Asics plans 200 stores in India by 2026
The new store reflects Asics' broader strategy to capitalise on India's booming footwear market, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 percent. Bolstered by strong domestic growth, the company plans to expand its retail presence to 200 stores by the end of 2026. This expansion will include the opening of its first company-owned store later this year. While traditionally known for high-performance athletic footwear, the brand is also focusing on its SportStyle collection to attract a wider audience interested in lifestyle and athleisure wear.
ASICS is positioned in the premium segment of the Indian footwear market, with about 75 percent of its products priced above Rs12,000. This pricing strategy places it in direct competition with the top-tier performance shoes from rivals like Nike and Adidas.
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North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
007 mission to draw Japanese tourists to North Wales!
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The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers star sued in real estate deal
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The Herald Scotland
6 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Air India suspends flights between New Delhi and Washington D.C.
"The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India's fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month," the company said in a news release, adding this "extensive retrofit program, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience," will result in unavailability of multiple aircrafts until at least end of 2026. Ban on Indian carriers in Pakistan's airspace In addition to its fleet upgrade, the closure of airspace over Pakistan "impacts the airline's long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity," the news release said. The airspace ban is estimated to cost Air India about $600 million over 12 months, Reuters and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other days after relations nosedived following a fatal attack on civilians in Indian Kashmir in April. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for the attack, which Islamabad denies. Options for Air India customers While there will no direct flights between the two capitals, Air India customers will have the option to choose flights to Washington, D.C., with layovers in New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco with the airline's partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, "allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination," the news release said. The airline will also continue to "operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada." Customers booked on flights to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1 will be contacted by the airline and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences, the airline said. Phones, jewelry, linens: Which products could cost more due to Trump's India tariffs? Air India woes The suspension also comes as Air India faces heightened regulatory scrutiny after a June crash of one of its Boeing planes in Ahmedabad killed 260 people. Meanwhile, passengers on a recent Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata encountered some unwelcome visitors early this month. "On flight AI180 from San Francisco to Mumbai via Kolkata, two passengers were unfortunately bothered by the presence of a few small cockroaches on board," a spokesperson for the airline previously told USA TODAY in a statement Aug. 5. They notified a crew member who relocated them to different seats, where they were "comfortable thereafter," the airline continued. During the scheduled fuel stop at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, the aircraft was deep cleaned by the ground crew to address the issue, and continued its journey to Mumbai as scheduled. "Despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations," the airline added. "Air India will be undertaking a comprehensive investigation to determine the source and the cause of this incident and implement measures to prevent recurrence. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers." Contributing: Reuters / Joey Garrison, Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
