Recent News

Delhi, 30th May 2025: Extending its footprint in the subcontinent, Air India Express is set to launch direct flights between Bengaluru and Kathmandu, introducing Nepal to its growing network. Operations on this route will commence on 1st June 2025. Commenting on the launch of services to Kathmandu, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to expand our footprint to Nepal, our neighbouring country in the subcontinent, further strengthening the deep-rooted cultural and economic ties we share. This new route brings people, tales, and traditions closer, while reinforcing our vision of making travel more accessible and meaningful. It also builds on our recent expansion into short-haul international leisure destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket.” The new route also enables convenient one-stop connections to Kathmandu via Bengaluru from 20 cities across India, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Goa, Gwalior, Hindon, Hyderabad, Indore, Jammu, Jaipur, Kozhikode, Kochi, Mangaluru, Pune, Srinagar, Surat, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvananthapuram, and Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada as well as from two international cities: Abu Dhabi and Dammam.

Kuala Lumpur, 30th May 2025: Despite strong demand, airlines in India and across the Asia Pacific, are held back by chronic supply chain constraints. The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has warned that tariffs will worsen supply chain constraints and raise costs further. “Supply chain constraints are delaying fleet modernisation and causing flight disruptions due to parts shortages. Increasingly, regulators are expecting airlines to compensate passengers for flight disruptions, even when these are caused by circumstances beyond the control of airlines. Air carriers have established practices for taking care of customers when there is a delay or cancellation, such as by rebooking them on other flights, providing meal vouchers, refunds or travel credits. However, over-prescriptive passenger rights regulations do not address the root causes of the disruptions, while unnecessarily adding costs and further inconveniencing passengers,” said Mr. Subhas Menon, Director General of AAPA. The industry’s push toward net-zero is also stalling, with limited Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production and aging fleets increasing emissions. “Suppliers must urgently address the constraints,” said Menon, adding that “airlines are enablers of connectivity, but they can’t fly with their hands tied. Enabling policies by Governments would promote a resilient and sustainable industry that is much needed for growing economies.” India is set to become the third largest aviation market in the world. A rejuvenated airline and airport infrastructure thanks to proactive Government policy and privatisation will enable the industry to rise to its full potential while contributing to socio-economic development in the region.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29th, 2025: The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced the additions of Robinson Helicopter Company and DeltaHawk Engines as Members and Whisper Aero as an Associate Member EPIC. Robinson Helicopter Company, founded in 1973, is headquartered in Torrance, California. Through its vertically integrated manufacturing facility, Robinson is capable of all aspects of helicopter production — from designing to manufacturing, assembling, inspecting and flight testing. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient manned and unmanned helicopters in the industry. DeltaHawk Engines is headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, and was founded in 1996. They have developed FAA-Certified jet-fueled piston engines, with higher power models in development. DeltaHawk Engines is committed to developing high-performance, fuel-efficient, and reliable engines that set new standards for efficiency, simplicity, and affordability. Whisper Aero, headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee, is pioneering a more compelling and connected future by delivering cleaner, quieter, and more efficient propulsion solutions for aerospace & defense applications. Founded by industry veterans Mark Moore and Ian Villa, Whisper’s breakthrough technologies allow aircraft to fly anywhere at any time without disturbing communities, at greater speeds, and with significant improvements in efficiency and cost.

Kuala Lumpur, 29th May 2025: Preliminary April 2025 traffic figures released today by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) revealed further growth in both international passenger and air cargo markets, despite softening global economic conditions and persistent trade frictions. Asia Pacific airlines collectively carried 31.3 million international passengers in April, a 10.5% year-on-year increase. Demand, as measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), rose by 12.6%, reflecting continued strength in long-haul travel. With available seat capacity expanding by 11.7% year-on-year, the international passenger load factor rose by 0.7 percentage points to an elevated 82.4% for the month. While the global manufacturing sector faced increased challenges amid uncertainties over tariff disputes, air cargo demand in April was supported by the advance loading of shipments on selected routes and the rerouting of goods to alternative gateways. As a result, international air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by 4.9% year-on-year, slightly outpacing the 4.2% rise in offered freight capacity. Consequently, the international freight load factor edged 0.4 percentage points higher to 61.5% compared to the same month last year. Commenting on the results, Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General, said, “Asia Pacific airlines carried a total of 127 million international passengers in the first four months of 2025, representing a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. The sustained recovery in international tourist arrivals, bolstered by continued route network expansions, reflects the resilience of travel markets. The growth comes despite mounting macroeconomic headwinds, which contributed to a downward revision of the global GDP growth forecast to 2.8% for the year.” “Correspondingly, international air cargo demand recorded a 5% increase during the first four months of the year, even as consumers and businesses faced heightened uncertainty due to tariff disputes. This environment contributed to advance purchases and stockpiling activity in anticipation of potential cost increases.” Looking ahead, Subhas Menon said, “The trade disputes and softening macroeconomic conditions may signal challenging times for air travel and cargo markets in the months ahead. This will place further strain on already thin profit margins in the airline industry. Overall, the region’s carriers remain vigilant, actively monitoring market developments and ready to adapt swiftly to evolving conditions.”

Astana,29th May 2025: Air Astana inaugurated direct flights from Atyrau to Tbilisi on 27th May 2025, which fulfilled previously announced plans to boost air connectivity between western Kazakhstan and Georgia. The new service will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a flight time of just under two hours, is expected to be popular with both leisure tourists and business travelers. This new route is the fifth international service operated by Air Astana from western Kazakhstan. The airline already operates flights from Uralsk to Frankfurt, as well as from Atyrau to Istanbul, Dubai, Amsterdam. A new service from Atyrau to Baku will be added on 31st May 2025.

Oman, 26th May 2025: SalamAir, Oman’s low-cost airline, has partnered with Booking.com, to offer its passengers an enhanced travel experience by providing seamless access to a variety of accommodation and car rental options through SalamAir`s website. With the wide variety of hotels, resorts, car rental services, and more offered by Booking.com, SalamAir now offers one-stop channel to book an entire holiday experience, all in one place. Passengers can seamlessly plan their trip, from flights to accommodation and transportation, via the “Book a Hotel and Rent a Car” widgets on the SalamAir website. Steve Allen, Chief Commercial Officer at SalamAir, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: “At SalamAir, we continuously seek innovative ways to improve the travel experience for our passengers. Our partnership with Booking.com marks an additional step in providing a seamless and more enjoyable journey by offering a wide range of accommodation and transportation solutions alongside our various travel options. We believe this collaboration will add substantial value to our passengers and further enhance our commitment to affordability and convenience.” Mark van der Linden, VP Partnerships, at Booking.com said of the collaboration: “We are delighted to partner with SalamAir in bringing more travel solutions to its passengers. Our mission at Booking.com is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, and by working with SalamAir, we can ensure that more passengers will have access to diverse accommodation and car rental options that suit their travel needs.”

Delhi, 21 May, 2025: IndiGo has announced its first-ever longhaul route connecting Mumbai (India) with Manchester (United Kingdom), becoming the only airline to offer non-stop service between these two cities, starting 01 July 2025. Upgrading its inflight dining experience, IndiGo also announced that complimentary hot meals and beverages will be served to all customers on this route. The airline will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to operate thrice weekly flights on the route. This will make IndiGo the only airline offering direct connectivity between India and the Northern UK. The flights are open for bookings across channels, including IndiGo’s official website www.goIndiGo.in, mobile app,and authorized travel partners.