Starfish Travel Corporation Team

An updated estimate from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) indicates that there will be more recorded occurrences of rowdy passengers in 2022 than there were in 2021. IATA urged more nations to use their legal authorities to punish passengers in accordance with MP14 (Montreal Protocol 2014).According to the most recent statistics, there were recorded rowdy incidents for every 568 flights in 2022 as opposed to every 835 flights in 2021. Non-compliance, verbal abuse, and drunkenness were the most often classified occurrences in 2022. Physical abuse events are still quite uncommon, but they increased alarmingly by 61% over 2021, happening once per 17,200 flights. “The rise in occurrences involving rowdy passengers is concerning. The staff and passengers have a right to a hassle-free and safe journey. Passengers are required to follow the crew’s directions for it. Although our expert crews are well-trained to handle situations involving rowdy guests, it is unacceptable if a tiny but persistent minority of passengers disregard the regulations established for everyone’s safety. Conrad Clifford, the Deputy Director General of IATA, stated on Sunday that there is no justification for failing to follow the crew’s instructions. Although non-compliance events initially decreased once the majority of flights were exempt from the mask regulations, they started to increase again in 2022 and concluded the year around 37% higher than in 2021. The most typical instances of non-compliance were using tobacco products, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, and puffing devices, in the cabin or restrooms. The Two-pillar technique, drinking personal alcohol on board, exceeding the carry-on baggage allowance, and failing to secure seat belts when directed are a few instances of rowdy behavior by passengers. There is a two-pillar system in place to implement the necessary zero-tolerance policy for disruptive activity. Unruly passengers should be prosecuted regardless of where they are from, and the government should have a variety of enforcement tools that are appropriate for the seriousness of the occurrence. IATA is asking all governments to ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014 (MP14), which has such rights. MP14 has been approved by about 45 countries, accounting for 33% of global passenger traffic. There are several strategies to avoid and de-escalate confrontations, including working with local industry partners (such as duty-free stores, pubs, and restaurants) and running awareness campaigns about the repercussions of disruptive behavior. Sharing best practices and providing crew training might also assist in defusing the situation. Beginning in 2022, a new set of guidelines was released, outlining best practices for airlines and offering useful advice to governments on raising public awareness, enforcing spot penalties, and resolving jurisdictional inconsistencies. “In the face of rising unruly incident numbers, governments and the industry are taking more serious measures to prevent unruly passenger incidents. States are ratifying MP14 and evaluating enforcement procedures, sending a clear deterrent message by demonstrating their willingness to bring criminal charges against disorderly conduct, according to Clifford. “The industry is working together more now, for its part. For instance, cooperation from airport bars and restaurants to promote responsible alcohol use is particularly vital, given the great majority of intoxication episodes result from alcohol drunk before the flight, he continued. “No one wants to prohibit people from having a good time when they travel, but we all have a duty to act in a respectful manner towards the staff and other passengers. We attempt to crack down on the poor behavior of a small number of passengers who may make a flight very miserable for everyone else, and we make no apologies for doing so for the sake of the majority,” added Clifford. Source: theprint

Across line with its expansion plans, IndiGo will add six more locations across Asia and Africa. The airline revealed on Friday that it will offer direct flights from Mumbai to Jakarta and Nairobi in late July or early August. In response to the growing demand for international travel from, to, and via India, IndiGo announced it is introducing 174 new weekly international flights between June and September 2023, including new destinations, routes, and frequencies. In August, Delhi will be connected three times to Tbilisi in Georgia, four times to Baku in Azerbaijan, and three times each to Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan in September. An essential component of IndiGo’s strategy is the implementation of this significant worldwide expansion. IndiGo added that daily flights between Delhi and Hong Kong would resume in August. Due to COVID-19, this flight was canceled three years ago. “In keeping with our dedication to providing the Indian country wings, we are really eager to continue on with our ambitious plans to expand our international network. We are ready to create unmatched connections between people and places as we resolutely carry out our plan, “Towards New Heights and Across New Frontiers,” stated Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo. “With the first forays into Africa and Central Asia, the addition of these exciting new destinations, new direct flight routes, increased aircraft frequencies, and strategic codeshare alliances will help us expand our footprint over four continents. Along with our 78 domestic destinations, we will now immediately reach 32 overseas destinations thanks to this network extension (up from 26), according to Elbers. As part of the Middle East’s expansion plans, more direct international flights will be introduced in the coming months, connecting Dammam with Lucknow, Chennai, and Kochi; Abu Dhabi with Goa, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad; Ras Al Khaimah with Hyderabad; Bahrain with Kochi; and Jeddah with Ahmedabad. Additionally, in August, frequency between Mumbai and Dhaka will be increased. IndiGo also plans to launch direct international flights from North Goa Airport and provide direct international connection from places like Bhubaneshwar. In June 2023, the airline will start operating dedicated flights from Bhubaneshwar to Singapore and Bangkok. The low-cost airline connects 78 domestic and 26 foreign destinations with approximately 1,800 daily flights through its fleet of more than 300 aircraft. Source- the print Link: https://theprint.in/economy/indigo-expands-international-routes-adds-six-new-destinations-read-here/1608577/

International MICE is a new area for SKIL Travel. This strategic growth enables SKIL to enter the international market and provide clients with knowledge and access to remarkable events all over the world. Notably, SKIL has already planned two business events in cities like Kathmandu and Istanbul. A 250-attendee event for Godrej Properties was successfully conducted by SKIL from April 19–23, and from May 14–17, 250 people attended a fantastic event for Inflow Technologies in Kathmandu. With the opening of its International MICE section, SKIL Travel aims to give its potential customers from all over the world streamlined end-to-end customised event services. With their extensive international experience, they can easily access events, establish connections with top business figures, and open up countless opportunities for producing amazing experiences. In order to become the go-to supplier of exceptional event experiences, SKIL Travel is effectively acquiring high-profile worldwide projects. In an effort to increase brand recognition, SKIL Travel is securing worldwide contracts and moving steadily in the direction of being the go-to supplier of event experiences. SKIL currently provides various travel and hospitality-related services to more than 300 corporate clients, more than half of whom are multinational corporations. Ramanpreet Singh, VP of Growth and Strategy at SKIL Travel, commented on this ground-breaking move, saying, “SKIL sees being a forerunner in the International MICE industry, aiming to gain a large market share within two years. We are dedicated to raising the bar for excellence through our unmatched experience, creative solutions, and first-rate service. SKIL Travel is prepared to provide corporate air ticketing and visa services as part of a phased growth plan, streamlining cross-border business travel. On June 1, their second Mumbai location officially opened for business, further solidifying their presence there. Over 50,000 room stays and one lakh automobile transactions are easily managed by SKIL thanks to its extensive network of reputable hotel and transportation partners. All clients will experience cost-effective event management thanks to their global corporate contractual rates and strategic alliances. Source- travel biz Link:https://travelbizmonitor.com/skil-travel-forays-into-international-mice-segment/

In April, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that demand for passengers was still quite high.  Revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs, used to quantify traffic in April 2023 increased overall by 45.8% from April 2022. Traffic is now 90.5% of pre-Covid levels worldwide. Only 1.8 percentage points separated the industry load factor from its pre-pandemic level of 81.3%. Domestic traffic for April increased 2.9% over April 2019 figures, up 42.6% from the same month last year. Domestic traffic has now fully recovered. In comparison to April 2022, international traffic increased 48.0%, with airlines in the Asia-Pacific region continuing to lead the rebound. International RPKs surpassed April 2019 levels by 83.6%. “The excellent traffic trend we observed in the first quarter of 2023 maintained in April. Willie Walsh, the director general of IATA, stated that the easing of inflation and growing consumer confidence in the majority of OECD nations along with falling jet fuel costs “suggest sustained strong air travel demand and moderating cost pressures.” In comparison to April 2022, traffic for Asia-Pacific airlines increased by 192.7% in April 2023. The load factor rose 13.2 percentage points to 81.6% while capacity rose 145.3%. Compared to April 2022, traffic for European carriers increased by 22.6%. The load factor increased 4.5 percentage points to 83.3%, the second-highest among the areas, while capacity increased 16.0%. In comparison to April of last year, Middle Eastern airlines reported a 38.0% increase in traffic. The load factor increased 5.6 percentage points to 76.2% while capacity increased by 27.8%. In comparison to April 2022, traffic on North American carriers increased 34.8%. The load factor grew 5.2 percentage points to 83.8%, the highest among the areas, while capacity increased by 26.5%. With RPKs 0.4% higher than April 2019 levels, North American international traffic has fully recovered at this point. In comparison to the same month in 2022, traffic for Latin American airlines increased by 25.8%. Capacity increased by 26.4% in April, while load factor decreased by 0.4 percentage points to 83.1%. The second-highest increase across the regions was seen in April 2023 for African carriers, when compared to a year earlier. Capacity increased by 50.0% in April, while the lowest regional load factor of 69.8% increased by 1.6 percentage points. Domestic traffic in China increased by 536.2% in April compared to the same month last year, topping April 2019 levels by 6.0%. Domestic demand for US airlines increased 5.5% in April and was 3.3% higher than in April 2019. Source- travel daily Link:https://www.traveldailymedia.com/travel-demand-continues-strong-in-april-iata/

Few things are as thrilling as the times of discovery. Making connections with a new location and enjoying amazing experiences with friends and loved ones results in priceless memories that we will always look back on with nostalgia. GetYourGuide has been in the business of assisting more individuals in obtaining remarkable experiences ever since their early beginnings in 2009. In the first ten years of their existence, they have developed from a little start-up with a big idea to a large company serving millions of adventure seekers in numerous areas. The COVID-19 pandemic then fundamentally altered them, preventing tourists from experiencing the globe. Whereas others gave up, they saw a rare chance to strengthen the company’s basis and return as a bigger and stronger organization. Travelers from all over the world have rushed to GetYourGuide and booked with them at a magnitude and regularity that has never been seen before since the lockdowns were lifted. The experience economy is currently the focus of discussion and one of the most interesting future sectors. The CEO and co-founder Johannes Reck continues, “We have raised US$194 Million in fresh capital. The Series F fundraising round, worth USD 85 million, is led by Blue Pool Capital, with KKR and Temasek also participating. In addition, BNP Paribas, Citibank, and KfW joined UniCredit in leading the Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) of USD 109 million. With this additional capital, businesses can quicken innovation in the development of their products and technologies, guaranteeing that they meet and exceed the expectations of their clients while streamlining business growth for their supplier partners.Source- travel dailyLink:https://www.traveldailymedia.com/getyourguide-secures-usd194-million-in-funding/

Speaking to journalists from India and Sri Lanka yesterday, Sukanya Sirikanjanakul, Executive Director, ASEAN South Asia and South Pacific Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), expressed the hope that the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023 will aid the tourism industry in recovering more quickly from the losses it sustained as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. She claimed that 370 purchasers attended the 2023 edition of TTM+. Sukanya stated, “In the previous edition, the number was 250. She added that Amazing Thailand Culinary City will improve the Kingdom’s reputation from a gastronomic standpoint. She stated that 11 million foreign visitors came to the country last year when discussing inbound tourism. “We already reached the number of 10 million international tourists this year from January through May 30,” said Sukanya. In response to a query from TravelBiz Monitor, she stated that Thailand has always valued its relationship with India. Speaking of the 2023 goal, she stated, “In 2019, we had 40 million visitors from throughout the world, of which 2 million were from India. We have maintained the target at 2 million from the Indian market since we are still recuperating from the losses brought on by the pandemic. We will exert every effort to meet this goal, Sukanya declared with assurance. She further mentioned that 600,000 Indian visitors traveled to Thailand between January and May. She exclaimed, “This is very encouraging.” TAT is actively courting the Indian wedding and MICE markets. Sukanya stated, “MICE movement is very good from India, particularly from the cities of Delhi and Mumbai.” She claimed that in terms of sustainability, they are largely concentrating on the supply side. Another area of interest for TAT is sports tourism. To draw additional tourists who aren’t interested in golf, they are now working on this. “We have intentions to host the Indian cricket team here in the future. We are concentrating on enhancing the infrastructure in this direction, Sukanya noted. Source: travelbizmonitor

The world’s premier lifestyle and luxury LGTBQ+ travel industry event, PROUD Experiences, is being organized by RX (Reed Exhibitions) from June 5-7 in Los Angeles, and Internova Travel Group will once again serve as the event’s lead sponsor. A burgeoning market within the travel and tourism sector, LGBTQ+ travellers pre-pandemic represented more than $218 billion globally. One of the biggest travel service firms in the world, Internova, and the more than 100,000 travel advisors it employs across the globe are equal to the task of designing experiences for this picky demographic of tourists. Executive Vice President of Partner Relations for Internova, Albert Herrera, stated: “Partnering with occasions like PROUD Experiences helps us better understand the LGBTQ+ traveller. It improves our connections with travel vendors, guarantees that we are booking trips to locations where members of the LGBTQ+ community will feel safe and welcomed, keeps us informed about the newest, most exciting activities and locations around the world, and provides the support and resources travel advisors across all of our brands need to deliver exceptional service to their clients. More than 180 travel vendors from seven continents, including more than 60 new exhibitors, will be present at the sold-out event. They include independently owned hotels like Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France as well as well-known hotel chains like 21c Museum Hotels, Six Senses, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Tahiti, Visit Buenos Aires, and Santa Monica Tourism are some of the new locations. Attending the event and participating in more than 30 one-on-one meetings will be buyers from more than ten different nations. The effectiveness of authentic engagement with LGBTQ+ travellers, the significance of attracting, elevating, and working with diverse voices in an inclusive environment, all-women panels highlighting the necessity of creating safe and welcoming spaces in the culinary, wellness, and sporting worlds, establishing an LGBTQ+ strategy, and assisting suppliers create an inclusive LGBT supply chain are just a few of the topics covered in masterclasses led by American and international speakers. For those who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression is all too common. Leaders from the travel and leisure industries are brought together by PROUD Experiences to network, share expertise, and conduct business. The conference includes interesting, informative seminars and raises every issue surrounding LGBTQ+ travel. According to Simon Mayle, event director for PROUD Experiences, “This will be the largest gathering of industry professionals meeting to do business together in support of the LGBTQ+ traveler. We’re thrilled that Internova Travel Group is joining us once again as headline sponsor.” LGBT+ individuals are setting the standard for post-pandemic travel, and Internova travel consultants are essential allies in meeting their requirements. Source: traveldailymedia

Emirates SkyCargo has increased its fleet of freighters by two Boeing 747-400Fs, demonstrating its firm belief in the world cargo market in the face of recent volatility. Emirates, the largest international airline in the world, expects to add 15 more freighters to its fleet through announced orders and its freighter conversion programme. Additionally, new passenger aircraft deliveries, beginning with Airbus A350s in late summer 2024 and followed by 777-Xs the following year, will increase belly-hold capacity. With a fleet of over 300 wide-body aircraft, including 777s, 777-Fs, 747-Fs, A350s, and A380s, Emirates SkyCargo intends to quadruple its current capacity over the next ten years, add over 20 new destinations to its cargo network, and provide even more flexibility and services to its clients. While the current market instability may cause others to hesitate, Emirates SkyCargo is moving on with our goals at full speed, according to Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President of Emirates SkyCargo. The worldwide air freight market is predicted to grow by 3-5% during the medium to long term. The possibility for Emirates SkyCargo is obvious when you consider the economic activity taking place in markets around the Gulf, West Asia, and Africa, as well as Dubai’s aim to quadruple its foreign commerce, where multi-modal logistics will play a significant role. While we wait for the delivery of 5 new 777Fs in 2024 and 2025 and 10 777-300ERs to roll out of our conversion programme over the following 5 years, the 2 new 747-Fs that we have leased will provide us immediate capacity. Even these extra planes, in our opinion, won’t be enough. By that time, the MRO will be ready to grow our freighter conversion programme swiftly and effectively if necessary. The two Boeing 747-Fs, which were obtained on a long-term wet-lease arrangement and are now being deployed to Chicago three times a week and Hong Kong nine times a week, are a complement to Emirates SkyCargo’s current fleet of 11 Boeing 777 freighters. “The new aircrafts mean we can amplify the connectivity with the main Emirates network and expand our freighter network,” he continued. We now have additional flexibility to better service our various customers thanks to the new fleet mix. Emirates SkyCargo is also making investments to advance digitisation and technological innovation, as well as to create new goods. Our goal is to be the market leader in providing specialized solutions that are quick, dependable, adaptable, and effective. There will be more thrilling developments. Pay attention. The world works better with Emirates SkyCargo, according to a brand-new creative advertising campaign that the company unveiled this week. The commercial illustrates how crucial its logistics business is to connecting people and goods around the globe, whether that be through life-saving healthcare, fresh fruit, flowers, pets, or valuables, using real-world scenarios. Source: traveldailymedia

With a magnificent consumer display accessible to the general public this June at Outernet London, Destination NSW is resuming activities in the UK tourist sector. Sydney and the greater New South Wales region are eager to welcome UK visitors to see the state in all its splendor with the debut of an epic multimedia display intended to transport visitors “down-under” as part of the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030. Visitors to the immersive display, which is open to the public and is free, will get a sneak preview of the finest of Vivid Sydney 2023, including light installations that will be projected on some of Sydney’s most famous structures, including the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and other attractions. Visitors will leave the exhibit feeling inspired to start planning their next vacation and with the potential to win a trip to New South Wales thanks to a partnership with Travelbag. The exhibit is accompanied by magnificent footage of Sydney’s bustling downtown, New South Wales’ glittering coasts, and the culturally rich outback. Vivid Sydney 2023 will take place in Sydney, Australia, from Friday, May 26, to Friday, June 17, and will feature more than 60 light installations and artwork projections along an 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Light Walk, including the largest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as major music performances and talks. As part of Vivid Sydney’s Global Storytellers series, Jennifer Coolidge and White Lotus creator Mike White are also expected to make an appearance. The exhibition is on display in the “world’s largest LED screen deployment” in the Now Trending room at Outernet, London’s most immersive entertainment area. Source: traveldailymedia