Category Archives: Aviation

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.

Air India has announced the addition of 174 weekly flights on key domestic and short-haul international routes, operated by its single-aisle aircraft, as part of the Northern Winter Schedule, beginning 26 October 2025. This expansion enhances connectivity to major cities in India and Southeast Asia in high demand. ADDITIONS TO SHORT-HAUL INTERNATIONAL ROUTES Delhi-Kuala Lumpur: Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 15 November Delhi-Denpasar (Bali): Increasing from 7x to 10x weekly flights, effective 01 December   ADDITIONS TO DOMESTIC INDIA ROUTES  Seasonal additions of flights to Rajasthan, effective 26 October: Delhi-Jaipur (new route): Introducing 3x daily flights Delhi-Jaisalmer (new route): Introducing 2x daily flights Delhi-Udaipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Jaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Udaipur: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Mumbai-Jodhpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Madhya Pradesh, effective 26 October: Delhi-Indore: Increasing from 3x to 4x daily flights Delhi-Bhopal: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Mumbai-Indore: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   More flights to Gujarat, effective 26 October: Mumbai-Bhuj: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Rajkot: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights   Other frequency additions, effective 26 October: Delhi-Varanasi: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Raipur: Increasing from 2x to 3x daily flights Delhi-Port Blair: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Aurangabad: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Guwahati: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Delhi-Nagpur: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Dehradun: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Patna: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Mumbai-Amritsar: Increasing from 1x to 2x daily flights Air India’s retrofit programme for …

IndiGo has commenced flights from Mumbai to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is IndiGo’s 44th international and 138th destination overall. The services will be operated three times a week with the leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Air India has entered a new interline partnership with STARLUX Airlines, further enhancing travel options for customers across Asia. The agreement between the two carriers enables single-ticket itineraries that combine Air India and STARLUX flights, offering smoother journeys, coordinated baggage handling, and simplified travel for customers of both airlines. Through this partnership, Air India customers will be able to access Taipei via Air India’s Southeast Asia gateways, namely, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur.

In a landmark milestone in the country’s aviation journey, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Speaking on the occasion, he said that the airport would play a major role in establishing the region as Asia’s biggest connectivity hub. It is a project that exemplifies the vision of a developed India, he added.

GMR Hyderabad International Airport was honoured with the ‘Fastest Growing Metro Airport in India’ award at the India Travel Awards 2025. Ashish Kumar, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer – Aero & Cargo, GMR Hyderabad International Airport, said, “Honoured to be recognised as the fastest-growing metro airport with 18% YoY passenger growth and thank partners for their continued patronage.”

SpiceJet announces the launch of daily flights to two of India’s most sought-after winter destinations – Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Udaipur, the city of lakes. The airline will operate daily flights to Port Blair from Kolkata and Delhi, and to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai, offering travellers the perfect opportunity to plan their winter getaways. As part of its ambitious winter expansion plan, SpiceJet is adding new routes, more flights, and a significantly larger fleet to meet soaring travel demand. The airline is set to more than double both its daily flights and operational fleet this winter, with several exciting new destinations on the horizon. Flights to Port Blair have already commenced, while daily non-stop flights to Udaipur from Delhi and Mumbai will begin November 6, 2025. Tickets are available for booking on SpiceJet’s official website and mobile app. Passengers flying to Port Blair from Kolkata will enjoy seamless, non-stop connectivity, while those travelling from Delhi will make a short stopover at Kolkata. The Delhi–Port Blair service is a direct connection with no aircraft change, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey. Debojo Maharshi, Chief Business Officer, SpiceJet, said, “As winter approaches, we are thrilled to offer travellers two of India’s most beautiful destinations – the Andamans and Udaipur – now easily accessible with our new direct and non-stop flights. Whether it’s a beachside escape or a royal retreat, SpiceJet is making your dream holiday closer than ever. This expansion is part of our larger commitment to strengthen our domestic network and provide seamless, affordable, and delightful travel experiences to our passengers.”