Pune airport saw a series of disruptions when IndiGo cancelled 42 flights within a single day, while other airlines operated normally. Passenger movement continued steadily, with more than 5,000 arrivals and nearly 4,800 departures handled despite disruptions affecting only IndiGo. The airline diverted one Nagpur-Pune flight to Hyderabad due to Flight Duty Time Limitations and stated that this day would see the highest number of cancellations as it worked to reset its schedules. Airport authorities monitored apron use, coordinated with multiple agencies, and assured travellers that efforts were underway to stabilise operations.Read more

Retail leaders at a CII panel proposed a national retail licence to simplify India's complex, state-wise approval system. They recommended a digital, single-window platform with time-bound approvals and uniform norms to reduce compliance burdens. India's retail market, valued at over USD 1.3 trillion and expected to reach USD 2 trillion by 2030, is expanding fast in Tier II-V cities due to digitization and affordability. Industry experts emphasized that the move could improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and attract more investment, but careful coordination between central and state governments is essential.Read more

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has begun an inquiry after IndiGo cancelled over 100 flights and delayed many more on Wednesday, causing widespread travel disruptions. The airline, which is facing significant operational strain due to a crew shortage, said it will adjust its schedule over the next 48 hours to stabilise operations. The DGCA stated that it is closely evaluating the situation and working with IndiGo to reduce further cancellations and passenger inconvenience. The regulator has also summoned the airline to its headquarters to explain the reasons behind the disruptions and outline corrective steps to prevent recurrence.Read more

InnKey has partnered with Marriott International to implement its cloud-native enterprise hospitality platform across the Series by Marriott portfolio in India. The phased deployment covers 84 operational hotels and 31 under development, with future expansion planned for other emerging markets. The collaboration aims to unify operations, enhance guest experiences and integrate seamlessly with Marriott's wider technology ecosystem.Read more

ASG Eye Hospital has announced a large-scale expansion plan aimed at significantly increasing its presence across India, particularly in tier-II and tier-III cities where specialised eye care remains limited. The company intends to add hundreds of new centres by the end of the decade, backed by an investment of INR 1,500-2,000 crore through internal accruals, private placements or capital market options. Its strategy also includes targeted acquisitions, annual development of new state-of-the-art facilities, and preparations for a potential IPO in the coming months. The initiative reflects ASG's mission to widen access to high-quality eye care nationwide.Read more

IndiGo cancelled more than 180 flights across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru on Thursday as a severe crew shortage continued following the rollout of new pilot duty and rest norms. Mumbai saw 86 cancellations, Bengaluru 73 and Delhi 33, with more expected. The disruption pushed IndiGo's on-time performance down to 19.7% across major airports. The DGCA has launched an investigation and asked the airline to explain the disruptions and outline its recovery plan. Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Pilots criticised IndiGo for enforcing a hiring freeze despite having time to prepare for the updated rules and urged the regulator to approve schedules only for airlines with adequate crew.Read more

HSBC India has launched a new branch in Vadodara, its 27th in the country and second in Gujarat, targeting affluent, HNW, UHNW, and non-resident clients. The move comes after regulatory approval to open 20 new branches nationwide. Vadodara's growing industrial and wealth landscape makes it a strategic location. HSBC continues to expand its network across 15 cities and provides comprehensive financial services. The bank has maintained a presence in India for over 170 years and supports both local and international financial needs of its customers.Read more

Amazon Now is expanding its dark-store network at a fast pace, planning to add two new micro-fulfilment centres every day and cross 300 sites by the end of this year. The service currently runs through roughly 250 centres across Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. Strong customer demand has encouraged the company to accelerate its rollout. Amazon Now enables delivery of essentials within minutes, groceries within hours, over one million items on the same day and about four million items by the next day. The move strengthens its position in India's growing quick-commerce market.Read more

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) recently announced that it had finalised an agreement to develop a 90-key greenfield Ginger hotel in Shillong, marking the brand's first entry into Meghalaya. The company noted that Shillong's growing administrative and economic relevance under the Smart City programme aligns well with Ginger's positioning as a brand centred on flexible work-and-leisure travel. IHCL stated that it had partnered with Khongsngi for this new project, which will take its overall portfolio in the state to three hotels, including one currently in the development pipeline.Read more

British Airways is preparing to expand its India operations as the market continues to show strong travel demand. The airline currently operates 56 weekly flights from five Indian cities to London and plans to add a third daily service on the Delhi-London route next year, subject to approvals. India has become British Airways' second-largest market after the US, supported by local hiring across cabin-crew bases and its Gurugram service centre. Partnerships with IndiGo and Qatar Airways allow the airline to serve 13 Indian destinations, indicating steady growth in its India strategy.Read more