Tag Archives: airline news

Air India’s booth will feature Business Class and Premium Economy seats of its A320 aircraft Visitors can get a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) zone Air India, India’s leading global airline, is set to showcase its premium cabin product and in-flight offerings at the upcoming Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2025, Asia’s premier and most influential travel trade show, scheduled to take place from 30 January to 1 February 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai. Taking inspiration from Air India’s signature design philosophy, the exhibition booth has been conceptualised with ‘The Vista’ as an integral part of its structure, blending aesthetics with immersive digital experiences. The pavilion will showcase various aspects of Air India’s transformation journey, captivating audiences with a live demonstration of Business Class and Premium Economy seats that are today available on Air India’s newly retrofitted A320 family aircraft. These aircraft come with subtle cabin mood lighting, spacious legroom and wider pitch, and modern features, like portable electronic device (PED) holders and USB ports to charge mobile phones, laptops and other gadgets, among others. Visitors will be able to experience the seats in real-time while also getting a glimpse of Air India’s brand new A350 product at the Virtual Reality (VR) experience zone. In addition, Air India will also display a selection of in-flight meals to showcase its refreshed menus and enhanced dining experience onboard. “OTM 2025 presents a significant platform for Air India to engage and deepen ties with more than 40,000 key trade visitors from across the globe while highlighting the milestones of our transformation journey. With the Air India pavilion featuring unique activations and immersive …

Achieving a 16% increase in international traffic and an 18% growth in transit guests Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has concluded 2024 with remarkable growth in its international operations, as highlighted in its latest performance report. The airline transported 20 million international guests on scheduled and additional flights, representing a 16 per cent increase compared to 2023. Transit guest numbers also surpassed 9.3 million, an impressive annual growth of 18 per cent. These milestones underscore Saudia’s unwavering commitment to connecting the world to the Kingdom while contributing to Saudi Vision 2030’s goals in tourism, entertainment, sports, and Hajj and Umrah. In total, Saudia carried 35 million guests throughout 2024, reflecting a 15 per cent year-on-year increase. The airline operated 193,000 scheduled and additional flights, a 10 per cent growth compared to the previous year. Additionally, Saudia achieved an 8.5 per cent increase in flight hours, totalling over 581,000 hours, while maintaining an on-time performance rate of 89.1 per cent, a 2.7 per cent improvement. Guest satisfaction also saw a notable rise, with the Net Promoter Score (NPS) reaching 32.7, a 4.5 per cent increase, indicating enhanced satisfaction and an improved likelihood of recommending Saudia to others. His Excellency Eng. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General, Saudia Group, said, “Operating in the competitive aviation industry demands a constantly evolving strategy. Saudia is committed to achieving sustainable operational excellence while adhering to the highest international standards. This remarkable growth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of Saudia’s employees and the strategic optimisation of our aircraft fleet to deliver exceptional service. We have also made significant strides in enhancing our services and enriching the overall guest experience.” As part …

Enhancing comfort and convenience for Tamil Nadu customers to Hong Kong and beyond Hong Kong’s home carrier Cathay Pacific has announced the introduction of a Premium Economy cabin on flights from Chennai to Hong Kong. This underscores Cathay Pacific’s commitment to investing in not only its network, but also its customer experience. The airline will operate its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins, to cater to diverse traveller preferences. Anand Yedery, Regional Head of Customer Travel and Lifestyle, Cathay said, “We are excited to introduce our Premium Economy cabin to the Chennai market. This addition reflects our dedication to offering customers greater comfort and choice. Chennai is a key destination for us, and our focus is on delivering unparalleled service and travel experiences. Travellers’ needs have evolved over time. In the past, there was not an option between Business and Economy classes, but with the introduction of our Premium Economy cabin, travellers can opt for extra comfort and personalised services, especially on medium- and long-haul flights. Our aim is to enhance the air travel experience for our customers.” Cathay Pacific’s Premium Economy cabin redefines comfort and sophistication, offering thoughtfully designed seats with enhanced recline, extra legroom, and ergonomic headrests for unparalleled relaxation. Features include full-length calf rests, leather-padded footrests, and larger meal tables that enhance work or and dining. For added convenience, personalised storage spaces keep essentials within easy reach. Customers can also enjoy Disney+ Originals along with a refreshed user interface, ensuring an immersive experience that sets a new standard for air travel. Furthermore, the airline will be increasing its flight frequencies from Chennai to Hong Kong. From 2 January to 1 March 2025, …

Operations to commence on 10 January, 2025 IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, announced the addition of IndiGoStretch on its Delhi-Bengaluru route, with operations commencing on 10 January, 2025. A tailor-made business product for India’s busiest and business routes, by March 2025, IndiGoStretch will be available on all 15 daily flights between Delhi and Bengaluru. IndiGoStretch is already operational on the Delhi-Mumbai route. By early January 2025, all 20 daily flights between Delhi and Mumbai will be on an IndiGoStretch aircraft. Promising a relaxed and comfortable journey, IndiGoStretch customers can enjoy complimentary benefits like priority check-in, anytime boarding, advance seat selection, and zero convenience fee. They will also get additional baggage allowance starting from 30 kg (two bags) in check-in and one bag of 12 kg in the cabin. Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, “In line with our announcement to serve 12 Indian routes with our business class product, IndiGoStretch, we have added Delhi-Bengaluru as our second route. This follows the successful launch and positive customer feedback of IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Mumbai. This initiative is another step towards our endeavour to provide greater comfort and accessibility to our customers. Soon, we will announce IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Chennai.” IndiGoStretch is available for bookings on IndiGo’s direct channels as well as aggregator websites with tickets starting at ₹ 21000. It offers two-seat wide bay, specially curated healthy meal options by the Chefs at Oberoi Flight Services, and premium seats designed by RECARO. With a spacious pitch of 38 inches and a width of 21.3 inches, the seats feature a six-way adjustable headrest with neck support, a five inch deep recline for relaxation, electronic device holder, 60-watt …