India Travel News and Deals - Sponsored by Tripmela.com

Take a Family Vacation at a Great Price

2008-08-21T04:02:00.000-07:00

Cleartrip has put together a whole bunch of cheap family vacations in India, including cheap holidays in Goa, cheap holidays in Manali and trips to Udaipur. These great vacations start at just Rs 1,635.

Get a Third Night Free at a Goa Resort

2008-08-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

Travelguru is offering a third night free at the Martins Comfort Resort in Goa. You'll pay just Rs 793 per night when you avail yourself of this incredible deal. Hurry...this price won't last long. Learn more about this cheap Goa hotel now.

Cheap Flights from Mumbai to Hyderabad

2008-08-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

GoAir is offering cheap fares from Mumbai to Hyderabad, with prices as low as Rs 195 each way (plus tax, of course). GoAir has cheap fares to many other cities as well, including Delhi and Ahmedabad.

Cheap Hotels in Agra, from Just Rs 50 Per Night

2008-08-15T10:04:00.000-07:00

Travelguru is offering cheap hotels in Agra from just Rs 50 per night. Use Searchmela to compare cheap hotel rates in Agra from all your favorite sites quickly and easily now!

SpiceJet and GoAir Offer Rs 0 Flights - Cheap! - from Delhi to Mumbai

2008-08-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

SpiceJet and GoAir are offering Rs 0 fares making for cheap flights from Mumbai to Delhi. Yes, you still have to pay taxes and fees, but it's never going to be cheaper than Rs 0. Visit Searchmela to compare airfares between Mumbai and Delhi from multiple websites all at once!

Kolkata, Chennai Airports to Begin Modernisation Work in September

2008-08-12T03:43:00.001-07:00

Good news if you fly out of Kolkata or Chennai airports: the government approved a plan to begin modernising the airports beginning in September. The government had been debating privatising the airports, but they decided to wait on that decision so as to not put off construction any further.

Dubai to Allow Tourist Visas for Indians

2008-08-11T06:41:00.000-07:00

Dubai's government has decided to extend its liberal tourist visas to visitors from the subcontinent. With many airlines adding flights to Dubai, this will make travel to the region even easier for Indian visitors. Visas are arranged by your hotel or tour operator (though visitors from 33 other nationalities, including the US and Australia, can still receive a visa on arrival).

Delta to Shift Mumbai Flights to Atlanta from New York

2008-08-08T03:34:00.000-07:00

Delta will discontinue its nonstop service from New York to Mumbai effective 1 November and shift the flight to its hub in Atlanta. The airline notes that the southeast lacks nonstop service to India and that its large number of connecting cities to its hub will provide more people with 1-stop service to the region.

Chennai - Hyderabad Flights No Longer Served by Jets

2008-08-05T06:04:00.001-07:00

If you're planning to fly from Hyderabad to Chennai, it's going to take you about 35 minutes longer. To cut capacity (and costs) on the route, Jet Airways has removed its jets from the routes and replaced them with ATR turboprop aircraft. With this change, 7 of the 9 flights a day will be served by turboprop aircraft. Travelers generally prefer jets because they are faster and quieter.

With the increase in fares (and taxes), leisure travelers on the route are switching back from flying to the trains.

Jet Airways, Others, Consider Holding Off on New Planes

2008-07-31T04:01:00.001-07:00

Airbus and Boeing are working with their Indian airline customers to defer delivery of new planes they have ordered rather than having the airlines cancel the lucrative business. Boeing believes that the Indian aviation market with need 1,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, and they're not changing that forecast despite the current downturn.

That downturn is rough: airlines are expected to lose about $2 billion this year, roughly double what they lost last year. In response, GoAir, Air India and others have cut capacity (Air India by 15% or so). This was a necessary response, considering there were 50 flights a day between Delhi and Mumbai - way too many for the market.

Last month we saw SpiceJet remove toffees from its flights. Now, JetLite will begin charging for water and snacks. Consumers may complain, but the alternative is that they'll complain much more when there are no more flights at all between the cities they want to fly.

Fares to the Gulf Slashed by 15%

2008-07-29T11:57:00.001-07:00

Good news for people traveling to the Gulf: Air India and Indian have both lowered fares by about 15% to the region from India. Delhi, Mumbai and Cochin are seeing the biggest discounts. According to Intelligent Traveller, air traffic to West Asia constitutes nearly 40 percent of the Indian aviation industry's total international operations.

Kingfisher to Launch London Flights in September

2008-07-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

Kingfisher announced that it will launch flights to the UK beginning in September. The loss-making airline (1700 Crore over the last 2 years, not counting the nearly 650 Crore lost by sister-airline Deccan) will launch the service in the wake of a miserable cost structure for long-haul carriers. With other airlines closing long-haul routes around the world, this could be Mallya's biggest challenges yet.

Bagdogra's Airport Closed Down As Tea Is Mistaken for Bomb

2008-07-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

Long story short: Bagdogra's airport was shut down over the weekend after authorities found a suspicious package in the terminal. Suspecting a bomb, police closed down the terminal. After some investigation it turns out the package was not a bomb: it was a package of tea.

British Airways Loses Amitabh Bachchan's Bags for the 18th Time

2008-07-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan has had a rough time with British Airways: The actor said that he and his family arrived in Toronto only to find that BA had lost his bags for the 18th time. BA has a notorious history of bag losses, but Bachchan has certainly seen more than his share. For its part, the airline apologized and said it has found the bags.

Oops...Kingfisher Won't Be Buying SpiceJet

2008-07-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

SpiceJet, which can now best be described as flailing, has rejected Kingfisher's offer to purchase the carrier. Instead, asset management firm WL Ross & Co. will inject $80 million into the airline to keep it afloat. The firm says they believe oil prices will drop below $100 in the coming year, leaving SpiceJet will strong financial footing to compete.

What will you do with that Ticket if the Airline goes Bankrupt?

2008-07-14T00:51:00.000-07:00

Twiddle your thumbs.. Seriously there is nothing you can do except for stand in line along with other creditors to get some sought of refund from the airline that goes under. Unlike the U.S or Europe where other airlines will transport you or some sort of insurance cover can refund your ticket amount, there is nothing that protects you and I from the Airline going Bankrupt. A scary thought, but it seems that the industry that was going gang busters a couple of quarters ago is seeing the prospects of airline closures :(

Deccan Offers Helicopter Service from Bangalore Airport to City

2008-07-10T04:58:00.000-07:00

Happy with Bangalore's new airport but unhappy with the miserable traffic to get to the city? You're in luck (assuming you're wealthy or traveling for business): Deccan Aviation is introducing helicopter service from the airport to three different destinations in Bangalore. Fares cost between Rs 4,800 and 5,800 each way.

GoAir to Cut Flights by 20%

2008-07-09T05:44:00.000-07:00

To help minimize loss-making routes, GoAir plans to reduce its total flying by about 20% from 1,000 flights a month to about 800 for the low season. GoAir will face a struggle to compete with a combined Kingfisher/Deccan/SpiceJet given the current fuel environment, which now accounts for nearly half of the airline's costs.

Consolidation Continues: Kingfisher Likely to Purchase SpiceJet

2008-07-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

India's airline consolidation continues as Kingfisher will likely purchase SpiceJet, creating an airlines that will control 40% of the domestic market. Under the combined group, Deccan will fly regional routes throughout the country while SpiceJet will fly to metros. The new carrier group will be a major force in Indian aviation, leaving a big question as to how IndiGo and GoAir will be able to survive in the current cost and competitive environment.

Planes Hit Dogs and Birds at Ahmedabad Airport

2008-07-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

2 nights ago heavy rains apparently drove all manner of bird and beast onto the runway at Ahmedabad's airport, causing delays after aircraft hit 12 birds and a dog. An Emirates flight on the way to Dubai hit a dog while taking off, though it continued its takeoff roll without further incident. However, the Qatar Airways plane that was to take off next was delayed for 30 minutes because the plane's pilot refused to take off with the carcass still on the runway. Since it was 5 o'clock in the morning, the dead dog patrol had not yet clocked in.

Several aircraft also hit birds on the same day, causing at least one flight to make an emergency landing.

Higher Ticket Prices Taking its toll on Passenger Traffic from Smaller Towns

2008-07-02T05:16:00.000-07:00

This was bound to happen, with higher fuel surcharges the average ticket prices have been steadily increasing. This has had an adverse impact on growth in passenger traffic from smaller towns, per the Airport Authority of India's latest figures. This is just the beginning, with fuel prices hitting $140 a barrel the ATF and with it ticket prices will only go up.

50 Pilots in India Found to Be Drunk in the Past Year

2008-07-01T03:46:00.001-07:00

India's civil aviation authority announced yesterday that it found 50 pilots to be drunk during pre-flight medical checks last year. Indian pilots are prohibited from drinking alcohol within 12 hours of flying. Because airlines have grown so quickly, pilots are often needed on short notice - hence, they had been drinking without knowing they'd be flying that day. A flight from Delhi to Patna was canceled on Saturday after a routine pre-flight check found that the pilot had been drinking.

Say Goodbye to Free Toffees

2008-06-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

In the face of piling losses, the airlines are now starting to eliminate even the littlest things from their flights. Cases in point: Indian has now eliminated the free toffees they handed out to economy passengers and the free fruit baskets they gave to premium fliers. Spicejet, meanwhile, has decided that it will no longer pass out free cookies, waters or toffees on their flights.

It may seem a little crazy that they can actually save money by getting rid of sweets, but SpiceJet says they will save Rs 50 Lakh annually by being stingy with the toffee.

Sleeping Pilots Miss Airport by, oh, 359 Miles

2008-06-27T03:35:00.000-07:00

Pilots on an Air India flight from Jaipur, India, to Mumbai allegedly overshot the airport by 359 miles because they were sleeping during the flight. The crew members started their day with a 1:35am flight from Dubai and continued on with this 7am flight from Jaipur. That doesn't excuse falling asleep, but it kinda makes sense.

Air India, for its part, denies the incident took place.

Are we the worst tourists?

2008-06-27T03:03:00.000-07:00

A survey done in Australia put Indians as the worst tourists for having the worst tourist etiquette. Well this survey was in Australia, wonder if the recent cricket series had anything to do with the abysmal ranking. A record number of Indians are traveling overseas, so may not really know some of the western ways, and i would not be surprised if our constant haggling (bargaining) gene has something to do with the ranking as well.