Travel Guides & Articles
Star Air, HAL launch India’s 1st Embraer MRO

In a first for South Asia, Bengaluru-based Star Air has partnered with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to establish a dedicated maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for Embraer aircraft in India. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on September 1, 2025, marks a key milestone in India’s efforts to reduce dependence on costly overseas hubs for heavy maintenance. Until now, Star Air’s Embraer regional jets required servicing in countries like Singapore, Dubai, and Europe, contributing to an estimated INR 15,000 crore annual MRO spend abroad.
The partnership will see HAL provide comprehensive MRO support for Star Air’s Embraer fleet, including full aircraft painting and workforce training programmes in collaboration with the airline. For HAL, traditionally focused on defence aviation, this venture builds on its entry into civil aviation maintenance after overhauling an IndiGo A320 Neo earlier this year. Officials confirmed the MoU was signed in the presence of top management from both parties, signalling strong intent for long-term collaboration.
For Star Air, the arrangement promises lower costs, faster turnaround times, and easier access to quality maintenance. This aligns with government initiatives under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package – Part 4, which calls for integrating civil and military MRO sectors to position India as a regional hub. Civil aviation minister Rammohan Naidu has stressed the need to shift focus from only expanding airports to also boosting aviation manufacturing and MRO capabilities.
The planned facility is expected to attract more airlines operating Embraer and other aircraft to seek maintenance services in India. HAL’s technical expertise, combined with Star Air’s operational needs, offers potential for growth in both domestic and regional markets. The collaboration is also set to generate skilled jobs, enhancing India’s aviation ecosystem while reducing foreign exchange outflow on maintenance work.
Industry experts note that the move could encourage other Indian carriers to consider local MRO options. With HAL’s existing infrastructure in Nashik and its proven track record in precision engineering, the facility could handle a variety of aircraft types in the future. This would support India’s long-term vision of becoming a self-reliant aerospace hub in Asia.
Ultimately, the Star Air-HAL partnership represents a strategic step in strengthening India’s aviation self-sufficiency. By reducing reliance on foreign MRO providers, boosting domestic capacity, and creating synergies between civil and defence sectors, the initiative could redefine how Indian airlines maintain their fleets—keeping costs in check while ensuring world-class standards.
Travel Guides & Articles
Thrillophilia CEO Chitra Gurnani Daga Honoured as ‘Face of Future Travel’ at India Travel Awards 2025

PNN
New Delhi [India], September 12: Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO of Thrillophilia, has been honoured as the ‘Face of the Future Travel’ at the India Travel Awards 2025, held on September 9 at Le Meridien, New Delhi.
The annual awards, organised by the DDP Group, are regarded as one of the most credible platforms celebrating excellence in Indian tourism and hospitality. This year’s edition recognised achievers across 57 categories, honouring businesses and leaders who have set new benchmarks for innovation, quality, and growth in the industry.
Among the prominent honours of the evening was the recognition of Chitra Gurnani Daga, CEO of Thrillophilia, as the ‘Face of the Future Travel’. The accolade highlighted her role in building immersive, tech-driven, and sustainable travel platforms and multi-day tours that are helping shape tourism’s next chapter.
The evening brought together some of the most influential voices from the sector. Union Minister of Tourism & Culture, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, graced the occasion and congratulated the winners for their contributions to the tourism economy. He underlined that tourism is not only about travel but also about inclusivity, cultural exchange, and sustainability, noting that with the right partnerships, India can emerge as a global model for integrated growth.
Delivering the keynote address, Suman Billa, Additional Secretary & Director General, Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the crucial role of the sector in national development. He pointed out that India’s ambition of becoming a $3 trillion tourism economy by 2047 would depend on how the industry grows, not just in numbers, but in quality and excellence.
Also present at the ceremony were Ashwani Lohani, Director, Prime Minister’s Museum & Library, and Bidisha Mukherjee, IAS, Additional Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, who stressed the importance of collaboration between government and private stakeholders to achieve sustainable, large-scale growth.
Winners across multiple categories were felicitated with the iconic golden trophy ‘Maya’, symbolising aspiration, achievement, and excellence. The pinnacle honour of the evening, the Gold Maya, was awarded to stalwarts whose contributions have redefined Indian tourism.
Speaking on her recognition, Chitra Gurnani Daga said, “This honour is not just personal; it reflects the vision that has guided Thrillophilia since its inception: to make India a global hub for multi-day tours and curated travel. Our journey has always been about empowering local operators, creating trust with travellers, and showcasing the incredible diversity of India to the world. I share this with my team, our partners, and the millions of travellers who continue to inspire us.”
Since its inception in 2011, Thrillophilia has grown into India’s leading platform for curated multi-day tours, offering authentic travel holidays across more than 75 countries. Under Chitra’s leadership, the company has championed sustainable tourism, tech-driven discovery, and inclusivity, making immersive travel and cultural exploration more accessible to both Indian and international audiences. Thrillophilia is also focused on empowering local operators through partnerships in over 200 Indian destinations, integrating technology into travel planning, and promoting sustainable practices – key themes that are now central to India’s national tourism agenda.
The India Travel Awards 2025 also saw the unveiling of a coffee table book that documented the industry’s resilience and its growing commitment to sustainable, inclusive, and innovative practices. Sanjeet, Mentor of the India Travel Awards, noted that the awards celebrate pioneers “who are reshaping tourism not just as an economic driver, but as a force that connects cultures, uplifts communities, and creates meaningful journeys.”
By spotlighting leaders such as Chitra Gurnani Daga, the event underscored how the future of tourism in India will be defined by innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision of inclusive growth. And for Thrillophilia, the award reinforces its commitment to not just growing as a company but also contributing to India’s vision of becoming a leading global tourism economy by 2047.
(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
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Trip.Biz launches Trip.Biz ONE for travel management

Trip.Biz, the business travel management brand of Trip.com Group, has launched Trip.Biz ONE, an all-in-one solution that redefines how organisations manage business travel, at its annual Trip.Biz Transform 2025 conference in Singapore.
As an all-in-one solution that makes the entire business travel experience more seamless for corporates, Trip.Biz ONE is designed to help organisations overcome existing challenges such as booking leakages in the form of off-platform bookings and overspending, non-adherence to travel policies and inefficient reconciliation processes.
“Companies need to redefine expectations on how business travel can support revenue growth amidst ongoing trade policy uncertainty and economic risks, and this has shifted from cost management to one that is smarter, safer and more sustainable,” Tao Song, CEO, Trip.Biz. “With Trip.Biz ONE, we are bringing together three critical pillars – People C Service, Technology C Inventory and Sustainability – into a single, intelligent platform that empowers companies to deliver greater efficiency, stronger compliance and a better travel experience for every business traveller.”
Travel Management Made More Efficient for Companies with Trip.Biz ONE
With the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is able to directly address major pain points affecting business travel management, including cost control, policy enforcement, limited customer support and inefficient reconciliation. By integrating booking, policy compliance, workflow automation and AI-driven business intelligence features with real- time desktop-to-mobile synchronisation, Trip.Biz ONE is able to streamline the business travel management process to empower companies with a better travel return on investment (ROI) and peace-of-mind.
Key capabilities of Trip.Biz ONE include:
• Consolidated Bookings s Policy Management
o Single platform for multiple travel services including flights, hotels, airport transfers, ride-hailing, and car rentals with automated approval workflows
o Extensive booking selections through numerous inventory sources, including corporate negotiated rates
o Real-time policy compliance monitoring and enforcement
• Advanced Technology Integration
o AI-driven business intelligence via the Trip.Biz AI Chatbot, providing smart and flexible recommendations, real-time traveller support for enhanced traveller experiences
o Rapidly customisable configurations via in-house IT based on travel teams’ needs
o Comprehensive duty-of-care capabilities with dedicated traveller support
• Strategic Business Intelligence:
o Consolidated reporting insights and analytics
o Improved ROI through data-driven decision-making
Strengthening Marketing Leadership in Southeast Asia, with Global Expansion
Eugene Tan, General Manager, Southeast Asia, Trip.Biz
In addition to the launch of Trip.Biz ONE, Trip.Biz is strengthening its market leadership in Southeast Asia while extending global coverage through partnerships. The company’s latest inked cooperation agreements are with Saudia Airlines, Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Constellation Travels in the Philippines to enhance its inventory offerings and local market penetration.
The platform’s digital-first architecture supports both traditional business travel and emerging bleisure trends, providing comprehensive solutions that adapt to changing workforce expectations. This approach positions Trip.Biz as a transformative force in redefining industry standards.
By adding predictive insights and enhancing its ecosystem beyond booking selections through its partners and the strategic value of the Trip.com Group, Trip.Biz is well- positioned to be the strategic business travel partner that empowers companies to travel smarter, safer and more sustainably now and into the future.
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