News

Pan Am will return to the skies in 2025 (for a special flight)

Pan Am is synonymous with glamorous travel. Although the airline stopped flying in 1991, the name still emanates nostalgia and symbolizes an era before the words “overtourism” or “selfie stick” existed. Now, there’s a chance to fly Pan Am again, provided you have deep pockets. Pan Am Brands, which owns the former airline’s licensing rights, will fly a special Pan Am-branded private jet on a 12-day trip from New York City in June 2025. The “Tracing the Transatlantic” itinerary has stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London and Foynes, Ireland, all places that have significance to Pan Am and were on the airline’s old routes. The price tag? A cool $59,950 a person.

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Brightline Is Launching Taylor Swift-themed Train Rides to Her Miami Shows — Sing-alongs Included

Taylor Swift is heading back to the U.S. for another round of tour dates as part of her record-breaking Eras Tour, including a few nights in Miami. And while we're sure fans have already purchased their tickets and are diligently working on their outfits and friendship bracelets, there is one more way they can get in on the Taylor fandom in Florida and it's all about the trip to the venue. Florida's Brightline rail and iHeartRadio are coming together for a few themed train rides that will take fans right to the concert, with journeys between Orlando to the Hard Rock Stadium on Oct. 18, 19, and 20. "The Sing-Along Train is a fan’s dream come true, transporting guests through musical eras as they travel to The Big Concert," Travis Christ, the chief commercial officer for Brightline, shared in a statement provided to Travel + Leisure. "This is more than a ride – it’s a first-of-its-kind immersive experience. Welcome to the Brightline era." On the train, guests can expect Taylor-themed decor, DJs spinning tunes from every era, friendship bracelet swaps, photo ops, a few curated beverages and bites, and some surprises along the way, too (no, don't expect Taylor to pop out, but still, they've got some tricks up their sleeves). “At iHeartRadio, we're all about connecting our listeners with the music and experiences they love," Jeremy Rice, the program director of iHeartRadio's XL 106.7 and Magic 107.7 Orlando, whose DJs will be onboard, added. "Our partnership with Brightline allows us to bring fans even closer to the action with an unforgettable journey to The Big Concert. We're thrilled to be a part of this first-of-its-kind Sing-Along Train and can't wait to see the memories our listeners will make on board." Tickets for the Sing-Along Train are available now, with two trains departing Orlando each day of the concert starting at $209 for "smart" and $309 for "premium" one-way tickets. To book, just look for the "Sing-Along Train" icon on gobrightline.com. Guests will also get access to the roundtrip shuttle services and rideshare options between Brightilne’s Aventura Station and Hard Rock Stadium, though an additional fee may apply. See all the information you need on the trains, and what to expect onboard, here. Other travel brands are also stepping into their Swift era, helping fans get to the iconic pop singer's shows. Southwest is adding 10 more flights to cities where Swift is playing this fall.

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IndiGo issues travel advisory for Mumbai as flights impacted due to heavy rain

IndiGo Airlines on Friday issued a travel advisory asking all passengers to check their flight status as Mumbai was facing air traffic congestion amid heavy rainfall lashing the city. “Flights are impacted due to heavy rains and air traffic congestion in Mumbai. Do keep a tab on the flight status. Wishing you happy and safe travels!” the airline posted on X. Hindustan Times reported that more passengers are affected by delays in flights than ever before. IndiGo, once known for being ‘on time’ has now slipped in performance due to delayed departures as well. Heavy rainfall is expected to continue till Saturday in Mumbai, with the India Meteorological Department issuing an orange alert for the city. Rains across the city in the early morning, have caused major traffic congestion and waterlogging on ground. The IMD has forecast very intense spells of rainfall in isolated places of the Mumbai district for the next 3-4 hours in a post on X. Colaba recorded 86 mm and Santa Cruz recorded 115.8 mm of rainfall between 8:30 am on July 11 and 8:30 am on July 12. The weather department has also issued an orange alert for Madhya Maharashtra as well as the Konkan region. Earlier in the week, Mumbai experienced intense rainfall, leading to major waterlogging and flooding of suburban railway stations, with 170 mm of rain being recorded in 3 hours. Schools and colleges were shut and the legislative assembly session was also adjourned. As moderate to heavy rains are likely to continue till July 15, the Shinde government's disaster management control room will be in charge of managing civic services.

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Qatar: Indian travellers will soon be able to make UPI payments

Great news for all those planning to travel to Qatar. As per the latest development, NPCI International has partnered with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to enable UPI payments in Qatar. This development means that travellers can use their UPI apps, such as Google Pay or PhonePe, to make payments seamlessly in Qatar. QNB Group, the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, operates in over 28 countries and offers a wide range of financial services, including access to more than 5,000 ATMs. This collaboration will allow Indians visiting Qatar to use UPI at various places, including shops, leisure areas, tourist spots, duty-free shops, and hotels. Given that Indians are one of the largest groups of visitors to Qatar, this will greatly enhance the convenience of transactions. The benefits extend to local businesses as well. By accepting UPI payments, Qatari shops and businesses can offer faster and smoother checkouts, enhancing the customer experience and potentially increasing sales. The ease of UPI transactions will attract more customers and streamline the payment process for merchants. Anubhav Sharma, Deputy Chief of Partnerships and Business Development at NPCI International, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration. He stated, “We are happy to collaborate with QNB to bring UPI payments to Qatar. We believe that enabling UPI acceptance in Qatar will offer substantial benefits to the large number of Indians visiting the country, simplifying their transactions, and ensuring a hassle-free travel experience abroad." Sharma also highlighted that merchants in Qatar would significantly benefit from UPI by gaining access to a wider customer base and more efficient payment and collection processing. Adel Ali Al-Malki, Senior Executive Vice President of QNB Group Retail Banking, shared his excitement about this pioneering initiative. He said, “We are thrilled to embark on this pioneering journey with NIPL to bring UPI payments to Qatar, setting a new standard in innovation in the region. With this new digital payment solution acceptance, we are revolutionising the way transactions are conducted, enhancing the travel experience like never before." Al-Malki further emphasised that this strategic initiative will not only elevate the travel and hospitality sectors but also empower local merchants to thrive. The introduction of UPI payments in Qatar through the collaboration between NPCI International and QNB Group marks a significant advancement in facilitating easier and more efficient transactions for Indian travellers. This initiative is poised to enhance the travel experience, support local businesses, and strengthen economic ties between India and Qatar.

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Peru: 4000-year-old temple and theatre discovered by archaeologists

Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered what they believe to be a 4,000-year-old temple and theatre, shedding new light on the early origins of complex religions in the region. The discovery was made at the archaeological site of La Otra Banda, Cerro Las Animas, near the northern Peruvian town of Zaña. The team, led by Luis Muro Ynoñán, a research scientist at the Field Museum in Chicago, began their excavation in June after local authorities alerted them to looting activities in the area. Peru is a captivating tourist destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and diverse attractions. Visitors explore the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu, the historic streets of Cusco, and the Sacred Valley's scenic beauty. The vibrant capital city, Lima lures people with its museums and culinary delights. Adventure seekers can trek the Andes, explore the Amazon rainforest, or marvel at the mysterious Nazca Lines. And the latest discovery will ignite a new wave of interest among tourists. The excavation covered a plot approximately 33 ft by 33 ft, revealing ancient mud and clay walls just 6 ft below the surface. "It was so surprising that these very ancient structures were so close to the modern surface," Ynoñán said. As they dug deeper, the team discovered part of a large temple and a small theatre with a backstage area and a staircase leading to a stage-like platform. This theatre was likely used for ritual performances in front of a selected audience. One of the theatre’s staircases was adorned with mud panels featuring an elaborate carved design of a mythological bird-like creature. This figure resembles other images dating to the Initial Period, around 2,000 to 900 BC, suggesting the temple's age. "The Initial Period is important because it’s when we first start to see evidence of an institutionalised religion in Peru," Ynoñán explained. The discovery provides insight into the early origins of religion in the region. These findings predate Peru’s most famous archaeological site, Machu Picchu, by about 3,500 years and the pre-Inca cultures of Moche and Nazca. "We don’t know what these people called themselves, or how other people referred to them. All we know about them comes from what they created: their houses, temples, and funerary goods," Ynoñán said. He added that these people developed complex religious systems and cosmological perceptions, which played a significant role in the emergence of political authority. Ynoñán has a personal connection to the discovery, as his mother’s and father’s families are from the area. "It was really incredible to come face to face with these depictions of an ancient god that was so important for these ancient groups," he shared. In addition to the temple and theatre, archaeologists found several large murals painted on the walls. Ynoñán collected samples of the paint pigments for lab analysis and plans to conduct carbon dating to confirm the site's age. Peru is rich in archaeological treasures from pre-Hispanic times. In August, archaeologists unearthed a 3,000-year-old tomb believed to honour an elite religious leader. A few months earlier, they discovered a more than 1,000-year-old adolescent mummy wrapped in a funerary bundle on the outskirts of Lima. These discoveries continue to provide valuable insights into the ancient civilizations that once thrived in the Andes.

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Passport surrenders in Gujarat doubles in a year; understanding the new trend

In a recent update, passport surrenders in Gujarat have seen a surprising surge, doubling within a year as reported by the Times of India. In 2022, 241 individuals gave up their passports, a number that reached 485 by 2023. The trend continued with 244 surrenders recorded by early May 2024. Most surrenders were observed among individuals between the age group of 30-45, predominantly settled in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Parliamentary data places Gujarat third in India for citizenship renunciations from 2014 to 2022, with 22,300 individuals surrendering their citizenship. Delhi and Punjab lead the tally with 60,414 and 28,117 renunciations, respectively. The rise in passport renunciations post-Covid has been notable, reflecting changing global mobility trends. A senior official, preferring anonymity, attributed the trend to many young Gujaratis pursuing higher education abroad and subsequently settling there. Lalit Advani, an investor visa consultant, noted a growing inclination among businessmen to relocate overseas for improved infrastructure and quality of life. Issues such as urban congestion and inadequate green spaces in Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, further drive this migration trend. According to Ritesh Desai, a passport consultant, there are three primary visa categories—student, direct immigration, and business—which have seen increased demand since 2012, especially post-2013. Desai anticipates a significant rise in passport surrenders by 2028 as more expatriates secure foreign citizenship. Regarding business visas, Desai highlighted challenges due to country-specific quotas. He cited examples of lengthy wait times, such as a friend's ongoing six-year wait for an EB5 visa despite a substantial investment. This, he mentioned, discourages many potential applicants who lack significant financial resources. Under the Passports Act 1967, Indian passport holders acquiring foreign nationality must surrender their passports. Early surrenders incur no penalties, whereas delays beyond three years may result in fines ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000. The trend of passport renunciations in Gujarat reflects broader socio-economic factors influencing global migration patterns. As individuals seek enhanced opportunities and living standards abroad, the state continues to witness a consequential rise in passport surrenders. Gujarat’s significant rise in passport surrenders, reflects a growing trend among its residents to relocate abroad for education, career opportunities, and improved quality of life.

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