Category Archives: Aviation

The government has directed airlines to serve or sell in-flight meals from April 15 only on those domestic flights that have a duration of over two hours, in wake of the sharp surge in Covid-19 cases. However, there are no restrictions on inflight meals on international flights as of now. The move is aimed at preventing the passengers from taking off their masks while on the aircraft.

Boeing’s commercial market outlook for India reveals that the country’s air passenger market will double in size by from the pre-pandemic level by 2030. The first to recover be VFR traffic. International traffic, by comparison, is expected to take at least until 2023 to make a full recovery, primarily owing to travel restrictions, vaccine roll-outs and a slow return of business travel.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has unveiled a new safety video, filmed on location at Louvre Abu Dhabi, to give passengers across the globe, a glimpse of what attractions the capital has to offer. Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience Brand & Marketing, Etihad Airways said: “Our safety video needed a refresh including the safety messaging requirements due to COVID. This new video goes beyond its main purpose of educating guests about essential safety information, it also reflects our brand and personality, while leveraging the very best of our beautiful home, Abu Dhabi.” The video is set at Louvre Abu Dhabi, with Etihad’s very own cabin crew demonstrating safety features of the aircraft and other Etihad employees acting as guests. Emirati voice-over artists were used to voice the video in English and Arabic. To further ensure a consistent guest experience, the accompanying music is part of Etihad’s new signature sound collection which is used across the airline for a variety of touch points. The sonic branding is inspired by Abu Dhabi and is an eclectic mix of Emirati and international instrumentation and arrangements, played by musicians from the UAE and around the world. Etihad’s new safety video will be progressively rolled out starting with the airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners in April 2021. To protect health and safety, the new video was filmed following strict COVID safety protocols, including all cast and crew having to present a negative PCR test.

Indian flag carrier Air India has announced that it will operate a direct flight between Moscow’s Sheremetyevo AS Pushkin Airport and Goa airport every Thursday from April 14 to October 28, 2021. The carrier has opened bookings for the flight via its website, booking offices, call centre and authorised travel agents.

Air Seychelles is set to resume operations of its commercial flights between Mumbai and Seychelles twice a week, starting Thursday, April 8, 2021. Remco Althuis, CEO, Air Seychelles says that it is the right time to launch these flights since Seychelles has reopened its borders on March 25 to welcome visitors on its shores regardless of the vaccination status. “We are very optimistic about the Indian market for Seychelles, especially after seeing so many Indian visitors to the Maldives. Hence, we want to use this opportunity to get more Indians to see Seychelles and hopefully, in the future it’d lead to an increase in the visitor numbers to India once the pandemic is over,” he adds.

As part of its efforts to develop tourism in the state, the Karnataka government has decided to build heliports at major tourist destinations, informed, Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar. He said that Kalaburagi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Hampi and Mangaluru are the destinations where heliports will be developed.  

Following the fresh lockdown measures introduced in Maharashtra from April 5, Kiran Dighavkar, Assistant Commissioner, BMC – Mumbai, clarified that passengers landing in Mumbai city during curfew hours – whether from out of state or internationally – will be allowed movement within the city. Their boarding pass and/or flight ticket will be enough for this. The night curfew is in place from 8pm to 7am and anyone breaking the rules will be fined Rs 500, said government officials.

IndiGo has joined hands with CarterPorter, to launch ‘6EBagport’, to provide door to door baggage delivery service starting April 1, 2021 in New Delhi and Hyderabad. The service, which starts at a nominal rate of INR 630 for one way, will subsequently be launched in Mumbai and Bengaluru as well. Passengers can book the service from the comfort of their homes. The facility will enable passengers to travel worry-free as CarterPorter will transfer their baggage contactless from one destination to another with added assistance inside the terminal. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo said, “We are continuously striving to enhance our customer service and this collaboration is a step further towards providing a one-stop hassle-free experience. The service will bring relief to customers who may want to travel with additional baggage from home to airport or would like to go for a meeting directly from airport without carrying bags. Our partnership with CarterPorter will ensure that our customers have a seamless experience as their baggage gets transferred door to door while they fly onboard our lean, clean flying machine”.

Maldivian, the National Carrier of Republic of Maldives, will start direct flights between Maafaru and Mumbai from April 13, 2021. Aishath Jennifer, Deputy Managing Director, Maldivian, shares that Indians can land at Maafaru and reach their respective resorts or guest houses in no time. “It will be very convenient if they come to Maafaru Airport, and we have four atolls with about 10,000 tourist beds in this region. With four islands in this vicinity, there is a lot of opportunity for the tourists. Unlike Male, we are asking the tourists to report to the airport only two hours prior to departure of the flight, so that they can spend more time in their resort or guest houses,” she said.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that Willie Walsh has officially taken on the role of Director General of the organization. He succeeds Alexandre de Juniac. “I am passionate about our industry and about the critical work that IATA does on behalf of its members, never more so than during the COVID-19 crisis. IATA has been at the forefront of efforts to restart global connectivity, including developing the IATA Travel Pass. Less visible but of equal importance, airlines continue to rely on IATA’s financial settlement systems, Timatic and other vital services to support their day-to-day operations. I am grateful to Alexandre for leaving behind a strong organization and a motivated team. Together, the IATA team is absolutely focused on restoring the freedom of movement that airlines provide to billions of people around the world. That means your freedom to visit friends and family, to meet critical business partners, to secure and retain vital contracts, and to explore our wonderful planet,” said Walsh.