Category Archives: Aviation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to adopt simple, predictable and practical measures to safely and efficiently facilitate the ramping-up of international travel as borders re-open. Specifically, IATA urged governments to focus on three key areas, simplified health protocol, digital solutions to process health credentials, and COVID-19 measures proportionate to risk levels with a continuous review process.

Qantas to launch a brand-new international route from Melbourne to Delhi from 22 December 2021, connecting Victoria to the Indian capital on a Qantas-operated flight for the first time in the airline’s history. From next month, Australia will open for certain categories of fully vaccinated international travellers like students, working holidaymakers and provisional family visa holders. Qantas will connect Delhi with Sydney and Melbourne from December. Australia has approved both Covishield and Covaxin as approved vaccines.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Civil Aviation Minister, revealed that the Central government intends to double the number of airports in the country to more than 200 by 2023-24. He told a conference of state and UT civil aviation ministers that the Centre wants to build at least one heliport in each district in collaboration with the states and UTs. For seaplanes, capital support is expected from the states.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Civil Aviation Minister said, “The government is assessing the process of regularising international flight operations. Keep in mind what’s going around the world, particularly in Russia and parts of Europe, experiencing a fourth wave despite vaccines,” he remarked at a CII event. The government will assess the COVID-19 situation, before deciding on scheduled international flights that were suspended in March 2020.

een Travelers from the United Arab Emirates will now be able to fly directly to Delhi four times a week. Air Arabia, Abu Dhabi’s first low-cost carrier, has announced the launch of a new route to Delhi, India’s capital city, beginning November 24. Since the commencement of Air Arabia Abu Dhabi’s service from Abu Dhabi International Airport in July 2020, the new route is the carrier’s 16th. This will enhance the connectivity between India and the United Arab Emirates for travellers from both countries.

Children under the age of five years are excluded from both pre- and post-arrival COVID-19 testing in India, according to the Health Ministry, due to increased vaccination around the globe and the changing nature of the pandemic. If they show signs of coronavirus infection upon arrival or during the home quarantine period, they must be tested and treated according to the established protocol.

As per IATA, the number of unruly passengers has more than doubled since 2020, and the trend is expected to continue in 2021. Incidents have even caused flights to be rerouted, including one from Paris to Delhi. Between January and early October 2021, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) recorded more than 4,600 incident reports in the US, with 72 percent of them, refusing to wear a mask. Some 849 of these reports have been handled, compared to a yearly average of 142 over the last decade.

Indian tourists will be some of the most desirable travellers, given India’s growing economy, young population and rising middle class, according to GlobalData. The data and analytics company notes that the country is projected to reach record levels of 29 million outbound trips by 2025 – a buoyant outlook considering the strains of COVID-19.

Maldivian airlines first flight departed from Delhi to Male’. It’s a non-stop flight with Economy Class and Business Class configuration. Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives, will be operating this service three times a week with an Airbus A320 aircraft. For Business Class travellers, the airline also offers access to lounges at airport, exclusive check-in counter and generous seats with comfortable recline and seat-pitch.

Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation inaugurated the IndiGo flight between Kanpur – Bengaluru. Scindia said that this new route will not only enhance connectivity to/from Kanpur but will also promote trade, commerce and tourism between these cities. Flights between Kanpur and Mumbai & Hyderabad have also started. In addition, he recently inaugurated first direct flights on Indore-Prayagraj, Indore-Jodhpur, Indore-Surat routes, in a bid to boost regional connectivity.