Qantas has returned to India. The first commercial Qantas flight to land in India in almost a decade has touched down in New Delhi. It's the first time Qantas has operated a regular commercial service to India since 2012, when its Brisbane to Mumbai service ended.
The airline's arrival in India also marks the start of the first regular passenger flight from Australia to New Delhi since 1974, which might help explain why it's been Qantas's most popular route since Australia's borders reopened.
Following a 15-hour journey from Sydney, flight QF67 cruised onto the tarmac at Indira Gandhi International Airport in India's capital just after 4pm local time on Monday.
The sold-out flight departed from Sydney after 6am local time on Monday morning, transiting via Adelaide before heading to the subcontinent.
The arrival of Monday's A330-200 flight in India marks the start of Qantas's three weekly return schedules from Sydney to New Delhi. In January next year, the airline plans to add more flights on the same route.
The fast-selling flights are almost fully booked throughout the month of December said Qantas, and it's a similar story for the airline's other Australia to India route due to launch before Christmas. From Melbourne to Delhi, Qantas plans to begin operating four flights per week from December 22.
“We’re thrilled to be beginning commercial flights to India for the first time in almost a decade,” said Qantas domestic and international chief executive Andrew David. “There’s a huge amount of pent-up demand from friends and family wanting to reunite after being separated for so long.
“There was an incredible response when we announced both our new routes to Delhi. Forward bookings for the next few months are well ahead of our initial forecasts so while it’s early days, it’s an exciting start.
“The level of pent-up demand on this route can be seen by the fact that almost all customers travelled as planned despite the temporary three-day additional isolation requirement."
All travellers flying to or from India with the Australian airline must be fully vaccinated, except children and those with special exemptions.
Over the past year, Qantas operated more than 60 repatriation flights on behalf of the Federal Government to bring Australians home from India.
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.