Pune Airport becomes one of the 1st AAI Airport to start the trials of body scanner for security check. Pune Airport has recently updated that this measure will ensure improved intelligence input for screeners which will enhance the security setup. It will also bring down the waiting time at the security point. The Centre has directed 84 airports across the country to install body scanners by March 2020, replacing existing door frame metal detectors and hand-held scanners besides pat-down searches of passengers to detect metallic objects, according to an official document.

A recent report by Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition states, following a successful year in 2017 when outbound trips from Russia rose 25%, growth of another 5.8% was seen in 2018, bringing the total up to 42 million trips. In 2017, 40 million trips were made by Russians abroad. Despite the slower pace, outbound tourism in Russia continues to rise. Russians remain as one of the highest spending groups in the world. The statistics were released by Russian Federal State Statistics Service.

Madhya Pradesh is set to get its 7th tiger reserve, which has been proposed to be carved out of the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, and will be called the Ratapani Tiger Reserve. The declaration was reportedly made recently and the committee of the state government has submitted a report consisting of the final outline of the core and buffer areas of the tiger reserve that was proposed. The proposal for creating the Ratapani tiger reserve has apparently been pending with the Government for over a decade. the Ratapani wildlife sanctuary is spread across an area of 823.065 sq km, out of which, 763.812 sq km is the area which has been proposed as the core area and the remaining 59.253 sq km as the buffer area of the proposed tiger reserve. Source: Indian Express

Civil Air Terminal at Hindon Airport has recently commenced its commercial flight operations, Pithoragarh-Hindon. Air Heritage will be operating on this route. However, Star Air has also announced that they will operate flights for Hubli-Hindon-Hubli with effect from 6 November. Star Air will fly EMB-145 (Jet engine), a 50-seater aircraft on this route.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has opened The Fern Ranthambhore Forest Resort, in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. Overall the brand count has extended to 67 hotels across the country and in Nepal and Seychelles. The Fern Ranthambhore Forest Resort offers 46 cottage rooms, a swimming pool, volleyball & badminton courts, elegant lawns, restaurant and a bar.Suhail Kannampilly, the CEO of the company said, “We are very happy with the company’s growth. We are increasing our presence in key leisure destinations as well which is a very good indicator of the company’s overall progress”Green Valley Restaurant at The Fern Ranthambhore Forest Resort offers a panoramic view of the surrounding nature and the swimming pool. The dining room is decorated in a simplistic, feel-good style and offers cuisines ranging from traditional, authentic to contemporary favourites.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) and GMR group could turn competitors as the bidding process for the Greater Noida airport begins. Official sources said the AAI is in the process of taking legal opinion for placing its bid for the proposed international airport in the national capital region (NCR). It is also consulting the parent Civil Aviation Ministry on the plan and is confident of getting the go-ahead.

AirAsia India has announced that it will start daily flight on Delhi-Jaipur route from October 20. The flight will depart from Delhi airport at 10.35 am and will arrive in Jaipur at 11.45 am. The return flight will depart at 12.15 pm from Jaipur and will arrive at 1.25 pm at Delhi airport.

India slipped to the fourth position in domestic air passenger traffic in August with passenger volume growing 3.7% in the month over the period year-ago, IATA data show. The average global demand for domestic travel, however, climbed 4.7 per cent in the month under review compared to August last year. China witnessed the highest air travel demand at 10.1 per cent in August followed by Russia, which logged 6 per cent growth during the month.

In a communique sent to all airlines, DGCA has stated, “Domestic carriers should make all efforts to send SMS in case there is a delay in flight beyond 30 minutes or a boarding gate change has taken place at the airport.” The regulator has asked the travel agents to share the mobile number of passengers with the airlines for ease in sending flight information updates.

In a recent update by the Indian Embassy in Beijing, Chinese nationals can apply for an e-Tourist visa (e-TV) of 5-year validity with multiple entries. The visa fee for 5-year multiple entry e-TV will be USD 80. Furthermore, it has been decided that the tourists can avail single-entry 30-day validity e-TV at a reduced visa fee of USD 25, while for a 30-day e-TV during the months of April to June, the visa fee will cost USD 10.