43 PM
Qatar Airways and Doha Airport confirm temporary suspension of flights due to airspace closure
Qatar Airways, Qatar Airways Cargo and Doha Hamad International Airport announced (28-Feb/01-Mar-2026) the following updates for Qatar services as of 01-Mar-2026:
- Qatar Airways: "Flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace";
- Qatar Airways Cargo: "Qatar Airways Cargo confirms the temporary suspension of its flights to and from Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Freighter flights that are not scheduled to operate through Doha are operating";
- Doha Hamad International Airport: "Confirms that all aircraft movements have been suspended due to the temporary closure of the Qatari airspace". [more - original PR - Qatar Airways] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III]
26-Feb-2026 1:56 PM
Qantas to introduce significant changes to frequent flyer programme in 2026
Qantas Airways announced (26-Feb-2026) plans to progressively implement the following changes to its frequent flyer programme in 2026, emphasising that these mark "the most significant changes to earning and retaining status since the programme's inception, giving members the ability to roll over unused Status Credits and earn them through everyday spending for the first time":
- Earning Status Credits on the ground: All members will be able to earn up to 140 additional Status Credits p/a from 10 everyday categories, following a trial in 2025 "where members embraced earning Status Credits via credit cards, retail partners, and utility providers";
- Status Credit roll over: Tiered members will be able to roll over up to 50% of their unused Status Credits into their next membership year. At present, Status Credits reset from one membership year to the next;
- More lifetime milestones: Greater recognition for Lifetime Gold members, including the ability to earn and 'bank' up to five complimentary years of Platinum Status. Launching in 2027;
- Enhanced tier benefits: Additional lounge invitation each membership year for Silver members, as well as new on-the-ground vouchers and discounts for all tiered members Silver and above;
- Removing programme complexity: Retirement of overlapping sub-programmes, including Points Club and Green Tier, in favour of one core recognition pathway, with the benefits valued most integrated into the core frequent flyer programme;
- Single Status Credit targets: Removal of separate attain and retain requirements, in favour of a single target for each tier level;
- An improved digital experience: Launch a new search tool on official website in Mar-2026 "to help members find international Classic Reward seats on Qantas and 30 partner airlines in seconds".
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson stated: "Our most frequent flyers tell us that status retention is the single most important milestone as a member, with thousands achieving or retaining their tier every day", adding: "These changes are about creating more opportunities for members to unlock status, while ensuring the programme remains as relevant and rewarding in the future as it has been for the past four decades". [more - original PR]
Background ✨
Qantas Loyalty previously flagged FY2026 underlying EBIT growth of 10%-12%, underscoring the division’s continued earnings importance to the group.1 In 2025, Qantas said it would raise Classic Reward pricing from Aug-2025, lift domestic points earn from Jul-2025 and add up to one million more international Classic Reward seats via expanded partnerships.2 Elsewhere, British Airways and Cathay Pacific outlined loyalty overhauls featuring new Tier/Status Points earning and rollover mechanics.3 4
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