09 May 2025
#2 May 2025: India Aviation Newsletter
Air India to Launch Daily Delhi–Gaya Flights from September 2025
Air India has announced the addition of Gaya to its domestic network, with daily flights from Delhi beginning 1 September 2025. The new service will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft, and will mark Gaya as the 46th domestic destination in the airline’s steadily expanding Indian footprint.
Beyond strengthening domestic air travel, the new route holds deep strategic and cultural significance. Gaya is home to Bodh Gaya, one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhist travellers from across Asia, including Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. Air India has specifically timed the new flight schedule to support seamless one-stop international connections for travellers originating from Kathmandu, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul-Incheon, and Tokyo-Haneda.
This route reaffirms Air India’s focus on pilgrimage and spiritual tourism, offering enhanced connectivity not only for Indian citizens but also for thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and global travellers seeking easier access to one of India's most spiritually significant destinations.
AISATS Opens Integrated Logistics Park at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport
Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) has launched the AISATS BLR Logistics Park at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR), one of India’s most ambitious on-airport logistics infrastructure developments.
Positioned within the BLR Airport complex, the new logistics park is designed to address the growing demand for integrated, fast, and sustainable cargo solutions, catering to exporters, importers, freight forwarders, and third-party logistics companies. BLR Airport currently handles 40% of South India’s total air cargo volume, with 502,480 metric tonnes processed in FY 2024–25, and aims to reach 1 million metric tonnes by 2030.
Speaking about the partnership and vision, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) MD & CEO, Mr. Hari Marar, stated:
“We are pleased to partner with AISATS on this strategic initiative. The AISATS BLR Logistics Park is a significant addition to our growing cargo ecosystem at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, which is already the leading exporter of perishables in the country and houses the country's largest domestic cargo terminal by design capacity. This collaboration aligns with our shared vision of building a future-ready, efficient, and connected logistics gateway that supports both domestic growth and global trade.”
The development underscores Bengaluru’s rise as a national air cargo powerhouse, linking southern India’s manufacturing and perishables hubs to global supply chains.
IndiGo Named ‘Partner of the Year’ at Changi Airline Awards 2025
IndiGo has been awarded ‘Partner of the Year’ at the 18th Changi Airline Awards, hosted by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) in Singapore. The honour recognises IndiGo’s long-standing partnership and consistent growth in operations between India and Singapore.
Now ranked as Changi’s fifth-largest foreign airline by passenger traffic, IndiGo operates over 70 weekly flights to Singapore—a 53% increase over pre-COVID levels. The airline connects Singapore to nine Indian cities and supports onward traffic through codeshare partnerships with other global carriers operating out of Changi.
Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo’s Head of Global Sales, shared:
“At IndiGo, we are truly humbled to receive the 'Partner of the Year' award at the Changi Airline Awards 2025. This recognition validates our dedication to growth and partnership with Changi Airport Group. Since 2011, we've expanded significantly, now operating over 70 weekly flights connecting Singapore to nine cities in India. Our collaboration with Changi Airport has been pivotal in boosting traffic not only between India and Singapore but also beyond, with our codeshare partnerships offering convenient connections to our customers via the Changi Airport.”
The award highlights IndiGo’s success in scaling international operations and reinforces its position as India’s most globally connected airline.
Acumen’s Take
On Air India’s Delhi–Gaya Launch
This new route represents more than just network expansion—it is a carefully timed and positioned initiative that taps into the rising potential of spiritual tourism. With Bodh Gaya playing a central role in Buddhist heritage, and India witnessing a surge in religious and pilgrimage travel post-pandemic, Air India’s decision to link Gaya directly with Delhi will strengthen inbound traffic from East and Southeast Asia. It also reflects Air India’s strategic understanding of high-value, low-competition routes that blend cultural significance with commercial viability.
On AISATS’ Logistics Park at BLR Airport
The inauguration of the AISATS BLR Logistics Park is a critical inflexion point for India’s cargo infrastructure. With cargo volumes climbing steadily, this facility supports India’s ambition to become a global logistics hub. Strategically located within India’s third-busiest airport and backed by AISATS’ experience, the park is poised to streamline multimodal cargo flows, reduce turnaround times, and improve service quality for time-sensitive industries like perishables, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals. Acumen views this as an essential capacity and capability upgrade for South India’s air freight ecosystem.
On IndiGo’s Changi Award
IndiGo’s recognition by Changi Airport is a testament to its disciplined, high-frequency international growth model. The airline’s ability to grow traffic beyond pre-pandemic levels and emerge as one of Changi’s top five foreign carriers is noteworthy in a fiercely competitive international market. Combined with its robust codeshare strategy, IndiGo continues to evolve from a domestic LCC to a globally relevant, hybrid-connectivity provider. This award affirms IndiGo’s credibility as a trusted partner in global aviation infrastructure.
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