Canadian airline WestJet has been granted landing slots at Dubai International Airport for next year's summer travel season, opening up the possibility of direct non-stop flights from Calgary to the UAE.
These would be the first WestJet flights to the Middle East — and the first to connect the two cities.
WestJet has been listed as a “new operator” to Dubai International in a report by Airport Co-ordination Limited, which collates information about landing slots around the world. Research revealed that WestJet had been allocated 186 slots for the 31-week summer travel season, which begins on March 27. The airline had initially requested more than double that number.
The data confirms WestJet has been granted permission to carry a total of 59,520 passengers over the summer season, amounting to three round-trip journeys per week. The route would be operated on WestJet’s 320-passenger Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
However, the airline has yet to make an official announcement regarding the launch of flights to Dubai. "We are constantly evaluating our network opportunities, however at this time, we do not have any new destinations or network updates to announce," the airline told The National.
"As we continue to build on our growing list of international destinations, WestJet, like many airlines, applies for airport slots globally to gain an understanding of slot availability. Understandably, we don’t control the slot times that then become available to us and they may or may not be optimal for our operation."
WestJet currently flies to 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. It carries 22 million passengers per year on more than 700 flights per day, and operates a fleet of more than 150 aircraft.
An agreement with the government of Alberta last month solidified the airline’s moves to make Calgary its primary hub and the home of its intercontinental 787 Dreamliners.
"As western Canada's home team carrier, Alberta is an area where we want to continue to invest to secure WestJet's thriving future," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, chief executive of WestJet Group. "Through the pandemic and onward, the government of Alberta prioritised the importance and advancement of aviation and the visitor economy across the province and recognised that aviation is central to the economic diversification of Alberta."
The airline has been steadily expanding its international route network over the past year. It operated its inaugural flight from Calgary International Airport to London Heathrow in March and to Rome in May, also launching a service between Toronto and Edinburgh in June.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Australia
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South Korea
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
• In order to borrow books, visitors must join the service by providing a passport photograph, Emirates ID and a refundable deposit of Dh400. Members can borrow five books for three weeks, all of which are renewable up to two times online.
• If users do not wish to pay the fee, they can still use the library’s electronic resources for free by simply registering on the website. Once registered, a username and password is provided, allowing remote access.
• For more information visit the library network's website.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
