Category: Travel

Travel

Akasa Air Unveils Christmas Special Goan-Inspired Festive Meal for December Flyers

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

Akasa Air is bringing festive joy to travellers this December with the launch of Café Akasa’s fourth edition of the Christmas Special Meal. Designed to celebrate the warmth, nostalgia and indulgence of the holiday season, the festive offering beautifully blends classic Christmas flavours with the light, coastal charm of Goan cuisine. Travellers can look forward to a delicious Roast Chicken Pie accompanied by a rich Mocha Bebinca and a beverage of choice, creating a wholesome and comforting dining experience in the skies. Available exclusively throughout December across the Akasa Air network, this special meal can be conveniently pre-booked via the airline’s website or mobile app.

The Christmas Special Meal reflects Akasa Air’s continued commitment to offering thoughtfully curated dining options that celebrate India’s vibrant tapestry of regional and seasonal traditions. Since its inception in 2022, Café Akasa has delighted passengers with a wide array of festive menus inspired by occasions such as Makar Sankranti, Holi, Eid, Onam, Diwali and more, making each celebration feel special even while travelling. In addition to its festive offerings, the airline also allows flyers to pre-order cakes for birthday celebrations on board, adding a personalised touch to journeys in the air.

The Café Akasa menu, refreshed frequently, features over 45 gourmet options ranging from fusion meals and appetisers with regional twists to indulgent desserts, all crafted by renowned chefs to suit diverse dietary preferences. With its latest Christmas edition, Café Akasa once again elevates the in-flight dining experience, ensuring travellers can savour the spirit of the holidays from the moment they take to the skies.

Travel

Direct Flights from Uzbekistan Resume, Boosting Goa’s Global Connectivity

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Goa’s international tourism landscape received a significant boost with the resumption of direct flights from Uzbekistan. On December 3, an A-320 aircraft arrived at Manohar International Airport, Mopa from Tashkent with 121 passengers, symbolizing renewed connectivity and the strengthening of ties between the two destinations.

This development reinforces Goa’s appeal as a preferred global travel hotspot and enhances convenience for visitors from Central Asia. Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, highlighted that the restored route amplifies Goa’s international connectivity and contributes to the state’s ongoing efforts to expand into new global markets. He emphasized that such initiatives pave the way for seamless travel and deeper engagement between regions. Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, stated that the renewed connection reflects the trust that global partners continue to place in Goa’s tourism potential.

According to him, it improves outreach efforts and offers visitors from Uzbekistan easier access to Goa’s culture, festivals, and diverse experiences. With the reinstated service, Goa strengthens its focus on cultural exchange, leisure travel, and future collaborations. This milestone aligns with the state’s larger vision of broadening its international footprint through sustained partnerships and targeted global promotions.

The return of direct flights marks a promising chapter in Goa’s evolving tourism growth story, enhancing accessibility while inviting more international travelers to discover the state’s unique charm.

Travel

IndiGo Cancels 200 Flights Amid Pilot Shortages, Crew No-Shows, and Escalating Operational Chaos

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

IndiGo faced one of its worst operational breakdowns in recent times on December 3, 2025, as skewed crew planning and shortages in pilot availability resulted in the cancellation of at least 200 flights and triggered massive delays across the country. Some aircraft were grounded for up to 12 hours, made worse by unexpected cabin crew no-shows in Mumbai, pushing the airline into crisis mode and forcing it to issue a public apology.

The situation had been building for weeks, but Wednesday marked a tipping point. At Delhi airport, frustrated passengers of a delayed Rajkot flight began chanting slogans after waiting six hours beyond their scheduled 5:40 a.m. departure, eventually taking off only at 11:30 a.m. Similar scenes unfolded in Mumbai, where passengers on a flight to Patna waited for hours as its departure time slipped from 11:15 a.m. to an estimated 8 p.m. Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport witnessed 62 cancellations for a second consecutive day, while Hyderabad saw 31 cancellations and Delhi 37.

The heart of the crisis lies in a severe pilot shortage fueled by the complete rollout of stricter duty-rest norms on November 1. These regulations, created to address rising concerns about crew fatigue, had been deferred by the government for a year to allow airlines sufficient time for planning. Their full enforcement came only after pilot associations won a case in the Delhi High Court earlier this year. IndiGo’s pilots have argued that the airline failed to prepare, with rostering teams pleading with crew members to withdraw sick leave and even offering 1.5x salary for forgoing privilege leave in recent weeks—efforts that have largely fallen flat.

Government data revealed the depth of the disruption: IndiGo recorded only 35% on-time performance on December 2 and under 50% on December 1. In its statement, the airline attributed the chaos to a combination of “unforeseen operational challenges,” including technical glitches, winter-season schedule changes, congestion, adverse weather, and the updated crew-rostering rules. These factors, it said, created a compounding impact the airline had not anticipated.

To stabilise operations, IndiGo announced that it would adjust schedules over the next 48 hours, signaling that further cancellations were likely. Meanwhile, the pilot body ALPA India cautioned against any attempts to dilute the fatigue-management norms, arguing that IndiGo’s failure lay not in the rules themselves but in insufficient resource planning. The organisation reiterated that any relaxation in duty limits would compromise both passenger and crew safety at a time when pilots are already stretched to the upper limit of 13-hour duty periods, with long-standing grievances such as stagnant salaries despite significant airline profits further aggravating the workforce.

The unfolding crisis reflects deeper tensions within India’s fast-growing aviation sector, where aggressive expansion often collides with the need to ensure adequate rest, safety, and working conditions for crew members. IndiGo now faces the challenge of restoring normalcy while grappling with the structural issues that pushed its operations into turmoil.

Travel

Goa Tourism Showcases Future-Ready Vision at QTM 2025 with Grand Pavilion Inauguration

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

Goa Tourism marked a significant milestone at the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2025 with the inauguration of its pavilion by Mr. Vipul, IFS, Indian Ambassador to Qatar, in the presence of Hon’ble Tourism Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik, GTDC General Manager (Marketing) Mr. Gavin Dias, and other dignitaries. The event highlighted Goa’s focused global outreach and its commitment to positioning itself as a premium destination aligned with emerging travel trends.

Speaking at the inauguration, Hon’ble Minister Shri Rohan A. Khaunte emphasized that Goa has entered a transformative phase where sustainability, community empowerment, and experiential tourism are central drivers of growth. He stated that the State’s participation in QTM 2025 strengthens its connection with one of its most important international markets and reinforces its ambition to diversify Goa’s tourism portfolio across leisure, wellness, weddings, adventure, and film tourism. His remarks underscored Goa’s vision of delivering high-quality, responsible, and innovative tourism experiences that match global expectations.

Echoing this vision, Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik highlighted that QTM 2025 provides a valuable opportunity to present Goa beyond its popular coastline by showcasing regenerative tourism models, upgraded infrastructure, and curated visitor experiences designed for authenticity and quality. The interactions on the opening day demonstrated strong international interest in Goa as a multifaceted destination capable of offering memorable and meaningful experiences.

The pavilion presented a refreshed narrative of Goa’s tourism landscape, displaying new and evolving offerings shaped by global travel trends. Visitors were introduced to the State’s strengthened focus on regenerative tourism, community-led initiatives, and improved visitor infrastructure, along with emerging verticals such as nocto tourism, jet-setting through film and screen tourism, and calming wellness-oriented “calmcations.” The State’s expanding portfolio reflects its long-term commitment to sustainable development and experience-driven travel.

Throughout the day, the Goa pavilion witnessed enthusiastic participation from travel trade professionals, international tour operators, media delegates, and industry buyers. Conversations revolved around infrastructure advancements, digital tourism innovations, heritage conservation projects, and community-driven tourism circuits that aim to create meaningful impact for both travellers and local communities.

The opening day concluded on an optimistic note, reinforcing Goa Tourism’s strong presence at QTM 2025. With a future-ready vision and a comprehensive tourism offering, the Goa delegation is set to continue its engagements over the next two days, deepening partnerships and strengthening the State’s global position as a diverse, responsible, and world-class travel destination.

Travel

Goa Tourism Strengthens Global Footprint with Successful Malaysia Roadshow

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral Travel Desk

The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, has successfully concluded its exclusive roadshow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking another milestone in the State’s growing global outreach. The event drew an enthusiastic response from Malaysia’s travel trade community, reinforcing Goa’s expanding presence in the Southeast Asian tourism market.

Led by the Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, along with General Manager (Marketing) GTDC, Shri Gavin Dias, and key industry representatives, the delegation engaged with leading tour operators, travel partners, and hospitality stakeholders, creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration. The presence of dignitaries such as Dr. Vivekanand, First Secretary of the Indian High Commission; MATTA President, Shri Nigel; and Director General of Malaysia Tourism, Shri Datuk Manoharan, added significance to the international engagement.

Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, highlighted that Goa is emerging as a global destination rooted in innovation, culture, and sustainability. He noted that the Malaysia roadshow provided a valuable platform to showcase Goa’s new vibrancy shaped by responsible and regenerative tourism, reaffirming the State’s commitment to nurturing deeper international partnerships and enhancing its global positioning.

Director of Tourism, Shri Kedar Naik, expressed satisfaction with the encouraging response from Malaysian travel partners, emphasizing that Goa today represents a diverse tourism landscape encompassing entertainment, wellness, luxury, and rich cultural programmes. The roadshow highlighted Goa’s signature festivals, improved air connectivity, expanding hotel infrastructure, and an evolving range of experiential tourism offerings that cater to modern travellers seeking meaningful journeys.

By reinforcing its focus on regenerative tourism and experience-led travel, Goa showcased itself as a destination that seamlessly blends innovation with cultural depth. The Department of Tourism expressed confidence that the Malaysia Roadshow will pave the way for fruitful partnerships, strengthen bilateral tourism ties, and support its broader global outreach initiatives aimed at expanding Goa’s presence in priority international markets.