Air India’s Latest Flex Will Make It Harder for Foreign Airlines to Gain Access

A debate over market access was reignited at an aviation event in India, as foreign airlines seeking additional capacity to serve more routes in India feared the rebirth of Tata-owned Air India and record-breaking order of 470… Jets could capture most of the market. Dubai’s Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Kuwaiti porter Jazeera Airways called everyone strong climbs In Air Traffic Rights to and from India to meet demand. Vietnam and Indonesia also want more flights, an Indian official said. Speaking to Reuters India’s Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia said the country has no plans to do so Increase air traffic rights for the United Arab Emirates. Instead, he urged domestic airlines to fly long-haul routes and help set up new hubs. “We will see an explosion in air travel in India in the coming years,” he said, adding he wants domestic airlines to focus on international expansion. “We’re not getting enough market share from this market,” said Bilal Eksi, chief executive of Turkish Airlines. Dubai, meanwhile, has requested 50,000 additional seats per week on India routes Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways said the current weekly allowance of 12,000 was insufficient and asked for the ceiling to be raised 28,000 seats.

India may require 31,000 pilots and some 26,000 mechanics about the next 20 years amid the growing order book from aircraft OEMs, according to the US planemaker Boeing. The focus should be on manufacturing infrastructure robust, both hard infrastructure, which includes airports, and critical infrastructure, which includes pilots, among others, said the President of Boeing India Salil Gutte. Property of the Tata Group AirIndia had placed orders last month 470 passenger aircraft by Boeing and the European aircraft manufacturer airbus. Last September, Boeing forecast Indian air traffic growth of around 7 percent by 2040. Gupte said the recovery in demand for air travel after the pandemic has stunned the world and Boeing sees no impact of the financial crisis on air travel growth.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General KT Parnaik has proposed joint ventures between France and the Northeast Indian state in the area tourism and clean and renewable energy. Arunachal Pradesh has the second largest forest area in India and huge potential in the hydropower and tourism sectors, Parnaik said in a meeting with the French Consul General Didier Talpain. “Arunachal Pradesh is rich in potential for ecotourism, religious tourism, adventure tourism and cultural tourism,” said Parnaik. Higher education, development projects and cultural exchange programs between France and Arunachal Pradesh were also discussed. Cultural exchange programs can strengthen the future of Indo-French relations, the governor said.

pilgrimage sites earned in India $16.28 million In 2022up from $7.8 billion in 2021, according to data released by the company Indian Ministry of Tourism. 1,433 million domestic tourists visited places of pilgrimage in the country in 2022 6.64 million foreign tourists. In 2021, the numbers were 677 million and 1.05 million, respectively. While the Ministry of Tourism does not manage the income generated by religious centers, it does keep an account of foreign exchange earnings. The Ministry of Tourism’s National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) program, established in 2014-15, provides state governments/union areas with financial support for the development of tourism infrastructure in the country.

The Indian capital of Delhi almost eliminated 40 percent from total foreign tourists Arrive in India in 2021, after Economic Survey 2022-23. Around 6.06 lakhs Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) were recorded in the capital in 2021. Delhi also ranked third in total visits by foreign tourists in 2021 with a total share of 9.5 percent according to India Tourism Statistics at a Glance-2022, the report said. Along with New Delhi and Mumbai, the eight are Haridaspur (8.73), Chennai (7.87), Bengaluru (6.72), Hyderabad (5.65), Cochin (3.96) and Kolkata (2.85). most important international checkpoint for foreign tourist arrivals, it said.

Direct flights between India and Western Australia perth under investigation as talks begin with at least three Indian airlines – AirIndia, Vistara And indigo. Deputy Prime Minister of Western Australia and Minister for Tourism Roger Koch said talks are ongoing to launch direct flights between India and Perth. The Western Australian Government and Perth Airport are discussing what can be offered to Indian airlines, Cook told Indian media. India has no direct flight connection to Perth and the current ones are either via Singapore or via Melbourne and Sydney. Visitors generally prefer flights to Sydney and then travel to Perth via domestic flights or by road, according to Indian tour operators. India is one of the largest tourism markets for Western Australia, which also has a sizeable Indian diaspora.

The Sunderban Tiger Reserve (STR) – a popular tourist destination where the Bengal Bengal Tiger – And Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Alipurduar District in East India West Bengal will stay closed for tourists all Tuesday with effect April 1st. The move will take place during the National Tiger Conservation Agency (NTCA) — the country’s coordinating organization for tiger conservation — is directing forest agencies across the country to keep their respective tiger sanctuaries closed at least once a week. The goal is to give relief for the Animals Residence there from the disturbance arising from tourist entry by safari jeeps and other vehicles. However, those residing in the forest slums within the reserve forest zone have free entry and exit as usual.

India can play a leading role sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by plugging into the global supply chain opportunities, said Aditya GhoshCo-founder of India’s youngest airline Akasa Air. Airlines and airports are being pushed to take sustainable action, he said, but added that sustainable aviation fuel is currently much more expensive compared to conventional fuel. The former IndiGo boss spoke at the ongoing CAPA Aviation Summit in New Delhi. There is a funding gap of about $350 million between conventional aviation fuel and 10 percent blended fuel, he said. Blended fuel in this context means that 10 percent SAF is mixed with conventional fuel. The government is working to make jet fuel blending with SAF mandatory as the country works on ways to reduce emissions.

Property of the Tata Group AirIndia will start direct flights between Pune And Bombay out of 26th of March. The airline will operate six days a week, except Saturdaysand provide one Airbus A319 — the smallest aircraft in its fleet — in this sector. Air India departs from Pune Airport at 11:20 am and arrives in Mumbai at 00:20 am. The Pune-Mumbai route was the first flight connection ever established at Pune Airport, but today there are no direct flights between the two cities. The last of the lots was operated by Jet Airways, which ceased operations in April 2019. After the Airports Authority of India recently confirmed measures to start inter-airport services, Air India has become the first airline to offer direct services with the revival of its old Mumbai-Pune route.

India will get its first Sanctuary of the Night Sky in the North Indian Union Territory of Ladakh. The sanctuary will give an impetus Astrotourism and help generate revenue and livelihoods, said Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh. The night sky reserve covers 414 square miles and is located within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent to the Indian Astronomical Observatory, the second tallest optical telescope in the world, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Hanleat at an elevation of 4,500 meters. “This dark sky reserve is one of only 15 or 16 of its kind in the world to offer spectacular views of the night sky. Because of its elevation and rain shadow location above the Himalayas, this night sky reserve is the ideal spot for stargazers most of the year,” said Singh. He added that projects are underway to develop food products made from the leh berry, the region’s most nutrient-dense and exotic fruit.

Photo credit: India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, urged domestic airlines to fly long-haul and help set up new hubs.