JetSpeak January 2018

Aviation News
Etihad Airways has announced a new baggage policy for its customers to cater to the different requirements in the international markets it serves.

The new policy is now simpler and easily accommodates the baggage policy of the global market, which is largely based on the total combined weight of all the bags checked in by a passenger. Only USA and Canada follow a baggage policy based on number of pieces.

Commenting on the new policy, Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial at Etihad Airways said, “In line with global best practice and market trends, Etihad Airways has developed a baggage policy that best caters to the differing needs of our guests around the world. The switch to a policy based on weight rather than the number of bags simplifies our allowance system and provides greater convenience and customer benefit while enhancing the travel experience.”

Under the new baggage policy, Economy Deal fares will have a checked baggage allowance of 23 kg; Economy Saver and Classic fares will be entitled to 30 kg checked baggage; and Economy Flex fares will get you a maximum 35 kg baggage allowance.

Checked baggage allowance for all Business Class fare categories will be 40 kg, First Class customers will have a 50 kg allowance, and guests in The Residence onboard Etihad Airways’ flagship Airbus A380 fleet will enjoy an allowance of four checked bags at 32kg each.

The Weight Concept will not apply to flights to / from USA & Canada, which follow a piece concept.

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Platinum members will continue to receive a complimentary excess baggage allowance of 32 kg on US and Canada routes. For all other routes, Platinum members will get an additional allowance of 20 kg; Gold members will have 15 kg more; and Silver members can bring in 10 kg extra.

For full details visit Etihad Airways' baggage allowance page or contact your Jetways Travel representative.

Qatar Airways has announced the launch of Qsuites on its flights to Washington, D.C.. The first flight with Qsuite landed at the Washington Dulles International Airport on January 6, 2018, marking the city as the second route to USA to feature the Qsuites. The first Qsuites flights to USA were headed to New York and the global début of this innovative business products were with the flights to London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airports.

The Qsuite is the latest of Qatar's innovative products designed to set a new luxury standard in business travel. Each Qsuite features double beds in Business Class and privacy panels that can be slid back to create a private cabins for up to 4 people - both are industry firsts and have been highly recognized for their innovation and luxury quotient across the industry.

Commenting on the latest addition of Washington DC to the Qsuite flight routes, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive, Qatar Airways Group said, “Following the U.S. Début and warm welcome of the Qsuite in New York City, we are thrilled to kick off the new year by extending the outstanding offerings of Qsuite to our dedicated business and leisure travellers in the Washington, D.C. area. The introduction of Qsuite to Washington, a city we have served for the past 10 years, demonstrates our continued commitment to providing the utmost quality and service to our valued customers. Since our launch a decade ago, Washington Dulles has seen some of the highest demand for our business class service across any of our other U.S. gateways, so bringing Qsuite to Washington was a natural choice. We look forward to continuing to revolutionise the way people travel to and from the U.S. capital.”

To book Qsuites or to know more, contact your Jetways Travels representative, call 011-44112200 or send an e-mail to enquiry@jetwaystravels.com

Lufthansa Airlines has announced an Automatic Check-in facility for all domestic flights in Germany and international flights within Europe. The new facility will facilitate easy check-ins without manual intervention.

Boarding passes will be sent directly and automatically to the passenger's smart phone 23 hours prior to the time of departure. There will be no need for the passenger to present himself at the check-in desk personally.

This new time-saving Automatic Check-in facility can be activated through the Miles & More Account or the Lufthansa iD, by entering your personal details.

In addition to getting your boarding pass, you can also avail services such as the Seat Change, check-in cancellation, Electronic Luggage Tag Activation and much more. Passengers who do not wish to avail this service can deactivate it from their Miles & More account or Lufthansa iD.

Passengers who wish to avail this facility, but do not have a Miles & More account or Lufthansa iD, can simply click on the Automatic Check-in link on their Booking Confirmation to activate the service. The service, will however, will be applicable only for that particular booking.

At present, the Automatic Check-in facility is limited only within the Schengen Area. Passengers on flights that go beyond the Schengen Area will have to continue checking-in for their flights personally and manually. The service has, however, been extended to bus and train travel on the Lufthansa Express Rail & Bus.

The Lufthansa iD
The Lufthansa iD allows passengers to save time, while personalizing their travel planning and booking process. All it needs is a quick and easy registration process which once completed, stores the personal details, personal flight experience preferences, and payment information. These details are then automatically pre-filled every time that you book a flight after logging in with your Lufthansa iD, thus speeding up the process.

British Airways has announced the launch of new catering service for its World Traveller Customers. The new service follows a multi-million pound investment in its World Traveller (long-haul economy cabin) catering and includes a new, exciting menu that exceeds in quality as well as quantity in comparison to the older menu.

Snacking options aboard the British Airways flights will now include:
  • A Welcome Drink & Pretzels
  • A Four Course Meal with Appetizers, Mains, Desserts, Cheese & Biscuits, Bread Roll & a Bottle of Water
  • Destination-specific Regional Meal Options
  • A Substantial Snack or a Second Meal on longer flights
  • Hot Breakfast on Longer Overnight Flights
  • Magnum Ice Creams on Daytime Flights
  • Tuck box with Chocolates & Crisps on Night Flights - available in galley for passengers
  • Complimentary Drinks from the bar
  • Graze Movie-Snack box for Longer Flights
The new expanded menu and service will offer a welcome break from the old catering service, which included limited options - a Complimentary Snack, a Three Course Meal / Light meal depending upon time and length of flight, a Complimentary bar service with hot & Cold drinks.

The menu will be changed every six months. Meal options for customers with special dietary requirements will continue as before and can be booked more than 24hrs in advance on ba.com/managemybooking.

Passengers on flights from London Heathrow can also book special treats through a pre-order Meal Service for up to 24 hours prior to the time of flight departure. Available options include a Gourmet Dining meal for £18.00, Taste of Britain and Taste of the Far East for £16.00 and a Great British Breakfast, a Healthy Choice meal or a Vegetarian Kitchen option all for £15.00.

The new catering service will be rolled out with effect from January 17, 2018 on flights from London Heathrow to New York JFK.

United Airlines has announced an increase to its Checked Baggage Allowance for all flights from North America to China and Hong Kong. Under the new allowance, passengers will be able to check in 2 bags while flying from North America to China or Hong Kong.

The baggage allowance for the flights on this route was limited to 1 checked bag prior to this policy change. Passengers flying from China / Hong Kong to USA enjoyed a checked baggage allowance of 2 checked bags from the beginning.

Commenting on the change in the baggage policy, Marcel Fuchs, Vice President - Atlantic and Pacific Sales, United Airlines said, "We are responding to valuable feedback from customers who are seeking added benefits when they travel to China and Hong Kong, particularly for leisure purposes. By allowing a second checked bag at no additional fee, we aim to make the overall experience of travelling to China and Hong Kong easier for our customers."

To know more or book a United Airlines flight, contact your Jetways Travels representative or send an e-mail to enquiry@jetwaystravels.com

KLM Airlines has announced its plans to introduce Films with Audio-descriptions as part of their in-flight entertainment for its blind and visually impaired passengers. The films will be available onboard its intercontinental flights operated by KLM Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft.

The new in-flight entertainment is a bold move and keeps with KLM's ambition to offer all its passengers memorable experiences.

Home Again, Kingsman, The Golden Circle and Lego Ninjago Movie are some of the first films that will be available with audio descriptions. More films will be added in the coming months.

Audio description is a means of making films and television programmes accessible to blind and visually impaired people. A narrator describes all the visual elements during breaks in dialogue. The narrator describes the characters, facial expressions, their location and plot developments.

Jet Airways has announced the launch of a new dining experience for Economy Class passengers onboard its flights. The new experience focuses on enhanced quality and choice of meals, while ensuring that the meal stay fresh and hot, especially on shorter duration flights.

The meals on shorter flights will be hereon, served in specially fabricated, oven-proof meal boxes that preserve the flavour and freshness of the food. They will further enable the airlines to offer a wider choice of meal options.

According to a press release issued by Jet Airways, popular snack options served in these special boxes can range from Samosas and Vada Pavs to Chicken Empanada and a Vegetarian/ Chicken Pizza Stromboli. They will be accompanied by a complimentary dessert - guaranteed to be served at the right temperature.

"With eight different menu combinations, guests can expect a new surprise every time", the press release continued.

The new initiative is also another step towards reducing the airline's carbon footprint as the new boxes will be recyclable and will eliminate the requirement for trays and covers, as also reduce water consumption. The initiative is also expected to quicken Jet Airways' in-flight service on shorter duration flights, while providing a more refined on board dining experience for guests.


New Flight Launches
IndiGo Airlines has announced the launch of multiple new flights in a major network expansion. In the domestic sector, the airlines has announced the launch of new direct flights from Chennai to Varanasi, Patna, Lucknow, Jaipur and Udaipur and vice versa.

New flights will also be launched on the Patna - Varanasi, Udaipur - Jaipur, Tirupati - Hyderabad, and Tirupati - Bengaluru sectors. Tirupati will be connected by three daily non-stop flights to Hyderabad and double daily non-stop flights to Bengaluru. The airlines has also introduced additional frequencies on its existing routes, specifically from Chennai to Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram.

On the international sector, IndiGo Airlines has announced new flights to Colombo, Sri Lanka, taking the total international destinations to 8.

According to a press release issued by IndiGo, the airline recently became the first Indian airline to fly 1000 flights daily. "The introduction of additional frequencies in the span of few days is a fitting testimony to its commitment to building India’s largest airline network," the press release continued.

Commenting on the latest network expansion, Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo said, "We are absolutely delighted to begin the year with yet another announcement to provide better customer experience and connectivity to our customers through these additional frequencies. With soaring demand on these sectors, we are hopeful that these flights will prove to be popular among our customers."

Schedule for New Flights

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

Minimum Fares

6E 0441

Chennai

Patna

0800 hrs

1025 hrs

Daily

1-Feb-18

 

6E 0442

Chennai

Udaipur

1525 hrs

1755 hrs

Daily

 

 

6E 0441

Patna

Varanasi

1055 hrs

1155 hrs

Daily

 

 

6E 0441

Varanasi

Chennai

1220 hrs

1455 hrs

Daily

 

 

6E 0442

Udaipur

Jaipur

1830 hrs

1935 hrs

Daily

1-Feb-18

 

6E 0515

Chennai

Lucknow

1515 hrs

1800 hrs

2nd Flight to operate Daily

20-Feb-18

 

6E 0518

Lucknow

Chennai

1830 hrs

2115 hrs

2nd Flight to operate Daily

20-Feb-18

 

6E 0513

Chennai

Udaipur

0915 hrs

1140 hrs

2nd Flight to operate once a week / Daily from 1st March

20-Feb-18

 

6E 0442

Chennai

Udaipur

1525 hrs

1755 hrs

1st Flight to operate Daily

1-Feb-18

 

6E 0514

Udaipur

Chennai

1215 hrs

1440 hrs

1st Flight to operate Once a Week

20-Feb-18

 

6E 0514

Udaipur

Chennai

1215 hrs

1440 hrs

1st Flight to operate Daily

1-Mar-18

 

7108

Tirupati

Hyderabad

1050 hrs

1205 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1717

7115

Tirupati

Hyderabad

1720 hrs

1840 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1717

7117

Tirupati

Hyderabad

2055 hrs

2225 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1717

7105

Hyderabad

Tirupati

0625 hrs

0750 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

2215

7112

Hyderabad

Tirupati

1240 hrs

1405 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

2215

7116

Hyderabad

Tirupati

1910 hrs

2035 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

2215

7106

Tirupati

Bengaluru

0810 hrs

0905 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1972

7113

Tirupati

Bengaluru

1425 hrs

1520 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1972

7107

Bengaluru

Tirupati

0930 hrs

1030 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1928

7114

Bengaluru

Tirupati

1540 hrs

1650 hrs

Daily

7-Jan-18

1928

6E 1201

Chennai

Colombo

0655 hrs

0815 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

 

6E 1202

Colombo

Chennai

0915 hrs

1100 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

 

6E 1203

Chennai

Colombo

1200 hrs

1325 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

 

6E 1206

Colombo

Bengaluru

1425 hrs

1555 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

 

6E 1205

Bengaluru

Colombo

1800 hrs

1930 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

 

6E 1204

Colombo

Chennai

2030 hrs

2155 hrs

Daily

20-Jan-18

Flight timings are local times



Schedule for New Additional Flights:

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

6E 0514

Ahmedabad

Chennai

1215 hrs

1440 hrs

3rd Flight to operate 6 Days a week

20-Feb-18

6E 0507

Chennai

Thiruvananthapuram

0525 hrs

0650 hrs

3rd Flight to operate Daily

20-Feb-18

6E 0513

Chennai

Ahmedabad

0915 hrs

1140 hrs

3rd Flight to operate 6 Days a week

20-Feb-18

6E 0513

Thiruvananthapuram

Chennai

0720 hrs

0840 hrs

3rd Flight to operate Daily

20-Feb-18

6E 0442

Jaipur

Chennai

2005 hrs

2250 hrs

Daily

1-Feb-18

6E 0192

Jaipur

Chennai

1750 hrs

2030 hrs

Daily

1-Feb-18

Flight timings are local times

SpiceJet has announced its plans to launch 20 new non-stop flights on its domestic routes with effect from February 11, 2018. With the majority of the new flights serving Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the launch will serve to strengthen the airline's presence in South India, besides giving fresh impetus to the airlines regional connectivity theme – ‘Connect the unconnected’.

The new flight launches include daily direct flights on the Kolkata – Jabalpur, Bengaluru – Puducherry, Bengaluru – Rajahmundry, Chennai – Mangalore and Guwahati – Chennai routes. SpiceJet is also the first airline to operate flights on the Kolkata – Jabalpur and Bengaluru – Puducherry sectors. In addition, SpiceJet is launching a direct flight between Bengaluru – Tirupati, which would operate six days a week - on all days except Tuesdays.

In addition to the new flights, SpiceJet will be strengthening its operations with additional non-stop flights on the Chennai – Vishakapatnam, Kolkata – Vishakapatnam, Chennai – Vijayawada, and Bengaluru – Chennai routes. While the airline will operate daily flights between Chennai – Vishakapatnam, Kolkata – Vishakapatnam and Chennai – Vijayawada, services between Bengaluru – Chennai will be operational on all days except Tuesdays.

All the routes, with the exception of Chennai - Guwahati route, will be operated by its Bombardier Q400 aircraft. The Chennai – Guwahati route will be served by a Boeing 737 aircraft.

To book the new flights, contact your point-of-contact at Jetways Travels or call 011-44112200

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Effective

Frequency

SG- 3615

Chennai

Vishakapatnam

1115 hrs

1245 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3612

Vishakapatnam

Chennai

0845 hrs

1015 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3613

Kolkata

Jabalpur

1520 hrs

1720 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3614

Jabalpur

Kolkata

1740 hrs

1935 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3611

Kolkata

Vishakapatnam

0620 hrs

0815 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3616

Vishakapatnam

Kolkata

1310 hrs

1450 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3429

Bengaluru

Rajahmundry

1905 hrs

2030 hrs

11-02-18

Daily

SG- 3430

Rajahmundry

Bengaluru

2050  hrs

2220 hrs

15-02-18

Daily

SG- 3425

Bengaluru

Chennai

1240 hrs

1340 hrs

15-02-18

Except Tuesday, Saturday

SG- 3426

Chennai

Bengaluru

1405 hrs

1505 hrs

15-02-18

Except Tuesday, Saturday

SG- 3419

Bengaluru

Pudducherry

0940 hrs

1030 hrs

15-02-18

Daily

SG- 3420

Pudducherry

Bengaluru

1050 hrs

1210 hrs

15-02-18

Daily

SG- 2895

Chennai

Mangalore

1120 hrs

1245 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

SG- 2896

Mangalore

Chennai

1305 hrs

1345 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

SG- 2893

Chennai

Vijayawada

0810 hrs

0915 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

SG- 2894

Vijayawada

Chennai

0935 hrs

1050 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

SG- 3427

Bengaluru

Tirupati

1540 hrs

1630 hrs

01-03-18

Except Tuesday, Saturday

SG- 3428

Tirupati

Bengaluru

1700 hrs

1800 hrs

01-03-18

Except Tuesday, Saturday

SG- 845

Guwahati

Chennai

0955 hrs

1315 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

SG- 856

Chennai

Guwahati

1435 hrs

1735 hrs

01-03-18

Daily

Flight timings are local times

Etihad Airways has announced its plans to launch two additional flights from Abu Dhabi to Lagos, Nigeria. The new flights will increase the frequency of the flights to Lagos to a daily service with effect from May 1, 2018. The route will continue to be operated by an Airbus A330, with 22 Business Class seats and 240 in Economy.

Passengers who have booked the Etihad flight to Lagos enjoy a baggage allowance of two bags of up to 23kg each in Economy Class and up to 32kg each in Business Class. Once onboard, award-winning service by multinational cabin crew and onboard nannies, extensive in-flight entertainment selections, and a choice of complimentary international meals and beverages enhances their flight experience.

Commenting on the launch of the new flights, Mohammad Al Bulooki, Executive Vice President Commercial, Etihad Airways said, "Nigeria is an important market for Etihad and our home of Abu Dhabi. The airline is committed to offering attractive schedules and choice to our guests travelling between Lagos and the UAE capital as well as convenient connections to destinations including the GCC, India and Asia."

“Since launching the Lagos route in July 2012, Etihad has carried almost 600,000 passengers between our hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport and the commercial heart of Nigeria. It is pleased to be able to support the high demand for our service by soon operating the route on a daily basis,” he continued.

As the trading centre of Africa and home to 21 million people, Lagos is a regional hub for many multinational companies. The additional flights will support trade links between Nigeria, the UAE and beyond, with cargo capacity set to grow from 54 tonnes to 75 tonnes per week in each direction. Key exports from Nigeria include leather goods and food items, while imports comprise consumer and fashion goods from the Middle East and Far East.

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

EY 673

Abu Dhabi

Lagos

0230 hrs

0730 hrs

Daily

01-May-18

EY 674

Lagos

Abu Dhabi

0900 hrs

1950 hrs

Daily

01-May-18

Flight timings are local times

Emirates Airlines has announced its plans to launch new flight services to two cities in the Americas - Newark, USA and Santiago, Chile. The new services will commence with effect from June 1, 2018 and July 5, 2018, respectively.

New Emirates Flight from Dubai - Newark, USA
The Dubai - Newark Flight is scheduled to be a new, non-stop service that will operate daily; the new flight will complement the existing flight service on the route, which operates daily with a scheduled stop-over at Athens, Greece. The timing of the new flight further complements the existing Emirates service, as it provides travellers with a new option of a morning arrival in Newark, and a morning departure. An Emirates Boeing 777-300ER with 8 suites in First Class, 42 seats in Business, 306 in Economy Class, and 19 tonnes of belly-hold cargo capacity will serve the new non-stop service.

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

EK 223

Dubai

Newark

0300 hrs

0900 hrs

Daily

01-June-18

EK 224

Newark

Dubai

1150 hrs

0820 hrs (+1)

Daily

01-June-18

Flight timings are local times; +1 Day denotes arrival at Next day

The new Dubai - Santiago flight is scheduled to fly Five times a week with a stop-over at Sao Paulo, Brazil. While Santiago is a new addition to the network, Sao Paulo is already serviced by a daily flight. The new services to Santiago will increase the frequency of the Sao Paulo flights to five more in a week.

An Emirates Boeing 777-200LR with 38 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, 264 seats in Economy Class, and up to 14 tonnes of capacity for cargo will operate on the new route.

The flight timings of the Dubai - Santiago service is scheduled to enable late night departures from Santiago and morning arrivals in Dubai, which further ensures seamless connections to many Asian and Middle East routes.

Commenting on the new Emirates route, Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline said, "The start of our operations to Chile underlines our commitment to South America with our fourth destination on the continent and another five flights to Sao Paulo. We are pleased to add a destination that has been in strong demand from our customers and look forward to working with stakeholders in Chile to provide our unique product and award-winning service to passengers there."

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

EK 263

Dubai

Santiago

0905 hrs

2140 hrs

Except Monday & Wednesday

05-July-18

EK 264

Santiago

Dubai

0110 hrs

0515 hrs (+1)

Except Tuesday & Thursday

05-July-18

Flight timings are local times; +1 Day denotes arrival at Next day

Qatar Airways has announced the launch of new flights to two cities in Thailand - Pattaya and Bangkok. The flight to Pattaya is the latest addition to the airline's expanding global network and is the 5th city to be connected in Thailand. The airline already operates regular scheduled flights to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi; an additional flight has been launched for Bangkok.

New Qatar Flight from Doha to Pattaya
The new Qatar Flight from Doha to Pattaya is a direct service and will fly Four times a week and will land at the U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya International Airport. A Qatar Boeing 787 Dreamliner with with 22 seats in Business Class, 232 seats in Economy Class, and Oryx One - the airline's superior entertainment system will operate on the route.

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

QR 828

Doha

Pattaya

2005 hrs

0630 hrs (+1)

Monday,  Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

QR 829

Pattaya

Doha

0750 hrs

1140 hrs

>Monday, Tuesday,  Thursday, Saturday

Flight timings are local times; +1 Day denotes arrival at Next day



New Qatar Flight from Doha to Bangkok
The new Qatar flight from Doha to Bangkok compliments the existing services and boosts the number of weekly flights to the Thai capital to 42 per week. The new services are expected to commence with effect from March 25, 2018.

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

QR 980

Doha

Bangkok

0155 hrs

1255 hrs

QR 981

Bangkok

Doha

2035 hrs

2345 hrs

Flight timings are local times

The SWISS Airline has announced its plans to launch new seasonal routes from Geneva as part of its network expansion plans. The new services will begin towards the end of June and will connect the Swiss capital to the Greek city of Kalamata, Pula in Croatia and Toulon in France.

In addition to these seasonal flights, SWISS Airlines will also be launching a scheduled charter flight for every Saturday from Geneva to Kittilä in Lapland. The charter flight service will be in effect for the winter season from 22 December 2018 until 9 March 2019.

This service is being offered in collaboration with Arctic tour specialists Kontiki and can be booked only through Kontiki. Once it begins, it will be the first direct connection between French-speaking Switzerland and Lapland.

Swiss Flights from Geneva to Kalamata, Greece
The new Swiss flights from Geneva to Kalamata, Greece is scheduled to fly weekly on Sundays with effect from June 24, 2018. Being seasonal flights, the services will be in effect only until September 2, 2018.

Swiss Flights from Geneva to Pula, Croatia
The new Swiss flights from Geneva to Pula, Croatia will fly weekly on Saturdays, with effect from June 23, 2018 and until September 1, 2018. The new flights will mark the début of flights to Croatia.

Swiss Flights from Geneva to Toulon, French Riviera
Swiss Airlines will operate biweekly flights - every Thursday and Sunday - from Geneva to Toulon in the French Riviera. The flights will be in service with effect from June 24, 2018 and until September 2, 2018.

In addition to these new services, the frequency of flights to Madrid has been enhanced to twice a day, from Monday to Friday. Another flight, from Geneva to Athens will see an increase with a second flight on all days except Sundays.

To book these new SWISS flights, contact your point-of contact at Jetways Travels or send an e-mail to enquiry@jetwaystravels.com

United Airlines has announced its plans to launch new routes to as many as 8 new cities within USA as part of its major network expansion drive. The new services will connect six of its domestic hubs with destinations in California, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The flights on the new routes will begin with effect from June 7, 2018 and open up hundreds of connections on its domestic and international route network year-round.

United Airlines will also be launching a new seasonal route for the Summer between New York and Rapid City, South Dakota. The new service will be a non-stop flight and will commence with effect from June 23, 2018. A United Airlines Embraer E175 aircraft will operate on the route, departing from New York/Newark at 1000 hrs and arriving at Rapid City at 1205 hrs.

New United Airlines Flights:

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

Chicago

Bismarck, North Dakota 

2 flights daily

June 7

Denver

Appleton, Wisconsin

Daily

June 7

Denver

Norfolk, Virginia

Daily

June 7

Houston

Akron/Canton, Ohio

Daily

June 7

Houston

Dayton, Ohio

Daily

June 7

Los Angeles

Eureka, California

Daily

June 7

San Francisco

Madison, Wisconsin

Daily

June 7


For more information or to book these United Airlines flights, contact Jetways Travels at 011-44112200 or send an e-mail to enquiry@jetwaystravels.com
Air Canada has announced its plans to change its Vancouver - Delhi seasonal flight service to a year-round service. The non-stop flights will commence year-round with effect from June 8, 2018.

A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with 30 International Business Class lie-flat suites, 21 Premium Economy seats, 247 Economy Class seats, multi-lingual crews, and multi-lingual in-flight entertainment operates on the Vancouver - Delhi route.

Additionally, all flights provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, Star Alliance reciprocal benefits, and for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits.

Commenting on the change, Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada said, "Customer response to our non-stop Vancouver-Delhi seasonal flights initially launched in 2016 has been extremely positive, and we are very pleased to extend the only flights between Western Canada and India to year-round beginning in June. Our flights to Delhi from our YVR trans-Pacific hub onboard our state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers the shortest elapsed flying time from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles to the Indian subcontinent, and coupled with our streamlined and seamless connections process at YVR, means a savings of 3-5 hours compared to journeys connecting in Europe or Asia."

"Our non-stop Vancouver to Delhi flights together with our non-stop Toronto to Delhi and Mumbai flights represent three year-round routes to India launched within the last two and a half years. Air Canada is committing close to $1.5 billion worth of aircraft between Canada and India, underscoring our commitment to this vibrant market and to our continuing strategic, global expansion," he continued.

Flight No.

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

AC44

Vancouver

Delhi

0130 hrs

0400 hrs (+1)

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

AC45

Delhi

Vancouver

0610 hrs

0730 hrs

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday

Flight timings are local times; +1 Day denotes arrival at Next day

Air Canada has announced the launch of new flight routes within Canada in a move to expand its domestic flight network. The new domestic non-stop flights will commence with effect from July 2, 2018 and will connect the cities to the airline's global network at very convenient timings. In addition, the new flights will provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption, and Star Alliance reciprocal benefits. Eligible customers will also benefit from priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access at mainline Canadian airports including Edmonton and Calgary, priority boarding and other benefits.

Schedule for New Air Canada Domestic Flights:

Flight No

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

AC8395

Edmonton  

Kelowna 

0840 hrs

0859 hrs

AC8403

Edmonton 

Kelowna 

1605 hrs

1624 hrs

AC8394

Kelowna 

Edmonton 

0930 hrs

1151 hrs

AC8404

Kelowna 

Edmonton 

1655 hrs

1916 hrs

AC8095

Edmonton 

Victoria 

0840 hrs

0940 hrs

AC8053

Edmonton 

Victoria 

1600 hrs

1700 hrs

AC8086

Victoria 

Edmonton 

1010 hrs

1255 hrs

AC8088

Victoria 

Edmonton 

1730 hrs

2015 hrs

AC8362

Calgary 

Comox 

1005 hrs

1058 hrs

AC8361

Comox 

Calgary 

1130 hrs

1414 hrs

Flight timings are local times

Singapore Airlines has announced its plans to launch new flights to Australia and New Zealand.
New flights to Australia
The new routes to Australia will connect Singapore to Canberra with a stop-over at Sydney and will commence with effect from May 1, 2018. A Singapore Airline Boeing 777-300ER with 4 First Class seats, 48 Business Class seats, 28 Premium Economy Class seats and 184 Economy Class seats will operate on these routes.

New Routes to New Zealand
The new routes to Wellington, New Zealand with a stop-over at Melbourne, Australia will commence with effect from May 3, 2018 as a Four-times-a-week service. A Singapore Airline Boeing 777-200 with 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats will operate on new flights.

The new Wellington flights will be part of a restructuring of existing Singapore-Canberra-Wellington flights, which will see the Canberra-Wellington flights de-linked and Canberra served on a daily basis, up from the existing four times per week.

In addition to Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney and Wellington, Singapore Airlines operates flights to Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Christchurch and Perth.

Commenting on the new routes, Mr Tan Kai Ping, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning, Singapore Airlines said, "We have seen growth in international travel into and from both Canberra and Wellington since the launch of our new services in 2016. These new routings will allow us to serve Canberra and Wellington better, and provide Canberra with a step-up in frequency."

The new flights are subject to regulatory approvals.

Flight No

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

SQ 247

Singapore

Melbourne

1945 hrs

0510 hrs (+1)

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

SQ 247

Melbourne

Wellington

0700 hrs

1220 hrs

Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

SQ 248

Wellington

Melbourne

1345 hrs

1530 hrs

Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

SQ 248

Melbourne

Singapore

1650 hrs

2245 hrs

Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

SQ 288

Singapore

Sydney

1030 hrs

2010 hrs

Daily

SQ 288

Sydney

Canberra

2120 hrs

2220 hrs

Daily

SQ 288

Canberra

Singapore

2315 hrs

0515 hrs (+1)

Daily

Flight timings are local times; +1 Day denotes arrival at Next day

Vistara Airlines has announced the launch of two new flights routes - Delhi to Chennai and Chennai to Port Blair - as part of its domestic network expansion. The new routes will commence operations with effect from February 15, 2018 and March 1, 2018 respectively. Bookings are now open.

The launch of the new routes makes Chennai the 22nd destination to be added to the Vistara network. While the services on the Delhi - Chennai route will begin with a daily direct service with effect from February 15, 2018, it will be increased to a twice daily service March 1 onwards.

The Delhi to Chennai route will be served by a twice a day service, while the Chennai to Port Blair route will be served by a daily service.

In Delhi, Vistara operates from the state-of-the-art Terminal 3 and those connecting to and from international flights at Delhi can seamlessly proceed to international transfers for same-terminal connections.

Commenting on the launch of the new routes, Mr. Leslie Thng, CEO, Vistara said, "We’re delighted to take the ‘new feeling of flying’ to Chennai, a city we have long wished to serve. Chennai represents modern India in a unique way, being a thriving metropolis; a business and cultural hub that appeals to corporate and leisure travellers alike. Additionally, given the high demand on the Chennai – Port Blair route due to deep economic and cultural ties, the addition of Vistara’s service will offer more choices to customers on both ends. Chennai truly is a landmark addition to our network, and there couldn’t be a better time for this than the start of the New Year. We are confident that travellers will be delighted to experience our award-winning service on the new routes.”

Schedule of New Vistara Flights

Flight No

City of Departure

City of Arrival

Time of Departure

Time of Arrival

Frequency

Effective

UK 835

Delhi

Chennai

1945 hrs

2240 hrs

Daily

15-02-18

UK 832

Chennai

Delhi

0750 hrs

1030 hrs

Daily

15-02-18

UK 833

Delhi

Chennai

0720 hrs

1010 hrs

Daily

01-03-18

UK 833

Chennai

Port Blair

1100 hrs

1325 hrs

Daily

01-03-18

UK 834

Port Blair

Chennai

1420 hrs

1640 hrs

Daily

01-03-18

UK 834

Chennai

Delhi

1730 hrs

2020 hrs

Daily

01-03-18

Flight timings are local times


Visas & Passport
The Ministry of External Affairs has announced its decision to continue with the existing Passport norms. Following the decision, the last page of the Passport booklet will continue to be printed as before. Furthermore, ECR status passport holders will not have a different coloured passport for easy identification.

Earlier, a decision was taken by the Ministry of External Affairs not to print the last page of Passport Booklet. The MEA had also taken a decision to issue a passport with orange colour jacket to passport holders with ECR status, with a view to help and assist them on priority basis.

The decisions were revoked after MEA received several individual and collective representations requesting to reconsider these two decisions. After comprehensive discussions with the various stakeholders, the MEA decided to continue with the current practice of printing of the last page of the passport and not to issue a separate passport with orange colour jacket to ECR passport holders.

VFS Global has announced the launch of a new visa service for Ukraine. With the launch of the new service, residents of India wishing to travel to Ukraine can now apply for both short and long term visas at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in New Delhi.

Ukraine was recently signed on as VFS Global’ s 57th client government worldwide, when the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and VFS Global signed a contract to provide visa services on behalf of the Eastern European nation in September 2017.

The contract entails the launch of 10 visa application centres across eight countries by 15 January 2018; the visa centre in New Delhi is the first VFS Global centre to offer visa services for Ukraine.

Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global remarked, "It is with great pride that VFS Global announces its partnership with Ukraine. It is with even greater delight that we launch the first Ukraine Visa Application Centre in New Delhi, India. Ukraine is fast becoming a popular destination for Indian travellers, and we look forward to offering travel enthusiasts in the region our best in class visa application services to ease their submission process."

Key features of the Ukraine Visa Application Centre:
  • Comfortable centre with automated crowd management capabilities
  • Professional and responsive staff dedicated to handle visa applications
  • Accept visa applications and scrutinize them for completeness
  • Accept visa fees and service fees through Cash, Credit & Debit Cards
  • Reduces waiting time and long queues at the Embassy and offers convenience to the applicants
  • Increases customer satisfaction due to reduced travel time for applicants
  • Dedicated website to provide information on visa categories, fees and other application related details
  • Call centre and email support to answer queries
  • Online tracking of application status
  • Convenient and secure courier return of visa documents to address of choice
VFS Global has announced the launch of visa services for the Czech Republic.

The launch marks the opening of the 16th such centre in India. The other centres in India include New Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kochi, Kolkata, Puducherry, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Commenting on the launch, Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India said, "It reflects the country's genuine commitment to provide for the growing demands of Visas to the country among Indian tourists, business and culture. As a result of this policy, the Czech Republic has emerged as one of the preferred European destinations for Indian tourists."