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Mumbai Airport To Celebrate “Jaya He” Museum In A Week-Long Carnival!

AirWhizzMay 15, 2018 No Comments

Mumbai Airport To Celebrate “Jaya He” Museum In A Week-Long Carnival!

Aviation Insider

If you have travelled to the Terminal 2 of Mumbai airport, you must have come across the beautiful paintings and sculptures that are displayed at the ‘Jaya He’ Museum.

Coinciding with the International Museum Day which is celebrated on May 18, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MAIL) has announced that the Mumbai Airport will organise a week-long carnival to celebrate the Jaya He Museum.

Here are all the details of the event –

  • Passengers will get to interact with artists who are directly involved with designing the museum.
  • The theme of the event will be ‘paper’. Stalls will be set up across the airport which will display craftwork and sculptures made from paper.
  • Anil Nayak and Moreshwar Patil, the two artists who designed the artifacts for the museum, will be making live sketches of passengers as well.
  • Videos and photos of the passengers visiting the museum will be put on the website and displayed across social media.

The Jaya He museum spreads across 4 levels of the Terminal 2 Building at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The museum displays Indian culture through beautiful paintings, arts & crafts and sculptures.

The airport museum is promoted by MAIL through organised tours. It is a very popular tour and the airport gets a minimum of 10 bookings per day. The tour is organised keeping in mind the travel schedule of the passenger and the route of the tour is decided accordingly.

40 percent of the passengers who visit the Jaya He are foreign tourists and this number is increasing every year. The airport has hired interns from colleges who guide the passengers through the tour.

MAIL has recently tied up with the International Council of Museums (ICOM). This has been done to make the airport museum popular amongst other museums in the world.

If you want to know more about the Jaya He museum, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App and get all the information you need about the museum and other services available at the airport on the move.

Enjoy the beauty of Indian art and Fly Stress- Free!

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10 Ways In Which Airports Make You Shop At Duty-Free!

AirWhizzMay 14, 2018 No Comments

10 Ways In Which Airports Make You Shop At Duty-Free!

Aviation Insider

Whether you are flying for the first time or are a frequent flyer, waiting for your flight at the airport can be an exhausting and boring task.

It is during this time, that people tend to explore the airport and go shopping at duty-free shops.

To cash in on such travellers, airports are carefully designed to influence you to go and spend your money at these shops.

Yes! It’s true.

Here are the different ways in which airports influence you to shop when you fly.

1.SHOPPING ZONES AFTER AIRPORT SECURITY

Many people don’t observe this, but you are allowed into airport shopping areas only when you clear the security check.

Travellers are generally relaxed after clearing security. Airports use this to their advantage by locating duty-free shopping zones right after security booths.

You are more likely to indulge yourself into some care-free shopping after the stressful process of waiting in the security line, removing your belt or jacket and being physically searched by a serious looking security personnel.

2.SHOPPING ZONES BEFORE THE BOARDING GATES

Ever noticed the number of duty-free shops you pass by before boarding a flight?

To encourage people to explore what the airport has to offer, terminal buildings are designed in such a way that you have to walk through the shopping area before boarding the airplane.

3.LEFT CURVING WALKWAYS

The next time you travel to the airport, notice how walkways are curved towards the left in duty-free shopping zones.

According to a research conducted by analytics firm Intervistas, most of the passengers at the airport are right handed and tend to look towards the right side while pulling their suitcases with that hand.

That is why walkways curve towards left and most duty-free shops are located on the right side of the walkway.

4.THE “GOLDEN HOUR” CONCEPT

‘Golden Hour’ is a common term used by airport officials and duty-free retailers.

It is the time passengers spend idling around after clearing security and before boarding the flight.

Airports want to increase the time you spend in the golden hour because the more time you spend waiting for your flight, the chances of you spending will increase.

Airports have streamlined security checks for this reason as well. They want you to spend less time at security checks and more time shopping at duty-free.

5.RELAXATION AREAS AT THE AIRPORT

The more you are relaxed the more you tend to spend!

Airports around the world offer facilities like sleeping pods, showers and massage chairs to make the passenger feel relaxed.

They want to create a stress-free environment for you to spend money buying gifts for your family and friends.

According to a DKMA research, relaxed travellers at the airport spend 7% more on retail and 10% more on duty-free items as compared to travellers who are not relaxed.

6.PROVIDING INFORMATION WHEREVER POSSIBLE

If you go to an airport, you will see enough signs and screens which make the boarding process simple for you.

By providing information to you, the airport makes sure that you have a stress-free journey through it. By doing this they usually succeed in keeping you relaxed when you reach the shopping area.

At many airports, there are signs at shopping areas which show the amount of time the passenger will take to reach the boarding gate rather than the distance in meters. They do this so that passengers know how much they can spend shopping before boarding the flight.

7.SHOP DESIGN

At most airports, duty-free shops are located near big windows to allow natural light inside the store.

This is because people are inclined to shop at stores which have natural light rather than artificial lights.

Also, airports shops are designed to be user-friendly and inviting. They have wide aisles to accommodate people with suitcases and have pyramid shaped shelves which give you a sense of space and a better view of the products displayed.

8.SHOPPING ZONE LAYOUT

According to a study conducted by IKEA, the priorities of a passenger shopping at the airport is topped by duty-free goods, followed by food and drink, newspapers/magazines and gifts and specialty items.

Many airports around the world have designed their shopping zones in the form of a ‘Serpent’, strategically locating shops and restaurants to cater to these priorities.

Also, this kind of layout allows passengers better visibility of the services available for them in the area. The more twists and turns, the better.

9.FEELING OF A MARKETPLACE

Airports try to recreate the feel of a vibrant marketplace near duty-free shopping zones to make it more appealing to passengers.

Shops are often clustered and display local products, live music and art performances are regularly held and other fun activities are conducted to engage the passenger and give them a feel of a local market at the airport.

10. KIND OF SERVICES OFFERED

To quicken the buying process, airports choose the kind of service and products they have to offer depending on how busy the airport is and what kind of travellers it receives.

At an airport which is busy, services and products which can be sold quickly are generally offered to the passengers.

Also if the airports receive more passengers from countries which are developed or have a culture of gifting, the level of product and services offered goes up.

If you want to know more about ‘Duty-Free’ shops at your airport, simply download the AirWhizz App. Get information about places to shop and other services available to you at the airport on the move.

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Over 60 Flights Affected At The Delhi Airport Due To Dust Storm!

AirWhizzMay 14, 2018 No Comments

Over 60 Flights Affected At The Delhi Airport Due To Dust Storm!

Aviation Insider

Flight operations were suspended at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after a massive dust storm hit Delhi and its surrounding areas, yesterday evening. 40 airplanes were diverted, and more than 20 flights were delayed.

Here are the details –

  • All domestic and international airlines were affected by the dust storm
  • The Runway was closed down and flight operations were suspended between 4:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
  • More than a dozen flights were diverted to Jaipur International Airport and Amritsar International Airport.
  • 9 Delhi bound flights were diverted to Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow.
  • Vistara flights from Mumbai, Goa, Srinagar and Bhubaneswar which were told to divert as well.
  • International flights from Tokyo, Newark and Colombo were diverted to different places.
  • Flights from Riyadh, Colombo, Kathmandu, Kabul and Jeddah were delayed due to bad weather.

The Indian Meteorological Department said that the wind speeds were as high as 109 Kmph during the dust storm. There was a sudden change in weather at around 4:30 p.m. which was accompanied by powerful winds and heavy rain.

The department has also warned that 26 districts of Utter Pradesh might see harsh weather changes today.

In the past few days powerful dust and thunderstorms have affected people in Delhi, U.P., Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab and surrounding areas. Almost 152 people have lost their lives and over 430 people have been injured during this stormy season.

If you want to know whether your flight has been delayed or diverted, Simply download the AirWhizz App. Get real-time flight updates and Information on your phone itself and plan your journey accordingly.

Stay safe and Fly Stress-Free!

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Government Will Look Into Air Ticket Pricing Practices!

AirWhizzMay 12, 2018 No Comments

The Competition Commission Of India(CCI) has announced that it will asses the algorithms used by domestic airlines on the ticket pricing. This is being done to check as to why there is a sharp rise in airfares during peak demand.

CCI is the governing body which keeps a check on unfair business practices across different sectors.

They started investigating when the issue of sharp rise in air ticket pricing came to light during the Jat agitation in early 2016. Rail and road connectivity were severely affected by this incident because of which, ticket prices on Chandigarh to Delhi flights shot up sharply.

At a conference organized by The Associated Chambers Of Commerce of India(ASSOCHAM), CCI chairperson D K Sikri addressed this matter. Here’s what he had to say –

  • Secret/collusion cooperation between digital players with the help of self-learning algorithms is one of the biggest challenges the CCI faces.
  • This issue caught the CCI’s attention when there was a sudden rise in airfares for flights between Chandigarh and Delhi during the Jat agitation.
  • When they asked the airlines about this issue, the airline officials said that the algorithms were driving up the prices and they had no clue as to why this was happening.

At the conference, Mr. Sikri also highlighted the fact that algorithms are not systems that are developed on their own and that somebody has put logic into its design.

CCI is in talks with technical experts to understand the indicators & variables used and the weightage given by the algorithm used by airlines. The governing body is looking to develop its own algorithm to look into this issue but that will require a huge investment.

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Why You Should Always Travel Light!

AirWhizzMay 11, 2018 No Comments

Why You Should Always Travel Light!

Travel Like a Pro

We try to pack everything that we love when we are going on a trip.

Those brand new shirts you bought last week or the 5 pair of heels that go with 5 different dresses, you’d love to bring them all along wouldn’t you?!

The question is, how many of these would you actually use?

Remember, dragging heavy luggage while travelling is a real pain and you’re going to regret all the extra items you packed unnecessarily.

And if that’s not reason enough to pack light, here are a few more!

1.SAVE MONEY

Packing light is easy on the pocket!

A lot of airlines charge for check-in baggage these days.

Why not spend that money on food and other things during your trip?

You can avoid checking-in your luggage if you are travelling light and can easily bring it along with you on the airplane.

Also, you won’t have to book a taxi to keep your extra suitcases and pay a bomb for the ride. Just pick your backpack and take local transport, which is cheaper.

2.SECURITY

Packing light keeps your things safe!

If you don’t have to check-in your bag, it’s in your possession at all times! Your possessions remain safe and you avoid damage or loss of baggage by the airline. And if you’re backpacking and staying in hostels it’s ideal as you take all your stuff with you!

3.MORE FLEXIBLE

Packing light allows for greater mobility!

It will help you to move around the airport quickly, without the hassle of carrying a trolley. It is easier to carry light luggage for longer distances.

When you are at your destination, You can be spontaneous!

You can just pick up your bag and leave. You won’t have to worry about carrying those extra suitcases or finding a safe spot to keep them.

4.AVOID INJURIES

Packing light keeps you safe!

We all can agree that no one wants to go sightseeing with a backache!

Carrying around heavy luggage can strain your back. Not to mention, it is exhausting!

Avoid putting that stress on your body by travelling light. You will stay fit and will be able to make the most of your trip.

5.HELPS YOU PRIORITIZE

Packing light is more organised!

We all fell like packing those extra pairs of shoes or T-shirts in the hope that they will be useful, and then we don’t end up using them.

When you have fewer bags to carry you can prioritize what you want to bring along for your trip.

You will keep only the things that are necessary for the vacation and won’t have to go through all your bags to find something.

6.SAVES TIME

Packing light lets you make the most of your time!

You won’t have to arrive at airports early and you’ll be among the first to leave the airport after your arrival while others wait at baggage claim.

Also, with less to pack up at the end of your vacation, you can squeeze every last moment from your trip. Ultimately, you’ll spend less time worrying and more time enjoying your travels.

 

So now that you know why it’s silly to lug huge suitcases we’re also giving you few packing tips that will help you travel light on your next trip.

 

1.USE SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT LUGGAGE

Don’t be tempted to carry a big suitcase! We tend to pack more and fill up empty spaces with unnecessary items.

Use a small lightweight suitcase or a backpack to pack your belongings.

They are easier to carry around and it will make sure that you only carry things that are necessary for your holiday.

2.MINIMIZE TOILETRIES

Toiletries are essential and there are items, like toothbrushes, that you just cannot do without.

However shampoos, conditioners, moisturisers, hair products etc all come in bulky packaging which will make you luggage heavy.

Carry small versions of the toiletries or don’t carry them at all. You can buy whatever you need once you reach your destination.

3.CARRY ZIPLOCS

Ziplocs are a great way to store accessories, medicines and toiletries.

It will help you save more space in your suitcase or backpack.

Ziplocs are easy to carry, and you can even put your laundry in it to separate the clean clothes from used ones when you are travelling.

4.ROLL YOUR CLOTHES

Rolling your clothes will help you save up on space in your bag and ensure your clothes don’t get crumpled.

Clothes like t-shirts, shorts, socks and jeans are easy to roll and take less space. However, this method may not work on thick jackets and sweaters.

5.BE TECH-SAVVY

We all like to read books, watch movies on our laptop and play games on it to occupy our free time during travel.

The only problem is things like books, laptops, travel guides etc take up space in your bag and can make them heavy.

Instead, carry a Tablet/iPad along with your smartphone. They are light, agile, easy to store and will keep you entertained on your trip.

If you are looking for lightweight luggage to carry with the next time you travel, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz app, add your upcoming flight and get up to 25% discount on Swiss Military Lightweight Luggage and other products from the brand.

Make the most of your trip by travelling light and Fly Stress-free!

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Will TripAdvisor Open Stores In Indian Airports?

AirWhizzMay 11, 2018 No Comments

Will TripAdvisor Open Stores In Indian Airports?

Aviation Insider

With the boom in travel industry in recent times, people in India look to online sites like TripAdvisor to book hotels, find local restaurants and read articles on travelling.

The company has a huge presence online all over the world, but in an attempt to increase its user base and brand value, TripAdvisor has been increasing its presence offline as well.

Even though they haven’t officially announced this, but the company has been opening TripAdvisor branded stores at major international airports Globally.

On December 2017, TripAdvisor opened its first airport store in Canada’s Toronto Pearson International Airport in partnership with retailers Paradies Lagardère.

In the past few months, they have opened stores at airports in Houston, Phoenix, Charlotte and Raleigh. They expanded their offline network in Asia by opening their store at the Hong Kong International Airport.

The company has been keeping this project under wraps, saying that opening stores at airports is simply an opportunity to build their brand name.

Their stores currently sell travel products like toiletries, neck pillows and beverages along with branded TripAdvisor merchandise such as T-Shirts, luggage tags, baseball hats, travel packs and passport holders.

The company is planning to open a store in New Orleans In 2019 and have said that they will open more stores at places where there is a high volume of tourism traffic.

Air Traffic in India has shown a growth of almost 18 % last year making it the fastest growing aviation market in the world. We hope that TripAdvisor can look at this growing market as an opportunity to increase their presence and benefit millions of travellers in India.

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PIL filed in High Court to Cap Airfares!

AirWhizzMay 10, 2018 No Comments

PIL filed in High Court to Cap Airfares!

Aviation Insider

The Delhi High Court has asked the Ministry Of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to look into the high airfares charged by Airlines in India.

Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar have issued a notice to the ministry and DGCA, based on a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) asking airlines in India to cap airfares charged to the passengers.

Here are the details of the Case –

  • Consumer rights activist, Bejon K Misra, has alleged that authorities are acting as ‘Silent Spectators’ to the random or ‘arbitrary’ fixing of airfares by the airlines.
  • He has claimed that airlines charge 10 times higher than the fixed price when there is a shortage of seats.
  • To stop this practice he has asked the airlines to put a cap on the airfare.
  • The court has asked authorities for a response before the next date of hearing on 8th

To support his case, Mr. Misra has given the example of a recent incident, where Indigo passengers had to book last minute tickets at High rates on other airlines, after several Indigo A320 Neo airplanes were grounded due to engine trouble.

He has also said that it is necessary to put a cap on airfares to ensure greater transparency for the passengers and accountability on part of the airline. Capping on airfares will also discourage airlines and other stakeholders to benefit and make profits from unfair means.

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Chandigarh Airport To Remain Closed From 12th May To 31st May!

AirWhizzMay 09, 2018 No Comments

Chandigarh Airport To Remain Closed From 12th May To 31st May!

Aviation Insider

Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) have announced that the Chandigarh airport will remain closed from 12th May to 31st May.

The airport will be closed to carry out expansion and repair work of the airport runway.

According to the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by authorities, no civil and military flights will operate from Chandigarh Airport during this period.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to work in phases to develop and expand the Chandigarh Airport runway. Here are the details of the expansion work to be carried out in phases-

Phase 1 (12th -26th February) – In phase 1, seven extra layers of concrete were added to strengthen the runway.

Phase 2 (12th-31st May) – In the second phase authorities will start working on increasing the length of the runway from 9,000 ft to 10,400 ft.

After 31st May, flights will be allowed to operate during the day, but the length of the usable runway would be limited to 7,200 to 8,000 ft. Phase 2 will be completed by end of 2018 and normal operations will resume on the expanded runway at the airport.

The airport will also be installing runway lights and other navigational guides after 31st may without disrupting operations. However, flight operations in the evening will be possible once the lighting system is in place at the airport.

The Chandigarh International Airport handles 30 commercial flights daily which fly to international destinations such as Bangkok, Dubai and Sharjah. The airport also caters to flights from domestic routes such as  Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi and many other cities.

The total passenger traffic at the airport is approximately 1.6 lakh a month and passengers will be affected by this 20-day closure. The closest two options for air travellers during this period are Amritsar Airport and Delhi Airport, which are about 250 Km away from Chandigarh.

*Disclaimer – In our previous version of the article we had mentioned that installation of the lighting system and navigational guides will be part of phase 3 which was to start in 2019. But the installation process will start after 31st May itself and there will be no phase 3 or closing of the airport after 31st May.

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