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

<keyword id="24240143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai-International-Airport" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Chennai International Airport" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Chennai International Airport">Chennai International Airport</keyword> has been temporarily shut down till 7 PM on Saturday in view of <keyword id="24172195" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Fengal" source="keywords">cyclone Fengal</keyword> making landfall today evening. As heavy rainfall and strong winds intensified ahead of the cyclone, it is expected to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts, near Puducherry tonight. Multiple airlines companies already issued travel advisories and updates on their flight plans due to the continuing heavy rainfall in Chennai Tamilnadu. Earlier, <keyword id="19900374" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IndiGo-airlines" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IndiGo airlines" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IndiGo airlines">IndiGo airlines</keyword> diverted all flights scheduled to come to Chennai. "Due to the impact of CycloneFengal in Chennai, flights operating to the city are being diverted. Our crew and airport teams are dedicated to providing all possible support &amp; assistance during this time. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding," the X post by IndiGo said. Meanwhile, security at the Puducherry coast has also increased as Puducherry Senior Superintendent of Police, Kalaivanan visited the beaches and the coastal roads in the region and inspected them for preparedness. The authorities have advised the public to not visit beaches in Puducherry as well as in Tamil Nadu's Chennai, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam and Edward Elliot Beach. The tourist spots in Puducherry have been closed as a precautionary measure, owing to the impending cyclone Fengal. <keyword id="24240138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Puducherry-police" source="keywords">Puducherry Police</keyword> in a post on X advised citizens, "In view of Cyclone Fengal, we urge you to exercise extreme caution and avoid visiting beaches and coastal areas" The SSP said that 300 police personnel have been deployed on various coastal roads and beaches. "For the last four days, we have been deploying police personnel along the beaches and apart from that we are also informing the fishermen and people living in the low-lying areas to be careful. Fishermen are not venturing into the sea. Since last night, we have closed all beaches. We have deployed nearly 300 personnel across all the beaches of Puducherry and we are coordinating with the NDRF also," the SSP said. The coastal areas of Puducherry witnessed rough sea and gusty winds on Saturday morning due to the impact of the cyclone. Puducherry received moderate rain, as per IMD, in the morning today but the rough sea was seen more than usual.

Cyclone Fengal: Chennai airport shut till 7 PM

<keyword id="19895061" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="goa" source="keywords">Goa</keyword> is a popular tourism destination in India and is known for its gorgeous beaches, nightlife, and food. The popular destination hosts millions of tourists every year and for some, it is just a couple hours of drive away. However, international travellers don't find it that easy to get to the destination, as per a new PTI report. The report says that even though Goa is increasingly a popular choice for international travellers, it requires government support to make it more accessible to foreigners. In a media statement, the department said that charter flights from key markets like Russian cities Moscow and Ekaterinburg, London, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, support international arrivals. A Polish charter flight is also set to arrive in the coastal state on November 8. The statement added that this international interest extends beyond Goa’s iconic beaches, with tourists increasingly exploring areas like Dudhsagar Falls and scenic hinterlands. To further boost connectivity, Goa is collaborating with airlines and seeking government support to improve flight routes, creating a more globally connected tourism landscape. "However, establishing robust direct international connectivity requires further support from the Government of India, which we are actively seeking to make Goa an even more attractive, accessible, and globally connected destination," a spokesperson said. He added that after pandemic disruptions, Goa’s international tourism is rebounding, with over 450,000 foreign arrivals recorded in 2023. Alongside domestic visitors, totaling over 8 million this year, the state’s tourism sector is also thriving. Addressing challenges like limited direct flights, Goa’s tourism officials are working to secure new airline agreements, ensuring an easier journey for international visitors. He also talked about the challenges that the tourism destination is facing, including limited connectivity by air. "Goa does face some challenges. For example, limited scheduled international air connectivity. The state government is working closely with the Centre to relook at point of call and additional seat entitlement for Goa, to establish more robust international connections," he said. (with PTI inputs)

This Indian state is attracting international tourists via chartered flights, needs support to make itself more accessible

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japan Airlines has offered free domestic flights to international tourists visiting Japan.</li><li>The initiative aims to promote travel to lesser-known destinations.</li></ul>Japan Airlines is giving <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-airlines-free-domestic-flights-us-international-how-to-book-2024-9">free domestic flights</a> to international tourists, making travel to smaller cities and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-going-to-japan-avoid-mistakes-travel-advice-2024-7">hidden gems</a> far easier.But travel experts say the initiative is likely to backfire, as it could exacerbate the country's overtourism problem.The initiative was announced in September and is available to people traveling to Japan from the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-american-wishes-she-knew-before-visiting-japan-mistakes-2024-9">US</a>, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, China, and Taiwan.In order to obtain the free tickets, passengers must book round-trip international flights with Japan Airlines and domestic flights within the same purchase.A spokesperson for Japan Airlines said no end date has been set for the initiative.<h2 id="e067d43f-7a22-42e9-a0bf-597ba6c4f4a3">It could intensify over-tourism</h2>Sara Aiko, founder of the travel agency <a target="_blank" href="http://www.curatedkyoto.com/">Curated Kyoto, </a>told BI that the initiative was likely created to distribute tourism to lesser-known areas to alleviate overtourism in the capital.But in practice, Aiko said, "people will continue to flock to popular destinations like Tokyo, regardless of free tickets, because they are major attractions."<div type="image" title="A woman with a backpack walks through the streets of Tokyo." height="4749" width="6888" msid="114154442" hostid="261" sizebytes="1396134"></div>Earlier this year, the Japanese government estimated that it would surpass <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/17/japan/society/record-high-inbound-travelers/">its target of getting 32 million international tourists by 2025</a> after 8.6 million people visited in the first quarter of 2024.Ben Julius is the founder of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.touristjapan.com/about/">Tourist Japan</a>, a travel agency that offers tour packages across Japan to travelers from around the globe.Speaking to BI, Julius said around 90% of his clients visit the same popular locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, and Osaka."The majority of visitors are first-time visitors," he said. "And when people visit Japan for the first time, they won't miss the must-see cities."However, overtourism in these areas is majorly disrupting the lives of locals, who have to deal with rising hotel prices and misbehaving tourists."Hotel prices have skyrocketed due to tourism, making it difficult for many locals to stay at places they used to enjoy," Aiko said.Meanwhile, in April, authorities in Yamanashi erected an eight-foot-tall barrier to prevent tourists from taking photos at a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-town-building-barrier-stop-tourists-taking-mount-fuji-photos-2024-4">convenience store with views of Mount Fuji</a>.<div type="image" title="A view of Mount Fuji behind a convenience store." height="2828" width="4242" msid="114154441" hostid="261" sizebytes="260872"></div>The move came after complaints about the behavior of international tourists, including littering and bad parking.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg2j7dery1o">BBC News</a> reported in August that the barrier had been removed in preparation for a typhoon, but authorities said it would be re-erected if tourists returned in large numbers.Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of the travel agency <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://globaltravelmoments.com/">Global Travel Moments</a>, told BI that Japan has been a top-booked destination for his clients for the past three years.He said he has noticed the "immersive pressure" on the country's public transport system, hotels, and attractions, "particularly in smaller towns not equipped for mass tourism."International visitor spending is expected to reach 6.3 trillion Japanese yen, or around $42 billion, by the end of 2024, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://wttc.org/news-article/japans-travel-and-tourism-sector-to-surpass-previous-records-in-2024">research</a> by the World Travel and Tourism Council.Employment within the travel and tourism industry is also expected to climb. The organization estimates more than 6 million new jobs will be created this year, which they said is a 10% increase from 2023.One reason tourists are spending more money is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-weak-currency-yen-boosts-foreign-tourism-luxury-purchases-travel-2024-4">weak yen</a>. Since the start of 2022, the yen has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/JAPAN-YEN/EXPLAINER/xmvjnxjmbvr/">lost more than 20% against the dollar,</a> and it reached a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/dollar-defensive-amid-lower-yields-yen-hovers-near-38-year-trough-2024-07-03/">38-year low</a> of 161.96 to the dollar in July.Greenfield-Turk said Japan Airlines' initiative has the potential to stretch the economic benefits of mass tourism to less-visited areas.However, without proper direction, he said it "could simply encourage more travel to already strained regions, intensifying the overtourism problem.""If tourists continue to gravitate toward popular destinations rather than exploring new ones, the initiative could backfire," he said.There's also the possibility that tourists will opt out of the new initiative.Amy Thomasson, a Japan travel advisor for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.travelmation.net/">Travelmation</a>, told BI that it "doesn't make sense for most travelers" because of the additional costs that could be accumulated.The airline said travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, and China who plan to stay in their first destination for more than 24 hours will be charged a $100 layover fee.Instead, Thomasson suggests that tourists utilize Japan's high-speed trains.Business Insider's Monica Humphries previously wrote about her experience traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/riding-japans-bullet-trains-between-tokyo-kyoto-2023-7">Hikari Shinkansen</a>, a high-speed bullet train, and noted that it was clean, comfortable, and quick.

Japan is giving free flights to international tourists, but it may backfire

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US airlines have ditched first class for improved business cabins to optimize space and revenue.</li><li>Some global carriers are adopting a different strategy as demand for more onboard luxury spikes.</li></ul>Delta Air Lines and United Airlines years ago eliminated international first class on their planes, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-ditching-first-class-seats-passengers-arent-buying-it-2022-10">American Airlines is following suit</a>.They deemed business class more lucrative for long-haul flights. It can fit more seats and is more marketable to more people than a costly first-class ticket.But many global carriers in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East are taking the opposite approach, chasing dollar signs with new first-class cabins amid a post-pandemic industry shift that's seen <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-airline-first-class-suites-in-world-2023-8">increasing demand for luxury at the front of the plane</a>.This includes multimillion-dollar revamp plans in a bid to lure more customers, keep up with the competition, and boost revenue and reputations. While these carriers still have business class, true first class remains a money-maker despite taking up the least amount of cabin real estate.Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/15/qatar-airways-to-launch-first-class-as-airline-courts-airbus-and-boeing-for-new-planes.html?utm_source=syndication">CNBC</a> in March that the airline's first class is here to stay. This was a U-turn from his predecessor, who said in 2023 that first class wasn't necessary with that carrier's famous <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-airways-business-class-qsuite-next-gen-photos-2024-7">Q-Suite business class.</a>Five-star Singapore Airlines also plans to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-airlines-new-first-class-business-upgrades-privacy-door-trend-2024-11">launch a new first class</a> as part of an over $800 million cabin overhaul project. Air France, Swiss International Air Lines, and Lufthansa are also in the mix, among others.<div type="image" title="Swiss' new first-class." height="744" width="992" msid="115064431" hostid="261" sizebytes="49628"></div>A study from Mighty Travels Premium, published in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.mightytravels.com/2024/10/who-really-flies-first-class-data-shows-67-are-corporate-travelers-not-wealthy-individuals/#Who-Really-Flies-First-ClassData-Shows-67-are-Corporate-Travelers-Not-Wealthy-Individuals-International-Routes-Report-Higher-Individual-First-Class-Bookings-Than-Domestic">October,</a> showed that the first-class resurgence is largely corporate travelers from monied Fortune 500 companies.The study, which analyzed airline revenue data, saw a jump in international bookings from affluent leisure individuals willing to pay a premium for the posh perks.First-class transatlantic fares averaged about $2,900 one-way between January and August, not including taxes and fees, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. But that can be a lot higher on more luxury-focused airlines.Tiffany Funk, an analyst from the travel website <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.point.me/">Point.me</a>, told Business Insider that a drive behind Singapore's new first-class is partly from ultra-wealthy people who want to fly in style but can't reach certain <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-on-a-50-million-bombardier-global-5000-private-jet-2022-5">destinations with a private jet.</a>"Singapore adding first-class speaks to its demographics," she said. "One of the Google co-founders who goes back and forth between the US and Singapore is someone who would book it, those are the people willing to pay $15,000-$20,000 for that really nice luxury experience."<h2 id="abe0097f-b9fa-429e-b49f-0356ea72b21f">Some airlines are adding first-class to boost their prestige</h2>Funk said airlines like British Airways, Singapore, Emirates, and Air France don't always fill first-class but have them for the "prestige."<div type="image" title="flight attendant sitting in air france first class." height="3124" width="4754" msid="115064429" hostid="261" sizebytes="719060"></div>Airlines, especially those with state investment, are willing to take the trade-off for the sake of boosting their reputation or providing the needed luxuries for their local elites."Air France is committed to having this super premium first-class product because it's Air France," Funk said. "It doesn't necessarily make economic sense, and it doesn't need to with only four seats to fill on the plane."She pointed to other examples like Emirates, which can get more customers across all cabins simply because it is associated with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/emirates-airlines-first-class-flight-review-lie-flat-bed-shower-2023-4">having showers in first class</a> — even if people aren't in a seat with access to that shower.Then there is British Airways, which Funk said carries the prime minister and the royal family and needs to partly maintain first-class for that clout."You're not going to have William and Kate fly business class alongside 85 other people," she said.<div type="image" title="Qantas first-class cabin for Project Sunrise" height="4242" width="6000" msid="115064430" hostid="261" sizebytes="2398362"></div><h2 id="e19242e8-14ab-4c62-bb67-afee61170409">9 airlines are planning a new first-class cabin</h2>With at least nine new international first-class cabins coming to market over the next couple of years, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/british-airways-first-class-suite-review-photos-2023-7">deep-pocketed customers</a> have a lot to look forward to — especially as some of these luxury seats will touch the US.Here are nine global airlines introducing a new first-class cabin:<ul><li>Air India: A new first-class will <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-new-luxury-cabins-air-india-retrofit-onto-boeing-777-2023-8">be retrofitted onto existing Boeing 777-300ERs</a> starting in 2025 as part of Air India's $400 million rebrand.</li><li>Air France: The airline's new "La Premiere" first-class is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://businesstravelerusa.com/news/air-france-new-la-premiere/">expected</a> to be unveiled by the end of 2024, though details remain limited.</li><li>British Airways: The UK flag carrier is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://thepointsguy.com/news/british-airways-improvements-new-first-class-lounges/">debuting</a> a new first class on its Airbus A380s and future Boeing 777Xs. No official timeline has been announced.</li><li>Cathay Pacific: The Hong Kong-based airline is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/cathay-pacific-unveils-aria-suite-a-new-way-to-experience-air-travel-1033863345">introducing</a> a new first class on its future 777X planes, but the delivery of those planes and its new cabin is still uncertain.</li><li>Swiss International Air Lines: From 2025, the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/swiss-first-class-seats-too-heavy-for-a330-planes-2024-9#:~:text=Installation%20of%20the%20new%20cabins,plate%2C%22%20a%20spokesperson%20said.">carrier will offer a new pod-like first class</a> on existing A330s, Boeing 777s, and future A350s.</li><li>Lufthansa: Germany's flag carrier is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lufthansa-replacing-dated-business-class-new-allegris-cabin-first-class-2024-4">launching its new A350 Allegris first-class</a> on Saturday. The suite is similar to Swiss.</li><li>Qantas: From 2026, Australia's national airline will debut a new <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qantas-first-business-class-worlds-longest-flights-project-sunrise-pictures-2023-2">first class on A350s as part of "Project Sunrise,"</a> which will operate the world's new longest flights between Australia, New York, and London.</li><li>Qatar: The Doha-based airline has released few details about its new first class, but the cabin will be on <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qatar-new-qsuite-adding-first-class-to-boeing-777x-2024-3">future 777X planes</a>.</li><li>Singapore: Singapore is the latest airline to reveal a new first class, which will debut on seven <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-longest-flight-singapore-airlines-business-review-2023-1">ultra-long-haul A350-900ULRs</a> in the first quarter of 2027.</li></ul>

International airlines are all-in on fancy first-class seats, even as US carriers focus only on business for long-haul flights

<ul class="summary-list"><li>United Airlines announced 13 new routes across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.</li><li>The expansion includes unique destinations like Nuuk, Greenland, and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.</li></ul><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-airlines-to-offer-free-wifi-spacex-starlink-elon-musk-2024-9">United Airlines</a> is making bold route decisions as it continues to expand its giant international presence.The Chicago-based carrier on Thursday announced 13 new routes across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America starting in the summer of 2025.Eight are to niche destinations new to United, including Nuuk, Greenland; Dakar, Senegal; and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The expansion will further cement United's place as the US' largest international carrier across the Atlantic and Pacific.Mongolia adds to United's growing list of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/international-travel-made-possible-by-the-freedoms-of-the-air-2024-4">"fifth-freedom" routes</a> from of Tokyo's Narita International Airport. Other new fifth-freedom routes include Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and the western Pacific country of Palau from Tokyo. The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-new-nonstop-international-routes-colombia-morocco-philippines-fifth-freedom-2024-3">airline previously announced Cebu, Philippines</a> from the Japanese capital, to launch later in October. The so-called fifth freedom of the sky allows airlines to fly between two countries outside their own, so long as their home nation is the start or end point. They stem from a UN body's 1944 "<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-on-fifth-freedom-routing-from-new-york-to-singapore-2023-1">Freedoms of the Air</a>" agreement.For example, UAE-based Emirates stops in Milan between New York and Dubai, while <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flying-on-fifth-freedom-routing-from-new-york-to-singapore-2023-1">Singapore Airlines stops in Frankfurt</a>, Germany, between New York and Singapore.Patrick Quayle, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-united-isnt-buying-boeing-new-777x-widebody-plane-2024-8">United Airlines</a>' SVP of global network planning and alliances, told reporters that the Tokyo routes could use crews based at United's Guam hub, helping the airline gain an edge in Asia.The airline's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-cities-united-plans-to-fly-new-airbus-a321xlr-2024-8">Europe expansion</a> goes beyond Greenland. It will also begin new flights to off-the-beaten-path destinations in Portugal, Italy, France, and Spain, from its hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Washington Dulles International Airport.Quayle said these far-flung cities will attract new customers and help United differentiate itself from competitors. They add to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-reveals-5-new-international-destinations-3-new-routes-2021-10">growing list of unique places for United, </a>which has flown nonstop to cities like Dubrovnik, Croatia; Tenerife, Spain; and Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for years.Here's the full list of United's 11 new overseas routes, and two additional to Mexico and Costa Rica: <ul><li>Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Tokyo: Seasonal beginning May 1, 2025</li><li>Kaohsiung, Taiwan to Tokyo: Year-round beginning July 11, 2025</li><li>Koror, Palau to Tokyo: Year-round beginning April 2, 2025.</li><li>Nuuk, Greenland to Newark: Seasonal beginning June 14, 2025.</li><li>Palermo, Italy to Newark: Seasonal beginning May 21, 2025.</li><li>Bilbao, Spain to Newark: Seasonal beginning May 31, 2025.</li><li>Faro, Portugal to Newark: Seasonal beginning May 16, 2025.</li><li>Madeira, Portugal to Newark: Seasonal beginning June 7, 2025.</li><li>Dakar, Senegal to Dulles: Year-round beginning May 23, 2025.</li><li>Nice, France to Dulles: Seasonal beginning May 24, 2025.</li><li>Venice to Dulles: Seasonal beginning May 22, 2025.</li><li>San Francisco to San Jose: Daily beginning May 22, 2025.</li><li>Puerto Escondido, Mexico to Houston: Year-round beginning April 5, 2025. (Operated by United regional partner Mesa Airlines).</li></ul>

You Searched For "international flights" and got 5 results

Cyclone Fengal: Chennai airport shut till 7 PM

ANI

This Indian state is attracting international tourists via chartered flights, needs support to make itself more accessible

BI India Bureau

Japan is giving free flights to international tourists, but it may backfire

Mikhaila Friel

International airlines are all-in on fancy first-class seats, even as US carriers focus only on business for long-haul flights

Taylor Rains

United announced 13 new international routes and 3 'fifth freedoms' flights to far-flung destinations

Taylor Rains

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides