Category Archives: Aviation

Travelport, in its 2024 State of Modern Retailing Report, finds that most respondents (88%) agree they would prefer to see all flight options and fares on one screen, which is likely the reason that more than half (54%) said they frequently use a comparison site to search for information before purchasing their ticket. The majority of Millennial (70%) and Gen X (64%) travelers often use online travel agencies (OTAs) to book, citing choice and price transparency as the primary reasons.

The budgetary allocation for the Civil Aviation Ministry has been reduced to ₹2,357.14 crore for the current fiscal ending next March. Meanwhile, the regional air connectivity scheme is set to receive ₹502 crore during the same period. In the budgetary allocation for 2023-24, the amount for the Civil Aviation Ministry was ₹2,922.12 crore.

Sitharaman has raised our hopes when it comes to tourism in India, which bodes well not just for domestic but also inbound tourism, which has been suffering since Covid. Delivering to the states, she highlighted the development of ‘iconic’ tourism centres by the states who will be allowed long-term, interest-free loans for such long-term development. For domestic tourism, the FM announced projects for better port connectivity and more tourism infrastructure, that will be taken up on islands in India, including of course Lakshadweep! All in all, her Budget highlighted promoting investments into India, including its infrastructure projects. In positioning India as a global tourist destination, we’ll also create jobs, stimulate investments and unlock economic opportunities for other sectors. In addition to the measures outlined in the interim budget, I propose the following measures. Vishnupath temple at Gaya and Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar are of immense spiritual significance. Comprehensive development of Vishnupath temple corridor and Mahabodhi temple corridor will be supported, modeled on the successful Kashi Vishwana temple corridor to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations. Rajgir, Rajgir holds immense religious significance for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. The 20th Tirthankara Muni Suvaratha temple in the Jain complex, Jain temple complex is ancient. The Sapta Rishi or the seven hot springs form a warm water Brahmkund that is sacred. A comprehensive development initiative for Rajgir will be undertaken. Our government will support the development of Nalanda as a tourist center besides reviving Nalanda University to its glorious stature. Odisha’s scenic beauty, temples, monuments, craftsmanship, wildlife sanctuaries, natural landscapes and pristine beaches make it an ultimate tourism destination. Our government will provide assistance for their development to Odisha …

With the aim of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Interim Budget 2024 yet again showcased a lofty imagery of the ‘new and improved’ India. However, it does fleetingly mention tourism and its development – directly and indirectly. To build a foundation for future development, the FM underlined its Startup Credit Guarantee Schemes that will encourage new businesses in various sectors including, hopefully, tourism. She mentioned that the country ‘is capable of creating more opportunities’ which cannot be further from the truth. Sitharaman added that the focus will be on ffostering and sustaining growth to create great opportunities for all and to fulfil aspirations. She said that the MSME will be an important element of this policy. Coming to aviation, she said that it has been ‘galvanized in the past 10 years’ with number of airports doubled, expansion of the UDAN scheme, 517 new routes carrying 1.3 crore passengers, and the expansion of existing and new airports that will continue, she committed. Mentioning the success of G20 meets that took place across India, she said the country has made itself an attractive destination for MICE. ‘The corporates want to explore India and religious tourism offers great opportunities.

A lot is riding on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s 7th Union Budget presentation, to be aired today. This makes her the first FM to present seven Union Budgets in a row! This Budget is an important one for ‘Amrit Kaal’ and will decide the direction for India’s economy for the next five years. It has the potential to build a strong foundation of our dream of Viksit Bharat, the Prime Minister has said. As the industry braces itself for it, it does so with cautious hope – afraid of being let down yet again due to the absence of any mention of tourism, yet hopeful that perhaps this could be the moment when the sector begins to appear in the FM’s horizon. Watch this space for more updates and industry reactions on the Budget.

As an IT and telecommunication service provider to the air transport industry globally, SITA Aero in a recently held round table in New Delhi shed light on its ongoing collaborations with airlines and airports across India, detailing SITA’s projects and service offerings to their partner. The company also opened a new command centre in Gurugram to expand its portfolio in India. Keen to play a pivotal role in the growth journey of India’s aviation industry, SITA to drive state-of-the-art Airport Operational Database (AODB) and Flight Information Display System (FIDS) solutions, along with SITA Operations Manager services to Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) through advanced solutions. Together, these solutions revolutionise airport management by introducing new functionalities and providing superior operational control, promising significant benefits for CIAL. Responding to the question on Digi Yatra, David Lavorel, CEO, SITA Aero, said, “With the debut of Digi Yatra in June 2017 by the Civil Aviation Ministry of India, it has become a model for the world when it comes to using technology to facilitate hassle-free travel. It uses facial recognition technology to confirm passengers’ identities at various checkpoints, including security, boarding gates, and check-in, giving passengers a paperless and seamless experience.” Marking a significant milestone, SITA in a groundbreaking collaboration implemented the SITA Smart Path solution at Bangalore International Airport this month, which is aligned fully with the Digi Yatra program. The partnership sets a new standard for seamless, biometric-enabled travel experience in India. In this pioneering collaboration, BIAL is utilising SITA’s cutting-edge products and solutions, including SITA Smart Path, Passenger Flow Management (PFM) solution, and Face Pods. These technologies will enable biometric-enabled passenger processing at all touchpoints across the airport, ensuring a seamless …

The AAI’s draft of National Airports Development Plan has scribed its agenda to expand the airport count to 300 by 2047. As per the plan, around 70 airstrips can be developed into full-fledged airports that can handle narrow-body aircraft such as A320 or B737, and nearly 40 airstrips can be developed to handle smaller aircraft.

Mayur Patel, Head of Asia, OAG Aviation, said, “India has made remarkable progress in its aviation industry, positioning itself as the third largest domestic aviation market in the world. India has witnessed substantial growth in its domestic aviation sector, showcasing the country’s expanding middle class and their rising disposable income.”

Oman Air has been named Best Airline Staff is the Middle East at the Skytrax 2024 World Airline Award. The prestigious accolade was accepted by Con Korfiatis, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, during the award’s 25th anniversary in Windsor, UK. It’s the seventh time Oman Air has claimed the title. “Oman Air’s consistent success in this category underscores our unwavering, dedication to fostering a service-oriented culture that is deeply rooted in the rich traditions of Omani hospitality. I am extremely proud of the Oman Air family, both onboard and on the ground for providing time and again their dedication to service excellence and commitment to deliver an unmatched quality experience at every touchpoint,” said Korfiatis. The Skytrax World Airline Awards are considered one of the most prestigious in the industry, with travellers across the globe taking part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey.

Travelport and Emirates have announced that NDC content from Emirates and enhanced NDC servicing capabilities are now available in the Travelport+ platform. With this, Travelport’s agency customers will be able to compare dynamic NDC offers and ancillaries from Emirates and create a more streamlined, personalized experience for travellers. Travelport’s complete NDC solution for Emirates also provides agents the ability to service NDC bookings, which includes modifications and cancellations.