The post Shri N Chandrasekaran Takes Direct Charge As Air India Faces Leadership Uncertainty appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

The achievement marks a broader philosophical shift in global travel: airports are no longer viewed simply as transit networks with gates, but as a traveler’s first intimate experience with a nation’s brand.

Delhi IGI: Competing at Global ScaleAs global airlines like Air India, IndiGo, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates funnel millions of international business leaders, diplomats, and tourists through the capital, Delhi Airport has balanced staggering traffic loads with an increasingly polished passenger experience.The Scale: Serving nearly 79 million passengers annually, placing it alongside some of the absolute busiest transit vectors on earth.

The Focus: Moving beyond infrastructure to emphasize transit comfort, cultural showcases (such as the terminal’s iconic Mudra hand gestures), and streamlined border handling.

The Strategic Takeaway

For India’s booming economy, Delhi Airport’s upward trajectory is a strong signal. As international travel accelerates, global airports are actively competing for a larger share of tourism revenue, high-value airline partnerships, and international transit spending.

By prioritizing passenger sentiment over just expanding terminal footprints, Delhi’s steady climb indicates that Indian aviation is evolving to treat infrastructure as the baseline, and the passenger experience as the true differentiator.

The post Delhi IGI Climbs to 28th Globally as Aviation Shifts to a Hospitality Mindset appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

The Ministry added that over 12,000 shuttle departures facilitated the travel of more than 67,000 pilgrims. It also informed that over 2,000 charter operations served more than 11,000 pilgrims, providing safe, reliable and efficient connectivity across the Char Dham sector.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has accorded special priority to ensuring that every devotee undertaking the Char Dham Yatra can travel with greater ease, convenience and safety.(AIR)

The post Civil Aviation Ministry Completes First Phase Of Char Dham Helicopter Operations appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

In a social media post, the Minister said that India’s hub-and-spoke aviation vision begins with Varanasi. He informed that Varanasi is the first city to be integrated into the Easy Connect flights model. He also defined this as a significant step towards making India a global aviation hub, reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of taking world-class connectivity beyond the metros.

The post Varanasi Becomes First City Under Easy Connect Model For International Travel: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

The partnership will support Afcom in basing its aircraft at NIA and operating freighter services, further strengthening the airport’s position as a key logistics and cargo hub in North India.

Under the scope of the agreement, the parties will work closely to identify viable international markets and design a robust network plan based on cargo demand and flow. The collaboration will also ensure alignment of operational and infrastructure requirements, alongside developing a joint marketing strategy to support long-term sustainability and growth of Afcom’s cargo operations from NIA.

Afcom, a Chennai-based international cargo airline, operates a fleet of three Boeing 737-800 freighters and serves key destinations including Bangkok, Yangon, Hanoi, Colombo, Malé, and Dubai. The airline is an integrated air cargo solutions provider, offering services across general cargo, project cargo, and high-value shipments such as perishables, electronics, and dangerous goods.

Commenting on the partnership, Ms. Kiran Jain, Chief Operating Officer, Noida International Airport, said: “This partnership with Afcom and AISATS marks an important step in building a robust air cargo ecosystem at Noida International Airport. By enabling dedicated freighter operations and aligning closely with industry partners, we aim to unlock the significant cargo potential of the region and enhance global connectivity for North India.”

Mr. Ramanathan Rajamani, CEO, AISATS added, “AISATS is delighted to partner with NIA and Afcom Holdings Limited in this important initiative to shape the future of air cargo at Noida International Airport. As India’s trade and logistics requirements continue to evolve, the need for efficient, future-ready cargo infrastructure and reliable operating partnerships has never been greater. Through this agreement, we look forward to bringing our deep expertise in cargo handling, operational excellence, and customer-centric service delivery to support the development of a seamless, scalable and globally competitive cargo ecosystem at DXN. This collaboration is an important step in unlocking new trade flows, strengthening regional supply chains, and contributing to India’s emergence as a major global logistics hub.” 

Speaking on the collaboration Capt Deepak Parasuraman, Chairman of Afcom Holdings ltd said, “This partnership is one of the unique propositions to our customers for bringing in world-class air cargo services and jointly building a robust air cargo system at Noida International Airport. This partnership will open new trade lanes, shortening the supply chain for industries in this part of the world and positioning Noida International Airport as a key logistics hub.”

The agreement reflects a shared vision to unlock emerging cargo opportunities Western Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region. With increasing demand for efficient logistics and global trade connectivity, the collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to enhancing cargo throughput and enabling seamless international freight movement from Noida.

This partnership marks another step in Noida International Airport’s commitment to developing a world-class cargo ecosystem and supporting India’s growing role in global trade.

The post Afcom Partners with AISATS to Strengthen Air Cargo Connectivity at Noida International Airport appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

In a media post, the Ministry informed that a dedicated Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is functioning round the clock to provide real-time support to the passengers. It added that a total of 1 thousand 461 grievances have been addressed during this period through the AirSewa portal, social media platforms and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders. Passengers requiring assistance can contact the helpline numbers 011-24604283 and 011-24632987.

The post Ministry Of Civil Aviation Reports 281 Domestic Flights Cancelled Yesterday appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.

16-December-2025, Bengaluru: Strengthening connectivity between Thailand and Uttar Pradesh, Air India Express, India’s first international value carrier, has announced weekly flights between Varanasi and Bangkok starting February 1, 2026.

The new service will offer travellers from Varanasi convenient non-stop connectivity to one of Asia’s most popular leisure destinations. Similarly, it will provide convenient options for tourists from Thailand to visit Varanasi, Sarnath, and other major attractions on the Buddhist circuit.  Bookings are now open on the airline’s award-winning website, airindiaexpress.com, mobile app, and other major booking channels.

Speaking on the announcement, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “The introduction of this non-stop service to Bangkok provides seamless access to one of India’s most sought-after international destinations. It aligns with our strategic focus on enhancing direct international connectivity from the nation’s rapidly growing non-metro and Tier-II cities. 

For inbound travellers, the service strengthens access to Varanasi – one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities and widely regarded as India’s spiritual capital – while further developing the Buddhist travel circuit for visitors from Thailand. 

This new connection reflects our credo of expanding the network with meaningful connections, supporting our commitment to deliver greater convenience and value to our guests.”

This launch will further build on Air India Express’ presence in Thailand. The airline currently connects Bangkok with Bengaluru, Lucknow, Pune, and Surat, and operates direct flights between Hyderabad and Phuket.

This service also enhances the Air India Express operations from Varanasi, where the airline currently operates more than 70 weekly flights from the city to Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Air India Express was the first airline to launch international operations from Varanasi, directly connecting the city to Sharjah in August 2015, placing Varanasi on the international travel map. Within Uttar Pradesh, Air India Express also operates from Ayodhya, Hindon, and Lucknow.

Air India Express has recently unveiled a new cabin experience on its Boeing 737-8 aircraft, alongside its latest brand campaign, ‘Xplore More, Xpress More’, which encourages travellers to immerse themselves in local culture and discover new experiences across its expansive network of over 60 destinations. The refreshed cabin features seats with superior padding, thicker armrests, and improved legroom ranging from 29 to 38 inches. Each seat is equipped with in-seat USB charging ports, the cabins have ovens installed to serve hot ‘Gourmair’ meals, refreshed interiors with brand-new carpets, and advanced Boeing Sky Interior mood lighting, creating a modern, warm, and welcoming ambience that reflects the airline’s commitment to a comfortable and memorable flying experience.

The airline’s ‘Tales of India’ initiative celebrates the country’s artistic and cultural diversity through tail arts inspired by regional traditions and crafts. The initiative brings to life over 50 indigenous arts from 25 states, featuring on each of the airline’s new aircraft, including the iconic Banarasi weave and Chikankari embroidery.

From Varanasi: Air India Express operates over 70 weekly flights from Varanasi connecting directly to three destinations including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai and two international destinations: Bangkok and Sharjah. Additionally, the airline provides one-stop connectivity to 30 domestic destinations: Agartala, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Goa, Guwahati, Imphal, Indore, Jammu, Jodhpur, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Nagpur, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Udaipur, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam and eight international destinations: Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Phuket, and Riyadh.

The post AIR INDIA EXPRESS ANNOUNCES DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN VARANASI AND BANGKOK appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.