Forbes Travel Guide to Unveil First-Ever Luxury Air Travel Awards

Forbes Travel Guide to Unveil First-Ever Luxury Air Travel Awards

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 29, 2024

Forbes Travel Guide ("FTG"), the world's leading authority on luxury hospitality, is expanding its reach into the skies with the launch of the inaugural Verified Air Travel Awards. These awards, set to be unveiled on October 22, will recognize excellence in air travel, a vital component of the luxury travel experience. The awards will cover over 20 categories, including Best Airlines, Best Airports, and Best Private Jet Services, with winners chosen by an exclusive panel of the world's top luxury travel advisors and elite global travelers.

The invitation-only panel, comprising 5,000 highly qualified travel advisors, FTG's incognito inspectors, and globe-trotting Learning & Development experts, will cast their votes based on real-world experience. Their insights will be validated by FTG, renowned for the integrity and objectivity of its Star Ratings system, which has set the benchmark in luxury hospitality for 66 years.

Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-winning travel journalist and host of "Eye on Travel" on CBS Radio, underscores the importance of these awards: "Too many travel industry awards are the result of a somewhat suspect popularity contest. The Verified Air Travel awards are important because the metrics are based on real-world experience and real-world accountability." He further emphasizes that in a world where luxury brands are proliferating, the focus should be on unbiased opinions and reliable facts to define true excellence.

Jeff Arnold, Chairman of the Board at Forbes Travel Guide, highlighted the interconnected nature of luxury travel today: "In today's luxury travel landscape, the quality of both air and hotel experiences is inseparable for a seamless journey. Our Verified Air Travel Awards are a natural extension of FTG's commitment to excellence, ensuring discerning travelers can trust the highest standards of service and comfort from takeoff to landing."

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The awards have already garnered attention with nominations for large airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, as well as small airlines like Beond and BermudAir. Private jet services like Flexjet and NetJets are also among the nominees.

The winners will be celebrated at FTG's annual event, The Summit, held in Monaco in February 2025. This event is dedicated to luxury brands and travel, bringing together industry leaders to celebrate the pinnacle of luxury service.

While the Verified Air Travel Awards will be supported by FTG's expertise, they will operate independently from the organization's established Five-Star, Four-Star, and Recommended Ratings, which are exclusively awarded to hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruise ships globally through anonymous, in-person inspections.

The highly anticipated results of the Verified Air Travel Awards will be revealed on October 22 on ForbesTravelGuide.com, offering travelers a new benchmark for luxury in air travel.

Connect with Forbes Travel Guide:

About Forbes Travel Guide:

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, ocean cruises, restaurants, and spas. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards to help discerning travelers select the world's best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star, or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspections. Learn more at ForbesTravelGuide.com. For more about The Summit, visit Summit.ForbesTravelGuide.com.


FLY91 Adds Extra Pune-Goa Daily Flight to Meet Summer Travel Demand

FLY91 Adds Extra Pune-Goa Daily Flight to Meet Summer Travel Demand

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 19, 2026

FLY91 has announced an additional weekday daily flight between Pune and Goa for May 2026 to meet increased passenger demand during the summer holiday season. The temporary addition comes as travel activity continues to rise due to vacations, family trips and seasonal travel movement.

The airline already operates daily weekday services on the Pune-Goa route, while weekend operations currently run twice daily. The newly introduced weekday frequency is expected to provide travellers with more options and greater convenience during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

According to the airline, the decision was taken in response to increased movement from holidaymakers, students, families and business travellers. The Pune-Goa route has witnessed steady demand throughout the summer season, making it an important sector within the airline’s growing network.

By adding another service, FLY91 aims to improve schedule flexibility while increasing seat availability between the two destinations. The move is also expected to ease travel during the peak vacation period and support smoother passenger movement.

Pune continues to remain one of western India’s key educational and commercial centres, while Goa attracts a significant number of domestic travellers during the summer months. The additional service is expected to further strengthen connectivity between the two cities and support increasing regional travel demand.

FLY91 said the new flight also aligns with its broader objective of strengthening dependable and safe regional connectivity across underserved and high-demand sectors in India.

The airline currently operates flights across 12 destinations including Goa (GOX), Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Solapur, Jalgaon, Sindhudurg, Kochi, Agatti, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Hubballi.


IRCTC Launches Bharat Gaurav Nepal Yatra from Indore for Pashupatinath Pilgrimage

IRCTC Launches Bharat Gaurav Nepal Yatra from Indore for Pashupatinath Pilgrimage

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 17, 2026

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a special religious journey to Nepal under its Bharat Gaurav scheme, giving travellers and pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh and nearby regions an opportunity to explore important spiritual and tourist destinations in the neighbouring country.

The special 'Pashupatinath Nepal Darshan Yatra' will begin from Indore on June 12 aboard a Deluxe AC tourist train. According to IRCTC, this is the first Bharat Gaurav tourist train service designed for passengers travelling beyond India’s borders, making it a significant addition to its tourism offerings.

The journey will run for nine nights and 10 days, covering some of Nepal’s well-known religious and tourist attractions. The itinerary includes visits to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, and Manakamana Temple. As part of the experience, travellers will also get access to a ropeway ride at Manakamana Temple and a Jeep Safari at Chitwan, arranged by IRCTC.

Passengers can board the train from multiple stations across Madhya Pradesh including Indore, Ujjain, Shujalpur, Sehore, Rani Kamalapati (Bhopal), Itarsi, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, and Satna.

Rahul Holkar, Executive Tourism (Indore), said: "Dining facilities will be available for passengers onboard, with two restaurant coaches arranged for this purpose."

He also shared that the train will have 14 coaches and offer three accommodation categories: First AC, Second AC, and Third AC. The package further includes five-night accommodation in three-star hotels, along with local sightseeing through AC buses.

IRCTC has introduced different fare structures based on the selected category. The package covers rail travel, hotel stays, meals onboard and during the journey, local transportation, sightseeing, travel insurance, tour escorts, security arrangements and housekeeping services.

Officials also clarified that the Nepal Darshan Yatra is a guided tourist journey and should be viewed as a specially curated travel experience rather than a regular international tour package. Bookings for the Bharat Gaurav Nepal Yatra can be made through IRCTC’s official website and authorised offices.


Air India Begins Twice Daily Flights to Ludhiana Halwara Airport

Air India Begins Twice Daily Flights to Ludhiana Halwara Airport

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 16, 2026

Air India has commenced commercial operations to Ludhiana’s newly operational Halwara airport, becoming the first airline to launch services at the airport. The new route strengthens connectivity between Ludhiana and Delhi while also opening access to Air India’s wider international network.

The inaugural flight from Delhi landed at Halwara airport at 0703 Hrs, while the return service departed from Ludhiana at 0800 Hrs. Air India will now operate two daily flights on the Delhi–Ludhiana route using its A320 family aircraft.

The newly launched services have been scheduled to provide passengers with smoother onward connections through Delhi to Air India’s international destinations. Travellers flying from Ludhiana can conveniently connect to cities including London, Paris, Milan, Rome, and Birmingham through a single ticket and a unified baggage allowance system with through check-in facilities.

Passengers will also benefit from same-terminal transfers at Delhi airport, allowing easier movement between domestic and international flights.

The flight schedule for the Delhi–Ludhiana route includes:

  • AI481: Delhi to Ludhiana (Halwara) – Departure: 05:55 | Arrival: 07:05 | Daily
  • AI482: Ludhiana (Halwara) to Delhi – Departure: 07:55 | Arrival: 09:10 | Daily
  • AI483: Delhi to Ludhiana (Halwara) – Departure: 12:55 | Arrival: 14:10 | Daily
  • AI484: Ludhiana (Halwara) to Delhi – Departure: 14:40 | Arrival: 15:55 | Daily

With the launch of operations at Halwara airport, Air India continues to expand its domestic network while strengthening connectivity between regional cities and international destinations.

Bookings for Air India’s Ludhiana flights are now open across all channels, including the airline’s website, mobile app, and travel partners worldwide.

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