Category Archives: Aviation

Jazeera Airways has announced an exclusive Early Bird Offer for its customers on its booking. Starting now, passengers can save up to 30 per cent on all Jazeera Airways destinations by booking their flights 45 to 120 days in advance. This offer applies to travel across our extensive network, including destinations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe. This offer is valid for travel until 20 March 2025.

The New Zealand travel and tourism industry is facing a storm as the government’s recent decisions on visa fees and the International Visitor Levy (IVL) threaten to derail its recovery efforts. The double whammy has significantly increased the cost of visiting the country, making it less attractive to international travellers. According to Dr. Xie Xingquan, Regional Vice President, IATA, North Asia and Asia-Pacific, the combined impact of these changes could delay the return of visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels well beyond 2026. This is a major setback for the industry, which is a crucial contributor to the New Zealand economy. IATA had strongly opposed the increase in the IVL during the public consultation process for the IVL, arguing that it would harm the country’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Unfortunately, the government ignored these concerns and applied the levy in the 2024 budget despite ongoing discussions. Dr. Xie also expressed concern about the lack of transparency regarding the allocation of funds collected through the IVL. He urged the government to consider investing these resources in initiatives that support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. As the industry struggles with these challenges, it is clear that the government’s approach to tourism policy needs to be reassessed. By fostering a more welcoming environment for international travellers, New Zealand can position itself as a leading destination and drive economic growth.

Hyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport debuted a luxurious new terminal exclusively for private aircraft and chartered flights. This state-of-the-art terminal, designed with Indo-Saracenic-Indo-Gothic interiors, offers a seamless and upscale experience for business and leisure travellers. With its private entrance, dedicated car park, and chauffeur services, passengers can enjoy hassle-free travel in and out of Hyderabad. The terminal also provides a range of amenities, including multiple lounges, separate arrival and departure corridors, and all the standard airport services.

While receiving the Airline Professional of the Year award, Sunil V A, Regional Vice President, ISC & FE, Oman Air, said, “After COVID, things have really changed. Initially, we were operating to a lot of cities across India, and currently, we operate to 10 cities. So, it has been a great rebound for us.”

All-inclusive airfare starting at INR 37,839/- for Ethiopian Airlines flights from Mumbai/Delhi/Bengaluru/Chennai to Cape Town/Johannesburg In its endeavour to make the Rainbow Nation more accessible to Indian travellers, South African Tourism has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines to launch its #ExploreMore&MoreForLess campaign. Aiming to alleviate the burden of air travel costs while visiting international destinations, the campaign offers lowest ever fares for visiting South Africa from India at just INR 37,839/-. The airfare is applicable to Ethiopian Airlines’ routes from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai to Cape Town and Johannesburg and is up for grabs through the campaign period starting 1 September to 30 September 2024. Available exclusively through the Ethiopian Airlines’ website and mobile application, customers can choose to travel anytime between 01st October – 31 December 2024 while making their bookings during the offer period. As per the offer terms, travellers can further avail an additional discount of 10% on the base fare. Announced at the onset of festive season, the offer enables Indian travellers to effectively plan their long-haul journey keeping in mind two significant occasions – Diwali and Christmas. When travelling internationally, airfares are often a major deciding factor for families and individuals alike and play a vital role in selecting experiences one can choose to indulge in during their trip. South African Tourism, in its partnership with Ethiopian Airlines’ aims to empower travellers to curate their itinerary more freely and cherish their time away whole-heartedly. An extension to South African Tourism’s wildly popular More&More campaign, #ExploreMore&MoreForLess empowers Indian travellers to embark on as many quests from the 3,000 adventure activities, majestic wildlife and varied culinary experiences available in South Africa. Expressing his enthusiasm on the campaign launch, …

A350 will offer a new cabin product with full-flat beds in Business, a new Premium Economy experience along with comfortable, spacious seats in Economy Guests on this flight will experience Air India’s new soft product – Vista Verve Air India will also be introducing on board Wi-Fi soon, starting with the A350 on the Delhi-London Heathrow route Air India, India’s leading global airline, has introduced its brand-new Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the Delhi-London Heathrow route. This twice-daily service is the first deployment of the ‘new Air India’ experience on long-haul flights and represents a significant milestone in the airline’s transformation program. The Air India A350 cabin product includes a fresh three-class configuration offering full-flat beds in Business, a new Premium Economy experience and the latest generation seats in Economy.  All guests enjoy the latest-generation inflight entertainment system offering more than 3000 hours of entertainment content, which will shortly be complemented by on board Wi-Fi. Guests in Business and Premium Economy will also enjoy updated amenity kits exclusively designed by Ferragamo and TUMI, as well as Air India’s new soft product – Vista Verve – with new chinaware, tableware, glassware and bedding. Completing the experience, flight and cabin crew will don, for the first time, their new Manish Malhotra-designed uniforms. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Air India, said: “The deployment of the flagship A350s on the Delhi-London Heathrow route marks a significant milestone for Air India. It demonstrates Air India’s commitment to elevating the travel experience of our guests to truly world-class standards and to going beyond just meeting customer expectations as we continue to grow and renew our fleet.” Air India’s A350 aircraft feature 28 private suites with …

SriLankan Airlines turns 45, celebrating a trailblazing journey that took off on September 1, 1979, with just two Boeing 707 aircraft. A pioneer in the region, the airline has always remained resilient in the face of turbulence and has consistently championed true Sri Lankan hospitality globally. Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever-evolving and testing environment. Today, SriLankan continues to be one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way. Key Milestones and Achievements: 1979 – Launch of Air Lanka with two Boeing 707 aircraft (1st September) 1979 – Maiden flight to Bangkok on 1st September 1979 – Services are launched to Bahrain, Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Paris, Zurich, Madras and Male 1980 – Launch of Air Lanka Catering Ltd 1980 – First Lockheed L1011 Tristar acquired 1984 – Boeing 747-200 acquired 1990 – Air Lanka becomes a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association) 1990 – Three Ilyushin IL-86’s leased to operate mercy flights for Sri Lankans fleeing Gulf War 1991 – First international airline to obtain IATA accreditation for its Centre for Training 1992 – Launched frequent flyer programme “The Serendib Club” 1993 – First Airbus A320-200 acquired 1994 – First Airbus A340 acquired, becoming the first in South Asia to operate Airbus A340 1998 – Enters into a strategic partnership with Emirates 1999 – Air Lanka rebranded as SriLankan Airlines 1999 – First Airbus A330-200 acquired 2000 – Phased out Lockheed Tristars for an all-Airbus fleet 2000 – The cargo arm rebranded as ‘SriLankan Cargo’ and as a separate entity 2000 – SriLankan Cargo launches dedicated freighter service using Antonov AN12F …

Noida International Airport is prepared to take off promising a significant boost to tourism in the region. The upcoming launch of the airport marks a major milestone for Indian aviation, enhancing connectivity and passenger comfort. Noida International Airport (NIA) continues to make significant strides towards its operational launch, with construction activities proceeding at a rapid pace. The airport, slated to commence commercial operations by the end of April 2025, is set to play an inflectional role in the growth of Indian aviation. Constructions Headway Passenger Terminal: The passenger terminal is taking shape, with work on facades and roof well underway. The installation of the baggage handling system is nearing completion, while MEP and finishing works are progressing steadily. Runway: The asphalt works on the runway have been successfully completed. Focus is now on runway markings, approach lights, and airfield ground lighting. Air Traffic Control: MEP works and finishing works are in progress at the ATC Tower. Navigational aids like DVOR have been calibrated, and preparations for Instrument Landing System (ILS) calibration are underway. Partnerships and Operations Take Flight Airlines Onboard: IndiGo and Akasa Air have signed MoUs with NIA, and discussions on network planning and operational requirements are ongoing. Strong interest from other domestic and international carriers is evident. Concessions Awarded: Key aero concessions, including into-plane fuelling services, ground handling, and cargo, have been awarded. Non-aero concessions for retail, dining, lounge, duty-free, and hotel have also been signed. Seamless Passenger Journey: Factory acceptance tests for key airport systems are complete, and equipment has started arriving on site. Check-in kiosks, self-service bag drops, and e-gates are being tested. Operational Readiness: Agreements for crucial operational and maintenance services, including airfield lighting, passenger …

Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday, has placed low-cost carrier SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance due to safety deficiencies uncovered during a recent audit of August 2024. This is the third time SpiceJet has faced strict supervision from the regulator, following safety incidents in 2022 and weak finances in 2023. The airline’s monetary troubles have resurfaced, as evidenced by recent incidents like the Dubai Airport halting boarding of SpiceJet flights due to unpaid dues and flights being unable to fly over Pakistan due to unpaid overflying charges. The DGCA’s decision to place SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance underlines ongoing safety concerns with the airline’s operations. The repeated regulatory scrutiny of SpiceJet can damage the reputation of India’s aviation industry and raise questions about safety standards. “Due to concerns about SpiceJet’s recent flight cancellations and financial difficulties, the DGCA conducted a special audit of the airline’s engineering facilities on 7 and 8 August, 2024. This audit uncovered certain deficiencies,” the DGCA announced on Thursday. The DGCA will conduct more spot checks and night surveillance to ensure safety of SpiceJet’s operations. The airline faces significant financial challenges, including unpaid dues to aircraft lessors, vendors, and suppliers. SpiceJet’s market share in India’s aviation sector has been declining, further impacting its financial stability. While most Indian airlines rebounded significantly from the COVID-19 pandemic, SpiceJet faced ongoing financial challenges. SpiceJet’s repeated regulatory interventions and ongoing financial struggles pose a serious challenge to the airline’s future. The DGCA’s decision to place the airline under enhanced surveillance underscores the need for immediate action to address safety concerns and ensure the well-being of passengers.

Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, won the DDP Game Changer award for playing an instrumental role in propelling Akasa Air to new heights. “This award is a testament to the power of hard work of our company in achieving remarkable milestones and becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines”, he said after receiving the award.