As we get older, it’s common to feel like the passage of
time is speeding up. Events that used to take much longer now seem to fly past.
When it comes to air travel though, the opposite is actually
happening. Flight times are getting slower, it’s a fact.
Shorter flights take longer than they used to as well. For instance
,In 1995, London to Edinburgh took 1 hour 15 minutes instead of the 1 hour 25
it takes now.
With the technological advancements of the last few decades,
it seems bizarre that flight duration should slow and not speed up.
So why is this happening? Well, we’ve got some answers. We’ve
compiled a list of reasons why air travel might be taking longer than it did in
previous years.
Airlines Have A Huge Part To Play In This
So we can all agree that flight times are increasing. But
are planes spending more time in the air, or are they adding extra time at the
start and end of each journey?
In reality, it’s both. There’s a technical word for this in
the aviation industry, ”Schedule Padding”.
Airlines often alter their flight schedule to give each
flight a bit more margin for error regarding flight delays.
This extra time might explain why pilots often proudly
announce ‘making up time in the air’ — even after lengthy delays have occurred
before take-off.
By giving themselves a bit more time in the schedule,
airlines can report better on-time performances.
Money Saving Tactics
Another reason why passengers experience longer flight times
is that of fuel efficiency and money saving on the part of airlines.
A plane traveling at a slower speed will consume less fuel,
so airlines are able to save millions each year by extending flight times.
The price of fuel rose dramatically between 2002 and 2012
from $0.70 per gallon to $3 globally, so you can see why airlines might want to
cut back.
Bigger Airports, More Airplanes In The Sky
It’s no surprise that busier air traffic can have a
significant effect on the punctuality of flights.
Flight routes are getting much busier, and new runways and
terminals (such as the gigantic Mumbai Airport Terminal 2) are all factors
airlines consider when publishing their schedules.
Air traffic control congestion also plays a large role. With
skies now much busier than 10 years ago, sticking to previous flight times
might be too optimistic.
All that said, it’s the job of airlines to offer paying
passengers the most convenient and quick way to reach their destination. So
blaming busier schedules for poor service isn’t going to fool anyone.
Sometimes flying is just plain uncomfortable and
frustrating.
From tiny airplane seats to obnoxious flight delays, we put
up with a lot to get to our final destination. That said, there are some
airlines that always seem to make the journey just a little bit worse.
Travel company AirHelp, wanted to find out how dozens of
airlines around the world stacked up against each other, so they crunched some
numbers to create a ranking.
The final list accounts for quality of amenities, on-time
arrivals and how well the airlines resolve flight-delay compensation claims.
Scroll on for the 10 worst airlines of 2018, ranked in
descending order by their overall score.
10.Jet Airways
On-time performance: 6.5
Quality of service: 6.5
Claim processing: 5.6
TOTAL: 6.2 (out of 10)
Coming in at No. 10 on this list of the worst airlines in
the world is Jet Airways, the struggling airline based in Mumbai, India.
Compared to other airlines on the list, Jet Airways received
average marks on all counts.
The airline, the second largest in India behind IndiGo, was
founded in 1992 and currently flies to 66 destinations around the world. It’s
been in the news recently for financial problems and an investigation into
alleged embezzlement.
9. Aerolineas Argentinas
On-time performance: 8.5
Quality of service: 6.5
Claim processing: 3.6
TOTAL: 6.2
Next on the list is Aerolineas Argentinas, the national flag
carrier for Argentina.
The airline was founded in 1950 and today flies to 59
destinations in 13 countries, including 35 locations in Argentina. All told,
some 11.5 million people fly with Aerolinea Argentinas every year.
Despite its low marks, travellers may still want to consider
the airline if flying within Argentina, however for international travel? Not so
much!
8.Iberia
On-time performance: 8.4
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 2.3
TOTAL: 6.13
Iberia was founded in 1927 and has served as the flag
carrier for Spain ever since, traveling to 127 destinations in 48 countries.
Though Iberia received some decent marks, apparently their
claim processing procedures are, to put it mildly, lacking.
On social media, you’ll find complaints ranging from lost
baggage to shoddy customer service.
7.Korean Air
On-time performance: 6.4
Quality of service: 8.3
Claim processing: 3.7
TOTAL: 6.13
This flag-carrier airline for South Korea was founded in
1969 and flies to 124 destinations in more than 43 countries.
The family-run company recently made headlines when two of
the CEO’s daughters resigned following several embarrassing incidents and
accusations that the family used the airline’s planes to get out of paying
taxes on luxury goods.
However, due to its formidable presence, if you want to fly
in and out of South Korea and other parts of Asia, chances are good you’ll end
up flying with Korean Air. At least it earned a solid score for quality of
service.
6.Ryan Air
On-time performance: 8.6
Quality of service: 6.3
Claim processing: 3.3
TOTAL: 6.03
Coming in at No. 6 on the list of worst airlines in the
world is Ryanair, the budget airline based in Ireland. The airline operates
2,000 daily flights from airports in 37 countries, serving more than 130
million customers each year.
Ryanair falls short in terms of quality of service and claim
processing, but it does earn high marks for on-time flights.
In fact, according to Ryanair’s own statistics, 88 percent
of flights arrived on time within the last 12 months.
It’s pretty hard to beat the airline’s often absurdly low
prices, but be warned: The company charges you extra for pretty much
everything, including carry-on luggage and the privilege of sitting with loved
ones.
5. Air Mauritius
On-time performance: 6.9
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 3.3
TOTAL: 5.99
The island nation of Mauritius, located in the Indian Ocean
off the eastern coast of Madagascar, is perhaps best known for its sandy
beaches, turquoise sea waters and tropical climate.
However, the same cannot be said about its national
airlines.
Air Mauritius was founded as the national carrier of
Mauritius in 1967, the same year the nation gained independence from Britain.
Since then, it’s garnered a middling reputation, with many people on
TripAdvisor particularly complaining about its subpar food.
4.EasyJet
On-time performance: 7.8
Quality of service: 7.8
Claim processing: 1.3
TOTAL: 5.66
The United Kingdom’s budget airline Easyjet is also one of
the worst in the world, thanks primarily to the airline’s awful claim
processing. The airline flies to 132 airports in 31 countries, making it a
popular choice for cheap, short-haul flights.
But Easyjet is a fairly young company, with just 21 years
under its belt. And, as the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”
If you’re looking for the cheapest flights and nothing else
matters, you might still be satisfied with ridiculously inexpensive
Easyjet…despite its low score.
3. Pakistan International Airlines
On-time performance: 6.1
Quality of service: 6.0
Claim processing: 4.2
TOTAL: 5.43
Pakistan International Airlines, known as PIA, is the
national carrier for Pakistan, but that might change soon as the country looks
to privatize the airline.
It’s experienced a host of issues in recent years, including
massive financial losses, management issues and increased competition from at
least five new airlines.
And, in 2016, 47 people died in a crash on one of the
airline’s flights.
Given all that, perhaps it’s not surprising that Pakistan
International Airlines is ranked as the third worst airline in the world.
2. Royal Jordanian Airlines
On-time performance: 8.3
Quality of service: 6.3
Claim processing: 0.8
TOTAL: 5.13
Royal Jordanian Airlines, which is hubbed out of Queen Alia
International Airport in Amman, Jordan, isn’t quite the worst airline in the
world but it’s pretty close.
Though the national carrier of Jordan does an okay job
getting passengers to their destinations on time, it falls short on claim
processing and its quality of service.
1.WOW Air
On-time performance: 7.5
Quality of service: 6.0
Claim processing: 1.7
TOTAL: 5.04
Coming in at “No. 1” on the list of the worst airlines in
the world? The not-so-aptly-named WOW Air.
Of course, if price is all that matters to you when you’re
looking for cheap flights to Iceland and Europe you’ll probably still fly with
this uber-budget airline; the airline’s famous “flash sales” offer tickets on
long flights for less than $100.
Just don’t expect any bells and whistles, and
know that you may be complaining, loudly, about the customer service you
receive.
There was a time when air travel was only for the rich or businessmen.
With the introduction of low-cost airlines a few years back and the government of India taking initiatives, air travel has become cheap enough to reach the common man.
One
such initiative is called UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik)!
Here
are all the details you need to know about the UDAN scheme.
What Is UDAN?
UDAN is a first-of-its-kind government scheme in the world, which is aimed at bringing together different regions of India which were not accessible through air before.
The
scheme also aims at bringing airfares down and making air travel accessible to
people from all walk of life.
The
scheme was launched on 27th April 2017 and has been a success ever
since.
The key Components Of UDAN
The
UDAN Scheme has two key components. The first being the development of new and
enhancement of the existing and operational airports in the country.
This
will be aimed at equipping these airports to handle civilian domestic flights. Under this over 100 underserved and unserved
regional airports will be developed by December 2019. This will be done at an
initial funding of Rs 45,000 million for 50 airports.
In the
second component, several hundred financially-viable capped-airfare regional
air routes will be operated to connect over 100 underserved and unserved
airports in smaller towns. Each of these towns will be connected to airports of
bigger cities.
This
will be done in three rounds of bidding that will be completed by the end of
this year.
Number of Airports Under The
Scheme
The
government of India is looking to build and connect Indian airports in
different regions to handle the growing domestic air traffic in the country.
The
UDAN scheme aims to connect as many as 70 airports of India. These airports
include 27 served airports, 12 under-served airports and 31 unserved airports.
As
many as 17 out of the 70 airports are located in the North, 12 in East, 6 in
North-East, 11 in South and 24 in West.
How cheap are the flights in
UDAN?
The price
for UDAAN flights will be very cheap.
The scheme
has been designed to help the less connected people of the country to reach the
major cities with ease.
The
cost of living is cheaper in these areas and hence the income is lower too,
which is why the government wants to price the ticket for Rs 2,500 on a 1-hour
flight.
However, the caped fares are for now based on distance. For instance, Rs 1,420 will be the ticket price for a distance of 151–175 km, Rs 1,500 for a distance of 176–200 km, with a ceiling of maximum Rs 3,500 fare for a total distance of 800 km or more.
Why Are The Flights Cheap In UDAN?
The
question that has left everyone’s mind boggling, is how is UDAN going to work?
Taxpayers
are worried if the government is going to fund it with their money or if hidden
costs are involved.
To put
everyone’s mind at ease and help the airlines involved in UDAN, the government
has allowed them to levy up the flight cost for passengers on major routes.
This
in return will generate Rs.205 crore per annum, which can be translated to Rs.30
per passenger, on major routes like Delhi to Mumbai. This extended viability gap
funding will be operational in coming three years.
States To Be Aided By UDAN
20
states and Union Territories are going to be served under UDAN.
The
states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Airports
in Bhatinda, Bilaspur, Cooch Behar, Kadapa, Nanded, Neyveli, and Shimla are also
going to benefit from this scheme.
The Future of UDAN
The Regional
Connectivity Scheme is aimed at increasing flight operations for more than 100
airports by the end of 2018-2019.
New
routes and airports are to be operationalized in near future. The government
will open bids for the new projects soon.
For now,
the airlines, which won the bid for 128 routes are Alliance Air, SpiceJet,
Turbo Megha, Air Odisha, and Air Deccan.
This is one of the best initiatives in the aviation sector that has been taken by the Indian government. It will not only help the people from rural areas to travel with ease but will also connect urban India to the remote places. UDAN is a milestone in the shaping of new India.
*The Report Is Based On The Data Released By The Government In 2018
For budding travellers, holding their first passport is almost a magical thing, offering a sense of pure possibility and excitement.
You finally made the time and saved enough cash for your
first overseas trip, but you start sweating as soon as you start thinking about
sorting out your travel documents.
You’ve heard about your cousin’s 3 hour-delay at passport
control or the visa approval nightmares that circulate on social media, but its
not as bad as it seems.
Here 7 things about passports & Visas you need to know that will help you reach your dream international destination hassle-free.
1.Tripple Check-Your Visa Requirements
Unlike a sought-after USA or European passport, Indians have
less options when it comes to visa-free countries aka hassle-free travel
destinations.
Always find out about the visa requirements for Indians for
the country you’re visiting from multiple internet sources and do a third check
by just calling up the country’s embassy in India.
2.Applying To First World Countries
Flying to Europe, Australia or USA? Their visa processes are
known to be a drag, so try to do your application three months in advance, or
six weeks minimum.
Make sure you make a list of all the documents you need and
that you keep a paper trail of all your transactions and interactions with the
relevant embassy, in case they make life difficult.
3. 6 Months Validity Requirement
Most countries require your passport to have six months of
remaining validity.
As a general rule, you should always make sure your passport
will remain valid for six months beyond your planned trip. You never know if
your travel plans are going to change, and the last thing you want is to be
stuck.
To name a few Italy, Vietnam, Turkey & Thailand require
you to meet this criteria.
4.Blank Pages
A handful of countries require at least one or two fully
blank visa pages for valid entry. This requirement could be for either an entry
stamp or a visa.
Countries that require a passport to have a blank page in
order to be stamped include Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
Italy, Sweden, Singapore, and Iceland along with several
others require at least two blank pages for an entry stamp.
5.Dont Throw Away Old Passports
Hold on to your old passport, even if you’ve never used it.
Some countries want to see where you’ve been and in an age
where countries are zooming in on where people have travelled before it’s
better to have it than not.
It can also be used as a backup to prove your identity in
case something happens to your new one.
Just make sure you don’t give the expired one to the
passport control officer!
6.Make Certified Copies Of Your Passport
Before heading off on your Instagram-happy holiday, make a
few scans of your newly-minted passport and go over to your local police
station, post office or a gazetted officer to get them certified.
Leave one with a close relative or friend in case you need their help back home. Also, keep a copy of the scan on your phone.
This will help you in case there is a natural calamity or
you use your original passport at your destination.
You can never be too prepared!
7. Hire A Professional If You’re Struggling
Hiring a third party to help out with visa applications might seem like a waste of money when you can do it yourself, but if you have a short notice period or travelling in a large group, the hassle saved is worth the price.
They know all the loopholes to getting it processed faster and
will follow up on your behalf saving you time.
There are lots of companies you can approach, but always
check online reviews and ask the social media universe for advice.
Global airlines are looking to enter India, lured by the by
a domestic travel boom and what’s expected to be the world’s third-biggest
aviation market by 2025.
Yet India has proven to be a highly competitive market, where
profits are scarce and the life expectancy of weaker airlines is anything but
certain.
The best example of this is the recent fall of Jet Airways. Jet
Airways India Ltd, one of the first carriers to launch after the market opened
up in the early 1990s, is struggling to handle the cost of its day to day
operations and are in dire need of liquid cash.
This is the sign of financial distress in a market which struggles
with high fuel prices, airfare wars and a depreciating rupee. The competition
is set to intensify if Qatar Airways follows through with its proposal to start
a short-haul flights in the country.
To give you a small insight into why this is happing , we
did some digging around and found some interesting points.
Running The Rat Race
The Indian aviation sector is slowly heading towards
reaching a scenario similar to the telecom sector, which faced immense
disruption since the data pricing war started.
At present, airlines regularly offer major discounts and
cashback offers on flights as they want to ‘snatch’ more passengers from the
railways & their competitors to fill up more spots.
Many aviation experts say that the major problem facing the
sector is a “low-cost” airfare war that is driving ticket prices
unrealistically low, even to such an extent that airlines cannot cover their
operating costs.
The woes faced by Jet Airways are similar to those faced by
other Indian carriers that are struggling to remain profitable. This is despite
filling nearly 90 percent of their seats and recording a sharp increase in
domestic passenger numbers over the last four years.
Although the higher demand in the sector reflects as growth,
it does not necessarily add up to profitability in terms of revenue generation.
Experts have termed the growth in the airline sector as “unhealthy” and even
profitless.
The Real Killer
With the entry of budget carriers such as IndiGo and
SpiceJet since the mid-2000’s, full-service carriers like Jet Airways & Air
India that have higher overhead costs, such as in-flight meals and
entertainment, have been forced to offer discounts to passengers looking for a
great bargain.
For instance, in 2015, SpiceJet offered base fares of as low
as Rs 65. Average ticket prices for New Delhi to Mumbai, the world’s
third-busiest route, fell 15 percent to 3,334 rupees in July-August 2014.
“Such fares are “not sustainable,” yet there’s “no choice”
but to keep offering them” Rahul Bhatia, the billionaire co-founder of
InterGlobe Aviation Ltd. that operates IndiGo, told analysts after almost all
of its quarterly profits were wiped out.
To Robert Mann, the New York-based head of aviation
consultancy R.W. Mann & Co., the Indian market now resembles that of the
U.S. 30 years ago after the government freed ticket prices from federal
controls in 1978, setting off a fare war.
According to Mt Jagat Puri who’s a pilot by profession, “Ticket
prices on key and popular routes are always under sustained pressure from
various carriers”. He went on to say that, some of the prices are unreasonable
and this leads to an unhealthy fare war.
India’s airlines have particularly suffered because passengers are highly price-sensitive despite spiralling jet-fuel prices and high local taxes that reach as much as 30 percent.
India Flying At A Loss
The Indian government also has had to prop up its
loss-making national carrier Air India, pouring in taxpayer money to keep
planes in the air. In July 2018, the government pumped in €261 Million to keep
Air India operating.
Air India has found itself in dire financial straits over
the past decade, saddled by a gigantic debt amounting to around €7 billion and
having to beg the government for bailouts.
But while the government is looking at infusing fresh
capital in Air India, the private airlines need to fight for themselves in a hostile
market.
What Is The Solution?
With margins slipping, fuel prices not showing any signs of
coming down and little likelihood of the government lowering taxation on jet
fuel, the only option with airlines is to raise fares.
While airlines are now introducing measures to curb
passengers from increasing flight load (recent baggage rule change), much more
needs to be done to make the sector profitable again.
Other than that, industry veterans such as Kapoor feel there
is a need to focus on real growth, which can only be achieved by matching
global costs and not trying to compete with the Indian Railways.
However, it would be extremely hard for airlines to move
away from the low-cost model as passengers may again go back to travelling on
trains. This is where the airline industry lacks the pricing power and is
forced to offer low prices.
Conclusion
There is little that can be done to change the fortunes of
the sector which is facing increased stress due to rising ATF prices and
pressure from depreciating rupee.
Considering that Indian airline carriers pay the highest for
ATF due to local taxes to the tune of 30 per cent, the only intelligent move is
to increase ticket prices and aim at real growth rather than a boost triggered
by discounts.
If you fly regularly, you must have had this question as to
check-in your bag or carry it with you.
Fees, the risk of lost or damaged luggage and waiting time
aside, deciding whether to check your bags or carry on boils down to your top
priority when traveling. Is it comfort, time or money?
Whichever factor tips the scales will let you know how
you’ll be traveling for your next trip.
But before we get into this debate lets see what exactly do
the terms “Check-in Luggage” & “Carry-on Luggage” mean.
What Exactly Are “Carry-on” & “Check-in” Bags?
A carry-on bag is the type of luggage travellers are allowed
to take into an airplane. On the other hand, checked baggage is transported in
the cargo area of the airplane.
Airplanes are designed with luggage compartment spaces to
store carry-on luggage. The storage space is situated in overhead lockers or
under seating.
Depending on which airline or country you fly from, carry-on bags are also labelled as hand baggage or cabin luggage.
Here’s a list of essential items you can pack in your Carry-On Luggage:
Important travel documents (E.g. Passport)
Money
Items of monetary value (E.g. jewelry)
Daily medications
Electronics
Toiletries (E.g. toothbrush and toothpaste)
There is no standardized ‘one-fits-all’ rule when it comes to carry-on luggage weight and size. Rather, individual airlines are entitled to change carry-on bag size requirements. Examples of factors that determine how big your carry-on luggage can be include booking class and the model of aircraft.
The Checked Baggage Vs Carry On Debate
Travel experts are of the strong belief that traveling with
carry-on luggage makes travel easier because “there’s no way the airline can
lose your luggage if you haven’t checked anything”.
Famous travel writer, Ali Garland is opposed to checked in
luggage because she dislikes getting, “weighed down by heavy bags” and would
rather avoid having to “deal with expensive checked bag fees.”
But, as the saying goes “there are always to sides of a coin”!
Many people believe that checking in your luggage is easier.
They are prepared to pay checked bag fees to forego the nightmare of trying to
cram all their travel necessities in a small carry-on bag.
Ask Yourself These Questions Before You Choose
When it comes to choosing whether to check your bags or
carry on, don’t feel like you have to come up with a perfect answer for all of
your travels. Instead, just decide what makes the most sense for your next
trip.
Do you need extra room for souvenirs? Are you
willing to ship them or do you want to have them on you on your way back?
Are you able to pack light for this trip? Or are
the activities varied enough that you need more?
Do you like to have more with you when you
travel? Or does the idea of carrying less make you feel freer?
Are you okay with carrying all of your bags on
the plane versus dropping them off at check-in?
Is It Better To Check Your Bags Or Carry On—Yes or No?
In a nutshell, it depends!
However, here’s what we suggest you should do the next time
you fly:
If you really want to save money, then you
should carry on your bags. (Just make sure you check your airline’s policy to
ensure they don’t charge a fee for this.)
If you really want to save time, then you should
pay for priority boarding and carry on your bags.
If you really want to maximize comfort, then you
should check your bags but make sure your carry on has all the conveniences you
want for the flight.
Every frequent flyer knows that flight delays are a way of
life.
And most travellers can guess when a flight will be delayed
depending on circumstances like ongoing bad weather.
But there have been instances when flights have been delayed
due to strange and bizarre reasons which have left travellers baffled.
Get ready to have your mind blown cause here are 10 strange
and crazy reasons why flights have been delayed.
1. Scorpion Stings A Passenger
In August 2018, a passenger was stung on an Alaskan Airlines
flight to Portland, Oregon.
The flight originated in Los Cabos, Mexico and was preparing
to take off from LAX when the incident happened. The delay cost the airline
about 50 total minutes, which doesn’t seem to be too bad.
But, the airline is yet to figure out how did a scorpion get
on an airplane.
2.Snakes On An Airplane
Well, the incident is not exactly like how it happened in
the movie, but the thought of a snake on an airplane can scare even the bravest
of flyers.
In 2013, a small snake forced the grounding of a Japan-bound
Qantas flight in the Australian city of Sydney. The snake, which was
non-venomous, was about eight inches long.
The flight took off the next day ,however passengers were
booked into hotels for their overnight layover. By the way, this was not the
first or only snake incident for Qantas that year and a similar incident
happened the year before.
3.Flight Attendants Fighting
In 2012, two flight attendants manning an American Eagle
flight from JFK to Washington-Reagan (DCA) couldn’t see eye-to-eye on something.
The argument got so heated up that the cockpit crew
determined it was necessary to turn the airplane around and head back to JFK ,where
it remained for nearly four hours.
It’s hard to believe that the issue was so big that the attendants couldn’t
work with each other for an hour, but supposedly
they didn’t!
4.Mice Situation
Last year a Qatar Airways flight from Madrid to Doha was
delayed for more than six hours after a mouse was found in the cabin.
Much to the mouse’s surprise, passengers were significantly
alarmed by its presence on the airplane.
On landing at the Barajas Airport in Madrid, the plane had
to be fumigated which resulted in a 6-hour delay of the return flight.
5.Slow-Moving Turtles
More than 400 diamondback terrapin turtles managed to find
their way to New York City’s JFK Airport, with several of them actually making
their way onto the airport’s runways and taxiways, leading to several flight
delays.
The incident happened again after a few years which caused
flights to get delayed by an hour.
According to experts, turtles had been using the same route
to migrate prior to JFK’s existence, which is why such incidents have occurred
in the past.
6.Asking Passengers To Pay For Jet Fuel
When an Air France flight was redirected from Beirut to
Damascus because of civil unrest in the August of 2012, the crew asked
passengers to scrape together whatever cash they could to pay for fuel.
The Syrian authorities declined to pay for the fuel, and
alternate arrangements were made, however, the confusion caused a delay of more
than 2 hours.
To be fair, it’s still better than landing in a country on
brink of a war.
7.Improperly Served Nuts
In 2014 vice president of Korean Air & daughter of the
airlines owner, Heather Cho, made headlines all over the world when she forced
a flight leaving JFK, to head back to the airport.
She was offered macadamia nuts in a packet instead of a
plate, which didn’t go down well with her.
She forced the flight attendants to kneel before her and wanted
them thrown out of the airplane. She was later escorted off the premises by the
police and was eventually arrested and sentenced to one year in jail.
8.Boy Band’s Shopping Spree
American sensations “One Direction” delayed an entire British
Airways flight from Heathrow (LHR) to LAX for 15 minutes so that they could do
some duty-free shopping.
According to a band spokesman, the band members had left the
airport between flights and had been stuck in traffic on the way back to LHR, however
they were spotted by fans shopping inside the terminal.
9.A Lawn Chair Got In The Way Of The Airplane
Presumably lacking space in his garden, Larry Walters, an American
citizen, decided to tie industrial
balloons to his lawn chair to enjoy a cold beer mid-air.
A Pan Am flight had to alter its course, at 16,000 feet
incase he flew up that high, causing the flight o delay.
10.Passenger Opens Emergency Door By Mistake
In 2016, one of the 130 passengers aboard a China Southern Airlines flight leaving Chengdu Airport (CTU) opened the emergency door just before take-off, leading to a delay of more than an hour.
The passenger later explained that he thought the door was a window and just wanted to “get some fresh air.”
There were plenty incidents in the world of Travel & leisure
this year that made headlines around the world.
Incidences like the Lion Air flight 610 crash in October &
the US Supreme Court’s decision in favour of Trumps travel ban shocked people
globally.
But there was good news too & plenty of it!
As the year comes to an end, here’s a look at all things good in 2018 that made us believe that travel is becoming better each passing year.
1.Saudi Arabia Opens Up To The World
Saudi Arabia for a long time was off limits for leisure
travellers, however, this year they started
issuing tourist visas.
Earlier, one could only visit the country on pilgrimage,
business and on being invited by family members who are residents in the
country. It also finally allowed its women to get behind the wheel.
2.In-flight Connectivity Will Soon Become A Reality In India
In December, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) finally allowed the use of internet and calling services on airplanes under the Indian Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules (IFMC), 2018.
The Government’s “In-flight Connectivity Scheme” will allow
flyers to make calls and access internet through their phones during air travel
within Indian territory.
It is still unclear as to how airlines will implement this and what will be the cost, however with this decision, Indian aviation took a step forward in making life easier for travellers.
3.Sikkim Gets Its 1st Airport, India’s 100th
The Beautiful north eastern state got its 1st
airport and India got its 100th airport. An absolute stunner,
Pakyong Airport is built into the side of lush green cliff at a height of
4,500ft above sea.
The airport wears a boutique charm, helped by the fact that
it can only accept about 50 passengers at a time who will arrive in tiny ATR
aircraft.
4.India’s 1st Domestic Luxury Cruise Sets Sail
Angriya, India’s first domestic luxury cruise set sail from
the Purple Gate of Mumbai’s Indira Docks to Mormugao in South Goa.
If the sweeping views aren’t enough, the cruise boasts six
decks, 104 cabins and an infinity pool, and has the capacity to ferry 399
passengers.
5.Singapore Airlines Relaunches The World’s Longest Flight
The race to fly the world’s longest flight was won by
Singapore Airlines, when it introduced a non-stop, 18-hr-30-min Singapore-New
York flight.
Since the time in the air can feel long, the aircraft has
done away with Economy class, and has only Business and Premium Economy.
6.Heli-Taxis Took Off In India
If you’ve stayed in this southern city you’d know that Bengaluru’s
traffic is so bad and its airport so far, it makes sense to fly from the
airport.
Well this became a reality as south India’s first commercial
heli-taxi service took off. The service from the airport to Electronics City
replaces the two-hour drive with a 15-minute flight.
Up north, another heli taxi service allows you to cover the
120km or three-hour journey from Chandigarh to Shimla in just 20 minutes now.
7.Some Indians Can Now Go To Pakistan Without A Visa
Sikh devotees will not have to offer their prayers from the
other side of border anymore.
In December, Pakistan inaugurated work on the Kartarpur
Corridor, which will give some Indian citizens visa-free access to Gurudwara
Darbar Sahib in Punjab, Pakistan, from Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur
district.
8. Myanmar and Zimbabwe Open Visa On Arrival For Indian Citizens
The next time you crave khao suey or wish to go on a safari
for that matter, you can just get on a flight, as Myanmar and Zimbabwe began
rolling out visas on arrival to Indian travellers.
Getting visas to Oman, Uzbekistan and UAE also became a bit
easier.
9. No more Elephant Rides In Jim Corbett & Rajaji Tiger Reserve
In August, the Uttarakhand High Court banned the use of
elephants for safaris and joy rides, stating that the government should not be
a mute spectator to such exploitation.
The court also ordered a cap on the number of vehicles
deployed on safaris to keep the sanctity of the reserve intact.
10.India Officially Becomes The Fastest Growing Aviation Hub In The World
A report given by International Air Transportation
Association (IATA) shows that India’s air connectivity grew the fastest at 114
percent in the five-year period from 2013-2018.
In recent years, many foreign as well as Indian carriers have commenced flights to and from various Indian cities, making it the fastest growing domestic aviation market in the world as well.
