Tag Archives: USA

The latest air ticket data analysed by ForwardKeys reveals that comparing April-September 2021 against the same six months in 2019, a significant shift in source markets is evident. The USA, which used to account for 31% of actual air tickets into India pre-COVID has doubled. The UK, a traditional source market, has shrunk by more than half to only 6%.

Efforts put in by TAAI have finally borne fruit as the government has now permitted travel agents to book Vande Bharat flights. “We appreciate Air India, MoCA and NITI Aayog for supporting our initiatives, and look forward to more compliances to support the struggling industry,” says Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI. As of now, flights to USA, Germany (FRA) and France (CDG) have been announced in the coming phase.

Looking at key trends and changes in booking habits for India and South Asia as studied by ForwardKeys, India continues to be the most favoured destination among key long-haul markets of United Kingdom, USA, Germany, UAE and Australia, repeatedly featuring in the top two choice of each.

Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation, has said that international operations will begin in air bubbles now, which will be active with a few countries including France, US and the UAE. He further revealed that air bubbles will operate for a while and only then will regular international operations begin. “Negotiations are at an advanced stage with at least three countries. We formally signed for Air France operating 28 flights from Paris to New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru between 18th July and 1st August. Apart from that we have an agreement with United Airlines to operate 18 flights between 17th and 31st July. We have requests from Germany also, and the negotiations with Lufthansa are almost done. Some details have to be worked out,” he said.

According to recent study by ForwardKeys, 15 regional destinations have seen a drop in bookings from the USA in the past five weeks. South East Asia saw a decline of 94.1%, while South Asia bookings fell by 23.7%. Oceania saw of drop of 21.3%, Caribbean (12.5%), Central/Eastern Europe (7.7%), Northern Europe (5.5%), Middle East (4.2%), South America (3.4%), North America (3.3%), Southern Europe (2.8%) and Western Europe by (1.7%).

From the US, the highest number of bookings happen in September and October, accounting for 21% of all bookings. Even in January there is a peak of 10% from US. From United Kingdom there are 2 periods of peak bookings— January, which accounts for 12% of booking volume and the period September to November, which accounts for 29% of booking volume. Both USA, UK have two peak periods, reveals an analysis of time of actual 2019 inbound bookings data to India by Forwardkeys, from 3 important long-haul source markets – USA, UK and Australia. Australia, being in the Southern Hemisphere has one peak booking peak period – July August September which account 32% of all bookings.

The percentage shares of top 15 source countries availing e-Tourist Visa facilities during November, 2019 were highest from UK (12.22%), followed by USA (10.75%), China (8.06%), Russian Fed (7.85%), Malaysia (5.71%), France (4.61%),Germany (4.60%), Australia (4.16%), Canada (3.85%), Thailand (3.25%), Italy (2.32%), Singapore (1.87%), Spain (1.64%), Vietnam (1.50%) and Israel (1.40%), reveals Ministry of Tourism.

A number of airlines have issued travel advisories for cities and areas in the Western Coast of the United States, as a massive snowstorm is expected to hit the on one of the busiest travel days of the year, Thanksgiving. The winter storm is expected to impact travel throughout South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, while a cyclone is expected to dump snow on California and Oregon. Storm alerts have been issued from the West Coast to New York, covering 26 states in total. Over 100 Million Americans are currently under alert for these two storms and airlines including American, Delta, Southwest and United have started issuing advisories and waiving change fees. Travelers are advised to check their flight statues frequently. Scattered rain showers will soak the East, while windy conditions in the Great Lakes and Northeast could cause delays at local airports. Snow is also expected to cover roadways from the Sierra Nevada to the interior West.

Owing to the Christmas and New Year holidays, a number of Indian origin travellers with the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card are facing difficulties to board flights to India from the US. The problem is happening with a few airlines such as Air India and Qatar Airways. It has been reported that travellers, who haven’t yet updated their OCI documents after getting their passports renewed, were not granted permission to board their flights to India. Now, the Indian immigration authorities are accepting an OCI card with old passport number only for those who are over 20 years. The solution to the problem as advised by the authorities is to carry both new and old passports along until the OCI card is not renewed.

In 2018, 23,69,941 tourists have arrived in India through e-tourist visa, according to a report by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF). Tourist arrivals through increased at a CAGR of 251.59 per cent during 2014-17 to reach 1,697,000 tourists in 2017. The government has recently made a series of amendments in the e-visa regime to make it more tourist-friendly. The duration of stay in India of e-tourist and e-business visas is maximum up to one year with multiple entry subject to the stay stipulations. Also, the existing restriction of allowing foreigners for a maximum of three times has also been removed. On e-tourist visa, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 90 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa except nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan. In case of nationals of USA, UK, Canada and Japan, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days. In all cases, no registration will be required. On the changes in e-business visa, continuous stay during each visit shall not exceed 180 days in case of nationals of all countries who are eligible for grant of e-visa. No registration will be required if the stay is for a period of less than 180 days. The e-visa is valid for entry through two more designated airports (Bhubaneswar and Port Blair), raising the total number of such airports to 28.