Category Archives: Aviation

Nok Air, a leading premium budget airline in Thailand, has launched its new nonstop daily service between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport (DMK). The new route will be operated by state-of-the-art Airbus 737-800 with 189 seats. Starting on October 28, 2024, the new route will offer convenient travel options for both business and leisure travellers seeking seamless connectivity between Thailand and India. With its well-known Thai hospitality service and tailored product offerings, Nok Air aims to provide passengers with an exceptional flying experience at an affordable price “This is a great milestone for Nok Air as we continue to increase our international network. This will enhance the travel connection from India to Bangkok and to our extensive domestic network. Not only well-known destinations like Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Krabi but also hidden gems across the country such as Chiang Rai, Nan, Udon Thani, Trang, and others,” said Wutthiphum Jurangkul, Chief Executive Officer, Nok Air. Passengers can purchase tickets starting on August 19, 2024, with travel periods from October 28, 2024, to March 29, 2025. With Round Trip fares starting from INR 16,000* and can be purchased on www.nokair.com or through preferred travel agents. Timetable Destination Flight Number Departure Arrival BOM-DMK DD939 02.05 07.45 DMK-BOM DD938 22.05 01.05+1 Nok Air also operates four weekly flights from Hyderabad to Don Muang Airport (DMK), offering convenient connections to Bangkok and over 20 destinations across Thailand.

SriLankan Airlines, aiming to capture travellers’ attention with its safety protocols, has launched a brand-new onboard safety video featuring a range of Sri Lanka’s most mesmerising scenic locations. In the air travel industry, disseminating safety information is a regulatory pre-requisite, as well as a precaution to ensure that every passenger is aware of safety provisions and protocols. The new safety video transcends this basic requirement by incorporating the island’s aesthetics and the signature warmth and care of SriLankan’s onboard service, to create a cinematic experience that is both informative and captivating. Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of SriLankan Airlines, said, “We are delighted to launch our brand-new onboard safety video, which we premiered to over 200 international travel trade partners at the Global Sales Conference. This video replaces the one we have had for over a decade and offers a fresh perspective on the island home we proudly share with the world.” While drawing the viewer’s attention to vital safety details, the video unveils the tourist attractions of SriLankan Airlines’ hub, Sri Lanka. It transforms the flight cabin into various scenic ambiances, conveying that a journey aboard SriLankan Airlines to Sri Lanka is a visually captivating experience in itself. As the regulatory body, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) worked closely with the airline, where the input and valuable insights of the former were immensely helpful to deliver an accurate and universally comprehensible safety demonstration. The Inflight Entertainment system (IFE) version of the video includes subtitles in Sinhala and Tamil, enhancing the clarity and engagement of the safety guidelines being demonstrated. SriLankan Airlines has always been in the forefront of marketing quintessential island attributes to its global network, both …

IATA urges all governments to promptly share their regulatory changes with IATA to ensure this information reaches the entire airline industry. Willie Walsh, DG, IATA, says, “The reality is that without the proactive support of govts, if IATA is not aware of the changes before new regulations take effect, its virtually impossible for airlines to comply with country requirements. All we are asking is for govts to promptly communicate regulatory changes concerning passengers air cargo or airport charges to IATA. Let us do the rest.”

As  per ICRA report, domestic air passenger traffic saw YoY growth of 8.6 per cent in comparison to 121 lakh in July 2023 and higher by 10 per cent than pre-Covid levels. However, it was estimated at 131 lakh in July 2024, 0.5 per cent lower vis-a-vis 132.1 lakh in June 2024.

Indian travellers are extending their trips after Olympics to explore Paris, which is evident in their booking patterns as per Skyscanner data. The flight bookings for travel during the end of Olympics Games week is 51 per cent higher compared to the previous week.

Expressing concerns regarding the recent GST notices issued by India’s Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) to some foreign airlines, the IATA argues that this approach does not align with international norms and practices, pointing out that Indian airlines do not face similar demands abroad. These notices, targeting expenses incurred by foreign airlines’ headquarters, are seen as potentially detrimental to India’s aviation growth, it said.

Having served 11 million passengers, the airline is on its path to becoming one of the top 30 airlines in the world by the turn of this decade Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, celebrates its second anniversary today, marking an extraordinary journey evidenced by significant milestones for any Indian airline in the history of aviation. The airline operated its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, redefining the representation of an Indian airline led by its empathetic service culture, reliable operations and affordable fares. Akasa Air has consistently been India’s most on-time airline. This, together with its operational efficiencies and extremely positive customer feedback has made it the preferred carrier of over 11 million passengers in India since its inception. In line with its endeavour to cater to the growing demand for air travel by connecting people, cultures, and regions, Akasa Air has registered triple-digit growth and continues to be the fastest-growing airline in global aviation history Celebrating the milestone, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air, said, “Two years ago, we embarked on a journey with a vision to redefine air travel, and today, I can proudly say that we have successfully delivered on our purpose while upholding our commitment to reliability, service excellence and affordability. We offer an unparalleled flying experience with the most comfortable seat in the Indian skies, a fresh in-cabin experience and our carefully curated culinary offerings, delivered by our empathetic crew. In this past year, we have consistently been India’s leader in on-time performance while registering greater operational reliability, and the lowest customer complaints, and cancellations in the industry. These milestones would not have been possible without the dedication of …

Collinson International, in its latest global research report, explored spending habits of sports and music event travellers. Over two-thirds of event travellers from India (69%) participate in customer engagement and loyalty programmes. Many have joined programmes that offer points/miles (39%) or discounts on flights (52%), tickets (45%), and accommodation (39%). Over a third (39%) of event travellers from India have also expressed that they would choose a payment card that offered exclusive travel benefits such as an event package (that includes flights, accommodation, transfers and tickets), travel insurance (40%) and airport lounge access (43%).

Sharing details in the recent Rajya Sabha session, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said India has executed Bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with a total of 116 foreign countries. The agreements facilitate the operation of international flights between India and these nations, aiming to boost global connectivity and support economic and tourism growth.

On IndiGo’s 18th-anniversary, Rahul Bhatia, Group MD, InterGlobe Enterprises, said, “India deserves more than just two major airlines, and IndiGo’s market share domination is not entirely of its own volition, as certain airlines have fallen by the wayside. He also said that IndiGo will never be found guilty of “gouging” its customers and welcomes competition with the right cost structure.”