MakeMyTrip Introduces Exclusive Mumbai-Bhutan Charter Services - India Report
11.04.2024 - 12:03
/ skift.com
/ Air India
/ Bulbul Dhawan
Online travel agency MakeMyTrip has announced a new exclusive charter service between Mumbai and Bhutan. This service is a part of its holiday packages and the exclusive charter will depart once a week.
The service has been launched due to the increasing popularity of Bhutan among Indian travelers, said Jasmeet Singh, senior vice president, holidays and experience at MakeMyTrip.
Popularity of Bhutan: On the MakeMyTrip platform, Bhutan is among the five most-searched emerging destinations with a year-on-year increase of more than 200%.
This year between January 1 and March 31, Bhutan received a record number of visitors. Of the more than 25,000 visitors during this period, 60% originated from India. March 2024 alone was the third-busiest month since the kingdom’s reopening, and during the month, 57% of the tourists were from India.
Bhutan has made travel for Indians simple as visitors only require a permit to enter the country at a fee that is lower compared to tourists from other parts of the world. This year, the kingdom is expecting around 150,000 Indian tourists, more than double of 2023 levels, Bhutan’s prime minister Tshering Tobgay said last month.
Budget carrier IndiGo placed an order for 10 additional A320 NEO aircraft in March, Airbus’ order and deliveries data for March 2024 shows. The order was placed on March 15.
The airline operates the largest fleet in India and is one of the biggest customers of Airbus. It is seeking to expand its operations domestically and internationally and double its capacity over the next seven years. The most recent order is in line with this larger goal.
Last year, IndiGo placed a mega order for 500 aircraft with Airbus, the largest order to be placed in the history of passenger jets. The airline has an order book for over 1,300 aircraft with Airbus, of which nearly 400 have been delivered so far. In 2024, eight aircraft were delivered by the plane manufacturer to IndiGo.
IHG Hotels and Resorts has announced the opening of Holiday Inn Express Bangalore Bommasandra. The 135-key hotel aims to serve the business travelers visiting this micro-market in Bengaluru.
IHG currently has 45 hotels in India, operating under five brands. Another 45 hotels are in its pipeline, expecting to be opened within the next three to five years.
India is an important market for IHG, according to Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia. The company has been expanding its presence in the country according to the growing potential of the secondary markets in India. Earlier this year, Jain said that IHG is strategically introducing its brands to newer markets to fulfill the demand in these regions.
Former national carrier Air India will start non-stop flights between Delhi