Category Archives: Aviation

Arun Bansal, Chief Executive Officer, Adani Airport Holdings, said, “Our vision is to redefine the airport experience through intelligent, digital-first innovations that place passengers at the heart of everything that we do, converting their travel anxiety into excitement. Our collaboration with AIONOS marks a significant step in delivering seamless and personalised journeys across our airports. We are building a connected ecosystem that enhances efficiency, fosters inclusivity, and sets new benchmarks for smart, sustainable and future-ready airports in India.”

India will have 34 mega airports by 2047, said Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India, at the Aviation India 2025 event. The country’s operational airports have risen to 164 from 74 in 2024. He added that 110 airstrips are suitable for development, while 200 more are under suitability assessment.

Anil Kalsi, Owner, Ambe World Travels and Vice President, TAFI, highlighted the alarming decline in the number of ‘Standard’ IATA ticketing agents. Currently, there are approximately 1,800 Standard IATA agents and around 3,200 IATA Lite agents in India. Calling it a national concern for employment and aviation distribution, he urged airlines to value their distribution networks and respect travel agents’ vital role.

Bullish on the fast-growing Indian aviation market, Saudi Arabia’s no-frills carrier flyadeal will start flights to Indian cities, including Mumbai, from the first quarter of 2026. Steven Greenway, CEO, said that India is one of the “most hyper-competitive markets” in the world and there is a need to have an “absolute, brutal focus on unit cost”.  We expect to cover metropolises like Mumbai and Delhi, as well as focus on secondary cities in India.

Tata Tele Business Services (TTBS), one of India’s leading B2B enablers of digital connectivity and cloud solutions, has successfully implemented its advanced SD-WAN iFLX solution at Celebi Aviation, a global aviation services provider. This deployment has allowed Celebi Aviation to seamlessly connect its geographically dispersed offices across India, enhance network security and simplify WAN management while reducing operational costs. As a leading aviation services company, Celebi Aviation recognised the need for a modern, scalable network to support its workforce and mission-critical applications across multiple locations. To strengthen performance and unlock new possibilities in connectivity, the company partnered with TTBS to implement its advanced SD-WAN iFLX solution, which is a secure, agile, and cost-effective network designed to meet Celebi’s evolving needs. Through this deployment, TTBS seamlessly connected eight key Celebi locations on a private SD-WAN network optimised for high availability and application performance. The infrastructure now supports workloads across public and private clouds, SaaS platforms like AWS and Microsoft Azure, as well as on-premises data centers. With centralised control, optimised bandwidth, and reduced dependency on hardware, Celebi Aviation has gained enhanced agility, stronger visibility, and a future-ready network foundation to drive operational excellence. KS Kalidas, Vice President, Tata Teleservices, said, “At TTBS, we strive to empower enterprises with future-ready solutions that simplify network management while enabling scale and security. Our collaboration with Celebi Aviation reflects our commitment to solving complex business challenges through innovation in connectivity. With SD-WAN iFLX, we were able to deliver a secure, resilient, and high-performance network that seamlessly connects Celebi’s geographically dispersed operations. This deployment not only enhances their agility and uptime but also equips their teams with the infrastructure needed to drive operational efficiency in a …

Air India will induct a new wide-body aircraft every six weeks starting in 2026, continuing for two years, said Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India. Alongside refurbishing its existing Boeing 787 and 777 fleet, the move aims to position Air India as a “modern, international airline” by 2028, marking a major milestone in its transformation journey.

Saudia, the national flag carrier of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, unveiled its new premium lifestyle brand, SV, during an exclusive runway show held at The Roof at Al Mamlaka Social Dining as part of Riyadh Fashion Week 2025. Taking its name from Saudia’s official IATA code, SV connects to the airline’s heritage while presenting a modern expression of Saudi creativity as part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its brand beyond aviation. Presented under the theme “Live to Fly,” the collection featured 40 runway pieces inspired by travel. Each design blends flight-inspired details with modern global trends, offering apparel, travel essentials, and accessories that express sophistication, movement, and individuality. Developed in collaboration with Saudi designer Mohammed Khoja, founder of the fashion label Hindamme, the collection reflects a shared vision of merging cultural heritage with modern aesthetics. Khoja’s creative direction brings together tradition and innovation, illustrating how Saudi design continues to evolve with global relevance. The collaboration highlights Saudia’s commitment to supporting local talent and celebrating Saudi creativity on the international stage. Designer Mohammed Khoja stated: “Collaborating with Saudia on SV was an inspiring opportunity to translate the elegance of aviation into fashion. Each piece in the collection carries the emotion of flight; confident, refined, and distinctly Saudi.” Khaled Tash, Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group, said: “SV is an extension of Saudia’s spirit. Just as we connect people across the world, SV connects heritage with modernity, aviation with fashion, and Saudi creativity with global audiences. Launching SV at Riyadh Fashion Week is a proud milestone that reflects our role as both a national carrier and a cultural ambassador.” The Riyadh Fashion Week debut marks the beginning of SV’s journey. …

Hahnair marked a decade of partnership with American Express Credit Card by hosting an event in Delhi. Bharat Kapoor, Regional VP, Hahnair (India), said, “Through our ties with Travesla, our India partner, we further enhance service for Indian travel agencies through a dedicated nationwide team and 24/7 support.” He also talked about the addition of Southwest Airlines to its more than 100 non-GDS carrier portfolio under the H1 and X1 systems.

IndiGo has announced its daily, direct flights between Mumbai and Madinah starting 15 November 2025. IndiGo will operate its Airbus A320 aircraft on this route, offering seamless and affordable access for religious, business, and leisure travel. Bookings are now open on IndiGo website and across authorized travel partners. IndiGo already operates over 150 flights between India and four cities in Saudi Arabia – Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, and Madinah. This new route will be IndiGo’s second connection to Madinah, in addition to the existing 4x weekly service from Hyderabad, which is also being increased to daily service starting 16 November 2025. This also makes IndiGo the only Indian carrier to offer direct connectivity between Mumbai and the holy city. The launch comes at a time when travel between India and Saudi Arabia is witnessing robust growth, driven by religious tourism, trade, and workforce movement. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Sales, IndiGo, said: “Madinah is a destination of deep cultural and spiritual significance that attracts pilgrims from across the globe, including India. We are pleased to launch this new Mumbai-Madinah route with the objective to cater to the growing demand for religious tourism to the holy city. These flights are in addition to our existing flights, Hyderabad to Madinah, and strengthen our vast domestic and growing international network.”

Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, announced that the UDAN scheme will continue beyond 2027, focusing on connectivity with hilly, North-Eastern, and aspirational regions, and the development of around 120 new destinations. Under the scheme, 649 routes have been operationalised as on date connecting 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and two water aerodromes.