Category Archives: Trade News

Air India Express has been adding new destinations to its route network.

Air India Express to connect Mangaluru with Singapore & Pune from Jan

In a significant boost to international connectivity, Air India Express has announced the launch of direct flights between Mangaluru and Singapore starting January 21. This marks Singapore as the first international destination outside the West Asia region to be directly connected to Mangaluru.

Flight IX 862 will depart Mangaluru at 5:55 AM IST on Tuesdays and Fridays, arriving in Singapore at 1:25 PM local time. The return flight, IX 861, will depart Singapore at 2:25 PM local time on the same days, landing in Mangaluru at 4:55 PM IST.

In addition, the airline is expanding its domestic network with new direct flights to Pune and Delhi. Starting January 4, flights between Mangaluru and Pune will operate twice every Saturday:

  • IX 2256: Departs Mangaluru at 8:00 AM, arrives Pune at 9:25 AM.IX 2257:
  • Departs Pune at 9:55 AM, arrives Mangaluru at 11:40 AM.
  • IX 2236: Departs Mangaluru at 6:30 PM, arrives Pune at 8:00 PM.
  • IX 2237: Departs Pune at 8:35 PM, arrives Mangaluru at 10:05 PM.

From February 1, Air India Express will also commence daily flights between Mangaluru and Delhi.

  • IX 2768: Departs Mangaluru at 6:40 AM, arrives Delhi at 9:35 AM.
  • IX 1552: Departs Delhi at 6:40 AM, arrives Mangaluru at 9:35 AM.

The Mangaluru International Airport welcomed the announcement, emphasising that the new routes will enhance connectivity, support economic growth, and promote cultural exchange between the regions.

 

 

 

IATA chief optimistic about India providing more bilateral flying rights

Global airlines’ grouping IATA’s chief, Willie Walsh, has expressed optimism that India will provide more bilateral flying rights as Indian carriers are set to operate more wide-body planes in the coming years.

 

India, one of the world’s fastest-growing civil aviation markets, has been cautious about increasing bilateral flying rights while working to establish itself as a global aviation hub. The introduction of more wide-body planes by Indian airlines is expected to enhance direct connectivity to international destinations.

 

“It (bilateral flying rights) will improve. If you look at the aircraft orders, the wide-body aircraft orders that IndiGo and Air India have, they want to see more rights available to them. They are not going to get rights to fly unless you give them reciprocal rights. I am optimistic that it (bilateral flying rights situation) will change,” Walsh said on the sidelines of the IATA Global Media Day in Geneva.

 

Bilateral flying rights are agreements between two countries that allow airlines from each side to operate a specified number of flights. Some foreign carriers, particularly from the Gulf, have sought increased rights to operate more flights to India, given that the existing quotas have been fully utilized.

 

In September, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu noted that the government is proactively considering requests for enhanced bilateral flying rights. “We want to promote Indian airlines because we want to create our own aviation hubs,” he said.

 

Walsh highlighted the massive potential of India’s aviation market, calling it a “transformational” opportunity for the country’s economy and the global aviation industry. However, he raised concerns about whether air traffic control and airport infrastructure could keep pace with the rapid growth in airlines’ networks.

 

Significant investments are being made in airport infrastructure, with new airports opening across India. While IndiGo and Air India group currently account for nearly 90 percent of domestic air traffic, Walsh dismissed concerns about a duopoly, emphasizing the scope for new airlines and airport expansions in the domestic market.

 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents around 340 airlines, accounting for more than 80 percent of global air traffic.

Travelport leadership’s first visit to India for NDC; ITQ hosts presentation for agencies

ITQ Technologies Pvt. Ltd., the exclusive distributor of Travelport in India, organised an insightful presentation on New Distribution Capability (NDC) and its role in modern airline retailing. The event took place at Sofitel BKC, Mumbai, last evening and was attended by leading travel agencies and industry stakeholders.

The session highlighted how NDC is transforming the airline retail landscape by enabling personalised and dynamic offerings for travellers. Through the Travelport platform, ITQ demonstrated the potential of NDC to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer experiences for travel agencies.

Talking about this, Anil Parashar, Executive Director, ITQ, said, “We have been working closely with Travelport, but haven’t done a public demonstration of NDC. With the growing outbound potential of India, and its position as the third largest aviation market in the world, the Travelport senior leadership decided that is important to reach out to the agents in India. Today, for the first time, we also unveiled the Air India NDC to the agents.

We did a similar presentation in Delhi earlier this week, where agents from North and East India congregated on a single platform. Today at the Mumbai leg of the presentation, we have agents from Western and Southern India in attendance.”

As part of this exercise to educate and inform the agents in India about NDC, ITQ will be conducting city and state-level presentations in the coming year.

Talking about apprehensions among agents about NDC, Parashar said, “As the airline content is being enhanced, and the usage is increasing, understanding of the NDC is important. Twenty airlines in India currently offer NDC, with Air India latest to join the club. Airlines are at different stages of NDC adoption, and customers have started seeing the benefit. Therefore, agents have to be capable to offer dynamic pricing via NDC.”

ITQ has already undertaken the ‘Train the Trainer’ process for its workforce to engage with agencies and suppliers on seamless integrating bookings through NDC.

The annual pilgrimage of Sabrimala draws crowd from far and wide.

Kerala Tourism unveils microsite for Sabarimala pilgrims

In a significant step towards enhancing the experience of devotees visiting the revered Sabarimala temple, Kerala Tourism has launched a dedicated microsite. Designed to serve as a comprehensive digital guide, the platform aims to simplify the pilgrimage process for millions of visitors while promoting eco-friendly practices and safety measures.

Key Features of the Microsite
Digital Pilgrimage Guide

  • Detailed information about the Sabarimala Temple, its rituals, and pilgrimage schedules.
  • Instructions for mandatory virtual queue registration, ensuring better crowd management.

Travel Resources

  • Route maps and travel assistance for reaching Sabarimala via road, rail, and air.
  • Live updates on weather and traffic conditions to facilitate safe planning.

Facilities for Pilgrims

  • Information on nearby accommodations, food services, and medical facilities.
  • Locations of rest points, water stations, and emergency contacts along the pilgrimage route.

Environment and Safety

  • Emphasis on maintaining the ecological balance with guidelines for plastic-free zones and waste management.
  • Safety tips for trekking and staying prepared during the journey.

Cultural and Virtual Experience

  • Insights into the history and cultural significance of Sabarimala.
  • A virtual tour feature for first-time pilgrims to familiarise themselves with the temple and its surroundings.

This initiative by Kerala Tourism reflects its commitment to blending tradition with technology, ensuring that devotees have a safe, informed, and meaningful pilgrimage experience.

Thailand has been very proactive and aggressive in tapping the Indian traveller.

Thailand launches E-Visa for Indians starting Jan 1, 2025

The Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi has announced the introduction of Thailand’s Electronic Visa (E-Visa) facilities for Indian citizens, effective January 1, 2025. The update was shared via the Embassy’s official account on X (formerly Twitter), along with details on the offline payment option for the visa fee.

Key details of the E-Visa rollout include:

E-Visa Implementation

The E-Visa system will allow Indian applicants to submit their visa applications online through Thailand’s official visa website: www.thaievisa.go.th.
Applicants can choose offline payment options, with payment details provided by the respective Embassy or Consulate-General.

Visa Exemption for Indian Passport Holders

Indian passport holders will continue to enjoy a 60-day visa exemption, which remains in effect until further notice.

Processing and Fees

Visa fees are non-refundable under all circumstances.
Processing time for E-Visa applications will take approximately 14 days from the date the visa fee is received.

Submission Deadlines for Current System

Ordinary passport applications under the current visa system will be accepted via designated processing companies until December 16, 2024.
Diplomatic and official passport applications submitted directly to the Embassy or Consulate-General will be accepted until December 24, 2024.
The new E-Visa system is expected to streamline the visa application process for Indian travelers, providing greater convenience and efficiency. Travellers are encouraged to adhere to the updated timelines and utilise the official website for their visa needs.

Heritage Aviation launches helicopter service on Pithoragarh-Almora route

 

Heritage Aviation has introduced daily helicopter services on the Pithoragarh-Almora route, aiming to enhance regional connectivity in Uttarakhand. The service promises swift and efficient travel, offering breathtaking aerial views of the region’s landscapes while reducing travel time significantly. This initiative is expected to bolster local tourism and contribute to regional economic growth.

The flights, operating under the UDAN scheme, will run twice daily on 7-seater helicopters. The first flight departs Pithoragarh at 10:00 AM, with a return flight from Almora at 10:20 AM. A second round of flights departs Pithoragarh at 1:40 PM, with the return journey from Almora at 2:05 PM. With fares set at an affordable INR 2,500 per person, the service makes air travel accessible for locals and tourists alike.

Heritage Aviation is the sole private operator providing regional helicopter connectivity under the UDAN scheme. Rohit Mathur, CEO,expressed plans to expand the network, adding routes such as Dehradun-Bageshwar and Dehradun-Nainital soon. Mathur emphasised the company’s vision to connect all major towns in Uttarakhand, offering economical fares to encourage widespread usage.

This new service highlights Heritage Aviation’s commitment to transforming travel in Uttarakhand, offering safe, fast, and affordable options for residents and visitors.