A senior delegation from Dubai, including H.E. Liborio Stellino, the Ambassador of Italy in the UAE, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for flydubai, Thierry Aucoc, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Europe & Russian Federation) for Emirates, arrived at Catania International Airport (CTA) to mark the start of direct flights between Dubai and Sicily. The delegation was met on the ground by Muhannad Alnaqbi, Deputy Head of the UAE Mission to Italy, and by Nico Torrisi, Chief Executive Officer for Società Aeroporto Catania (SAC). On arrival, the flight was met with a traditional water cannon salute.

H.E. Liborio Stellino, Italy’s Ambassador to the UAE, said: “The new flydubai connection with Catania will enable, in an effective way, for the South of Italy to be directly linked to Dubai’s extensive air network. It is therefore favourably perceived as part and parcel of the multifaceted and comprehensive Italy-UAE partnership. Such a positive development in connectivity is going to become immediately a very useful tool for both countries, a win-win approach, creating enhanced results and a successful impact on the tourism and trade sector.” flydubai offers direct flights to Catania and through its partnership with Emirates this service will operate as part of its codeshare offering unmatched travel options. flydubai’s route network in Europe includes 27 points in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland (from October), Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey and Ukraine. Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations for flydubai, said: “We were the first airline in the Middle East to take delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.  As part of today’s inaugural, we have announced that Catania is one of the destinations on our growing network to be regularly served by the newest aircraft in our fleet.  The convenience of direct flights from Dubai as well as onward connections opens up the world to our passengers. flydubai’s professional and friendly service onboard and the comfort of our new aircraft with a flat-bed in Business Class will ensure our passengers enjoy an exceptional travel experience.” flydubai’s brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 offers passengers more comfort and an enhanced travel experience. The new cabin offering features a flat-bed in Business Class and in addition to the extra space and privacy, passengers can sleep comfortably during their flight. Economy Class offers new RECARO seats, which are designed to optimise space and comfort so passengers can sit back, relax and enjoy their flight. flydubai also offers exceptional inflight entertainment with a full HD, 11.6-inch screen, featuring a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music and games in English, Arabic and Russian. In addition, the Boeing Sky interior with its gently-sculpted sidewalls and its smooth-flowing lines provides passengers with a more relaxing travel environment. Emirates will codeshare on this route as part of the Emirates flydubai partnership announced in July 2017. For bookings under the codeshare, Emirates passengers will receive complimentary meals and the Emirates checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in Business and Economy classes. With the partnership, passengers from the hundreds of destinations spanning six continents in over 80 countries will have an opportunity to travel to Catania via Dubai. Thierry Aucoc, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations (Europe & Russian Federation) for Emirates said, “Our partnership with flydubai enables travellers in Catania and the greater surrounding area to easily access destinations across Emirates network, particularly Dubai, Thailand, Australia, Egypt and China, all of which are popular for local travellers. We also expect the route to boost the number of visitors to the region, particularly from key inbound markets like Melbourne and Sydney.” Catania is the second largest city on the Island of Sicily and is known for its rich culture, arts and history. Sicily is filled with museums, monuments and the well-known Mount Etna. In addition, the island is popular for its spectacular beaches and culinary delights, including pasta, seafood and pastries. Nico Torrisi, Chief Executive Officer for Società Aeroporto Catania (SAC), said: “The launch of new direct flight between Catania and Dubai provides easy access to Sicily from a major world aviation hub. This supports the promotion of Sicily as a unique destination with rich art and history making it popular among tourists from Dubai, Far East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, it will further stimulate trade and help to attract direct investment to Sicily.” The inaugural programme in Sicily included a press conference for local media as well as journalists from Rome and Milan and concluded with a dinner for key travel trade partners. In addition, flydubai brought a group of media and social media influencers from the UAE, GCC and India to showcase Catania and Sicily as a preferred tourist destination. Flight Details flydubai’s flights to Catania started on 13 June 2018. flydubai flight FZ767/FZ768 operates between Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB) and Catania Airport (CTA). Business Class return fares from Dubai to Catania start at AED 9,745 and are inclusive of all taxes and 40kg checked baggage. Economy Class return fares from Dubai to Catania start at AED 1,895 including 7kg of hand baggage. Flights can be booked through flydubai’s website (flydubai.com), the official flydubai app, Contact Centre in Dubai on (+971) 600 54 44 45, the flydubai travel shops or through our travel partners. For competitive travel packages visit Holidays by flydubai which provides passengers with thousands of hotel options that suit all budgets and ancillary services including airport transfers, sightseeing packages, UAE visa facilitation, car rental and excursions all available within a single booking process. For the full timetable and fares, visit: https://www.flydubai.com/en/plan/timetable

Emirates expects high passenger traffic on its flights this upcoming weekend, starting from Friday 29 June as travellers journey out for their summer holidays and long breaks. Over 220,000 travellers will be passing through Emirates Terminal 3 during the upcoming two weekends. The busiest weekend day for the airline is expected to be tomorrow, Friday 29 June as well as the following weekend starting 6 July. Emirates reminds customers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before flight departure, and customers are encouraged to plan extra time to avoid potential delays. Passengers can physically check in at the airport as early as six hours before departing on their flight. They are requested to check in no later than 90 minutes prior to departure, regardless of class of travel. Customers who check in less than 60 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted for travel. Customers can also check in online on both their desktops and mobile devices from 48 hours to 90 minutes before flight departure. In addition to these online check-in services, Emirates also offers check-in facilities near its car park area. Customers can use these to check in and drop off their luggage from 24 hours to six hours prior to departure. Along with checked in baggage, passengers are strongly advised to adhere to carry-on baggage weight limits, which are 7kg for Economy Class and 14kg for Business and First Class.  Staff will be checking the weight of carry-on bags at various touch points before passengers board their flights. For a more convenient way to check-in, especially for families, groups and passengers with tight schedules, Emirates also offers home-check in, allowing customers travelling across all classes to check in for their flights from anywhere in Dubai. The service allows customers to complete check-in from the comfort of their home, hotel or office and have their luggage transported to the airport prior to their flight and then straight to their destination. An Emirates check-in agent will arrive at the preferred location to weigh and tag the bags as well as check-in the customers and issue boarding passes. Customers can then make their own way to the airport and head directly to immigration, bypassing the check-in desks at the airport. All customers travelling should be present with their passports. Cost is AED 350 for up to 7 bags with an additional charge per bag after that. For families, Emirates has designated special check-in areas consisting of 20 economy check-in counters in Terminal 3 at Area 2. For passengers accessing Emirates lounges in Dubai Airport, kids will be able to enjoy a dedicated play area. Across all classes, families can benefit from priority boarding to the aircraft. In addition, all Emirates customers can enjoy complimentary Emperor ice cream during peak departure times every day this summer.  Emirates is serving the frozen treat via its branded carts to all its customers at Dubai International Airport, and ice cream cups are being distributed to customers at Terminal 3 departure and transit areas. The Emperor branded ice cream is hand made locally by EKFC in five flavours: Chocolate, Vanilla, Date & Arabic Coffee, Mango Sorbet, and Lemon Sorbet. The Emperor ice-cream is also served to all First Class and Business Class customers in Emirates lounges in Dubai and onboard certain flights. After checking in, passengers are also advised to make sure they get to their boarding gate on time. Boarding starts 45 minutes before each flight and gates close 20 minutes before departure. If passengers report late Emirates will not be able to accept them for travel. Check-in and gate closure timings will be strictly followed to ensure flights depart on schedule.  These time checks are in place to minimise flight delays out of Dubai.  

The Bernstein Companies and its joint venture partner Boston Properties marked a significant milestone today as they broke ground on the future Marriott International headquarters and Marriott Hotel in downtown Bethesda, Maryland. J.W. Marriott Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, opened the ceremony by welcoming Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and other public and private dignitaries to celebrate the first phase of construction of the company’s new headquarters. “Montgomery County has been our home for more than 60 years and we take immense pride in this community and in the strong relationships we’ve developed here,” said J.W. Marriott Jr. “From our humble roots as a nine-stool root beer stand in downtown Washington, D.C. to a hospitality company known around the world, we look forward to many more years together as we create a new, 21st century home in downtown Bethesda.” Marriott International President and Chief Executive Officer, Arne Sorenson, pushed Marriott’s move from its current suburban location to a walkable, transit-oriented environment. “We are thrilled to be recommitting ourselves to Maryland and investing in Bethesda,” said Sorenson. “This location places Marriott in the heart of a vigorous, educated, and diverse community. We firmly believe downtown Bethesda is a vital economic engine with a very bright future and a great place to call home.” Sorenson said the headquarters office building will be a cutting-edge, sustainable, workplace offering state-of-the-art technology, modern amenities, and easy access to a range of transportation options, including the Bethesda Metro Station less than two blocks away. With more than 785,000 square feet of office space to support approximately 3,500 associates, the headquarters building is designed to LEED GOLD standards, allowing an abundance of natural light, while providing new opportunities for flexible, collaborative workspaces. The campus will also offer Marriott associates a childcare center, a fitness center, and a cafeteria. In addition to the headquarters building, the location will also be home to a new Marriott Hotel, a 244-key, full-service property with more than 8,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space. The hotel will also offer guests and the public access to a coffee shop, a roof-top bar and lounge and a contemporary neighborhood restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with the option of outdoor dining on a pedestrian plaza. “For over 60 years, Marriott has shown such loyalty and commitment to the future of our state – infusing more than $430 million into our state economy,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Today we are seeing even more proof, and a shining example, of the incredible progress we are making. Thank you to Bill Marriott, Arne Sorenson, and everyone involved in this project for your commitment and dedication to Montgomery County and the State of Maryland.” Governor Hogan was joined at the celebratory event by other state and local officials, including Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, who led the local effort to keep Marriott in Montgomery County. “I am thrilled that Marriott chose to celebrate its 90th year in business by selecting Montgomery County for its future headquarters,” said Leggett. “Today is a special day in the county’s economic life. With a clear target and a supremely coordinated bipartisan effort, much was achieved in keeping Marriott in Montgomery County, and success is shared. I may be leaving the scene soon, but I trust Marriott will call Montgomery home for 90 years to come.” The Bernstein Companies and Boston Properties own the land and will jointly develop and own the Marriott International headquarters office building while The Bernstein Companies will build and own the adjacent hotel. Marriott will manage both the office building and the hotel. In December 2017, the developers received formal approval of the sketch, preliminary and site plans from the Montgomery County Planning Board. Demolition will begin in June 2018 and construction is scheduled to begin in July. In early 2022, the Marriott Hotel will open and Marriott International associates will move into their new headquarters office building by mid-2022. “Today we celebrate the transformation of the land and property The Bernstein Companies has owned here for more than 30 years,” said Adam Bernstein, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bernstein Companies. “We are excited to partner with Marriott International and Boston Properties to apply our joint expertise to this trophy development,” he added. “There are few corporations in the world of the stature of Marriott and we are honored, even after 85 years in the development industry, to participate in this new venture that continues Marriott’s legacy in Montgomery County.” “Today is about persistence, progress, and great partners,” added Raymond Ritchey, Senior Executive Vice President at Boston Properties. “Marriott International set the standard, Montgomery County and Maryland provided the push, and the Bethesda community encouraged us to create something special here. We can’t wait to get started.” As of 2017, Marriott International supported more than 10,000 jobs throughout Maryland, and approximately 6,100 in Montgomery County alone, making the company one of the county’s largest private employers. According to an economic report, the project will have a considerable impact on Maryland’s economy, including $89 million in construction salaries over the next few years, $2.3 billion in business activities in its first year of operation, and up to $1.8 billion provided for local taxing districts over the next 20 years. In honor of Marriott’s history, the company and the development team provided invited guests with commemorative root beer mugs filled with root beer. The company’s roots date back to 1927, when founders J. Willard Marriott and his wife, Alice, opened a small, nine-stool A&W Root Beer stand in Washington, D.C., which eventually became the Hot Shoppes restaurants enterprise, a public company in 1953 that grew to 56 restaurants. Marriott wouldn’t make its historic entry into the hotel business until 1957. Since then, Marriott International has called Montgomery County home for more than 60 years and has resided in its current location on Fernwood Road since 1979. In that time, the company has grown exponentially and, with its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in September 2016, Marriott’s portfolio now includes 30 brands, with more than 6,500 properties located in 127 countries and territories, with more than 700,000 people wearing the Marriott badge around the world. About The Bernstein Companies, Inc. The Bernstein Companies, founded in 1933, is one of the oldest commercial real estate firms in Washington, DC. The privately-held company owns, manages, develops, and invests in a variety of commercial, residential, and hotel properties. The Bernstein Companies Hotel Division currently owns and operates hotels located in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina. For more information, visit www.thebernsteincompanies.com. About Boston Properties, Inc. Boston Properties (BXP: NYSE) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust that develops, redevelops, acquires, manages, operates and owns a diverse portfolio of primarily Class A office space totaling 50.3 million square feet and consisting of 167 office properties (including eight properties under construction), six residential properties (including four properties under construction), five retail properties and one hotel. The Company is one of the largest owners and developers of Class A office properties in the United States, concentrated in five markets – Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.bostonproperties.com. About Marriott International, Inc. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 127 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. For more information, visit www.marriott.com. Media Contact: Brendan McManus Brendan.Mcmanus@marriott.com

The Abu Dhabi-based airline met all required standards – with the highest possible result of zero findings and zero observations – after the IOSA team examined more than 800 of the airline’s safety procedures and processes in detail. IOSA seeks to ensure that airlines are compliant with safety requirements and recommended practices determined by IATA and is the most important examination of Etihad’s operations. Richard Hill, Etihad Airways’ Chief Operations Officer, said: “Safety is Etihad’s number one priority and the IOSA results are testament to our all-encompassing safety culture. “Our highly professional staff continue to implement, enhance and deliver the most exacting safety processes and procedures in everything we do.” IOSA is mandatory for all IATA member airlines, reviewing standards in eight operational areas, including operations management, flight operations, cabin operations, maintenance, flight dispatch, ground and cargo operations and security.

Emirates is offering travellers who haven’t booked their holidays yet a chance to avail special fares during the summer to 60 destinations within its global network. The offer applies to bookings starting today until 5 July 2018 and applies for travel until 31 March 2019.

Economy Class passengers can enjoy fares to London starting from AED 2,125; to Bangkok starting at AED 2,295; to Mumbai starting at AED 1,095; to Auckland starting at AED 6,435; and to Newark starting at AED 3,975. Business Class passengers can enjoy fares to London starting from AED 12,435; to Bangkok starting at AED 9,065; to Mumbai starting at AED 3,065; to Auckland starting at AED 16,395; and to Newark starting at AED 16,775. Emirates Skywards members can also now  pool up to 100% of Skywards Miles earned on Emirates flights with family members with ‘My Family’, allowing them to redeem rewards faster than before. Passengers can also enjoy Emirates’ Home Check-in service which allows customers to check in for their flights from anywhere in Dubai. The service is available for customers across all classes travelling on Emirates flights and enables passengers to complete the security check and check-in, from the comfort of their home. Travellers on Emirates flight will enjoy the airline’s award winning in-flight entertainment system with up to 3,500 channels, as well as regionally inspired meals on-board prepared by award-winning chefs. For more information on Emirates, including how to book flights and a complete list of terms and conditions, visit www.emirates.ae, travel agent or through the local Emirates Sales Office. Terms & conditions apply.