Air India has expanded its Maharaja Club frequent flyer programme with the launch of The Maharaja Shop, a premium lifestyle marketplace that allows members to earn Maharaja Points through eligible purchases across a curated selection of Indian and international brands.

The platform extends the loyalty programme beyond air travel, giving members additional opportunities to build their points balance through everyday shopping. The accumulated Maharaja Points can be redeemed towards Award Flights and Cabin Upgrades on Air India.

The marketplace covers a range of lifestyle categories, including electronics, luggage, travel accessories, fragrances, home essentials, wellness, watches and jewellery. It features products from a curated portfolio of Indian and global brands, with complimentary shipping available on eligible orders.

The initiative adds a retail component to Maharaja Club, enabling members to earn travel rewards through purchases that are not directly related to flying. The platform is intended to create more frequent engagement with the loyalty programme while offering members additional ways to accumulate points.

Exclusive Air India Merchandise

Alongside its wider lifestyle marketplace, The Maharaja Shop features an exclusive collection of Air India merchandise available only through the platform.

Inspired by the airline's heritage and identity, the collection includes Maharaja magnets and collectibles, aircraft-inspired keychains, lapel pins, postcard sets, coaster sets and travel essentials. The range is aimed at frequent flyers, loyal members and collectors interested in Air India memorabilia.

Eligible purchases from the merchandise collection also allow members to earn Maharaja Points, extending the programme's rewards proposition to products connected with the airline's brand.

Sunil Suresh, Head of Loyalty, E-Commerce and Marketing, Air India, said the marketplace is an extension of the airline's vision to develop Maharaja Club into a lifestyle loyalty programme that rewards members beyond their travel journeys.

He added that bringing together a curated selection of brands would give members more opportunities to earn points through everyday spending. The platform will also serve as the exclusive destination for Air India merchandise, offering members access to branded products beyond the airline's travel services.

Expanding the Maharaja Club Ecosystem

Maharaja Club members can currently earn points through Air India, Air India Express and more than 100 partners across airlines, hospitality, retail, lifestyle and financial services.

Members can redeem their points for flights on Air India and Air India Express, as well as on 25 Star Alliance partner airlines. The programme also offers tier-based privileges and access to more than 1,100 airport lounges worldwide.

The Maharaja Shop is available exclusively to Maharaja Club members. Travellers who are not yet enrolled can join the programme to access the marketplace and begin earning eligible points on their purchases.

The launch adds another earning channel to Air India's loyalty ecosystem, connecting retail purchases with future travel benefits.

Explore the platform: The Maharaja Shop

As the festive season approaches, Six Senses Bhutan is inviting travellers to exchange crowded itineraries for a slower journey through the kingdom's Himalayan landscapes, cultural traditions and spiritual heritage. Spread across five lodges in Bhutan's western and central valleys, the collection brings together nature-led stays, local experiences, destination dining and wellness programmes.

Each lodge offers a distinct setting and interpretation of Bhutan's landscape. In Thimphu, Six Senses Thimphu, known as the Palace in the Sky, is surrounded by apple orchards and pine forests. In Punakha, the Flying Farmhouse sits amid rice fields in one of the country's warmer valleys.

At Paro, the Stone Ruins lodge is set within 12th-century stone ruins, while Bumthang's Forest in a Forest setting brings guests closer to the surrounding pine forests and river valley. Together, the five lodges offer different perspectives on Bhutan's natural and cultural character.

Cultural Encounters and Experiences Across the Valleys

At Paro, guests can experience Chubjakha Ruins Regale, a candlelit destination dining experience inspired by medieval Bhutan. The evening combines specially crafted cocktails, a Bhutanese menu prepared over an open fire and traditional masked-dance performances.

The lodge also provides a base for an early start to the climb to Taktsang Lhakhang, widely known as Tiger's Nest Monastery, one of Bhutan's most recognised spiritual landmarks.

In Gangtey, the Phobjikha Valley offers a different experience. The valley becomes the winter habitat of endangered black-necked cranes arriving from Tibet each October. Inspired by a traditional birdwatching bridge, the lodge offers views across the landscape, while walking trails and cycling routes allow guests to explore the valley and its conservation environment.

Local Flavours and Wellness

The connection with Bhutanese culture extends to the dining programme through Six Senses' Eat With Six Senses philosophy, which focuses on natural ingredients and wholesome, locally sourced produce.

Guests can explore local food traditions through experiences such as mushroom foraging with a local chef. Other cultural activities include butter lamp lighting ceremonies with monks and visits to monasteries that remain central to Bhutan's spiritual life.

Wellness is another part of the experience, with programmes incorporating sunrise meditation, yoga, holistic spa treatments and traditional Bhutanese hot stone baths.

A Different Approach to Festive Travel

Rather than positioning the festive season around packed schedules and conventional celebrations, Six Senses Bhutan presents an alternative centred on time in nature, cultural discovery and personal well-being.

Travellers can explore all five valleys as part of a wider journey or choose a single lodge for a more focused retreat. Across the collection, the emphasis remains on experiencing each destination at its own pace, through its landscape, traditions and local communities.

For those looking to close the year with a quieter holiday, the five-lodge experience offers a way to discover Bhutan beyond its familiar landmarks, while making space for rest, reflection and meaningful encounters.

SWISS has launched its first flight from Zurich to Bengaluru, marking the airline's entry into one of India's leading technology and business hubs. Flight LX140 departed Zurich for Bengaluru, introducing five weekly nonstop services between Switzerland and southern India.

The new route is expected to create more travel opportunities for business travellers, people visiting family and friends, and tourists exploring southern India. It also strengthens connections between Switzerland and Bengaluru, a major centre for technology, innovation and business.

With Bengaluru joining Delhi and Mumbai, the city becomes SWISS's third destination in India. The new service is part of the airline's efforts to expand its long-haul network while improving Switzerland's international connectivity.

Commenting on the inaugural flight, SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger said, “With Bengaluru, we are launching more than just a new flight route. We are creating new opportunities for our guests, for Swiss companies, and for Switzerland as a business location. India is a market with enormous potential, and Bengaluru is one of Asia's leading technology and innovation hubs. Alongside Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru is our third destination in India. We are making a targeted investment in the growth of our long-haul network while also strengthening Switzerland's international connectivity. In an increasingly interconnected world, personal encounters and direct exchanges are more important than ever.”

The launch reflects the growing importance of direct international connections for business, tourism and personal travel. By adding Bengaluru to its network, SWISS aims to serve demand between Switzerland and southern India while providing travellers with a direct link between Zurich and the city.

The five-weekly service also gives travellers more options when planning trips between the two destinations, supporting business exchanges and leisure travel as connections between India and Switzerland continue to develop.