Travel

From Brasília to Ciudad de la Paz: Planned Capitals Designed for Modern Life

Published

7 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Many of the world’s most famous cities grew gradually over centuries, with layers of history shaping their streets and architecture. Ancient structures often stand alongside modern skyscrapers, creating striking contrasts. Yet these historic layouts can sometimes struggle to meet the needs of modern urban life.

For that reason, several countries have chosen to build cities from scratch, carefully designing them to serve as political and administrative centres. These purpose-built capitals allow planners to create organized layouts with space for housing, transport, public services and government institutions.

One of the most famous examples is Brasília. The city officially became the capital of Brazil in 1960 after the government decided to move the seat of power away from coastal Rio de Janeiro. Built in the country’s interior, Brasília was designed with a distinctive modernist layout and has become an architectural landmark. Notable sites include the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Congress complex. In 1987 the city received recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its role in modern urban planning.

Another planned capital is Canberra. Located between the rival cities of Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra was chosen in the early 20th century as a compromise between the two. Construction began in 1912 following a design competition. Today the city has a population of about half a million and is known for its national museums, art galleries and cultural institutions.

In the Pacific, Wellington developed as the political centre of New Zealand after the capital moved from Auckland in the 19th century. While the city was not built entirely from scratch, its modern layout was planned using grid patterns designed in 1840 by surveyor William Mein Smith. Wellington is widely regarded as the country’s cultural hub and hosts major institutions such as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

South Asia also features a purpose-built capital in Islamabad. The city was constructed during the 1960s and officially became the capital of Pakistan in 1967, replacing Karachi. Its location near Rawalpindi was chosen partly because of its proximity to military headquarters. Islamabad today has more than one million residents and includes landmarks such as Faisal Mosque and the Pakistan Monument.

Another modern capital is Naypyidaw, where construction began in 2002 before it replaced Yangon as the administrative centre in 2005. Despite its vast roads and large government complexes, the city has a relatively small population, giving it a reputation for unusually quiet streets.

In Central America, Belmopan became the capital after a hurricane devastated Belize City in 1961. The new inland capital was officially established in 1970 and now serves as the country’s administrative centre.

The newest planned capital is Ciudad de la Paz. Located in mainland Equatorial Guinea, the city was declared the country’s capital in January this year. Designed to house about 200,000 residents, it remains sparsely populated and is often described as unusually quiet compared with older capital cities.

Together, these cities illustrate how governments have attempted to reshape urban development by creating capitals designed specifically for modern governance and future growth.

Travel

Airlines Adjust Middle East Operations as Muscat Becomes Key Transit Hub

Published

7 days ago

March 9, 2026

Web Reporter

Airlines across the Middle East and beyond are adjusting flight schedules and arranging special services as ongoing regional tensions and airspace closures disrupt normal travel routes.

Oman’s national carrier has emerged as a major provider of relief flights for travellers attempting to leave the region. Muscat International Airport in the Omani capital has become a central transit point for passengers who could not depart from the United Arab Emirates because of restricted airspace.

Oman Air said it had operated nearly 80 additional flights over the past week and assisted more than 97,000 passengers returning home. The airline said it plans to increase services where possible to meet demand.

Additional bus services have also been arranged to help travellers crossing the land border from the UAE into Oman so they can board onward flights from Muscat. The airline said most of its international routes covering Europe, Southeast Asia and Africa are continuing as scheduled.

However, several services have been suspended. Oman Air confirmed that flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab would remain cancelled between 9 and 15 March.

Elsewhere in the region, Qatar Airways has begun operating a limited number of repatriation flights through Hamad International Airport in Doha after more than a week of disruption linked to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

The airline has published temporary schedules for selected departures and arrivals over the coming days, including flights to destinations such as Seoul, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Nairobi and Perth. The company said the services were arranged to help stranded travellers and do not represent a full return to normal commercial operations.

Authorities in Qatar reported that up to 8,000 passengers had been stranded in the country during the disruption. The government provided hotel accommodation and extended visas for affected travellers.

Airlines in the United Arab Emirates have also begun restoring operations. Emirates said it expects to return to full capacity in the coming days as regional airspace gradually reopens. The Dubai-based airline carried about 30,000 passengers out of the city on Thursday while operating a reduced schedule.

A drone attack near the terminals of Dubai International Airport briefly halted operations on Saturday morning. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by black smoke rising above the airport. Flights resumed later the same day.

Etihad Airways has also restarted a limited schedule from its base at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. The airline plans to serve more than 70 destinations between 6 and 19 March while gradually rebuilding its network.

Several international airlines are also making adjustments. British Airways has scheduled extra flights from Muscat to London Heathrow for passengers stranded in Oman or the UAE. Finnair is preparing special flights from Muscat to Helsinki to carry around 1,200 travellers who had been waiting in Dubai.

Other carriers including Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa Group have suspended or modified services to a number of Middle Eastern destinations while monitoring the security situation and airspace restrictions.

Travel

Gulf Airlines Gradually Resume Flights as Regional Airspace Partially Reopens

Published

1 week ago

March 8, 2026

Web Reporter

Airlines across the Gulf have begun restoring limited flight operations after parts of Middle Eastern airspace reopened following more than a week of disruption caused by the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Flights resumed cautiously on Sunday morning at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Euronews correspondents observed at least six Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft departing after Qatar Airways announced it had begun operating limited services through a designated safe corridor.

Several of the aircraft did not appear on the aviation tracking site Flightradar24 during departure, suggesting their transponders were switched off as a safety precaution. However, the site briefly showed the aircraft taxiing for take-off, with one flight displaying Frankfurt as its destination.

Qatar Airways said the flights were part of repatriation efforts to help travellers leave the region after days of airspace closures and cancelled services.

“After more than a week of airspace disruptions due to the conflict between US-Israel and Iran, Qatar Airways confirmed that it had operated repatriation flights on Sunday,” the airline said, noting departures to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London and Zurich.

The airline said additional flights were scheduled to arrive in Doha from Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Zurich and Muscat on Monday. However, it stressed that the services remain restricted.

“These flights are only for passengers whose final destination is Doha and do not constitute a confirmation of resumption of scheduled commercial operations,” the company said.

The disruption has left thousands of travellers stranded. Around 8,000 passengers were reported to be stuck in Qatar, with the government covering hotel costs and extending visas while travel arrangements are made.

Elsewhere in the region, major Gulf carriers are slowly rebuilding their schedules. Emirates and Etihad Airways have both restarted limited flight operations following the partial reopening of airspace in the United Arab Emirates.

Dubai-based Emirates said it is gradually restoring its global network and expects to return to full capacity in the coming days, depending on airspace availability.

Etihad Airways has also restarted a reduced flight schedule from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. The airline said it planned to operate flights to more than 70 destinations between 6 and 19 March while prioritising travellers whose journeys were disrupted earlier in the crisis.

Regional aviation has also faced further challenges. Operations at Dubai International Airport were briefly suspended on Saturday morning following a drone attack near the main terminals. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing black smoke rising above the airport before services resumed several hours later.

Airlines across the world have adjusted schedules or suspended routes to the region while monitoring security conditions. Several carriers are operating special repatriation flights or rerouting passengers through alternative hubs as travel demand slowly begins to recover.

Travel

Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flights as Airspace Slowly Reopens Amid Regional Conflict

Published

1 week ago

March 7, 2026

Web Reporter

After six days of airspace disruptions caused by the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, Gulf carriers are gradually resuming operations. Etihad Airways announced it is restarting a limited flight schedule from Abu Dhabi, while Qatar Airways will operate a relief corridor from Doha to several European destinations.

Emirates has said it expects to return to full flight capacity in the coming days. Following a partial reopening of regional airspace, the Dubai-based airline has operated a reduced schedule, carrying around 30,000 passengers from Dubai on Thursday. By Saturday, Emirates will run 106 daily return flights to 83 destinations, covering nearly 60% of its network.

“The airline anticipates a return to 100% of its network within the coming days, subject to airspace availability and the fulfilment of all operational requirements,” Emirates said in a statement on Friday. “Safety, as ever, remains paramount as is our duty of care.” Passengers with earlier bookings are being accommodated as a priority. In high-demand markets, Emirates has scaled up operations, including 11 daily flights to the UK across five airports, 22 daily flights to nine Indian destinations, and service to seven US cities.

Dubai Airports reported facilitating more than 1,140 flights at Dubai International and Dubai World Central over the past 84 hours, providing 105,000 outbound seats to over 80 countries between 2-5 March.

Etihad Airways will also resume flights to more than 70 destinations between 6 and 19 March, allowing previously booked passengers and new travelers to fly, provided safety requirements are met.

Qatar Airways announced that, following approval from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, it will operate repatriation flights from Hamad International Airport to London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt. Priority on these flights has been given to stranded passengers, elderly travelers, families, and those with urgent medical needs.

Other airlines are adjusting operations amid ongoing restrictions. British Airways has scheduled flights from Muscat to London for existing customers, while Finnair plans special flights from Muscat to Helsinki to transport around 1,200 passengers in Dubai. Virgin Atlantic resumed flights from Dubai and Riyadh to London Heathrow, and Air Arabia has restarted limited services to destinations including Austria, Egypt, India, Italy, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.

Many carriers continue to face airspace closures. Oman Air has cancelled flights to multiple Gulf and Middle Eastern destinations until 8 March. Saudia, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa Group, Delta, American Airlines, and Air Canada have also suspended or adjusted flights across the region.

Chinese airlines, including Air China and China Southern, are resuming flights to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE and assisting with evacuations. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that “the situation in the Middle East remains complex and severe, with considerable uncertainty,” following the transport of 300 citizens from Dubai on Wednesday.