TAAI President Sunil Kumar announced a series of initiatives to revive tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. These include member and media meetings across 20 regional chapters, a special ‘Family and Friends’ package by the TAAI J&K Chapter, and a dedicated session on Kashmir at the TAAI Convention 2025. To enhance travel confidence, TAAI will also produce promotional videos and content highlighting the region’s offerings and safety, encouraging wider participation in the revival of Kashmir tourism.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport CEO, Capt BVJK Sharma, has revealed that it will commence operations with around 8 to 10 air traffic movements (ATMs) every hour and will gradually scale up to 30 ATMs by 2026 summer as the airport authorities expect to see peak traffic of the first phase by then. In its initial phase, is expected to handle 20 million passengers per annum, with the capacity to serve 90 million passengers once complete. While the date of the commencement of operations has not been announced yet, airlines like IndiGo and Akasa Air have already announced their operations from the airport.

HRAWI has planned to organise its annual Convention from 9-10 October at Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai from 9-10 October 2025. The regional association is expecting more than 1,000 attendees this year. It is still to confirm the convention’s theme. It will conduct its Conclave & Awards: Empowering Hospitality at Della Enclave Villa Resort in Lonavala on 26th June.  

Underlining the rising popularity of train travel, Bjorn Bender, CEO & Executive Chairman, Rail Europe, says, “We’re proud to distribute more than 5 million train tickets a year, connecting over 200 operators through one platform. Rail is gaining relevance. But we are far from where we need to be. Booking international train travel is still too complicated and fragmented. We don’t need more apps, we need more cooperation, open standards, transparent fares and access to data. That’s what we’re building right now – as we move into the next strategy phase. A rail experience that works for everyone – not just domestic commuters or insiders, but also non-domestic and unfamiliar travellers.”

IndiGo has commenced operations on two new routes connecting Bhubaneswar with Abu Dhabi and Visakhapatnam respectively, further strengthening regional as well as international connectivity from Odisha. The inaugural flight from Bhubaneshwar to Abu Dhabi, was flagged off by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing his support to IndiGo’s commitment towards making air travel more accessible, convenient, and affordable for customers across the state. The newly launched flights, with support from Odisha government under New Destination Policy, offer direct international connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Abu Dhabi, operating three times a week, as well as enhanced regional access with daily direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Visakhapatnam.

Star Alliance member LOT Polish Airlines is expanding its route network further, with two new destinations that are sure to attract Indian travellers: the world-famous Spanish seaside resort of Malaga and the fascinating city of Marrakesh in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Starting from 15 January 2026, LOT Polish Airlines will connect its global hub at Chopin Airport in Warsaw with beautiful Malaga on Spain’s Costa del Sol. The airline will serve Malaga year-round and starts with four flights per week (Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday), rising the frequency to six weekly services from 24 February 2025. The flights from Warsaw will depart at 10:20h and arrive in Malaga 4:15 hours later. Departure of the return flights from Malaga will be at 15:35h. In addition to Barcelona and Madrid, Malaga will become the third year-round connection to Spain by LOT Polish Airlines. Flights will be operated by modern Boeing B737-800 aircraft offering two classes of service on board. Malaga is a premier destination for international travellers as the city presents itself with an appealing mix out of history, culture, shopping and leisure. Traces of the Roman and Moorish past are omnipresent in the streets, while the city honours its most famous son, the painter Pablo Picasso. Malaga’s 16 beaches are legendary, with the most having been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag for their clean water, high safety standards and excellent facilities. Food lovers will enjoy the fresh Mediterranean cuisine with many vegetarian options. Charming detour to North Africa Already from 29 October 2025, LOT Polish Airlines will serve the famous Moroccan royal city Marrakesh every Wednesday and Saturday from its global hub in Warsaw. Flights of this seasonal service depart …

In the lead-up to the Inter Passenger Terminal Show (IPTS) 2025, Media Fusion LLC hosted a high-impact media roundtable in Mumbai, convening influential voices from the government, aviation, and infrastructure sectors. Held under the theme “Reimagining Airport Passenger Infrastructure through Innovation, Technology, and Sustainability,” the session offered critical insights into building airport ecosystems that are smarter, greener, and future-ready. The roundtable brought together a distinguished panel of speakers: Joseph Gouda, Joint Director, Indian Revenue Service; Sumeet Suseelan, Member, Ministry of Civil Aviation (AAC), Government of India; Geetha Priya G, Senior Director & Sector Head – Infrastructure & Airports, JLL India; Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba, Mr. Vikram Falodiya, Head – Terminal Operations, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Nitin Sharma, DVP – Business Development, dormakaba, and Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion LLC. Discussions centred on India’s remarkable aviation trajectory—now the world’s third-largest domestic market, contributing 1.5% to national GDP and supporting 7.7 million jobs. Over the last decade, more than 85 airports have been developed, with a roadmap to scale that number to 350 by 2047 under the government’s Viksit Bharat vision. The roundtable highlighted both the opportunities and the urgency to reshape infrastructure in line with this growth. Speakers outlined key priorities, including the need to bridge infrastructure gaps, reduce import dependencies, and enhance regional connectivity through the UDAN scheme. Strengthening digital ecosystems to manage rising cybersecurity risks was also identified as a crucial area of focus. With over $12 billion already invested in air transport infrastructure, India is setting its sights on capturing a $4 billion share of the global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) market by 2031, with the aim of establishing itself as a self-reliant aviation hub. The conversation also showcased a suite of transformative technologies shaping airport experiences: biometric-based Digi Yatra, AI-powered digital twins, integrated multi-modal transport systems, and Net Zero, LEED-certified terminals were all cited as pivotal in creating globally benchmarked, passenger-centric infrastructure. Reflecting on …

Seasonal travel trends reflect customer preferences across many destinations, says Hussain Patel, Director, TripJack. He explains, “For instance, Asia Pacific, one of our top-selling regions, sees strong demand. Destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali experience peak interest from September to May. Year-round favourites such as Dubai and Singapore see a sharp rise during school summer holidays, especially among families. Luxury destinations like Mauritius and Seychelles see increased bookings from September to December. In Europe, France, Italy, and Switzerland are especially popular between April and June, as travellers seek scenic summer getaways. A combination of preferred travel windows and holiday seasons strongly influences these patterns.” To make the most of seasonal demand, Patel says, the company focuses on expanding global inventory. “With over 2 million hotels, our travel partners have easy access to top properties across key destinations. Our 5,000+ directly contracted hotels and Check-In Guarantee program ensure attractive rates and a seamless experience for the end customer. Additionally, our curated holiday packages make it easier for travellers to plan and enjoy stress-free travel. Yes, advance booking and planning are beneficial—our travel partners often book early to secure the best rates. The earlier the booking, the better the pricing, especially during peak travel seasons,” he adds.

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: “Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe. We look forward to restarting Delta’s direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future.” The service start date will be announced later.

Debjit Dutta, Chairman, IATO West Bengal Chapter, has clarified that the recent news reports of a 3-month tourist ban in the Sundarban Tiger Reserve that created panic across the trade is false. “Upon intervention by IATO West Bengal, the Forest Department has officially confirmed that the news is false and unverified. Such misinformation available on social media severely impacts tourism, disrupts local livelihoods, and damages the reputation of sensitive destinations. Media must verify facts with competent authorities before publishing,” he adds.