logo
Fujairah celebrates IndiGo's inaugural flights to Mumbai, Kannur

Fujairah celebrates IndiGo's inaugural flights to Mumbai, Kannur

Trade Arabia18-05-2025
Fujairah International Airport celebrated the official launch of IndiGo Airlines' inaugural flights to Mumbai and Kannur, marking the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing connectivity between Fujairah and key Indian cities.
This collaboration strengthens travel links, boosts tourism, and promotes economic exchange between the UAE and India, reported WAM.
The arrival of the inaugural aircraft was marked by a formal welcome ceremony attended by senior dignitaries, including Satish Sivan, Consul-General of India to Dubai; Mohamed Al Salami, Chairman of the Fujairah Department of Civil Aviation; Esmaeil Al Boloushi, General Manager of Fujairah International Airport; Ebraheim Alqallaf, Deputy General Manager; and Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, alongside senior officials from the government and private sector.
In his keynote address, Al Salami highlighted the broader strategic vision behind the launch, saying, 'This event marks not just the launch of a new route, but the opening of strategic avenues of cooperation and collaboration between our two great nations.'
Highlighting Fujairah's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and growing appeal as a destination, he emphasised that the new routes would serve as a gateway for the Indian community, enriching tourism and business interactions.
'IndiGo's commitment to affordable and quality travel resonates deeply with the needs of our community,' he added.
Al Boloushi commented, 'We are pleased to mark the launch of IndiGo's first flights to Mumbai and Kannur — a significant step in enhancing direct connectivity between Fujairah and India.'
He further noted the wider benefits of the new routes, pointing out that travellers from Fujairah now have convenient access to major Asian destinations via IndiGo's expanding network, including the Maldives, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, Dhaka, Colombo, Seychelles and Kathmandu.
To further enhance passenger convenience, Fujairah International Airport has introduced a free transportation service connecting all seven Emirates, making access to the airport more seamless for travelers across the UAE.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

"Trump Is Not Happy With India Because...": What Ex-Diplomat Said
"Trump Is Not Happy With India Because...": What Ex-Diplomat Said

Gulf Insider

time2 days ago

  • Gulf Insider

"Trump Is Not Happy With India Because...": What Ex-Diplomat Said

One of the reasons behind Washington's punitive tariffs on New Delhi is that US President Donald Trump is miffed with India for ignoring his so-called role in brokering a peace deal with Pakistan following the military conflict in May, said former diplomat Vikas Swarup. The former High Commissioner to Canada, who is also a renowned author, described the United States' current relationship with Pakistan as a short-term, tactical arrangement driven largely by financial interests, while stressing that US-India ties remain strategic. In an interview with the news agency ANI, Swarup lauded New Delhi's decision not to cave in to the Trump administration's pressure in trade talks and said US President Donald Trump's tariffs will eventually lead to ratcheting up inflation in America. 'We have to understand why these tariffs have been imposed….One, Trump is not happy with India because we are a member of BRICS…he has got this notion that BRICS is an anti-American alliance which is hell-bent on creating an alternative currency to the dollar…he feels that India should not be a member of the BRICS,' he said during an interview with news agency ANI. The other reason for this, according to Swarup, is New Delhi's refusal to give Trump credit for brokering a peace deal with Pakistan after Operation Sindoor in May. New Delhi has maintained from the beginning that the US played no role in the ceasefire negotiations, as India does not accept external mediation. The truce was mediated directly between the armed forces of both nations at the request of Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations. 'Trump has now said almost 30 times that it was he who got the two countries to stop back from the brink, who stopped a nuclear conflagration in the subcontinent. So, he is miffed that India has not acknowledged his role, whereas Pakistan has not only acknowledged his role but has even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize,' Swarup said. India had carried out Operation Sindoor in early May in response to the Pahalgam terror attack and carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India had repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The former diplomat noted India has not caved in to the US pressure in trade talks to provide more access to the country's agriculture and dairy sectors, and Washington is exerting pressure tactics to get India to agree to its maximalist demands. 'This is part of his pressure tactics to get India to sign on the dotted line on the maximalist demands that the US is making with regard to access to our dairy and agriculture, and genetically modified (GM) crops. We have not caved in, and it is also in a way a signal to Russia because he is also frustrated that he has not been able to get President Putin to agree to the ceasefire that Zelensky has agreed to,' he said. Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska on Friday, where Kyiv and its allies are worried the two leaders may try to dictate the terms of peace in the three and a half year war. The former diplomat pointed out that the billionaire American president is a dealmaker, who has 'now made it his unique selling point that he is the peacemaker.' 'Look at the number of conflict situations that he has mediated in, whether it is Thailand and Cambodia, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Armenia and Azerbaijan; he has injected himself into each of those. He feels that the biggest one of these was the India and Pakistan one because these two are nuclear powers. So, from that point of view, Trump feels that he deserves credit,' he said. Swarup pointed out that Barack Obama is the only American President to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, and 'really wants to do one better than Obama'. 'He has made no secret of his longing for that Nobel Peace Prize. He is hoping that if he could not get it for these, if he is able to bring about a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, then that might be his ticket to the Nobel Peace Prize,' he said. According to Swarup, India's foreign policy is not to be blamed for the recent US tilt towards Pakistan. He noted that Islamabad, through lobbying and strategic communications firms, has currently gained greater access to the hallways of power in Washington. 'Pakistan, through some intermediaries, has gotten the ear of the US President, and that is why, two visits by Asim Munir to Washington, the so-called 'deal' with America on the so-called 'oil reserves' of Pakistan,' he said. The former diplomat also pointed towards Pakistan's attempt to position itself as a hub for bitcoin mining. In April, a cryptocurrency venture backed by President Trump signed a letter of intent with Pakistan's crypto council. 'I think Pakistan is now trying to position itself as the 'Crypto King' of South Asia, and there, through World Liberty Financial, in which Trump's family has stakes, Steve Witkoff's (Trump aide and US Envoy to the Middle East) family has a stake, through that I think Pakistan has managed to project an image of itself as a reliable partner…All these things have led to Trump having a softer approach towards Pakistan,' he said. 'But that does not mean that he has given up on India or that India is now an adversary for him. I think this is part of his pressure tactics to secure a more favourable deal. India should not cave in because our strategic autonomy is non-negotiable,' Swarup added. Swarup said that America's ties with India should not be seen through the same lens as its relationship with Pakistan, and Washington and New Delhi's ties are less transactional and more strategic. 'I think the (United States') relationship with Pakistan right now is a very tactical one and is a short-term one, primarily motivated by the financial gain that the Trump family and Witkoff family hope to make from the cryptocurrency assets in Pakistan. With India, I think, the relationship is much more strategic. It is not so transactional as it is with Pakistan. That is why I feel that it is a passing phase. I call it a storm, not a rupture. You just have to wait out the storms. All storms eventually pass,' he said. He added, 'I think it's a strategic mistake on the part of the US that you are getting in bed with Pakistan, which is in bed with China. China is the US' strategic competitor.' Noting that India has done the 'right thing' by not caving in to the Trump administration's pressure in trade talks to provide more access to the country's agriculture and dairy sectors, Swarup has said 'the US called India a 'Tariff King' but now the 'Tariff King' in the world is the United States'. He said the steps being taken by US President Donald Trump will eventually lead to ratcheting up inflation in America. 'The US called India a 'Tariff King'. But now the 'Tariff King' in the world is the United States because our average tariff is about 15.98 per cent. The US tariff today is 18.4 per cent. So, it is now the 'Tariff King' of the world. But the fact is, tariffs are bringing in money. They will bring in about 100 billion dollars a year for the US. But the issue is that eventually, who will pay for these tariffs? By American consumers. So, what's going to happen is this is going to ratchet up inflation in America, it's going to ratchet up prices in America. I think that's when the chickens will come home to roost,' he said. 'If you cave in to a bully, then the bully will increase his demands. Then there will be even more demands. So, I think we have done the right thing. India is too large, too proud a country to become a camp follower of any other country. Our strategic autonomy has been the bedrock of our foreign policy right from the 1950s. I don't think that any Govt in Delhi can compromise on that,' he added. President Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty in July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, over India's imports of Russian oil. The former diplomat states that Islamabad is rattled by India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has tried to stoke fear of nuclear war because Islamabad always wants external mediation. He noted that Pakistan is heavily dependent on the water of the rivers covered by the Indus Waters Treaty. New Delhi took a string of measures against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and put the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. Referring to recent remarks of Asim Munir, he said Pakistan is deliberately provoking nuclear blackmail just so that it can catch the attention of the world. 'Pakistan is rattled by our putting in suspension the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan is heavily dependent on the waters of those rivers…So, what it is threatening is that if India builds a dam, which is not happening immediately, we are going to destroy those dams; we are going to send our missiles and destroy those dams. It is easier said than done…What he (Asim Munir) always tries to stoke is the fear of a nuclear war between India and Pakistan because Pakistan always wants external mediation…They are deliberately provoking nuclear blackmail just so that they can catch the attention of the world…' Vikas Swarup told ANI. India had slammed remarks of the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States, in which he had made a nuclear threat.

Celebrating India's 78 years of Independence
Celebrating India's 78 years of Independence

Daily Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Daily Tribune

Celebrating India's 78 years of Independence

A journey of pride and progress Smt. Droupadi Murmu, President of the Republic of India On the eve of Independence Day, I extend my greetings to all Indians. August 15, etched in our collective memory, recalls the sacrifices of countless freedom fighters who secured our independence 78 years ago. After regaining freedom, India adopted democracy with universal adult franchise, reflecting our ancient republican ethos. Our Constitution, built on justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, remains our foundation. We also remember the victims of Partition on Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas. Since 1947, India has made extraordinary progress. With 6.5% GDP growth last fiscal, we are the fastest-growing major economy, aided by reforms, good governance, and the hard work of our people. Welfare schemes have lifted millions from poverty, reduced inequality, and balanced regional growth. Infrastructure has expanded through highways under Bharatmala, modernised railways including the Kashmir valley link, and increased metro rail coverage. Jal Jeevan Mission is extending tap water to rural homes, and Ayushman Bharat has provided healthcare to over 55 crore people, now including all citizens aged 70 and above. India's digital revolution has brought 4G to nearly all villages, made the nation a leader in global online transactions, and enabled direct benefit transfers. The India-AI Mission aims to build models for national needs and make India a global AI hub by 2047. The spirit of Swadeshi, honoured each National Handloom Day, continues in Make-inIndia and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Youth, women, and historically marginalised communities will lead us to a developed India by 2047. The National Education Policy, entrepreneurial growth, space achievements like Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS mission, and sports successes - including chess dominance - reflect this progress. Women are breaking barriers, with initiatives such as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. This year, terrorism struck in Kashmir. India responded with Operation Sindoor, destroying terrorist hubs across the border with strategic clarity and technical capability. The operation also proved Atmanirbhar Bharat's strength in defence manufacturing. Let us unite against corruption, protect the environment, and work for a prosperous, inclusive future. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!

Trump Calls India, Russia "Dead Economies" Tariff Standoff
Trump Calls India, Russia "Dead Economies" Tariff Standoff

Gulf Insider

time01-08-2025

  • Gulf Insider

Trump Calls India, Russia "Dead Economies" Tariff Standoff

President Trump first announced his tariff 'Liberation Day' in April, and the measures are now set to take effect tomorrow. While countries like Europe, Japan, and South Korea have capitulated to the Trump administration's mounting pressure and signed trade deals, others, such as India, remain holdouts. In response, Trump lashed out on Truth Social media early Thursday morning, labeling India a 'dead economy' and claiming the U.S. does 'very little business' with the country. 'I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care,' Trump wrote on his social media platform. He continued, 'We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World,' adding, 'Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let's keep it that way, and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he's still President, to watch his words. He's entering very dangerous territory!' On Wednesday morning, Trump fired off another Truth Social post about India, indicating New Delhi faces 25% tariff plus penalties starting on Friday. He criticized India's close ties to Moscow during the Ukraine war, describing them as 'not good,' and emphasized that the U.S. has done relatively little business with India. It remains unclear whether U.S. and Indian trade negotiators can reach a deal before the deadline. However, Trump's comments on Truth Social suggest the talks are not going well. A statement from the Indian government yesterday pointed out that a trade deal with the U.S. must be 'mutually beneficial' and protect its farmers and small businesses. According to analysts at Mumbai-headquartered Axis Bank, 25% tariffs on Indian goods would have a $10 billion impact on exporters. Société Générale analyst Kunal Kundu said the tariffs could 'dampen domestic sentiment' and 'expectation of maintaining a relative tariff advantage over competitors in labour-intensive exports has been undermined.' He noted that 'disadvantage is not excessively severe.' 'Trump's causing a lot of trouble for Modi,' said Derek Grossman, a former U.S. intelligence official who is now a professor of international relations at the University of Southern California, who Bloomberg quoted. 'A lot of damage has been done today, more than at any time I can remember,' Grossman added. 'I'm not saying that the relationship is going to collapse or anything like that. It'll persist, but I feel like India will be far more circumspect in dealing with America from this point forward.' So much for all those signs of progress in April when Vice President JD Vance visited India. Vance at the time called a US-India relationship a 'win-win partnership' and sought stronger ties with New Delhi in energy and defense trade. Important to note: India and Russia are part of the BRICS system, challenging the US status quo. Also read: Declassified Documents Confirm Hillary Clinton Plan To Smear Trump, Use FBI

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store