Recent tourism data indicates an annual growth of 305.4 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in 2023. In 2023, 9.23 million foreign tourists visited India. Although the FTAs arrival number is still less than the pre-pandemic number of 10.93 million in 2019, experts believe in 2024 we might cross the FTAs arrival number of pre-pandemic days.
Commencing sales from April 23, 2024, Air India will apply its 'AI' designator code on ANA flights linking Tokyo Haneda and Delhi, as well as Tokyo Narita and Mumbai. Conversely, All Nippon Airways will utilise its 'NH' designator code on Air India's flights between Tokyo Narita and Delhi. Both airlines are contemplating extending this codeshare cooperation to additional routes in the future.
Sharing a video clip of the Boeing 747 taking off from the Mumbai airport and doing a 'wing wave', Air India said it will miss the aircraft's iconic presence. "Today, we wave goodbye to the first of our last 'Queen of the Skies', the B747, departing Mumbai. Thank you for an era of majestic flights. We'll miss your iconic presence," the airline said in a post on X.
Passengers traveling between Delhi and Dubai with Air India starting May 1, 2024, will have the opportunity to experience the luxurious A350 in its striking new livery. Operating as flight AI995/996, the aircraft will depart from Delhi daily at 20:45hrs, landing in Dubai at 22:45hrs. The return journey from Dubai will take off at 00:15hrs and reach Delhi at 04:55hrs the next day, all timings local.
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, airlines including Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo have altered flight paths to avoid Iranian airspace. The Civil Aviation Ministry has advised carriers to conduct their own risk assessments. The geopolitical situation may lead to longer routes, increased fuel costs, and potential airfare hikes for international flights.
Air India, Vistara, IndiGo e inte and some international airlines are avoiding Iranian airspace and have opted for alternative paths for their flights to the West. With the revised flight paths chosen after taking safety and security into consideration, the duration of some flights has increased by around half an hour.
The launch of this route is strategically aimed at strengthening Air India's presence in Southeast Asia while catering to the growing demand for travel between India and Vietnam. It also presents an opportunity for Vietnamese travellers to access Air India's global network, creating seamless connections for passengers from the United States, Canada, UK, and Europe via Delhi.
Technicians at AI Engineering Services Ltd. — a state-run maintenance, repair and overhaul firm and an erstwhile Air India unit — will strike on April 23 due to various issues affecting their “well-being” and “professional growth,” All India Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Union wrote in a letter dated April 8 to the chief executive officer.
This collaboration between Air India, Tata Group airlines (AIX and Vistara), and BIAL is set to revolutionise the aviation landscape over the next five years. The key components of this strategic partnership include bolstering international connectivity, optimizing operational efficiency, and elevating the passenger experience at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB or BLR airport).
"We are carefully scaling back our operations by around 25-30 flights per day, i.e. roughly 10 per cent of the capacity we were operating. This will take us back to the same level of flight operations as at the end of February 2024, and provide the much-needed resilience and buffer in the rosters," the Vistara spokesperson told ANI
In a strategic move, Flying Returns shifts from a miles-based collection model to a more equitable spend-based approach, aligning rewards with the amount spent on tickets rather than the distance flown. This change promises greater value for money spent, and members can start benefiting from the new program structure effective immediately.
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