In a major relief for travellers, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed new rules allowing passengers to cancel or modify flight tickets without penalty within 48 hours of booking. Airlines must also issue refunds within 21 working days, even for tickets booked via agents, the policy draft mentions, inviting public feedback until 30 November.

SpiceJet is pleased to announce the appointment of Sanjay Kumar as Executive Director, effective November 3, 2025. In his new role, Kumar will lead the airline’s strategic initiatives focused on expansion, operational excellence, and business transformation as SpiceJet embarks on its next phase of growth. He will report directly to the Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh. Sanjay Kumar brings with him over three decades of rich experience in the aviation sector, with extensive expertise across network planning, revenue management, marketing, and commercial strategy. Having served in senior leadership positions in leading Indian airlines, Kumar has been instrumental in shaping the low-cost aviation landscape in India. For close to 12 years, Kumar served as Chief Commercial Officer at IndiGo and for a little over three years as its Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer. He has also held key leadership positions, including President & CEO at InterGlobe Technology Quotient and Chief Operating Officer at AirAsia India, among others. Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sanjay back to the SpiceJet family. His deep understanding of the aviation business and proven leadership will be invaluable as we chart a new course for SpiceJet. With his strategic insights and executional strength, we are confident of accelerating our growth journey and strengthening our position as a leading and customer-centric airline.” Speaking on his new role, Sanjay Kumar said, “I am excited to re-join SpiceJet at a pivotal time in its journey. The Indian aviation market offers tremendous opportunities, and I look forward to working with the team to drive SpiceJet’s expansion, enhance operational efficiencies, and deliver even greater value to our customers and stakeholders.” Kumar’s appointment underscores SpiceJet’s …

Holiday Moods Adventures Pvt Ltd was shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Best Newcomer to Expedition Cruise – Tour Operator category at the Expedition Cruise Network (ECN) Awards 2025 last month in September aboard the Dixie Queen on the River Thames in London. This recognition marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards pioneering expedition cruising for the Indian travel market. The ECN Awards celebrate excellence in promoting and selling expedition cruise travel globally, bringing together outstanding tour operators, travel agencies, and industry leaders.  Championing Expedition Cruising in India Holiday Moods Adventures has rapidly emerged as a specialist in Arctic, Nordic, and Polar travel, introducing the Indian travel trade to immersive expedition cruise experiences. Since 2022, the company has built strategic partnerships with leading cruise brands, promoted sustainable expedition travel, and invested in education and awareness-building across the country. The company has: Launched dedicated expedition cruise products featuring the Arctic and Antarctica. Holiday Moods Adventures has witnessed significant growth in expedition cruise sales. Since launching Havila Voyages, Norway’s Responsible Luxury Coastal Cruise as their distributor in India, and then adding Swan Hellenic Expedition Cruises in early, our expedition cruise portfolio has rapidly gained traction among B2B partners Regularly organises B2B roadshows, webinars, and trade training programs across India Achieved 180% year-on-year growth, with expedition cruises now contributing 30%+ of total revenue Developed curated pre- and post-cruise land programs in Nordic regions for enriched travel experiences. Speaking on the recognition, Tejbir Singh Anand, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Holiday Moods Adventures, said: “Being shortlisted among the best in the global expedition cruise community is a moment of great pride for us and for the Indian travel industry. Expedition cruising is …

Ruhani Duggal, Founder & Lead Curator, Vilasa Luxury Travel, speaking at the TravTalk ThinkTank in New Delhi recently, said, “We have to understand that a country’s product offerings and perception go hand-in-hand. Once travel designers abroad start seeing nex-gen products come out of India, the perception also changes. Marketing alone is not enough to shift perception.”

Oman Convention Bureau is positioning the Sultanate as India’s most convenient short-haul MICE destination in 2025. “India’s corporates increasingly prefer short flights for incentives and conferences — Oman offers easy access with just 2–3 hours of travel,” said Khalid Al Zadjali, Director, Oman Convention Bureau. With direct flights from 11 Indian cities, Oman combines proximity, premium infrastructure, and cultural appeal for quick-turnaround MICE events.

Average Room Rates (ARRs) across key Indian markets continued upward climb in September 2025, with Bengaluru posting the highest year-on-year growth of 25–27%, followed by Hyderabad at 21–23%, according to HVS ANAROCK research. Goa was the only market to register a decline. National occupancy improved marginally, led by Ahmedabad’s strong 10–12 percentage point rise.

In response to the robust demand from the Indian market, China Eastern Airlines has announced an increase in the frequency of its direct flights between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Effective January 2, 2026, the airline will operate additional flights, up from current three a week to five days a week. InterGlobe Air Transport, the exclusive General Sales Agent (GSA) for China Eastern Airlines in India for over two decades, manages all the airline’s commercial and operational functions—including sales, marketing, ticketing, and support, and is committed to leveraging its well-established network to drive the continued success of this now-expanded, strategic air route. The flight from Delhi, MU564, will depart at 19:55, arriving in Shanghai at 4:10 the following day. Flight MU563 from Shanghai Pudong will depart at 12:50 PM and arrive at New Delhi, at 17:45 local time. The flights will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The flights will be operated by Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft, offering premium experience with 17 lie-flat MINPRO business-class seats and 245 economy-class seats for commercial booking. The Shanghai–Delhi route is one of the most important air corridors, linking Shanghai, China’s economic, financial, and trade hub and Delhi, India’s political, economic, and cultural center. The increased frequency is expected to further boost bilateral exchanges in trade, tourism, education, culture, and technology, reinforcing the strategic importance of this connection. This move underscores China Eastern’s strong commitment to strengthening air connectivity between the two nations and reflects the incredible support from its trade partners. In addition to the Shanghai–Delhi route, the airline also plans to soon add other key routes — including Kunming–Kolkata and Shanghai Pudong–Mumbai, further expanding …

TripShope received the Most Trusted B2B Travel Portal award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Adil Sathu, Founder & CEO, TripShope, said, “Winning India Travel Award has been a big privilege, giving us a strong boost to move ahead. The team remains motivated, and this recognition feels like a promotion that inspires us to continue striving for greater success in the future.

Zubin Saxena, SVP and Regional Head, South Asia, Hilton, said, “From the visa-on-arrival process to the check-in at the hotel, every touchpoint needs to feel connected. The experience of India must flow effortlessly from one step to another. And that can happen only when the public and private sectors work in harmony.” He further added that public-private partnership will define India’s journey to becoming a trillion-dollar experience economy by 2047.

Akanksha Garg, Founder & CEO, Waxpol Hotels & Resorts, speaking recently at the TravTalkThinkTank in New Delhi, emphasised the role of social media. “Instagrammable matters! And like it or not, TikTok moves markets in countries where Instagram is not even used. If we want the young, we must show up where they live.”