Philadelphia International Airport is keen to position itself as a strong contender among U.S. airports by improving facilities, streamlining transit processes, and fostering strategic airline partnerships. Edgar Vesga, MPR, CMI, Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services, Philadelphia International Airport, spoke to Disha Shah Ghosh at length about his plans. 1. What are the growth numbers of Philadelphia International Airport in the past 2 years from India? Enumerate also on the pre-Covid traffic from India. – India is projected to be Philadelphia’s third largest overseas international tourism source market in 2024, with an estimated 62,500 visitors, gaining a 6.3%…
Author: Disha Ghosh
There has been enough noise about the ‘untapped’ potential of the rising middle class to drive demand, and brands across FMCG, consumer durables, fashion & lifestyle, and real estate segments have earmarked India as a growth frontier. Over the past decade, we have seen forays of brands into India either organically or through the M&A route vying for their share of the expanding consumer base. However, the latest Indus Valley Annual Report 2025, published by venture capital firm Blume Ventures, paints a different picture. Only one in ten Indians have the flexibility for discretionary spend, while the top 10% affluent…
India has emerged as one of Indonesia’s fastest-growing tourism markets, with over 700,000 Indian travellers visiting the Southeast Asian nation in 2023. To address connectivity issues, AirAsia Indonesia is exploring direct flights from key Indian cities. Industry sources indicate that Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad are being considered as initial destinations due to their strong passenger demand and proximity to Indonesia. Mumbai is also a potential candidate, depending on operational feasibility. Potential Indian destinations for AirAsia Indonesia: • Bengaluru (BLR): A major aviation hub with increasing international traffic. • Chennai (MAA): A key gateway to Southeast Asia with high tourism and…
The ‘Essence of Phuket 2025’, an exclusive B2B luxury travel event, wrapped up successfully at SAii Laguna Phuket, one of the island’s premier resorts. Held from March 3-6, the four-day event brought together over 200 delegates, including top-tier luxury buyers and some equally iconic and luxury suppliers. The event featured three days of intense B2B meetings on days two through four, following an engaging first day dedicated to the Essence Conference, the inaugural gala dinner, and the prestigious ‘Idolons’ awards ceremony. The annual event is organised by Paris-based Traveller Made for its exclusive ‘Serandipians’ members—an elite network of the world’s…
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), operated by GMR Airports, has proposed a significant increase in the User Development Fee (UDF) for passengers, citing financial losses and mounting debt as key reasons for the hike. The revised fee structure, part of the latest tariff proposal for the fourth control period (April 2024–March 2029), introduces differentiated charges based on peak and off-peak hours. Currently, Delhi Airport charges a flat UDF of ₹129 for both domestic and international passengers, among the lowest in the country compared to airports in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Under the proposed revision, departing passengers will be…
The Japan National Tourism Organization has seen a 40% growth in visitor arrivals from India in 2024. This comes at a time when the country has seen a record 36 million inbound arrivals last year. Beyond Tokyo, JNTO is now keen to promote visitations to the Alpine Route. Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Ryo Bunno, Executive Director, Delhi Office, JNTO, said, “We are happy to reach 233,000 Indian travellers in 2024. The economic growth in India aided outbound growth, and the airline capacity has also been improving to pre-Covid levels. The Bengaluru-Narita service has resumed to five services now.” Talking about…
SpiceJet is set to re-induct its first ungrounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into operations starting January 29, 2025. Grounded for several months, the aircraft’s return marks a significant milestone in the airline’s fleet restoration and operational enhancement efforts. To facilitate the restoration of its MAX fleet, SpiceJet recently entered into services agreements with StandardAero Inc., a leading US-based engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider, and CFM International, Inc., the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for LEAP-1B engines. Under its ongoing fleet restoration plan, the airline aims to bring ten aircraft, including four Boeing 737 MAX planes, back into service by…
Auxilia Networks has appointed Reji Thomas Mathew as Head of Business Development – South India. Mathew is based in Bengaluru, and has been in the travel industry for almost 3 decades, working in the India and Middle East markets. He has worked with a number of high-profile travel agencies and tourism boards such as Cox & Kings, Dnata and VisitBritain, and has built an extensive network of trade, hospitality, media and airline contacts in India and abroad. Reji has in-depth experience of trade and consumer sales & marketing, campaign coordination, running trade and media famils and has also managed large…
Amid soaring airfares for flights to Prayagraj due to the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have taken decisive steps to regulate ticket prices and enhance connectivity. The Maha Kumbh, which began on January 13 and will conclude on February 26, has driven unprecedented demand for air travel to Prayagraj. Reports indicate a sharp 21% increase in ticket prices for Delhi-Prayagraj flights, with fares spiking further around key ‘snan’ (bathing) dates. In response, the DGCA held a high-level meeting with airlines, instructing them to rationalise fares and expand…
India and China have decided to resume the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra and direct flights between the two countries, signaling efforts to rebuild bilateral ties. The agreement was reached during two days of foreign secretary-level talks in Beijing, where Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri participated in discussions with his Chinese counterparts. The yatra, a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake in Tibet, has been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained relations following the Galwan Valley clash. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, a mechanism will discuss the modalities of resuming the pilgrimage under existing agreements,…
