Alhind Group, a travel services operator based in Kerala, has received initial approval from the Indian aviation regulator, DGCA, to start an airline called Alhind Air, with operations expected to commence by the end of 2024. The company plans to invest between INR 2-5 billion with three ATR-72 turboprop planes. Initially focusing on South India, Alhind Air aims to expand to flights between Kerala and West Asia after establishing its presence in cities such as Kochi, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, and Chennai. Air Kerala, another airline, has also received approval to start operations with the goal of connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and eventually expanding internationally.
The Indian aviation industry is experiencing significant growth, with budget carriers contributing to 78.4% of the domestic airline capacity. The number of airports in India has doubled between 2014 to 2023, and the passenger capacity is set to increase by 60 million. This growth has led to opportunities for new entrants like Fly91 and Akasa Air to establish regional airlines and potentially expand into international operations. IndiGo’s managing director also suggested that India, as a country, deserves more than two airlines, given the market share dominance of IndiGo and the Air India group.
IHCL has opened a Ginger Hotel in Coimbatore, marking the brand’s entry into the Tier-2 town and expanding its presence in Tamil Nadu. With a total of 18 hotels in the state, Ginger is now present in 43 cities across India with over 60 operational properties. The brand is the second-largest under IHCL after Taj, and by April 2024, Ginger aims to have a portfolio of about 90 developing and operating hotels. Additionally, Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist has been engaged by Tourism Western Australia to attract Indian travelers and promote tourism in Perth ahead of the India-Australia Test match.
The Moroccan National Tourism Office has seen a significant increase of 41% in the Indian market in the first half of 2024 and anticipates further growth by the end of the year. To attract more Indian visitors, Morocco is ramping up efforts, including recent roadshows in major Indian cities, participation in travel trade shows, and a focus on MICE capabilities to appeal to business travelers. Oberoi Group has announced a scholarship program to mark its 90th anniversary, offering opportunities for hotel operations employees to pursue a two-year Masters of Business Administration in Hospitality at Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.
Zoomcar, a car rental company, reported a 9% increase in bookings for the April to June quarter compared to the previous year. Through technology and product initiatives, including a tighter guest verification process, the company reduced its cost of revenue by 58% and narrowed its loss from $6.8 million to $3.3 million for the same quarter. CEO Hiroshi Nishijima highlighted record non-GAAP gross profit and contribution profit, positioning the company for substantial revenue growth in the upcoming quarters.
