The team at Uniglobe Odyssey wishes you a very Happy New Year! In the first edition of Travel Updates for 2026, we are happy to share that our MICE team successfully managed three back to back conferences in Vietnam, Sri Lanka and India in Nov-Dec last year which is featured in the MICE section of this edition.

In major travel news since our last update; IndiGo gets India's first Airbus A321XLR aircraft and commences direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Athens, Germany announces transit visa waiver for Indians travelling to UK via Germany, Air India upgrades aircraft to Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the Mumbai - Frankfurt route, introduces an additional thrice-weekly flight on the Delhi - Toronto route to supplement its weekly service and discontinues non-stop flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco. These and more news in the January edition.

Air India to discontinue non-stop flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai to San Francisco

Air India has decided to discontinue its nonstop flights to San Francisco from Bengaluru and Mumbai starting March 01 to better deploy capacity and manage rising costs linked to ongoing airspace restrictions. Air India said passengers booked on the Bengaluru-San Francisco and Mumbai-San Francisco routes will be moved to alternative flights or offered a full refund.

This decision is part of a wider adjustment to Air India's international network. As part of this change, Air India will increase the number of flights from Delhi to North America raising Delhi-San Francisco & Delhi-Toronto flights from seven to 10 flights a week.

Akasa Air joins IATA as India's fifth member airline:

Akasa Air, India's youngest international airline founded in 2020, announced that the airline has become a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the trade association representing over 360 carriers across the world.

Members of IATA account for more than 80 per cent of global air traffic. Akasa Air qualified the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in December, a major safety milestone, which is a mandatory prerequisite for membership.

Use of power banks for in-flight charging barred by DGCA:

India has now barred use of power banks to charge portable electronic devices inflight amid instances of lithium batteries catching fire mid-flight. Power banks and batteries are now only allowed in hand luggage, not overhead bins and passengers are also prohibited from charging their power banks by plugging them to in-seat power supply systems that the airlines provide.

Air India stops overflying Iran on Europe flights:

Air India flights to and from Europe have stopped overflying Iran after Jan 16 travel advisory from European Union Aviation Safety Agency which cautioned airlines about the prevailing tense situation in Iran where Iranian air defence forces are on a heightened state of alert due to potential US military action.

Indigo has cancelled flights to Tblisi, Almaty, Tashkent and Baku for three days from Jan 26 to Jan 28 due to the simmering Iran crises.

Qatar Airways becomes first airline to equip Boeing 787 with Starlink:

Qatar Airways has become the first airline globally to install Starlink on Boeing 787-8 aircraft and has completed the world's first Airbus A350 Starlink rollout.

IndiGo gets India's first Airbus A321XLR; commences direct flights to Athens:

IndiGo has taken delivery of India's first Airbus A321XLR - a next-generation extra-long-range aircraft - marking a major milestone in the airline's international growth strategy. The aircraft, which landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, will enable the carrier to operate longer nonstop flights efficiently while maintaining the cost benefits of a single-aisle fleet.

The first A321XLR will be deployed on nonstop services from Mumbai and Delhi to Athens from January 23 and January 24 respectively with three weekly flights on each route with the following schedule:

Mumbai ⇄ Athens (A321XLR)

Delhi ⇄ Athens (A321XLR)

Following its Athens debut, further deliveries are expected to be used on routes such as Istanbul (Turkey) and Denpasar (Bali), helping IndiGo expand deeper into Europe and Southeast Asia.

Configured with both IndiGoStretch (premium) and economy seating, the A321XLR has an extended range of up to 8,700 km, significantly expanding the airline’s ability to reach far-flung destinations while offering enhanced passenger comfort and fuel efficiency.

Air India to operate Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Mumbai - Frankfurt Route:

Air India will be upgrading the aircraft operating on the Mumbai (BOM) - Frankfurt (FRA) - Mumbai (BOM) route to the Boeing 787 9 Dreamliner from Feb 01, 2026.

This enhancement is part of their ongoing fleet modernization efforts and is aimed at delivering a superior travel experience to passengers which includes improved cabin comfort with enhanced seating and upgraded interiors, enhanced premium experience with upgraded Business Class features and state of the art inflight entertainment and connectivity.

Air India introduces an additional flight on the Delhi - Toronto route:

Air India has announced an increase in frequency on its Delhi-Toronto (DEL-YYZ) sector, further strengthening air connectivity between India and Canada.

Effective March 01, 2026, the airline will operate 10 flights per week on this popular long-haul route, offering travellers greater flexibility and improved travel options with the following schedule:

Current flight schedule:

Additional 3X service effective March 01, 2026:

The enhanced schedule includes additional services via Vienna, complementing the existing daily non-stop operations. This expansion is expected to benefit business travellers, students, leisure passengers, and visiting friends & relatives (VFR) traffic between the two countries.

Air India (AI) announces new interline partnership with Air Cambodia (K6):

Air India has announced a new bilateral interline partnership with Air Cambodia, the national airline of Cambodia. This partnership provides customers flying on Air India with enhanced access to popular Cambodian destinations including Phnom Penh (KTI), Siem Reap (SAI) and Sihanoukville (KOS).

Connections will be supported via Air India's gateways in Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, along with access through Air Cambodia’s direct Delhi–Phnom Penh service. The partnership enables smoother travel planning for leisure tourism and business travel between the two nations.

South Korea extends group visa fee waiver for 6 countries including India:

There is good news if you are planning to travel to South Korea in a group. As per the latest development, South Korea has decided to extend the visa processing fee waiver for short-term group tourists from six countries, including India, for another six months.

The exemption applies to C-3-2 short-term group visas, which was supposed to expire at the end of December. Now with the latest announcement in place, the waiver will remain in effect until June 30 next year.

Visa-free transit for Indians travelling to and from the UK via Germany:

During Chancellor Friedrich Merz's recent official visit to India, Germany has announced visa-free transit for Indians which means that Indian passport holders will soon be able to travel to & from the UK via Germany without requiring a transit visa.

This announcement will be a big boost for Lufthansa as the airline will now be able to take passengers to the UK via its hubs in Munich and Frankfurt. Also, Air India will be able to code share with Lufthansa to & from the UK and increase passenger numbers on its German flights.

However, the date from when this transit visa waiver will be implemented is awaited.

Uniglobe Odyssey Travel - Delivering Seamless Corporate Experiences Across Borders

2025 was a milestone year for Uniglobe Odyssey Travel as we successfully curated and managed several high-impact MICE movements across destinations in India and overseas. From corporate conclaves to international offsites, every programme reflected our commitment to precision planning, flawless logistics, and memorable experiences that seamlessly blend business with engagement and recognition.+

Arcana Analytics India - 3rd Anniversary Offsite | Colombo, Sri Lanka

The Arcana Analytics team of 135+ employees from across India celebrated three years of their success at a 3-night international offsite in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Highlights:

• Structured team-building activities
• Full-day conference with technical and logistical support
• Elegant gala evenings celebrating achievements

Delegates also enjoyed curated local experiences, striking the perfect balance between collaboration, recognition, and destination discovery.

Generic Healthcare India (GHPL) - India Conclave 2025 | Pune & Mumbai

Held across Pune and Mumbai, the GHPL India Conclave 2025 combined the annual budget conference with the company's 20-year celebration. The event welcomed 115+ overseas delegates from 12+ West African countries.

Highlights:

• Business sessions and budget reviews
• Cultural evenings and gala nights
• Complete hospitality, logistics, and event management

The conclave not only showcased India's cultural richness but also strengthened GHPL's global partnerships.

CMS IndusLaw - Silver Jubilee Offsite | Hanoi, Vietnam

CMS IndusLaw's 25th anniversary was celebrated with much fanfare at a 3-night international offsite in Hanoi for 280+ participants from five major Indian cities.

Highlights:

• High-energy team-building and outdoor activities
• Gala evenings and milestone celebrations
• Tailor-made sightseeing and cultural experiences

This offsite exemplified how large-format international events can seamlessly combine fun, engagement, and flawless coordination.

Our MICE Promise

From concept to execution, Uniglobe Odyssey Travel delivers bespoke MICE solutions that connect teams, celebrate success, and strengthen corporate values across borders. Our expertise ensures every event is managed with creativity, precision, and care - leaving lasting impressions for every delegate. We are excited about growing this new vertical and would be delighted to explore how we can assist you with your future event planning needs.