Tag Archives: Kochi

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.”

Air India Express to launch daily flights from Mumbai & Hyderabad to Dammam

Air India Express is set to launch daily direct flights connecting Mumbai–Dammam and Hyderabad–Dammam. The operations on these routes will commence on January 19, 2024, and flights can now be booked with fares starting at INR 15,312 (BOM-DMM), INR 16,613 (HYD-DMM), SAR 355 (DMM-BOM), and SAR 505 (DMM-HYD) onwards on the airline’s award-winning app, official website airindiaexpress.com, and other major booking platforms.

Mumbai- Dammam Departure for Flight IX 0281 at 2:55 and arrival at 4:50
Dammam- Mumbai Departure for Flight IX 0282 at 17:20 and arrival at 23:30
Hyderabad – Dammam Departure for Flight IX 0929 at 13:40 and arrival at 16:20
Dammam – Hyderabad Departure for Flight IX 0930 at 5:50 and arrival at 12:35

Commenting on the launch, Tara Naidu, VP, International Business at Air India Express, said, “Saudi Arabia is a rapidly emerging market with immense potential and promising opportunities. We offer 28 weekly direct flights connecting Dammam with Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Kochi, Mumbai, Mangalore, and Thiruvananthapuram. The new routes will bolster our network, enabling us to provide convenient one-stop itineraries from Dammam to destinations such as Bhubaneswar, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Gwalior, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Ranchi, and Visakhapatnam. Additionally, we also operate nine weekly flights each from Jeddah and Riyadh to various destinations in India.”

Air India Express offers daily direct flights connecting Mumbai with eight destinations, including key destinations such as Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Dammam, Lucknow and Sharjah. With 15 daily direct flights, the airline connects Hyderabad with 10 destinations across its network, including Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Lucknow, Visakhapatnam and more.

 

IAAI’s National Council Meeting emphasis on collaboration & acknowledges industry’s resilience

The recent National Council Meeting hosted by the IAAI (IATA Agents Association of India) at The Hotel Park Central, Kochi, marked a pivotal moment for travel agents. In the wake of post-COVID challenges, the industry gathered to address critical issues, emphasising unity and collaboration.

Under the guidance of National President Biji Eapen, industry leaders, including General Secretary Aruna Shetty, Treasurer Devender Ghule, Director Manu T. Nair and national coordinator Johnson M.P, convened to discuss challenges, adaptations during the pandemic, and IAAI’s proactive role in supporting agents.

Eapen addressed the challenges the industry faced during the pandemic. Despite physical constraints, the IAAI maintained constant communication through online web meetings. The loss of Ramani from Chennai was acknowledged, highlighting his significant contributions to the industry.

IAAI’s Proactive Role: Eapen emphasised IAAI’s active involvement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The association assisted agents in dealing with airline operations, ticket cancellations, and flight disruptions. The establishment of the “Passengers Rights Forum” played a vital role in supporting affected individuals.

Legal Initiatives and Advocacy: Eapen acknowledged the assistance of Adv Ajith Marath in becoming a party to the Supreme Court case filed by Adv Jose Abraham of Pravasi Legal Cell. This legal action focused on securing refunds for air tickets due to flight cancellations or operational challenges. Eapen commended IAAI’s proactive stance in advocating for the inclusion of “Force Majeure” clauses concerning airline operations, a move that garnered support from other associations.

Historic Milestone for Travel Agents: A landmark moment unfolded as leading travel agencies and Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) were collectively summoned for the first time. The meeting’s emphasis on industry collaboration and unity marks a turning point in the history of travel agents, setting the stage for mutual support, shared platforms, and a collective effort to navigate challenges and foster growth in the ever-evolving travel landscape.

Industry Collaboration and Unity: Responding to President Eapen’s call for unity, industry veterans stepped forward to pledge their support. Figures such as Thomas Mathai of Riya Travels & Riya Connect, Biju Varghese of AL Hind Travels & Online Portal, Mohd Shib of Creative Travel Group & Hajj Packages, Christopher Mendes of Santa Monica Tours and Study Abroad, and Ummer Karuthedath of Arabian Travels & Hajj Packages volunteered to share their platforms and support all IAAI member agents. Their commitment extends to various domains, including ticketing, tour packages, hajj packages, and study-abroad educational programs.

A significant part of the meeting centered around fostering collaboration and eradicating discrimination among various segments of the travel fraternity. The collective commitment was made to share and support one another in a unified effort, recalling the spirit of collaboration witnessed from 2006 to 2009.

To ensure the success of this collaborative initiative, a sub-committee from different regions was proposed. This committee would oversee and support the efforts, ensuring a well-coordinated and effective approach to benefit all IAAI member agents.

Discussion on GDS Companies and NDC Providers: A detailed discussion ensued regarding the facilities provided by Global Distribution System (GDS) companies and New Distribution Capability (NDC) providers. IAAI, as a founding supporter of Verteil Technologies Private Ltd, sought a special scheme exclusively for its members.

Professional supports: In a move towards greater professionalism, Adv Ajith Marath and Anil Sreenivasan of AURGRF (Airline Users Rights and Grievances Redressal Forum) pledged full support and guidance to IAAI members. Their commitment extends to guiding IAAI member agents, ensuring to support their valued customers in the event of any difficulties or deficiencies encountered during their flights.

Speedwings Aviation Academy, a leading provider of IATA dangerous goods training, pledged support to all member agents. The academy committed to equipping them with knowledge on “restricted or prohibited items in passenger baggage,” aiming to enhance professionalism and ensure a hassle-free travel experience.

Unified Front for Positive Industry Changes: The session concluded with a urging for travel trade associations to unify under a cohesive front, aiming to reinstate our entitlements for the legal commission as outlined in the DGCA Order on March 5, 2010, and the subsequent directive from the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, dated September 16, 2013, which reaffirms the commission. The collaborative effort aims to bring about positive changes in the industry, emphasizing the collective influence to shape a more resilient and equitable travel landscape.
In response to the government’s “Dark Patterns” guidelines, the IAAI management appointed a committee to study implications, emphasizing a commitment to transparency and fairness in the travel industry.

Commitments and Reorganization: All National Management Committee (NMC) members expressed unwavering commitment to exerting additional effort for the betterment of members. Plans were announced to reorganize the Mumbai Committee and open a new chapter in Pune, with Secretary Arun Shetty and Director Devendra Ghule taking the lead.

The meeting concluded with a call for travel trade associations to unite, plans for committee reorganization, and a commitment to transparency.

Representatives from various airlines engaged with members, addressing concerns, and affirming full support for IAAI initiatives. The meeting ended with an entertaining segment and a cocktail session, fostering a spirit of collaboration and unity among industry stakeholders.

Fortune Hotels signs agreement to operate two hotels in Kochi

Fortune Hotels, a member of the ITC hotel group, has signed an operating agreements for two Fortune Park brownfield projects in Kochi, one each in Athani and Kakkanad. These two strategically located hotels is scheduled to open in the year 2025 and mark Fortune Hotels’ entry into Kerala.

Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Hotels, stated, “Our entry into God’s own country was on the cards for a while – we are extremely happy to have signed two hotels here. As we steadily expand our presence, both our Kochi properties will be important contributors to our portfolio. We see Kerala as a high potential market and our strategic focus on entering new and upcoming towns and cities in this state continues. We stand by our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences across all our destinations.”

The Athani addition will offer 72 stylish rooms and suites. Situated just 10 minutes’ drive from the Cochin International Airport, this contemporary hotel is set to be the first branded hotel in the area in its segment, and a premier address for transient guests, both business and leisure.

The Kakkanad project, a business hotel, encompasses 67 rooms. Located in the Ernakulam district of Kerala, home to umpteen IT and industrial projects.

The two Kochi hotels are designed to include multiple dining options, state-of-the-art banquet and meeting venues, and other wellness facilities like gymnasium, spa and swimming pool.

 

Malaysia Airlines starts direct flights between Ahmedabad & Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia Airlines has commenced operations between Ahmedabad and Kuala Lumpur on December 1.

The inaugural flight departing from Kuala Lumpur via MH106 was welcomed upon arrival at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) at 9:40 pm local time, before continuing its journey back to Kuala Lumpur at 10:40 pm local time via flight MH107.

This development follows the commencement of Malaysia Airlines’ direct operations from Amritsar and Trivandrum last month. With the addition of direct services from Ahmedabad, the airline will be operating 65 weekly flights to India from nine key hubs. Presently, the airline operates flights from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Amritsar, and Trivandrum. In addition, the airline also recently announced that beginning January 15, 2024, it will be increasing its frequency to Amritsar from two times weekly to four times weekly following strong demands and load factor performance.

Commenting on the development, Dersenish Aresandiran, Chief Commercial Officer, Airlines, Malaysia Aviation Group, said, “India presents a tremendous opportunity, given the burgeoning demand and passenger traffic in the recent past. The launch of direct flights between Ahmedabad and Kuala Lumpur not only reaffirms our commitment to providing seamless travel experiences but also underscores the pivotal role India plays in the ever-evolving landscape of air travel. In addition, with the commencement of 30-day visa-free entry for visitors from India into Malaysia, we look forward to providing travellers with more options for connectivity and convenience as they embark on their journeys onboard Malaysian Hospitality.”

A spokesperson from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, said, “Ahmedabad remains the cultural and commercial epicentre of Gujarat and a significant part of western India. We extend our heartiest congratulations to Malaysia Airlines and hope that the new services will help bolster connectivity, fostering cultural and economic ties between these two vibrant regions.”

With visa-free entry for Indians, AirAsia adds 1.5mn seats between India & Malaysia

AirAsia announced a significant service increase between Malaysia and India, totalling a 69 weekly flights starting in the first quarter of 2024, with up to 1.5 million seats per year.

The significant increase in capacity comes in response to the anticipated surge in travel demand following the Malaysian government’s announcement of a 30-day visa-free entry for travellers from India into Malaysia starting today.

The announcement also coincides with the recent announcement by the governments of Thailand and Vietnam of a visa-free entry initiative for visitors from India to these countries. This enables Indian travellers to explore other ASEAN nations affordably via AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service with a one-stop in Kuala Lumpur and connect to Bangkok, Phuket, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and more seamlessly.

Tony Fernandes, CEO, Capital A, said, “This is a huge, much-anticipated news not only for AirAsia but for the country, and we truly thank the Malaysian government, particularly Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for this forward-thinking initiative. AirAsia has been at the forefront of trying to make visiting Malaysia from India easier. The 30-day visa-free entry for the citizens of India will surely provide a welcome boost for Malaysia’s tourism and its economy ahead of the upcoming peak travel season while boosting economic bonds between these great nations. As a vital player in the aviation sector, we stand ready to add capacity to support the demand for affordable and accessible air travel in the region.”

Manoj Dharmani, Regional Commercial (India), AirAsia Head, added, “We see this as an opportunity not only to enhance regional connectivity between two of our largest markets but also to act as a catalyst for significant economic growth. In the first quarter next year, AirAsia will be operating a total of 69 flights weekly to Kuala Lumpur from nine destinations in India from Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, New Delhi, Amritsar and Trivandrum – a new destination commencing February 2024.”