International flight operations still distant dream for Surtis

Surat:  High-flying Surtis will have to wait for international flight operations to begin from Surat airport despite it being declared a customs notified and authorized immigration check post by Central Government some time ago.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has postponed 24x7 operations of Surat airport from October 28. This is because Surat airport is yet to receive any proposal from airlines for operating international flights between 12.30am to 5am.

Around five airports in the country including Vadodara had applied for 24 hours operations to AAI and Surat became sixth. Sources said Air India Express had envisaged interest in launching direct flight between Surat and Sharjah. However, the airline could not submit a proposal due to time slot issue.
Airport director Sanjay Kumar Panigrahi told TOI, “No proposal has been received from airlines for operating international flights between 0030 to 0500 hours. Hence, 24x7 operations from 28 October have been postponed. Airport will be in operation from 0600 to 2200 hours for domestic flights only.”
At present, Surat airport operates in two shifts from 6am till 10pm. The watch tower closes at 10pm, after which the landing and take-offs of the flights are suspended.
31/10/18 Times of India

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Entry may be made free for airport drops

Ahmedabad: Picture this. You head to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport to drop a friend, take the parking ticket and get in. On your way out, you are in queue at the parking toll booth and pay Rs 85, as the exit duration reads – 10 minutes and 3 seconds. Really? Pay for a three-second delay? The situation does resonate with most frequent flyers or their kin and leaves them annoyed. In a major relief to people commuting the airport more frequently, airport authorities are all likely to do away with this practice.

A proposal for this has been recently moved by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to implement the new plan, confirmed a source. “The attempt is to ensure smooth transition for the commuters.”

It is understood that under the new format, nominal charges may be levied only on those vehicles that are parked in the designated parking space. “The booths issuing entry tickets that are currently placed near the entry point of both the terminals, are proposed to be reallocated and placed near the designated parking space,” said a source, privy to the development.
31/10/18 Niyati Parikh/Times of India

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IGI Airport may receive Rs 9,000 crore investment: M Venkaiah Naidu

New Delhi: An investment of Rs 9,000 crore is expected to be made in Indira Gandhi International airport in the coming years, according to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, as the aerodrome operator looks to boost capacity.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport Ltd is projected to handle 70 million passengers this year.

Naidu on Tuesday said the Delhi airport would be spending about Rs 9,000 crore to boost capacity and handle 100 million passengers per annum.

He was speaking here after unveiling two publications about Delhi airport. “I am given to understand that since GMR took over this airport, the number of air traffic movements has gone up by 250 per cent, passenger numbers have gone up by 400 per cent. Connectivity is the key to economic growth,” Naidu said.

The airport is operated by DIAL — a consortium of GMR Group, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Germany’s Fraport. The GMR group-led consortium began operating the aerodrome in 2006.
31/10/18 Indian Express

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Tripura CM writes to PMO on deepening flight shortage

Agartala: Chief minister Biplab Deb on Monday wrote to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) seeking additional flights in the Agartala sector to ensure availability of affordable tickets for flyers around the year. With air fares having shot up by five times over the last two weeks, the council of ministers held a special meeting on Monday evening over the deepening crisis, expressing concern over the failure of the civil aviation ministry to bring more flight operators to the region.
According to officials, Union minister of state for civil aviation Jayanta Sinha on Tuesday assured the chief minister that the Centre will make additional arrangement of flights to normalize the currently prevailing passenger pressure here.

Meanwhile, CPM MP Shankar Prasad Datta has also sent a letter to Union civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu, urging that permanent steps be taken to solve the crisis of shortage of flights to and from Tripura.

Dutta stated, "Ignoring the requests of the state government, most flight operators have gradually withdrawn their fleets from the state since 2010. The new operators like Vistara, Air Asia and Go Air do not run any flight to the Agartala sector though as per rule they need to cover the major state capitals of the northeast. Low-cost carrier SpiceJet withdrew its service from the state last month and two days ago Indigo also discontinued its Kolkata-Agartala morning flight. This has affected passenger movement severely," Dutta stated.
31/10/18 Biswendu Bhattacharjee/Times of India

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SpiceJet operates India's first robotic truck to tow aircraft at IGIA

New Delhi: Budget passenger carrier SpiceJet on Monday operated India's first TaxiBot -- a pilot-controlled semi-robotic towing tractor -- at Terminal 2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

According to the airline, flight SG-8171, scheduled to fly on the Delhi-Goa route, was towed by the TaxiBot from the jet bridge to the runway before it departed from Terminal 2 at 12 noon.


The vehicle tows aircraft from jet bridge to close to the take-off point. Since the plane's own engines are not used, it saves up to 85 per cent of fuel consumed during taxiing besides substantial reduction in noise levels.
30/1/01/18 IANS/Business Standard

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Jaipur Airport: People to shell out five times the normal flight ticket rates during festive season

Jaipur: People who are planning to travel between November 3 and November 11 to Jaipur or out of the city will shell out five times the amount of usual flight ticket price. The flight ticket rates, connecting Jaipur to other cities, have increased tremendously during the festive season.
A large number of people travel to their home cities from workplace during the Diwali season. Every time, the airlines increase the flight rates. People pay extra to travel during Diwali. This benefits the airlines companies greatly.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) makes efforts to control the hike of flight rates during the festive season every year, but in vain. The hiked flight rates will be applied from November 3 to November 11, this time.
The flight ticket rates from Mumbai to Jaipur have reached up to Rs 20,000 for the festive season. In normal days, the tickets prices are between Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 on this route.
29/10/18 Rimjhim Jethani/Pinkcity Post

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Flight accident worry leads to curb on sky lanterns around Kolkata airport

Kolkata: Acting on a written complaint by the Kolkata airport authorities, the Bidhannagar Commissionerate has banned lighting and release of sky lanterns in an approximate 8km area around the airport. Officials had apprehended a serious accident because of the rising number of lanterns in the sky above the airport during Kali Puja-Diwali over the past few years.

The ban that is to be implemented from Tuesday, will be in effect till December 29 and covers areas under Baguiati, airport, NSCBI airport and Narayanpur police station jurisdictions.

The order came into effect after the airport authorities wrote to the cops last year after pilots complained of the presence of thousands of sky lanterns during Diwali and Kali Puja fearing one of them could get sucked into the engine of an aircraft, leading to a major accident.
30/10/18 Times of India

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2 domestic airlines may be shifted to T2 soon

Ahmedabad: The operations of two domestic airlines from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI), Airport in Ahmedabad, may soon be shifted from the domestic terminal (Terminal-1) to the international terminal (Terminal-2). During a meeting of the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC) held on Monday, one of the key issues discussed was regarding decongestion of the domestic terminal. The meeting was chaired by Member of Parliament from Ahmedabad East, Paresh Rawal.
Sharing more details, Manoj Gangal, director, SVPI Airport, said, “An important issue that was discussed during the meeting was regarding shifting operations of the two domestic airlines from the international terminal to the domestic terminal. The idea is to decongest the domestic terminal and make optimum use of available resources.”
State-owned airline, Air India, is already continuing domestic operations from the international terminal at the SVPI airport. According to data by Airports Authority of India (AAI), some 35,000 passengers are move in and out of the SVPI airport every day. Of these, some 80% passengers travel from the domestic terminal while the remaining 20% fly in and out from the international terminal.
30/10/18 Niyati Parikh/Times of India

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NDMA conducts training for CBRN emergencies at Raipur airport

New Delhi: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday started conducting a five day basic training programme for CBRN emergencies pertain to threats emanating due to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear material at the Swami Vivekanand Airport at Raipur on Monday, an official release said here.
The programme is aimed at enhancing the preparedness of Airport Emergency Handlers (AEHs) to respond to CBRN emergencies at the airports and being conducted in collaboration with the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
29/10/18 UNI

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KIAL says permission for Amit Shah’s flight to land granted by it and not state govt

Thiruvananthapuram: Kannur International Airport Ltd Monday said it was KIAL and not the state government that granted landing permission to the chartered aircraft carrying BJP President Amit Shah at that city on October 27, ahead of its formal inauguration on December 9.

The clarification came in the wake of the controversy which had erupted over the flight landing ahead of the inauguration date, with a Minister slamming Shah Sunday for threatening to oust the LDF government despite it allowing him to arrive there as part of state’s ‘tradition of hospitality’.

A KIAL release Monday said that since Kannur airport had received license for operations of non-scheduled flights, it can allow any requests for landing of flights,though operation of scheduled flights would commence after December 6. KIAL said the requisite amount for landing of the flight has to be paid to the airport operator, the release said.

On that basis, the chartered flight carrying the BJP president was permitted to land at the airport and the necessary charges were also paid. Besides this, two non scheduled flights were also permitted to land. It was KIAL and not the state government which granted permission for the flight to land, the airport authority said.
29/10/18 Indian Express

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Leela’s plea against eviction notice rejected

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has refused to interfere in a five star hotel’s plea against eviction proceedings initiated against it by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Through various agreements in and after the 1980s, the AAI had allotted the company behind The Leela Mumbai around 29,000 square metres of land near the international terminal of the airport for setting up a 391-bed hotel. In February 2017, the AAI terminated the lease and initiated proceedings to take back the property over alleged default in payments and violation of lease agreements. The AAI also launched proceedings to recover around Rs 258 crore that the Delhi high court had ordered the hotel to give as royalty for possessing the land.
“We do not see any reason in our extraordinary, equitable and discretionary jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to interfere with the proceedings (under a provision that seeks to evict unauthorised occupants from airport premises) at this stage. Given the importance and nature of the proceedings, we do not think that in writ jurisdiction we should interfere by restraining the eviction officer from proceeding to adjudicate the showcause notice. All the more, when the petitioners' remedies are kept intact by us,” the high court has said.
The division bench which rejected the plea of Hotel Leelaventure Ltd to interfere in the proceedings against its flagship Mumbai property comprised Justices Satyaranjan Dharmadhikari and Burgess Colabawalla.
30/10/18 Shibu Thomas/Times of India

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Airport to conduct study on bird hazard

Thiruvananthapuram: Trivandrum International Airport authorities have decided to conduct a study on bird hazard at the airport.
The study will be conducted through a consultancy to study the birds in and around the airport and provide recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures to curb bird hazards.
The birds on the airport premises interfere with the aircraft flight path, even leading to emergency landing. In a recent incident, an aircraft of Oman Airways was hit by a bird while landing at the airport.
“The number of bird hits reported in the recent past at the airport are on the rise despite our continuous efforts and measures to keep the area unattractive to the birds. Hence the initiative to have a thorough study,” said a statement issued by the airport.
The disposal of waste in the locality of airport was found to be a major reason for the bird-hit cases. And the airport in association with city corporation had set up an aerobic bin unit in Vallakadavu in March.
30/10/18 Anasooya S/Times of India

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Taxi aggregator to drive into Mangaluru airport

Mangaluru: In another three weeks, passengers arriving at and departing from the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) will be able to use services of cab aggregator.
With this the monopoly of private taxis at the airport, which had so far succeeded in keeping aggregators out of the airport premises, is expected to come to an end.

An official from MIA on condition of anonymity told TOI that Ola is the only aggregator that placed bids and subsequently won the tender. “We had called for an open tender for cab aggregator services in June. Ola was the only aggregator that came forward. Most likely, it will begin services in a maximum of 20 days,” the official said.

The airport authority has sanctioned a counter for Ola near the prepaid taxi counter at the arrival area of the airport. The cabs will be allotted space in the parking lot, which will be the pickup and drop point.
30/10/18 Times of India

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Include Belagavi under Udaan scheme: Forum

Belagavi: As the list of airports under the third phase of the Udaan scheme is being finalised by the aviation ministry and is likely to be declared on October 31, the Professionals Forum, Belagavi led by its secretary Rajendra Mundada submitted a memorandum to civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu through the deputy commissioner here on Monday.
The memorandum states that by all considerations like load factor, aircraft parking space, passenger handling capacity and customer satisfaction index, the Sambra Airport stands first and thus is highly meritorious for selection under Udaan. “Air connectivity to this fast-growing city to many destinations is a must for all round growth of industries, commerce, tourism, education, health services and export. If Belagavi airport is not considered under Udaan, the city’s growth will take a huge blow and will backtrack 20 years on the road to progress,” the Forum said.
30/10/18 Times of India

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Issue notification naming Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra Sai Airport: CM Naveen Patnaik to PM Modi

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to issue a notification naming the Jharsuguda Airport as 'Veer Surendra Sai' Airport. He also urged the prime minister to instruct Air India for operation of flight from Bhubaneswar to New Delhi via Jharsuguda.

"I would request that Union Government may immediately bring out the notification naming Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda," Patnaik wrote to Modi. Modi on September 22 had dedicated the Jharsuguda Airport to the nation and flagged off the UDAN flight from the airport.
"Your goodself had also announced the naming of Jharsuguda Airport as Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda as a befitting tribute to the well known freedom fighter and legendary son of the soil. However, notification to this effect has not been issued by the Government of India," Patnaik mentioned in the letter.
Patnaik also drew the Prime Minister's notice that Air Odisha has suddenly suspended its flight operations under the UDAN scheme from Jharsuguda after October 6, 2018 without any valid reason. This abrupt suspension of the existing operations has given a severe jolt to the aviation sector in the state and has also hurt the sentiments of the people of western Odisha, the chief minister said.
30/10/18 Times Now News

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Chennai-Salem flight timings revised

Salem: Trujet, the Hyderabad-based Turbo Megha Airways, has revised the timings of its flight in the Chennai – Salem sector from October 28. Trujet is operating flight connecting Chennai and Salem since March last under the Regional Connectivity Scheme of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik).

Difficulty was faced in the landing of the flights for the last few days due to poor visibility following changed climatic conditions in and around Salem city, according to Trujet sources.

As such, Trujet delayed the departure of the Chennai – Salem flight at Chennai as well as at Salem.

As per the revised schedule, the flight will depart from Chennai at 10.20 a.m. (previous time 9.50 a.m.) and will land at Salem airport at 11.10 a.m. (10.40 a.m.). In the return direction, the flight will take off from Salem airport at 11.30 a.m. (instead of 11 a.m.) and will reach Chennai at 12.40 p.m. (instead of 11.50
30/10/18 The Hindu

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Srinagar Airport goes to dogs

Srinagar: A Spicejet flight on Srinagar International Airport got delayed by at least one hour and fourty minutes as on the runway a stray dog hampered its takeoff, Monday.

Sources said that Spicejet flight SG939 was to takeoff at 12.35 PM and as the plane started moving on the runway, it hit a dog, that was roaming there mysteriously.

“We don’t know what exactly happened. But as the aircraft started moving on the runway, it came to a halt with a sudden jerk, panicking all on the board,” said a passenger, Basharat.

“We came to know that a stray dog had come in the way, however, we were not told by the crew that whether the dog was hit or not,” added Basharat.

However, some other passengers said that the jolt was so big that they were convinced that the aircraft over ran the stray dog.

“The very simple logic. The flight had to take off at 12.35. It finally took off at 2.15. Means, there was some big trouble. I think, they changed the front tyre of the plane, which may have been damaged,” said another passenger.

However, no one from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) came out with any explanation.
30/10/18 Kashmir Images

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Construction of auxiliary buildings begins at Patna airport

Patna: The construction work of auxiliary buildings such as technical block, fire station, cargo complex and air traffic control (ATC) tower at Patna airport started on Monday. These buildings will be ready in 18 months at an estimated cost of Rs75 crore.

Assistant general manager (air traffic management) Santosh Kumar at the Patna airport said the ‘bhoomi pujan’ for the buildings was held on Sunday. “The work has been awarded to Surya Nestbuild Limited. The allied structure as well as the terminal building design was prepared by Singapore-based firm Meinhardt (Singapore) Ptv Ltd,” he said.

Surya Nestbuild director Binod Yadav told this newspaper that land clearance work has been started on 7 acre land where technical block, fire station, cargo complex and ATC tower will be developed. The state government had handed over 7 acre of STF land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
30/10/18 Faryal Rumi/Times of India

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Government cancels Delhi network of Air Odisha, Air Deccan

The government has cancelled the Delhi network of Air Odisha and Air Deccan, two of the five airlines which took part in the first round of UDAN or the regional airport development and regional connectivity scheme of the government.
"They had not started operations even after repeated extension of deadlines, they are facing some financial troubles as well,"  a senior official aware of the development told CNBC-TV18. "This would not have much impact on these routes but as for the smaller airports, we don't want to cancel, we want to give them a long rope."
Under the first phase of UDAN or Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik, Air Odisha's Delhi sector comprised of Delhi-Gwalior-Lucknow-Gorakhpur, Delhi-Kanpur-Varanasi and Delhi-Dehradun, while that of Air Deccan included Delhi-Pantnagar-Dehradun, and Delhi to Kullu, Shimla, Agra, and Ludhiana.
Last week, the civil aviation ministry had sent a showcause notice to Air Odisha on the sudden suspension of operations at Jharsuguda airport. The airline has written back to the government saying that it will be in a position to start operations from November 1 as its BEACH-1900 D aircraft is fit to fly, people familiar with the matter told CNBC-TV18.
29/10/18 Anu Sharma/CNBC TV18

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Months After Inauguration by PM Modi, Jagdalpur Airport Remains Locked Out

Bastar: The centerpiece of BJP's Bastar development plank - the Jagdalpur airport - has become non-operational within months of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The regional connectivity scheme UDAN, links Bastar, 20 km from Jagdalpur, aerially with Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, which is well connected to different cities in the country.

PM Modi inaugurated the air service between Raipur and Jagdalpur, the district headquarters of the Maoist insurgency in the Bastar region of south Chhattisgarh, in June.
The contract for connecting Jagdalpur with Raipur and Visakhapatnam was given to Air Odisha. On Sunday, when CNN-News18 reached the Air Odisha ticket counter at Jagdalpur it was shut. A thick layer of dust on the outside and on computers inside made it obvious that the counter has not seen any activity for days. Airport Director Kishore Bhaumik was not present at the airport and repeated attempts to reach him on phone also did not succeed.
29/10/18 Arunima/CNN-News18

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New VHF installations to boost pilot-airport communication

Chennai: In a bid to cover blind spots in voice communication between air traffic controllers (ATC) and pilots, Airports Authority of India (AAI) is gearing up to install very high frequency (VHF) transmitters in three places falling under air routes from Chennai airport.
Though radar is used to track planes, pilots radio altitude, speed and direction of the aircraft to ATC officials of the nearest airport when they cross pre-determined wayside points on an air route. The pilots and ATC use voice communication when a plane is handed over to another airport’s air space and pilots speak to controllers when the plane nears an airport or starts descent kilometres away for landing. A pilot said clear and static-free communication was essential to listen to the instructions of ATC officials.
“We are planning to install a transmitter near Madurai, Ooty and Bellary. These machines will eliminate blind spots in these areas. We recently installed a transmitter on the Pallavaram hills to erase a blind spot on Chennai-Trichy and Chennai-Vizag routes,” a senior AAI official said. These transmitters will enhance the range and strength of signals for planes when they fly along those areas.
He said studies were conducted and a report had been sent to AAI headquarters in New Delhi for consideration. “We are planning to conduct a few more studies,” the official said.
29/10/18 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Now, direct flights to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad from Jolly Grant Airport

Dehradun: In some good news for flyers, four new flights will take off from the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun within a fortnight. Direct flights to Hyderabad and Ahmedabad will also commence from Dehradun shortly.
Director, Jolly Grant Airport, Vinod Sharma, said that four new flights to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Delhi and Bengaluru are set to be launched by SpiceJet and Indigo.
“While the direct flight to Ahmedabad will start from October 31, the direct flight to Hyderabad will start on November 15. An additional flight to Bengaluru is scheduled to start from November 15,” said Sharma. He added that Dehradun already has a direct flight to Bengaluru which runs only on Sundays. The new flight will be operational on Wednesday.
An additional flight to Delhi us also in the pipeline, Sharma said.
29/10/18 Ishita Mishra/Times of India

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High airfare-- an impediment to passengers in Tripura

Agartala: The movement of a large number of students, tourists, patients and VIPs from Tripura have been severely affected owing to shortage of flight tickets in last two weeks.
The crisis further deepened as the Ministry of Civil Aviation did not respond to the state government's request. According to official report, within two months of withdrawal of Spicejet aircraft from Tripura,Indigo withdrew its morning aircraft between Kolkata-Agartala route from Sunday on the plea of operational difficulties due to low visibility during winter.
29/10/18 UNI

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Pakyong to Guwahati flight kick starts

Pakyong: A most awaited flight service becomes operational on Sunday here at Pakyong Airport. The spicejet flight kick starts its second round of passangers to board from Pakyong to Guwahati. A moment was attended by Sikkim Lok Sabha MP Sh Prem Das Rai in Pakyong.
Recall on 4 Oct Pakyong Airport witnessed first passanger flight service by Spicejet enabling people of Sikkim to connect with Kolkata, the first commercial spicejet Bombardier Q400 flight that touched down was given majestic reception with salute by canon water jet.
Similarly Pakyong flight that touched down Guwahati Airport according to Pakyong Facebook Page @PakyongOnline fb.com/pakyongonline Facebook Page a video and stills visual of grand reception with water canon jet was conferred to first flight.
This is the first airport in Sikkim and 100th in the country. With the inauguration, Sikkim put itself in the aviation map.
29/10/18 Sashi Thapa/Voice of Sikkim

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Tamil Nadu hasn’t asked for 2nd airport in Chennai

Chennai: Much has been spoken about a second airport for the city, but the state government, it turns out, has not asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for such a facility.

“Tamil Nadu has made no proposal to us for a second airport in Chennai,” said AAI chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra on Sunday. Mohapatra, who talked to journalists after planting a couple of medicinal plants in the park inside the AAI quarters in Meenambakkam, said AAI will send a multi-disciplinary team only when the state government makes a proposal.

The team will look into the possibility of developing an airport by assessing runway availability, whether that runway would be in conflict with the existing runway or if there is a military runway nearby. “These have to be studied before the feasibility study. The last communication from the state government was that they will give us some site. But so far we have not heard about it,” he said.
29/10/18 P Oppili/Times of India

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Times OOH turns Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport into event hotspot

Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has hosted two major events which were supported by outdoor advertising specialist Times OOH.

Times OOH attributes the airport’s increasing popularity as a venue to its “niche” audience profile and rising passenger footfall, which have become compelling enough to convince media planners to hold events there, it said.

“Airports give you an access to a focused group of affluent consumers with little to no fragmentation,” Times OOH copmment. The company said it goes “below the line” to ensure that engagement with the airport passengers is seamless.

“As a cherry on the cake, the ongoing festive/holiday season has led to a big spike in the passenger footfall.”
29/10/18 Colleen Morgan/The Moodie Davitt Report

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Tirupati Airport runway expansion at 177 crore

Tirupati: The runway expansion of Tirupati airport will be completed by February 2020 at a cost of Rs 177 crore, said the Chairman of Airport Authority of India (AAI) Dr Gruruprasad Mohapatra.
He visited Tirupati airport on Saturday and Sunday and switched on the batch mix plant and thereby started the construction activities for runway extension work which will be extended to 3,810 metres from the present length of 2,286 metres. He said that the airport was being developed for operation of wide bodied aircrafts like B-777 (Code – E aircrafts) for which extension of runway and other associated works were awarded.
A new apron will be constructed to accommodate these wide-bodied aircrafts.The Chairman also inspected the integrated terminal building and said that all the facilities for international operation were available there and Tirupati airport can serve as an alternative airport to Bengaluru and Chennai to ease out air traffic congestion in the above airports or in case of emergency to the nearby airports.
29/10/18 Hans India

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No flights at Jaipur Airport for six hours due to runway work

The runway of Jaipur Airport will once again remain closed for flights operation between 10.30 pm and 5 am from Monday October 29.

The NOTAM (Notice to Airman) as its popularly called will be effective for one-and-a-half months till December 14, due to  the construction related works at the airport.

In view of this the international and domestic flights which operate from the Jaipur Airport between this time duration are now changing their schedules.

The schedule of a few domestic flights will also change due to the implementation of NOTAM at Jaipur Airport.
Once the construction work at the runway gets completed, it will reduce the turnaround time of the aircrafts and will help vacate the runway quickly. Currently the work of making a parallel taxi track is being undertaken along the runway and with the linking of this  the turnaround time of aircraft the will get reduce.
29/10/18 DNA

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Tired of airport formalities? Soon, an 'assistant' will help you

The Union Civil Aviation Ministry is all set to approve 'meet and greet' plan which will improve fliers' experience in airports across India, HT reports.

As part of this proposed policy, fliers can hire assistants who will aid in their check-in, security checks, immigration, and will also wait for them at airport lounges.

The facility can be availed by economy class fliers too.
29/10/18 Shalini Ojha/News Bytes

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CISF Officer Saves Man With CPR at Mumbai Airport

In a heroic gesture, an officer of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with two other CISF personnel on Friday, 26 October, saved a passenger who suffered cardiac arrest at the Mumbai Airport, news agency ANI reported.

Mohit Kumar Sharma is an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). He was, at the time of the incident, one of the screeners at the Mumbai airport.

According to ANI, the passenger has been identified as Satyanarayana Gubbala, a resident of Andhra Pradesh. Gubbala, who was scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Hyderabad, collapsed near Terminal 2 of the airport after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Sharma, along with two other CISF personnel gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to Gubbala , news agency ANI reported. Gubbala was later shifted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai’s Vile Parle and his condition is said to be stable.
29/10/18 Quint

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Air India starts flight to Hazoor Sahib

Chandigarh: Come November, an Air India flight will connect the city to Sikh pilgrim shrine of Hazoor Sahib at Nanded in Maharashtra via Delhi.

The first Hazoor Sahib flight will depart from Delhi on November 19 and a flight to the same destination will start, later, from Chandigarh. Air India airport manager M R Jindal said: “The sale of tickets for the connecting flight has been announced already. The fare for the Chandigarh-Delhi-Nanded flight will be Rs 8,137.”
The passengers can book this flight up to Delhi for about Rs 2,700. The flight will depart at 12.50pm and leave Delhi at 3:20pm, from where a seat can be booked for Rs 5,437. The return fare from Nanded to Delhi is Rs 9,693. Jindal said: “The Chandigarh-Delhi-Nanded flight will be operate twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. It will reach Nanded at 5.05pm with a travel time of 1.45 hours. Chandigarh has a big potential for pilgrim travel to Sikh shrines. Earlier, local people had to catch a train to reach Hazroor Sahib.
28/10/18 Times of India

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Working on direct Srinagar-Kuala Lumpur air connectivity: Malaysian envoy

Srinagar: The Malaysian Government is interested in direct air connectivity between Kuala Lumpur and Srinagar and will take all measures to make it possible, Nor Azam Bin Muhammad Idries, the deputy high commissioner of Malaysia to India said here on Saturday. 
However, he hastened to add that necessary permission to start the direct flight lies with Indian authorities.
Azam, who was in Kashmir for his first ever visit and left Srinagar on Saturday after spending three days here said in an interview with Greater Kashmir that direct air connectivity between the two regions will boost tourist influx from South-East Asia to Kashmir and the Malaysian Government is working on it.
“More than 13,000 Malaysian tourists have visited Kashmir this year so far. After my visit I am quite upbeat to work harder on this direct flight so that tourist influx from Malaysia to the valley gets more impetus,” said Azam, who also took part in the Kashmir Autumn FAM Tour 2018 oraganised by the tourism department. 
Malaysia accounts for second highest foreign tourist arrivals to Kashmir after Thailand.
27/10/18 Saqib Malik/Greater Kashmir

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Jewar airport will be ready in 3 years: Yogi Adityanath

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the Noida International Greenfield Airport in the Jewar area will be ready in the next three years.
In the coming three years, our government will build Greenfield International Airport in Jewar. We will also build an international airport in Kushinagar, Yogi Adityanath said at the India Ideas Conclave 2018 here.
The Uttar Pradesh government has appointed Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) as the implementing agency on its behalf for the airport in Jewar.
YEIDA obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Defence on January 11. To expedite the implementation of the Airport project, a Project Monitoring and Implementation Committee (PMIC) was also constituted on March 27.
28/10/18 ANI/Economic Times

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Govt, AAI resort to blame game over delay in int’l flight service

Vijayawada: The state government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are playing a blame game over the delay in the proposed maiden international flight service from Vijayawada airport. The state government had proposed a biweekly service between Vijayawada and Singapore to boost the local economy and tourism. But the launch was put off twice with the state government blaming the delay in the issue of customs notification.
The government’s contention has turned controversial as the AAI making it clear that the airport is ready for the maiden international flight any time. AAI officials also point out that the customs department worked overtime to make the city airport ready for the international service, scheduled to take off on October 25. Since then, it has been postponed to December 4.
Vijayawada airport, which was upgraded as an international airport by Union government in May 2017, is still waiting for the first international service to take off. The AAI developed the old terminal to international standards in January this year, anticipating international services from March 2018.
Indigo airlines was selected to run the biweekly service between Vijayawada and Singapore. The state government agreed to provide variability gap funding (VGF) for the service.
28/10/18 Venu Lanka/Times of India

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Just promises, no progress in Trichy airport expansion project

Trichy: Even as 18 months have passed since the state government granted administrative sanction to acquire about 345 acres of land for expanding the Trichy international airport, the land acquisition works have not seen any major progress thus far. At a meeting on Saturday, the airport advisory committee said that a series of meetings involving Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the district administration would be convened from the second week of November to expedite the land acquisition for extending the airport’s runway from 8,136 feet to 12,500 feet.

The previous advisory committee meeting was held on June 17 last year when it had promised to complete the acquisition of 345.62 acres of the state government’s land in a year. The committee now says that the acquisition may take a year more. In all, 683.32 acres of land is needed for extension of the airport’s runway.

“Pattathammal street residents whose land is required for acquisition have agreed to take the alternative land identified near Kulapattu road in Sempattu. However, 35 landowners in Keelakurichi and Keezha Kalkandarkottai hamlets have approached Madurai bench of Madras high court seeking higher compensation,” Trichy MP, P Kumar, chairman of the advisory committee, said. He also added that more meetings would be convened from next month involving revenue and AAI officials to expedite the land acquisition.
28/10/18 Times of India

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Robot trucks to help airlines save on ATF

New Delhi: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is set to be the first airport in the country to commence commercial use of TaxiBots — semi-robotic tow trucks — to help airlines reduce use of air turbine fuel during taxiing. SpiceJet and Jet Airways will carry out a live test with these tow trucks on Monday, following which the aviation regulator DGCA will grant approval for their use.
TaxiBot India introduced two semi-robotic tow trucks to IGI in September, which have since undergone several trials. Once the live performance evaluation with passengers onboard the aircraft is successful, the firm will sign commercial contracts with SpiceJet and Jet Airways, company spokesperson Sanjay Bahadur said.
The advanced tow trucks will be used for narrow-body planes of the two airlines and will initially be deployed only for flights departing from IGI.
The company is also in talks with Mumbai and Bengaluru airports for introducing similar operations.
Planes taxi from parking bay to runway or vice versa using their own engines to provide thrust. However, an aircraft can be steered with both its engines off with the help of a TaxiBot, which lifts and holds the aircraft’s nose wheel and transports it from the terminal to runway and back.
This can help airlines save jet fuel, one of the largest expenses for an airline, accounting for nearly 30% of total operational costs.
It is estimated that at the current ATF rates, cost of fuel burnt during taxiing is ₹1,600 per minute for a narrow-body plane and ₹3,500 per minute for a wide-body plane.
28/10/18 Jagriti Chandra/The Hindu

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CIAL to connect eight more cities

Kochi: Starting Sunday, Cochin international airport will be connected to eight more new domestic destinations with direct services. These are Goa, Kolkata, Bhuba-neswar, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Lucknow, Guwahati and Jaipur. The services come in to force with the implementation of the new winter schedule from October 28.

New services to Goa will be operated by Indigo and GoAir while new Indigo flights will connect Kochi to Bhubaneswar, Visakhap-atnam, Nagpur, Lucknow, Jaipur and Guwahati. With this Kochi is connected to 21 Indian cities and 16 international destinations directly now.
There will be 1736 aircraft movements per week from the airport with 124 takeoffs and 124 landings per day.

 The just concluded summer schedule had only 1360 weekly services. There are additional flights to Kuw-ait, Kuala Lumpur, Male, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmadabad, Pune and Chennai in the winter schedule.
The Indigo flight to Goa will be launched on December 1 while GoAir will start service on November 15. Indigo service will be daily at 9.40 pm and GoAir service from 3.20 am. The Bhubaneswar service will start at 5.35 am. The service to Vishaka-patanam on Tuesdays will be on 1.40 pm and on other days at 2.10 pm. The Bhubaneswar, Visakha-patanam services will start on December 1 while the service to Nagpur will start on November 15 at 9 pm.
28/10/18 Deccan Chronicle

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Govt to pick firms for ground handling at private airports

Chandigarh: The Centre will decide which agencies are eligible to and can provide ground-handling services for civilian aircraft at the airports that are not owned or operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Earlier all airports in the country were run by the AAI, but of late a number of major airports are being privately operated and as such engaged agencies for ground handling at their prerogative.

“These ground-handling service providers shall be subject to security clearance from the Centre. As such, it is for the Centre to decide the agencies which can provide ground-handling services at various aerodromes and the eligibility criteria for such service providers," an order issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on October 25 states.
The number of such agencies to be permitted at each airport is also to be determined by the government after considering factors such as demand for such services, available infrastructure and competitive environment without compromising safety and security, the order adds.
27/10/18 Vijay Mohan/Tribune

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Guwahati: LGBI Airport gets new security check-in gates

The Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati added new security check-in gates for faster and smooth passenger movements in the departure area on Saturday.

According to information, the newly-renovated security hold area (SHA), having multiple check-in gates at the Guwahati Airport, was inaugurated by MP Dr L. Hanumanthaiah Rao, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport Culture and Tourism.

The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Usha Padhee, Joint Secretary, Minister of Civil Aviation; DK Kamra, Regional Executive Director, North East Region; Ramesh Kr, APD Guwahati.
“This will reduce passengers’ check-in time and help in better operations of the airport with better utilization of first floor security hold area,” stated sources.
28/10/18 Northeast Now

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Meet discusses landacquisition for airport

Tiruchi: Ways and means to expedite the process of land acquisition for extension of the runway of Tiruchi airport will be discussed at a meeting of officials of various departments after Deepavali, it was decided at an Airports Advisory Committee meeting here on Saturday.

Committee chairman and AIADMK’s Tiruchi MP P. Kumar, who presided over the meeting, said himself, Tourism Minister Vellamandi Natarajan, Collector and Airport Director would take part in the meeting. The State government had to acquire 345.62 acres for which administrative sanction had been given last year. The land to be acquired had been divided into eight blocks and the acquisition would be done part by part.
The process was in three stages with 35 persons having filed a writ petition in the court.

Another portion of land had gone to the Commissioner of Land Administration for issue of notification and the third one for fixation of value. The process of fixing value for 16.40 hectares of land was being done by the district administration prior to forwarding it to the State government for sanction.
28/10/18 The Hindu

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New system to aid flights in fog, dark at Lucknow airport

Lucknow: There will be relief from diversions of flights due to poor visibility this winter as Lucknow airport is now better equipped to handle the problem. On Friday, the approach control surveillance service system was installed at the airport to help in landing and take-off in foggy conditions and at night.

Even on regular days, it will help reduce the time taken by flights in take-off and landing by 15-20 minutes in case the pre-determined path is busy due to traffic.

As of now, flights are diverted at the failure of the 'doppler very high frequency omni range' (a radio navigation system to control the en route flight in case of poor visibility on runway).

With the new approach radar system, pilots will be given route navigation for landing and take-off, said a senior airport official.
28/10/18 Times of India

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The man behind transformation of Mumbai airport's Terminal 2: Rajeev Sethi

Having served for two decades as the headquarters of Rajeev Sethi's Asia Heritage Foundation, also the site of his recent exhibition, this tumbledown warren of rooms upon rooms, of rooms above rooms, filled with examples of Indian craft, of its ingenuity and improvisatory genius, is now being given up to the bulldozers. Everything here must be in a box by the end of the month. The building, in Delhi's South Extension, has been open for what Sethi calls a "public stocktaking", an opportunity for people to examine for themselves contemporary objects-from jackets and saris to sofas, lampshades, toys, and jewellery, made using a deep repository of traditional skills and knowledge. These artisans are, Sethi points out, "content creators" and "in a knowledge economy, it's their skills we need to harness, skills the rest of the world cannot match".
Sethi's demeanour, soft-spoken and solicitous, he slips into comfortable conversation with everyone who mills around the office, passing billionaires, academics, office staff, journalists, gawping visitors, Japanese tourists who recognise him as the man behind the art at their hotel, weavers, musicians, acrobats and puppeteers-belies a sprawling career. This is not to say he's parochial. Quite the opposite. He's been everywhere. He's apprenticed with and been mentored by the likes of S.W. Hayter, Ray and Charles Eames, Pierre Cardin, Pupul Jayakar, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and Habib Tanvir. He's met everyone; in one of his books, there's a black-and-white photograph of a young, square-jawed Sethi in earnest conversation with Jackie Kennedy. It's to say that his upbringing gave him conviction and confidence. For half a century, Sethi has been the front man for Indian craftspeople, for those in the peripheries who make things with their hands and have done for generations.
27/10/18 Shougat Dasgupta/India Today

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Row over Amit Shah's landing at yet-to-be-opened Kannur airport

Thiruvananthapuram: A controversy has erupted over BJP president Amit Shah landing at the yet to be opened Kannur airport, with a Kerala minister slamming him Sunday for threatening to oust the LDF government despite it allowing him to arrive there as part of state's 'tradition of hospitality.'
State finance minister TM Thomas Isaac tweeted that though the state had shown the 'tradition of hospitality' by permitting Shah to land at the airport, which had not been formally inaugurated, the BJP leader had threatened to oust the left ruled Kerala government.
The official inauguration of the Kannur airport, the fourth in the state, is scheduled to be held on December 9.
But, by arriving in a special flight there yesterday to inaugurate the BJP's new district committee office, Shah has unofficially become the first passenger to land at the airport at Mattanur in Kannur.
Isaac said Shah's "empty threats" were out of frustration as the saffron party is yet to get more members in the state assembly.
"Amit Shah permitted to land in Kannur airport which is yet to be opened. That is our tradition of hospitality. But he is threatening to oust Kerala government. Such empty threats do not frighten us. Try to win few seats in Assembly. Your frustration is understandable," Isaac tweeted.
28/10/18 PTI/Times of India

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Navi Mumbai airport levelling may miss deadline

Navi Mumbai:  Levelling of the Navi Mumbai airport land at 5.5 metres may miss its December-end deadline as 50% of the villagers in the vicinity are refusing to vacate their homes for the project, say Cidco and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL). plan is to further level it up by another 2.5 m.
The blasting of Ulwe hill and levelling of land has been marred by protests. As many have not vacated the 10 core villages, both works would be hit. “In that case, 30% of the core area work will get affected,” said sources. Ulwe river diversion, too, has to be completed before next monsoon.
28/10/18 Sanjay Banerjee/Times of India

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Air India to launch red-eye flights on domestic routes from November 30

State-owned Air India on October 27 announced the launch of red-eye flights to some of the domestic destinations, including Goa, starting November 30.

A red-eye flight departs generally late at night and arrives early morning. Because of their low fares, these flights are quite popular abroad, especially in the US and Europe.

Air India will introduce red-eye flights with fares lower than the normal fares on sectors like Delhi-Goa- Delhi, Delhi-Coimbatore-Delhi and Bangalore-Ahmedabad-Bangalore from November 30, the airline said in a statement.
These services will have daily operations, it added.
According to the airline, its flight AI883 will leave Delhi at 2200 hours and arrive Goa at 0035 hours, while the return flight AI884 will take off from Goa at 0115 hours and land at Delhi at 0340 hours Similarly, flight AI547 will depart Delhi at 2115 hours and land at Coimbatore at 0030 hours. In its return journey, the flight will leave as AI548 from Coimbatore at 0100 hours and reach Delhi at 0400 hours.
27/10/18 PTI/moneycontrol.com

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Karipur Airport approved as Hajj Embarkation point

Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister of State for Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam on Friday said Karipur Airport has been approved as as an embarkation point for Hajj or annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, 2019.
In a press release here, the Minister said Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi took the decision in this regard.

Now, pilgrims from Kerala will have a choice to opt either Cochin or Kozhikode as an embarkation point for the Hajj, 2019.
26/10/18 WebIndia123

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Kochi gets air connectivity to eight more cities

Kochi: Kochi is all set to get direct air connectivity with eight more cities in the country, taking the number of Indian cities with direct connectivity to 21.

The Cochin International Airport (CIAL) released its winter flight operations schedule on Friday introducing direct flight operations to Goa, Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, Nagpur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Jaipur and Kolkata. The airport currently operates services to 16 international destinations. The new operation schedule will come into effect on Sunday and will be in effect till March 30, 2019.

Presently, the airport operates 1,360 services per week, which will increase to 1,734 once the winter schedule comes into force. There will be 124 takeoffs and 124 landings per day. Apart from introducing services to eight new cities in the country, the frequency of many services has been increased. IndiGo and GoAir have announced new services to Goa.
27/10/18 New Indian Express

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Air India ground staff threaten strike over bus service

Mumbai: About 2,000 Air India ground employees who work at the Mumbai airport and its hangars in Santacruz Kalina have threatened to go on a strike if the airline stops bus service it provides as part of their service contract.

Before the start of every shift, Air India buses ply from railway stations ferrying Air India employees to the airport or Kalina and then back after the completion of the shift.

"We propose to go on strike the day the transports are cancelled," said a notice sent by the Air Corporation Employees Union, a recognized Air India union, to airline management on Thursday.

The letter alleged the airline held no talks with the unions before deciding to withdraw the employees' transport services.
27/10/18 Times of India

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Politics to the fore as Amit Shah set to land at Kannur airport

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah is trying to win brownie points with voters in Kannur—the epicentre of political violence in Kerala and a Left bastion—by becoming the first passenger to land at Kannur airport, even before it gets commissioned in early December. Shah will land in Kannur in a special aircraft on Saturday to inaugurate the newly constructed district office of the BJP. The commissioning of the airport has been tentatively scheduled on December 9.

The ministry of civil aviation has already asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to grant permission for landing the aircraft carrying Shah. The Kannur International Airport Limited, it is learnt, had earlier decided not to give approval for Shah’s aircraft to land in Kannur, as the official inauguration was yet to happen. But, finally, they had to give in to the order from the civil aviation ministry. K.P. Jose, executive director, KIAL, denied there was pressure. “It was not a unilateral decision that was taken by the civil aviation ministry. They had informed us about it. It was not forced on us. This is a licensed airport. The Navy had used it during floods in the state,” said Jose to THE WEEK.
The state government, it seems, is not happy. Said K.K. Shailaja, Kerala’s health minister, to THE WEEK, “To use an airport before it is launched is not at all right. Ideally, Amit Shah and his team should have informed the state government about the intention to use the Kannur airport. We were purposely kept out of the loop. The Union government has the habit of deciding everything on its own.”
Union Minister Sadananda Gowda said the CPI(M) government in Kerala is trying to play politics over a trivial matter. “Our party president’s visit to Kannur airport will be beneficial for the state. Once the AAI takes a decision, it is final. There is no need to seek permission from the state government or officials of the airport concerned,” said Gowda to THE WEEK.
26/10/18 Anirudha Karindalam/The Week

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Amit Shah Becomes 'First' Passenger At Kerala's New Kannur Airport

Kannur:  BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday unofficially became the 'first passenger' to have walked through the brand new international airport in Kannur, which will open shortly to the public.
The Kerala government tried its best to thwart the landing of Mr Shah, but it had to bend after the intervention of the civil aviation authorities in Delhi.
Mr Shah arrived earlier in the morning and was given a rousing welcome by the entire top brass of the state Bharatiya Janata Party.
He is in Kannur to inaugurate the new district office of the BJP.
27/10/18 IANS/NDTV

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Going to airport at night? Stop! You may miss flight

If you are in India and flying abroad, chances are that you will be leaving for the airport at night. But here is a warning. Don't do that. At least do not go by this route. If you are in Delhi and you have a late night or early morning flight from Delhi airport, then you must plan your airport commute in advance. Otherwise, you might miss your flight.

The Delhi Traffic Police has issued advisory informing people that the slip road of the Ring Road leading towards airport will be closed for 5 days. "Due to construction activities at Dhaula Kuan Metro Station, the slip road of Ring Road leading towards Gurugram/Airport shall remain closed for traffic movement for 5 days with effect from 26.10.2018 to 30.10.2018 from 1.00 am to 1.30 am," said Delhi Traffic Police.

The police urged the commuters to take alternative routes or plan their travel in advance. The alternative routes that can be used:

* Vehicles coming from Bhikaji Cama Place and going towards Gurugram/Airport should take left turn from Moti Bagh towards Rao Tula Ram Marg.

* Vehicles plying on Ring road from Naraina to Gurugram/Airport may either take U-turn from Brar Square and pass through Thimayya Marg for further journey.
* Vehicles coming from Vande Mataram Marg for Gurugram/Airport: Take left turn from Dhaula Kuan Flyover and go under Moti Bagh Flyover and take Rao Tula Ram Marg.
26/10/18 ZeeBiz

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CISF restores USD 800 to rightful owner at IGI Airport

New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force on Thursday restored a wallet containing 800 US dollar to the rightful owner at Indira Gandhi International airport, Delhi.
According to CISF, on October 25 morning, a duty personnel at terminal 2 of IGI airport noticed an unattended wallet lying in presecurity hold area and he asked the passerby passengers, but no one
came forward to claim it.
Immediately, the wallet was checked from security point of view and the CCTV footage was reviewed
26/10/18 UNI

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A Direct Flight From Guwahati to Singapore Will Reduce Travel Time by 6 Hours

The latest development in the travel sector is the introduction of a direct flight from Northeast India to Singapore. The Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines has taken the initiative by launching direct fights that’ll fly twice in a week from Guwahati.

Guwahati is now the 16th city in India to have a direct link with Singapore. This indeed is a start of bigger and better things in terms of connectivity, travel and trade. This has especially come as a great news to those who have to endure 10 hours of travel time flying from the Northeast to this South East Asian country. Travellers can now reach Singapore Changi Airport from Guwahati in 4 hours 30 minutes straight, including transfers.

This airline probably followed in the footsteps of IndiGo Airlines that recently launched its daily sevices from Kolkata and Tiruchirapalli to Singapore and from October 29 onwards, will additionally launch 4-time weekly flights from Bangalore to Singapore.
26/10/18 Charu Chowdhary/India.com

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Security tightened at Vizag airport after attack on YS Jagan

The recent attack on YSRCP and opposition leader YS Jagan has raised security concerns at the Vizag airport. Post the attack, the authorities have tightened the security and imposed restrictions.

Barring the passengers boarding flights, the officials have restricted the entry of other visitors into the airport. Post the attack on YS Jagan on Thursday, a few supporters of the leader tried to attack the ticket counters. In this light, the ticket issuing services too have been temporarily stopped.

Also, the past few days have seen an interruption in the issue of corporate and other passes. Visitors and aides of prominent people are being allowed only up to the main entrance of Vizag airport.
Reportedly, several airline companies operating in Vizag airport have been issued a notice by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Informedly, the notice orders the employees of these airlines to carry a police verification certificate in order to be allowed inside.
27/10/18 Yo!Vizag

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AAI sets the ball rolling on new passenger terminal

Tiruchi: With all mandatory clearances having been obtained for the construction of the new international passenger terminal building at the Tiruchi international airport, the Airports Authority of India has now issued the work order to ITD Cementation India Ltd to carry out the multi-crore project.

The detailed work order has been placed after obtaining approval from the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The work order contains minute details connected with the project including the Bill of Quantities, entire work schedule, cost escalation clause and rate quoted for all types of works.

The AAI had last month issued Letter of Intent in favour of the ITD Cementation India Ltd which was the lowest bidder during the bidding exercise for the construction of the new passenger terminal building at the fast growing Tiruchi airport which has direct connectivity to Colombo, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Even as the work order had been placed, preparatory works connected with the mega project have been set in motion at the Tiruchi airport such as demarcation of the proposed site for the construction of the new terminal building adjoining the existing structure.
Consequent to the placing of the work order, a formal agreement would be entered into between the AAI and the ITD Cementation India Limited soon.
25/10/18 R Rajaram/The Hindu

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IndiGo Airlines to connect city with Chennai, Cochin

IndiGo Airlines is all set to make connectivity to south Indian cities even more convenient by adding two new flights from Nagpur to cities like Cochin and Chennai. Bookings to the two new destinations have already started at the travel agents offices. The air ticket bookings are getting a good response from the tourists, said sources in the industry on condition of anonymity.

The flight from Nagpur-Chennai will start from November 1 whereas the direct flight from Nagpur to Cochin will start from November 15. The air ticket prices are being quoted at Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500 per ticket to both destinations depending on the availability with the airline.

With this, Nagpur will now get connected to major south Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Cochin and Chennai.
Sources said that there are a large number of people residing in Nagpur from states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh who wanted to travel to south India and demanded that flights be immediately started to places like Cochin and Chennai. With the start of the Diwali festive season, there has been a rise in demand for air tickets to both domestic and international destinations by 10 to 15 per cent, said sources.
26/10/18 Hitavada

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Lukewarm Response By Airlines Bars Sgr Night Flights

Srinagar: Different Airlines have shown a lukewarm response to start the night flights at Srinagar International Airport with only three carriers agreeing to com­mence the service even as the regulatory authority Airport Au­thority of India (AAI) was ready for the operations.

The Airport was cleared for night operations after first trial run of landing and take off of a commercial aircraft in August. Director Srinagar Airport Aakash Deep Mathur said that the AAI was keen on “starting the night flight operations as soon as pos­sible.” Sources said that the Air­lines which have opted for the night flight slots were GoAir, In­diGo and Air India.

“Everything is ready on the ground to start the night flights. Even the GoAir has already agreed to start evening flights. We are waiting for other airlines to submit their proposals for starting the flights,” he said.

He further added that the AAI has readied the infrastructure to start the operations. “The state government is also ready. The night flight operations have been delayed only because the Airlines are yet to submit their,” he said.

The Director added that all “necessary permissions for night-landing operations have been granted and extending hours of operations at Srinagar Airport will provide a great boost to aviation activities and tourism sector in Kashmir”.
26/10/18 Kashmir Observer

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T2 work begins at Kempegowda International Airport, with March ’21 deadline

Weeks after Larsen and Toubro (L&T) bagged the Rs 3,035.9 crore contract for the construction of the second terminal (T2) at Kempegowda International Airport, a ground-breaking ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the start of construction.
If the project is not finished before March 31, 2021, L&T and BIAL will invite penalties from the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India.
Terminal 2 will be built in two phases. The first phase, covering 255,000 square metres, will cater to 25 million passengers per annum (MPPA), while the second phase of T2 – still in planning stage - will be built for an additional 20 MPPA. BIAL has said that T2 is being designed as an integrated terminal for both domestic and international passengers.
US architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed T2, while Turner International will be the PMC for this expansive project.
26/10/18 Hemanth CS/Bangalore Mirror 

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Fire breaks out near Kolkata airport runway

A fire broke out near the runway at Kolkata airport on Thursday but there was no report of any damage as it was swiftly brought under control, airport sources said. The blaze was reported at around noon from a grassy stretch near the wireless ground of the NSCB International Airport, they said, adding, four fire tenders managed to control the fire in quick time.

Flight movement in the airport was not affected due to the incident, the sources said. The fire, according to initial investigation, appears to have originated from the smoke used to drive away insects from the runway, they said.
26/10/18 PTI/Financial Express

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Special CISF security for VIPs inside airports

New Delhi: VIPs inside airport terminals will now have a special protective ring of securitymen to avoid and deter any attacks on them inside these secure premises. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) took this decision after YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was attacked at Visakhapatnam airport by an employee of a food joint with a knife.
“There was no security lapse in this case from security side. The person was employed by a food joint after proper police verification and had a Bureau of Civil Aviation Security airport entry pass. This happened in the check-in area and not the sterile security hold area (where passengers go after being frisked). Thursday’s incident has shown this to be another area of potential threat,” said a senior CISF official.
26/10/18 Times of India

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Airport Authority Of India To Help Rebuild Mallapuram District Via Its CSR Scheme

The rebuilding of Mallapuram district in Kerala is being aided by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) which will spend Rs 1.14 crore under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) scheme, The Hindu has reported.

As per the report, 30 lakhs have allocated for the reconstruction of 16 roads in the flood-ravaged tribal areas.

Some of the roads to be constructed are Mundakkadavu ST Colony Road in Karulai panchayat, Plakkal Chola ST Colony Road in Chaliyar panchayat, Vengad ST Colony Road in Chaliyar panchayat, Manjeeri ST Colony Road in Karulai panchayat, and Chelara ST Colony Road in Edavanna panchayat.
Calicut International Airport director K Sreenivasa Rao and District Collector Amit Meena have signed an MOU ( Memorandum of Understanding) to that end here on Wednesday in the presence of MP’s ( Member of Parliament’s) P.K. Kunhalikutty and E T Mohammed Basheer. Mr Rao also handed over Rs 2.69 lakh collected from the airport employees towards the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund.
26/10/18 Swarajya

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Durga Puja footfall breaks record at Kolkata airport

Kolkata:  This Durga Puja, over 3.1 lakh passengers flew in and out of Kolkata airport between Shashti and Dashami, shattering the previous record of 2.5 lakh last year.
Sources said the actual figure would be much higher as the projections are based on departures, which is lower than that of arrivals during Puja. On Shashti, a whopping 28,942 domestic flyers departed from Kolkata. Add to that another 5,444 international passengers and the total departures was 34,386 — the highest ever on a single day at Kolkata airport. With several hundred more arriving to the city on Shashti to experience Durga Puja, the total passenger count breached 70,000, another record.

Domestic departure increased by 29% during the five-day period. International traffic was up 6.4%. The highest international departure as well as arrival was on Sashti.

The sharp rise in passengers was supported by a spike in flights operating in and out of Kolkata. While 851 domestic flights operated to Kolkata last Puja, 926 came in this year. The number of international flights increased from 153 to 163.
26/10/18 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India

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After two days of refusal, drunk flier leaves Kolkata

Kolkata: In a first at Kolkata airport, a passenger was refused boarding for the second day in succession for turning up in an inebriated condition. He finally managed to travel on Thursday in his third attempt when airline staff found him sober enough to board the aircraft.
On Wednesday evening, the middle-aged passenger who claimed he worked in a private firm of Gurgaon and was visiting Kolkata — his hometown — on the occasion of Durga Puja, arrived at the airport at 7.30pm to take the Jet Airways flight 9W 497 that was scheduled to depart at 9.10pm.
Sources said the flier reeked of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet. When he was asked to produce the flight ticket at the check-in desk, he failed to do so. On Tuesday evening, too, he had emptied the contents of his travel bag on the counter but failed to find the ticket for 20 minutes. When he finally did, it turned out that he was booked on a SpiceJet flight (SG 264) and not Jet Airways.
Wary of the passenger’s behaviour the previous evening when he had turned abusive and forced the airline to lodge a complaint that led to his arrest, Jet Airways officials alerted CISF officers on duty.
On Thursday, the passenger finally managed to reach the airport sober and flew out on Air India flight AI 701 that departed at 5.30pm. Sources said the passenger on seat 14C was quiet and kept to himself during the two-hour flight.
26/10/18 Times of India

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Goa airport slips up on parking slips again

Panaji: Complaints of the parking contractor at the Goa International Airport, Dabolim, indulging in fraudulent practices have surfaced yet again. Citizens had, in the past, complained that the contractor had been issuing parking slips without time stamps at the arrival and departure lanes.
Absence of a time stamp allows the contractor to force private vehicle owners to pay a fine of Rs 85 for exceeding the permitted five minutes.

The latest person to have noticed something was not right with the ticket being issued was the chairman of the National Council for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Manguirish Pai Raikar.

"I went to the airport at around 5.30am to drop off a friend. The token issued at the airport entrance had no time mentioned," Raikar said. "At the exit, I gave the token but I had the presence of mind to notice that there was no time mentioned on it."

Raikar added that the attendant demanded payment for exceeding the stipulated five minutes.

26/10/18 Times of India

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Airport solar project gains momentum

The move to set up a solar power plant at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) has gained momentum as a 7-member high-profile team visited some of the India’s international airports and found their systems viable for Bangladesh as well.

According to official sources, the committee, headed by an additional secretary of the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, visited India in mid-September to observe how solar power plants at airports operate there—and related technical and engineering issues.

The committee prepared a report on the basis of their finding from the trip, reports UNB.

The team included members of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, Power Development Board (PDB) and Power Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

India has already transformed a number of airports into solar-powered ones by setting up photovoltaic solar plants to meet their electricity demands.
Cochin International Airport in Kerala, Bengalore Kempegowda International Airport , Indira Ghandi International Airport in New Delhi and Netaji Subas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata are among the airports that have transitioned to solar power.
26/10/18 Dhaka Tribune

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BIAL announces 7 new routes in its winter schedule

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) - operator of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru - has announced of launching seven new routes and the addition of two airlines during the Winter Schedule 2018, commencing October 28. This five-month schedule will be in effect until March 30th, 2019.
Phuket is the new international destination, with Go Air offering a direct connection to the southern Thai province. With this, Bengaluru will now connect to 82 destinations – 53 domestic and 29 international.
Three airlines — Indigo, Air India and Go Air — will launch additional flights from Bengaluru to eight existing international destinations. Indigo will operate daily flights to Male, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Kathmandu; Air India will fly to Bangkok and London; Go Air will operate to Male. Air India Express will launch a round-trip flight to Singapore – flying four times a week – from October 29.
The new domestic destinations are Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Udaipur (Spice Jet); Udaipur and Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad) (Indigo); Aizawl via Guwahati (Jet Airways) and Kolhapur (Alliance Air).
26/10/18 Economic Times

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Air Italy enters India with flights to Delhi, Mumbai from Dec

Mumbai: Air Italy on Thursday announced its foray into the Indian market with flight services to New Delhi and Mumbai from its Milan Malpensa hub, starting December.

The Italian carrier had earlier planned to start India operations this month.

Both the routes will be served by a 252-seater Airbus A330 aircraft, with 24 seats in business class and remaining 228 in economy, Air Italy said in a release.

“We look forward to the connection between Italy and two of the main business and tourist destinations in Asia - Mumbai and New Delhi. With the launch of our India operations in December, we are excited to offer newer routes and a wider travel option to the discerning travellers from India,” said Rossen Dimitrov, chief operating officer, Air Italy.

The European carrier said it would operate three flights per week each to Delhi and Mumbai from the Milan’s largest international airport at Malpensa.
25/10/18 PTI/Business Line

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Kannur: AIE reservation from KIAL to start this week

Kannur: The reservation for Air India Express flights operating from Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) will begin this week, according to AIE authorities. The time schedule has already been submitted to the director-general of civil aviation which may approve it in two days.  The first Air India Express service will be operated to Dubai and the official announcement will be made soon. Services will also be operated to Riyadh, Muscat, Sharjah and Doha and there will be four international services by AIE daily.

The Spice Jet and Indigo airlines also will finalise their services soon. The Spice Jet and GO Air had evinced interest in operating domestic as well as international services from KIAL.  KIAL managing director V. Thulasidas will meet the top officials of the airlines soon. 

The airport will be inaugurated on December 9 and the DGCA has already cleared the aerodrome licence.

Moves are also afoot to extend the runway from the present 3,050 metres to 4,000 metres. Spread over 2,300 acres of land, the airport will serve the passengers from the Malabar region and parts of Coorg and Mangalore in Karnataka. The terminal building for passengers is 97,000 square metres whereas the construction work of international cargo complex with 1.05 lakh square feet is at its final stage.
25/10/18 Deccan Chronicle

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Air Odisha gets showcause over cancellations from new airport

Bhubaneswar: With Odisha’s newly inaugurated second major airport not been operational for over two weeks following a high number of flight cancellations by Air Odisha, the Civil Aviation Ministry on Wednesday stated that it has issued a showcause notice to the operator.

Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September, the Veer Surendra Sai airport in Jharsuguda district is expected to boost investment and development in western Odisha. Air Odisha, the sole operator in the airport, did not respond to requests for comment.

The ministry’s Twitter account stated: “Jharsuguda Airport is a full fledged functional airport and available for all domestic scheduled & non-scheduled operations.
The selected Airline under UDAN has been issued with showcause for discontinuing their operations quoting technical reasons. Non commencement within prescribed period would lead for cancellation of current award. Routes would be opened for bidding & allocated to eligible Airlines for better connectivity.”

“The last flight from the airport by Air Odisha was on October 06,” said Airport Director S K Chauhan.

While stating that Air Odisha has been cancelling flights without prior intimation, Chauhan said, “Even when they operate flights, they mostly ignore scheduled timings and take off or land with massive delays.”
25/10/18 Sampad Patnaik/Indian Express

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Air Deccan stops four flight ops in Maharashtra cities

Nashik: Air Deccan has stopped its services in the four cities of Maharashtra from the first week of October. These routes include Mumbai-Nashik-Mumbai, Nashik-Pune-Nashik and Mumbai-Jalgaon-Mumbai.
The company confirmed stopping of its services owing to technical reasons. The private airline is also keen to shift its base from Ozar airport in Nashik to Ahmedabad, but the plan did not work out.
Air Deccan was the first airline company to kick-off its services from Nashik under Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in December last year.
“The airline has some payment issue with Nashik-based Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd that owns the airport. Our feedback is that it has not paid its outstanding dues to HAL for its operations from the airport,” the AAI official said.
According to the official, AAI has taken a strong note of Air Deccan to stop its services in Maharashtra and has decided to convene a meeting shortly to force the airline to re-start its services.
24/10/18 Tushar Pawar/Times of India

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Kadapa airport to get night landing facility, facelift soon

Anantapur: The Kadapa Airport will soon get a facelift to provide night landing facility.
Since last year, TruJet Airlines flies in and out of the airport only during the day to Vijayawada and Tirupati since last year.
Collector Hari Kiran said the government was taking necessary measures to start the night landing facility so that more aircraft can operate from the Kadapa Airport. The district administration has initiated beautification work at the airport and is developing connecting roads to Kadapa headquarters.
The airport work was completed long ago and operation of flights was stopped twice because of the poor response from passengers. The Bengaluru-based airlines, however, has been operating services. The Airlines also offers free transport facility for passengers to Kadapa headquarters.
The Kadapa airport is spread over 669.5 acres and was upgraded at a cost of `42 crore that was inaugurated by former Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu two years ago.
25/10/18 Deccan Chronicle

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GoAir agree to start evening flights: Director Sgr Airport

Srinagar: Airport Authority here said that Srinagar International Airport is all set to start night flights operation and that GoAir has already agreed to start the evening shifts. The Airport was technically cleared for night operations after first night landing and taking off of a commercial aircraft was undertaken in August this year.
Director Srinagar Airport Aakash Deep Mathur told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the Airports Authority of India was interested in starting the night flight operations as soon as possible.
“Everything is ready on the ground to start the night flights. Even the GoAir has already agreed to start evening flights. We are waiting for other airlines to submit their proposals for starting the flights,” he said.
He further added that the Airports Authority of India is ready with the infrastructure needed to start the operations. “The state government is also ready. The night flight operations have been delayed only because the airlines concerned are yet to submit their programmes/proposals,” he maintained.
25/10/18 Kashmir News Service

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ILS antennae restoration work under way at Tiruchi airport

Tiruchi: Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up restoration of ILS (Instrument Landing System) localiser antennae at Tiruchi international airport.

Some of the antennae suffered extensive damage recently when a Dubai-bound Air India Express flight came into contact with them and a portion of the perimeter wall during take off in the early hours.

The restoration work is being carried out in Runway-27 end area after obtaining clearance from an official of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), who inspected the spot and conducted a two-day inquiry on the Air India Express incident.

An AAI technical experts’ team from New Delhi is carrying out the restoration work, a senior official told The Hindu on Wednesday. The damaged antennae were removed and replaced with new ones dispatched from Lucknow.
Five antennae, along with the control unit had been installed and final adjustments would be made thereafter. The installation works had almost reached the final stage, the official said.
Once the installation works were over, a team from AAI’s Flight Inspection Unit would carry out flight calibration and ground tests. The entire ILS system was expected to be become operational either by month-end or November first week, the official added.
25/10/18 R Rajaram/The Hindu

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5 more flights a week from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur

Kolkata:  Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian full-service airline owned by Indonesian Lion Air Group, started its flights between Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur early on Tuesday. The five-times-a-week service will add to the daily flight operated by AirAsia Berhad to take the weekly count of flights between the two cities to 12.

“India is one of the important markets for us and we have been getting good response from India. Kolkata is a potential market in terms of outbound travellers and we look forward to seeing good response to our new flight from Kolkata to Kuala Lumpur,” said Malindo Air CEO Chandran Rama Muthy. Malindo will operate two planes on the sector: Boeing B737-800 with 150 economy- and 12 businessclass seats and B737-900 with 162 economy- and 12 businessclass stories. The flight time between Kolkata and KL is three hours, 55 minutes.
Traditionally tourists have a fascination for Kuala Lumpur and Petronas Twin Towers as well as Genting Highlands with magnum hotels, casinos and joy rides. Tourism Malaysia director Sulaiman Suip, who was present at the launch of the flight from Kolkata, believes tourists from Kolkata would be equally enchanted by the sheer diversity of Malaysia’s culture and performing arts. “We want to introduce tourists to places beyond Kuala Lumpur, such as upbeat destinations, like Ipoh, Johor, Kota Kinabalu and unexplored beaches, rainforests and national parks,” said Suip.
24/10/18 Times of India

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Launch Of Vijayawada-Singapore Flight Service Delayed

Mumbai: The much-anticipated direct flight between Vijayawada and Singapore may not take off this week as announced by the Andhra Pradesh government.
The state government has recently said the Indigo A320 service will begin on October 25.
When contacted, Media advisor to the state Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Department A Chandrasekhar Reddy said "bookings will start" but the actual flight service might commence only in the first week of December.
Indigo, which has been chosen by the state government to operate the twice-a-week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) direct flight, said it has not yet finalised the schedule.
We are yet to finalise the dates. We would keep you informed as and when we start these flight services, a spokesperson of Indigo told PTI through an email.
24/10/18 PTI/Republic World

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Drunk man abuses airline ground staff, arrested

Kolkata: Passengers booked on Jet Airways flight to Delhi on Tuesday evening were in for a shock at the check-in desk with an inebriated passenger creating a ruckus after blocking a counter for nearly 20 minutes. When the passenger was asked to move to another counter as he was booked on another airline, he allegedly began abusing the staff. Following a complaint by the airline, the middle-aged man was taken into custody.
Amitava Ganguly, an employee of a private firm in Gurgaon, was returning home after spending the Pujas in Kolkata. He did display the ticket at the terminal entrance but then misplaced it. According to airport officials, Ganguly appeared to be inebriated in the manner he slurred and walked unsteadily.
Approaching a Jet Airways check-in counter, he demanded a boarding pass from the airline ground staff. When the airline asked him to furnish the travel documents, he first patted his pockets and then opened his bag to take out toiletries, clothes and even undergarments.
When the passenger finally found the ticket and handed it over to the airline official, she discovered he was booked on SpiceJet and not Jet Airways. On asking him to move to the SpiceJet counter located on a different island, he turned abusive. “The passenger claimed the ground staff had been harassing him and now wanted him to shift to another counter. He didn’t seem to understand that it was he who had come to the wrong airline counter and the Jet Airways staff did not have any inkling of the mistake till he produced the ticket,” an airport official said.
With the passenger refusing to calm down and carrying on with offensive words, the airline lodged a complaint with the police.
25/10/18 Times of India

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Saudia Boeing 777 and UPS Jets avert collision

New Delhi: Another mid-air collision was averted in the Kolkata airspace last Tuesday, this time involving a Saudia Boeing 777 aircraft and a Boeing 747 plane owned by global logistics company UPS, raising questions over the safety of Indian skies.
The planes came within about 300 feet of each other but a collision was averted after the traffic alert and collision avoidance system or TCAS on both the aircraft was triggered automatically enabling the planes to be diverted in two different directions.
Last Tuesday, the Saudia flight from Riyadh to Manila came close to the UPS’ Boeing 747 plane that was Mumbai-bound from Bangkok. The incident happened when the UPS aircraft was asked by the controller to climb from 32,000 feet to 34,000 feet.
While climbing, the UPS aircraft was vertically about 300 feet away, when it reached an altitude of 32,700 feet, as the Saudia aircraft was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet.
A radar controller has been grounded, pending the inquiry into the incident.
The incident is the second within two days over the Kolkata airspace, raising alarm bells in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
24/10/18 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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Druk Air Guwahati-Singapore flights a boon

Guwahati: Singapore Airlines on Tuesday said it was looking forward to welcoming more travellers from Guwahati, who can tap Changi Airport’s extensive network to destinations in Asia such as Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan.

Changi Airport in Singapore has announced the launch of its 16th city link to India with the introduction of a new non-stop service between Guwahati and Singapore, operated by Drukair Royal Bhutan Airlines.

This new route marks the first direct connection between the Northeast and Singapore.

From September 29, Drukair has commenced two weekly flights from Guwahati to Singapore.

The introduction of this new service is expected to reduce travel time from almost 10 hours, including transfers, to four and a half hours.

Lim Ching Kiat, the managing director of Air Hub Development, Changi Airport Group, said in a statement on Tuesday, “We are pleased to launch the first non-stop service between Northeast India and Singapore with our valued partner Drukair. India is the third largest tourism source market for Singapore and one of

Changi Airport’s key growth markets. This new route enhances connectivity between Singapore and India, bringing the city links to 16. We look

forward to welcoming more travellers from Guwahati, who can tap Changi Airport’s extensive network to destinations in Asia such as Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan.”

He said the new link is expected to strengthen not only cultural and socio-political ties between the countries but also facilitate opportunities to enhance travel and trade practices.
24/10/18 Telegraph

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Virus alert at Bihar airports, stations

Patna:The state health department has stepped up surveillance in the wake of spread of dengue, chikungunya, zika and H1N1 (influenza A) virus cases in other states and the possibility of the outbreak of the diseases due to migration of people in the ongoing festive season. The department has asked authorities of Patna and Gaya airport apart from major railway stations and Inland Water Ways Authority of India to inform travellers about the symptoms of these diseases and ask them to get themselves checked at the isolation room or health check-up counter to be created at those facilities if they exhibit any of the four viral diseases’ symptoms.

The airport, railway station and waterways authorities have been asked to provide space for setting up of an isolation room or health counter at their facilities.

Sanjay Kumar, principal health secretary and chief executive officer of the State Health Society, issued the notification on this on Monday.

“The notification says that in-flight announcement has to be done for the passengers for self-reporting — if they have fever — to the health counter to be set up at the airport and prepare a list of all fever cases with special emphasis on pregnant women,” said an official of the health department’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
The official, who spoke under cover of anonymity, said that the department would provide a three-to four member team at each airport and station consisting of a medical officer, a nurse and a technician who would conduct rapid diagnostic test on the passengers to check whether they are suffering from dengue or chikungunya.
24/10/18  Shuchismita Chakraborty/Telegraph

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Srinagar airport repairs likely to make travel costlier

Srinagar: Flyers might have to pay more for travel because Srinagar airport would be closed for air traffic after 3pm thrice a month for next five months beginning November 4 for runway repairs.
This is another setback for air travel. Earlier, authorities shelved the plan to operate night flights from the airport.
At present, flights land at the airport till 5:30 pm during winter months.
A notice by the Airports Authority of India has informed several airlines that the airport would be closed on three alternate Sundays from 3pm till the sunrise the next day.
A manager of an airline, requesting anonymity, said the afternoon slot is crucial during winter because foggy mornings often disrupt flight timings. He said airlines were already disappointed because the proposed plan to allow night flights has been put on the backburner.
“The decision to further reduce operational hours will hit flyers badly,” said the manager. 
Also, flight rush is the highest on Sundays, which makes fare rise inevitable, he said. This is also likely to hit winter tourist flow.
24/10/18 Saqib Malik/Grater Kashmir

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Dead bird turns scarecrow: Vistara flight aborts landing in Delhi twice

New Delhi: A Vistara airlines flight from Kochi missed its landing -- twice -- at the Delhi airport due to a dead bird that was present on the runway.

The pilots of the flight -- an Airbus A320 -- were warned by Air Traffic Control (ATC) officials about the presence of the dead bird.

And so, they decided to initiate a go-around, aviation parlance for aborting a landing at the last moment.

The flight then tried once again to land on the same runway. However, this time as well the pilots apparently decided to perform a go-around.

The specifics of the second attempted landing aren't very clear.

According to the flight path (provided by aviation tracker Flightradar24.com), Vistara UK 866 approached the Delhi airport's southernmost runway (the airport has three runways).

The path shows Vistara UK 866 making a sharp left turn halfway down the runway -- the plane was flying at this moment and was over not ON the runway.

After making the left turn, Vistara UK 866 circles back to the same runway after flying over Gurgaon and Fardiabad.

This time as well the flight doesn't land. However, this time around, Vistara UK 866 flies the entire length of the runway before pulling left.
23/10/18 India Today

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Guiding flyers to new terminal

Hyderabad: Jet Airways announced on Monday that passengers arriving via domestic flights to Hyderabad and proceeding for their international travel would be guided to the Interim Departure International Terminal (IITD) by its staff who would be available at baggage desk near belt no.2. The terminal will become operational on October 23.

Passengers would be guided towards lift no. P2 outside the ‘Arrival Hall’ and need to make their way to Level -1 (basement) and can then either take the free shuttle service or walk to the IIDT.

One can enter through any gate at the new IIDT and go through the respective airline counters followed by immigration process and then the security hold area.

Baggage of those proceeding on international flights would be transferred to respective airline’s baggage build-up area through an internal transfer process. The terminal change will have no effect on guests flying in from other countries into Hyderabad for further domestic travel.
23/10/18 The Hindu

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Malindo Air starts service from Kolkata to KL

Kolkata: Malindo Air, a full-service carrier owned by Lion Group of Indonesia, launched its direct connectivity from the city to Kuala Lumpur with five flights per week in the initial phase.

The city became the eighth destination for Malindo Air in India after Delhi, Amritsar, Mumbai, Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai (through another Lion Group airline Batik Air), Trichy and Trivandrum.


GM (sales and development) of Malindo Air, Ramdas Shriram said that the airlines flies to 54 destinations across various cities and Asia and Australia.

"We hope to get a load factor of 90 per cent during the peak season out of Kolkata", he told reporters here on Tuesday.
23/10/18 PTI/Business Standard

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Congress demands regular flights from Jharsuguda

Sambalpur: Non-operation of air services from the newly opened Veer Surendra Sai Airport at Jharsuguda, 55km from here, has led to an agitation being launched by the Congress on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Congress workers, led by Jharsuguda MLA Naba Das, resorted to two-day dharna in front of the airport, demanding regularisation of the daily flight and functioning of a full-fledged airport.

Das warned the Centre for playing with the sentiment of the people of Odisha by not providing air services, according to their commitments. “It was a pity that the scheme, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 22 with much fanfare by the Centre and the BJP, was not operating,” he said.

Das warned that the party would initiate a series of agitations from November if the airport did not start properly functioning by then.

The Air Odisha entrusted to operate the Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda-Raipur route had operated only six days during this period. “The flight services have been stopped for the past 15 days,” airport director, Suresh Kumar Chouhan told The Telegraph. “We are always told that the flight has been cancelled because of technical reason,” he said when asked about the reason of cancellation.

The director also confirmed that the airliner was yet to start online booking of tickets. He failed to confirm the reason why it is yet to link the service to the online system.
23/10/18  Subhas Panigrahi/Telegraph

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