Airlines must stay vigilant about governments “going rogue” on globally agreed aviation standards, as the Dutch government did when it moved to cut Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s capacity without consultation, Willie Walsh, Director General IATA, said. Such actions had the potential to create a retaliatory mess, he warned.

Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India, has said that the airline’s focus is now on integration, growth optimisation and consumer experience onboard. “The operational processes related to the merger with Vistara to complete towards end of this calendar year,” he said, adding that India has huge 3rd and 4th freedom traffic and the airlines aims to take significant portion of this traffic.

Air India Express expands its network in the National Capital Region (NCR), bringing more convenience to flyers in NCR and North India, by operating 28 weekly direct flights connecting Hindon with Bengaluru, Goa, and Kolkata, with fares starting from ₹5,134. Flight operations will commence on 1st August 2024. Besides operating over 280 flights a week from Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi, AIX will be operating from Hindon Airport, ensuring enhanced connectivity to/from other cities in Western UP, Uttarakhand and Haryana. Hindon’s strategic location within the National Capital Region (NCR) ensures seamless access for travellers based out of Central and Eastern Delhi, Noida, Alipur, Agra, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Dadri, Dasna, Dehradun, Faridnagar, Hapur, Haridwar, Khekra, Loni, Meerut, Modinagar, Muradnagar, Noida, Nangloi Jat,  Pilkhuwa, Panipat, Rishikesh, Saharanpur, and Sonipat. Speaking about the announcement, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “Our network expansion is focussed on enhancing connectivity across the rapidly growing domestic and short-haul international market, particularly the new and underserved routes. The maturity and size of major metropolitan areas in India can support secondary airports, spreading the benefits of air connectivity and further stimulating growth. We believe the launch of our flights from Hindon is a pioneering effort towards this direction. It will benefit travellers from an extended catchment area, even beyond Delhi NCR, including Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal and Haryana. The new services will complement our operations from the primary airport serving Delhi NCR, providing convenient options.”

Kapil Kaul, CEO & Director, CAPA India, addressing the CAPA India Aviation Summit said, “The industry’s average fare in FY2024 was almost the same as in FY2023. IndiGo’s average airfare in FY2024 was just 1.3% higher than FY2023 but 36% higher compared to FY2020.”

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) proudly announces the successful conclusion of its three-city roadshow in India. Led by MTPA’s Director, Mr. Arvind Bundhun, and featuring a delegation of 21 esteemed partners from Mauritius, this roadshow exemplified the robust bond between India and Mauritius and the promising potential for collaborative growth within the tourism sector. The roadshow commenced in Pune, followed by Chennai on the 29th of May, and Jaipur on the 31st of May, catalysing synergies within the industry. Arvind Bundhun, Director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), expressed his delight regarding the success of the three-city roadshow in India. He stated, “I am immensely pleased with the success of our three-city roadshow in India. With increased activities and more flights from India to Mauritius, this roadshow was crucial for us as MTPA is committed to facilitating seamless travel experiences and showcasing the diverse attractions Mauritius has to offer. We extend our sincere gratitude to all those who participated in making this roadshow a resounding success.” The Chennai leg of the roadshow was graced by Mr Donald Payen Chairman MTPA. His esteemed presence underscored the paramount importance of India as a key tourism partner for Mauritius and laid the groundwork for enhanced cooperation. Sunil Mathapati, Country Manager MTPA India, conveyed his excitement, stating, “We are thrilled with the responses of the travel agents in all the three cities. The enthusiasm and interest shown by attendees reaffirm our belief in the appeal of Mauritius as a top tourist destination. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to promote Mauritius and strengthen the ties. With such positive feedback, we are motivated to further enhance our outreach activities and provide travelers with …

The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB), the official destination marketing organization for Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA, appointed Indiva Marketing to drive leisure visitation, awareness and visibility in India. Indiva Marketing will be responsible for sales and marketing activities, communications, and media relations, to position and develop business and media exposure for what is known as Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. This region, located in the middle of Pennsylvania, is home to Penn State University’s main campus. The population center of the county – the Centre Region – includes State College Borough and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. Additional communities include historic Bellefonte and Boalsburg, and the charming towns of Millheim, Aaronsburg, Centre Hall and Philipsburg. Happy Valley’s central location provides convenient access to major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. “We are delighted to announce Indiva Marketing as our representative in India to position and promote tourism to Happy Valley,” said Fritz Smith, President and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “We look forward to welcoming travellers from India to discover our scenic valleys and agricultural corridors, and abundant outdoor recreation in our six state parks and forests, as well as to savour our authentic farm-to-table cuisine. Additionally, we parents of prospective college students seeking a first-class education in the United States to visit Penn State University while on their university tour. “Penn State University’s new Palmer Museum of Art, which is located next to the beautiful Penn State Arboretum, houses an extensive collection spanning ancient ceramics to 20th-century American art,” Smith continued. “Nearby Beaver Stadium – the second largest stadium in the nation – stands as the spirited home to the Penn State Nittany …

Sharing his views on IndiGo’s introduction of a business class, Rajdev Bhattacharya, Global Head (Travel & Hospitality) and Process Owner, Wipro, says, “This means more choices and higher service standards in the domestic market. Transitioning from an LCC to a hybrid model requires substantial investment in cabin reconfiguration, in-flight services, and ground operations. Maintaining cost efficiency will be crucial to ensuring this move is profitable.”

Highlighting the industry-led digital initiative, Suresh Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, says, “Digi Yatra has seen impressive adoption and expansion over the last year, with more than 20 million happy users experiencing the benefits of this seamless travel solution. Currently rolled out in 14 airports, Digi Yatra is set to be introduced in another 14 airports next month. Our focus is now expanding to international travel, starting with prototype testing on E-passport based enrollment, expected next month. There will be numerous deliberations that need to be done with various ministries and other stakeholders, which might take some time to conclude on the way forward.”

All the big Middle East carriers have been expansive in their approach and yet still experience extraordinary growth, says Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline. “The Middle East region has one of the most robust GDPs on the planet because it is at the epicenter of so many global initiatives. Yes, there are geopolitical concerns but overall, there will be strong growth and plenty of demand for everybody,” he adds.

Highlighting key trends in the Indian hospitality industry, the HVS ANAROCK Hotels & Hospitality Overview – May 2024, states that Goa witnessed the largest year-on-year decline in occupancy rate, while Kolkata registered the highest growth during the month. After a long hiatus, Mumbai recorded higher average rates than Goa, exceeding INR 10,000 and INR 9,500 respectively.”