Category Archives: Aviation

The India Travel Awards 2025, held on September 9 at Le Méridien New Delhi, brought together leading voices from the travel and hospitality industry for an evening of recognition and celebration. The presence of Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister, Tourism & Culture, graced the prestigious event. Honouring achievers who have driven growth, innovation, and excellence in India’s tourism sector, the event sets new benchmarks for the industry. Suman Billa, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, GoI, was the Honoured Guest at the event. A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the India Travel Awards coffee table book. The event also saw the presence of eminent industry leaders, including Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Ministers’ Museum & Library, and Lindy Cameron, British High Commissioner to India.

Nok Air submitted its clarification documents to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), addressing all points of inquiry for additional information. The submission covers flight operations, maintenance, per- sonnel, and the continuous improvement measures implemented by the airline to ensure full compliance with global aviation safety standards.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is an immediate solution to decarbonise the aviation sector with the potential to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional fuel,” said Ram Mohan Naidu, MoCA, Government of India. He also unveiled SAF Feasibility Report – India’s roadmap to emerge as a global leader in SAF.

Emirates marks a major milestone as it celebrates 25 years of serving Chennai. Since launching its inaugural flight on 1 September 2000, Emirates has carried more than 10.7 million passengers on more than 38,000 flights between Dubai and Chennai, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to the city’s growing travel and trade aspirations. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin, joined Emirates’ celebration to commemorate the milestone. Chennai International Airport also marked the anniversary with a celebratory water cannon salute today, upon the arrival of EK544. On the occasion, Mohammad Sarhan, VP, India and Nepal, Emirates said, “We are delighted to celebrate 25 years of service to Chennai and connecting its people to our global network. We would like to thank M.K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for joining us in our celebration, marking an important partnership that has grown from strength to strength over the years. The unwavering support of the authorities and all local stakeholders has been invaluable to the success of our operations and we extend our sincere gratitude on the occasion.” Strengthening Global Connectivity Over the last quarter of a century, Emirates has played a pivotal role in enhancing Chennai’s global reach – providing seamless access to its extensive network across six continents. By enabling businesses to tap new markets and offer travellers more choice and convenience, the airline has been a partner in the city’s dynamic growth story. Chennai continues to be a cornerstone market for Emirates in South India, driving demand from business travellers, leisure seekers, and the significant VFR segment. The top destinations frequently visited by passengers from Chennai include San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Boston, Seattle, Paris, London, Manchester, and …

SriLankan Airlines completes another journey around the sun on 1 September 2025, celebrating its 46th Anniversary by giving its valued customers more reasons to explore the world with special anniversary offers. A pioneer in the region, SriLankan Airlines has long been a true ambassador for Sri Lankan hospitality on the global stage. Local in spirit, global in operations and renowned for its award-winning service, the airline looks ahead to many more years of seamlessly connecting people, cultures and trade. Spreading the cheer, customers can enjoy 20% off Business Class and 15% off Economy Class return fares to all online destinations when booked via the SriLankan Airlines website between 1 to 5 September 2025. Members of the airline’s loyalty programme, FlySmiLes, who book within the first two weeks of September will also earn 46% bonus miles, symbolising 46 years in the skies. No anniversary celebration is complete without recognising the airline’s own internal customers – its dedicated employees. Throughout September, SriLankan Airlines will host a series of special programmes for staff, including religious services to invoke blessings on the airline. Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever changing and challenging aviation landscape. Today, it remains one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way. In 2025 alone, SriLankan Airlines has garnered several prestigious awards including, Best People’s Airline of the Year at the Hybiz TV Business Excellence Awards; Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier – South Asia at the PAX Readership Awards; Most Loved Brand in Aviation in LMD’s Most Loved Brands; Silver in the Best Regional Airline category at the ShareTrip–Monitor Airline of the Year; and …

Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, announced that the government would make serious efforts to amplify real estate activities within proximity to upcoming and new airports to ensure sectoral growth to an intended level of 15%. He pointed out that airports generate huge footfalls not only for recreation but also for diverse economic activities in and around their vicinity. Hence, the Government intends to encourage the creation of convention centres and hotels close to such airports for multiple economic gains. The Minister emphasized that airports around New York, London, and Hong Kong operate at very high economies of scale with multiple associated activities, including real estate development. India, he said, would take a cue from these examples to develop similar utilities around new greenfield airports. According to the Minister, the government plans to add hundreds of airports to its civil aviation trajectory because of the sector’s potential for growth.

In its latest report- Beyond the Runway- Scope of Non-Aero Revenue and Aerocities in India, Knight Frank India, a leading real estate consultancy in the country, in association of National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), highlighted the growing importance of non-aero revenues in shaping the future of India’s airports and urban growth. The analysis shows that airports managed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model generate 87% of the country’s total non-aero revenue while handling 64% of total traffic. This reflects the operational efficiency of the PPP model and its critical role in diversifying airport income streams beyond traditional aeronautical revenues. The ability of PPP airports to outperform their government-operated counterparts underscores the need for robust commercial strategies. Non-aero revenue streams, including retail, food and beverage, duty-free, parking, advertising, and real estate leasing, are increasingly central to financial sustainability. With traffic set to multiply in the coming years, this diversification will become indispensable for airport operators. The report notes that India’s largest hubs Mumbai and Delhi airports generate per capita non-aero revenues of USD 20.1 and USD 18.1 respectively, nearly matching leading global benchmarks such as London Heathrow at USD 21.6 and Tokyo Haneda at USD 19.9. As per the report, India’s annual air passenger traffic is projected to grow to ~600 mn by FY 2030, up from 412 mn in 2025. This sharp growth trajectory presents both opportunities and challenges for airport operators. While capacity expansion remains vital, monetising this rising passenger base through non-aero revenue channels will be equally critical to financial sustainability.

SriLankan Airlines completes another journey around the sun on 1 September 2025, celebrating its 46th Anniversary by giving its valued customers more reasons to explore the world with special anniversary offers. A pioneer in the region, SriLankan Airlines has long been a true ambassador for Sri Lankan hospitality on the global stage. Local in spirit, global in operations and renowned for its award-winning service, the airline looks ahead to many more years of seamlessly connecting people, cultures and trade. Spreading the cheer, customers can enjoy 20% off Business Class and 15% off Economy Class return fares to all online destinations when booked via the SriLankan Airlines website between 1 – 5 September ’25. Members of the airline’s loyalty programme, FlySmiLes, who book within the first two weeks of September will also earn 46% bonus miles, symbolising 46 years in the skies. No anniversary celebration is complete without recognising the airline’s own internal customers – its dedicated employees. Throughout September, SriLankan Airlines will host a series of special programmes for staff, including religious services to invoke blessings on the airline. Over the years, SriLankan Airlines has proven its versatility in an ever changing and challenging aviation landscape. Today, it remains one of the major international airlines from South Asia, having achieved numerous milestones and accolades along the way. In 2025 alone, SriLankan Airlines has garnered several prestigious awards including, Best People’s Airline of the Year at the Hybiz TV Business Excellence Awards; Outstanding Food Service by a Carrier – South Asia at the PAX Readership Awards; Most Loved Brand in Aviation in LMD’s Most Loved Brands; Silver in the Best Regional Airline category at the ShareTrip–Monitor Airline of the Year; and …

Hahnair, a leading provider of airline distribution services, has appointed Travesla as its official service partner in India. The new collaboration will strengthen support for travel agencies in the region, providing guidance on Hahnair’s suite of ticketing services, including access to over 350 partner airlines. Travesla, led by aviation veteran Salil Nath, is a representation company and GSA combining global expertise with a partner-first approach. With deep knowledge of the Indian market and decades of leadership experience at airlines and travel management companies, the team at Travesla is uniquely positioned to support agencies with local insight and global opportunities. Kimberley Long, Vice President of Agency Distribution at Hahnair, said: “We are very happy to collaborate with Travesla. Their service and deep understanding of the Indian market will be invaluable in strengthening our support to travel agencies across the region.” In their role as the general point of contact, Travesla will provide dedicated support to travel agents for any inquiries related to Hahnair services. This includes information about ticketing services, conducting informative presentations and training sessions, and facilitating ticketing authority requests to Hahnair’s partner airlines. Moreover, Hahnair’s Service Desk remains at the disposal of agents for any questions regarding issuing tickets on Hahnair (HR) stock at serviceindia@hahnair.com. Bharat Kapoor, Regional Vice President, will also be available to provide additional support, further reinforcing Hahnair’s commitment to its partners in the region. “We trust Travesla to be an extension of Hahnair in India. Their market expertise, commitment to service, and close relationships with the travel trade make them the ideal partner for representing us locally”, added Kapoor. Looking ahead, Salil Nath, Founder & CEO of Travesla, emphasised the benefits for travel agencies: “We are …

Becomes the first airline to offer WhatsApp-based boarding passes at airport check-in counters Service to be extended to other domestic airports, reducing time and supporting sustainability SpiceJet announced the successful rollout of a paperless boarding process at Shillong airport, offering passengers a faster, greener, and more seamless check-in experience. With this new feature, passengers checking in at the airport counter will now receive their boarding pass on WhatsApp, eliminating the need for physical printouts. This initiative significantly reduces wait times at check-in and supports eco-conscious travel by cutting down on paper usage. It is part of SpiceJet’s broader commitment to sustainability and digital innovation – and marks the first time an airline has introduced WhatsApp-based boarding passes at airport check-in counters. In spite of web check-in being available to customers and initiatives such as Digi Yatra, more than 9 million boarding passes were still printed at airports in India in June 2025. This would have led to about 6 tonnes of carbon emissions. SpiceJet’s initiative is designed to eliminate the above avoidable carbon footprint of the aviation industry. The paperless boarding feature is enabled by SpiceJet’s indigenously developed Web Departure Control System (WEBDCS) – a browser-based platform that allows check-in staff to issue digital boarding passes via WhatsApp or email, and baggage tags via SMS using tablets or the standard airport check-in computer. This not only streamlines the check-in process but also enhances operational efficiency. SpiceJet plans to extend this paperless boarding experience to other airports across India. GP Gupta, Chief Strategy Officer, SpiceJet, said, “At SpiceJet, we are constantly working to enhance the travel experience for our passengers while embracing sustainability. The introduction of paperless boarding at Shillong Airport …