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AirAsia India expects full-traffic recovery in 2022 sans 3rd Covid wave

Tata Sons-backed AirAsia India expects full passenger traffic as well as capacity recovery in 2022 sans a third Covid wave triggered via the Omicron variant. In a conversation with IANS, Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, AirAsia India, cited that overall airline industry is operating at 83 per cent pre-Covid levels and the traffic has been recovering at a fast rate. "Festive period beginning October saw a significant bounce back in passenger traffic which is continuing till the year-end." Besides, he cited that 'Visiting Friends and Relatives' (VFR) segment was the earliest to recover as people overcame inhibitions and travelled starting from Dussehra in October. "There has been a steady uptick in leisure travel as well, particularly in leisure destinations on our network like Goa, Srinagar, Jaipur, Kochi, where there is a strong directionality in traffic around holidays and extended weekends indicating that people are travelling for leisure," he added. "During the month of November, we have also seen an improvement in corporate traffic as 'Work From Home' mandates are being lifted gradually and people are returning to a full or partial 'Work From Office' model," he said. According to Garg, relaxation in capacity restrictions and a gradual improvement in the economy has accelerated the demand for air travel. "However, the sustainability of the same would depend on the pandemic situation and economic recovery going forward," he mentioned. On the upcoming year, Garg expects full traffic recovery to pre-Covid levels assuming no further severe pandemic waves hits the country. "Over the course of the last 2 years, we have been working on many customer service, digital and revenue improvement initiatives," he said. "The positive impact of such initiatives should be felt more prominently in the coming year once the traffic recovers to pre-Covid levels," he shared. Besides, he pointed out that passengers' apprehensions around the new Omicron variant, as well as perceived uncertainties around quarantine, testing, lockdown rules by state governments, have had a dampening effect on bookings since the last week of November. "While immediate travel plans remain unchanged, it appears that people are waiting to make bookings for farther out periods," he asserted.

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Starting Jan 1, Haryana bans entry to public places for unvaccinated or single-vaccinated people

As per a recent directive by the Haryana government, it is mandatory for people to take the second dose of COVID-19 in order to gain entry into restaurants, banks, malls, offices, and other public places. The new rule will be in place from January 1, 2022. According to Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Rajeev Arora, only 60 percent of the state's total population have received both the doses. He said, "As the dose of Covid vaccination has reached 93 per cent whereas the second dose is still lagging behind at 60 per cent (till December 22, 2021). Large numbers of beneficiaries are due and overdue since long for the second dose of Covid vaccination." The decision has been taken since Omicron cases are on the rise in the country, and it is imperative that further spread is curbed at the earliest. The Additional Chief Secretary has also said that the emerging situation begs for monitoring and focused implementation or vaccinations. The new guidelines bars those who have not been double vaccinated from entering into any public place, which includes your local sabzi mandi, grain markets, liquor and wine stores, local markets, shopping complexes, among other places. Public gathering is only for those who are fully vaccinated in the state of Haryana. Not only that, but bus stands and railway stations will be accessible only to fully vaccinated folks. Moreover, religious places, petrol and CNG stations, milk booths, and ration shops, too will have the same rules. Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, said in the state assembly, "From January 1, 2022, the people who have not taken both doses will not be allowed to enter marriage halls, hotels, restaurants, offices, banks, or any other public places. This is to protect ourselves from Omicron and the third wave of Covid."

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Flying to Delhi? Here are some fresh guidelines you need to know

In view of the fresh surge in daily infections of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), including those due to the Omicron variant, the ministry of civil aviation has issued fresh guidelines for air passengers travelling to the national capital. “Attention Travellers! Travelling to Delhi? Take a look at the latest State-wise Quarantine Guidelines. Take all the necessary measures and be a #COVID_Hero #TravelSafeTravelMindfully,” the Jyotiraditya Scindia-headed ministry shared on Twitter, on Thursday. Here are the rules air travellers, flying domestically or arriving from abroad, need to follow upon landing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport: Health screening: (1.) Random sample collection of flyers arriving from states witnessing a spurt in cases. Exit allowed after the sample is collected. (2.) All passengers to undergo thermal screening post-arrival. (3.) Those who have a connecting flight to catch should refer to guidelines of the respective arrival states. Quarantine: (1.) Passengers testing positive will have to quarantine for 10 days at home or Covid Care Centre (CCC)/Community Health Centre (CHC)/hospital. (2.) International arrivals can read detailed guidelines by clicking on the official Airports Authority of India (AAI) website. Passenger obligation: (1.) Visitors are required to download the Aarogya Setu app. (2.) Travellers coming from abroad should visit the link mentioned above. (3.) Destination airports/states are required to carry out thermal screening of flyers upon arrival.

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Sweden to require negative virus test for all foreigners on entry

All foreigners seeking to enter Sweden will have to present a negative Covid19 test taken within 48 hours, the government said on Wednesday as cases surged. The requirement will come into force on December 28 and will apply to all non-citizens and non-residents over the age of 12, including travellers from the EU and neighbouring Nordic countries. "All travellers will need to be able to present a negative test for an ongoing infection of Covid-19 upon arrival to Sweden, regardless of which country you are travelling from," the government said in a statement. The decision followed a request from the country's Public Health Agency "due to the high prevalence of Covid-19 around the world and the accelerated spread of the Omicron virus variant." Some exceptions for those crossing the border for work and Danes passing through Sweden on their way to the island of Bornholm would also be put in place, such as proof or vaccination or a test no older than a week. On Tuesday, neighbouring Finland also announced a requirement for negative tests, including for vaccinated EU travellers, starting on December 28. The emergence of the Omicron variant has already led seven other EU member states- Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, Latvia, Italy, Greece and Austria- to introduce new emergency restrictions and require European travellers, even those who have been vaccinated, to present a negative test before entry.

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Saudi Arabia recognises Covaxin for travel

In a recent vaccine update, Saudi Arabia has approved India-made Covaxin for travel. The Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia made the announcement yesterday that Indian citizens who are fully vaxxed with homemade Covaxin can enter Saudi Arabia without any restrictions. India in Saudi Arabia took to Twitter and tweeted the following, Embassy is pleased to inform that Indian nationals vaccinated with 'Covaxin' are now approved to enter the Kingdom. Vaccine certificates are to be uploaded at https://eservices.moh.gov.sa/CoronaVaccineRegistration for residents and at https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home for visitors. Manufactured by Bharat Biotech, Covaxin is being acknowledged by several nations now. Now Saudi Arabia too has added it to its approved COVID-19 vaccines. Now Indian nationals fully vaccinated with Covaxin can visit the country easily. It was in November 2021 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) gave its approval of emergency use of Covaxin. Soon after, numerous countries across the globe started recognising the vaccine for travel including the US, UK, Switzerland and Australia, among others. Before that only Covishield, another popular vaccine in India, had the approval by the WHO. Saudi Arabia has become the latest country to approve the vaccine and now there are seven approved vaccines in the list which are Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Oxford-Astrazeneca, Pfizer, Sinovac and Sinopharm.

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Srinagar's 125-year-old church reopens after 30 years, ahead of Christmas 2021

The Saint Lukes church located near the Chest Diseases Hospital on the foothills of the Shankaracharya hillock in Dalgate area of Srinagar will officially be thrown open for the public on Thursday, in time for Christmas but the prayer was held on Wednesday The bells started ringing and the faithful gathered for mass prayer as the Saint Lukes church in Srinagar – one of the oldest in Kashmir -- came alive after three decades on Wednesday just ahead of Christmas. It was closed after the eruption of militancy in the valley in the 1990s. The Church located near the Chest Diseases Hospital on the foothills of the Shankaracharya hillock in Dalgate area of the city will officially be thrown open for the public on Thursday, but the prayer was held on Wednesday, officials said. The renovation of the Church – which is about 125 years old -- was undertaken by the J-K Tourism Department under the “Smart City Project”. The Church has been thrown open after 30 years after it was renovated and restored to its old glory, they said. The renovated Church will be e-inaugurated on Thursday by J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Church official Kennedy David Rajan said. He said the Christian community is happy to see the Church being re-opened after its renovation. Grace Paljor, principal of a private school here, said the community was glad that a 125-year-old Church was restored to its old glory, and prayers were held there after three decades. The minuscule Christian population in the valley usually visit the Holy Family Catholic Church, a Roman Catholic Church, at M A Road, and the one at Church Lane here for Sunday mass and Christmas mass. There are churches in Baramulla and Gulmarg as well in the valley.

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