Category Archives: Aviation

Nok Air announced the resumption of its direct flights from Hyderabad (4 times a week) and Mumbai (Daily) to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK), effective 26th October 2025. The return of operations to these key routes marks a robust comeback after a brief summer pause, that reinforces Nok Air’s commitment to serve the Indian market. Coinciding with the start of the winter travel season, this relaunch will provide Indian travellers with effortless access to Thailand’s vibrant culture, acclaimed cuisine, wellness retreats, diverse shopping, world-class golf tourism, and iconic holiday destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Chiang Rai—all easily connected via domestic flights from Bangkok. True to its motto, ‘We Fly Smiles,’ Nok Air continues to deliver a superior flying experience at affordable fares. Passengers may select from two value-packed fare options: Nok Air X-tra: Includes 20 kg checked baggage, 7 kg cabin bag, premium seat selection, inflight entertainment, and a complimentary snack box with water. Nok Max: Includes 30 kg checked baggage, 7 kg cabin bag, premium seat selection, and a complimentary snack box with water. The renewed service and convenient departure timings from Hyderabad and Mumbai ensures travellers maximise their time in Thailand. The flights will further strengthen connectivity between Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Thailand, ensuring travellers enjoy spacious seating, onboard entertainment, and renowned Thai hospitality provided by Nok Air’s friendly crew. Ramesh Marwah, Director, DEX Group said, “We are excited to restart Nok Air’s India–Thailand services just in time for the upcoming peak season. The relaunch adds great value for leisure travellers and holidaymakers. We will focus on close collaborations with trade partners, OTAs, and industry federations like TAAI, TAFI and OTOAI to drive awareness and …

Rajiv Bansal will guide Sarla on aviation regulatory strategy and policy alignment along with scaling operations in its next phase of growth Sarla Aviation announced the appointment of Rajiv Bansal, Former Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Managing Director, Air India to lead the company with regulatory advisory and strategy development towards certification. The move marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to redefine the future of mass transportation in India. This strategic appointment reinforces Sarla’s commitment to pioneering safe, purpose-driven and accessible urban air mobility solutions in the Indian aviation landscape. With an impressive career spanning over three decades in aviation policy and operations, Bansal brings unparalleled expertise to team at Sarla Aviation at a critical juncture as the company transitions from deep engineering to real-world deployment and flight testing. As a leading figure in the aviation ecosystem, having played a central role in shaping the nation’s civil aviation, his appointment signals strong institutional validation for Sarla’s vision to build India’s next-generation aircraft platforms. Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, excited, says, “It is an incredibly important step for Sarla to welcome Rajiv Bansal ji to our team, our ambition, and our company. His experience and leadership at the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be instrumental in helping us mature our processes, shape our certification strategy, and strengthen our approach as we build India’s first privately held full-stack aviation OEM. For all of us, it is a rare opportunity to learn, listen, and build alongside one of the greatest aviation visionaries of our country. We enter this next phase of growth with great confidence and renewed ambition—and we are excited to serve the nation together.” In this advisory …

Vietjet has reported robust business results for Q2 2025, exceeding expectations and marking significant milestones. Highlights of the quarter include major aircraft orders, expansion of ground self-service operations, and a successful bid for a key development project at Long Thanh International Airport, which is poised to be Vietnam’s new major aviation hub. For Indian travellers and industry observers, Vietjet’s sustained growth and increasing international footprint come at a time when demand for affordable, well-connected air travel continues to surge across the Asia-Pacific region. It has been once again recognised by AirlineRatings as ‘World’s Best Ultra Low-Cost Carrier,’ while also being ranked among the safest airlines globally. Q2 2025 revenue highlights Aviation revenue reached VND17.681 trillion (approx. US$673.9 million), with pre-tax profit of VND775 billion (approx. US$29.57 million), reflecting a 52.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase. Total consolidated revenue reached VND17.885 trillion (approx. US$682.29 million), with pre-tax profit climbing to VND815 billion (approx. US$31.09 million), representing a YoY growth of 151.5%. With 10 direct routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad to top Vietnamese destinations, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, Vietjet is well positioned for continued growth and sustainable development in the second half of 2025. Half year financial highlights Vietjet posted strong performance in the first half of 2025, achieving 78% and 75% of its full-year separate and consolidated pre-tax profit targets, respectively. Aviation revenue reached VND35.6 trillion (approx. US$1.35 billion), with pre-tax profit of nearly VND1.6 trillion (approx. US$61.04 million), representing a 37% YoY increase. Consolidated revenue reached VND35.8 trillion (approx. US$1.36 billion), with pre-tax profit exceeding VND1.6 trillion (approx. US$61.04 million), experiencing a 65% YoY growth. Total assets exceeded VND112.33 trillion (approx. US$4.28 billion). …

Malaysia Airlines is set to further strengthen its connectivity in South India by increasing frequencies to the city. Beginning 12 September 2025, the airline will introduce a fifth weekly service, with daily operations to commence from 1 December 2025.  Tickets for the new frequencies are now available for booking through all Malaysia Airlines’ official channels and appointed travel partners. Malaysia Airlines currently operates 77 weekly flights across ten key cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Trivandrum. With the new additions, this number will increase to 80 weekly flights by December 2025.

Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary, Department of Tourism, Kingdom of Philippines said she is hopeful to see surge in Indian arrivals to the archipelago with easy visa regime announced and Air India’s five times weekly flight service, starting 1 October. She added, “We are in talks with industry stakeholders to promote the nation for Indian travellers.”

India has emerged as the world’s fifth-largest aviation market, handling 241 million passengers in 2024, according to IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics. The Mumbai–Delhi route ranked 7th among the world’s busiest airport pairs. Asia Pacific dominated the ranking, with only Jeddah–Riyadh, located outside the region, in the top 10.

Releasing data for June, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) revealed global passenger demand, highlighting that the total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 2.6% compared to June 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was also up 3.4% year-on-year. The June load factor was 84.5% (-0.6 ppt compared to June 2024), it added.

Malaysia Airlines is set to further expand its presence in South India by increasing frequencies to Trivandrum. Beginning 12 September 2025, the airline will introduce a fifth weekly service, with daily operations to commence from 1 December 2025. Tickets for the new frequencies will be available with immediate effect. This marks a significant step forward since the route’s launch in November 2023, which initially operated twice weekly before increasing to four times weekly in April 2024. The airline has also partnered with Kerala Tourism under ‘Look East’ initiative, launched in Trivandrum to strengthen travel ties between East Asia and Kerala. The increase in frequency reaffirms Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to the Indian market by offering travellers greater flexibility and convenience, while enhancing connectivity between India and Malaysia. Through its hub in Kuala Lumpur, the airline continues to strengthen its role as the gateway to Asia and beyond. Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer, Airlines, Malaysia Aviation Group said, “India remains a key focus market for Malaysia Airlines, and this frequency increase reaffirms our dedication to meeting the growing demand for air travel from South India. With daily flights to Trivandrum, we are well-positioned to offer greater flexibility and convenience for both business and leisure travellers, while supporting trade and tourism flows between our two countries.” Malaysia Airlines currently operates 76 weekly flights across ten key cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Trivandrum. With the new additions, this number will increase to 77 weekly flights by December 2025. Passengers flying from India to Malaysia can also take advantage of Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme, which offers a complimentary side trip to one of seven …

Focus on long-haul expansion, fleet renewal, and synergies with Lufthansa Group ITA Airways’ Board of Directors has approved today the Company’s 2026-2030 Business Plan. The plan is structured around three fundamental strategic pillars: Strengthening the competitive position: ITA Airways aims to establish itself as Italy’s reference carrier—efficient and innovative—offering high-quality connectivity in close collaboration with the key sectors of tourism and international trade. At the core of the Company’s strategy is delivering exceptional service to both business and leisure travellers, with a continuous focus on economic, social, and environmental sustainability through responsible resource management. Network and fleet development: The Plan focuses on expanding the long-haul segment and increasing intercontinental destinations from the Rome Fiumicino hub. Connectivity will also be enhanced through commercial agreements and strategic partnerships with other Airlines. Meanwhile, the fleet renewal process will continue, prioritising energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact, in line with the Company’s sustainability commitments and EU regulations—such as the elimination of ETS free allowances. By the end of the plan period, the fleet will be almost entirely made up of next-generation aircraft. Strengthening integration with the Lufthansa Group, the world’s fourth largest Airline group, as a strategic advantage to leverage significant operational, commercial, and technological synergies, boosting competitiveness, the access to new markets, and driving continuous innovation in passenger services. Below are the key development priorities outlined in the Business Plan. Network The 2026-2030 business plan places great emphasis on expanding and strengthening the network, particularly long-haul routes. ITA Airways plans to launch new routes connecting Rome Fiumicino with key destinations in North America, South America, Asia, and Africa, tapping into growing markets and meeting the needs of an increasingly global customer base. These …

IndiGo announced the extension of its codeshare agreement with KLM, the Netherlands’ carrier. The agreement will allow IndiGo to place its code on KLM-operated routes to 30 destinations across these regions, via Amsterdam.