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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on August 20, 2024
Ocean Park Hong Kong recently celebrated the rare birth of giant panda twins, marking a significant milestone for the park and the city. On August 15, 2024, one day before her 19th birthday, Ying Ying, the beloved giant panda at Ocean Park, gave birth to a female and a male cub. This event is notable as Ying Ying has now become the oldest first-time mother of giant pandas on record.
Paulo Pong, Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, expressed his excitement, stating, "The babies' arrival adding to the new giant pandas soon to arrive in Hong Kong are thrilling news for Ocean Park and all of Hong Kong. We would like to express our gratitude for the continued support and generosity of the Central Government, whose unwavering commitment to Hong Kong has made this possible. The HKSAR Government's decision to entrust the pandas to Ocean Park also allows us to play an active role in the conservation of this precious species.”
The birth of these panda cubs is particularly special because giant pandas have a notoriously difficult time reproducing, especially as they age. Ying Ying, who had shown signs of pregnancy in late July, was confirmed to be pregnant on August 11 through ultrasound scans. She went into labor on August 14, and after more than five hours, successfully delivered the two cubs early the next morning. The female cub weighs 122 grams, while the male cub weighs 112 grams.
Image Source: South China Morning Post
Currently, the newborns are under 24-hour intensive care by Ocean Park's animal care team and experts from the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). Due to their fragile state, particularly the female cub, who is experiencing lower body temperature and weaker cries, the public will have to wait several months before the cubs are introduced.
The arrival of the panda twins has also sparked excitement within Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The city is already anticipating the arrival of two additional young adult pandas, gifted by Beijing to commemorate the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule. These pandas are expected to further boost tourism and provide new opportunities for Ocean Park to explore revenue streams. The park has already launched a new social media account to share updates on the pandas, including a video of one of the cubs being fed.
Lawmaker Michael Tien referred to the panda births as a "game changer" for Hong Kong’s tourism strategy, suggesting the city adopt the pandas as mascots and develop related merchandise. “Hong Kong lacks things that money cannot buy,” he said. “If it can be bought with money, there is plenty of that around the world. How do we stand out? It is with these pandas.”
Tourism experts like Timothy Chui, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Association, have encouraged Ocean Park to capitalize on the pandas' appeal by creating unique, panda-themed experiences and merchandise, potentially replacing Hong Kong's current dragon mascot with a panda.
With the birth of these twins and the arrival of more pandas, Hong Kong’s tourism sector is poised for growth, as the city embraces these new additions to its cultural and economic landscape.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 13, 2025
Bird Travels has announced its exclusive collaboration with AEGEAN, Greece’s flag carrier, to operate direct flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens beginning in the first quarter of 2026. The flight schedule and ticket sales will be officially unveiled by the end of September.
AEGEAN will introduce two new Airbus A321neo XLR (Extra Long Range) aircraft, boasting a range of up to 10.5 hours. These aircraft feature enhanced comfort with only 138 seats, including 24 Business Class Suites equipped with fully lie-flat beds, aisle access, and modern amenities such as 4K inflight entertainment screens, satellite Wi-Fi, USB charging, and spacious overhead bins designed for long-haul comfort.
The airline plans to operate five weekly flights to New Delhi starting March 2026, followed by three weekly flights to Mumbai from May 2026. Bird Travels will act as the General Sales Agent (GSA) for AEGEAN in India, managing sales, marketing, customer service, and distribution.
Roland Jaggi, Chief Commercial Officer of AEGEAN, said, “We are delighted to partner with Bird Travels as we prepare to launch direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Athens. This marks a significant milestone in AEGEAN’s international expansion and reinforces our commitment to strengthening ties between Greece and India. The addition of the new Airbus A321neo XLR aircraft allows us to enhance our service offering for long-haul routes, providing Indian travellers with a premium gateway to Europe and beyond.”
Gaurav Bhatia, Executive Director of Bird Group, commented, “Our partnership with AEGEAN heralds exciting times for Indian travellers. AEGEAN’s reputation for quality service and connectivity perfectly complements our expertise in the Indian aviation market. Together, we look forward to offering seamless and elevated travel experiences from New Delhi and Mumbai to Athens and further into Europe.”
About Bird Travels and AEGEAN Bird Travels, the flagship airline management company of India’s Bird Group, has over five decades of experience across airline representation, travel distribution, ground handling, and hospitality services. As AEGEAN’s exclusive GSA in India, Bird Travels will promote and manage the airline’s services across sales, marketing, and customer support.
Founded in 1999, AEGEAN is Greece’s largest and fastest-growing regional airline, serving 152 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa with a fleet of 83 modern Airbus aircraft. A member of the STAR ALLIANCE, AEGEAN has been named Europe’s Best Regional Airline by Skytrax 14 times in the past 16 years, underscoring its commitment to service excellence.
For more information, visit www.birdtravels.com.
By Hariharan U
August 15th brings more than a mid-week breather, it’s your cue to pause, reset, and indulge in travel that lingers long after you return. Whether it’s barefoot luxury by the sea, alpine stillness, or the charm of a storied European city, these curated escapes promise to make your long weekend unforgettable.
The Legian Seminyak, Bali
An oceanfront icon where timeless design meets Balinese soul. From vivid sunsets to indulgent spa rituals, every moment here feels like it’s just for you.Explore The Legian
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau ResortManta ray encounters, sunrise sandbank yoga, and villas designed for your pace. Even time slows to match your rhythm here. Discover Maamunagau
De L’Europe AmsterdamA landmark blending old-world charm with modern culture. Riverside calm, art, and the best of Amsterdam—right at your feet. Discover De L’Europe
Hotel Bellevue, Lošinj, CroatiaModern Mediterranean luxury wrapped in pine-scented air and crystal Adriatic waters.View Hotel Bellevue
Boutique Hotel Alhambra, Lošinj, CroatiaAn adults-only escape where refined heritage meets Adriatic elegance.Explore Alhambra
Kulm Hotel, St. Moritz An Alpine legend where understated glamour meets crisp mountain air and Swiss tradition even in summer, Explore Kulm Hotel
Galeries Lafayette Paris HaussmannMore than a department store—private salons, designer previews, and curated fashion experiences tailored just for you.Luxury Shopping Experience
Plan Your Bespoke BreakMake this Independence Day weekend count. Whether you dream of oceanfront tranquility, alpine retreats, or cultural immersion, we’ll curate a journey that feels entirely yours.
By Nishang Narayan
Published on August 11, 2025
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has ranked India as the fifth-largest aviation market in 2024, handling 241 million passengers, surpassing Japan’s 205 million. The data comes from IATA’s latest World Air Transport Statistics (WATS) report, which covers both international and domestic passenger movements.
India recorded an 11.1% increase from 211 million passengers in 2023, driven by strong domestic demand. The Mumbai–Delhi route emerged as the seventh busiest airport pair in the world, carrying 5.9 million passengers in 2024.
Globally, the United States retained the top spot with 876 million passengers (+5.2%), followed by China at 741 million (+18.7%), the United Kingdom at 261 million, and Spain also at 241 million.
IATA reported that Asia Pacific dominated the list of the world’s busiest airport pairs, led by Jeju–Seoul (CJU–GMP) with 13.2 million passengers. The only non-Asia Pacific route in the top 10 was Jeddah–Riyadh (JED–RUH).
Premium air travel also saw strong growth in 2024. International business and first-class travel rose 11.8%, slightly outpacing the 11.5% growth in economy travel. Asia Pacific recorded the highest growth in premium travel at 22.8%, with 21 million passengers, though economy class still expanded faster in the region. Europe remained the largest market for premium travel at 39.3 million passengers, while the Middle East had the highest premium share at 14.7% of all international travellers.
The report also highlighted aircraft utilisation trends. The Boeing 737 was the most widely used aircraft, operating 10 million flights with 2.4 trillion Available Seat Kilometres (ASKs), followed by the Airbus A320 with 7.9 million flights (1.7 trillion ASKs) and the Airbus A321 with 3.4 million flights (1.1 trillion ASKs).
IATA’s findings reflect India’s rapid ascent in global aviation, driven by expanding connectivity, a growing middle class, and increased fleet capacity.
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