Akasa Air has announced special flight services to Ahmedabad from Bengaluru and Navi Mumbai to accommodate the surge in travel demand ahead of the cricket final scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad.

The airline will operate the additional services on 31 May and 1 June 2026, complementing its existing network and offering cricket fans more convenient travel options to attend the highly anticipated match.

The special flights have been introduced to support passengers looking to travel to Ahmedabad shortly before the event and return soon after. The additional capacity reflects the growing demand for event-driven travel in India, particularly around major sporting occasions.

Under the schedule, flight QP 6892 will operate from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad on 31 May, departing at 09:30 hrs and arriving at 11:50 hrs. On the same day, flight QP 6882 will operate from Navi Mumbai to Ahmedabad, departing at 14:45 hrs and arriving at 16:15 hrs.

For return travel, flight QP 6885 will depart Ahmedabad for Navi Mumbai at 03:10 hrs on 1 June and arrive at 04:45 hrs. Flight QP 6887 will operate from Ahmedabad to Bengaluru on 1 June, departing at 04:10 hrs and arriving at 06:35 hrs.

In addition to the special flights, passengers flying with Akasa Air will be able to access SkyScore, the airline’s inflight service that allows guests to follow live match scores during their journey. The airline will also activate SkyLights, its Boeing Sky Interior-powered cabin lighting feature, with tricolour-themed lighting on selected flights associated with the event.

Akasa Air currently operates scheduled flights to Ahmedabad from nine domestic and international destinations. Through these additional services, the airline aims to strengthen connectivity to the city while providing greater flexibility and convenience for travellers during a period of heightened demand.

Air India has announced that it has been awarded the Skytrax 4-Star Airline Rating for both Business Class and Economy Class, marking another significant milestone in the airline’s ongoing transformation under the Vihaan.AI programme.

The airline’s upgrade from a 3-Star to a 4-Star rating comes after a large-scale transformation focused on fleet modernisation, product upgrades, digital innovation, on-ground improvements, and enhanced service standards across the customer journey.

Air India stated that the improvements have also reflected strongly in customer feedback and passenger sentiment. The airline’s Net Promoter Score (NPS), a key indicator of customer satisfaction and advocacy, has improved by more than 70 points, moving from -35 in late 2022 to nearly +40 currently. On its flagship Airbus A350 and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, the airline’s NPS remains consistently in the high 60s.

Skytrax is recognised globally as one of the leading airline rating organisations, with its star ratings considered a major benchmark for airline quality and passenger experience. The 4-Star certification recognises airlines delivering strong and consistent service quality across products and operations.

Commenting on the achievement, Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, said: “This 4-Star rating from Skytrax is an important recognition of the progress we have made in transforming Air India into a more modern, customer-focused airline. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of over 24,000 Air India employees who have embraced this transformation with commitment and pride. While this milestone reflects how far we have come, it also strengthens our resolve to continue raising the bar, with a clear ambition to achieve a 5-Star rating in due course as we build a world-class global airline with an Indian heart.”

The Skytrax audit evaluates the entire passenger journey, including airport experience, lounge facilities, onboard products, food and beverage, and service consistency.

At the centre of Air India’s transformation is its fleet modernisation programme. The airline has inducted India’s first Airbus A350 aircraft along with new Boeing 787-9 aircraft featuring newly designed Air India interiors. It has also completed the retrofit of 27 A320neo aircraft with upgraded cabins, while retrofit work on legacy Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 777 aircraft continues. Air India said that more than 120 aircraft, representing 66 per cent of its full-service fleet, have now been upgraded.

The airline has also upgraded its airport and lounge experiences with redesigned lounges in Delhi, Bengaluru, and San Francisco, with additional upgrades planned globally. Other improvements include streamlined boarding, self-service check-ins, and enhanced digital tools aimed at making the passenger journey smoother.

Air India has further refreshed its onboard experience through extensive cabin crew retraining and the addition of more than 5,000 newly recruited crew members. The airline has also upgraded inflight meals, beverages, bedding, and amenities while expanding its inflight entertainment offerings. Widebody aircraft now feature over 3,000 hours of entertainment content, while narrowbody aircraft offer more than 1,250 hours through the Vista Stream wireless entertainment platform. Inflight internet connectivity is also being gradually introduced across services.

On the digital front, Air India has overhauled its IT infrastructure and customer support systems with a redesigned website, upgraded mobile application, and a generative AI chatbot that has handled over 14 million interactions. The airline also said that call wait times at its customer contact centre have reduced to around 10 seconds, alongside improvements in refunds and issue resolution processes.

As Air India continues its Vihaan.AI transformation journey, the airline said it remains focused on strengthening its products, service standards, and global presence while aiming to set new benchmarks for Indian aviation internationally.

Air France is further strengthening its connectivity between India, France and international destinations through its Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport hub. The airline currently operates daily direct summer services from Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, offering Indian travellers smoother access to more than 190 destinations worldwide.

The airline said India continues to remain an important market for its growth strategy, supported by increasing demand from both business and leisure travellers.

One of the major updates for Indian passengers comes from recent changes introduced by French authorities. Indian nationals travelling between India and non-Schengen destinations through French airports will no longer require an Airport Transit Visa (ATV), provided they hold valid travel documentation. The move is expected to simplify transit procedures and offer a more convenient travel experience through Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Laure Daynie, Country Manager Air France-KLM India, said, "India is a key strategic market for Air France and continues to demonstrate resilience and strong growth potential in the current environment. We operate daily flights from three gateways, offering customers greater choice and flexibility in their travel options."

"The recent removal of the Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement for Indian nationals by the French authorities is a very welcome development, making transit through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport simpler and more seamless."

"Along with Air France’s signature services and refined French hospitality, these developments further strengthen our commitment to elevating the customer journey and delivering smoother, more consistent, and a premium travel experience for our customers from India at every step."

Air France also highlighted enhancements to its passenger facilities at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, particularly within Terminal 2E at gates K, L and M. The redesigned Air France Lounge at Hall K now offers a three-level experience featuring relaxation areas, workspaces and wellness zones including the Clarins experience.

Travellers passing through Paris can also enjoy French dining experiences, selected wines and signature dishes created in collaboration with Ducasse Paris. Additional facilities include shower areas, high-speed Wi-Fi and seating spaces with views of the runway.

The airline also announced updates to Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Through a limited-period Status Match programme, eligible frequent flyers in India can transfer their existing elite status from other airlines to Flying Blue.

Further adding to passenger benefits, Air France has renewed its Youth and Student fare programme, offering additional baggage allowance in Economy Class and greater ticket flexibility for eligible travellers.

With stronger connectivity and a focus on improving transit and passenger experiences, Air France continues to reinforce its commitment to the Indian travel market.