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AIRLINES
IndiGo adds Patna as new sector
The low-fare domestic airline, IndiGo
added Patna as a new sector, recently, while expanding its route network.
IndiGo will introduce two new flights with round trips from Patna with
effect from July 4. The new daily round trip services will start from Patna
to Bengaluru (via Kolkata), Patna to Mumbai (via Lucknow & New Delhi), Patna
to Kolkata, Patna to New Delhi (via Lucknow) and Patna to Lucknow. Overall,
now IndiGo will be operating 137 daily flights connecting 19 destinations.
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Air India to set up a turn around committee
In a recent development, Air India has
decided to set up a turn around committee in the face of growing liabilities
for the national carrier. Arvind Jadhav, chairman and managing director, Air
India, met the representatives of all unions of Air India in Mumbai on June
25. It was decided to set up a turn around committee comprising management and union representatives. The union representatives have been
asked to make a presentation, identifying areas where savings can be
affected.
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ASSOCIATIONS
IATO, TAAI seek export industry status for
tourism
Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)
and Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), India’s leading trade
associations have asked government to strongly consider granting an export
industry status to the tourism sector for solving issues like service tax.
The associations have also sought the revival of section 80 HHD of income
tax act, 1961 to allow tour operators and travel agents to transfer part
of their profit to tourism development reserves for investment in tourism
related projects such as hotels, resorts convention centres, restaurants and
guest houses and import of vehicles and adventure sports and camping
equipments such as tents and rafts. IATO has contended that this not only
helps create better infrastructure for tourism sector, but also creates
millions of new jobs in remote areas.
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CIVIL AVIATION
DGCA to strengthen manpower and regulations
to enhance safety
To meet international safety obligations, the Directorate General of Civil
Aviation (DGCA) office has announced an action plan,
particularly for
enhancing its manpower and strengthening the regulatory mechanism. With the
approval from the ministry of civil aviation, it will revive 132 lapsed
technical positions and create 427 technical positions. Efforts are also
being made by DGCA to obtain approval for adhoc appointment of flight
operations inspectors. According to the ministry of civil aviation sources,
this has been done to comply with International Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) and US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s recommendations. The
two agencies have audited India’s safety oversight system and have
made
recommendations
in areas relating to trained technical manpower, especially
flight operations, air navigation and aerodromes in DGCA.
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India and USA sign agreement for cooperation in civil aviation
Recently, an official delegation comprising Madhavan Nambiar, secretary,
civil aviation, government of India; Nasim Zaidi, director general, civil
aviation and VP Agrawal, chairman, Airports Authority of India, signed an
agreement with the US Trade and Development Agency to work towards a
meaningful co-operation under the aviation cooperation programme (ACP).
Under the agreement, the US administration, through its Federal Aviation
Authority, will fund a number of projects in the country to modernise
India’s aviation industry. The two sides also agreed to hold the next
India-US aviation summit in the US on mutually convenient dates in December,
this year. The delegation reviewed the progress of implementation of the
Open Skies Agreement signed in April 2005 and the Aviation Cooperation
Programme (ACP) signed in June 2007.
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HOTELS
IHG undergoing a USD 1 billion global
relaunch of its Holiday Inn brands
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), the world’s largest hotel group by
number of rooms, is undergoing a USD 1 billion global relaunch of its
Holiday Inn brands across all regions, including India. The relaunch is
expected to create a more contemporary brand image for all the 3,285 Holiday
Inn hotels globally and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010.
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Starwood unveils massive meeting discounts,
offers saving of up to 50 per cent
Starwood recently unveiled a meeting offer, the ‘Free Meetings + Free
Nights’, for meeting planners like travel trade and corporates. The offer
includes free meetings and free stays for every three-night residential
meeting booked and provides for a saving of up to 50 per cent. One and
two-night residential conference bookings also enjoy the meetings component
for free. This offer is available at more than 100 hotels in Asia Pacific,
including Starwood's 21 hotels in India. Participating brands include aloft,
Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points by Sheraton,
W and Le Meridien.
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Carlson to open 51 hotels, including 24
Radisson by 2011
Carlson Hotels Worldwide is witnessing its fastest phase of expansion in
India. One of the fastest growing hotel chains in India, Carlson Hotels
Worldwide is set to triple its existing portfolio by 2011. The hotel company
boasts of a strong pipeline with as many as 51 more hotels, currently under
its various stage of development. Half of these developments would be under
the Radisson (24 hotels) brand, making it most possibly the largest hotel
brand in India by an international hotel chain by mid 2011. Besides, the
company is also seeing significant growth for its other brands such as the
Country Inn & Suites, Park Plaza and Park Inn. The hotel company currently
boasts of a portfolio of 24 hotels operating under Radisson, Park Plaza,
Country Inn & Suites (CIS) and Park Inn.
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The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Kerala
offers attractive monsoon packages
The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Kerala has introduced attractive
Monsoon Getaway packages valid for stay from July 1-September 30. The
monsoon packages offer lowest rate slabs for a limited fixed inventory. The
packages offer choices across different room categories with options like
with or without meals as per the guests' preference. Accommodation rates are
on per night basis for single/double occupancy for a minimum stay of two
nights.
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NTOs
Thailand exempts tourist and medical
treatment visa fee
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has exempted visa
fee requirement for tourist and medical treatment visa. The exemption will
be in force from June 25, 2009-March 4, 2010 at the Consulate-General and at
visa-on-arrival counters in Thailand. However, passengers will have to
procure a visa in advance, after submitting all the relevant documents and
the fee structure for all other visas will remain unchanged.
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