Tag Archives: aviation

Shashi Tharoor criticizes high airfares

 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to address the issue of exorbitant airfares charged by airlines. Responding to a tweet by Sam Kuriakose, who highlighted inflated ticket prices, Tharoor expressed concern over the financial burden placed on travellers. His appeal reflects growing public frustration over the lack of regulation in airfare pricing.

Several citizens joined the conversation on social media, accusing airlines of exploiting the situation, particularly during peak travel seasons. Complaints ranged from sudden fare hikes to a lack of transparency in pricing. Despite widespread outrage, no official response or action has been taken by aviation authorities or airline operators as of now.

Tharoor emphasised the need for stricter government oversight and regulatory measures to ensure fair pricing. He argued that air travel, which is often a necessity rather than a luxury, should remain accessible to the average citizen. His statement resonated with travellers across the country, who continue to face high airfares with limited alternatives.

The issue of inflated airfares is not new, but Tharoor’s intervention has reignited the debate on the need for more stringent consumer protection in India’s aviation sector. The growing pressure from both citizens and public figures may push authorities to implement reforms to curb exploitative practices and promote affordable air travel.

WTTC and VFS Global have been collaborating on many destination focused studies on travel and tourism impact.

Indian tourism sector to double in 10yrs: WTTC

The Indian tourism sector is expected to double in size to USD 523 billion in the next 10 years, according to World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) President and CEO Julia Simpson.

WTTC works with governments on issues of the travel and tourism industry, and is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of the sector.

“The travel and tourism sector employs 45 million people in India, and is going to double in its value. In 10 years, the sector is going to be worth USD 523 billion in India, more than double the present size of USD 256 billion,” Simpson told PTI in an interview.

“In 10 years, the tourism sector in India will be providing jobs to 63 million people,” she said.

India is one of the most beautiful and amazing countries in the world, Simpson said. Tourists and visitors across the centuries have been attracted to its shores and wonderful cities. India continues to welcome the world with open arms and the Indian hospitality is incredible, she added.

“Tourism represents about seven per cent of the Indian economy and in 2019 it was about USD 211 billion. Now it is about USD 256 billion and gives jobs to 45 million people in India,” she said.

“If you look at the impact of tourism in terms of the greenhouse gas emissions on India, it represents about five per cent of all India’s greenhouse gas emissions and that’s probably about 250 billion kilos of carbon (dioxide) every year. That is actually the biggest greenhouse gas emission in the tourism sector after the US and China,” she said.

The good news is that while the tourism sector has been growing, the greenhouse gas emissions haven’t been growing as fast, she said. That means India is becoming more and more efficient for travel and tourism, she added.

“We are also keen to talk to the Indian government to ensure that it is reaching out to the aviation sector to help produce more sustainable aviation fuel because we can’t really do tourism without aviation,” Simpson said.

“We need the aviation sector. We will have more people travelling by air and we need to do that more sustainably. And the only real opportunity right now is through sustainable aviation fuel. So we really encourage the Indian government to incentivise its production,” she said.

Asked if WTTC has approached the Indian government to take measures to ensure sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, Simpson said, “Well, we do meet Indian ministers on a regular basis, mostly at the big events like the World Travel Market, and I always raise these issues.”

“The great thing about the travel and tourism sector is that it employs high-end people like engineers, AI experts, technology, experts, financial and marketing experts. We also employ people for whom it may be their first job or it may be an opportunity to lift them out of an informal economy and work in a formal sector,” she said.

Almost 50 per cent of global tourism happens near coastal resorts and areas close to sea, she said. People want to see the pristine beaches and go for amazing water sports. However, coastal areas are very vulnerable to global warming, in terms of dangerous weather changes and rising sea levels, she added.

The WTTC recently released a report about measures to help protect coastal areas, she said. “If you look at places like Miami, they have been investing a lot in reinforcing their coastal area. They have good alarm systems and also build infrastructure that resists some of these very challenging weather events.

There are examples around the world on how countries can strengthen their travel and tourism sector, she said. “Tourists don’t want to see a lot of concrete; what they want to see is the natural India around its coastline, with beautiful natural beaches, flora and fauna.

“We would like to work with the Indian government to help restore some of the natural flora. One big message for India is about decarbonizing road transport as quickly as possible,” she said.

“I know Prime Minister Modi has made it one of his top priorities to try and clean up air pollution. And a part of that includes moving away from coal fired plants and investing more in solar and renewable energy. Under PM Modi’s leadership, India is going to be one of the most advanced developing economies in the world,” Simpson said. (Source: PTI)

Greenhouse gas emissions from tourism increases: Nature Communications

 

A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed a sharp increase in greenhouse gas emissions from tourism, which grew from 3.7 gigatonnes in 2009 to 5.2 gigatonnes by 2019. Major contributors include aviation, utilities, and private vehicles, with emissions from tourism rising more than twice as fast as those from the rest of the global economy. The sector now accounts for nine percent of global emissions, raising concerns about its alignment with the Paris Agreement targets.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Queensland, attributed 60% of the increase in emissions to three countries—India, the US, and China. China’s domestic tourism alone contributed 0.4 gigatonnes, followed by the US at 0.2 gigatonnes and India at 0.1 gigatonnes. Factors such as population growth, rising income levels, and a surge in travel demand among emerging economies have been identified as key drivers.

If the top 20 highest-emitting destinations had curbed their tourism growth by just 1% annually between 2009 and 2019, an estimated 0.38 gigatonnes of emissions—seven percent of global tourism-related emissions—could have been avoided. Corresponding author Ya-Yen Sun highlighted the urgent need for interventions in the tourism sector, cautioning that without action, emissions are projected to double every 20 years due to slow technological progress and growing demand.

The study calls for immediate measures to decarbonise tourism and urges policymakers and industry leaders to align with climate targets. With sustainable practices and technology adoption, the sector could achieve the necessary annual emissions cuts of over 10% to meet Paris Agreement goals and ensure a sustainable future for global tourism.

Çelebi Aviation Partners with Uzbekistan Airways for New Tashkent-Goa Route

Çelebi Aviation, a global leader in ground handling services, has partnered with Uzbekistan Airways for their new bi-weekly flights between Tashkent and Goa. With this collaboration, Çelebi enhances the passenger experience through top-tier ground services and infrastructure. Tashkent’s growing appeal for tourism and student travel, alongside Goa’s popularity for its beaches and cultural heritage, makes this route an attractive option for travellers.

Speaking on this, Tauseef Khan, CEO, Çelebi Ground Handling – India, said, “We welcome this collaboration with Uzbekistan Airways. Travel from India to destinations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reported a significant growth Uzbekistan has emerged as the fastest-growing economy in Central Asia, in comparison to 2023. The collaboration between Uzbekistan Airways and Çelebi comes at an opportune time to cater to the increased international travel demand in India. While this association highlights Çelebi Aviation’s world-class service capabilities, innovation and sustainable practices that we take great pride in, we are also excited join hands with Uzbekistan Airways to tap into the potential of the Indian aviation landscape and further expand its footprint across other major stations.”

Rahimberdi SaKKbirov, Station Manager India, Uzbekistan Airways, said, “The Indian aviation industry has been fast evolving and has shown tremendous growth potential over the last few years. Uzbekistan Airways is looking forward to strengthening and expanding its presence which is evident with the introduction of Goa as a station, following our first flight route from Mumbai & Delhi launched earlier this year. Çelebi Aviation brings a combination of world-class ground operation capabilities, but also a strong understanding of the Indian markets. We are delighted to have Çelebi as our partner and look forward to a strong and successful alliance going forward.”

India needs airlines that match its size, scale & potential: Pieter Elbers

 

IndiGo’s Chief Executive, Pieter Elbers, emphasised the importance of airlines in India that match the country’s size, scale, and global potential. Speaking at the CNBC TV18 Global Leadership Summit, he expressed that airlines like IndiGo need to grow to compete effectively on the global aviation stage. He also discussed the trend of consolidation in the aviation sector, similar to developments in the US and Europe, which is now also occurring in India. This trend is vital for elevating India’s presence in global aviation.

Elbers pointed out that India, with its vast potential, needs airlines that are as significant as the country itself, similar to the size and scale of major banks or consumer products. He believes this will allow India to effectively compete globally and elevate the country’s aviation brand. IndiGo, in particular, is positioning itself to be one of the leading airlines that can carry the “India” brand to the global stage.

IndiGo, which has grown enormously over the past 18 years, aligns itself with India’s entrepreneurial and aspirational spirit. Elbers believes the country deserves a product that is both cost-competitive and aspirational in nature. The airline’s extensive domestic presence and its growing international reach reflect this alignment with India’s changing aspirations.

Elbers also shared that IndiGo is the seventh-largest airline globally in terms of its international footprint. The airline currently operates in over 30 international destinations, with plans to expand to 40 by the end of the year. With an aircraft being added almost weekly, IndiGo aims to spread its wings further, increasing its presence in key global markets.

The Chief Executive further highlighted the opportunities for Indian airlines to expand their international traffic. Elbers noted that there are many regions globally where foreign airlines have a strong presence in India, but Indian carriers have not yet established themselves. He sees this as a significant growth area for IndiGo and the broader Indian aviation industry in the future.

Air India completes Vistara merger

 

 

Air India Group has successfully completed the operational integration and legal merger between Air India and Vistara, marking a significant step in its post-privatisation transformation journey. This follows the earlier merger of the Group’s low-cost airlines, Air India Express and AIX Connect, on October 1, 2024. The consolidation of the four Tata-owned airlines into one full-service and one low-cost airline is a key part of Air India’s five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI, aimed at positioning the group as a world-class aviation company with a distinct Indian identity.

 

The unified Air India Group now operates more than 8,300 weekly flights across 312 routes, connecting over 100 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of 300 aircraft. Air India, as the new full-service entity, operates over 5,600 weekly flights and connects more than 90 destinations globally with a fleet of 208 aircraft. The airline is set to fly over 120,000 passengers daily and offers extended connectivity to over 800 destinations through numerous codeshare and interline partners.

 

The merger process, which began over two years ago, has involved significant efforts in harmonising operating procedures, consolidating vendor contracts, migrating customer bookings, and aligning IT systems. Over 6,000 Vistara staff have been integrated into the new structure, and more than 270,000 bookings have been successfully transferred. Additionally, Air India’s recently redesigned frequent flyer program, Maharaja Club, has absorbed 4.5 million Club Vistara members.

 

Air India’s transformation program has also seen substantial investments, including the acquisition of over 500 new aircraft and a USD 400 million retrofit program for existing aircraft. A new training facility has been opened, and a 12-bay maintenance base is under construction. The merger, supported by India’s DGCA, MoCA, BCAS, and international regulators, marks a crucial milestone in Air India’s journey to becoming a globally competitive airline.