Category Archives: Aviation

Changi Airport Group (CAG), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) re-launched the Free Singapore Tour today after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. Three of the existing tours available since pre-Covid-19 – the City Sights Tour, Heritage Tour, and Jewel Tour – have been refreshed to include new points of interest. A brand-new Changi Precinct Tour will introduce travellers to the interesting sights and sounds of the eastern region surrounding Singapore Changi Airport. Each tour lasts 2.5 hours and will be available daily, with plans to progressively increase to nine tours a day. With transit and transfer passengers accounting for about 30% of passenger traffic at Changi Airport pre-pandemic, the tour was first introduced in 1987 to enhance the airport’s attractiveness as a transfer hub and to entice transit and transfer passengers to visit Singapore as a holiday destination. In 2019, over 80,000 passengers went on the Free Singapore Tour. The top markets were India, Australia, and Indonesia, with Indian and Australian travellers making up more than one third of the total participants. New Changi Precinct Tour to showcase eastern Singapore The Changi Precinct Tour is a new itinerary that will bring participants to the eastern part of Singapore to visit local community spaces such as the Tampines heartland, and to admire the rustic charms of Changi Village and Changi Beach. It offers a glimpse of how local residents live, and tells the tale of Singapore’s history on this part of the island, away from the usual hustle and bustle of Singapore’s city centre.   Refreshed itineraries to offer travellers new experiences At the Jewel Tour, in addition to visiting popular attractions like the Shiseido Forest Valley …

Oman Air is passing a major milestone this month with the occasion of its 30th anniversary, a journey which began in March 1993 with a single flight between the cities of Muscat and Salalah. The route, operated by Boeing 737-300, marked the launch of the airline’s domestic network, which was followed shortly after with its first international flight between Muscat and Dubai. Over the past three decades, the airline has gone from strength to strength and now flies to over 45 destinations as far as Europe and the Far East, with a strong international presence and a reputation for providing high quality products and outstanding customer service. “Thirty years as Oman’s national airline is a milestone to be proud of,” said Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air. “In that time, Oman Air has grown from a small regional carrier connecting Omanis across the country to an award-winning airline connecting visitors from around the world to Oman’s diverse natural beauty and rich culture.  Despite the challenges of the last few years, our goal continues to be to serve our country   by enabling Oman’s Vision 2040 ambitions, whether through job creation, supporting the tourism and logistics industries, or increasing inward investment. With three decades of experience and expertise to build on, we’re looking to the future with renewed optimism.” A cornerstone of Oman’s socio-economic development, since its maiden flight, Oman Air has carried millions of passengers into the country, providing them with an authentic introduction to Omani hospitality and culture. It has laid the foundations for a tourism industry that has increased ten-fold over the last 30 years, contributing to the creation of hundreds of thousands of direct …

MAI will commence direct non-stop flights from Yangon to Chennai every Saturday from May 6, 2023 enhancing the connectivity between the two countries further after Delhi (Mon, Wed, Fri) and Kolkata (Thu, Sun) and Gaya. This will boost the leisure, MICE, VFR, Corporate, labour and medical travelers with comfortable connections to Yangon and beyond to other international and domestic network of MAI. MAI is offering a special one way Economy fare starting as low as Rs.22,907 and one way Business class fare starting at Rs.47,840. MAI offers 30 Kgs free registered baggage allowance to all Economy class passengers and 40 Kgs free registered baggage allowance to all Business Class passengers in addition to 7 Kgs hand luggage. MAI will be operating on this route with A319/A320 or Embraer 190 aircraft once a week on every Saturday. The flight 8M 630 will depart Yangon at 0800 Hours and arrive Chennai at 1015 Hours. The flight 8M 631 will depart Chennai at 1115 Hours and arrive Yangon at 1515 Hours. MAI is a full service carrier and offers 3% commission on basic fare to all IATA agents. MAI currently operates to 27 International destinations and 18 domestic destinations and has seamless interline arrangements with 34 carriers. MAI also offers special benefits to various categories of passengers. For Pilgrims like Monks and Nuns there is an extra 5% discount on international fares , for Corporate traveler MAI offers 10 Kgs extra free baggage allowance and one time free date change. For Diplomats there is a 5% discount on international fares along with priority check in and priority boarding and for medical travelers MAI offers additional 5 Kgs free baggage allowance and one time …

Airports Council International (ACI)-Asia Pacific has warned that the aviation industry’s recovery is threatened by rising airfares in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions, despite stable airport charges. ACI-Asia Pacific’s latest industry outlook reveals that, despite airports’ substantial efforts to freeze or lower airport charges in 2022, airfares rose by an average of 53% compared to 2019. 

The new Air India Express (merged entity of two of its LCCs – Air India Express and AirAsia India – rebranded AIX Connect) will focus on leisure-oriented and price-sensitive markets while improving connectivity between key domestic cities and Air India’s fast-expanding international network. While a complete merger is still months away, both airlines have now integrated their reservation systems along with other customer-facing processes. Integrating Air India Express and Air India with other airlines in the Tata Group is expected to bring revenue, cost, and operational benefits through broader adoption of each airline’s best practices, systems, and routes, and conferring greater economies of scale.

Virgin Atlantic has expanded its codeshare with IndiGo, opening up an array of new destinations throughout India and increased opportunities for frequent flyers to earn more points than ever before. Customers will now be able to book one ticket which allows them to connect seamlessly to London and beyond from destinations such as Varanasi, Srinagar, Goa Mopa and Lucknow through Delhi and Mumbai. In total, the partnership is adding 18 destinations to its existing portfolio making it a total of 34 destinations. The beautiful beaches of Goa have proved particularly popular with Virgin Atlantic customers. The expanded partnership will incorporate Goa’s second airport, Goa Mopa, providing travellers with even more access to one of their favourite destinations. The expanded codeshare allows Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club members to reach their rewards faster, with opportunities to earn both Virgin Points and Tier Points available on every codeshare flight with IndiGo. Alex McEwan, Country Manager – South Asia, Virgin Atlantic said: “We are excited to more than double the number of destinations available in our codeshare partnership with IndiGo. This offers our customers even more choice when travelling to and from India. By combining IndiGo’s vast network with Virgin Atlantic’s three daily services between India and UK, we offer a range of connections to and from India’s most popular destinations.”

Join Etihad’s senior management team in India for an exclusive trade webinar today at 4pm IST. Etihad is celebrating flying again from the city of Kolkata, West Bengal. To register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or +919650196532.

Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, has said that the Civil Aviation Ministry is encouraging budget carriers to induct widebody planes in order to become an international hub. “Construction of Jewar and Navi Mumbai airports is on track and the two are likely to be inaugurated by next year. We are looking at a 500 mn capacity at 6 metro airports.”

Speaking at the CAPA India Aviation Summit in New Delhi, Rajiv Bansal, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, said that the construction of the Jewar and Navi Mumbai airports is on track and the two are likely to be inaugurated by next year. “We are looking at a 500 mn capacity at 6 metro airports,” he said.  

Vietnam Airlines is pleased to announce 3 additional  flights to their existing flight schedule of 4 flights a week, making it a Daily flight service between Delhi-Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City effective March 26, 2023. The new flight schedule provide non-stop flight services with 4 non-stop flights a week on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday between Delhi & Hanoi and 3 non-stop flights every week on every Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday between Delhi & Ho Chi Minh City, to meet the demand and facilitate travel between the two countries. With night departures from Delhi and early morning arrivals in Hanoi &/or Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Airlines is fast becoming preferred Full Service Carrier for the discerning traveler to Vietnam. The daily departures from Delhi will further enhance seamless connectivity to Japan, Korea, China, Australia and other international destinations on the airlines network.