They say, the journey is as important as the destination. After all, ask any true wanderer and they’d say that airlines, airports, and cruises often double as a second home for them. Serving as a stepping stone for any travel—whether long haul or short—these sectors ensure your travel is layered with safety and luxury. And thus, your votes have helped these stalwarts of each field emerge victorious at this year’s reader’s choice Travel + Leisure India & South Asia’s India’s Best Awards. Take a look!
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BEST AIRPORT IN INDIA
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi
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Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi has consistently emerged as a winner of this category for many years at India’s Best Awards. The humongous airport is well structured and offers plenty of world-class shopping, dining, and relaxation services. In the wake of the pandemic, it introduced India’s first COVID-19 testing centre and lounge with RAPID RT-PCR testing facility. It is also the first airport in the Asia Pacific Region to manage Level 4+ accreditation under Airport Carbon Accreditation of ACI. The airport is working towards its goal to become a net-zero carbon emission airport by 2030.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
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The City of Pearls has one of the best airports in India. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad offers a seamless experience to flyers with its high-tech innovations such as facial recognition, remote handbag screening, express security check-in, and e-boarding facilities. The airport also houses a bevvy of shopping and dining options that make stop-overs delightfully convenient. Importantly, the airport has also received the ACI Airport Health Accreditation for hygiene and safety.
BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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A destination in itself, Singapore Changi Airport has been the indisputable winner of this accolade at IBA. The airport takes pride in its unmatched assortment of world-class shopping, local and global cuisines, entertainment, wellness, and recreation offerings. With attractions like Shiseido Forest Valley, HSBC Rain Vortex, Canopy Bridge, Discovery Slides, Hedge Maze, Mirror Maze, multiple gardens and kinetic sculptures, and more, the airport is a wonderland for tourists arriving in Singapore. It goes beyond the functions of connectivity and convenience and sets the tone for any international trip.
BEST CRUISE & EXPEDITION
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PONANT offers a unique combination of sea travel and curated itineraries to remote places. Its modern and safe fleet has taken more people on luxury expeditions to polar regions than any other operator. The itineraries offer excursions led by industry experts—Zodiac® cruises amid Greenland’s icebergs and interactions with Inuit communities; spotting polar bears hunting on ice floes; walking among thousands of penguins in Antarctica. Its 11 award-winning ships double up as personalised and luxurious floating basecamps. Think French-inspired cuisine, open bars, 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi, spa facilities, and outdoor pools. In 2021, PONANT will launch Le Commandant-Charcot, the world’s first hybrid luxury polar exploration vessel, which will take travellers to places like the Geographic North Pole and the Bellingshausen Sea in Antarctica, home to gigantic colonies of emperor penguins.
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Genting Cruise Lines has been integral to the evolution of the cruise industry in Asia and around the world. In the wake of the pandemic, it continued to be a pioneer as it became the first cruise company to resume operations in a safe manner with two key homeports in Asia, the successful deployment of Dream Cruises in Taiwan in July 2020 and subsequently in Singapore in November 2020.
The company has re-examined and enhanced its health, hygiene, and operating protocols to ensure the safest environment for everyone on board its vessels. Its measures have reflected in the number of votes it received from our readers this year.
BEST AIRLINE IN INDIA
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Ever since it started services six years ago, Vistara has set new standards in the Indian aviation sector. A joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, Vistara is a melange of the renowned service excellence and exemplary hospitality of both the brands. From offering three distinct cabin classes, including India’s only Premium Economy, to serving hot Starbucks coffee, Vistara guarantees a personalised flying experience. Club Vistara has turned out to be the country’s fastest rewarding frequent flyer programme, which explains the brand loyalty of its flyers among our readers.
BEST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE
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From operating a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to 22 cities in 18 countries, Singapore Airlines has grown to be a world-class international airline group. It is known for its commitment to the three main pillars of its brand promise: service excellence, product leadership, and network connectivity. In light of the ongoing pandemic, SIA has been working closely with industry groups to advocate the safe opening of borders for travel. The #SIACares initiative ensures the well-being of the airline’s customers and staff with a slew of measures on the ground and in the air based on the advice of medical experts, regulators, and industry partners.
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The second flag carrier of the UAE, Etihad Airways flies to more than 400 destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America from its base in Abu Dhabi. Its sophisticated fleet of aircraft includes the new-generation Boeing 787 and innovative Airbus A380. This year, in the wake of the global pandemic, Etihad Airways is taking extra steps for safety by ensuring minimum touchpoints while maintaining top-notch hygiene and comfort. The airline scores extra points for its commitment towards sustainability, which can be seen in measures like opting for locally produced biofuel, reducing single-use plastic, and aiming to reach zero net carbon emissions by 2050.
Related: #IBA2020: These Domestic Destinations Have Emerged As India’s ‘Best’!
Bayar Jain
Senior Content Manager
Equipped with a degree in Sociology (Honours) from the University of Delhi, and a post graduate diploma in English Journalism and Mass Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai, Bayar enjoys sharing stories of people, places, and different cultures. When not typing her travel tales, you can catch the hobbyist photographer capturing the next frame, dabbling in arts and crafts, or gushing over puppers and kittens.