Civil Aviation

Mumbai, 20th June 2025: Royal Jordanian Airlines has launched new nonstop route between Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai (BOM), commencing June 19, 2025. The new service will operate year-round, four times a week—on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday—aboard the modern Airbus A320neo. This strategic addition strengthens connectivity between India and Jordan and offers seamless onward travel to over 50 destinations across the Middle East, Gulf, and North Africa. The new route will open the door for Indian tourists to experience one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. With Royal Jordanian’s seamless access to the Kingdom, passengers from Mumbai can now exploRJordan through an unforgettable journey. In just three or seven days, visitors can witness the breathtaking rose-red city of Petra—one of the Seven Wonders of the World—float in the healing waters of the Dead Sea, and explore the dramatic desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, positioning Jordan as a contemporary, truly authentic Arabia five hours away from India. Whether driven by history, nature, or a passion for discovery, Jordan promises Indian travelers an enriching escape filled with beauty, culture, and unmatched hospitality. “With direct access to Jordan, a captivating country rich in history and culture, passengers can now easily explore Jordan’s inspiring landscapes. This expansion reflects our dedication to showcasing Jordan’s unique allure to tourists, inviting them to uncover its hidden gems, immerse themselves in its vibrant traditions, and experience the renowned hospitality that awaits every visitor,” stated Chief Commercial Officer of Royal Jordanian, Karim Makhlouf. ” Royal Jordanian’s new route to Amman offers more than just added convenience—it serves as a vibrant bridge between India and Jordan, connecting travelers to the heart of a land where ancient wonders and modern vitality coexist in harmony. With this launch, Indian tourists can now explore Jordan’s captivating history, breathtaking landscapes, and dynamic culture more easily than ever before, as they will be eligible for visa-free entry when booking tourist packages. Isha Goyal, CEO of STIC Travel Group said,” The new direct service between Mumbai and Amman is more than just a flight — it is a bridge between two ancient civilizations and a gateway for deeper tourism, trade, and cultural exchange. Jordan holds a distinctive place in the Levant region, and as a longstanding friend of India, this long-awaited route marks a significant step in bringing our countries closer. This milestone reflects STIC Travel’s continued commitment to forging strategic airline partnerships built on trust, shared vision, and service excellence. We look forward to introducing Indian travellers to the richness and beauty of Jordan, an inspiring and still largely untapped destination.”

Abu Dhabi, 9th June 2025: Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines activated their codeshare agreement, strengthening connectivity between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. This bilateral partnership enhances global travel opportunities for guests, with seats available to book now. Ethiopian will start services from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) to Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) on 15 July, and Etihad Airways introducing daily flights to Addis Ababa starting 8 October. This is the first step ahead of implementation of the groundbreaking Joint Venture agreed between Etihad and Ethiopian in March 2025 unlocking greater travel opportunities for passengers across both networks.The codeshare lets guests simplify their journeys by making a single booking with one check-in process at the start and the added convenience of having their baggage transferred to their final destination. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer said: “By leveraging our combined networks, we are unlocking seamless travel opportunities between Africa and Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. Easy connections via Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa, will enhance flexibility, boosting trade and tourism, and delivering unparalleled travel experiences to guests of both airlines.” Under this partnership, Etihad passengers will gain access to Ethiopian Airlines’ extensive African network, with connections via Addis Ababa to 55 destinations across 33 countries, including Entebbe, Kinshasa, Kigali, Lusaka, Harare and Victoria Falls expanding their travel options across the continent. At the same time, Ethiopian Airlines passengers can book itineraries connecting to Etihad-operated flights through Abu Dhabi, with onward service to 20 key destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East including Sydney, Krabi, Colombo and Phnom Penh. As part of its commitment to Africa’s growing demand for air travel, Etihad is significantly expanding its network in 2025, introducing new destinations and increased frequencies to strengthen links across the continent.

Gurugram, 9th June 2025: Air India has rolled out an integrated self-check-in and baggage-drop service for its passengers flying from India to all destinations operated by the airline in Europe, the UK and Canada. Air India was the first airline to have introduced this service from India to international destinations in the US and Australia, besides airports in the domestic network. Air India is now extending the facility to a total of 19 airports – London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Birmingham, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Zurich, Toronto, Vancouver and to all five destinations in US (New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington and San Francisco) and two in Australia (Sydney and Melbourne) – from airports in India. The initiative reaffirms Air India’s commitment to leveraging technology to elevate customer experience and deliver world-class service across every touchpoint. The integrated self-check-in and baggage-drop service offers smooth and faster check-in process at the airport, significantly enhancing passenger experience. With this facility, Air India passengers can enjoy a seamless digital process to print boarding passes and baggage tags and drop bags on their own, eliminating the need to queue up for check in at counters. The kiosks allow travellers to customise their trips by selecting and even paying for their preferred seats or update their frequent flyer number and contact details. This initiative cuts down on the time spent queueing up at the counters and helps passengers breeze through the airport to reach their boarding gates in time. Over the last one year, Air India has introduced several customer initiatives including the Premium Lobby that offers exclusive check-in for first, business, and premium economy passengers, the dedicated Family Assistance counters at Delhi airport offering support to passengers travelling with family, city-side check-in counters at Delhi and Hyderabad helping passengers skip queues at airport counters and Self Check-in and Baggage-drop service. These initiatives are further elevating Air India’s customer experience to global standards that are now reflecting in our NPS (customer satisfaction) scores.

New Delhi, 2nd June 2025: On the side line of IATA AGM 2025, Air Cambodia, the national carrier of Cambodia has appointed Aeroprime Group as its exclusive Passenger General Sales Agent (GSA) in India, effective 1st July 2025.In addition to serving as the exclusive Pan India Cargo General Sales & Service Agent (GSSA) for Air Cambodia, Aeroprime Group will now manage both passenger and cargo sales, operations, and related services in the Indian market. “We are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with Aeroprime Group by entrusting them with both our passenger and cargo business in India,” said David Zhan, CEO of Air Cambodia. “Their proven expertise and extensive network make them the ideal partner as we continue to expand our footprint in this important market.” “We are honored to be appointed as the exclusive Passenger GSA for Air Cambodia in India,” said Abhishek Goyal, Executive Director & CEO of Aeroprime Group. “Managing both passenger and cargo operations for Air Cambodia allows us to offer integrated solutions and further strengthen the bridge between India and Cambodia. With Aeroprime’s commitment to exceptional customer service, an expansive sales network, and focused efforts on building brand awareness, we aim to boost visibility and demand for the airline in the Indian market. Cambodia is renowned for its stunning temples, especially the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, the largest religious monument in the world. It is a truly exceptional destination, and we look forward to making it even more accessible and appealing to Indian travellers.” Air Cambodia, formerly known as Cambodia Angkor Air, operates a modern fleet and serves 33 international, domestic, and codeshare routes from its primary hub in Phnom Penh. The airline is recognized for its commitment to safety, reliability, and traditional Khmer hospitality—making it a preferred choice for both travelers and cargo partners in the region.

Colombo, 5th June 2025: SriLankan Airlines received the first Airbus A330-200 wide-body aircraft bearing registration number 4R-ALT. The aircraft arrived from Paris and performed a low fly-past over Colombo and Katunayake before touching down at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). This latest addition brings SriLankan’s fleet to 23 aircraft, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to fleet expansion and paving the way for greater operational flexibility on long-haul routes, as it prepares for future growth amid rising passenger demand. Sarath Ganegoda, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, commented on the induction, stating, “This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for SriLankan Airlines, both operationally and in shaping our long-term fleet strategy. The addition of this aircraft enhances our capacity to meet the growing demand, while strengthening our contribution to national tourism goals.As Sri Lanka continues to ascend as a top-tier travel destination, this aircraft will play a key role in connecting global travellers to Sri Lanka.” Yasantha Dissanayake, Acting Chief Executive Officer and Group CFO at SriLankan Airlines, added, “This is the first wide-body aircraft to be inducted into the fleet after a lapse of seven years. It will allow us to expand our reach in both existing and new markets, offering improved flight times, better connectivity and more direct services to the country, whilst enhancing cargo capacity in support of Sri Lanka’s export trade. The aircraft also features inflight amenities that meet the expectations of today’s traveller and provides a more comfortable flying experience.” Capt. Patrick Fernando, Chief Technical Officer of SriLankan Airlines,stated, “This is part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the fleet and induct more wide-body aircraft in the near future.The aircraft is equipped with wireless in-flight entertainment and individual USB charging ports at every seat for enhanced passenger convenience.It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines and presents a two-class configuration with 18 Business Class and 242 Economy Class seats. The aircraft will serve both long-haul and select short-haul routes.” SriLankan Airlines’ current fleet comprises 13 narrow-body and 10 wide-body aircraft, including this latest addition.

New Delhi,May 30, 2025: Brazilian aerospace and defense major Embraer has announced a significant reinforcement of its commitment to India with the establishment of a fully owned Indian subsidiary which will have its corporate office in New Delhi. This strategic move underscores Embraer’s long-term vision for growth and potential collaboration with India’s rapidly evolving aerospace and defense landscape. The establishment of a subsidiary in India aims at strengthening its interests across defense, commercial aviation, business aviation, services & support and the burgeoning urban air mobility sector. Embraer is working on growing its team in the country, building capacity to capitalize on the opportunities within the country’s ever-evolving aerospace and defense industry. This includes establishing teams across corporate functions and specialized cells focused on procurement, supply chain and engineering. “India is a key market for Embraer, and this expansion demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the country,” said Francisco Gomes Neto, President & CEO of Embraer. “We are excited to deepen our collaboration with the Indian aerospace and defense industry, leveraging our expertise and technology to contribute to the nation’s growth and Make in India campaign. We see significant opportunities across defense, commercial aviation, business aviation, services & support, and the emerging urban air mobility sector.” Embraer is significantly deepening its engagement in India. The company has a substantial footprint with nearly 50 Embraer aircraft and 11 aircraft types currently operating in the country – from commercial aviation, defense and business aviation, all supported by Embraer’s service and support network in the country.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan – May 29th, 2025: The Uzbek carrier Air Samarkand has begun new services to the two largest cities in Georgia, part of several new international route developments and increases in weekly frequencies over the coming months. Air Samarkand launch services to Tbilisi and Batumi with load factors of more than 90% in both directions on the inaugural flights. Passengers and officials from Air Samarkand were greeted in both cities by local officials and marked the new services with celebratory cakes, food and gifts for customers within the airport terminals. Images from the arrival in Batumi are attached. Air Samarkand is also increasing scheduled operations to the Turkish capital of Istanbul and Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel between now and early July. A summary of route developments: Tbilisi and Batumi: new charters from Tashkent to Georgia’s two largest cities Air Samarkand operated a first flight from Tashkent to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on May 18, and on May 24 to country’s second largest city and Black Sea resort of Batumi, again from Tashkent. Both are in partnership with the tour operator EasyBooking. Starting in June, services will double to twice weekly on the Tbilisi rotation, with departures on Thursdays and Sundays, while Batumi will be served three times a week from June 9, with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Samarkand-Istanbul-Samarkand: even more flights to the Turkish capital Air Samarkand increased frequencies on the Samarkand-Istanbul route from three to five times a week from May 26. Flights operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Samarkand-Tel Aviv-Samarkand: increase in direct services Air Samarkand opened flights on the Samarkand-Tel Aviv route on May 4 with the first direct connection from Samarkand to the business and cultural centre of Israel, and will add a second weekly service from July 3 to meet rising demand. Flights currently operate on Sundays, with a second rotation every Thursday being added.

Dubai,29th May 2025: flydubai continues to grow its network with the launch of flights to four new destinations in Europe. This includes the start of flights to Chișinău and Iași from September 2025 in addition toRiga and Vilnius from December 2025, expanding the carrier’s network in Europe to 35 destinations across 20 countries. This announcement makes flydubai the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights between Dubai and Iași International Airport (IAS) in Romania. The carrier first started operating to Romania in 2012 with the launch of flights to Bucharest. This also marks the carrier’s first entry into the Baltic region with a direct service toRiga International Airport (RIX)in Latvia and Vilnius International Airport (VNO) in Lithuania, increasing the number of underserved markets on its network to more than 100 destinations. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said:“the expansion of our network reflects our unwavering commitment to opening up underserved markets and stimulating free flows of trade and tourism, and we are pleased to see this happen with the launch of our latest destinations in Europe. Today, we have built adiversenetwork of more than 135 destinations, 75% of which are underserved routes from Dubai. With our new services to Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, we look forward to strengthening the UAE’s trade and cultural linksandsupporting Dubai’s position as an international aviation hub.” Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said:“Europe remains an important market for flydubai and we are excited to grow our network with the addition of Chișinău, Iași, Riga and Vilnius.These gateways into Eastern Europe and the Baltic region will enable more passengers to enjoy an enhanced travel experience with a convenient service to Dubai and further beyond on the flydubai network as well as the Emirates network through our codeshare partnership.”

Gurugram, May 28, 2025: Air India has unveiled a new campaign,‘There is an Air About India’, a tribute to the new India that is bold, joyous, confident, and resoundingly vibrant.The campaign, which includes an OOH segment, print ads and a stunning digital film, captures the essence of a nation on the rise that Air India is proud to carry around the world. Conceptualised and produced in partnership with creative agency McCann, the digital film’s centrepiece is the rap-style soundtrack composed by renowned music director Sneha Khanwalkar, with vocals by emerging rap artist Aarya Jadhao. The film blends rhythmic storytelling, sharp transitions, and stunning visuals — capturing the soul of India, from bustling metros to remote heartlands. Each beat and verse weaves together the diverse cultural fabric of India — its colours, cuisines, communities, and ambitions. From traditional performances and spiritual motifs to modern skylines and global aspirations, the narrative culminates in a powerful refrain “There is an Air about India”and that Air India is proud to carry it around the world. After its return to the Tata group in 2022, Air India is in the middle of a five-year transformation– Vihaan.AI – to evolve into a world-class global airline that matches the aspirations of new India. India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world where the number of airports has doubled in the last decade and over 350 million passengers took to the skies last year. Air India is building a world-class airline that reflects the warmth, ambition, and spirit of India. For this, the airline has ordered 570 new aircraft, is undergoing a $400 million retrofit program for its legacy fleet and as part of building the Indian aviation ecosystem, it has set up South Asia’s largest aviation training academy and is setting up a state-of-the-art MRO facility and flying school. Air India is proud to be driving this transformation in Indian aviation. Link to the digital film: https://youtu.be/dXMsB_bY2Os?si=UdXFeP8UXJcqjiGS

Mumbai, May 19, 2025: Vietnam’s leading new-age airline Vietjet and Boeing have announced an agreement to transfer up to 50 Boeing 737 aircraft to Vietjet Thailand—marking a strategic initiative to strengthen aviation and tourism connectivity between Thailand, Vietnam, as well as other countries in the region. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the latter’s first official visit to Vietnam. Under the agreement, Vietjet will allocate 50 aircraft from its existing order of 200 Boeing 737s to Vietjet Thailand. The first deliveries are scheduled for October 2025. This move will significantly expand Vietjet Thailand’s domestic and international flight network, particularly enhancing connections between Vietnam and Thailand. “We are pleased to partner with Vietjet and Vietjet Thailand to expand Boeing 737 operations in Vietnam and Thailand,” said Penny Burtt, President of Boeing Southeast Asia. “Together, we aim to connect communities and drive economic development, paving the way for a prosperous future in Vietnam and the dynamic growth region that is Southeast Asia.” Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Chairwoman of Vietjet, stated at the event: “The transfer of 50 modern and efficient Boeing 737-8 aircraft to Vietjet Thailand demonstrates our long-term commitment to sustainable aviation development in the region. We are determined to implement the ‘Three Connects’ Strategy between the two countries – encompassing supply chains, businesses, and localities.” As part of the agreement, Boeing will also provide Vietjet Thailand with comprehensive technical support, including pilot, maintenance and engineer training, and product services—ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the new fleet in Thailand. This new agreement marks a new milestone in the robust and effective cooperation between Vietnamese, Thai, and U.S. enterprises, with shared priorities in digital transformation, sustainable development, and narrowing development gaps among member states. Vietjet currently operates 10 India-Vietnam routes, offering a total of 78 flights per week—making it the airline with the most extensive flight network between the two countries. These routes connect New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru with Vietnam’s key destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.