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Emirates launches Premium Economy offering in India

UAE national carrier Emirates is set to make an entrance into the Indian aviation market with its Premium Economy offering later this month. It will become the first Middle East carrier to offer Premium Economy on A380 flights to and from Mumbai. Travel Luxury Emirates has always been at the forefront of delivering exceptional in-flight experiences to its passengers. With the introduction of Premium Economy, they are taking it a step further. This new cabin class aims to offer passengers an understated yet luxurious experience. Emirates is making history as the first Middle East carrier to introduce Premium Economy services in Mumbai, enhancing the travel options for passengers flying in and out of this bustling city. EK506 Preview The aircraft, operating as EK506, graced the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (MIAL) with its presence. This special arrival provided an exclusive sneak peek for MIAL airport officials, VIPs, travel agents, key corporate customers, and media representatives. The distinguished guests were treated to a guided tour of the Premium Economy cabins, which are poised to debut on Emirates’ A380 flights to Mumbai and Bangalore from 29 October, with outbound flights to Dubai commencing from 30 October. British Airways Flight From London Declares Emergency Trending British Airways Flight From London Declares Emergency The event took place in the presence of personalities from the aviation world. Prakash Tulsiani, the Chief Executive Officer of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), and Ashwin Noronha, the Chief Operating Officer of MIAL, were among the dignitaries present. Dinaz Madhukar, Chief Commercial Service Officer at Adani Airports, along with other local airport authorities, joined the celebration. Notably, Mohammed Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President for India and Nepal, graced the event with his presence. Emirates executives who arrived in Mumbai onboard the A380 included Adnan Kazim, the Chief Commercial Officer, and Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations – West Asia and Indian Ocean. A Game-Changer in Travel Expressing his thoughts on the highly-anticipated launch of Premium Economy in India, Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ Vice President for India and Nepal, shared, “Emirates Premium Economy has revolutionized travel for a growing segment of travelers looking to enhance their flying experience.” “We’ve received an immense response from customers, who have opted to trade up to Premium Economy and embraced the new levels of comfort and luxury it provides at great value.” “In line with the demand we have seen on the ten routes where the product is already available, we anticipate it will be highly popular in India as well. “With the ongoing surge in travel across our network, Premium Economy allows passengers to savor the perfect blend of luxury and affordability. This underscores our ongoing commitment to customers and delivering on our ‘Fly Better’ promise. As we incorporate Premium Economy cabins across a growing number of aircraft, we hope to extend this option on more routes.” CSMIA Comments A spokesperson for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) expressed their approval, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Emirates as they reconfigure and upgrade their service offering from CSMIA.” “As Emirates extends its diverse range of services and extensive connectivity, CSMIA stands prepared to meet the modern-day mobility requirements with implementation of newer technology & digitalization, thus contributing to a seamless passenger experience.” “With Mumbai Airport’s world-class offerings, combined with Emirates’ commitment to premium comfort and excellence on board, we are excited to provide passengers with the finest experience from CSMIA.”

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Vistara announces direct Delhi-Bali flights, expanding India-ASEAN connectivity

Vistara, announced daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Bali, starting 01 December 2023. This makes Vistara the only airline offering direct connectivity between the two cities currently. Vistara will be deploying its A321LR aircraft, with a three-class configuration, giving its customers the option to fly in Business, Premium Economy, or Economy cabins when travelling on the route. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Bali has become an increasingly sought-after holiday destination for Indians due to its accessibility, proximity, and hassle-free visa-on-arrival facility. Commenting on the introduction of the new destination, Mr. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara said, “India is the second-largest source of foreign tourists to Bali, and with hassle-free visa-on-arrival , Bali remains one of the preferred holiday destinations for Indians, besides being popular for MICE traffic. Additionally, as the second largest trading destination for India in the ASEAN region, Indonesia exhibits great potential for business travel as well. We are delighted to be the only airline offering direct connectivity between Dehi and Bali. We are confident that customers will appreciate having the option to travel on India’s finest full service airline on the route.” Vistara will accept all eligible customers meeting visa/entry requirements in both countries, as specified by the respective government bodies. Vistara strongly encourages its customers to fully understand these guidelines before making their bookings. Vistara is India’s highest-rated airline on Skytrax and TripAdvisor, and it has been the winner of several ‘Best Airline’ awards, besides being lauded for world-class cabin cleanliness and upholding high safety standards. The only Indian carrier to feature amongst World’s Top 20 Airlines, Vistara has been named ‘16th Best Airline’ globally, while also being recognised as the ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row, ‘Best Airline Staff in India and South Asia’ for the fifth consecutive year, ‘Best Cabin Crew in India and South Asia’ for the third time in a row and ‘Best Business Class Airline in India and South Asia’ for the second time in a row at the coveted World Airline Awards 2023 by Skytrax. Vistara also received the ch-aviation Asia’s Third Youngest Airline Fleet award for the second consecutive year.

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Airfares soar above 20% in UAE-India sector

Airfares to most Indian cities have already increased by 15 to 20 per cent compared to the October rates. Furthermore, as the Diwali festival approaches closer, set for November 12, airfares are expected to further escalate, particularly during the first week of November. Rashid Abbas, Managing Director of Arooha Travels, said, “Airfares to India had dropped drastically after the summer highs. Due to lower demand, return airfares were available for Dh780 to Dh1,100 to most destinations in India from September until the second week of October.” Now that the Dussehra festivities have begun, fares have started to climb steadily, said Abbas. “Families are travelling to India for weeklong getaways for the festive season,” he added. Connecting flights are an option In some cases, travellers are also opting for layover flights to other Indian airports. “For example, instead of taking a direct Dubai- Bengaluru — Dubai flight, travellers are having a layover at Delhi, which offers fares at least Dh700 cheaper,” said Abbas. Direct flights from Dubai to Bengaluru are Dh1,482 for travel from November 6 to 15. An Air India flight via Delhi costs Dh782. “It also depends on the hours travellers must spend at the connecting airport. If it’s a one-two hour layover, passengers are immediately booking the layover option. However, if the layover time exceeds 4 hours, they choose direct flights,” said Wasim Ansari of Travel Square Tourism. Transit hubs have higher fares Notably, airfares to major transit hubs in India, such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata, as well as destinations with fewer direct flight options from the UAE, like Lucknow, Varanasi, Kannur, Jaipur, and Surat, have seen their fares double in comparison to October prices, said travel agents. Basheer Mohammed, the general manager of Europe Travel and Tours, said, “Transit hubs like Bengaluru and Chennai in the South Indian sector have historically displayed higher airfares, despite the prevalence of direct flights to these airports.” He added, “Emirates operates three daily flights to Bengaluru. Nevertheless, the capacities on these flights from Bengaluru consistently average around 75 per cent, as most passengers have connecting flights to European and US destinations.” Bengaluru and Chennai are major IT hubs in India, housing the headquarters of several US-based conglomerates. HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED TO PAY? Airfares from the UAE to Bengaluru between November 6 and November 15 are currently priced at Dh1,550 (IndiGo) and Dh1,490 (Air Arabia), and Emirates offers rates ranging from Dh1,690 to Dh1,820. “These fares are subject to change and are likely to increase by 15 to 20 per cent in the coming days,” according to Mohammed. In comparison, return Economy fares for this sector from September to October, after the peak summertime travel period, averaged around Dh1,100.

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From Orchha to Sikkim, 5 best places to visit in November

The month of November is around the clock. While some people are excited about Diwali in November, others are planning to visit new places in these holidays. Of course, November is the best month to visit several places in India. There are obviously several cold places to visit in November but here are some off-beat destinations where this is the time to enjoy your trip to the fullest. Goa You can head to Goa to visit the beach in November. While the sun of Goa stings a lot in summer, you can have a lot of fun on the beaches of Goa in November. Apart from this, you can also see Portuguese forts and beautiful buildings there. Pushkar Winter season is also considered the best season to explore Rajasthan. An eight-day fair is held here in Pushkar in November, and to visit that, people from all over the country and abroad come to Pushkar. At the same time, you can also enjoy the royal camel ride, Rajasthani culture, food, and what not at Pushkar Fair. Orchha Orchha, located in Madhya Pradesh, is famous for the story of kings and emperors. Visiting Orchha in November can also prove to be the best option. Orchha city situated on the banks of Betwa River is known for its beautiful natural views. Besides, during your visit to Orchha, you can also visit many ancient temples. Sikkim Who is not aware of the beauty of Sikkim, one of the eastern states of the country? Especially for seeing the Himalayas and tasting delicious dishes, a trip to Sikkim is the best. The temperature here also remains normal in November. In such a situation, you can also plan to visit Sikkim in November. Amritsar Amritsar's name comes at the top among the famous tourist destinations of Punjab. It is best to explore Amritsar in November. During this time, you can comfortably admire many historical buildings here. The Punjabi mehman nawazi, food, and apparels are to die for.

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Katra Greenfield Expressway to cut Delhi to Amritsar travel time to just 4 hours

The under-construction Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (DAK) greenfield expressway, spanning 669 kilometers, will significantly reduce travel times. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari made this announcement during his inspection of the road project. If reports are to go by, once this expressway is complete, while the journey from Amritsar to Delhi would be cut to four hours, the Delhi to Katra route would take six hours. Katra Greenfield Expressway to cut Delhi to Amritsar travel time to just 4 hours This substantial project, which reportedly is being constructed with a budget of INR 40,000 crore, aims to cut down the distance from Delhi to Katra by 58 kilometers, and will be connecting the regions of Punjab, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Gadkari mentioned that of the 669 km, 137 km would be constructed in Haryana, 399 km in Punjab, and 135 km in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports further add that the Punjab section of 296 km has already seen work commence, along with 120 km in Jammu and Kashmir. And if reports are to go by, this expressway will take you through key industrial zones, such as Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Gurudaspur. Read more: A sealed tomb dating from the time of Jesus Christ unearthed in Italy The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Greenfield Expressway, a remarkable infrastructure undertaking, the highlight of which is Asia's lengthiest 1300-meter cable-stayed bridge over the Beas River. Furthermore, it will establish vital connections to significant Sikh religious sites, including Sultanpur Lodhi Gurdwara in Kapurthala district, the Golden Temple, Goindwal Sahib Gurdwara, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Taran Taran), and Khadoor Sahib Gurdwara, ultimately reaching Mata Darbar Vaishno Devi in Katra. In addition to its religious importance, the Delhi-AmritsarKatra Expressway is expected to yield substantial economic advantages. By enhancing connectivity between Delhi, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir, it will stimulate regional trade and commerce.

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Namo Bharat RapidX from Sahibabad-Duhai begins commercial run! Here’s your guide to RRTS travel

Good news for the people of Delhi-NCR! The much-awaited country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will begin its commercial services from today. This ambitious project was inaugurated on October 20, 2023 (Friday) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As of now, the train service will be operated on the Priority Section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. Timings and Frequency of ‘Namo Bharat’ train services The regular passenger service of ‘Namo Bharat’ will start at 06:00 hrs. The train operation timings will be from 06:00 hrs to 23:00 hrs. The ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX train will provide high-speed connectivity for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement. List of RRTS stations on the Priority Section The 17-km-long priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is having five stations. These are – Sahibabad, Ghaziababad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. Speed of ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX train service The ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX train has a design speed of 180 kmph. However, its operational speed and average speed are 160 kmph and 100 kmph respectively. It will cover a journey of 100 km in 60 minutes. Fare of ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX trains The ‘Namo Bharat’ RapidX train has two types of seating arrangements – Standard Class and Premium Class. The minimum and maximum fare in Standard Class are Rs 20 and Rs 50 respectively. In Premium Class, the maximum and minimum fares are Rs 40 and Rs 100 respectively. How to purchase tickets for ‘Namo Bharat’ train services The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is providing four modes of ticketing for travelling on Sahibabad- Duhai Depot RRTS Priority section. These are – (a) Digital QR code-based Ticket, (b) National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Card, (c) Ticket Vending Machine (TVMs) and (d) Paper QR code-based journey ticket.

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