Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza has resumed its operations from 5th May. “To be in line with the International safety and security standards, we had to close hotel for few days to ensure that the building and infrastructure is in normal condition and it is absolutely safe to stay for our guests. The hotel was inspected by structural engineers and they have reported that the condition of hotel is absolutely normal and safe. We understand that guest safety comes above all and it can never be compromised at any circumstances,” says a press statement from the hotel. The statement also says that there was no damage to the hotel, and all the employees and guests are safe. 

 

Members of Etihad Airways’ loyalty program Etihad Guest’s members have donated more than 30 million Etihad Guest Miles to provide humanitarian aid to victims of the earthquake disaster in Nepal. Etihad Guest established a dedicated site on the donations section of its Etihad Guest Reward Shop webpage and invited its members around the world to contribute their miles to support the cause.

 

According to a statement from the airline, the response was very generous, with thousands of Etihad Guest members going online to donate millions of Etihad Guest Miles. The Miles are collected by the Reward Shop and converted into cash which is then donated to the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent relief organisation to purchase blankets, foodstuffs, medicine and to provide shelter for the injured and homeless following the earthquake. “Etihad Airways strives to play an important role in contributing to the communities of every one of its destinations, and in this instance has supported a wide range of other initiatives that complement the donations made by Etihad Guest members, including the donation of 5,000 blankets that the Red Crescent has sent to Nepal,” says the statement. 

 

“Humanitarian donations are incredibly popular with members of the Etihad Guest program who are keen to contribute and provide much needed support to those who are impacted by tragic events such as this one. We have received a tremendous response from our members to support the earthquake appeal, and the donations are still coming in,” said Managing Director of Etihad Guest Yasser Al Yousuf. 

 

Etihad Airways resumed its scheduled twice-a day service to Tribhuvan Airport in Nepal on 27 April and added additional flights and upgraded to larger aircraft to accommodate the large numbers of family members and aid workers flying to Nepal immediately after the earthquake.  

 

Jet Airways has strengthened its domestic service network with the introduction of 31 additional flights in the 2015 summer schedule. According to the airline, the additional daily Boeing 737 frequencies will help Jet Airways improve connectivity and provide greater convenience and choice for its guests. 

 

The airline has introduced a total of 23 inbound and outbound flights from New Delhi to key metros, Tier II and Tier III cities namely, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Lucknow, Patna, Srinagar, Jaipur and Pune. Some of these flights include late night departures from Delhi to the three metros as well as to Pune and Bengaluru. The airline has also increased frequencies to Pune, Goa and Imphal looking at the growing demand in the sector owing to buoyant business and tourist travel.

 

Oman Air has won two awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2015. The airline came top in the ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline - Business Class’ and ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline - Economy Class’ categories at the ceremony held on 5th May 2015. According to the airline, this is the second year in a row that Oman Air has taken the titles, which is voted for by travel and tourism professionals worldwide.

 

“It is particularly satisfying to receive these awards now. We are just a few months in to our ambitious programme of fleet and network expansion. This will see us increase the size of our fleet from 30 aircraft at the start of the programme, to 50 aircraft by 2018, and to 70 by 2020,” said Chief Operating Officer of Oman Air Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy.