Author Archives: TBM Staff - Mumbai

Hajj Pilgrimage to start on June 14 in Saudi Arabia

 

Saudi Arabia has announced that the hajj will commence on June 14, following the sighting of the crescent moon by astronomical observatories on Thursday evening. This marks the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar, as determined by the Supreme Court.

The hajj is a series of rituals completed over at least four days in Mecca and its surroundings in western Saudi Arabia. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means.

The high point of the hajj comes on the second day, when pilgrims gather for prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon. This year, this event will take place on June 15, followed by the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha on June 16.
Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest shrines in Islam at Mecca and Medina, and the Gulf kingdom generates billions of dollars each year from the hajj and umrah pilgrimages. The pilgrimages are also a source of prestige for the Saudi monarch, whose official title includes “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” in Mecca and Medina.

According to official figures, more than 1.8 million Muslims participated in the hajj last year. This year, approximately 1.2 million pilgrims from around the world have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj, as announced by Tawfiq al-Rabiah, the Saudi hajj and umrah minister, at a press conference on Thursday.

Adani Airports CEO foresees remote ATC towers

 

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun trials to explore the feasibility of using remote digital towers for airspace management, according to Arun Bansal, CEO, Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). Speaking at the Capa India Aviation Summit 2024, Bansal mentioned that India’s airports will not have physical air traffic control (ATC) towers within the next 20 years.

An ATC tower is a facility that coordinates and manages the safe takeoff, landing, and ground movement of aircraft. In India, all ATC towers, except those controlled by the defence forces, are handled by the AAI. The CEO of AAHL emphasised that the AAI is a crucial stakeholder and that they share their roadmap with them. He believes that the AAI is also recognising the need for new technologies in the industry.

London City Airport became the first major international airport to be fully controlled by a remote digital tower in 2021, which is located about 115 km away from the runway. Bansal mentioned that Europe is moving away from physical ATC towers and adopting digital solutions. He foresees that in 20 years, there will be no physical ATC towers, and everything will be digital and remote. This shift will also free up land at airports.

Several airports in Sweden and Poland are working towards establishing remote digital towers, and the European Union has issued regulations to standardise and enable the deployment of digital towers. However, physical towers are not being entirely phased out yet, as many airports are expected to adopt a hybrid model that integrates new remote technology with existing tower infrastructure.

Adani Airport Holdings Limited, an Adani Group company, currently manages seven functional airports in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram. It is also building the Navi Mumbai airport, which is expected to start operations by mid-2025.

DigiYatra debuts at Chennai Airport

 

Chennai Airport has introduced the DigiYatra system, a cutting-edge technology that enables passengers to enter domestic terminals and complete the check-in and boarding process using facial recognition. The facility is available for registered passengers in the two domestic terminals, T1 and T4.

Passengers of IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa can use the DigiYatra system at T1, while Air India, Vistara, and Air India Express passengers can use it at T4. This innovative service aims to streamline the domestic passenger experience by reducing the time spent in queues at entry gates, pre-security handling areas, and boarding gates.

To use the DigiYatra system, passengers must install the DigiYatra app on their mobile devices. The app can be downloaded by visiting the provided link. Once installed, passengers can follow the steps to register and use the service.

Airport Director C V Deepak officially commissioned the facility, which is expected to significantly improve the efficiency and smoothness of the domestic passenger experience.

RezLive Bhubaneswar unveils Saudi Arabia’s treasures

 

RezLive.com, a pioneer in the B2B travel industry, hosted a successful roadshow on June 7, 2024, at the MAYFAIR Lagoon in Bhubaneswar, showcasing the wonders of Saudi Arabia to a gathering of local travel agents. The event was a resounding success, creating an atmosphere of discovery and excitement among the attendees.

Travel agents from Bhubaneswar and surrounding regions were eager to learn about the dynamic and rapidly evolving attractions of Saudi Arabia. Their enthusiasm for the destination’s rich cultural and historical offerings was palpable and inspiring.

The RezLive.com team highlighted the extensive benefits and exceptional support provided to agents through their partnership with RezLive.com. They showcased their advanced booking platform, diverse travel products, and dedicated customer service, reflecting their commitment to enhancing travel experiences and driving industry innovation.
The roadshow exemplified RezLive’s dedication to empowering travel agents with the tools and knowledge necessary to create unforgettable journeys for their clients.

“We are thrilled to have ignited a passion for exploring Saudi Arabia among Bhubaneswar travel agents,” said Jaal Shah, Group Managing Director, Travel Designer Group. “We are confident that this newfound enthusiasm will translate into unforgettable journeys for their clients.”
RezLive remains at the forefront of the travel industry, fostering connections and creating unparalleled travel experiences. The success of this roadshow underscores their dedication to promoting exciting new destinations, ensuring travel agents are equipped with the knowledge and resources needed to inspire their clients.

Wizz Air hopes to start India flights in early 2025

 

Wizz Air, a Hungary-based ultra-low-cost airline group, plans to launch direct flights connecting India with various destinations in Europe, targeting average one-way fares of just EUR 200 (approximately INR 18,000). József Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air, hopes to start flying to India as early as the next financial year, pending necessary approvals in India and Europe.

Wizz Air will be introducing the Airbus A321XLR, which has a longer range than the current A320 family aircraft, allowing it to operate non-stop flights of up to 8.5 hours. This will enable the airline to connect various cities in Europe with India. Initially, Wizz Air plans to connect six to seven European cities with major airports in India.

The airline is targeting average one-way fares of EUR 200, with the cheapest tickets potentially going for as low as sub- EUR 100.

Váradi believes that low fares will attract tourists and diaspora, and there is significant demand for affordable travel between India and Europe from both these segments.

Currently, almost all direct flights between India and Europe are operated by full-service carriers, with hardly any budget carriers in the mix. Wizz Air is a point-to-point carrier that claims to have the lowest cost model in Europe and operates over 750 routes, flying to and from more than 190 airports in 50-plus countries.

Wizz Air is also keen to start flights between Abu Dhabi and India, with discussions underway. However, this remains subject to acceptance and approval by the Indian side.

Half of India needs help choosing a destination: Survey

 

Global travel marketplace Skyscanner has launched a new ‘savings generator’ tool to assist Indian travellers in finding the best deals and saving big for their summer trips. According to a survey conducted by Skyscanner in association with OnePoll, over 78% of Indian travellers are planning a summer holiday, but 39% have yet to book, with 51% undecided about dates and 50% unsure about destinations.

The survey also revealed that 47% of Indian travellers are actively seeking the best deals, while 20% are waiting for last-minute steals. By analysing data from tens of thousands of data points, Skyscanner’s ‘savings generator’ tool provides the average monthly price and the best time to book for some of the most popular destinations, as well as suggesting even cheaper options for summer travel.

According to the analysis, the cheapest week to travel to Abu Dhabi is the week of July 13, with an average monthly price of INR 22,878. For a trip to London, the best time to travel is the week of July 20, at an average monthly price of INR 63,555. Almaty, Kazakhstan, can be visited in the week of July 20 at an average monthly price of INR 18,007. The week of July 6 is ideal for Frankfurt, Germany, at an average monthly price of INR 54,025, while Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, can be visited in the week of July 20 at an average monthly price of INR 15,783.

The data suggests that the best time to book flights from India this July is 16 weeks prior to departure. For flights from Mumbai to London in August, the best time to book is three weeks prior at an average monthly price of INR 68,122. For spontaneous plans in August, the best route options are Mumbai to Dubai (book 3 weeks ahead at INR 23,906) and New Delhi to Kathmandu (book 4 weeks ahead at INR 11,107).

For year-end travel in December, the analysis shows that the best time to book is 19 weeks ahead for Mumbai to London (INR 60,119), 13 weeks ahead for Mumbai to Almaty (INR 22,372), and 6 weeks ahead for New Delhi to Hong Kong (INR 28,628).

Mohit Joshi, Travel and Destination Expert at Skyscanner, emphasised the importance of being informed about hidden savings and real travel behavior when searching for the right price. He encouraged travellers to use Skyscanner’s tools, such as the Savings Generator and Price Alerts, to feel confident when booking their dream destinations and snagging amazing deals.