News

Imphal: UFO spotted over the airport; all that we know so far

A few days ago, flight services in Imphal were disrupted due to an untoward situation. As per the news reports, an unidentified flying object (UFO) was sighted in the skies, which caused delays for three flights and the diversion of two planes. This incident was reported to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) by an official which later prompted the Indian Air Force Eastern Command to spring into action. As per Airport Director Chipemmi Keishing, the UFO sighting occurred within Imphal's controlled airspace, leading to the diversion of two flights and the delay of three departing flights. Normalisation of flight operations took approximately three hours, which was done after receiving clearance from the competent authority.Imphal, situated in Manipur, one of the seven sister states in northeast India, shares domestic borders with Nagaland, Mizoram, and Assam. Additionally, it shares an international border with Myanmar to its east. The UFO, visible with the naked eye and reportedly moving westwards of the airfield, prompted the diversion of the Kolkata to Imphal Indigo Airlines flight, rerouted to Guwahati after a 25-minute holdup. The delayed flights experienced disruptions for at least three hours during the UFO sighting.In response to the incident, the Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed two Rafale fighter jets from a nearby air base to search for the UFO, equipped with advanced sensors for low-level flying over the suspected area. However, the search yielded no findings. The IAF Eastern Command activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport, however, the small object was not seen after the initial sighting.Reports further add that the concerned agencies are currently analysing videos captured by the witnesses to gather more details about the UFO incident. As investigations start to unfold, the authorities will shed light on this mysterious event that briefly disrupted the skies over Imphal.

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IndiGo to be first airline to start flights from Noida International Airport

IndiGo will be the first airline to start flights from Noida International Airport, which is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024, according to a statement.Noida International Airport (NIA) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IndiGo -- the country's largest airline -- which has agreed to become the launch carrier for the airport, the statement said. Under the agreement, signed in Delhi, NIA and IndiGo will work together towards developing and strengthening air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh and beyond The greenfield airport is located in Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district in western Uttar Pradesh, about 75 km from Delhi. Once operational, it will be the second international and overall third commercial airport in the National Capital Region (NCR). The partnership will explore new and innovative ideas, aimed at gaining operational efficiency and enhanced customer experience, as per the NIA statement. "We are excited to sign this MoU with IndiGo, which has a strong base both in domestic and international markets. The partnership between NIA and IndiGo will not only help bolster air connectivity but also innovate, ensuring an exceptional customer experience for our customers alike," Noida International Airport's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christoph Schnellmann said. "By leveraging IndiGo's extensive route network and expertise, we aim to provide our passengers with unparalleled connectivity and an exceptional travel experience," Schnellmann said. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline is thrilled to announce the partnership with NIA to become its launch carrier. "As India's leading airline, IndiGo has always been at the forefront of enhancing connectivity and giving wings to the nation. Our operations at NIA will provide the people of Uttar Pradesh with seamless connectivity across our unparalleled network," Elbers said. "We look forward to the inauguration of the new airport in 2024 and will continue to work with NIA management to explore innovative ways to deliver an affordable, on-time, and hassle-free travel experience across the 6E network," he added.

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Over 9L tourists took Gondola ride at Gulmarg this year; figures to cross a million soon

Rising to an altitude of 14,000 feet, the Gulmarg Gondola is the flagship attraction of Kash tourism and Asia's highest operating cable car. Overall, about 90 per cent of the 1.2 lakh visitors in February 2023 flocked the Gulmarg ski resort, showcasing the area's appeal alongside other key attractions. Last year, the figures for J&K stood at 1.88 crore tourists. Giving a major surge for Kashmir’s tourism, the Gulmarg Gondola has become a standout highlight, attracting over nine lakh tourists this year alone. Anticipation mounts as officials predict the numbers to surpass a million by the year's end. Operated by the J&K Cable Car Corporation, the Gulmarg Gondola is a sought after tourism experience in Kashmir's tourism landscape. Rising to an altitude of 14,000 feet, it holds the title of Asia's highest operating cable car. The officials described the tourists' unanimous description of the experience as “surreal and captivating” which further fuels the popularity of this attraction. This year, the Corporation worked on enhancing visitor experience. They revamped the ticketing system, conducted rigorous safety tests, and implemented cutting-edge technology to overhaul the second phase of the Gondola. Raja Yaqoob, the Managing Director of J&K Cable Car Corporation, emphasised the corporation's pivotal role in Kashmir's tourism. He expressed the commitment to offering tourists an effortless, secure, and enjoyable ride. Yaqoob assured visitors of upcoming winter season improvements while urging them to book tickets exclusively online and adhere strictly to designated timings to prevent any inconvenience. The Gulmarg Cable Car's structure comprises two phases, ferrying Beyond the Gulmarg Gondola's soaring popularity, Kashmir as a whole has witnessed an unprecedented influx of tourists. February 2023 marked a staggering arrival of 120,000 visitors. The previous year itself set a historic milestone with a record-breaking 1.88 crore visitors exploring J&K, a number significantly higher than the average of the past four decades. A former official from the tourism department revealed that nearly 90 per cent of the 1.2 lakh visitors in February flocked the Gulmarg ski resort, showcasing the area's appeal alongside other key attractions.

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Air India announces non stop flights from Delhi to Phuket from Dec 15

Tata owned airline Air India on Friday announced that it will start non-stop flights from Delhi to Phuket, Thailand from December 15. The airline also said that services to the island city is a part of the airline's expansion plans in the Far East and South East Asia. The aircraft connecting to national capital and Phuket is an A320neo, offering 162 seats of which 150 are economy and 12 business class. The airline also informed that it will be starting off with a four-flights-a-week schedule, that is, it will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. "AI 378 will depart from Delhi at 0110 hrs to arrive in Phuket the same day at 0710 hrs. The return flight AI 379 will take off from Phuket at 0810 hrs and land in Delhi at 1050 hrs (All Local Time)," Air India said. Further, it plans daily operations from January 2024 "We are delighted to welcome Phuket into our network and will continue to expand our connectivity and enhance frequency on domestic and international sectors providing more flexibility of choice to our customers and contributing to the growth in the aviation sector," said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer, Air India. With daily nonstop flights from Delhi and Mumbai and six flights a week from Kolkata, Air India currently offers a total of 26 flights to Bangkok per week. The Indian airline has an interline partnership with Bangkok Airways through which it provides convenient connections via Bangkok to and from 10 popular destinations in Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Passengers can make bookings for flights to Phuket from today via all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents (including online travel agents).

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Hawaii mulls plans to make travel easier for tourists from Japan

Hawaii leaders want to make it easier for tourists from Japan to visit the US state by creating a pre-clearance program allowing travellers from the country to save time at the Honolulu airport by completing immigration, customs and agricultural inspections before departure.Gov. Josh Green and other state officials proposed the idea during a recent visit to Tokyo. Green hopes the program will help boost tourism to the islands, Hawaii News Now reported Tuesday.Tourism from Japan, Hawaii's top international visitor market, has been sluggish since the Covid-19 pandemic. Hawaii is keen on bringing more travelers from Japan back because “that's the tourist that knows how to carry themselves in Hawaii and how to care for our aina and so on,” Green said, using the Hawaiian word for land. A pre-clearance program, which has been discussed for many years, could open direct routes to other islands, including Maui, Green said.Soon after a deadly wildfire wiped out much of the west Maui town of Lahaina, the Japan government donated $2 million in humanitarian aid.State House Speaker Scott Saiki, who joined Green on the trip, said Japan officials were concerned about how much the program would cost and how it would be implemented and enforced. Green said he will ask Hawaii's delegation in US Congress to help make the program possible.

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India's commercial capital to get annual 'Mumbai Festival' from Jan 2024

The state government's Directorate of Tourism (DoT) will start the annual fiesta in Mumba rocking annual festival -- on the lines of a few select cities worldwide -- from January 202 with a series of events lined up for nine days to boost tourism, officials said here on Thursday. The state government's Directorate of Tourism (DoT) will start the annual fiesta titled 'Mumbai Festival' from January 20-28 next year with the theme 'Everyone' Invited' to emphasise the inclusivity of the city of dreams and its melting of culture, glamour, arts, cuisine, sports, big biz etc. that embrace one and all. The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Girish Mahajan, industrialist Anand Mahindra, who is the chairperson of Mumbai Festival Advisory Committee, and DoT Director B.N. Patil. The event saw the unveiling of the inaugural edition of Mumbai Festival logo and a theme, 'Sapno Ka Gateway', and the theme song composed by Shamir Tandon that echoes the kaleidoscope of cultures with boundless energy and resilience embedded in Mumbai's soul that has survived many challenges over the decades and centuries. Ace choreographer Remo D'Souza, who unveiled the theme song, presented a set of hook steps along with his team. The nine-day fest will see an extravaganza of events at various key central locations around the city with cultural events, musical shows, food festivals etc., celebrating the different facets of Mumbai."The Mumbai Festival-2024 aims to boost tourism, give a fillip to development and inclusiveness and discover new opportunities and avenues for the industry. It is poised to become one of the biggest annual festivals India has ever witnessed which will be a tribute to the spirit of Mumbai," said Mahajan.Mahindra said its envisaged to be an extravagant festivity that emphasises immersive experiences and highlights the essence of Mumbai. It will bring together people from all over, as the theme is 'Everyone's Invited'. A highlight would be 'Mumbai Walks' in which icons of Mumbai would join to felicitate and pay tribute to the heroes of Mumbai who keep the maximum-city moving, like the famous Dabbawalas, police constable, BEST drivers-conductors, sanitation crews, and others. Some of the major events would be centred around activities like Maha Mumbai Expo, Music Fest, Earth Movie Contest, Beach Fest, Tourism Conclave, Cinema Fest, Cricket Clinic and Maha Shopping during the nine-days

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