Vistara, India's finest full-service carrier and a joint venture between the Tata group and Singapore Airlines, inaugurated direct 4x weekly flights between Mumbai and Doha on December 15, 2023. With a consistent surge in travel demand between India and the Middle East, Vistara has been focussing on expanding its presence in the region. The airline already flies to Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Jeddah and Muscat.
On October 2, the Mumbai airport set a new record for the highest single-day traffic, with 148,014 passengers passing through the airport. The airport also observed a notable 20 per cent growth in international passengers, with Dubai, London, and Abu Dhabi being the most preferred international destinations. Interestingly, London has emerged as the second most popular international destination over the past few months, replacing Singapore from its spot.
This upcoming cruise season promises significant growth with Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal slated for 126 calls, starting on 1st November.Yas Cruise Beach is set to host 63 calls, having welcomed the first on October 31. Notably, nine of these calls will be maiden voyages, signalling ships making their inaugural visit to Abu Dhabi.
Flight EY224, bound for New Delhi, departed from Terminal A on October 31, 2023, utilising one of Etihad's Airbus A350-1000 aircraft with 359 passengers on board. Terminal A is integral to Etihad's growth strategy, designed to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations. Etihad plans to transition its flights to Terminal in a phased approach starting November 9.
The flights will restore commercial non-stop passenger connections between the two cities, and guests from Kenya will be able to connect with Etihad flights to the GCC, the US, Europe, India and South-East Asia. Etihad will operate daily flights to Nairobi, utilising a modern Airbus A320, featuring both Business and Economy cabins.
The route will begin operating on April 20, 2024, serving the UAE’s capital on a year-round basis from London Heathrow. The new flight will be operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft in summer 2024 and will boost connectivity to the UAE as it joins flights to neighbouring Dubai, which operate up to three-times daily from Heathrow.
Announced during the World Tourism Day (WTD) celebrations in Riyadh, "Tourism Opens Minds" will showcase the powerful role that tourism plays in bridging cultures and promoting a more interconnected and harmonious world. To mark the launch, delegates gathered in Riyadh were presented with a special Pledge calling on them to actively work to promote new and under-appreciated destinations.
Vistara has been growing its presence in Mumbai, connecting the city to 12 international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Dubai, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Male, Mauritius, Muscat, and Singapore. The airline aims to position Mumbai as a vital hub for international travel, which aligns with their strategy to offer several new international routes, especially to the Middle East.
For example, under this interline arrangement, passengers can book an itinerary from Lucknow to Delhi to Sharjah under a single PNR. They will receive boarding passes for both the Lucknow to Delhi and Delhi to Sharjah legs at the outset in Lucknow. However, it's essential to note that customs and immigration procedures must be completed at Delhi, while baggage can be checked through to the final destination.
Abu Dhabi Airports is conducting its largest live trial and testing exercise to date as part of the ongoing operational readiness trials for the new Terminal A ahead of its November launch, with over 6,000 volunteers selected from the Abu Dhabi community. The operational trials entail taking part in realistic simulations that are designed to stress-test equipment, personnel, and procedures in key terminal operating areas.
Both Air France-KLM and Etihad intend to expand on the codeshare and interline agreements initiated in 2012. As an initial step, they have made over 40 new routes available for booking, covering destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Australia. Additionally, the MoU proposes mutual benefits for frequent flyers of both Flying Blue and Etihad Guest programs.
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