Dedicated terminal for LCCs to come up at Kochi

Kochi: Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) will be setting-up a dedicated no-frills terminal for Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) at the Kochi International Airport by 2011. The terminal will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore during the third phase of the airport upgradation project that will commence before end of 2009, S Bharath, Managing Director, CIAL told TravelBiz Monitor on the sidelines of the Airport Expansion India Congress (AEIC) 2007 held recently at Hyatt Regency, Mumbai.
The proposed terminal will facilitate quicker turn-around-time and lower landing, parking and ground handling charges. Also, the terminal will have a single floor operation area for arriving and departing passengers of domestic as well as international LCCs. By opting for such an arrangement, the CIAL plans to do away with installation of travellators, escalators and aerobridges at the terminal. Adding to facilities at the terminal will be a parking apron, a car parking area, surface access infrastructure and a kerbside road.
29/11/07 Mayuresh Pawar/TravelBizMonitor

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Vehicle hits parked aircraft in Delhi

New Delhi: A driver with Air India (AI) was injured in an accident at the IGI Airport on Monday when his vehicle hit an Air Deccan plane while it was parked at a bay. According to sources, the driver, Krishan Gopal, has been admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital.
Air Deccan officials said that the incident took place at around 8.25 pm on Monday when the Air Deccan flight from Hyderabad had landed and was parked at bay number 1 of the airport. An Air India aircraft was parked next to it in bay number 2.
Gopal was driving a Tata 407, fixed with a step ladder and parked near the Air India aircraft.
According to eyewitnesses, Gopal suddenly fell unconscious and lost control over the vehicle. It rolled backwards and hit the Air Deccan aircraft — a distance of roughly 38 metre. "When a vehicle is parked in the airside, it should be in a locked position. However, the Air India vehicle was on neutral mode and when the driver lost consciousness, his foot went off the break and the vehicle rolled back and hit our aircraft," said the security incharge of Air Deccan.
30/11/07 Times of India

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Jet to suspend flights from Ahmedabad to London

Mumbai: Facing poor passenger response, Jet Airways is planning to suspend international flights to London’s Heathrow airport from Ahmedabad after mid-January.
Malaysia Airlines has recently pulled out flights to Kuala Lumpur from Ahmedabad because of the same ­reason.
Jet is operating three flights a week from Ahmedabad. The airlines opened this route in March, targeting the Gujarati and non-resident Indian community staying in the UK.
“We will withdraw Ahmedabad-London flights from 15 January and will deploy this capacity into Amritsar-London route,” said Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, chief executive officer of Jet. “The passenger load factor of Amritsar is comparatively better than Ahmedabad,” he added.
Prock-Schauer said the airline will route passengers for the UK from Ahmedabad through Mumbai as it is the closest airport for them.
30/11/07 P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

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India's GMR to bid for Prague airport privatisation in H2 2008 -

Mumbai: GMR Infrastructure Ltd is looking to enter a bid for the planned privatisation of the Prague airport, one of the more profitable state-run enterprises in eastern Europe, in the second-half of 2008, Business Standard reported.
The report cited the company, whose consortium previously won the rights to run Istanbul's Sabiha Gokeen International Airport with a 1.9 bln eur bid, as saying it is too early to speak about the Prague development but confirmed that preparations are on.
30/11/07 Thomson Financial/AFX News Limited/Forbes, US

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Flight a day to Singapore

Calcutta: Singapore Airlines is set to start its daily service from the city. Now, it operates four times a week.
“We will start daily services from Calcutta as soon as the Indian government grants us permission,” Subhas Menon, the regional vice-president (West Asia and Africa) of Singapore Airlines, said on Thursday.
“We hope the formalities will be over by next summer,” added Chai Woo Foo, the airline general manager (India).
The airline announced an advance promotional offer, a 40 per cent discount, for Calcuttans willing to fly to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in February. The Calcutta-Singapore-Calcutta fare will be Rs 8,000, plus taxes and surcharges, against the normal fare of Rs 14,500.
The Calcutta/Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Singapore-Calcutta package will be available at Rs 9,500, plus taxes and surcharges. The normal fare is Rs 14,500.
Tickets will have to be purchased from December 1 to 10.
30/11/07 The Telegraph

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Software error results in hundreds of bags left off planes

Singapore: Several hundred bags left off departing aircraft at Changi Airport have been reunited with their owners, a Singapore Airlines (SIA) spokesman said Friday.
A software error affected an electronic component of the baggage sorting system in Terminal 2, forcing airport staff to manually sort bags.
SIA, the terminal's main tenant, said that more than 500 of its bags were grounded Wednesday.
Fourteen flights were delayed to cities in India, Australia, New Zealand and other countries.
Affected passengers discovered they were without clean clothing, toiletries and other essentials when they arrived at their destinations.
Spokesman Stephen Forshaw told The Straits Times that the bags were cleared by security and sent off to be delivered to owners.
30/11/07 Deutsche Presse-Agentur/Monsters and Critics.com, UK

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Kashmir Fogged Out, Air Traffic Crippled

Srinagar: Both flights supposed to carry Hajj pilgrims from Srinagar were cancelled for the fourth day today even as no plane was able to take off from the Sheikh-ul-Aalam airport due to poor visibility. Nearly 400 pilgrims were scheduled to leave for Jeddah today, but heavy fog had reduced visibility to just 1.5 kms on the Srinagar airport, reports said.
Sources said that the first flight coming for Hajj pilgrims was unable to land at Srinagar in the morning because of dense fog.
Attempts were made to land the aircraft despite poor visibility, but despite 2 hours of efforts, both flights were cancelled.
"The minimum required visibility is 2.2 km while on Thusday the visibility at Srinagar airport was only 1.2 km," an official of the Indian Airlines said.
More than 60 flights from and to Srinagar have been cancelled and the anguished passengers are being forced to use the road route through the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which is itself prone to disruptions.
29/11/07 Kashmir Observer

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Trials to begin at new Bangalore airport next month

Bangalore: Construction of the new Bangalore International Airport is almost complete and the trials will begin next month, a top official said on Wednesday.
"Most of the work will be completed by the end of the year.We will start basic trials in December. We will have more advanced and integrated trials in January", Chief Operations Officer of Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), Marcel Hungerbuehler, told reporters here.
"We will have to start trials on each of the systems, Hungerbuehler said, adding, runway work has already been completed.
The new greenfield airport is located at Devanahalli, some 40 km from the city. It's expected to be operational on March 30.
Private promoters hold a 74 per cent stake in BIAL, formed to build, own and operate the airport, while the State holds the remaining 26 per cent.
Hungerbuehler said the new airport is expected to handle an estimated 10.5 million passengers and 88 million bags in the first year of operation.
29/11/07 Udayavani

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Jet, Kingfisher in talks with Bial for repair shops

Bangalore/Mumbai: Jet Airways (India) Ltd and Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, two of India’s biggest airlines, plan to locate their maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities at the new international airport being built in Bangalore. Apart from their own aircraft, the two companies plan to use their MROs to service the planes of other airlines that will operate from the airport.
Bangalore International Airport Ltd (Bial), the company building the airport, said it was holding talks with the two airlines for setting up MROs. “These are the only companies we are in negotiations with,” said Albert Brunner, chief executive officer of Bial. He did not set a time-frame by when a deal would be concluded.
A May 2006 report by the Aeronautical Society of India, an industry body, said the Indian MRO market would exceed $1.1 billion (Rs4,367 crore) in revenues by 2010.
“A good Indian airline is better than a foreign airline or a company (from the point of view of setting up an MRO at the airport),” said Brunner, adding that with a maintenance base, the local airline can use the airport as a hub for its global operations.
Executives at both the airlines confirmed plans for MROs in Bangalore.
29/11/07 K. Raghu and P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

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AAI to hike spending on airport modernisation by 250 %

New Delhi: With Airports Authority of India planning to hike its expenditure on modernising airports by a whopping 250 per cent in the 11th Plan, a parliamentary committee has asked it to ensure that there is no cost and time overrun in implementation of the projects.
The AAI has informed the Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) that it proposed to spend over Rs 12,417 crore in the 11th Plan compared with Rs 3,535 crore in the 10th Plan, an increase of almost 250 per cent.
Noting that AAI had set up a project management cell to assess the progress of its projects, the COPU, headed by CPI(M) leader Rupchand Pal, recommended that this cell should "periodically assess the work of the ongoing projects so as to ensure that there is no cost and time overrun" in their implementation.
Regretting that AAI had taken "more than a decade" to prepare and finalise its corporate plan, it said the profit- making public sector unit had to "resort to segmented approach to the issues arising from time to time rather than having a holistic approach."
28/11/07 PTI/Economic Times

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Air traffic crippled in Kashmir due to cold wave

Srinagar: Dense fog crippled air traffic from here for the third day on Wednesday as the cold wave intensified in the Kashmir valley and the mercury plunged further to almost five below freezing.
All 12 flights from Srinagar international airport, including a special Air-India plane scheduled to take Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, were cancelled owing to low ground visibility, an Airport Authority of India said.
He said only one Jeddah-bound flight has been able to operate while air passengers to various destinations around the country have been stranded at the airport for the past three days.
The valley, which has been under the grip of icy weather for a week, experienced its coldest day of the season with the mercury dropping to minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, a met official said.
28/11/07 PTI/Times of India

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GMR Infra arm plans additional facilities to air passengers in winter

Chennai: GMR Infrastructure Ltd has informed the BSE that Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd, the company's subsidiary, is proposing to provide additional facilities and services to the passengers during the winter months and undertake several proactive measures to reduce inconvenience to passengers during the fog season.
These include additional seating area for passengers, an extensive flight information display system, systemising the movement of passengers from the extension to the check-in area, a centralised Emergency Response & Interactive Centre, arrangements to p rovide refreshments, food and beverages, an increased number of payphones, a basic call centre, and fog updates from the Meteorological Department of India.
28/11/07 Business Line

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DFS wins duty-free retail deal at Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), has terminated its contract for duty-free retail with the IPCL-Aldeasa combine and awarded it to DFS, a LVMH Möet Hennessy Louis Vuitton group company.
DFS, one of the largest airport retailers in the world, has won the deal paying a minimum guarantee of Rs 260 crore, about 60% lower than the original bidders, the ITDC-Aldeasa consortium.
Apart from the guaranteed amount, DFS also has a revenue share deal with MIAL, that is triggered if turnover crosses a certain amount, sources close to the deal said.DFS will be responsible for designing and building the shopping environment, sourcing a wide range of international luxury brands and developing a promotion strategy for duty free shopping at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).
With the new agreement in place, duty-free operations, in India’s largest international airport, are now expected to start from January 2008. They have been held up since June, as the earlier consortium failed to formalise the joint venture.
29/11/07 Economic Times

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CBI asked to probe illegal immigration racket involving army

New Delhi: Turning down the army’s request for an internal inquiry into the alleged illegal immigration racket involving some of its top brass, the defence ministry has asked the CBI to conduct a thorough probe into the scam.The CBI, in response to a letter from the defence secretary, Mr Vijay Singh, has asked him to file a complaint before it so that an FIR could be lodged in the case, official sources said. It has also sought all records pertaining to the case.
The racket came to light earlier this month when four persons were detained at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here while trying to leave the country on official army passports, prompting the authorities to investigate for possible links with a larger illegal immigration network.
The four detained persons were carrying official white passports issued to the Army Headquarters band for a performance in Germany. According to sources, an Army soldier Mr Suresh Babu had allegedly prepared these travel documents and sold them for nearly Rs 50,000 each. During investigations, Mr Babu had claimed that he had prepared the passports in the past as well, the sources said. The sources said that Mr Babu had alleged that he had prepared diplomatic passports illegally for senior official and his wife during their visit to Malaysia. He has also named a Colonel working in the Ceremonial and welfare directorate at the army headquarters.
29/11/07 PTI/Navhind Times

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SITA to deploy passenger-baggage reconciliation system at BIAL

Bangalore: IT solutions and communication services provider for the air transport industry, SITA, has said it will deploy its integrated passenger-baggage reconciliation system at Bangalore International Airport (BIAL). It would be the first-ever such system to go live at an Indian airport, SITA officials told reporters here.
The new system, expected to be operational in March at the greenfield airport, comprises two modules -- BagManager and BagMessage.
BagManager interfaces with check-in and baggage sorting systems, and integrates with flight information systems for any latest updates on aircraft landing, company officials said.
"BagMessage ensures that latest information about passenger bags is available whenever and wherever needed,'' SITA's Regional Vice-President Elyes M'Rad said.
28/11/07 Business Line

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Delhi airport in world’s Worst 5, the comfort is Paris there too

New Delhi: A New report conforms to our travel experience: it ranks the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi among the world’s worst five airports. Others in the list published by Foreign Policy, an influential bi-monthly, are the Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in the Senegalese capital of Dakar, the Mineralnye Vody Airport in the war-torn Russian city of Mineralnye Vody, the Baghdad International Airport and the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris.
The report, which “looks at five airports around the world that make travelling hell”, lists the Delhi airport for its sheer chaos. It doesn’t talk of the recent flight delays but says visitors have “reported aggressive panhandlers and filthy bathrooms where attendants charge for toilet paper”.
Of the Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, the magazine says the airport is “just plain embarrassing” for a “city this great. Visitors to Paris should expect more than the grimy terminals, rude staff, confusing layout, and overpriced food.” The report quotes Michel-Yves Labbé, president of French travel company Directours, as having said, “Charles de Gaulle is a disgrace — it’s like a third-world airport.”
28/11/07 Uma Vishnu/Delhi Newsline

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Selloff on Hassan, not Shimoga

At a time when states are out to cash in on the aviation boom, the Karnataka government is looking the other way. At least when it comes to the Hassan airport project.
The State Public Works Department (PWD) has awarded the Hassan airport project at a throwaway price of Rs 1,100 per acre per annum lease rent — around 10 and 15 times lesser when compared to the Shimoga and Gulbarga airport projects.
The PWD, which is the nodal agency for developing the Hassan airport, in its order dated July 12, 2007 has allotted 960 acres of land in Hassan to the project promoter, Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Limited, on a 30-year lease for the aerodrome. In other words, the government will get a mere Rs 10,56,000 per annum as lease rent from the project promoter, according to documents available with Deccan Herald.
Jupiter Aviation, the private player in the airport project, is owned by Member of Parliament Rajiv Chandrashekar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha with more than a little help from JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. The land was acquired by the government from farmers and leased out to the promoter.
Now, a quick look at the lease rent from the Shimoga and Gulbarga projects. While the Shimoga airport spread over 662 acres fetches the government Rs 1.3 crore every year at the rate of Rs 20,232 per acre per annum, the 567-acre Gulbarga one earns Rs 85.05 lakh at Rs 15,111 per acre per annum.
28/11/07 P M Raghunandan/Deccan Herald

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Bill to regulate major airports

New Delhi: The government has proposed to set up an independent Regulatory Authority - Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) - with an aim to create a level playing field and healthy competition amongst all major airports, Rajya Sabha was told on Tuesday.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel in a written reply.
For this, AERA Bill 2007 has since been introduced in Lok Sabha on September 5 this year.
Tourists: In order to attract foreign tourists, National Aviation Company of India Limited has launched special holiday packages known as AirIndia Flyaways. These packages are saleable in domestic as well as international markets, he said.
A-380: It is planned the new Hyderabad international airport at Shamshabad will be A-380 compatible. While there are plans to upgrade Chennai and Kolkata airports, Delhi and Mumbai airports are being upgraded by joint venture companies for A-380 compatibility, Patel said.
27/11/07 PTI/Economic Times

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Fresh bids for Bijapur airport likely to take place next month

Bangalore: The Karnataka Government has proposed to invite fresh bids from private players for the Greenfield airport at Bijapur, following its inability to select private sector developers in the previous bidding process that was initiated in May, 2007. The fresh round of bidding is likely to take place next month. The bidder who came close to being selected in the first round demanded 100 acres of additional land for city-side development to make the project economically viable, according to an Infrastructure Development Department official. Since the Government was not able to readily concede with the demand, the selection process came to a halt. The decision to re-invite bids is likely to benefit the state, which has been highly successful in attracting private players for development of Greenfield aviation infrastructure.
Along with the Bijapur airport, the State Government had offered the Greenfield Shimoga and Gulbarga airports for development on the basis of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, which are going to be developed by Maytas-led consortium.
28/11/07 Venugopal Pillai/TravelBizMonitor

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Tav Signs Preliminary Contract With Two Indian Companies

Istanbul: Turkish TAV Airports Holding has signed preliminary contracts with two Indian companies for the Greater Noida Airport project, it was reported.
In a press release issued to the Stock Exchange, TAV noted that it signed preliminary contracts with Indian IL&FS Transport Network Ltd. and Parsvnath Developers Ltd. and will submit a bid for the "Greater Noida Airport" project.
27/11/07 Turkish Press

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Star tortoises seized from air passenger

Chennai: Over 900 live star tortoises were seized from a passenger at the airport here early on Wednesday.
The endangered species were found concealed in a suitcase, belonging to one Jaffer (28), who had come to board an Indian Airlines flight to Kuala Lumpur.
He was arrested by customs officials and handed over to the Forest Department for further investigation. The star tortoises, numbering 909, were valued at Rs 6 lakhs in the international market, airport sources said.
28/11/07PTI/The Hindu

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Co-pilot refuses to take-off, fliers stuck

The passengers of a Jaipur-Calcutta flight of Air India were stranded at Jaipur on Sunday night after the co-pilot refused to fly, citing “duty-hour” rules.
“Co-pilot J. Bose did not want to fly as his flight duty time limit would have been over by the time he would reach Calcutta on Sunday night. We could not arrange another pilot at such short notice.” said an airline official.
IC 269, carrying 131 passengers, was scheduled to arrive in Calcutta at 10.30pm on Sunday. It finally landed at 11.30am on Monday.
The flight duty time limit, laid down by the directorate-general of civil aviation, states that a pilot should not fly for more than eight hours a day and not land after 11pm on two consecutive days.
“But the eight-hour rule is often stretched by an hour,” said a pilot.
Airline officials said Bose would have been in the cockpit for more than the stipulated eight hours, had he flown to Calcutta on Sunday night. “It was for the safety of the aircraft and the passengers that he did not want to fly,” an official pointed out.
The flight on the Calcutta-Ahmedabad-Jaipur-Calcutta route landed in Jaipur at 8.35pm, an hour behind schedule. “The delay, due to congestion in Ahmedabad and Jaipur, would have resulted in the violation of the flight duty time rule,” the official said.
27/11/07 The Telegraph

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Bird-hit, fog delay flights

New Delhi: Indira Gandhi International Airport here was crammed with passengers on Monday morning because of a series of delays and diversion of a flight to Delhi owing to fog in another city.
Passengers of a Dubai-bound Air India flight scheduled to depart on Sunday night had to wait for almost 24 hours at the airport because of a bird-hit. As a result, passengers scheduled to go to Frankfurt in the same aircraft (AI 137) on Monday morning got delayed by several hours.
The Dubai-bound flight AI 747 was to take off at 8-30 p.m. on Sunday, but the aircraft that was coming from Dhaka was grounded because of a bird-hit.
Since the same Delhi-Dubai flight was affected on Saturday as well causing backlog, another aircraft carrying the rest of the Dubai-bound passengers will be flown on Tuesday morning, another airline official said.
There were also reports that some passengers had a heated argument with the Air India officials over the delays and inconvenience caused to them.
27/11/07 The Hindu

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AI services to Dubai, Frankfurt-Los Angeles sectors disrupted

New Delhi: Two services of Air India to Dubai and Frankfurt-Los Angeles were disrupted as a Boeing aircraft, coming here from Dhaka, suffered bird-hit while landing at the IGI Airport here leading to protests by irate passengers.
One of the four engines of the Boeing 747-400 plane was severely damaged in the incident when it landed here on Saturday evening.
The aircraft, which was to operate to Dubai yesterday morning, return and then fly off to Frankfurt and onwards to Los Angeles the same evening, had to be grounded, an Air India official told the media here, adding that as a consequence, the services on these two sectors were disrupted.
Though the official asserted that the passengers were accommodated in hotels yesterday, the passengers complained of lack of efforts on part of Air India to take care of them.
The official said there was a crunch in the number of aircraft as some have been deployed for the Haj operations.
However the airline managed to spare a Boeing 747 and sent it to the Frankfurt-Los Angeles this afternoon, while another aircraft took the stranded passengers to Dubai late this evening.
26/11/07 Economic Times

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AI service to Dubai delayed for 24 hrs

New Delhi: Air India has done it again. 300 passengers bound for Dubai spent nearly 24 hours at Delhi airport. The flight took off on Monday evening.
Passengers booked on Air India need to take this advice very seriously.
“They are the worst airline. Please don't fly air India,” says one passenger.
Three hundred passengers were booked on an Air India flight from Delhi to Dubai, leaving Sunday.
The flight was delayed over 20 hours. 200 transiting Bangladeshi passengers couldn't even leave the airport.
27/11/07 Karma Paljor / CNN-IBN

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Sri Lanka IOC unit eyes aviation fuel at new airport

Lanka IOC, a unit of Indian Oil Corporation, had applied to supply aviation fuel at a proposed new airport in southern Sri Lanka, a top official said.
"We have applied to the government to provide aviation fuel at the new Weerawila airport," Lanka IOC managing director K Ramakrishan told LBO.
"The airport needs infrastructure for fuel."
Sri Lanka has announced that it is building a new airport at Weerawila in the southern Hambantota district of the island.
Fuel at the existing Bandaranaike airport in Colombo is provided by the state owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).
Aviation fuel supply is a profitable business as it is not under price control from the government.
Infrastructure at the Katunayake airport was not included in the jointly owned common user facility that Lanka IOC shares with the CPC.
It had been eying the aviation business at Katunayake for several years, but the government has so far not allowed competition at the country's only international airport.
27/11/07 Lanka Business Online, Sri Lanka

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Parsvnath to bid airport management and modernization projects

New Delhi: New Delhi-based real estate developer, Parsvnath Developers Ltd is joining the ranks of developers bidding for airport management and modernization projects and is in advanced stage of talks with an international airport operator to jointly bid for projects in India. Parsvnath is looking at forming a joint venture with the airport operator. The company would manage the real estate, with the airport operator bringing in its expertise in airport design and development. “We will tie up with a big player,” Jain said, adding that he cannot name the player till the deal is finalized.
Leading real estate developers such as DLF Ltd and Unitech Ltd have already said that they plan to bid for airport modernization projects.
While DLF has tied up with Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, owner and manager of the Frankfurt Airport, to bid for projects, Unitech is in talks with Aéroports de Paris, the French airport operator which manages most of the important airports in France. The government is in the process of modernizing and redeveloping 35 airports to ease the traffic congestion in the existing airports.
27/11/07 Shabana Hussain/Rasul Bailay/Livemint

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MIAL awards contract to DFS Group for duty free retail

Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL) today awarded the duty free retail contract for Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), Mumbai to DFS Group Limited.
DFS will be responsible for designing and building the shopping environment, sourcing a wide range of international luxury brands and developing a strong promotional strategy for duty free shopping at CSIA. DFS will start operating the new Duty Free area from January 2008.
Located in the international Terminal 2C at CSIA, the duty free shopping area will be spread across 24,541 sq. ft. Of this, 14,585 sq. ft will be at the departure level, 8395 sq. ft at the arrival level and 1560 sq. ft will be for storage.
The DFS Group is one of the world's leading luxury retailers and operates more than 150 shops at major airports in Asia Pacific and North America including Singapore Changi, Hong Kong, Sydney, Auckland, New York JFK, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
27/11/07 Moneycontrol.com (press release)

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Siemens in talks with RIL, L&T to bid for Navi Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Siemens Ltd, the Indian arm of German electrical and engineering company Siemens AG in India, is in talks with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Larsen & Toubro Ltd (L&T) for a possible tie-up to bid for the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The company’s subsidiary, Siemens Project Ventures, already holds a 40% share in Bangalore International Airport Ltd with the remaining being held by the Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Development Corp., the Airports Authority of India (13% each), L&T, and Switzerland’s Zurich Airport (17% each).
“Among the possible potential partners for bidding Navi Mumbai airport, Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro are important ones,” said a senior Siemens executive, who did not wish to be identified.
An RIL spokesperson declined to comment on the issue. RIL is currently in the process of developing a special economic zone in Navi Mumbai, near the airport.
“We are keen to participate in the Navi Mumbai (airport) project. But we cannot divulge the details of consortium partners at this point of time,” said a senior L&T executive, who asked not to be named.
26/11/07 P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

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Flights from Srinagar cancelled

Srinagar: All flights, including a Saudi Arabia-bound Indian plane carrying Haj pilgrims, were cancelled on Monday due to poor visibility at the airport here while the Kashmir valley continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures.
A thick blanket of fog enveloped the airport till past noon, forcing cancellation of all out-bound and incoming flights, officials said.
A special Indian aircraft due to take Haj pilgrims to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia was postponed to Tuesday depending on weather conditions, they said adding that flights from Jammu, Delhi and Mumbai could not come to the airport.
The cold wave showed little signs of relenting as minimum temperatures stayed well below freezing point.
27/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Aurangabad airport to get international edge

Aurangabad: If things go as planned by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the ongoing upgrade of the Aurangabad airport will not only increase tourist traffic to the city, but will also open up doors for better commercial network with the rest of the world.
The revamp of the airport, when completed, will allow wide-bodied aircrafts run by chartered flight operators to land at the airport.
The AAI sources told DNA on Monday that the proposed development project includes construction of new passenger terminal and ancillary facilities, and construction of a new, wider apron beside two-way taxi tracks.
Civil aviation minister Prafulla Patel, who had laid the foundation of this project in January 2006, had promised it would be completed within a span of one year.
27/11/07 Arif Shaikh/Daily News & Analysis

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Meghalaya to soon have modern airports

New Delhi: The exotic northeastern state of Meghalaya is all set to get three five-star hotels, said Meghalaya Chief Secretary Ranjan Chaterjee here Monday. The Shillong and Tura airports in the state are also being upgraded, he added.
Referring to the issue of infrastructure development and communication, Chatterjee said that the upgradation of airports in Shillong and Tura were on track.
Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang, in an interview to IANS earlier this month, had said: "Accessibility to the northeast is a major challenge. For this reason, we wanted the Shillong airport to be upgraded and I had a word with the civil aviation authorities in this regard. "I am happy that the authorities have agreed to it. After upgradation, communication will become a lot easier. For instance, people can take a flight to Bangkok and reach in just two hours."
26/11/07 Azera Rahman/IANS/Khabrein.info

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Add-ons boon at Calcutta airport

Calcutta: A string of steps promises to end the chaos and congestion at Calcutta airport’s domestic terminal.
The traffic-handling capacity of the terminal has gone up recently, with the addition of check-in counters, X-ray machines, over 1,000 new trolleys and an entrance. According to a survey by the Airports Authority of India, the acquisitions have increased the terminal’s traffic-handling capacity by nearly 40 per cent.
“Several other measures will be taken by early next year, improving things further,” said airport director V.K. Monga.
The canopy work is expected to be complete early next year. It spans 2,650 sq metres — from one end of the terminal to the other — and will expand the lounge area.
By January, the conveyor belts will have X-rays built into them to scan the registered baggage of passengers.After the addition of 18 check-in counters over the past two months, the number of counters now stands at 46.
Extension of the secondary runway by 440 metres and a fifth taxiing bay between the primary and secondary runways will also speed up flight operation.
The secondary runway, once it is extended, will have Category I Instrumental Landing System (ILS). Trolleys are the latest addition to the airport infrastructure. There were 1,400 trolleys in the terminal but a large number of them were not usable. The 1,100 trolleys recently acquired have brakes. Eight hundred more trolleys will be purchased by January.
26/11/07 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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"Airlines other than AI to operate from Kozhikode"

Kannur: Amidst complaints from passengers about national-carrier Air India's services at Kozhikode, the Centre was taking steps to invite other international airlines to operate from the airport, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahmed, said Sunday.
"I am given to understand that the Civil Aviation ministry, considering the people's anguish over unsatisfactory performance of Air India flights, unfortunate delay and change of schedule, which may sometimes become inevitable, will take steps in the first week of next month and hold consultations with other international airlines," he told PTI.
"It might take one or two months for allowing more flights from Kozhikode after completion of formal talks with other international airline operators," he said.
25/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Passengers of IA flight left stranded

Jaipur: It was a hard time for passengers of another Indian Airlines flight from Jaipur to Kolkata when they were left stranded at the airport here when the pilot simply refused to take off citing duty timings.
Some of the passnegers carrying kids were forced to stay in Jaipur after the 8.15 pm Indian Airlines flight to Kolkata could not take off.
They were later shifted to a hotel in the middle of the night after waiting for hours.
26/11/07 Sahara Samay

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Director may visit Malda and Balurghat airstrips

Malda: The executive director of the Airports Authority of India (AII), eastern region, Mr SP Singh Boxi may visit the Malda and Balurghat airstrips, tentatively on 30 November, the Malda airport officials have said.
The objective behind his visit is to review the progress of the ongoing construction of the boundary wall in the two airstrips, for the protection of land and also to observe the existing position of the airports, which are likely to be renovated soon.
Sources said that the director of Airports Authority of India may visit Raiganj too, in accordance with the request of the Union information and broadcasting minister, Mr Priyaranjan Das Munshi.
Mr Das Munshi had suggested to the Airports Authority of India authorities to set up an airport in North Dinajpur district and asked them to visit the spot for the selection of the required land.
To revive air services, political leaders are planning to connect the north Bengal districts by air services from Cooch Behar to Malda, connecting three other districts of North and South Dinajpur.
25/11/07 The Statesman

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110 acre more land for expansion of Mangalore airport

New Delhi: Karnataka government has agreed to hand over 110 acre of land for Mangalore airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked for an additional land of 110 acre for expansion of the Mangalore airport which the Karnataka government has agreed to hand over, according to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.
The Minister said the additional land was for construction of a parallel taxiway and widening of the basic strip of the new runway besides construction of a link road to connect the city approach road to the new terminal building.
He said the State government has offered to provide additional land for the extension of the new runway from 8000 to 9000 ft and more.
"The land offered is in a valley which is 75 to 80 metre deep. A detailed techno-economic feasibility study, environment impact and safety assessments are required to be carried out as it involves huge earth-filling. AAI is also examining the possibility of limited extension of the runway within the available land," Patel told B Janardhana Poojary (Congress) in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
25/11/07 Mangalorean.com

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Defence ministry to take up frisking issue

New Delhi: Amid all the hullabaloo over the Army, Navy and IAF chiefs being subjected to security checks at airports , even while people like Robert Vadra are exempted from it, defence minister A K Antony has quietly asked his ministry officials to take up the case of the top military brass with the civil aviation ministry once again. And this time, do it in a forceful manner.
Top defence ministry officials told TOI on Saturday that "a strong case" for the exemption of the Service chiefs from security checks and frisking at airports was in the works and it would be presented to the civil aviation ministry "soon". "We are confident we will get a positive response this time. It is being taken up in a serious manner," said an official.
All this comes after TOI highlighted the progressive downgrading of the armed forces by the political and bureaucratic establishments, in the light of Antony's statement in Parliament on Wednesday that the civil aviation ministry had shot down his ministry's proposal to exempt the Service chiefs from pre-embarkation checks at airports in line with the courtesy granted to a host of other VIPs.
25/11/07 Rajat Pandit/Times of India

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Southern airports on recovery path

New Delhi: The airports of south India are back on the path of recovery, thanks to the modernisation of several loss-making airports by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). What’s more, according to AAI, many airports such as Mangalore and Visakhapatnam have registered profits in the last fiscal and those at Tiruchirapalli, Madurai and Rajamundhry are expected to log profits in the current fiscal.
AAI is implementing modernisation and expansion projects at six airports - Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Visakhapatnam, Kozhikode and Mangalore.
AAI is in the process of developing the old airport at Mysore and the work will comprise strengthening and widening of runways and construction of new terminal building. The Tamil Nadu government has also approached AAI to expand and modernise the airport at Tuticorin.
Another plea has been made by the Tamil Nadu government to convert the naval base airport located at Uchipuli into a civilian air terminal.The state government has also evinced interest to use services of Helicopters Corporation of India to connect hill stations of Kodaikanal and Ooty.
25/11/07 Raja Awasthi/Economic Times

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IGI mess to last till March

New Delhi: According to IGI Airport officials, renovation and modernisation work at the international terminal is on in full swing and should be complete in four to five months, though they are facing a stiff challenge thanks to poor maintenance by the earlier management, they say.
But till then, most airlines are also complaining that their operations are being severely hampered due to reduced space for operations.
As and when certain segments are taken up for work, immigration and custom areas will also be reduced for short whiles. The transit area space has also been reduced so that, allege airlines, when there are delays or several flights being handled at the same time, like during the fog, there will be no place to even sit.
However, DIAL officials say that such changes are inevitable, especially since work at such a large scale is being taken up.
Major portions of the airport have false ceilings made of mineral fibre panels. The panels, with their paper-like quality, tend to absorb water and then crumble under the effect. When water from overhead pipes leak onto these panels, they collapse, the recent accidents at the airport being a case in point.
25/11/07 Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Fliers survive mid-air scare at IGI

New Delhi: The aviation ministry’s delay in earmarking separate runways for take-off and landing at IGI are bringing fliers closer to a disaster.
The most recent close call was on Friday when two aircraft narrowly missed colliding into each other - they were both cleared for take-off almost simultaneously even though there has to be a gap of three minutes between each departing plane.
Since the planes were to take off towards Dwarka - where the runways almost merge - the aircraft could have been involved in a mid-air collision.
The lives of hundreds of passengers were saved as the air traffic control realised its mistake in time and asked one of the taxiing planes to stop before it could get airborne.
The incident happened around 11.30 am when an Uzbekistan Airways plane was just lifting off from the main runway of the airport and a SpiceJet aircraft (SG 253 to Goa with 200 passengers on board) was cleared to begin taxiing for take off on the secondary one.
‘‘An aircraft reaches take-off speed in 37 to 42 seconds. In this case, the plane had initiated rolling and did that for seven seconds when the pilot was asked to abort take-off,’’ Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Kanu Gohain said. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is now conducting an inquiry as the air traffic control, prima facie, was found to have committed a mistake.
24/11/07 Neha Lalchandani/Times of India

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Accident averted at Delhi airport

New Delhi: An accident was averted at the Delhi Airport on Friday when a Goa bound SpiceJet flight was asked to abort take-off by Air Traffic Controller (ATC) after spotting another flight using the same runway.
Official sources said that twin runways are being used at the Delhi Airport and the SpiceJet flight was immediately asked to abort take-off after an Uzbek Airline plane was found using the same runway. As many as 200 passengers were on board the SpiceJet aircraft.
SpiceJet flight, which was scheduled to take-off at 1145 hrs, finally departed Delhi at 1300 hrs.
When contacted, a SpiceJet official said: "The cause of the incident will be known once a complete DGCA enquiry is done."
23/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Bomb scare at Ahmedabad airport

Ahmedabad: Panic gripped the passengers at the Sardar Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad on Saturday when bomb disposal squads were called into to check an abandoned bag.
The bomb disposal squads were summoned after the airport authorities alerted the Sardarnagar police station about the small bag, police said.
The situation eased out a few minutes later when only some documents, cash and a camera were found in the bag, they added.
24/11/07 PTI/Times of India

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Operator to restart Delhi airport hospitality plan

New Delhi: The private developer leading modernization of the Capital’s aerodrome, Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), said it will restart a plan to build hotels and malls at the country’s second busiest airport soon, a day after the government’s top legal counsel told the civil aviation ministry the proposal did not contravene rules under which the airport is being privatized.
The ministry, which is opposed to the development of the so-called hospitality district at the airport, said it is still to take a view on the legal advice it had received from the attorney general of India.
Construction of nearly 3,000 hotel rooms for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in about 45 acres of land through private realty developers had been put on the back-burner by DIAL after its differences surfaced with airport regulator Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the civil aviation ministry, which objected to the developer’s plan to finance the modernization by taking deposits against lease contracts in the hospitality ­district.
DIAL still has nearly 200 acres which can be developed on a similar model, while the Mumbai airport, being developed by Mumbai International Airport Ltd under almost similar contractual terms, could also potentially decide to fund airport modernization through deposits around 2010-11 when the occupied airport land is vacated through an ongoing slum relocation programme.
24/11/07 Tarun Shukla/Livemint

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Mumbai cancels duty free operators` contract

New Delhi: Duty-free operations in Delhi and Mumbai appear to be in disarray with contractors in both airports accusing the joint venture airport developers of overcharging them.
Meanwhile, after a spate of arguments, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a consortium of India’s GVK Airports Company and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), terminated the contract with ITDC/Aldeasa yesterday.
ITDC/Aldeasa, a joint venture between state-owned Indian Tourism Development Corporation and Spanish company Aldeasa, had bagged the contract for duty-free operations at Mumbai airport for Rs 571 crore in February.
Operations were to start in June. Instead, two weeks ago, Aldeasa wrote to MIAL saying that the contract value should be reduced to Rs 250 crore.The latest contract bid was almost eight times ITDC’s previous duty-free contract with the Mumbai airport authorities.
ITDC/Aldeasa said that going by the infrastructural constraints they would not be able to break even before two years.
The sources said MIAL refused to concede on the grounds that reducing the contract value would make several other players who had bid eligible for the contract.
24/11/07 Anirban Chowdhury/Business Standard

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Indian aviation bodies accused of neglecting Karippur airport

Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) should remain vigilant against the “divide and rule” policy of Indian national airlines, according to a representative of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce which is spearheading an agitation against the “neglect” of Karippur International Airport in Malappuram.
M P M Mubasheer, an executive committee member of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce, was speaking to Gulf Times yesterday.
Mubasheer is visiting Qatar on an invitation from Gulf-Calicut Passengers Association (Gapac), a Doha-based forum of expatriates from northern Kerala, which was formed recently to protest against what it called “the indifferent and stepmotherly attitude” of the National Airport Authority of India (NAAI) and Indian Civil Aviation Department towards Karippur International Airport.
The Malabar Chamber of Commerce official said NAAI and the Civil Aviation Department has treated “no other airport in India as badly as the way they neglected Karippur”.
Karippur is one of the busiest airports in India, handling an average of 78,000 international and 20,000 domestic passengers every month, said Mubasheer.
“Despite this, when it comes to the issue of granting foreign airlines landing rights there, the Indian aviation officials are deliberately turning a blind eye towards the airport even as they allow them at airports such as Nagpur and Coimbatore. The records released by the civil aviation officials themselves have confirmed that the two airports have very little international traffic compared to Karippur,” he said.
24/11/07 Gulf Times, Qatar

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Delhi airport co can take advance for commercial space: AG

New Delhi: The Attorney General, the government's chief legal advisor, has said that the GMR Group-promoted Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has the right to raise deposits from bidders of commercial space to part-finance the modernisation of the capital's airport, estimated to cost Rs 8,900 crore.
In his report to the law ministry, from which the civil aviation ministry has sought an opinion on DIAL's plan to take advances, Attorney General Milon K Banerji is understood to have said: 'I am of the opinion that DIAL has a legitimate right to raise such deposits and it should not be seen as any substitution of revenues or a foul play on the part of DIAL.'
'There is no impediment to DIAL accepting refundable security deposits from developers as part of means to finance its obligations,' he said.
The observation could give a boost to DIAL, which is looking to achieve financial closure of the project for which it has proposed to raise Rs 3,144 crore by way of trade advances and deposits.
23/11/07 Press Trust Of India/Business Standard

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Nadine Coyle misses plane to India to meet Jesse Metcalfe

Nadine Coyle is reportedly reconciled with Jesse Metcalfe.
The couple split in April after the hunk, 28, went into rehab but Jesse is said to have wooed the Irish singer back.
He arranged a luxurious holiday for them both in Mumbai but the dopey actor forgot to sort out Nadine's Indian visa.
The Girls Aloud star, 22, was turned away from Heathrow airport last week.
'She was in floods of tears - she was desperate to join Jesse and spend some quality time with him,' a source tells the Daily Mirror.
'It was such a romantic gesture, she'd told all her pals and was clearly very excited. She pleaded with airport staff but was told that rules were rules and they couldn't make an exception.
'She cried her heart out before phoning Jesse and telling him she couldn't come. He told her not to worry and he would see her very soon.'
22/11/07 Now Magazine Online, UK

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Taj aviation hub project likely to hit air pocket

Lucknow: Amid serious disconnect among various central ministries over the viability of the Rs 5,000-crore greenfield Taj International Aviation Hub (TIAH) in Jewar, the GMR group, which manages Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, has upped the ante against the project.
This has forced the Uttar Pradesh government to go on an overdrive to make chief minister Mayawati’s dream project a reality. Justifying the need for a second airport within 70 km of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the National Capital Region, a senior UP government official made a strong case for the project. The official cited an Airports Authority of India study stating that by 2015-16, air traffic at the IGI Airport will hit the 108 million-mark, which would lead to severe congestion. He felt a second airport such as the TIAH is the only answer to this problem.
However, the GMR Group, which enjoys the right to refusal for the TIAH project, fears such an airport will take away a major portion of its traffic.
23/11/07 Deepa Jainani /Financial Express

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"Breach of standard separation; Not near air collision"

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) investigating into the near air collision of the special aircraft carrying UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and a Virgin Atlantic flight has revealed that the incident took place due to breach of standard separation and was not a near air collision.
The civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, told the Lok Sabha today that the DGCA had issued civil aviation requirements making it mandatory for aircraft to install Airborne Collision Avoidance system (ACAS) from January 2003, which enables the pilot to have a position picture of all aircraft in his vicinity and their reference height and distance from his aircraft.
Mr Patel said it also guides the pilot to take evasive action whenever any aircraft comes in proximity to his aircraft.
Non-RVSM aircraft have been restricted to flying in RVSM airspace above 29,000 feet. Flexible use of airspace to reduce traffic congestion has also been implemented. Apart from these, several new measures are also being initiated.
22/11/07 The Statesman

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Private Airports on anvil

New Delhi: Private parties can set up airports in the country independent of the government if a new policy of the Civil Aviation Ministry is approved.
"A new Greenfield policy for development of Greenfield Airports is under consideration," Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, told Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Inter-ministerial consultations are underway on the policy which will later be put up before the Cabinet for approval, he said replying to questions.
The new policy will allow private parties to set up airports independent of the government, he said adding air traffic management and security will, however, remain under the control of government.
While it is the endeavour of government to strengthen the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which is the sole provider of infrastructure for airports, the new policy will allow joint ventures and private parties into the field, the Minister said.
Under the old policy, a new airport cannot be set up within 150 kms of an existing one but the condition will not be there in the new policy.
23/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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SACL in talks with Kingfisher to start direct flights to Sydney

Mumbai: Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd. (SACL) is in talks with Kingfisher Airlines to start direct flights to Sydney. The airline is keen to start four flights per week, eventually looking at a daily frequency. "We are planning to start operations from the winter of 2008, since the peak season to Australia starts from the last week of October," said Hans Mitterlechner, Head - Traffic and Route Development, SACL.
SACL refused to divulge details about the incentives offered to Kingfisher Airlines. However, Mitterlechner said that it will comprise aero charges, other expenditure and revenue enhancing tools.
22/11/07 Krupa Vora/TravelBizMonitor

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Lost baggage: Airlines blame travellers

Last month, an international air traveller touched Delhi from Toronto via Paris, but his check-in baggage didn’t. “Upon enquiring about its status, an official told me it would be delivered at my residence the next day,’’ he said. In the meantime, he was asked to fill a form listing luggage details. While the luggage did arrive as stated, “Its zipper was damaged and a laptop, which I had mentioned in the list, was also missing”.
Consumer organisations say such cases of pilferage, lost and damaged baggage have only increased alongwith air traffic, especially in transit flights on international routes.
Although both airlines and consumer groups advise against carrying valuables in check-in baggage, a traveller may have genuine reasons for doing so. A 60-year-old Jaipur resident always checks in his laptop since he suffers from arthritis. Says Mumbai consumer activist Jehangir Gai, “They are supposed to make a special declaration (of checked-in valuables) for which they must pay a charge. One must not try to economize on that.’’
The Delhi traveller says he wasn’t given any declaration form to fill.
at Air Passengers’ Association of India. Reddy says the traveller must approach the airline’s help desk, and claim compensation after filling a baggage details form.
The Delhi traveller, however, was not offered any compensation, although he did receive a letter of regret. “When you are paying Rs 80,000 for a ticket, and this happens, it only shows that there is a clear lapse in service, and I am really disappointed.’’
Locally, says Kirti Bhatt of Ahmedabad’s Consumer Education & Research Centre (CERC), according to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972, domestic airlines must offer Rs 450 per kilo for lost or damaged baggage.
23/11/07 Rucha Biju Chitrodia/Times of India

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Service chiefs not exempt from airport security drill

New Delhi: The three Service chiefs command the men in uniform who are prepared to lay down their lives to protect the country's territorial integrity, but they themselves have been denied exemption from security procedures at airports.
Parliament was informed Wednesday that the civil aviation ministry had turned down a proposal to grant the exemption as it would 'lead to similar demands from some other authorities'.
The defence ministry had approached its civil aviation counterpart after the Service chiefs addressed a letter to it earlier this year for exempting them from security procedures.
While travelling within the country, the Service chiefs almost invariably travel by the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. They board these from the military enclaves of civil airports, which means they do not have to undergo any security procedures.
During foreign travels, which are undertaken on commercial flights, the Service chiefs have to board the aircraft from civil terminals. This means they are bodily frisked and have hand-held metal detectors run over them by security personnel who rank equivalent to a junior commissioned officer in the armed forces.
21/11/07 IANS/Earth Times.org

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No frisk list includes Dalai Lama, Robert Vadra

New Delhi: Robert Vadra, the only individual mentioned by name in the list of VIPs, can sail through the pre-embarkation checks if he is accompanied by a person protected by SPG (read a member of the Gandhi family).
But General Deepak Kapoor, Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Air Chief Marshal F H Major are liable to get frisked and go through immigration and security checks like other passengers. It's not that the list is small. Apart from the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, former presidents, Lok Sabha Speaker, Cabinet Ministers, SC judges, it also includes Chiefs Ministers, Deputy CMs, ambassadors of foreign countries, high commissioners and their spouses, Cabinet Secretary, visiting foreign dignitaries, people protected by SPG and the Dalai Lama.
22/11/07 Rajat Pandit/Times of India

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Kingfisher takes off for Jammu, GoAir to expand

New Delhi/Jammu: Kingfisher Airlines is launching its flight operations in Jammu from November 25 while GoAir has announced doubling its flight operations, also by the end of this month.
Airports Authority of India Director (Jammu) Chandramouli told Business Standard Kingfisher Airlines will start its operation from November 25.
Initially, it will operate seven flights a week. The company has appointed staff and raised infrastructure for the operation of its offices in Jammu. Kingfisher has been operating in Srinagar for more than a year.
GoAir started its operations a few months back here and plans to increase its flight operation, Chandramouli said. The airline is presently operating 12 flights a week. In view of the increasing rush of commercial flights at the Jammu airport, the AAI have planned to increase the parking facilities for three more aircraft.
22/11/07 Gopal Sharma/Business Standard

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Inaugural Haj flight takes off from Karipur

Malappuram: The first Haj flight under the State Haj Committee took off from Calicut International Airport at Karipur on Wednesday afternoon carrying 215 pilgrims to Jeddah. Minister in charge of Haj Affairs Paloli Mohammed Kutty flagged off the inaugural flight AI 2451 at 12 midday, which took off 35 minutes later.
Air India operated A300-B4 aircraft, the first twin-engine wide-body aircraft in the world produced by Airbus in 1976, for the inaugural Haj flight from Karipur. Air India will fly six more A300-B4 to carry Haj pilgrims from Karipur.
The second flight will leave Karipur at 12.45 p.m. on Thursday. There will be three flights each on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. There will be 31 Haj flights till December 6 to carry 8,243 pilgrims under the State Haj Committee.
22/11/07 The Hindu

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Forum backs initiative on Kerala airport

Expatriate forum Kannur United Welfare Association Qatar (Kuwaq) has extended support to initiatives by Gulf Calicut Passengers Association (Gapac) to highlight grievances of passengers at Kerala’s Karippur airport. This was decided at a executive committee meeting of Kuwaq held recently.
Kuwaq stressed that the indifferent attitude of Indian airlines had cost a number of passengers their jobs. Demanding early clearance for foreign airliners at Karippur, Kuwaq also appealed to Indian carriers to improve service.
The Kuwaq executive committee said it conduct a trip for members to Al Shamal Garden on the second day of Bakrid. Those interested can register with office-bearers, latest by November 30.
22/11/07 Gulf Times, Qatar

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UP: Airport needed to contain flying power

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is lobbying hard for a new international airport at Greater Noida — putting forward among its arguments the increase in passenger load in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the coming years.
Officials believe even the extended Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi will not be able to bear the brunt of air traffic what with operational delays that dog ongoing aviation projects. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has already indicated in a recent report that passenger congestion in the NCR is likely to rise by 20 per cent every year.
The UP government has also prepared a report replete with all facts, figures and future projections on air traffic.
The AAI report says that there will be nearly 1,000 lakh passengers travelling annually through the NCR region by 2017.
The pressure will mount on Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) floated by GMR, the nodal agency that is building the extension to the IGI airport. GMR has estimated a growth of only 8.3 per cent in air traffic in the coming years. On the other hand, the AAI, along with the civil aviation department of Uttar Pradesh, is projecting a Cumulative Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.4 per cent. It has already been 20 per cent in the last five years.
21/11/07 Siddharth Kalhans/Lucknow Newsline

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Ministry tightens screws on late Air India

New Delhi: After five of Air India’s (AI’s) long-haul flights were severely delayed over the weekend, the civil aviation ministry has decided to crack the whip.
At a meeting with senior Air India officials on Tuesday, civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla sought to make major changes in the functioning of the state carrier.
As a first step in this direction, the ministry will begin daily monitoring of Air India flights to London-New York, Chicago, Birmingham-Toronto, and New York from Delhi and Mumbai to know the reasons for the delays.
Also, Air India has been asked to consolidate its routes over the next three days. Route consolidation is important since the carrier has been facing an acute shortage of pilots as well as aircraft.
To make matters worse, it has had to operate additional flights for Haj pilgrims in the last few days. Route consolidation could mean cancellation of some flights on heavy days and redeployment of aircraft and pilots.
Also, the ministry has asked Air India to consolidate coordination at Delhi and Mumbai airports by working alongside Indian staff.
A senior-level coordination officer may also be appointed in Delhi for this.
21/11/07 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis

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AI delay: Patel's daughter takes Jet flight

New Delhi: On Tuesday morning, aviation minister Praful Patel's daughter Poornima was headed to London on AI 111. The schedule departure was at 7.20 am, but like most AI flights these days, it was delayed. While other passengers fretted, Poornima took the 12.50 pm Jet flight to London. The AI flight finally left Delhi around 3 pm — nearly eight hours behind schedule.
Other airlines accept passengers of delayed Air India flights only if the national carrier endorses their tickets. But AI rarely endorses tickets in case of delays.
While Poornima got off with a lesser delay — although she had to settle for Jet 9W122's business class, which unlike Air India does not have a Maharaja first class — hundreds of other passengers booked on the carrier continued to suffer.
IGI has witnessed riotous scenes in past few days with passengers of delayed planes — some by over 24 hours — complaining that there was no airline official to brief them.
21/11/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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AI delays: Lack of coordination aggravated situation

New Delhi: A meeting of the civil aviation ministry with the top brass of the newly created airline major Air India on Tuesday to look into the recent delays in some Air India flights discovered that while the Maharaja’s ageing fleet was hit by technical snags and other factors like pilot shortage, it was lack of proper coordination between the airlines’ Delhi and Mumbai cells that aggravated the entire situation.
After the merger, Air India’s Mumbai based control cell has been fully operational but Indian Airline’s control cell in Delhi has been at a much lower level of operations. What made it worse was that many of the airline’s employees left after finishing their shift, leaving a skeletal staff at the check-in counters, leading to even more delays due to long queues.Tuesday’s meeting decided that the ministry would now onwards monitor all important flights on a daily basis in a bid to check delays and cancellations, official sources said.
20/11/07 Financial Express

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More AI flights on the Kozhikode-Gulf sector in offing

Kochi: National carrier Air India plans to introduce more flights on the Gulf-Kozhikode sector after completion of the Haj pilgrimage.
The AI has introduced 20 per cent more flights on the sector in its winter schedule, which came into effect from October, Airlines Chairman and Managing Director, V Thulasidas told reporters here.
From Kozhikode, the airlines was operating maximum number of flights and there was a demand for more. After Haj pilgrimage was over, 10 to 13 additional flights would be introduced, Thulasidas said.
At present over 71 flights are being operated by the Air India to the Gulf from Kozhikode. Air India Express (AIE) was operating 47 flights a week, while AI has 14 weekly flights. Some flights of erstwhile Indian Airlines were also operating on the route, he said.
20/11/07 PTI/Economic Times

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Akola, Gondia next aviation hot spots

Nagpur: After Orange City, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is trying to bring cities like Akola and Gondia on the aviation map.
"About Rs 6.33 crore has been spent on the modernisation of Akola airport from the sanctioned fund of Rs 9.68 crore. For the Gondia airport, the AAI has spent Rs 40.20 crore of the Rs 40.64 crore sanctioned,’’ a senior AAI official said.
The AAI has already expanded the runway at Gondia airport to 7,500 feet to handle the operations of aircraft like Airbus-320 and Boeing-737. It is also constructing six buildings—a passenger lounge, control tower, fire station and other buildings. The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy (IGRUA) of Rae Bareli plans to start its satellite (flight training) operations from Gondia airport from November 30, the official added. A flight training institution is also coming up in the district.
21/11/07 Sachin Dravekar/Times of India

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Cial has foreign airports on radar

New Delhi: Cochin International Airport Ltd (Cial), the company that built the new international airport at Kochi, India’s first to be built by a private sector firm, is looking to build airports in India and in other countries in an effort to tap growing demand for airline infrastructure in many parts of the world.
Cial plans to participate in the modernization programme of 35 non-metro airports in the country and also wants to build airports in Sri Lanka, Ghana, Angola and Papua New Guinea, according to S. Bharat, managing director, Cial.
Bharat added that Cial is in talks with an international finance company and a technical partner to promote a new company that will handle these projects.
“The government of Sri Lanka has invited us to study the possibilities of building an airport there. We have got offers from Ghana, Angola and Papua New Guinea. Cial’s team will shortly visit those countries,” he said.
Cial plans to take up overseas airport projects on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) or build-own-operate (BOO) basis.
He declined to name the international partners citing confidentiality agreements.
“We are also looking at bidding for the ongoing airport projects within India as we can make airports at lower cost,” Bharat added.
21/11/07 P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

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Maytas Infra Consortium bags Gulbarga and Shimoga Airport Contracts

Maytas Infra Ltd has announced that the Infrastructure Development Department, Government of Karnataka, has selected a consortium of the Company, NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd (NCC) and VIE India Project Development and Holding LLC (VIE) to develop and operate airport proposed at Gulbarga and Shimoga on BOT basis.
Two separate Special Purpose Companies are to be set up for the above said purpose and the details of Consortium Partners and Shareholding pattern of the Company, NCC and VIE are 37%, 37% and 26% respectively. The Construction Period is 24 months from the date of signing the agreement and the Concession Period is 30 years and the Agreement shall at the option of Consortium be extended for a further period of 30 years.
20/11/07 Equity Bulls

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Reliance to bid for Navi Mumbai airport

Mumbai: Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries, which is promoting the Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone, will bid for the proposed Navi Mumbai airport.
Anand Jain, a close confidant of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, and also in charge of the SEZ ventures of the Reliance Group, on Tuesday said that Reliance would bid for building a greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai, not far from the SEZ and the second in the western metropolis.
The proposed Navi Mumbai airport project has been cleared by the Union Cabinet and its technical aspects by the Indian civil aviation authorities, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The project is being developed by various organisations, particularly the state agency CIDCO.
20/11/07 PTI/Trading Markets (press release), US

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Goa govt. plans to go ahead with Mopa international airport project

Panjim: The Goa government will soon approach the Union Civil Aviation Ministry with the second feasibility report submitted recently by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on the proposed new international airport at Mopa in North Goa. "We have received the feasibility report that suggests viability of two airports in Goa and we will go ahead with the plan to set-up the international airport at Mopa," Digambar Kamat, Chief Minister, Goa told TravelBiz Monitor. Meanwhile, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has granted Rs 500 crore for the up gradation of the existing international airport at Dabolim.
According to Kamat, the second feasibility report has been prepared with A 380 as the model aircraft for the master plans of the airport, which means the runway width will be more than any of the existing airports in the country. ICAO had been asked to prepare the second feasibility report in 2006 by the state government as the Mopa international airport project had run into controversy in 2005 and kept in abeyance following objections raised by some political parties.
21/11/07 Mayuresh Pawar/TravelBizMonitor

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Raytheon Completes GPS Testing In India

Raytheon Co. has completed the final system acceptance test to augment standard GPS signals over India, the company announced Nov. 20. The test of the GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) Technology Demonstration System is an important milestone in the transition to satellite-based navigation for civil aviation, the company said.
When completed, the system, which monitors GPS signals for errors and generates correction messages to improve positioning accuracy, will join other space-based augmentation systems in providing precise navigation, boosting safety, efficiency and capacity across India and the surrounding region.
The Indian Space Research Organisation and Airports Authority of India will embark on the next phase of the program, which will expand the existing ground network, add redundancy and produce the certification analysis and documentation for safety-of-flight commissioning.
20/11/07 Satellite Today, USA

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Chennai airport arrival hall renovation soon

Chennai: The renovation of the old arrival hall at the Anna international terminal will begin before this month-end.
The Airports Authority of India has allocated the work to a contractor. The Rs.14-crore work will be completed within a year, an AAI officer said.
It renovated arrival hall would have slope conveyors and better illumination of escalators and lifts as in the new arrival hall.
Another important feature would be the bathrooms. Unlike the new arrival hall at international terminal, a row of bathrooms would come up on one corner of the building, he said.
20/11/07 The Hindu

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Govt cracks the whip on Air India

New Delhi: After a streak of flight delays and cancellations by Air India, the government has come down hard on the airline and threatened strict action. Six international flight of Air India were delayed and cancelled in the past two days after technical glitches and flight duty time restrictions (FDTR) of the crew forced massive delays and several international circuits — London, New York, Birmingham, Toronto, Dubai, Bangkok and Muscat — were affected.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel took stock of the situation on Monday and threatened strict action against those found responsible for the lapses.
“There have been complaints of slack service in the past and now with such frequent delays ‘strong corrective action’ would be taken. Responsibilities will be fixed on all AI staffers who were on duty during that period and other technical issues will also be examined,” said a senior official of the ministry of civil aviation.
20/11/07 Economic Times

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AI flights delay: Govt warns of action

New Delhi: Government has taken a strong view of the delay in several Air India flights during the past two days, with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel warning of action against those found responsible for the lapses.
At least six flights out of Delhi's IGI Airport were delayed due to technical and other reasons in the past two days, causing hardships to passengers. Air India has already ordered a probe into the circumstances which caused the delay. Official sources said the Minister has warned that "strong corrective action" would be taken against those found responsible.
Responsibilities would be fixed on all those Air India staffers who were on duty during the period when these flights were delayed, they added.
19/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Patel hints at strong action after delays ground Air India

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has taken a strong view of the unprecedented delays of Air India’s flights on Saturday. In fact, civil aviation minister Praful Patel has promised strong corrective action against those who were responsible for delays. At least five aircraft, scheduled for midnight, for destinations such as London, New York, Birmingham, Toronto, Dubai, Bangkok and Muscat were delayed by reportedly as much as 32 hours.
Air India has already ordered a probe into the circumstances that caused the delay.
Responsibilities would be fixed on Air India staffers who were on duty during the period when these flights were delayed, an Air India spokesperson said.
“The worst affected were AI-111 Delhi-London-New York flight and AI-841 Delhi-Abu Dhabi-Muscat flight. The New York-bound flight, scheduled to take off at 7:20 am on Saturday, was rescheduled for 12:40 pm on Sunday. Similarly, the flight headed for Muscat was to take off at 12:35 pm on Saturday left around 16 hours later,” the spokesperson added.
19/11/07 Financial Express

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Air Deccan plane damaged as car hits it

Chennai: The wing of an Air Deccan plane, parked in the bay at the Chennai airport, was damaged badly when a speeding car belonging to the Jet Airways hit it in the early hours on Monday.
The 47-seater ATR plane was badly damaged and it could take six months to get it repaired, Air Deccan sources said.
The Air Deccan authorities have lodged a complaint with the airport police.
A case of rash and negligent driving was registered against the car driver, sources said.
The incident comes close on the heels of a speeding car hitting a woman employee of Air Deccan at Delhi airport recently
19/11/07 PTI/Sify.com

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Keralite bodies join hands to address woes at Calicut airport

Doha: About a dozen expatriate organisations, representing the southern Indian state of Kerala, have launched a joint campaign to address the problems faced by passengers at the Calicut Airport, one of the three international airports in the state.
The airport has been lately in the news in the Gulf as well as in Kerala, following frequent complaints and even strikes by Gulf-based passengers due to delayed flights, cancellation of flights and the alleged mistreatment of passengers by airline crew.
Several Keralite organisations in Qatar have now come under a common platform to fight against the alleged injustices meted out to the passengers by the two Indian carriers.
The forum, named the Gulf Calicut Air Passengers Action Committee (GAPAC), comprises leading community organisations like the Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC), Indian Cultural and Arts Society (Incas), Sanskriti, Indian Islamic Association, Qatar Indian Islahi Center, Qatar Muslim Islahi Center, Thrissur Jilla Souhrida Vedi, among others.
Several small organisations representing the Malabar region of the state, where the Calicut airport is located, are also members of the forum.
20/11/07 Peninsula On-line, Qatar

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Low-cost airlines force Avalon to upgrade

Avalon airport executives are heading overseas this week to drum up business for a new $30 million international terminal designed to attract low-cost carriers to the former aircraft testing field near Geelong.
Owner Linfox is hoping at least to triple annual passenger numbers at the airport over the next three to five years as a result of the move and expected domestic expansion.
Linfox Airports managing director David Fox said yesterday: "We're about to go on a bit of a tour to have discussions with several different parties."
Linfox is hoping the new terminal will be an attractive alternative for long-haul, low-cost carriers emerging in the Asia-Pacific region and eyeing Australia.
Avalon is the home of the Australian International Airshow and has aircraft from around the world visiting for the binennial event. It has a 3000m runway capable of handling wide-bodied aircraft and has Boeing 747 aircraft landing at a Qantas maintenance facility there.
Its owners have spent $13million since 2004 to establish the airport, about 55km southwest of Melbourne, as a low-cost domestic airport and annual passengers numbers have grown to about one million on 70 weekly interstate services. The airport is already strongly favoured as a destination by Malaysian-based AirAsiaX, which began flying from Kuala Lumpur to the Gold Coast last month.
Mr Fox cited India's Kingfisher Airlines and carriers in Macau as other possibilities.
20/11/07 Steve Creedy/The Australian/NEWS.com.au, Australia

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GMR to raise Rs 2,000cr via QIP

Mumbai: GMR Infrastructure, the holding company of the Bangalore-based GMR Group, will raise about Rs 2,000 crore through a QIP process that is expected to begin by the end of this week. The amount will be used to fund the company’s expansion plans in the power and airport space. Though the company officials refused to comment on the plans.
Aviation industry sources said the GMR Group is looking at opportunities to bid for airport projects in Africa and Eastern Europe. The group has recently restructured operations to base two business development teams abroad. GMR Infrastructure chief financial officer Madhu Terdal will now be based in London.
Shares of the company have been rising in the past few sessions. While the stock ended the day at Rs 250, up close to 9%, it has gained more than 22% previous week. Analysts expect QIP to take place at around Rs 280 a share.
20/11/07 Cuckoo Paul & Gaurav Pai/Economic Times

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Airport developers face runway congestion

New Delhi: A Greenfield Airport policy is still some time away from being formulated. But with members of a Parliamentary Consultative Committee seeking multiple airports in metropolitan cities, at least three airports (at Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore) appear to have been caught in a dilemma.
All the three airports are being developed under the public-private partnership model and would stand to lose revenue if the parliament members’ demand of multiple airports is heeded while formulating the new policy.
As per existing policy (Airport Infrastructure), a greenfield airport is not allowed to be developed within 150 km of an existing airport and then also only where an existing airport is unable to meet the projected requirements of traffic or a new focal point of traffic emerges with sufficient viability. But if the government allows the proposed Taj International Airport at Zevar (Greater Noida) to come up - Zevar is about 70 km from DIAL - then there appears to be a contravention of the OMDA (Operation, Management and Development Agreement) Airports Authority of India signed with GMR for Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL).
20/11/07 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis

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Curbs on Gurdwara near airport

Amritsar: The Airport Authority of India has decided to stop bookings for the Sikh ‘akhand path’ ceremony in the Gurdwara Santsar situated within the Amritsar international airport complex at Rajasansi.
The movement of Sikh devotees has also been restricted while a ban has been imposed on preparing and serving a ‘langar’ (community kitchen) inside the Gurdwara.
The move comes in view of ensuring the security of passengers and aircraft as well as the airport, which is considered to be one of the country’s most sensitive due to its proximity with Pakistan. Arun Talwar, airport director, said on Monday there were bookings for ‘akhand path’ in the Gurdwara up to April next year. “No new bookings will be allowed after that period,” he said.
20/11/07 Times of India

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Rehab for Mihan affected people

Nagpur: The multi-modal international passenger and cargo hub at Nagpur (MIHAN) is likely to get a major boost during the winter session of the state legislature that got under way here on Monday.
Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said the government could propose a rehabilitation package for the project-affected persons (PAPs).
While Mr Deshmukh did not divulge the details of the rehabilitation formula, sources said the committee had recommended a monetary compensation of Rs 25 lakh per acre for land within the municipal corporation limits and Rs 15 lakh for land beyond the civic jurisdiction.
BJP state unit president Nitin Gadkari, who has also been championing MIHAN project, told ET that a lesser monetary compensation would not be accepted by farmers and middle-class investors who had purchased land on the periphery of Nagpur where the project is coming up.
20/11/07 Abhiram Ghadyalpatil/Economic Times

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Vizag airport in for major expansion soon

Visakhapatnam: The upcoming integrated terminal to be built over 20,000 square metres can handle three million passengers annually. The present terminal is handling four lakh passengers annually. Three aero-bridges, escalators and conveyor belts are being facilitated at the new terminal.
Airport Authority of India, Visakhapatnam unit general manager (projects) HS Suresh told this website's newspaper the new terminal would facilitate operation of both domestic and international flights, customs and immigration offices. Ten airliners could be operated at one time from the new terminal, he added. Fifty-five percent of work had been completed and the authorities expect the project to be handed over by mid-2008. The present terminal will be converted into a cargo terminal at a cost of Rs 10 crore to facilitate handling of the increasing cargo traffic in and around Visakhapatnam.
The new building would be centrally air-conditioned and have parking facility for 600 cars. Duty-free shops would be available at the terminal, Suresh indicated.
20/11/07 Newindpress

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Airlines, staff want existing airports to stay

New Delhi: Even as the date for the two new state-of-the-art international airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad to start operations comes closer, lobbying to prevent closure of the existing facilities - at the Airport Authority of India's Begumpet airport in Hyderabad and HAL airport in Bangalore - has got louder.
Senior government sources say many local members of Parliament, airlines, resident welfare organisations and staff at the existing airports are protesting against full closure on various grounds.
The contracts with Bangalore International Airport Ltd and Hyderabad International Airport Ltd provide for closure of the existing facilities when the new airports start.
The official says the ministry will discuss with the new operators to see if the old facilities can still be used by low-cost carriers or for general aviation.
Sources said the protests had been festering for some time but have got more audible with the closure date approaching. The airports are expected to start by March 2008.
20/11/07 Anjuli Bhargava/Business Standard

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Nagpur airport modernisation plan extended

Nagpur: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has extended the deadline for completion of the modernisation of the Dr Ambedkar International Airport by almost six months.
Sources at the airport informed that as per initial plans the expansion work was to be completed by September end, but AAI extended the deadline by almost six months making some modification in earlier design and now the new look airport with world-class passenger amenities would be ready by March-2008, a senior airport official said. The Rs 43 crore modernisation project launched by AAI is moving at a snail’s pace, but now with a slew of new expansion work being undertaken, the project cost has escalated to almost Rs 79 crore, he added. Currently domestic and international operations are using the same premises. However, after the revamp, there will be separate modules for domestic and international flights.
20/11/07 Sachin Dravekar/Times of India

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Air India fuels passenger fury

New Delhi: Another Air India flight has failed to take off, leaving passengers stranded for several hours in the capital. Delhi airport witnessed scenes of chaos after passengers of Air India flight AI 307 were informed that their flight's take off had been cancelled.
The AI flight coming in from Tokyo to Delhi was scheduled to leave for Mumbai at around 7 pm last evening (November 18) when the 120-odd passengers were informed that their flight had become "unoperational".
To add to their miseries, passengers claim none of the airport authorities were forthcoming with regard to information about their flight resulting in major scuffle that broke out between Air India employees and passengers and many including women and children were reportedly detained by authorities.
Relatives who had returned to collect their families also complained that AI authorities had refused to release their luggage.
The passengers also allege that despite the flight situation, no arrangements were made for their stay till at least 2 am.
19/11/07 Times Now.tv

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Flights late, airline ‘hides’

New Delhi: Hundreds of passengers including diabetics spent up to 18 hours without food or sleep at Delhi airport as Air India officials “hid” from them after announcing massive delays.
Security officials called in an airport doctor to attend to the aged and ailing among those abandoned in the security area, where no food is available.
Overall, nearly 1,000 passengers were stranded without help — or even information — after Air India flights to Dubai, Muscat, Qatar, New York, Shanghai and Toronto were delayed.
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Mohammed Aftab said: “I have been here since last evening. I still don’t know when my flight to Dubai will leave. It is almost 24 hours.”
“Only a few junior officials are present (and they) have no information or authority,” said passenger Jagdish Sharma. The Air India assistance booth at the departure lounge was deserted.
“There was no airline official to address passenger complaints,” an airport official confirmed.He said the crew of the Qatar-bound flight “went into hiding” after announcing a delay to passengers who were already seated in the aircraft.
An Air India spokesperson claimed the delays were between one and five hours. He blamed them on “technical reasons, congestion at the check-in counters and unavailability of the bay”.
19/11/07 The Telegraph

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Passengers from Delhi reach Abu Dhabi after 16-hour ordeal

Dubai: About 150 Air India passengers finally landed in Abu Dhabi after being stranded for over 16 hours at New Delhi.
Leaving terminal two of the Abu Dhabi airport, they looked peeved but at the same time relieved to have finally reached their destination.
Their flight AI-841, which was supposed to take off on Saturday at 12.45pm, was delayed and the stranded passengers were given accommodation at the Grand Hyatt.
They were asked to report to the airport as early as 3am, but could only board the aircraft at 5.15am.
What got the passengers infuriated was when they were told that they would have to put up with further delay as the pilot and the cabin crew had to take their mandatory rest.
The passengers' plan to block the runway was thwarted after security personnel and airline officials intervened. The plane finally took off for Abu Dhabi at 1.30pm local time yesterday and arrived in the UAE at 4.30pm local time.
Mumtaz Ahmad, who spoke to Gulf News soon after he arrived at Abu Dhabi, said the passengers had a tough time getting in touch with Air India officials at New Delhi airport.
Air India spokesperson Ashok Sharma said the flights that failed to take off in time were to Dubai, Muscat, Toronto and New York.
18/11/07 Indo-Asian News Service/Sunita Menon/Gulf News, United Arab Emirates

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Agitated passengers protest at Kozhikode airport

Kozhikode: Agitated over the inordinate delay in flight services caused by fog over the airport at Dubai, passengers staged a protest at the International airport here on Sunday after the Air India Express flight arrived 24 hours behind schedule.
Passengers of the delayed flight included former Kerala Minister and Muslim League leader M K Muneer who led the protest before the Airport's Emigration Counter for a while.
The agitated passengers complained that the airline authorities did not even bother to treat them properly despite the severe inconveniences they had to face, due to the delay.
The flight, scheduled to arrive early here in the morning, reached here at 4 am on Sunday.
A visibly agitated Muneer told the media that the issue would be brought to the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's notice.
Meanwhile, the Air India Express Dubai-Kochi flight, which was scheduled to arrive on Saturday at 5.10 am landed at Kochi international airport only at 4.20 am on Sunday. The passengers initially refused to disembark, protesting the delay.
18/11/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Three AI staffers injured in scuffle with passengers

New Delhi: At least three Air India staffers were injured in a scuffle with irate passengers of a delayed Tokyo-bound flight at Delhi's IGI Airport around midnight, airline sources said on Monday.
The flight AI-307 was delayed by about seven hours and the passengers were later provided accommodation in a hotel, the sources said, adding the flight would now leave around 1300 hours. The passengers, who had blocked the Air India counter delaying clearance of other flights, were angry over the delay and non-provision of hotel accommodation for them and clashed with Air India staffers, the sources said adding CISF personnel were then called in.
19/11/07 PTI/Times of India

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Lights go off on Mumbai runway

Mumbai: In an alarming incident, the Mumbai airport was plunged into darkness on Sunday night after the all-important lights on its runway went off, suspending operations for about half an hour.
For an international airport, the incident is very rare.
The runway of the Mumbai airport went out of view and the Instrument Landing System (ILS), which helps planes land, could not be used with no lights to aid operations. “No flight was diverted. Those in air had to hold for about 25-30 minutes,’’ said M G Junghare, general manager, aerodrome, Mumbai airport.
It was at 7.21 pm that the Approach Light System, which includes runway edge identifier lights and others like the taxiway lights, went off throwing operations out of gear. The Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL), which runs the sirport, confirmed the incident. A spokesperson said the lights were restored at 7.49 pm. “There was a circuit problem, apparently a problem with a switchboard. The back-up generator could not take the load. The cause is under investigation and is not confirmed as of now,’’ he said.
19/11/07 V Manju/Times of India

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After Punjab, Haryana pitches for international airport

Chandigarh: Even as the Mohali International Airport in Punjab, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, is on the way to becoming a reality, the Congress Government in Haryana has written to the Union Government to consider setting up another airport in its territory, sources said.
The state Government, in a communiqué, has sought a techno-economic feasibility study of an area chosen by it, closer to Chandigarh. The Government also claims that it had kept in mind the broader regional plan and benefits the three states are likely to derive from an “ideal airport” that it is planning to construct.
However, experts opine that the Centre is unlikely to okay two airports so close to Chandigarh.
19/11/07 Gautam Dheer/Indian Express

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