One More Flying Bird is About to Fly in Indian Sky ….. Yes its Zooooooom Air

ZOOM AIR - the word says it all…meet the brand new Airlines’ of India

It’s the newest in the aviation industry for India which is about to start its operations with main base at Terminal 3 Indira Gandhi International Airline in New Delhi in August 2016.   

( subject to DGCA approval ).

As Mr. KOUSTAV M. DHAR the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (with over 24 years as experience)  and an experienced and experts hands managing the top hierarchy, ZOOM AIR lays a platform for the younger generation for career opportunities as well.

Connecting to almost all major cities of India including New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad , Aizawl, Aurangabad, Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Kullu, Jorhat, Lucknow, Ranchi, Srinagar, it extends its services for the first time in Durgapur (West Bengal) and Shillong (Capital of Meghalaya).

The Airline connects for first time the Steel city of Durgapur (West Bengal ) with daily multiple direct frequencies to Kolkata, New Delhi and Mumbai with premium service on board. Also first time state Capital of Meghalaya gets direct Air connectivity Daily to Kolkata and then further to Mumbai, New Delhi and major cities

Team of Ultimate Travel Jockeys @FareHawker.Com wish them luck for their endeavor.

Why travel from train, when you can fly!

Air India will offer ticket prices equivalent to AC II tier fares on Rajdhani train on several additional routes including from the national capital to Ahemdabad, Goa and Hyderabad.

These ticket prices as low as 2,240, would be available within four hours of the scheduled departure of the flights. The carrier is already offering it on four routes and with the new addition, the total number of such sector would be increase to 11.

According to Air India’s official website it has decided to add seven more routes for the reduced rates “on account of popular response and with an aim to enhance growth”.

The routes are Delhi-Ranchi-Delhi, Delhi-Ahemdabad-Delhi, Delhi-Goa-Delhi, Delhi-Patna-Delhi, Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi, Delhi-Bhubaneshwar-Delhi and Delhi-Raipur-Delhi.

The ‘Spot Fares’ scheme where ticket price equivalent to Rajdhani Express AC I are also available – is from June 27 to September 30. It is available for more than 100 flights across the country.

Air India might pose challenges for private carriers, which are alleged to charging excessive fares for last minute bookings.

-Vishal Tiwari

EgyptAir Flight 804 Missing

An EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo with 66 passengers and crew on board which disappeared from radar early Thursday morning, has crashed, Egyptian aviation officials were quoted as saying by AP.

The officials say the search is now underway for the debris. They say the “possibility that the plane crashed has been confirmed,” as the plane hasn’t landed in any of the nearby airports.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

EgyptAir Flight 804 was lost from radar at 2:45 a.m. local time when it was flying at 37,000 feet, the airline said. It said the Airbus A320 had vanished 10 miles (16 kilometers) after it entered Egyptian airspace.

Rescue services from the Egyptian armed forces reported receiving a distress signal at 04:26 am local time (0226 GMT) from the EgyptAir plane that went missing overnight.

Egyptian military aircraft were searching for the plane, which was carrying 56 passengers, including one child and two babies, and 10 crew members. The pilot had 6,000 flight hours. Earlier, the airline said 69 people were on board.

EgyptAir later said those on board included 15 French passengers, 30 Egyptians, one Briton, two Iraqis, one Kuwaiti, one Saudi, one Sudanese, one Chadian, one Portuguese, one Belgian, one Algerian and one Canadian.

France remains under a state of emergency after Islamic extremist attacks killed 130 people in a spree of attacks in November claimed by the extremist Islamic State group.

Greece joined the search and rescue operation for the EgyptAir flight with two aircraft: one C-130 and one early warning aircraft, officials at the Hellenic National Defense General Staff said. They said one frigate was also heading to the area, and helicopters are on standby on the southern island of Karpathos for potential rescue or recovery operations.

SpiceJet's 11th Anniversary Sale !!!

SpiceJet, India’s favourite low-cost carrier celebrates 11 years of living its grand vision of fulfilling every Indian’s dream of flying. Commemorating its journey so far, the airline has announced “The Anniversary Sale” with one way base fares starting as low as Rs. 511/- for domestic sectors and Rs. 2111/- for international sectors (excluding statutory taxes and fees.)

The three day sale launched today will be open till midnight, 19 May 2016 for domestic travel period 15 June 2016 to 30 September 2016 and international travel period 1st June 2016 to 20th July 2016. The sale is valid only for direct flights within SpiceJet’s network.

The special offer is also available on some of the very popular routes like Dehradun, Bagdogra, Udaipur, Jaipur, Goa, Port Blair, Kochi etc in the domestic network and Bangkok, Colombo, Dubai & Muscat in the international network.

Tickets for this sale can be booked with us at farehawker.com, SpiceJet’s official mobile apps of iOS and Android, on online travel portals and through travel agents.

Terms & Conditions:
The discount will be applicable on one way fares only.
The offer is applicable on bookings made across all channels.
This offer can’t combine with any other offer and not applicable on group bookings.
These fares are REFUNDABLE FARES (Only Statutory Taxes will be refunded).
Changeable with change fee and fare difference.
Limited inventory available on first come serve basis.
Flight schedules and timings are subject to regulatory approvals and change
This promo is applicable on Direct Flights

Stop thinking, start booking.

Happy Travelling.

Cool Destination for Hotty Summer In India

Kerala

Kerala is popularly known as God's Own Country. It stretches for 550km along India's southwest coast, divided between the densely forested mountains of the Western Ghats inland and a lush, humid coastal plain. The state of Kerala is swamped with tourists throughout the year. Kerala is one of the hottest tourist destinations on the international map and also has been declared as one of the ten Paradise on Earth. The lustrous state is blessed with long stretches of golden beaches, unnerving backwater for houseboat cruising, romantic honeymoon destinations, fragrant spice and tea gardens and plethora of flora and fauna in the various wildlife parks. Kerala is one of the coolest places to visit in South India!

Goa

The golden sandy beaches of Goa are an ideal summer destination. A diverse tourist locale, Goa is celebrated the world over for its laidback culture, sun kissed beaches, gothic churches and rocking nightlife. From north to south, the Goa coastline is marked by a number of beach towns, with relaxed ambience, seafood and water sports such as wind surfing, water skiing, sailing, water-scooters, and dolphin spotting cruises. The beaches of Calangute and Baga are the most visited while other famous beaches include Arambol, Anjuna, Candolim, Colva and Palolem. Cheap air travel to Goas airport, Dabolim, from the rest of India has spawned a dramatic rise in the number of domestic visitors holidaying here in recent years. Goa is the best place to visit for party in summers in India.

Ooty

Ooty short for Ootacamund or Udhagamandalam is located in Tamil Nadu at a height of 2240m above sea level. It is one of South India's most popular hill stations and is also known as the  Queen of Hill Stations . Ooty draws a large number of tourists every year. It is nestled in the beautiful Blue Mountains or Nilgiris. Lofty mountains, dense forest, sprawling grasslands and miles and miles of tea gardens greet the passengers on most routes. The annual Tea and Tourism Festival attracts crowds in huge numbers. The sprawling tea and coffee plantations is a must watch in Ooty. In your stay in Ooty, you must visit the Botanical Gardens, the Government Museum, Rose Garden, Tiger Hill, Kalhatty Falls, Ooty Lake, Pykara and try some adventure sports as Trekking and Hang-Gliding.

Kashmir

Kashmir valley is a popular tourist destination for domestic (Indian) as well as foreign tourists. Among the popular tourist places in the valley are Gulmarg that has a ski resort, Dal Lake that has popular house boats, Pahalgam and Amarnath Temple. Let the white snow capped mountains, quaint shikaras, apple orchards, colorful flowers and simple people give you an amazing time. Also do not miss the chance of visiting the Ranbireshwar Temple, Lakshmi Narayan temple and Peer Baba Shrine at Satwari. Kashmir is rightfully said as the paradise on earth. With is amazing natural beauty and serene environment, this is one of the Most Popular Summer Destinations in India.

Manali

Manali is one of the main summer destination for backpackers, trekkers and honeymooners escaping the summer heat. Due to its scenic beauty, it is also known as the Switzerland of India. Lapped in the Kullu valley, it is surrounded by towering peaks offering a fine chance for the trekkers. The various Tibetan Monasteries, Naggar Castle, Roerich Museum, Arjun Gufa (Arjun Cave), Jagatsukh, Solang Valley etc. are the other places of interest in and around Manali. The place is also famous for adventure sports like skiing, hiking, mountaineering, para gliding, rafting, trekking, kayaking, and mountain biking. It is one of the best hill stations to visit in North India.

Darjeeling

Located in the Eastern side of India, Darjeeling is a signature hill station with cloud covered valleys, wild streams, mesmerizing mountain views and something very unique-the world renowned Toy Trains. Don't skip the opportunity to jump in one of them as it moves in slow pace in the pristine forests on the hills to give you an experience that is hard to replace. Get up at dawn if you want to witness the sun rise from the Tiger Hills and shout out in excitement when the sun comes out from behind the hills and the first rays reflect upon the Kanchenjunga. Other major tourist sites are Batasia Loop, Botanical Gardens, Rock Garden, several monasteries, Chowrasta etc. One of the coolest hill stations in East India.

Gulmarg

Gulmarg is one of the most popular ski resort destinations in India located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, also home to the world's highest green golf course. Gulmarg is also known as the "Meadow of Flowers" because of its scenic beauty. With the lush green slopes, flowers in different shades and the valleys, the backdrop is very much like a "dream fantasy" set of a movie. Owing to its pictorial charm, this is a famous honeymoon destination for couples.

Coorg

Nestled among the lush greeneries of the Western Ghats and exotic scenic environment, Coorg is one of the destinations that you should visit to beat the summer heat.Coorg offers you a fascinating past, captivating natural beauty, great cuisine and aromas of the coffee plantations, oranges and honey. Set amidst verdant valleys, imposing mountains and teak wood forests, this is one of the most beautiful hill stations you can visit. Madikeri Fort, Abbi Falls, Iruppu Falls, Talakaveri, Bhagamandala, Padi Iggutappa Temple, Somwarpet, Little Tibet (Tibetan refugee's colony), etc. are the major tourist spots here. The major outdoor activities that one can indulge in this place are trekking, Angling, White Water Rafting and Golfing.

Srinagar

Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in the Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats. Srinagar is set around the beautiful Dal Lake, where picturesque houseboats or shikharas carry tourists on boat rides around the lake. It is an ideal summer getaway. Srinagar basically has an alpine weather, as the summers are mild and winters are cold. The major tourist places are Shalimar Garden, Dachigam wildlife sanctuary, Nishat Garden, Shankaracharya Temple, Cheshma Shahi and Pari Mahal. One can even shop for indigenous crafts like hand-woven silks and embroidered shawls.

Shimla

Often referred as the 'Queen of Hills', Shimla is the present capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla is perhaps one of the most popular tourist destinations. Loaded with natural beauty and scenic landscape, Shimla is an integral part of Indian history and heritage. The city of Shimla is blessed by the presence of seven different hills that houses some of the major tourist spots. Your stay in Shimla will be marked by visits to destinations like Christ Church, St Michael's Cathedral, Churdhar Sanctuary, Kufri, Gurkha Castles, Jakhu Hill etc. It is here where a traveller sees a happy co-existence of the modern facilities with the old world charm.

Leh-Ladakh

The sheer majesty and beauty of this ethereal place is evident from its location, that is graced by the commanding presence of the mighty Himalayas and the Karakoram range. Spread along the valleys where the altitude rises from 9000 feet to 25170 feet, Ladakh is a destination where time stands still and you won't want to come back again to the regular routine. Enjoy life to the fullest among the monasteries, valleys, lakes, glaciers, festivals and the simple locals. The main attractions of Leh-Ladakh are Zanskar, Sankar Gompa, Alchi, Baltoro Glacier, Lamayuru Gompa, Siachen Glacier, Hemis Festival and so on. The exquisite lakes of Pangong tso and Tso Morari are worth a visit as well as the almost surreal Nubra Valley with its sand dunes and wandering camels.

Mussoorie

Its proximity to the national capital New Delhi has made Mussoorie a famous and much more accessible holiday hub. Located in the amazing Himalayan range, at an astounding 2500 meter height from the sea level, Mussoorie offers a happy weekend outing with attractions that keeps the traveller engaged and pre-occupied. The major of them are as follow: Gun Hill trekking, Kempty falls and trekking and a bit of shopping as the markets are full of traditional stuff like the wooden decorative and gift items, brass statues, ceramic vases, Garhwali Dresses and the ethnic Ladakhi Shawls.

Nainital

Nainital is a hill station located in the foothills of Kumaon range of mountains in Uttarakhand. Dotted with lakes , Nainital has earned the epithet of 'Lake District' of India . Nainital is set in a valley containing a pear-shaped lake and is surrounded by mountains. The high mountains and the vast stretches of green across the horizon add to the pictorial beauty. The name of this famous hill station is believed to have been taken from the Goddess Naina and a temple dedicated to Goddess Naina is also there. The major tourist places are Tiffin Top, Naini Lake, Naina Peak, Land's End etc.

Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is a hilly retreat established by American missionaries in around 1845 in order to escape from the high temperatures of the plains. Kodaikanal, or Kodai owes its popularity to its hilltop position which is at an altitude of 2,195 m in Tamil Nadu. It offers breathtaking views over the blue-green reaches of the Vaigai plain. Raj-era bungalows and flower-filled gardens add atmosphere, while short walks out of the centre lead to rocky outcrops, waterfalls and dense shola forest. Kodai Lake, Bryant Park, Coaker's Walk, Green Valley View, Shenbaganur Museum of Natural History, Pillar Rocks, Guna caves, Silver Cascade, Dolphin's Nose and Kurinji Andavar Murugan temple are the major tourist attractions in and around Kodaikanal.

Munnar

Munnar is located in the Idduki district of Kerala state. Along with unique species of flora and fauna, the place also has an extensive stretch of tea plantations amidst the high mountains and unspoiled valleys, giving a pleasant feeling. The scented cool air is filled with the aroma of spices. The rising and falling terrain of Munnar is covered with forests and grasslands. Munnar is also paradise for bird watchers as rare species of birds are found in abundance. Anamudi Peak, Tata Tea Museum, Indo Swiss Dairy Farm, Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Lock Heart Gap etc. are the major tourist places in Munnar.

With the summer vacations round the corner and the mercury rising, airlines have come out with many offers. Book your tickets for the upcoming summer vacations with us at FareHawker. Travelling with lots of friends or a relatives ?  Fret not !!! FareHawker also deals in group bookings. We provide you the best fares and the convenience of having your tickets booked while sitting at home. Just give us a call and leave the rest to us.

New Face of Growing Airlines in Indian Sky

Vistara, a JV of Tata and Singapore Airlines and India’s fastest growing full service carrier, took its inaugural flight to Srinagar from New Delhi’s IGI Airport on the 8^th of April at 14.45 hours. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of India’s top tourist destinations which make this an apt addition to Vistara’s route network. 

Travellers to Srinagar will now be able to enjoy Vistara’s seamless services with direct connectivity to the capital. Vistara recently announced that as a part of its summer schedule, the airline will also commence services to Jammu, Kochi and Chandigarh. 

The introduction of these new routes coincides with the airline’s next phase of expansion, where the focus is on scaling up operations and elevating the value proposition to suit the demands of the existing and potential customers in new regions.

Taking its customer centricity a notch higher, Vistara has also re-launched its menu blending traditional choices with unconventional options, with effect from March 1, 2016. Vistara has thoughtfully curated the new menu which features mouth-watering dishes which aptly reflect contemporary India dining at its best – traditional yet modern, local yet global, familiar yet different. 

The airline has come up with seasonal and festive delicacies such as Arabic Mezze, Norwegian Salmon, Corn & Soya Pulao, Amti, Fish & Prawn curry etc. using the choicest of ingredients providing a wide range of options to the passengers. The airline with the aim of transforming the flying experience and setting new service and customer experience standards, recently launched its signature lounge at the boarding gate level at Delhi international airport for its Business class and Club Vistara Gold members.  

Stop waiting and book your holiday tickets with Vistara. Contact FareHawker for all your travel needs. We also deal in group bookings. We will make sure that you travel hassle free.

Vistara, a JV of Tata and Singapore Airlines and India’s fastest growing full service carrier, took its inaugural flight to Srinagar from New Delhi’s IGI Airport on the 8^th of April at 14.45 hours. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, is one of India’s top tourist destinations which make this an apt addition to Vistara’s route network.

Travellers to Srinagar will now be able to enjoy Vistara’s seamless services with direct connectivity to the capital.

Vistara’s daily flight schedule on the Delhi-Srinagar-Delhi route is:

Speaking on the latest network expansion, PheeTeik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara said, “With growing market presence and phenomenal customer uptake, we are broadening our window of operations in order to operate more flights to cater to the increasing demand.”

He said Vistara has been keen to enhance regional connectivity and is committed to connect India better.

“Srinagar offers huge potential in terms of tourism and we are delighted to announce the expansion of our network with daily return flights to Srinagar from Delhi. We are confident that travelers on this route will appreciate the unique value proposition we offer at a competitive price.” Rising Kashmir

Unbelievable Trujet Summer Offer

Trujet offers amazing deals for its travellers this summer. Trujet is a regional airline based in Hyderabad. It operates flights to Nagpur, Aurangabad, Rajahmundry,Vijaywada, Goa, Kadapa, Tirupati, Chennai, Bengaluru. TruJet is offering one way direct flights tickets on all its sectors at an unbelievable fare of Rs 999/- (excluding taxes). Booking period 11th April-14th April, and travel dates between 16th April and 30th June. Book for your summer break well in advance, and enjoy the benefits.

TruJet Airlines is one of India’s most affordable airlines, dedicated to offering low-cost flights to travellers across the country. It commenced operation on 12th July 2015, and currently operates across 8 destinations with a fleet of 2 ATR 72-500 aircraft. To add to the great customer experience, the airline offers other facilities and services including web check-in, meals, and seat reservation.TruJet is the newest on the block and has started flight operations in July 2015. It is committed to offer low-fare flights to customers in different parts of the country. To add to the great customer experience, the airline offers facilities and services that are beneficial for its passengers.There are numerous other offers provided by the airline such as arranging a wheelchair if required and special assistance for unaccompanied minors. TruJet will also help you with information about flight status, schedule, booking and much more.

Rush now to book your tickets, contact FareHawker for your ticketing related needs. FareHawker also deals in group bookings on all regional, national and international airlines.

Amarnath Cave- Story and Significance

The Holy Trinity- Brahma-the creator of life, Vishnu-the perpetuator and Mahesh (Shiva)-the destroyer. Lord Shiva’s power were beyond imagination and were mightier than the other Gods.

Lord Shiva is the lord of all five elements, he wears a garland made of human heads, a snake around his neck, he holds the moon on His head and has the River Ganga flowing from his hair.

Behind the religious significance of Amarnath Yatra is an interesting story associated with Lord Shiva narrating the secret of his immortality to Ma Parvati.

Ma Parvati once asked Lord Shiva the reason why he wears a garland of human heads (Mund Mala), to which Lord Shiva replied that every time Ma Parvati dies and is born again he adds a new head to the garland.

On hearing this, Ma Parvati asked the reason behind Lord Shiva’s immortality, to which Lord Shiva said that to know the reason and become immortal, Ma PArvati will have to listen to the Amar Katha.

Ma Parvati consistently insisted on hearing the Amar Katha and after a long time Lord Shiva gave into Ma Parvati’s demand.

To narrate the story, Lord Shiva started searching for a place away from all living beings so that no living being could overhear the Amar Katha. He then chose the Amarnath cave. Lord Shiva started his ascent to the cave from Pahalgam, where he left his bull Nandi (the place came to be known as Bail Gaon), further down he released the moon from his hair at Chandanwari. At the banks of the Lake Sheshnag, he released his snake, then he left his son Lord Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill). Lord Shiva left the five elements which form the human beings at Panjtarni.

Shivji performed the Tandav Nritya with Ma Parvati before entering the cave and taking his Samadhi on the Deer Skin.

After leaving all the worldly beings behind, in order to make sure that Lord Shiva was alone with Ma Parvati, he created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to eliminate every living thing in and around the cave with fire.

Lord Shiva took his Samadhi and started narrating the Amar Katha to Ma Parvati, he requested Ma Parvati to keep making some noise in order to ensure Lord Shiva that she was listening. But as Ma Parvati’s fate was, she fell asleep during the narration.

It is believed that one egg considered non-living was lying under the deer skin remained undestroyed. A pair of pigeons hatched from this egg and became immortal having overheard the Amar Katha. It is also believed that the pair of pigeons is still present in the Amarnath Cave.

Inside the 130 ft high Amarnath cave, an ice Shiv Linga is formed. It is a stalagmite that is formed due to freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave on to the floor and grows up vertically from the cave floor. It is considered to be a Shiva Linga by Hindus.

The Yatra coincides with the Hindu Holy month of Shraavana. The Amarnath Yatra starts on the day of the Massik Shivratri and concludes on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan). The Yatra can be made for about two months in a year.

Yatra Dates for 2016: 2^nd July 2016 to 18^th August 2016.

There are two routes which lead to the Amarnath Cave, one via Pahalgam and the other via Baltal.

The route via Pahalgam is a 46 km trek.

Pahalgam to Chandanwari (16km)

Chandanwari to Pissu Top (3km)

Pissu Top to Sheshnag (9km)

Panjtarni to Holy Cave (6km)

Although the route is longer, most of the pilgrims prefer this route because via this route you visit all the places that Lord Shiva and Ma Parvati did. It is the route used by the Gods themselves.

The route via Baltal is much shorter, it is a 14 km trek.

According to Hindu Mythology this route was used by the Asurs (the devils) in order to make it to the cave to overhear the Amar Katha.

Helicopter tickets are available on both the routes, the helipad is located at Panjtarni which is 6 kms from the holy cave.

The helipad is located in Panjtarni, it is a 6 km trek to the holy cave and has to be done either on foot of pilgrims can also hire ponies for the same.

FareHawker is your one stop for all your Amarnath Yatra travel related woes. We provide personalized, safe, comfortable charter services to Amarnath. You can now book your travel with us. The passengers will be picked up using a world class helicopter from Srinagar and will be dropped off at Panjtarni.

Amarnath Yatra is one of the holiest yatras, and we provide you group bookings for the same. We rid you of all the travel related tensions. You can also book your helicopter tickets with us. The helicopter will pick the passengers up from Srinagar and the drop off will be made at Baltal.

EgyptAir plane that was hijacked and forced to land in Cyprus.

An EgyptAir plane that took off from the coastal city of Alexandria for Cairo has been hijacked and forced to divert to Larnaca airport in Cyprus.

Flight MS181 had 55 passengers on board when it was seized, Egyptian authorities said. Everyone on board has been released except for the captain and co-pilot, a female crew member, a security officer and three passengers. Negotiations with the hijacker are ongoing.

Officials at Alexandria airport told Associated Press that the hijacker was a dual Egyptian-American citizen. Cypriot media said he demanded to speak with a Cypriot woman to whom he claims he was once married. She is now being brought to the airport to participate in the negotiations. There were also unconfirmed reports that he had demanded the release of prisoners in Egypt.

Egyptian authorities said the hijacker had threatened to detonate an explosive belt, but did not know whether the belt was real or fake.

Addressing reporters with the visiting European parliament president, Martin Schulz, the Cypriot leader, Nikos Anastasiades, ruled out terrorism, confirming instead that it had been instigated a man bent on reuniting with his former wife.

“It’s all to do with a woman,” said the Cypriot president. “We are doing everything to release the hostages.”

Cyprus police said the control tower was contacted at 8.30am (5.30am GMT) and the plane was given permission to land at 8.50am.

A statement from the Egyptian civil aviation ministry said foreign nationals on board included eight Americans, four Britons, four Dutch, two Belgians, a French national, an Italian, two Greeks and one Syrian. Three other foreigners could not be identified. The nationalities of those who remained on the plane were not given.

The plane was hijacked 30 minutes into its flight, according to officials. Less than an hour later, local TV showed about 40 women and children being allowed to leave the aircraft. The freed passengers were then put on buses and taken to terminal buildings.

Cyprus, the nearest EU member state to the Middle East, immediately declared a state of emergency, with the ministers of defence, foreign affairs and transport all being dispatched to the airport within minutes of the plane making its forced landing.

Airport authorities said all scheduled flights into Cyprus were being diverted to the island’s second international airport at Paphos.

The hijacking is likely to bring to the fore again the question of security at Egyptian airports, five months after a Russian aircraft crashed over Egypt’s Sinai peninsula minutes after it took off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. All 224 people on board were killed in the crash. Russia later said an explosive device brought down the aircraft and the extremist Islamic State group said it downed the plane.

#GoIndigo flight from #Chandigarh to #Dubai ready for take-off

Your more than six-month-long wait to catch an international flight from the new Chandigarh airport would end this summer. Private airline Indigo has obtained the necessary approval to launch Chandigarh-Dubai flight from Indian as well as Dubai authorities. The timing would be released in the summer schedule to commence from March 27. Highly-placed sources said an aircraft having a capacity of 180 seats would fly daily between the two cities.

Assistant solicitor general Chetan Mittal made a formal communication about the final clearance before the Punjab and Haryana high court through a status report on Monday. Mittal said Indigo currently has an unutilized allocation of seven flights/1,260 seats per week in each direction on Chandigarh-Dubai route and it would commence its operations in the forthcoming summer schedule of flights. The private airline confirmed about the commencement of international flight from Chandigarh to the ministry of civil aviation in its communication on March 18.

The proposal from Indigo was pending for past many years. Recently, the Dubaiairport authorities had allotted a slot to the private airline for operating a Dubai-Chandigarh flight. Regarding the offer of Fly Dubai and Bulgarian airlines to operate Chandigarh-Dubai and Chandigarh-Sofia flights, the assistant solicitor general told the high court that the ministry of civil aviation has no objection but these airlines have to seek permission from their governments. It was stated that their governments should initiate diplomatic talks for amendments in existing bilateral agreement regarding allocation seats to run foreign flights.

Brussels Airport attacked by terrorists

Brussels has been hit by three explosions, the terrorists attacked the airport and the metro. A suicide bomber struck the Brussels airport, fired shots and shouted words in Arabic brfore two blasts were heard near the American Airlines check in desk. This incident took place around 8 am local time. The passengers fled the scene for their lives, the airport is now on lockdown and all flights have been cancelled.

An hour later, an explosion was heard at a city centre metro station, which appears to be a separate attack. The attack has been made strategically four days after Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels in relation to the November’s terror attack in Paris.

There are reports of multiple explosions at different metro stations, all public transport in Brussels has been shut down. Multiple fatalities have been reported with a higher number of injured people. Upto 23 people have been reported dead and a lot many injured.

The American Airlines has confirmed that all its staff are safe. The Belgian national team have cancelled a scheduled training session out of respect for the victims of the Brussels attacks today.

Belgium are set to play Portugal in an international friendly at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium next week but the fixture is now in doubt following suspected terrorist bomb attacks.

to read more about airports pls visit- http://www.farehawker.com/airport/europe-rest-airports.php

Plane crashes in Russia, all 61 people on board killed

Russian officials said on Saturday that all 61 people on board a passenger jet flying from Dubai to southern Russia were killed when their plane crashed on its second attempt to land at Rostov-on-Don airport.

Russia's emergencies ministry said the aircraft, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, crashed at 03:50 (0030 GMT) at the airport in Rostov-on-Don. Officials said there were 55 passengers and six crew on board the plane.

"Unfortunately, they all died," Viktor Yanutsenko, an emergencies ministry official helping coordinate the emergency response, was quoted as saying by Russia's RIA news agency.

Zhanna Terekohova, an advisor to the Russian transport minister, told state television possible causes of the crash included pilot error and poor weather conditions.

Local officials said at the time of the crash, there was strong, gusting wind in the Rostov area.

The aircraft had to abandon an initial attempt to land at Rostov, its scheduled destination, and came down while making a repeat attempt, according to an emergencies ministry statement.

The plane came down inside the airport's perimeter, about 250 meters (yards) short of the start of the runway.

Grainy pictures from a security camera pointing towards the airport, which were broadcast on Russian television, showed a large explosion at ground level, with flames and sparks leaping high into the air.

Most of the passengers on board were Russian, the regional governor said on television.

"Three foreigners were on the passenger list of the plane, but that information needs checking" an emergencies ministry official said on Rossiya-24 news channel.

Flydubai said in a statement: "We are doing all we can to gather information as quickly as possible. At this moment our thoughts and prayers are with our passengers and our crew who were on board the aircraft."

"We will do everything we can to help those who have been affected by this accident," said the carrier, which is owned by the Dubai government. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly, Noah Browning and Omar Fahmy; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Michael Perry)

info source : msn.com/en-in/news/world/plane-crashes-in-russia-all-61-people-on-board-killed/ar-BBqDTuo?ocid=spartandhp

Slashing Ticket prices and Increasing Cancellation Charges

Airlines in India are trying to lure in passengers during the off season by offering them discounts and good deals on the tickets. Last week IndiGo began IndiGo began offering air tickets starting from Rs 1,178. This was followed by discounts from other airlines too. GoAir, Vistara, AirAsia, Air India and SpiceJet have all huge discounts to get passengers on board. In the last week of March, GoAir announced fares starting from Rs 1,299 for passengers travelling between June 23 and October 31. This was the second discount offered in the week. The first offer had fares starting from Rs 999. Full service carrier Vistara too offered 20% discount on premium economy and business class, while state-run Air India also participated in the price cut. Even Jet Airways slashed fares up to 50 percent on domestic and international flights.

But on the other hand airlines have increased the cancellation charges by 50-100%. This means passengers now will be charged a higher fee who cancel their tickets 2-48 hours before departure. Cancellation charges of Rs 1,250 per passenger per segment will be charged if the cancellation is made 30 days prior to departure, whereas if you cancel your tickets 7-30 days prior to the departure a cancellation fee of Rs 1,500 will be charged. Cancellation made 48 hours to 7 days before departure will have to shell out Rs 2,000 while for 2-48 hours before departure, a cancellation charge of Rs 2,250 will be charges. (all these will be charge per segment)

Earlier the cancellation charges were Rs 1,500 per passenger on domestic routes.

The above fees will apply for bookings that are made on or after 1 April 2015 only. For any bookings made before this date, the old Fees (Rs 1,500 for Domestic and Rs 2,000 for International) will continue to apply.