Category Archives: Aviation

With Qatar now open for tourism to fully vaccinated travellers, Discover Qatar, the destination management division of Qatar Airways, has partnered with Qatar Airways Holidays and launched specially curated packages to welcome international travellers visiting friends and family in Qatar for a much-awaited reunion. As part of the conditions of entry, the State of Qatar has mandated that all tourist arrivals must have a confirmed hotel reservation. To help meet this requirement, Discover Qatar in partnership with Qatar Airways Holidays is offering exclusive deals with significant savings on a range of hotels that will enhance the customer’s family and friends’ experience, helping them make new memories as they reunite in Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are very proud to be playing our part in the reopening of our country to visitors in the safest way possible and supporting the next step in the development of Qatar’s tourism industry. Surrounded by crystal waters and a unique biodiverse ecosystem, Qatar has so much to offer when it comes to rediscovering nature, stellar architecture and offering a world that is inspired by modernism and traditions alike. “The city and desert tours will allow our passengers to enjoy every step of their journey with us, and we hope many get to experience Qatar’s renowned hospitality, culture and heritage, and the vibrant city of Doha through Discover Qatar’s exclusive packages.” The ‘Family and Friends’ packages start at QAR 1,721 per person and are available for a five, seven, or ten-night stay at leading, luxury hotels in Qatar such as the Hilton Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort, the Ritz-Carton Doha, Mondrian Doha, the Westin Doha Hotel & Spa …

Investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala may be exploring a plan to back a new, low-cost airline venture. He has had preliminary talks with a team of senior aviation professionals for an investment of up to US$35 million (₹260.7 cr) in the new airline. It is tentatively named ‘Akasa’ (sky) and is awaiting a no-objection certificate from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Usha Padhee, recently met with Office of the Lt. Governor in Leh, Ladakh to discuss and seek his guidance on various air connectivity issues. Secretary Civil Aviation, Ladakh Saugat Biswas and officials from AAI and SpiceJet were also present. She also visited Kargil. The meeting was to discuss flight operations in Kargil. Approval from DGCA for air operations, assessment for land, infrastructure, etc and the prospect of acquiring aircrafts on lease for both civil and commercial purposes was also discussed.  

India has recorded the highest domestic air traffic since the second wave of Covid-19 hit India, revealed Jyotiraditya Scindia, Cabinet Minister, Civil Aviation. “We are well on our way to gradually regaining pre-COVID-19 traffic levels!,” he said in a tweet.

SriLankan Airlines the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the Oneworld alliance resumes flights to the Russian capital, Moscow. SriLankan’s new service will operate a weekly scheduled flight between Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport (DME) from 30th July 2021. Accordingly, SriLankan would commence its flights to Russia every Friday using an Airbus A330 configured for 269 economy and 28 business class seats. The frequency of operation will be once a week, having a flight time of around 08 hours and 25 minutes. Flight UL533 will depart Colombo at 22:20 hrs., landing at Moscow Domodedovo Airport at 04:30 hrs., with the return leg UL534 leaving Moscow at 19:15 hrs. the next day and landing back into Colombo at 06:05 hrs. on Sunday. SriLankan Airlines Chairman, Ashok Pathirage said, “The resumption of services connecting Colombo and Moscow is a link that will not only facilitate travel but will be the impetus for building closer bilateral business connections between the two countries. We believe flying back to Moscow would create a window of opportunity for both countries and travellers could experience the historic heritage of the people of Sri Lanka and Russia.” SriLankan Airlines flew to 20 countries and 37 destinations before the pandemic and has gradually rebuilt its network following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with plans to increase the number progressively. “This is a significant air link for SriLankan Airlines as we connect to the largest country in the world which is also known as one of the greatest cultural and historic destinations. This operation would offer a new and easy travel path in connecting the Russian Federation and surrounding countries. We are eagerly awaiting …

Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, the new Cabinet Minister for Civil Aviation, has shared that starting July 16, eight new flights will connect the state of Madhya Pradesh to other destinations in India via SpiceJet. The planned routes are Gwalior-Mumbai-Gwalior, Gwalior-Pune-Gwalior, Jabalpur-Surat-Jabalpur and Ahmedabad-Gwalior-Ahmedabad. Scindia says that his Ministry and the aviation industry are committed to taking UDAN to greater heights with these routes.

Serving as the Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways in the Second Narendra Modi Government, Retired General Vijay Kumar Singh has also been made the Minister of State for Aviation. He will report to the Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia. He previously served as Minister of State for External Affairs in the First Modi ministry and as Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of the North-Eastern Region.

Jyotiraditya Scindia has been announced as the new Minister of Civil Aviation. He takes over the charge from Hardeep Singh Puri, who has been at the helm of Ministry of Civil Aviation since 2019. The news came after a cabinet reshuffle was done by Prime Minister Modi. Scindia was a Minister of State with an independent charge for Power in the cabinet of Prime Minister ManMohan Singh from October 2012 until May 2014.

Two more international airports will be added in North Eastern states, at Imphal and Agartala, with the aim of increasing connectivity in the region, said Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region. The airport at Itanagar will be functional by the end of the year and that a facility is also coming up at Kohima. At present, there is an international airport in Guwahati.  

Asia has had, and will continue to have, a much more cautious approach to dealing with the pandemic. This, when combined with the likely resurgence in cases in the Asian region, there is little sign that Asia Pacific states will be rushing to reopen borders in 2021. It will be well into 2022 before substantial changes occur, according to CAPA Centre for Aviation analysis.