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Uganda Airlines To Start Non-Stop Mumbai Flights, Commencing on October 7

Uganda Airlines made an announcement about the initiation of its operations in India. They are launching a direct flight service that will connect Entebbe city in Uganda to Mumbai, starting from October 7. The thrice-a-week service will be conducted using a wide-body Airbus A330-800 neo aircraft, offering a three-class configuration. This includes 20 seats in business class, 28 in premium economy, and the remaining 210 in economy. Notably, this marks the first time in over half a century that India and Uganda will enjoy a direct flight connection, according to the airline’s statement. “We are excited to introduce this, the latest addition to our network, which affirms Uganda Airlines expands travel options for our passengers. Besides convenience, we hope this route will add energy to the existing business and commercial relations between India and Uganda that date back more than a century,” said Adedayo Olawuyi, chief commercial officer at the airline. Speaking to Money Control following the airline’s launch of its direct service connecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai and Entebbe International Airport in Uganda on October 3, Lenny Malasi, the airline’s country manager, mentioned that Uganda Airlines is introducing its new service with an initial price starting at $450, which is approximately equivalent to Rs. 37,000. The inaugural flight UR 430 from Uganda is scheduled to take off from Entebbe on October 7, with the return flight UR 431 departing from Mumbai on October 8. This schedule has been curated to seamlessly integrate with the current network, catering to passengers who may want to extend their travels beyond Uganda. Uganda Airlines will conduct flights from Entebbe to Mumbai on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, with return flights operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The direct route between Entebbe and Mumbai marks Uganda Airlines’ second international route, following its service to Dubai. It is also the twelfth destination added to the national carrier’s network, with the majority of routes being regional. Additionally, Uganda Airlines is currently in talks to initiate direct services connecting Delhi and Chennai to Uganda within the coming three months. After Ranbir Kapoor, ED Summons Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi, In Mahadev Betting App Case | News18 Indigo Airfare News | Indigo To Spike Airfares Depending On The Distance | English News | News18 Jammu Kashmir News | Terrorist Fire Upon A Civilian In Jammu And Kashmir's Anantnag | News18 Maharashtra News | Ajit Pawar Faction To Submit 1 Lakh Affidavits To Present Their Strength | News18 CAT 2023: Post-Pandemic Interest, Tier-II Outreach | Non-IIMs in Play Lead to Record Registrations “We are in discussion with the concerned authorities and approvals should take around three months after which we are planning to start direct flights to Delhi and Chennai (from Uganda),” Malasi said. Uganda Airlines currently offers flight services to a range of destinations, including Dubai, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Kinshasa, and Mogadishu.

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Indian domestic traffic up by 23% in Aug; total traffic at 95.7%: IATA

India, which accounts for 2.0 per cent of the world share, also witnessed a 15.6 per cent growth in available seat kilometers (ASK) and an increase in passenger load factor by 5 percentage points, reaching 83.9 per cent. Globally, the aviation industry witnessed a s resurgence, with the total traffic for August 2023 surging by 28.4 per cent. There has been a strong resurgence in the Indian aviation market, which observed growth in domestic revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) and a significant increase in passenger demand, even as post-pandemic recovery in global passenger traffic continued to strengthen in August 2023. As per data shared by IATA, Indian domestic RPKs soared by 23.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. India, accounting for 2.0 per cent of the world share in the domestic passenger market, also witnessed a 15.6 per cent growth in available seat kilometers (ASK) and an increase in passenger load factor (PLF) by 5.1 percentage points, reaching 83.9 per cent. IATA also reported that total domestic traffic for August, showcasing an increase of 25.4 per cent compared to the same month in 2022 and surpassed August 2019 results by 9.2 per cent. This growth was predominantly driven by robust demand in the Chinese domestic market. However, Japan faced disruptions due to Typhoon Khanun, which impacted its domestic air travel market, resulting in a growth rate of 8.7 per cent, slightly lower than the previous month.

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India - Travel Services Market size to grow by USD 13.46 billion from 2022 to 2027

The India - Travel Services Market is estimated to increase by USD 13.46 billion, accelerating at a CAGR of 11.72%, during the forecast period. The travel services market in India is fragmented owing to the presence of many global and regional companies. A few prominent companies that offer travel services market in India are Airbnb. Airbnb Inc.: The company offers travel services which include short-term and long-term stay aggregation services through its Airbnb online platform ranging from Apartment rentals, Villa rentals, and House rentals to monthly stays in India. India - Travel Services Market 2023 – 2027: Market Dynamics: Impactful driver- One of the primary drivers of the growth of the Indian travel services market is the rising number of international tourists. India has witnessed a notable increase in inbound tourism, leading to a rise in the demand for travel services. Tourists from various parts of the world are visiting India for a range of purposes, including international and domestic business trips, leisure vacations, and sports-related journeys. Moreover, the presence of numerous multinational companies is significantly influencing the number of business visits of corporations in India from across the globe. Key Trend - An influential factor driving the growth of the Indian travel services market is the progression of technology in mobile and web-based travel platforms. Numerous providers in this market are introducing inventive concepts and technologies to maintain their market presence and provide customers with fresh and creative services. Additionally, many industry participants are integrating advanced technologies into their service platforms, encompassing websites and mobile apps, to offer functionalities like refined search filters and voice-guided assistance. Major Challenges - Intense competition among players leading to price wars

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TAT Restructures Deputy Governor Positions

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has restructured five Deputy Governor positions effective since October 1, this year. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya has been appointed the Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Asia and the South Pacific, from previously holding the position of Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications. In his new role, Chattan will oversee the marketing and promotion of Thai tourism products and services, and the cooperation with potential partners in Asia and the South Pacific to attract tourists from these markets. Somradee Chitchong has been appointed the Deputy Governor for Domestic Market from previously holding the position of Deputy Governor for Administration. In her new role, Chitchong will oversee the planning and execution of domestic tourism campaigns to encourage Thais and expatriates to travel more within Thailand. Nithee Seeprae has been appointed the Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications from previously holding the position of Deputy Governor for Digitalisation, Research and Development. In his new role, Nithee will oversee the planning and execution of strategic advertisement and public relations campaigns across all media channels to ensure the positive image of Thailand as a preferred tourist destination. Rujiras Chatchalermkit has been promoted to the position of Deputy Governor for Administration. She was previously the Executive Director of the Marketing Services Department. Teerasil Tapen has been promoted to the position of Deputy Governor for Digitalisation, Research and Development. He was previously the Executive Director of Europe, Africa, and Middle East Region. In his new role, Teerasil will oversee the Digital and Information Technology Department as well as Research and Development Department. Three other Deputy Governors in their existing positions are: Numfhon Boonyawat, Deputy Governor for Policy and Planning. She has been holdingthis position since 2019. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. He has been holding this position since 2022. Apichai Chatchalermkit, Deputy Governor of Tourism Products and Business. He has been holding this position since 2021.

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India sees a major boom in religious tourism

As opposing to what the name signifies, pilgrimage tourism is not limited to religion any longer. Gen Z and millenials seek out mindfulness, peaceful holidays and spiritualism through it.India is well-known as a land of multiple dialects, religions, and gastronomy. In the development of country’s economy and politics, in India, religion has always played a pivotal role. But, at present, let’s limit ourselves to tourism. Numerous experts preach on the fact that social media, exclusive cultural experiences, easy accessibility, and additional factors have worked behind the increase in spiritual or religious tourism in India. Mosques, temples, monasteries, gurudwaras and various other places of worship and of different faiths attract millions of pilgrims every year. Starting right from the holy ghats of Varanasi, Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Bodh Gaya to the Golden Temple, pilgrimage tourism perks up to the state finances and tourism boards. In 2022, the number of domestic tourists pouring into these pilgrimage places was around 1,433 million and 6.64 million international tourists. The numbers stood at 677 million and 1.05 million in 2021. Over 60 per cent of the tourism of India is related to religious and spiritual outings. In 2022, the pilgrimage tourism earned ₹ 1,34,543 crore.

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Air India To Open Second Hub In South India To Bolster Operations

Air India is soon expected to open a second hub in South India as it aims to strengthen both international and domestic operations, according to a report by Mint. Currently, the only hub is located in New Delhi. The new hub may be established in either Bengaluru or Hyderabad and will primarily focus on bolstering its operations in Mumbai. Both Air India and Air India Express will utilise this hub for domestic and international flights, Mint reported. Airlines use hubs as transfer points to fly passengers to their final destinations. The core operations of an airline revolve around its hub. For example, Emirates has its hub in Dubai, Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong, and British Airways in London. With the establishment of this new hub, Air India also aims to capture a larger market share in airports other than New Delhi, including smaller ones. The Centre has been encouraging airlines to open more aviation hubs to facilitate one-stop international connectivity via India to other overseas destinations. According to the Centre, this will also boost investments and commerce within India. According to Mint, Air India plans to expand its flights in Tier-II and Tier-III cities via Air India Express. Recently, the airline’s Chief Executive Campbell Wilson stated that the company is planning to establish a low-cost stronghold on domestic routes. This aligns with the broader goal of revitalising the airline by refurbishing its entire fleet by the end of 2025.

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