In this month’s travel updates: Oman Air becomes the 15th airline to join the One World alliance; Iran reopens its airspace for international flights; IndiGo and Turkish Airlines to continue codeshare partnership after the wet lease of 777-300ER aircraft from Turkish Airlines ends on Aug 31; India increases Kuwait's weekly flying capacity from 12,000 to 18,000 seats; US introduces a new 'visa integrity fee' for all non-immigrants; Navi Mumbai International Airport set to commence operations from mid-October; These and more updates in the July edition.

Oman Air becomes the 15th airline to join the One World alliance:

On June 30, 2025, Oman Air has officially become part of the One World family, the 15th airline in the alliance. And effective from July 01, oneworld customers can access Oman Air's schedule with an access to extended network of destinations including the new non-stop Muscat - Amsterdam route.

For Emerald, Sapphire & Ruby customers and full-time members of the oneworld alliance, Oman air will be providing benefits including earning and redeeming miles, earning status points, priority check-in and boarding and lounge access. Similarly, Oman Air's frequent fliers will be receiving access to oneworld priority benefits like network of nearly 700 premium airport lounges globally including the newly opened branded lounges of oneworld in Amsterdam's Schipol and Seoul's Incheon Airport.

Iran announces reopening of its airspace for international flights:

Iran announced the opening of its airspace for international transit flights, including over Tehran from July 03 onwards after it was closed due to the war with Israel that started on June 13. The official IRNA news agency reported that the main two international airports of Tehran - Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini along with those in the north, south, east and west of the country have reopened and ready to operate flights.

US introduces new 'visa integrity fee' for all non-immigrants:

India hikes Kuwait’s weekly flying rights by 50%:

India has taken a bold move and significantly increased the flying rights for Kuwait, raising the weekly capacity from 12,000 to 18,000 seats - a 50% hike. The agreement was signed by aviation officials of both the nations and marks the first bilateral capacity increase in 18 years for Kuwait.

This agreement comes as airlines of both countries had fulfilled their share of allocated seats a long time ago and have nearly 40 flights operating daily between the two countries.

India improves ranking on the Henley Passport Index:

The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without a prior visa. India has recorded the largest improvement since Jan 2025 moving up 8 spots from 85th to 77th rank with visa free access to 59 destinations. Singapore has retained the top position on the index where their citizens get visa-free access to 193 out of 227 global destinations. Asian neighbours Japan and South Korea follow in joint second place, with visa-free access to 190 destinations each.

Codeshare partnership between IndiGo and Turkish Airlines to remain unchanged after the lease ends:

On May 30, the DGCA gave Indigo a final three-month extension to continue with the lease of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft from Turkish Airlines. The lease will end on August 31 and usage of these planes must be stopped by the airline. This decision has been prompted due to India and Turkiye’s tense relations in recent times due to the latter’s support towards Pakistan during the war-like situation between India and Pakistan in May.

CEO of IndiGo Pieter Elbers confirmed that despite the strained relationship between India and Turkiye, the airline will continue to have Istanbul on their route, exploring other options like deploying A321 aircraft after the lease ends. They are smaller than the leased Boeing-777 but they can handle medium-haul international routes. The codeshare between the two airlines is also said to remain unchanged in the future as it allows both airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights and make travel easier for passengers by offering more destinations on a single ticket.

Air India announces partial restoration from August after its 'Safety Pause':

In a recent press release, Air India has announced a partial restoration of schedules that were reduced by 15 to 20% from the 'Safety Pause' strategy following the tragic accident of AI727 on June 12, 2025 which forced the airline to take additional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 fleet of aircraft.

The partial resumption will see restoration of some frequencies from August 01, relative to July with full restoration planned from October 01, 2025. There will be several changes in terms of the increased/reduced frequency and temporary suspension of flights on specific routes.

One of the casualties of the 'safety pause' is the suspension is the Pune - Singapore 5X weekly service which has been suspended till Sep 30.

Navi Mumbai International Airport set to commence operations in October:

The much awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is scheduled to be inaugurated on September 30, 2025 and within a fortnight, operations is expected to start with 60 daily flights (30 arrivals and as many departures), reaching up to 300 in six months. The airport will commence operations with both, domestic and international flights. NMIA will be digitally smart from the customer’s point of view where travellers will receive real time information about check-in bags, flight schedules and much more on their Adani One app.

Demolition of T1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be completed in 2029-30 once NMIA gets its second terminal. Work on NMIA T2 is already on its way and construction is expected to start in the next 6-12 months, once the new airport becomes operational.

India and Pakistan extend ban for using their respective airspaces till Aug 24:

Both India and Pakistan have issued notifications extending the ban on usage of each other’s airspaces for another month, till Aug 24 - the earlier notification was till July 24. The ban on usage of airspaces came into effect on May 07 after India’s responded to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22.

Grand Opening - Fairmont Udaipur Palace: A Jewel in Rajasthan:

Fairmont Hotels has unveiled its majestic Fairmont Udaipur Palace, a luxury resort nestled amid the scenic beauty of Udaipur. This newly opened palace is a tribute to Rajasthan’s regal charm, blending traditional Mewar architecture with contemporary grandeur. With 340 rooms, six dining options, a royal spa, and multiple indoor and outdoor event venues, it aims to redefine premium stays and destination events in India’s most romantic city.

Ideal for: Luxury MICE events, Destination weddings, high-end leisure travel.

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Ventive Hospitality Expands Partnership with Marriott for 7 New Hotels:

In exciting news for Pune and beyond, Ventive Hospitality has expanded its strategic alliance with Marriott International. This collaboration will bring seven new luxury hotels across India, including locations in Pune, Goa, and Amritsar, under prestigious brands like Le Méridien and JW Marriott. This move not only elevates Marriott’s premium presence but also enhances options for business and leisure travellers in key metros and tier-2 cities.

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Taj Group Introduces Two New Gems - Taj Alibaug and Taj Gurugram

IHCL continues its expansion with two unique additions:

• Taj Alibaug Resort & Spa: A tranquil beachfront retreat perfect for quick weekend getaways from Mumbai, set amid 20 acres of lush greenery and coastal charm.
• Taj Damdama Lake, Gurugram: A lavishly reimagined wellness and spa resort set against the scenic Aravalli hills, offering 135 rooms and villas, immersive wellness programmes, and adventure activities for both families and corporate groups.

Explore Taj’s New Beginnings

More details on Taj Gurugram

Corporate Hotel and Car Booking Solutions: Simplify Business Travel with Us

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Please get in touch with our team to know more about our Hotel & Car Booking Solutions.