MAM
Air Deccan and Café Coffee Day in cross-promotion initiative
BANGALORE: Air Deccan and Café Coffee Day (CCD) are initiating a cross-promotion exercise. CCD will find ad space on Air Deccan’s aircraft (23 in number, flying to 46 destinations in India currently) while Air Deccan will have a visibility in CCD’s outlet’s (currently 252 in 60 cities in the country and one in Vienna, Austria).
CCD will also supply all the foods and beverages (f & b) on Air Deccan’s flights.
Air Deccan needed a reasonably priced and standard quality f & b for which the passenger has to pay extra on flights, the synergies matched and hence the deal explained Air Deccan chief Gopinath. A co-branded menu card was also released to the press.
Air Deccan passengers will receive discounts on purchase of merchandise like coffee powder and gift packs at all Coffee Café Day outlets against their boarding pass. The initiative starts with four of Air Deccan’s flights emanating out of Bangalore starting tomorrow.
This agreement does not restrict CCD from supplying to other Airlines, neither is it time bound. Both companies will work together as long as they are comfortable with each other. CCD has to manage the f & b supply chain to Air Deccan’s six depots in India.
Both companies refused to disclose the size of the deal and the profit sharing basis. Speaking to indiantelevision.com, CCD’s Malhotra expressed confidence that monthly revenues from this stream would go up to Rs.20 million once the national ramp up is complete and more routes are added by Air Deccan.
MAM
BLR Airport Launches ‘Connections’ Service to Ease Transit Travel
New initiative targets smoother transfers as Bengaluru hub traffic rises 30 per cent.
MUMBAI: Missed connections may be a traveller’s nightmare but Bengaluru is trying to make them a thing of the past. Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has rolled out ‘Connections by BLR’, a new transfer programme designed to take the friction out of connecting journeys. Built around three pillars ease, efficiency and experience,the initiative aims to simplify what is often the most stressful leg of air travel.
The move comes as transfer traffic at BLR Airport climbs sharply, up more than 30 per cent year-on-year. Transfers currently account for around 15 per cent of total passenger traffic and are projected to touch 20 per cent by 2026, signalling a clear shift in how the airport is positioning itself within airline networks.
At its core, the programme focuses on making navigation intuitive and downtime more comfortable. Dedicated transfer desks have been set up across terminals, supported by colour-coded wayfinding blue and yellow signage designed for quick recognition. Inter-terminal movement is being streamlined through complimentary shuttle services with predictable wait times, while designated transfer zones aim to reduce passenger confusion.
Beyond logistics, the airport is leaning into experience. Travellers in transit now have access to a wider choice of lounges, curated retail and food and beverage options, as well as sleeping pods for short stays. For longer layovers, transit hotels in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer boutique in-terminal accommodation, an increasingly sought-after feature as global travel patterns evolve.
The timing is strategic. BLR Airport now connects to 114 passenger destinations 80 domestic and 34 international with key routes spanning Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Pune domestically, and Singapore, London Heathrow, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur internationally. Recent additions such as Hindon, Bidar and Silchar within India, alongside Dammam, Hanoi and Riyadh overseas, are further expanding its reach.
Infrastructure is also catching up with ambition. Developments including the West Cross Taxiway, Terminal 1 refurbishment and Terminal 2 expansion are laying the groundwork for higher capacity and smoother operations critical for any airport aiming to become a serious transfer hub.
Bangalore International Airport Limited chief operating officer Girish Nair framed the initiative as both a response to demand and a forward-looking play. He pointed to the growing depth of the airport’s network and the opportunity to build a more reliable transfer ecosystem that benefits both passengers and airline partners.
In an era where travel is as much about transitions as destinations, BLR Airport is betting that a seamless connection might just be the journey’s most important upgrade.
