Kochi: Air India Express has launched a ‘Freedom Sale’ to celebrate India’s 79th Independence Day, offering approximately 50 lakh seats starting at Rs 1,279 across its domestic and international network. The sale, announced on Sunday, runs until August 15, with bookings available for travel from August 19, 2024, to March 31, 2026.
Fares begin at Rs 1,279 for domestic flights and Rs 4,279 for international routes, marking a celebration of freedom, connectivity, and accessibility in a new India. The offer is available exclusively on the airline’s website and mobile app from August 10, and through all major booking channels from August 11 to 15.
Travel under this promotion covers major festive seasons, including Onam, Durga Puja, Deepawali, and Christmas, among others. The airline also offers customized fare options to suit different traveler preferences. The ‘Xpress Lite’ fare, available on the website, excludes check-in baggage, while the ‘Xpress Value’ fare includes standard check-in baggage allowances, starting at Rs 1,379 for domestic and Rs 4,479 for international flights.
For premium travelers, ‘Xpress Biz’, the business-class equivalent featuring an industry-leading seat pitch of up to 58 inches, is now available on over 40 new aircraft added during the airline’s rapid expansion. Air India Express currently operates a fleet of 116 aircraft, offering more than 500 daily flights connecting 38 domestic and 17 international destinations.
The MEA asked Indians in Nepal to follow the local safety advisories from the Nepal authorities as well as the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. File
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStock Photo
In the wake of unrest in Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday (September 10, 2025) released a travel advisory, with helpline numbers, for the Indians living in Nepal.
The MEA asked the Indians in Nepal to defer travel there until the situation has stabilised. “Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution,” the Ministry said in its advisory.
The Ministry asked them to follow the local safety advisories from the Nepal authorities as well as the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.
“In case of any assistance required, please call the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, on the following helpline numbers: 977 – 980 860 2881; 977 – 981 032 6134,” it said.
Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Tuesday (September 9, 2025) resigned as Gen Z-led protests escalated in Kathmandu and other parts of the country for the second consecutive day. Pressure had been mounting on Mr. Oli to step down, after 19 people, mostly young, were killed on Monday (September 8) when police fired rubber bullets and live ammunition at demonstrations launched by Nepal’s youth, who were demanding an end to corruption, nepotism, favouritism, and misgovernance. As many as 400 were reported injured.
India has said it was deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives during the protests in Nepal and expressed the hope that the issues would be resolved through peaceful means.
Air India, IndiGo and Nepal Airlines cancelled their flights from Delhi to Kathmandu on Tuesday (September 9) amid the anti-government protests.
Kesari MICE, a specialised division of Kesari Tours based in Pune, has built a strong presence in the Indian tourism industry with its innovative approach and comprehensive corporate travel solutions. Under the leadership of Zelam Chaubal, Director, Kesari MICE, the company adheres to a customer-first philosophy, shaping the future of corporate travel and events in India. Zelam shares key trends and insights on how Kesari MICE delivers services that give the company a competitive edge in the global arena.
Kesari MICE provides personalised end-to-end service packages that cover every aspect of a corporate event, from pre-event preparations to post-event settlements. Its experienced professionals bring fresh, theme-based ideas for meetings, incentives, conferences, seminars, exhibitions, trade fairs, tournaments, and even educational tours for students.
Seamless End-to-End MICE Management
Once a client outlines basic requirements and finalises a destination, corporate tour experts step in to manage everything else. From travel and accommodation to entertainment and event coordination, the team ensures seamless execution at every stage. Backed by industry experience, meticulous planning, and research-based strategies, Kesari MICE guarantees smooth operations and optimised outcomes for every programme.
Scaling New Heights
Zelam explains that 2025 has been a landmark year for the company. Speaking about the latest developments and projects that the company has been able to achieve this year, Zelam said, “This has been a milestone year for us, with a larger number of groups and a big breakthrough in larger events. This year is significant because we expanded our groups to Australia, Europe, Hong Kong, and Vietnam, in addition to our routine trips to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. We are also proud to have corporates from various industries. From the event space, we could manage larger events in London, Paris, Malta, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Baku, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, Lonavala, Goa, Jaipur, and Dubai under Kesari Events, and it was a great success.”
Emerging Destinations Driving MICE Growth
According to Zelam, the demand for Indian MICE has grown drastically, which is a significant change they have observed. While Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru remain the leaders in the domestic market, other cities are quickly emerging as hotspots. She also said, “Nainital, Himachal, and Rajasthan, mainly Jaipur and Udaipur, and also Hyderabad, Kochi, and Surat, are gaining traction within India. Internationally, Vietnam, Baku (before the war), Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and even South America are being considered as elite corporate MICE destinations. At the same time, demand for newer international destinations has grown. Baku, Vietnam, Malta, Abu Dhabi, etc., are a few of these examples.”
Challenges and Opportunities
Zelam identifies pressing challenges around visas, airline capacity, and skilled manpower. She mentioned, “Getting visa appointments for some countries and in-time visas, airline seats for last-minute confirmations, and skilled people are a few of the challenges. Indian MICE requires better infrastructure, which is improving, but hindrances still prevail. Indian corporates should confirm business much in advance, as the Western world does, to secure better prices and ensure smooth functioning. There is an excellent opportunity as newer MICE destinations are rapidly emerging. Many new airlines are entering the Indian market, and as connectivity improves, so does the MICE sector. Additionally, many countries implement incentive schemes to attract MICE to their country, which helps determine the destination. In the coming years, AI will help fast-forward MICE for the better.”
Staying Competitive
For Kesari MICE, the focus remains on delivering customer delight through innovation. “Today’s MICE is very competitive, but is the customer experience delightful? We are focusing on strategic innovation, leveraging AI to enhance the overall customer experience within our business. Whatever MICE event we host, we ensure that every minute detail is taken care of, so every event is 100 per cent successful. Our top priority is customer experience,” noted Zelam.
Strengthening India’s MICE Ecosystem
Zelam underlines the importance of a collective approach to strengthen India’s position as a global MICE destination. She stresses the role of government and industry bodies in creating the right ecosystem for growth.
“To develop Indian MICE, government bodies should develop infrastructure, have a collective strategy focusing on developing and attracting MICE in the country, and promote India as a MICE destination with collaboration between the public and private sectors. We need a strong national MICE brand, convention bureaus at the state levels, and incentives, along with streamlined regulations and supportive policies for MICE organisers. Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism will enhance India’s MICE destination appeal,” concluded Zelam.
