Tag Archives: connectivity

Star Air to start Ajmer-Hindon flights from Feb 16

Star Air is set to add Hindon (Ghaziabad) to its route network. The airline will start flights from Ajmer (Kishangarh) to Hindon (Ghaziabad) on February 16, 2024.

The route will be operated by the state-of-the art Embraer E175 with dual class configuration – 12 luxurious Business Class seats and 64 Economy seats.

The flights between Ajmer and Hindon will operate on Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday offering flexible schedules to accommodate the diverse needs of travellers.

Capt. Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO, Star Air, said, “We are excited to introduce this new sector, which not only facilitates easier travel for our passengers but also strengthens the ties between these two dynamic and historically rich cities. Star Air remains dedicated to providing unmatched service and connectivity.”

 

Flt. No. Route Dep Arr Days of Operation
S5-224 Kishangarh – Hindon 14:05 15:15 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun
S5-225 Hindon – Kishangarh 17:30 18:45 Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun

Opening of Neemach Mata Mandir Ropeway to enhance connectivity in Udaipur

Udaipur is set to witness a groundbreaking era in transportation with the official opening of the Neemach Mata Mandir ropeway for commercial operations. Developed at a cost of INR 20 crores by Damodar Ropeways and Infra Ltd (DRIL), this ambitious project brings a new dimension to Udaipur’s infrastructure, providing an efficient link to the revered Neemach Mata Mandir.

Situated against the breath-taking backdrop of Fateh Sagar Lake, the Neemach Mata Mandir ropeway offers both a swift and picturesque journey to the temple. Following the success of the Savitri Mala Ropeway in Pushkar, this project marks DRIL’s second ropeway venture in Rajasthan.

Revolutionising traditional travel, the ropeway covers a distance of 429.19 meters, reducing the arduous 45-minute to an hour climb to a mere 3 minutes. Boasting 12 well-ventilated cabins with automatic doors, the ropeway has a capacity to transport 400 passengers per hour, ensuring both efficiency and comfort.

Operating from 7 am to 8 pm daily throughout January, the ropeway offers affordable round-trip tickets at Rs 185 per passenger. Employing a mono cable fixed grip system, the Neemach Mata Mandir ropeway ascends over a 500-foot elevation, promising a secure and meticulously engineered travel experience.

Highlighting its commitment to environmental consciousness, DRIL has implemented measures to minimise the project’s impact on the surrounding greenery. The grand inauguration ceremony on Monday, presided over by Gulab Chand Kataria, the Governor of Assam, marked a momentous occasion in Udaipur’s transportation landscape, bringing enhanced connectivity and accessibility to the city’s residents and visitors alike.

Ayodhya may attract 50mn tourists a year, more than Golden Temple & Vatican City: Jefferies

The grand opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya may help the town attract at least 50 million tourist a year, higher than religious tourism hotspots of Golden Temple and Tirupati Temple — as massive spend on infrastructure such as airports will put the once out-of-the-way town in Uttar Pradesh on the tourism circuit.

Brokerage Jefferies in a report estimates that a USD 10 billion makeover of Ayodhya with a new airport, revamped railway station, township and improved road connectivity will likely drive a multiplier effect with new hotels and other economic activities.
It “could attract 50 million+ tourists a year”.

Golden Temple in Amritsar gets an estimated 30-35 million footfalls a year while Tirupati temple sees 25-30 million visits.

Globally, Vatican City gets around 9 million tourists every year and Mecca in Saudi Arabia around 20 million.
“Religious tourism is still the biggest segment of tourism in India,” according to Jeferies.

“Several popular religious centres attract annual tourist traffic of 10-30 million despite the existing infrastructural bottlenecks.

And hence, the creation of a new religious tourist centre (Ayodhya) with improved connectivity and infrastructure can create a meaningfully large economic impact.”

Tourism contributed USD 194 billion to FY19 (pre-Covid) GDP and is expected to grow at an 8 per cent CAGR to USD 443 billion by FY33, it said, adding tourism to GDP ratio in India at 6.8 per cent of GDP is below most of the large emerging/developed economies; which are higher by 3-5 percentage points.

Stating that Ayodhya could be a template for India’s tourism boost, it said INR 85,000 crore (USD 10 billion) makeover is set to transform the ancient city from a sleepy town to a global religious and spiritual tourist hotspot.
“Tourism is projected to surge and increase economic and religious migration to Ayodhya, multiple sectors stand to benefit, including hotels, airlines, hospitality, FMCG, travel ancillaries, cement etc,” the brokerage said.

Phase 1 of a new airport at Ayodhya has become operational and can handle 1 million passengers. additional domestic capacity and an international terminal is expected by 2025 with a capacity to handle 6 million passengers.

Railway station has been upgraded to double the capacity to 60,000 passengers per day. Jefferies said India offers geographical variety, diversity, culture, heritage sites and a treasure trove of art, music and cuisines to make it a popular global tourist destination.

And the temple at Ayodhya will only help unlock tourism potential of India, which has distinct advantages — ranked 7th most beautiful country by Forbes in 2022, home for 42 UNESCO World Heritage sites, one of only three countries in the world to have both hot and cold deserts and ranked 10th in the Medical Tourism Index.

16 airlines operating in India with 771 aircraft: DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)  said there are a total of 16 airlines in the country that are operating with 771 aircraft.

The DGCA informed through an official statement that in line with the anticipated increase in aircraft inductions in 2024, it was suitably enhancing its regulatory capacity to further speed up the regulatory approvals related to the induction of aircraft.

It informed further that the DGCA grants Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to Airline Operators for undertaking Scheduled and Scheduled Commuter Air transport Services. As of December 31, 2023, there are a total of 16 AOC holders endorsed with a total of 771 aircraft, the topmost regulatory authority for flight operations informed.

In addition, DGCA has permitted airline operators to induct 21 aircraft on a wet/damp lease basis in 2023 to cater for capacity shortfall due to the grounding of aircraft.

Last year, the scheduled operators inducted a total of 112 aircraft in their fleet against 81 aircraft inducted in 2022, marking an increase of 38 per cent, the regulator informed.

Taking into account the 21 wet/damp lease aircraft, the total induction of aircraft stands at 133 as against the corresponding figure of 88 in the previous year 2022, which represents a significant increase of 51 per cent over the previous year, thereby augmenting capacity in a growing aviation market.

This has helped in achieving the twin outcomes of enhanced network coverage giving a boost to connectivity and comparatively lower fares during the festive season to the overall benefit of passengers, the DGCA stated in its release.

 

PIF invests in Saudia Technic to create leadership edge in MRO

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed an agreement to invest in Saudia Technic, a subsidiary of Saudia Group.

Formerly known as Saudia Aerospace Engineering Industries, Saudia Technic has a long-established presence and rich legacy in Saudi Arabia, tracing its roots back to the 1960s. It provides services across key aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul segments (MRO), including line, base, components and engines.

PIF and Saudia Group will transform Saudia Technic into a national MRO champion by investing in infrastructure, boosting efficiency and capturing market growth in Saudi Arabia over the next decade. Saudia Technic’s ambition is to become the MRO of choice for domestic airlines and global partners seeking access to the Saudi market.

The investment will support the development of an approximately 1 million-square-meter MRO village in Jeddah, including a state-of-the-art jet propulsion center that will expand Saudia Technic into the leading MRO in the Middle East. The new MRO village will significantly increase hangar capacity and the number of component shops, successfully positioning Saudia Technic to capture Saudi Arabia’s future market demand by unlocking scale and efficiency across line, base, engine, and component segments. The MRO village will entail the construction and operationalization of an engine test cell that will serve next generation wide-body and narrow-body aircraft engines, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s MRO ambitions through 2030.

Raid Ismail, Co-Head of MENA Direct Investments at PIF, said, “PIF continues to invest in one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding sectors in an increasingly interconnected global economy. The investment in Saudia Technic is a significant milestone as we unlock capabilities, localize expertise and create a first-class, world-leading aviation sector in Saudi.”

Captain Fahd Cynndy, CEO of Saudia Technic, added, “This strategic investment by PIF underscores our commitment to becoming a leader in the aviation industry. We are excited to work alongside PIF in shaping the future of aviation in Saudi Arabia and the region. Together, we aim to enhance our capabilities, drive innovation, and become the MRO of choice for airlines and partners worldwide.”

Saudi Arabia is firmly cementing its position as a global aviation hub. Stimulating new industry ecosystems and partnerships, PIF has already made significant investments in the sector. These include plans for King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, which aims to have capacity for 120 million travelers by 2030. Other initiatives include the launch of The Helicopter Company which was created to enhance local connectivity and meet fast growing demand in Saudi; and AviLease, an aircraft leasing company designed to support the growth of the country’s expanding aviation ecosystem.

AirAsia offers limited time fare of INR 4,999 one-way for bookings from South Indian to Kuala Lumpur

AirAsia is celebrating the recent announcement of visa-free travel from India to Malaysia with special promotional fares for a limited time only to Kuala Lumpur from all the southern Indian routes within its network.

From now till December 24, 2024, flights can be booked from seven destinations in South India within AirAsia’s network for a special promotional price. Fly to Kuala Lumpur from Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Kochi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and soon Trivandrum for only INR 4,999, all-inclusive one-way. From Malaysia, Indian travellers can further explore the airline’s network of more than 130 destinations in 22 countries through its seamless ‘Fly-Through’ options. The travel period commences immediately and ends on September 30, 2024.

AirAsia has already announced route launch to Thiruvananthapuram (starting February 21, 2024) and special fares to Malaysia from India. This is in addition to AirAsia’s announcement of a significant increase in services between the two countries, totalling an 69 weekly flights starting in the first quarter of 2024, with up to 1.5 million seats per year.

Manoj Dharmani, Head of Regional Commercial (India), AirAsia, said, “We wholeheartedly welcome this initiative by the Malaysian government to extend a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian travellers into the country. Malaysia has always been a favourite destination for visitors from India thanks to its many stunning and revered pilgrimage sites, breath-taking landscapes and a wide variety of delicious local food ‒ and now they can do so affordably and seamlessly. AirAsia has flown millions of travellers from India to Malaysia to date, giving many the opportunities to fulfil their dreams of exploring the region. We look forward to continuously expanding our connectivity and market presence to allow for more affordable travel between the two nations.”