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    Tourism

    Get Set Go: Southern California Road Trip

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    There’s nothing like packing your bags, hopping in the car and turning the radio dial up as miles of pavement pass beneath your wheels. In Southern California, where warm, sunny days make for perfect drives with the window down, the best road trip includes three amazing and unique regions all within a few hours of each other: Santa Monica, Greater Palm Springs and San Diego. Whether you’re a beach bum or a culture connoisseur, you’ll appreciate the variety of experiences that await in each place—and can be enjoyed in just 10 days. SANTA MONICA DAY 1: Santa Monica, your starting point, is Los Angeles’ beach city—a charming seaside town with all of the culture, events and urban amenities of a bustling metropolis. Kick off your trip with a bike ride along the 35-kilometer beach bicycle trail or a guided tour with Santa Monica Bike Center. Then spend a few hours at the Pacific Park amusement park, located on the world-famous Santa Monica Pier, and catch the sunset from the Ferris wheel. Finish your first day with dinner on the patio at one of Main Street‘s neighborhood restaurants. DAY 2: Begin your day by grabbing some fresh fruit from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, then getting a coffee to-go and strolling toward the 26-acre Palisades Park, known for its beautiful ocean views. Want to get your feet wet? Catch a wave during a surf session with the pros at Aqua Surf School before exploring the Annenberg Community Beach House, a unique community destination with spectacular views, a splash pad, a playground, a gallery, beach courts, cultural events and more. Afterward, hit up Santa Monica Place for outdoor luxury shopping and dining. DAY 3: Greet the dawn with a sunrise hike in historic Will Rogers State Park through Malibu Discovery Tours, then grab your sunscreen and shades and find a sunny spot in the sand. Perry’s Café and Beach Rentals is a must, offering “Beach Butler” service with a private beach area, as well as chairs, an umbrella, towels, and food and beverages delivered right to you. Once you’ve worked on your tan, find your artsy side at Bergamot Station, Southern California’s largest art gallery complex and cultural center with over 20 contemporary galleries, or head to Pico Blvd for a self-guide street art mural tour. Looking to stay somewhere truly unique while in Santa Monica? Check out these these hotels which feature amazing architecture and design elements. GREATER PALM SPRINGS DAY 4: It’s time to head to Greater Palm Springs for a little relaxation and rejuvenation. This storied resort oasis, home to nine distinct cities, serves as the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park and boasts hundreds of miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails, as well as an incomparable collection of seductive luxury hotels, resorts and spas. After the 2.5-hour drive, climb aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, and ascend over 9,000 feet to the top of Mount San Jacinto. Need to stretch your legs? Set out on a desert hike or go rock climbing among colossal boulders at Joshua Tree National Park. Afterwards, be sure to visit Pioneer town, an Old West movie set, or stop by world-renowned saloon and restaurant Pappy & Harriet’s for a barbecue dinner and live music. DAY 5: Rise and shine with an outdoor adventure that’s sure to get your adrenaline pumping. With Big Wheel Tours, you’ll get a guided bike tour as you join the signature “Earthquake Canyon Express” through the San Andreas Fault Zone. At America’s first carbon-neutral resort, Two Bunch Palms, treat yourself to a full range of spa-induced wellness treatments, including mud baths, chakra massages and reiki. And as the sun dips behind the mountains, embark on a San Andreas Fault Sunset and Stargazing Jeep Tour with Desert Adventures Red Jeep Tours & Events. DAY 6: Begin the day with another shot of adrenaline at the BMW Performance Center. Strap into a high-performance BMW and learn to negotiate one of three private road tracks under your instructor’s watchful eye. Before the 2.5-hour drive to San Diego, allow La Quinta Resort & Club to nourish the body with authentic Mexican cuisine at the resort’s signature restaurant, Adobe Grill. SAN DIEGO DAY 7: After spending a couple days immersed in the desert’s awe-inspiring scenery and healing energy, pack up the car to explore the world-famous attractions and neighborhoods of San Diego. The region’s unique Cali-Baja culinary scene and craft brew industry has foodies flocking for fresh experiences, while a dynamic downtown is home to nightlife that’s as vibrant as the city itself. Plus, it’s only 2.5 hours away! Spend the late morning exploring the Embarcadero, an epicenter of maritime history, where you can tour the USS Midway Museum, take a 1- or 2-hour harbor cruise or visit the floating Maritime Museum. Later, watch the sun set while sipping cocktails at one of Harbor Island’s trendy bay-side restaurants, then indulge in incredible cuisine prepared by top chefs in Little Italy, San Diego’s current restaurant “hot spot.” DAY 8: Wake up and walk on the wild side at the world-famous San Diego Zoo, home to more than 4,000 animals. Stroll through the country’s largest urban park—Balboa Park—featuring 15 museums, an artist colony and fascinating architecture. Then top it all off with dinner and dancing in the Gaslamp Quarter, a historic downtown neighborhood where you’ll find 200+ restaurants, bars and nightclubs within a 14-block radius. DAY 9: Make your last morning memorable by enjoying breakfast at a cozy La Jolla cliffside restaurant (be sure to check out the sea lion colony!) followed by some much-needed beach time. Kick back and catch some rays along San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline. Round out the day in Old Town, the “Birthplace of California,” where museums, restaurants and Mexican traditions combine to provide an unforgettable cultural experience. DAY 10: Enjoy a light bite at one of San Diego’s hidden gem neighborhoods of North Park, South Park or Hillcrest, then head

    Top Stories

    India’s CDS dies in a massive chopper crash along with his wife and other air force officers

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    New Delhi, 9th December 2021: In one of the major air crash India has witnessed in recent times, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), the country’s most senior serving soldier, General Bipin Rawat, died in a helicopter crash in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, when he was flying to give a lecture at the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) in Wellington. He was traveling in a Russian made Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17V-5 helicopter along with his wife, Madhulika Rawat, and 11 other armed forces personnel. The only survivor was the pilot, Group Captain Varun Singh, who is battling for his life in Military Hospital Wellington. The incident shocked the entire top the Indian government and PM Narendra Modi in his message said, General Bipin Rawat was “an outstanding soldier” and “a true patriot” who greatly contributed to modernising India’s armed forces and security apparatus. “As India’s first CDS, General Rawat worked on diverse aspects relating to our armed forces including defence reforms.” Rawat and his team flown in the morning in an Embraer Legacy jet from Delhi to Sulur Air Force Base, near Coimbatore. At Sulur, they transhipped to a Mi-17 helicopter for the short trip to Wellington and land at the DSSC helipad. Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh said the bodies of the victims will be flown to Delhi. A tri-service enquiry, led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, is presently underway, he added. He also said Group Captain Varun Singh, decorated with the Shaurya Chakra on Independence Day this year, who was the lone survivor of the crash, is on life support and all efforts are being made to save him. It remains unclear whether the accident took place because clouds caused the pilots to misjudge the terrain, or whether a mechanical failure had occurred. General Bipin Rawat, India’s first CDS, was a visionary who initiated far reaching reforms in the Indian military’s higher defence organisation. He was instrumental in creating the foundation of India’s joint theatre commands and giving impetus to the increased indigenisation of military equipment, a legacy which will be carried on and strengthened by successive generations. ( Pix Courtesy: Internet)

    Top Stories

    SriLankan Airlines is committed to serve India, says Ashok Pathirage Chairman, SriLankan Airlines

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    Exclusive Interview with Mr. Ashok Pathirage Chairman, SriLankan Airlines Aviation World,New Delhi,India SriLankan Airlines has assured Indian travelers that the airline is committed to increase the flights to destinations that were temporarily halted due to the pandemic, restore operations to pre-COVID-19 levels, and offer a wide range of connections to SriLanka. In an exclusive interview, Ashok Pathirage Chairman, SriLankan Airlines briefs Vishal Kashyap, Managing Editor, Aviation World about the future plans and strategies of the national carrier. Excerpts… How do you see India from business prospective? India is our biggest market and we are dedicated to re-establish operations to full scale where the Indian market is concerned. We continued to operate both passenger and cargo flights to and from India even during periods of lockdown and despite many global travel restrictions. Now, things are moving on appositive note and we see getting back to normal India operations soon. What strategies SriLankan Airlines is taking to restore travel from India? It is an ideal time to create awareness about SriLankan Airlines’ operations in the Indian market and build confidence among travelers to book with the Airline as lockdown are being lifted and global travel restrictions are eased out. The inflow of tourists from India to SriLanka has increased considerably in the last few months, with Sri Lanka being one of the first few countries to open borders and welcome fully vaccinated Indian travelers. Undoubtedly, India is one of Sri Lanka’s most significant source markets for international travelers. How did you capitalize the Covid slowdown? When global aviation was at its lowest point, SriLankan Airlines continued to launch flights to new destinations like Nairobi, Korea, Moscow, Frankfurt, Sydney, Kathmandu and Paris during 2020 and 2021.SriLankan Airlines’ global network expanded significantly, and all new destinations were introduced after thorough studies of factors such as demand, frequency and response. The new routes are indicative of the Airline’s continuous commitment to enhance its network and the travel options available to its passengers worldwide. Are their plans to add more aircraft in your fleet to manage the enhanced capacity of 250-300 weekly flights to India in the next few years? Absolutely, I mean our current fleet is not good enough for us. I also mentioned that that we are planning to be a very strong force in the region. New terminal building is also being developed in Colombo a s[part of the expansion plan which will further increase the passenger capacity by about three- to four times from the current level. So, we are planning for that with or without the newer aircraft and fleet renewal. It might not be 300 flights, who knows, it may be even more. “At SriLankan Airlines it is one of our priorities to see the challenges. We have survived (the pandemic) now we want to build the airline. We do not just want to survive, we want to build a powerful airline which can help our economy” How you see the situation now when the market is opening for your airlines in perspective to India as well as overseas? Now, most of the countries are relaxing as large number of citizens have received the vaccines. We have seen strong demand especially from the Eastern Europe .UK has been our strongest market and from our perspective now we have launched flights to France and Moscow after 6-7 years lapse. So, with all these we feel like things are getting back to normal. We can see lot of traffic going out to Middle East and coming in, that’s mainly the labor traffic that’s almost back to normal. But then India is as you said it’s a very important market for us. Today, we are operating about 54 flights a week compare to 120 flight pre-Covid. Hopefully, we feel that India should comeback to normalcy within one calendar year as pre-Covid levels and from there we hopefully want to increase. There is so much of opportunity in India and obviously SriLankan Airlines and also our tourism authorities has overall put much focus here to take up the market. How are you planning to make a balance between commercial and cargo operations as during lockdown cargo seemed to be key revenue generator? Primarily we are a passenger airline, so we are not going to sacrifice passenger business because of any short term business like what we did during Covid lockdown. It’s all amount to foreign revenue as the national airline what we bring to SriLanka by way of tourism. It’s a direct and indirect process from that perspective. Of course cargo as I said, there is export which is also important. But the passenger aircraft are used for passengers and with whatever capacity left behind will be used for cargo. There is a big focus going on for cargo where we are looking for freighters exclusively for our cargo business. Accordingly, Cargo operations emerged as a key activity in the Airline’s business model, and SriLankan plans to introduce more dedicated Cargo flights to its operation. On the pilot training part are there any plans to enhance in-house simulator training facility? Our pilots are completely getting trained in SriLanka in our in house facilities. At , we have two simulators, one for A-320 and second for A330. Of course, if someone wants to go abroad and get trained they do that. We do have our own aviation regulator which certifies all such pilots as per the standard process. Finally a hypothetical question I want to put across. When do you see 100 per cent resumption of flights? If everything goes well than I see in one year’s time by December 2022 things will be normal and we will resume to 100 per cent of our capacity.

    Civil Aviation, Top Stories

    Ministry of Civil Aviation mandates Air Suvidha Portal for Ease of Travelling

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    New Delhi, 07th December 2021: To ensure the smooth passage of international travellers arriving in India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has mandated contactless self-declaration at Air Suvidha Portal. The Air Suvidha portal was launched in August 2020 and now has been strengthened to accommodate travel guidelines issued on 30 November 2021. Air Suvidha is first of its kind digital portal for easing international passenger arrival in India. This portal is developed by MOCA aids passengers in providing their details of travel and final stay along with RTPCR, Vaccination status etc. In today’s time, this helps state officials in contact tracing. The implementation of the Air Suvidha intends to provide hassle-free, queue free, and convenient air travel to all international passengers arriving in India. Air Suvidha portal has already assisted2,51,210 passengers from 1st Dec 2021 to 05th Dec 2021 since the updating of the new travel guidelines on 30th November 2021. Furthermore, over1 crore passengers have been benefitted from the Air Suvidha portal since its launch in August 2020. To ensure the necessary prevention of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus, the exemption forms from the Air Suvidha portal have been discontinued, and filling of the details have been made compulsory for all international passengers arriving in India. All international passengers arriving in India are mandated to declare their current health status prior to boarding on the Air Suvidha Portal along with the required documents: Copy of Passport, PCR Negative Certificate from a Test conducted within 72 hours of departure and the Vaccination Certificate. For immigration, the copy received in e-mail is essential on arrival in India and has to be verified at the APHO counter. Updates made to make Air Suvidha friendlier for passengers and health/State officials: • All applications from ‘at risk’ countries are marked with H and red band and others are green. This helps in smooth on arrival segregation and processing. This list is dynamically updated to keep up with MOHFW updates. • Application also takes into account countries visited in the last 14 days to highlight ‘at risk’ applications. This field is also made into multi-select drop-down option for standardization. • Standardization of fields by providing drop-down list E.g. district and state for address. • Updated FAQ list and customer care link along with the latest advisory at the start of the portal. • For ‘At Risk’ countries passengers are advised to pre-book their test on arrival test and the link to respective testing facility is provided to the passengers on SDF submission. All international passengers are mandated to follow the below measures arriving/transiting from Countries at-risk • Submit self-declaration form on Air Suvidha portal • Upload negative RT-PCR report (conducted within 72 hrs. before the journey) • Post-arrival COVID-19 test at arriving Airport (self-paid) • Home quarantine for 7 days, • Re-test on the 8th day and if negative, self-health monitoring for next 7 days List of Countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing (Countries at-risk)(Updated as on 6th December 2021) 1. Countries in Europe including The United Kingdom 2. South Africa 3. Brazil 4. Botswana 5. China 6. Ghana 7. Mauritius 8. New Zealand 9. Zimbabwe 10. Singapore 11. Tanzania 12. Hong Kong 13. Israel Air Suvidha Portal Link: https://www.newdelhiairport.in/airsuvidha/apho-registration For more details, visit: https://bit.ly/NewTravelGuidelinesOct2021

    Recent News

    Fareportal to expand its presence in India by Q1 22

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    Gurgaon, December 6, 2021: North America based travel technology company, Fareportal is soon going to expand its footprints into the Indian market with massive hiring by first quarter of 2022. In an interaction with Indian media, Fareportal top management said that they have now expanded their activities in the Indian market and sees a huge scope for developing diverse and more integrated strategies.They presented their plans covering employment programs, human resource development, and innovative technologies used by the company for sustained growth over the next 5 years. The company highlighted employee-oriented goals such as work-from-anywhere, employee well-being and mental health, hiring and branding, talent development, and overall work experience in the course of their human resource development. Fareportal is focusing on employee engagement strategies that will improve their commitment to the company, and lead to success in business. Workforce engagement, safety, resilience, cost management, mental health, and organizational agility are key motivational priorities in this “Work-from-anywhere” environment. Rajat Bhatia, VP & Head – People & Culture, Fareportal India states, “Human resource will be the key to achieving our future growth strategy, focused significantly on enhancing and growing our technology teams and adding new digital capabilities.” Rajat Bhatia also offered insights into the company’s vision and potential strategies in the Indian market. Fareportal India aims to integrate their ideas on leadership and technology that employ machine learning, natural language processing, chatbots, robotic process automation, new payment methods like Buy now, Pay later, NDC integrations and more. As per Fareportal’s Vice President and Head of Product Vikas Banga, “With the help of homegrown Customer Service Innovations like Chatbot, Customers can search for flights, request help with their existing booking, and make changes to – or even cancel – their existing bookings quickly and easily”. He also envisions the company to operate and expand as a booming seat of innovative and technological conveniences for travelers in the days to come.At present, Fareportal India has operations in Gurgaon and Pune. In line with their vision and strategies, the company is developing innovative operational systems based on technology and employee development.

    Recent News

    Star-Studded San Francisco Bay Area Culinary Scene Shines Bright

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    2021 MICHELIN Guide to California Recognizes 114 Bay Area Restaurants * The San Francisco Bay Area has the most Michelin three-star restaurants in the U.S. * Fifty of California’s 90 Michelin-starred restaurants are in the San Francisco Bay Area * Michelin awards Bib Gourmands to 64 Bay Area restaurants for “great food and value” * Three Bay Area restaurants land on “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list San Francisco,6th December 2021: The San Francisco Bay Area retained its distinction as the top destination in the U.S. for fine dining following the long-awaited unveiling of the 2021 MICHELIN Guide to California this month. The Bay Area enjoys the greatest concentration of Michelin three-star restaurants in the U.S. and the most Michelin-starred restaurants in California. Six Bay Area restaurants received the coveted three Michelin stars in the 2021 MICHELIN Guide: Atelier Crenn, Benu, Quince, The French Laundry, SingleThread and Manresa. Eight restaurants were awarded two Michelin stars, including Birdsong, which added a second star. Altogether, 50 Bay Area restaurants were awarded one or more Michelin stars in 2021, accounting for 56% of California’s90 Michelin-starred restaurants. Sublime Doesn’t Always Mean Expensive While the Bay Area’s fine dining options standout, visitors can experience plenty of mouthwatering cuisine at easily digestible price points. Michelin bestowed 64 Bay Area restaurants with its Bib Gourmand designation. This category celebrates restaurants offering “great food and value,”where a three-course meal can be enjoyed for around $40 or less, excluding tax and gratuity. Out of the 147 restaurants in California receiving a Bib Gourmand, nearly 44% are in the San Francisco Bay Area, including 18 newcomers to the list such as Routier, Um.Ma and Dumpling Home. The World’s 50 Best Restaurants Only six U.S. restaurants landed on “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants” list in 2021 and three of them are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Benu and Atelier Crenn in San Francisco and SingleThread in Healdsburg ranked 28th, 48th and 37th, respectively. San Francisco-based chef Dominique Crenn, owner of Atelier Crenn, Petit Crenn and Bar Crenn, also received this year’s Icon Award as “a true culinary leader giving a voice to the under-represented.” New and Notable in San Francisco The City by the Bay is a leader in culinary creativity, with chefs such as Dominique Crenn, Corey Lee, Brandon Jew, Ho Chee Boon, Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski leading the way. San Francisco’s innovative and diverse food scene is why the city is hailed as the “best foodie city” in the country by U.S. News & World Report.And even with the challenges of the pandemic, the city’s seen a slew of exciting restaurant openings in the last 18 months and many more are debuting soon. The Most European of American Cities Embraces Al Fresco Dining San Francisco’s outdoor dining scene blossomed with the creation of “parklets” over the last 18 months. Over 2,100 permits for in-street dining, sidewalk tables and other outdoor setups have been issued since early 2020 as part of a larger Pavement to Parks Program, which repurposes underutilized street space into neighborhood amenities. A vibrant success, the parklets will now become permanent fixtures.Given the city’s year-round temperate climate, it’s a boon for diners. Eat Drink SF and SF Restaurant Week Run The Golden Gate Restaurant Association announced 2021 Eat Drink SF(EDSF) and SF Restaurant Week from Oct.15 through Oct. 24. The concurrent program explored San Francisco through both indoor and outdoor dining and imbibing featuring prix fixe menus, chef collaborations, cocktail events and ticketed experiences.More than 150 restaurants participated in SF Restaurant Week.

    People

    Nikolay Kolesov Appointed as Head of Russian Helicopters

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    Moscow / December 1, 2021 Nikolay Kolesov, former head of Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, has become a Director General of Russian Helicopters holding. Andrei Boginsky, who has held this position since 2017, transferred to the United Aircraft Corporation as the Deputy Director General for Civil Aviation and as the Director General of the Irkut Corporation. The purpose of this rotation is to strengthen both aircraft building companies in their priority areas. Russian Helicopters is currently developing large-scale civil aviation programs and promoting new types of rotorcraft on the markets. In particular, the holding is in the process of getting type certificate for the Ka-62 helicopter. It also started flight tests of the upgraded Ka-226T and will soon commence flight tests of the newest “offshore” Mi-171A3. “The holding is now one of the global leaders in the helicopter industry. In order to strengthen its positions, we have to complete numerous ambitious tasks. I would like to thank the previous management for their contribution to the company’s development — by now, the holding has accumulated a significant portfolio of firm orders for 525 helicopters. We must ensure that the existing contracts are unconditionally fulfilled, and proceed with several important rotorcraft development projects for the civil segment,” stated Nikolay Kolesov. Nikolay Kolesov has been the head of Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies since 2009. Under his leadership, the Concern became the leading developer and manufacturer of avionics equipment for all types of aircraft. More than 850 items of aviation electronic warfare equipment were produced, including helicopter-based ones, as well as electronic countermeasures systems for planes and helicopters. Moreover, the Concern produces civilian electronics, including electric charging stations, medical equipment, etc. In 11 years, the company’s output of civilian products has increased more than 20-fold, from 2.3 billion rubles in 2009 to 47.4 billion rubles in 2020. Andrei Boginsky has been the head of Russian Helicopters since 2017. Under his leadership, the holding has implemented a number of promising civilian projects and achieved record sales of civil rotorcraft, increasing its share in total sales volume from 8.4% in 2016 to 46% in 2020. The holding has remained profitable in unfavorable market conditions against the background of global decline of the helicopter market. Moreover, it now ranks second in the world in terms of total sales volume over the past 5 years.

    Recent News

    Vistara Announces Resumption of Flights to Singapore

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    New Delhi, 26 November 2021: Vistara, the Indian full-service carrier will be resuming flights between Singapore and Mumbai starting 29 November 2021. The flights will be operated under Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL)thatallows quarantine-free travel to Singapore for fully vaccinated travellers.Vistara will operate its Airbus A320neo/A321neo,five times a week between the two cities. Vistara’s A321neo offers a three-cabin class configuration, world-class interiors and features that offer an unmatched travel experience. All seats feature 4-way adjustable headrests and movable armrests for a genuinely comfortable journey. Bookings for these flights are open on all channels including the Vistara website, Vistara’s iOS and Android mobile apps, through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and travel agents.

    Recent News

    Airasia Group’s New Subsidiary Completes Its First Installation Of Inmarsat’s Gx Aviation Inflight Broadband Solution

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    25 NOVEMBER, 2021Inmarsat, the world leader in global mobile satellite communications, today announced the first installation of its award-winning GX Aviation inflight broadband solution by Asia Digital Engineering (ADE), a wholly-owned AirAsia Group subsidiary and leading provider of engineering services in Southeast Asia. The installation, completed onboard an AirAsia Airbus A320 aircraft, marks an important milestone that supports ADE’s ambitions to become a GX Aviation installation partner for other airlines in Southeast Asia. The company will also establish a one-stop shop for airlines that want to operate a fully connected fleet, combining its vast expertise in end-to-end engineering and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) with Inmarsat’s market-leading connectivity solutions. ADE was established in September 2020, after AirAsia Group consolidated its engineering and MRO assets to provide a centralised support service, not only for its own aircraft fleet, but also for other commercial airlines in the region. With a unique focus on data and technology, ADE has successfully leveraged, and continues to build on, AirAsia Group’s 19 years of combined experience in operating and maintaining a large fleet of more than 250 Airbus A320 and A330 family aircraft. Chris Rogerson, Inmarsat Aviation’s Vice President of Global Sales, said: “AirAsia Group is the largest customer for our GX Aviation inflight broadband solution in the Asia Pacific region, and one of the largest in the world. Our partnership has been a hugely successful one, based on a common passion about the exciting opportunities that digitalisation and connectivity provide to passengers and the aviation industry, especially as airlines recover from the pandemic. We are delighted, therefore, to now collaborate on GX Aviation installations for AirAsia and other airlines in the region, bringing together the combined experience and expertise of Inmarsat, ADE and the rest of the AirAsia Group.” Mahesh Kumar, CEO of Asia Digital Engineering, said: “ADE has made significant progress since launching our services in the midst of the pandemic last year. We are delighted about the success of our first GX Aviation installation and look forward to continuing the rollout across AirAsia Group’s fleet, as well as bringing our world-class engineering and MRO expertise to other airlines. By working with partners such as Inmarsat, we are building ADE into a market-leader that provides high quality and best value services, with a focus on using the latest technologies to increase satisfaction, productivity and efficiency.” ADE, based in AirAsia Group’s RedQ global headquarters in Malaysia, has already received base maintenance approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) and Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation, with approval from five additional authorities expected before the end of 2021. On 21 December, 2021 Inmarsat will add to its satellite fleet for the region, launching I-6 F1 from Japan. The satellite is Inmarsat’s first dual payload satellite, with both Ka-band (Global Xpress) and L-band (ELERA) onboard.

    Recent News

    Strategic asset transfer to provide growth platform for ADNEC Group and its new subsidiaries

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    Abu Dhabi, UAE – 25 November 2021: The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), part of ADQ, one of the region’s largest holding companies, is taking the next step in its business diversification strategy with the strategic assets transfer of tourism business unit from Etihad Airways to ADNEC Group. Etihad Holidays will be acquired by Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company (ADNEC) to expand their footprint in tourism. Etihad Holidays will integrate with Tourism 365, being the ADNEC tourism promotion business. The decision will further support the UAE’s tourism sector, given ADNEC’s extensive experience and capabilities across tourism industry. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, said: “ADNEC is proud to welcome this important business entity into its portfolio. We hold a long-term investor perspective in identifying and acquiring key assets in developed markets. This move will strengthen the Group’s competitiveness and will increase direct and indirect economic contributions to the UAE’s tourism sectors. “This decision further reinforces our commitment to investment in growth opportunities which will deliver long term returns to the Group. ADNEC Group has wide-ranging experience in overseeing successful tourism and hospitality assets and will bring the same insights and strategic focus to ensure the continued success of this important entity.” Tourism 365 will operate Etihad Holidays, taking it from a platform focused on the local market to a fully-fledged tour operator supplying online and traditional travel agencies with Etihad network holiday packages from key source markets. Capital Experience, Tourism 365’s destination management arm, will be the exclusive supplier of Etihad Holidays across the UAE when it comes to hotels, transfers and attractions. Etihad Holidays offering will combine Etihad Airways’ outstanding product with packages in different source markets to key destinations including Abu Dhabi, the wider UAE, Thailand, Seychelles, Maldives and many others. Roula Jouny, Executive Director of Tourism 365, commented: “We are thrilled with this move. This new development solidifies our strategic role in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a destination and bolstering the incredible efforts of the UAE’s wider tourism industry. This asset transfer will significantly expand Etihad Holidays’ presence in key source markets especially from a B2B tour operator standpoint. As part of Tourism 365’s vision to become the number one choice for travel and tourism professionals, we look forward to further highlighting Abu Dhabi to tourists from far and wide, whilst also showcasing the unmissable offerings of the Emirates.”

    FOREWORD

    Dear Reader’s,

     

    The current edition of Aviation World has covered many areas of Aerospace & Defence based on the latest development in the sector. The front cover highlights three different images, first for the Union Civil Aviation Minister ….. who is leading from the front to steer Indian Civil Aviation sector to witness one of the most interesting phases. He is also facing most tumultuous timing due to the ongoing financial stress in the Aviation sector due to ATF rising cost and long airspace restrictions resulting in mounting losses for Indian carriers. Despite of all the ground level challenges,the minister is addressing new things on regular basis which keeps the sector motivated. We have featured many such developmental works in this edition done under his guidance which will be interesting to read.

    Our lead story on “ The West War” is another important feature which covers the ground level reality of the challenges faced by the Aviation sector. Its though time ahead and we believe it will pass soon .

    There are features on Regional connectivity and MoCA revised rules on the UDAN 2.0 and how its going to transform the flying experience within India.

    In this edition, we have covered topics on MRO,Various Policy changes,Sea Plane Operations by SkyHop Aviation, TATA-Airbus joint project on C295 military aircraft under Make In India which is expected to roll out soon and many other interesting contents which will be good to read.

    We are covering Farnborough International Airshow 2026 from 20-24July 2026 in London and our next edition will be based on the same event.For features, you may contact our team on priority basis.

     

    Happy Reading!

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    NEWSLETTER

    Aviation World Magazine is India’s premier aviation magazine and has been actively supporting the development of the Indian and global civil aviation sector. We started our journey in year 2015 and its been 12 years now and the response and acceptance is really encouraging. Thanks to all our associates and writers who remained with us in our progressive journey.

    We have started 2026 on a very positive note and we look forward to increase our footprints to more locations and induct many more new companies in our campaign.. Do write to us at : editor@aviationworld.in

    Disclaimer

    The contents published in this website are news covering Aviation, Aerospace and Defence sector. The objective is to provide news in informative form to keep our readers updated of the latest development. We also publish content featured in our print publication Aviation World.We try our best to avoid any factual errors or image displayed here but we ensure immediate corrections to any such thing brought to our notice that might have been published inadvertently. All images and contents are sourced from the relevant organisations media team.

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