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Steve singh and renowned group of investors acquire leading travel management company, direct travel.

Former Talend and Concur Executive Christal Bemont Appointed CEO

DENVER , April 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --  Direct Travel, Inc. , a market leader in corporate travel management, today announced its acquisition by Steve Singh , prominent venture capitalist and founder of the world's largest travel and expense management company, Concur, joined by leading growth investors including Durable Capital Partners, Madrona Ventures, Top Tier Capital Partners, and Blackstone Credit & Insurance. Singh will serve as Executive Chairman of Direct Travel, and Christal Bemont will assume the role of CEO.

Consistently ranked on Travel Weekly's annual Power List, Direct Travel is one of the world's largest travel management companies, serving over 4,500 mid-market and enterprise clients. Direct Travel has built a reputation as a world class travel management company that delivers an unparalleled client experience. Integrating its own AI innovations around client experience with a modern integrated travel technology stack from Spotnana (Travel-as-a-Service platform), Center (card-first expense management platform) and   Troop (group meetings and events platform), the company sees an opportunity to set a global standard for The Perfect Trip.

"Over the past few years, our investment group has sought out companies that are re-inventing key elements of the travel ecosystem with a goal of delivering a dramatically better value proposition to business travelers, the companies they work for, and the travel providers that serve them. Spotnana, Center and Troop are re-inventing and dramatically improving core elements of the travel technology stack. Direct Travel sets the bar for customer experience. We are delighted to invest in and partner deeply with what we believe will be the market leading travel management company," said Steve Singh , Executive Chairman, Direct Travel. "We are honored to serve thousands of clients across North America and the EU, ranging in size from thriving middle market businesses to some of the largest companies in the world. We will invest to meet our customers' current needs, grow our customer base in each of the markets we serve, methodically expand the number of markets we serve, and the breadth of products we deliver to our clients."

As part of the acquisition, long-serving CEO Ed Adams , who founded the company in 2011 and helped establish it as a market leader, plans to retire. Ed was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Business Travel Executives and was recently inducted into the Business Travel News Group Hall of Fame. Christal Bemont , the newly appointed CEO of Direct Travel, was formerly CEO of Talend, and before that she served as the CRO of SAP Concur. Christal has extensive travel industry experience, having spent over 15 years at SAP Concur, a multi-billion-dollar company operating in 90 countries.

"I want to take this opportunity to recognize and thank Ed. He is an amazing person and accomplished leader who has developed a world-class organization with an unwavering commitment to customer success," said Christal Bemont , CEO, Direct Travel. "I look forward to building on this tremendous foundation supporting our existing customers, and, alongside the talented leaders at Direct Travel and several former Concur executives, our goal is to build the most admired and innovative travel management company in the industry."

Bemont continued, "Years ago, Steve laid out a vision for The Perfect Trip. Our announcement is a huge step toward making that vision a reality. Today the innovation begins as we embark on a new era of growth for the benefit of our customers. Together with our technology partners and extensive supplier network, we will continue to invest in proprietary technology around user experience and dynamic client services, all of which we plan to make available as a service to other travel management companies."

About Direct Travel, Inc. Direct Travel is a leading provider of corporate travel management services. The company has been providing travel management since 2011, working with clients to develop highly customized travel programs. By leveraging both the expertise of its people and innovative solutions, Direct Travel enables clients to derive the greatest value from their travel program in terms of superior service, progressive technologies and significant cost savings. Direct Travel has offices in over 80 locations across North America and the UK. For more information, visit www.dt.com .

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/steve-singh-and-renowned-group-of-investors-acquire-leading-travel-management-company-direct-travel-302105245.html

SOURCE Direct Travel / Finn Partners

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Direct Travel News Brief

Stay on top of business travel industry news and identify trends that can affect your travel program with the Direct Travel News Brief. A new edition is published every two weeks and includes travel management best practices; airline, hotel and ground transportation news; safety and security alerts; traveler tips; meeting and incentive travel trends; and the latest DT Navigator Blog articles.

Travel News Brief

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Direct Travel Gets A Lift From FareNexus

August 18, 2023

Direct Travel has announced that its growing technology partnership with FareNexus looks to expand on the implementation of Direct Lift, powered by nexusWind, a centralized booking solution provider.

Gerard Bellino, EVP Leisure for Direct Travel, said that: “The nexusWind platform exceeds all our requirements that we outlined for our leisure agent booking suite.”

Bellino continued: “We needed a platform that had flexibility due to the changes occurring in air travel and nexusWind provides us with that flexibility.”

Direct Lift is a comprehensive solution that accommodates both NDC and GDS content with airline commission (nexusCMT) on one screen so that travel advisors can be assured that they are getting the best deals for their customers.

The intuitive interface allows any advisor who is not trained in the GDS to book travel for their customers.

FareNexus CEO, Ravi Kumar said: “We are very pleased with our relationship with Direct Travel and the fact that they have selected us to be a true ‘technology’ partner for them.”

Kumar noted that: “The addition of nexusWind to the suite of solutions Direct Travel is utilizing from Farenexus is a continuation of this growing partnership.”

Direct Travel’s chief technology officer, Darryl Hoover observed that: “Our partnership with FareNexus has positioned us to continue to enhance our productivity tools for our front-line travel advisors and clients.”

Hoover added: “Their extensive knowledge of the travel ecosystem means we can be both innovative and efficient as we develop enterprise solutions collaboratively.”

Go to www.dt.com or https://farenexusgroup.com for more.

WestJet welcomes first flight from Edmonton to Atlanta

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Virgin suspends direct flights from Adelaide to this major hotspot

Virgin Australia has suspend its direct service from this Aussie city to Bali after a delay in the delivery of 10 new Boeing planes.

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Virgin Australia has suspended its direct service from Adelaide to Bali after a delay in the delivery of 10 new Boeing MAX planes.

Travellers keen to head to the hotspot from the Aussie city won’t be able to do so between April 28 and June 9 as the airline awaits the delivery of the new aircraft.

Holiday-makers can still fly from Adelaide to Bali — but will now have a travel time up to 14 hours as the aircraft will have to go via Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne and transfer to a connecting flight.

Those who have booked a flight during the impacted period will be contacted directly by the airline or their travel agent to provide alternative arrangements or “be offered a full refund”, the airline said.

“We have made the decision to continue suspension of direct Adelaide-Bali services from June 2024 due to various factors including the delayed delivery of new aircraft,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson told enews.com.au.

“We acknowledge this decision will be disappointing for some guests and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience.

“Guests booked to travel between Adelaide and Bali from June onwards will be directly contacted by Virgin Australia or their travel agent to provide alternative arrangements, including connecting flights to and from Bali on the booked day of travel via Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Where an alternative is not suitable, guests will be offered a full refund.”

More Coverage

News.com.au understands the suspension of the route is to manage impacts to the airline’s international and domestic schedule as a result of the delayed delivery of new aircraft.

“Guests who wish to discuss alternative arrangements available to them, including travelling via an alternate port, are encouraged to reach out to the Virgin Australia Guest Contact Centre on 13 67 89,” the spokesperson continued.

Meanwhile, Jetstar operates up to 14 direct flights a week between Adelaide and Denpasar.

As passengers scramble to find alternative flights, major news has emerged about the airline’s future.

Bonza cabin crew members say the writing was on the wall well before the airline went into voluntary administration, revealing some of their insane work conditions

The budget airline has just announced a massive sale across its entire domestic and international network with prices starting from $86.

Money latest: State pensions 'could be in doubt for future generations'

A pensions expert has told Money that if he was 20 today, he would be "sceptical" about the promise of a state pension. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 10:28, UK

• State pensions could be in doubt for future generations, expert warns
• Higher food prices and shortages warning - as new Brexit checks begin
• Royal Mail pausing £5 charge for post carrying counterfeit stamps
• Tesco offering up to £50 in points through 'Clubcard Challenges' campaign

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• Money Problem : 'A company isn't abiding by written warranty for dodgy building work - what can I do?'  
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Ask a question or make a comment

Average advertised rents have hit a new high in the UK, according to Rightmove .

Across Britain, excluding London, the average monthly rent being asked for a property coming on the market in the first quarter of 2024 was £1,291, the property website found. This was 8.5% higher than a year earlier.

The average advertised rent in London also hit a fresh high in the first quarter of 2024 at £2,633 per month but this was just £2 higher than the average asking rent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

While average rents have climbed, the property website says there are signs that the pace of the increases is slowing.

There are also indications that more landlords are having to reduce their asking rents, particularly for bigger homes, to meet what tenants can afford.

Rightmove's director of property science, Tim Bannister, said the rental market was "no longer at peak boiling point" but it "remains at a very hot simmer".

By James Sillars , business reporter

The index rose by 0.3% to 8,174 points at the open.

Only real estate stocks were proving any kind of drag.

Among the companies leading the gainers was HSBC.

It climbed by more than 2.6% in London after the Asia-focused bank announced a rise in shareholder awards despite a slight drop in quarterly profits.

The share price reaction also reflected news that chief executive Noel Quinn is to retire - read the full story of that here ...

Among the other gainers in early dealing was Whitbread.

The Premier Inn owner's annual results revealed a sharp rise in annual profits but also a new focus on hotel investment at the expense of its restaurant brands.

That was placing 1,500 jobs at risk, it warned - read the full story here ...

By Jess Sharp , Money team

We first came across Tom McPhail when he posted this on X... 

The pensions expert appeared to be suggesting state pensions were at risk of disappearing.  

After speaking to him on the phone, he confirmed that was exactly his concern, warning something needed to be done sooner rather than later to avoid a "catastrophic" situation.  

He described state pensions as a social contract – each generation pays taxes and national insurance, which funds the pensions of today's older people, and they hope the following generation will do the same for them.

But with population growth slowing, there's a worry there may simply not be enough people to keep the system afloat in the future.  

"There's a significant demographic shift going on in the UK. It started before the Second World War, cohorts of people born in the 1930s have been experiencing significantly longer lives than was the case prior to that, so people now in their 80s are living quite a lot longer," he said. 

"But at the same time, we've got fewer children coming through. And so this exacerbates the shift in the age of the population."

He said if he was 20 today, he would be "sceptical" about the promise of a state pension because he isn't sure how it's going to be paid for.  

At the moment, the state pension system costs around £120bn a year and more than half of retired people rely on it to make up at least 50% of their income, he added.  

Over the next 50 years, Tom predicts the proportion of GDP the state spends on older people will increase from around 16% to 25%.  

"I hesitate to use the word unsustainable, but it will certainly start to look challenging," he said.  

"If we suddenly switched off the state pension or significantly reduced it, people would be in trouble, so the government can’t do that. 

"You can't keep on progressively ratcheting up a more and more generous state pension. The costs of state pensions is going to become increasingly difficult for the younger cohorts to bear."

He pointed to a few ways to potentially salvage the state pension – policy change, more babies being born or people working until they are in their 70s.  

"Politicians are going to have to make decisions about how to get out of this kind of political bind," Tom added. 

"Time and time again it's just kick the can down the road on the pension question, just put a sticking plaster on it and let the next government deal with the problem. 

"You can't keep doing that. So I would really like to see, on the other side of this forthcoming general election... whoever's in power, in collaboration with whoever's in opposition, to just really open it up to some honest conversations about where the demographics are going to take us." 

He does note there is one piece of good news: "This happens quite slowly, so we do have time on our side." 

Basically, swap rates dictate the pricing of fixed-rate mortgages.

Lenders, such as banks and building societies, borrow in order to lend.

They borrow from financial markets and often these transactions are made using Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) swap rates, which can move around.

By contrast, most domestic mortgages are set on what is known as a "term" rate – in other words, the borrower knows how much interest they will be paying for a set period of time.

To avoid a situation where the SONIA rate goes above the rate it is charging borrowers, which would leave the bank or building society lending at a loss, the lender will seek to enter a "swap" arrangement which protects them from such a situation.

Under such agreements, two parties exchange cash flows with each other. The lending bank will swap the variable payments it may make to service a mortgage (which is fixed to the SONIA rate) for payments at a fixed rate. This insulates the lending bank from unexpected increases in the SONIA rate.

Once a deal is struck based on the swap rate, mortgage providers set their fixed deals for customers, with their own profit margin priced in.

How are swap rates decided?

Swap rates are based on what the markets think will happen to interest rates in the future.

When they go up, so do the rates being offered on the high street, as we have seen in the last week or two amid uncertainty over whether forecasts for a summer base rate cut are accurate.

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

Train drivers will stage a fresh wave of strikes and overtime bans in May, causing disruption to the rail network.

The strikes are part of a long-running dispute over pay.

Members of Aslef union at 16 rail companies will walk out on different days from 7 to 9 May. Additionally, all members will refuse to work any overtime from 6 May to 11 May.

Here is a full list of the services affected by strikes and when.

Rail strike dates

Tuesday 7 May

Strikes will affect c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway.

Wednesday 8 May

Strikes will affect Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains.

Thursday 9 May

Strikes will affect LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Express.

Overtime ban dates

From Monday 6 May to Saturday 11 May union members will not work overtime.

Overtime bans, an action short of a strike, means some services may not be running or may be reduced as drivers refuse to work their rest days.

People are advised to check before they travel, as some areas may have no service.

How do strikes and overtime bans affect services?

Strikes tend to mean services on lines where members are participating are extremely affected or cancelled entirely, whereas overtime bans often lead to reduced services.

How can I stay in the loop?

You can use the National Rail's  journey planner  to see when trains are running.

Be sure to check it close to when you plan to travel, as it will be updated regularly.

Why are the strikes still happening?

Aslef rejected a two-year offer of 4% in 2022 and another 4% this year, saying this was way below inflation, and was linked to changes in terms and conditions.

Aslef says train drivers have not had an increase in salary for five years, since their last pay deals expired in 2019.

Royal Mail is temporarily waiving a £5 charge for unsuspecting members of the public who receive post sent with a fake stamp.

The company said it was developing a new scanner in its app which will let customers scan stamp barcodes and check whether they are recognised counterfeits.

While this takes place, the £5 charge for people who receive the post will be paused, Royal Mail said.

It added that it would work to ensure the sender of items posted with counterfeit stamps are charged instead of the recipient where possible.

Royal Mail chief commercial officer Nick Landon said new security measures alongside its barcoded stamps have "led to a 90% reduction" in counterfeits.

"We want our customers to buy stamps with confidence and always recommend that customers only purchase stamps from post offices and other reputable high street retailers," he said.

Tesco Clubcard users have the chance to secure up to £50 in points over the next six weeks as part of its new "Clubcard Challenge" initiative.

Three million Clubcard holders will be invited to take part in the campaign. If they accept, they'll receive 20 challenges that Tesco says will be "personalised just for them" - of which they can choose up to 10 to complete.

The supermarket giant said it was working with AI company EagleAI to offer the "hyper-personalised" promotion.

Challenges will involve spending a certain amount on a range, such as its BBQ food offering, or type of product, such as plant-based food. Customers who complete the "challenges" will be handed extra Clubcard points.

Lizzie Reynolds, group membership and loyalty director at Tesco, said the company was "very excited" to see how its customers responded.

Let us know what you think of this in the comments box above.

Strikes at Heathrow Airport are taking place over the next few weeks, with the first one already under way.

Staff at the UK's biggest airport are set to walk out during the early bank holiday in May, with their union warning planes could be "delayed, disrupted and grounded".

Click here to find out when all the strikes are, what disruption is expected and which airlines are affected...

The average price paid for comprehensive motor insurance rose 1% in the first quarter of the year, according to industry data indicating an easing in the steep rises seen last year.

The latest tracker issued by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed a 1% increase on the previous three months to £635.

That was despite the average claim paid rising 8% to reach a record of £4,800, the body said.

The ABI said the disparity showed that its members were "absorbing" additional costs and not passing them on.

Nevertheless, the average policy was still 33%, or £157, higher between January and March compared to the same period last year.

Read the full story here ...

Getir , the grocery delivery app, has abandoned a European expansion that is set to result in the loss of around 1,500 jobs in the UK.

Sky News had previously revealed that the Turkey-based company, which means "to bring" in Turkish, had  successfully raised money from investors to fund its withdrawals  from the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.

It had already departed other countries including Italy and Spain.

The exits were prompted by growing losses linked to the company's rapid expansion.

Waitrose is launching an exclusive range of products with popular chef Yotam Ottolenghi today. 

The Israeli-British chef is famous for his Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired food, and has worked with the supermarket to release products including a pasta sauce, spice blend and shawarma marinade. 

It is the first time Ottolenghi has partnered with a supermarket in such a way. 

The full range will be available in Waitrose shops, Waitrose.com and Ottolenghi.co.uk from today, while a selection of products will be available from the supermarket on Deliveroo and Uber Eats. 

An introductory 20% off offer is being launched until 18 June. 

The range includes: 

• Ottolenghi Miso Pesto 165g (£4)
• Ottolenghi Kalamata Olive & Harissa Sauce  350g (£4.50)
• Ottolenghi Pomegranate, Rose & Preserved Lemon Harissa 170g (£5)
• Ottolenghi Green Harissa 170g (£5)
• Ottolenghi Aleppo & Other Chillies Blend (£3.95)
• Ottolenghi Sweet & Smokey Blend (£3.95)
• Ottolenghi Citrus & Spice Blend (£3.95)
• Ottolenghi Red Chilli Sauce (£4.50)
• Ottolenghi Shawarma Marinade (£4)

Ottolenghi said he had "always been super eager to get our flavours onto people's dinner plates nationwide, not just in London, without having to cook it from scratch every single time". 

He added: "I hate to admit it but the pasta sauce already features heavily in my home kitchen, when no one is looking."

The cost of bread, biscuits and beer could increase this year due to the impact of the unusually wet autumn and winter on UK harvests.

Research suggests that production of wheat, oats, barley and oilseed rape could drop by four million tonnes (17.5%) compared with 2023.

The wet weather has resulted in lower levels of planting, while flooding and storms over winter caused farmers more losses.

The predictions come just as the rate of price increases on many food items begins to slow as inflation falls.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) analysed forecasts from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHBD) and government yield data.

It found a "real risk" of beer, biscuits and bread becoming more expensive if the poor harvest increases costs for producers, according to its lead analyst Tom Lancaster.

Beer prices could be affected because the wet weather is still disrupting the planting of spring crops such as barley, the ECIU said.

And potatoes might also see a price hike in the coming months, with growers warning of a major shortage in the autumn due to persistent wet weather.

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Radiators fail once more: Moscow suburbs residents appeal to Putin

R esidents across the Moscow suburbs are besieged by a heating problem, for which they plead direct intervention from President Vladimir Putin. These individuals have yet to experience any semblance of home heating since winter started due to a dwindling supply of heating oil. The issue, one largely avoided by local authority communication, has left residents desperate to the point of directly appealing to the president.

While plots have been uncovered to disrupt Ukraine's infrastructure for a second consecutive winter, thus depriving civilians of heating, it seems Russians are now mired in their crisis. Irony drips from the fact that those under Putin's leadership are looking to cause turmoil in Ukraine, yet at home, they face a similar predicament.

Many dwellings within the Moscow agglomeration are presently without heat. The capital's residents are desperate, directly appealing to President Putin due to a perceived lack of alternate avenues for assistance. The absence of suitable heating functionality since winter commenced pushes them towards desperation with no relief in sight.

This seems improbable, but in Russia, it appears that anything can happen.

It remains uncertain if Vladimir Putin is actively addressing the heating crisis. Some experts suggest that Russia's heating oil reserves are depleting, which negatively affects residents' quality of life. Plagued by cold radiators and plummeting winter temperatures, these citizens have directly addressed their pleas to their head of state.

This heating crisis is happening in Elektrostal, a town approximately 71 miles from Moscow.

Ironically, Russia has constantly aimed to destroy the Ukrainian infrastructure since war broke out, deliberately trying to leave Ukrainians without heating during the harsh winters, aiming to break their strong will. It's an irony they now struggle with a domestic heating crisis, particularly near Moscow, their largest and most pivotal city.

Desperate individuals are reaching out to Vladimir Putin. They question his knowledge of the heating infrastructure conditions in the Moscow suburbs and the dire situations residents face there. Sundown brings no relief from the harsh Russian winter and without heating, their houses turn cold. With elections nearing, more and more residents find themselves reaching out directly to their president.

"Since winter's start, we've been without heating. This has been a yearly occurrence for the past three years. Despite paying for heating, we don't have enough. We implore you, help us!" - these are the desperate pleas from the heavily dressed populace dealing with the Russian winter conditions.

Experts attribute the heating oil shortage to international sanctions and surging demands for diesel fuel, pivotal to military operations. Russia now grapples with a dearth of raw materials essential for boiler and heating plant operation. As supplies dwindle, houses grow cold with little hope of any immediate corrective intervention.

It would be adequate if the war ceased, residents were prioritized, and attention accorded to their welfare.

Russians report Ukrainian drone shot down near Moscow

Putin faces strategic dilemma in prolonged Ukrainian war

Former Ukrainian deputy Kywa assassinated in Moscow amidst war tensions

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Published: April 30 , 2024 09:06 AM IST Updated: April 30, 2024 11:52 AM IST

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കോ വിഡ് മഹാമാരിയുടെ കാലം കഴിഞ്ഞതോടെ ലോകം ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതൽ സജീവമായത് വിനോദസഞ്ചാര മേഖലയിലാണ്. യാത്രകൾ സജീവമായി തുടങ്ങി. പ്രാദേശികമായും ദേശീയ തലത്തിലും നടന്നിരുന്ന യാത്രകൾ ഇപ്പോൾ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ അതിർത്തി കടന്നും മുന്നേറുകയാണ്. വിദേശയാത്രകൾ ഒരു സാധാരണ കാര്യമായി കഴിഞ്ഞു. ഇന്ത്യയിൽ നിന്നുള്ള സഞ്ചാരികളുടെ ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയപ്പെട്ട വിനോദസഞ്ചാര കേന്ദ്രങ്ങളിൽ ഒന്നാണ് ഭൂട്ടാൻ . അയൽരാജ്യമായ ഭൂട്ടാനിലേക്കു നിരവധി സഞ്ചാരികളാണ് ഇന്ത്യയിൽ നിന്ന് എത്തുന്നത്. ഏതായാലും ഭൂട്ടാനിലേക്കു യാത്ര പോകാൻ കൊതിക്കുന്നവർക്കു കൂടുതൽ സന്തോഷം നൽകുന്ന വാർത്തയാണ് ഇപ്പോൾ എത്തുന്നത്.

ചായക്കാശിന് ഊണൊരുക്കി ഐആർസിടിസി; കീശ കാലിയാകാതെ കഴിക്കാം ‘സ്നാക് മീലും’

ഭൂട്ടാൻ എയർലൈൻസ് ആയ ടാഷി എയർ പ്രൈവറ്റ്  ലിമിറ്റഡ് ബംഗളൂരുവിൽ നിന്ന് നേരിട്ട് വിമാനം ആരംഭിച്ചു കഴിഞ്ഞു. ഭൂട്ടാനിലെ പാരോ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിലേക്ക് ആണ് ബംഗളൂരുവിൽ നിന്ന് നേരിട്ട് പറന്ന് ചെന്നിറങ്ങാൻ കഴിയുക. വെറുതെയല്ല പുതിയ നീക്കവുമായി ഭൂട്ടാൻ എയർലൈൻസ് രംഗത്തെത്തിയത്. പുതിയ റൂട്ടിലൂടെ വർഷം 300,000 സഞ്ചാരികളെയെങ്കിലും രാജ്യത്തേക്ക് എത്തിക്കുക എന്നതാണ് സർക്കാർ നയം.

ലേഡീസ്, ഭൂട്ടാനിലേക്ക് ഒരു സോളോ ട്രിപ്പ് ആയാലോ, ഗൈഡ് ചെയ്യാൻ നൂറിലധികം വനിതാ ഗൈഡുമാരുണ്ട്

വിനോദസഞ്ചാരം കൂടുതൽ ശക്തമാക്കുന്നതിന്റെ ഭാഗമായി ബംഗളൂരുവിൽ നിന്ന് പാരോയിലേക്കുള്ള നേരിട്ടുള്ള സർവീസുകൾ ഏപ്രിൽ മാസത്തിലാണ് ആരംഭിച്ചത്. മേയ് മാസത്തിലും ഇത് തുടരും. ഈ സീസണൽ ഫ്ലൈറ്റ് ആഴ്ചയിൽ രണ്ടു ദിവസം ആയിരിക്കും സർവീസ് നടത്തുക. അടുത്ത സീസൺ സെപ്തംബർ അവസാനം ആരംഭിച്ച് നവംബർ പകുതിയോടെ അവസാനിക്കും. ഏതായാലും ബംഗളൂരുവിൽ നിന്ന് പാരോയിലേക്ക് നേരിട്ട് വിമാനം ആരംഭിച്ചത് യാത്ര കൂടുതൽ എളുപ്പമാക്കും. യാത്രാ സമയം കുറയ്ക്കുകയും യാത്ര കൂടുതൽ എളുപ്പമാകുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നതോടെ കൂടുതൽ പേർ ഈ റൂട്ടിൽ സഞ്ചരിക്കാൻ എത്തുമെന്നാണ് കരുതുന്നത്.

പാസ്പോർട്ട് വേണം, വീസ വേണ്ട; ഇന്ത്യൻ യാത്രികരെ സിം കാർഡുമായി കാത്തിരിക്കുന്ന ഭൂട്ടാൻ

പാരോ - ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും അപകടകരമായ വിമാനത്താവളം

ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും അപകടകരമായ വിമാനത്താവളമായാണ് ഭൂട്ടാനിലെ പാരോ രാജ്യാന്തര വിമാനത്താവളം പരിഗണിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത്. പാരോ നഗരത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ആറു കിലോമീറ്റർ ദൂരെ പാരോ ചു എന്ന നദിയുടെ തീരത്താണ് ഈ വിമാനത്താവളം. ഉയരമുള്ള കുന്നുകളാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ട ഈ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിലേക്കു വിമാനം ഇറക്കാൻ പ്രത്യേകം വൈദഗ്ധ്യം നേടിയിട്ടുള്ള പൈലറ്റുമാർക്കേ സാധിക്കുകയുള്ളൂ. സമുദ്ര നിരപ്പിൽ നിന്ന് 7332 അടി ഉയരത്തിലാണ് വിമാനത്താവളം സ്ഥിതി ചെയ്യുന്നത്. എന്നാൽ ചുറ്റുമുള്ള പർവ്വതങ്ങൾക്ക് 18,000 അടി ഉയരമാണ് ഉള്ളത്. ഈ ഒരൊറ്റ കാരണമാണ് ലോകത്തിലെ ഏറ്റവും അപകടകരമായ വിമാനത്താവളമായി പാരോയെ മാറ്റുന്നത്. 3,900 അടിയുള്ള റൺവേയാണ് ഇവിടെ ഉള്ളത്.  നിലവിൽ ലോകത്തിൽ 24 പൈലറ്റുമാർക്കു മാത്രമേ പാരോ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിലേക്കു വിമാനം പറത്താൻ അനുമതിയുള്ളൂ. അപകടസാധ്യത കൂടുതലായതിനാൽ അത്രയും ശ്രദ്ധിച്ചു വേണം ഇവിടേക്കു വിമാനം പറത്തിയിറക്കാൻ.

അതിശ്രേഷ്ഠരായ 24 പൈലറ്റുമാർ

പാരോ വിമാനത്താവളത്തിലേക്ക് ഇറങ്ങുന്ന പൈലറ്റുമാർ പർവതങ്ങൾക്കിടയിലുള്ള ഒരു താഴ് വരയിലേക്കാണ് ഇറങ്ങുന്നത്. അതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ പ്രത്യേക വൈദഗ്ധ്യം അതിന് ആവശ്യമാണ്. പർവ്വത ശിഖരങ്ങൾക്കു മുകളിലൂടെ കൃത്യമായ ആസൂത്രണത്തോടെ പറക്കുകയും പ്രവചനാതീതമായ കാറ്റിനെ നേരിടാൻ തയ്യാറായിരിക്കുകയും വേണം. വളരെ കൃത്യതയോടെ വേണം ഇവിടേക്ക് ലാൻഡിങ് നടത്താൻ. ഇൻസ്ട്രുമെന്റ് ലാൻഡിങ് സംവിധാനങ്ങളുടെ അഭാവം ലാൻഡിങ് കൂടുതൽ വെല്ലുവിളി നിറഞ്ഞതാക്കുന്നു. ഈ സാഹചര്യത്തിലാണ് ഭൂട്ടാനിലെ സിവിൽ ഏവിയേഷൻ അതോറിറ്റി പാരോ എയർപോർട്ടിൽ ഇറങ്ങാനുള്ള അനുമതി ചുരുക്കം ചില വിദഗ്ധരായ പൈലറ്റുമാർക്കു നൽകിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. ലോകമെമ്പാടും നിന്നുള്ള ഈ 24 പൈലറ്റുമാർ കഠിനമായ പരിശീലനത്തിന് വിധേയരായതിന് ശേഷമാണ് തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടത്.

വിമാനത്താവളത്തിന്റെ സ്ഥാനവും റൺവേ സവിശേഷതകളും ഉയർത്തുന്ന സവിശേഷമായ വെല്ലുവിളികൾ നേരിടുന്നതിൽ ഇവർ വൈദഗ്ധ്യം പ്രകടിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കണം. സുരക്ഷിതമായ ലാൻഡിങുകളും ടേക്ക് ഓഫുകളും ഉറപ്പാക്കുന്നതിന് ആവശ്യമായ വൈദഗ്ധ്യം പൈലറ്റുമാർക്കുണ്ടെന്ന് ഉറപ്പാക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള സിമുലേറ്റഡ് ഫ്ലൈറ്റുകൾ, സാങ്കേതിക കാര്യങ്ങൾ, ഒന്നിലധികം മൂല്യനിർണയങ്ങൾ എന്നിവ ഈ പൈലറ്റുമാരുടെ പരിശീലനത്തിൽ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു. പാരോയിലേക്കു പറന്നിറങ്ങുന്ന പൈലറ്റ് ആകാൻ അർപ്പണബോധത്തിന് ഒപ്പം പ്രതിബദ്ധതയും ആവശ്യമാണ്.

വ്യോമയാന മികവിന്റെ ഒരു പ്രതീകം കൂടിയാണ് പാരോ വിമാനത്താളം. എങ്കിലും, വിനോദസഞ്ചാരവും പരിസ്ഥിതി സംരക്ഷണവും സന്തുലിതമായി തുടരേണ്ടതിന്റെ ആവശ്യകത തിരിച്ചറിഞ്ഞവരാണ് ഭൂട്ടാൻ സർക്കാരും വ്യോമയാന അധികാരികളും. അതുകൊണ്ടു തന്നെ പാരോ താഴ് വരയിലെ അതിലോലമായ ആവാസവ്യവസ്ഥയ്ക്ക് കോട്ടം തട്ടാതിരിക്കാൻ കൃത്യമായ നടപടികൾ സ്വീകരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇക്കാരണത്താൽ തന്നെ പാരോയിലേക്കും തിരിച്ചുമുള്ള വിമാനങ്ങളുടെ എണ്ണം നിയന്ത്രിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്.

Bengaluru to Bhutan: New Direct Flights to World's Most Hazardous Airport.

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