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AIRLINES
Merger of Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines
concludes successfully
Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Austrian Airlines
AG and Österreichische Industrieholding AG (ÖIAG) recently executed the
taking over of Austrian Airlines AG by Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Austrian
Airlines will become a part of Lufthansa Group from this month making
Lufthansa the largest aviation group in Europe. Previously, the European
Commission had given green signal for the merger and approved a restructuring
aid to be made available by ÖIAG to the tune of Euros 500 million. Lufthansa holds
more than 90 per cent of shares in Austrian Airlines AG through ÖLH
Österreichische Luftverkehrs-Holding-GmbH.
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Air India to increase flights from 65 to
around 1,000 over next three years in north-east region
As part of its strategy to provide better
connectivity to Tier II cities, Air India (AI) is planning to strengthen its
network in the north-east region. AI plans to increase the number of weekly
flights from the present 65 to around 1,000 over the next three years.
According to Arvind Jadhav, CMD, Air India, the airline is not taking this
initiative as a mere directive from the government. The proposed improvement
in connectivity to the region is now a part of AI’s programme to provide
better connectivity to Tier II cities. The programme is being worked out
considering the needs of customers.
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Air India designated as an official carrier
for Commonwealth Games 2010
According to Rohita Jaidka, executive
director marketing - India region, Air India, the airline has been
designated as the official carrier for Commonwealth Games 2010. Foreign
athletes will now get
to experience India’s rich culture onboard the Maharaja, which is the mascot
of Air India. Being the official carrier for Commonwealth Games, the
national carrier aims to serve most of the visiting guests during the event.
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Indian government approves renewed ASA
between India & Finland
The government of India has given its
approval to the renewed bilateral Air Services Agreement (ASA) between India
and Finland. In the updated ASA, co-operative marketing arrangements and
inter-modal services have been introduced. According to the ministry of
civil aviation sources, this modernised ASA has the potential to spur
greater trade investment, tourism and cultural exchange between the two
countries besides bringing it in line with developments in international
civil aviation scenario. In addition to the existing points of call, the
designated airlines of each side shall be entitled to operate code share
services to any two points in the territory of the other side to be
specified later.
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ASSOCIATIONS
IATO signs MoU with National Tour
Association, USA to boost tourism
In a bid to augment both inbound and
outbound tourism in respective countries, the Indian Association of Tour
Operators (IATO) and National Tour Association (NTA), USA have signed an MoU
at the recently held 25th IATO Annual Convention in Bengaluru. Vijay Thakur,
president, IATO and Lisa Simon, president, NTA signed the MoU on behalf of
their respective associations. The MoU is expected to strengthen the
partnership between the two travel organisations that will help to
facilitate business between their members.
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AVIATION
India and Nepal agree on increasing air seat
capacity to 30,000 per week
Recognising that Air Services Agreement
(ASA) of 1997 between the governments of Nepal and India needed to be
revised in the wake of developments in aviation sector of both countries,
the ministry of civil aviation, government of India and government of Nepal,
finalised the text of a revised ASA. Both governments have agreed to
implement the accord on provisional basis with immediate effect. According
to the revised ASA, the capacity will be increased to 30,000 seats a week
from existing 6,000. Nepal not only accepted the ‘SAARC offer’ of India, but
both sides also agreed to further liberalise the entitlements. Three new
destinations have been granted to Nepal viz. Dehradun, Gorakhpur and
Bagdogra. Likewise, Pokhara, Lumbini, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Jankpur,
Dhangadi and Bhairahawa have been granted to India.
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HOTELS
O Resort and Spa, Goa opens
Oxford Properties opened its second ‘O’
hotel in Goa earlier this month. A sea front hotel, O Resort and Spa is
located at Candolim in North Goa. Spread across five acres of land, the
property boasts of 75 guest rooms, including a grand presidential suite with
a private swimming pool and two suites overlooking the sea. A Pune-based
real estate developer, Oxford Properties made a debut in hotel business with
the opening of its first hotel in Pune last year.
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MOT
FTAs witness decline by 8.6 per cent in
August
The August statistics released by the
Ministry of Tourism reflects a decline of 8.6 per cent in
foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in August as compared to the positive growth
of 0.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent in June and July respectively. However, the
travel trade can feel some respite as foreign exchange earnings (FEE) from
tourism during August were higher at USD 851 million as compared to USD 845
million in August 2008.
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NTO
Slovenian Tourism Board and Panoramic Travel
DCM hold workshop in Mumbai
Slovenian Tourism Board and Panoramic
Travel DCM jointly organised the Slovenian Travel Industry Workshop 2009 in
Mumbai on September 10. At the workshop, travel agents from India were
apprised of the destination’s potential, its connectivity and
cost-effectiveness. Travel agents from Mumbai attended the workshop, which
was supplemented by audio-visual screenings of the picturesque country. Rok
Klancnik, director, Slovenian Tourism Board and Tone Matjasic, general
manager, Panoramic Travel DMC briefed travel agents about the destination.
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STATES
MPSTDC to connect Kanha National Park with
luxury cruise and rail service
The Madhya Pradesh State Tourism
Development Corporation (MPSTDC) will shortly launch a
luxury cruise and rail service connecting Kanha National Park.According to Ashwani
Lohani, managing director, MPSTDC, the cruise and rail services starting
from Jabalpur will make the park more accessible to all wildlife lovers.
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TECHNOLOGY
Galileo completes 15 years in Indian market
Galileo, a Travelport GDS brand, which is
officially distributed by InterGlobe Technology Quotient (ITQ) in India and
Sri Lanka, completed 15 years in the Indian market. Since its inception in
1994, ITQ has extended Galileo’s network to over 333 cities with 21
dedicated offices. Galileo has more than 11,500 agency terminals with 19
service centres and 11 training centres across India.
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