Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has begun operating direct flights from its primary hub in Baku to Malé, the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The inaugural flight landed at Velana International Airport today. The airline will operate this route twice weekly on Mondays and Saturdays.

Jamil Manizade, Chief Commercial Officer at AZAL, said:

We are pleased to launch direct regular flights from Baku to Malé. This service opens new opportunities for tourists seeking a paradise holiday experience. The Azerbaijani market has long needed more options for winter tourism, and the Maldives is one of the most popular destinations in the world this season.

Ibrahim Shiuree, Managing Director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation, stated:

We are thrilled to welcome Azerbaijan Airlines, AZAL, to the Maldives. This new direct flight from Baku provides excellent connectivity for travellers from Azerbaijan to experience the unparalleled beauty of our pristine islands.

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Under its new ownership, Air India is finding ways to improve passengers’ travel experiences. To provide flexibility in travel plans, the airline has just launched a new service called ‘Fly Prior’. As the name suggests, it allows travellers to take an earlier flight than they initially booked within India.

We’ve got to delve deeper to understand the limitations and conditions. First, the earlier flight cannot be more than 12 hours before the originally booked flight, and their departure dates must be the same. Of course, the carrier will provide this flexibility only if seats are available on the chosen flight. Once confirmed, the checked baggage will be instantly accepted for the modified itinerary. Also, purchased add-ons, such as excess baggage, priority handling, cabin upgrades, etc., will be applicable on the new flight. The only exceptions are seat selection and special meal requests.

The ’Fly Prior’ service is available exclusively at the airline’s ticket counters and check-in desks at airports throughout India. While it is complimentary for Gold and Platinum members of Air India’s Flying Returns programme, others can purchase it at an additional fee. The cost of the service will vary depending on the routes. It costs INR 2,199 for flights between major hubs, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. For others, the cost is INR 1,499.

Also Read: Air India Gets A Monumental Nod From The DGCA

Two European airlines, Latvia’s airBaltic and Germany’s Lufthansa, have confirmed the extension of their codeshare partnership. The extension came into effect on November 6 for travels from November 20, 2024. Per the extended agreement, Latvia’s flag carrier will now place its code ‘BT’ on six Lufthansa flights from Munich to Bremen, Cologne Bonn, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover, and Stuttgart. On the other hand, the German national airline will continue to place its code ‘LH’ on airBaltic’s services from Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius to Munich.

The two carriers first began their codeshare partnership in 2020. Where Lufthansa is among the largest airlines in Europe, airBaltic connects the Baltics with Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus region. Earlier this year, the duo extended their wet lease partnership.

Also Read: airBaltic Now Has 49 Airbus A220s In Its Fleet