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Varanasi, 25 June 2026: Air India has inaugured its first ‘Easy Connect’ flight under the Government of India’s new hub-and-spoke framework, launching the transformative model aimed at linking the length and breadth of India seamlessly with the world, and vice versa. The inaugural Easy Connect service, flight AI1111,departed Varanasi at 09:23 AM today, with international passengers on the flight connecting onward from Delhi to 9 destinations outside of India, such as Dubai, Colombo, Jeddah, Riyadh, Kathmandu, Phuket. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of  India, inaugurated the first ‘Easy Connect’ flight from Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. At the occasion, he said, “Today we take a major step forward towards realising our vision of making air travel more accessible and building a future-ready, self-reliant Indian aviation industry that is efficient, inclusive, and globally competitive. Our new hub-and-spoke model paves the way for a monumental shift in how our citizens travel – where regardless of the city one lives in India, one can begin their international journey from their home city and travel across the globe with ease and confidence, on India’s own wings.” At the launch, the minister presented the first passenger to check-in for the inaugural Easy Connect flight with a commemorative boarding pass. Also present at the occasion were Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Puneet Kansal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Vipin Kumar, Chairman, Airports Authority of India;Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India; P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India; among other senior officials from government agencies and Air India. Nationwide rollout As the first airline to begin the hub-and-spoke services, Air India is leading a phased nationwide rollout that will progressively connect more domestic “spoke” cities in addition to Varanasi to the airline’s primary hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, unlocking seamless, end-to-end international travel for millions of Indians. Over the next few months, Air India aims to introduce ‘Easy Connect’ services from several other Indian cities progressively, including Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Patna, Vadodara, and Visakhapatnam, thus fundamentally changing the way Indian travellers access destinations around the world. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “India is a major force in global aviation, and yet, for decades a meaningful share of Indian travellers flying abroad have routed their journeys through overseas transit points – often at the cost of comfort and convenience. Air India’s ‘Easy Connect’ flights is a response to that reality, and we are grateful to the Government of India for its vision and support in enabling this framework.” Wilson added: “In today’s India, a family in Varanasi, Amritsar, or Vishakhapatnam should not have to navigate unfamiliar transit environments to reach the world. They should be able to begin their international journey from their home city, on their own soil, feeling confident, comfortable, and proud as they connect seamlessly to global destinations.” Nearly 25 million passengers travel long-haul to and from India annually, of which close to 20 million are connecting travellers – and around 85% (approximately 17 million) of whom currently transit through overseas hubs rather than Indian airports.

Delhi, 22 June 2026: Akasa Air has received delivery of its 39th aircraft, consistently building scale in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets. The aircraft marks the airline’s eighth induction in CY2026 and will support its continued network expansion and operational strength. The first leg of the aircraft’s delivery flight commenced from Seattle, USA, to Reykjavik, Iceland and concluded with the final leg from Cairo, Egypt, to Bengaluru, India. Bearing registration number VT-YBP, the Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft arrived at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on 22nd June 2026. The aircraft is purpose-built to Akasa’s specifications and equipped with Safran Z200 seats, a next-generation seating solution designed to elevate the in-flight experience. The seats feature a generous four-inch recline, an ergonomically contoured backrest, and enhanced cushioning for superior sitting comfort, alongside thoughtfully positioned additional conveniences such as USB-C and USB-A ports to support the needs of today’s hyper-connected travellers. Akasa Air has placed a firm order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with a pipeline of 187 additional aircraft scheduled for delivery over the next six years. As India’s aviation sector continues to witness sustained growth, the airline remains committed to contributing meaningfully to the country’s evolving air travel ecosystem.

Delhi, 17 June 2026: Akasa Air has also commenced operations from Noida International Airport, (NIA) on 16th June after the official inauguration of the airport a day before. The airline’s inaugural flight departed Navi Mumbai International Airport at 0725 hrs and arrived at Noida International Airport at 0935 hrs. The inaugural flight from Noida International Airport, (NIA) departed at 1015hrs and arrived at Navi Mumbai International Airport at 1230 hrs. Anand Srinivasan, Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Akasa Air said,“The commencement of operations from Noida International Airport marks an important milestone in Akasa Air’s growth journey. As one of India’s newest aviation gateways, the airport offers significant opportunities to enhance connectivity for travellers across the National Capital Region and neighbouring states. Our early presence at Noida aligns with our long-term strategy of building a strong network across key growth markets while supporting the development of modern aviation infrastructure. We look forward to deepening our partnership with Noida International Airport and delivering seamless, dependable travel experience to our customers in the Akasa Way,” he added. Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman, Noida International Airport said, “Akasa Air’s arrival at Noida International Airport is an important step in expanding connectivity for our passengers and the region we serve. As one of the first airlines operating from the airport, Akasa Air will help create new travel opportunities and greater choice for passengers. Together, we look forward to providing a seamless and convenient travel experience while creating new opportunities for connectivity, economic growth, and development across Uttar Pradesh and Northern India.”  

Bengaluru, 16th June 2026: Star Air has announced the launch of scheduled commercial services to Mundra (MDA), Gujarat, marking the airline’s 32nd destination on its expanding domestic network.Operations are set to commence from 23 June 2026, further strengthening Star Air’s commitment to connecting underserved regions of India with major economic and cultural centres. Star Air’s new flight services will link Mundra with Mumbai (BOM), Hindon (Delhi NCR) (HDO), Goa (GOX), Surat (STV), Belagavi (IXG), Bengaluru (BLR), Kolhapur (KLH) and Nanded (NDC), offering greater convenience and reduced travel times for business travellers, professionals, industrial stakeholders, and tourists. The airline will operate five weekly direct flights between Mumbai and Mundra, with departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, ensuring frequent and convenient access for travellers. Additionally, three direct flights per week will link Mundra with Hindon (Delhi NCR), operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Commenting on the launch, Capt. Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO of Star Air, said, “Every new destination added to our network reflects our belief that enhanced connectivity can unlock opportunities and drive inclusive growth. The commencement of our services to Mundra, home to India’s largest private commercial and container port, reinforces Star Air’s commitment to strengthening regional connectivity through reliable, convenient, and affordable air travel. We thank the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of India for their continued support through the UDAN initiative as we continue connecting more communities across India.” Adani Airport Holdings Limited CEO Arun Bansal said, “We welcome the commencement of Star Air’s flights from Mundra to Mumbai and other locations, marking an important milestone in strengthening air connectivity in the Kutch district. This development is expected to boost local tourism, trade, and economic growth. We thank the Ministry of Civil Aviation for its transformative UDAN scheme and look forward to a strong partnership with Star Air, contributing to the continued progress of the Indian aviation sector.” In addition to direct flights, Star Air is enhancing regional connectivity with a range of convenient one-stop connections through Mundra. Passengers can now travel between Mumbai and Hindon (Delhi NCR) with one-stop flights operating every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday via Mundra, departing Mumbai at 12:10 pm and arriving in Hindon at 3:45 pm, with the return leg departing Hindon at 4:15 pm and reaching Mumbai at 7:45 pm. Travellers heading between Surat and Goa can benefit from one-stop connections via Mundra from Tuesday through Friday, as well as on Saturdays, offering seamless travel between these cities. For those flying between Bengaluru and Mundra, one-stop flights are available via Goa from Tuesday to Friday, departing Bengaluru at 6:00 am and arriving in Mundra at 9:25 am. Connections from Mundra to Nanded are also offered from Tuesday to Friday via Goa, while return flights from Nanded to Mundra operate on Saturdays. Additional one-stop options include flights linking Kolhapur and Mundra five days a week via Mumbai, and services from Mundra to Belagavi via Mumbai on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. These thoughtfully designed one-stop routes further strengthen Mundra’s position as a key transit point and gateway to the Kutch region, offering passengers greater flexibility and access across Star Air’s expanding domestic network.

Jewar, Greater Noida, 16th June 2026: The Noida International Airport at Jewar, Greater Noida finally becomes a reality with first aircraft operated by IndiGo touched down from Lucknow in the early morning of 15th June 2026. The aircraft had onboard some special passengers as the citizens who handed over their land to airport officials for developing India’s most awaited and talked about airport. Onboard as the exited first timers both the male and female citizens of Jewar Village seemed happy while giving media bytes sharing their excitement and pride in becoming the privileged first passengers. The airport launch carrier IndiGo has started operations from DXN to many major airports across India. In its earlier press note, the airlines had mentioned that once operational, they will connect over 16 cities across the country through direct flights. These include major metro cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, along with important destinations such as Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Jaipur, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Pantnagar and Srinagar. Noida International Airport has plans to be developed in three phases. In March 2026, when it received DGCA clearance to start flight operations, it completed first phase of development where it will serve 12 million passengers annually and will have one runway along with departure and arrival buildings. While addressing the media, Christoph Schnellmann, Vice Chairman, Noida International Airport, said, “We are delighted to welcome our first passengers and flight operations. From the outset, our focus has been on creating an airport that combines operational excellence with an outstanding customer experience. We’re excited that IndiGo has launched operations at the airport today, and we look forward to providing passengers with a smooth, hassle-free experience in an airport that reflects the hospitality, culture and character of this region.” The other carrier Akasa Air has also shown interest in operating from NIA soon and its completing its operational readiness to commence services . However, Air India Express which has shown its interest earlier has temporarily halted its program citing reason due to heavy loss incurred by the TATA group airline in the last FY. ( Image Courtesy: IndiGo/ LinkedIn Page) 

Istanbul, 12 June 2026: Turkish Airlines has announced its passenger and cargo traffic results for May with 2.5% higher passenger capacity in terms of available seat kilometers compared to that of 2025. In May, number of passengers reached 7.9 million and total load factor realized as 84.0%, marking the highest May record in its history. According to May 2026 Traffic Results: The number of carried passengers recorded as 7.9 million. International load factor was 84.0% while domestic load factor was 84.4%. Available seat kilometers (ASK), increased by 2.5% to 23.2 billion during the period of May 2026 from 22.6 billion for the same period of 2025. Cargo/Mail carried during the period of May 2026 increased by 8.6% from May 2025, totaling 203.1 thousand tons. According to the January-May 2026 Traffic Results: The total number of passengers increased by 7.3% to 36.4 million compared to the same period of 2025. Total load factor was recorded 83.6%. International load factor was 83.5% while domestic load factor was 84.3%. Available seat kilometers (ASK) increased by 6.5% to 112.1 billion from 105.3 billion for the same period of 2025. Cargo/Mail carried during this period increased by 13.5% to 954.6 thousand tons from 840.7thousand tons in the same period of 2025. By the end of May 2026, the number of aircraft in the fleet was 542. Traffic results are consolidated and include Turkish Airlines main brand and AJet data.

New Delhi,12 June 2026: SriLankan Airlines has announced strategic partnerships with Saudia (SV) and Flynas (XY), further strengthening air travel links between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. This collaboration significantly expands SriLankan Airlines’ network reach, enabling travellers to access a wider range of destinations through convenient domestic and international connections. Under this arrangement, Saudia provides access to seven international and thirteen domestic destinations, while Flynas contributes an additional eight international and six domestic destinations, offering passengers greater travel flexibility and improved accessibility across the Kingdom. Through Saudia’s network, passengers can connect from destinations including Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Cairo, Dubai, Kuwait City and Los Angeles, together with key domestic points such as Jeddah, Abha, Madinah and Tabuk, among others across Saudi Arabia. Flynas further extends the network with international services from Addis Ababa, Karachi, Giza, Tashkent and Sohag, alongside domestic connectivity from cities including Jizan, Najran, Dammam and Jeddah. Passengers travelling from across Saudi Arabia can now connect seamlessly via Riyadh and Dammam onto SriLankan Airlines’ daily services to Colombo, with onward access to destinations throughout the airline’s international network. SriLankan Airlines currently operates daily flights from both Riyadh and Dammam to Colombo, catering to growing demand for business, leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) travel between the two countries. Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Commercial, said, “This partnership represents an important step in expanding SriLankan Airlines’ presence across Saudi Arabia while strengthening links to key destinations in the Middle East, Africa and North America. Working together with Saudia and Flynas enables us to offer customers smoother connections from multiple regional and international destinations into Sri Lanka and beyond.” Commenting on the partnership, Thusitha Wickramasinghe, Manager Saudi Arabia, stated,“We are delighted to partner with Saudia and Flynas to further strengthen air travel links between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. This collaboration offers passengers greater convenience, expanded travel options and seamless journeys across our combined networks, while enhancing the overall travel experience through improved network integration.” SriLankan Airlines connects passengers to 131 destinations across 63 countries through its own services and codeshare partnerships, while operating direct services to 34 destinations worldwide. Its network spans Europe, Australia, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising state-of-the-art A330-200/300 and A320/321 aircraft.

Delhi, 9th June 2026: Air India today opened bookings for its first flights under the Government of India’s hub-and-spoke model, introducing these as ‘Easy Connect’ flights. This is intended to facilitate travellers from cities beyond major hubs to drop baggage and complete immigration at origin airport and travel seamlessly to destinations across the world. Air India’s new Easy Connect flights will commence from Varanasi from 25 June 2026 onwards. The airlines will drive a phased rollout of Easy Connect flights across multiple cities in the months ahead to operationalise seamless international connectivity from India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities at scale. What hub-and-spoke flights mean for travellers Under the hub-and-spoke model, ‘spoke’ cities such as Varanasi are connected to major ‘hub’ airports like Delhi, from where passengers can seamlessly access Air India’s extensive global network. This coordinated structure allows passengers from non-metro cities to connect efficiently to multiple international destinations through a single hub, with optimised schedules and a smooth transit experience. At the heart of the model, designed and implemented by Air India in close coordination with industry stakeholders, is a significantly simplified and more intuitive international travel experience: Through check-in to final destination: Travellers from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Varanasi can check in at their home airport all the way through to their final international destination, with no need to collect or re-check baggage at the hub airport (e.g. Delhi). Immigration at origin: Travellers will complete international immigration formalities at their originating airport, avoiding queues and processing at the hub. Seamless international transit via ‘hub’ airport: Passengers will transit through hub airports like Delhi as international travellers, making connections faster and more efficient. Importantly, travellers also benefit from a familiar and comfortable transit environment within India, avoiding the complexity and unfamiliarity usually associated with transiting through foreign hub airports. Easy Connect flights from Varanasi to the world The designated Easy Connect flight from Varanasi to Delhi will operate daily as AI1111. Within four hours of arrival at Delhi, the flight is timed to provide seamless connections to 17 international destinations, including London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Milan, Rome, Zurich, Manila, Singapore, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh, and Dubai, among others. Subsequent Easy Connect flights with hub-and-spoke operations from other ‘spoke’ airports will be numbered in the ‘AI11XX’ series, creating a distinct network identity for these services. P. Balaji, Group Head – Governance, Risk, Compliance & Corporate Affairs, Air India, said: “The successful implementation of the hub-and-spoke model requires close coordination across airlines, airports, and multiple government agencies, and we are grateful for the strong collaboration that has enabled this rollout. Air India is committed to continuing to work closely with all stakeholders across the industry and the Government of India as we expand this model to more cities and phases. Together, we are building a more efficient, integrated, and globally competitive aviation ecosystem for India.” The rollout will expand to several additional cities in a phased manner over the coming months, as Air India continues to anchor and lead the implementation of this next-generation connectivity model.

Rio de Janeiro ,9th June 2026: At the International Air Transport Association (IATA) held in Rio de Janeiro, it was announced that Xiamen Airlines will host the 83rd IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in Xiamen, China, from 30 May to 1 June 2027. “We are excited to bring the 83rd IATA AGM to China, hosted by Xiamen Airlines. China is a major player in the aviation industry. China’s airlines are among the top airlines by passenger traffic in the world. And the country is at the forefront of how technology and digitalization can be deployed to improve efficiency. Hosting the AGM in China will allow the leaders of the global aviation industry to witness first-hand the impressive development of the China market,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. “Xiamen Airlines is proud to host the IATA AGM and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home base of Xiamen. China is a vast and culturally diverse country, with many dynamic cities and regions beyond its best-known gateways. Located on China’s southeast coast, Xiamen is an historical port and interface for commerce between China and the rest of the world,” said Zhao Dong, Chairman of Xiamen Airlines. “The opening of Xiang’an International Airport later this year demonstrates how Xiamen is growing its importance as a transportation and business hub. AGM guests can look forward to discovering the rich culture, warm hospitality, coastal beauty, and a relaxed lifestyle that create the distinctive spirit and vitality of Xiamen,” said Xie Bing, CEO & President of Xiamen Airlines. The decision to host the 83rd IATA AGM in China was made at the 82nd IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro. This is the third time China will host the global gathering of aviation’s top leaders, and the first time it will be held in Xiamen. The AGM was previously held in Shanghai (2002) and Beijing (2012).

Delhi, 8th June 2026: Etihad Airways and TAROM, the national airline of Romania, have signed a codeshare agreement that connects Etihad’s global guests with Romania and Eastern Europe, and links travellers from Romania to Abu Dhabi. The agreement was signed at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Under the partnership, Etihad guests can book a single ticket on TAROM flights from Bucharest to six cities across Romania: Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Oradea, Suceava, and Timisoara. The codeshare also extends to four Eastern European capitals: Belgrade, Budapest, Chisinau, and Sofia. Guests from Romania, in turn, can reach Abu Dhabi from Bucharest on Etihad’s new service. The codeshare supports the launch of Etihad’s new Abu Dhabi–Bucharest service on 17 December 2026. Once the new service begins, guests can travel on a single ticket between Bucharest and destinations across Etihad’s network, with bags checked through to the final stop. Arik De, Etihad Airways Chief Revenue & Commercial Officer, said: “TAROM gives Etihad real depth in Eastern Europe: a flag carrier shaped by more than seven decades of European aviation, and an established network reaching across the country and the wider region. Launching this codeshare ahead of our own Bucharest service means we enter a fast-growing market with genuine scale from day one.” Mircea Nicolae Cotoros, TAROM Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This codeshare with Etihad Airways extends TAROM’s international reach and gives passengers a new connection between Bucharest and Abu Dhabi. It strengthens the link between Romania and the Middle East, supports the continued growth of our network and fostering cultural and economic exchanges.” With the addition of TAROM, Etihad’s partner network now spans 47 codeshare and over 130 interline partners, the largest of any non-alliance airline, giving guests single-ticket and through-fare access to over 350 destinations worldwide.