The Moscow–Dubai–Moscow air route will be operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft, seating 158 passengers in a two-class layout: Economy and business. Flight time is six hours and 25 minutes.

The up-to-date schedule is available on Aeroflot’s website. To book tickets, visit Aeroflot’s website, mobile application or visit one of the airline’s sales offices or ticket sales agents.

Aeroflot is the largest Russian airline. The group also includes Rossiya and Pobeda airlines. In 2025, Aeroflot carried 29.5 million passengers (55.3 million — Aeroflot Group airlines included).

Flight schedule 1 June 2026

SU520 departs Moscow (SVO) at 0705 and arrives in Dubai (DXB) at 1430. Daily flights.
SU521 departs Dubai (DXB) at 1615 and arrives in Moscow (SVO) at 2150.

Additional service effective 1 July 2026

SU526 departs Moscow (SVO) at 1100 and arrives in Dubai (DXB) at 1820.
SU527 departs Dubai (DXB) at 1950 and arrives in Moscow (SVO) at 0130. Plus a day.

Twice daily flights using a 158-seat Boeing 737-800. Flight time is six hours and 25 minutes.

(Source: Aeroflot)

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The MoU, signed on Tuesday, will harness Visa’s global payments network and Trip.com Group’s ecosystem, enabling travellers to discover personalised recommendations, access offers for dream destinations and transact seamlessly on their journeys.

Trip.com Group will also become a global Anchor Partner for Visa Destinations, a global experience-led programme that connects cardholders to curated travel experiences shaped by culture and local insights, allowing travellers to plan journeys around what matters most.

As Anchor Partner, Trip.com Group will integrate Visa Destinations into its ecosystem to create enhanced travel value propositions and provide personalised offers and benefits to a wide spectrum of consumer segments. Visa and Trip.com Group will also collaborate on joint marketing and promotional initiatives in selected markets, enabling more people to discover dream destinations and experiences around the world.

In addition, Visa and Trip.com Group will explore deeper collaborations catered to rapidly growing segments across Asia Pacific, including new ways for Trip.com Group users to access Visa’s affluent offerings, such as its global portfolio of sports, music, and lifestyle partnerships, while giving Visa Infinite cardholders access to exclusive Trip.com Group offers. Visa and Trip.com Group will also work closely to accelerate travel between Mainland China and the rest of the region.

Global travel intentions

According to Visa’s Global Travel Intentions (GTI) 2026 study:

Almost three in four (72%) survey respondents plan to travel within Asia in the coming months, with one in four intending to travel to Japan

Digital payments are second nature to Asia-Pacific travellers, with 73% of respondents bringing credit cards or mobile wallets on their trips.

92% of respondents went online to plan and research travel recommendations for recent trips, with 49% using AI tools to find travel destinations or ideas

Visa Chief Marketing Officer Asia Pacific, Danielle Jin, said: “Our collaboration with Trip.com Group is built for what travellers want today, combining trusted global payments with unmatched travel discovery through our platforms. We look forward to a successful collaboration with Trip.com Group, working closely to deliver more curated, rewarding, and seamless travel experiences that connect people to what they are most passionate about.”

Trip.com Group Chief Marketing Officer Bo Sun noted: “Through this strategic collaboration with Visa, we are advancing this mission in the Asia Pacific and beyond by integrating trusted payments capabilities, curated travel experiences, and expanded premium offerings across our one-stop travel ecosystem.”

(Source: Visa)

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Themed “Tourism for People, Travel with Purpose,” the event is organised by the Ministry of Hotels, Tourism and Culture of Myanmar and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

Taking place at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Yangon, this year’s programme will feature keynote presentations, industry insight sessions, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and technical visits in and around Yangon.

Ahead of the main forum, a practical pre-forum workshop on evidence-based destination marketing and tourism insights will focus on practical approaches to tourism intelligence, destination marketing, and cross-border collaboration. 

MTF highlights both international experts and changemakers from within the Mekong region itself — spotlighting practitioners, community leaders, social enterprises, researchers, tourism innovators, and local champions whose work directly shapes tourism across Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The forum will open with a keynote address by Masaru Takayama titled “Tourism for People: From Principles to Lasting Impact,” exploring tourism through the framework of Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce. 

Speakers across the programme will include representatives and experts from organisations such as AirAsia MOVE, Planeterra, Asian Ecotourism Network, Clickable Impact, ASEAN Tourism Association, and Local Alike. 

“Tourism is one of the few sectors where local communities can directly benefit from human connection, cultural exchange, and shared experiences. MTF 2026 is built around the belief that tourism should serve people and places first,” said the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office Executive Director Dee Suvimol Thanasarakij.

Complimentary registration for the Mekong Tourism Forum 2026 is now open. To sign up and view the full programme, visit www.mekongtourism.org. 

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office

Established in 2006, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) is a tourism collaboration framework for the six governments of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) — Cambodia, China (Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. MTCO’s work programme is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG), composed of senior representatives of the National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) of the six member countries.

(Source: Mekong Tourism Cordinating Office)

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From 1 July, Etihad’s expanded Paris schedule will include two daily Airbus A380 services departing Zayed Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) at morning and afternoon times, designed for both business and leisure travellers.

A third daily Boeing 787-9 service featuring first, business and economy cabins. Together, the additional frequencies will significantly expand premium travel capacity between Abu Dhabi and Paris.

Etihad Airways Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Arik De, said: “Paris is one of our most popular destinations, and this summer. Flying double-daily on the A380 to Charles de Gaulle is a statement of confidence in one of the world’s great travel markets. Whether our guests are heading to Paris for business, for leisure, or as the start of a journey onward across Europe, we are offering them our iconic A380 experience at the double.”

The double-daily A380 operation will bring more of Etihad’s flagship experience to the French capital than ever before. Guests travelling between Abu Dhabi and Paris can enjoy the airline’s celebrated onboard offering across every cabin, from The Residence — the world’s only three-room suite in commercial aviation —  and the exclusive First Apartments, to the spacious business and economy seats.

With three daily flights to Paris, including two operated by the A380, Etihad is significantly expanding premium travel capacity between Abu Dhabi and one of the world’s most iconic destinations, while strengthening connections to the wider Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Asia through its growing global network.

Paris schedule from 1 July to 24 October 2026

(Source: Etihad Airways).

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The event will take place at Crossroads Maldives, a multi-island integrated lifestyle destination in the Maldives, located just 15 minutes by boat from Velana International Airport. 

The expanded ceremony will bring together winners from dozens of markets spanning Asia, the Pacific, Australasia and the Indian Ocean. 

 World Travel Awards Founder, Graham Cooke, noted: “By bringing together winners from the Indian Ocean, Asia and Oceania, we are creating a powerful platform that reflects the dynamism and global influence of the Maldives.”

Crossroads Maldives features three distinct resorts — SAii Lagoon Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and SO/ Maldives — creating a multi-experience destination. 

SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton and Crossroads Marina, General Manager Alexandre Traeger said: “It is a true privilege to host the World Travel Awards on World Tourism Day. This milestone reflects our vision of bringing diverse experiences together in one seamless destination, and we look forward to welcoming the industry’s finest.” 

The Maldives last hosted the World Travel Awards in 2017. Since then, the nation has secured top honours at the World Travel Awards for sustainability and hospitality excellence, and currently holds the title of ‘World’s Leading Destination’. 

Visit Maldives, Managing Director, Ibrahim Shiuree commented: “We are tremendously proud to bring the World Travel Awards back to the Maldives. The gala ceremony will allow us to showcase not only the natural beauty and hospitality that define the Maldives experience, but also our enduring commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism.”

(Source: Visit Maldives)

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The launch also introduces the first full-service airline on the Singapore–Phu Quoc route, creating new opportunities to attract high-quality international travellers to Phu Quoc. The direct Singapore–Phu Quoc route is currently served primarily by low-cost carriers. 

Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ ticket sales open on 20 May, ahead of the inaugural flight on 25 July 2026. As the first full-service airline operating this route, Sun PhuQuoc Airways introduces a new standard of travel between Singapore and Phu Quoc, with both business class and economy class cabin options.

Flight schedule  

● Singapore to Phu Quoc (9G720): Departs Singapore (SIN) at 1420, arrives Phu Quoc (PQC) at 1505.

● Phu Quoc to Singapore (9G721): Departs Phu Quoc (PQC) at 1035, arrives Singapore (SIN) at 1320.

The airline offers passengers an all-inclusive onboard experience, including hot meals, standard checked baggage allowance, and a modern wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. In particular, the business class cabin is designed around comfort, privacy and seamless priority services, catering to the expectations of business travellers and premium leisure guests from Singapore who increasingly value convenience and travel quality.

To celebrate the launch of the Singapore–Phu Quoc route, Sun PhuQuoc Airways is offering special fares from just SGD133 one-way. The offer applies to flights departing within one month of the inaugural flight date and is subject to the availability of promotional seats. In addition, passengers travelling from Singapore to Phu Quoc can enjoy a 20% discount on base fares during the launch period from 20 May to 19 June 2026.

Travellers flying with Sun PhuQuoc Airways will also receive complimentary tickets to the Sun World Hon Thom cable car, alongside exclusive privileges of up to 30% off accommodation, dining, spa and entertainment services within Sun Group’s ecosystem in southern Phu Quoc.

Connecting two of Asia’s leading island destinations

The launch of another direct air route carries significant meaning in strengthening connectivity between two iconic island destinations. Singapore is a modern island nation and one of the region’s leading financial and aviation hubs. At the same time, Phu Quoc offers pristine natural beauty, year-round tropical appeal and world-class integrated resorts.

With its visa exemption policy for international visitors, Phu Quoc is increasingly well-positioned as an ideal destination for weekend getaways among Singapore residents and the expatriate community based in the city-state. 

According to Skyscanner data, searches for Phu Quoc by Singapore users increased by as much as 184% year-on-year, placing the island second on the list of trending destinations for 2026.

About Sun PhuQuoc Airways
Sun PhuQuoc Airways is backed by Sun Group’s integrated ecosystem across tourism, hospitality, entertainment and infrastructure.

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This partnership aims to harness frontier AI as a force for good – including deploying AI to solve society’s challenges, fostering an AI-ready workforce in Singapore, driving enterprise innovation, and creating a secure ecosystem. It also seeks to advance Singapore’s National AI Strategy to deploy AI at scale for economic growth and public good. 

MDDI leads the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and builds on the success of a 2022 MOU with the Smart Nation and Digital Government Group — the first public-private AI partnership to enhance AI innovation in Singapore. 

A key area of this partnership is accelerating Singapore’s research and development efforts, bolstered by Google DeepMind’s presence in Singapore and a part of its global National Partnerships for AI initiative. These efforts will focus on empowering public agencies and researchers to deploy frontier AI models on high-impact areas, starting with health and life sciences. 

Augmenting care with AI Co-clinicians: In healthcare, Google DeepMind is exploring a collaboration with public health clusters as part of its global AI co-clinician research initiative. It explores how AI can amplify a doctor’s expertise to deliver higher-quality care. It also examines the evolution of healthcare toward “triadic care,” in which AI agents support patients throughout their care journeys under the clinical authority of their physician, with systems that can provide more precise information drawn from clinical guidelines and scientific literature. 

Accelerating scientific discovery: To further accelerate scientific discovery, Google DeepMind is partnering with the National Research Foundation (NRF) to train local researchers on agentic AI tools for science. Tools like Co-Scientist are already showing promise across a range of biomedical applications. Google DeepMind will also host workshops to help the local scientific community use these frontier tools to unlock breakthroughs.

In tandem, Google and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will collaborate to accelerate the translation of lab discoveries into high-value innovations across materials and life sciences. A*STAR plans to equip its researchers and staff with secure, AI-enabled tools on Google Cloud, including capabilities for hypothesis generation to support scientific research and analysis. By enabling researchers to draw insights from scientific datasets within a governed environment, the collaboration will help strengthen A*STAR’s ability to advance discoveries responsibly while safeguarding intellectual property.

Inclusive Innovation: Google DeepMind is developing a Gemma-powered running assistant for blind and low-vision athletes. By using spatial reasoning to provide real-time environmental understanding, this tool helps athletes run independently without physical lines or human guides. Google DeepMind is also partnering with SG Enable — Singapore’s focal agency for disability and inclusion—to test and iterate on the product so it meets the real-world needs of vision-impaired runners.

Enhancing education and building a future-ready workforce 

To ensure that AI benefits everyone, Google is partnering with the Government to build a future-ready education ecosystem. 

The foundation is already in place. Google has enabled advanced AI capabilities in Google Workspace for Education for all educators, from primary schools to junior colleges. This provides teachers with secure, AI-powered assistance for lesson planning and tailoring course materials, giving them more time to focus on teaching and mentoring students. 

Building on this foundation, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Google are expanding their collaboration to strengthen MOE’s AI capabilities across teaching and learning, including educator training and upskilling programmes. These efforts are part of MOE’s broader approach to evaluate how enterprise solutions can be applied effectively and scaled to support education outcomes.

Google will also continue to build on its programmes under the ‘Majulah AI’ initiative to empower every segment of the population in Singapore – including the flagship Skills Ignition SG initiative with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) for jobseekers, Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First and AI Cloud Takeoff for startups, entrepreneurs and developers, as well as Gemini Academy for every Singaporean, including our seniors. 

Driving Innovations for Growth

Google will support efforts to drive innovations for growth for enterprises and the local startup ecosystem. Following the launch of its Singapore Engineering Centre, Google Cloud’s expanded team of Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) will help Singapore-based companies further accelerate and scale agentic enterprise transformation.

The new National AI Partnership also builds on Google Cloud’s ongoing work with the likes of AI Singapore (AISG), the Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies (CSIT), the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore), the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX), and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Creating a secure and trusted ecosystem 

This National AI Partnership also supports Singapore’s ambition as a global AI hub for trust technologies, developing the safety frameworks and tools necessary for the responsible deployment of AI. 

As agentic systems open new possibilities, Singapore is testing how AI agents – specifically “computer use” agents – work in real-world settings to understand their behaviour, potential value and risks, and how governance frameworks may need to evolve to enable their use. A joint whitepaper by Google, Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA), Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore), and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) discusses findings and recommendations from their AI Agents Sandbox. These include the best practices necessary for these agents to perform tasks safely and efficiently, such as software testing and social assistance applications. 

Additionally, Google DeepMind is collaborating with IMDA and MLCommons to research multimodal and multilingual safety benchmarks. This collaboration focuses on supporting the safe and responsible deployment of AI that respects the nuance of local languages and cultures, helping ensure that the digital future we build is designed for and with everyone. 

“This partnership builds on years of close collaboration with Google, and we are pleased to take it to the next level. Bringing frontier AI into our public services and enterprises is central to Singapore’s AI ambitions. This partnership, spanning across multiple agencies, allows us to deploy it at scale,” said Mr Chng Kai Fong, Permanent Secretary (Digital Development and Information).

“As Singapore advances its National AI Strategy, the focus now shifts to deploying frontier AI to accelerate real-world impact for the country. Through this expanded partnership with the Singapore Government, we are putting AI into action by combining the best of our technology, R&D expertise, and local talent to accelerate AI for the public good. This also creates a scalable blueprint for responsible AI innovation, built in Singapore for the world,” said Google Singapore Country Managing Director Ben King.

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Since IATA introduced NDC protocols in 2012, airlines have worked to improve how they merchandise and distribute products and generate revenue, aiming to operate like modern e-commerce businesses, but are often constrained by legacy systems. Built on ONE Order standards, FLYR demonstrates that this ambition can be fully realised, with Riyadh Air serving as the industry’s first live, full-scale proof point.

Riyadh Air’s launch on FLYR’s platform showcases the commercial agility and operational advantages of an Offer & Order architecture, including the ability to launch new products and capabilities in minutes, not months, a pervasive challenge across the industry. In collaboration with IBM, the platform brings together multiple technology providers into a single operating environment and shopping experience.

“As a core pillar to building a world-class digital native modern airline, we challenged ourselves to rethink all the hows and whys of the operation of legacy airline systems,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. “FLYR has designed and delivered a platform that can quickly adapt and scale to our needs and pushes the boundaries of what airline retailing can be. The platform will be the backbone of our commercial operations for decades to come and create a path for other carriers to follow.” 

Travellers using the Riyadh Air app can experience a reimagined booking journey, including a dynamic shopping cart that lets them save trips and searches, return to their trip planning at their convenience, and receive relevant offers related to their booking. Journeys are managed in a single, real-time order rather than a collection of separate products and services. Guests will also benefit from faster, simpler servicing of any post-booking changes.

Future developments will include collaborative trip planning within the shopping cart, allowing friends and families to create and customise itineraries together. The order management system that unifies flight bookings today is designed to incorporate hotels and other accommodations, ground transportation, and destination experiences, enabling Riyadh Air to offer the full journey, beyond the flight.

FLYR’s Offer & Order solutions replace the static airline “ticket” with a dynamic “order,” enabling Riyadh Air to become the world’s first airline to natively extend its offering beyond flights to include new products and services from partners and third-party travel suppliers.

At a time when just 25% of airlines expect to have fully implemented Offer & Order by 2027-28, according to IATA’s Readiness and Roadmap report, FLYR and Riyadh Air say they are “showing that implementing a modern retailing strategy is both realistic and achievable today.”

(Source: FLYR)

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ATIA cancelled AVG’s accreditation on 22 August 2022 after the company failed to meet the financial and ethical standards required to remain in the scheme. AVG continued to trade and sell tour packages after that date without ATIA Accreditation.

ATIA’s accreditation scheme sets the highest standards in the Australian travel industry. Last year, 22% of accreditation applications were rejected for failing to meet those standards. Accredited businesses are subject to ongoing monitoring, and accreditation is cancelled where standards are not met.

A public register of all cancelled and withdrawn accreditations is available at afta.com.au/Accreditation/Cancelled-Withdrawn-ATAS-Participants. 

Customers of ATIA Accredited businesses also have access to a formal complaints and dispute resolution process, giving them an independent avenue to resolve issues if something goes wrong.

ATIA is progressing a proposed merger with the Council of Australian Tour Operators (CATO). A key goal of that merger is to combine the strengths of both accreditation schemes into a stronger framework for businesses and consumers.

Travellers can check whether a business holds current ATIA Accreditation at Find ATIA Accredited Travel Agents & Tour Operators. 

ATIA CEO Dean Long commented in the press statement: “The message to consumers is clear — always check that ATIA accredits your travel agent or tour operator. We had a 22% rejection rate of applications last year. We take pride in the people that we removed from the scheme for not meeting our standards.”

“ATIA Accreditation is the highest benchmark in the travel industry. It comes with an excellent consumer complaint processing process, which means even if something goes wrong, you have an independent umpire to help you settle any disputes.

“One of the reasons why we have been working so hard on the details of the proposed merger with CATO is to bring the best of both accreditation schemes together. This situation underscores exactly why that work matters.”

About ATIA (www.atia.travel)
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.

(Source: ATIA)

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Qatar Airways will place its QR code on Philippine Airlines’ domestic flights, enabling travellers arriving in Manila and Cebu to enjoy seamless connectivity to popular leisure destinations such as Caticlan and Puerto Princesa.

Complementing the codeshare expansion, Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, has partnered with Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles to extend loyalty benefits to members of both programmes. This marks Privilege Club’s 26th airline partnership and increases the loyalty programme’s footprint in Southeast Asia, delivering diverse opportunities for members to collect and spend Avios across Philippine Airlines’ global flight network. Privilege Club members can now collect and spend Avios on Philippine Airlines routes across Australasia, Southeast Asia, and the US, and access a wider range of cities within the Philippines, including Cebu, Clark, and Davao City.

Additionally, Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles members can also collect and spend miles when flying across Qatar Airways’ global network, including destinations across Africa and Europe. For Philippine Airlines, this latest loyalty partnership enhances its presence in the Middle East by expanding its network.

Avios can be spent on travel rewards, including flights with Qatar Airways, Oneworld, and partner airlines, award flights, and Qatar Airways upgrades, as well as direct bookings with Qatar Executive. Lifestyle benefits include packages with Qatar Airways Holidays, dining and shopping at Qatar Duty Free, and much more. Similarly, Mabuhay Miles members can enjoy a broad range of rewards across its lifestyle partners, spanning travel, retail, and dining experiences.

(Source: Qatar Airways)

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