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No bedroll, blanket for AC economy class travel

When the AC 3-tier economy class coaches were rolled out last year with much fanfare from the Railway Coach Factory, Kapurthala, a crucial design flaw escaped everyone’s attention. The result: Unlike in other AC coaches, those travelling by AC 3-tier economy class will not get bedrolls and blankets. This is because the AC 3-tier economy class coaches have no space for keeping bed linen. In a letter (dated April 12) to the GMs of all zonal railways, the ministry said, “References have been received from zonal railways regarding unavailability of linen space in LHB AC economy coaches and thereby difficulty in provisioning linen for AC economy passengers.” “The matter has been examined by the board in consultation with passenger marketing, traffic commercial (rates) and traffic coaching directorates and accordingly, in view of the provision of SMART HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and thus controlled temperature within the AC economy coaches, it is advised that linen and blanket in AC economy coaches may not be provided,” the letter added. The ministry’s letter said that passengers travelling by AC economy classes may be informed through the ticketing system or via other means that linen and blanket will no more be provided to them. The supply of bedrolls was suspended for about two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Italy, Spain & Portugal Keep Travel Restrictions in Place Over Easter Holidays

Despite the improvement of the COVID-19 situation and the high vaccination rates, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have decided to keep their entry restrictions in place over the Easter break. The Minister of Health of Italy, Roberto Speranza, previously confirmed that his country will keep the current entry measures until at least April 30, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports. This means that all those who plan on visiting Italy in the next few days will be required to present COVID-19 proof upon entry. Italy currently applies the same entry rules for all travellers regardless of their country of origin. Everyone must present a valid vaccination, recovery or test certificate in order to be permitted restriction-free entry to Italy. “When entering Italy, travellers are required by law to submit one of the COVID-19 green certificates or other certification recognised as equivalent (completion of vaccination series or recovery or swab test),” the statement of the Italian Ministry of Health reads. In addition, the Ministry emphasises that incoming travellers must also complete the Passenger Locator Form before their departure. Similarly, Spain has also extended its current entry rules for all incoming travellers until April 30. The Spanish Ministry of Health explains that different rules apply to EU and non-EU travellers. EU travellers are permitted restriction-free entry to Spain as long as they hold a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate. On the other hand, third-country travellers are permitted entry to Spain only if they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus. Even though Spain continues to keep in place entry rules, the authorities previously announced that they plan on easing some of the domestic COVID-19 restrictions on April 20. Just like the two countries mentioned above, Portugal also continues to require travellers to present proof upon their entry. All travellers who are permitted entry to Portugal need to provide a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate. Italy, Spain, and Portugal apply the same validity rules on COVID certificates. A vaccination certificate is considered valid in these three countries if it proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or it has received an additional vaccine dose. On the other hand, recovery certificates are recognised upon entry into these countries only if the document proves that the holder recovered from the virus in the last 160 days.

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Indians on travel spree in 4-day long weekend

The long weekend starting Thursday (in some states with Mahavir Jayanti) is seeing travel-starved Indians pack their bags with a vengeance after Omicron. And it is not just the weekend getaways from big cities that are ensuring full hotels, the well-healed are off to neighbouring countries like the Gulf to make the most of this long break. The wedding saaya in this period - auspicious dates during which Bollywood superstars Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt are also tying the knot - has added to the travel demand. "There is not a seat available on any West-bound flight this weekend. Even the one-stops are sold out. We are seeing absolutely crazy demand and crazier fares this long weekend," said Travel Agents Federation of India joint secretary Anil Kalsi. Delhi Airport on Thursday night asked passengers to reach a little earlier than usual, given the surge in travel this long weekend. An ITC Hotels spokesperson said, "All leisure destinations including (its hotels in) Jaipur, Agra, Gurgaon and Goa are witnessing high occupancy over the upcoming long weekend." Delhiites facing the hottest April in years are heading to the hills. Puneet Dhawan, senior VP, Accor India & South Asia, said, "Guests are planning their getaways and our hotels in leisure locations have witnessed this increased demand. City hotels are seeing staycation guests booking even less than 24 hours before arrival, as a last-minute stay." Indian airlines are expecting to finally breach the 4-lakh daily domestic passenger mark during this period. "Such a surge was last seen in November 2021 before the third wave. We expect 85% aircraft occupancy," said a senior airline official. Ranjeet Dhar of The Khyber Himalyan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg, said, "We are sold out for the next three months. The recovery that started last November has been very strong."

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Uttarakhand Tourism releases helpline numbers for Char Dham Yatra

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) has released a toll-free number and four helpline numbers for the Char Dham Yatra, scheduled to commence on May 3. UTDB’s Char Dham Yatra control room will answer all queries that will be received on the toll-free number and other helpline numbers. All information linked to the registration of pilgrims, weather prediction and other relevant information regarding Char Dham will be provided through these numbers. Speaking on the development, UTDB’s deputy director Yogendra Kumar Gangwar said, "The toll-free number "1364" and helpline numbers -- 0135-1364, 0135-2559898, 0135-2552627 and 0135-3520100 -- are being released to help pilgrims with yatra-related queries."

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KLM to resume flights between Amsterdam and Bengaluru starting May 25

Dutch flag-carrier KLM has announced that it will resume flight services on the Amsterdam-Bengaluru from May 25. This route was launched in October 2019 and was temporarily suspended in 2020 amid Covid-19 and the airbubble limitations. In a statement, the airline said that it, KLM will operate three flights per week from Bengaluru to Amsterdam, offering flyers the option of direct connections to Amsterdam and access to destinations across the global network via Amsterdam, Schiphol. Flight KL880 from Bengaluru will operate from the Kempagowda International Airport on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 0600 hours and reach next day 1230 hours (local time). Accordingly, from Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, flight number KL879 will leave for Bengaluru at 1400 hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and reach the next at 0310 hours. Furthermore, KLM will increase the frequency from Mumbai – Amsterdam; from five flights a week to daily flights starting May 23. Air France and KLM’s combined operations from India will increase to 35 weekly flights by the end of May. Travellers will have the option to fly from four cities in India namely, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi & Mumbai and connect with ease to destinations across the global network. “This significant increase, above pre-pandemic level demonstrates the focus and importance of India for Air France – KLM’s network,” mentioned the airline in the statement. As part of the Air France and KLM’s commercial policy, tickets issued on or after March 1, 2022, are 100 per cent changeable (excluding group fares and allotments).

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Iran to waive visa fees for FIFA World Cup fans in nearby Qatar

Iran announced Wednesday that it will waive visa fees for spectators of the 2022 World Cup finals, as it hopes to attract some of the football fans flocking to nearby Qatar. "The cabinet agreed to make visas free for spectators of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar who wish to visit Iran," tweeted the spokesman of the Iranian government, Ali Bahadori-Jahromi. "This decision aims to encourage tourists to visit Iran during the World Cup and boost the tourism industry there," he added. This comes after Qatari Transport Minister Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti on Sunday and Monday visited Iran's Kish island and signed six cooperation agreements, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported. Kish, a 92 square kilometre (35 square mile) resort island with white sand beaches, is a 40-minute flight or six-hour boat ride from Doha. "The Qataris are very interested in using Iran's infrastructure in the 2022 World Cup," Iran's Transport Minister Rostam Ghassemi said Tuesday. "Iran must use all the capabilities it has to benefit from this event," he added. Key among the agreements was a deal to increase flights between the countries, rising from 72 at present to potentially as many as 200 a day, said Mohammad Mohammadi, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation. Visas & Passports world cup visas free for spectators qatari transport Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti Iran's tourism ministry Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation Iran football fans 2022 World Cup finals qatar Qatari transport minister visited the passenger terminal of Kish International Airport, which is under construction, as well as the commercial and passenger port, IRNA added. "Iran's contribution to the World Cup will be in the areas of air and sea transport and accommodation of foreign and Iranian passengers," Ghassemi said. "We also plan to offer foreign fans and tourists during their stay in Iran the opportunity to visit the country's tourist gems." To encourage travel, Iran's tourism ministry had said earlier that visas could be waived for inbound visitors from Qatar during the two months of World Cup. Visitors could apply for free single or multi-entry passes for 20 days during that period, the ministry said. In January, Iran qualified for the World Cup finals, the third in a row and their sixth overall. ran, who have never advanced beyond the group stage, will face arch foe the United States and England in Group B.

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