Airport
The Most Powerful Passports Of 2019
In a resounding demonstration of Asia’s growing power and influence on the world stage, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea now hold the joint top spot on the Henley Passport Index, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 189. These latest results consolidate 12 months of Asian dominance after Japan first climbed to the top spot in February last year.
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Following a visa-exemption from Uzbekistan, Germany currently sits alone in 2nd place, with a score of 188. Five countries now share 3 rd place on the index – which is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – with a score of 187: Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, and Sweden. The UK and the US look increasingly unlikely to regain the top spot they jointly held in 2015, with the UK now siting in 5th place with a visa-free/visa on arrival score of 185, and the US in 6th, with a score of 184. Afghanistan and Iraq remain at the bottom of the ranking with a score of just 30, a position one or both countries have occupied throughout the index’s 14-year history.
Global headlines for Q2 2019
· Japan, Singapore, and South Korea hold the joint top spot on the Henley Passport Index .
· Germany has risen to 2nd place, up from the 3rd place it held with France.
· France remains in 3rd place, a position it now shares with Denmark, Finland, Italy, and Sweden.
· The UK is in 5th place, while the US is in 6th.
· The UK’s Brexit process has not yet had a marked effect on the country’s standing on the index. Its fall from the 3rd place it held in 2016 is a result of gains made by Asian countries and not a direct consequence of Brexit.
· There are now 32 countries in the top 10 positions on the Henley Passport Index, with European countries accounting for the majority of these spots.
· Iraq and Afghanistan continue to hold the bottom (104th) spot on the index, with only 30 destinations accessible visa-free or with a visa on arrival.
Regional headlines for Q2 2019
· In Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa, respectively, continue to hold the top 3 spots. South Africa has dropped 16 spots over the past decade.
· In the Middle East, the UAE is in 1st place, Israel is in in 2nd place, and Turkey is in 3rd place.
· In the Caribbean, the top 3 spots are held by Barbados, the Bahamas, and St. Kitts and Nevis, respectively.
· In Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, Ukraine holds 1st place, Moldova holds 2nd place, and Russia holds 3 rd place. Moldova has climbed 21 places since 2009, while Ukraine has climbed 22 places. Georgia, in 4th, has climbed 17 places.
· In Southeast Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei, respectively, hold the top 3 spots, while Myanmar, in 91st place, remains poorest performer in the region. The country has dropped six places over the past decade, while the Philippines has dropped 11.
· In North Asia, Japan and South Korea are the global and regional leaders. China is the highest regional climber in North Asia over the past decade, having moved 12 spots up the ranking since 2009. North Korea, in 96 th place globally, remains the poorest performer in the region. The country has dropped 13 places over the past decade.
UAE, Albania, and China Leap Up the Ranking
The UAE continues its upward trajectory and is now just one spot away from entry into the index’s top 20. After the recent formalization of a mutual visa-waiver agreement signed with Russia, UAE passport holders are now able to access 165 destinations around the world without a prior visa. This current score marks an extraordinary ascent from the position the UAE held a decade ago, when the country shared joint 61st place with Thailand and Zimbabwe and had a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just 52.
Airlines
Etihad Airways successfully completes its inaugural flight to Beijing Daxing International Airport
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), began its first scheduled flight between Abu Dhabi and Beijing Daxing Airport on March 28, 2023.
The inaugural flight EY888, operated using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, marked the move of regular flights from Abu Dhabi to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Previously Etihad operated to Beijing Capital International Airport.
Etihad Airways adds flights to Shanghai to its route network(Opens in a new browser tab)
2023 also marks the 15th anniversary of Etihad Airways’ services in China and its Abu Dhabi-Beijing route. With the continuous consolidation and strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the UAE and China, political, economic, trade and cultural exchanges between the two countries have become more frequent. Etihad Airways maintains its unwavering support for and commitment to its Chinese partners and the China market, and its contribution to the growing bilateral relationship.
Etihad Airways’ first outbound flight will depart Beijing Daxing on March 30th, allowing travelers choosing Abu Dhabi as their destination or a stopover to explore the emirate’s breathtaking landscapes, thriving arts and culture scene, top shopping destinations, magnificent attractions and world-class events; or connecting passengers with access to more than 70 destinations via our Abu Dhabi hub.
Etihad Airways has recently added popular destinations such as Düsseldorf, Copenhagen and Lisbon, expanding Etihad Airways’ European network while providing travelers with more convenient travel and holiday options. Etihad’s Boeing 787 aircraft feature innovative, award-winning cabin designs and products, complemented by the airline’s acclaimed service and hospitality offerings
Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member inaugurated non-stop flights between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick, the UK’s second-largest airport.
The inaugural flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick departed on time at 1150 hrs, scheduled to arrive at London Gatwick at 1640 hrs (local time) today. It is estimated that over 8,00,000 Gujaratis call the UK their home, making the Gujarati diaspora in the UK to be, arguably, the largest in the world. The flights between Ahmedabad and London Gatwick will be operated three times a week using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 18 Business Class and 238 Economy Class seats.
Air India launches new routes to London Gatwick(Opens in a new browser tab)
This week, in addition to flights from Ahmedabad, Air India has also launched non-stop flights to London Gatwick from Amritsar, Goa, and Kochi while increasing the frequency to London Heathrow from Delhi and Mumbai. In total, the airline now operates 49 flights per week between India and the UK, including six flights a week to Birmingham from Delhi and Amritsar.
Amritsar to London Gatwick
It launched its first-ever non-stop flight to London Gatwick, from Amritsar today. It has now become the first and only Indian airline to operate at Gatwick Airport— the second-largest airport in the UK. The services
to Gatwick are in line with Air India’s ongoing endeavor of enhancing connectivity between India’s major cities and leading global destinations to provide more choices to its passengers.
Equipped with 18 Business class seats featuring fully-flat beds and 238 Economy class seats, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will be operating three flights a week on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday from Amritsar. In addition to the flights from Amritsar, Air India will operate 9 other weekly flights scheduled from Ahmedabad, Goa, and Kochi—making it a total of 12 weekly flights to Gatwick. These operations will reaffirm Air India’s operations, presence, and network in the UK. In total, the airline now operates 49 flights in the UK per week— 43 flights to London (Heathrow and Gatwick) and six flights to Birmingham. Air India also operates 31 weekly flights to Heathrow, London from Delhi and Mumbai.
The first flight AI 169 from Amritsar to Gatwick departed on time at 1320 hrs and will arrive in Gatwick at a convenient 1755 hrs on the same day. Earlier, AI 170 had taken off from Gatwick at 2140 hrs to arrive in Amritsar at 1015 hrs (All Local Time).
Overall, Air India operates 80 flights per week to seven major cities in the UK and Europe and has relaunched flights to some of the prime European destinations such as Milan, Vienna, and Copenhagen.
The flights are now available for booking on the Air India website and mobile apps, as well as through authorised travel agents and other booking channels.
The Air India Group today announced that it has completed a significant milestone in the integration of its two low-cost subsidiary airlines, Air India Express and AirAsia India.
On 27 March 2023, the two low-cost airlines moved to a single, unified reservations system and website, and adopted common social media and customer support channels. This migration, which largely involved Air India Express migrating to the systems used by AirAsia India, confers significant capability and efficiency benefits for the airline and passengers.
AirAsia India to merge with Air India Express by end of 2023(Opens in a new browser tab)
In particular, passengers are now able to make and manage bookings, and check-in to AirAsia India and Air India Express domestic and international flights, on an all-new integrated website airindiaexpress.com.
This system merger comes five months after AirAsia India was fully acquired and subsidiaries under Air India, and three months after both AirAsia India and Air India Express were placed under a single CEO. In the coming months, the airlines will continue integrating other internal systems and, eventually, their air operating permits and regulatory posts.
Air India Express flight skids off runway while landing at Kochi airport(Opens in a new browser tab)
The integration of Air India Express and Air India will bring revenue, cost, and operational benefits through broader adoption of each airline’s best practices, systems, and routes, and confer greater economies of scale. The new Air India Express will focus on leisure-oriented and price-sensitive markets while improving connectivity between key domestic cities and Air India’s fast-expanding international network.
AirAsia India flies to 19 destinations across the country while Air India Express operates to 14 international destinations from 19 Indian cities.
Aruba and Guyana have become the latest destinations to join British Airways’ network, with inaugural flights arriving to a warm welcome in the destinations’ respective capital cities.
British Airways operates more routes to the Caribbean and Mexico than any other UK airline, with Aruba and Guyana bringing the total number of destinations served in the region to 17. Flight BA2157 departed London Gatwick (LGW) at 10:00 on Sunday 26 March and touched down at Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA) in Oranjestad, Aruba at 17:00 local time. The brand-new route will operate twice weekly via Antigua on Thursdays and Sundays.
The following day on Monday 27 March, flight BA2159 departed London Gatwick at 11:35, landing at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) in Georgetown, Guyana at 19:50 local time. This was the first of a twice-weekly flight, operating via St Lucia on Mondays and Thursdays.
Both routes will operate on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, with three cabins for customers to choose from: Club (business), World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and World Traveller (economy). Sunday 26 March also saw British Airways’ first direct flight to Port of Spain, Trinidad, which will operate three times per week from London Gatwick. The flight was formerly via St Lucia.
Return fares are from £520 for Oranjestad, Aruba, £499 for Georgetown, Guyana and £520 for Port of Spain, Trinidad. To book, visit www.ba.com
Here are some of the most important factors that airlines consider when setting ticket prices:
To find cheap flights, there are several strategies you can use:
- Be flexible with your travel dates: By being flexible with your travel dates, you can often find better deals as prices can vary greatly depending on the day of the week, time of year, and other factors.
- Book in advance: Booking your flight well in advance can often result in better prices, as airlines will typically offer lower prices for tickets booked further in advance.
- Look for deals and discounts: Airlines will often offer special deals and discounts on flights, so it’s worth checking their websites and signing up for their newsletters to stay informed.
- Use flight search engines: Flight search engines like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Google Flights can help you find the cheapest flights available by comparing prices across multiple airlines and dates.
- Consider alternative airports: Flying into or out of smaller airports can often be cheaper than larger airports, so it’s worth considering alternative airports if they are within a reasonable distance.
Emirates’ flagship A380 made a landmark touchdown at Christchurch Airport today, marking the resumption of its daily service from Dubai to Christchurch via Sydney after more than three years.
The special service was greeted by a crowd of spectators at the Christchurch Airport boundary, who watched as the iconic aircraft taxied through a ceremonial water canon salute, before parking in view of trade, media, and VIP guests at the international terminal.
Outbound EK412 left Dubai at 10:15 local time, stopping briefly in Sydney before arriving in Christchurch at 13:55 hours the next day, New Zealand time. The resumption of the Dubai to Christchurch route headlines a planned ramping up of seating capacity across Emirates’ global network, after boosting operations 31% (total ASKMs) since the beginning of its financial year. This operational boost included the re-introduction of Emirates’ nonstop A380 route from Auckland to Dubai in December of last year.
Emirates’ A380 return to Christchurch is also welcome news for South Island producers, with SkyCargo again supporting the export of 15 to 18 tonnes of daily goods across the Tasman. The airfreight will provided much-needed airfreight from a broad range of exporters, including Central Otago cherries, prime New Zealand lamb, and premium seafood, as they continue on to destinations around the world.
Both North and South Island customers will now have direct access to daily Emirates A380 services, providing greater levels of flexibility and choice when making travel plans and providing seamless connectivity and reduced transit time when travelling to other destinations across the airline’s global network, including destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Travellers looking to venture beyond the airline’s gateways will also have more connection opportunities to 55 cities across Australia and New Zealand through Emirates’ long-standing partnership with Qantas.
Restart of Christchurch via Sydney
The A380 flight operates as EK 412 and EK 413. Emirates flight EK 412 departs Dubai at 1015hrs, arriving in Sydney at 0700hrs. The flight will then continue, taking off from Sydney at 0845hrs, arriving in Christchurch at 1355hrs. EK 413 will then depart Christchurch at 1820hrs, arriving in Sydney at 1940hrs. The final leg of EK 413 will depart to Dubai at 2145hrs, arriving at 0515hrs local time.
Customers in Christchurch will not only be able to enjoy the airline’s flagship aircraft, but will also experience the debut of the highly sought-after Premium Economy cabin and latest products across every class of travel.
A direct service between Pune and Mumbai is planned to be introduced by Air India. The service will launch six times a week as of March 26. The 9:45 a.m. flight by Air India will arrive in Pune at 10:45 a.m. Around 11:20 am, the return flight will leave, and at 12:20 pm, it will touch down in Mumbai. In actuality, this is the first direct flight that is now offered between the two cosmopolitan cities. Jet Airways used to run a flight in the past, but it stopped in 2019.
Vistara Launches Non-Stop Flight From Pune To Singapore(Opens in a new browser tab)
During the voyage, an Airbus A319 will operate on the airline’s revived 9W route, according to the Air India website. This is the smallest aircraft in the carrier’s fleet. For individuals going between Mumbai and Pune, the road would provide another option other than trains, buses and private vehicles.
Connecting flights do travel between Mumbai and Pune. Nonetheless, it takes longer than four hours to get there. For the Air India flight from Mumbai to Pune, ticket sales have already begun. For more information on ticket prices, users can go to the Air India website. Business class tickets cost about Rs 18,467 each seat while economy tickets cost about Rs 2,353 per seat. According to reports, the Mumbai-Pune route will be the nation’s shortest narrowbody route.
The airlines will also begin eight additional weekly flights on Sunday: three flights each from Mumbai and Delhi to Bangkok, as well as weekly flights from Delhi to Hong Kong and Seoul (Incheon). With this, the carrier’s total number of flights to East Asia will reach 67.
Etihad Airways successfully completes its inaugural flight to Beijing Daxing International Airport
Air India launches non-stop flight from Amritsar, Ahmedabad to London Gatwick
Air India Group completes integration of Air India Express and AirAsia India
British Airways launches new routes to the Caribbean routes
How airlines set ticket prices and how to find cheap flights?
Airbus achieves in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone from a tanker aircraft
Emirates restores Dubai-Sydney-Christchurch daily service on Airbus A380
Is this Air India’s shortest narrowbody route in India?
Etihad Airways returns to East India with daily flights to Kolkata
GE eyes multi-billion dollar engine deal with India for fighter jet programs
Virgin Atlantic has a surprise for passengers who steal its salt and pepper shakers from flights
Woman’s ‘genius’ revenge hack for people reclining seats all the way on airplanes
United Airlines Blocking Seats Due To Passenger Weight
EasyJet Passengers Escorted Off Plane For Asking ‘Where They Should Put Their Luggage’
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