Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul><li>Most of the top five most trending destinations internationally have experienced a drop in flight prices or remained stable. </li><li>Consumer behaviour is evolving, with a greater emphasis on finding unique, personalised, and memorable <keyword id="6312479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="travel-experiences" source="Orion">travel experiences</keyword>. </li><li>Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and Indigo among the top ten international <keyword id="44023" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airlines" source="Orion">airlines</keyword>. </li></ul>Indians have been truly bitten by the wanderlust bug since the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic. While average domestic flight fares have gone up in the last one year, average flight fares to top <keyword id="4431028" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-destinations" source="Orion">international destinations</keyword> have come down, making them more lucrative for Indian travellers, according to travel portal kayak.co.in. In fact, another survey points out that 60% of respondents say that they plan to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/shopping-holidays-pipped-by-this-rising-category-of-indian-travellers/articleshow/101773489.cms">travel abroad </a>in 2023. Travel reports show that the current lower international fares have made it an excellent time for Indian travellers to plan a trip to Hong Kong, where the average return flight price is ₹39,109 which is 25% less than it was last year. Taking a plane to Jeddah, or Tokyo will cost travellers 14% less than last year on average, while flight prices to Auckland, and Colombo have remained flat. If you are dreaming of an international vacation but worried about the expenses, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/affordable-international-getaways-from-india/articleshow/101824406.cms">here</a> is a list of destinations you can plan a trip to without breaking the bank. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Personalised travel experiences" comment="subhead" text="Personalised travel experiences">Personalised travel experiences</cmsannotation> A significant majority of Indian travellers, approximately 86%, are expressing optimism regarding their future travel plans for the upcoming 12 months. An interesting trend in travel is the growing preference for metropolitan cities such as New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as hill stations like Manali and Rishikesh, according to Booking.com, an online travel agency. Additionally, destinations with rich cultural heritage like Jaipur are also gaining popularity among travellers. Consumer behaviour is evolving, with a greater emphasis on finding unique, personalised, and memorable travel experiences. During the first half of 2023, not only hotels but also alternative accommodations such as resorts, guest houses, homestays, hostels, apartments, and villas emerged as the most popular choices for lodging. This indicates a shift towards diverse and varied accommodation options that cater to different preferences and provide a more distinct and customised travel experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Air India and Vistara rising high" comment="subhead" text="Air India and Vistara rising high">Air India and Vistara rising high</cmsannotation> Top <keyword id="18042050" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-travel-destinations" source="Orion">domestic travel destinations</keyword> for Indians during the April to June 2023 period were Goa, Kochi, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar, and Jaiputr, according to travel portal Cleatrip. Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, and Abu Dhabi were the top international destinations. Dubai and Singapore also featured among the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/top-5-foreign-destinations-on-the-radar-for-indians-and-thailand-isnt-one-of-them/amp_articleshow/101718671.cms">top international travel destinations </a>according to another recent report. Interestingly Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and Indigo were among the top ten international airlines. Air India, and Vistara also featured among the top three airlines in premium economy and business class.

Relatively cheaper flight tickets incentivising foreign holiday plans for Indians

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A mass IT outage is causing global travel chaos. </li><li>Passengers face delays and cancellations at airports as digital services relying on Microsoft were affected. </li></ul>A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/major-disruptions-airline-bank-london-stock-exchange-microsoft-outage-2024-7">global IT outage</a> has brought travel systems worldwide to a standstill, causing issues for passengers at airports, on train services, and at gas stations.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-companies-operations-airlines-affected-microsoft-crowdstrike-2024-7">Major airlines, banks, and retailers</a> are experiencing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-microsoft-chaos-delays-distruption-shown-in-photos-2024-7">widespread disruptions</a> after Microsoft reported problems with its online services, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-global-it-outage-one-defective-it-update-sparked-chaos-2024-7">linked to an issue at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike</a>.American, United, and Delta <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-american-warn-pilots-of-communication-issues-amid-grounding-2024-7">issued ground stops on Friday</a> due to potential communication issues, while airports and airlines worldwide reported issues and delays affecting airlines.As boarding, tickets, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-american-warn-pilots-of-communication-issues-amid-grounding-2024-7">pilot communication channels</a> were affected by the outage, passengers were hit with delays and cancellations.Scott Sanders, a passenger at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, told Business Insider that people were sleeping on the ground due to the disruption. The atmosphere was relatively calm, he said.Sanders' flight to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) had been scheduled to depart on Thursday at 10:55 p.m. However, after one and a half hours of sitting on board the plane, passengers were told to disembark.He still hoped to reach his father's 80th birthday celebration on Saturday.Jordan van den Lamb, a public servant, told BI that he had been stranded for six hours at Hobart Airport in Tasmania.Lamb said the airport was empty because other passengers were told their flights were canceled.He was told there was still a chance his flight would take off. But five hours later, it was canceled. Jetstar would not pay for accommodation, he said.But it did offer aggrieved passengers two vouchers amounting to $10.70 (16 AUD), which they were only allowed to spend all at once with no change given.<h2 id="94377cb2-ef0f-4b53-b24c-a56b1ba255b5">'Tired and hopeless'</h2>At Los Angeles International Airport, Sarah Patterson experienced a similar disruption.Patterson told BI her flight with Spirit Airlines to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was delayed by more than two hours on Thursday evening before it was eventually canceled.It took three hours to get her checked luggage back from the airline, she said.On top of the delay, the airline's app was completely unresponsive and they had been told that no rebookings could be made."There's about three flights of people, at least, all in a single line for the Spirit desk, all trying to get rebooked," Patterson said."I have a family vacation I'm supposed to go on on Saturday, so it's pretty brutal," she said.A spokesperson for Spirit told BI that its team is working "as quickly as possible to have everything restored." The company wrote on X Friday that it is currently unable to rebook flights for impacted passengers because of the outage.Jacqualine Ebule was also stuck at LAX after boarding her 11:15 p.m. flight to Washington, D.C. An hour later, they were told to disembark, and at 3:30 a.m., the flight was canceled."We sat on the tarmac for an hour, and they said it was a technical issue with Microsoft," Ebule told BI. "We then had to deplane and everyone has just been sitting around waiting."Calling the whole experience "a hassle" she was thinking of just heading home."People with kids look extremely tired and hopeless," she added.<h2 id="c9ae466d-6ea6-4ba9-a551-18531a175aca">Reverting to manual processes</h2>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/global-it-outage-y2k-24-years-later-crowdstrike-cyber-expert-2024-7">global IT outage</a> is affecting airlines differently depending on their use of Microsoft services for their operations.At Melbourne Airport, Australia, the international airlines Jetstar and Scoot were experiencing ongoing issues, while all other international airlines were processing passengers normally, the airport confirmed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/Melair/status/1814217651834786060">on X</a> on Friday morning.Some airlines resorted to using manual processes to manage the situation.<div type="image" title="A man stands looking at a piece of paper in front of a whiteboard displaying flight information in an airport lounge." height="4032" width="3024" msid="111866981" hostid="261"></div>In Singapore Changi Airport, whiteboards displaying flight numbers were laid out in a terminal 1 lounge.Elsewhere, passengers of Indian airline IndiGo posted images of handwritten boarding passes on social media. BI was unable to verify their accounts. However, the airline confirmed on X that the outage had impacted access to boarding passes and check-in.<h2 id="526b6277-1c02-4b21-8488-0b787cf60316">Trains and gas stations</h2>Travelers trying to use <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-dc-subway-global-it-outage-crowdstrike-new-york-washington-2024-7">other forms of transport</a> have also faced disruption.National train operators in the UK <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/nationalrailenq/status/1814206628113113153">reported</a> network-wide IT issues on Friday morning.In the US, Amtrak confirmed to customers on X that they were experiencing problems with their booking website, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-dc-subway-global-it-outage-crowdstrike-new-york-washington-2024-7">arrival information at some stations</a> was not working.Drivers were not exempt from the travel chaos either.Some Speedway gas stations around the US closed because digital gas pumps failed to work, and others were not accepting payments, a Speedway customer service employee confirmed to BI."They had to move to cash only and some don't have any internet," the employee said.

Airline passengers face chaos and uncertainty after massive IT outage

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indian budget airline IndiGo says it's letting some female travelers avoid sitting next to men.</li><li>An online tool color-codes some of the seats, the airline's CEO, Pieter Elbers, said.</li></ul>The CEO of Indian budget airline IndiGo says a booking tool test that lets women avoid sitting next to men on flights is getting some positive responses on social media.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/07/30/indigo-ceo-on-decision-to-allow-women-to-choose-not-to-sit-next-to-men.html">In an interview with CNBC</a>, IndiGo chief Pieter Elbers said the test has "resounded very, very well" — though the airline is still looking into whether it has increased female travel.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/07/indigo-allows-women-to-avoid-booking-seats-next-to-men-on-flights.html">According to CNBC</a>, the test kicked off in May across all IndiGo flights to make female passengers feel more comfortable.To book a ticket, customers first select a gender. On a subsequent seat selection page, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ssjoshssjosh/status/1795695816050680283">female travelers see</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/khabri_lal/status/1795320547636867262">pink seats</a> to designate where other females are seated, according to CNBC.The visuals are not available to male passengers, according to the outlet.The tool did not appear when Business Insider tried to make a booking. IndiGo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.Elbers told CNBC that the test embodies the philosophy of 18-year-old IndiGo — which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/indigo-launches-business-class-service-for-first-time-in-18-years/articleshow/112285550.cms">just launched business class service</a> for the first time — to be a "courteous and hassle-free service."However, some social media users on X jeered the test for promoting a "<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Mumbaikar40/status/1795786722573205928">culture of segregation</a>." Others wondered how it would apply to passengers <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/nomadicoyster/status/1795754960426319996">with different gender identities</a>."I know this seemed bizarre to the western folks," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/1em2wsj/comment/lgw6enf/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">one Redditor wrote</a>, "but I think people in this country would at least understand why this provision exists."Female solo travelers face unique <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/safety-tips-from-female-solo-traveler-all-50-states">safety</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-solo-travel-safety-tips-from-frequent-female-traveler-2023-11">concerns</a>. In a travel advisory, the US State Department urges all travelers not to go to India alone, "<a target="_blank" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/india-travel-advisory.html">particularly if you are a woman</a>."IndiGo <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.goindigo.in/about-us.html?linkNav=About%20us%7CCOMPANY%7CFooter">says</a> it's the largest airline in India, with 2,000 daily flights that connect more than 110 destinations. The company said it pulled in $8.2 billion in revenue in 2023.

Airline says it's testing a booking tool that lets women select seats away from men

<ul><li>Most of the top five most <keyword id="18042219" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="trending-destinations" source="Orion">trending destinations</keyword> internationally have experienced a drop in flight prices or remained stable. </li><li>Consumer behaviour is evolving, with a greater emphasis on finding unique, personalised, and memorable travel experiences. </li><li>Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and Indigo among the top ten international airlines. </li></ul>Indians have been truly bitten by the wanderlust bug since the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic. While average domestic flight fares have gone up in the last one year, average flight fares to top international destinations have come down, making them more lucrative for Indian <keyword id="70855" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="travellers" source="Orion">travellers</keyword>, according to travel portal kayak.co.in. In fact, another survey points out that 60% of respondents say that they plan to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/shopping-holidays-pipped-by-this-rising-category-of-indian-travellers/articleshow/101773489.cms">travel abroad </a>in 2023. Travel reports show that the current lower <keyword id="583099" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-fares" source="Orion">international fares</keyword> have made it an excellent time for Indian travellers to plan a trip to Hong Kong, where the average return flight price is ₹39,109 which is 25% less than it was last year. Taking a plane to Jeddah, or Tokyo will cost travellers 14% less than last year on average, while flight prices to Auckland, and Colombo have remained flat. If you are dreaming of an <keyword id="5898037" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="international-vacation" source="Orion">international vacation</keyword> but worried about the expenses, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/affordable-international-getaways-from-india/articleshow/101824406.cms">here</a> is a list of destinations you can plan a trip to without breaking the bank. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Personalised travel experiences" comment="subhead" text="Personalised travel experiences">Personalised travel experiences</cmsannotation> A significant majority of Indian travellers, approximately 86%, are expressing optimism regarding their future travel plans for the upcoming 12 months. An interesting trend in travel is the growing preference for metropolitan cities such as New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as hill stations like Manali and Rishikesh, according to Booking.com, an online travel agency. Additionally, destinations with rich cultural heritage like Jaipur are also gaining popularity among travellers. Consumer behaviour is evolving, with a greater emphasis on finding unique, personalised, and memorable travel experiences. During the first half of 2023, not only hotels but also alternative accommodations such as resorts, guest houses, homestays, hostels, apartments, and villas emerged as the most popular choices for lodging. This indicates a shift towards diverse and varied accommodation options that cater to different preferences and provide a more distinct and customised travel experience. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Air India and Vistara rising high" comment="subhead" text="Air India and Vistara rising high">Air India and Vistara rising high</cmsannotation> Top domestic travel destinations for Indians during the April to June 2023 period were Goa, Kochi, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar, and Jaiputr, according to travel portal Cleatrip. Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, and Abu Dhabi were the top international destinations. Dubai and Singapore also featured among the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/news/top-5-foreign-destinations-on-the-radar-for-indians-and-thailand-isnt-one-of-them/amp_articleshow/101718671.cms">top international travel destinations </a>according to another recent report. Interestingly Air India, Air India Express, Vistara, and Indigo were among the top ten international airlines. Air India, and Vistara also featured among the top three airlines in premium economy and business class.

Crisis-hit airline <keyword id="11252024" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="go-first" source="Orion">Go First</keyword> has suspended sale of tickets till May 15 and is working to refund or reschedule existing bookings for future dates, aviation regulator <keyword id="6354787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dgca" source="Orion">DGCA</keyword> said on Thursday. The <keyword id="6354705" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="directorate-general-of-civil-aviation" source="Orion">Directorate General of Civil Aviation</keyword> (DGCA) had issued a show cause notice to the airline after it suddenly decided to cancel flights for three days starting May 3. "<keyword id="6354976" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="go" source="Orion">Go</keyword> First has intimated that they have suspended sale of their flights till 15 May 2023 and are working to refund or reschedule for future dates, the passengers already booked to fly with them," the regulator said in a statement. After examining the reply filed by Go First, the watchdog has issued an order "under the prevailing regulations directing them to process the refunds to passengers as per the timelines specifically stipulated in the relevant regulation". The regulator also said it is committed to minimising passenger inconvenience in view of the abrupt decision by Go First to suspend their scheduled operations without any prior intimation. Separately, Go First said it has cancelled flights till May 9 due to operational reasons. "We regret to inform that due to operational reasons, Go First flights scheduled till 9th May 2023 have been cancelled... A full refund will be issued to the original mode of payment shortly," the airline said in an update on its website. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-great-summer-sale-2023-best-deals-on-tws-and-neckband-earphones/articleshow/99981436.cms">Amazon Great Summer Sale 2023: Best deals on TWS and neckband earphones</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/in-monobalas-passing-tamil-cinema-loses-an-enthusiast-of-cinema/slidelist/99981554.cms">South Indian film industry mourns Manobala</a>

Go First suspends sale of tickets till May 15; DGCA asks airline to process refunds for passengers

<ul><li>Air Canada has finally resumed all operations in India after a four-month-long halt due to the deadly second wave of COVID-19.</li><li>All passengers planning to travel to Canada will have to carry a negative COVID-19 test, taken less than 18 hours before the departure.</li><li>Covishield vaccine is recognised by the Canadian government.</li></ul>Air Canada has finally resumed all operations in India after a four-month-long halt due to the deadly second wave of COVID-19. The largest airlines in Canada took to social media to confirm this development. With this, other airlines have also resumed their flights between India and Canada. This includes United Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines and more. Here’s all you need to know Ticket booking: Passengers can book their tickets from the airline's official website. The tickets can also be purchased via online ticketing platforms like MakeMyTrip, EaseMyTrip, Goibibo and more. Pricing: The price of Air Canada flight ranges anywhere between $1300 to over $6000, depending on the dates and class you’re traveling in. Emirates flights from Mumbai to Toronto, for September 30, are going for as much as ₹5.47 lakh (one-way) with just two seats left as of 12 noon on September 21. Air Canada fare — New Delhi to Toronto (One-way) <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Date </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Economy </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Premium Economy </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Business Class </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sept 25, 3.35 a.m. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1.66 Lakh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1.66 Lakh` </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2.3 Lakh </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Sept 30, 5 a.m. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1.25 Lakh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1.34 Lakh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹1.78 Lakh </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Oct 2, 3.15 a.m. </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">N/A </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹2.2 Lakh </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹4.3 Lakh </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody><tbody></tbody></table>(Source: Air Canada) Requirements: All passengers planning to travel to Canada will have to carry a negative RT-PCR test or Rapid PCR Test from the testing lounge at terminal 3 of Delhi airport. The test should not be taken more than 18 hours before the departure. No other test from any clinic within India will be accepted. Vaccination: All passengers must be double vaccinated. The following vaccines have been<a href="https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada"> recognised</a> by Canada — Johnson &amp; Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer, and Covishield. All documentation must be uploaded on ‘<a href="https://www.arrivecan-online.com/.">ArriveCan-Online</a>’ before the departure. For more updates, people looking to travel to Canada can keep a tab on the government of Canada’s official website ‘<a href="https://www.canada.ca/en.html">Canada.ca</a>’. Canada had suspended all the commercial and private passenger flights from India on April 24, 2021, around the time COVID-19 cases were increasing in the South Asian country. About <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/covid-19-deaths-in-2nd-wave-cross-2-lakh-at-daily-average-of-over-2000/articleshow/83414459.cms">two lakh</a> Indians lost their lives in the second wave of the pandemic that lasted between April to May 2021. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/salesforce-ventures-backs-indian-payments-giant-razorpay-as-it-looks-to-expand-further-outside-india/articleshow/86388953.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">Salesforce Ventures backs Indian payments giant RazorPay as it looks to expand further outside India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/sbi-cards-adani-ports-hcl-tech-and-other-top-stocks-to-watch-out-for-on-september-21/articleshow/86386406.cms">SBI Cards, Adani Ports, HCL Tech and other top stocks to watch out for on September 21</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/collapse-of-evergrande-may-haunt-tata-steel-jspl-nalco-and-other-metal-stocks/articleshow/86387294.cms">The collapse of Evergrande, one of China’s largest home developers, is “not a Lehman moment” but the fear may haunt steel and metal stocks in India</a>

Air Canada, Emirates, Air India and other airlines resume flights to Toronto and the tickets are priced up to ₹5 lakh

<ul><li><keyword id="42740" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Emirates">Emirates</keyword> has signed a codeshare and interline agreement with <keyword id="6358032" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpiceJet">Spicejet</keyword>.</li><li>Passengers will be able to book a single ticket to any of Emirates’ nine points across India and connect onwards to 172 domestic routes that are part of SpiceJet’s network. </li><li>Spicejet posted ₹463 crore loss for the second quarter of the current financial year</li></ul>Dubai-based Emirates has signed a codeshare and interline agreement with Indian budget airline Spicejet. Through this agreement, Indian customers can book Spicejet flights to Indian cities from the Emirates website itself. They can book a single ticket to any of Emirates’ nine points across India and connect to 172 domestic routes that are part of SpiceJet’s network. “In the last decade, we have flown more than 50 million customers on our Indian routes, which we now serve with 170 weekly services from Dubai. Our partnership will help us leverage SpiceJet’s extensive route network, so that our customers who are visiting friends and family can fly closer to their hometowns, while tourists can more easily access many of the incredible sights and sounds India has to offer,” Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer said. Although the agreement is still subject to government approval, customers can start booking flights from 25 November, for <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword> starting 15 December 2019. Kazim added that this will have a positive impact on businesses of both companies. Spicejet had posted ₹463 crore loss for the second quarter of the current financial year, even though it saw a 52% jump in revenue to ₹2,845 crore.

Emirates and Spicejet partner to offer more connectivity to Indian cities on a single ticket

<ul><li>Last week, a cash-starved <keyword id="6358200" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="jet-airways">Jet Airways</keyword> decided to temporarily suspend operations after its creditors refused to give into its requests for emergency funding. </li><li>In the immediate aftermath of the move, domestic <keyword id="6375796" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="airfares">airfares</keyword> surged by as much as 200% owing to <keyword id="6390515" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="capacity">capacity</keyword> constraints and the fact that a number of prime flight slots were now empty. </li><li>As they get Jet’s flight slots, domestic airlines have no choice but to increase the size of their fleets to meet their flight commitments.</li></ul> Last week, a cash-starved Jet Airways decided <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jet-airways-last-flight-tonight-will-increase-airline-ticket-cost/articleshow/68925023.cms">to temporarily suspend operations </a>after its creditors refused to give into its requests for emergency funding. In the immediate aftermath of the move, domestic airfares surged by <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/domestic-airfares-surge-up-to-200-after-jet-airways-crisis/articleshow/68972003.cms">as much as 200%</a> owing to capacity constraints and the fact that a number of prime flight slots were now empty. This only served to hurt consumers, as they were forced to book flights at high prices while waiting for refunds from cancelled flights. That was expected. But even before Jet’s grounding, the Directorate General of Civil <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation">Aviation</keyword> (DGCA) has asked domestic airlines to <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dgca-asks-airlines-to-rein-in-fares-as-jet-crisis-takes-a-toll/articleshow/68914262.cms">keep flight prices in check</a>, given that at least 11 routes had seen average fares increase by more than 10% year-on-year. As <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/dgca-asks-airlines-to-rein-in-fares-as-jet-crisis-takes-a-toll/articleshow/68914262.cms">90% of Jet’s slots </a>were unused, the process of allocating them to other airlines was also underway. As they get more flight slots, domestic airlines have no choice but to increase the size of their fleets to meet their increased flight commitments. In fact, instead of a planned addition of 80 planes at domestic carriers, the number has recently been <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/150-new-planes-this-fiscal-to-fight-fare-turbulence/articleshow/68983278.cms?from=mdr">increased to 150</a> - a third of which will be added at market leader Indigo. <keyword id="2573" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> is currently in the process of securing some planes <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/air-india-looks-at-leasing-some-boeing-737s-of-grounded-jet-airways/1554785/">that were leased to Jet</a> for both international and domestic routes, having written to the State Bank of India <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/air-india-keen-on-taking-5-grounded-jet-boeings-1555577250188.html">for permission to do so</a>. AirAsia is also reportedly <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/150-new-planes-this-fiscal-to-fight-fare-turbulence/articleshow/68983278.cms?from=mdr">adding 14 planes</a> this coming quarter. Meanwhile, both <keyword id="6358032" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpiceJet">SpiceJet</keyword>, GoAir and Indigo have also moved to <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/jet-airways-crisis-spicejet-air-india-step-in-to-soften-blow-to-indian-aviation-industry-1555717072015.html">lease more planes and add more flights</a>. Spicejet alone has hired hundreds of Jet’s former employees. An estimated 20,000 employees were without work when the airline shut operations. Jet’s suspension is expected to last until the creditor-led bidding process for a majority stake in the airline is completed. However, if the bidding process fails to unearth a serious bidder - which is a possibility given the fact that Jet isn’t operational - the airline might have <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/jet-airways-crisis-lenders-keen-on-non-ibc-resolution-in-case-bidding-process-fails/articleshow/68974386.cms">to undergo liquidation proceedings</a>. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jet-airways-last-flight-tonight-will-increase-airline-ticket-cost/articleshow/68925023.cms">Jet Airways might fly for the last time tonight and that's bad news for travellers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/jet-needs-emergency-funding-of-4-billion-to-stay-airborne-until-a-buyer-swoops-in/articleshow/68915745.cms">Jet needs emergency funding of ₹4 billion to stay airborne until a buyer swoops in</a>

As Jet remains grounded, Indian airlines are increasing their fleets to rein in surging ticket prices

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Akasa Air, an ultra-low-cost Indian carrier, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-akasa-air-orders-72-boeing-737-max-jets-2021-11-16/">placed</a> a $9 billion order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX Jets last week.</li><li>The airline could potentially lift up the entire Indian aviation segment, industry analysts say.</li></ul>Judith Philip is stressed. The 32-year-old auditor's work schedule is packed and her only retreat is travel, but the pandemic hit her sole recreation badly. To make up for lost time, Philip is pinning her hopes on an upcoming solo trip to Sri Lanka."I think I might do a lot of revenge travel once these restrictions are lifted and things get a bit better," Philip told Insider from the southern Indian city of Bangalore.She is among millions of travelers waiting in the wings to cruise Indian skies as the country's aviation sector braces for a shake-up. At the heart of this shake-up stands to be a freshly minted airline, Akasa Air. Ever since its public debut in July, Akasa has become the most talked-about airline in the country. And on November 16, it <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-akasa-air-orders-72-boeing-737-max-jets-2021-11-16/">placed</a> a $9 billion order for 72 Boeing 737 MAX jets. The airline could potentially lift up the entire Indian aviation segment, which has been grappling for several years, industry analysts say.Unlike <keyword id="11898285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="airlines" source="Orion">airlines</keyword> that ground their fleets in capital Delhi or financial hub Mumbai, Akasa's fleet stands to be mostly based in the Indian tech capital of Bangalore. While Akasa's exact routes have not yet been announced, they are expected to reach less-travelled destinations at less expensive fares.Backed by billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala – nicknamed <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/rakesh-jhunjhunwala/">India's Warren Buffett</a> and Big Bull for his smart investments — the carrier aims to be the resurrector of a turbulent domestic market in Asia's third-largest economy.But Jhunjhunwala and Akasa are entering the aviation industry at a historically difficult time: The pandemic is far from over, and the market is crowded, plagued by collapsing carriers, and difficult to turn a profit in.Jhunjhunwala did not respond to multiple requests from Insider for comment for this story.<h2>Room for growth</h2>Until the turn of the decade ending 2010, air travel was luxury only affordable for the affluent in <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.A country of about 1.4 billion people, India has about<a href="http://www.knowindia.net/aviation7.html"> 650 passenger jets</a>. Domestic airlines carried 144 million flyers in 2019, according to the regulatory body <a href="https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/dataReports/aviationDataStatistics/handbookCivilAviation/HANDBOOK2018-19.pdf&amp;main4252/4205/sericename">Directorate General of Civil Aviation.</a> By comparison, the US (population 333 million) has over <a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/by_the_numbers/">5,000 civilian aircraft</a>, while China (population 1.44 billion) operates <a href="http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/18/c_138237617.htm">close to 3,700</a> passenger jets.Today, trains remain the preferred mode for the long-distance journeys of the masses in India. In the 12 months <a href="http://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Annual-Reports-2019-2020/Year-Book-2019-20-English_Final_Web.pdf">ending March 2020,</a> Indian trains ferried over eight billion travelers.But as India's middle class grows and competing airlines keep the price of domestic airfare low, air travel is slowly becoming a viable mode of transport for more people. Delhi aims to unveil <a href="https://twitter.com/MoCA_GoI/status/1357015867448455169">over 200 new airports</a> across the vast country in the next four years and is rapidly expanding the existing airports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration expects civil aviation to play a crucial role in its ambitious goal of making <a href="https://www.narendramodi.in/pm-modi-s-aspirational-call-for-5-trillion-dollar-economy-in-5-years-547486">India a $5 trillion economy </a>by 2024."We can expect huge growth in the next five to 10 years," Sanjay Kumar, chief strategy and revenue officer of IndiGo, told Insider of the Indian aviation market. IndiGo is India's market leader in domestic traffic <a href="https://www.ibef.org/industry/indian-aviation/showcase/indigo">with 55% share.</a>"The growing middle-class population will start traveling as the Americans or Chinese do. We've so far not seen this [in India] at all," Kumar added.<h2>A volatile market</h2>Until the second half of 2018, India was home to the fastest-growing aviation market in the world, with passenger numbers ballooning.Growth nosedived in 2019 due to factors including crew shortage, taxes on jet fuel, and unsustainable business models.At the heart of India's spiraling airline crisis was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jet-airways-shuts-down-after-running-out-of-money-2019-4">the collapse of Jet Airways</a>, the country's oldest and first successful private airline. Mounting debts, poor acquisitions, and cheaper prices offered by rivals killed the 26-year-old Jet Airways.The Indian aviation market is so volatile that about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_airlines_of_India">50 players have shut shop</a> in the past three decades and changed billionaires into millionaires.And this was all before the pandemic decimated the industry.But a troubled industry also means abundant talent in the market for hire, low asset costs, and weakened competitors, factors that could play a role in Jhunjhunwala's favor.<h2>A market dominated by low-cost carriers</h2>Unlike the aviation markets of the western world, where the segment is multi-layered and caters to a wide range of travelers, carriers in India need to keep a close watch on ticket costs. About 80% of <a href="https://www.dgca.gov.in/digigov-portal/?page=jsp/dgca/InventoryList/dataReports/aviationDataStatistics/handbookCivilAviation/HANDBOOK2018-19.pdf&amp;main4252/4205/sericename">the market share</a> in India is cornered by low-cost carrier models (LCC), which make a profit through volume by selling seats at cheap rates.Six large airlines dominate the domestic skies in India: IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir (which rebranded as GoFirst), AirAsia India, Vistara, and Air India. While Vistara and Air India are classified as no-frills carriers, the rest operate as LCC.Unlike all other existing market players, Akasa is an ultra low-cost carrier (ULCC), which means every little space inside the plane – from paper cups or luggage bins — is for sale for advertising. Further, Akasa can cut back on all expendable costs and fly more hours a day while keeping the seat fares separate from all other related services like food. It's basically like the Spirit Airlines of India.Akasa is expected to launch operations by early or mid 2022, if the speculation in the industry is proved right. Akasa has been busy hiring industry veterans including Vinay Dube, the former CEO of Jet Airways, and Aditya Ghosh, the former CEO of Indigo. <a href="https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/akasa">Regulatory approvals </a>are on track.Yet, the fate of Akasa depends on more than a billionaire backer and experienced leadership. Other variables at play in the airline's success include how it manages its fleet composition, distribution models, and the choice of flying destinations.<a href="http://www.knowindia.net/aviation7.html">Airbus dominates</a> the Indian skies: The A320 family makes up 70% of all passenger aircraft in the country.The advent of Akasa means an opportunity for American planemaker Boeing to make a breakthrough in a crucial market.Akasa hopes to operate a fleet of 70 aircraft in four years, ​​Jhunjhunwala told <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-28/indian-billionaire-investor-plans-70-planes-for-new-airline">Bloomberg</a> in a television interview in July. Boeing's market outlook, meanwhile, predicts there will be demand for 2,200 commercial jets in the next two decades."In India, domestic traffic is leading the recovery. We're seeing double-digit monthly improvements in operations as vaccine rates improve and travel restrictions begin to loosen," Salil Gupte, president of Boeing India, told Insider.Gupte estimates passenger traffic numbers in India will reach pre-pandemic levels by 2023 or 2024."We are honored that Akasa Air, an innovative airline focused on customer experience and environmental sustainability, has placed its trust in the 737 family to drive affordable passenger service in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation regions," said Stan Deal, Boeing commercial airplanes president and CEO, following the deal.<h2>Challenges Ahead</h2>Industry experts say Jhunjhunwala's Akasa appears set to take Indian civil aviation to new heights, but they add caveats.For instance, fixed costs like lease, parking, maintenance, and staff salaries make up 40% of an airline's cost structure, according to IndiGo's Kumar. To be successful, Akasa must get the combination of these correct, industry experts said."Akasa's bet is on the fragility of one or more carriers and as a well-capitalized new entrant, it may very well be able to gain a strong foothold," said Satyendra Pandey, managing partner at India-based aviation services firm AT-TV.Rival carriers are bound to match Akasa's fares from day one of its operations, Pandey said – which means it'll be entering a profitless growth environment. A careful assessment of the market should incorporate both business and behavioral trends, Pandey said."Force-fitting western frameworks just does not work. Getting this wrong has meant that even extremely well-funded airlines have consistently failed to turn a profit and witnessed continuous margin deterioration. Levers that worked pre-pandemic may not quite work the same," Pandey added."If the ULCC model is implemented, Akasa Air may expand the overall market by stimulation due to low airfares," said Manvi Hooda, chief of consulting and research at the aviation consulting firm, CAPA India."India remains an under-penetrated air travel market. Given India is a value-sensitive market, low airfares can significantly stimulate the market," said Hooda.

A new, ultra-low-cost Indian airline just placed a $9 billion order with Boeing, and analysts say it could lift up the country's entire aviation segment

Mumbai, Apr 14 () With the central government extending the lockdown to May 3 and subsequently the suspension of all commercial passenger services also till then, domestic airlines have again decided not to refund the customers in cash for their cancelled flights and instead offer them rescheduling of tickets for a later date without any additional fee.India had imposed a 21-day lockdown from March 25 to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Consequently, all domestic and international commercial passenger flights were suspended for this time period.However, most of the airlines had been taking bookings except national carrier Air India for domestic flights for the period beyond April 14.After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the extension of lockdown till May 3, the aviation regulator DGCA issued a circular stating all international as well as domestic flights will remain suspended during the lockdown."Following orders from the Ministry of Civil Aviation issued to all airlines, we have extended the suspension of our operations until May 3, 2020."We are in the process of cancelling the affected bookings and we will offer customers free of charge rescheduling to another date until December 31, 2020," a Vistara spokesperson told in statement.The customer, however, will have to pay the fare difference, if any, at the time of rebooking, the airline said.A GoAir spokesperson said that it has already "factored in" these type of scenario and that the airline will review its earlier scheme of providing rescheduling free of cost at a later date while protecting their existing bookings for one year.The airline had on Monday announced that it was extending the "Protect Your PNR" scheme till April 30, 2020.Aviation consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation had last week termed the sale of tickets without a clarity on lockdown as "unfair to consumers"."The decision to allow opening of advance bookings from April 14 without a decision on lifting of the lockdown and likely structure of the transition period post the lockdown needs to be immediately reviewed as this is unfair to consumers," Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said in a statement.Citing examples of erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines and now-defunct Jet Airways, CAPA said that the closure of these two carriers has "already resulted in massive losses to passengers as refunds couldn't be processed resulting in crores of losses to passengers".It may be mentioned here that the then customers of the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways could not recover their money which the two airlines had amassed on account of advance bookings only after their going belly up.CAPA in its March 18 report had stated that amid COVID-19 and in the absence of government support "several Indian airlines may shut down operations by May or June due to a lack of cash."Announcing that all its flights are cancelled till May 3, IndiGo said, it is in the process of cancelling the reservations."Your ticket amount is protected in the form of credit shell in the PNR, which can be utilised within one year of the issued date." Gurugram-based spiceJet also said the amount from the cancelled ticket will be maintained in a credit shell."We are cancelling the reservation of those who booked tickets for travel till May 3, 2020. Upon cancellation your entire amount will be maintained in credit shell and the same may be used for fresh bookings and travel till February 28, 2021, for the same passenger," it said. IAS MR

You Searched For "indian airline tickets" and got 10 results

Relatively cheaper flight tickets incentivising foreign holiday plans for Indians

Anagh Pal

Airline passengers face chaos and uncertainty after massive IT outage

Polly Thompson,Nora Redmond,P…

Airline says it's testing a booking tool that lets women select seats away from men

Geoff Weiss

Relatively cheaper flight tickets incentivising foreign holiday plans for Indians

Anagh Pal

Go First suspends sale of tickets till May 15; DGCA asks airline to process refunds for passengers

PTI

Air Canada, Emirates, Air India and other airlines resume flights to Toronto and the tickets are priced up to ₹5 lakh

Kritti Bhalla

Emirates and Spicejet partner to offer more connectivity to Indian cities on a single ticket

Sanchita Dash

As Jet remains grounded, Indian airlines are increasing their fleets to rein in surging ticket prices

Dilsher Dhillon

A new, ultra-low-cost Indian airline just placed a $9 billion order with Boeing, and analysts say it could lift up the country's entire aviation segment

Vasudevan Sridharan

Airlines decline refund to customers for cancelled tickets as lockdown extended

PTI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides