Middle East

Airlines cancel flights to Israel as crisis worsens

British Airways and Virgin among carriers to cancel Tel Aviv services on Thursday

Tel Aviv flights continue despite deadly clashes

Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and El Al ’closely monitoring the situation’ while Heathrow-Tel Aviv flights continue

Scotland 'green list' revealed as Sturgeon confirms traffic light system

Scotland’s initial green list will mirror England’s, featuring Portugal, Israel, Iceland and Gibraltar, although the first minister has encouraged people to ’staycation’ this summer

Clients ramp up spending on luxury bookings

Pure Luxury reports average booking spikes in Barbados, Dubai and more as campaign encourages upgrade options with agents

Israel to target UK in major new tourism campaign

Campaign to focus heavily on Israel’s world-leading vaccination programme and stringent Covid health and safety protocols, as well as the Red Sea resort of Eilat

Emirates warns of airline industry crisis if no 2021 resumption

Emirates boss said airlines had assumed traffic would return by now

Marriott International sets out hopes for 'renaissance of travel'

Marriott bosses say that despite the challenges of the pandemic, pent-up demand and development continue at pace, leading to many causes for optimism for the sector

Israel to welcome vaccinated tourists from 23 May

Group visitors will have to return a negative PCR test result for Covid before flying to Israel, and undergo a serological test to prove their vaccination on arrival

Accor's SLS brand opens first Middle East hotel

Accor’s luxury lifestyle brand SLS has made its debut in the Middle East with the opening of SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences

Royal Caribbean takes delivery of Odyssey of the Seas

Latest ship will sail Med itineraries from Israel during summer 2021

Government announces Qatar and Ethiopia travel ban

Oman and Somalia will also be added to the government’s Covid ‘red list’ from 4am on Friday (19 March)

Delta boss commits to ‘stand by’ Virgin Atlantic

US carrier holds a 49% shareholding in UK-based carrier

Royal deploys Odyssey to Israel for 'fully vaccinated' cruises

All crew and guests above the age of 16 onboard the new ship will have been inoculated against Covid-19

Classic Package Holidays adds mid- and long-haul options

Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean to complement trade-only operator’s short-haul proposition

Experience Travel Group adds new product range

The new range of trips will focus on wellness, discovery and sustainability across Asia and the Indian Ocean

Package providers cutting prices to stimulate peaks sales

Trips to some destinations being sold at less than half the price they were a year ago, according to new research by TravelSupermarket

Classic Collection adds new long-haul destinations

Thailand, Malaysia and the Seychelles among the additions for luxury operator

Qatar, Madeira and Azores removed from travel corridor list

Transport secretary Grant Shapps announces further changes to English travel rules

United Arab Emirates removed from travel corridor list

Arrivals into the UK from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE will have to self-isolate for 10 days starting 4am on Tuesday (12 January)

Qatar flights to benefit from reopened airspace

Ending of dispute between Qatar and other Gulf nations reduces flight times as airspace is reopened

Dubai axed from Scottish quarantine-free travel list

SPAA backs move after spike in cases among those returning from the emirate

South Africa travel ban extended to Indian Ocean destinations

Mauritius and Seychelles removed from government’s quarantine-free travel corridor list

Wizz Air Abu Dhabi announces first destinations

Budget carrier’s Gulf operation to launch flights to Athens on 15 January, followed by Thessaloniki in February

Package holiday sales to soar following Oxford vaccine boost

TravelSupermarket forecasts dramatic increase in people looking for added consumer protection after being stung earlier this year