Category Archives: Aviation

Nok Air, Thailand’s premium budget airline, celebrated the arrival of its inaugural flight DD 938 from Bangkok in Mumbai at 1:05 AM. This marks Nok Air’s second Indian destination, following Hyderabad, which was introduced in February 2023. The inaugural flight to Bangkok departed Mumbai on 28 October, at 2:05 AM. Nok Air will operate a daily schedule of eight nonstop flights between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and Don Mueang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok, utilising the Boeing 737-800, accommodating 189 passengers. Nok Air’s senior officials, including Chief Commercial Officer, Ranon Viputsiri, were on board the inaugural Bangkok to Mumbai flight, where passengers and crew were warmly welcomed with traditional vermillion and flowers. A special celebration at the boarding gate included goodie bags for passengers, a lamp-lighting ceremony, and a cake-cutting event, highlighting the significance of this new route. “As we embark on this exciting journey, we are confident that our services and unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction will make this route a preferred choice for both leisure and business travellers. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this historic milestone and experience the comfort and convenience of our flights” stated Ranon Viputsiri. “Two vibrant cities that have long been cultural and economic hubs in their respective regions. This new route not only strengthens our commitment to connecting people but also underscores our belief in the immense potential for growth and collaboration between Thailand and India.” Nok Air is committed to delivering a quality flying experience at affordable prices, reflected in their motto, “We Fly Smiles.” Travelers can choose from two ticket options: Nok Air X-tra and Nok Max. Nok Air X-tra: Includes 20 kg of checked …

As part of its ambitious plan to enhance air connectivity, Odisha cabinet has approved a financial incentive program for airlines to launch new flights connecting various airports in Odisha. According to the program, airlines will receive ₹5 lakh per round trip for domestic flights and ₹10 lakh for international routes.

Data from Ixigo and Cleartrip revealed that 78% of domestic and 30% of international flights from India are booked within 15 days of departure, particularly for visa-free destinations like Thailand and the Maldives. Flexible work schedules, rising disposable incomes, and tempting last-minute offers from OTAs fuel this trend.

Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has reported significant growth in its operational performance for the third quarter of 2024, according to its latest performance report. The airline transported over nine million guests, marking a 10% increase compared to the same period in 2023. This achievement was supported by more than 49,500 flights, reflecting a 9% increase in flight operations. Additionally, Saudia logged 146,700 flight hours, representing an 11% increase over last year, with an impressive on-time performance rate of 87.8%. Internationally, Saudia carried over five million guests, reflecting a 9% growth, and on more than 21,900 flights, a 5% increase compared to last year. The airline’s international fleet logged over 102,400 flight hours. On the domestic front, Saudia served over four million guests, demonstrating a 12% increase, with more than 27,500 flights operated, marking a 13% increase. Domestic flight hours surpassed 44,200, with a commendable on-time performance rate of 91.5%. H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General, Saudia Group, stated: “The aviation industry is uniquely defined by its skilled workforce and cutting-edge systems that ensure sustained operational excellence. We remain committed to delivering innovative services that enhance the travel experience for our valued guests, and our new strategy meticulously addresses every aspect of air travel—from security and safety to expanding seating capacity to meet growing demand.” From January to September 2024, Saudia successfully transported over 25.3 million guests across 143,800 flights. Looking ahead, the addition of 131 new aircraft to Saudia’s fleet will significantly expand flight offerings and seating capacity across its network of over 100 destinations spanning four continents. This growth will also introduce new international routes, aligning with the airline’s strategy to connect the world to …

Travesla is challenging the status quo in the GSA landscape. Led by aviation veteran Salil Nath, it is pioneering a value-driven transformation in aviation, travel, and hospitality. India’s aviation market is poised for extraordinary growth. By 2037, India is expected to handle over 500 million domestic passengers annually, making it the third-largest aviation market globally. Travesla aims to transform the GSA landscape by creating a mini version of the airline or travel brand’s commercial team in India or the respective geography, delivering local expertise with a global vision. Travesla sets new standards for how GSAs can bring tangible value to airlines and all travel and hospitality stakeholders by focusing on partnership, innovation, and holistic solutions. As Travesla officially launches, the company is positioned to lead the representation of global aviation and hospitality businesses in India and beyond, transforming the landscape with its value-driven approach. The mission is clear—adopt a 360-degree approach to commercial success by offering tailored teams, focusing on quality revenue through unparalleled corporate sales penetration, complementary marketing & PR services, and expert aero-political, regulatory, legal, and government liaison services. This approach is helmed by professional leadership with decades of experience in leading airlines globally. Whether you are an airline looking to expand into new markets or a hospitality provider aiming to improve your commercial performance, Travesla’s cutting-edge services are designed to exceed expectations and deliver real, measurable results. Despite the immense potential, the Indian aviation industry grapples with inefficiencies and evolving consumer demands. Traditional GSA models often need to do more to bridge these gaps, focusing on transactional engagements rather than offering the transformative solutions needed to drive meaningful growth and innovation. Airlines and hospitality businesses require partners …

Ethiopian Airlines Group announced a groundbreaking milestone with the upcoming arrival of the very first Airbus A350-1000, the first of its kind in Africa, proudly named “Ethiopia Land of Origins”. This state-of-the-art aircraft represents not only their unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation but also the hard work and dedication of the entire Ethiopian family. The A350-1000 will significantly enhance their fleet, enabling Ethiopia to expand routes, improve fuel efficiency, and offer passengers an exceptional flying experience. It also contributes to the global effort for a more sustainable aviation industry, aligning with their commitment to reducing environmental footprint. With its advanced technology, the A350-1000 will allow them to serve customers better, ensuring their comfort and safety on every flight. This new addition strengthens Ethiopian Airlines’ market presence, opens up new destinations, and creates more opportunities for everyone within the company. Ethiopian Airlines Group is eagerly preparing for the official delivery and operation of the A350-1000.    

SriLankan Airlines is scheduled to launch a new daytime flight between Bangalore and Colombo starting 31 October 2024, bringing the total weekly operations between the two cities to 10 flights. The new flight timings are ideal for both Indian holidaymakers and business event attendees travelling to Sri Lanka for short weekend escapes. Flight UL 1174 will depart from Bangalore to Colombo at 09:40 AM every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, arriving in Colombo at 11:10 AM. The return flight, UL 1173, will leave Colombo at 07:20 AM and reach Bangalore at 08:40 AM every Thursday through Saturday. The schedule of the new service is designed to offer a more flexible travel experience for Bengalureans jetting out to Sri Lanka, whether for a vacation or a workation. It provides more daytime hours on the island while being conveniently scheduled closer to the weekend. This allows travellers to pack more into their itinerary, make the most of their visit, and return home in time for the start of a new week, making it the most convenient flight option for weekend travel to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka’s popularity as a holiday and MICE destination in the Indian outbound travel market continues to rise, thanks in part to the geographic and cultural proximity of the two countries. Most Indians are likely to find the comforting familiarity of home in Sri Lanka that is not found in other parts of the world. Additionally, the island’s compactness, coupled with the new flight schedule, enables Indians to enjoy a range of diverse experiences in just a few days, from the stunning southern shores and the historical kovils of the north to the cool climes of the central province, …

Air India and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have agreed to significantly expand their codeshare agreement, adding 11 Indian cities and another 40 international destinations to their network. This marks the first extensive expansion of codeshare arrangements between the airlines since 2010, offering customers enhanced travel options between Singapore and India, as well as beyond. From 27 October 2024, Air India and SIA will codeshare on each other’s flights between Singapore and the Indian cities of Bengaluru and Chennai, increasing their total weekly scheduled codeshare services between the countries to 56 from 14. SIA will codeshare on Air India’s domestic flights between Delhi and Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Lucknow, and Varanasi, between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Goa, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Thiruvananthapuram, as well as between Kolkata and Guwahati. Air India customers will be able to access 29 destinations across SIA’s network. These are Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney (Australia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Phnom Penh and Siem Reap (Cambodia), Denpasar, Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya (Indonesia), Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo-Haneda, and Tokyo-Narita (Japan), Busan and Seoul (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur and Penang (Malaysia), Auckland (New Zealand), Cebu and Manila (the Philippines), as well as Danang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). This includes existing codeshare arrangements to Kuala Lumpur. SIA customers will also be able to connect to Air India’s international services from Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai to 12 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. These are Copenhagen (Denmark), Paris (France), Frankfurt (Germany), Milan (Italy), Nairobi (Kenya), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Jeddah and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Colombo (Sri Lanka), as well as Birmingham, London-Gatwick, and London-Heathrow (the United Kingdom). Both airlines plan to progressively include other …

India is presently the world’s fastest-growing aviation market with demand surpassing the supply of aircraft and a strong order book of more than 1,500 aircraft from airlines in India. India’s skies are dominated by low-cost carrier IndiGo which holds around 60% market share and the Tata group airlines, with around 30% market share. As more than 80% of India’s commercial fleet is leased, there is tremendous potential for aircraft leasing activity within India. Even if some of these aircraft are leased from India, it will bring down the costs as the leases will be immune to exchange rate volatility. Leasing done through foreign jurisdictions like Ireland is vulnerable to exchange rate fluctuations. GIFT City – Can it snatch leasing business from Dublin? The Government of India has recognized the potential of the aircraft leasing and financing business. Accordingly, in October 2020, ‘aircraft lease’ was designated as a ‘financial product’ that can be offered by entities set up in International Financial Services Centres (“IFSCs”) in India. IFSCs are essentially special economic zones dedicated to financial services. IFSCs provide tax benefits and flexibility in foreign currency transactions. In the last few years, there has been a surge in activity from the Gift City, India’s first IFSC, with more than 28 aircraft lessors already registered, which have leased more than 120 aviation assets, including aircraft, helicopters and engines. The success of GIFT city to a large extent hinges on tax incentives. Recognising this, the Indian Government provides a range of tax benefits to units established in the GIFT City, similar to some of the well-established aircraft leasing hubs like Ireland, Singapore, and Dubai. These tax benefits include a tax holiday for any 10 …

During the inauguration of Saharanpur, Rewa, and Ambikapur airports, PM Modi highlighted that RCS-UDAN’s success has escalated demand for new aircraft. The heightened demand for aircraft is substantiated by Indian carriers’ orders, which exceed 1,000 aircraft slated for delivery over the next 10-15 years, representing a significant augmentation of India’s existing fleet, which currently comprises approximately 800 planes.