airBaltic Launches Three New Flights From Riga

As part of its 2024 summer season, Latvian airline airBaltic has launched three new flights from its primary hub, Riga. All three are direct flights to Skopje, Chisinau and Pristina. The carrier will fly two weekly flights to the three cities mentioned above.

Skopje is the capital of North Macedonia, and the flight here from Riga will take about 2 hours and 46 minutes. The nonstop service from Riga to Chisinau, Moldova’s capital, will take 2 hours and 30 minutes. Lastly, the flight time between Riga and Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, should take about 2 hours and 50 minutes.

airBaltic aims to offer 15 new routes from the Baltics and Tampere during the summer season. All flights will be operated on an Airbus A220-300.

Also Read: airBaltic Connects Tampere With Palma De Mallorca

MG appoints Veyron-designer Jozef Kaban to lead global product design

MG celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and with it announces the arrival of acclaimed designer Jozef Kaban. Kaban joins the British-origin brand as the new Vice President at the company’s Global Design Centre, tasked to develop and advance the brand’s global design language. For the unaware, Kaban had solidified his reputation at just 25 years of age when he crafted the iconic Bugatti Veyron. Considered a design prodigy of the early 21st century, the designer went on to head design departments at the most reputed automakers such as Skoda, BMW, Rolls Royce, and Volkswagen whilst even holding the position of Exterior Chief Designer at Audi. Tom Lee, Managing Director of MG Motor Middle East, commented: “Design is very important in customer purchase decisions. We are proud of MG’s design legacy. Our region has positively accepted MG’s new design philosophy, and we will keep on introducing more futuristic designs and technology in MG cars. The regional HQ team is working hard to share the Middle East customers’ demands and market trends with the HQ team. Our aim is to be a brand that provides good-looking, reliable, and high quality products.”

Al-Futtaim Auto Centers launches aftersales service network for electrified cars, the UAE’s first

Al-Futtaim Automotive is dead set towards building a comprehensive e-mobility ecosystem in the UAE. Last year, the auto group launched the region’s first IMI-accredited Electric Mobility Training Centre to train EV-specific repair processes to mechanics. And now, Al-Futtaim aims to capitalise on this accredited EV training as it announces the launch of specialised maintenance and repair services for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across its 18 facilities, also known as Al-Futtaim Auto Centers. With this, owners of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles of all makes and models can have maintenance, repairs and diagnostics performed by trained expert technicians at these Al-Futtaim Auto Centers. This new service launch cements Al-Futtaim Auto Centers as a one-stop solution destination for a wide range of automotive needs and establishes itself as the trusted mobility partner for EV enthusiasts across the UAE. Jawahar Ganesh, Managing Director of Global Aftersales at Al-Futtaim Automotive, said, “By expanding our services to include EV maintenance and support, we are instilling a greater sense of confidence within customers to make the shift towards greener mobility options, be they individual car owners or fleet customers.” Al-Futtaim Auto Centres are equipped with the required tools to serve owners of all brands of EVs and plug-in hybrids, operating all seven days of the week between 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

LOT Polish Airlines To Add Three Embraer Jets Soon

Poland’s flag carrier, LOT Polish Airlines, has decided to lease three new Embraer E195-E2 jets from lessor Azorra. The first of the trio will join the carrier’s fleet by July end, while others should get into action within Q3 of 2024. LOT says the transition of flight crews from E1 to E2 aircraft won’t take more than a few days.

The Embraer E192-E2, a single-aisle jet, can seat a maximum of 146 passengers. However, LOT Polish Airlines has chosen a relatively comfortable layout of 136 seats in a single class. The airline’s fleet presently comprises 43 Embraer E-Jets, making it one of the largest operators of the said aircraft family in Europe.