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Vistara to operate Delhi-Doha flights from November 19

As part of the air bubble arrangement between India and Qatar, Vistara will be operating non-stop flights between Delhi and Doha, the capital city of Qatar, from November 19, 2020. The airline will operate its Airbus A320neo twice a week between the two cities, on Thursdays and Sundays. Bookings are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We are pleased to strengthen our presence in the Middle East by adding another global city to our steadily growing network, albeit for special flights under the ‘transport bubble’. As an economic hub of the region, Doha continues to draw business travellers and is home to a large number of Indian expatriates.” The all-inclusive roundtrip fares in economy class have been priced at INR 15,499, while a premium economy ticket comes for INR 26000 and business class fares are INR 52,000 Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting the visa and entry requirements of both India and Qatar, as specified by the authorities from both countries.

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Passengers are more confident to fly: Vistara survey

While witnessing a steady increase in domestic traffic, at present, business travel continues to lead the traffic for Vistara, along with a segment of travellers who are returning homes or to places of work. This is followed by an expected rise in the number of people visiting friends and relatives starting in October 2020 and a spike in leisure travel in 2021. Announcing the results of the second wave of its customer survey to gauge passenger sentiment about flying in the current times, the airline observed that the responses indicate an increased passenger confidence since the first survey in June 2020. Conducted between August 17 and September 2, 2020, over 4,500 customers responded to the survey. Vistara’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vinod Kannan, noted, “We have been seeing a steady rise in demand for domestic travel since the resumption of operations in May 2020, and the increased passenger confidence further makes us hopeful of better times to return soon. Our customer survey findings concur with the current trend we are observing in air traffic. We take great inspiration from the survey findings that reflect the trust our customers place in us and our thorough measures to ensure their health and safety.” Here are a few insights from the survey: Nature of travels over the next six months Around 41 per cent of respondents said they plan to take their next flight by November 2020, and 63 per cent expect to take their next flight by February 2021. Flying for business and returning to a place of work/home continues to be the main purpose of travel in the last few weeks for nearly 45 per cent of the respondents. Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) is expected to pick up during the festive season and is likely to continue through February 2021 for an average of 25 percent of the respondents. Domestic and international travel 84 per cent of Vistara customers are likely to fly within India on their next flight, and only 16 per cent would fly outside of the country. However, 26 per cent of Vistara’s business class customers expected their next flight to be international. The top five most preferred international destinations amongst the respondents that they are likely to travel to by August 2021 (in order of preference): Singapore, Dubai, US, UK, and Thailand. Greater Confidence in Flying Two out of every three customers thought that flying is the safest mode of travel. 71 per cent of the customers rated Vistara 8/10 or higher for their confidence in Vistara ensuring their health and safety. This is an increase of 2pp from the first wave of the survey, despite a significant rise in Covid-19 numbers in India. The overall customer confidence rating for Vistara stands at 7.9/10. There has also been a significant increase in the number of people who do not fear exposure onboard an aircraft - from 32 per cent in the first wave to 49 per cent in the second wave. The percentage of people who do not fear any exposure at all also increased from 5 per cent to 19 per cent. Top concerns about flying again The findings of the survey’s second leg highlighted three top concerns for passengers in flying again: quarantine requirements/other restrictions implemented across states, higher fares, and fear of exposure to contracting the coronavirus. Customer Communication 85 per cent of Vistara customers feel sufficiently informed about the health and safety measures taken by the airline. The survey recorded an increase of 8pp in customers saying they were ‘very well informed’ – from 36 per cent in the first wave to 44 per cent in the second wave. With Vistara having rolled out several initiatives to inform and sensitise passengers about travel during Covid-19, Kannan commends the move, saying, “We are glad to see the results of our efforts, including continuous communication to create greater awareness among all flyers and build a sense of shared responsibility to make flying feel safe again.” Vistara’s customer survey was conducted online, covering various demographics of its customer base including Club Vistara members from all tier levels as well as non-members. The majority of respondents were salaried professionals and self-employed/business owners aged between 18 and 55+. The results were analysed by the airline’s in-house team.

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Ladakh govt to set up snow ski institute in Kargil to promote winter sports

The Ladakh administration will be setting up a snow ski institute along with other adventure sports facilities in Kargil district similar to Gulmarg's Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) to promote winter sports in the Union Territory, an official spokesman said on Tuesday. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC)-Kargil, Feroz Ahmad Khan and attended among others by the principal of IISM-Gulmarg Colonel J S Dhillon, the Spokesman said. “A winter sports institute would be established in Kargil district on the lines of IISM Gulmarg. It was also decided to identify and earmark snow ski slopes at Naktul area near Kargil town, Lamochan and Goshan area in Drass besides Sankoo and Panikhar areas,” the Spokesman said. Colonel Dhillon informed the meeting that he has been deputed by the Union Ministry of Tourism to submit a detailed report regarding the winter tourism potential of Ladakh UT so that winter sports and adventure sports can be initiated there through IISM. The meeting had a threadbare discussion regarding the identification of suitable sites for winter and adventure tourism, the spokesman said, adding that the LAHDC chairman assured that he would direct the authorities of the revenue department to identify land at the suggested areas and submit the report to the Tourism ministry in the coming days. The spokesman said the meeting also decided to organise snow ski camps for at least 100 boys and girls in the district this year for which the Principal of IISM-Gulmarg assured that they will provide skis and other equipment needed for the coaching camps and workshops. He requested LAHDC chairman Khan to send a letter in this regard to the Tourism Ministry. The Principal also assured that the skis and equipment would reach Kargil well before the closure of Srinagar-Leh national highway so that the proposed camps would be organised in due course of time, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the spokesman said the meeting decided that a national level ice hockey championship will be organised by IISM at Drass Ice Hockey Rink this winter season. It was also decided that other than skiing and ice hockey, adventure sports like hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering and trekking would be explored in the district so that a maximum number of adventure sports lovers from across the country and abroad come here and more employment opportunities can be created for the unemployed youth, the Spokesman said.

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Delhi airport offers COVID-19 testing facility for all passengers

Delhi airport has started a Coronavirus testing facility for both domestic and international passengers departing from the airport. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) recently announced the commencement of on-demand Coronavirus testing facility for departing international and domestic passengers, who are taking their flight from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), right before their departure. Till date, the COVID-19 testing facility was available at the Delhi airport for only international arrivals, which started on September 12. However, all passengers can now get themselves tested for the Coronavirus right before taking the flight. DIAL, in its statement, stated that such passengers can arrive at the airport around six hours before and get the COVID test done at the airport by paying INR 2400 and get the result in 4 to 6 hours. DIAL, in association with Genestrings Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd, set up a COVID-19 sample collection booth at the international departure of Terminal 3 in front of Gate no 8 on October 28, 2020. Genestrings Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd is an ICMR approved laboratory, and is currently associated with the Delhi state government to test the COVID-19 samples. Reportedly, the sample collection booths are able to collect approximately 120 to 130 samples per hour. Elaborating more on this, DIAL CEO Videh Kumar stated that they have launched the RT-PCR testing facility for outbound international and domestic passengers at Delhi airport. The said facility will facilitate travel for passengers who need to travel and would require a COVID negative certificate with them due to some reasons. Domestic passenger flights resumed operation in India on May 25, after a gap of two months amid the Coronavirus pandemic, whereas special international passenger flights have been operating under the Vande Bharat Mission since May, and under bilateral air bubble arrangements since July.

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Delhi: Inter-state bus services resume with 50% of their pre-Covid capacity

After a gap of more than seven months owing to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns to contain the virus spread, the inter-state bus services in Delhi resumed today allowing the three ISBTs in thr national capital to operate at 50% of their pre-COV capacity. The resumption comes amid a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi with the city recording over 5,000 daily cases for the past few days. A Delhi Transport Corporation bus driver at the Anand Vihar Bus terminal told news agency ANI, "This bus will ply from Anand Vihar to Gurugram (Haryana). No one will be allowed to travel standing." On Monday, Delhi Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said all precautions against the spread of virus have been put in place for resumption the inter-state bus services. "As Delhi resumes Inter-state bus service on 03.11.20, from 3 ISBTs, we're ensuring all precautions/SOP are in place. Sanitization of buses at origin & at ISBTs, thermal screening of passengers & crew, Passengers to mandatorily wear mask, testing camps in case of any illness," he tweeted. The Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) that operates the inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs) had earlier said the inter-state bus services will reopen at the Sarai Kale Khan, Kashmiri Gate and Anand Vihar ISBTs from November 3. "The number of buses plying from the ISBTs shall not be more than 50 per cent of the pre-COVID capacity up to November 15," said an official statement. The concerned additional general managers of ISBTs will be responsible for implementation of the standard operating procedures prepared for resumption of the services. The SOP stated, "It is advised that the buses entering the ISBTs should not be older than 2015 model in the wake of alarming situation of pollution in Delhi." The DTIDC may gradually reduce the age of the buses and ultimately allow the entry of only CNG, electric and BS VI standard buses at the three ISBTs, it said, advising bus operators to prepare accordingly. The SOP further stipulated that initially the number of buses from each state will be limited to 50 per cent of pre-COVID levels till November 15. Passengers will have to mandatorily wear face mask and no standing passengers will be allowed in the buses. Social distancing will be ensured on the ground, boarding time, as well as inside the buses. Apart from this, regular announcements and sensitization of passengers about COVID-19 precautions through audio – visual communication is also being undertaken. Strict ban on use of gutka and other tobacco products will be enforced at the ISBT premises, he said. The three ISBTs used to cater to daily 3,500 trips of inter-state buses from UP, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarkhand and other states, and 2,000 trips of local buses. The inter-state bus services were suspended with announcement of the lockdown due to spread of COVID-19, leading to shutting down of the ISBTs in March.

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IndiGo to offer Covid-19 RT-PCR test with flight bookings

IndiGo has partnered with Stemz Healthcare to enable Covid-19 RT-PCR test at affordable rates for passengers travelling on domestic and international flights. To book a test, customers can take appointments online on IndiGo website. Customers can opt for a home visit or choose a lab visit with over 200 collection centers in India. The service is also available in other countries including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer, IndiGo said, “As per travel guidelines, several states and countries require a COVID-19 RT-PCR test to be undertaken within a stipulated time frame before a customer boards a flight. We are pleased to introduce the option to book a test along with the flight, enabling easy access to get the tests done before travelling. This is another step in our endeavour to provide a safe and hassle-free travel experience to our customers on-board our lean, clean flying machine.” In addition to a hassle-free travel experience, undertaking the Covid-19 RT-PCR test may also provide exemption from quarantine to passengers (guidance as per the respective laws of the country/state). The facilitator of the test, Stemz Healthcare, is an aggregator of ICMR approved laboratories for Covid-19 RT-PCR test in India.

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