Tag Archives: Kolkata

Former Minister raises concerns of soaring airfares to Kashmir hampering tourism

Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman of the People’s Democratic Front (PDF) and former Revenue Minister has voiced serious concerns over the escalating airfares to Kashmir, reports Rising Kashmir.

“It’s not just tourists who are affected,” Yaseen said in a statement. “Students studying in and outside Kashmir valley, as well as those requiring urgent medical attention outside the valley, also face difficulties due to the rising airfares.”

Hakeem said the escalating airfares present a pressing issue for the Kashmir tourism industry. The increased costs make family travel packages prohibitively expensive, dissuading tourists from visiting Kashmir, he added.

The PDF chairman urged the government to promptly address the issue of rising airfares, especially as the tourism season in Kashmir is at its peak. “Compared to international destinations like Dubai, Hong Kong, and Singapore, air travel to Kashmir has become disproportionately expensive for tourists,” he said. Yaseen called for government intervention to regulate airfares, similar to major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Chennai.

The former minister further advocated for the operation of additional flights to stabilise airfares, while also recommending the imposition of price caps during peak demand periods. These measures are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of Kashmir’s tourism industry, he said.

 

SOTC Travel opens new franchise in Kolkata

 

SOTC Travelhas opened a new franchise in New Town, Kolkata. The outlet was inaugurated by Rakesh Bawa, Sr. Vice President & Head of National Sales, SOTC Travel. This expansion brings the company’s network in Kolkata to six locations (one retail store and five franchises), highlighting its strategic focus on growing its presence in the city. The new franchise will also serve nearby areas such as Newtown Action Area 2 and Rajarhat.

With a proud heritage spanning 75 years as an Indian brand, SOTC believes that no one understands Indian travellers better than they do. Kolkata is one of the company’s top five source markets, and the new outlet will cater to various customer segments including multigenerational families, seniors, couples, millennials, and Gen Z.

Kolkata Travel Trends:
Travel Intent: Increased by 25% year-over-year in 2024.
Longer Stays: Demand for longer stays is 20% higher compared to pre-pandemic times.
Higher Spending: Spending is 25-30% higher compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Top Destinations:
Domestic: Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Andamans, Kerala, Goa, Bhutan, and Nepal in the subcontinent.
International: Europe (Switzerland, France, Spain, Austria), Turkiye, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA (for visa holders), Japan, South Korea, Abu Dhabi, Mauritius, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore.
Unique Preferences: Increased demand for personalised holidays and group tours, interest in experiential holidays, spiritual journeys, domestic cruises, unique accommodations, safaris, and biking trips.
Kolkata customers tend to favor culture and spirituality. To cater to these preferences, SOTC has launched Durga Puja special departures tailored to Bengali travellers’ tastes, including offering local food on tours and providing Bangla-speaking tour managers.

SOTC is known for its group escorted tours, both international and domestic, and customised holidays. To celebrate the new outlet opening, SOTC Travel is offering discounts of up to INR 50,000 on select holidays.

“We see Kolkata as a high-potential market and one of our top five source markets for leisure travel at SOTC. We’re experiencing robust growth in demand of 25% year-over-year in this region. The addition of our new store in New Town enhances our network and allows us to serve customers from New Town Action Area 2 and Rajarhat. This new outlet brings our total number of stores in the city to six, providing easier access and enabling us to serve a wider range of customer segments,” said Daniel D’Souza, President & Country Head – Holidays at SOTC Travel. “We warmly welcome our customers and look forward to planning their next holiday with us.”

SOTC Travel’s new outlet provides comprehensive travel solutions, including international and domestic holidays (group tours, personalised holidays, cruises, and more), as well as value-added services such as travel insurance and visa services.

Air India Express to connect Surat with New Delhi from May 1

Air India Express is set to connect New Delhi with Surat from May 1. The flight will depart Delhi at 10 am and arrive in Surat by 12 pm. On the return leg, the flight will take off from Surat at 1 pm and reach Delhi at 3 pm.

This schedule offers a convenient option for both business and leisure travellers. Notably, this timing caters specifically to passengers connecting to evening international flights from Delhi, providing ample buffer time for a smooth transition.

In addition to the Delhi route, Air India Express is also revamping its existing Kolkata service from Surat. The departure time for the Surat-Kolkata leg will be shifted to a more convenient 8:35 am, with a revised arrival time in Kolkata of 11:35 am. The return flight from Kolkata will now depart at 4:55 am and reach Surat by 8:55 am.

Digi Yatra service at Goa’s Dabolim Airport by month end

The Goa International Airport, Dabolim has started installing the Digi Yatra biometric-based faceless access system by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The new system is expected to be operational before the end of the month.
The Digi Yatra system is a biometric-enabled system that leverages facial recognition technology to automate the entry and verification of passengers at various airport checkpoints.

This modern system makes the travel experience more seamless and convenient for passengers. The Digi Yatra system is already in operation in 13 other Indian airports which include Delhi, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Mumbai.

The Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa, has recently implemented the Digi Yatra system, making it the 14th airport in India to do so.

The Digi Yatra system makes air travel more secure and hassle-free for passengers. By linking their Aadhaar number to a Digi Yatra ID on their mobile app, passengers can scan their boarding pass at the airport, and the facial recognition system will confirm their identity.

This process eliminates the need for manual checks, reduces waiting times, quickens processing times, and simplifies procedures for passengers.

The Union Civil Aviation Ministry is behind this initiative to improve air travel procedures. The Manohar International Airport is the second international airport in Goa, after the Dabolim airport, which is a civil enclave in a military airbase.

SpiceJet starts non-stop Hyderabad-Ayodhya flights

SpiceJet has launched non-stop flights from Hyderabad to Ayodhya.

The airline has resumed operations to Pakyong in Sikkim from Delhi and Kolkata, effective March 31, 2024. The Delhi-Pakyong route will be operational five days a week, while the Kolkata-Pakyong flight will operate daily. The Hyderabad-Ayodhya flight will operate thrice a week.

Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “We are happy to enhance connectivity to Ayodhya and Pakyong ahead of the forthcoming peak travel season. With an expanding fleet, we are poised to launch new routes and reinstate services on key ones. SpiceJet remains steadfast in providing seamless travel experiences to our passengers by enhancing domestic operations and fostering regional connectivity across India.”

These newly-inaugurated flights reflect SpiceJet’s commitment to fortifying its network and offering enhanced connectivity options to travellers during peak travel periods. The increased accessibility on these routes will cater to residents, tourists, and pilgrims alike.

The airline will deploy a mix of Boeing 737 and Q400 aircraft to serve these routes, ensuring efficient and comfortable travel experiences for passengers.

Air India Express to start non-stop flights from Kolkata to Imphal & Kochi next month

Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India, is all set to begin non-stop flights to Imphal and Kochi from Kolkata this April, an airline official said.

“The flights to Imphal will operate daily, while those to Kochi will fly six days a week,” he said.

The flight from Kolkata to Imphal will depart at 7 am and will reach in Manipur capital at 8.05 am. The return flight will depart at 8.35 am and arrive in Kolkata at 10.20 am, he said.

The Kolkata-Kochi flight will take off at 11.25am and reach the destination at 2.35pm, while the return flight will leave at 3.05pm and land here at 6.10pm.

The airline through route integration will be operating more flights on various domestic routes, sources said.

Meanwhile, the airline has recently announced introduction of four fare products – Xpress Lite (cabin baggage only fares), Xpress Value (15 kg check-in bag fares), Xpress Flex (unlimited changes with no change fees), and Xpress Biz (business class seating with complimentary Gourmair meals and priority services).

With the launch of this service, travellers now have the option to personalise their trip aligning with ‘Fly As You Are’ – “our promise to make travel more convenient for our guests”, the airline said.

The statement said its Xpress Biz fares are available on all the new Air India Express Boeing 737-8 aircraft, as a business class equivalent that disrupts the traditional Low Cost carrier (LCC) model with a hybrid offering.

Guests can enjoy increased baggage allowances of 25kg for domestic flights and 40kg for international flights when booking Xpress Biz fares.

Air India Express is already operating aircraft with ‘Biz’ seats across 70 routes in India, connecting metro cities with other key destinations. From Kolkata, the destinations are Ayodhya, Chennai, Jaipur, Guwahati and Imphal.

Air India Express, is a subsidiary of Air India and a part of the Tata group, operating over 360 daily flights, connecting 31 domestic and 14 international airports, with a fleet of 67 aircraft, comprising 39 Boeing 737s and 28 Airbus A320s. (Source: PTI)