DOMESTIC TRAVEL
Up, up and away! After pandemic, more senior citizens are packing travel bags
Post-pandemic, senior citizen travel surged. Thomas Cook launched packages with Sakura tour and 25% Europe travel growth. Domestic travel rose 15%. GenS app to offer immersive experiences. Silver Citizens group grew to 400. Increased cruising demand. Varanasi, Ayodhya, Shirdi, and more destinations saw double-digit flight booking growth. Rajeev Kale highlighted short-haul international travel.
Regional airports found wind beneath their wings in FY24
India's hinterland air travel surged last year, driven by civil aviation ministry data and government schemes. Airports like Diu, Pantnagar, Tezpur, and Prayagraj saw significant growth, boosted by the Udan scheme and low fares. IndiGo and other airlines expanded services, with CFO Gaurav Negi highlighting the importance of regional routes for broader networks.
Indian airports need to review their pricing strategies: CAPA India
Indian airports can increase profitability by increasing non-aeronautical revenues, according to aviation consultancy firm CAPA India. The consultancy found that airports on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode generate more non-aero revenues than those operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The consultancy suggested that Indian airports need to review their pricing strategies and consider whether aero charges reflect demand on resources.
Bringing down airfares on new minister Ram Mohan Naidu's radar
Aviation is a deregulated sector and airlines fix fares based on supply and demand, as well as seasonality. Last month, the Delhi High Court refused to give guidance to cap airfares saying that aviation is a capital-intensive sector. "Regulated free play given to the airlines to implement dynamic pricing of the fares for each flight appears to be in conformity with the norms followed worldwide," the court said in its ruling.
IndiGo bets on affordable long-haul plan: CEO Pieter Elbers
IndiGo, known for its single-class model, is shifting to dual-class to cater to India's growing air travel market. With rising affluence, more Indians are exploring international travel, a trend IndiGo aims to capitalize on. Managing operations at Delhi airport's three terminals is challenging but supported by the government's vision for aviation. Hosting IATA's AGM in 2025 showcases India's aviation potential. IndiGo's strategy reflects its belief in India's growth, aiming to offer affordable fares and quality service to a broader range of travelers.
Airport industry's pre-tax profit to grow 35% in FY25, CAPA India says
India's airport industry is expected to see a 35% rise in pre-tax profit for fiscal year 2025, driven by strong demand for air travel, as estimated by aviation consultancy CAPA India.
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Credit cards for international airport lounge access of HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank: Complimentary lounge access, other benefits
Top airport lounge credit cards: The credit cards listed below offer considerable number of complimentary visits to international as well as domestic airport lounges, along with other travel and lifestyle benefits
Air India introduces new feature, passengers can now lock fares for two days with extra charges
Air India, now under the Tata Group's ownership, has unveiled a new offering called 'Fare Lock' to enhance passenger convenience and flexibility in travel planning. This feature allows customers to reserve a chosen fare for a period of 48 hours, enabling them to solidify their travel plans while retaining the selected fare. With a nominal fee, travelers can now secure their desired fare for two days, streamlining the booking process and providing peace of mind.
Air India ties up with Delhi Metro, DIAL to facilitate check-in for international passengers
Air India on Tuesday said it has partnered with Delhi Metro and Delhi airport to facilitate check-in for international air passengers at two metro stations in Delhi. The check-in and baggage drop facility at the Delhi airport allows passengers to check in their baggage at the metro station, giving the outstation travellers the option to explore the city baggage-free.
Gen Z to help India's travel spending expand 9% a year: McKinsey Report
A new McKinsey report predicts India's travel spending to grow at 9% annually driven by strong GDP growth. Domestic air passenger traffic is set to double by 2030, boosting the domestic travel market to potentially become the world's fourth largest.
Emirates boss says India’s protectionist stance will be detrimental to economy
Emirates president Tim Clark opposes India's protectionist stance to favor its carriers. The UAE requests more seats, Air India supports the move post-Tata takeover, and IndiGo ventures into long-haul travel with Airbus aircraft.
Japan Airlines and IndiGo Agree on Codeshare Partnership; enables JAL to expand reach to 14 IndiGo destinations in India
Japan Airlines (JAL) and IndiGo announced a codeshare partnership benefiting customers with more travel options between Japan and India.
Travel platforms see bookings hot up for chilly destinations
Travel companies are experiencing a surge in bookings as extreme heatwave conditions drive people to cooler destinations like Kullu, Manali, and Ladakh from Delhi. Flight fares to Leh have increased by 54%, with searches for last-minute escapes also rising.
For women travellers, IndiGo introduces new feature for seat selection
IndiGo introduces new feature for female passengers during web check-in, offering visibility of seats booked by women travelers, aligning with #GirlPower ethos.
Average air ticket prices spike 9 pc in Jan-March period: FCM Travel
International air capacity has also increased 14 per cent due to India's growing aviation sector, Sodhi said, adding that average international airfares have softened 15 per cent, which is a general global trend of yields decreasing across airfares.
What holiday plans? Indians tripping on last-minute rush
Indian travellers are increasingly opting for last-minute bookings for both domestic and international destinations due to factors like more visa-free options, lower average age of travellers, rising disposable incomes and availability of spontaneous booking choices.
Domestic airfares on northward trajectory; still among lowest globally: Experts
Domestic airfares in India have surged up to 40% in key routes due to higher traffic and capacity constraints in the last six quarters. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets, with an average of 4.5 lakh passengers daily. However, capacity constraints are a key challenge as many aircraft are grounded due to supply chain issues. Aviation consultancy firm CAPA India reported that average fares on the top 20 domestic routes had not moved significantly in nominal terms for the last two decades, until the last six quarters.
IndiGo announces foray into business class after record profit
IndiGo said that business class will be available on the busiest routes of the country which sees heavy corporate traffic and will be operational before the end of this year. Coming August, around IndiGo’s anniversary, more details on product offering, launch date and routes will be unveiled.
It's also the journey, not just destination
Reaching this figure would have taken a whole year to achieve about a decade ago. Annual data for remittances reveals a significant rise in overseas travel spending, which reached $17 bn in FY24, an increase of more than 24.5% over the $13.6 bn in the previous year. In comparison, India's inbound tourism earnings in 2023 were $28.07 bn.
Business class coming soon: IndiGo to launch 'tailor-made' product for busiest routes
IndiGo, operated by Interglobe Aviation, announced plans to launch a new customized business product for India's busiest routes by the end of the year. CEO Pieter Elbers highlighted the company's commitment to innovation, aiming to provide more travel options as India's economy grows. The airline saw a 13% increase in domestic passengers, while competitors experienced a 6% decline.
Domestic travel, tourism sector ready to capitalise on upcycle: IHCL MD Puneet Chhatwal
Indian Hotels Company Ltd Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal discusses the company's plans to capitalize on opportunities in the travel and tourism sector, targeting Tier II and Tier III markets and foreign tourist arrivals.
India to be power house for future airline growth on travel eagerness, growing population: Report
India is expected to be a power house for future airline growth driven by the eagerness of people to travel and growing population, according to a report. In a report, the Netherlands-based ING Bank NV said India is set to deliver strong structural growth figures, and airlines are preparing for this with historically large orders for new aircraft from carriers Indigo and Air India.
SBI Card Miles Elite: Know details of international travel privileges, lounge program, travel credits and more
With carefully chosen travel advantages, SBI Card has introduced three versions of "SBI Card MILES," its first travel-focused core credit card. SBI Card MILES ELITE, SBI Card MILES PRIME, and SBI Card MILES are the three variations. Here are important features of SBI Card Miles Elite card.
Noida Airport onboards Heinemann Asia Pacific, BWC Forwarders as retail, duty-free partners
Noida International Airport partners with Heinemann Asia Pacific and BWC Forwarders Pvt Ltd for duty-free and retail operations, offering premium brands and a wide range of products. The airport, located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, aims to provide a seamless and innovative shopping experience for travellers.
Akasa Air raises weight limit of pets flying with them; airline flew over 3,200 pets since launch
In response to customers feedback, Akasa Air has now increased the permissible weight limit for pets traveling in the cabin to 10 kgs, including the weight of the container, up from the previous 7 kgs. The airline, in a statement on Wednesday, said this enhancement underscores the airline's commitment to continuously elevate its services to meet the evolving needs of travellers.
Airbus order enough to have impact: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers
IndiGo's CEO Elbers announced the airline's entry into the long-haul aviation market due to strong domestic traffic. The decision includes an order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with significant growth potential in the global market.
Seeing rise in demand for sports tourism owing to upcoming T20 World Cup, Olympics: Aditya Agarwal, Cleartrip
One thing common to a lot of these places is that they have made it much easier for Indians to travel either by providing visa-free travel or making it much-much easier for Indians to obtain visas so that is becoming a big spur in demand.
Family trips over solo trips, holiday coupons as wedding shagun: MakeMyTrip survey reveals Indians' travel habits
Indian travelers are redefining domestic tourism and asserting a significant presence in international travel markets, according to MakeMyTrip's "India Travel Trends Report". The number of Indians embarking on more than three trips per year surged by 25% in 2023 compared to 2019, with a notable increase of 46% in spontaneous bookings. Domestic travel is increasingly embracing spiritual journeys, with searches for destinations featuring or around religious spots growing by 97% in the last two years.
Indian airlines to operate 24,275 weekly domestic flights in summer schedule
Indian airlines will increase weekly domestic flights by nearly 6% during the summer schedule starting March 31, with 24,275 departures per week from 125 airports. New airports like Azamgarh, Aligarh, and Chitrakoot are proposed by scheduled carriers, according to DGCA.
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