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Christmas Eve flights delayed after American Airlines briefly grounds all US journeys

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A nationwide ground stop has been lifted after American Airlines grounded its flights for around an hour across the US on Christmas Eve amid one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The Federal Aviation Administration told The Independent that “American Airlines reported a technical issue this morning and requested a nationwide ground stop. The ground stop has now been lifted.”

American Airlines said in a statement at 8.48am ET: “A vendor technology issue briefly affected flights this morning. That issue has been resolved and flights have resumed.

“We sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this morning. It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.”

The technology issue impacted systems needed to release flights, causing a ground stop that lasted approximately one hour.

Passengers seek help at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, USA, 24 December 2024 (EPA)

“Expect some delays throughout the day but [we’re] working to mitigate those and avoid cancels,” airline spokeswoman Sarah Jantz added. “We have a smaller schedule today and have the staffing to support the quick recovery.”

The delay struck during an incredibly busy travel period. According to the Transportation Security Administration, some 40 million passengers are expected to travel via an airport over the holidays until January 2.

The airline urges customers to find the latest information on their flight using its app or its website.

The groundstop was issued at 6.49am ET Tuesday, 24 December before it was cancelled at 7.50am ET, Axios reports.

The airline began boarding flights again at around 8am ET, an airline spokeswoman told CNN.

An American Airlines worker waits for information at a check-in counter at Miami International Airport (AP)

Before the stop was lifted, American Airlines said in a statement Tuesday morning that “a technical issue is affecting American flights this morning.

“Our teams are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, and we apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.”

The airline wrote on X in response to one passenger that it was “currently experiencing a technical issue with all American Airlines flights.

“Your safety is our utmost priority, once this is rectified, we’ll have you safely on your way to your destination.

“An estimated timeframe has not been provided, but they’re trying to fix it in the shortest possible time,” it added.

The groundstop order was lifted after an hour but there will likely be knock-on delays (EPA)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) posted a nationwide groundstop order for all American flights at the request of the airline, an advisory notice shows.

Passengers aired their woes on social media about the delays to their Christmas Eve travel plans due to the temporary halting of American Airlines flights.

One X user wrote that they had been required to deplane at Pittsburgh International Airport, to which the airline responded: “We’re doing our best to get things back on track. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.”

Another passenger wrote: “Heck of way to start Christmas. Hey, American Airlines just tell us whether we should go home or not. Please don’t make us wait in the airport for hours.”

A video posted from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport showed a large crowd waiting in the gate area with an announcer saying that its “system is down” so they could not get the crew on the plane nor board any customers.

FlightRadar24, a flight data tracking site, said on X that while the ground stop has now been canceled, “it will take some time for flights to get back to normal.”

It added that there are 420 active American Airlines flights as of 8.32am ET, whereas at the same time last week there were 620.

The Independent has contacted American Airlines for comment.

For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast



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InsideAsia to ‘shake up’ market with launch of India programme

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InsideAsia aims to “shake up the market” with the launch of its newest destination: India.

 

The specialist tour operator – part of Inside Travel Group, together with InsideJapan – is offering 12 “cultural adventures” across six regions and 80 different destinations in India.

 

Jess Andrews, Inside Travel Group’s South Asia programme manager, joined the company early last year to develop a “standout” India programme.

 

She has worked with India for almost 20 years with companies such as Ampersand Travel and Abercrombie & Kent.

 

“India is a sleeping giant. It’s a place of almost endless adventure and diversity which has been so underserviced by the majority of the UK travel industry for many years now,” she said.

 

“We have set out to shake up the market and offer cultural adventures with our own ‘Inside Travel’ stamp, aiming to represent this vast country and the variety of culture and people that make it so special.”

She said the tours go “way beyond” the ‘Golden Triangle’ to showcase India’s places, culture and people.

Inside Travel Group co-founder Alastair Donnelly added: “India has long been a missing piece of our Asia puzzle.

 

“This is our first new destination to launch since 2022, and we believe that with India, with our partners on the ground, the people we work across the country and with the cultural adventures we are able to create, we have something incredible.

 

“We have a team of five India travel specialists, with experience and knowledge from all over the country, but all united by their passion for the country and culture, and knowing what makes travel great.”

 

India sales and product specialist Brandon Clements joined the team earlier this year after 13 years at A&K as an India specialist.

 

“Jess and the team have shown that there is a conscious effort to offer something very different to what is already out there on the market,” said Clements.

 

“The cultural adventures on site are a snippet of what is possible, but they provide inspiration.”

 

Donnelly added: “As a B Corp that prides itself on using ‘travel as a force for good’, we hope that we can encourage people to explore beyond the usual, get beneath the surface and give back to communities across the country that would benefit from cultural adventure tourism.”

 



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Air India launches limited-period sale on premium cabins across key short-haul routes

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Air India has announced a limited-time promotional sale offering attractive fares for Business Class and Premium Economy travel on select short-haul international routes. The offer presents travellers with an opportunity to plan holidays across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East while enjoying the enhanced comfort of Air India’s premium cabins.

Under the sale, all-inclusive Premium Economy round-trip fares start from INR 13,300, while Business Class fares begin at INR 34,400. Routes on offer include popular destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Kathmandu, Colombo, and Male, operated by aircraft featuring new or upgraded three-class cabin interiors.

Travellers booking via Air India’s website or mobile app will enjoy zero convenience fees and additional savings through promotional codes. Discounts include up to INR 2,400 per passenger with promo code FLYAI and up to INR 2,500 per passenger with Visa card payments using VISAFLY. The sale is valid for bookings made 2–7 September 2025, with travel permitted until 31 March 2026. Exclusively on 7 September, the offer will only be available via Air India’s digital platforms.

Visa cardholders can also avail of exclusive discounts:

  • One-way international tickets – up to INR 1,500 off
  • Round-trip international tickets – up to INR 2,500 off

The limited-period offer is available for bookings from 2-7 September 2025 for travel until 31 March 2026. Bookings under the sale will be available across all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, customer contact centre, and through travel agents. However, the sale is exclusively available on Air India’s website and mobile app on 7 September 2025.

As part of its ongoing fleet transformation, Air India now offers upgraded Business Class and Premium Economy cabins on 16 short-haul international routes, ensuring travellers enjoy a world-class experience. These include flights to popular destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Kathmandu that are now operated by new, upgraded or retrofitted aircraft in a three-class cabin configuration, providing a world-class flying experience to travellers.

Sample All-Inclusive Round-Trip Fares Between Key Geographies
(Ex-India, Partial Listing Only)
Sector Currency Premium Economy Business Class
Delhi – Kathmandu INR 13,300 34,400
Delhi – Dhaka INR 16,100 66,500
Mumbai – Colombo INR 22,700 48,800
Delhi – Kuala Lumpur INR 23,700 64,700
Delhi – Bangkok INR 25,200 64,400
Mumbai – Singapore INR 24,800 91,600
Delhi – Ho Chi Minh City INR 25,100 67,700
Delhi – Male INR 39,400 97,600
Delhi – Hong Kong INR 30,700 1,07,100

 

Sample All-Inclusive Round-Trip Fares Between Key Geographies
(In To India, Partial Listing Only)
Route Currency Premium Economy Business Class
Abu Dhabi-Mumbai AED 900 2,500
Dubai-Delhi AED 1,100 3,500
Dubai-Hyderabad AED 1,200 2,500
Hong Kong-Delhi HKD 3,700 14,300
Denpasar-Delhi IDR 1,36,88,000 3,08,78,000
Doha-Delhi QAR 1,080 2,780
Singapore-Delhi SGD 428 1,292
Bangkok-Delhi THB 9,215 27,801
Jeddah-Delhi SAR 1,962 2,055



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ITB India 2025 opens in Mumbai showcasing global travel

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ITB India 2025, a leading B2B travel trade show organised by Messe Berlin, officially opened today in Mumbai, marking its third in-person edition as a premier B2B trade show and conference for the travel industry.

In a press statement, the organisers say that under the theme The Business of Experience: Curated Travel for Targetted Growth, the event brings together a global gathering of over 400 exhibitors, 600 high-caliber buyers and expects upwards of 8,000 trade visitors from sectors including MICE, leisure, corporate and travel technology.

The statement adds that the three-day event is co-located with MICE Show India and Travel Tech India, focussing on the rising demand for experience-driven travel with emphasis on wellness, culture, cinematic storytelling and adventure tourism.

The organisers say that Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have been named the Official Partner States of ITB India 2025, showcasing their diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

It adds that these states are positioned as prime destinations offering authentic and immersive travel experiences beyond the usual tourist trails.

According to the statement, the exhibition features wide international participation across the entire tourism value chain. Key exhibitors include national tourism organizations, top MICE companies, online travel agencies, hospitality brands, travel tech providers and travel agents. Notable exhibitors such as Wonderful Indonesia, Visit Northern Finland, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism Oman, and several others underline the event’s global scope and comprehensive market reach.

The organisers say that running alongside the trade show is the ITB India Conference 2025, featuring more than 40 sessions across four curated tracks, Knowledge Theatre, MICE & Corporate, Travel Tech and Experiential Travel. Industry leaders will discuss India’s growing outbound travel market, innovations in MICE and corporate travel, the transformative role of AI and analytics in travel tech, and the shift towards experiential and purpose-driven travel.

“ITB India 2025 demonstrates the vitality of the Indian and South Asian travel markets, serving as an essential platform for global engagement and collaboration. This year’s edition places a strong emphasis on experience-led travel while fostering fresh opportunities for dialogue, innovation and partnerships across MICE, Corporate, Leisure and Travel Technology. We are delighted to welcome our Official Partner States, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, whose participation brings India’s diversity and cultural depth to the forefront, further cementing ITB India’s position as a gateway to the future of travel,” says Darren Seah, Executive Director, Messe Berlin Asia Pacific and organiser of ITB India, MICE Show India and Travel Tech India.



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