British Airways suspends bookings to Cairo, Morocco amid short-haul block

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Updated 02 August 2022
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British Airways suspends bookings to Cairo, Morocco amid short-haul block

  • Heathrow passenger cap has restricted holiday plans for millions
  • Suspension of short-haul flights to last until at least Aug. 8

LONDON: British Airways has paused the sale of short-haul flights from Heathrow, its main base of operations, until at least Aug. 8 amid a crippling passenger cap that has restricted holiday plans for millions of Britons. 

The move, described as “unprecedented” by industry experts, has seen all bookings to Cairo and Morocco paused during the period.

BA has been forced into the decision at the UK’s largest airport after Heathrow moved in July to put a limit on passenger numbers during the peak summer season as it struggles to recover from post-pandemic logistical struggles.

The airport has put a cap on the number of passengers allowed to pass through its terminals at 100,000 a day until at least Sept. 11, in an attempt to reduce the chaos that has afflicted Heathrow since the school holidays began. 

With BA passengers unable to book flights from Heathrow for short-haul Middle Eastern destinations until Aug. 8, prices for flights with the airline from other UK airports have skyrocketed.

The Times reported that a one-way flight from London Gatwick to Marrakech on Aug. 5 was £575 ($702), compared to the £92 BA is charging from the same airport for the end of the summer season.


Saudi Arabia’s NDF unveils strategic partners for MOMENTUM 2025 conference 

Updated 07 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s NDF unveils strategic partners for MOMENTUM 2025 conference 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Development Fund has unveiled the lineup of strategic partners for the Development Finance Conference MOMENTUM 2025, as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to build a more integrated development-finance ecosystem.  

The conference, scheduled for Dec. 9–11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, will bring together policymakers, lenders and global development institutions as the Kingdom seeks to expand financing channels for key sectors. 

Saudi National Bank and Arab National Bank are named Main Partners, while Riyad Bank will serve as Banking Partner, NDF said in a press release.  

Bank AlJazira and Saudi Awwal Bank join as Enabling Partners, and public-sector participants include Invest Saudi, the Made in Saudi Program, and the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority. 

Riyadh Municipality also joins the list as the host city partner, while Saudi Post is the logistics partner for the conference. 

“Collectively, these partnerships advance the conference’s vision of fostering collaboration among public and private sectors, contributing to Saudi Vision 2030 objectives,” the release said. 

Organized by NDF, this year’s conference is convened under the theme “Leading Development Transformation.” 

MOMENTUM 2025 reflects the NDF’s central role as a principal enabler of development in the Kingdom and as a strategic driver of the national development finance system through its 12 affiliated development funds and banks.  

“Through this conference, NDF aims to align efforts, amplify impact, enhance coordination and integration, and build meaningful partnerships with leaders across the public and private sectors. Together, these efforts are intended to ensure sustainable growth and empower strategic sectors to deliver on national and global development goals,” the release added.  

The program will feature more than 100 speakers from over 120 local and international entities, further underscoring the conference’s role as a national forum supporting the leadership’s vision of building a dynamic financing ecosystem that empowers key sectors. 

Several princes, ministers, senior officials, CEOs, global leaders, development experts, and economists are scheduled to attend the conference. 

The event will spotlight the contribution of the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises in elevating the Kingdom’s economic growth, generating jobs, and boosting competitiveness.