News
Emirates To Phase Out Paper Boarding Passes In Dubai Hub
Passengers checking in for flights at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 will need to use mobile devices to check in from May 15th.
After we reported on Emirates adopting robotic check-in assistants to increase check-in efficiency at Dubai International Airport, the world’s largest long-haul airline is now taking further steps to boost its sustainability credentials and embrace an all-digital future.
On Monday, May 15th, paper boarding passes will be scrapped for passengers departing from Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, and passengers will be required to use electronic alternatives instead.
Emirates passengers will receive email or SMS passes after the weekend, and online check-ins will also be compatible with Apple and Google Wallets and be available in the Emirates app — including receipts for checked bags.
“This initiative will significantly reduce paper waste while simultaneously offering a convenient and speedy digitized check-in experience for passengers departing Dubai [reducing] the risk of lost or misplaced boarding passes, giving passengers peace of mind when traveling,” says Emirates in an official statement.
The move is part of ongoing efforts to reduce waste and promote sustainability, though many travelers already prefer to use digital documents and smartphone apps in place of paper equivalents. The company confirmed that mobile boarding passes could be used throughout the travel journey, including at duty-free stores, security, and boarding.
Also Read: Dubai Launches The World’s Largest Ocean Restoration Project
Some exemptions to the new rules include those traveling with infants or people requiring special assistance. All passengers traveling to the United States will also need physical boarding passes, and certain passengers who will use connecting services.
The option to print boarding passes is available by request at check-in desks if passengers do not have a mobile device or cannot access their travel details for any reason.
Emirates has taken several steps towards future-proofing its services and boosting sustainability credentials, including a recent $200 million research and development project focused on advanced fuel systems that could reduce the airline’s environmental impact.
News
AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
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Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
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