In major news since our last update: IndiGo to launch daily direct flights from Mumbai to Dar es Salaam from November 20; Scandinavian Airlines resumes services to India after 17 years connecting Mumbai with Copenhagen from Oct 01; India & Vietnam reach an agreement to double flight capacity from 8000 to over 16,000 seats a week; Uzbekistan introduces 30-day visa-free entry for Indian nationals; Belarus introduces e-visa facility for Indian citizens; Mumbai International Airport to shift 1/3rd flights to Navi Mumbai Airport from October. These and more updates in the September edition.

One-Third of Flights from Mumbai’s CSMIA Airport to shift Navi Mumbai Airport from October:

Mumbai’s aviation network is set for a major operational transformation as Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) prepares for the redevelopment of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport’s (CSMIA) Terminal 1. The first phase of the redevelopment is expected to begin with demolition of the North Section of Terminal 1-B on January 15, 2027 that currently caters to five million passengers per annum.

Navi Mumbai airport began domestic operations in December 2025 and international operations in July 2026, giving Mumbai's airport network additional capacity to absorb traffic while redevelopment work gets underway at CSMIA’s T1. As a result, around 1rd of flights that operate from CSMIA’s T2 will be moved to Navi Mumbai airport from October. The traffic redistribution will allow MIAL to begin T1’s redevelopment without shutting down the operations altogether.

At the time of publishing this update (Sep 24, 2026), none of the airlines have intimated us about the shift of any operations from CSMIA’s T2 to NMIA. In any case for travellers, it is important to check the airport and terminal details carefully before heading out for a flight.

Domestic airlines face second straight ATF price hike, fuel rate rises 5.46%:

The price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) for domestic airlines has been raised by INR 6.28 per litre, or 5.46 per cent, for the second consecutive month, taking the fuel rate to INR 121.28 per litre from INR 115.

The latest ATF increase is likely to force the airlines to increase airfares for the peak winter travel season as Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) accounts for more than 50% of their costs.

IndiGo to launch daily direct flights from Mumbai to Dar es Salaam from November 20;

IndiGo announced daily direct flights between Mumbai and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania from November 20, expanding its international network and strengthening its connectivity with East Africa. The new service will make IndiGo the only Indian airline to operate direct flights between Mumbai and Dar es Salaam.

The flight schedule of the new daily service is given below commencing from Nov 20, 2026:

The route comes as India and Tanzania deepen trade and economic ties, with India among Tanzania’s largest trading partners. Direct air connectivity is expected to support business travel, trade, investment, tourism and educational exchanges between India and East Africa.

The airline currently operates direct services from India to Nairobi, Mauritius and Seychelles. The Dar es Salaam route will further expand its presence in Africa as IndiGo grows its international network.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS - the national airline of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway) resumes services to India after 17 years:

On October 01, 2026, the Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) will launch a year-round non-stop route between Copenhagen and Mumbai.

SAS offers seamless connectivity from Mumbai via Copenhagen to destinations throughout North America. Whether travelling to New York, Toronto, Chicago, Boston, Washington D.C. or Los Angeles, passengers benefit from smooth transfers and a connected journey experience.

The schedule of the five time a week direct service between Mumbai via Copenhagen is as follows:

An Airbus A330-300 with premium economy seats will be deployed on this route - the A330 300 is a modern, fuel-efficient, wide-body aircraft that seats approximately 266 passengers across three cabins, making it well-suited for long-haul routes like Mumbai-Copenhagen-US. The aircraft is known for its reliability, comfort, and long-range capability. Its Economy travel cabin has 174 seats in a 2 4 2 layout, each offering around 31 to 32 inches of pitch along with personal in-flight entertainment.

Flydubai expands global connectivity with interline agreement with Air India:

Through new interline agreements with Air India and Uzbekistan Airways, the Emirates owned Dubai based low cost carrier, flydubai has increased the international connectivity adding over 80 destinations in Asia, Australia and Europe through Dubai. Through this agreement, passengers will be able to travel seamlessly on a single ticket with through check in baggage to their final destination.

The agreement with Air India will give flydubai passengers access to key Indian destinations including Bengaluru, Chennai, Chandigarh, Goa, Jaipur, Pune and Varanasi, as well as international destinations across Asia and Australia.

Through Air India’s network, flydubai customers can connect to Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius, Melbourne, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Air India customers will also gain access to destinations across flydubai’s network via Dubai, with single-ticket itineraries and through-checked baggage.

India, Vietnam agree to double flight capacity to over 16,000 seats a week:

India and Vietnam have agreed to increase the number of weekly flights between the two destinations, more than doubling the bilateral air capacity limit to over 16,000 seats a week from around 8,000 currently, according to a recent report in The Economic Times.

The increase, effective immediately, comes as airlines in both countries have used up, or are close to exhausting, their existing flying rights amid growing travel demand. The increased capacity will reportedly allow Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet to add more flights to Indian metros including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Vietnam’s Sun PhuQuoc Airlines is also planning to launch flights to Mumbai.

Under bilateral air service agreements, governments allocate reciprocal flying rights to airlines from each country, limiting the number of flights and seats carriers can operate on specific international routes between the two countries.

IndiGo revises charges for infant travel, excess baggage and other domestic services:

IndiGo passengers will now have to pay higher charges for several services on domestic flights, with the airline revising fees for infant travel, excess baggage, unaccompanied minors, priority services and travel certificates.

As per IndiGo's rules, infants cannot occupy a separate seat and are required to travel on the lap of an accompanying adult. Only one infant is permitted per adult passenger. The applicable infant fee must be paid at the time of booking, and passengers may be required to carry valid proof of the child's age while travelling.

The latest revisions will increase the cost of several optional and passenger-related services for those travelling on domestic IndiGo flights, even though the basic airfare may remain unchanged. These revisions will impact travel budgets for families, employees travelling with children, and passengers opting for priority or certificate-based services.

Uzbekistan introduces 30-day visa-free regime for Indian citizens during PM Modi's visit:

Uzbekistan has announced a 30-day visa-free entry regime for Indian citizens, opening one of Central Asia's most fascinating destinations to easier travel from India.

The announcement was made by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tashkent on August 30, during Modi's two-day state visit to Uzbekistan. This new policy aims to enhance travel, trade, and cultural connections between the two countries.

Indian passport holders will be allowed to enter Uzbekistan without obtaining a visa for stays of up to 30 days under the newly announced regime.

Belarus introduces e-visa facility for Indian citizens:

Belarus has added India to the list of countries whose citizens can obtain an electronic visa to enter the republic. The change was approved by the Council of Ministers on the initiative of Belarus’ Foreign Ministry.

The decision is intended to simplify entry procedures and strengthen people-to-people contacts between Belarus and India. The E-Visa facility is also expected to support business ties. It will make it easier to organise business visits, B2B negotiations, and discussions related to joint investment and trade projects.

Belarus considers India one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, it said in an official statement. The online visa process is expected to reduce administrative barriers for Indian business travellers.

Introducing Odyssey’s Country-wise visa specific webpages:

At Odyssey, we understand the criticality of the visa application process and have a dedicated and experienced team handling visa facilitation services for our clients. For the range of visa services that we offer and to meet the visa team, please click here

Click the destination links for updated information on the tourist and business visas for the below listed countries:

Times of India: Rising fuel, food, and LPG costs drive up hotel room tariffs:

Nikhil Thakurdas, CEO of Odyssey Tours and Travels, attributed the latest surge to escalating global geopolitical tensions, a weakening rupee, and rising operational costs. “Post-Covid, airfares and hotel rates stabilised at a high baseline. However, with the current global turmoil, the oil crisis, and volatility in the Middle East, that baseline has shifted even higher,” Thakurdas said. He highlighted that currency depreciation is severely hitting outbound tourists. “A $200 hotel room that was calculated at around Rs84 to the dollar a year ago now costs nearly Rs20,000 a night as the rupee edges closer to the Rs100 mark. Purely due to exchange rates, international stays have become significantly more expensive.”

Read the article published in Times of India.

7 Tips to Plan a Memorable Corporate Incentive Trip:

Corporate incentive trips are powerful tools to reward, motivate and retain top talent. To make them truly memorable, focus on these seven essentials:

1. Understand participant needs - Assess age groups, interests, fitness levels, accessibility and dietary requirements to design an inclusive program everyone can enjoy.
2. Pick the right location - Choose a destination that is easy to reach, offers quality hotels and dining, and provides unique local experiences, while keeping weather and comfort in mind.
3. Make it feel indulgent - Even on a controlled budget, create a premium feel with special dining experiences, welcome hampers, personalised touches and well-chosen venues.
4. Balance business and leisure - Keep formal sessions light and focused, with most of the time reserved for relaxation, recognition and informal bonding.
5. Curate activities - Go beyond generic sightseeing with heritage walks, cooking classes, nature experiences and optional add-ons that reflect the destination’s character.
6. Pay attention to logistics - Ensure smooth flights, transfers, rooms, meals and activities with a reliable partner and on-ground coordination so the trip feels effortless.
7. Prepare for contingencies – Build flexibility into the itinerary, arrange travel insurance and maintain clear communication to handle delays, weather changes or emergencies smoothly.

Get the full insights here:

Planning your next conference, offsite or incentive trip? Write to rutwik@uniglobeodysseytravel.com or call 020-66442929 for a customised proposal