8 | UPDATES


Intrepid Travel Expands Offering in Saudi Arabia with Two New Trips


INTREPID Travel has unveiled two new trips in Saudi Arabia, the 9-day Saudi Arabia Higlights trip and 7-day Saudi Arabia Expedition: Asir Adventure as it expands its offering in the country.


The trips follow the success of its inaugural Saudi Arabia itinerary, a 12-day Women’s Expedition that launched in 2024 and has seen passenger growth of 491% year-on- year. The new open-gender trips offer immersive experiences across Saudi Arabia’s highlights and lesser- known Asir region of the South and will continue to support women in tourism. All three Intrepid trips in Saudi Arabia are run in partnership with a local operator, Sara Omar – a Saudi mother of two and passionate traveller. Since the partnership began in 2024, Intrepid has grown its departures from two in 2024 to 16 in 2025, strengthening support for women-owned businesses and more than doubling the number of Intrepid female tour leaders in the region.


Travellers on the new 9-day Saudi Arabia Highlights trip, will journey from the capital to the coast, immersing themselves in Saudi Arabia’s cultural highlights. Experiences include sharing a traditional meal at a women’s project in Al-Ghat, camping under the stars on a local farm in AlUla, exploring the Holy City of Madinah with a local female guide


www.nitravelnews.com


January 2026


Etihad Airways Ranks Amongst Top Airlines in New 2025 AirHelp Score


and enjoying a home-cooked lunch with a grandmother in Riyadh. Meanwhile, the new 7-day Saudi Arabia Expedition takes travellers to the lesser-known Asir region in the country’s southwest, with a hike through Tanomah’s rugged mountains, a visit to the museum of Fatima Faye Al-Almaai, famed for her conservation efforts towards the UNESCO-recognised art form of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri and a local Asiri meal following a stroll through one of region’s oldest traditional markets.


Travellers also have the chance to


meet flower-men of the Qahtani Tribes, considered to be one of the oldest social formations in the Arabian Peninsula and visit two of the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages, Rijal Alma’a and Abo Noghta Castles and Historic Tabab, both celebrated for their contribution to rural tourism by preserving cultural and natural heritage.


Mahlatini Recognised in 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Top Travel Specialists List MAHLATINI


has


announced its inclusion in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveller Top Travel Specialists List. Chosen by travel editors and industry experts,


this


accolade recognises Mahlatini among the


world’s most exceptional travel designers.


In Condé Nast Traveller’s recent feature,


“The Top


Travel Specialists to Know Right Now,” Mahlatini is celebrated


Aer Lingus Officially Launch Direct Dublin


to Tromsø Route AER Lingus launched its inaugural Dublin-Tromsø service from 3rd December 2025, offering Irish holiday- makers a new way to experience the magic of the Northern Lights. This new route marks Aer Lingus’ first ever direct service to Norway and direct access to the natural beauty of the Arctic. The Aer Lingus flight to Tromsø will operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Sundays, until March 2026. Susanne Carberry, Chief Customer Officer, Aer Lingus, said, “Today marks a milestone for Aer Lingus as our inaugural direct service from Dublin to Tromsø takes flight, introducing Norway to our network for the very first time. This


exciting new route gives customers in Ireland the opportunity to experience the natural beauty and unique


Northern


adventures Norway


of this


winter. It also enhances the region’s connectivity to the US, making the region easily accessible via Aer Lingus’ Dublin Hub.” Ivar Schrøen Helsing, Airport Manager, Avinor Tromsø Airport said “Finally, we can welcome Irish people on direct flights to fantastic Tromsø, to the northern lights, and outstanding nature and experiences


– as


well as send all our local adventurous northerners to beautiful and cultural Dublin and Ireland”


TAP Air Portugal has a new cabin that offers more space, more privacy, comfort, and a superior travel experience. Starting summer 2026, TAP Air Portugal will launch a new cabin, designed to give the consumer more choice between Economy and Business class. Available on long-haul flights aboard the A330 and A321LR fleets, this innovative product responds to evolving travel trends and the growing demand for enhanced comfort, privacy and differentiated services. The new cabin offers 12 select neighbour-free after


Business


seats Class,


located arranged in


right a


configuration of 4 seats per row. This layout ensures a quieter, more private environment for a truly relaxed journey.


leave a


ETIHAD Airways has been ranked among the top airlines globally in the prestigious 2025 AirHelp Score, achieving an exceptional overall score of 8.07 out of 10 and jumping an impressive nine places year-on- year.


for creating “meaningful encounters”—a testament to the company’ passion for crafting transformative journeys that


lasting


impact on travellers and the destinations they explore.


Widely recognised as one of the world’s most comprehensive and trusted airline rankings, the AirHelp Score evaluates carriers equally on three key pillars: on- time performance,


opinion and claim processing. The 2025 results are based on flight


customer


data from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025 and surveys from more than 11,500 passengers across over 60 countries.


Etihad delivered this outstanding result during a period of rapid and sustained growth – expanding its modern fleet to 120 aircraft, growing its network to more than 100 destinations worldwide and carrying 19% more passengers year-on-year – all while continuing to raise the bar on punctuality and guest satisfaction.


TAP Air Portugal to Announce New Cabin Class


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80