Aviation

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Nikhil Bhaskaran as Director of Food & Beverage. Bringing over 10 years of distinguished experience in luxury hospitality, Nikhil joins the leadership team with a proven track record of elevating dining experiences and driving operational excellence. In his new role, he will oversee the hotel’s diverse food and beverage portfolio, including signature restaurants, bars, in-room dining, and banqueting operations. He will focus on curating innovative culinary concepts, enhancing guest experiences, and strengthening the hotel’s position as a leading dining destination in Pune. Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Nikhil served as Food & Beverage Manager at Shangri-La Eros, New Delhi, where he led multi-outlet operations, driving revenue growth through strategic planning, menu engineering, and experiential dining initiatives. He also held key leadership roles at The Lodhi, New Delhi, where he played an instrumental role in achieving record-breaking revenues, executing successful food pop-ups, and elevating the hotel’s dining experiences. Nikhil’s expertise spans concept development, team leadership, and guest-centric innovation. His career also includes valuable experience with renowned luxury brands such as The Leela Palace and The Oberoi Amarvilas, where he honed his foundation in service excellence and hospitality leadership. At The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, he will spearhead the food and beverage operations, with a vision to refine dining concepts, optimize performance, and craft distinctive guest experiences aligned with the hotel’s commitment to luxury and exceptional service.

The MoU supports Cape Town and the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy by identifying opportunities to promote the region in key destinations on the airline’s vast global network On the sidelines of Africa’s World Travel Market (WTM), Emirates (www.Emirates.com) and Wesgro have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to drive inbound tourism and boost visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape. The partnership underscores the airline’s longstanding commitment to the market through attracting visitors from across its global network supporting the province’s strategy of unlocking tourism growth. The MoU was signed by Afzal Parambil, Emirates’ Regional Manager for Southern Africa and Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro’s Chief Executive Officer, at the Emirates’ stand at WTM. Under the agreement, Emirates and Wesgro will collaborate on boosting travel from key growth markets including the GCC, Far East, India, and other mutually identified source markets, to promote the destination and encourage travellers to experience the abundance of natural, cultural and historical attractions. Afzal Parambil said, “Cape Town is one of our most visited and most consistently in-demand destinations on our African network. Through this agreement with Wesgro, a longstanding and essential regional partner, we will collaborate to unlock new growth opportunities and further stimulate inbound tourism from key destinations on our global network, by showcasing the beauty and breadth of experience that Cape Town and the Western Cape have to offer. This partnership also further supports and complements our plan to introduce a third daily frequency to Cape Town, served by our newest aircraft type, the Airbus A350. This agreement is another signal of our steadfast commitment to South Africa. We look forward to playing a meaningful role in Cape Town’s tourism success story for years to come.” Wrenelle Stander said: “As the tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency for the region, Wesgro continues to focus on stimulating demand, strengthening trade relationships, and unlocking new opportunities across priority markets. Partnerships with organisations such as Emirates offer system-scale opportunities to engage global stakeholders and accelerate this momentum. Through ongoing collaboration with airlines, tourism trade and industry partners, Wesgro is positioning Cape Town and the Western Cape as a leading destination for both business and leisure – offering world-class, premium experiences, with love from the locals.” Tourism is a key pillar in Cape Town and the Western Cape’s economy, creating tens of thousands of employment opportunities and serving millions of tourists who visit the country each year. The partnership between Emirates and Wesgro supports the province’s Growth for Jobs Strategy, which aims to unlock inclusive and sustainable tourism growth. In 2025 Cape Town International Airport recorded a record-breaking 11.1 million two-way passenger traffic, accounting for both domestic and international travellers. In recent years, Emirates has seen consistently high demand for travel into Cape Town, with high volumes of passengers from the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. Emirates first launched services to Cape Town in March 2008, the airline’s second city in South Africa, after Johannesburg which began operations in 1995. Over the years, Emirates has steadily scaled operations to foster strong and reliable connectivity between Cape Town and the wider world, via Dubai. In 2025, Emirates deployed its retrofitted Boeing 777 aircraft to the city and, this summer, is planning to add third daily frequency, served by its newest aircraft type, the Airbus A350. The deployment enhances travel options between South Africa and Dubai, with Emirates’ full suite of products and services available for customers to enjoy – from the iconic A380 and the fully-retrofitted Boeing 777 to the next-gen A350. South Africa remains the only African nation to be served by all three aircraft in Emirates’ fleet. Beyond passenger connectivity, Emirates SkyCargo facilitates trade to and from South Africa, further stimulating the economy and connecting South African businesses with their global customers, quickly, reliably and efficiently. From Cape Town, Emirates SkyCargo moves significant volume of fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables, chilled meats, dairy, seafood and fresh cut flowers, transporting perishables from farm to shop with turnaround times of just 24 – 48 hours.

Etihad introduces the game-changing Airbus A321LR twice daily to Mumbai and New Delhi, complementing twice daily wide-body services to each city Luxurious lie-flat Business seats, all with direct-aisle access, now on all four daily flights connecting Abu Dhabi to the two Indian metropolises Guests can now enjoy Etihad’s renowned First experience on the A321LR from both cities National, India – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has elevated its premium travel experience across all flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and New Delhi, both operating four times daily. The airline will introduce its game-changing Airbus A321LR twice daily to both Mumbai and New Delhi, which will complement two daily wide-body services connecting Abu Dhabi to each city. Consequently, all guests flying from the two cities in Etihad’s premium cabins will enjoy the airline’s award-winning hospitality, with lie-flat, direct aisle access luxurious seats. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, said: “This is a major upgrade on our flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and New Delhi, which demonstrates our commitment to the strategically important Indian market where we serve 11 gateways.” “Guests travelling to and from both cities can now enjoy a true First experience throughout their entire journey when connecting from these cities to global destinations like London, Paris, Zurich, Geneva, New York and Toronto. Likewise, our Business guests will enjoy lie-flat seats and a premium experience with luxury amenities, fine dining and hospitality on all flights connecting Mumbai and New Delhi.” First Deluxe and Business Deluxe guests will also benefit from a luxurious ground experience, with door-to-door chauffeurs, with First Deluxe guests also benefitting from the Etihad Concierge, a personal travel assistant service and Meet and Assist at the airport, making travel as effortless as possible. The A321LR experience The Airbus A321LR, which already operates all flights to Kolkata, provides elevated comfort, refined design and high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity across all cabins. The A321LR introduces a true First experience with two private First Suites, with sliding doors for privacy and an elegant space to dine, work and relax. With space for a companion, the First seats transform effortlessly to fully flat beds complete with luxurious textiles. Seats feature a 20-inch 4K screen, wireless charging and Bluetooth connectivity, and guests will enjoy Etihad’s renowned First culinary experience. In the Business cabin, there are 14 lie-flat, window-facing seats, each with direct-aisle access for enhanced privacy. Luxury amenities and fine dining elevate the service. In the Economy cabin, 144 ergonomically designed Economy seats feature 4K touchscreens with Etihad’s extensive range of entertainment including a wide-range of movies from Bollywood to Hollywood.

FLY91 commences three new routes, namely, Solapur–Hyderabad, Hubballi–Hyderabad and Hubballi–Bengaluru.  Pure play regional airline FLY91 marked yet another significant milestone in its growth journey with its inaugural operations to Hubballi on Friday (April 17), where the airline was accorded a customary ceremonial water cannon salute on arrival. The airline flagged off three routes on the same day, further strengthening its footprint across key regional corridors. FLY91 commenced operations on three new routes, Solapur–Hyderabad, Hubballi–Hyderabad and Hubballi–Bengaluru, even as the airline stays committed to Solapur increasing the frequency of its Goa–Solapur service, responding to growing passenger demand for reliable and convenient travel options in the sector. Hubballi, a prominent trade, education and industrial hub in North Karnataka, plays a critical role in driving regional economic activity. Improved air connectivity to cities such as Hyderabad and Bengaluru is expected to further support business travel, educational access and industrial linkages, while offering passengers a safe, reliable and convenient alternative to surface transport. Commenting on the expansion, Manoj Chacko, Managing Director and CEO, FLY91, highlighted that the addition of Hubballi reinforces the airline’s focus on strengthening regional connectivity. “The addition of Hubballi to our network reflects our continued commitment to building reliable, trustworthy and convenient regional air connectivity through our vision of ‘Connecting Bharat’. Hubballi is our regional airline’s 12th domestic destination after just two years of starting operations. Connecting as many as two dozen tier 2 and tier 3 destinations in central and southern India within that relatively short timespan is testimony to FLY91’s pursuit of measured growth and commitment to connecting underserved destinations in the country.” Further, addressing seasonal demand, he added, “Due to the peak demand during the summer holidays, we are introducing additional flights on the Agatti–Kochi route twice a week from April 16 to May 20, 2026. This has been a successful route for us, and the increased frequency will help us better serve rising passenger demand.” Bookings for the new sectors are now open across all channels, including the airline’s website and travel partners. In an industry-first move in Indian domestic aviation, pure play regional airline FLY91 has also introduced a disruptive, pre-booked baggage fare structure that allows passengers to select from fixed baggage slabs at the time of booking. This initiative is part of FLY91’s broader bouquet of innovations focused on building a digitally lean, customer-first airline. With the new product offering Smartbag91, FLY91 continues to innovate, bringing greater transparency, predictability and flexibility to the passengers’ journey. With these additions, FLY91 has expanded its network to 12 destinations – Goa (Manohar International Airport, Mopa), Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Solapur, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Kochi, Agatti, Hubballi, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry.

First in-terminal quick commerce delivery by an e-commerce platform at CSMIA Terminal 2 Passengers can receive orders across boarding gates, lounges, food court and partner outlets Deliveries are handled by trained on-ground personnel within minutes, ensuring a seamless and secure experience Mumbai, 1 April 2026: For travellers rushing through departures, a forgotten charger, a quick snack, or even a bottle of water can now be a tap away. Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), India’s largest private airport operator, in partnership with Blinkit, India’s leading quick commerce platform, has launched India’s first in-terminal quick commerce service at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai. The service is now live at Terminal 2, domestic departures, bringing app-based delivery directly into the airport experience. Passengers can order essentials through the Blinkit app and have them delivered to their location within the terminal, including boarding gates, lounges, the food court and select partner outlets. Deliveries are carried out by trained on-ground personnel, ensuring a seamless and secure experience without disrupting travel timelines. AAHL Spokesperson said: “Adani Airports is reimagining how digital services can enhance the airport experience. Bringing app-based convenience into the terminal allows passengers to make better use of their time and raises the overall service standard. This is a step towards building more responsive and passenger-centric airports.” The offering spans travel accessories, electronics, snacks, books, baby care and personal essentials. Permissible liquids such as packaged water, cold beverages and juices are sourced from approved in-terminal inventory, in line with airport security protocols. For Blinkit, the initiative extends quick commerce into a high-frequency, high-intent environment, driving deeper online adoption and consumer penetration. For AAHL, it reflects a strategic push to enhance passenger convenience while unlocking non-aeronautical growth through digitally enabled retail. The service also brings a new level of accessibility and affordability to airport retail, giving travellers more choice without the typical constraints of time and location. With high passenger throughput at Terminal 2, the initiative addresses a familiar gap in the travel journey, enabling access to essentials exactly when they are needed. The rollout aligns with AAHL’s focus on building technology-led, passenger-centric airports, where convenience, accessibility and seamless digital experiences define the journey.

Signature Logo-Inspired Design, Comfort And Personalisation Options   Saudi Company Al-Harithy Tailoring Chosen To Produce Outfits Jeddah, KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA – flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing low-cost airline, has unveiled a newly designed cabin crew uniform which debuted across its four operational bases during Eid Al Fitr. Representing flyadeal’s continued evolution as a modern Saudi airline, combining style, inclusivity and practicality, the new-look reflects the airline’s youthful and vibrant identity – from flyadeal’s signature ‘equal sign’ logo subtly woven into the design, to the flexible comfort offered to crew. Designed with both cultural considerations and practicality in mind, the uniform respects traditional modesty preferences. Crew have flexible styling options, allowing personalisation within brand guidelines to suit them in a working environment, both in the air and on the ground. A distinctive feature is the necktie, scarf and hijab, decoratively complementing flyadeal’s logo and core purple brand colours. This subtle design element reinforces the airline’s philosophy of equality in travel, also serving to distinguish levels of seniority among crew, now totalling over 700. A collaborative effort between flyadeal’s inhouse design team and Saudi company Al-Harithy Tailoring, the refined design, look and feel also involved the crew department for feedback along the journey from creation to execution. Steven Greenway, flyadeal Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our new cabin crew uniform is a natural evolution of flyadeal’s identity as a modern, inclusive and proud Saudi airline. “As we rolled out the new uniform on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr from our bases in Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah, it was a great moment for our crew to celebrate and have both a feel and greater sense of confidence presenting themselves as frontline flyadeal ambassadors.” Tanya Appleyard, flyadeal Inflight Advisor, explained that the company went through various concepts to refresh the uniforms, engaging cabin crew for feedback along the way before going into production. “This was important to ensure our crew had the buy-in and feeling of being part of the process of this exciting new chapter in flyadeal’s journey that has also involved a local company brought onboard for production of the uniforms,” she said. “Female uniforms prominently feature purple with crew opting for three-quarter or long-sleeved blouses. Male crew incorporate refined purple accents through vest linings, pocket seams and jacket lapel buttonhole stitching, ensuring strong brand visibility across the cabin. They may choose between long- and short-sleeved shirts.” Ghizlane Rabii, flyadeal Senior Cabin Crew Services Manager, added: “As cabin crew are the face of flyadeal, wearing a uniform that reflects our personality and values makes a real difference. The new design is comfortable, practical and proudly represents our culture. We especially appreciate the flexibility in styling, which allows the crew community to feel confident and at ease on every flight while maintaining a strong and consistent brand presence.” flyadeal has rapidly developed into the Middle East’s fastest growing airline operating a young fleet of 45 aircraft from bases in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah and Dammam to more than 40 seasonal and year-round destinations across Saudi Arabia, and in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia. By 2030, in line with Saudi Vision 2030, flyadeal expects to more than double its network and fleet to over 100 destinations and aircraft respectively.

    Star Alliance welcomes Italy’s flag carrier, further enabling seamless journeys for customers worldwide.  Gurugram, 2nd April 2026: Star Alliance officially welcomed ITA Airways as its newest member, marking the completion of the Italian carrier’s integration into the world’s largest airline alliance. ITA Airways marked its entry into the Alliance during a ceremony held at the Piazza di Spagna Lounge, Rome Fiumicino Airport Terminal 3. The ceremony was presided over by ITA Airways Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Joerg Eberhart, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias, and Lufthansa Group Chief Commercial Officer Dieter Vranckx, in the presence of media and institutional guests. Starting April 1, ITA Airways will be fully connected into the Alliance’s global network, linking its Rome Fiumicino hub and Milan Linate airport, served by 17 Star Alliance members collectively, with more than 1,150 destinations worldwide. Customers travelling across the network can now benefit from through check-in, reciprocal frequent flyer recognition and access to Star Alliance lounges, creating a more seamless customer experience, in and out of Italy. Celebrating the milestone, Star Alliance Chief Executive Officer Theo Panagiotoulias said: “On behalf of our members, I am delighted to welcome ITA Airways as the 26th member of Star Alliance. This is the result of a focused and collaborative integration effort. With ITA Airways on board, we not only expand our network to and from Italy, but also elevate the connected experience of our customers when travelling across multiple airlines, through access to the world’s largest network of airport lounges, more comprehensive loyalty benefits, and other benefits like baggage tracking – all designed to enhance the journey at every step.”   Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways, said: “Joining Star Alliance marks a historic milestone for ITA Airways and a defining step in our growth. By becoming part of the world’s largest and most established global airline network, we significantly expand our international reach while offering our passengers a more seamless, consistent and high‑quality travel experience, with access to over 1,150 destinations worldwide, smoother connections, integrated services and a stronger premium proposition. At the same time, we enter Star Alliance bringing with us our distinctive Italian identity, enriching the Alliance and reinforcing ITA Airways’ role in connecting Italy with the world, combining global standards of excellence with the warmth and elegance that define the Italian way of flying.” ITA Airways’ induction into the Alliance has been mentored by the Lufthansa Group, and expert teams across the group airlines have facilitated an intense integration programme over the last several months. Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of Lufthansa Group, said: “The Star Alliance membership is only possible thanks to the strong commitment and close collaboration of dedicated teams at ITA Airways, Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance. We are pleased to introduce ITA Airways as fully fledged hub airline into the Lufthansa Group and into the Alliance, expanding options for travellers across Europe and the world. Together, ITA Airways and the Lufthansa Group, are unlocking a joint value proposition that will benefit our customers, our partners, and the Star Alliance ecosystem.” ITA Airways, which flies over 16 million customers every year, adds more than 350 daily flights to the Alliance network, supported by a strong domestic and regional footprint. The addition expands travel options across Italy and Europe, while improving connectivity between Southern Europe and key international markets. As part of its membership, eligible customers can enjoy priority services, lounge access across the Alliance network, and reciprocal frequent flyer programme recognition, including earning and redeeming miles. Star Alliance Gold customers will also have access to ITA Airways lounges in Rome, Milan and Catania. With the addition of ITA Airways, Star Alliance now comprises 26 member airlines, offering more than 17,500 daily flights across a global network spanning over 190 countries.

Maldivian, the national airline of the Maldives, proudly marked 18 years of operations to India with a special commemorative event celebrating the airline’s longstanding presence in one of its most strategically important markets. For nearly two decades, India operations have remained a key pillar of Maldivian’s regional connectivity and growth. Maldivian currently flies 5 times every week to both Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin. Over the past eighteen years, these routes have played an important role in strengthening access to essential markets and enhancing connectivity between the Maldives and major Indian cities. The network has also supported tourism, trade, education, and medical travel, further reinforcing the close ties between the two neighboring countries. The special event brought together key stakeholders, partners, and team members to reflect on the airline’s journey in the Indian market and to recognise the contributions of those who have helped shape this success over the years. As part of the celebration, long-serving staff and valued partners were presented with commemorative awards in recognition of their dedication, loyalty, and longstanding support throughout Maldivian’s 18 years of operations to India. Maldivian’s continued service to India underscores the airline’s commitment to maintaining strong regional links and delivering greater convenience for travellers journeying between the Maldives and India. As one of the airline’s most important international markets, India continues to contribute significantly to Maldivian’s broader vision of connecting the Maldives to key destinations across the region. With the largest domestic network in the Maldives, Maldivian also provides seamless connections for travellers arriving from India to destinations across the country, linking them to resort islands, local communities, business hubs, and essential services. “India has been an integral part of Maldivian’s international journey for the past 18 years,” said Ibrahim Iyas, Managing Director of Maldivian. “This milestone is not only a celebration of our operations, but also a tribute to the dedicated staff, trusted partners, and loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years. We remain committed to strengthening this important market and further enhancing connectivity between the Maldives Maldivian operates a fleet of 26 aircraft, including an Airbus A330-200, an Airbus A320, five ATR aircraft, eight Dash 8 aircraft and eleven DHC-6 Twin Otters. We are positioned to meet the growing demand for travel between the Maldives and key destinations worldwide. Guided by Maldivian hospitality, the airline continues to enhance connectivity while welcoming travellers with the warmth the Maldives is __________________________________ We connect travel and lifestyle brands with people and markets around the world through tailor-made sales, marketing and communications strategies. Connect with us on social media!