British Airways has announced plans to significantly enhance its offerings to four key Middle East destinations starting October 2025. The airline will increase flight frequencies to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Riyadh, and Jeddah, adding thousands of additional seats and boosting capacity, particularly for the summer of 2026. First-class options will be available on select flights.
In Abu Dhabi, from the end of October 2025, British Airways will run daily services, providing more choices amidst the dominance of Etihad and Emirates on the Abu Dhabi-Heathrow route. This increase is well-timed with events like the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, highlighting the city’s luxury hotels, shopping malls, and impressive skyline.
Bahrain will see a transformation with flights more than doubling, creating an annual increase of around 9,000 seats. This expansion provides more opportunities to visit renowned sites such as the Bahrain Fort and enjoy the island’s natural beauty.
Riyadh’s services will expand to 12 flights weekly in the winter, climbing to 14 by summer 2026. These additions open up more access to Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage, including the UNESCO-listed Diriyah. Similarly, Jeddah will increase to five weekly flights for summer 2026, offering more chances to explore its historic districts and coastline.
British Airways’ expansion comes as part of a broader strategic move that includes introducing new routes from Gatwick to Rabat and Graz in November of the same year.
In related developments, Emirates Skywards celebrates its 25th anniversary with a set of promotions and giveaways aimed at rewarding its 37 million members. Travelers can enter raffles, earn bonus miles, and participate in unique events at Dubai Airport as part of the milestone celebrations.
Separately, Hilton is expanding its presence in Manchester with two new hotel openings: a Hampton by Hilton in Deansgate slated for early 2026, and the first UK city center opening of its lifestyle brand, Motto by Hilton, in Piccadilly by 2027. These new accommodations emphasize Hilton’s commitment to Manchester’s growing tourist and business demands, underscoring the city’s status as a vibrant travel hub.
This expansion strategy signifies robust tourism and business growth in the Middle East and Manchester, providing travelers with more options and underlining both British Airways’ and Hilton’s commitment to catering to increasing demand in these progressive markets.