Aviation

Spread over 3,300 sq. ft., the lounge features a nostalgic Aviator’s Bar, a dedicated Private Zone with a scenic tarmac view A sophisticated blend of heritage and modern luxury, The Maharaja Lounge represents a gateway to India even before you board your flight Air India, India’s leading global airline, today announced the opening of its newest signature lounge at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), called ‘The Maharaja Lounge’. Officially opening its doors to guests on May 23, the launch of the new lounge marks yet another pivot in the ongoing transformation of the airline’s product and service, extending the “new Air India experience” to one of its key international gateways. Located near Gate A1 in the International Terminal at SFO, The Maharaja Lounge is spread over 3,300 sq. ft. and features luxurious, contemporary interiors that blend modern design sensibilities with elements rooted in Indian aesthetics. The lounge offers a seating capacity of 80 guests and is available to Air India’s First and Business Class guests, and Platinum and Gold members of the airline’s Maharaja Club loyalty program. It also features a dedicated zone reserved exclusively for Air India’s First Class guests. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “The opening of the Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco builds on the recent launch of our flagship lounge at Delhi, marking the beginning of a new generation of signature lounges for Air India. North America has long been a key pillar of Air India’s network, and our continued investments reflect both, this commitment and our ambition to introduce a new standard of travel experiences in the region in time to come.” “As Air India continues to transform into a world-class global airline, we are focused on delivering a consistent, elevated experience across our network, blending modern luxury with the warmth and timeless appeal of Indian hospitality.” Conceptualised by the award-winning global hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), The Maharaja Lounge is a refined expression of heritage seamlessly woven with luxury, offering guests an immersive introduction to India even before their journey begins. It mirrors the design philosophy of the recently launched flagship Maharaja Lounge in Delhi, positioning this as the second in a series of signature lounges envisioned by Air India. Design approach Thoughtfully curated, the space brings together distinctive elements of the brand and Air India’s rich cultural legacy, creating an atmosphere that is warmly familiar yet exquisite. The hues of champagne, ivory, and deep reds mirror the brand’s colour palette. Brand motifs are integrated throughout the interiors, including the ‘Vista’ patterns on the walls and furniture. The lounge has been designed to evoke the essence of quintessential Indian hospitality, creating an atmosphere of warmth, comfort, and understated luxury for guests. To honour the airline’s historical connection to the arts, the space features works by local artists that showcase regional heritage. Select installations also incorporate upcycled aircraft components, thoughtfully reimagined into contemporary art pieces. The spatial elegance of the lounge is defined by the following curated zones, each designed to uplift the interior landscape. The Aviator’s Bar: The bar has a distinctive speakeasy vibe, anchored by a well-curated cellar of wines and whiskies hand-picked for the discerning traveller. The warm, rich hues of the space, coupled with the signature ceiling design, provide a sophisticated backdrop where aviation enthusiasts and global travellers alike can convene in an atmosphere of timeless elegance. Complementing this is a menu of thoughtfully crafted signature cocktails. For instance, the Maharaja Manhattan is a regal twist on the timeless Manhattan honouring the Maharaja of spices – black pepper. Tarmac View: The seating and dining sections of the Private Zone and the Business Class lounge overlook the tarmac offering enchanting views of aircraft taking off and landing. The immersive experience of ‘wine and dine with a view’ is perfect for both plane-spotters and curious travellers. Social Zone: Adjacent to the Aviator’s Bar is the lounge’s primary social zone, a space meticulously designed to foster a sense of community. This vibrant area captures the dynamic spirit of modern travel, offering an environment for guests to engage and connect. Configured to accommodate the natural “hustle” of a premier international hub, the seating arrangements encourage both spontaneous conversation and group interaction, while still offering pockets of privacy and a sense of exclusivity for more intimate moments. Dining Area: The Maharaja Lounge offers a curated and delightful dining experience for all guests, who can choose from a wide variety of Indian and international culinary delicacies including live cooking stations. The area includes a hot buffet island/counter, a cold counter and a beverage station serving a host of delicacies to choose from. Private Zone: Tucked into a serene corner of the lounge, this space is a sanctuary of understated luxury. Designed for heightened privacy and comfort, the Private Zone offers a more intimate setting with elevated service, allowing guests travelling First Class to relax, work, or unwind in a calm and discreet environment before their departure.

Air Astana is marking the 24th anniversary of its first commercial flight today. During this time, the airline has grown from being a small carrier operating three aircraft into the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus by fleet size. Air Astana Group currently operates 63 aircraft and serves 44 international and 14 domestic destinations across Asia, Europe and Kazakhstan. Since May 2002, Air Astana has carried more than 94 million passengers, becoming one of Kazakhstan’s most recognisable companies and the recipient of numerous international awards for service excellence and flight safety. “Over the past 24 years, Air Astana has grown significantly, with an expanded route network and fleet of modern aircraft, together with developing a large workforce of aviation professionals. We are sincerely grateful to our passengers for their trust and loyalty over these years, and to the team for their professionalism, dedication and outstanding contribution to the airline’s success,” said Ibrahim Canliel, CEO of Air Astana.

Marking the UAE’s Year of Family, and on the occasion of International Day of Families, Dubai Airports transformed everyday travel moments into personalised works of art at Dubai International (DXB), surprising guests with live caricature experiences across the airport’s terminals. Guests travelling through DXB were invited to pause and receive personalised sketches from local, Dubai-based artists positioned throughout the airport. The activation added a simple, personal touch to the travel experience, with families gathering briefly to watch each illustration come to life before continuing on their journey. Designed to acknowledge the role travel plays in connecting people, the initiative reflects Dubai Airports’ continued focus on elevating the guest experience through thoughtful, family-centred moments across the airport. It also highlights the everyday journeys that pass through DXB, reinforcing its role as a global gateway for people coming together.

Daily year-round service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita starts in October and seasonal service from San Francisco to Sapporo is three times a week from December through March Airline now serves Tokyo-Narita from six of its seven continental U.S. hubs Two new flights give United customers even more ways to explore Japan on the largest airline between the continental U.S. and Japan This winter United will fly up to 13 flights each day from the continental U.S. to four of Japan’s airports including Sapporo (CTS), Tokyo-Narita (NRT), Tokyo-Haneda (HND), and Osaka (KIX) CHICAGO, May 14, 2026 : United today announced it is expanding its service to Japan with new flights to Sapporo and Tokyo-Narita this winter. The airline will launch the first nonstop service from the continental U.S. to Sapporo, Japan and will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita*. As the leading carrier between the U.S. and Japan, these new flights give travelers from across North America more ways to explore Japan and connect across Asia. “Whether customers are dreaming of skiing in Sapporo, planning a business trip to Tokyo with some exploration added in, or an even bigger adventure across Asia, United gives travelers more ways to get there than any U.S. airline,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances, United Airlines. “Our new nonstop service from San Francisco to Sapporo makes it easier to vacation in one of Japan’s most unique destinations, while our new Chicago to Tokyo-Narita service gives business and leisure travelers a premium onboard experience and the flexibility to continue their journey across Asia on United to exciting destinations like Cebu, Palau and Ulaanbaatar, or onward on our joint venture partner ANA to cities like Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.” United is the leading carrier between the continental U.S. and Japan. In 2025, the airline flew more than 1.8 million passengers between the two countries – more than all other U.S. carriers combined. This winter United will fly up to 13 flights each day from the continental U.S. to four of Japan’s airports including Sapporo (CTS), Tokyo-Narita (NRT), Tokyo-Haneda (HND), and Osaka (KIX). San Francisco to Sapporo, Japan Starting December 11, United will launch three times weekly winter seasonal service between San Francisco (SFO) and Sapporo (CTS), marking the first nonstop flights between the continental U.S. and Sapporo. Sapporo offers travelers an entirely new way to experience Japan in the winter from fresh powder for world-class skiing to a rich culinary scene with must-try dishes like Sapporo ramen and Hokkaido seafood. The city is also home to the iconic Sapporo Snow Festival, where it transforms into a winter wonderland. Flights are expected to operate on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. United will connect travelers from nearly 80 U.S. cities to Sapporo through its premier Pacific gateway in San Francisco, making it easier than ever to reach this unique Japanese destination. Chicago to Tokyo-Narita United will launch new daily year-round service between Chicago O’Hare and Tokyo-Narita beginning October 24. United will be the only U.S. airline offering service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita, further expanding its position as the only U.S. carrier connecting Chicago to the Pacific region nonstop. The new service builds on the airline’s existing service between Chicago and Tokyo-Haneda, providing travelers with even more ways to travel between the U.S. and Japan. The new Tokyo-Narita flight unlocks easy, one-stop connections for travelers to 21 destinations across Asia-Pacific on United or Joint Venture partner ANA. Customers can connect on United to cities like Cebu, Guam, Kaohsiung, Palau, Saipan and Ulaanbaatar. The new flights between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita are expected to operate on a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. With the two new routes, United will serve five airports in four Japanese cities from its hubs in the continental U.S. and Guam: Sapporo (CTS), Tokyo-Narita (NRT), Tokyo-Haneda (HND), Osaka (KIX) and Nagoya (NGO). The airline offers the most flights to Japan of any U.S. carrier and flights to 33 destinations across the Pacific. Flights will be available for booking later today on united.com and the united app.

Anand Balaji, Co-founder and CEO, Xflow  Xflow, India’s leading cross-border payments infrastructure company, today announced the launch of a pilot that enables Indian businesses to accept payments in USDC and USDT from anywhere in the world, and compliantly convert them to INR. This solution allows stable-native platforms and cross-border payment providers to offer stablecoin acceptance as a payment method for their customers without the platforms or their customers holding, managing, or taking custody of stablecoins. The stablecoin leg stays entirely outside India. Only fiat enters India, via an AD Category I bank, with full compliance documentation. A growing set of global businesses are making payments in stablecoins. For Indian MSMEs, service exporters, SaaS companies, this has created a barrier as there is no compliant mechanism to accept stablecoin payments for trade transactions and bring them into India. Xflow has heard directly from Indian businesses that have lost customers because of this gap. To address this, Xflow has partnered with overseas licensed player to accept and off-ramp stablecoins on behalf of Indian businesses, entirely outside India, and then bring the resulting funds into India through traditional, regulated fiat rails. “Indian businesses should not be losing business because their international customers want to pay in stablecoins. Building a seamless & compliant money-movement infrastructure for exporters is exactly what Xflow is here to do. We are quite excited about this release and have initially rolled this out to select platforms, giving their users the best of both worlds by supporting stablecoin transactions compliantly,” — Anand Balaji, Co-Founder, Xflow. Platforms that already offer stablecoin wallets to customers – enabling them to receive payments from end-users – can now compliantly bring those payments into India. Xflow’s cross-border stack handles the entire off-ramp and settlement flow, so platforms can offer their customers a complete stablecoin-to-INR solution without building compliance infrastructure themselves. Xflow will soon roll this pilot out to all stable native platforms.

President To Lam, CM Devendra Fadnavis, VNA Chairman Dang Ngoc Hoa and Captain Rahul Bali In a significant step towards strengthening cultural diplomacy, tourism cooperation and creative collaboration between India and Vietnam, The state-owned national carrier Vietnam Airlines and Saigontourist Group -Vietnam’s oldest and leading state-owned tourism group officially inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Innovations India for collaboration on two prestigious India–Vietnam initiatives: the upcoming Bollywood feature film SILAA and the 5th edition of Namaste Vietnam Festival to be held in Vietnam in 2026. The MoU signing ceremony took place in Mumbai on 7 May 2026 in the esteemed presence of H.E. Mr. To Lam, President of Vietnam and Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra along with several distinguished dignitaries and senior leaders from both nations including Culture & Tourism Minister of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Ho An Phong & Indian Ambassador to Vietnam H. E. Tshering Sherpa. This landmark collaboration forms part of the historic first official state visit of Vietnamese President H.E. Mr. To Lam to India and coincides with the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Vietnam–India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, underscoring the growing friendship, trust, and strategic cooperation between the two nations. The MoU was formally signed by Dang Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of Vietnam Airlines, Nguyen Huu Y Yen, Chairwoman of Saigontourist Group, and Captain Rahul Bali, Managing Director of Innovations India, who is also the Producer of SILAA and the Curator of Namaste Vietnam Festival. Speaking on the occasion, President H.E. Mr. To Lam said, “Vietnam and India share a timeless friendship built on trust, cultural understanding, and mutual respect. Collaborations in cinema, tourism, and cultural exchange not only strengthen people-to-people connections but also open new avenues of cooperation between our nations. I am pleased to see institutions from Vietnam and India coming together to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during this important milestone year.” Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, “Maharashtra has always been India’s gateway for culture, cinema, business, and international collaboration. The partnership between Vietnam and Indian enterprises is a wonderful example of how creative industries and tourism can become powerful instruments of diplomacy and economic growth. Such initiatives will further strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Vietnam while creating new opportunities for tourism, investment, and cultural engagement.” Captain Rahul Bali added, “It is a matter of immense pride for us to collaborate with the Government of Vietnam through iconic institutions like Vietnam Airlines and Saigontourist Group during such a historic milestone year for India–Vietnam relations. Through cinema, tourism and cultural diplomacy, we aim to create impactful platforms that bring the people of Vietnam and India closer and will inspire greater travel, deeper understanding and stronger engagement between them.” The upcoming Bollywood film SILAA is an ambitious cinematic collaboration that seeks to build a powerful emotional and cultural bridge between India and Vietnam while showcasing the beauty, hospitality, heritage, and tourism potential of Vietnam to Indian and global audiences. Directed by Omung Kumar, the movie stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sadia Khateeb in leading roles. Produced by Captain Rahul Bali’s venture, Innovations India along with Zee Studios, Blue Lotus Pictures and Stark Entertainment the film is scheduled for release in 2026. Meanwhile, the 5th edition of Namaste Vietnam Festival is set to further strengthen bilateral engagement through a vibrant celebration of cinema, tourism, culture, fashion and people-to-people exchanges. Over the years, the festival has emerged as one of the most prominent platforms dedicated to enhancing India–Vietnam friendship and cultural diplomacy. This strategic collaboration between Vietnam Airlines, Saigontourist Group and Innovations India is expected to significantly boost tourism exchanges, film cooperation and cultural connectivity between the two nations. At a time when India and Vietnam are celebrating a decade of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, initiatives such as these reaffirm the shared commitment of both countries towards strengthening bilateral relations through soft power, tourism, creative industries, and cultural diplomacy. The MoU is being viewed as a major milestone in the evolving India–Vietnam partnership and a powerful example of how cinema, tourism and cultural initiatives can further deepen friendship and cooperation between the people of both nations.

The campaign celebrates the signature Air India Express experience, defined by a wide network, comfortable cabin experience, ‘Gourmair’ hot meals, and the unmatched warmth of Indian hospitality Air India Express has launched its brand campaign ‘Xpress Wali Baat Hai’, featuring acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi. The campaign offers a relatable and evocative portrayal of the moments that make a travel experience truly memorable. It unfolds through a series of short films, each spotlighting a core pillar of the signature Air India Express experience, defined by comfortable seating, ‘Gourmair’ hot meals, and the unmatched warmth of Indian hospitality, on an expansive network of 500 daily flights across South, Southeast and West Asia. Pankaj Tripathi’s grounded persona and wide appeal across metros and emerging cities resonates the essence of the Air India Express network. With his characteristic authenticity, he brings to life the airline’s reliability and promise of making every journey comfortable, familiar, and distinctly Indian. In its first week, the campaign has already delivered strong traction during the Tata IPL and across digital platforms, with a reach of over 200 million, and over 1 billion views, while achieving a record online engagement rate of 33%, alongside widespread appreciation for its storytelling, relatability and effectiveness. Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi said: “For me, a good journey is one that stays with you even after it ends, and that’s exactly what ‘Xpress Wali Baat Hai’ captures. It reflects an aspiration we all share when we travel, to feel genuinely cared for along the way. What I truly appreciated about this campaign is its simplicity and honesty. It doesn’t try too hard, it simply brings alive those small moments of comfort, warmth, and joy that win your heart and stay with you.” Siddhartha Butalia, Chief Marketing Officer, Air India Express, said: “This campaign reflects the essence of the proposition we have been building at Air India Express, an experience that goes beyond the functional, to creating meaningful connections with our guests, rooted in the warmth of Indian hospitality. What differentiates us is the attention to every element of the journey, from the comfort of our cabin experience and the authenticity of our Gourmair hot meals, to a network that reflects the cities powering growth across the region. This campaign brings that promise to life through a voice that is authentic, relatable, and deeply rooted in everyday experiences.” The campaign comes at a defining moment in the airline’s transformation journey. Air Indian Express has emerged as India’s second-largest   airline in terms of both domestic and international routes, with a dominant presence across Southeast and West Asia. The airline has rapidly expanded its domestic footprint, adding 12 new destinations in the last year. With a fleet of over 100 aircraft, more than two-thirds of which are new, and a network spanning Indian metros, state capitals, commercial hubs and leisure destinations, the airline is positioned to be at the forefront of the next phase of growth in the region. The campaign is currently running across television, digital platforms, OTT, cinema, print, and outdoor media, supported by content collaborations and social media engagement. It is live with the official broadcast partner for the ongoing Tata IPL, complemented by Air India Express’ presence as an associate sponsor for the season.

Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and IHG Hotels & Resorts have signed a Five-hotel portfolio agreement, adding close to 1,500 rooms across key airport and commercial destinations in India. The partnership marks the India debut of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, IHG’s luxury lifestyle boutique brand. The hotels will be developed across Jaipur, Mangaluru, Thiruvananthapuram and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), strengthening hospitality infrastructure around major aviation and urban growth corridors. Mumbai, 14 May 2026: Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), India’s largest private airport operator, and IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, have signed a landmark managed hotel portfolio agreement to develop five hotels across key airport-linked and high-growth urban destinations in India. The agreement will add close to 1,500 keys across multiple brands and locations, in line with IHG’s growth plans for India. The development aligns with rising travel demand and the rapid expansion of India’s aviation, tourism and airport-led urban infrastructure sectors. The portfolio includes a Kimpton hotel in Jaipur as well as Holiday Inn, and Holiday Inn Express hotels within upcoming hospitality -led mixed-use developments as part of the Adani Airport cities. These hotels are planned across Navi Mumbai, Mangaluru, and Thiruvananthapuram. AAHL is also in advanced discussions with IHG to further deepen and expand this partnership. The partnership also marks the debut of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in India. Known globally for its design-led hotels, chef-driven dining experiences and boutique luxury positioning, Kimpton’s entry reflects the growing demand for premium lifestyle hospitality experiences in India. The announcement comes amid strong growth across India’s aviation and tourism sectors, with airport-led developments increasingly emerging as major hospitality and commercial hubs driven by rising passenger traffic, domestic tourism and business travel demand. Mr. Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), said: “As the Adani Group expands its presence across hospitality and airport-led urban infrastructure, our vision is to create world-class destinations that seamlessly integrate travel, stay and urban experiences around India’s rapidly growing aviation ecosystem. We are building this platform in partnership with leading international hotel brands that bring global standards, operational excellence and scale. Our collaboration with IHG Hotels & Resorts, and the development of five hotels across key gateway destinations, marks an important step in strengthening high-quality hospitality infrastructure aligned with India’s long-term travel and economic growth.” AAHL, India’s largest private airport operator, serves millions of passengers annually across its growing airport network. The company is reimagining airports as integrated urban ecosystems that combine aviation with hospitality, retail, commercial and social infrastructure. Through its airport city developments spanning approximately 663 acres across key cities, AAHL is building mixed-use destinations designed to enhance travel experiences while driving long-term economic and urban growth. Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “The partnership with Adani Airport Holdings reflects the scale of opportunity we continue to see in India’s hospitality sector, particularly across gateway cities and airport-led developments that are witnessing strong demand from business, leisure and transit travellers alike. With a mix of luxury, premium and essentials brands, this portfolio allows us to meaningfully strengthen our presence across high-growth markets across the country. This agreement also marks an important milestone for us with the introduction of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants to India” IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates 52 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 98 additional hotels expected to open over the next three to five years.

Reinvents TARA as the conversational core of the new ixigo app,  a multimodal AI assistant that plans, books and acts for you Introduces Trip Mode:  a built-in travel companion that consolidates post-booking information and real-time travel alerts in one place Introduces Agentic Travel Flows: AI agents that proactively assist travellers in the background in real time ixigo, India’s leading AI-powered travel platform, today unveiled the new AI-native version of its app, reimagining travel through conversational and agentic AI experiences. The launch was announced at ixigo NEXT, the company’s flagship tech launch event. Unlike traditional travel apps that layer AI features onto existing systems, ixigo’s redesigned AI-native app has been rebuilt from the ground up with AI seamlessly integrated across the entire user experience, making travel more conversational, intuitive and deeply personalised. The platform moves beyond transactional booking journeys to become an intelligent travel companion that helps users discover, decide and act in one place, offering a truly transformative trip planning and booking experience for hotels and flights. Instead of navigating multiple filters and screens, users can simply express their intent naturally through voice and let the app guide them towards the best travel outcomes. At the heart of the experience is TARA, ixigo’s multimodal AI assistant, designed to fundamentally reimagine how users interact with the new ixigo app and plan their journeys. Meet the Reinvented TARA: ixigo’s Multimodal AI Travel Assistant Reinvented as the conversational core of the ixigo app, TARA has evolved into a deeply integrated AI-native travel companion designed to make travel planning more intuitive and personalised. Users can interact with TARA naturally in English, Hindi and Hinglish through voice, text or tap, with support for more languages coming soon. Unlike traditional chatbots that function as standalone API-based interfaces, TARA is deeply embedded into the app’s core user experience. TARA is capable of handling complex, intent-driven travel queries that go far beyond conventional search flows. Instead of navigating through multiple filters and screens, users can simply express their intent naturally through voice. From detailed requests such as “show me hotels in Dubai with an infinity pool and a view of the Burj Khalifa” to planning multi-city itineraries, TARA is designed to understand intent naturally. Users don’t even need to explicitly mention travel – a prompt like “Hi TARA, I forgot my anniversary, help me!” can instantly trigger personalised getaway and stay recommendations based on a user’s travel history, preferences, family context and past booking behaviour. The AI-assistant is also context-aware, meaning it understands which page or stage of travel planning the user is in and surfaces relevant information or actions accordingly. Beyond trip discovery and planning, TARA proactively assists users even when they are not actively using the app. It continuously tracks flight schedules, manages cancellations, processes refunds and provides real-time travel information such as flight schedule, weather updates, terminal and gate details, as well as contextual recommendations such as available lounges at the departure terminal. The New Trip Mode ixigo’s AI-native app also introduces Trip Mode, a new built-in travel companion designed to assist users throughout their journey. Trip Mode consolidates all post-booking information into a single view, including boarding passes, terminal and gate details, boarding information, baggage belt updates and other real-time travel alerts. The feature also helps users prepare for every stage of their journey from planning and packing to boarding and arrival. It offers contextual assistance such as suggesting when to leave for the airport based on live traffic conditions and providing relevant travel recommendations throughout the trip. Users can also receive personalised content suggestions, including recommendations on what to watch, eat or explore during their journey. Introducing Agentic Travel Flows ixigo is introducing agentic travel experiences where AI agents perform critical travel tasks autonomously in the background. ixigo’s AI agents send boarding passes directly to travellers on WhatsApp, while also giving them the option to add them to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, and share them with Digi Yatra for a more seamless airport experience. Boarding passes stored in digital wallets are dynamically updated in real time if there are any changes to flight timings or gate information. Beyond flights, ixigo’s AI agents also proactively assist hotel travellers by coordinating with hotels ahead of check-in to verify room readiness and help ensure a smoother stay experience. There are AI agents that also monitor flight schedules in real time, alerts users to delays or schedule changes, and helps manage refund flows in case of cancellations. Many of these agentic features are permission-based and opt-in, ensuring users remain fully in control, with more agentic flows set to be introduced in the future. A Completely Reimagined ixigo Experience The new homepage is hyper-personalised and dynamically adapts to each user’s travel history, intent and stage in the travel journey. The app also introduces an entirely new visual identity and interface, including a sleek new dark mode experience. Speaking on the launch, Rajnish Kumar, Group Co-CEO and Aloke Bajpai, Group CEO, ixigo said, “Over the last two decades, ixigo has focused on building products that reduce anxiety and bring peace of mind to travellers. With the new AI-native version of our app, we are reimagining travel as a conversational, intuitive and deeply personalised experience powered by AI. The new ixigo app has been rebuilt from the ground up as an AI-native travel platform – not by adding AI in patches, but by integrating it seamlessly across the entire experience. We believe the future of travel will be agent-led, with AI that can understand intent, take proactive actions and assist travellers seamlessly before, during, and after their trips. By combining frontier AI capabilities with two decades of travel intelligence, real-time data and deep customer understanding, we are reimagining what a travel app can truly become in the AI era. Our vision with this reinvention was to create an actionable playbook for how AI-native reinvention can be done.

LuLu Hypermarket, through its loyalty programme LuLu Happiness, has announced a partnership with KrisFlyer, the lifestyle rewards programme of the Singapore Airlines Group. The partnership enables LuLu Happiness members to convert their Smile points into KrisFlyer miles, seamlessly linking everyday retail spend with global travel rewards. This collaboration brings together two strong consumer ecosystems—retail and aviation—to deliver greater value, flexibility, and aspiration to customers across India. From Everyday Purchases to Aspirational Journeys LuLu Happiness members earn Smile points across daily shopping categories including groceries, fashion, electronics, and lifestyle essentials. With the introduction of KrisFlyer miles conversion, members can now use these Smile points to unlock travel opportunities across Singapore Airlines and its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot’s extensive global network. The partnership reflects a growing shift in loyalty programmes—from transactional benefits to experience-led rewards—where everyday purchases can now translate into meaningful travel experiences. Strengthening Aspirational Loyalty By integrating KrisFlyer into its rewards ecosystem, LuLu Happiness strengthens its positioning as a modern, aspirational loyalty programme aligned with evolving customer expectations. For KrisFlyer, the partnership introduces a new retail-led pathway that allows members to engage with the programme through everyday shopping, further expanding its lifestyle relevance. Commenting on the partnership, MA Nishad, CEO – LuLu Group India, said: “At LuLu, we are focused on creating value that goes beyond transactions and truly enhances our customers’ lifestyles. Our partnership with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programme allows LuLu Happiness members to transform everyday shopping into aspirational travel experiences. This collaboration reflects our commitment to building a future-ready loyalty ecosystem that rewards customers in more meaningful ways.” Hsu Mae Goy, Vice President KrisFlyer Partnerships, Singapore Airlines added: “We are pleased to partner with LuLu Happiness to bring KrisFlyer miles closer to members through everyday retail experiences. This collaboration expands the reach of the KrisFlyer programme and offers members more ways to earn miles, reinforcing our focus on delivering value beyond the journey.”