Latest news with #AnjaniDhanuka
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
First aircraft with 4-class cabin to touch down in city next week
1 2 Kolkata: The first aircraft with a four-class configuration in its cabin is scheduled to touch down in Kolkata at 7.15 pm on July 18. Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which currently operates a three-class configuration in the Boeing B 777 aircraft it uses for the flight, will switch to a four-class configuration with the introduction of the retrofitted aircraft. Etihad, the other carrier from the UAE that ferries passengers from Kolkata to Europe and the US via Abu Dhabi, is also set to change the aircraft from Airbus A 320, which offers only economy and business class, to A 321-LR from Sept. This aircraft will offer 14 flat beds in the business class along with two first-class seats. The other Gulf Qatar operates two aircraft on the sector: the A 350 four days a week and the B 787 Dreamliner on the remaining three days. Both aircraft have two seat configurations: economy and business. Fly Dubai that has four flights a week to Dubai uses a B 737 MAX aircraft that offers business and economy class seats. Low-cost carrier Air Arabia that has three fights a week has 170 all-economy seats on the A 320. Emirates' four-class B 777 will offer 24 premium economy seats arranged in a 2-4-2 layout with six-way adjustable headrests for added comfort and space. The upgraded business-class cabin will offer more privacy, with 40 seats in 1-2-1 configuration. The aircraft will also feature eight first-class suites. The refreshed economy-class cabin will have 260 ergonomic seats with leather headrests that can be adjusted vertically. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata However, it is the premium economy, the first to be introduced in Kolkata by an international airline, that is hogging the limelight. While a return economy class ticket to Europe on Emirates costs around Rs 80,000, the premium economy fare is expected to be around Rs 1 lakh-Rs 1.5 lakh. In contrast, the business class fare ranges from Rs 2 lakh-Rs 2.3 lakh, while it costs Rs 4 lakh-Rs 4.5 lakh to fly first class. "The four-class configuration, including the premium economy, will be offered in the evening flights that operate four times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday. The remaining seven flights will continue to offer three cabin classes until all aircraft in the fleet are retrofitted to feature the premium economy cabin," said Emirates vice-president (India & Nepal) Mohammad Sarhan. Travel Agents Association of India chairman (East) Anjani Dhanuka said there was excitement among frequent flyers over the improved legroom and elevated dining experience with multi-course meals that the premium economy will offer. "Passengers will also get generous checked-in baggage allowance of 35kg and a further 10kg of carry-on baggage," he said.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
International flyer footfall at Kolkata airport back to normal after conflict blip
Representative Image KOLKATA: International passenger footfall at Kolkata airport has bounced back after a sudden four-day slump in June caused by the closure of airspace over Middle East after Iran launched a missile strike on US air bases in Qatar and Iraq on June 23. Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait had scrambled to close their airspace that left all West-bound flights from hubs in the Gulf stranded. According to airport officials, Kolkata's international flyer count dipped sharply between June 23 and June 26. However, as ceasefire talks between Iran and Israel brought back some stability to the region and airspace restrictions were lifted, flight schedules returned to normal, taking the footfall back to the daily average of around 6,500. 'All onward flights from the region — including those of Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad — were disrupted due to the airspace closure. These carriers handle the bulk of West-bound traffic from Kolkata,' said Kolkata airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria. 'Now that flight movement has resumed, we are seeing the numbers return to their usual levels.' You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata While the availability of flights was a major concern, many travellers also cancelled bookings owing to the conflict. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Puerto La Plata (ver precio) Verisure Más información Undo According to travel industry sources, about 30% of flyers booked for early last week cancelled their trips. Data shared by airport sources show that as many as 6,664 international passengers travelled via Kolkata on June 21 aboard 43 flights, and 6,705 passengers on 45 flights on June 22. On June 23, however, numbers dropped to 5,254, with only 39 flights plying. The next day, the count slid further to 4,655 on 35 flights. This slide continued till June 26. Once the crisis passed and a ceasefire was announced, flight operations picked up pace. By June 28, passenger volume was 6,496 over 42 flights. On June 29, it climbed to 6,503 across 45 international flights, close to the regular average. For Kolkata, which has no direct flights to the US or Europe, the halt in transit services through Middle-East hubs proved critical. According to chairman of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), eastern region, Anjani Dhanuka, about 500 passengers travel daily from Kolkata to Europe and the US via hubs like Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. 'When the airspace was closed, those journeys were either cancelled or indefinitely postponed. Now that the flights are back on schedule, we are not seeing any fresh cancellations.' 'The initial wave of cancellations was a knee-jerk reaction to the geopolitical flare-up,' said Anil Punjabi, national executive committee member of the Travel Agents Federation of India. 'But people still see air travel as the most reliable mode, especially for long-haul business and education travel. Businessmen who postponed trips to the US and Europe have now rescheduled their plans and are back in the air. ' Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Kol's outbound flyer count back to near normal after Pahalgam dip
1 2 Kolkata: Following a three-week decline in passenger numbers at Kolkata airport after the April 22 Pahalgam terror incident and India's Operation Sindoor response , there are now positive indicators. Daily departing passenger numbers from Kolkata airport, which had decreased to 23,000 from 28,000, are now showing a steady improvement, with Sunday recording over 27,500 departures — a 20% increase over last week. This improvement follows the ceasefire agreement, relaxed airspace restrictions, and reopening of northern Indian airports affected by the border tensions. Airport authorities are optimistic that the difficult period has passed. "We experienced a significant reduction in passenger numbers following the Pahalgam incident and subsequent military action against Pakistani militants. Recent days show positive trends in bookings and attendance, indicating renewed traveller confidence," a Kolkata airport official said. TOI reported on Monday that tour operators who experienced significant cancellations and reduced Kashmir-bound travel, are orchestrating a recovery. The Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI), alongside 100 Kolkata-based agencies, initiated the "Chalo Kashmir" initiative last week to restore interest in the Valley, promoting it as a secure summer destination. "Tourism has been a harbinger of peace. By encouraging people to travel to J&K, we are supporting livelihoods and reinforcing a message of resilience, unity, and hope," TAAI chairman (East) Anjani Dhanuka said. Tourist interest is increasing. With summer holidays on and airspace restrictions lifted, both families and individual travellers are considering vacation plans. Souvik Mukherjee, a technology professional from Behala, departed for Leh on Sunday. "We planned this trip months ago. Yes, there were initial concerns and I almost decided to cancel. But then I discussed it with my group of friends, with whom I will be starting from Delhi, and we decided to hold on to our bookings. Now, we believe the situation is stabilising and the recent developments have given us the confidence to go ahead," said Mukherjee. TOI data had indicated a steady decline in outbound passengers since the Pahalgam incident. On April 21, before the Pahalgam attack, 28,164 passengers flew out. Two days later, departures dipped to around 26,000. By May 10, numbers decreased to 23,009. Post ceasefire, numbers improved steadily. Saturday recorded 26,754 departures and Sunday saw 27,555 domestic passengers leaving. Travel industry reports increased enquiries and reservations. "Just two weeks ago, we had to process multiple cancellations daily. Now, we're seeing a spike in fresh bookings and more tourists flying out. I am certain the number will cross 30,000 per day by next week," said Anil Punjabi, national committee member of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI).
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Chalo Kashmir': Kol travel cos unite in ‘aptest response' to terror
Kolkata: Around 100 travel companies in Kolkata have come together to support an initiative that aims to revive J&K's tourism. The ' Chalo Kashmir ' initiative — spearheaded by Travel Agents' Association of India (TAAI) — aims to put forward a bold statement against the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, considered by many as an attempt to hit the Valley's economy. Encouraging tourists to return would effectively counter terrorism, feel industry leaders. The initiative has already been seeing positive response from tourists. These Kolkata travel agencies collectively manage about 4 lakh domestic tourists annually, with 40,000 visiting J&K. Following last month's terror attack, J&K has seen a 90%-95% decline in tourism earnings, with Srinagar's Dal Lake alone reporting an 80% reduction in tourist activity. "As a leader and custodian of India's tourism sector, TAAI stands committed to supporting the people and the economy of J&K, where tourism is the primary source of livelihood. The need of the hour is to reignite tourism in the Valley, which remains one of the most iconic and culturally rich destinations in India," said Anjani Dhanuka, TAAI chairman (East). Dhanuka went on to say: "While recent disturbances may have created concerns, they cannot overshadow the timeless allure of Kashmir. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo An incident aimed to cause chaos and disturbance cannot steal away the glory of the region. Tourism has long been a harbinger of peace. By encouraging people to travel to J&K, we are not only supporting livelihoods but also reinforcing a message of resilience, unity, and hope." TAAI, the oldest and largest travel association in the country, has activated its network to reach out to potential tourists through engagement and social media campaigns. Its members have also contacted J&K CM Omar Abdullah, seeking enhanced security measures for visitors. J&K typically welcomes 2.5 crore tourists annually — split equally between pilgrims and leisure travellers. Of this, Bengal contributes approximately 30 lakh tourists, most of them on leisure trips. TAAI national executive committee member Manav Soni said that encouraging tourist return would effectively counter the Pahalgam carnage. "India, a beacon of secularism and one of the world's fastest-growing economies, must stand united when a region's tourism potential is threatened. As an industry leader, TAAI cannot stay silent," said Soni. Some tourists have already decided to respond. "I understand terrorism impacts local livelihood and local economy the most. I cancelled my 10-day trip to Kashmir in the last week of April following the terror attack. If I can manage leaves, I would love to go for the trip," said Salt Lake resident Madhura Bagchi. "Hotels that were once fully booked now are vacant. Tourists are suddenly afraid of locals in Kashmir... We just want the situation to ease at the earliest," said Dinesh Bhatter, a Kashmir travel specialist.
News18
24-04-2025
- News18
'Jaan Hai Toh Jahaan Hai': Bengal Operators Cancel Kashmir Tours As Pahalgam Attack Spooks Tourists
Most tourists currently in Kashmir are cutting their trips short and returning home, while those who had plans in the coming months are cancelling their reservations Tuesday's terror attack in Pahalgam, which led to 26 tourists losing their lives, has delivered a significant blow to Kashmir's tourism industry. In the aftermath of the tragedy, several tour operators from West Bengal have started cancelling their planned trips to the region. Kundu Travels, one of the most prominent travel agencies in Bengal, was scheduled to take a group of 43 tourists to Kashmir this Thursday. The tour has now been cancelled. Another upcoming tour has also seen several cancellations from participants. Speaking to News18, Soumitra Kundu, one of the owners of Kundu Travels, said: 'It's not possible to take tourists right now. We fear we may have to cancel our May 1 tour as well. The situation needs to normalise. People are panicked. This attack is clearly targeted at tourism. In the last four years, the number of tourists visiting Kashmir has almost tripled—they wanted to attack that growth." Bengalis, a community known for its love for travel, were one of the biggest contributors to Kashmir's tourism industry and had visited the scenic spots in droves. Anjani Dhanuka, chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), eastern region, and owner of Aircom Travel, told News18: 'People have started cancelling their Kashmir travel plans. Everyone is saying, 'Jaan hai to jahan hai'—life comes first. Tourism had really flourished in the past four years. This is an attack on that progress." Most tourists currently in Kashmir are cutting their trips short and returning home. Sources say the state government is in touch with travel agencies and tour operators. Experts say the incident has severely impacted the mindset of travellers and rebuilding confidence will take time. First Published: April 24, 2025, 09:07 IST
