Showing posts with label Airports Apr 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Airports Apr 2015. Show all posts

Sunday, April 03, 2016

Now, AI fliers to Delhi & Bengaluru can print boarding passes, bag tags

Now, passengers departing from Terminal 2 of city's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) can print their own bag tags and boarding passes, thanks to kiosks installed in the check-in area of the terminal.

As per airport officials, after self-tagging their bags, passengers can proceed to the dedicated self-bag drop counters of their respective airlines. "Airline agents at these counters will verify the bags and complete the check-in process," said an official from the Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), the company that operates CSIA. Passengers can then straight head to the security clearance area.
The initiative, which MIAL officials claim to be a first-of-its-kind in the country, will help to reduce queues in the check-in area. At present, during peak hours the queues get long and serpentine because of which, at times, passengers create chaos. Further, the initiative will give passengers more convenience and save their time.

For now, the facility has been introduced on only Air India flight on the Mumbai-Delhi and Mumbai-Bengaluru route; it will be later expanded to other routes and airlines. Though the self-check-in boarding pass facility is available on all the 56 kiosks placed at CSIA, only 12 have been made available so far on trial for the bag tagging initiative.
03/04/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

Beware, Chennai airport is a nightmare of falling glass panels

Chennai International and Domestic Airport has become a nightmare for frequent flyers, as the airport has been plagued with numerous instances of falling false ceilings and glass panels, since its inauguration in 2013.

On March 30, 2016, glass panels from the ceiling came crashing down at two different places at the airport, according to S K Saamy, an advocate in the Supreme Court, and a regular user of the Chennai airport.

He also stated that such incidents have occurred 61 times in the last three years.

SK Saamy has filed a petition on the matter to Justice D Murgesan, a National Human Rights Commission member.

The Chennai International and Domestic Airport was inaugurated on January 31, 2013, following which the domestic terminal began functioning in April and the international terminal started functioning in July, 2013.

And almost from the start, the problems began. On May 12, more than 20 panels of the false ceiling collapsed near the security hall at the domestic terminal.  Back then, the officials had blamed strong winds and thunderstorms for the mishap.
02/04/16 News Minute

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Despite AAI dampener, airport hope takes wings

AMRAVATI: Despite the negative opinion of Airport Authority of India (AAI) regarding the feasibility of Amravati airport, Union minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma has responded positively to the strong wishes of Union minister Nitin Gadkari and public representatives of Amravati, deciding to study the airport proposal afresh.

Sharma announced this at a meeting, arranged with the initiative of Gadkari, with guardian minister of the district Pravin Pote, MLAs Sunil Deshmukh, Yashomati Thakur, Ravi Rana, Bachchu Kadu, Anil Bonde, Prabhudas Bhilawekar, Ramesh Bundile, Virendra Jagtap and collector Kiran Gitte at New Delhi on Thursday.
25/04/15 TNN/The Times Of India

Juhu airport primary runway hold-up hits aircraft movement

Scores of arriving flights at Juhu airport were affected for over three hours after a fire engine got stuck on the primary runway on Friday morning.

Though the airport authorities could not confim the number of affected flights, saying most of the flight operations are of non-scheduled operators, the departing ones were made to take off from the secondary runway till the time the primary runway was occupied.
25/04/15 Shahkar Abidi/dna

Fresh EIA Nod Set to Revive Aranmula Airport Project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM /ARANMULA:In what could be viewed as a step towards the possible revival of the proposed Rs 2,000 crore Aranmula airport project, the Union Environment Ministry (MoEF) has given its nod to the promoters for a fresh Environment Impact Assessment.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had earlier cancelled environmental clearance given to the project pointing out flaws in the EIA study.
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under the MoEF, which met in New Delhi on Friday, permitted KGS Group, promoters of the project, to go ahead with the EIA while considering their plea in this regard. The EAC rejected the arguments that the proposed site was not suitable for the airport project.
25/04/15 Express News Services/The New Indian Express

Friday, April 24, 2015

Last-minute delay of AI flight leads to chaos at Delhi airport

New Delhi:  There was chaos at Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday night as an Air India flight to Chicago was delayed by over 11 hours at last-minute.

According to passengers, Air India announced the delay in flight just before boarding was to begin.

A passenger booked on the flight told TOI that Air India cited lack of crew as the reason for delay.

The flight that was scheduled to leave at 2.20am on Friday has now been rescheduled for 1.30pm.
24/04/15 Times of India

Near Air Collision Averted at Airport

Chennai: An air collision was averted at Chennai airport as a Bahrain-bound Air India flight was preparing to take off on the runway when an incoming Indigo plane is believed to have received a go ahead to land from Air Traffic Control, according to a well-placed airline source. Before there was any danger of collision, the pilot of the incoming aircraft was asked to go round the airport’s airspace, and the AI flight was directed to take off.

Indigo officials declined to talk about the incident believed to have occurred between 7.45 pm and 8 pm, but they did have to prepare for two incoming flights from Kolkata and Bangalore during that time frame.  Incidentally, both planes were delayed by 30-40 minutes on Thursday evening.
24/04/15 New Indian Express

Runway to be closed for 2 hrs from July, re-carpeting to begin on Sept 1

Kozhikode: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has finalized the schedule for partial closure of the runway of Karipur Airport to facilitate re-carpeting works. As per the revised schedule, the runway will remain closed daily for two hours- from 3 pm to 5 pm - from July 1 to August 31. The preparatory works for the Rs 60 crore runway re-carpeting would be carried out during the period.

The actual re-carpeting works will start on September 1 during which the runway would remain closed for eight hours each day, said airport director Peter K Abraham. The closure would be effected daily from 12 noon to 8 pm. This partial closure of runway for eight hours a day would continue for at least 17 months. However the ban on operation of wide bodied aircrafts at the airport would come into effect from May 1 onwards, due to runway safety concerns.
24/04/15 Times of India

Air India SATS Airport Services invests Rs 57 crore in new ground support equipment

MUMBAI: Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), the joint venture between India's national carrier and Changi Airport's ground handing services provider Thursday said it has invested Rs 57 crore in new ground support equipment at the Delhi airport.
This investment is part of the Rs 85 crore planned committed by the JV in the last one year.
23/04/15 Anirban Chowdhury/The Economic Times

Odisha renews bid to start international flights from city airport

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Tourism Minister Ashok Panda met three Union ministers and chiefs of Indigo and Air India to push for international flight operations from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar to Dubai and Bangkok on the eve of the Nabakalebar festival.

Panda met Union Tourism minister Mahesh Sharma, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Pradhan and Panda later had a meeting with the Chief of Indigo Airlines to push the agenda.

Panda specifically requested an extension of the Mumbai-Dubai Air India flight and Kolkata-Bangkok Indigo flight to Bhubaneswar. He assured the companies of all possible cooperation from the state government’s side and informed them about the preparedness of the airport and infrastructure to handle international flights.

Civil Aviation Minister Raju informed Panda that steps are being taken to extend the Air India flight to Bhubaneswar and a survey is already undeway on this regard.
24/04/15 Odisha Sun Times 

UP government pitches for airport at Saifai

Lucknow: After two-and-a-half-years of deadlock — first with the UPA regime and now with the NDA government — over construction of the Taj International Airport in western Uttar Pradesh, the state government is preparing to pitch for CM Akhilesh Yadav’s native place Saifai as one of the three new options where the airport can come up.
The three new options being proposed are Saifai in Etawah, Hirangaon in Firozabad and Bateshwar in Agra. Sources said Akhilesh has floated the idea based on the argument that it will be easier to get clearance to upgrade an existing airstrip — like the one present in Safai — into an international airport.
Sources added that as the sites proposed by RITES — consultant to the state government — could not get sanction in the last two years, the government will now prepare a fresh proposal to be placed before the Civil Aviation Ministry.
24/04/15 Maulshree Seth/Indian Express

When Sachin Tendulkar was mobbed at Melbourne Airport!

Passengers lined up outside Gate 16 of the Melbourne International Airport as the boarding announcement confirmed the departure of their flight. Suddenly there was commotion, some people left the line and ran towards Gate 18. A short man, dressed casually, dragging his bag was making his way to his flight with a young, muscular and moustached man. “Who has come?” asked someone who couldn’t get a glimpse of them. “Don’t you know! That is Sachin Tendulkar,” said an Indian man as he ran towards Gate 18 to greet his hero.
The young man with Tendulkar was none other than the Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan, who was the star during the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Though Dhawan is a current player and had done well in the big event, hardly any fan bothered him. He slipped somewhere in the background as Tendulkar became the cynosure of all eyes at the gate. People had left their seats from the areas near the gates, some had left the boarding queue and made their way towards Tendulkar.
24/04/15 Nishad Pai Vaidya/Cricket Country

Yet Again Ceiling Crashes Down At Chennai Airport

Chennai:  In the third such incident this month, a portion of false ceiling came down crashing at the airport here today, but no one was injured.      

The incident happened near Gate No.7 of the Domestic Departure terminal and officials immediately rushed to the spot.

No one was injured in the incident, officials said.      
24/04/15 PTI/New Indian Express

ONGC operations at Juhu airport affected for 3 hours as fire engine stuck on main runway

Mumbai: ONGC operations from the Juhu airport were affected on Friday morning as a fire engine was stuck on the main runway due to a mechanical failure.
The Juhu fire Brigade’s fire engine broke down during the routine runway inspection of the Juhu airport’s main runway 08-26 around 7.30am, resulting in all departures being put on hold.
Till 10.30am,  Juhu’s secondary runway 16-34 was used only for departures and arrivals were not allowed.
24/04/15 Indian Express

South African woman held with narcotics at IGI Airport

New Delhi: A South African woman trying to smuggle about 24 kilo of pseudoephedrine drugs to Johannesburg was caught at IGI Airport in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The woman had neatly packed the drugs in nine packets and concealed them in bed sheets and pillow covers.

The total worth of the recovered drug in the international market would be around Rs 23 lakh, said CISF on Thursday.

Culprit Rachael Zulu, 31, was on a tourist visit to India and was scheduled to return to her country via Abu Dhabi.
24/04/15 Deccan Herald

Women with Gold Bars Detained at RGIA

Hyderabad: Two women passengers were detained by custom officials for transporting 7 kg gold bars worth `3 crore, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) on Thursday. The women who arrived from Dubai, were found to be in possession of 7 kg gold biscuits, the officer said. The women reportedly said that some unidentified persons in Dubai airport met them and offered commission for smuggling gold.
24/04/15 New Indian Express

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Airports Authority of India Urged to Build New Terminal at Agartala

AGARTALA:  The Tripura government has requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to build a new terminal building at Agartala Airport immediately, an official said today.

"The government has already spent Rs. 35 crore to acquire 72 acres of land for modernization of the Agartala Airport and the AAI should go ahead with the construction of its new terminal building without any delay," Samarjit Bhowmik, Secretary of Transport Department told reporters.

Mr Bhowmik said the AAI representative at a meeting chaired by DoNER (Department of North Eastern Region) Secretary in New Delhi on April 13 had said that it is yet to get environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest but is hopeful of getting it soon.
22/04/15 PTI/NDTV

Bill to hive off air navigation services from AAI to be finalised soon

New Delhi: The Centre has almost finalised the draft of the Bill seeking to separate Air Navigation Services (ANS) from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), seen as a precursor to listing the authority. A government source said: “The draft Bill is in its final stages. There are a few human resources issues that need to be taken care of. The ministry will send the draft Bill for Cabinet approval after getting a go-ahead from the law ministry.”

ANS, responsible for navigation, surveillance and air traffic management, is now under AAI. “The organisation that is being contemplated will be government-owned. The ministry is bringing in an Act,” said an AAI official.

Sources said Civil Aviation Secretary V Somasundaran will soon hold a meeting with AAI officials to finalise the provisions of the Bill. After consultations, the Bill will be sent to the Cabinet for approval and, subsequently, introduced in Parliament.
23/04/15 Somesh Jha/Business Standard

In a first, Boeing 777 lands at Nagpur airport

Mumbai: A boeing 777-300 landed at Nagpur's Sonegaon airport for the first time on Wednesday, ahead of the inauguration of a Boeing maintenance and repair facility slated to start functioning in the city next month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the unit.

Tanaji Satre, managing director, Maharashtra Airport Development Company said: "This project has been delayed for years. On Wednesday, I boarded the Boeing 777 with other Air India officers at around 11 am, landing at noon. We were successful in accommodating the wide-bodied aircraft inside the maintenance facility.''

Wednesday's feat meant that the Maharashtra Airport Development Company had to restrict public access to Shivangaon, the area adjoining the airport, for 30 minutes.
23/04/15 Yogesh Naik/Mumbai Mirror

Kozhikode airport shutdown, an opportunity for Kannur

If completed on time, the Kannur International Airport, which is slated for commercial operations in June next year, will be able to accommodate flights diverted due to the partial shutdown of the Kozhikode airport.

The Kozhikode airport, which requires strengthening and re-carpeting of its runway, will be partially shutdown soon for nearly a year and half. For the first eight months, the airport will not be able to receive wide-bodied aircraft used by international airlines and, for the next few months, such aircraft can land only for a few hours a day.
This will cripple the operations of international flights and cause serious troubles to lakhs of North Kerala people employed in the Gulf, though some of the flights will be diverted to the Kochi airport.

There have been protests by NRI associations and political parties in Malabar against the long partial shutdown. About 90 per cent of Kozhikode traffic is international.

However, there is also a move to postpone the repairs by a couple of months so that the fury of the monsoon could be spared. If the postponement happens and the operation of the Kannur airport begins on time, sources said, most of the international flights could be diverted to Kannur from Kozhikode.

“The Kannur airport is designed to receive wide-bodied aircraft and there would be no problem for the large aircraft coming from the Gulf sector to land there,” an airport official told BusinessLine.
23/04/15 KPM Basheer/The Hindu

Seema fliers wings clipped

Anantapur: Development of existing and also newly proposed airports is badly neglected in most parts of the Rayalaseema region. The existing airports were facing many problems while the newly proposed  ones existed on papers only. Presently, Tirupati is only the airport plying the passengers during daytime to Hyderabad, Chennai and other parts in the district. But none of them have night landing facilities and passengers, mo-stly political leaders and traders have to dep-end on Karnataka and Tamil Nadu headquarters to travel during night.

A proposal to upgrade facilities including night landing at Sri Satyasai Airport at Puttaparti has made no progress after Sri Sathya Saibaba's demise. Proposals to develop Puttaparti airport as a centre for cargos remained on papers. Presently, the airport is only hosting special aircrafts of VIPS including devotees and politicians.

A devotee Dhananjay of Puttaparti recalled many VIP devotees used to arrive in a special aircraft to the spiritual centre when Sri Satya Saibaba was alive. Official sources revea-led that the occupancy rate of the airport has been very low for the past three years.
23/04/15 Hoskote Nagabhushanam/Deccan Chronicle

Odisha’s Jharsuguda airport work takes flight

The upgradation of the Jharsuguda airport in Odisha began today with the first phase construction work of a boundary wall of the airport which was inaugurated by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) chairman RK Srivastava.
 “We have started the first phase construction of the boundary wall on the land provided by the state government. As decided, we would invite tender for construction of the airstrip and airport terminal in the second phase. We need to use the land outside the terminal for commercial activity so that the airport can earn some revenue and meet its operational cost and becomes a financially viable project,” Srivastava told reporters after the inauguration.
22/04/15 Odisha Sun Times

DoNER urged to push Agartala airport project

Agartala: Tripura has demanded taking up construction of terminal building at Agartala Airport immediately as part of modernisation of airport.
At a meeting chaired by DoNER Secretary in Delhi on April 13, Tripura Secretary of Transport department Samarjit Bhowmik has sought the DoNER Minister’s intervention to begin construction of the terminal building at Agartala Airport.

He said the State Government has already spent Rs 35 crore to acquire 72 acres of land meant for modernisation project for the Airport. “The Airport Authority of India (AAI) should go ahead with the development of Agartala Airport without any delay”, he said in the meeting.
22/04/15 Assam Tribune

Air India SATS invests in IGI ground support equipment

Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS) on Thursday said it has invested a further Rs.57 crore in new ground support equipment (GSE) at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport.

“This investment is part of the Rs.85 crore invested in GSE by AISATS in the past one year,” the company, which is a 50:50 joint venture between state-run Air India and SATS Ltd, said in a statement here.

“The GSE deployed will not only enhance service delivery standards but also improve operational efficiency and compliance with local airport regulations,” it added.

AISATS said it currently handles around 50 percent of the daily scheduled flights at IGI airport.

“To ensure seamless services and improved faster turnaround time without compromising safety, AISATS has deployed a whole range of newly-acquired motorised and non-motorised handling equipment,” it said.
23/04/15 Economy Lead

Harni airport gallery to display exhibit of amateur artists

Vadodara: A dedicated art gallery is being established at Harni domestic airport near here where budding artists can showcase their creations.

"The gallery is being set up at the terminal building of the airport as per the instructions given by the Civil Aviation Ministry to the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Once functional, budding painters and sculptors can put up their creation on display for public viewing and even for sale," AAI Director at Harni Airport, Santosh Dhoke said here today.

He said the initiative was aimed at encouraging amateur artists, many of whom come from across the country and even from abroad to learn fine arts at the reputed Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) of Baroda.

Explaining about the gallery, Dhoke said the AAI will provide the space free of cost to artists.
23/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

Upgraded Mirage fighters land at Jamnagar

Two upgraded Mirage 2000 fighter aircrafts landed at Jamnagar Airbase of the IAF from Istres, France, today.

Defence major Dassault Aviation had delivered the first two upgraded aircrafts to IAF just before Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to France earlier this month, where he had declared India's intent to buy 36 Rafale fighters through direct military sale.

"During their long flight, the Mirage 2000 had stop overs at Athens, Luxor, Doha," Sitanshu Kar, Chief spokesperson of the Defence Ministry said.
The acceptance ceremony was held at Istres, Dassault Aviations Flight Test Centre.
22/04/15 WebIndia123

AAI urged to build new terminal at Agartala

Agartala: The Tripura government has requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to build a new terminal building at Agartala Airport immediately, an official said on Wednesday.
“The government has already spent Rs 35 crore to acquire 72 acres of land for modernization of the Agartala Airport and the AAI should go ahead with the construction of its new terminal building without any delay,” Samarjit Bhowmik, Secretary of Transport Department told reporters here.
Bhowmik said the AAI representative at a meeting chaired by DoNER Secretary in New Delhi on April 13 had said that it is yet to get environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest but is hopeful of getting it soon.
Agartala Airport being the second largest airport in the NE in terms of passenger traffic, he said, it had around 8 lakh passengers in 2013 and the same had increased to 9 lakh.
23/04/15 The Shillong Times

Bored waiting for your flight? Try flying one

New Delhi: From February, the GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates the IGI Airport, has set up a simulator in Terminal 3. It is the first international airport in the world to offer passengers an opportunity to experience a flight simulator before boarding an actual flight.

Called The Cockpit, the ‘outlet’ is located in the duty free retail zone at IGI T3 and houses a state-of-the-art flight simulator. The simulator has a real size replica of the cockpit of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. It allows passengers to occupy the pilot's seat and fly the aircraft under the supervision of a trained pilot. Since the theme of the area (what area is this?) is aviation, enthusiasts can also buy collectible souvenirs from Boeing and Airbus.

DIAL has provided the space for the simulator on long-term lease agreement on revenue-share basis to The Cockpit (didn’t understand this?). DIAL is a facilitator and mentor for the simulator, which also aims to educate passengers about the aviation eco-sphere. A 15 minute session of ‘flying’ a plane costs ? 2,500 plus taxes.
22/04/15 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line

On service yardstick, Pune airport fares better

Pune:  An extensive survey conducted by the Airports Council International may have found overall improvement at the Lohegaon airport in Pune in terms of customer satisfaction, but it also points out shortcomings in services like cleanliness, availability of toilets, ambience among others.

The Airport Quality Survey (ASQ) for 2014 has given the Pune airport 4.20 points on a scale of 5. With this, the Lohegaon airport now boasts of 91st position among 250 airports in the world — an improvement from the 110th spot it occupied in 2013. Pune's is among the 11 airports in the country that feature in the ASQ survey — the industry's standard for measuring passenger satisfaction at the airport.

In the country, the Pune facility has the seventh highest score.
The areas where the Pune airport was found lacking were ground transportation to/from airport, availability of parking facilities, parking facilities value for money, availability of baggage carts/trolleys, courtesy and helpfulness of security staff, flight information screens, ease of making connections with other flights, availability of bank/ ATM facilities/ money changers, availability of washrooms/toilets, cleanliness of washrooms/toilets, etc.
23/04/15 Neha Madaan/Times of India

Foul play in Karipur airport’s partial shutdown: INL

Kozhikode: The State committee of the Indian National League (INL) has alleged a conspiracy behind the move to shift the embarkation point of Haj pilgrims from the Calicut international airport to the CIAL airport at Nedumbassery this time.At a press meet here on Tuesday, the INL leaders said that the move should be seen in the light of the airport authorities decision to start recarpeting of the runway. The Central Road Research Institute’s (CRRI) report, recommending the works, had reached the airport authorities one-and-a-half years ago, said P. Abdul Wahab, State general secretary of the INL. “We suspect the hands of lobbies working against the Calicut airport behind this,” said Mr. Wahab.
22/04/15 Nyooz

Maldives considered GMR buyout, but lacked funds

The Maldivian government considered buying out the 2010 airport development contract from India’s GMR, but lacking the necessary funds declared the agreement invalid, Minivan News can exclusively reveal.

The Maldives is now facing a payout to GMR, potentially as high as US$803 million or over half of the state budget, after a Singaporean tribunal last year ruled that the agreement was valid and binding.

The government, however, expects the compensation claim to amount to US$300 million. The exact figure is yet to be determined by the tribunal.

Testimony by cabinet ministers and airport company officials – in a separate arbitration between the government and an Indian bank over the airport deal – show that ex-president Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan asked his cabinet to estimate the sum required to buy out the concession agreement from GMR.

Minivan News has obtained the opening submissions by the government and the Axis Bank made in February and March, respectively.
22/04/15 Zaheena Rasheed/Minivan news

Mumbai Airport's "Pranaam" promises to transform the Airport Experience in India

The first-of-its kind personalized Airport services "Pranaam" introduced by GVK CSIA at the Domestic & International terminals, received an international acclaim from the globally renowned Business Initiative Directions (BID) Group One. BID honoured Pranaam Services with the Century International Quality Era award as a recognition to the services' combined high delivery on customer-focused parameters such as quality, leadership, technology, management, customer satisfaction, brand name and business results.

The Pranaam GVK Guest Services aim to redefine the Airport Experience in India and take it on par with the global best with a bouquet of services on offer spanning Departures, Arrivals, Transition and Lounge services for both Domestic & International passengers. The services cater to individual passengers, families, assistance to corporate clients, warmth & care to families, special attention to elderly guests, personalized care for women traveling with kids and secured transit assistance. Broadly the services offered are Pranaam Platinum, Pranaam Gold, Pranaam Transit and Pranaam Lounge (at T2). The services have been aligned with essence of India's culture depicting warmth and care.
23/04/15 Equity Bulls

7 Kg Gold Biscuits Seized at Hyderabad Airport

Hyderabad: Gold biscuits weighing around seven kilograms, which were allegedly being smuggled by two women passengers were seized today at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad in Hyderabad, a custom official said.

The women who arrived at the airport by a flight from Dubai initially denied carrying the yellow metal. However, after checking they were found to be in possession of gold biscuits, the officer said.
23/04/15 NDTV

NRI goes missing on the way to Mumbai airport

Tragedy struck for the second time in the Ali family, which had only just begun to mourn the demise of one family member, when another mysteriously went missing on Tuesday.
Sayyed Shahid Ali, a 38-year-old engineer based in Dubai, went missing on his way to Mumbai Airport, to catch a flight home after performing the last rites of his mother in Aurangabad. Sayyed came to India last month, after his mother passed away. After all the rituals were over, he decided to return to his job in Dubai. He was booked onto a 6.55 pm flight from Mumbai on Tuesday, but never made it there. The last anyone heard from him was earlier that evening, when he called his brother Sajid to tell him his train (Rajendra Nagar express) had reached Dadar station and was heading to the airport.
23/04/15 Saurabh Vaktania/Mid Day

Peacock feathers seized at airport

Kochi: Customs officials at the Kochi airport on Wednesday seized 65 kg of peacock feathers from two passengers booked on a Kula Lumpur flight. Peacock feathers are a banned export item. A 64-year-old man hailing from Thrissur and his female assistant were detained and the feathers handed over to the Forest Department. Peacock feathers are said to be in high demand in Malaysia where there is a large community of Tamil Hindus who use them for religious purposes. Officials also seized 29 star turtles from a passenger booked on the same flight.
22/04/15 Business Line

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

VIP facilities: Robert Vadra takes a swipe at Civil Aviation Minister

New Delhi: Robert Vadra on Tuesday took a swipe at Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju over his remarks that MPs and other VIPs will continue to enjoy facilities including free access to the airport terminal building.
"Watched on electronic media discussions again about my name on a list for special privileges at Airports in India. I am glad that this formality has been removed, as this was created without my consent, by the security agencies, only to be followed when I would be travelling with SPG protectees. My existing security (personnel) are not allowed inside airports," Vadra said on Facebook.
21/04/15 Zee News

AirAsia India set to launch flights from New Delhi

NEW DELHI: No-frills carrier AirAsia India today announced spreading its wings to the national capital which would serve as its hub for the north India market.

The airline would connect New Delhi with Bengaluru, Guwahati and Goa from May 21, AirAsia India said in a release.

The carrier has offered an all-inclusive fares of as low as Rs 1,500 for the New Delhi-Guwahati sector and Rs 1,700 for the New Delhi-Goa and New Delhi-Bengaluru sectors.
As of now, the domestic arm of the Malaysian airline AirAsia is operating from Bengaluru to five airports in the country.

"We are very excited about coming into New Delhi and setting it up as our north region hub. Our entry into New Delhi market is a sign of confidence in our business model and in our performance that we can come into a highly-saturated market and help expand the market by providing connectivity to the underserved," AirAsia India chief executive Mittu Chandilya said.
20/04/2015 PTI/Economic Times

Government gets Rs 5,814 crore revenue from Airports Authority of India in 4 years

NEW DELHI: The government has received more than Rs 5,814 crore from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the last four financial years, Lok Sabha was informed today.

The amount has come by way of dividend, dividend tax, guarantee fees, interest on government budgetary support loan, income tax and service tax, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati told the Lok Sabha.
"Government has earned Rs 1,186.56 crore, Rs 1,344.13 crore, Rs 1,438.12 crore and Rs 1,845.16 crore (provisional) as revenue for the years 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively, from the AAI," he said in a written reply.

According to him, the domestic aviation sector has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, resulting in increased revenue to the government.
21/04/15 PTI/Economic Times 

Airports Authority of India appeals for high tariff, airlines protest

The airlines are up against a recent submission to the civil aviation ministry by Airports Authority of India (AAI), which states that reduction in aeronautical charges at the Delhi airport will lower its revenue and impact its development projects. AAI has requested the ministry to issue directive to Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), the aviation economic regulator, to ensure viability of Delhi airport project. Delhi and Mumbai airports have one of the highest aeronautical charges in the world, which eventually get passed on to passengers.
22/04/15 dna agency

Air India to operate additional Jammu-Leh flight

JAMMU: Air India would operate an additional Jammu to Leh flight tomorrow for the stranded passengers, an official spokesman said.

"Air India shall operate additional flight on Jammu-Leh sector on April 21," the spokesman said.
20/04/15 PTI/Economic Times

Amravati's airport hope takes wings with Gadkari move

AMRAVATI: City MLA Sunil Deshmukh's 15-yr-old dream of developing the Belora airstrip near Badnera into a full-fledged airport might be realized in near future as Union minister Nitin Gadkari has, upon persuasion by Deshmukh, intervened to expedite the matter.

"Gadkari has arranged a meeting of all MPs, MLAs, MLCs and top officers of the district with the authorities of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) and ministers of the concerned ministry from the centre and the state along with their secretaries in Delhi on April 23," Deshmukh told TOI.
20/04/15 TNN/Times of India.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

No end to VVIP privileges at airports

New Delhi:  Instead of ending privileges given to MPs, the aviation ministry has perpetuated the VVIP culture at Indian airports.

Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Monday told Parliament there was 'no' proposal to curtail the privileges and protocol for VVIPs including MPs at airports.

As a result, the minister listed the facilities that would continue to be accorded to Indian VVIPs. These include access to reserved lounges; free beverages and free access to terminals and visitors' area of airports.

Entry pass will be given to each MP's personal staff for the airport in the constituency and for Delhi airport. "One officer of airport is designated as protocol officer at each airport and is responsible for extension of all facilities/courtesies to MPs," Raju told Parliament.
The minister, who himself has refused to accept these privileges and takes a regular bus to aircraft with other passengers, said that the government keeps getting complaints on non-adherence of protocol from VVIPs.
21/04/15 Times of India

AAI’s submission short-sighted; will affect traffic growth

New Delhi: Days after the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) asked the government not to reduce tariff at Delhi airport, an international airline body has called it a short-sighted approach which will affect traffic growth.
“It is unfortunate and disappointing that AAI has taken a very short-term view on the Delhi charges by contesting against the proposal of the independent regulator to reduce these inflated charges,” said Conrad Clifford, regional vice president, Asia Pacific, International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to Clifford, the aviation industry is an economic enabler and a reduction in Delhi’s airport charges would help to stimulate traffic growth.
“DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited) and AAI benefited from the decision in 2012 of the independent regulator in the tariff escalation for Delhi proposed in the first control period,” Clifford said.
20/04/15 Odisha Sun Times

Bhogapuram Airport Plan Hits Roadblock

Vizhinagaram: Opposing the government’s decision to set up an airport at Bhogapuram, a large number of farmers along with their families from around 18 neighbouring villages near Bhogapuram gathered Monday and took out a rally to the Vizianagaram Collectorate expressing their anger. Tension prevailed as opposition leaders too joined the protest in support of the farmers. A large number of police were deployed as a precautionary measure.

The protest continued for over one-and-a-half hour during which the farmers raised slogans against the governments’s decision, sporting huge flex boards saying ‘Save Farmers’. The protestors said that they will not, under any circumstances, cede their lands for the construction of the airport.

After reaching the gates of the Collectorate, the protested raised slogans, and some even tried to enter the premises, prompting the police to control the crowds. Later, they blocked the National Highway for over an hour, leading to chaos in the town. Meanwhile, members of opposition parties submitted a report over the issue communicating their dissent over the proposal.
21/04/15 New Indian Express

Separate bylaws for highrises near airport

Jaipur: To keep a check on highrise buildings near the state hangar and Jaipur airport, the urban development and housing (UDH) department might formulate separate bylaws for this zone. In a meeting, chaired by the UDH additional chief secretary (ACS), Ashok Jain, directions have been given to Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) zone commissioner to analyze and examine the bylaws of other airports in the country before formulating new norms. Talking to TOI, Jain said, "We have sought a report in 15 days. After examining the report a decision will be taken about formulating norms."

According to the officials, there are no specific bylaws at present to construct a building near the airport. The necessity to formulate the norms was felt after the district collector wrote a letter to JDA. "There is a VIP movement near the state hangar and it poses a security threat with highrises constructed in nearby areas. At present, the developer can construct a building after procuring no objection certificate from the Airports Authority of India (AAI)," an official said.
22/04/15 Times of India

New directors for airports

Thiruvananthapuram: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has posted new Airport Directors for eight other airports under it across the country citing the new policy decision. George G. Tharakan, joint general manager (EE), Port Blair, will replace S. Dhamaraj as airport director, Thiruvananthapuram, and K. Janardhan, joint general manager, ATC, Guwahati, will take over as airport director, Kozhikode. Mr. Janardhan succeeds Peter Abraham.
21/04/15 The Hindu

VDI checks-in with DIAL

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is a joint venture between GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB). In January 2006, the consortium was awarded the concession to operate, manage and develop the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi. IGIA is the busiest airport in India and looks set to maintain its position thanks to ongoing development projects.
DIAL employs around 1,500 people, nearly half of whom use desktop computers. Of these, the majority are permanent members of staff working in areas such as finance, human resource (HR), airport security, baggage handling and air traffic control. A small number are employed on short-term contracts, working mainly on specific projects, often involving airport construction.
Regardless of the role, each employee relies on the firm’s IT infrastructure to provide stable access to key applications. The applications that support airport processes such as check-in, baggage handling and traffic control are managed by the DIAL IT team. However, DIAL parent company GMR Group is responsible for business solutions such as SAP and Microsoft Dynamics NAV, as well as the DIAL Microsoft Exchange email environment.
20/04/15 Jasmine Desai/Financial Express

Jharsuguda airstrip inspection tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman R K Srivastav is scheduled to visit proposed Jharsuguda airport on Wednesday to review progress of work for terminal building and expansion of runway.

Jharsuguda airstrip will be upgraded into a full-fledged airport to facilitate landing of big aircraft like Boeing 767 and Airbus A-321, official sources said.

Biju Patnaik International Airport director Sharad Kumar said a team of technical officers will accompany the chairman. "The runway expansion work will begin after the chairman's inspection. The runway will be extended from 1,822 metre to 2,391 metre," Kumar added.
21/04/15 Riyan Ramanath V/Times of India

7 flights diverted due to evening nor'wester

Kolkata: Seven flights were diverted due to a nor'wester at the N S C Bose International Airport this evening.
The seven diverted flights included one Air India Delhi-Kolkata flight which was diverted to Lucknow and is scheduled to land here by 10.30 pm.
The other flights included the Spicejet Agartala-Kolkata flight, three flights of the Indigo, one of which being of Patna-Kolkata which was diverted to Bhubaneswar and the Etihad Airways Doha-Kolkata flight diverted to Dhaka, airport officials said.
21/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

Air India to operate additional Jammu-Leh flight

Jammu: Air India would operate an additional Jammu to Leh flight tomorrow for the stranded passengers, an official spokesman said.

"Air India shall operate additional flight on Jammu-Leh sector on April 21," the spokesman said.

He said the flight was arranged due to the cancellation of Air India Flight AI450 which was scheduled for today.
20/04/15 PTI/Economic Times

Amravati's airport hope takes wings with Gadkari move

Amravati: City MLA Sunil Deshmukh's 15-yr-old dream of developing the Belora airstrip near Badnera into a full-fledged airport might be realized in near future as Union minister Nitin Gadkari has, upon persuasion by Deshmukh, intervened to expedite the matter.

"Gadkari has arranged a meeting of all MPs, MLAs, MLCs and top officers of the district with the authorities of Ministry of Civil Aviation, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) and ministers of the concerned ministry from the centre and the state along with their secretaries in Delhi on April 23," Deshmukh told TOI.

"Amravati is the only divisional headquarter in the state which does not have a full-fledged airport. While airports have come up in taluka places like Shirdi and district towns like Nanded, Latur, Kolhapur and Gondia, Amravati has been longing for it since 2000," said Deshmukh, adding he had been making efforts for it since 2000, but the road was full of hurdles.
20/04/15 Times of India

All central government nods in place for Navi Mumbai airport

Mumbai: All central government permissions for the Navi Mumbai international airport have been granted, chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya said on Monday.

Seven permissions, from the environment and civil aviation ministries were received last month, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's countrywide video-conference with chief secretaries. When Modi asked Kshatriya about the status of the airport project, he informed him that a miracle had occurred.

"The state received seven permissions a day before the Pragati (Proactive Governance and Timely Implementation of Schemes) conference, and only permission from the civil aviation ministry is pending," Kshatriya had inform-ed Modi.

He went on to explain that the permission pending was for the rehabilitation of 650 farmers, and the state government needed height clearance from the aviation ministry. Under the compensation package, every farmer will be given back 22.5% of the plot given for the project as developed land. Kshatriya said individual applications would have to be made on behalf of each farmer.
21/04/15 Clara Lewis/Times of India

Partial relief to Gaya air travellers, flight schedule extended till 30 June

Gaya: In what is being regarded as partial relief to Gaya air travellers, the schedule of the Air India Gaya-Delhi flight has been extended till 30 June'2015. However the frequency of the flight has been reduced. As against the existing daily flight schedule, the revised schedule for the month of May and June make it a tri weekly phenomenon. For the last several years, Air India has been ferrying passenger between Gaya and the national capital only during the October-March tourist season.

Following the efforts of the Gaya DM Sanjay Agrawal and public representatives of the Magadh Division, the flight was given one month extension for the month of April'2015. The daily flight was to terminate on 30 April to be resumed in October. Refusing to give up, Agrawal and the public representatives took up the matter with the Civil Aviation ministry which, while converting the daily flight into a tri weekly format extended it till 30 June.
21/04/15 Abdul Qadir/Times of India

Exorbitant Airfares for JK Hajj Pilgrims

New Delhi: : Expressing dismay over the exorbitant airfare being charged from the Hajj pilgrims of Jammu and Kashmir, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and Member Parliament, Ms Mehbooba Mufti has sought the intervention of Union External Affairs Minister, Mrs Sushma Swaraj in the matter.
“I am surprised to learn that Air India last year charged 1.54 lakh as ticket cost per pilgrim for those who had taken flight from Srinagar when the cost from other embarkation points across the country was around Rs 62,802. It is not only a huge financial burden for pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir but also discriminatory,” she told Swaraj.
Ms Mehbooba said the External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministries should look into the matter and ensure uniform airfare for Hajj pilgrims across the country.
21/04/15 Scoop News

Gold smuggling on rise at Ahmedabad airport, 18 cases in 4 months

Ahmedabad: In spite of relaxation by the central government in restrictions on import of gold, smuggling of the yellow metal continues to rise at the city airport. In the first four months of 2015 itself, Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have detected 18 cases of gold smuggling and recovered 22.87kg gold worth Rs 6.17 crore at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The cases spiked to a record level following restrictions on gold imports in June 2013 to control current account deficit (CAD). Airport continues to be the major hotspot as smugglers have been consistently held while trying to smuggle in gold bars using carriers.
Compared to 5kg and 10.7kg gold recovered by Customs at airport in 2012 and 2013 respectively, the recovery shot up to 54.82kg in 2014.
In February this year, City Crime Branch unearthed major gold smuggling racket when it nabbed three people and recovered 60kg gold outside airport. The probe in the case is still on.
20/04/15 Piyush Mishra/Times of India

Man held for smuggling gold worth Rs 52 lakh at airport

New Delhi: A man has been arrested at the international airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valued at about Rs 52 lakh.

The passenger was intercepted by customs officials after his arrival from Bangkok yesterday.

"On detailed examination of his baggage and personal search, six cut pieces of gold bars totally weighing 1.9 kg having market value of Rs 52.69 lakh were recovered," a press release issued today by the Customs said.
21/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

Largest gold haul worth Rs 6 crore at IGI airport, 2 arrested

New Delhi: Two people were arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold worth approximately Rs 6 crore.
The passengers, identified as Mohammed Quamruzzama and Gulab Anwar, were intercepted by customs officials after their arrival from Dubai. “Both of them did not declare the gold brought by them in Indian customs declaration slip. During search, 21.7 kilograms of gold worth Rs 5.86 crore was recovered,” commissioner of customs Arun Kumar said.
He said this was the biggest seizure of gold made at the Delhi airport. The accused are reportedly related.
Separately, a 22-year-old South African woman was held at the airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out Rs 1.18 crore worth narcotic drugs, neatly concealed inside cricket gear and shoes.
21/04/15 Indian Express

South African woman held with drug worth Rs.1.18 crore

New Delhi: A 22-year-old South African woman was arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) here while carrying a 19.30 kg consignment of narcotic drugs, valued at Rs.1.18 crore in the international market, the CISF said on Monday.

Lynnette Nosipho was held by Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Terminal-3 of the IGI airport on Sunday while she was carrying 17.22 kg of pseudoephedrine -- a sympathomimetic stimulant drug -- and 2.08 kg heroin concealed in her belongings.

"Nosipho's activities were found suspicious during her frisking at gate number-3 of IGI Terminal-3," CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh said.

"We recovered 16 packets of narcotic substance concealed in a newly-purchased laptop bag, 14 packets concealed in cricket elbow guards and one packet in a lady's shoe. The substance was in powder form," Singh said.
20/04/15 IANS/Business Standard

Suspect in explosives case caught at airport

Trichy: Immigration authorities on Sunday night caught an accused in the 2008 Ariyalur explosive dealing case at the international airport here. He was nabbed after it was found that his passport had been revoked by Indian immigration authorities.

Police said Karuppiah, 27, was an accused in the 2008 Ariyalur explosive dealing case and the Sendurai police had registered a case. The legal proceedings are currently underway in the Ariyalur court and the four suspects who are in custody have been attending the proceedings. Karuppiah alone was absconding. He had fled the country ever since he was involved in the case. Police issued a lookout notice and two years ago, his passport was revoked.

On Sunday, officials were scanning Karuppiah's passport when the records showed that his passport was revoked and that he was involved in a case. On investigation, it was found that he had been involved in providing ammunition to a group.
21/04/15 Times of India

Suspect in explosives case caught at the airport

Trichy: Immigration authorities on Sunday night caught an accused in the 2008 Ariyalur explosive dealing case at the international airport here. He was nabbed after it was found that his passport had been revoked by Indian immigration authorities.

Police said Karuppiah, 27, was an accused in the 2008 Ariyalur explosive dealing case and the Sendurai police had registered a case. The legal proceedings are currently underway in the Ariyalur court and the four suspects who are in custody have been attending the proceedings. Karuppiah alone was absconding. He had fled the country ever since he was involved in the case. Police issued a lookout notice and two years ago, his passport was revoked.
21/04/15 Times of India

Monday, April 20, 2015

Govt puts UPA's low-cost airport project on hold

New Delhi: The present government has decided to put on hold the previous one's ambitious plan of developing low-cost airports in non-metro cities. However, of the 50 centres identified by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2013, work will continue on five low-cost airports - in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh and Odisha - where construction has already been sanctioned.

"The plan to develop the no-frills airports has been put on hold due to lack of commercial viability. Work has been processed for only (these) five airports. In many cases, the government had given approval to states in writing and even completed the land acquisition process," said a ministry official who did not wish to be named.
Also, the official added, the government had set a new criterion that a minimum population size of one million would be the basis for selection of towns where these new airports would be constructed. It will look into the financial viability of setting up such airports in non-metro cities before considering new proposals.
The development comes in the wake of a delay in the government's plans to privatise four airports - those in Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur and Kolkata - after opposition from employees at these airports over changes in their service conditions because of such a move.
20/04/15 Somesh Jha/Business Standard

Man offloaded without valid reason, airline told to pay him Rs 50,000

Chandigarh: The district consumer disputes redressal forum of Chandigarh has ordered a private airline to pay Rs 50,000 in compensation for offloading a passenger without any valid reason, holding that it was a case of deficiency in service.

In his complaint, R K Sharma, a resident of Sector 19, said that he had booked a ticket with Air India for travelling from Chandigarh to New Delhi, and New Delhi to Ranchi on May 21 last year. He said that when he reached New Delhi, he was told that the flight to Ranchi had already departed.
Realising their mistake, the Air India authorities arranged for him a ticket on a Jet Airways flight to Ranchi. Sharma said he boarded the Jet Airways flight after the security check, but the airline officials offloaded him without giving any reason. He had to buy another ticket on the spot to reach Ranchi.

In its reply, Jet Airways stated that Sharma was offloaded due to health reasons, after he informed them that he had undergone angiography recently and wanted a front seat on the flight.
20/04/15 Punjab Star News

Govt gets Rs 5,814 cr revenue from AAI in 4 years

New Delhi: The government has received more than Rs 5,814 crore from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the last four financial years, Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.

The amount has come by way of dividend, dividend tax, guarantee fees, interest on government budgetary support loan, income tax and service tax, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati told the Lok Sabha.

"Government has earned Rs 1,186.56 crore, Rs 1,344.13 crore, Rs 1,438.12 crore and Rs 1,845.16 crore (provisional) as revenue for the years 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, respectively, from the AAI," he said in a written reply.
According to him, the domestic aviation sector has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years, resulting in increased revenue to the government.
20/04/15 PTI/Times of India

China's airport plan on Pamir plateau near PoK worries India

China is planning to build its first ever airport in Xinjiang, on the strategically important and high altitude Pamir plateau, close to its border with Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to Chinese civil aviation authorities, the airport is the first on a high plateau in the city of Tashkurgan. The city is the last important place on the Karakoram highway, before it enters PoK.
20/04/15 Ananth Krishnan/India Today

Proposal to build airport at Shamirpet not tenable

The repeated assertion of the Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao, to construct a second airport at Shamirpet on the city outskirts may not be tenable, given the clause in the Concession Agreement signed between Hyderabad International Airport Limited (HIAL) and the Government of India.

“In view of the Concession Agreement signed between HIAL and the Government of India, a Greenfield airport at Shamirpet may not be tenable. The Hakimpet airport near Shamirpet is under the control of Indian Air Force,” said Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju in a letter to the Chief Minister some time ago.
20/04/15 Ravi Reddy/The Hindu

AAI opposing cut in Delhi airport charges unfortunate: IATA

NEW DELHI: Terming as "unfortunate" and "disappointing" the AAI decision to oppose proposed reduction in charges at Delhi airport by 78 per cent, International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said the move would prove detrimental to both passengers and airlines.

On the contrary, lower airport fee would stimulate the traffic growth at the Delhi Airport as it would bring down airfares to an affordable limits, it said.

19/04/15 PTI/Economic Times

Odisha passengers stranded on bus as Air India flight fails to take off

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of passengers had to keep waiting at the IGI Airport and Biju Patnaik International Airport of Odisha capital as the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar-Port Blair flight AI-9601 of Air India failed to take off from IGI early Sunday morning.

The flight was scheduled to take off at 5:45 AM from IGI, reach Bhubaneswar and then depart for Port Blair. The passengers had collected their boarding passes and had reached near the flight by 5:20 AM. However, the flight was cancelled moments before it was scheduled to take off citing mechanical failures.

Angry passengers had to wait for hours inside the bus hoping for a delayed departure, but that was not to be. The same was the case in Bhubaneswar airport for passengers planning to go to Port Blair.
20/04/15 Odisha Sun Times

Air Travellers Association opposes Bhogapuram airport

Srikakulam: Air Travellers Association of India (AITA) strongly oppose the construction of the Greenfield airport at Bhogapuram saying that it would hardly benefit the backward Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.

AITA national president D. Varada Reddy, AITA Srikakulam wing president Natukula Mohan are of the opinion that the government is misusing the public property to benefit private operators under the guise of creating facilities for air travellers.
20/04/15 K. Srinivasa Rao/The Hindu

Gannavaram airport expansion work in rapid pace

Expansion works at the existing terminal building at the Gannavaram airport will be completed by the end of this month, according to officials.
The works were taken up by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in view of the growing passenger patronage at the airport post-bifurcation. The works are being carried out without affecting regular operations at the airport. Among the passenger amenities planned are cash deposit machines, ATMs, food court, pharmacy-cum-clinic, flower shops and police outpost, officials claimed. Conveyor belts at arrival and departure counters and a generator to ensure round-the-clock power supply will also be part of the renovated terminal.
“We are planning to complete the works, taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.29 crore, by the end of this month,” Airport Director M. Rajkishore said.
20/04/15 Just Telugu

Air cargo target fixed at 6,000 metric tonnes

Tiruchi: With overseas air cargo growth witnessing a continuous upswing at the Tiruchi international airport, an internal target of 6,000 metric tonnes has been set in the 2015-16 fiscal.

A higher target has been fixed going by the current volume of cargo handled and in anticipation of its rise in the present financial year.

Operating overseas flights to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, the Tiruchi airport clocked 4,973 metric tonnes in 2014-15 financial year, a marginal increase of 200 metric tonnes over the previous fiscal’s figure of 4,773 metric tonnes.

The steady growth since 2011-12 fiscal has been witnessed despite lack of dedicated overseas freighters and without change in commodity profile besides absence of direct connectivity to several Middle East and European destinations from Tiruchi.

Perishable commodities account for bulk of cargo dispatched from the Tiruchi airport, a fast growing one in the country.
20/04/15 The Hindu

Smoke causes panic in NSC Bose airport

Kolkata: A small fire broke out in the integrated cargo complex of the domestic terminal at the NSC Bose International airport on Sunday evening.
An airport official said the smoke, which was seen inside the complex at around 7.20 pm, triggered panic but fizzled out in another five minute's time.

A fire tender rushed to the terminal building at around 7.45 pm but did not have to intervene.
10/04/15 PTI/Zee News

14 Kg Gold Goes Missing from Customs Vault

Tiruchy: Around 14 kg of gold has mysteriously gone missing from the safe vaults at the Customs and Central Excise office here. The theft came to light during a routine audit of the vaults on Saturday night, and the officials lodged a complaint with the police.

The gold seized by the customs officials from smugglers and unclaimed gold from the airport are usually kept at the safe vaults in the office on Williams Road.

The customs officials were shocked when they opened the safe vaults on Saturday night to secure seven kg of gold bars recovered from the Tiruchy International Airport on Friday night.

After they found gold bars missing, the  officials conducted an audit through which they came to know that gold bars, weighing 14 kilograms, were missing from the vaults.
20/04/15 New Indian Express

Gold Worth Rs. 35 Lakhs Seized From Woman Passenger at Chennai Airport

Chennai: Gold worth approximately Rs. 35 lakh was seized from a woman passenger who arrived at Chennai airport from Singapore on Monday, airport officials said.

"Gold weighing 1.3 kilograms was found in the woman's luggage," a senior official told Press Trust of India.
20/04/15 NDTV

Sunday, April 19, 2015

IATA criticises AAI's demand for higher tariff at Delhi airport

Mumbai: The International Air Transport Association has criticised the Airports Authority of India for backing high user charges at the Delhi airport. The AAI holds a 26 per cent stake in Delhi International Airport Ltd and receives 46 per cent of the airport’s revenue.

The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority has proposed a 78 per cent reduction in landing, parking and other user charges in a consultation paper to determine tariffs for 2014-19. The consultation process is under way.

The Delhi airport levies Rs 275-550 as user development fee on passengers departing and Rs 233-466 on passengers arriving on domestic flights. Passengers on international flights are charged more.

In a recent submission to the aviation ministry the AAI said lower tariffs would reduce its revenue and affect development projects.
18/04/15 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard

Private operators irked at 300% hike in hangar charge at Juhu airport

Private charter operators at country's oldest civil aviation airport in Juhu are following in Bapu's footsteps of 'civil disobedience' to register their protest.
Agitating against the proposed 300% hike in hanger and other charges at the airport, the operators have collectively refused to pay the same, terming the hike "unjust" and "grave" for the private charter business. The order for increase comes months after the office space was hiked to 504%, from last October.
The operators have taken up their grievances with the civil aviation ministry and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), urging them to bring the hike to a reasonable amount.
Juhu airport authorities, on their part, claim that the decision was taken at their headquarters in Delhi and they are just implementing the same. "The operators have objected to the hike and are in talks with the higher-ups," said VK Punyal, Juhu airport director.
Juhu airport presently handles helicopters, including that of certain government companies, and some light aircraft.
19/04/15 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

Operation Raahat: Pilots dealt with dust storm, damaged machines

Blinding dust storms, damaged navigational aids and confusing instructions from the ATC were some of the challenges braved by Air India crew who took part in the recent mission to airlift thousands of people, including foreign nationals, out of strife-hit Yemen.
Recounting the edgy operation, an Air India pilot who was part of the efforts said that they managed to evacuate nearly 2,900 people with the help of three aircraft and eight pilots. ‘Operation Raahat’, as the mission to airlift civilians was called, had featured a 55-member AI team, he said.
Dust storms were a major threat during the mission as they reduced visibility to as low as 100-ft, said the pilot who was speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media about the operation.
The situation was further aggravated by the malfunctioning landing systems at Sana’a airport, leaving the pilots virtually blind and dependent only on the GPS for landing.
“The major challenge was visibility. Around the time we reached there for the rescue operations, the region experienced severe dust storms and it was not until we descended to a height of 100-ft that the runway was visible,” he said.
19/04/15 PTI/Indian Express

Emergency landing of a private jet at Bhopal airport

Bhopal: A private jet from United Kingdom took an emergency landing at Raja Bhoj airport in the evening after witnessing technical snag in the engine.

According to director of Bhopal airport, K Gunasekaran, a private jet carrying three crew members requested for emergency landing.

"Air traffic control accepted their request and allowed them to land," Gunasekaran told media. He said that the crew members are safe. "Jet will stay at the airport on Saturday night and they will take off on Sunday after resolving the problem.
18/04/15 Ramendra Singh/Times of India

Passengers of Air India flight to Andaman made to wait in bus for an hour, will now fly two days late

An Air India flight to Port Blair, via Bhubaneswar, was cancelled on Sunday morning leaving close to 60 passengers stranded inside the airport shuttle bus for at least an hour.
AI flight 9601 was scheduled to depart at 5.45 am from Delhi, but it was delayed due to “technical reasons”. The passengers flying to Bhubaneswar were accommodated on different flights. Those flying to Port Blair were left waiting in the airport shuttle bus for at least an hour.
“My parents along with at least 60 others have been waiting for at least an air on the runway. Air India officials were mum when asked about their flight status,” said Sahil Seth whose parents were on the flight.
The airline carrier did not issue an explanation behind the delay until 9.00 am. The flight is now rescheduled for tomorrow morning.
19/04/15  Leela Prasad/Indian Express

Travel pangs: Delhi-Dharamsala air fare more than trip to Singapore!

Dharamsala: With tourist season setting in, the air fare to Dharamsala has inexplicably shot up with a ticket costing as much as Rs 21,000 from Delhi. What flummoxes passengers is the fact that the fare is much higher than a flight to Singapore or Thailand that costs Rs 18,000 and Rs 15,000, respectively.
Akshai Runchal, a resident of McLeodganj, told The Tribune that he recently had to go to Delhi for a meeting but changed the route after enquiring about the fare. “I took a taxi to Jammu for Rs 3,000 from where I flew to Delhi for Rs 7,000. Jammu is farther from Delhi than Dharamsala but it takes much less than what a SpiceJet air ticket costs you from Dharamsala.”
Deepak Kumar, a tour and travel operator in McLeodganj, said: “Generally during the peak season, one-way ticket from Delhi to Dharamsala ranges up to Rs 15,000. But this year, even at the beginning of the season it has already touched Rs 21,000. It is among the most costly air tickets in the country during the peak season.”
18/04/15 Lalit Mohan/Tribune India

Dead Guntur Woman's Liver Flown to Hyd

Hyderabad: A 54-year-old brain dead woman’s liver from Guntur was airlifted and transplanted on a 43-year-old man in Hyderabad on Saturday.

Thanks to the efforts of Hyderabad police a green channel was created for transporting the liver from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Shamshabad to KIMS Hospital on the Minister’s Road.

Dhanamma, a resident of Mangalagiri in Guntur district, met with a road accident 10 days ago while riding pillion on a bike. She was working as an attender at a school and was returning home from when the accident occurred.

She was being treated at NRI Hospital at Mangalagiri and was declared brain dead by doctors on Saturday.
19/04/15 New Indian Express

40 kids board flight of fantasy

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Round Table 53 (BRT 53), a group of young men engaged in charitable activities, in collaboration with Serajuddin & Co & Indigo Airlines sponsored a flight a fantasy, a trip to Visakhapatnam today for 40 children of RAWA Academy. RAWA Academy is an orphanage based on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar at Mendhasala.
The 40 children, who have taken the flight to Visakhapatnam today will undertake a city tour there and fly back to Bhubaneswar tomorrow (April 19) morning.
These children, being flown by Indigo Airlines to Vizag, where Vizag Round Table 77 our local partner & a table like us, have planned a tour of the local amusement park, kids zone & a 3D movie show in a shopping mall, meal at Mc Donald’s with an overnight stay.
18/04/15 Odisha Channel

Emirates, waiting on Indian government, wants to fly A380 to Delhi

London: Emirates airline will fly the world’s largest passenger jet twice daily to New Delhi and Mumbai if approval is granted by the Indian government, President Tim Clark said in an interview in London on Friday.

Emirates currently flies the Airbus A380 daily to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, however, the airline is restricted by government approved seating capacity in adding additional A380 services.

“We’re still trying to persuade the Indian government of the merits of letting us have more seats into the 10 points and more that we would like to have,” Clark told Gulf News following the announcement of a $9.2 billion Rolls-Royce engine order for 50 A380s.

“Of course we would like to get an A380 into Delhi, of course we would like to get a second [A]380 into Mumbai and a second into Delhi because the market will take them but that’s for the Indian government to judge the merits,” he added.
18/04/15 Alexander Cornwell/Gulf News

Air ambulance ditches patient

Jorhat: The family of a critically ill patient from Sivasagar district in Upper Assam has decided to sue Luan Airways for refusing to carry him from Dibrugarh to Delhi on the ground that he did not possess a swine flu clearance certificate.

The family of the patient, Surendra Boruah, who is suffering from septicaemia, had deposited the required Rs 9 lakh with the airline.

After collecting the amount by mortgaging land and borrowing money, the family had given it to Guwahati-based Pushpak Travels, the booking agent for Luan Airways, to make the travel arrangements.

But after the air ambulance landed in Dibrugarh yesterday, the patient was not allowed to board it.

Surendra's eldest brother, Pradip, who is an employee of ONGC at Sivasagar, said on April 7 a doctor in Sivasagar had prescribed some medicines to his brother for a small lump in his neck.

"But as the medicines did not work, my brother went to Jorhat, where one of our brothers, Tarun, is an employee at the LIC divisional office," Pradip said.
19/04/15 Smita bhattacharyya/Telegraph

Passengers left in the lurch at KIA

Bengaluru: A number of passengers scheduled to fly to and from the City were stranded at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) due to the Karnataka bandh on Saturday.

Many who were scheduled to take evening flights, reached the airport as early as 5 am, fearing unavailability of cabs and to avoid any outward incidents. People even took shared cabs to the KIA and paid exorbitant fares.

Accounts executive Deepak Gajjar, his wife Jayashree and their two children were on a tour of popular South Indian cities. They landed in Mysuru two days ago, which was supposed to be the last leg of their 10-day trip. They were scheduled to fly to Mumbai from the City at 6 pm on Saturday. “We made plans to see Bengaluru on Saturday but all that had to be changed due to the bandh. We started from Mysuru around 3 am and came straight to the airport at 7 am before the bandh started,” said Jayashree.
18/04/15 Deccan Herald

Malaysia Airlines cuts Kochi flights

Malaysia Airlines will cancel its Kuala Lumpur-Kochi route as part of a major cost-cutting programme.
In the latest stage of the airline’s 12-point Recovery Plan, which was outlined last year and also includes thousands of job losses, MAS has confirmed that it will suspend its flights to the Kerala city on 1 June 2015. Flights to Frankfurt, Kunming and Krabi will also be cancelled.

MAS said the route cuts form part of its “strategy to be more regionally-focused, with a strong global connectivity through its oneworld alliance and partners”.

“The group is currently going through its most comprehensive restructuring,” said outgoing CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya. “Our challenge is to ensure MAS operates and utilises its fleet at an optimum level, as well as to be able to maximise revenue on every route it flies.
19/04/15 Mark Elliott/TravelDaily India

Czech arrested at Mumbai airport

New Delhi/Prague: A Czech citizen was recently arrested at the airport of Mumbai, India, and taken into custody after the police found a cartridge on him, Czech server iDnes.cz wrote today, adding that the man is to face a trial soon.
 Czech diplomats are reportedly trying to help him. They say he is neither a smuggler nor an ammunition dealer.
The Czech was detained at the Mumbai international airport on Sunday, April 12, after a metal detector reacted to him while passing through. A pistol cartridge was found in his pocket.
“We can confirm that a Czech citizen has been arrested in Mumbai and accusations have been leveled against him. We can hardly anticipate how this may end. The Czech embassy and an honorary consulate are monitoring the affair,” the Czech Foreign Ministry spokesman Toma Kara told iDnes.cz.
He said Czech authorities have been in contact with the man in an effort to help him.
18/04/15 Prague Post

Confiscated 23.5 kg gold returned on paying fine

Kochi: It has come to light that gold sold at certain big jewellery shops in Kochi are the ones once confiscated by Customs Officials at airports. The jewellers bought gold ornaments after selling gold blocks.

In a raid conducted on Saturday, police seized 23.5 kg gold from a jeweller and they could get information on  smuggling business going on in the City. The gold was later returned after the fine and tax for the gold were remitted.
18/04/15 Kaumudi Online

7 Kg Gold Seized; 2 Tiruchy Airport Staff Under Lens

Tiruchy: Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) sleuths at the Tiruchy International Airport seized a rich haul of seven kgs of gold bars, worth Rs 1.80 crore in the open market, from an air passenger, who arrived on a Tiger Airways flight from Singapore, late on Friday.

An Airport Medical Officer and his assistant, suspected to be in cahoots with the smuggler, were also brought under the lens.

This is one of the largest  gold hauls in the airport in the recent past. Since the airport operates many flights to various countries like Singapore, Malaysia and UAE, gold smuggling is often reported.

On Friday, a Tiger Airways flight reached Tiruchy at around 10.50 pm. As usual, the airport officials were scanning the belongings of passengers when the Air Intelligence Unit officials grew suspicious of a passenger, who was loitering around the transit area and had abandoned a duffle bag at a secluded place near the immigration area.

 Noticing this, the officials rushed and caught him red-handed and took hold of the bag.
19/04/15 New Indian Express

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Maharashtra government meets Air India, Airports Authority of India to fast-track regional air connectivity

Mumbai: Continuing its efforts to fast-track air connectivity within Maharashtra, the state government recently held a meeting with representatives of national carrier Air India (AI) and Airports Authority of India (AAI). A similar meeting was held last month with private airline operators.

Civil aviation sources said the meeting was chaired by chief secretary Swadheen Kshatriya. The state had a couple of years back formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to oversee the spread of aviation development in Maharashtra.

"AI said it is has no issue starting flights for centres which are commercially viable. However, the airline insisted that if the revenue falls below a certain limit, then government will have to chip in with some subsidies," said the source having direct knowledge of the development.
18/04/15 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

Intra-State Aviation Plan: Norms Vanish into Thin Air

Bhubaneswar: Air passengers’ interest apparently does not mean much to the Odisha Government which has thrown all safety norms to the wind while seeking to introduce intra-State air connectivity soon.

Gaping loopholes mar the tender floated by the General Administration (GA) Department to invite operators for offering flights between different cities like Bhubaneswar, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Jeypore as safety issues have been given a complete go-by.

The tender, which was uploaded on Centre for Modernising Government Initiative (CMGI) website on April 5, does not make any mention of technical parameters that a prospective operator must have to fly small aircraft on a commercial basis to three sectors of the State.

Although the column on bidders’ eligibility mentions technical and financial capability, it completely forgets to outline the technical bidding parameters. All that the tender document seeks from the bidder is if it is in possession of non- scheduled operators permit (NSOP) or NOC from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, under the Ministry, uploads the NSOP or NOC granted to various operators as well as the status of applications on a quarterly basis.
18/04/15 New Indian Express

Airport holds mock drill after Khajuraho plane snag incident

The primary runway of the city airport was shut for over four hours on Friday afternoon due to a mock drill session. A few flights are said to have been affected by the exercise, though airport officials denied any major delays.

The drill comes in the backdrop of evacuation of 59 passengers earlier this week after a Jet Airways plane was stuck at the runway of Khajuraho airport because of problem in the landing gear.

According to airport officials, the mock drill exercise started at 11.02am and lasted till 2.09pm. A Jet Airways aircraft was used for it; representatives from other airlines acted as observers. Several agencies, including the local police, CISF, DGCA, immigration, customs, fire department and hospitals, were also involved in the session.
As per the plan, the aircraft's pilot called up the ATC asking for permission to land as he suspected hydraulic failure in the engine. However, during landing, communication between them disconnected and the plane skid off the runway. Soon, an Emergency Response Cell (ERC) swung into action, sending an SMS alert to all authorities concerned regarding the incident. At stake were the 75 on board. The rescue mission started and ended only after evacuation of all passengers and crew members on board.
18/04/15 Daily News & Analysis

SpiceJet to add two Muscat-Ahmedabad flights

Muscat: Muscat: SpiceJet, the second largest low fare airline in India, will fly two additional weekly flights on the Muscat–Ahmedabad sector, taking the total frequency to five flights a week.

The additional flights are effective from May 13. The additional flights are now open for booking at a promotional offer fare of  OMR39 all-inclusive for the Muscat-Ahmedabad flight.

The two additional flights will depart from Ahmedabad every Wednesday and Sunday at 11 p.m. and depart from Muscat every Thursday and Monday at 1.10 a.m. Through Ahmedabad, passengers can connect to and from the Muscat flights from Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai, among other Indian cities.
17/04/15 Times of Oman

Critically ill patients forced to wait for hours at airport as govt agencies battle out over petty issues

New Delhi: Red tapism and lackadaisical attitude of various agencies are hampering emergency medical evacuation of passengers at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). Several passengers allege lack of coordination among the Customs department, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), immigration officials and airlines, which ignore inconvenience meted out to flyers who seek immediate medical attention.

Ill passengers many a time had to wait for hours in the airport owing to the "ego issues" of these agencies. Recently, a passenger - Vijay Sallan - had to wait at the airport for hours due to procedural delays even though he was suffering from chronic migraine. Though he was given initial medical treatment, the airline staff said he was not fit to travel. Following this, wheelchair-bound Sallan went to the medical room of Terminal 3 and requested airlines executives to allow him to leave, according to sources.
18/04/15 Ankur Sharma/India Today

Indigo launches Dimapur - Kolkata flight

Kolkata: IndiGo has launched its maiden flight from Dimapur to Kolkata recently. The same aircraft will operate to Delhi and connect Dimapur and Delhi (via Kolkata). With the launch of this sector, IndiGo announced Dimapur as its 33rd domestic and 38th overall destination. Chief Minister of Nagaland T. R. Zeliang was present at the commencement of the flight, along with  Member Legislative Assembly, Imtiwapang and IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh. The inaugural flight from Dimapur took off with 116 passengers on board.
17/04/15 TravelTrendsToday

Aranmula: Petition filed against KGS

Kochi: Former land owner K J Abraham Kalamannin has filed a petition in the Kerala High Court alleging that in the purchase of the land for the Aranmula airport project, K G S Group embezzled Rs 30 crore.

According to the agreement, KGS group bought 232 acre land from Kozhancherry Charitable Education Society, where K J Abraham was the chairman,  for Rs 52 crore. Out of this, the group is yet to give 30 crore.
17/04/15 Kaumudi Online

Air Canada to resume Toronto to New Delhi flight after 10 years

Bengaluru: Ten years after scrapping flights operating between Toronto and New Delhi, Air Canada plans to resume the service starting from this winter, the chief of the airlines company told the visiting Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.The President and CEO of Air Canada, Calin Rovinescu, met Modi during his formal meeting with business leaders of Canada. Rovinescu informed Modi about the plan to restart the air service to New Delhi. Air Canada is one among the 27-member Star Alliance, an airline grouping that includes Air India.Air Canada was forced to stop its services to New Delhi in 2005 after the company incurred loss due to poor performance on the route.Rovinescu, on the side-lines of Modi’s announcement of visa-on-arrival facility for Canadian nationals, said “this will be very helpful”, both for travelers and the airlines, to expand their business in India, which is one of the growing aviation markets in the world.
17/04/15 Dileep Thekkethil/American Bazar 

Churchill to lead anti-Mopa agitation

Margao: Former PWD minister Churchill Alemao intends to lead the anti-Mopa agitation and turn it into a rallying point for the masses of South Goa.

This became clear when he announced that a public meeting, primarily over the Mopa issue, and including several other issues, would be held at Lohia Maidan, Margao, on May 1.

The meeting would be held under the banner of Goa Public Forum of which Alemao is the convener.

Protesting the environmental clearance for Mopa airport; protesting a censor board for tiatr; demanding official status for Roman script in Konkani language; unconditional confirmation of grants for English medium primary schools; protesting the hike in water charges, are among issues listed in the agenda of the meeting.
18/04/15 Times of India

Hope take-off: Jet may resume Ahd flight

Bhopal: After a lull, there is good news for air travellers from Bhopal. Jet Airways is likely to resume its flight connecting state capital with Ahmedabad in next couple of weeks. The bad news is no new airline is willing to start operation from Bhopal at least this year.

State's initiative to rope in new airlines to make Bhopal a central hub by reducing VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) failed to attract airlines. Last year, after scrapping up flight connectivity to Chennai and Hyderabad the last casualty was the Ahmedabad-Raipur flight services. Consequently, Bhopal airport was left with connectivity to only Mumbai and Delhi with nine daily flights. At present, only Air India and Jet Airways are operating from Bhopal airport.
18/04/15 Ramendra Singh/Times of India

Haj committee holds talks with CIAL team


Kochi: The State Haj Committee members on Friday held discussions with the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) officials about the measures to be taken in the wake of the decision to shift the Haj flight services and camp to the Cochin airport.

The committee members inspected the land owned by the CIAL adjacent to the airport. The airport company promised all cooperation in setting up the camp and associated facilities at a suitable site.
18/04/15 The Hindu

Parking fees raised at Biju Patnaik International Airport

Bhubaneswar: Parking fees at Biju Patnaik International Airport have gone up. The parking duration against the token has also been reduced. As per the revised fee structure, cars will now have to pay Rs 55 for two hours against the earlier fee of Rs 40 for four hours. Two-wheelers would now pay Rs 15 against Rs 10 earlier, tempos, mini-buses and SUVs would pay Rs 60 against Rs 45 earlier and heavy vehicles like buses and trucks would cough up Rs 70 against Rs 50 earlier.
17/04/15 Odisha Diary

Three kg gold bars worth Rs 1.5 crore seized

Chennai: Gold bars, weighing three kgs, which were hidden beneath a seat of an Air India flight from Dubai, were seized today, airport officials said.

The gold bars, worth about Rs 1.5 crore, were found hidden under the seat of the flight, they said.
17/04/15 PTI/Business Standard

Over 6 kg gold biscuits seized at Kozhikode airport

Kochi:  In two separate instances of gold smuggling, customs authorities seized 6.4 kg of gold at the Kozhikode international airport on Thursday from passengers arriving from the Gulf.

Both the passengers, arriving from Abu Dhabi and Muscat, hail from north Kerala. They had concealed the smuggled gold in the form of biscuits inside the battery chambers of emergency lamps.
17/04/15 Business Line

Gold worth Rs 1.55 cr seized from passenger

Tiruchirappalli: Customs officials have seized seven kgs of gold from a passenger who arrived here from Singapore, airport sources said on Saturday.  The passenger, identified as M Nawazkhan, was arrested last night after gold worth about Rs 1.55 crore was found in his possession, they said.
18/04/15 Times of India

Friday, April 17, 2015

SpiceJet Requests Deferment on Payment of Dues: Report

Budget-carrier SpiceJet has sought a deferment of three years on the payment of dues of Rs 211 crore to AAI though sources said that the airport operator is disinclined to entertain the request after the airline received a recent infusion of funds.

The airline has also requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to waive the interest against these dues on account of payment of charges towards landing, parking and other support services availed by the carrier.

The dues in question run for a period of 18 months.
16/04/2015/Press Trust of India/profit.ndtv

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Miraculous escape for 70 Jet Airways flyers at Khajuraho airport

Bhopal/New Delhi: Around 70 people on board a Jet Airways' flight had a narrow escape when the aircraft's main landing gear broke after landing at Khajuraho on Monday.

The Boeing 737 (VT-JGA) got stuck on the runway and 59 passengers and eight crew members of this Delhi-Varanasi-Khajuraho flight were evacuated from the aircraft using safety chutes.

A Jet statement said all passengers of 9W-2423 "disembarked safely", something which Khajuraho airport director Kamal Sharma confirmed.

The Khajuraho airport became non-operational since the Boeing 737 remained stuck on the runway.

"It will take at least two days to resume flight movement at the airport. The plane is at the runway. It will have to be removed," Sharma told TOI.

An Italian tourist aboard the flight, Christina, told media that "she had a premonition that something might go wrong and when the plane landed, she felt as if it had crashed."

Cancellation of flights by Jet Airways left passengers rattled. Navneet Raman, a traveller from Varanasi, who had a flight on April 15 from Khajuraho said, "We are left with no option. We received a text from Jet Airways that our flight has been cancelled and we should get our tickets refunded. No arrangements were made for us".
14/04/2015 Times Of India

Snag hits Jet Airways flight at take off

Raipur:  The pilot of a Raipur-Mumbai bound Jet Airways (9W-378) flight was forced to abandon take off after he noticed a technical snag while on the runway.

The flight, with 137 passengers and crew on board, returned to the bay, minutes after it had lined up on the runway for take-off. Officials refused to give details of the "technical" snag. The aircraft was cleared for take-off around 11am.
14/04/15 Anuja Jaiswal/Times of India

British Airways flight to and from Mumbai diverted

Mumbai: The British Airways (BA) flights from and to Mumbai were diverted to Munich and Istanbul respectively following technical snags on Monday.

In the afternoon, Mumbai bound flight BA 139, carrying over 200 passengers, was diverted to Munich in Germany as a precautionary measure, following an electrical issue in the galley. Airline officials said the crew noticed smoke in the galley and suspecting fire the pilot decided to divert the Boeing 777-336ER.

Sources in the airline said the affected galley equipment was attended to and the aircraft took off normally after two and half hours on the ground.
14/04/15 Mumbai Mirror

Air Pegasus offers B'luru flight at 1,234

Thiruvananthapuram: Throwing open new commuting options for the regional passengers, a new airline service, Air Pegasus, began its operations in Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru sector on Monday. The first flight in the route left Bengaluru at 6.40pm and touched down at the Thiruvananthapuram airport at 8.10pm. The return flight took off at 8.40pm and reached Bengaluru at 10.10pm.

Air Pegasus would soon be expanding their operations to small city airports such as Belgavi, Rajahmundry, Puducherry and Madurai besides metros like Chennai and Kochi.

Air Pegasus MD Shyson Thomas told a news conference on Monday that offering more travel options would boost the economic development of the state.
14/04/15 Times of India

AI flight to Resume From Pondy Today

Puducherry:  Air India is all set to resume operation of direct flights between Puducherry and Bengaluru from Tuesday. Barring Wednesday, they would operate on all days of the week.

According to sources, the ‘inaugural’ fare has been fixed at `1,241 as a promotional offer, but it is likely to go up after a few days.

The Alliance Air flight, a subsidiary of Air India, will leave Bengaluru at 3.35 pm and reach here at 4.35 pm. The flight from Puducherry will leave at 4.55 pm and reach its destination at 5.55 pm, Rajavelu said.

According to a release, the Air India will deploy an ATR aircraft, which could ferry 48 passengers, on the new route.
14/04/15 New Indian Express

Fares soar as flights drop for Dabolim runway work

Vasco/Panaji: With work on the second phase of re-carpeting of the runway at the Goa international airport set to start from April 15, the number of daily flights has decreased. With daily flights reduced to just 39 arrivals and departures from the present 52 flights airlines have hiked air fares by an average of 50%.

The cheapest flight on April 14 from Delhi to Goa costs 5,848 per person, which is nearly 4,000 less than the 9,000 one will have to shell out for a one-way flight on April 17.

The most expensive flight from Delhi to Goa on April 18 costs a whopping 42,000 per person. A flight from Mumbai will set you back by a minimum of 3,000 to a maximum 20,000.

Last-minute flights are usually much more expensive than flights booked well in advance. April-May forms the peak season for domestic tourists to visit Goa due to the ongoing school holidays. And because of this demand for flights is higher, explain sources.
14/04/15 Times of India

AAI could lose Rs 900 cr this fiscal if charges are lowered at Delhi airport

New Delhi: Has the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports helped improve airport infrastructure in the country or has it encouraged private operators to skim profits while raising costs for flyers ? There have been voices supporting these opposing points of view, depending on who is making the argument. But now, the Government finds itself in a pickle.
The airport regulator AERA wants to reduce aeronautical charges (levies airlines pay for landing, parking etc) at Delhi airport by a steep 78%. If the Government allows AERA to do this, it is working against itself since it remains a stakeholder in the airport project. But If the Government allows the regulator to maintain aeronautical charges, there could be allegations of hurting airlines' bottomlines.
State run Airports Authority of India (AAI) holds 26% equity in Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) while it earns 46% revenue share from the airport. GMR, Fraport and Malaysia Airport Holdings are the other three stake holders with 54%, 10% and 10% stake respectively. AERA's push for reduced aeronautical charges at Delhi will be a boon for airlines but will shave off Rs 900 crore straightaway from AAI's topline. Revenues earned from Delhi airport account for almost a third of the total revenues AAI earns from all airports across the country, so a steep reduction in charges airlines will pay at Delhi has a huge impact on AAI's topline. Any such reduction will also obviously impact its bottomline.
14/04/15 Sindhu Bhattacharya/FirstPost

AAI could lose Rs 900 cr this fiscal if charges are lowered at Delhi airport

New Delhi: Has the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports helped improve airport infrastructure in the country or has it encouraged private operators to skim profits while raising costs for flyers ?
There have been voices supporting these opposing points of view, depending on who is making the argument. But now, the Government finds itself in a pickle.
The airport regulator AERA wants to reduce aeronautical charges (levies airlines pay for landing, parking etc) at Delhi airport by a steep 78%. If the Government allows AERA to do this, it is working against itself since it remains a stakeholder in the airport project. But If the Government allows the regulator to maintain aeronautical   charges, there could be allegations of hurting airlines' bottomlines.
14/04/15 Sindhu Bhattacharya/First Post

Lohegaon airport is 10th busiest in country, international traffic upc

Pune: International passenger traffic at the Lohegaon airport here grew by more than 22% in the last fiscal from April 2014 to February 2015. The airport stood fifth in the country in terms of percentage growth of international passengers during the period.

Recent data by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also showed that the Pune airport was the tenth busiest in the country in 2014. Overall passenger traffic here for the entire year (April 2014 to March 2015) grew by more than 17% — up to 4.2 million flyers.

The Pune airport logged 33.11 lakh passengers in the April-February 2013-14 period while, in the same period last fiscal (2014-15), it grew to 38.21 lakh or 3.8 million passengers. Of these, 1.12 lakh were international flyers and 37.09 lakh domestic.
14/04/15 Neha Madaan/Times of India