Tourism, Travel, Hospitality, Conservation: News,Stories And Experiences From Allover The World
Showing posts with label bengaluru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bengaluru. Show all posts
Friday, 14 June 2019
INDIA: Hotel Paraag Limited And InterContinental Hotels Group Sign Agreement For Two Hotels In Bangalore
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has entered into an agreement with Hotel Paraag Limited in Bangalore, for two hotels – the newly built InterContinental Bengaluru Whitefield and Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Raj Bhavan Road, which will be a conversion hotel.
This development will mark the debut of the globally renowned luxury brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Bengaluru and expansion of IHG’s upscale brand, Crowne Plaza in the country.
The development marks the debut of the globally renowned luxury brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Bengaluru and expansion of IHG’s upscale brand, Crowne Plaza in the country. Both hotels are expected to be operational by Q1 2022 and will increase IHG’s system size in India by over 400 rooms.
Already under advance stages of construction, InterContinental Bengaluru Whitefield will feature 265 aesthetically designed rooms.
The luxury hotel will be will be centrally located in Whitefield. The hotel will offer unrivalled amenities including a large banqueting/meeting space and a large lawn.
Post extensive renovation and upgrades to the existing property, on opening in 2022, Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Raj Bhavan Road will boast of 140 well-designed rooms featuring modern amenities. The hotel will feature a large banquet/meeting space, a business centre, pool and other world class facilities.
Commenting on the announcement, Sudeep Jain, vice president, development, South West Asia (SWA), IHG said, We are delighted to partner with Hotel Paraag Limited to strengthen the presence of two of our globally renowned brands – InterContinental and Crowne Plaza in India.
This signing is a significant milestone for us as we debut our iconic brand, InterContinental in Bengaluru and mark the growth of the brand in SWA. This is our sixth InterContinental property, opened or signed in the region and the third in the country.
InterContinental has been receiving great response in the region and we are in a number of active discussions to further expand the brand footprint.
He added: Bengaluru serves as a host to many leading conferences and seminars attracting global business visitors in large numbers. We therefore see great potential in this market for our brand, Crowne Plaza which is known to offer business ready services to corporate guests and excellent MICE facilities.
With 11 open hotels in SWA and 7 in the pipeline, the brand is gaining popularity in the region and has proved to be a great choice for our guests and owners alike.
Ramesh Srinivas Jannu, managing director, Hotel Paraag Limited said, We are delighted to partner with IHG as they debut their iconic global brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in the city and continue to strengthen the presence of Crowne Plaza, a well-received brand in the upscale segment.
Given the rising demand in the city for high quality hospitality from renowned brands, we see this partnership as a great opportunity to offer our guests quality experiences for various needs and occasions.
InterContinental Bengaluru Whitefield and Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Raj Bhavan Road will offer an excellent combination of strategic location and IHG’s signature hospitality.
We couldn’t be more confident of the success of these properties as we prepare to host our guests in the near future.
Tourism Observer
Thursday, 6 September 2018
INDIA: Airlines Offering Discount Offers On Domestic And International Flight Tickets
The offers come amid high competition in the country's civil aviation market. Jet Airways is offering up to 30 per cent discount on base fare in premiere and economy class on select domestic as well as international flight tickets.
IndiGo is offering flight tickets at an all-inclusive starting price of Rs. 999. GoAir is offering flight tickets from Rs. 1,099, while AirAsia India has also announced flight tickets starting from Rs. 999 on select routes.
Jet Airways is offering up to 30 per cent discount on base fare in premiere and economy class on select domestic as well as international flight tickets.
Jet Airways' all-new Global Sale is valid for bookings done till September 7, 2018. According to the airline, the discount is available on 25 lakh seats.
However, tickets must be purchased a minimum of 8 days prior departure.
IndiGo is offering flight tickets at an all-inclusive starting price of Rs. 999. As part of its four-day special festival sale, the airline is offering 10 lakh seats.
The booking period of the offer ends on September 6, 2018. Under this scheme, IndiGo is offering domestic flight tickets starting at Rs. 999 and international flight tickets starting at Rs. 3,199.
The travel period of the offer starts on September 18, 2018 and ends on March 30, 2019.
GoAir is offering flight tickets at a starting all-inclusive price of Rs. 1,099. The booking period of the offer ends on September 5, 2018 and the travel period ends on March 31, 2019.
However, this scheme is valid across selective fare types and fare products, said the carrier.
AirAsia India has announced flight tickets starting from Rs. 999 on select routes under a limited-period offer. AirAsia India is offering flight tickets priced from an all-inclusive Rs. 999 on the Guwahati-Imphal, Bengaluru-Kochi and Bengaluru-Chennai routes, according to the airline's website - airasia.com.
Bookings under the sale offer are open till September 9, 2018.
Tourism Observer
Saturday, 7 July 2018
INDIA: Acquiring A Schengen Visa With An Indian Passport
It’s no wonder that you’re interested in traveling to the Schengen nations. Europe, the land of wonders, is one of the most visited continents in the world.
If you wish to visit Europe, you need to hold a Schengen visa. Learn more about how to apply for a Schengen Visa from India, Schengen Visa Application Requirements, Fees and Guidelines for Indian Passport Holders and Indian Citizens.
Of all the Schengen countries, Switzerland is the most visited by Indians, followed by France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Today, India is the fourth highest applicant for Schengen visas with 920,699 applicants in 2017. Out of these, 837,109 applicants were granted the Schengen visa, 57% of which were multiple entries visas.
The Schengen visa is a visa that is provided by the Schengen Area member countries to travelers who wish to visit any of the member states. An Indian national who holds the Schengen visa can visit any of the Schengen countries freely, without having to take additional visas.
If you wish to apply for a Schengen visa in India, you can visit one of the VFS centers in the national capital Delhi or state capitals like Bengaluru.
Before you apply for the Schengen visa from India, you must check which type of visa you need to apply for.
There are three primary visas you can apply for:
Uniform Schengen Visas – They allow the holder to visit any Schengen state for up to 90 days within 6 months of issue. The visa can be a single entry, double entry or multiple entries.
Limited Territorial Validity Visas – They allow the holder to visit particular countries only and bar the holders from entering any other Schengen country during the visit.
National Visas – They are provided to students and working professionals who have to reside in the Schengen country for study or work. This can be either single or multiple entry visas.
The first thing applicants must do to start the visa application process is to schedule an appointment with the embassy.
The appointment for the embassy can be taken online on the VFS websites or by visiting the VFS centres in person.
The visa fees will be waived for:
- Holders of diplomatic passports
- Participants of international education, sporting and research competitions who are under the age of 25
- Children below the age of 6
Indian applicants are allowed to apply for their visas at one of two embassies:
- The embassy of the country which is the point of entry, that is, the first Schengen country you will be entering and starting your tour in
- The embassy of the country where you will spend the maximum duration of your trip in
The Schengen visa process takes up to 2 weeks to complete and the embassy may take a further 10 days to contact you.
It is advisable that you apply for the visa at least 1 month before your planned trip.
Schengen Consulates In India
- Austria
- Finland
- Latvia
- Romania
- Belgium
- France
- Lithuania
- Slovakia
- Bulgaria
- Germany
- Luxembourg
- Slovenia
- Cyprus
- Greece
- Malta
- Spain
- Czech Republic
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Ireland
- Poland
- Estonia
- Italy
- Portugal
Fill in the application form and submit the required documents
Once you’ve scheduled the appointment, you need to visit the embassy’s website or office to collect the application form.
Submit the following documents during the application process:
- Two passport size photographs of 32-36 mm height in a plain background. 70-80% of the photograph must show the full frontal image of the applicant’s head. Photos must not contain red-eyes, reflections, and shadows.
- Passport with at least 2 blank pages and copies of old visas
- Travel insurance of a minimum coverage value of €30,000
- Cover letter/sponsorship letter stating the reason for visit, the intention of stay and duration of travel
- Comprehensive flight itinerary with details about dates of travel, copies of tickets for accommodation, travel and tourist spots
- Marriage certificate, birth certificate and national identity documents like Voters ID as proof of civil status
- If employed at an organization- the employment contract, the income statement for the past 6 months, leave request and travel consent form from the employer, a copy of previous IT returns
- If self-employed- a copy of the business license and registration certificate, P&L statement for the past 6 months, a copy of IT returns and other proof of financial sufficiency
- If a student no objection certificate from school/college, proof of enrolment
- If retired, a copy of pension documents for the past 6 months
- All documents must be personally handed over to the concerned person at the embassy.
Once the embassy verifies the authenticity and validity of your documents, a face-to-face interview will be scheduled.
During the interview, the embassy official will ask you questions regarding your reason for visit, the duration of visit, places on the itinerary and so on.
He/she will also check the financing you have for the travel and will check all of your documents to see if the answers tally with the information you’ve provided during the interview.
This interview is crucial to your visa application acceptance.
You need to convince the embassy official that you intend to abide by all the laws of the host country, that you intend to return to your life in India and that you have made arrangements for everything you need at the countries you plan to visit.
Once the visa interview is over, the embassy official will take your biometrics. This biometrics will be tagged to your documentation and they act as records of identification during your travel.
About 10-15 days after the visa application process, the embassy will send your visa by post if your application has been accepted.
However, if the visa application has been rejected, the letter will contain information about the reason for rejection.
Reasons why your Schengen Visa application may be rejected
- Insufficient or wrong information on the application form
- Providing incorrect personal or professional information or withholding information in the application form may result in your visa application being rejected.
- History of criminal activity
- If you have had any criminal activity recorded against your name in public records, you may be disqualified from applying for the Schengen visa. This criminal activity can represent anything from non-payment of parking fines to large-scale financial fraud.
- False or incorrect travel documentation
- If you do not furnish the flight tickets or travel insurance to the visa office in time, it may result in rejection of the visa application.
- Lack of sponsorship letter
- A sponsorship letter is essential for anyone whose travel to a Schengen country is being sponsored by a resident or citizen of that Schengen country. The absence of the sponsorship letter may disqualify you in the eyes of the embassy.
- Non-availability of travel itinerary
- Not furnishing the detailed travel itinerary for the entire trip or providing only a half-planned itinerary can result in your application being disqualified.
- Short validity period or expiry of passport
- As per the Consular, Passport & Visa Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, a passport that is due to expire within 3 years must be renewed or the passport holder may be subject to the risk of visa application rejection.
- Lack of travel financing
All passport holders must furnish proof of steady income to the embassy when applying for the Schengen application. Failure to do so may result in your visa application being denied.
Additionally, any income that the embassy feels may not support the expenses of the Schengen country may be subject to visa application rejection.
- Forged or wrong professional and personal documentation
- Non-submission of education certificates, marriage certificates, employment certificates and proof of national identity or submission of forged documents may make the applicant vulnerable to visa application rejection.
- Inappropriate travel insurance or lack of coverage
Schengen visa applicants are required to get travel insurance of a minimum of $50,000 or €30,000 per head for their visit.
Travel insurance of lesser value or one which does not satisfy the terms and conditions of the Schengen countries the applicant is visiting may be subject to visa denial.
- No evidence of accommodation and activities
Whether it’s an Airbnb home or a hotel or a sponsored accommodation, applicants need to specify where they intend to stay during their visit and the dates of arrival and exit.
Additionally, a copy of the tickets to tourist spots must also be attached. If a sponsor is taking care of accommodation and entertainment, he/she must send across the relevant documentation and details to the embassy.
- Damage to passport
If the passport has a missing page or a tear on one of the pages or contains a mark that is not allowed to be on the passport by the Indian visa consular and the embassy, the visa application is denied on the grounds of tampering with the passport.
Tampering with the passport is a punishable offense and many countries blacklist visitors whose passports have been tampered with in any way.
Willful or involuntary non-compliance with the visa procedure requirements
Any applicant who has either by mistake or incomplete consciousness of his/her actions, disobeyed with any of the requirements of the visa application procedure will be denied the Schengen visa.
How to ensure your application for Schengen visa is accepted?
- Make sure you provide complete information about yourself, your education, your place of employment
- Make your intention to visit the Schengen country clear in the application
- Provide all the necessary documents either in original or copy, as requested
- Do not forge signatures or provide wrongful information
- Get the right travel insurance well-in-advance
- Make sure your passport is in good quality and is valid during the time of application
- Provide the sponsorship letter, when necessary
- Follow all the visa application procedures to-the-tee
Tourism Observer
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
INDIA: IndiGo Now Flying To Jorhat And Dhaka
Under the UDAN scheme, Jorhat will be the 54th destination on IndiGo’s network. Furthermore, Dhaka will be the 55th destination. Both new services start on August 01, 2018.
To provide more enhanced connectivity across India, IndiGo has announced the addition of 16 new flights to its network.
Effective August 2018, the Indian airline will operate its first daily flight between Bengaluru and Raipur.
Additionally, the airline will operate a second daily flight between Kolkata-Nagpur, a third daily flight between Bengaluru and Nagpur, and fourth daily flight between Bengaluru and Jaipur, and Bengaluru and Vizag respectively.
IndiGo will also operate its fourth daily flight between Kolkata and Patna.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said:
It gives us immense pleasure to add Dhaka, Bangladesh to our ever-expanding route network, and we are equally pleased to announce Jorhat as our new UDAN destination after Tiruchirappalli and Tuticorin.
With the addition of sixteen new flights connecting various cities within India, we will now be able to extend our on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and low fares to everyone, that IndiGo is synonymous with.
IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers wherever they demand it.
Tourism Observer
INDIA: IndiGo Starts Flights To Lucknow,Goa And Pune
IndiGo will operate a daily non-stop flight between Lucknow-Goa-Lucknow and Lucknow-Pune-Lucknow respectively. Continuing the low-cost carrier’s expansion in the domestic skies, IndiGo’s average daily departures will now be 25 flights out of Lucknow to 13 destinations.
The new flights are designed to cater to business and leisure travelers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar, IndiGo’s Chief Commercial Officer, said:
We are pleased to announce the launch of these two sectors from Lucknow, which will further provide more flexibility of choice to our customers.
Lucknow continues to hold immense potential for IndiGo and we are indeed happy to be the first airline to operate maiden flights between Lucknow-Goa-Lucknow and Lucknow-Pune-Lucknow.
We are providing affordable fares on these new routes for our travelers.
It is our constant endeavor to provide the best travel experience to our customers, as IndiGo continues to offer them on-time, courteous and hassle-free service and an affordable flying experience always.
IndiGo is further enhancing its customer experience with the launch of Jorhat and Dhaka as its new destinations.
Under the UDAN scheme, Jorhat will be the 54th destination on IndiGo’s network. Furthermore, Dhaka will be the 55th destination. Both new services start on August 01, 2018.
To provide more enhanced connectivity across India, IndiGo has announced the addition of 16 new flights to its network.
Effective August 2018, the Indian airline will operate its first daily flight between Bengaluru and Raipur.
Additionally, the airline will operate a second daily flight between Kolkata-Nagpur, a third daily flight between Bengaluru and Nagpur, and fourth daily flight between Bengaluru and Jaipur, and Bengaluru and Vizag respectively.
IndiGo will also operate its fourth daily flight between Kolkata and Patna.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said:
It gives us immense pleasure to add Dhaka, Bangladesh to our ever-expanding route network, and we are equally pleased to announce Jorhat as our new UDAN destination after Tiruchirappalli and Tuticorin.
With the addition of sixteen new flights connecting various cities within India, we will now be able to extend our on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and low fares to everyone, that IndiGo is synonymous with.
IndiGo will continue to expand its network to meet the requirements of both business and leisure travelers wherever they demand it.
Tourism Observer
Tuesday, 15 May 2018
UAE: Air Arabia Offers Tickets At So Low Cost
The Indian residents can fly to From Sharjah to Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram for Dh530 and Dh560 respectively.
Other Air Arabia flights to destinations to India are as follows
- From Sharjah to Coimbatore for Dh1010
- To Kochi for Dh700
- To Amman in Jordan for Dh830
- To Alexandria in Egypt for Dh658
Just in case you are not planning to take a holiday or visit your family in any of these destinations, then flydubai has fabulous offers to be availed for other destinations.
The airline is offering irresistible ticket prices to fabulous holiday destinations such as Georgia, Italy and Durbovnik.
The ticket prices are as follows
- Dubai to Batuni in Georgia for Dh900
- To Catania in Italy for Dh1,500
- To Durbovnik in Croatia for Dh1,200
Tourism Observer
Tuesday, 26 September 2017
INDIA: Gujarat Targets Young Travellers
Gujarat is eyeing over six crore tourist footfalls in the state by 2020 on the back of promotions and is mainly targeting the youth looking at short vacations.
The western state is looking at a whole range of tourist activities to achieve the ambitious target.
Last year, we received 4.2 crore tourists in Gujarat.
We have set a target of six crore footfalls by 2020 for which we are promoting our festivals and developing new destinations.
Our main focus segment is the young people with spending power who go for short vacations, Jenu Devan, MD of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat said.
He said for the youth Gujarat offers a host of attractions, including adventure, eco, beach, festivals, heritage and border tourism.
Foreign tourists comprises only 2 per cent of the overall visitor footfalls in Gujarat, he said.
Gujarat is getting marketed on the international platform, including Italy, east Europe, Japan and South Korea among others.
An increase in the inbound tourist footfalls to 5 per cent by end of 2020,the state will continue to strengthen its top source markets, the US and the UK.
Gujarat has attracted over Rs 9,000-crore investments for 220 tourism-related projects, the official said.
Gujarat received investment commitments of over Rs 9,000 crore for developing and creating infrastructure for 220 projects for the period 2015-2020.
The government spends Rs 200 core every year for promotion and branding of Gujarat tourism at various domestic and global platforms, Devan said.
Devan said Gujarat tourism is targeting metro cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad besides tier II places like Pune and Indore, where there is a high level of young working population with good spending power.
Devan said they are looking at a mix of tier I and II cities, which have a good young population with spending power.
Devan also said Gujarat is developing two new circuits heritage and Buddhist to add to the existing offers for holiday-makers.
To attract travellers to visit Gujarat again and again,they keep developing new tourism products. Thy are developing two new circuits - heritage and Buddhist circuits.
Besides they are also mulling over creating several other circuits like Jain, Sufi and tribal, Devan added.
The state is also bullish on medical tourism and Bollywood, for which the tourism department will facilitate support in terms of incentives, including single clearance window and transport, among others, Devan said.
Tourism Observer
The western state is looking at a whole range of tourist activities to achieve the ambitious target.
Last year, we received 4.2 crore tourists in Gujarat.
We have set a target of six crore footfalls by 2020 for which we are promoting our festivals and developing new destinations.
Our main focus segment is the young people with spending power who go for short vacations, Jenu Devan, MD of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat said.
He said for the youth Gujarat offers a host of attractions, including adventure, eco, beach, festivals, heritage and border tourism.
Foreign tourists comprises only 2 per cent of the overall visitor footfalls in Gujarat, he said.
Gujarat is getting marketed on the international platform, including Italy, east Europe, Japan and South Korea among others.
An increase in the inbound tourist footfalls to 5 per cent by end of 2020,the state will continue to strengthen its top source markets, the US and the UK.
Gujarat has attracted over Rs 9,000-crore investments for 220 tourism-related projects, the official said.
Gujarat received investment commitments of over Rs 9,000 crore for developing and creating infrastructure for 220 projects for the period 2015-2020.
The government spends Rs 200 core every year for promotion and branding of Gujarat tourism at various domestic and global platforms, Devan said.
Devan said Gujarat tourism is targeting metro cities like Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad besides tier II places like Pune and Indore, where there is a high level of young working population with good spending power.
Devan said they are looking at a mix of tier I and II cities, which have a good young population with spending power.
Devan also said Gujarat is developing two new circuits heritage and Buddhist to add to the existing offers for holiday-makers.
To attract travellers to visit Gujarat again and again,they keep developing new tourism products. Thy are developing two new circuits - heritage and Buddhist circuits.
Besides they are also mulling over creating several other circuits like Jain, Sufi and tribal, Devan added.
The state is also bullish on medical tourism and Bollywood, for which the tourism department will facilitate support in terms of incentives, including single clearance window and transport, among others, Devan said.
Tourism Observer
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
INDIA: KLM And Jet Airways To Partner In Flight And Cargo Business
KLM- a part of one of the largest airlines in Europe, is looking to increase its presence in India as it plans to launch a new flight to Mumbai and enhance cargo co-operation within the country.
At present, the airlines, which is a part of the Air France-KLM group, however, operated in a limited capacity and faces intense competition from airlines based in Europe and the Gulf.
We hear KLM plans to resume Amsterdam-Mumbai service after nearly twenty years. Can you share details?
We are seriously considering launching a flight to Mumbai but it is not confirmed yet. There has been an enormous growth of business and relations between India and Netherlands. We have moved from having no connection between Amsterdam-Mumbai to a daily service by Jet Airways.
Moreover, the Airbus A330 aircraft, which had a capacity to accommodate 254-293 passengers, was upgraded to a Boeing 777 aircraft with 346 seats in six months' time.
How are your relations with Jet Airways shaping up? Does the partnership with Jet Airways allow you to bridge the gap with Lufthansa, which is largest European airline group in India?
Our strategy is to have a strong local partner in a country where we operate. Until now, the Air France-KLM group had three destinations in India including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With Jet Airways launching flights between Paris and Chennai in winter, we will have a fourth destination and Bengaluru will be connected to both Paris and Amsterdam.
Together with Jet Airways, we will have 61 flights to Amsterdam and Paris during the winter season, thereby stepping up our presence in the market. That also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights, and we are catching up to become the first.
Our strategy is to connect the networks and passengers from tier II towns in India can travel to tier II towns in the US via Amsterdam. This is a win-win situation for the Air France-KLM group as well as the Jet Airways.
Is Air France-KLM expanding co-operation with Jet Airways to other areas such as cargo and aircraft maintenance?
We are exploring a partnership with Jet in cargo. We think we have a good opportunity with increasing trade between India and Europe. A Boeing 777 aircraft has 15-17 tonnes of cargo capacity and we are exploring an opportunities involving, cross selling, sharing of aircraft belly space and cargo handling with Jet.
We do have some co-operation on engineering but it is relatively on a small scale and there could be an opportunity to further it.
Last year Jet Airways signed an MOU to enter into a commercial joint venture pact with Air France-KLM. What is the status of the proposed JV.
We have put a lot of efforts to ensure daily operations work well. It is important for our customers to have a seamless connection and a smooth transfer at hubs. The way we conduct financial settlements among airlines is not relevant for customers. For customers, it is relevant that they have good products and a seamless service.
A JV is always a point on the horizon and at some point, it could happen. But if we look at the most successful and enhanced partnership like the one we have with Delta Airlines, it took us years for us to come to that point. Personally, I prefer to make sure everything is good for customers first and then take steps on financial settlements and JVs.
How is your relation with Etihad and other Gulf airlines? Do you see them as partners or adversaries?
We do have co-operation with Etihad. We do have code shares between our hub and Abu Dhabi. We have partnership with Etihad and we are competing with Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Airlines are now looking for partners outside their alliances. Is that going to be a new trend?
If you look at our code-sharing agreements, we have such pacts with Delta, China Southern, China Eastern, Kenya Airways (all Sky Team members). Our partnerships are with the core members of the Sky Team. There are a few exceptions and every airline has a few exceptions. I would not put it as a new trend.
At present, the airlines, which is a part of the Air France-KLM group, however, operated in a limited capacity and faces intense competition from airlines based in Europe and the Gulf.
We hear KLM plans to resume Amsterdam-Mumbai service after nearly twenty years. Can you share details?
We are seriously considering launching a flight to Mumbai but it is not confirmed yet. There has been an enormous growth of business and relations between India and Netherlands. We have moved from having no connection between Amsterdam-Mumbai to a daily service by Jet Airways.
Moreover, the Airbus A330 aircraft, which had a capacity to accommodate 254-293 passengers, was upgraded to a Boeing 777 aircraft with 346 seats in six months' time.
How are your relations with Jet Airways shaping up? Does the partnership with Jet Airways allow you to bridge the gap with Lufthansa, which is largest European airline group in India?
Our strategy is to have a strong local partner in a country where we operate. Until now, the Air France-KLM group had three destinations in India including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With Jet Airways launching flights between Paris and Chennai in winter, we will have a fourth destination and Bengaluru will be connected to both Paris and Amsterdam.
Together with Jet Airways, we will have 61 flights to Amsterdam and Paris during the winter season, thereby stepping up our presence in the market. That also makes us the second largest airline group after Lufthansa, which has 67 weekly flights, and we are catching up to become the first.
Our strategy is to connect the networks and passengers from tier II towns in India can travel to tier II towns in the US via Amsterdam. This is a win-win situation for the Air France-KLM group as well as the Jet Airways.
Is Air France-KLM expanding co-operation with Jet Airways to other areas such as cargo and aircraft maintenance?
We are exploring a partnership with Jet in cargo. We think we have a good opportunity with increasing trade between India and Europe. A Boeing 777 aircraft has 15-17 tonnes of cargo capacity and we are exploring an opportunities involving, cross selling, sharing of aircraft belly space and cargo handling with Jet.
We do have some co-operation on engineering but it is relatively on a small scale and there could be an opportunity to further it.
Last year Jet Airways signed an MOU to enter into a commercial joint venture pact with Air France-KLM. What is the status of the proposed JV.
We have put a lot of efforts to ensure daily operations work well. It is important for our customers to have a seamless connection and a smooth transfer at hubs. The way we conduct financial settlements among airlines is not relevant for customers. For customers, it is relevant that they have good products and a seamless service.
A JV is always a point on the horizon and at some point, it could happen. But if we look at the most successful and enhanced partnership like the one we have with Delta Airlines, it took us years for us to come to that point. Personally, I prefer to make sure everything is good for customers first and then take steps on financial settlements and JVs.
How is your relation with Etihad and other Gulf airlines? Do you see them as partners or adversaries?
We do have co-operation with Etihad. We do have code shares between our hub and Abu Dhabi. We have partnership with Etihad and we are competing with Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Airlines are now looking for partners outside their alliances. Is that going to be a new trend?
If you look at our code-sharing agreements, we have such pacts with Delta, China Southern, China Eastern, Kenya Airways (all Sky Team members). Our partnerships are with the core members of the Sky Team. There are a few exceptions and every airline has a few exceptions. I would not put it as a new trend.
Friday, 28 April 2017
INDIA: Jet Airways Suspends Pilot Over Assault And Racisim
Jet Airways says it has suspended a foreign pilot from flying duty over allegations he assaulted a woman and hurled racist abuse at another passenger on a domestic flight.
The Mumbai-based airline confirmed the incident took place on April 3 on a Chandigarh-Mumbai flight, adding the pilot in question had been taken off the flying roster soon after and an apology had been extended to the victim.
“As regards the said incident, Jet Airways has noted guest feedback with concern and regrets the incident,” Jet Airways said in a statement on Wednesday.
The airline has, as per policy, initiated a full-fledged investigation, based on specific inputs from guests, concerned departments and agencies.
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the scandal, although he clarified that he had not witnessed the incident first-hand.
“Not only was he racist, but physically assaulted a lady and abused a physically challenged man ... absolutely disgraceful and shame on @jetairways,” said India’s out-of-favour spinner on Twitter, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reprimand the airline and its pilot.
Strict action must b taken &such things should not be allowed or tolerated in r country.. #proudtobeindian let's get together and sort this
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 26, 2017
Scandals have dogged the airline industry in recent weeks, particularly in the United States after United Airlines drew global outrage for forcefully dragging a passenger off an overbooked flight.
Footage of the April 9 incident captured by fellow passengers went viral on social media and caused a public relations calamity for the carrier and airport officials.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and strategic partner Jet Airways, India’s full-service, premium international carrier, have signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Government of Maharashtra to promote tourism to the western Indian state.
The partnership will enable both airlines to capitalise on their strong links with Maharashtra and further propel domestic and international arrivals into the state capital Mumbai and beyond. It is the first time an Indian state has signed a tourism collaboration agreement with airlines.
The Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis presided over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Mumbai today. The agreement was signed by Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra; Neerja Bhatia, Vice President, Etihad Airways Indian Subcontinent; and Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways. It followed months of discussions between the leadership of both airlines and the state government on exploring ways to collaborate in promoting tourism.
Under the agreement, the three entities will pool marketing resources to participate in travel-trade events in key international markets such as the UK and the UAE, jointly promote ‘Destination Maharashtra’ through advertising campaigns, and organise inbound familiarisation trips for media and travel agents.
Etihad Airways and Jet Airways are key contributors to India’s thriving travel and tourism sector carrying the biggest combined share of international traffic to and from India with one in five travellers choosing either carrier.
Collectively, they operate five flights a day between Abu Dhabi, the UAE carrier’s operational hub, and Maharashtra’s main international gateway of Mumbai with domestic connections across the country. In addition, Jet Airways flies daily between Maharashtra’s second largest city of Pune and Abu Dhabi.
Maharashtra, the third largest state in India, is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. Mumbai ranks second after the Indian capital Delhi in terms of first port of entry for foreign tourist arrivals into India, and fifth in domestic tourist visits.
Commenting on the association, Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra stated, "We are honoured to welcome this opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways.
This MoU is the beginning of a strategic partnership with two leading and most important international airlines to attract as many international tourists as possible. Together, we can create benefits for travellers and shareholders.
Our aim is to jointly put in place the best strategies and practices to increase Maharashtra’s marketing footprint and position it as the most preferred destination."
Smt. Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra added, "We’re delighted to further strengthen our relationship with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways.
This is a landmark agreement that will provide valuable support for Maharashtra Tourism’s global campaigns and marketing activities, as well as some of the industry’s most important trade and business events. This unique and important partnership between Maharashtra Tourism, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways will boost the state’s image exponentially."
James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Being part of one of the world’s largest economies, Maharashtra has plenty to offer to business and leisure travellers.
We are therefore delighted to expand our links to promote tourism to this vibrant state, which we have been serving with dedicated flights for 13 years."
"This agreement represents the first time a state government has ventured into such a tourism partnership with the airline industry, hence we appreciate the opportunity to work with our strategic Indian partner Jet Airways on this breakthrough agreement.
Our combined operation with Jet Airways between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, complemented by Jet’s widespread domestic services, is further testament to the importance of Maharashtra on our route map."
Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways, said, "It is a moment of both pride and honour that the Government of Maharashtra has chosen to join hands with Jet Airways and our strategic partner Etihad Airways in this unique initiative of leveraging our collective resources and impact for strengthening travel and tourism to the state."
"Mumbai is Jet Airways’ home hub and the airline shares a warm and emotional bond with Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra.
We operate our highest number of flights from the city and have always positioned and promoted Mumbai as the gateway to the state and the country. Our mutual network represents a huge market that can be potentially accessed in support of this initiative."
Maharashtra is home to a diverse range of tourist attractions, from beaches, caves, forts, wildlife, tiger reserves, national parks and hill stations, to monuments, palaces, festivals, places of worship, and adventure sports. Mumbai, the international gateway to Maharashtra, is the country’s financial hub and home to numerous museums, architectural heritage and Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry in terms of movie production.
Since Jet Airways began operations from Mumbai in 1993, the airline has flown millions of guests to and from its main hub over the past 24 years.
Mumbai was also the first Indian city to be served by Etihad Airways with the launch of daily flights in September 2004. A second daily service was introduced in November 2013, followed two years later by a third daily frequency.
Etihad Airways has carried more than two million guests on the route over the past 13 years with key inbound markets including Abu Dhabi, London, New York, San Francisco and Chicago.
Etihad Airways’ Indian network to and from Abu Dhabi covers 11 cities that also includes Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
Jet Airways offers the additional Indian cities of Pune, Lucknow, Mangalore and Goa to Abu Dhabi, as well as numerous domestic connections.
During 2017, Jet Airways is scheduled to launch flights from Kannur and Chandigarh to Abu Dhabi, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and completion of operational readiness at these airports.
Combined, both carriers operate over 250 flights each week between Abu Dhabi and 15 Indian cities.
About Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the state, which generates substantial foreign exchange and has culminated in significant employment prospects. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) was established with the aim of promoting tourism in the state.
Since its foundation, MTDC has been at the forefront of development and maintenance of various tourist sites and at present owns and maintains resorts in these regions.
To aide tourists, MTDC has opened information centres at all popular destination, which provide travel information about various tourist spots in Maharashtra along with travel maps, Maharashtra tourism guides and travel books at affordable prices.
Maharashtra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India offering a diverse range of experiences from pristine beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, natural caves, waterfalls, to imposing forts, colourful festivals, ancient pilgrimage shrines, museums, and historical monuments. For further details, please visit: maharashtratourism.gov.in
About Etihad Aviation Group
Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) is a diversified global aviation and travel group comprising five business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners.
The group has minority investments in seven airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional.
From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve, more than 110 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
The airline has a fleet of over 120 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 204 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. For more information, please visit: etihad.com
About Jet Airways
Jet Airways is India’s premier international airline which operates flights to 65 destinations, including India and overseas. Jet Airways’ robust domestic India network spans the length and breadth of the country covering metro cities, state capitals and emerging destinations.
Beyond India, Jet Airways operates flights to key international destinations in South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. The Jet Airways Group currently operates a fleet of 112 aircraft, comprising Boeing 777-300 ERs, Airbus A330-200/300, Next Generation Boeing 737s and ATR 72-500/600s.
Jet Airways, together with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, and NIKI, participates in Etihad Airways Partners.
Etihad Airways is part of the Etihad Aviation Group, which also holds minority investments in each of these airlines. Visit jetairways.com
The Mumbai-based airline confirmed the incident took place on April 3 on a Chandigarh-Mumbai flight, adding the pilot in question had been taken off the flying roster soon after and an apology had been extended to the victim.
“As regards the said incident, Jet Airways has noted guest feedback with concern and regrets the incident,” Jet Airways said in a statement on Wednesday.
The airline has, as per policy, initiated a full-fledged investigation, based on specific inputs from guests, concerned departments and agencies.
Cricketer Harbhajan Singh has weighed in on the scandal, although he clarified that he had not witnessed the incident first-hand.
“Not only was he racist, but physically assaulted a lady and abused a physically challenged man ... absolutely disgraceful and shame on @jetairways,” said India’s out-of-favour spinner on Twitter, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reprimand the airline and its pilot.
Strict action must b taken &such things should not be allowed or tolerated in r country.. #proudtobeindian let's get together and sort this
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 26, 2017
Scandals have dogged the airline industry in recent weeks, particularly in the United States after United Airlines drew global outrage for forcefully dragging a passenger off an overbooked flight.
Footage of the April 9 incident captured by fellow passengers went viral on social media and caused a public relations calamity for the carrier and airport officials.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and strategic partner Jet Airways, India’s full-service, premium international carrier, have signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Government of Maharashtra to promote tourism to the western Indian state.
The partnership will enable both airlines to capitalise on their strong links with Maharashtra and further propel domestic and international arrivals into the state capital Mumbai and beyond. It is the first time an Indian state has signed a tourism collaboration agreement with airlines.
The Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis presided over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Mumbai today. The agreement was signed by Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra; Neerja Bhatia, Vice President, Etihad Airways Indian Subcontinent; and Jayaraj Shanmugam, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways. It followed months of discussions between the leadership of both airlines and the state government on exploring ways to collaborate in promoting tourism.
Under the agreement, the three entities will pool marketing resources to participate in travel-trade events in key international markets such as the UK and the UAE, jointly promote ‘Destination Maharashtra’ through advertising campaigns, and organise inbound familiarisation trips for media and travel agents.
Etihad Airways and Jet Airways are key contributors to India’s thriving travel and tourism sector carrying the biggest combined share of international traffic to and from India with one in five travellers choosing either carrier.
Collectively, they operate five flights a day between Abu Dhabi, the UAE carrier’s operational hub, and Maharashtra’s main international gateway of Mumbai with domestic connections across the country. In addition, Jet Airways flies daily between Maharashtra’s second largest city of Pune and Abu Dhabi.
Maharashtra, the third largest state in India, is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations. Mumbai ranks second after the Indian capital Delhi in terms of first port of entry for foreign tourist arrivals into India, and fifth in domestic tourist visits.
Commenting on the association, Shri Jaykumar Rawal, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Government of Maharashtra stated, "We are honoured to welcome this opportunity to strengthen our cooperation with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways.
This MoU is the beginning of a strategic partnership with two leading and most important international airlines to attract as many international tourists as possible. Together, we can create benefits for travellers and shareholders.
Our aim is to jointly put in place the best strategies and practices to increase Maharashtra’s marketing footprint and position it as the most preferred destination."
Smt. Valsa Nair Singh, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Government of Maharashtra added, "We’re delighted to further strengthen our relationship with Etihad Airways and Jet Airways.
This is a landmark agreement that will provide valuable support for Maharashtra Tourism’s global campaigns and marketing activities, as well as some of the industry’s most important trade and business events. This unique and important partnership between Maharashtra Tourism, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways will boost the state’s image exponentially."
James Hogan, Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Being part of one of the world’s largest economies, Maharashtra has plenty to offer to business and leisure travellers.
We are therefore delighted to expand our links to promote tourism to this vibrant state, which we have been serving with dedicated flights for 13 years."
"This agreement represents the first time a state government has ventured into such a tourism partnership with the airline industry, hence we appreciate the opportunity to work with our strategic Indian partner Jet Airways on this breakthrough agreement.
Our combined operation with Jet Airways between Abu Dhabi and Mumbai, complemented by Jet’s widespread domestic services, is further testament to the importance of Maharashtra on our route map."
Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways, said, "It is a moment of both pride and honour that the Government of Maharashtra has chosen to join hands with Jet Airways and our strategic partner Etihad Airways in this unique initiative of leveraging our collective resources and impact for strengthening travel and tourism to the state."
"Mumbai is Jet Airways’ home hub and the airline shares a warm and emotional bond with Mumbai and the state of Maharashtra.
We operate our highest number of flights from the city and have always positioned and promoted Mumbai as the gateway to the state and the country. Our mutual network represents a huge market that can be potentially accessed in support of this initiative."
Maharashtra is home to a diverse range of tourist attractions, from beaches, caves, forts, wildlife, tiger reserves, national parks and hill stations, to monuments, palaces, festivals, places of worship, and adventure sports. Mumbai, the international gateway to Maharashtra, is the country’s financial hub and home to numerous museums, architectural heritage and Bollywood, the world’s largest film industry in terms of movie production.
Since Jet Airways began operations from Mumbai in 1993, the airline has flown millions of guests to and from its main hub over the past 24 years.
Mumbai was also the first Indian city to be served by Etihad Airways with the launch of daily flights in September 2004. A second daily service was introduced in November 2013, followed two years later by a third daily frequency.
Etihad Airways has carried more than two million guests on the route over the past 13 years with key inbound markets including Abu Dhabi, London, New York, San Francisco and Chicago.
Etihad Airways’ Indian network to and from Abu Dhabi covers 11 cities that also includes Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
Jet Airways offers the additional Indian cities of Pune, Lucknow, Mangalore and Goa to Abu Dhabi, as well as numerous domestic connections.
During 2017, Jet Airways is scheduled to launch flights from Kannur and Chandigarh to Abu Dhabi, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and completion of operational readiness at these airports.
Combined, both carriers operate over 250 flights each week between Abu Dhabi and 15 Indian cities.
About Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC)
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the state, which generates substantial foreign exchange and has culminated in significant employment prospects. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) was established with the aim of promoting tourism in the state.
Since its foundation, MTDC has been at the forefront of development and maintenance of various tourist sites and at present owns and maintains resorts in these regions.
To aide tourists, MTDC has opened information centres at all popular destination, which provide travel information about various tourist spots in Maharashtra along with travel maps, Maharashtra tourism guides and travel books at affordable prices.
Maharashtra is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India offering a diverse range of experiences from pristine beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, hill stations, natural caves, waterfalls, to imposing forts, colourful festivals, ancient pilgrimage shrines, museums, and historical monuments. For further details, please visit: maharashtratourism.gov.in
About Etihad Aviation Group
Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) is a diversified global aviation and travel group comprising five business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners.
The group has minority investments in seven airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional.
From its Abu Dhabi base, Etihad Airways flies to, or has announced plans to serve, more than 110 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.
The airline has a fleet of over 120 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with 204 aircraft on firm order, including 71 Boeing 787s, 25 Boeing 777Xs, 62 Airbus A350s and 10 Airbus A380s. For more information, please visit: etihad.com
About Jet Airways
Jet Airways is India’s premier international airline which operates flights to 65 destinations, including India and overseas. Jet Airways’ robust domestic India network spans the length and breadth of the country covering metro cities, state capitals and emerging destinations.
Beyond India, Jet Airways operates flights to key international destinations in South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. The Jet Airways Group currently operates a fleet of 112 aircraft, comprising Boeing 777-300 ERs, Airbus A330-200/300, Next Generation Boeing 737s and ATR 72-500/600s.
Jet Airways, together with airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Etihad Airways, Etihad Regional operated by Darwin Airline, and NIKI, participates in Etihad Airways Partners.
Etihad Airways is part of the Etihad Aviation Group, which also holds minority investments in each of these airlines. Visit jetairways.com
Thursday, 12 January 2017
INDIA: Jet Airways To Connect To Kuwait, Jeddah, Bengaluru and Chennai
Airbus A330s will be deployed on routes connecting Mumbai with Kuwait, Jeddah, Bengaluru and Chennai this month, in some cases boosting capacity by 50%. The two-class A330s feature 18 flat-bed seats in business class and 236 seats in economy.
“The introduction of wide-body services on our key domestic routes not only allows Jet Airways to scale up capacity in response to increase in demand but also guarantees guests a superior flying experience,” said Jet’s chief commercial officer, Jayaraj Shanmugam. “The A330… is designed with a spacious cabin, greater leg-room, lie-flat beds in Premiere and all the comforts usually associated with long-haul international travel.”
The new wide-body service between Mumbai and Chennai will begin on 15 January 2017, followed by Mumbai-Jeddah and Mumbai-Bengaluru on 16 January and Mumbai-Kuwait on 18 January.
Last year, the airline began operating its A330s on the Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata routes.
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
INDIA: IndiGo Flying Lucknow to Ahmedabad & Guwahati, Bengaluru-Indore & Raipur-Patna
With the new flights and frequencies and induction of two new Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline’s frequency will increase to 890 daily. Effective November 2016, these flights will provide enhanced connectivity on the key sectors thus strengthening IndiGo’s existing network within India.
With 890 daily flights connecting 41 destinations, these new flights will enable both corporate and leisure travellers to experience IndiGo’s unmatchable on-time performance.
Speaking about the latest network expansion, Aditya Ghosh, President and Whole Time Director, IndiGo said, “We are absolutely delighted to announce 6E’s new flights connecting the metro cities with the regional destinations.
In the exciting times for Indian aviation, we are hopeful that these flights will prove to be popular among our customers.”
Tuesday, 13 September 2016
PHILIPPINES: Department Of Tourism Eyes More Indian Tourists
The Department of Tourism (DOT) expects the influx of 100,000 Indian nationals into the country as a result of the agency’s recent promotional roadshows in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai.
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo noted that India has been one of the major source markets accounting for nearly 75,000 visitors last year, posting 22.36 percent year-on-year growth.
From January to June this year, the DOT recorded 44,294 arrivals, just tailing the top 12 international tourism markets.
“The four Indian cities we targeted are important feeder markets, hence we are working on strengthening our relations with their local travel partners to assure sustainable growth,” Teo said.
The DOT chief further also noted that increased Indian visitor arrivals are facilitated by the free-entry privilege extended to Indian nationals bearing visas from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore and United Kingdom.
DOT’s Market Development Group led by Director Verna Buensuceso headed the mission in India, bringing along representatives of hotels, resorts, spas, tourist attractions and tour operators from the Philippines to interact with over 400 Indian trade partners.
Nash Dias, offline sales manager of India’s leading travel agent Stic Travel Group, expressed optimism that the Philippine roadshow will get an excellent response from the Indian market.
Francesca Alberto, vice-president for domestic sales and marketing of Ark Travel Express, said, “The market has high potential for luxury and honeymooners. Quality of agents here are good and they are gaining more knowledge about the Philippines.”
Abhay Maheshwari, India district sales manager of Thai Airways said, “At present, we have ten flights servicing the Mumbai-Bangkok-Manila route, and in October, we are going to increase the number of flights.” (DOT)
Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo noted that India has been one of the major source markets accounting for nearly 75,000 visitors last year, posting 22.36 percent year-on-year growth.
From January to June this year, the DOT recorded 44,294 arrivals, just tailing the top 12 international tourism markets.
“The four Indian cities we targeted are important feeder markets, hence we are working on strengthening our relations with their local travel partners to assure sustainable growth,” Teo said.
The DOT chief further also noted that increased Indian visitor arrivals are facilitated by the free-entry privilege extended to Indian nationals bearing visas from the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Schengen, Singapore and United Kingdom.
DOT’s Market Development Group led by Director Verna Buensuceso headed the mission in India, bringing along representatives of hotels, resorts, spas, tourist attractions and tour operators from the Philippines to interact with over 400 Indian trade partners.
Nash Dias, offline sales manager of India’s leading travel agent Stic Travel Group, expressed optimism that the Philippine roadshow will get an excellent response from the Indian market.
Francesca Alberto, vice-president for domestic sales and marketing of Ark Travel Express, said, “The market has high potential for luxury and honeymooners. Quality of agents here are good and they are gaining more knowledge about the Philippines.”
Abhay Maheshwari, India district sales manager of Thai Airways said, “At present, we have ten flights servicing the Mumbai-Bangkok-Manila route, and in October, we are going to increase the number of flights.” (DOT)
Thursday, 12 May 2016
INDIA: IndiGo Commences New Routes Next Month
In a communication to travel agents, the airline has said that the 15th direct daily service between Delhi and Bengaluru will leave at 11.30 p.m. and arrive in Bengaluru at 2.10 a.m.
The 11th direct flight between Delhi and Chennai will leave 11.30 p.m. and arrive in Chennai at 2.15 a.m.
The airline will also start another service between Chennai and Delhi from June 2. The new flight will depart Chennai at 2.45 a.m. and arrive in the national capital at 5.30 a.m.
The airline will also start two new flights connecting Delhi with Kolkata. The launch of these two flights will see IndiGo operating 13 direct daily flights between Delhi and Kolkata.
The airline will launch its first non-stop daily flight between Kochi and Muscat from June 21. It will also launch its second daily non-stop flight service connecting Kochi and Hyderabad from June 22.
With 767 daily flights connecting 40 destinations, these new flights will allow corporate and leisure travellers to experience matchless on-time performance, Aditya Ghosh, President, IndiGo, said.
Friday, 15 April 2016
SRI LANKA: Colombo’s Cinnamon Life To Open In 2019
Cinnamon Life, the luxury 800 bedroom property of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts in Colombo, will open in 2019, revealed Rohan Karr, Executive Vice President, Sector Head-City Hotels, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts. He shared this information at the sidelines of Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo & Sri Lankan Airlines’ See Shop Party Colombo Package launch priced at INR 19,999/- (inclusive of airfare, transfers and full board accommodation).
“India can make a huge difference to Sri Lanka. We receive 10% of our occupancy from India,” Karr stated. With this package, Karr is expecting 100% increase from India for the property which is part of the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts chain, under the portfolio of blue chip conglomerate John Keells Holdings. The majority of the property’s guests are MICE travellers. The average duration of stay for Indian travellers is 2-3 days.
Travellers can avail of two nights, three days Colombo package from Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Madurai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi.
“India can make a huge difference to Sri Lanka. We receive 10% of our occupancy from India,” Karr stated. With this package, Karr is expecting 100% increase from India for the property which is part of the Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts chain, under the portfolio of blue chip conglomerate John Keells Holdings. The majority of the property’s guests are MICE travellers. The average duration of stay for Indian travellers is 2-3 days.
Travellers can avail of two nights, three days Colombo package from Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Madurai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi.
OMAN: Oman’s Al Bustan Palace Expects 10% Growth
Muscat-based Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz Carlton Hotel is expecting an increase of 10% from the Indian market in 2016, said Rami Farhat, Director of Sales & Marketing, Palace, during his recent visit to Mumbai. Sharing insights about the property, he said that it hosts many of MICE activities for Indian guests and has also hosted a big Indian destination wedding. He added that India is a big market for the luxury hotel.
Throwing light on markets, Farhat said that for luxury, India is amongst the property's top ten market, whereas, for MICE, India ranks third after London and Dubai. In India, Delhi is number one market for the property, followed by Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.
The property can accommodate a maximum of 500 guests in its 250 rooms - of these 50 are suites. The hotel has 16 meeting rooms spread across 44,000 sq ft including 1,204 sq m Majan Ballroom. Al Bustan Palace got a Six Senses Spa in October 2015. "It is spread across 3,300 sq m with 17 treatment rooms, making it the biggest in the Middle East," he added.
Throwing light on markets, Farhat said that for luxury, India is amongst the property's top ten market, whereas, for MICE, India ranks third after London and Dubai. In India, Delhi is number one market for the property, followed by Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.
The property can accommodate a maximum of 500 guests in its 250 rooms - of these 50 are suites. The hotel has 16 meeting rooms spread across 44,000 sq ft including 1,204 sq m Majan Ballroom. Al Bustan Palace got a Six Senses Spa in October 2015. "It is spread across 3,300 sq m with 17 treatment rooms, making it the biggest in the Middle East," he added.
INDIA: Mumbai Tops Highest Average Hotel Rates Paid In India In 2015
According to the latest Hotel Price Index (HPI) report by Hotels.com, among the Indian cities, Mumbai registered the highest average hotel rate paid by travellers for a night’s stay in 2015. As per the study, at INR 8,160, Mumbai topped with a 3% change over 2014. However, the highest percentage change of 5% in average hotel rates was by hotels in Jaipur at INR 5,563.
As per the report, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru topped the charts where travellers paid the most for hotel accommodation in India in 2015. Delhi, which for two consecutive years witnessed an increase in tariff prices, this time marginally, fell by 1% to INR 6,807.
In spite of being affected by flash floods in the second half of 2015, hotel prices in Chennai increased by 3% to INR 5,899 per night. The beach destination of Goa, which is promoted as a tourist destination round the clock, witnessed an increase of the hotel room price by 3% to INR 6,361.
Bengaluru, the ‘IT capital of India’ , saw an increase of 4% in hotel room price to INR 6,553in 2015 as five new international airlines expanded operations there, making the city a preferred transit destination amongst international traveleINR visiting India.
Meanwhile, Pune retained its tag of being the ‘best value’ destination with no fluctuations in the hotel room price in 2015. Cochin a popular tourist destination down South, recorded the highest fall by 9% to INR 5,194 followed by Kolkata and Hyderabad with a 5% fall to INR 6,141and INR 5,323 respectively, the report notes.
As per the report, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru topped the charts where travellers paid the most for hotel accommodation in India in 2015. Delhi, which for two consecutive years witnessed an increase in tariff prices, this time marginally, fell by 1% to INR 6,807.
In spite of being affected by flash floods in the second half of 2015, hotel prices in Chennai increased by 3% to INR 5,899 per night. The beach destination of Goa, which is promoted as a tourist destination round the clock, witnessed an increase of the hotel room price by 3% to INR 6,361.
Bengaluru, the ‘IT capital of India’ , saw an increase of 4% in hotel room price to INR 6,553in 2015 as five new international airlines expanded operations there, making the city a preferred transit destination amongst international traveleINR visiting India.
Meanwhile, Pune retained its tag of being the ‘best value’ destination with no fluctuations in the hotel room price in 2015. Cochin a popular tourist destination down South, recorded the highest fall by 9% to INR 5,194 followed by Kolkata and Hyderabad with a 5% fall to INR 6,141and INR 5,323 respectively, the report notes.
Tuesday, 16 February 2016
INDIA: No Frills Carrier GoAir Offering Zero Fee Cancellation
Indian budget carrier GoAir has announced a limited time 'zero fee cancellation' offer for new bookings.
The offer is good for bookings made up to February 16 and any fees will be waived if tickets are cancelled at least 30 days before departure.
Free cancellation covers tickets booked for travel between June 1 and December 15, 2016, and can be cancelled only through the GoAir call centre.
Cancellations made less than 30 days before travel will be subject to the usual fees, the Mumbai based carrier said in a release.
The fee waiver is available on all the carrier's routes which includes Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Goa and Bengaluru.
The offer is good for bookings made up to February 16 and any fees will be waived if tickets are cancelled at least 30 days before departure.
Free cancellation covers tickets booked for travel between June 1 and December 15, 2016, and can be cancelled only through the GoAir call centre.
Cancellations made less than 30 days before travel will be subject to the usual fees, the Mumbai based carrier said in a release.
The fee waiver is available on all the carrier's routes which includes Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Goa and Bengaluru.
Thursday, 17 December 2015
INDIA: After San Francisco, Air India Plans Direct Flights To Washington
Air India is considering starting a direct flight to Washington as well as serving new cities in the US soon after it launches its services to San Francisco next month. The national carrier already operates non-stop flights to three US cities -- New York, Newark and Chicago.
"I have been informed by Air India that it is considering a direct flight to Washington," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said. He was speaking at a function in New Delhi on Friday organised by Air India prior to the launch of its direct flight to San Francisco from December 2.
According to a senior official at Air India, apart from direct services to Washington, the carrier would be looking at the feasibility of connecting more number of cities in the US from various places in India. The official said the launch flight, both to and from San Francisco in California, has already been sold out and the demand was "tremendous".
Air India used to serve Washington via New York, but the service was discontinued a few years ago. The carrier also had flights to Los Angeles in California, which was discontinued before the merger of Indian Airlines with Air India in 2011. The non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight, starting services from December 2, will be one of the longest with duration of close to 17 hours. Air India will operate B77-200LR plane to San Francisco -- the Silicon Valley hub.
"This new flight will be a boon for the Indian diaspora in the US West Coast, making travel easy and convenient for students," the carrier said in a release.
The flight to San Francisco will leave Delhi on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while the return service will be on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. With a three-cabin configuration, the flight will have eight seats in first class, 35 in business and 195 in economy.
Passengers from IT hubs of Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Pune will have seamless connection to the flight from Delhi, Air India said.
"The return flight from San Francisco will provide onward connections to cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Bhubaneswar," the release said.
Air India has flights to 34 international destinations spread across the US, Europe, Far-East and South-East, and the Gulf.
"I have been informed by Air India that it is considering a direct flight to Washington," Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said. He was speaking at a function in New Delhi on Friday organised by Air India prior to the launch of its direct flight to San Francisco from December 2.
According to a senior official at Air India, apart from direct services to Washington, the carrier would be looking at the feasibility of connecting more number of cities in the US from various places in India. The official said the launch flight, both to and from San Francisco in California, has already been sold out and the demand was "tremendous".
Air India used to serve Washington via New York, but the service was discontinued a few years ago. The carrier also had flights to Los Angeles in California, which was discontinued before the merger of Indian Airlines with Air India in 2011. The non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight, starting services from December 2, will be one of the longest with duration of close to 17 hours. Air India will operate B77-200LR plane to San Francisco -- the Silicon Valley hub.
"This new flight will be a boon for the Indian diaspora in the US West Coast, making travel easy and convenient for students," the carrier said in a release.
The flight to San Francisco will leave Delhi on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday while the return service will be on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. With a three-cabin configuration, the flight will have eight seats in first class, 35 in business and 195 in economy.
Passengers from IT hubs of Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Pune will have seamless connection to the flight from Delhi, Air India said.
"The return flight from San Francisco will provide onward connections to cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Pune and Bhubaneswar," the release said.
Air India has flights to 34 international destinations spread across the US, Europe, Far-East and South-East, and the Gulf.
Friday, 11 December 2015
QATAR: Qatar Airways Upgrades Doha Bangalore To Boeing 777. Economy Class Boon.
Qatar’s economy class on the Boeing 777s is very highly rated in terms of comfort. The airline trails only Singapore Airlines in seat width. Economy class passengers will enjoy a seat width of 18.9 inches compared to the bone-crushing 17.2 inches on their 787.
Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, Qatar Airways
“The strengthening of the Doha–Bengaluru route reflects increased passenger demand and reaffirms our continuous expansion strategy for the Indian market. There are a large numbers of expatriates from South India who are working in Doha, and with our increasing capacity we aim to offer our customers a superior travel experience and seamless connectivity into the State of Qatar.
India is growing as an economic hub and shows enormous potential, and our growth strategy has always stressed the significance of the Indian market where we plan to seek even more capacity and increase frequency on existing routes.”
Thursday, 3 December 2015
SINGAPORE: Flight Cancellations Due To Chennai Airport Closure
In addition to the earlier cancellation of flights SQ 528 (Singapore to Chennai) and SQ 529 (Chennai to Singapore) scheduled to depart on 2 December 2015, flights SQ 528 and SQ 529 scheduled to depart on 3 December, 4 December and 5 December 2015 will also be cancelled.
Customers who are conenecting to SilkAir's Chennai flights are advised to refer to http://goo.gl/zANPNa for updates on SilkAir's flight cancellations.
Singapore Airlines will waive fees for re-bookings or re-routings, for customers holding confirmed Singapore Airlines or SilkAir tickets on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir flights arriving in or departing from Chennai.
The waiver is valid for tickets issued on or before 3 December 2015, for travel to/from Chennai until 6 December 2015 (date inclusive). Re-booked travel will be permitted until 20 December 2015 (date of out-bound travel commencement). Fare top-ups may apply, where applicable, for re-routings.
The above guidelines will also apply to redemption tickets.
Customers in Chennai who require assistance are requested to call the following reservation numbers as the Singapore Airlines Chennai town office is closed.
SIA Mumbai +912261747555
SIA Delhi +911244310999
SIA Bengaluru +918022867870
Customers are also advised to check our website for further updates. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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