News

Saudia Wins 'Best Airline Cabin Crew' at 2024 Business Traveler U.S. Awards

Saudia, Saudi Arabia’s flagship airline, has proudly announced its achievement of the esteemed Editorial Award for ‘Best Airline Cabin Crew’ at the 2024 Business Traveler U.S. Awards in Miami. This marks the inaugural year for this prestigious award, further amplifying the significance of this recognition. It underscores the outstanding hospitality and service provided by Saudia’s dedicated cabin crew, positioning the airline as a leader in cabin service excellence within the industry. Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, Chief Guest Experience Officer at Saudia, said: “This award is a testament to the hard work and professionalism of our cabin crew in delivering world-class service. Saudia’s cabin crew exemplify the essence of Saudi hospitality and culture, embodying the warmth, generosity, and respect that are ingrained to the Kingdom. And this award does not only highlight our commitment to excellence but also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, as we continue to bring the world to the Kingdom.” The Business Traveler U.S. Awards celebrate outstanding achievements within the travel industry, evaluated through a mix of editorial analysis, industry standards, and feedback from readers. These prestigious awards are considered a key indicator of excellence in airlines, hotels, travel destinations, and related innovations. Saudia is committed to ongoing growth and service improvements, with plans to expand its fleet from 144 to 288 aircraft. The airline’s mission is to strengthen connections between the Kingdom and over 100 international destinations. Known for its impeccable service, Saudia offers a unique blend of Saudi hospitality and a rich selection of multilingual in-flight entertainment, catering to the diverse needs of its passengers.

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Saudi Arabia emerging as a global hub of tourism and women empowerment

Speaking at the 122nd UNWTO Executive Council Meeting in Colombia, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism for Saudi Arabia highlighted key initiatives and achievements that are shaping Saudi Arabia into a global tourism powerhouse. Unlocking Saudi Tourism Potential Saudi Arabia unveiled its National Tourism Strategy in 2019, aiming to diversify the economy beyond oil and petrochemicals. “We are investing $100 million in training 100,000 young Saudis, with 50% being women,” said Al-Khateeb. This initiative prepares youth for roles in tourism, fostering careers in hospitality, travel, and entertainment. Programs like the Riyadh School of Hospitality and international scholarships to top institutions are central to this effort. Women at the Forefront of Tourism Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in empowering women, with over 100,000 women entering the tourism workforce since 2019. “Women are passionate, skilled, and enthusiastic to share Saudi Arabia’s story with the world,” Al-Khateeb noted. Initiatives to enhance women’s participation include vocational training, wage increases, and roles in the growing Red Sea resorts and NEOM developments.

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Bengaluru's Eastern Tunnel to Slash Airport Travel Time by 30 Minutes

The construction of the Eastern Connectivity Tunnel in Bengaluru will begin later this year. It is a major mark in the development of the city’s infrastructure. The tunnel will provide a direct, quicker route to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), especially benefiting travellers from eastern areas like Whitefield, Sarjapur, and Mahadevapura. This development aims to reduce travel time to the airport by approximately 30 minutes, improving overall accessibility to one of the busiest airports in India. The tunnel will connect the eastern state highway directly to KIA, bypassing the congested Hebbal flyover. This crucial infrastructure project is expected to enhance traffic flow, particularly for passengers traveling from eastern parts of the city. By offering a more efficient route, the tunnel will alleviate congestion on existing roads and shorten the travel time, offering a smoother and more reliable journey to the airport. The construction of the Eastern Connectivity Tunnel is part of a larger expansion initiative by Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), which is investing ₹16,500 crore in upgrading and expanding the airport. With air passenger numbers set to rise to an estimated 85 million annually by 2030-32, these developments aim to cater to the growing demand for aviation services.

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Vietjet Thailand debuts Mumbai-Bangkok flight

Expanding its presence in India, Vietjet Thailand announces the launch of its inaugural Mumbai – Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) service, set to begin on December 23, 2024, offering passengers a convenient travel option to explore Thailand’s capital and beyond. In the early stage, the service between Mumbai and Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) will be operated with a daily flight; flight VZ761 will depart Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) at 00:45 AM and arrive in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi: BKK) at 06:25 AM. The return flight VZ760 will depart Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) at 08:45 PM and land in Mumbai at 11:50 PM (all in local time). Currently, Vietjet Thailand operates 11 Thailand domestic routes, including flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani, cross-regional flights including from Phuket to Chiang Ma and Chiang Raii. The airline is also actively expanding its international flight network to many destinations across Asia-Pacific, connecting Thailand with Vietnam, China, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Taipei and other top destinations in the region.

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Alliance Air to operate direct flights to Arunachal Pradesh's hidden gem

Alliance Air will operate two flights a week from Guwahati to Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, an official said on Tuesday. The domestic carrier will operate flights on Mondays and Wednesdays, Lower Subansiri deputy commissioner Vivek HP said. The flight will depart from Guwahati at 12.10 pm and land in Ziro at 1.25 pm. The return flight from Ziro will leave for Guwahati at 1.50 pm and reach there at 3.05 pm. Ziro has established itself as a MICE tourism destination, and with the beginning of the direct flights from Guwahati to Ziro, tourism in the valley will receive a boost, he said. MICE tourism destinations are cities and regions equipped to host meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE). He also hoped that it would enable the citizens needing specialised medical attention to travel to big cities in the shortest time possible, giving them access to specialised healthcare.

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SATTE 2025 partners with SEPC for ATITHI, aiming to bring over 250 intl. buyers

Scheduled to take place from February 19-21, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, SATTE 2025 promises to be a landmark event in the travel and tourism industry, with a focus on creating business opportunities, sharing insights, and fostering networking across the sector. SATTE 2025, India’s leading travel and tourism exhibition, has announced a strategic partnership with the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) for ‘ATITHI,’ a reverse buyer-seller meet. This collaboration aims to bring together over 250 international buyers, further strengthening India’s position as a global tourism hub. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SATTE 2025 and SEPC marks a significant step in promoting India’s diverse travel and tourism offerings to a global audience. ATITHI will serve as a platform for international buyers to explore the vast tourism opportunities within India, fostering business collaborations and enhancing bilateral ties in the tourism sector. “We are thrilled to partner with SEPC for ATITHI at SATTE 2025. This collaboration aligns with our vision of making SATTE a premier platform for meaningful global business connections. With over 250 international buyers expected to attend, we are confident that this partnership will open new avenues for growth in the Indian travel industry,” said Pallavi Mehra, Senior Group Director, Informa Markets. Karan Rathore, Chairman of SEPC, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “Our association with SATTE 2025 for the ATITHI initiative is a significant move towards creating opportunities for Indian tourism businesses. This reverse buyer-seller meet will provide a unique platform for Indian stakeholders to engage with international buyers, showcasing India as a preferred travel destination and fostering long-term business relations.”

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