Indian Billionaire Plans to Launch Low-Cost Carrier in an Already Tough Market

Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg

An aircraft operated by IndiGo, a unit of InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., prepares to land at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India, on Monday, July 10, 2017. Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala wants to launch a new low-cost carrier to compete with Indigo in India. Dhiraj Singh / Bloomberg

Skift Take: With the pandemic gutting India’s low-cost carrier market, which already includes IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoFirst and AirAsia India, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala thinks a fresh start, a capital infusion, and new planes could be a competitive advantage. Hope springs eternal, as they say.

— Dennis Schaal

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England Opens U.S. Travel and 11 Other Top Travel Stories This Week

Jeff Hitchcock / Flickr

England will allow fully vaccinated tourists from U.S. and European Union to enter without quarantine. Heathrow airport pictured. Jeff Hitchcock / Flickr

Skift Take: In Skift’s top stories this week, England welcomes fully vaccinated tourists, hotels are focusing on conversions rather than mergers, and Brazil is setting itself up to become a travel tech hub in Latin America.

— Angel Adegbesan

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UAE to Lift Ban on Transit Flights Including From India and Pakistan From August 5

Charles / Flickr

Airports in the UAE will soon be able to welcome transit flights Charles / Flickr

Skift Take: Major carriers in the UAE are thrilled with the decision to lift the ban on transit flights. Not only will they welcome large numbers of passengers from important markets, but they’ll also be in a better position for a quicker recovery.

— Rashaad Jorden

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UK Finance Minister Presses for Travel Rules Easing

Giuseppe Milo / Flickr Commons

The gains of the UK’s successful vaccination program could be wasted if the country does not relax its strict restrictions, tourism and airline groups say. Giuseppe Milo / Flickr Commons

Skift Take: Britain’s airlines and tourism sector are increasingly concerned that the country will suffer grave economic damage if it does not relax its strict travel restrictions and runs the risk of squandering the benefits of the country’s successful vaccination program.

— Madhu Unnikrishnan

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Broadway Theater Vaccination and Mask Requirements Set Big Tourism Example

Richard Ricciardi / Flickr

Broadway and New York City’s theater district (seen here in happier days) is looking to draw tourists back to the Big Apple this fall when shows reopen with vaccination and mask requirements. Richard Ricciardi / Flickr

Skift Take: The return of Broadway shows is a much-anticipated catalyst for New York City tourism’s rejuvenation in the fall. Now with a vaccine and mask requirement in place to see plays on the Great White Way, the Big Apple may serve as a model — yet again.

— Tom Lowry

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Fourth of July to Mark a Further Rebound for U.S. Domestic Tourism

Mary F. Calvert / Reuters

Daniel Flanagan and Zhadyra Darbayeva enjoy the weather at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, U.S., July 3, 2021. Mary F. Calvert / Reuters

Skift Take: An estimated 43.6 million Americans were set to travel at least two hours’ for a trip this July Fourth weekend, or 5 percent more than a previous record set in 2019. Let’s hope travel’s back for good.

— Sean O’Neill

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Cancun Shuttle – Shared Airport Transportation

Cancun Shuttle - Shared Airport Transportation

Over the years, I’ve lived in Playa del Carmen, Mexico several times. I love that city and I recommend it all the time for those looking for a great vacation and for those looking to live in a tropical, laid-back destination for a while.

It’s an easy place to reach, too. I arrive at the Cancun Airport, and if I’m traveling on my own, I hop into a Cancun Shuttle shared transportation for the 50 minute ride down to Playa del Carmen. They drop me off at my accommodation (Reef 28 Hotel or an Airbnb) and just like that, I’m ready to enjoy my time in this great town.

I know that getting from the airport to Playa del Carmen, or even to the Cancun hotel zone, is a major reason for concern for many travelers. The Cancun airport is well-known for being a hassle, with a confusing and intense set-up that makes it overwhelming to book transportation at the airport once you arrive.

It takes time, you don’t know if you’re getting a good deal (it’s very easy to pay too much if you book transfers at the airport) and you’re stuck amongst the crowds of people trying to get out of there.

That’s why I typically recommend organizing transportation in advance and if you’re a solo traveler, shared transportation is the best option. This way, you avoid all the hassle at the airport, your transportation service will be waiting for you by the exit when you arrive and for a very affordable price, you’ll be taken to your hotel or apartment.

The downside of course is that the van will have other travelers too and the driver will drop everyone off in the order that makes the most sense based on the route. But in my opinion, for prices as low as $12 per person to Cancun and $25 per person to Playa del Carmen (not bad for an almost 1 hour ride), it’s worth the extra ten minutes or so that it might take to drop others off before you.

It’s funny because when I was younger and traveling on the lowest budget possible, I would almost never book airport transportation in advance. I would arrive, figure out the local bus or train system and take whatever was the cheapest option, regardless of the hassle or time it took. The goal was simple – spending the least amount of money.

But now, those days are over and the goal has shifted. When I arrive in a destination, getting to my accommodation quickly and with complete ease is what’s important. And when that can happen without having to spend a fortune, such as the case with booking shared transportation from Cancun airport, it’s a bonus and I don’t hesitate to book it.

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