Corporate Newsletter November 2023

News at a Glance:

Thailand announces visa-free entry for Indian tourists from Nov 10:

Thailand will allow visa-free entry for tourists from India and Taiwan for a period of six months from November 10 to May 10, 2024. The decision has been taken with an objective to draw in more tourists as the tourism season approaches. The following conditions have to be met to enjoy upto 30 days visa-free stay in Thailand:

• Be visiting Thailand strictly for tourism
• Hold a genuine passport with a valid expiry of over 6 months
• Can provide a valid address in Thailand on entry that can be verified. This address can be a hotel or an apartment
• Must have a confirmed return ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days. Open tickets do not qualify. Traveling overland by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand
• Provide proof of funds of at least 10,000 THB for single travellers, or 20,000 THB per family during your stay in Thailand.

Sri Lanka grants temporary visa exemptions for India and 6 other countries:

Sri Lanka has recently launched a pilot scheme offering visa-free entry to tourists from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand. Once introduced, it will be applicable till atleast March 31, 2024.

Previously, Indian tourists were levied a US$20 visa application fee. The new program eliminates this fee entirely, although you would still have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travelling. The ETA online system provides approval for a double entry on short visits (upto 30 days, can extend upto 60 days) and transit entry (upto two days).

This change to Sri Lanka’s visa policy is part of the island nation’s efforts to boost its tourism sector, which is a significant contributor to the economy. The decision coincides with the Indian festival holiday season, aiming to increase tourist inflow to 2 million visitors this year, a significant increase from the previous target of 1.5 million.

Note: As of November 20, the visa fee is still applicable with the ETA applications.

EU set to shift to digital visas for Schengen area:

The Schengen area comprises 23 of the 27 EU member countries plus associated neighbours Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. People applying for visas to visit Europe's Schengen area will soon do so via an online platform under a change adopted by EU foreign ministers on November 13.

Once the online system is in place, people applying for short stays in the Schengen area will upload documents, data and electronic copies of their travel documents with biometric information, and pay fees, all through an online platform. The shift towards digitalisation of the visa process will do away with the need for applicants to get a sticker in their passport, meaning no more appointments at consulates or service providers' offices.

If approved after database cross-checks, the applicants will receive a cryptographically signed barcode to print off or store in a device. Although some first-time applicants or those with a new passport or changed biometric data may still need to attend an in-person appointment.

Indigo achieves milestone of 2000+ daily flights:

In a significant development, Indigo becomes the first airline in India to cross 2000+ daily flights. This achievement pegs Indigo among the top 10 airlines globally in terms of frequency and seat capacity. Achieving this milestone within a mere 17 years since its inception in 2006 showcases IndiGo's commitment to operational efficiency, reliability, and customer-centricity. In the past six months, IndiGo strategically expanded its operations by adding over 20 new international routes and the airlines’ comprehensive network now covers 85 domestic and 32 international destinations.

Vistara offers complimentary WiFi to loyalty programme members on flights:

Full-service carrier Vistara has announced complimentary Wi-Fi internet connectivity onboard its Boeing 787 and Airbus A321Neo-operated international flights for all members of its loyalty programme, Club Vistara.

The facility is available to all Club Vistara members, regardless of their membership tier, accumulated points and tenure of membership, among others, the airline said. The offering includes unlimited data ideal for messaging apps while the Platinum members and business class customers get an additional 50MB of data, which can be used for web browsing, engaging on social media, and staying connected through messaging and e-mail services.

Lufthansa to introduce A380 service between Munich and Delhi in summer 2024:

In the summer 2024 timetable, Lufthansa will position six A380 aircraft at its southern hub in Munich and operate flights between Munich and Boston, Delhi, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C

India Travel Updates:

Air India Express - Transit Flights Ex Pune:

Air India Express announces new destinations like Mangalore, Kannur and Varanasi via transit cities. Please find below the entire list of transit flights ex-Pune –the flights with the same flight number can be treated as a direct connection (with a technical halt) as there is no change of aircraft.

International Travel Updates:

Now fly Air India direct between Mumbai and Melbourne from December 15:

Air India announced it will be launching the first-ever non-stop services to Melbourne in Australia from Mumbai, as it expands its global route network. Air India will operate three times a week between Mumbai and Melbourne starting 15 December 2023, becoming the only non-stop operator between Mumbai and Australia currently.

Travellers from 17 Indian cities can take convenient, one-stop connections to and from Melbourne via Delhi or Mumbai. The new Mumbai-Melbourne route further enables seamless two-way connectivity between London Heathrow and Melbourne via Delhi and Mumbai. The flights on the Mumbai-Melbourne route will be operated by Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 18 flat beds in Business Class and 238 spacious seats in Economy.

The thrice-a-week flight schedule is given below:

India To Melbourne Via Singapore: IndiGo Extends Its Qantas Codeshare Deal:

Indian low-cost airline IndiGo and Australia’s flag carrier Qantas have enhanced their codeshare partnership by including key destinations in Australia as part of the deal. The Qantas partnership is one of many code share deals that IndiGo has signed with foreign carriers as it looks to broaden its long-haul network globally.

IndiGo’s passengers travelling to Singapore will now be able to access four key destinations in Australia – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane – as part of its codeshare deal with Qantas, starting with Melbourne, with the remaining three cities to be added in the coming weeks.

The codeshare partnership now becomes a two-way arrangement with Qantas passengers on the Melbourne - Delhi & Sydney - Bengaluru sectors being able to connect to 22 cities in India and Indigo passengers to Singapore now being able to travel to 4 cities in Australia on the Qantas flights from Singapore.

Qantas increases frequency to six flights a week on Delhi – Melbourne route:

In the winter schedule, Qantas has increased the frequency of direct flights from Delhi to Melbourne from thrice-a-week to six times a week. Additionally, Qantas flies direct between Bengaluru and Sydney five times a week.

Vistara to launch Delhi - Bali daily direct flights from December 01:

Vistara, India’s finest full-service carrier and a joint venture of Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, announced daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Bali, starting 01 December 2023. This makes Vistara the only airline offering direct connectivity between the two cities currently. Vistara will be deploying its A321LR aircraft, with a three-class configuration, giving its customers the option to fly in Business, Premium Economy, or Economy cabins when travelling on the route.

Bali has become an increasingly sought-after holiday destination for Indians due to its accessibility, proximity, and hassle-free visa on arrival facility. India is the second-largest source of foreign tourists to Bali, and with hassle-free visa-on-arrival , Bali remains one of the preferred holiday destinations for Indians, besides being popular for MICE

The schedule of the daily flight is as follows:

Vistara Expands Codeshare with Lufthansa to 12 European destinations:

Exclusive offers in Dubai and the UAE with My Emirates Pass:

For the next five months, customers can present their Emirates boarding pass at hundreds of participating shops, spas, private pools, restaurants and more to enjoy incredible discounts. They can also visit some of Dubai’s biggest family attractions for less, including At The Top Burj Khalifa, Aquaventure Waterpark, Dubai Parks & Resorts theme park, IMG Worlds of Adventure, City Sightseeing and more

Dubai Shopping Festival: Customers can enjoy even more offers during the Dubai Shopping Festival from 8 December 2023 to 14 January 2024. They can make the most of their generous Emirates baggage allowance to take home bargains and enjoy all the family entertainment.