Standard Chartered announced it has partnered with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to launch IATA Pay in India. IATA Pay, which is already available in several European markets, is an airline industry payment platform that brings optionality, convenience and an enhanced experience to consumers when purchasing tickets directly from participating airlines. The service leverages the Unified Payment Interface (UPI), a domestic real-time payments scheme in India, thereby enabling consumers to instantly pay for airline tickets from their bank accounts. 

Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO) is organising a webinar titled ‘Tirol-Your dream destination 2022’ for the travel trade today, 25th February, 2022 at 3 pm IST. Attendees would be able to explore the various offerings of Tirol through the online show. Register on https://event.webinarjam.com/register/366/rymlobq7 or contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or call +91 9650196532. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data showing growing momentum in the recovery of air travel as restrictions are lifted. IATA reported a sharp 11% increase for international tickets sold in recent weeks in proportion to 2019 sales. The jump in ticket sales comes as more governments announce a relaxation of COVID-19 border restrictions. An IATA survey of travel restrictions for the world’s top 50 air travel markets (comprising 92% of global demand in 2019 as measured by revenue passenger kilometers) revealed the growing access available to vaccinated travelers. 

Dubai on Tuesday removed the requirements for Indian travellers to undergo rapid RTPCR at Indian airports before departing to UAE. An advisory issued by the Dubai Airport updated the travel requirements for passengers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan.  The fresh advisory requires Indian nationals to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate taken up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight, from an approved health service provider. The passengers will require to undergo a PCR test upon their arrival in Dubai. 

Singapore based travel tech leader Mystifly today unveiled an extension Multi-City Search feature to their existing Airline Shopping and Retailing Hub (ASRHub) platform. The new Multi-City Search is an advanced flight search feature that makes searching and booking consecutive one-way flights between multiple destinations quicker, easier and tapping into multiple local pricing in a single request.  

Cordelia Cruises will conduct a webinar for the travel trade highlighting new opportunities for them today at 3pm IST. The webinar will highlight the popular products and services as well provide updates and news for the 2022 travel season. To register, contact jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532 or register directly at – https://event.webinarjam.com/register/365/wy0z2b3lw

India and Australia have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Tourism cooperation in the field of Tourism on 11th February 2022 in New Delhi. The MoU on behalf of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, was signed by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles and on behalf of Government of Australia it was signed by The Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment. The MoU will facilitate Exchange of information and data related to tourism, Cooperation between tourism stakeholders, particularly hotels and tour operators, Cooperation and exchanges between training and education providers in tourism and hospitality, Investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors, Visits of tour operators and wholesalers, media and opinion makers, High quality, safe, ethical and sustainable tourism development, Interest in major cultural, artistic and sporting events, Opportunities for traveler education on applicable laws, rules and instructions in each other’s country and Enhanced tourism engagement in multilateral fora

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has given the greenlight to an agreement on an air “travel bubble” scheme between Thailand and India, so passenger services can resume after their suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision is, however, pending a cabinet approval. CCSA Spokesman Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin said today (Friday) that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant agencies to speed up the promotion of tourism and economic development in Thailand.

Abu Dhabi and Kerala have agreed to work together for development of tourism, giving a big boost to the state’s initiatives to revive travel and hospitality sector from the pandemic-induced downturn. The understanding was reached during the discussions Kerala Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas had with Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism Chairman HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak in Abu Dhabi. “This understanding will impart great momentum to our tourism initiatives. Kerala tourism is now recovering from the Covid-induced crisis and this tie-up comes as a breakthrough”, Riyas said.

SpiceJet has offered to pay Rs.600 crore in cash in the share transfer case with its former promoter Kalanithi Maran and his firm KAL Airways for a full and final settlement of all disputes. The offer was made during the hearing in the Supreme Court today. Out of the principal amount of Rs. 578 crore awarded in arbitration, SpiceJet has already paid Rs. 308 crore in cash and deposited a bank guarantee of Rs.270 crore. Mukul Rohatgi, Senior Counsel appearing for SpiceJet proposed to pay the bank guarantee equivalent amount of Rs.270 crore in cash and top it up with additional Rs.22 crore aggregating the total payout to Rs.600 crore as full and final settlement of all disputes between the Parties. The Court has advised the other side to consider the proposal of SpiceJet and has listed the matter on 14 Feb 2022. Earlier an arbitration tribunal consisting of three retired judges from the Supreme Court, Arijit Pasayat, Hemant Laxman Gokhale and KSP Radhakrishnan in a unanimous decision had rejected the damages claim of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways against SpiceJet.