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Air India Announces Festive Discounts on Europe Flights: Travel More for Less!

Dreaming of a European vacation? Air India makes it affordable this festive season. Enjoy reduced fares to top destinations and make memories without breaking the bank. Exciting Offer for Europe Travelers: In a timely festive surprise, Air India has rolled out a special fare scheme for passengers flying from India to various European destinations. This move is set to benefit travelers aiming for the United Kingdom (UK) and other prominent European cities. Operational Details: The national carrier currently operates 48 non-stop flights every week, departing from major Indian cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, heading to five key destinations in Europe. European Destinations Covered: The cities that fall under this exciting offer include: Copenhagen in Denmark London Heathrow in the UK Milan in Italy Paris in France Vienna in Austria Special Festive Fares: Air India has slashed its fares for the festive season, offering rates as low as Rs 40,000 for round trips from India to these European destinations. For travelers interested in one-way tickets, the starting price has been set at an attractive Rs 25,000. Booking Period and Availability: Those eager to grab this deal have time until December 15, 2023, to make their bookings. However, it’s crucial to note that the special fare offer can be availed only up to October 14, 2023. Bookings can be conveniently made through various channels, including the official Air India website (www.airindia.com), their iOS and Android mobile applications, and authorized travel agents. As with most special fare offers, the available seats are limited, so they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Points to Consider: While the offer is undeniably attractive, travelers should be aware that fares might slightly fluctuate based on the specific city they are traveling to, mainly due to varying local taxes. Final Thoughts: This move by Air India is a welcome gesture, especially during the festive season, making European travel more affordable and accessible for many. Those interested should act promptly to secure their seats at these special rates.

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Goa: Dudhsagar Fall reopens for tourists; book tickets online

After a long gap, Dudhsagar waterfall is now open to tourists. As per a latest development, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has commenced booking jeep safaris for the same as well. These falls and the forest drive were closed during the monsoon season for safety reasons. GTDC Chairman Ganesh Gaonkar, during an event marking the resumption of tourism activities at Kullem, announced that the tourism corporation has also selected an agency to facilitate online management of all activities related to the waterfall. He urged the local panchayat to collaborate with GTDC in the digitisation efforts and emphasised that the tourism department is committed to enhancing facilities for both tourists and drivers. Additionally, Mr Gaonkar urged jeep operators to treat tourists with courtesy, respect, and responsibility, and ensure that they leave with unforgettable memories. He mentioned that the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) would oversee all trails and treks across Goa. The commencement of the jeep safari season in Dudhsagar usually takes place on the 2nd of October each year. As a conservation measure, the management has established a quota system for the number of jeeps allowed to enter the sanctuary. On weekdays, this allocation stands at approximately 170 jeeps, while on weekends, the number increases to 225. This system of regulation, overseen by the forest department, plays a vital role in ensuring minimal disruption to the indigenous wildlife by maintaining a balanced and controlled flow of vehicles through the picturesque forested landscape of Dudhsagar. Goa: Dudhsagar Fall reopens for tourists; book tickets online The 14 km round trip is challenging, with transporters ferrying passengers over the same distance. Given the closure of local mines, tourism at Dudhsagar is the primary source of income for the local residents. Each registered jeep operator with the Forest Department carries approximately seven passengers, charging INR 500 per passenger, resulting in a total of INR 3500 per journey. Read more: Jaisalmer fort and how it's a tourist magnet Mr Gaonkar urged people to share any issues they encounter, enabling the government to address them promptly. During the monsoon, the forest department had imposed a ban on visitors to Dudhsagar Falls due to safety concerns. However, some tourists attempted to access the falls through alternative routes. Mr Gaonkar revealed that GTDC is actively working on sustainable tourism development in the state's hinterland areas.

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Airfares: Google’s New Features To Help Travellers Get Cheapest Flight Tickets

Are you planning to visit your native place during the upcoming festivals? If yes, then we have an amazing news for you. The American technology giant Google has added new features to its Flights offering to help users get flight tickets at the cheapest rate. According to the company, Google Flights will help you in finding the best deals on air travel. Under its newly rolled out features Google will suggest the best time to book cheap flight tickets. In its blog post Google stated, “If you want to save money on flights this holiday season, or any time of year, a little bit of planning can go a long way. Most of the time, it’s better to book on the early side, especially when your plans aren’t very flexible. But flight prices do change frequently, and there are often low fares to be found with the right tools (and some perseverance).” These are the new features of Google Flights: For the convenience of the travellers, we have listed the new features of Google Flights that enable you to book cheap flight tickets: Upgraded Insights: The upgraded insights help the travellers to decide whether to book a flight immediately or wait for the airfares to decrease. The feature aids also helps you to understand if the best booking time would be one or two months prior to the journey The also helps you to understand if the prices would come down just a few days or hours before the take-off. Price Tracking: Price tracking feature automatically notify the traveller of the changes in ticket prices. To use this feature, make sure that you’re logged into your Google account else you won’t be able to track prices. The travellers can also track the prices for a specific date(s), such as the week ahead of Diwali and other dates that apply. On the other hand, if your dates aren’t fixed you can use the ‘Any Dates’ feature to know about any and every deal that comes up within three to six months. Guarantee Badge: While checking the flight ticket prices, if you see colourful price guarantee badges then it means that Google Flights is certain that the fare of that particular flight would not come down before your journey. If you book one of such flights, Google Flights will monitor its fare every day before take-off. However, if the airfares do come down, the difference in amounts would be transferred to you through Google Pay. Other Google Flights features Google Flights will also aid you with information on booking trends to assist your budgeting decisions.

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Akasa Air Rationalises Network By Reducing Some Flights From Bengaluru

Akasa Air, which is facing headwinds due to pilot issues, has cancelled some flights from Bengaluru, sources said on Thursday, while the airline stated it has rationalised the network to ensure high operational reliability. Bengaluru is the hub for the carrier, which operates around 700 flights daily. Sources said the airline, which has been flying for more than a year, has cancelled some flights from Bengaluru. However, specific details could not be immediately ascertained. “As we have mentioned before in the July-August 2023 timeframe when a small set of pilots abandoned their duties and left the organisation without serving their mandatory contractual notice period, we were forced to cancel a number of flights. “Since then, we have rationalised our network to ensure that we offer our customers the highest levels of operational reliability, as we did for the first 11 months of our operation,” an Akasa Air spokesperson said in a statement. The airline flies to 16 cities. According to the spokesperson, with its advanced pilot planning and training programmes, the airline is “now squarely back in growth mode”. “As we take delivery of several additional aircraft in the remainder of this fiscal year, we look forward to opening up several domestic and international destinations within the fiscal year 2023-24,” the spokesperson said, adding that the carrier is financially strong.

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‘Bengaluru Airport Has Potential To Become Aviation Hub For IndiGo & Air India’

Bengaluru Airport has the potential to become a major hub for two prominent Indian airlines, IndiGo and Air India, according to Hari Marar, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL). Marar pointed out that for years, India lacked an airline with the stature and an airline-airport partnership necessary to establish a hub, while neighbouring countries like Singapore and Dubai capitalised on this opportunity by creating exceptional hubs. He believes that the time has come for IndiGo and Air India to collaborate and create an airline-airport partnership that can transform Bengaluru into a hub, reports Bhagya Subhashini for Swarajya. This vision aligns with Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s plan to transform Indian airports into aviation hubs and encourages domestic airlines to contribute to the establishment of an international civil aviation hub in India. Bengaluru has attracted attention not only from Indian airlines but also from international players due to its immense business potential. The airport’s new runway and heavy reliance on automation make it an attractive option for airlines. BIAL currently ranks as India’s third-largest airport, connecting 76 domestic destinations and 25 international destinations with the participation of 36 airlines and 13 freight carriers. BIAL has expanded its workforce significantly, growing from 25,000 employees before the creation of Terminal 2 to its current count of 38,000. The airport aims to further increase its workforce to 50,000 within the next two years, according to Marar. The airport served 31.9 million passengers in FY23, coming close to the pre-pandemic levels, and anticipates hosting 39-40 million passengers in FY24.

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India powers growth trajectory of South African Tourism

South African Tourism recently unveiled the 2023 edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ in Delhi, kickstarting a six-city training programme in India aimed at equipping travel agents with the finest tools to sell the destination effectively. Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head, Middle East, India and South-East Asia, South African Tourism, provided valuable insights into their growth strategy and ventures to attract Indian travellers to explore the Rainbow Nation. – Prativa V Bhalla India, currently ranked as South Africa’s sixth-largest international source market, is assuming an increasingly pivotal role in the country’s thriving tourism sector. The influx of Indian tourists to South Africa has witnessed remarkable growth, this year’s target of 47,000 visitors has been met in the first half of the year itself. The projected numbers could easily surpass 80,000 arrivals from India in 2023. Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head - MEISEA_South African Tourism 2 Neliswa stated, “I believe that India will achieve a higher position in the rankings within the next few months, likely reaching the fourth or fifth spot, given its current trajectory. Our ongoing efforts to streamline travel to South Africa, particularly if visa procedures become more accessible, will propel India into the top five destinations, following closely behind the current top three: UK, US, and Germany.” The current surge in tourism, encompassing both corporate and leisure sectors, is attributed to the vigorous initiatives undertaken by SA Tourism to boost footfall. These include hosting engaging events such as ‘Corporate Chillers’ and ‘Corporate Think Tanks’, which serve as avenues to gain deeper insights into the market landscape. ‘Corporate Chillers’ serve as relaxed conferences tailored for corporate decision-makers, with over 450 guests to engage in the SA experience. These events, guided by the South African High Commissioner, provide an opportune environment for discussing the brand South Africa while enjoying its legendary hospitality. These gatherings promote friendly and valuable exchanges, ultimately driving progress in the travel industry. Neliswa states, “Following one such session, the Indian corporate entity, Mahindra, arranged for a group of 700 guests to visit South Africa. It is indeed a humbling experience to host Indian travellers and witness the tangible results of our dedicated efforts.” In November 2023, SA Tourism will host events in Delhi and Mumbai to commemorate 30 years of bilateral relations with India. The ‘Corporate Think Tanks,’ in contrast, are industry events designed to solicit input on concerns, apprehensions, and queries. Their objective is to address doubts and facilitate a more informed choice of South Africa as a travel destination. During these sessions, feedback is actively collected to tailor better travel products to meet industry needs. SA Tourism also organises incentive drives for Indian travel partners to personally experience the country. In 2023, SA Tourism will provide FAM opportunities to 30 agents, while next year’s Indaba drive will recruit 100 agents for participation. Additional initiatives involve promoting trade engagements in tier two and three cities of India to foster an increase in tourist footfall. Leisure travel has experienced significant growth, particularly with a noticeable increase in millennials and young women embarking on girls’ trips. South Africa’s extensive range of adventure sports has become a significant draw for younger tourists, with Indians taking the lead as avid adventure enthusiasts. The nation provides access to over 3,000 affordable and thrilling adventures. Exciting experiences such as shark diving and bungee jumping are available at budget-friendly prices. Other factors that make it an attractive tourist destination include its affordability, the favourable exchange rate between the Indian Rupee and the African Rand, and the intercontinental tourism circuit, allowing an experience of the rich diversity of Africa. Adding to the attraction is the newly launched fare, in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines, which offers travellers access to South Africa for about Rs. 40,000. Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive flight network and capacity provide a solid foundation for fostering growth and synergy between the two African nations. Commenting on feedback gathered from Indian tourists, Neliswa emphasised, “Indian travellers initially worry about costs, visa processing, and travel duration when considering South Africa. However, upon arrival, they are pleasantly surprised by the country’s exceptional offerings, leading to overwhelmingly positive feedback.” She continued, “While there may be occasional travel challenges that our tourism ministry is actively addressing, the South Africa experience is undeniably a worthwhile adventure.” South African Tourism is deeply invested in India as a key part of its global strategy. Neliswa concludes, “We deeply appreciate the support and affection from the Indian community, which greatly influences our identity. We are wholeheartedly dedicated to reciprocating this support.”

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