Bulbul Dhawan

India Reporter for Skift, Bulbul Dhawan has seven years of experience across leading Indian news publications. With a widespread portfolio, she covered several beats before she found comfort in the travel and hospitality sectors when she joined BW Hotelier as the Editorial Lead. An avid singer and reader, she has about as many books in her TBR pile as she has songs on her list that she wishes to record covers of – none of which is going to be completed in this lifetime.

The airline has flown more than 8 million passengers since its launch.

Airlines

Akasa Air Co-Founder On International Expansion and Profitability — India Report

Akasa Air launched in August 2022, and since then, it has expanded its network to 25 cities. The low-cost airline's expansion plans range from international destinations to smaller Indian cities to enhance connectivity within and outside India. And its business model seems to be paying off so far.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Last year, the airline placed an order for 470 new aircraft with Boeing and Airbus. (Image: Air India CEO Campbell Wilson at Skift India Summit 2024)

Airlines

Air India CEO on Impact of Bilateral Rights on Indian Carriers’ Ability to Fill Seats

Air India has been upgrading its fleet and investing heavily in new planes. An increase in grants under bilateral agreements to Middle East carriers threatens Indian carriers' share in carrying passengers to long-haul destinations, leading to a lower return on investment.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Fights from Hindon airport are meant to complement Air India Express’ Delhi operations.

Airlines

Air India Express To Expand Operations In Delhi-NCR – India Report

Air India Express has become the first airline to operate from two airports in the national capital region. The airline is aiming to use the Hindon airport to connect with the smaller cities in western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. It is not yet known if the airport will serve as another hub - but would it make sense if it were to become one?

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Tourism

India’s Heatwave Has Record Numbers of Travelers Flying Outbound — India Report

Summer is peak travel time for Indians due to vacations. However, this time, it is the heat that is pushing people out of their homes and to cooler destinations - but not the domestic ones. Here's why.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Cricket World Cup series, Wimbledon, and the Olympics are around the corner.

Tourism

Online Travel Companies See Surge in Sports Tourism in India – India Report

Indian travelers are combining their love for sports with increased spending power to experience major sporting events live. To better understand the trend in sports tourism, Skift reached out to online travel companies - here's what they're seeing.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

The company recorded a 12% annual growth in gross bookings.

Online Travel

Yatra Launches AI-Powered Expense Management Solution for Small Businesses

Yatra has been growing its corporate travel offerings, and its domestic air passengers increased significantly as the company is gaining market share in this segment. Now, the company is set to focus on its hotel segment to grow further.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Domestic travel continues to constitute the bulk of travel spending.

Tourism

India’s Travel Spending: ‘Fast-Growing Pools of First-Time Tourists’

Indian travelers are becoming an attractive source market, a McKinsey says. And a boom in the domestic travel market is leading to "substantial investments."

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

India has been actively promoting unexplored destinations in the country. (Image: Aramness Gir)

Tourism

What International Travelers Want In India: 4 Boutique Hotels Weigh in – India Report

From 'Wed in India' and hosting the G20 Summit to high-end convention centers, India has been upping its efforts to attract international tourists. But what are these travelers looking for? We reached out to luxury boutique hotels to find out.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Tourism

Indian Travelers Looking at Airlines, Hotels to Boost Sustainability – India Report

Indians are being more mindful of the impact of their journeys on the environment – and it is changing the way they live their everyday lives, according to a report from Booking.com. We look at some of the steps the government and industry are taking in response.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago

Nearly 50% of the tourists that visited Madhya Pradesh in 2023 went to the city of Ujjain.

Tourism

Fighting Overtourism: Madhya Pradesh Looks to Introduce Tourist Registration System — India Report

Religious travel is a significant aspect of tourism in India. However, overcrowding at key religious destinations often leads to potential dangerous situations such as stampedes. Uttarakhand has taken its first step to solve this issue, and Madhya Pradesh is now likely to follow.

Bulbul Dhawan | 2 years ago