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95% of Indian travellers interested in sustainable travel: Report

Even as 95 per cent of Indian travellers interviewed said sustainable travel is important to them, more than half feel the irreversible damage has already been done, a report said on Monday. Online travel agency Booking.com's ninth 'Sustainable Travel Report 2024' revealed that almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of Indian travellers stated they would feel guilty when they make less sustainable travel choices and 20 per cent of them want to travel more sustainably because they believe it's the right thing to do. Booking.com's ninth Sustainable Travel Report 2024, is based on insights gathered from more than 31,000 travellers across 34 countries and territories, including 1,000 in India. However, the report found that a sense of disillusion towards making more sustainable travel choices might be counteracting these positive intentions. For the first time this year, the report revealed that some travellers don't recognise the importance of being more mindful. Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of Indian travellers felt travelling more sustainably is important, but not a primary consideration when planning or booking a trip, it added. More than half (52 per cent) feel that the damage already done is irreversible and that the travel choices they make are not going to change that, said the report. In fact, 39 per cent don't believe climate change is as severe as people make it out to be and 47 per cent feel their time spent travelling is too precious to put sustainability at the top of their decision-making list, it noted. Over 53 per cent of travellers believed that being more sustainable in a destination that is not implementing sustainability practices itself feels pointless, it added. "This year's new insights show that a sense of weariness could be emerging among travellers fuelled by the ongoing challenges that they experience to make more sustainable travel choices... we believe working together across the industry, simple changes when taken together can start to make a big difference," Booking.com Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia, Santosh Kumar, added.

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Europe's travel strikes: Flight and train disruption you can expect in April and May

Our guide is updated as soon as a new European strike is announced. Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions. Walkouts are sometimes planned months ahead but others are announced last minute, showing that it always pays to check before you travel. Luckily, we have gathered all of the strike information together below. Read on to find out where and when are walkouts taking place. UK: Heathrow Border Force worker strikes in April and May Border Force workers at London's Heathrow Airport plan to walk out from 29 April to 2 May over plans to lay off staff. This could cause major disruption for international flights. A smaller scale 'work to rule' strike between 3-18 May could cause further disruption. Heathrow flights could also be grounded on 4-6 May as 50 refuelling workers stage a 72-hour strike over cuts to their benefits. Train strikes in April While there is no national train strike planned in the UK, various localised action is planned for April. From 15-20 April, strikes by the ASLEF union will affect Northern rail services. And on 20 April, an ASLEF walkout will impact LNER trains. Gatwick Airport: Catering workers to strike on easyJet and TUI flights Passengers on easyJet and TUI flights departing from London's Gatwick Airport will be left hungry as Dnata catering workers go on strike. Around 100 workers, including HGV drivers and warehouse workers, will strike from 26-29 April, 3-6 May and 10-13 May. Strike action will intensify if the dispute over pay is not resolved, the Unite union has threatened. Belgium: Strikes threatened at Charleroi Airport Brussels' Charleroi Airport has issued a strike warning that lasts until the end of April. Catering staff and baggage handlers are expected to walk out at the start of May if their concerns over working conditions are not addressed. France: Air traffic controllers threaten to walk out in April French airports could be hit by air traffic control strikes on Thursday 25 April as workers protest restructuring of their services. Workers have until Tuesday to announce whether they will be involved in the walk out, but it is thought that it could affect up to 70 per cent of flights at major airports. Could strikes hit Paris Olympics? CGT-RATP union members announced a seven-month strike notice from 5 February to 9 September that could hit the Ile-de-France bus and metro network - including during this summer's Olympic Games. However, the French Senate adopted a bill on 9 April to allow the state to ban transport strikes for set periods each year to avoid disruption during major events like Paris 2024. It also calls for more advance warning of strikes and increased minimum service obligations. The bill faces opposition and must be adopted by the French National Assembly before it becomes law. Workers at the state-owned public transport company say they are walking out over pay. Germany: Threat of various strikes ends On 25 March, Deutsche Bahn reached an agreement with Germany’s GDL train drivers' union, bringing an end to five months of negotiations and strikes. The deal means that GDL will abstain from strikes until at least February 2026. German union Verdi has also called off strikes at various German airports after reaching a pay deal.

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Domestic air traffic soars to new single-day high, crosses 4.71 lakh passengers

The Civil Aviation Ministry informed that the domestic air traffic reached a new single-day peak of 471,751 passengers on Sunday (April 21). According to the official data, this figure represents an increase of over 14 per cent compared to the average pre-Covid count of 398,579 passengers. On April 21, the total number of domestic air passengers reached 471,751, with 6,128 flights, according to data from the civil aviation ministry. This surpasses the domestic air traffic figures of 428,389 passengers and 5,899 flights recorded on April 21 last year. Indian aviation market witnessing unprecedented growth In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the ministry highlighted India’s domestic aviation reaching new heights. “Domestic aviation in India is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by factors such as concrete policies, economic development, and expansion of low-cost carriers. As more people gain access to air travel, the sector is expected to continue its upward trajectory,” the ministry stated. 4.38% annual growth recorded According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), domestic airlines carried 391.46 lakhs passengers during January-March 2024, compared to 375.04 lakhs during the same period last year. DGCA last week highlighted that this marked an annual growth of 4.38 percent and a monthly growth of 3.68 percent.

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Uttarakhand: Manaskhand Corridor Yatra starts on April 22, aims to promote Kumaon temples

Uttarakhand tourism department is teaming up with Indian Railways to launch the Manaskhand Corridor Yatra, aimed at highlighting the ancient temples of the Kumaon region. District Tourism Officer Kirti Chand Arya announced that a special train will depart from Pune and journey to Tanakpur in Pithoragarh district, starting from April 22. This initiative aims to promote tourism in the region by providing travellers with an opportunity to explore the rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels of Uttarakhand. The train will be carrying over 600 pilgrims in two separate batches to visit the famous temples of 'Manaskhand'. This term originates from ancient Hindu scriptures and specifically denotes the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. These pilgrims will have the opportunity to explore and pay homage at the sacred sites nestled within the scenic landscape of Kumaon, experiencing the spiritual essence of the region firsthand. The Manaskhand temples tour package, spanning 7 days and 6 nights, will offer pilgrims a comprehensive journey through the sacred sites. Upon arrival, pilgrims will alight the train at Khatima, located approximately one kilometre from Tanakpur, and be ferried to the temples via road transport. One train is scheduled to depart from Pune on April 22, reaching Khatima on April 24, according to Arya. Additionally, another train carrying pilgrims will embark from Pune on April 24, arriving at Khatima on April 26. Khatima has been selected as the final stop due to its superior amenities, including hotels, compared to Tanakpur, ensuring a comfortable stay for pilgrims, as explained by the officer. As part of the tour package, the devotees will embark on a journey to various temples and religious sites located in Tanakpur, Champawat, Pithoragarh, and Almora, where they will receive detailed explanations about the mythological significance of these places. The itinerary includes visits to several notable temples such as Baleswar, Maneswar, and Mayawati in Champawat; Hat Kalika and Patal Bhubaneswar in Pithoragarh; Jageswar and Golu Devta in Chitai; as well as Nanda Devi, Kasar Devi, and Katarmal in Almora. Additionally, pilgrims will also visit Nanakmatta Sahib Gurudwara in Udham Singh Nagar and the Naina Devi temple in Nainital, experiencing the rich religious and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.

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EU Eases Travel For Indian Nationals With Long-Term Schengen Visas Ahead Of Summer Vacations

The European Commission has announced new visa rules to help facilitate easier travel for Indian nationals ahead of summer vacations. Under the latest regulations, Indian citizens will now have easier access to long-term Schengen visas with multi-year validity, marking a big shift from previous visa requirements. “On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date,” the European Commission said in a statement. The revised visa framework — referred to as the “visa cascade” regime — allows Indian nationals residing in the country to obtain long-term, multiple-entry Schengen visas valid for up to two years. This extended validity comes after successfully obtaining and lawfully utilising two visas within the preceding three years. Holders of these visas will enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals for the duration of their validity period. “The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals,” the European Commission said. “This decision comes in the context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU,” it added. The Schengen visa system permits holders to travel freely within the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. With the adoption of these new visa rules, Indian travelers can look forward to smoother and more convenient travel experiences within Europe, particularly as the summer vacation season approaches. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states): Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

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IndiGo soon to launch electric air taxi: Travel from Delhi to Gurugram in 7-minutes

IndiGo Airlines, a leading Indian airline company is reportedly gearing up to introduce an innovative solution called the ‘electric air taxis’. The company has been planning to initiate its services between Delhi and Gurugram (formerly known as Gurgaon). InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo is set to collaborate with American-based Archer Aviation to bring this futuristic mode of transportation to India. This new concept of commuting will help the users to skip the long traffic congestion between the cities - Delhi and Gurugram. Archer Aviation: Partnership InterGlobe Enterprises is set to procure 200 electric aircraft from Archer Aviation - marking a significant step towards launching air taxi services in India. The upcoming electric vertical will takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will accommodate up to four passengers each, by accompanied by a pilot for enhanced safety. The collaboration will aim at providing a swift and efficient travel alternative while minimizing the environmental impact. IndiGo's Air Taxi: Benefits IndiGo's electric air taxis promise several advantages over traditional modes of transport in the region of Delhi and Gurugram. It will reduce the noise levels when compared to helicopters and will further have enhanced safety features for the passengers, delivering comfortable, secure and faster travel. Timeline and fare The air taxi service will be operational between Delhi and Gurugram and the project is said to start its operations by 2026. Passengers could anticipate the fares to range from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 for the seven-minute journey, which will reduce the travel time and traffic hassle. At this time, the travel for the region is around 27 kilometres in distance and it takes around 90 minutes, with fares which could reach up to Rs 1,500. Certification process and plans Adam Goldstein, CEO and Founder of Archer Aviation has confirmed that the electric air taxis will be certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration. Furthermore, the company will seek approval from the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

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