Category Archives: Aviation

In the lead-up to the Inter Passenger Terminal Show (IPTS) 2025, Media Fusion LLC hosted a high-impact media roundtable in Mumbai, convening influential voices from the government, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Held under the theme “Reimagining Airport Passenger Infrastructure through Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability,” the session offered critical insights into building airport ecosystems that are smarter, greener, and future-ready. The roundtable brought together a distinguished panel of speakers: Joseph Gouda, Joint Director, Indian Revenue Service; Sumeet Suseelan, Member, Ministry of Civil Aviation (AAC), Government of India; Geetha Priya G, Senior Director & Sector Head – Infrastructure & Airports, JLL India; Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba, Mr. Vikram Falodiya, Head – Terminal Operations, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba, and Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion LLC. Discussions centred on India’s remarkable aviation trajectory—now the world’s third-largest domestic market, contributing 1.5% to national GDP and supporting 7.7 million jobs. Over the last decade, more than 85 airports have been developed, with a roadmap to scale that number to 350 by 2047 under the government’s Viksit Bharat vision. The roundtable highlighted both the opportunities and the urgency to reshape infrastructure in line with this growth. Speakers outlined key priorities, including the need to bridge infrastructure gaps, reduce import dependencies, and enhance regional connectivity through the UDAN scheme. Strengthening digital ecosystems to manage rising cybersecurity risks was also identified as a crucial area of focus. With over $12 billion already invested in air transport infrastructure, India is setting its sights on capturing a $4 billion share of the global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) market by 2031, with the aim of establishing itself as a self-reliant aviation hub. The conversation also showcased a suite of transformative technologies shaping airport experiences: biometric-based Digi Yatra, AI-powered digital twins, integrated multi-modal transport systems, and Net Zero, LEED-certified terminals were all cited as pivotal in creating globally benchmarked, passenger-centric infrastructure. Reflecting on …

Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, today announced its strategic partnership with Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. (AAHL), the largest operator of PPP airports in India, to commence commercial flight operations from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). As one of the early airline partners to confirm operations from NMIA, Akasa Air reinforces its commitment to shaping the future of Indian aviation through enhanced connectivity and sustainable expansion, further strengthening India’s dual-airport strategy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Akasa Air will operate 100+ Weekly domestic departures initially, scaling up to 300+ domestic and over 50+ international departures weekly in the winter schedule. As part of its broader network strategy, the airline is also set to ramp up to 10 parking bases by the end of FY2027, with a focused international expansion into key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian markets. The addition of NMIA to Akasa Air’s growing network reflects the airline’s long-term vision of providing more options and seamless travel experiences for its passengers, while also contributing to the continued development of India’s aviation sector. Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air said, “Our foray into Navi Mumbai International Airport is a strategic step aligned with Akasa Air’s long-term vision to build a future-ready airline that is responsive to the evolving needs of Indian travellers. No airline in India will have a larger percentage of its fleet and operations based out of NMIA than Akasa Air. Enhanced connectivity from Navi Mumbai will not only strengthen our network in the western region but also help fuel India’s economic engine by improving connectivity, stimulating regional development, and ensuring that the benefits of aviation-led growth reach every corner of the country. This move …

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: “Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.” The service start date will be announced later.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing major Indian carriers, has sought waivers on user development fee and aviation security fee for a year at Srinagar Airport to boost air travel demand to and from Kashmir. Currently, every departing passenger shells out ₹1,050 as UDF and ₹200 as Aviation ASF plus GST, as per FIA.  

Despite India holds 18% of the world’s population, its air travel market remains under-penetrated. In FY25, 715 crore Indians travelled by rail and only 16.6 crore flew domestically by air, as per the DGCA. With rising incomes and a growing appetite for luxury, India’s airline passenger count is projected to double by 2030, marking a major shift in travel preferences.

IndiGo is set to enhance its international capacity to Central Asia with the launch of direct flights to three key destinations: Almaty, Tashkent, and Tbilisi. Starting July 1, 2025, IndiGo will commence operations from Mumbai to Almaty, followed by flights to Tashkent from August 01, 2025, and to Tbilisi from August 02, 2025. The airline will operate four weekly flights to both Tashkent and Almaty, and three weekly flights to Tbilisi, significantly enhancing connectivity between India and the growing markets of Central Asia. The new routes are set to boost tourism, trade, and people-to-people ties, while offering customers more travel options across the region. IndiGo had launched flights to these cities from Delhi in 2023, and this move marks another step in the airline’s commitment to expanding its international footprint and meeting the rising demand for international travel. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said, “Building on the success of our Delhi – Central Asia routes, we are extremely pleased to announce direct flights to Almaty, Tashkent and Tbilisi from Mumbai, reinforcing our commitment to connecting India to the world. These routes will further enhance accessibility to these culturally rich destinations, fostering global connections and enriching tourism. At IndiGo, we anticipate the ever-evolving passenger needs and strive to offer seamless, direct, and reliable travel options.”  

Marking another milestone in its mission to enhance regional air connectivity in India, FLY91, the pure play regional airline, successfully commenced operations on the Goa–Solapur–Goa route on 9 June.  The inaugural flight was welcomed at Solapur Airport with a traditional water cannon salute, celebrating the regional airline’s entry into one of Maharashtra’s key cultural and industrial hubs. The inaugural flight which took off from Solapur to Goa was ceremonially flagged off by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Co-operation, Murlidhar Mohol, in the presence of Guardian Minister of Solapur, Jaykumar Gore, along with local MLAs, state officials from the Solapur administration,  Airports Authority of India and FLY91. While Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis and the two deputy Chief Ministers, Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, were unable to attend the inauguration ceremony due to unfavourable weather conditions, all three dignitaries sent their respective warm wishes on the occasion. “With the arrival of FLY91’s inaugural flight from Goa, Solapur is now on the aviation map of India. The air transport connectivity will ease the travel of individuals who travel to Solapur for pilgrimage, business and more,” Mohol said at a ceremony held at the Solapur airport ahead of FLY91’s  inaugural flight to Goa. The Goa–Solapur–Goa flight will operate four times a week (Mon-Fri-Sat-Sun) at the scheduled timings listed on its website. In keeping with FLY91’s regional philosophy, inflight announcements during the flight are carried out in Marathi, the regional language of Maharashtra, and in English. “Today is a historic day in the lives of the people of Solapur. The efforts of many individuals have gone into making this airport operational and the subsequent start of FLY91’s Goa – Solapur – …

Air India has rolled out an integrated self-check-in and baggage-drop service for its passengers flying from India to all destinations operated by the airline in Europe, the UK and Canada. Air India was the first airline to have introduced this service from India to international destinations in the US and Australia, besides airports in the domestic network. Air India is now extending the facility to a total of 19 airports – London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Birmingham, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, Toronto, Vancouver and to all five destinations in US (New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco) and two in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) – from airports in India. The initiative reaffirms Air India’s commitment to leveraging technology to elevate customer experience and deliver world-class service across every touchpoint. The integrated self-check-in and baggage-drop service offers smooth and faster check-in process at the airport, significantly enhancing passenger experience. With this facility, Air India passengers can enjoy a seamless digital process to print boarding passes and baggage tags and drop bags on their own, eliminating the need to queue up for check in at counters. The kiosks allow travellers to customise their trips by selecting and even paying for their preferred seats or update their frequent flyer number and contact details. This initiative cuts down on the time spent queueing up at the counters and helps passengers breeze through the airport to reach their boarding gates in time. Over the last one year, Air India has introduced several customer initiatives including the Premium Lobby that offers exclusive check-in for first, business, and premium economy passengers, the dedicated Family Assistance counters at Delhi airport offering support to passengers travelling …

Akasa Air will operate flights from day one of the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is likely to start operations from the end of August. The airline will start with 15 daily domestic flights and increase the number to over 40 domestic plus 8-10 international flights by next summer, said Vinay Dube, Founder-CEO and Praveen Iyer, Co-founder and CCO, Akasa Air.

Virgin Atlantic has introduced a first-of-its-kind rewards programme exclusively for Indian travel agents. Exclusive Virgin-style Rewards and Benefits including epic experiences and exclusive event invitations. A first-of-its-kind for Virgin Atlantic in India, Sky High Club is more than a loyalty programme – it is a celebration of the passion, hustle and heart that define the Indian travel industry. With every booking, agents will now have the chance to earn points and unlock a world of extraordinary rewards and unforgettable experiences