Weekly Round-up of News: May 16, 2021

Vistara announces flights from Tokyo Haneda to Delhi

Vistara will fly once-a-week to Tokyo, the capital of Japan, starting 16th June 2021. The flight has been scheduled so that the aircraft will spend over 24 hours on the ground in Tokyo.

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Etihad Airways introduces Home Check-in

Etihad Airways has announced that passengers in Abu Dhabi can now check-in for their flight from the comfort of their homes.

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Qantas announces B787 Supermoon Scenic Flight

Qantas will operate a one-off B787 Dreamliner flight on 26th May called ‘Supermoon Scenic Flight’.

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Travellers entering Goa will require proof of vaccination or COVID-18 negative test result

People who are residents of Goa, or who have with them the full vaccination certificate or COVID-19 negative test result for a test done in 72 hours prior to visiting, are allowed to enter Goa.

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Qantas to resume flights to Burnie as domestic demand grows

Qantas has announced the resumption of flights to Burnie, a port city on the north-west coast of Tasmania, for the first time in 15 years.

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Maldives temporarily suspends travel from India

Maldives has announced a temporary suspension of tourist visas for travellers coming from South Asian countries including India. This decision will come into effect from 13th May 2021.

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British Airways to connect London with Guernsey and Edinburgh

Starting 25th June 2021, British Airways CityFlyer will start flying between London City Airport and Guernsey. The flight will then continue to Edinburgh.

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Etihad Airways launches a new travel document initiative called ‘Verified to Fly’

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has launched a new travel document initiative called ‘Verified to Fly’ for a quicker and smoother experience at the airport.

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United Airlines reduces flights to India and delays Bengaluru launch

United Airlines is reducing its flights to India by suspending its Chicago-New Delhi route from 1st June 2021.

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Scandinavian Airlines announces a new route to London; to resume New York service

Scandinavian Airlines has announced a new route to London Heathrow from Luleå and will also resume flights to New York from Oslo.

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Marriott to rebrand Renaissance Downtown Dubai to St. Regis

American Hospitality giant Marriott is rebranding Renaissance Downtown Dubai to St. Regis in an agreement signed with RDK Tourism Investment to amplify its luxury presence in the United Arab Emirates.

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GoAir renames itself as GoFirst ahead of its plans to go public

GoAir has renamed itself as ‘GoFirst’ as it looks to become India’s first Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC).

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Southwest Airlines reveals major Hawaii expansion from West Coast

Starting June 2021, Southwest will launch flights between Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Diego and Hawaii with a combination of Boeing B737-800s and B737MAX 8s. The airline is even offering introductory fares of $129-159 one-way.

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Delhi Airport to consolidate all operations at Terminal 3

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has announced that it will operate all flights from Terminal 3, starting 00:01 on 18th May 2021.

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Maharashtra to require a negative RT-PCR test from everyone arriving into the state

Maharashtra is now requiring a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR from anyone arriving in the state.

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British Airways trials digital queuing technology

British Airways has announced that it will be trialling a new intelligent queuing technology provided by Qmatic, enabling passengers to virtually queue at check-in by pre-booking their slot time in advance before arriving at the airport.

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Delta Airlines expands in Boston and New York with new flights

Delta Airlines has announced three new routes from Boston Logan International Airport and a new service to Canada from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

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Marriott’s Element by Westin opens its largest property yet; in Philadelphia

Marriott has announced the opening of Element by Westin Philadelphia, marking the brand’s debut in the city and also the largest Element by Westin hotel in the world yet.

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Delta’s COVID-tested quarantine free flights to Italy now open for leisure travellers

Delta Airlines has announced that the quarantine free flights which it has been running between the United States and Italy since December 2020 will open for leisure travellers on 16th May 2021. Alongside this, Delta is increasing its services to Italy.

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