Category Archives: Trade News

Akasa Air to connect Kuwait with Mumbai from Aug 23

Akasa Air has added Kuwait City as the fifth destination to its expanding global network.

Starting August 23, 2024, Akasa Air will operate daily direct flights between Kuwait City and Mumbai, in response to the demand for enhanced and affordable connectivity on the route.

Bookings for flights are now open on Akasa Air’s website www.akasaair.com, the Android and iOS app and through multiple leading OTAs.

The service will add significant passenger and cargo capacity to the route and will capture the perennial demand for VFR and business travel between India and Kuwait.

Commenting on the announcement Praveen Iyer, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air, said, “The addition of Kuwait adds further breadth to our international network, strengthening our position as a key player in connecting India and the Middle East. Kuwait and India have historically shared strong bilateral ties, and the launch of a direct service connecting these two major cities will open more avenues for trade and tourism between the two countries. Moreover, with this expansion, the large population of Indians in Kuwait will have greater accessibility to their home country. The connection reflects our commitment to connecting people, places, and cultures with reliable operations and affordable fares, and we look forward to welcoming travellers on board.”

Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, Akasa Air, added, “India and Kuwait share a deep commitment towards hospitality, and we are delighted to bring our seamless connectivity, reliable on-time performance, and our signature warm and efficient Akasa experience to Kuwait. International travel can get hectic, and passengers on board Akasa Air can look forward to a relaxing and convenient flying experience with our spacious cabins, provision of in-seat charging with USB ports on most of our aircraft, and our Quiet Fights initiative that aims to ensure a restful flight. Our onboard meal service Café Akasa offers distinguished and industry-first culinary options, taking inflight dining up several notches. Customers are at the heart of everything we do, and our resolve towards world-class service excellence continues to strengthen even as we chart our growth. We look forward to hosting travelers on the route and are confident that they will appreciate the Akasa experience like millions of others.”

Maldivian Expands Reach with Amadeus GDS Partnership and Joins BSP in India

Maldivian has announced a significant advancement in its distribution network through a strategic partnership with Amadeus Global Distribution System (Amadeus GDS). This collaboration marks a crucial step in the company’s ongoing commitment to improve travel accessibility and convenience for their valued travel trade partners and customers.

Effective July 25th, 2024, Maldivian has joined the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) in the Indian market, alongside Amadeus GDS. This participation allows initially certain IATA-accredited BSP travel agents in India to effortlessly issue e-tickets for Maldivian flights through Amadeus GDS using the Q2-986 ticket plate. Sales for all IATA-accredited BSP travel agents will be opened from 14th August 2024.

BSP agents will receive 3% commission on base fare. For Maldivian GDS Booking Policy, BSP Agents Ticketing Terms and Conditions, agents can refer to Maldivian website at www.maldivian.aero.

Maldivian currently operates 13 non-stop weekly flights to three Indian destinations from its hub airport in Velana International Airport (MLE) in the Maldives. With weekly four frequencies to Cochin (COK), weekly five frequencies to Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) and weekly two frequencies to Bengaluru (BLR) on A320.

A weekly two frequencies also connect Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) in the north of the Maldives to TRV on a Dash8-300 aircraft. Maldivian offers a full-service product in these routes and opening sales on GDS with the participation in the Indian BSP facilitates more convenient distribution for the travellers between the countries. Agents will also have access to Maldivian’s extensive domestic network comprising of 17 airports making it convenient to offer a single travel itinerary which may range from luxury resorts to affordable holidays in the Maldives.

All contents relating to GDS and BSP are now available from the Maldivian website. Agents willing to partner with Maldivian can reach out to the carrier via sales@iasl.aero

Travomint Teams Up with Blue Ribbon Bags to Improve Traveller Experience

Travomint, a prominent name in the travel industry, has announced a new partnership with Blue Ribbon Bags, a well-regarded luggage tracking service. This collaboration aims to streamline travel for customers by enhancing the handling of lost or delayed baggage, ensuring greater peace of mind and efficiency.

By joining forces with Blue Ribbon Bags, Travomint underscores its dedication to boosting customer satisfaction and providing dependable travel solutions. This partnership will enable Travomint’s customers to benefit from expedited baggage recovery, significantly alleviating the hassle of lost luggage.

“Blue Ribbon Bags’ advanced tracking technology guarantees that travellers receive their delayed baggage within 96 hours, regardless of their location. This service offers travellers both reassurance and convenience, allowing them to focus on enjoying their trip without the stress of managing misplaced belongings,” said the company release.

“We are thrilled to team up with Blue Ribbon Bags to offer our customers a smooth and stress-free travel experience,” said Alok K Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Travomint. “This partnership reflects our dedication to providing exceptional service and support to travellers around the globe”.

RedBus CEO Urges State Transport Corporations to Embrace Digital Ticketing

According to a report in The Hindu, travel aggregator redBus has urged state-owned bus operators to make their services available on booking apps, arguing that this move could significantly boost revenue for state road transport corporations (RTCs).

States such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which manage some of the largest inter- and intra-state bus networks in India, have recently pulled back their online booking options.

“Online penetration for RTCs is hovering between 5–30%,” said Prakash Sangam, CEO, redBus. “There is clearly an opportunity” to improve the portion of their businesses that is available for online purchase, Sangam said.

He added that 23 firms had tied up with redBus, but there remained a lot of digitisation potential. For RTC bookings, the firm makes money through commissions that are comparable with other travel and ticketing agents with whom RTCs work. . Sangam outlined two reasons why RTCs were not completely distributing online.

“One is, their technology systems may not be able to handle an external integration.” The second reason is that some RTCs may not provide commercial terms to online booking sites that make the exercise worthwhile.

There was also a large portion of services where RTCs could improvise — for instance, on some routes, two separate bus services scheduled to leave in short succession may combine the services into one ride due to lower-than-usual demand.

Vistara Becomes India’s First Airline to Provide Complimentary Wi-Fi on International Flights

Vistara, India’s full-service airline and a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, is now offering 20 minutes of complimentary Wi-Fi on its international flights operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and Airbus A321neo aircraft, across all three cabins. This makes Vistara the first Indian airline to provide such a service, highlighting its dedication to enhancing the travel experience for its passengers.

The 20-minute free Wi-Fi allows travelers to stay connected and is particularly useful for those looking to buy additional Wi-Fi time using Indian credit or debit cards. Passengers can receive one-time passwords via email, which facilitates the purchase of extended in-flight Wi-Fi services during the complimentary session.

Speaking on this, Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara, said, “At Vistara, we are committed to constantly enhancing the experience of our customers. We are, yet again, delighted to lead the way and become the first Indian airline to offer complimentary Wi-Fi on international flights across all cabins. We are confident that customers will appreciate this value addition that aims to make their Vistara journey more convenient, productive, and seamless.”

Plans Complimentary/Paid Details – Cabin/Class
20 Mins Complimentary All Cabins.

Customers using Indian credit and debit cards can purchase extended plans onboard during the 20 mins active session as they will be able to receive an OTP via email.
50 MB Complimentary Business Class & Platinum Club Vistara Members
Free Chat Complimentary To all Club Vistara members of any tier and any cabin class. This package is for throughout the flight.
Chat Paid – Rs.372.74 + GST Only messaging Apps (i.e., WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, etc.) with unlimited data (Complimentary for Club Vistara members)
Surf Paid – Rs.1577.54 + GST For embedded audio and video streaming (i.e., content on social media and web, etc.) with unlimited data
Stream Paid – Rs.2707.04 + GST Unlimited data which allows all streaming protocols.

Honeywell Partners with Air India for Long-Term APU Aftermarket Support Agreement

Honeywell has entered into a long-term agreement with Air India Limited, a leading global airline and Tata Group enterprise, to provide Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) aftermarket support for both its existing and new fleets. This agreement includes comprehensive maintenance support for Honeywell APUs, aimed at enhancing aircraft dispatch reliability, fleet availability, and reducing unplanned maintenance costs across Air India’s fleet.

The APU is a vital component that delivers electrical power and air conditioning while the aircraft is on the ground, ensuring passenger comfort and supplying air before the main engines are started. Honeywell’s APUs are part of a broader range of technologies shaping the future of aviation, aligning with key global megatrends including Automation and Energy Transition.

“We are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with Air India and help in its fleet modernization efforts, as part of a long-standing commitment to supporting the carrier’s innovation and growth objectives,” said Ashish Modi, President, Honeywell India. He also added, “This latest milestone in our 30-year-plus partnership with Air India is a testament to our key role in accelerating the growth of India’s aviation sector through innovative technology.”

With air travel steadily growing, the need for easily accessible aftermarket services continues to rise. Under the agreement, Honeywell will deliver to Air India comprehensive APU aftermarket support to ensure the continued reliability and efficiency of Air India’s extensive fleet of more than 300 aircraft. This includes its legacy fleet, which consists of over 100 A320 aircraft, 15 B777 aircraft and its new fleet of 190 B737-8 aircraft, and will cover Honeywell’s 131-9A, 131-9B and 331-500 series APUs. Honeywell’s extensive global service and support network is designed to ensure that its APUs operate at optimal performance with minimal operational disruption.

Commenting on this, Sisira Kanta Dash, chief technical officer, Air India, said, “This is an exciting milestone that adds to our long-standing partnership with Honeywell. This agreement forms part of our global growth and transformation plans, to help achieve more efficient, reliable operations, with maximized fleet availability, through Honeywell’s advanced technology services that enable us to continue meeting the needs of our valued customers.”