Category Archives: Aviation

Airports Authority of India’s Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad were conferred with the prestigious National Tourism Awards 2016-17 at an award function in Delhi on World Tourism Day. The latter received the Best Airport Award in Major Cities category while Indore airport received the Best Airport Award in ‘Rest of India’ category for promotion of tourism at these airports.  The award was presented by K J Alphons, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism. Manoj Gangal, Airport Director, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad and Aryama Sanyal, Airport Director, Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport, Indore along with Keshava Sharma, Regional Executive Director (WR) AAI, received the award from the minister and Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism presents National Tourism Awards to various segments of the travel and tourism industry every year. These awards are presented to State Governments/Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organisations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promoting tourism.  

IndiGo has announced Kuala Lumpur as its 12th international destination. The airline will operate its daily non-stop flights between Kuala Lumpur-Bengaluru and Kuala Lumpur-Delhi with effect from November 15. The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers from these cities, who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options. Customers who would like to plan their travel can book tickets through the carrier’s official website www.goindigo.in. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo, said, “We are pleased to announce Kuala Lumpur as our 12th international destination with effect from November 2018. Malaysia provides a complete package for business travellers, holiday makers, the meeting and conference segment. We see great potential on the India-Malaysia route due to extensive cultural, business and tourism links between the two countries.” He further added, “IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice to our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and an affordable flying experience.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first greenfield airport of Sikkim at Paykong on September 24, 2018. Sikkim’s dream of having an airport came true nine years after a foundation stone for it was laid here, around 33 km from state capital Gangtok, in 2009. The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4. Set to pave the way for direct connectivity to Sikkim, Pakyong airport is the 100th airport of the country. Located around 60 km from the Indo-China border, the airport is spread across over 201 acres and is located on the top of a hill about 2 km above Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said. Source: PTI

In a bid to further enhance its flight connectivity from Uttar Pradesh, IndiGo has announced Allahabad as its 60th destination after the successful launch of operations to and from Gorakhpur. The airline will now operate flights between Allahabad and Bangalore effective November 15, 2018. From Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad will be the fourth city IndiGo will be connecting from, after Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur. The introduction of these flights will bring Allahabad closer to the other cities of India with all-inclusive fares starting from Rs 3620, bookings for which are open with immediate effect. William Boulter, Chief Strategy Officer, IndiGo said, “Allahabad is a key market for us and the fourth strategic launch in Uttar Pradesh after Lucknow, Varanasi and Gorakhpur on IndiGo’s network. We are strengthening our network from the state and hope to create more affordable, point-to-point connectivity for our passengers. IndiGo will continue to offer an on-time, courteous and hassle-free service and affordable flying experience always.”

Uzbekistan airways has announced direct flights to Tashkent from Mumbai, effective October 30, 2018 with a frequency of three times a week. This makes Mumbai the third Indian destination on the airline’s network, along with Delhi and Amritsar. The airline will be flying its A320 aircraft on this route on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Uzbekistan airways is promoted by Delmos Aviation, GSA for the airline in India since 2003 headed by Dr Naveen Rao, Director, Delmos Aviation headquartered in New Delhi.

As part of its international expansion, IndiGo is set to operate its first daily flight from Amritsar to Dubai. The low-cost carrier now operates 13 daily flights between India and Dubai. In addition, the airline will also operate flights between Kolkata-Cochin and Bangalore-Pune. Both services will commence from October 2018. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce our first daily flight to Dubai from Amritsar and Kolkata to Cochin effective October this year. We will also operate an additional flight between Bengaluru and Pune. The launch of these new services is in line with our growth strategy outlined for both domestic and international markets.” He further added, “IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travellers wherever they demand it. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice for our customers as IndiGo continues to offer them on time, courteous and hassle-free service and always an affordable flying experience.”

Brussels Airlines will operate its last flight from Mumbai to Brussels on January 7, 2019. For economic reasons, the airline has decided to cease its flight service between India and Belgium. Customers continue to have smooth flight options via Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich with Lufthansa Group partners Lufthansa and SWISS. Brussels Airlines started its Mumbai-Brussels route in March 2017, venturing for the first time into the Indian subcontinent. After an initial 5-weekly service, the airline added a sixth frequency in the winter season of 2018. The flight service does however not deliver the anticipated results and Brussels Airlines has therefore taken the decision to withdraw from the route and use the flight capacity to reinforce its existing African network, the key intercontinental market of the Belgium based airline. Passengers continue to have ample alternative travel options via Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich thanks to the Lufthansa Group airlines Lufthansa and SWISS. Customers who are booked on Brussels Airlines flights to or from Mumbai after January 7 are being contacted by Brussels Airlines and are offered alternative travel solutions to their final destination.

IndiGo has recently launched its fourth and fifth service to Singapore with the commencement of its additional flights from Kolkata and Tiruchirappalli. The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travellers who are constantly on the look-out for new and affordable flying options. William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, “We are pleased to operate our first daily non-stop flights between Kolkata-Singapore and Tiruchirappalli-Singapore. IndiGo has completed 12 years of successful operations in the India market as a low cost carrier, and adding new flights to its network will further augment the connectivity that we aspire to provide to our customers. It is our constant endeavour to provide our customers on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and an affordable flying experience always.”

In 2017, around 60 million international passengers flew to/from India, up from 55 million in 2016, according to a report by IATA, titled ‘The Future is Bright… But Not Without Its Challenges’.  The 2017 outcomes represents an increase of 10.3 per cent on 2016 and is the third consecutive year of double-digit international passenger growth. While the international market has not grown as fast as its domestic counterpart, the sustained period of robust growth, over a number of years, is still readily evident.

Jet Airways is set to introduce the country’s first non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester effective November 5, 2018, further strengthening the airline’s connect with the United Kingdom. Jet Airways will deploy a wide body A330-200 with 254 seating for the service, which will now operate five days a week including Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Manchester will become the 21st international addition to the Jet Airways network and with the introduction of this new flight – the carrier’s fifth non-stop service to/from the UK, Jet Airways will also become the largest carrier between Mumbai and the UK. Jet Airways’ flight 9W 130 will depart from Mumbai at 02:30 hrs and arrive in Manchester’s Terminal 2 at 07:55 hrs (local time). The return flight, 9W 129 will depart from Manchester at 09:30 hrs (local time) and arrive in Mumbai’s Terminal 2 at 00:40 hrs. Marnix Fruitema, Executive Vice President – Commercial, Jet Airways said, “Our new 5 days-a-week non-stop service brings Manchester into our global network, expanding our footprint as well as the choice of connectivity to and from the United Kingdom for our guests. Guests can also avail the advantages of various Jet Airways’ programmes such as eduJetter and JetEscapes to make their journeys enriching.” Speaking of  the new route back in May, Andrew Cowan, Chair of the Manchester India Partnership & CEO, Manchester Airport said, “I am delighted Jet Airways have recognised this by launching what I’m sure will be a hugely popular service, not least for the 500,000 people of Indian origin living across the North.”