The Indian Railways is set to reduce the advance reservation period (ARP) for train bookings from 120 days to 60 days, excluding the day of travel, with effect from November 1, 2024. The Railways clarified that bookings made under the current 120-day ARP before October 31 will remain valid. It also stated that any cancellations for bookings made beyond the new 60-day ARP will still be allowed. According to the official notice, the revised changes do not apply to certain daytime express trains, such as the Taj Express and Gomti Express, which have different advance reservation limits. Additionally, the 365-day…
Author: Disha Ghosh
SFO’s Director of Aviation Marketing and Development has been named one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times, a ranking highlighting 100 of the most powerful, inspiring and influential women in Bay Area business. Melissa Andretta, who has led the Aviation Marketing and Development team since 2017, was honoured at the annual San Francisco Business Times event held on October 10, 2024. “Melissa Andretta demonstrates the values and qualities that make SFO exceptional,” said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “Under her leadership, the Aviation Marketing and Development team set the stage for…
Nok Air, a premium budget airline in Thailand, is set to begin its new non-stop daily flights between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) and Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport (DMK), starting October 28, 2024. The airline is keen to bring Delhi on its route map next year. This route will be operated by the state-of-the-art Airbus 737-800, featuring 189 comfortable seats. “Our new service represents a pivotal milestone for Nok Air as we strengthen our international network as a premium budget airline,” said Ranon Viputsiri, Chief Commercial Officer, Nok Air. “This enhanced connectivity between India and Bangkok will position…
Air India has launched simplified and enhanced fare families across cabins. The airline has rebranded its fare families and restructured them to align with the evolving customer preferences across markets. Air India’s fare families offer differentiated bundles of products and services at each price point, which enables travellers to choose the offering that best meets their unique requirements. Rebranded fare families Effective 17 October 2024, Air India now offers a total of eight fare families across four cabin classes: Economy: Value, Classic, Flex Premium Economy: Classic, Flex Business: Classic, Flex First: First The fare families offer increasing baggage allowance and…
Two months into the launch of service in the Tiruchy-Abu Dhabi sector, IndiGo has decided to suspend all its four weekly flights in the route from October 25. The airline has cited “operational reasons” for the suspension. Capitalising on the demand, IndiGo launched flight service in the Tiruchy-Abu Dhabi sector on August 11, 2024. Currently, the airline operates the service on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. When enquired, official sources in IndiGo confirmed the suspension of the four flight services from October 25 over “operational reasons”. All services were scheduled to continue till the winter schedule, which begins in the…
Thomas Cook (India) Limited has inaugurated its new franchise outlet in Greater Noida, to leverage the high-growth market of the Delhi-NCR region and surrounding areas. This new store, further strengthens Thomas Cook’s network in the Delhi-NCR region to 13 locations (6 owned stores and 7 Gold Circle Partner outlets), reaffirming its strategic commitment to expansion in viable growth markets. The location has been carefully selected: the vibrant residential and business hubs of Greater Noida, offering Thomas Cook a diverse customer base of families, professionals/business travellers and senior citizens. The location also provides access to NCR’s HNI-UHNI segment, offering expertise for…
The Directorate General of Immigration under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Indonesia has appointed VFS Global, as the exclusive private service provider for Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VoA) to make the process seamless, promote inbound tourism, increase investments into Indonesia, and enhance overall traveller experience. VFS Global’s new e-VoA platform, set to commence in the first half of December 2024, will be available for nationals of the 97 countries eligible for e-VoA, including India. Travellers will soon be able to enjoy a quicker and smoother visa application journey through VFS Global by completing the entire process online before…
The Arunachal Pradesh government has unveiled a tourism policy with a focus on eco-tourism, rolling out red carpet for both domestic and international tourists visiting the picturesque state. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the new tourism policy is aimed at boosting the sector, with a focus on film (shooting), farming (experience), wine (making and testing) and eco-tourism. “Tourism means a lot to us and to our people. Thanks to its sublime natural beauty, diverse tribal cultures, and abundant wildlife, our state attracts tourists from across the world, seeking unique and authentic experiences,” said Chief Minister Khandu. The…
Indonesia’s decision to offer visa-free entry to nationals from 96 countries is set to significantly boost its already growing tourism sector. By simplifying access for travellers from countries like the USA, UK, Japan, and Mexico, the initiative is expected to attract more global tourists to Indonesia’s vast archipelago, renowned for its 17,000 islands, pristine beaches, and cultural heritage. The effects of this visa exemption are already visible, as May 2024 saw a 20.11% increase in international tourist arrivals compared to the previous year. The country is strategically positioning itself as a key travel destination, particularly within Southeast Asia, with a…
Heli tourism has made waves in Karnataka, and now the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) and the state tourism department have plans for introducing it in Mangaluru. If the plans materialise, foreign tourists arriving on cruise liners at NMPT will be the first passengers to experience the city via heli tourism. The NMPA had taken steps toward introducing heli tourism in Mangaluru many years ago; however, several issues, including maintenance, delayed the project. This time, the proposal has been sent to the Karnataka Tourism Department, which has given it the green signal in light of financial development as well as…
