Category Archives: Aviation

The next decade promises some significant and exciting developments in airport infrastructure. Plans are underway at various locations around the world to expand passenger facilities, enabling some of the world’s largest airports to handle over 100 million passengers annually.

India has become the world’s 3rd largest air travel market, climbing from 8th in 2014, as per IATA. Driven by affordable airfare policies, domestic air travel surged 129% over the decade, far outpacing global growth at 61%. As a result, domestic travel accounts for 78% of India’s total origin-destination departures, up from 72% to 78%.

IndiGo commenced direct flights between Mumbai and Adampur (Jalandhar). This new route is part of IndiGo’s strategy to enhance connectivity between key regional hubs and tier-2 cities. Punjab plays a vital role in India’s economic and cultural landscape, and connecting it with India’s financial capital, Mumbai, unlocks the potential of the state’s growing industrial and agricultural sectors with greater access to commercial ports. It will also benefit tourism by encouraging greater exposure to the rich cultural heritage of Punjab. With Adampur as its 92nd domestic destination, IndiGo continues to expand the network, delivering on its promise of on-time travel experience that is affordable, courteous & hassle-free. Adampur (Jalandhar) is a town located in the Jalandhar district of Punjab. Known for its strategic location on the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur road, it houses the Adampur Air Force Station, one of the oldest airbases in the country. Adampur also has a rich cultural heritage, with a mix of traditional Punjabi lifestyle and growing urban influence. Adampur offers access to several nearby attractions. Rangla Punjab Haveli showcases traditional Punjabi culture, while Devi Talab Mandir in Jalandhar is a popular spiritual site. Pushpa Gujral Science City provides fun, educational experiences, and Wonderland Theme Park is perfect for family outings. These spots make Adampur a great base to explore Punjab’s culture and entertainment.

Building on the successful rollout of its Premium Economy product in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, Emirates has now announced the introduction of its Premium Economy class on flights to and from Kolkata, effective 18 July 2025. The move marks the continued expansion of Emirates’ award-winning offering across key Indian cities, with the aim of providing customers more choice when making travel plans. Passengers traveling on the Dubai-Kolkata route can now book Premium Economy seats on flight EK573, which will operate four times weekly (Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), departing Kolkata at 20:45 hrs and arriving in Dubai at 00:05 hrs. Flights to Kolkata, on EK572, depart Dubai at 13:05 hrs and arrive in Kolkata at 19:15 hrs. All times are local. Tickets can be booked for travel starting from 18 July. Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ VP – India and Nepal said: “We are delighted to introduce our highly-acclaimed Premium Economy experience to Kolkata, marking another significant milestone in our commitment to the Indian market. The response to our Premium Economy product in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are confident that travellers in Kolkata will appreciate the blend of comfort, value, and thoughtful touches that make Emirates’ Premium Economy stand out. We remain dedicated to elevating the travel experience for our customers and offering them more choice and flexibility.” The Premium Economy cabin is thoughtfully-designed to offer an enhanced experience, combining comfort and aesthetically-pleasing features, including wider cream leather seats, increased legroom, adjustable headrests, deeper seat recline and raised cushioned leg rests.  For those seeking additional comfort and privacy during their journeys, the understated luxury cabins offer a refined upgrade from Economy Class.

IndiGo is preparing for a major change in its global operations. The airline will soon stop using two large aircraft it had leased from Turkish Airlines to run flights to Istanbul. But IndiGo has made it clear, it is not backing out of the Istanbul route. Despite the leasing issues, it is not ending its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines.

IndiGo announced the appointment of Amitabh Kant as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Directors of InterGlobe Aviation Limited, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Speaking on this, Kant said, “I am delighted to join the Board of IndiGo. In under two decades, the brand has transformed air travel in India, emerging as a global benchmark for operational excellence and customer experience. I look forward to contributing to IndiGo’s and India’s next chapter of trade, tourism, and economic growth.”

In India, more than 4 out of 5 (83%) of travellers believe airports are adopting AI and technology at the right pace 88% of Indian travellers spend more due to automation, significantly higher than the global (60%) and Asia Pacific (68%) average 61% of travellers in India say new airport technology has reduced stress, and 46% say tech has made their journey more seamless While airport technology evolves, genuine service, trust and human connection remain key Airports are rapidly evolving into technology-driven hubs, reshaping the travel experience and unlocking significant commercial potential. Priority Pass, the world’s leading airport lounge and experiences programme and part of The Collinson Group, has released new global research surveying over 12,000 travellers – including from key markets across Asia Pacific (APAC) such as India, Hong Kong SAR, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand – to highlight how digital innovation is transforming traveller behaviour, spending and engagement at airports worldwide. The global airport automation market size is projected to surge from USD 55.05bn in 2025 to USD 85.12bn by 2031, fuelled by rising passenger expectations and investment in digital infrastructure. From biometric ID and real-time passenger updates to fully automated check-in and bag drop, the report finds smart technologies are directly influencing traveller choices and spend. Amongst Indian travellers, 82% identified fast-track security and 85% cited digital boarding passes as the most impactful technologies, while automated baggage drops and advanced scanners are both highly valued by 80% of respondents. Additionally, 88% expressed comfort in sharing biometric data to help expedite their journey. 88% of Indian travellers – particularly Gen Z (91%) and Millennials (93%) – report increased spending at airports due to automation, significantly higher …

Oman Air’s membership into one of the leading global alliances will increase international awareness and inbound tourism potential for Oman, while offering guests access to a full suite of oneworld benefits across the network of more than 900 global destinations. Oman Air has officially joined the oneworld® alliance as its 15th member airline, creating significant new benefits for its guests and elevating Oman’s position on the global map. After a more than two-year integration journey, Oman Air now enters oneworld’s worldwide network of leading airlines, offering seamless travel to over 900 destinations in 170 countries and territories. As a full oneworld member airline, Oman Air’s top tier guests will gain access to all oneworld priority benefits including a network of nearly 700 Business lounges globally, as well as newly opened oneworld branded lounges in Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Seoul’s Incheon Airports. Likewise, Oman Air will provide oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby customers with a full suite of oneworld benefits including earning and redeeming miles, earning status points, priority check-in and boarding and lounge access. Bringing the world closer to Oman, Oman Air’s entry into the alliance significantly enhances global access to the Sultanate. Through seamless connectivity across the airline’s 15 worldclass member airlines, travellers from key markets like the United States, Japan and Australia, can now enjoy smoother, more convenient journeys to Oman. “Oman Air is honoured to be joining the oneworld alliance, whose members and global footprint represent the best of what international travellers want to experience,” said Con Korfiatis, CEO, Oman Air. “We are thrilled to be able to welcome oneworld customers to the Sultanate of Oman to experience our unique culture, stunning mountain excursions, beautiful beaches, and, above …

IndiGo announces direct flights between Hindon (Ghaziabad) and Goa, starting July 20. Operating daily except Saturdays, this new route offers a convenient and time-saving travel option for residents of East and Central Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad by bringing Goa’s iconic beaches closer than ever. The flexible schedule is designed to cater to the increasing demand during peak travel season, offering more choice and comfort to travellers.

Goa is set to welcome more tourists from Kazakhstan, as charter operators show strong interest in expanding seasonal flights. During recent B2B meetings in Almaty, Goa Tourism’s sustainable travel offerings and its new campaign, #GlowOnArrival, sparked interest among Kazakh tour operators, opening up fresh business opportunities.