Rajasthan cheers move to build 4 new airports

Jaipur: Already a tourist hotspot, Rajasthan has got more reasons to cheer after the Central government gave nod to four low-budget airports, which will come up at Ajmer, Kota, Alwar and Bhilwara.
The decision will give further impetus to the travel and tourism sector in the state while also encouraging growth of emerging business hubs in these cities.
The Union government on Friday decided to set up 51 new low-cost airports with an aim to give a boost to the civil aviation sector and increase air connectivity to various destinations.
The state-owned airport operators along with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will construct these airports in 51 cities in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
30/06/13 Times of India

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Dreams of better air connectivity take wings

Ludhiana: With Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directing Airports Authority of India (AAI) to award 50 low-cost airports in 11 states, including in Punjab's Ludhiana, residents' dream of better air connectivity with other parts of country and world have got a boost.
Giving details, Manish Tiwari, Union information and broadcasting minister, who is also a MP from Ludhiana, says, "We have been working with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for quite some time on the project. Under the project, the Sahnewal airport will be upgraded. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is already working on it."
30/06/13 Times of India

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Flyers spend 2 hours inside AI plane

Mumbai: The passengers of Air India AI 330 to Bangkok were left seething when their 2am flight was delayed on Saturday and no reasonable explanation was offered. An alternative plane was later provided and it took off three hours later.
"Minutes after we boarded, we were told that the plane had developed a snag and the flight would be delayed," said a passenger requesting anonymity. "We were assured that the snag would be rectified in 15 minutes," he added. However, the passengers ended up spending two hours inside the aircraft.
They were then informed that another aircraft had been arranged and they would be shifted to it.
30/06/13 Times of India

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CIAL goes green with solar plant

Kochi: Minister for Fisheries, Ports, Airports and Excise K Babu on Saturday inaugurated a 100 KW Solar Power Plant at the airport as part of CIAL’s initiative to promote utilisation of non-conventional and renewable energy.
The minister said that the airport has one of the largest electricity bills in the state, paying almost Rs12 crore each year. By commissioning of the solar power system, he said, a portion of it can be saved. CIAL has set a model for all who are consuming large quantities of power, he said, The state is incurring a huge amount by way of purchasing electricity from outside, and the large consumers in the state have a moral responsibility of finding non-conventional energy such as solar power as initiated by CIAL, the minister pointed out. The total project cost has been estimated at nearly `98 lakh, but with the subsidy of 30 percent by MNRE, the cost incurred by CIAL has been pegged at `65 lakh.
The minister also said that CIAL Infrastructures Ltd, a subsidiary of the CIAL, has presented its project report before the board chairman, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, for diversifying into construction of dams, roads and bridges.
30/06/13 Joseph Mampilli/New Indian Express

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Cochin International Airport Limited to disburse Rs 1.4cr more shares

Kochi: The director board of the Cochin International Airport Limited (Cial) on Saturday decided to disburse 1.4 crore shares to the existing shareholders on a 1:1 basis.
The board has also decided to put a cap of 2,000 shares to be distributed to each shareholder, said a Cial source. Cial currently has 9.4 crore of unsubscribed shares and the 1.4 crore to be disbursed will form part of this.
Cial was likely to go public with the remaining 8 crore shares later, the sources said.
The airport has achieved a turnover of Rs 307 crore in 2012-13 compared to Rs 275 crore in the previous year. The company made a profit of Rs 112 crore last year marking a marginal rise from Rs 102 crore achieved in 2011-12.
The director board has recommended a dividend of 17% subject to the approval of the annual general meeting to be held on September 7.
30/06/13 T Ramavarman/Times of India

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Aussies to fly direct to Delhi

Australians will be able to fly direct to India's second largest city as part of a new route that's also aimed at boosting local tourism.
The new route will see Air India fly a daily triangulated service from New Delhi to Australia via Sydney and Melbourne alternately.
Services are expected to start on August 29.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says India is an important market for NSW.
Since 2008, visitor numbers from India to NSW have increased by over a third.
"Visitors from India are choosing Sydney and NSW as their holiday destination for many reasons," the premier said.
30/06/13 AAP/The Australian

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Drug smugglers fly off from Chennai as intel has fewer hands

Chennai: A severe staff crunch in many of the country's intelligence agencies has led to several narcotics smugglers slipping out of the country easily. Helpless to nab the offenders despite tip-offs, officials end up passing the information to the foreign airport concerned where they are often arrested.
Agencies like Customs and the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) operate with just 50% of the sanctioned staff strength that was fixed in 1998.
The DRI's Chennai region, which should have 20 officers at the ground level collecting intelligence information and initiating raids, has just half that number. Chennai airport customs has one additional commissioner against the required six and one assistant commissioner against the 16 needed. The entire operation is done with just 14 appraisers. The sanctioned strength is 44.
30/06/13 Arun Janardhanan/Times of India

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Aircraft tyres burst after landing at IGIA, all passengers safe

New Delhi: Emergency services were put in place at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday evening, after a pilot flying a SriLankan Airlines flight informed the air traffic controller (ATC) that the flight could not land due to a suspected a rear tyre burst.
With 170 passengers on board, all of whom escaped unhurt, the flight finally landed an hour behind schedule. Passengers were made to deboard on the taxiway itself.
A team of engineers was examining the aircraft, which was to be towed to the parking bay. An inquiry into the incident has been ordered.
Airport sources said the flight UL 195 from Colombo to New Delhi was scheduled to land at 5.50 pm. Sources said the pilot informed the ATC, minutes before landing, that he suspected that the tyre had burst and that it wasn't possible to land the aircraft.
30/06/13 Indian Express

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Decks cleared for cargo complex at Vishakhapatnam airport

Vishakhapatnam: The ground has been cleared for conversion of the old terminal building at the Visakhapatnam Airport into a cargo complex. The Rs. 68-lakh project has been awarded to a local contractor and the work is expected to begin in a few days and completed in six months.
Some of the walls will be demolished to house the Customs wing, offices of the cargo section, booking and delivery rooms and a temperature control room among other things.
The stairway inside the old building connecting the ground floor to the first floor will be dismantled and a new staircase will be constructed on the west side of the building.
The objective is to ensure that there is no link between the cargo offices and the offices of the Airport Director and general administration, located on the first floor. A single window will be provided for the convenience of exporters and importers. “The cargo complex project is expected to be completed by December this year.
29/06/13 B. Madhu Gopal/The Hindu

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Small, loyal following for Airport Express

New Delhi: In a city that loves cars, especially luxury cars, the airport Metro line is like the ideal other side. It's the plush, fast and comfortable face of public transport that most would aspire to use. But that hasn't managed to make this 22.7-km Metro line financially viable for a private company to run. On Saturday, too, most platforms en route were deserted.
The few passengers, who did take the ride, however, swore by it. Regular commuters on the line were extremely anxious in the wake of Reliance Infra pulling out of the project. The news of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation taking over the line has come as a relief to them.
From the crowded New Delhi Metro station, the clean vacant passage leading up to the airport line is quite a pleasant surprise. Once you go through the security check which is similar to one at the airport, there are kiosks where you can check in and also check the flight status. There is a duty-free shop selling Indian goodies, books and refreshments. You could opt for a porter at Rs 50 or just get a trolley for your luggage.
30/06/13 Jayashree Nandi/Times of India

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Narayana Murthy pitches for small airport near Bangalore’s Electronic City

Infosys Ltd Executive Chairman N R Narayana Murthy has pitched for a small airport near Electronics City, the biggest hub of Bangalore’s IT industry that houses the main Infosys campus, as he called for improving the infrastructure facilities in Karnataka, “We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We are asking for reasonably good roads, electricity, water, clean air and some English schools. We need reasonable connectivity to the airport. Ideally, we would like a small airport near Electronics City,” Murthy said at a Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce event last night.
While putting forward industries wish list to the state government he also said the software sector has made big contribution towards the economy of the state.
“Ours is an industry that contributes about 25 per cent of the state’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product),has created half a million jobs with an average monthly salary of Rs 50,000 and 1.5 million jobs in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy. It earns net foreign exchange of Rs 55,000 crore a year and has a capital output ratio of 1:5,” he said.
29/06/13 PTI/First Post

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51 new low-cost airports to be set up: PMO

New Delhi: The government on Friday decided to set up 51 new low-cost airports with an aim to give boost to civil aviation sector and increase air connectivity to Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
The state-owned airport operator, Airports Authority of India (AAI), would set up the low-cost airports in 51 cities in Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
The low-cost airports would come up at Vijayawada, Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa, Nizamabad, Tirupati, Anantapur and Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, at Muzaffarpur, Chapra and Sasaram in Bihar, at Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Firozpur in Punjab, at Agra, Allahabad, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar and Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Tezu, Bomdila and Along in Arunachal Pradesh, at Silchar, Jorhat and Tezpur in Assam, at Gwalior, Singrauli, Burhanpur, Khandwa, Jabalpur, Sidhi and Shahdol in Madhya Pradesh, Brahmpur, Rourkela and Kendujhar in Odisha, at Ajmer, Kota, Bhilwada and Alwar in Rajasthan and at Kolhapur, Nasik, Jalgaon, Solapur and Amarawati in Maharashtra are also expected to have low-cost airports.
28/06/13 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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PM green-signals Navi Mumbai airport

New Delhi: Mumbai's infrastructure received a major boost on Friday with the Prime Minister asking the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to award two greenfield airports-one in Navi Mumbai and the other in Juhu. The decision came a day after the Union Cabinet cleared the Rs 23,000 crore first underground Metro line for the city that will improve connectivity between Colaba and SEEPZ in Andheri via Bandra.The PMO also asked key infrastructure ministries to roll out at least Rs 1.15 lakh crore PPP projects in the next six months . Prominent among them is the proposed elevated rail corridor from Churchgate to Virar.
29/06/13 Times of India

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PM nod for greenfield airport in Tamil Nadu

New Delhi: Southern states are likely to see enhanced airport infrastructure with Kannur, Sriperumbudur and Bellary set to get greenfield airports.
In a bid to boost the airport infrastructure in the country, the Airports Authority of India would set up 50 new low-cost small airports, two new international airports and eight greenfield airports in the country.
The target was set during a meeting held by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday to finalise infrastructure objectives for the Financial Year 2013-14.
29/06/13 New Indian Express

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AAI wary of opposition at Sriperumbudur

Chennai: With the proposed greenfield airport at Sriperumbudur finding a place in the PM’s list of  infra targets for 2013-14, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman V P Agrawal said that if the State obliges, this airport “could be completed even before the one in Navi Mumbai”.
Agrawal explained that the ground was flat and ideal for constructing an airport, unlike in Navi Mumbai which will require more levelling work.
The PM’s report also outlined the fact that just like the existing Chennai airport in Meenambakkam, even this one will be modelled along the Public-Private-Participation (PPP) model. “This is ideal for us, but we are also constrained by the fact that there will be opposition,” he said.
On the the ongoing privatisation of the existing airport, he said, “we have had a lot of concerns after we privatised Delhi and the CAG has pointed out a whole list of problems that we have to fix. So we are going slow and steady with this airport.”
He confirmed that the tender process for taking charge of the existing terminal was far from starting.
29/06/13 Daniel Thimmayya/New Indian Express

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Centre gives approval for chakan airport, among others

Pune: The proposals on the Chakan airport and five other lowcost airports in Kolhapur, Nashik, Jalgaon, Solapur and Amravati were cleared by the Central government on Friday. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the decision was taken at a meeting held by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to finalise infrastructure project targets for 2013-14.
 The Airports Authority of India will develop 50 new low-cost airports across 11 states.Apart from 50 new low cost small airports, the government has decided to go ahead with eight greenfield airports which will be developed under public private partnership (PPP) mode. The eight new greenfield airports will come up at Navi Mumbai, Juhu (Mumbai), Goa, Kannur, Chakan (Pune), Sriperumbudur, Bellary and Raigarh.
 The Bombay High Court on Friday directed Maharashtra government to fill up vacant posts in the state and district consumer forums, as well as consumer protection council within four weeks. Adivision bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and S CGupte was hearing a public interest litigation filed by the NGO Mumbai Grahak Panchayat working towards rights of consumers.
29/06/13 Pune Mirror 

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Govt prop for pvt airlines to link up small cities

Bangalore: The State government will extend all support to private airlines to operate flights to small cities like Mysore and Gulbarga, Tourism Minister R V Deshpande said on Friday.
He told reporters here that the government was talking to low-cost airlines in this regard.
According to Deshpande, the government is interested in ensuring air connectivity to Mysore, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Bellary in order to boost tourism.
Normally, tourists visit only up to Goa in the South. Visitors to Karnataka think Hampi is the only tourist destination in the State. If proper facilities, especially connectivity, were provided, tourists would certainly like to explore more places. Karnataka has immense tourism potential, Deshpande stressed.
Airlines want the government to ensure that specific number of seats are booked on every flight from small cities as they feel operating flights to smaller destinations was economically unviable.
28/06/13 Deccan Herald

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Close shave for passengers of Sri Lankan Airline flight

New Delhi: Passengers onboard a Sri Lankan Airline plane had a miraculous escape today when two tyres of the aircraft burst after landing at the IGI airport here.
The incident took place at around 6.55 PM when Sri Lankan Airline flight (UL 195), with over 70 passengers and crew onboard from Colombo, landed after second attempt, airport sources said.
The pilots had aborted their first attempt of landing due to turbulence caused by the crosswinds at the airport and the air traffic control tower asked them to take a go-around for the second attempt, they said.
As soon as the flight landed and was on taxiway, the pilots messaged the ATC tower about some technical problem saying the brakes of the aircraft had failed.
29/06/13 PTI/Business Standard

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Stalin’s escort loses AK47 magazine with 30 bullets at Madurai airport

Madurai: For the second time this month, the Madurai airport virtually turned into a carnival ground as more than 3,000 people swarmed the venue with a band of musicians to receive Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M.K. Stalin on Friday evening. Caught in the multitude, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier, part of the escort team, lost a magazine loaded with 30 bullets from his AK47 rifle.
Mr. Stalin arrived here from Chennai at 6.10 p.m. for attending party functions scheduled until Sunday. He was given a reception at the arrival gate of the new terminal building with different troupes dancing to the beats of Chenda Melam and local folk drums.
His security guards comprising five CRPF soldiers and local policemen had a tough time controlling the crowd. When Mr. Stalin was about to board the van, John Kennedy, one of the five soldiers, reported that a fully loaded magazine from his AK47 rifle was missing. Taken aback, his other colleagues joined him in a frantic search.
It took nearly an hour for the crowd to disperse and it was only after that the five CRPF personnel, who stayed back in the airport after requesting the local police to take care of Mr. Stalin’s security, were able to conduct a thorough search. But it was too late by then as the magazine remained untraceable with the local policemen suspecting that it could have been taken away by someone in the crowd.
29/06/13 Mohamed Imranullah. S/The Hindu

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Direct flight from Raipur to Srinagar via Delhi soon

Raipur:  Indigo will start operating a direct flight between Raipur to Srinagar via Delhi by mid July. The new flight is likely to cost lesser than the existing flights and give more options to the residents looking at flying to the capital.
According to Indigo officials, the daily flight would originate from Hyderabad and be Srinagar bound via Raipur and Delhi. While the flight would provide a direct connection to the scenic valley region from here, a daily connection would be added to New Delhi as well. Kirti Vyas, chairman of Chhattisgarh and MP Travel Agents Association, said that with the direct connection to Srinagar, travellers will have to pay much lesser than the existing fares on connecting flight. The cost of a ticket to Srinagar from Raipur would be between Rs 7,500 and Rs 8,000, which is Rs 2,000 less than the existing fares.
29/06/13 Times of India

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Shops razed to check bird-hits

Bhubaneswar:  Stepping up the drive to check bird menace near Biju Patnaik airport, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday demolished more than 100 unauthorized roadside shops selling fish and meat attracting birds. The shops were located on the road between Stewart School and Delta square.
BMC launched the eviction drive after the airport authorities repeatedly expressed concern in the city management group (CMG) meeting about the presence of birds near the airport due to animal waste generated from the stalls. BMC and airport officials jointly conducted a survey to identify the clusters of shops attracting birds.
"We had listed the shops and served notices to them to vacate the space. Although fish and meat stalls were demolished, we also razed food and grocery shops, which were unauthorized," said assistant commissioner (recovery) Sumita Behera. The civic body engaged about four bulldozers to demolish the shops. There was no resistance during the drive, she added. About two platoons police force were deployed during the demolition drive.
29/06/13 Riyan Ramanath V/Times of India

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Joint forum floated to oppose airport privatization

Kolkata: Political rivals criticizing each other in the run up to the panchayat polls are on the same page when it comes to opposing the Airport Authority of India's move to hand over maintenance of Kolkata and Chennai airports to private hands. Trade unions affiliated to Citu and Inttuc floated a joint forum - Airport Authority Officers' and Employees' Joint Forum - on Friday to turn down the decision.
Airport Authority Officers' and Employees' Joint Forum - the umbrella platform that was formed on Friday - will ask for chief minister Mamata Banerjee's intervention.
"Primarily, we had a discussion with the chief minister and she will write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop any move towards privatisation of the airport," said a Trinamool Congress leader.
29/06/13 Times of India

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Fliers ‘trapped’ in hot, stuffy plane for 2 hours

Mumbai: More than 160 passengers were struck inside a "hot and stuffy" Jet Airways plane for two hours on Friday afternoon after a technical problem delayed the flight's takeoff.
Fliers aboard Jet Konnect's flight S2 4523, from Mumbai to Kozhikode, felt like they had been "kidnapped" when the cabin crew refused to provide them any food and the pilot denied them permission to get off the plane for fresh air.
The pilot, they claimed, threatened to get them arrested if they stepped outside. "We were stuck inside while technical crew took their time to fix the fault," said Swati Popat Vats, president of Podar Education Network that runs schools in the city.
The flight was scheduled to take off at 11.40 am, but boarding began only after 12.15 pm. After the passengers got inside the aircraft, they were told that the flight would take off late as a technical fault was being resolved. Some other passengers also complained about the bad in-flight conditions to Mirror before the plane finally left the Mumbai airport around 2.18 pm.
29/06/13 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror

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Airport employees urges Mamata Banerjee to oppose airport privatisation

Kolkata: All employee unions of the N S C Bose International Airport here jointly formed a forum today and requested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to write to the Union Civil Aviation ministry to oppose the move of the airport's privatisation.
The employees union alleged that the Airports Authority of India and Union Civil Aviation ministry were handing over maintenance of different facilities of the new integrated terminal building to private companies which was a precursor to privatisation of the airport.
Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy attended the meeting where it was decided that all employees unions would form a forum which would spearhead the move to oppose privatisation of facilities of the new integrated terminal building.
28/06/13 Economic Times

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DMRC begins preparations to operate Airport Express line

New Delhi: A day after Reliance Infra refused to operate the Delhi Airport Metro line beyond June 30, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation today said it has started all the necessary arrangements required to take over operations of the 22.7 km long express link.
"DMRC has started all necessary arrangements required for taking over the operations of the Airport Express Link, if any such requirement arises, in the wake of a recent letter by the concessionaire communicating that they (Reliance Infra) will not be able to run the services after the business hours of June 30," a DMRC spokesperson said.
Reliance Infra owned Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) had written a letter on June 27 expressing its inability to continue operations from the night of June 30.
Yesterday, in a board meeting the DMRC had rejected the notice given by Reliance Infra, and termed it as a "violation" of the Concessionaire Agreement and the ongoing Arbitration proceedings.
29/06/13 PTI/Indian Express

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Kavlekar joins anti-Mopa brigade

Margao: Joining the bandwagon against Mopa airport, Quepem MLA Chandrakant 'Babu' Kavlekar voiced his opposition to Mopa and said he would support the people of South Goa in their fight to protect Dabolim airport.
Kavlekar, who is a Congress MLA, said that this was his personal opinion and not the view of the party. Congress has so far supported the idea for two airports in the state. Kavlekar pointed out that people who stay in and around Quepem would have to travel great distances to reach Mopa and questioned the need for two airports in the state and said that it was not feasible.
29/06/13 Times of India

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Srinagar Airport’s International Status On Papers Only: Omar

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday said Srinagar international airport is on papers only as no international flight operates from it with the result J&K’s link with the Central Asia has come to a halt. He said that J&K was having a close link through culture, language, heritage, roads with Central Asian cities like Tukistan, Kagikistan, Turkimistan etc.
“The international airport at Srinagar that currently exists only on papers, Unfortunately because of the cussed mindset of our neighbor on the western frontier that does not allow a direct flight from Srinagar to overfly their airspace, we have not been able to take advantage of this connect that was available to us.  If Pakistan allows use of its airspace for international flights originating from Srinagar, the Srinagar airport can become an international airport in true sense”.
Addressing a three day conference on Cooperation, Development, Peace and Security in Central Asia at Kashmir University Omar said, “My association with Central Asia was extremely brief when I left the government at centre in 2002. As for as Kashmir is concern there is a deep historical association with central Asia.
29/06/13 Kashmir Life

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Two Indian Bank ATMs inaugurated at Chennai Airport

Chennai: Public sector Indian Bank has inaugurated two ATM centres at the Chennai airport.
The 1431 and 1432 centres of the bank were inaugurated by Airport Director H S Suresh in the presence of Bank Chairman and Managing Director, T M Bhasin in the Kamaraj Domestic Terminal, a bank statement said.
29/06/13 PTI/Business Line

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'No frills' airports for Guntur in the offing

Guntur: As part of the Centre's plans to construct no-frills airports in small towns, a delegation of Airports Authority of India (AAI) made a whirlwind visit to Guntur on Thursday.
The team comprising AAI executive director DP Singh and senior officials Moitra (GM) Bhalal (DGM) and Rajeev Honda (AGM) inspected the proposed site between Pitchireddipalem and Mallayapalem villages in Prattipadu mandal for construction of airport. Later, speaking to the reporters, Singh said the Union government was keen to develop airports in small towns particularly which have passenger potentiality.
He said the AAI was studying feasibility with regard to setting up of airports at 13 places in Andhra Pradesh including Guntur, Nellore, Adilabad, Karimnagar, Ongole, Kakinada, and Warangal. He said small airports would be constructed to facilitate landing of 70-seater flights.
28/06/13 Times of India

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‘Airport City’ now a reality, Pawan Hans Ltd launches helicopter services

Andal: The country’s first proposed "Airport City" here today came on the aviation map with the introduction of passenger helicopter services.
Pawan Hans Limited, the national helicopter company, following an MoU signed with the state government in March, today launched the services and the first helicopter landed at the Airport City’s runway here after a 42-minute trip from Kolkata. The state transport secretary, additional chief secretary (transport), and Airport City officials were on board the aircraft.
But the launch of the new helicopter service ~ six years after the Airport City project MoU was signed ~ did not pass without criticism.
Mr Bansogopal Chowdhury, CPI-M MP representing Asansol said: “We don’t know why an airport city is required for just helicopter services. It's just an eye-wash and the company has a hidden motive to inflate its realty business.”
27/06/13 Kanchan Siddiqui/The Statesman

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Airports Authority to adopt Uttarakhand villages

New Delhi: Airports Authority of India (AAI) will adopt a few villages in Uttarakhand devastated by recent floods and help rehabilitate affected communities."As a part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment, AAI has decided to undertake rehabilitation of communities in a couple of villages which are worst affected by the massive floods in Uttarakhand," the civil aviation ministry said in a statement Friday.
28/06/13 IANS/Business Standard

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Special arrangements for pilgrim at Raja Bhoj airport

Bhopal:  The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has also made special arrangements for pilgrims of Madhya Pradesh reaching Bhopal by special planes at Raja Bhoj airport. Four flights have brought these pilgrims so far.
Vivek Uppadhaya, director airport, said, "As there is no specific schedule for these flights, we make arrangements for landing of these special flights as and when we are informed by the airlines."
28/06/13 Times of India

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GoAir to induct four planes, raise frequencies to non-metro cities

New Delhi:  No-frill carrier GoAir will induct four new planes by the end of this financial year and use them to increase frequency of flights between metro and non-metro cities.
"We are going to add four new aircraft, Airbus A320, by the end of this financial year (2013-14). We would be getting one plane in July, two in October and one in February next year. These would be deployed to increase frequency of flights in certain markets, particularly in metro and non-metro cities," GoAir CEO Giorgio De Roni told PTI.
The Jeh Wadia-owned airline operates 102 daily flights to 21 cities.
De Roni said after induction of new planes, the fleet strength would increase to 19. Also it will make the airline to have the youngest fleet in India.
27/06/13 PTI/Economic Times

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GoAir shifts operations to Terminal 1A at Mumbai Airport

Mumbai: GoAir will be moving its operations from Terminal 1B to Terminal 1A at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai Domestic Airport) with effect from July 1. GoAir currently operates 360 flights per week from Mumbai. A dedicated aisle of check-in counters at Terminal 1A shall now be available for GoAir passengers. The airline will be also moving its ticketing office to the new premise.
Earlier, Kingfisher Airlines was using the check-in counters and office space at Terminal 1A. Ever since the airline stopped its operations last October, the check-in counter space in Terminal 1A had remained unused.
The airline said that GoAir passengers have been informed about this change through personalised communication and advertising.
27/06/13 Business Line

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HC issues notice to government on parking zone at Biju Patnaik airport

Bhubaneswar: The harassment of public at the Biju Patnaik Airport parking zone has come under the judicial scanner with the Orissa High Court issuing notices to the Centre and State Government along with the Airport Authority of India.
Acting on a PIL filed by chief patron of Mahakalpada-Marshaghai Bikash Manch Trideeb Rout, a division bench comprising Chief Justice C Nagappan and Justice I Mohanty has issued notice to Secretary, Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Director General, and Director, Biju Patnaik Airport and the Commissioner of Police.
Trideeb submitted that passengers and public are subjected to severe harassment by the personnel of the private agency to which the parking lot has been outsourced. People are charged Rs 40 for four-wheelers and Rs  10 for two-wheelers for a stay of five minutes and more. Even though the people enter and leave the parking space much before the stipulated time, the attendants force them to pay.
28/06/13 New Indian Express

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KCCI asks PM to facilitate international flights to Kashmir

Srinagar:The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to facilitate international flights on Kashmir route besides demanded return of NHPC-run power projects to J&K government.
The KCCI made several other demands to the PM after its delegation of office Bearers including Senior Vice President Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, Junior Vice President Mauzam Bakshi, Joint Secretary General Javid Ahmad Tenga, Treasurer Musadiq Shah headed by its President Abdul Hamid Punjabi met him on an pre-appointed time at SKICC Srinagar June 25.
27/06/13 Rising Kashmir

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AirAsia revises Kolkata-Bangkok flight schedule

Chennai: Budget airline AirAsia Thursday revised the schedule of its daily Kolkata-Bangkok flight that will come into effect from July 15.
A statement issued by the airline said its daily Kolkata-Bangkok flight (FD 2672) has been rescheduled to depart Kolkata at 1:45 a.m. and arrive in Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport at 5.55 a.m. from July 15.
"Meanwhile, daily flights from Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport to Kolkata (FD 2671) will depart at 12:05 a.m. and arrive in Kolkata at 1:15 a.m., allowing passengers to enjoy a full day in Bangkok before catching their flight back to India," the statement said.
27/06/13 NY Daily News

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Proposed medical tourism centre at Indian airport

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued a tender for opening a medical tourism centre - a first of its kind for India, although not globally at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport to help international medical tourists coming to the city of Ahmedabad.
Airport director R K Singh explains, ”The aim is to improve facilities for passengers and not just to earn money." AAI will provide 10 square meters of space at the arrival area of the international terminal to the highest bidder. The space will be provided at a lower price than what AAI charges for other counters like food and hotels. The aim is to provide necessary information on procedures, monetary transaction and international code of treatment.
27/06/13 International Medical Travel Journal

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GoAir to use Terminal 1A in Mumbai airport from July 1

Mumbai: GoAir will be moving its operations from Terminal 1B to Terminal 1A at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (Mumbai Domestic Airport) with effect from July 1. GoAir currently operates 360 flights per week from Mumbai. A dedicated aisle of check-in counters at Terminal 1A shall now be available for GoAir passengers. The airline will also be moving its ticketing office to the new premise.
The airline said that GoAir passengers have been informed about this change through personalised communication and advertising. CSIA GVK on its part will also inform all its passengers through signage, website, social media and other communication material at various passenger touch points across the airport.
Information about the shift will also be disseminated to all taxi and auto drivers operating from the airport.
27/06/13 Business Line

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Nedumbassery human trafficking: Five senior police officers suspended

Thiruvananthapuram: The State government on Wednesday suspended five senior police officers, including two Superintendents of Police (SPs), in connection with the Nedumbassery human trafficking case.
State Police Chief and Director General of Police (DGP) K.S. Balasubramanian said that the suspended officers were Bhuvanendran, SP, Traffic, Thiruvananthapuram South Zone; Jamaluddin, SP (Human Rights Commission); Mahesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch); N.V. Somarajan, Assistant Commandant, AR Camp, Malappuram; and sub-inspector George.
The DGP had earlier suspended nine policemen, including a Circle Inspector from Thottappally, a sub-inspector from Mundakkayam, a junior sub-inspector, three policemen of the Kerala Armed Police, two civil police officers, and a member of the Armed Reserve Police, in the case.
27/06/13 The Hindu

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Foreign national held for bid to smuggle gold ornaments

Chennai: A Malaysian national was arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle over two kg of gold ornaments, worth Rs 56 lakh, from the international airport here, airport sources said today. The accused, identified as Kutti Appan, was arrested by the customs officials after it was found that he had concealed the ornaments in his suitcase, the sources said.
27/06/13 PTI/Business Standard

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AAI dry run at new terminal likely tomorrow

Chennai: The new international terminal at Chennai airport that was inaugurated five months ago by vice president Hamid Ansari is yet to be commissioned. Airports Authority of India (AAI), which runs the airport, has planned to conduct a dry run on Thursday to check whether all facilities installed in the new building are in working order.
“We have temporarily scheduled the dummy run for Thursday. We will finalise it only after a meeting with the Airline Operators’ Committee (AOC) on Wednesday,” said airport director H.S. Suresh.
However, he added that the new terminal would be opened for actual operations only in the first week of July. He said the authorities would initially commission departure operations from the new building and later cater to arriving passengers.
26/06/13 Deccan Chronicle

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AAI mulls Rs 250-cr plan to upgrade Agartala airport

Kolkata: The Airports Authority of India may soon launch a Rs 250-crore project to upgrade the Agartala airport in Tripura. A formal announcement on the same is expected in next three to four months.
The project will include extension of runway to help accommodate wide-bodied aircraft and expansion and improvement of the passenger amenities.
“We had a fruitful discussion with the Airport Authority in the presence of the Union Civil Aviation Secretary K. N. Srivastava early this month. AAI has agreed to upgrade the airport,” Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told Business Line.
The landlocked State has limited road and rail connectivity with the rest of the country and is primarily dependent on air travel.
25/06/13 Business Line

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Rain causes flight diversions, delays

Mumbai: Heavy rain forced flight diversions from the city on Tuesday afternoon. Flights were also delayed by 30 minutes on average at the city airport.
Nine incoming flights were diverted between 3 pm and 5 pm as very heavy rain caused visibility to fluctuate. Thunder clouds in the sky also made it impossible for flights to approach for a landing. As holding time in the skies increased, nine flights ran short of fuel and had to be diverted to other cities.
Airport officials said a Jet Airways flight from Jeddah was diverted to Jodhpur at 3 pm, a flight from Hyderabad went back, and a GoAir flight from Delhi was diverted to Ahemdabad. Three flights had to make a go-round as they found their landing approach "unstable".
26/06/13 Times of India

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Saudi Arabian Airlines fires 43 employees from Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Saudi Arabian Airlines has told 43 permanent employees at the Mumbai airport that June 30 will be their last day at work.
"On May 1, out of the 65 employees that Saudi Arabian Airlines employs in Mumbai airport, 43 were asked to take Voluntary Severance Scheme. We were initially given a deadline of 15 May to quit, but only three applied for the scheme and so the deadline was extended to 23 May, but the response was again poor. Now if by June 30 we do not apply for the scheme, the airline has said, we will be thrown out," said Umesh Parulekar, who works as a security controller with Saudi Airlines.
"Under this scheme, we have been offered 45 days' salary. It is unfair as these are permanent employees employed with the airline for the last 18-20 years," he added.
The employees have taken the matter to the labour commissioner. The airline's defense is that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, India's aviation security regulator has asked them to hand over security job functions to an Indian carrier.
26/06/13 Manju V/Times of India

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Rs 17 lakh worth memory cards seized at Hyderabad airport

Hyderabad: Customs sleuths arrested a Chennai-based passenger who landed at the RGI Airport from Dubai for trying to smuggle Rs 17 lakh worth memory cards and rhodium liquid on Monday night.
Acting on specific alert, officials of Air Intelligence Unit intercepted Abdul Haleeth, a resident of Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, who arrived here from Dubai in an Emirates flight (EK 528) at the exit gate of the customs area on Monday night.
Haleeth opted for the 'Green Channel', which is meant for passengers not in possession of any dutiable goods. When questioned by the customs officers, Haleeth denied carrying any dutiable goods.
26/06/13 Times of India

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Emergency evacuation drill at Coimbatore airport

Coimbatore: A simulated crash landing of an aircraft was enacted at the airport on Monday to check the emergency preparedness.
According to K. Peter Abraham, Airport Director – Coimbatore, the drill was carried out with simulated crash landing of an aircraft with a total of 80-passengers on board.
The exercise lasted for about 90 minutes in which the participating disaster management team removed three “dead bodies”, and rescued 15 passengers with serious injuries and 20 with minor injuries. As many as 42 passengers escaped unhurt.A total of 300 personnel were involved in the drill.
26/06/13 The Hindu

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Paid pickup services outside domestic airport in Delhi discontinued

New Delhi: There is good news for passengers frequenting Delhi's domestic airport. The paid pickup services outside Terminal 1D have been "discontinued temporarily".
Sources also say the pickup rates that were exorbitant may also see some reduction, if the services are resumed.
The development comes after Mail Today reported commuter inconvenience and traffic chaos at the domestic airport caused by reserving at least three lanes for paid pickup service.
After Mail Today reported the issue on June 10, 2013 under the article headlined "The nightmare at Delhi Airport! Traffic bottleneck and chaos galore," the authorities moved into action.
26/06/13 Prerna Sodhi/India Today

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Mangalore runway to be extended by over 1,500 metres

Mangalore: A total of 285 acres will be acquired to extend the runway at the Mangalore International Airport and make it truly international, said M. Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas after a review meeting here on Monday.
Mr. Moily told press persons that the runway would be extended to 3,970 metres, from the existing 2,450 metres. “The project report will be presented by the Airports Authority of India and after that, suitable infrastructure can be created,” he said.
25/06/13 The Hindu

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Cochin International Airport Limited net up Rs 8 crore, touches Rs 110 crore

Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), the first international airport in the Private-Public-Participation mode in the country, is set to soar to greater heights. Sources said the airport company had clocked a net profit of Rs 110 cr after tax in the 2012-13 financial year, up Rs 8 cr from the previous year’s.
The director board meeting is scheduled to be held on June 29 which will be attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy who will declare the operating profit and dividend.
Due to the cost involved in implementing new projects, the dividend is unlikely to be increased this year. The date and venue of the next annual general body meeting will also be finalized at the meet.
It will also finalise next year’s income and expenditure.One of the major projects to be implemented at CIAL is the Rs 400 cr new international terminal which is awaiting nod from the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority.
25/06/13 Vinod Nedumudy/Deccan Chronicle

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AAI seeks hourly weather updates to reduce delays, diversions

New Delhi: In a move aimed at preventing flight delays and saving on fuel charges, Airport Authority of India is planning to seek hourly updates on weather from the Meteorological department. Sources said this will help prevent major flight diversions and will enable better planning before flights take off and land.
Till now, the Met department would provide weekly weather updates. However, despite prior planning, small changes in weather have often caused long delays and diversions. Sources said the move will help manage domestic flight schedules better.
An airport official said: "The Airport Authority of India has been in talks with the Met department, seeking hourly updates. Till now, the Met department has been giving weekly updates on the weather. The advantage of this move will be that two to three hours before a flight takes off or lands, one can know the weather conditions in different cities."
25/06/13 Shalini Narayan/Indian Express

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Flying east

If all goes according to plan, the upgrade of the Imphal and Agartala airports to international status will help end the physical isolation of India's landlocked Northeast. Currently, Guwahati is the lone international airport in the eight northeastern states, including Sikkim. Given the region's dire need for better connectivity — with the rest of India and neighbouring countries — an integrated airports development project that upgrades and connects the dozen or so northeastern airports, including Bagdogra in West Bengal, will help build Imphal into a regional hub for international flights to Southeast Asia, and facilitate domestic movement and commerce. Road and rail connectivity for the economically deprived Northeast has remained a festering absence since Independence. While an international flight hub will likely stimulate road projects, the upgraded airports will need better road and rail links. Manipur, for instance, is a state that sits at the ends of NH 39 and NH 53.
25/06/13 Indian Express

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Two more glass panels at Chennai airport develop cracks

Chennai: Two more glass panels located near the arrival hall of the new domestic terminal at Chennai airport have developed cracks.
Only a month ago, around 10 glass panels on the airside of the new domestic and international terminals of the airport had developed cracks. Officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI) had said the cracked panels were subsequently replaced.
Officials and experts say the fresh cracks may have been caused due to an engineering defect. “One of the glass panels has had cracks for a while now. The second one may have been cracked recently. It looks like the panels were not fixed properly during construction and this may have caused the cracks,” said an AAI official.
The cracks might continue to develop for a couple of months as the building is fairly new and the glass panels need time to stabilise, he said.
“We purchased the glass panels from Saint Gobain. After we received complaints about cracked panels, we sent samples of the panels for testing and we are yet to determine the exact cause for this problem. One of the issues could be the impurities present in the glass. We will replace the cracked one soon and will take steps to ensure safety,” said another official.
25/06/13 The Hindu

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Meenambakkam airport terminal to be razed

Chennai: Chennai's over 70-year-old Meenambakkam airport will soon be demolished. A British legacy going back to the 1930s, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which has not been able to maintain it, will construct an additional freight bay to accommodate more cargo from the city.
Currently, the building is used for housing CISF personnel and a few cargo aviation offices. The passenger terminals were moved out of the old airport in 1985 after then chief minister M. G. Ramachandran decided to build new buildings after the bomb blast at Meenambakkam International Airport in August 1984.
 The Air Traffic Control office and the offices of the International Airports Authority of India and regional executive director were also moved out in 2002. “There is a shortage of parking space for freighter aircraft. So, we are planning to raze the dilapidated old terminal and a few other buildings to construct a freighter bay,” said AAI chairman V. P. Agrawal.
25/06/13 Asian Age

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GMR Hyderabad International Airport To Divest Fuel Farm Biz

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited is planning to divest majority stake in its Fuel Farm business, Livemint states. The airport will transfer its fuel farm into a fully owned SPV that will divest a 74% stake in it.
The SPV will have a 25-year concession from GHIAL and the investor buying a 74% stake in it may be allowed to charge from aviation turbine fuel suppliers an infrastructure fee.
The company has appointed KPMG to advise it on hiving off the fuel farm business.
The divestment could increase the cost of fuel, but may help the airport company clean up its books as it seeks the airport regulator’s approval for raising tariffs.
In 2006, GHIAL set up an open access model fuel farm consisting of three storage tanks each with a capacity of 4,500 kilolitres of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and hydrant at the new airport premises for supply of fuel to aircrafts.
25/06/13 Charmi Gutka/Deal Curry

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'No hurdle for Juhu runway extension'

Mumbai:  Plans to develop the Juhu airfield received a boost on Monday with the state government clarifying that neither or a coastal road nor a proposed sea link will come in the way of the runway extension project.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had feared that the Bandra-Versova sea link or the coastal road project would come in the way of plans to extend the airfield 1,000 metres into the Arabian Sea. However, in a meeting with chief secretary J K Banthia on Monday, the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) informed the AAI that the projects will not hinder or obstruct flight path as they will be planned at a suitable distance from the runway, both in height and length. "Either of these links are being planned well over 1,000 metres away from the coast and do not seem to be obstructing the runway expansion in any way," said a government official.
25/06/13 Sharad Vyas/Times of India

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Thiruvananthapuram International Airport: Assurance on development

Steps are being taken to speed up the development of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Excise and Ports Minister K Babu, who also handles the airports portfolio, said on Monday.
Replying to questions in the Assembly, Babu said that steps were being taken to shift the existing domestic terminal and solve the problems faced by the passengers. The government is examining a recommendation submitted by the District Collector and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Development Society (TRIADS) for renewed administrative sanction for providing 18.92 acres of land as suggested by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
25/06/13 New Indian Express

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Shooter held at IGI

New Delhi: A shooter registered with the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) was today detained at the IGI Airport for allegedly carrying 5,000 blank cartridges and a 9mm blank pistol in his check-in baggage.
Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Dwarka, was passing through the green channel of the airport after arriving from Germany early this morning when he was stopped by the customs officials.
Sources in the know of the development said the shooter tried to wriggle out of the situation by using the NRAI card he was carrying.
25/06/13 PTI/Business Standard

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DGCA move for quieter airports

Chennai: If the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has its way, then major airports across the country could well become a whole lot quieter and have a much smaller carbon footprint.
In a circular sent to all airports recently, the civil aviation regulator has asked for noise monitoring systems (NMS) to be set up to figure out if Indian planes are making the right amount of noise or are a whole lot louder.
“We have asked all major airports to conduct a noise study and send us the numbers as well as an action plan to reduce the noise burden. We have very little data about how much noise is produced in and around airports so it is time we streamlined it,” said a source in the DGCA.
Applicable to airports that handle more than 50,000 aircraft movements, this means that Chennai is a prime candidate for the measures to be carried out.
24/06/13 Daniel Thimmayya/New Indian Express

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Cell set up to operationalise PPP management of Kolkata airport

New Delhi: With civil aviation ministry fast-tracking privatisation of management of Kolkata and Chennai airports, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has set up a cell to execute public private partnerships process to operate and maintain these and other aerodromes.
The Key Infrastructure Development (KID) cell, which was in existence during the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports, would handle the public-private partnership process for Kolkata and Chennai airports, which are currently owned and managed by the AAI, officials sources said.
KID was the nodal point in the AAI for private players who participated in the bidding process during the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports in 2005. It was not only the data room providing details on traffic flows, projections and area of land available with the two airports, but also put out Requests for Proposal for their modernisation. It was wound up after the process was over.
23/06/13 PTI/The Statesman

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ACC defends report on airport privatisation deal as Sheikh Imran insinuates bribery from GMR

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has issued a press statement defending its investigative report of the airport privatisation deal signed by the previous government, harshly condemning “false and misleading” remarks by politicians of government-aligned parties.
On June 17, the ACC released a 61-page investigative report concluding that there was no corruption in the awarding of a concession agreement to a consortium of Indian infrastructure giant GMR and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) to develop and manage the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport (INIA).
The report was met with strong criticism and bribery allegations from parties in the government coalition.
Insisting that the government’s stand would not change as a result of the ACC findings, President’s Office Spokesperson Masood Imad told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that “if there is a reasonable cause of doubt, this report can be contested by some parties.’’
24/06/13 Ahmed Naish/Minivan News

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Legal action against those dumping waste near airport

Thiruvananthapuram: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to initiate legal action against those dumping waste in the localities around the Thiruvananthapuram international airport. The authority is also planning to organise awareness campaigns and place advertisements to sensitise people to the bird hit threat to aircraft.FIRs will be registered against those dumping garbage. The issue figured in the Airfield Environment Management Committee (AEMC) that met recently under the chairmanship of Transport Principal Secretary Tom Jose. Rule 91 of the Indian Aircraft Act 1934 bans slaughtering and sale of fish and meat in the open and similar activities, which are likely to attract vultures or birds, in a 10-km radius of airports. A slew of measures by the AAI had helped bring down the number of bird hits from six in 2011-12 to four in 2012-13.
24/06/13 The Hindu

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Jet starts seven flights a week between Kochi and Kuwait

Dubai:  Seven flights in a week from Kochi to Kuwait have been started by Jet Airways via the Abu Dhabi International Airport, officials said.
The airline currently operates 11 direct flights in a week between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi and another seven direct flights a week between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi.
According to officials the new route will operate Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft with 170 seats.
"We are delighted to see that our airline partners are expanding their services to meet growing demand from passengers. This new route provides a vital connection between two markets that are important for Abu Dhabi-- India and Kuwait," said Ahmad Al Haddabi, Chief Operations Officer at - Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC).
24/06/13 Economic Times

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Yellow fever shot farce at airport makes Bangalorean see red

Bangalore: It was an experience that left him both rattled and fuming. When film expert George Kutty returned last week from Colombia, he was stopped at immigration at the Bengaluru International Airport for not getting the yellow fever shot, a prerequisite for those returning from many African and South American countries.
What followed was nothing less than an ordeal for the 62-year-old Bangalorean, angered by what he calls the “farce” of the quarantine process that followed. In the middle of the night, immigration insisted he be sent to a private hospital in Ulsoor to be quarantined for six days (as he had already travelled for three days, he would have had to stay put in isolation for three more).
Mr. Kutty says that the rule itself is “archaic” and one that smacks of “racism”. But, even if that is the rule, he asks, of what use is it if the only purpose is to make people pay an exorbitant amount as hospital fee for the quarantine period and then send them back home.
The hospital issued him a bill for Rs. 10,000 (with a waiver of Rs. 3,000), which included bed charges, nursing charges and resident duty doctor fee for facilities he never used.
24/06/13 The Hindu 

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Hindu Prayer Room urged for Frankfurt Airport

Nevada: A US based Hindu group has urged for a “Hindu Prayer Room” at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany, which is one of the world’s ten largest airports.
FRA already has Christian chapel as well as Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox prayer rooms. “The prayer and worship rooms at the airport let you escape all the hustle and bustle and find peace and quiet for praying or meditating,” FRA website says.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) on Monday, said that lot of Hindu passengers daily used FRA and it would be nice if they had a quiet facility at the airport where they could pray/meditate/worship and perform religious services.
24/06/13 India Blooms

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Another gold haul at Kolkata airport

Kolkata: The Customs authorities at Kolkata airport seized 608 grams of gold concealed in the body of a passenger who arrived from Bangkok in an Indigo Airlines flight on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, the passenger, Masked Ali Alomar, was taken in for interrogation after he cleared immigration.
The suspect revealed he had hidden the gold in his rectum, a modus operandi that has in recent times gained popularity among smugglers of precious metals. The passenger has been arrested.
On Saturday, too, a Qatar Airways passenger from Doha was arrested after the Customs officer's detected 1.3 kg gold hidden in his shoe soles.
24/06/13 Times of India

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Heavy rain to hit air traffic at Mumbai airport

Mumbai:  Flight delays will mark coming days at Mumbai airport as the met department has warned of heavy rain in the coming days. Most flights have been delayed by 30-40 minutes on an average during the previous week. Last week, many flights were even diverted to other cities as they could not approach Mumbai runway due to heavy rains and ran short of holding fuel. The situation is likely to be the same in the coming days as heavy rains are expected, said officials.Officials said that the presence of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky threaten incoming flights on rainy days. These clouds are dark, thunder bearing rain clouds which an aircraft cannot pass through.
23/06/13 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Bomb hoax forces KL flight to land in Mumbai

Mumbai: Exactly a month after it was forced to return after taking off for Muscat International Airport following a bomb threat, Oman Air flight WY823, which was on its way to Kuala Lumpur from Muscat on Saturday had to make an emergency landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) following a similar bomb threat.
One of the airline’s officials in Oman received a call stating that the aircraft had bombs in it and would explode midair. Since the nearest airport was CSIA, after getting the requisite nod from ATC officials, the aircraft made an emergency landing here at 1.47pm.
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), fire brigade vehicles, medical and security agencies were already waiting on the runway. After an intensive six hour search by the BDDS, no explosive was found and security officials declared the call a hoax. Since it was a specific threat call, passengers who had been deplaned were also put through checks, including their hand and checked-in baggage. The aircraft was carrying 215 passengers and 11 crew members.
23/06/13 Daily News & Analysis   

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AAI cell to handle PPP process for Chennai, Kolkata airports

New Delhi: With Civil Aviation Ministry fast-tracking privatisation of management of Kolkata and Chennai airports, the Airports Authority of India has set up a cell to execute PPP process to operate and maintain these and other aerodromes.
The Key Infrastructure Development (KID) cell, which was in existence during the privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports, would handle the public-private partnership process for Kolkata and Chennai airports, which are currently owned and managed by the AAI, official sources said.
It would also take care of privatising and running air and city sides of "certain (other) identified airports", they said.
KID was the nodal point in the AAI for private players who participated in the bidding process during the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports in 2005.
23/06/13 PTI/Business Standard

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Churchill Alemao holds meet to fight for Dabolim

Margao: As promised, Churchill Alemao took his first major step in mobilizing the public to fight for Dabolim by holding a meeting with his supporters on Saturday in Margao to form a committee to take forward their 'Aamka Naka Mopa' campaign.
At the meet, UGDP vice-president Radharao Gracias, announced that by August the Benaulim and Aldona legislative assembly seats would be vacant and that this could mark Alemao's return to the state assembly. Later, when TOI asked Gracias if this meant that Alemao would contest the assembly elections and not the Lok Sabha elections, Gracias said that they would want to have Alemao in Goa rather than Delhi.
23/06/13 Times of India

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Air India to link Delhi-Birmingham from Aug 1

New Delhi: Air India has announced that it will start its return flights from Delhi to Birmingham from August 1.The flight, which will be operated with the Boeing 787 aircraft will operate on Monday,Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
23/06/13 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line

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AirAsia India urged to start operations from Surat

Surat: When Tata Nano arrived in Sanand, the first lot of the cheapest car was delivered in the hometown of the Tatas in Navsari.
With the Tata Group chairman emeritus, Ratan Tata taking over as the chief advisor to the board of AirAsia India, a joint venture between the group, the Malaysian low cost carrier, and Telstra Tradeplace, members of We Want A Working Airport at Surat (WWWAS) have urged leaders of the Parsi community to approach him to commence operations from Surat.
WWWAS members said AirAsia India is expected to be launched in the coming months with aviation minister Ajit Singh recently saying that the final nod will be given as soon as the home ministry gives its security clearance. The company has already begun the recruitment process of the employees on its fleet of aircraft.
23/06/13 Melvyn Reggie Thomas/Times of India

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Man held for possessing forged passport

Goa: Police have arrested Pethadra Mohammed Ashraf, 35, from Mangalore on charges of allegedly carrying a forged passport. He was detained by the immigration officials at the Dabolim airport on Saturday on his arrival from Oman. On verification, it was found that his photograph was forged, the police said. They handed him over to the Vasco police who arrested him under the Passport Act.
Motorist booked for killing five cows: Ponda police have booked one Sarvesh Naik, resident of Adpoi-Ponda, for rash and negligent driving of his jeep on Wednesday night thereby killing five cows at Madel-Talaulim in Ponda. He was proceeding from Ponda to Adpoi on Wednesday night. Three animals died on-the-spot while two were seriously injured and later succumbed to their injuries. Naik was also injured in the mishap and after being discharged from hospital, police arrested him and released him on bail.
23/06/13 Times of India

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BijuPatnaik Airport to sell Odisha's traditional art and crafts

Bhubaneswar: To promote Odisha's traditional art and crafts, the BijuPatnaik Airport here will soon have three strategic points.
Sources said textile, handloom and handicrafts department will open a showroom of Utkalika, the sales outlet of Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation, which showcases and sells traditional handicrafts. Utkalika outlets are there in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune outside Odisha, besides six towns in the state. "The airport is a strategic choice in terms of business potential. Besides, it will give a typical Odisha look to the airport and promote our art and culture," said a senior government officer.Similarly, the department will also open a Boyanika, outlet of Odisha State Handloom Weavers' Co-operative Society, to exhibit and market Odisha handloom.
23/06/13 Ashok Pradhan/Times of India

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Flier detained for trying to smuggle gold

Kolkata: A flier, who arrived from Dubai, was detained by the Customs authorities at the N S C Bose International Airport for allegedly trying to smuggle gold biscuits, airport sources said today. M M Ali Akhtar, a resident of Karnataka, was detained by the Customs authorities late last night for carrying gold biscuits weighing 610 gm, the sources said.
23/06/13 Business Standard

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Man jailed after 'boxed' travel to US

If you ask US deportee Dinesh Patel, Kevi Rite Jaish, he will tell you Avi Rite — from Mehsana to Mumbai to Mexico and then to the United States, the land of dreams, by a container.
After working for a few years, an accident forced him to lose his job and shatter his dreams. And, Patel was back to square one. He was detained by the intelligence bureau (IB) of airport immigration at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Thursday night.
With the help of an agent in Mumbai and on a fake passport, Patel was able to reach the US via Mexico. Then he managed an original passport with the help of the same agent but could not muster the courage to come to India. Finally, Patel approached immigration officials at the Indian in embassy in the US and managed to return home. But he was arrested by IB officials and handed over to Sardarnagar police station.
“We have arrested Dinesh Patel when he arrived last night as his passport had only one entry of departure from USA. It did not have any entry seal. During interrogation, he narrated the entire episode on illegal immigration. So, we have arrested him and handed him over to the local police,” said Deepak Kumar, an IB officer at the airport.
22/06/13 Ritesh Shah/Daily News & Analysis

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GMR seeks USD 1.4 billion in damages from Maldives

Singapore: Indian infrastructure major GMR today sought a compensation of USD 1.4 billion from Maldives for the "wrongful termination" of its 25-year contract to develop and operate the Male International Airport.
The claim was today filed before an Arbitration Court here and a final order in the matter is likely to come out by end of March next year.
According to sources, the papers for the claim runs into 75 pages besides various annexures and attachments.
The figure of USD 1.4 billion was reached after taking into account loss of profit, payments made to subcontractors besides others.
Sources said the arbitration process will go on and the Maldivian government along with the Maldivian Airport Company Limited, both parties in the suit, will give their responses.
21/06/13 Economic Times

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LGBI airport staff against public-private-partnership model

Guwahati: The Airport Authority Employees Union staged a demonstration outside the LokapriyaGopinathBordoloi International (LGBI) Airport here on Friday against the Centre's move to privatize assets in airports.
The union said that any attempt to introduce the public-private-partnership (PPP) model at LGBI Airport will be vehemently opposed. It expressed fear that the Centre may introduce the PPP model at the airport as it has already decided to bring in the model in Chennai and Kolkata.
22/06/13 Times of India

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GMR agrees for Multi Modal Transport System to airport

Hyderabad: Having initially shown preference for the metro rail over the Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS), GMR, operator of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, has now warmed up to the railways and has agreed to an MMTS railway line to its doorstep.
After a marathon meeting held on Thursday night between officials of the government, GMR and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which will execute the 71 km MMTS phase-II project, a consensus was reached, senior officials said.
The MMTS phase-II involves multiplication and electrification of existing railway lines on Tellapur-Patancheru, Secunderabad-Bolarum, Sanathnagar-Moula Ali, Moula Ali-Malkajgiri-Sitaphalmandi, Bolarum-Medchal and Moula Ali-Ghatkesar sections as well as a new railway line from Umdanagar to the international airport (6.7 km) was also to be laid in this phase.
22/06/13 Times of India

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SpiceJet seeks Puducherry government help

Puducherry: SpiceJet, the only flight operator from Puducherry, has sought assistance from the Puducherry government to make its operations sustainable.
A team led by the regional deputy sales manager Ravi called on Welfare and Tourism Minister P Rajavelu in this regard.
With the average occupancy rate being 30 to 35 per cent for the SpiceJet flights connecting Puducherry and Bangalore, the aviation company is looking forward to fly government officials from Puducherry. For this, the Puducherry government has to get a clearance from the Government of India.
22/06/13 Debjani Dutta/New Indian Express

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Old terminal to house airport control centre

Thiruvananthapuram: The Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC), the command, coordination and control centre for the airport here, will be housed in the old domestic terminal on the Shanghumughom side.
The domestic cargo terminal, to be owned and managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), will also be housed in the old terminal that has been remaining unused since the domestic flight operations were shifted to the old international terminal. The AAI has already given a portion of the domestic terminal to the Coast Guard for setting up its air enclave.
“The AAI board have given the clearance and the work on the AOCC and the domestic cargo terminal is in full swing,” Airport Director V.N. Chandran told The Hindu. The AOCC will bring airport operations’ management under information technology-based systems with the aim of improving effectiveness and efficiency of services and enhancing security.
21/06/13 The Hindu

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Man hides Rs 21L gold in underpants, woman Rs 50L jewellery in bag

Mumbai: The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials have arrested two passengers, in separate cases, at the Mumbai airport for attempting to smuggle in gold.
In the first case, a man concealed gold ornaments and bars worth more than Rs 21 lakh in his trouser pockets and underpants, while in the second, a woman tried to smuggle in ornaments worth more than Rs 50 lakh in her bags.
In the second incident, Shabana Shaikh (32) landed in the city from Dubai on Friday morning, and was intercepted on prior intelligence by AIU officials. The officials found 2,038 gm of gold jewellery and crude gold in her bags, worth a total Rs 54.30 lakh. Shaikh was arrested. "She was possibly carrying the gold for personal use, but we are investigating the case," said an AIU official.
22/06/13 Times of India

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Air India takes aviation war to smaller towns, may lease 11 turboprops

Till now, airlines in India have been fighting for  market share on busy metro routes, with Mumbai-Delhi being the biggest battle ground. But the action may soon shift to smaller towns as airlines wake up to the potential across the Indian hinterland.
SpiceJet is already doing this in a big way through its Bombardier Q400 fleet operations. There was some talk earlier of IndiGo preparing to launch a new subsidiary for operating an ATR fleet (which the company subsequently denied) and now it is the turn of Air India. A senior airline official told Firstpost that Air India is in the final stages of making a decision on how many and which small aircraft to procure to strengthen its operations in tier II and tier III cities. It may lease as many as 11 turboprops for this purpose.
A study group within the airline, which carried out an extensive feasibility study for enhancing operations in tier II and tier III towns, will soon recommend how many turbo-prop aircraft should be taken on lease and on which routes these aircraft should be deployed.
20/06/13 Sindhu Bhattacharya/First Post

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Airports Authority of India withdraw mass casual leave

New Delhi: Operations at the Airports Authority of India (AAI) run airports are likely to remain normal on Friday after the employees on Thursday decided to withdraw their mass casual leave against the privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports.
The employees, owing allegiance to the Airports Authority Employees' Union (AAEU), had earlier decided to go on mass casual leave on Friday to protest the proposed privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports "through the back door."
"We have decided to defer the mass casual leave call as AAI Chairman V P Agarwal has assured us that he would apprise the Civil Aviation Ministry about the sentiments of employees regarding privatisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports, and reopening of old Hyderabad and Bangalore airports," Balraj Singh Ahlawat, General Secretary AAEU told PTI.But we have decided to hold lunch-hour demonstrations at all the airports, he added.
21/06/13 PTI/NDTV.com

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UAE airline slashes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh fare

RAK Airways has launched two-day special summer fare, slashing rates substantially.
Now you can fly to Doha for just Dh200 one-way and Dh300 return.
The sale begins midnight today. Tickets are valid for travel from June 21 to July 31.
The carrier flies to Cairo, Chittagong, Dhaka, Doha, Jeddah, Kozhikode, Kathmandu, Lahore and Peshawar.
The booking must be made through the airline’s call center number 072075000 or the airline’s website.
20/06/13 Emirates 24|7

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Seaplane facility in Kasargod from August, to be extended to Mangalore soon

Kasargod: Seaplanes will be providing boost to tourism sector in the district from August this year onwards. Introduction of seaplanes will be a milestone in the tourism sector here. Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd (KTIL), which has identified a spot at Nileshwar Kotappura for the purpose, will be spending about Rs 12 crore towards this facility. Such a facility is already in place at Alappuzha in the state.
As sea coast like in Kerala also exists in Karnataka, KTIL proposes to extend this facility to Mangalore in course of time. The seaplane facility has already become popular with the tourists. Government-owned KTIL has conducted preliminary surveys at Koteppura near Nileshwar, and Talangere in the district.
KTIL sources said that the district will get its first seaplane during the month of August, and that the facility will be extended to Mangalore shortly.
Kotappura already has a small boat jetty, and KTIL proposes to develop this into as a parking area for seaplanes. If both Kerala and Karnataka governments give their nod, seaplanes will be extended to Mangalore.
21/06/13 daijiworld.com

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Despite UDF cut, respite unlikely for Hyderabad fliers

Hyderabad:  In a much awaited move, the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has proposed a cut in the User Development Fee (UDF) charged on passengers flying out of the city. In a recent recommendation sent to all major carriers, airport authorities have indicated a cut in domestic UDF from the current Rs 430 per flier to Rs 330.49. For international travellers, the fee is set to be slashed to Rs 1,306.60 from the existing Rs 1,700.
But here's the twist in the tale. GHIAL, in the same proposal, has also suggested a 100% hike in parking and landing charges for all carriers with operations in Hyderabad. So, domestic airlines that until now paid Rs 187.90 (per metric tonne weight of aircraft) towards landing charge, might soon have to cough up as much as Rs 263.06. For international players, the revised rate is expected to be a high Rs 501 (per metric tonne) as against the current Rs 250.50. Similarly, the parking fee for every plane that, at present, is pegged at Rs 4.10 per hour per metric tonne will shoot up to Rs 8.20 in case the proposal becomes reality.
21/06/13 Sudipta Sengupta/Times of India

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Goans for Dabolim Only slams Shantaram on Mopa

Margao:  Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik was criticized by Goans for Dabolim Only (GFDO) convenor Fr Eremito Rebello for his recent statements favouring the construction of Mopa airport.
"Goans For Dabolim Only takes this opportunity to clarify that the opinion expressed by Naik is quite different from the opinion voiced by other Congress party members and political representatives that the group has met recently. He should not put the onus for the airport on the people of the north, who have never demanded for another airport," said Rebello, in a statement issued on Thursday.
"It would be wise for us to learn the lessons of the Uttarakhand disaster and respect nature by refraining from inflicting a project of the magnitude of Mopa airport, in an ecologically-sensitive zone, particularly when Dabolim can very well cater to Goa's civil aviation needs," added Rebello.
21/06/13 Times of India

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HC bench orders notice to Aviation ministry, AAI

Madurai: The Madras High Court today ordered notice to the Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI) on a PIL, seeking clearance for air connectivity to Dubai and Singapore from here.Petitioner S Vijayakumar said the ministry after inaugurating the Rs 130 crore upgraded new terminus on November 2010, had said flights would be operated to Sri Lanka.
20/06/13 Press Trust of India

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May saw more delayed arrivals than departures at Mumbai airport

Mumbai: When booking an air ticket there is no way a passenger can know if the flight will be delayed on the day of the departure. But what one can find out is which flights are particularly notorious for delayed departures and arrivals.
Data released by the Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd revealed that were more delayed arrivals than departures at the city airport in the month of May.
In the departures category, the worst performer was IndiGo's daily flight to Bhubaneshwar (6E 294). The daily flight had a delayed departure on 21 occasions. In the arrivals category, the worst flight was Air India's Ahmedabad-Mumbai (AI 614); it was delayed every day last month.
21/06/13 Times of India

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Four held at Indira Gandhi International Airport, gold worth Rs 78 lakh seized

New Delhi: Four persons, including one who tried to smuggle gold bars concealed in his lower abdomen, were arrested in two separate incidents of smuggling at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.
All four, who were involved in alleged smuggling of three kilograms of gold valued at over Rs 78 lakh, have been arrested, a customs official said.
Acting on a tip-off, customs officials on Wednesday intercepted Dilare Singh and Jitender Singh on their arrival in Delhi from Bangkok.
"On detailed examination of their baggage and personal search, two kilograms of gold bars were found being concealed in two TV stands provided with 32 inches Samsung LED TVs," a press release issued by the customs said.
21/06/13 Times of India

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Intra-state airlines may connect seven cities in UP

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to start an intra-state scheduled airlines service. A proposal to this effect has been prepared by the state tourism department which is to be placed before the cabinet shortly. The service is already in place in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh where five districts are connected by small nine-seater planes while several states including Gujarat, Orissa, Uttrakhand and Karnataka are also working on plan to launch it soon.
As per the proposal, the airlines service will connect Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Meerut and Sonebhadra in the first leg. As many as 15 other different routes have been identified for the purpose. Sources stated the government was looking forward to flying small aircraft with a seating capacity of 20 passengers each to begin with. Once the project takes off, travel to Agra from Lucknow would take only 60 minutes (air time) while Allahabad would become closer still with a flying time of 20 minutes. In the next leg, there are plans to link Varanasi (Sarnath) with other districts in the Buddhist circuit like Kushinagar, Shravasti and Bareilly (Sankisa), to promote tourism activity.
20/06/13 Shailvee Sharda/Times of India

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Airports Authority of India bullish on smaller airports

Chennai: When it comes to expansion of airports in tier-II cities, Tiruchy has emerged a laggard while land acquisition process has gained steam in Thoothukudi, Madurai and Coimbatore.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is also planning to develop Salem and Vellore airports in the second phase.  
 AAI’s Regional Executive Director (South) D. Devaraj said that infrastructure facilities at the International airports would also enable landing of wide-bodied aircraft like A330 and B737-800. “The airport terminals would also be upgraded to matching infrastructure,” he said.
 On the current status of land acquisition, Devaraj said that things were going smooth at Thoothukudi airport, as the state government had already acquired land and only the transfer process from the government to AAI was pending.
20/06/13 S Sujatha/Deccan Chronicle

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Chennai's New international terminal to open in July

Chennai: Five months after it was inaugurated, the new international terminal at Chennai airport may be thrown open for public use in July.
Despite the delay in commissioning, this terminal may not operate independently. The old terminal too may function simultaneously, said an official of Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Airport director H.S. Suresh said, “While the departure operations may run at the same time in both the new and old international terminals, the arrival operations may continue in the old terminal.”
It may take nearly a month to shift the departure operations completely to the new terminal, he said.
“Immigration department has the required manpower but customs officials have some issues in shifting immediately to the new terminal and have sought more time. The main problem is they lack adequate manpower,” said the AAI official.
20/06/13 The Hindu

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Singapore Airlines may increase capacity

Kolkata:  Singapore Airlines is open to adding more capacity out of Kolkata, airline general manager (India) GM Toh told TOI on Tuesday. The carrier had first increased its weekly capacity from 1,140 seats to 1,450 seats in August 2011. It was later raised to 1,590 seats in March 2013.
"We are on the lookout for incremental addition in seat capacity. We can add a further 375 seats by simply changing the aircraft that services the sector. But that will happen only when the requirement arises. Given the current depressed market scenario, we don't expect any changes for a while," said Toh.
Singapore Airlines operated four Boeing B-777 aircraft on the Kolkata-Singapore sector till August 2011. Thereafter, it reduced a Singapore Airline flight and introduced four Silk Air flights with Airbus A-320 aircraft to offer daily connections. In March 2013, it replaced a Silk Air flight with Singapore Airlines, thereby replacing an A-320 aircraft with 150 seats by a 285-seater B-777 aircraft.
19/06/13 Times of India

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Goa airport told to get consent under Air and Water Act

Panaji: Goa airport authorities have been asked to apply for consent under the Air and Water Pollution Control Act within 15 days, for its solid waste management, a senior official said today.
Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), in its notice issued to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) on June 18 with regard to the management of the Goa facility, has asked them to properly fix the functioning of sewerage treatment plant (STP) and also comply with environmental norms for solid waste disposal.
GSPCB Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said the airport management will have to reply within 15 days.
19/06/13 PTI/Economic Times

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No corruption in Male airport deal, watchdog says

Male: The Maldives anti-corruption watchdog has ruled out any corruption in the deal to award the country's only operational international airport to Indian infrastructure giant GMR group, a media report said on Tuesday.
The $511 million project was abruptly cancelled by the Maldivian government in November 2012.
The Anti-Corruption Commission's 61-page investigation report into alleged corruption in the leasing of the Ibrahim Nasir International Airport to GMR by the previous administration declared that there was no corruption involved in the bid evaluation phase of the deal, Xinhua reported citing Haveeru online.
18/06/13 IANS/Times of India

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Airports Authority of India workers to go on mass leave

New Delhi: Employees of state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) will go on mass casual leave on Friday to protest against the government's intervention in the functioning of AAI.
"The government has accorded miniratna status to AAI but it is not allowing financial and administrative autonomy, as it is contemplating public-private partnership for operations of Chennai and Kolkata airports.
AAI has invested more than Rs. 5,000 crore on modernisation," Balraj Singh Ahlawat, General Secretary of Airports Authority Employees' Union, said.
We are serving a legal notice of mass causal leave for June 21 to oppose these moves, he said.
19/06/13 PTI/NDTV

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MIHAN India Limited consults NEERI for insect problem during monsoons

Nagpur: The operator of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport here, MIHAN India Limited (MIL), has consulted NEERI in order to combat the problem of insects during monsoons. Once the rain starts, a lot of insects come out of the ground near the runway. These insects in turn attract a lot of birds, which are dangerous for the aircrafts.
Accidents happening due to bird activity are not unheard of and birds can cause much havoc. Last week, one aircraft had to be diverted to Hyderabad after it ran out of fuel waiting for space around the runway to be cleared of birds and another had to be grounded after one of its engine blades was damaged in a bird hit.P Anil Kumar, senior airport director, told TOI that MIL had consulted NEERI to tackle the problem. He added that spraying pesticide or such action won't help as it was more likely to pollute the water bodies and sources around the area.
19/06/13 Aparna Nair/Times of India

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Delhi-bound flight grounded due to technical snag

Patna: A Delhi-bound Air India plane was grounded when the pilot detected some technical snag just before take off on the runway at the Jaiprakash Narayan Airport here. As the 408 Patna-New Delhi Air India flight was readying for take off, its pilot sensed some snag on the basis of some unusual sound from the engine.
19/06/13 PTI/Economic Times

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Odisha govt to upgrade 11 airstrips in different districts

Bhubaneswar: Air connectivity across Odisha is set to get a boost with the state government proposing upgradation of the existing 11 airstrips in different districts. The plan includes installation of communication and surveillance apparatus, increasing the length of runways and construction of boundary walls, sources said.
The airstrips are located at Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Sambalpur, Jeypore (Koraput district), Khariar (Nuapada district), Bargarh, Phulbani, Rairangpur (Jharsuguda district), Ganjam, Balangir, Bhawanipatna and Malkangiri.
Official sources said except the airstrip at Jeypore, which will be converted into a full-fledged airport over 310 acre, the rest will be revamped and modernized. The state government had earlier proposed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop the Jharsuguda airstrip into a full-fledged airport.
18/06/13 Riyan Ramanath V/Times of India

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Saab Taps India For Remote ATC Towers

As air traffic grows at a frantic pace, India has to deal with the challenges posed by ageing air traffic management (ATM) infrastructure and the need to train more air traffic controllers (ATCOs). Progress is being made, however, despite a very limited budget. For example, Saab (Chalets A278, Static D146)–the first company to introduce the remote tower having spent five years developing and demonstrating them globally–is in discussions with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to set up a pilot remote tower (r-TWR) by 2015.
Saab’s acquisition of U.S Sensis and HITT of the Netherlands, gave it a market advantage in India as both companies are associated with major programs, including ground movement control systems at Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata airports. The amalgamation of the companies is now being marketed by Saab India Technologies, and they are looking to build on each other’s strengths in the domain of ATM through a direct India presence.
Saab’s discussions on remote towers are concentrated primarily on tier 2 and 3 cities in India that have few movements (2 to 50 per day) and for remote centers for clusters of two to five airports. The long-term benefits of this concept include reduced costs relating to construction and maintenance of airport control towers, as well as more efficient staffing of air traffic services (ATS), said Saab.
17/06/13 Neelam Mathews/AINonline

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Airport projects in four cities in limbo as promoters back out

Bangalore: The construction of greenfield airports in Bijapur, Bellary, Gulbarga and Shimoga — undertaken by the State government on public private partnership (PPP) — has run into problems.
While the promoter of Bijapur and Bellary airports — MARG, a Chennai-based firm — has decided to walk out of the project, the construction of Gulbarga and Shimoga airports has stopped because of bickerings among the promoters, official sources said.
MARG, Deccan Herald has learnt, recently told the government that it wants to pull out of the project, saying it’s “not viable”. The promoter claimed that the project site (about 11 km from Bijapur town) was “undulated” and unsuitable for airport development. It requires a lot of cutting and blasting works that may incur huge costs. The firm had taken the physical possession of 727 acres identified for the project and set up a site office. The project is estimated to cost Rs 200 crore.
MARG signed the Project Development Agreement (PDA) with the government for the airport’s construction in January 2010. It was to begin construction after signing the land lease agreement. It, however, failed to do so despite numerous reminders from the IDD, officials added.
18/06/13 P M Raghunandan/Deccan Herald

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Chakan airport project will get through: CM says in Pune

Pune: Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday said that he would ensure that the airport project at Chakan would be through after acquiring appropriate land. He said that the airport at Navi Mumbai would also be completed after acquiring the 300 to 400 hectare of land.
Chavan was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop organised by International Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) at environmental science department of the Bharati Vidyapeeth. Chavan said that for the Chakan airport, the land would be acquired at places where there would not be opposition from the farmers and a new model for compensation will be found.
He said the government was looking for the appropriate land after which the project would be through as there would be consensus of all the agencies involved.
18/06/13 Shailendra Paranjpe/Daily News & Analysis

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Ministry revives infra cell to push PPP mode in airport modernisation

New Delhi: In a move to fast-track the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports through the public-private partnership (PPP) route, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has re-established the Key Infrastructure Development (KID) cell.
KID was the nodal point in Airports Authority of India (AAI) for those interested in participating in the bidding process when the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports was started in 2005. It was not only the data room providing details on traffic flows, projections and area of land available with the two airports, but also put out requests for proposals for the two metro airports.
Confirming the development, senior Ministry officials told Business Line that KID would eventually push out the request for proposals for the development of the two airports that are currently owned and managed by the State-owned AAI.
18/06/13 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line

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Navi Mumbai airport a must, say developers

Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai airport is an absolute must for the infrastructure of a planned city, said Rajesh Prajapati, President of the Raigad unit of the Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry.
Regarding the delay in land acquisition, Prajapati made an appeal to all stake-holders, including the local political party leaders and the Government, to sort out the issue. The airport has been proposed to be launched in Raigad district.
There are reports that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is apprehensive that the airport project could turn unviable due to cost escalation. The cost is said to have more than tripled from initial estimates of about Rs 5,000 crore.
18/06/13 Business Line

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Aranmula airport: PM's intervention sought

Thiruvananthapuram: With the campaign ‘Annavum Vellavum mudikkaruth’ (Do not destroy food and water) gaining popularity among the people, a group of cultural, political and religious leaders has submitted a petition to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asking for his immediate intervention to stop the State Government from proceeding with the setting up of Aranmula airport.
The petition questions the need for a new airport at an aerial distance of 95 km from the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery and 93 km from the Trivandrum International Airport.
The project, it pointed out, also violated a number of state and central laws related to land and environmental protection including the Environment Protection Act, Kerala Land Reforms Act, Kerala Land Conservancy Act, Kerala Land Utilisation Order, Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act and the Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation Act.
18/06/13 New Indian Express

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Kodiyeri, Premachandran rue nod for Aranmula Airport

Thiruvananthapuram: Whether it is a brilliant political move or not, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that he felt guilty for being part of the government that took the decision to give in-principle approval to the Aranmula Airport.
He expressed regret at a day-long ‘satyagraha’, attended by several cultural and political leaders, which was initiated by poet Sugathakumari in front of the Martyrs Column at Palayam here on Tuesday.
“People should rally behind this movement to save whatever is left of the wetlands and paddy fields,’’ said Kodiyeri, as he signed a massive petition to which a group of cultural and political leaders, including the then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, are signatories. The massive petition is to be sent to the Prime Minister.
18/06/13 New Indian Express

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Decks cleared for civil terminal in Taj city

Ending years of uncertainty, union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has cleared a civil aviation terminal at the Kheria Air Force Base in this Taj city, raising hopes of increased tourist traffic, a senior tourism industry official said. Once it is functional, passengers will not have to pass through the air base to board their aircraft.
"This is a welcome development and work must begin immediately so that flights can resume during the coming tourist season (beginning September end)," Rajiv Tiwari, president of the Federation of Travel Agents of India, told IANS.
The development comes as the Uttar Pradesh government Monday cleared a proposal for an international airport at Agra.
18/06/13 IANS/IBN Live

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