From free date changes to industry-first comprehensive travel insurance, Emirates continues to give customers greater flexibility and more choice, as well as the ability to tailor their travel plans for more peace of mind, from booking to the moment they arrive at their destination.

Here are the latest measures at a glance:

1. Unlimited free date changes to Dubai

From 10 August 2026, customers travelling to Dubai can change their travel dates as many times as they need, free of charge, across every type of fare. Unlimited, free of charge changes run across Saver all the way through to Flex fares in Economy, and for Special, Saver and Flex fares in Business Class.*

Economy Flex Plus, Premium Economy, Business Flex Plus and First Class fares continue to remain fully flexible.

2. Refunds, at a fraction of the cost

Emirates has also substantially reduced refund fees on flights to Dubai to US$50 on Saver fares and US$25 on Flex fares in Economy. In Business Class, refund fees will be US$50 on Special and Saver fares and US$25 on Flex fares.** Together with unlimited free date changes to Dubai, this latest measure means customers can adjust or step away from a booking with minimal penalties, whatever their circumstances.

3. A free date change anywhere across the network

Customers travelling anywhere on the Emirates network receive one free date change on tickets booked from 2 April 2026, including journeys connecting through Dubai. Customers can also hold a fare for 24 hours at no charge while they finalise their plans.*

4. Comprehensive Travel Cover

Emirates’ Comprehensive Travel Cover is an industry-first insurance product covering a range of scenarios, including added conflict cover with reimbursement of medical expenses up to US$25,000 and a free trip extension of up to 30 days. The cover is not restricted by government travel advice. Customers are also covered for trip cancellation, baggage delay and loss, in addition to unlimited worldwide medical expenses and emergency evacuation.

Available at an accessible premium and across 27 countries, the cover can be purchased at the time of booking on emirates.com or added to an existing booking through Manage Booking.

Where flights are disrupted, Emirates will support impacted customers with accommodation directly. Where onward connections on other airlines are affected, or Emirates services are unavailable, customers are rebooked to their destination at no additional cost, including where cancellations are caused by airspace disruptions.

5. More flexibility and savings for Emirates Skywards members

Emirates Skywards members can get more from their journeys, with greater flexibility, more opportunities to progress their tier and additional savings when using their Miles.

Until 31 August 2026, members can benefit from:

• 20% fewer Tier Miles required to reach Silver, Gold and Platinum status.
• 20% bonus Tier Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights.
• More savings with Cash+Miles, with a special rate of 2,000 Miles = USD 30, instead of the usual USD 15, when using Miles towards Emirates or flydubai flights, excess baggage, lounge access and seat selection.

* An applicable fare difference may apply.

** No show fees remain unchanged.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has appealed to aviation unions to suspend their ongoing industrial action and exercise restraint as efforts continue to resolve the dispute.

In a statement, the NCAA said it was aware of the impact of the industrial action on passengers and other stakeholders in the aviation sector.

The authority urged the unions to “sheathe their swords” pending the return of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, who it said had been actively working towards resolving the issues.

According to the NCAA, the matter was expected to be addressed at a meeting convened by the minister last week, but the meeting could not take place after airline operators failed to honour the invitation.

The NCAA assured passengers that flight safety remains uncompromised, stressing that it continues to carry out its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.

The authority called on all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation, expressing confidence that the dispute would be resolved shortly and normal flight operations restored as soon as practicable.

“We appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and cooperation. We are confident that the matter will be resolved shortly and normal flight operations will resume as soon as practicable,” the statement signed by the NCAA Director-General, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, said.

The NCAA also apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the industrial action and thanked them for their patience and understanding.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

To help travellers move from trip intent to search, comparison and planning through natural conversation, Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with Accenture to introduce an AI-powered hotel discovery app in ChatGPT.

The launch marks an important step in Radisson Hotel Group’s move toward agentic commerce, a shift from traditional, channel-based booking journeys to AI-led experiences where discovery, comparison, and decision-making happen through conversation.

As travellers increasingly turn to AI to ask questions, narrow down options, and plan trips, hospitality brands need to be visible, accurate, and actionable at the moment of intent.

Available as @RadissonHotels in ChatGPT, the app enables users to search for Radisson Hotels properties across over 100 countries and more than 1,000 hotels through natural conversation.

By starting a new ChatGPT conversation with @RadissonHotels at the start of the prompt, travellers can ask for advice to plan a family-friendly weekend stay in Amsterdam, or a hotel in Paris with a gym and spa near the Eiffel Tower.

The app will respond with relevant Radisson Hotels properties with live inventory and rates, location context, amenities, hotel details, and interactive map-based results. When ready, travellers are directed to complete the reservation through the Radisson Hotels website.

Commenting on the development, the chief commercial officer of Radisson Hotel Group, Gianni Di Fede, said, “AI is radically transforming how people search for and book hotel stays, and we are committed to being at the forefront of this shift.

“With Accenture, we are reimagining hotel discovery for the next generation of travellers—meeting guests in the planning moment with a branded experience that makes it easier to find, compare, and book Radisson Hotels properties.”

Also commenting, the chief executive of Accenture, Ndidi Oteh, said, “Agentic commerce is fundamentally changing how people discover and choose brands. As journeys become more conversational and intent-driven, companies have to rethink how they show up — not just to be found, but to be chosen, and to deliver value in that moment.

“Radisson Hotel Group is taking a step in that direction, creating a more direct and meaningful way to connect with travellers when decisions are being made.”

The senior managing director and global Travel lead for Accenture, Emily Weiss, said, “With travel, planning is becoming easier for consumers, but more competitive for brands.

“Travellers want to compare options quickly, narrow down choices and book with confidence, often in a single journey. That puts pressure on brands to show up with accurate, up-to-date, and easy-to-navigate information at every step.

“With Radisson Hotel Group, the focus was on making hotel content more accessible, so travellers can find what they need, explore options, and move to booking more seamlessly.”