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.


IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

IndiGo Focuses on Operational Stability, Plans Select Route Expansion

By Hariharan U

Published on January 3, 2026

IndiGo has outlined a cautious yet forward-looking approach as it prepares for the next phase of growth, placing strong emphasis on “operational reliability” while planning a limited set of international route additions. The airline said its immediate focus is to “stabilise operations” as it continues to strengthen capacity and network resilience.

As part of its international plans, IndiGo has announced the launch of non-stop services to Athens. This route will also mark the international debut of India’s first Airbus A321XLR, a new aircraft type expected to support the airline’s entry into fresh overseas markets as it gradually expands beyond short-haul operations.

Beyond Athens, the airline has not shared details of additional international destinations or capacity increases. IndiGo stated that it will continue to grow its international footprint while further densifying its domestic network, without outlining the pace or scale of expansion.

On the domestic front, the airline is also preparing to begin operations from Noida International Airport at Jewar, strengthening its presence in the National Capital Region once services commence.

Addressing recent operational challenges, IndiGo said it had swiftly restored normal operations following a temporary network disruption. The airline also confirmed that it is “fully collaborating and providing requested information to the regulator's committee” as part of an ongoing review by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

While IndiGo reiterated its long-term ambitions, including plans related to widebody aircraft and sustained growth, its near-term outlook remains measured. The airline said its renewed focus on stability will help drive future scale, innovation, and impact as it carefully explores new frontiers.


Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

Navi Mumbai Airport Sees 26,000+ Passengers in First Five Days

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has made an impressive start, handling a total of 26,021 passengers in its first five days of operations. This includes 12,431 arrivals and 13,590 departures, showing strong demand right from day one.

Weekend traffic was particularly high, with 5,548 travellers on Saturday and 5,614 on Sunday, reflecting growing confidence among passengers. During this initial period, the airport managed 162 flight movements, 81 arrivals and 81 departures, while keeping on-time performance smooth for both airlines and ground services.

Currently, NMIA connects 13 major domestic destinations, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Delhi, Goa (MOPA), Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mangalore, Nagpur, Vadodara. These connections cover key business and leisure hubs, giving travellers more options and conveand nience in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Looking ahead, the airport plans to expand its network with additional destinations and increased flight frequencies in coordination with partner airlines. With strong early passenger response and ready infrastructure, NMIA is set to become a modern, seamless travel hub in Western India


Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

Air India Expands Partnership with airBaltic to Offer Seamless Connectivity to Latvia

By Hariharan U

Published on January 1, 2026

Air India has strengthened its partnership with airBaltic, the flag carrier of Latvia, by entering into a new codeshare agreement, making travel between India and the Baltic region easier and more seamless for its customers. This move builds on the interline partnership established between the two carriers in June 2025.

Under the codeshare, Air India has begun adding its ‘AI’ designator code on airBaltic-operated flights between Riga and Air India’s European gateways including Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Milan Malpensa, Vienna, Zurich, and London Gatwick. This allows passengers to travel between India and Riga with a single Air India ticket, covering connecting flights under the same booking.

Additionally, Air India’s interline agreement with airBaltic allows travellers to reach Tallinn, Estonia, and Vilnius, Lithuania via select European gateways, further expanding access to the Baltic region.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said, "This expanded partnership with airBaltic reflects Air India’s commitment to providing seamless global connectivity to our customers. Latvia and the wider Baltic region are growing travel markets, and this codeshare makes the journey more convenient than ever."

Air India currently operates multiple non-stop flights connecting India with Europe:

  • Delhi: Amsterdam (7x weekly), Paris (14x weekly), Frankfurt (12x weekly), Copenhagen (4x weekly), Milan (6x weekly), Vienna (4x weekly), Zurich (4x weekly)

  • Mumbai: Frankfurt (5x weekly)

  • Amritsar & Ahmedabad: London Gatwick (3x weekly each)

Since its privatization in 2022, Air India has expanded its global alliance network to include 24 codeshare partnerships and nearly 100 interline agreements, offering passengers access to over 800 destinations worldwide.

The new codeshare flights are now available for booking through both airlines’ official channels and travel partners.

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