News

Vistara to commence direct flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt from November 15

Vistara today announced direct, 6x weekly flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt, starting from November 15, 2023. This new route is in addition to Vistara’s 6x weekly service between Delhi and Frankfurt which has been getting good response since its launch in February 2021. With the addition of this new long-haul route, Vistara further enhances connectivity between Europe and India as it continues to grow its international network. The airline will operate its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring a three-class cabin configuration, offering the choice of travelling in Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. Vistara’s operations in Mumbai has witnessed remarkable expansion in recent times, especially as a gateway to the airline’s international network. Vistara now connects Mumbai to a total of 12 international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Dubai, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Male, Mauritius, Muscat and Singapore. In the last 12 months, the airline has added many new domestic and international connections from Mumbai leading to an increase of 42 per cent in the number of departures, and nearly doubled its employee-strength in the station. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “We are delighted to expand our international network with the launch of this new service between Mumbai and Frankfurt. Our long-haul routes, connecting Delhi with London Heathrow, Paris and Frankfurt have been very popular amongst our customers which gave us the confidence to offer similar connections from Mumbai as well. This will be our second long-haul route from Mumbai, in addition to 5x weekly flights to London Heathrow, and we hope that our customers will appreciate having the option of flying with India’s best airline on this sector.” “Over the past couple of years, we have launched several new international routes from Mumbai, especially to the Middle East. This aligns perfectly with our strategy to position Mumbai as a vital hub for international travel,” he added.

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Etihad Airways doubles daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur

The double-daily flights will see Etihad offer 425,000 seats annually between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur, representing a year-on-year capacity increase of 75%.Etihad Airways is doubling its daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur, starting on January 15, 2024. The new flight will provide guests with 14 flights per week between the two cities. “With our convenient departures from Abu Dhabi, our second Kuala Lumpur flights will optimise timings for UAE residents wishing to have a break in Malaysia,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad Airways. “Moreover, the new daytime and night-time flights from Kuala Lumpur allow travellers reaching Abu Dhabi more options to explore what the city has to offer in terms of business and pleasure. It further reaffirms our commitment to bringing more guests to enjoy Abu Dhabi, as well as connecting to our growing global network.” Kuala Lumpur, the dazzling capital city of Malaysia, is renowned for its captivating skyline dominated by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. The city offers a rich blend of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures, resulting in a diverse culinary scene, vibrant markets and a plethora of cultural attractions. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi continues to allure travellers with its enthralling array of attractions, ranging from the architectural masterpiece Louvre Abu Dhabi to adrenaline-filled adventures at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. Both daily frequencies will be operated on a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, and in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity. The combined double-daily flights will see Etihad offer 425,000 seats annually between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur, representing a year-on-year capacity increase of 75%. The additional frequency will also increase the total annual cargo capacity, opening more business opportunities and supporting the growth of bilateral trade. The move means customers will enjoy even more choice and connectivity this winter between Abu Dhabi and Southeast Asia as Etihad offers up to 77 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur (14 weekly flights), Bangkok (14), Phuket (14), Manila (14), Jakarta (14), and Singapore (7).

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Oman’s budget airline Salam Air cancels all services to India from October 1

Salam Air, a low-cost airline based in Oman, has cancelled all services to India from October 1. The airline has withdrawn the facility to book tickets on its website from that date and sent a circular to travel agencies saying that services to India are being stopped as constraints exist in allotting aircraft for these schedules. Meanwhile, passengers who have already booked tickets on Salam Air have received a message informing them that the services have been cancelled. A full refund will be given to these passengers, for which they could contact Salam Air or recognized travel agencies, said the message. “Necessary measures are being taken to refund the full ticket amount to all passengers who had booked on Salam Air,” said the representative of a travel agency. Salam Air is currently conducting direct services between Muscat and Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow and Jaipur and between Salalah and Kozhikode. In addition, several connection services are available. However, no booking is available in these sectors from October 1. Incidentally, Salam Air had recently announced an additional service to Kozhikode from October 1, which too has now been cancelled. At the same time, Salam Air authorities have not revealed the period of the cancellations. Salam Air was a big relief for passengers, including Keralites, who had low income while travelling home and back to Oman and the withdrawal of the services is a major setback for them. The absence of Salam Air would lead to a decrease in the number of flights to Oman and a steep hike in airfares.

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Canada, India travel up 116% from last year as visa shutdown spurs fears

Travel from India to Canada grew more than 100 per cent year over year this summer, according to new federal data released on Friday. That surge comes as countries around the world continue to ease COVID-19-related travel restrictions and is raising new questions about the number of people who could see their travel plans at risk after India announced this week it has shut down visa centres in Canada amid a diplomatic row. Last year, there were a total of 28,000 trips in the month of July from India to Canada. This July, that number was 115.9 per cent higher than last year at 61,000 trips, new Statistics Canada data shows. However, the number of trips dropped from June, which saw 64,000 trips from India to Canada. The rise in the number of trips has illustrated what’s at stake as diplomatic tensions rise between India and Canada over the killing of a B.C. Sikh leader in June this year. On Thursday, India halted visa services in Canada. The news was first shared as a notice on the BLS Indian Visa Application Center’s website. BLS is the agency that processes visa requests for India. “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” it said. For Toronto resident Rohit, whom Global News is identifying only by his first name out of concerns that sharing his worries could impact his application for travel documents, this means he may not be able to see his aging parents this year. India’s visa suspension in Canada upends travel plans Rohit said he has not been back to India since 2019 and now, his travel plans hang in the balance. “This came out of the blue,” he said. “It totally took me by surprise.” BLS processes many kinds of Indian visas, including visitor visas and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, for Canadians. Visitor visas are necessary for people without an Indian passport to travel to India. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs describes the OCI Card as a “multiple entry life-long multi-purpose visa which enables the holder to travel and stay in India, as and when he/she desires to do so.” This is the latest diplomatic escalation between India and Canada since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rose in the House of Commons on Monday and announced that there was “credible” evidence of “potential links” between agents of the Indian government and the murder of B.C. Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. Manan Gupta, an immigration consultant with Skylake Immigration in Brampton, said the latest round of tensions between the governments is not sitting well with the Indian diaspora in Canada.

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Creditors To Vote On Merger Proposal Of Air India, Vistara Tomorrow

Tata-owned Air India and Vistara have asked for permission from their creditors to merge the two airlines. On Thursday, The Economic Times (ET) reported that creditors will vote on the proposal on September 23. Sources told ET that after getting approval from creditors, Air India and Vistara will move for permission from the Registrar of Companies and aviation regulator DGCA. The merger plan has already been given the nod by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI). Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines (SIA) filed a merger application with the CCI in April, stating that the amalgamation of Vistara with Air India would not change the competitive landscape or cause any appreciable adverse effect on competition in India. They had expressed hope to conclude the merger by March 2024. Air India is wholly owned by Tata Sons, whereas Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and SIA. The notice states that permissions will be sought from both secured and unsecured creditors. In most cases, banks are secured creditors, whereas vendors, and lessors are called unsecured creditors.

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Qatar Tourism leads hospitality delegation at a two-city roadshow in India

Qatar Tourism led a high-profile delegation of 40 hospitality partners in a roadshow across Mumbai and New Delhi, anchoring Qatar’s commitment towards the Indian travel market. The roadshow took place from 8th to 10th August, 2023 with over 200 Indian travel companies in attendance across the two cities. The roadshow highlighted Qatar’s dynamic tourism offering and aimed to position Qatar as a leading tourism destination with world-class hotels and resorts, premium leisure and entertainment venues, and a rich cultural tapestry that together create an unparalleled holiday experience. India is one of Qatar Tourism’s 15 priority markets identified in its long-term strategy which aims to make Qatar the fastest growing tourism destination in the Middle East by 2030. Included in the roadshow led by Qatar Tourism were destination management companies, hotels, airlines, cruise liners, and attraction providers, such as: Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, Al Messila – a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, The Ritz Carlton Doha, Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, The Chedi Katara, The St. Regis Doha, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, Raffles Doha, Fairmont Doha, Hilton Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Banyan Tree Doha, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Doha, W Doha Hotel & Residences, The Ned Doha, Rixos Gulf Doha, Grand Hyatt Doha, Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences, Radisson Blu Doha, Marriott Marquis City Centre, Le Royal Méridien Doha, Dusit Doha Hotel, InterContinental Doha, Ibis Doha & Adagio Aparthotel, Millenium Hotels, Discover Qatar, Regency Holidays, Mannai Holidays, QIT, Q Moments, Tawfeeq Holidays, Travel Designer, Embrace Doha, Doha Bus, Qatar Airways, IndiGo and Costa Cruises. Commenting on the importance of the roadshow, Philip Dickinson from International Markets at Qatar Tourism said, “Qatar Tourism is committed to expanding and deepening its outreach to valuable partners and stakeholders in India. We are thrilled by the opportunity to engage with hundreds of travel companies to showcase Qatar’s unmatched tourism offering and we trust that this roadshow will help pave the way toward further exciting collaborations and partnerships in this priority market. With visa-free travel, a few short hours of flight, and a captivating tourism experience that extends from the desert to the sea, we believe Qatar is truly an ideal destination for holiday-seekers from India. We look forward to further engagements in the near future that allow us to continue elevating Qatar’s position in international markets and demonstrating the richness of Qatar as a tourism destination.” The roadshow featured insightful presentations, interactive discussions, and networking opportunities over the 02 days. In addition, Qatar Tourism created two specialised sideline events on wedding planning to grow Qatar’s global position as a getaway destination for luxury weddings. The specialised events brought together some of India’s leading wedding planners and showcased ten of Qatar’s finest wedding venues, opulent hotels, world-class amenities and service providers. From desert-inspired ceremonies to beachside vows and lavish indoor festivities, the events highlighted the ability for soon-to-be weds to bring to life their dream celebration. Qatar is gearing up for an active social calendar in the months ahead. Firmly cementing its position as a sporting destination after the successful delivery of the FIFA World CupTM in 2022, Qatar will soon host the riveting Formula 1® Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023™ from October 6 – 8, 2023 and the annual Qatar MotoGP from November 7 – 19, 2023 for the 2023 World Championship. Additionally, Qatar will host the prestigious Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) for the first time from October 5 – 14, 2023. More than a traditional car show, this will be an exciting festival celebrating car culture and automotive excellence. Visitors from India can also take inspiration on events, where to go and what to see during any given month through Qatar Tourism’s social page, @QatarCalendar. This monthly release offers a curated round-up of all events taking place in Qatar, from art workshops to musical symphonies, sports championships and much more. Consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world, Qatar welcomes nationalities from 100 countries visa-free while others can easily apply for a visa using the online Hayya platform. This short-haul destination within 3.5 hours of travel time from India has an ever-changing landscape, offering year-round sunshine which makes it the perfect vacation destination. The country has something to offer for everyone be it families, solo travellers, groups of friends, or even romantic getaways. Qatar is the land of Arabic hospitality and the perfect blend of tradition and modernity waiting to be explored.

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