Air India Express to launch Navi Mumbai–Abu Dhabi flights
Air India Express has announced direct flights between Navi Mumbai International Airport and Abu Dhabi from July 15, 2026, becoming the first airline to launch international services from Maharashtra’s newest airport. The route will operate twice weekly initially and increase to three weekly flights from July 29. With this addition, the airline will operate 30 weekly flights from Navi Mumbai, connecting it to Abu Dhabi, Bengaluru and Delhi.
Kerala budget gives ₹325 crore Tourism Push
Kerala’s revised Budget 2026–27 has allocated ₹325.36 crore to boost tourism through new projects across heritage, eco-tourism, medical travel and hospitality. The government will move to declare tourism as an industry. Key plans include upgrading Alappuzha tourism facilities, expanding Muziris as a heritage destination, introducing Green Marshals at major spots, promoting women-led tourism enterprises and developing smart, AI-enabled digital tourism platforms.
FitsAir launches direct Ahmedabad–Colombo Flights
FitsAir, Sri Lanka’s first private international airline, has launched direct flights between Ahmedabad and Colombo from June 19, 2026. Operated thrice weekly, the service connects Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport with Bandaranaike International Airport in around 3 hours and 40 minutes. Launched with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, City of Dreams Sri Lanka and Walkers Tours, the route targets leisure, weddings, wellness and family travel.
Saudia tops global on-time performance rankings
Saudia has ranked first globally for on-time performance in May 2026, according to aviation analytics provider Cirium. The Saudi national carrier recorded a 92.30% on-time departure rate and 90.12% on-time arrival rate while operating 13,669 flights to over 100 destinations across four continents. The achievement came during a busy period covering Hajj operations and Eid Al-Adha travel, supported by integrated planning, digital systems, AI-enabled solutions and more.
#First Opinion
“What makes India stand out is how much variety you can experience within a single journey. From Pandaw’s perspective, we’re already seeing strong demand for India and are continuing to expand our presence there. In addition to adding a second ship to our Kerala Backwaters expedition in early 2027, we’re also exploring shorter three-night and four-night itineraries across some of our most popular routes. These sailings are designed to appeal to travellers looking for easier getaway-style experiences while still offering the same immersive connection to local culture and communities that defines river cruising in India.”
Yves Van Kerrebroeck, Commercial Director, Pandaw Cruises
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