Tag Archives: India

UK, India, Thailand have secured as the most popular holiday choices this festive season according to the latest data collected by Skyscanner. For journeys departing between December 20 and December 31, travellers are favouring destinations that offer both seasonal festivities and opportunities for relaxation. London, Mumbai, and Bangkok have emerged as key favourites for bookings, showcasing their enduring appeal for family reunions and cultural exploration. The most popular departure dates fall between December 14 and 18, as travellers opt to extend their holiday breaks for maximum enjoyment. Round-trip bookings dominate, emphasising the importance of smooth travel experiences for UAE residents. Search data from September to early December reveals that travellers are gravitating toward a mix of destinations, with the United Kingdom, India, and Thailand among the most popular choices. City hotspots like London, Bangkok, and Istanbul continue to captivate UAE travellers, offering a blend of cultural experiences and festive charm. Alongside these bustling hubs, tranquil escapes such as the Maldives and Turkey’s coastal retreats have also seen a surge in demand. As the festive season is upon us, travellers across the UAE are eagerly awaiting their end-of-year escapes. Skyscanner’s latest data highlights the top destinations and trends shaping holiday travel plans, offering a glimpse into where UAE residents are heading to celebrate the season. For travellers still finalising plans, Skyscanner’s tools, such as price alerts and flexible booking options, provide the ideal solution to secure the best deals and make the most of their festive holidays.

Etihad Airways has welcomed the bilateral codeshare with Air Astana which came into operation from 05 December, 2024. The agreement enhances connectivity for customers of both airlines across a range of destinations and gives Etihad’s customers convenient access to 10 destinations through Air Astana’s gateways in Almaty and in Astana, all of which are new to Etihad’s extended network. Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, is a cultural hub with stunning mountain views, vibrant nightlife, and rich history, while the futuristic capital, Astana, is known for its striking modern architecture and dynamic urban landscape. The codeshare arrangement simplifies the travel experience for guests, allowing them to make a single booking and undergo a seamless check-in process, along with the added convenience of having their baggage effortlessly transferred to their final destination. Air Astana’s network becomes easily accessible to Etihad’s customers, who can connect to it via recently launched nonstop flights to Abu Dhabi by the Kazakhstan carrier. As part of this agreement, Air Astana passengers will have access to Etihad Airways’ flights unlocking new travel experiences to India, Bahrain, and Oman. Air Astana passengers will enjoy seamless connections in Abu Dhabi, utilizing Air Astana’s direct flights from Astana and Almaty. Jurriaan Stelder, VP Alliances and Industry Affairs at Etihad, said: “This partnership expands our codeshare network, offering our guests convenient access to 10 of Air Astana’s leisure and business destinations across Kazakhstan, as well as Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s vibrant capital, and Tashkent, the historic capital of Uzbekistan. Etihad guests can now enjoy the ease of booking connecting flights and checking in once for their entire journey. “We also look forward to warmly welcoming Air Astana’s customers travelling to Abu Dhabi to explore the inviting hospitality and rich culture …

According to the latest report from Skyscanner ahead of the Oman national day long weekend it was revealed that India emerged as the top destination country, with Mumbai leading as the most popular city. This trend is driven by the strong cultural and familial ties between Oman and India, as well as the diverse attractions that Mumbai offers. Oman itself ranked second, with Muscat being a favored destination, reflecting the growing interest in domestic travel and the rich cultural heritage of the capital city. The UAE, particularly the city of Dubai, continues to attract travelers from Oman due to its proximity and the allure of its luxury shopping, entertainment, and modern architecture. Thailand, with Phuket as a key destination, appeals to travelers seeking exotic beaches and vibrant street life. Türkiye and Egypt, with Istanbul and Cairo respectively, are seeing increased interest for their historical sites and unique cultural experiences. Italy and the United Kingdom round out the top ten, being perennial favorites for their rich history and cultural offerings. Based on the orders of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Wednesday and Thursday, November 20-21, 2024, have been declared official holidays for public and private sector employees to commemorate the 54th National Day. The data, collected from January 1, 2024, to November 1, 2024, highlights the most popular destinations and significant year-over-year (YoY) increases in search and redirect volumes, providing valuable insights for travelers planning their holiday getaways. Emerging travel hotspots with remarkable YoY search increases include Giza (1241%), driven by its iconic pyramids and historical significance, and Mopa (369%), likely due to new travel routes and increased accessibility. Yangon (268%) and Pristina (220%) are gaining popularity for their unique …

Dubai International (DXB) has raised the bar on its contribution to Dubai’s economy by welcoming a record 44.9 million guests during the first six months of this year. Marking an 8% year-on-year increase in guests, DXB has established its position as a globally preferred gateway, boosted by strong connectivity with key international markets, while reaffirming its central role in supporting Dubai’s economic growth. Dubai attracted 9.31 million international visitors in H1 2024, reflecting its burgeoning appeal as a global hub for talent, enterprises, and investors. These figures, recently released by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, tie in closely with the growth of Dubai’s GDP, which reached AED 115 billion in Q1 2024, up 3.2% from the previous year. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, commented, “The record-breaking performance in the first half of this year highlights our strategic importance as a global aviation hub. Dubai is at the forefront of global cities when it comes to attracting talent, businesses, and tourists from around the world, and we are proud to be the gateway to the city, driving growth and enhancing the airport experience for every guest. Strong demand from key source markets such as India and the gradual but certain resurgence of markets such as China, have been instrumental in our success. We have a very optimistic outlook for the remainder of the year, and we are on track to break records with 91.8 million annual guests forecasted for 2024.” The size and significance of DXB’s established and growing markets including South Asia, Western Europe, the GCC, and East Asia has played a crucial role in the airport’s continued success. In the first half of 2024, India remains DXB’s top …

Etihad Airways celebrated the start of its flights to Jaipur, India offering guests four non-stop services a week, enhancing connectivity between one of India’s cultural treasures, and the rest of the world, via Abu Dhabi.Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “With the resurgence of outbound travel from India, we are thrilled to start four weekly flights to Jaipur, a significant cultural and commercial centre. By establishing this crucial air link with Rajasthan, we aim to meet the increasing demand from travellers in and around the region, providing them with convenient access to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and seamless connectivity to our extensive global network, while delivering a remarkable flying experience.” From exploring the historic forts and palaces to indulging in the vibrant culture and culinary delights, Jaipur offers visitors a wealth of unforgettable experiences. Travellers from Northwest India will benefit from the non-stop service with seamless access to Etihad’s expanding network and frequent connections through Abu Dhabi’s global links. The new route enables more visitors to explore the emirate’s rich history and vibrant culture. Moreover, passengers will experience the exceptional facilities at Zayed International Airport’s Terminal A, Etihad’s new home, which sets new standards for travel comfort and service excellence. Travellers flying from Jaipur to the United States can take advantage of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Abu Dhabi, streamlining the immigration process and ensuring a hassle-free journey. The start of the Jaipur service further underlines Etihad’s deepening commitment to the Indian market where the airline has increased its capacity by a third over the past 12 months. The flights will be operated with aircraft from the Airbus A320 family, offering Etihad’s award-winning service to …

Manchester City and global partner Etihad Airways are flying towards a better future for young people in India, with the announcement of a brand-new community football initiative in cities across the country. The joint initiative will see Manchester City work in collaboration with Etihad Airways, Club charity City in the Community and non-governmental partner organisation (NGO) Magic Bus India Foundation, to deliver health and life skills training for local young people through football. The project will launch this April in three cities from the airline’s network: New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, with more locations to follow. This marks the latest in a series of impactful community collaborations between Manchester City and Etihad since the launch of the Official Partnership between the two organisations in 2009, including global and regional summits in Manchester and Abu Dhabi, which upskill young leaders in community football coaching and leadership. The initiative will be delivered by local NGO Magic Bus India Foundation who have partnered with the club on various initiatives since 2016, including an Etihad supported programme in Kolkata, engaging 2,000 young people with health and hygiene education through football. To kick-start the impact, Etihad will fly coaches from City in the Community, the Club’s official charity, to India to deliver world-class football and leadership training to Young Leaders championing the projects. The trainees will then put their skills into practice, as part of their commitment to using football to uplift the health of young people in their cities. Tom Pitchon, Director of City Football Group’s global foundation, said: “We are proud to work with Etihad Airways to uplift the health and life skills of young people across India through the power of football. …

Etihad Airways is meeting customer demand by adding more flights to key destinations across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. The latest increase means the airline now offers almost 27% per cent more weekly departures than last summer. The airline is increasing flights to Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Amman in Jordan, Beirut in Lebanon, as well as Colombo in Sri Lanka, and Kolkata and Bangalore in India. The enhancements are part of Etihad’s ambitious expansion of flights and frequencies to further boost Abu Dhabi’s global reach offering more flexible travel options for its guests. Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De said: “These latest flight increases aligned with our seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi and our growing global network offer our guests more opportunities to fly where they want to at a time that suits them. “It also makes it easier to enjoy a fantastic visit or stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.” Destinations Change Total Frequency Start Date Jeddah +7 per week 28 per week 15 March 2024 Riyadh +7 per week 28 per week 15 March 2024 Amman +4 per week 11 per week 15 June 2024 Beirut +2 per week 7 per week 15 June 2024 Colombo +4 per week 17 per week 15 June 2024 Kolkata +1 per week 8 per week 15 June 2024 Bangalore +3 per week 17 per week 15 June 2024 Already announced Kozhikode New route 7 per week 1 January 2024 Thiruvananthapuram New route 7 per week 1 January 2024 Boston New route 4 per week 31 March 2024 Nairobi New route 7 per week 1 May 2024 Colombo +3 …

Etihad Airways has kicked off 2024 by introducing two new services. Daily flights from Abu Dhabi to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the Kerala region of India commenced on New Year’s Day. These non-stop services to each destination bring the total number of Indian gateways served by Etihad to 10, underscoring the airline’s commitment to providing easy access to its expanding global network for guests travelling to and from the Subcontinent. Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad, said: “We have established a fantastic group of non-stop routes between India and Abu Dhabi, providing customers with easier access to our growing network without transiting through one of the main Indian hub airports. “Seamless and practical connections at Abu Dhabi ensure that our guests can easily access destinations across the GCC, Europe – including our four daily services to London – and North America. Moreover, they have the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic stopover in Abu Dhabi as an integral part of their journey.” The introduction of this service enhances accessibility to the picturesque countryside and beaches that Kerala is renowned for, creating increased inbound tourism to the region. Additionally, it streamlines travel for professionals visiting the burgeoning business hubs in the area. In 2023, the airline reintroduced services to Kolkata, a vital Indian gateway connecting Eastern India to global destinations. Furthermore, the airline has increased the frequencies of flights to Mumbai and Delhi, two of its most popular routes, from two per day to an impressive four flights per day. For 2024 Etihad has already announced new flights to Boston, USA starting on 31 March, to Nairobi, Kenya on 01 May, and its exciting summer schedule includes an inaugural non-stop service to Nice, …

With 8.9 million passengers in the first nine months of the year, India was DXB’s top country destination in terms of traffic volume, followed by Saudi Arabia with 4.8 million passengers, and the UK (4.4 million passengers). Other country destinations of note include Pakistan with 3.1 million passengers, the US (2.7 million) and Russia (1.8 million). The top cities by traffic were London (2.7 million passengers) and Riyadh (1.9 million), closely followed by Mumbai (1.8 million) and Jeddah (1.7 million passengers). Propelled by strong growth throughout the first three quarters of the year and anticipation of an exceptional surge in guest numbers in the final quarter. Dubai Airports is forecasting annual passenger traffic at Dubai International (DXB) to reach 86.8 million – surpassing 2019 traffic. “We’re thrilled but not entirely surprised that DXB is all set to surpass the pre-pandemic milestone well ahead of our initial projections by almost a year. Our outlook for the remainder of this year and the next remains optimistic. Teaming up with our strategic partners, we’re ready for the challenge to continue to exceed guest satisfaction amidst the continuous surge in traffic,” said Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports.

In its latest campaign, Air India announced that it flies 79 times a week between the UAE and India. Apart from that a special promotional fare of AED 1430 (T’s & C’s apply)  on business class between the UAE and India on their latest dreamliner jets is the second campaign this week. There are several options travellers can pick from earning double frequent points to enjoying special fares on the UAE – India route. With its latest strategies Air India will continue its timeless hospitality with seamless connectivity and immersive experiences to all its passengers.