Air safety officials axed after Indian flight chaos

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has dismissed four officials overseeing IndiGo operations amid ongoing flight disruptions and cancellations across the country. .

Four Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) responsible for supervising operations at IndiGo, India's largest airline, are victims of the ongoing chaos, the India News Network reported.

“Contracts of these FOIs with the DGCA have been terminated in relation to the recent IndiGo crisis,” an DGCA spokesperson said.

The decision came in the wake of significant operational challenges that have led to widespread flight cancellations and delays over the past week.

The FOIs, who are senior pilots assigned to monitor the airline’s compliance with regulatory requirements, were tasked with ensuring IndiGo had the necessary crew resources for safe operations.

But the DGCA has returned them to their previous airline roles before the completion of their terms.

Local media reports indicate that the airline failed to adequately prepare for new flight duty time limitations (FDTL) set to take effect in July and November 2025.

These new regulations required IndiGo to hire additional pilots to comply with increased crew requirements.

Officials familiar with the matter said, the FOIs did not adequately address this critical issue, contributing to a pilot shortfall that hindered the airline's ability to operate effectively under the new rules.

As a result, the DGCA temporarily suspended the implementation of the new FDTL for Airbus A320 aircraft until February 2026 to prevent further operational disruptions.

So business first. Safety second?

IndiGo is working to stabilise its operations, with over 2,050 flights scheduled across 138 destinations on a single day.

IndiGo is one of the largest airlines in Asia with 64.2% domestic market share as of August. 

What next for superstar chef Peter Gilmore?

What is next for superstar chef Peter Gilmore/

A new venture in Sydney, perhaps, or a small eatery in Tasmania?

Quay Restaurant in Sydney, where Gilmore's cuisine has shone for 24 years, is to close in February. And Gilmore's consultancy gig at Bennelong finishes at the end of the financial year.

Gilmore already has a farm at Kettering, south of Hobart, where he grows fruit and vegetables, and is a regular at Peppermint Bay, so locals will have their fingers crossed.

Gilmore himself is giving nothing away, saying only: "I look forward to sharing my next chapter with you at some stage in the future."

No clues there.

Sydney-born Gilmore, 57, said on social media this morning that he was proud of his almost a quarter of a century in charge of the Fink family's Quay, one of Australia's finest fine diners.

"I have mixed emotions in announcing that Quay Restaurant will be closing its doors this February," he said.

"Over the past two decades there are many things I am proud of: the hundreds of young chefs and front of house professionals who have passed through our doors contributing their passion and professionalism to the Quay story.

"To have mentored and hopefully inspired, and to see so many go on to do great things. It has been the privilege of my career."

Under Gilmore Quay achieved an Australian record of 23 consecutive three Chefs Hats in the SMH Good Food Guide and spent five years in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list.

"It’s something that I will always be proud and grateful for," he said. "But more so to have worked so closely with the most incredible farmers, producers and artisans over all these years., to have been able to contribute to the quality and diversity of produce available in Australia through these relationships.

"And to all our guests over the years, I hope we have created memories and experiences that will stay in your hearts for many years to come. What a privilege it has been. At Quay I’ve been able to pursue my love of creativity and natures diversity and the exploration of texture and intensity of flavours in my cuisine."

Quay will operate as usual during the peak summer season and Gilmore will be consulting at Bennelong until the end of June.

Stay tuned.

UNESCO recognition for Italian cuisine

The food of Italy has been granted a cultural heritage listing by UNESCO.

Although dishes like pizza were already listed, UNESCO has now recognised the wider traditions of Italian cooking and the way they are practised and passed down.

The United Nations agency specialising in education, sciences, and culture described Italian cuisine as a “means of connecting with family and the community, whether at home, in schools, or through festivals, ceremonies and social gatherings”.

“For us Italians, cuisine is not just food or a collection of recipes. It is so much more: it is culture, tradition, work, wealth,” said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had championed the bid. 

The decision also saw Egypt’s koshary (a combination of macaroni, rice and beans flavoured with tomatoes, onions and garlic) added to the list, alongside other food-related traditions already recognised globally, including washoku (culinary balance) in Japan, Malaysia’s breakfast culture and the French gastronomic meal.

So everyone gets a prize, basically.

Leading chef Michelangelo Mammoliti told La Repubblica newspaper that the news gave him “a great sense of pride”, both as an Italian and as a chef.

Mammoliti heads La Rei Natura in Piedmont, the only new three-star restaurant in the 2026 Michelin Guide for Italy. He added: “Italy is one of the nations where regional cuisine has a very big impact on culture and traditions.”

Italy’s food and wine sector hopes the recognition will further strengthen tourism, which already brings 80 million international visitors to the country each year.

Other new additions to the list included Iceland’s natural swimming pool culture, the practice of Cuban Son music and dance, and Albania’s art of playing, singing and making the lahuta, a musical instrument.

Image: Ivan Naunov, Scop.io 

Challenges for the Thai tourism industry

Declining visitor numbers, natural disasters and political flashpoints are making this a tough time for the normally buoyant tourism industry in Thailand.

With ongoing border clashes with Cambodia - albeit a fair distance from tourism regions - the House of Representatives was dissolved on Friday and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul‘s government resigned.

Under Thai law, a general election must be held within 45 to 60 days of the decree.

The political instability followed recent floods in Hat Yai in the south of the Asian nation.

Despite a caretaker government being installed ahead of elections in February, the Thai Tourism and Sports Ministry is pressing ahead with plans to roll out two tourism stimulus initiatives, the Bangkok Post reported over the weekend.

While the ministry says that policy momentum remains intact, tourism operators want to see quick rebuilding of flood-hit destinations in the south popular with Malaysian visitors, and at ensuring stability along the Thai-Cambodian border.

Tourism and Sports Minister Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said the ministry continues to have the legal authority to advance tourism policy despite the political transition.

He confirmed that proposed stimulus measures will be submitted for consideration at the next cabinet meeting, leaving it to the caretaker government to determine whether they move forward.

Among the proposals is the “Tour Thai Khon La Khrueng” co-payment program, which would cover 50% of the cost of domestic tour packages for Thai domestic travellers.

The ministry is also still seeking approval for a scheme to distribute 200,000 complimentary domestic flight tickets to foreign visitors.

That move is designed to encourage travel within the country and spread tourism revenue more evenly.

Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), told the Bangkok Post that impacts on inbound tourism should be minimal. He said the dissolution of parliament alone is unlikely to deter visitors.

Festivals and other major events are proceeding as scheduled.

Tough times for hoteliers in the US

Growth for US hotel operators has come to a crashing halt, industry analysts say.

Rising wages, taxes, insurance premiums, and other costs are outrunning revenue growth at many hotels - and tourist numbers are heading down,

Nearly six years after the pandemic, US hotels are still struggling to regain lost occupancy: spending more to operate while taking in less revenue.

Labour costs alone have soared 9% this year on a per-available-room basis, industry analyst CoStar's survey of about 6,000 hotels shows.

Hotels took in 0.4% less revenue per available room in 2025 than a year earlier, estimates from CoStar and Tourism Economics show.

"Luxury class hotels were the only ones getting close to increasing average daily rate to the level of inflation," said Jan Freitag, national director, hospitality analytics at CoStar Group told news hub Skift.

"All other classes saw flat average daily rate growth or even a contraction."

This year's US hotel EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) is forecast to decline 2.8%, Lodging Analytics Research & Consulting (LARC) reported.

Many travellers from overseas cancelled trips in response to President Trump's trade war and "America First" policies.

From January to October, travel to the US from Western Europe fell about 3.5% year-over-year, the US National Travel and Tourism Office reported.

But the trend varies by destination. The nation's capital of Washington D.C., New York and California are seeing fewer visitors, while Tennessee, home to Elvis Presley's Graceland estate, has welcomed 24% more people from Western Europe this year.

Among the top 25 markets, Tampa, Florida (top image), reported the steepest decreases with occupancy down 20.5% to 66.1%.

 

New destinations help boost Western Australia

It's all happening in Western Australia with new international flights to and from Perth and a wave of new accommodation options around the state.

Qantas has introduced two new non-stop international services this month.

Travellers can now fly from Perth direct from Auckland and Johannesburg.

Each route operates three times per week, offering greater flexibility for holidaymakers, business travellers, and those visiting friends and family.

The new HYDE Perth hotel (above), meanwhile, will open its doors in March, 2026.

Located on Pier Street, this 121-room hotel will be HYDE’s first ground-up, purpose-built hotel globally.

Its star attraction hero will be FARRA - a Grecian-inspired dining, pool and terrace venue which combines Mediterranean influence with West Australian produce.

Local artists and musicians will helm a cultural program, while DJ residencies, live sets, poolside gatherings, and wellness sessions will also be on the agenda.

In Margaret River, winery Aravina Estate has unveiled 21 new eco accommodation offerings as part of a brand expansion.

The contemporary cabins (above) are set high on Wildwood Ridge and offer views of the property’s spectacular lake and vineyards, enhanced by floor-to-ceiling windows.

There is a choice of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, accessible and honeymoon cabins.

Aravina’s offerings include a cellar door, restaurant and pizza bar, craft brewery, and the state's first Surf Museum.

Nearby, Grandis is the latest cabin from Tree Chalets on a stunning property located just 15 minutes outside of Busselton.

Offering a relaxing tree-stay, the property features walking trails and more than 1,000 towering Rosegum trees. Guests can elevate their stay with grazing boards and hampers on arrival.