Domestic air traffic continued to soar with airlines flying 39.15 lakh passengers in February, up 17% over the same period last year, suggesting a better financial outlook for the loss-ridden aviation industry. The two major low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet filled over 80% of their seats during this period,

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc has announced plans to open 14 new Westin Hotels in 2010. This year’s openings span China, Greece, Japan, India, Mexico, the US, and Canada – including newly opened The Westin Wall Centre in Richmond, Vancouver. Other 2010 openings include The Westin Mumbai Garden City in India; The Westin Nanjing in Shanghai, China; The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece; The Westin Austin at the Domain in Austin, Texas; and The Westin Sendai in Sendai, Japan.

In the first action of its kind, the aviation ministry has cracked the whip on both Indian and foreign carriers for charging fares on both extremely low and high side.

Happy times may be back for travel agents with commissions coming back, but international airlines are yet to take a call on the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) recent directive. The regulator had asked international carriers to resume their commissions to travel agents.

A Blend of hi-end and economy tourism will greet tourists landing in Himachal from the coming financial year. While tourists in the luxury segment could add to their itinerary a heli-taxi trip to an off-beat and secluded locale in the interiors of the state, economy tourists will get a chance to visit lesser known villages, where they can experience Himachal’s rural life by availing of the ‘home stay’ scheme.

While other Indian airlines may return to profit in the next fiscal year, state-run Air India is expected to keep losing money as its debt continues to pile up.

Jan van Djik looks weather beaten. It looks as if he spent a good part of his 67 years strolling on Calangute beach. The Dutchman has been following a 20-year ritual of visiting Goa twice a year. Except that over the last few years, he has been spending less and less time there. “Doing a lot of travel in other parts, especially in the North Benares.”

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) inaugurated its Mumbai office this morning. The Mumbai office will tap and service Western and Southern India, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The office in Mumbai with staff strength of five including a director, assistant director, marketing manager, executive assistant and support staff, is the second for TAT in India. While TAT has set up its office in Mumbai it will continue its association with Charson Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd., for Public Relations and marketing consultants.

India witnessed an unprecedented 21 percent rise in foreign tourist arrivals last December from the same month in 2008, Union Tourism Minister Kumari Selja said Saturday.

They are the big daddies of global aviation industry. Be it Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Bell Helicopters, Eurocopters, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp, they are all there at the India Aviation 2010 show.