Jamnagar is a key driver of Gujarat’s industrial growth, with strong contributions across energy, petrochemicals, ports, and manufacturing. The new service will strengthen the city’s linkages with major economic hubs through Navi Mumbai, unlocking new opportunities for trade, investment, and regional development.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said, “Following the recent addition of Bhavnagar to IndiGo’s growing domestic network, we are pleased to announce direct, daily connectivity between Jamnagar and Navi Mumbai. This new route further strengthens our presence in western India and enhances connectivity to and from Gujarat. With this addition, IndiGo now flies to six airports in Gujarat, namely Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and now also Jamnagar. This new service underscores IndiGo’s continued commitment to expand its domestic footprint by linking key regional centres with major metros, while consistently delivering a reliable, seamless, and efficient travel experience.”

Schedule of Flights Between Jamnagar and Navi Mumbai, Effective 23 April 2026

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Flamingo’s popular international and domestic group travel packages, which are currently sold largely through 51 offices across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, will complement MakeMyTrip’s established Holiday Packages business and help the platform penetrate deeper into markets across India.

Commenting on the acquisition, Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said, “Flamingo aligns closely with the growth strategy of our Holiday Packages business. It is a strong, growing business that has developed a unique moat in the group travel domain. We plan to leverage the complementary customer base, products, and distribution focus between the two brands to widen holiday package options for our customers.”

Mohit Kabra, Group Chief Operating Officer, MakeMyTrip, said, “We believe that our proposed acquisition of Flamingo creates a profitable growth opportunity to help MakeMyTrip drive a deeper presence in regional markets across India.”

Commenting on this, Sanjay Shah, Director and Co-Founder of Flamingo Transworld, said, “For over three decades, Flamingo has built something unique in Indian travel, genuine trust. From chef-led tours to regional language guides, the brand has grown by going deeper. By combining Flamingo’s brand equity and operational depth with MakeMyTrip’s digital platform and national customer reach, we aim to build a truly pan-India tour company that brings Flamingo’s signature experience to millions of new customers.”

MakeMyTrip has taken a calibrated approach to inorganic growth, steadily strengthening its presence across key travel segments. Recent strategic acquisitions, including QuestToTravel in corporate travel bookings, Simplotel in hotel technology, BookMyForex in travel forex, Savaari in intercity mobility, and Happay in corporate spend management, have expanded its capabilities across leisure, corporate, and ancillary travel. These moves have enhanced supply integration, cross-sell potential, and end-to-end control across the connected trip journey, reinforcing MakeMyTrip’s position as a full-stack travel services platform. We expect our proposed acquisition of Flamingo to further contribute to this growth.

Safe Harbor Statement: This release contains certain statements concerning the Company’s future growth prospects and forward-looking statements, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections about the Company and its industry. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “is/are likely to”, “intend”, “may”, “potential”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “seek”, “will”, or other similar expressions. Such statements include, among other things, quotations from management as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, a slow-down of economic growth in India and the global economic downturn, general declines or disruptions in the travel industry, volatility in the trading price of the Company’s shares, the Company’s reliance on its relationships with travel suppliers and strategic alliances, failure to further increase the Company’s brand recognition to obtain new business partners and consumers, failure to compete against new and existing competitors, failure to successfully manage current growth and potential future growth, risks associated with any strategic investments or acquisitions, seasonality in the travel industry in India and overseas, failure to successfully develop the Company’s corporate travel business, damage to or failure of the Company’s infrastructure and technology, loss of services of the Company’s key executives, and inflation in India and in other countries. These and other factors are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s 20-F dated June 16, 2025, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this release is provided as of the date of issuance of this release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

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Located between Madagascar and Mauritius, Réunion Island is renowned for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage-listed natural sites such as the Piton de la Fournaise, and a vibrant, multi-cultural society shaped by African, European, Indian, and Asian influences. Home to a significant Indian diaspora, the island is gaining popularity among Indian outbound travellers, including luxury travellers, honeymooners, adventure seekers, nature lovers, and bespoke MICE groups, all drawn by its distinctive blend of nature, culture, and immersive experiences.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, said, “We are pleased to announce direct flights between Chennai and Réunion Island, in the Indian Ocean. Known for its diverse landscapes, pristine coastlines, and rich multicultural heritage, Réunion Island offers travellers a distinctive and immersive experience. These flights extend extreme convenience for travellers to a destination combining an authentic French experience with tropical island allure. We are confident that customers will appreciate travelling on India’s preferred carrier on this new and unique route.”

Schedule of Flights Between Chennai-Réunion Island, Effective 29 April 2026

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Shanghai, China’s premier global financial centre and a major innovation hub, is an essential addition to the 6E network. With continued growth in exports from West Bengal to China in FY25-26, including marine products, leather goods, and specialized textiles, direct air connectivity will further strengthen trade flows between the two countries.

Vinay Malhotra, Global Head of Sales, IndiGo, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our new daily, direct connectivity between Kolkata and Shanghai, China, in addition to our flights to Guangzhou. This development underscores our commitment to connecting India to key global destinations. Shanghai is the country’s biggest city, a global financial hub, and famous for its dazzling futuristic skyline complemented with historic architecture. This addition to our network will play an important role in facilitating bilateral trade and is expected to boost tourism and promote greater cultural exchange between the two nations.”

Schedule of Flights between Kolkata and Shanghai, Effective 29 March 2026

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INDIA: IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, has launched its limited-period sale, ‘Splash into Savings’, enabling customers to plan and travel more affordably on select domestic and international routes. The sale will be open for bookings from 24 February to 27 February 2026, for travel from 3 March to 30 September 2026. The offer is valid for bookings made at least seven days before departure and applies to non-stop and connecting flights across all booking channels.

As part of the ‘Splash into Savings’ sale, customers can book all-inclusive one-way domestic fares starting at ₹1,999 and international fares starting at ₹4,699. IndiGoStretch fares, offering added comfort on select domestic routes, are also available from ₹9,999*.

In addition to special fares, IndiGo is offering attractive discounts on select ancillary services during the sale period. Customers can enjoy up to 70% off on select 6E Add-ons, including Fast Forward services, up to 50% off on pre-paid excess baggage, and up to 15% off on standard seat selection across select domestic and international sectors. Emergency XL (extra legroom) seats are also available starting at

₹500 on select domestic routes. Further, infants aged 0–24 months can travel for just ₹1 on domestic sectors when bookings are made through IndiGo’s direct channels.

Bookings can be made conveniently through the IndiGo website, mobile app, AI-powered assistant 6ESkai, via IndiGo WhatsApp at +91 70651 45858, or through select travel partner websites and apps.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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NEW DELHI: BLS International, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and diplomatic missions, has announced the successful launch of an AI-powered VoiceBot for the Spain–Ireland visa mission to provide 24/7 assistance to applicants. Following its successful deployment at IVAC Canada last year, the VoiceBot service is now being launched for the Spain mission in Ireland, with plans for a subsequent global rollout.

The AI-powered VoiceBot is designed to operate 24/7, providing real-time, human-like interaction and delivering instant, accurate responses to customer queries. This significantly reduces wait times, eliminates dependency on traditional queue systems, and ensures consistent information round-the-clock. It addresses a wide spectrum of visa-related enquiries, from basic FAQs to detailed guidance on documentation and consular services. Furthermore, the VoiceBot will support 15+ languages such as Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, French, Chinese, and Russian, enabling seamless engagement with customers across Europe, the US, Canada, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, China, the RCIS region, and India, with language availability aligned to regional requirements and customer needs.

Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director at BLS International, said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of our AI-powered VoiceBot service, designed to enhance customer experience while establishing new standards for operational excellence. This launch represents a pivotal milestone in our digital transformation strategy, demonstrating our commitment to embedding AI and advanced technologies across our operations. As we continue to scale intelligent solutions, this VoiceBot underscores our strategic focus on delivering seamless, customer-centric innovations that drive sustainable value and define the future of our customer engagement.”

Built on a robust Machine Learning platform (Azure ML Python SDK v2) and integrated seamlessly with legacy systems through multiple API connections, the VoiceBot represents a significant leap in digital infrastructure modernization. It leverages real-time sentiment analysis and emotional intelligence to assess customer needs, showcasing how Indian innovation is setting new benchmarks in AI applications.

Commenting on the VoiceBot launch, Nitin Mishra, Vice President – Global Contact Centres, BLS International, said, “Implementing the VoiceBot has been a testament to our cross-functional capabilities and technical readiness. From architecting the AI framework to ensuring seamless integration with our existing systems, our teams have built a scalable, secure solution that can handle high volumes while maintaining service quality. This deployment establishes a replicable model for rolling out AI-powered solutions across our business, accelerating our time-to-market for future innovations.

This launch is part of BLS International’s comprehensive digital transformation strategy, centered on intelligent automation and innovation-led service delivery. Our roadmap encompasses a suite of AI-powered solutions designed to transform customer interactions at scale. Following the VoiceBot deployment, the company in the coming phases will introduce ChatBots and Email Bots across all countries to expand automated assistance channels, and will focus on AI-driven Quality Management systems to ensure consistent service excellence. Our strategy focuses on creating an integrated ecosystem of AI-driven tools that enhance service quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction across our global operations.“

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GURUGRAM: Air India today marked two landmark developments in its continued effort to expand its international network and upgrade passenger experience. The first made-for-Air India B787-9, featuring custom-styled interiors, entered commercial operations today from Mumbai to Frankfurt, while simultaneously, Air India resumed its non-stop services between Delhi and Shanghai after nearly six years.

The Delhi-Shanghai flight (AI352) departed Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1207 hrs IST, reconnecting the Indian capital city with one of Asia’s premier business and cultural hubs. This 4x weekly service, operated with a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, restores Air India’s direct access to mainland China and supports growing demand from business travellers, families, and tourists.

Parallelly, Air India’s recently inducted B787-9 (registered VT-AWA) operating as AI2027 departed Mumbai at 1237 hrs IST operating to Frankfurt. This deployment marks the debut of Air India’s completely redesigned cabin interiors, unveiled on 27 January 2026, which set a new standard for passenger comfort and will be rolled out across the airline’s entire B787 fleet.

The new Boeing 787-9 features 30 Business Class suites in a spacious 1-2-1 layout, each offering direct aisle access, fully flat beds up to 79 inches long with a generous 42-inch pitch, wireless charging, large 17-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens, and ample storage. Premium Economy, as a dedicated, upscale cabin, offers 28 wide seats with generous legroom in a 2-3-2 layout, providing a 38-inch pitch, enhanced recline, adjustable calf and leg rests, 13.3-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens, and more. Economy Class comprises 238 ergonomic seats, equipped with 11.6-inch 4K QLED HDR touchscreens and improved overall comfort tailored for long-haul flights. All three cabins feature Thales AVANT Up in-flight entertainment with high-definition touchscreens, Type A and C charging ports, new mood lighting inspired by ancient Indian wellness traditions, Bluetooth headphone connectivity, and bespoke design touches.

Air India’s flights between Delhi-Shanghai and Mumbai-Frankfurt remain available for booking across all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres, and through travel agents worldwide. 

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The Republic Day holiday, falling on a Monday, acted as a catalyst for travel, compared to last year when the January 26 holiday fell on a Sunday. The spike starts on January 23 (Friday) and peaks on January 24 (Saturday), as travellers start their trips early to make the most of the extended weekend

TOP 5 DOMESTIC LEISURE DESTINATIONS

Domestic leisure travel trends for the Republic Day long weekend showed both continuity and shifts year-on-year. In 2025, Goa led the list of top destinations, followed by Udaipur, Jaipur, Manali, and Munnar. In 2026, Goa retained its top position, while Jaipur and Udaipur swapped ranks to take the second and third spots, respectively. Manali continued to feature among the top four destinations, and Pondicherry entered the top five in 2026

SPIRITUAL TRAVEL IS SEEING STRONG DEMAND

In terms of spiritual travel, destinations such as Puri, Varanasi, Amritsar, Ayodhya, Ujjain, Dwarka, Udupi, and Tirupati are seeing strong demand.

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS

In 2025, the UAE emerged as the most preferred international destination, followed by Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. In 2026, Thailand moved to the top spot, with the UAE close behind in second place. Vietnam stood out this year, rising sharply from 10th position in 2025 to become the third most booked international destination for the long weekend. Malaysia retained its fourth position, while Singapore featured fifth among the top international choices.

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS FROM KEY METRO CITIES

• Delhi travellers showed a preference for Dubai, followed by Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali.
• From Mumbai, Dubai emerged as the top destination, with Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, and Colombo also featuring among the top five.
• Bengaluru travellers favoured Bangkok most, followed by Dubai, Phuket, Colombo, and Singapore.
• Chennai saw Bangkok lead outbound travel choices, followed by Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Colombo.
• From Kolkata, Bangkok ranked highest, with Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Dubai, and Singapore completing the list of top international destinations

TOP 5 DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS FROM KEY METRO CITIES

• Travellers from Delhi preferred Goa the most, followed by Jaipur, Rishikesh, Mussoori, and Udaipur.
• From Mumbai, Goa led domestic choices, with Lonavala, Alibag, Mahabaleshwar, and Karjat rounding off the top five.
• Bengaluru travellers showed a strong preference for Goa, followed by Mysore, Coorg, Pondicherry, and Wayanad.
• Chennai’s top domestic destinations included Goa, Auroville, Yelagiri, Yercaud, and Ooty.
• From Kolkata, Mandarmani emerged as the most preferred destination, followed by Digha, Darjeeling, Go,a and Shantiniketan

TOP 5 DOMESTIC HOLIDAY PACKAGE DESTINATIONS

1. Kerala
2. Andaman
3. Goa
4. Rajasthan
5. Tamil Nadu

TOP 5 INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY PACKAGE DESTINATIONS

1. Thailand
2. Vietnam & Cambodia
3. UAE
4. Maldives
5. Indonesia

“The appetite for weekend travel remains strong, with the extended Republic Day weekend presenting an opportunity for travel. There is a preference for nearby destinations, evident in the top travel choices from each metro. That said, Goa remains the favourite leisure destination within India. Internationally, the skew towards easy-visa destinations continues to gain traction. Countries with direct connectivity to multiple cities are leading demand, with Thailand at the forefront and Vietnam also performing strongly.” – Rajesh Magow, Co-founder & Group CEO, MakeMyTrip

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INDIA: IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, today commenced non-stop flights between Mumbai, India, and Athens, Greece, marking its debut in narrow-body long-haul operations, deploying India’s first Airbus A321XLR aircraft. IndiGo will connect Athens and Delhi using the same aircraft starting tomorrow, 24 January 2026. With these, IndiGo becomes the first Indian carrier to directly connect the two countries as it will fly thrice weekly on each route and plans to increase connectivity to more points in Greece in due course. Customers from Greece are now connected to two largest Indian metro cities, and beyond to IndiGo’s enormous network in India and Asia.

Additionally, the bilateral codeshare partnership between IndiGo and AEGEAN, Greece’s largest carrier, also goes live, allowing IndiGo to place its 6E code on more than 10 European destinations operated by the latter, including in Italy, Spain, and Bulgaria. This will also enable AEGEAN customers to seamlessly connect to more than 10 destinations on IndiGo’s domestic and international network from its hubs in Delhi and Mumbai, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and Colombo.

Athens is a major draw for Indian travellers seeking leisure holidays, MICE activities, and wedding touris,m offering an immersive blend of history, culture, and Mediterranean beauty. These new routes from Mumbai and Delhi will cater to this growing demand, while further strengthening IndiGo’s network in Europe.

Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo, said, “Athens is a very special destination for IndiGo as the first international route operated on India’s first A321XLR aircraft, and makes IndiGo India’s first carrier offering direct flights between India and Greece. We are thrilled to launch this new aviation corridor, broadening global connectivity from India and reflecting our commitment to supporting the country’s rise to becoming a global aviation hub. These direct flights, complemented with seamless onward connectivity to destinations in Europe and other Greek islands with the codeshare partnership with AEGEAN, will not only make travel more convenient for leisure and business travellers but also foster stronger bilateral ties between two of the world’s oldest civilisations. We also thank Athens International Airport for their support and look forward to strengthening this partnership by consistently offering affordable, convenient, and reliable travel experiences to our customers.”

Mr. Yiannis Paraschis, Managing Director (CEO), Athens International Airport, said, “January 23rd, 2026, marks a very important milestone for the connectivity of our airport, our city, and the country. This is the first-ever scheduled direct air service between India and Greece. The launch of IndiGo’s direct flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai to Athens is a milestone development, which unlocks substantial opportunities for tourism, while also strengthening business and economic ties, as well as cultural exchanges between the two countries. IndiGo’s strategic decision to invest in our market and expand its network portfolio through this direct connection reinforces our commitment to strengthening this cooperation and substantially supports the airline’s developmental plans to Athens. We wish our new airline partner safe and full flights, and we invite the traveling public to enjoy this seamless experience of the first-ever direct connection of Athens to one of the key global aviation markets.”

The A321XLR Experience

The aircraft offers a dual-class configuration with 12 IndiGoStretch seats and 183 in Economy. Customers will enjoy complimentary hot meals and beverages inspired by global and local flavours, with vegetarian options as the default and the choice to pre-book non-vegetarian meals. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase in Economy or can be pre-booked and are complimentary for IndiGoStretch customers. Additionally, a next-generation digital in-flight experience lets customers stream a wide range of entertainment—including Indian and Hollywood films, TV shows, games, anime, and more—on their personal devices.

Schedule of Flights between Mumbai/ Delhi and Athens, Effective 23 January 2026

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MUMBAI: Wise has launched its multi-currency travel card in India today, entering the market just as the country records its highest-ever outbound travel figures and heads into peak international travel season.

India’s outbound travel surged to a record 3.89 crore departures in 2024, driven by leisure travel (42.5%), diaspora visits (34.7%), and business trips (14.9%). Spending has jumped even more dramatically – before FY22, Indians spent roughly $3-4 billion annually on overseas holidays, according to data from the LRS. Still, over the last two years, this has shot up to an average of $17 billion.

Despite this travel boom, Indians continue to lose substantial amounts to non-transparent markups on the exchange rate applied by traditional forex providers. Banks and travel companies have long dominated India’s forex card market, with most providers adding 2-4% margins to currency conversions – costs that are rarely made explicit to customers. On a ₹2 lakh foreign currency conversion, these hidden markups can cost travellers ₹4,000-₹8,000 extra compared to the mid-market rate.

The Wise Travel card, available from today, uses the mid-market exchange rate – the rate visible on Google – with only a small, transparent conversion fee. Over 75,000 people joined the Wise Travel card waitlist in just a month, announced at the Global Fintech Festival, signalling demand for a transparent alternative to traditional forex cards.

Wise has built the card around how Indians actually travel and spend:

• 40+ currencies supported: The highest number available on any forex card in India, covering major travel destinations like Vietnam, Indonesia, Turkey, and Georgia
• DigiLocker and video KYC: Complete digital onboarding in minutes without visiting a branch
• Instant digital card: Available immediately for online bookings and transactions, while the physical card ships
• IMPS top-ups: Instant account loading
• Smart Conversion: The card automatically selects the best available rate when spending abroad, even if you don’t have the destination currency in your card
• Real-time controls: Freeze and unfreeze cards instantly in-app, receive spend alerts, and set custom spending limits.
• Works across 160+ countries on the Visa network: accepted at millions of merchants and ATMs globally.
• Free ATM withdrawals up to $200 a month: Beyond that threshold, a fee of 1.40 USD plus 3.25% applies.

“Indian travellers are heading abroad in record numbers, but they’re still paying hidden fees that can add hundreds or thousands of rupees to every trip. The waitlist numbers showed us something important: people are done putting up with complicated pricing. They want transparency, convenience, and a great product experience. We’re excited to bring this to international spending in India, just as the travel season kicks off,” said Taneia Bhardwaj, South Asia Expansion Lead at Wise.

Wise is waiving its standard 460 INR card issuance fee for customers who sign up before 10 February 2026. The card carries no annual fees, subscription charges, or inactivity penalties.

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