Tag Archives: 2025

Air India is on an expansion spree, in India and abroad.

Air India plans International expansion in 2025

 

The Tata Group-owned Air India is set to add five new international destinations to its network in 2025, contingent on aircraft availability, sources told businessline.

The planned destinations include Manila, Jakarta, Dallas, and Los Angeles, expanding Air India’s international network to around 50 destinations. While flight schedules for Manila and Jakarta are expected in the first half of 2025, services to Dallas and Los Angeles may commence later in the year. Additional flight frequencies to Europe are also under consideration.

The airline’s capacity expansion, aided by the Vistara merger and network rationalisation, comes despite supply-side issues that have delayed aircraft deliveries. Campbell Wilson, Managing Director & CEO, Air India acknowledged that Boeing’s manufacturing strike and supply chain constraints have slowed down network growth, necessitating adjustments to 2025 plans.

In 2024, Air India added new destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City, Zurich, Bali, and Mauritius. The rising international passenger traffic and the success of Air India’s international transfer business, which has grown by 100% since the Tata takeover in 2022, continue to drive the airline’s expansion focus.

SpiceJet secures 2025 Haj flight rights

 

SpiceJet has been awarded the rights to operate Haj flights in 2025, facilitating travel for 15,500 pilgrims from Kolkata, Guwahati, Srinagar, and Gaya. This marks an 18% increase from the 13,000 pilgrims served in 2024. The airline will operate over 100 special flights, using both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft, to meet the growing demand for this important spiritual journey.

Haj operations have become a significant revenue stream for SpiceJet, contributing an estimated INR 185 crore in 2025. Since launching dedicated Haj flights in 2019, the airline has consistently delivered reliable services. In 2024, two Airbus A340 wide-body aircraft, each seating 324 passengers, were deployed, ensuring a seamless travel experience for pilgrims.

For the upcoming Haj season, SpiceJet plans to elevate its offerings by enhancing passenger comfort and operational efficiency. With meticulous planning and upgraded services, the airline reaffirms its commitment to facilitating this sacred journey for thousands of pilgrims.

Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer of SpiceJet, expressed pride in the airline’s role in supporting such a meaningful occasion. He stated, “Haj operations are a testament to our dedication to meeting passenger needs and delivering a memorable travel experience for pilgrims.”

TAFI opens registration for 2025 Convention in Vietnam

The TAFI Convention 2025 will be held in the Ninh Binh province in Northern Vietnam from January 17 to 20. The theme of the convention is “Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet.” The association has opened registration for the convention.

Elaborating on the choice of destination and the theme, Ajay Prakash, President said “Indian tourism is booming. While inbound numbers are still below pre-Covid levels, outbound and domestic tourism are breaking all records. But an industry that is totally people-centric and which thrives on the natural beauty and the amazing diversity in the world also has a duty to protect the Planet. Sustainability has gone beyond being a mere catchword, it is the single most important need today for the tourism industry and if we are to rethink our business models and think beyond profit, the move has to come from within the industry. As the leading travel association in the country TAFI will take the lead in sensitizing our members who in turn will guide their clients towards Responsible Tourism practices.”

“Vietnam is a beautiful country and has become a very popular destination for Indian travellers, however, the beautiful Ninh Binh province remains relatively unexplored by Indian tourists and, as always, TAFI seeks to introduce our members to newer, lesser known destinations. It also reinforces our belief that tourism must move beyond the usual popular destinations,” he added.

Anil Kalsi, Vice President, TAFI, added “The Provincial government of Ninh Binh has been extremely supportive and the Department of Tourism has laid out the red carpet for TAFI delegates. Our members can look forward to a memorable Convention.”

Speaking about the format of the Convention, Abbas Moiz, National General Secretary added “TAFI is offering members a 3 night Convention at an incredible price of Rs. 15,999/- per person on twin sharing. We have also negotiated great prices with DMCs for some exciting pre and post-Convention tours. Our members can contact them directly to take advantage of the special prices. Similarly, members are free to choose between the various airlines offering direct or connecting services to Vietnam and take a stop enroute.”
Hitank Shah, National Treasurer clarified that the Convention package starts and concludes at Hanoi airport. “We will have shuttles from Hanoi airport to Ninh Binh from early in the morning on 17th January until midday and again back from Ninh Binh to Hanoi airport on the 20th to facilitate our members arriving and departing on different flights.”

Seeraj Sabharwal, Chairman of the Convention committee concluded the briefing by mentioning the various options for additional tours that the delegates can take to Da Nang and the Bana Hills, or a cruise in Halong bay, or a visit to the lovely beach at
Ho Tram. “We promise a Convention full of compelling content, delicious food and exciting entertainment”, he said.

Participation is restricted to official agency representatives and their spouses, TAFI is restricting numbers and will close registrations at 400 delegates, the Early Bird offer closes on 6th December.

Le Quang Bien, Consul General of Vietnam in Mumbai, said, “ “We are honored to welcome the TAFI Convention 2025 in the beautiful province of Ninh Binh, a destination that truly represents the natural and cultural heritage of Vietnam. This event reflects the deepening ties between Vietnam and India, as tourism plays a vital role in strengthening our relationship. We greatly value the efforts of TAFI in promoting lesser-explored destinations like Ninh Binh to Indian travelers, who are increasingly choosing Vietnam for their journeys.

The theme, ‘Tourism for Tomorrow: Protecting the Planet,’ aligns perfectly with Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable tourism and preserving our environment for future generations. We look forward to showcasing the unique experiences that Vietnam has to offer and welcoming TAFI delegates to discover the charm and hospitality of Ninh Binh. Together, we can inspire a new wave of responsible tourism that benefits both our people and the planet.”

 

 

 

Melange set to move to the upcoming Nesco exhibition space for 2025 run

After making its debut at the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai’s business hub of BKC, Melange is set to move to the upcoming state-of-the-art exhibition space at Nesco for its 2025 edition.

The inaugural show, termed as a table-top exhibition with a standardised layout for all exhibitors without any grandeur, Melange has pleasantly surprised the trade fraternity in Mumbai. Organised within a couple of months since ideation, the trade show stuck to its ethos of offering a platform to engage in business discussions rather than an over-the-top branding exercise with unfiltered visitors.

Continuing with its two-day format, Melange 2025 will be held on September 20 and 21, with the organisers wanting to make it an annual feature.

While the inaugural edition saw 126 exhibitors comprising airlines, hotels, DMCs, cruise liners, tourism boards, representation companies, what set it apart was the stringent measures in place to restrict the entry of buyers and visitors. Clearly, the idea was to make it a quality show over unregulated quantity of visitors.

Besides Mumbai, buyers from nearby Pune and Gujarat saw major participation. For 2025, the show will be bigger and better, as echoed by the MTF management.

For the next edition, some key takeaways from the inaugural would be to restrict the entertainment quotient during the business hours, and better turnaround time of the catering facility to avoid serpentine queues. This will allow the upcoming edition to better regulate the crowd since the vision it to make it a larger event with a pan India trade participation.

What worked in the advantage of Melange this time was the spacious floor plan, standardised stall set-up and the networking programme just being an extension in the same pavilion post business hours.

Since the focus is on business engagement and exploring partnerships, the absence of a conference programme didn’t feel like much of a miss.

Malaysia Airlines partners with Tourism Australia for special fares for Indians

Malaysia Airlines, in partnership with Tourism Australia has launched a campaign aimed at inviting travellers to explore the diverse experiences that Australia has to offer.

The campaign will run from till September 11, 2024, featuring special fares by Malaysia Airlines starting from just INR 39,999 for Economy class and INR 119,999 for Business class return flights, making it easier than ever to discover ASydney, Melbourne, Perth, ustralia’s iconic destinations.

This collaboration highlights Malaysia Airlines’ commitment to connecting Asia and beyond with Australia, focusing on four of the country’s most sought-after cities: and Adelaide.

Travellers can experience Australia with all-in return fares valid for travel until March 30, 2025, giving them ample opportunity to plan their next great adventure.

Additionally, passengers can also enjoy additional benefits when booking with Malaysia Airlines, with features like Economy Flex fares that offer flexibility on rebooking or ticket changes, priority boarding, and generous baggage allowances to accommodate all the travel essentials.

Commenting on the joint campaign with Tourism Australia, Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer of Airlines from Malaysia Aviation Group, said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Tourism Australia to showcase the best of this remarkable country. As a leading carrier connecting Asia to Australia and beyond, we are dedicated to making it easier for travellers to discover the unique blend of culture, nature, and adventure that Australia is known for. With our renowned Malaysian Hospitality, we look forward to welcoming travellers on board as they embark on their next unforgettable journey.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Malaysia Airlines on this campaign to enhance travel experiences and connectivity between Australia and India. We are excited for travellers to come and explore the breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities of Australia and experiences it has to offer. We invite you to take advantage of this chance to experience Australia’s unique attractions and renowned hospitality, all while enjoying the superior service of Malaysia Airlines,” said Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager India and Gulf from Tourism Australia.