Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar lays foundation stone for Ambala Cantonment airport

In a bid to improve connectivity and spur economic activity, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid the foundation stone of a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment on Sunday (October 15). This civil enclave project, sanctioned under the UDAN scheme, is set to occupy 20 acres adjacent to the Air Force Station. 

During the ceremony, attended by officials including Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and Rajya Sabha MP Kartikiye Sharma, Khattar highlighted the airport’s potential to strengthen connectivity with other states and bolster economic activity. 

Additionally, the airport will serve as a complementary facility to the Chandigarh airport. The project will leverage the existing runway of the Ambala Cantonment Airport Station for commercial aircraft landings. 

The Ministry of Defence has granted approval for the Air Force airstrip’s civil aviation use, allocating approximately 20 acres for the civil enclave, with the Haryana government disbursing Rs 133 crore. The Public Works department of Haryana has issued a tender worth Rs 16 crore for the terminal building’s construction and approved Rs 25 crore for other airport infrastructure. 

Deputy Chief Minister Chautala revealed plans for a passenger terminal capable of accommodating at least 200 people simultaneously, expected to be completed within six months. 

The Haryana government has sought permission to operate flights from Ambala to several destinations under the UDAN scheme, including Srinagar, Varanasi, Jaipur, Amritsar, and Delhi. 

16/10/2023 Financial Express

Read More

Prayagraj airport records highest footfall in Sept

Prayagraj: The Prayagraj airport has recorded a footfall of 55,000 passengers in September this year which is the highest in the past four years since the facility became operational in 2019. This achievement is given the fact that the number of flights during this month as compared to 2019 onwards has decreased. These figures are also important because September is off-season in the airline industry but this year, the number of passengers was quite high. This is also the first time since 2019 that the number of passengers has crossed 55,000 in September.

The fourth phase of Mission Shakti programme that aims at women’s safety, dignity and empowerment was launched in the city on Saturday. Under it a public awareness rally was taken out by women police personnel from Police Lines on scooters, ambulances and PRB vehicles. The rally was flagged off by Additional Police Commissioner Pawan Kumar and District Magistrate Navneet Singh Chahal. The rally passed through Lakshmi crossing, Bank Road, Balson Crossing, Chandrashekhar Azad park and ended at the district panchayat premises. Apart from this, a rally was taken out by school girls from the Police Lines to the district panchayat premises. Another programme was organised in the auditorium of district panchayat office which was attended by BJP MP Kesari Devi Patel. On the occasion, 12 women, who have done excellent work in various fields, were honoured with shawls and mementos.

16/10/2023 Pioneer

Read More

Odisha: Puri's Sri Jagannath Greenfield International Airport Receives Site Clearance Approval From MoCA

In a significant development supporting the state government's vision of establishing the Sri Jagannath International Airport in Puri, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted site clearance approval for the project.

This clearance comes exactly one year after the government had submitted all the necessary documentation to the ministry, in line with the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy of 2008.

While granting this clearance, sources indicate that the MoCA has advised the state government to proceed with the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) to obtain 'in-principle' approval.

Within two years, the state will need to submit its application, along with the DPR, for consideration by the steering committee responsible for greenfield airports.

Initial estimates suggest that the airport's construction will cost approximately Rs 5,631 crore.

The Puri district administration has already initiated the land acquisition process, encompassing around 1,164 acres, including 68 acres of forest and 221.48 acres of privately owned land in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur under the Brahmagiri tehsil.

Among the private land required for the project, 153.37 acres are in Sipasarubali, and 68.11 acres are in Sandhapur.

Fortunately, no rehabilitation and resettlement are needed, as these land parcels are devoid of human habitation.

An official involved with the project stated, "The project proposal was submitted after identifying the land and conducting a favourable obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS) survey. Public hearings for the acquisition of private land have been completed, and the process is underway for the conversion of some government-owned land. With the site clearance approval now secured, we will expedite the remaining processes," reports The New Indian Express.

To obtain in-principle approval, the government must fulfil the requisite formalities with various regulatory bodies and government agencies.

16/10/2023 V Bhagya Subhashini/SwarajyaMag

Read More

No Flight Operations At Mumbai Airport For 6 Hours Tomorrow

New Delhi: The flight operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will remain temporarily suspended tomorrow due to routine maintenance work on its two runways. The runways in one of the busiest airports in the country will remain shut for six hours as part of a comprehensive post-monsoon runway maintenance plan.

"Both runways - RWY 09/27 and RWY 14/32 - will be temporarily non-operational on 17th October 2023, from 1100 hrs to 1700 hrs," the airport operator said in a statement.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued to airlines and other stakeholders six months ago, the CSMIA said.

The primary objective of the scheduled closure is to undertake repair and maintenance works essential to uphold the airport's infrastructure to the highest standards, the CSMIA added.

"This yearly practice of runway maintenance post monsoons is a part of the series of activities undertaken with precision and meticulous efforts, ensuring operational continuity and passenger safety, thus bringing to life to vision of imbibing passenger first approach at the core of our operations," it said.

The airport has also scheduled flights in a way to ensure the "smooth" completion of the maintenance.

16/10/2023 NDTV

Read More

Airports Authority Of India Invites Applications For 496 Junior Executive Posts

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued a notification for Junior Executives (Air Traffic Control), announcing 496 vacancies. The notification, dated October 14, 2023, specifies that interested candidates must apply through AAI's official website; no other application methods will be accepted. According to the notification, the 496 positions include 199 for the general category, 49 for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), 140 for the Other Backward Class (OBC), 75 for Scheduled Category (SC), and 33 for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. The last date to apply online is November 30, 2023.

Qualifications required:

The required qualifications are a full-time regular Bachelor's Degree in Science (BSc) with Physics and Mathematics or a full-time regular Bachelor's Degree in Engineering in any discipline, with Physics and Mathematics as subjects in the curriculum. Proficiency in both spoken and written English at the 10+2 standard level is essential. Applicants must ensure their degree meets specific criteria, including recognition by a recognized or deemed university or an apex institution (IIT/IIMs/XLRI/TISS) acknowledged by the Government of India. The maximum age limit for applicants is 27 years as of November 30, 2023, while the minimum age requirement is 18. Additionally, there is an age relaxation of three years for OBC candidates and five years for SC/ST candidates.

To apply, candidates should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, provide accurate information, and read the instructions carefully. Applications should be submitted online via AAI's website under the 'careers' tab. Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Candidates should maintain an active personal email ID and mobile number for communication throughout the recruitment process. They are advised to verify information on the official AAI website to avoid responding to unscrupulous advertisements.

15/10/2023 NDTV

Read More

Delhi court issues non-bailable warrant against Nellore International Airport Limited MD

New Delhi: A Delhi court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Vankayalapati Umesh, the Managing Director (MD) of Nellore International Airport Limited (NIAL) due to his failure to appear in a cheque bounce case involving an amount of Rs 3 crore.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shikha Chahal of Saket Courts noted a lack of valid reason for Umesh's non-appearance.

The court observed that during the previous hearing, the accused had sought an adjournment to furnish bail bonds and engage a lawyer.

However, there was no justifiable cause for his absence during the recent hearing.

The court noted that the case is currently at the stage of bail bond verification and settlement.

As the parties involved have not reached a settlement, the case is proceeding on its merits.

The complainant company, ANS Construction Pvt. Ltd., alleged that Hyderabad-based NIAL had offered a Rs 100 crore contract to their Delhi-based company, taking Rs 3 crore as Earnest Money Deposit (EMD).

However, neither the contract was awarded nor was the EMD returned.

Subsequently, multiple cheques totaling Rs 3 crore were given to return the EMD but one of the cheques bounced.

The complainant's counsel Utkarsh Singh pointed out that despite being given time to settle the dispute, the accused did not approach for settlement nor did he appear before the court.

The court observed that the accused is well aware of the ongoing legal proceedings and appeared to be intentionally evading the process of law through his continued non-appearance.

14/10/2023 IANS/Daijiworld

Read More

Vizag International Airport’s development: GMR secures Rs 4,000 cr finance

GMR has secured a Rs 4,000 crore loan from India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFCL), which leads in fund mobilisation for the home-grown Group. The funds will be utilised to construct a greenfield international airport at Vizag, Andhra Pradesh.

The new airport is being built on the outskirts of Bhogapuram, spanning over 2,200 acres. Strategically located in the seaside commercial city, with a key port and a steel unit, the project is part of GMR’s efforts to expand its aviation business. This airport is expected to be its fourth major airport in the country after Delhi, Hyderabad and Goa.

The IIFCL-led consortium is financing GMR’s latest airport venture to be developed in three phases, of which, the first phase is set to accommodate six million passengers a year. Once completed, the airport is expected to play a vital role in the development of the state and boost tourism in the northern region.

14/10/2023 Construction Week

Read More

Passenger handling increases by 22 per cent to 4.6 lakh in September in Guwahati airport

Guwahati: The Guwahati airport has handled 4.6 lakh passengers in September, an increase of 22 per cent compared to the same month last year, Chief Airport Officer Utpal Baruah said on Saturday. The international airport also handled almost 4,000 air traffic movements in September, which is 19 per cent higher than that (3,216) in that month in 2022, he said.

"The airport handled 4.6 lakh passengers in September. This is 22 per cent higher than the previous year's 3,58,297 in the same month last year," Baruah told reporters.

The Guwahati airport has witnessed movement of over 610 private or chartered flights since April this year as activities of the government, business and others have increased "considerably" in comparison to those in the previous year.

The airport witnessed 186 non-scheduled flight movements in April, 114 in May, 72 in June, 46 in July, 47 in August and 144 in September, the Chief Airport Officer said.

Several such flights have been operated also in October from the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.

Airport officials said the number of chartered flights has 'increased considerably' compared to that in the same period of 2022.

14/10/2023 Times of India

Read More

AAI nod to pending tasks, int'l airport to get wings soon

Ludhiana: In a major development that would further expedite the ongoing work on the mega civil aviation project, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has given in-principle approval to the pending tasks for the upcoming international airport at Halwara, close to Ludhiana.

The development assumes significance as these approvals were awaiting the AAI nod since long following which several components of the ongoing work to construct a new integrated civil enclave and cargo terminal at Air Force Station in Halwara, which is one of the oldest frontline airbases of the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to Ludhiana, were getting delayed.

This was conveyed by the Union Civil Aviation Secretary, Vumlunmang Vualnam, to Rajya Sabha MP from Ludhiana, Sanjeev Arora, who met him in New Delhi last evening.

Sharing details, the Rajya Sabha MP told The Tribune here on Saturday that he had been pursuing the matter of pending approvals with the Civil Aviation Ministry since long and had been impressing upon the top functionaries to grant the same for paving the way to undertake the balance works at the earliest.

“I called on the Civil Aviation Secretary and briefed him about the issues in details, following which he showed prompt response and accorded the formal approvals of the project, which were lying pending with the ministry for a long time,” Arora disclosed.

14/10/2023 Nitin Jain/Tribune

Read More

Noida International Airport runway, ATC to be ready soon! Know the latest update, key details of the mega project

Noida airport: Project officials have announced that the runway and air traffic control (ATC) tower for the upcoming Noida airport are expected to be ready by March 2024. During a review meeting, S P Goyal, the additional chief secretary to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and additional chief secretary of Civil Aviation for the Uttar Pradesh government, was briefed on the progress of the Greenfield project. Approximately 7,200 workers are laboring day and night to ensure the project’s timely completion.

The official statement indicated, “First of all, the construction work of the ATC tower was reviewed. The ATC tower, featuring eight floors, has seen the completion of six floors, and the last two floors are currently under construction. The tower, standing at a height of 30 meters, is set to be finalised by February 2024.”

Regarding the runway construction, the statement mentioned, “The construction work of the runway at the airport is almost 70% complete, with the airstrip work targeted for completion by February-March 2024. Goyal also inspected the construction work of the terminal building, which is progressing rapidly.”

Goyal’s on-site review included Noida International Airport Limited CEO Arun Vir Singh, Noida International Airport CEO Christoph Schnellmann, COO Kiran Jain, District Magistrate Manish Verma, and Yamuna Authority’s officer-on-special duty Shailendra Bhatia, among others.

Additionally, the review covered the construction of an interchange being developed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) at Dayanatpur to connect the airport located in the Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district. NHAI officials assured that the road connecting the airport to the Delhi Mumbai Expressway will be completed on schedule.

Goyal issued directives to expedite construction work and ensure adherence to the stipulated project timelines as per the concession agreement.

14/10/2023 Anindita Sen/Financial Express

Read More

Adani Enterprises says ministry starts probe related to its Mumbai airports

Billionaire Gautam Adani’s Adani Enterprises said on Friday that India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs had started an accounting probe related to its two airports in Mumbai.Adani said the ministry had sought information and documents on the units – whose acquisition was completed in the financial year 2021-22 – spanning financial years 2017-18 and 2021-22.

Adani Group did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment seeking further details. The investigation is the latest in a string of troubles for the conglomerate since a U.S. short seller earlier this year accused it of improperly using offshore tax havens and stock manipulation.

India’s Ministry of Corporate Affairs had in February initiated another probe into the Adani Group’s financial statements. A separate probe into suspected violations in overseas investments in the Adani group by India’s markets regulator has “drawn a blank”, a court-appointed panel said in May.

13/10/2023 Reuters/Financial Express

Read More

Rain doesn’t spare Terminal 2 of KIA, leaves puddles on Level 1

Bengaluru:  Flyers and airport employees faced inconvenience at the Rs 5,000-crore Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Monday owing to heavy rain. All international operations were shifted to Terminal 2 on September 12. Leaking roof of the terminal’s Middle Level had rainwater on the floor.

Airport sources confirmed waterlogging at the terminal because of heavy rain. A source said, “The airport has three levels, the Ground, Level 1 and Level 2. With Level 1 impacted, water entered the offices of Indigo, Vistara and ground handling firm Celebi Aviation. This led to chaos there for some time.”

The sources said that one portion of the terminal was affected. “The problem was rectified the following day. Heavy rain on Tuesday did not cause any problem,” they added.

A Bangalorean @arjunvis, who was upset as his Emirates flight (EK 566) was made to hover over the airport on Monday and not allowed to land, posted on x: “By the way the airport looks like a puddle filled mess. Clearly not prospered for rain to land flights and keep the airport dry. Poor first impressions for visitors.”

In an earlier post, he said, “@BLRAirport a little rain and you guys can’t permit planes to land and on top of that not letting us deplane. What’s going on guys for all the claims of being an international airport @emirates terrible.”

12/10/2023 S Lalitha/New Indian Express

Read More

Timely action by Vistara air hostess saves a baby's life at Mumbai airport

New Delhi: The timely action of a Vistara air hostess recently helped save a two-year-old's life at the Mumbai airport. Kessang Bhutia was at the boarding gate of Mumbai Airport, waiting for the incoming aircraft that wad to operate as UK 986 to Delhi on September 18, 2023 when she heard a group of passengers crying out loudly. She quickly sprung into action upon finding that a child was unresponsive.

"She saw from a distance that a child was unresponsive and breathless. She immediately paged for a doctor and then without wasting any time, with the help of another crew member, gave CPR to the child. They were successful in saving the baby's life," said an airline official.

Meanwhile, doctors arrived and took the baby for further treatment. "The child is doing well now. Her mother gave us the good news," said the official.

123/10/2023 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

Read More

MIA adds 3rd daily flight to Hyderabad

Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport will add a third daily flight of ATR aircraft 6E7536 to Hyderabad, starting from October 19. The flight will land at MIA at 2.15pm and depart for Hyderabad at 2.35pm.

This is the third flight by IndiGo to Hyderabad from MIA. This is in addition to existing daily ATR flights 6E 7549 which arrives here at 7.40am and departs for Hyderabad 20 minutes later, and the late-night flight 6E 7103 which arrives at 10.15pm and departs at 10.35pm. This augmentation will be up to October 28, which marks the end of the current summer schedule.

IndiGo currently deploys Airbus A-320/321/321 Neo (seating capacity 180-232) on all the major routes it operates to and from Mangaluru, preferring the 78-seater ATR aircraft on the Chennai and Hyderabad routes. IndiGo currently also serves Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune directly, and Kolkata and Patna (via Bengaluru) and Ranchi (via Pune) domestically, and Dubai on the international sector. 

12/10/2023 Times of India

Read More

Bengaluru Needs A Second Airport Soon; Kempegowda International Airport CEO Expresses Urgency

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport is on the verge of approaching its maximum capacity. It’s on track to host 92 million passengers each year by 2032-33. The airport’s CEO, Hari Marar, said that this year alone, Kempegowda International Airport will reach 40 million passengers. That’s a lot of people! And it’s happening much faster than it was anticipated, even before the first 30 years of its 30-plus-30-year plan are over.

Marar believes that Bengaluru urgently needs another airport to handle this growing number of travellers. He said that plans for a second airport should’ve started about two years ago to prevent the existing airport from getting overcrowded and not having connectivity.

While interacting with select media persons on the sidelines of the SOUL conference by FICCI, rotary, and the state of Israel at JW Mariott, Marar added that submission over this was made long ago. He further underscored that the identification of land should commence without further delay. Adding on, he addressed industrialists and expressed confidence that there will be a remarkable growth of 25% in aviation this year. He also highlighted an order of 1,100 planes worth $100 placed by big airlines like IndiGo and Air India.

12/10/2023 News24

Read More

Kozhikode airport smuggling case: CISF official suspended

Thiruvananthapuram: A CISF official was placed under suspension on Thursday in connection with the Kozhikode international airport gold smuggling case, which allegedly involves top airport authorities.

Suspended Assistant Commandant Naveen Kumar had come under the Kerala Police radar, along with a customs official, both working inside the airport.

Malappuram SP S. Sujith Das-led special police team has been closely monitoring numerous reports on the rampant gold smuggling through the airport.

After gathering ample evidence to confirm that the gang had smuggled gold around 60 times, the police intensified its action.

Investigations revealed that the smuggling racket led by a Kozhikode resident named Rafeek even had access to the duty roster of the security and customs officials.

The probe team has also found that the gang was using a closed user group SIM.

In the past also, Kerala Police had rounded up officials engaged in aiding smugglers.

12/10/2023 IANS/Daijiworld

Read More

Bhopal's Kolkata & Pune flights on hold

Bhopal: The long-awaited connectivity of Bhopal airport with Pune and Kolkata has witnessed a setback. Sources said that the slot given to Indigo has been put on hold and no one knows when it will start. The flight was supposed to start from October 8.

Bhopal is presently connected directly with Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Prayagraj, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Udaipur, Raipur, Goa, Kochi and Ahmedabad. For the past many years, flyers have been demanding to connect Bhopal with Pune and Kolkata. Incidentally, the Pune flight was started on a couple of occasions in the past, but it was discontinued later, citing different reasons.

Sources said that the slot has been taken off from the schedule. "No one knows why the slot has been left out. Both these cities were important connectivity for Bhopal. This is a major setback," said sources There is a large Bengal diaspora in Bhopal, who frequently travel to Kolkata..

Passengers reacted sharply after the flight could not start. "I think there is a serious lack of political will in Bhopal for starting new flights. Officials did their best to connect Bhopal. I am surprised no political party raised its voice when slots were put on hold," said Mrinal Shrivastava, a frequent flyer.

The flight was supposed to run from Pune to Bhopal and Kolkata. This was the first time that Indigo was starting their services to connect Pune and Kolkata from Bhopal.

12/10/2023 Ramendra Singh/Times of India

Read More

Surge in individuals caught travelling with fake papers via Kochi airport

Kochi: After a brief lull, there has been a recent resurgence in cases involving individuals from other states attempting to move abroad via Kochi airport using counterfeit documents. Over the past month alone, the Bureau of Immigration (BoI) intercepted four such individuals.

Last year, numerous instances came to light where women from rural areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were sent to Gulf countries for domestic work using fraudulent documents, including passports. Following this, the number of such cases dropped. In recent months, however, BoI intercepted two individuals from Tamil Nadu, one from Haryana, and one from Uttar Pradesh at the airport’s immigration checkpoint.

“The individuals apprehended while attempting to travel abroad for employment without proper documentation are, in fact, victims of unscrupulous agents. Rather than departing from their native states, these individuals opt for airports in Kerala on the expectation that they can navigate immigration procedures smoothly. They have paid agents money, believing their claim that all necessary travel arrangements would be handled at the airport. When individuals coming through these agents are consistently caught at one airport, they tend to switch to other airports for their illegal activities,” a BoI officer told TNIE.

12/1-0/2023 New Indian Express

Read More

Jaipur airport begins expansion work to handle passenger traffic

Jaipur: The Jaipur International Airport is undergoing expansion works to handle 10% expected year-on-year growth in passenger traffic in coming years, said officials on Monday. Development work in the landside area and inside the terminal building are in full swing after prior approvals from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

“Last year, the total passenger traffic was 4.98 million, which is likely to witness 10% year on year growth. Expecting the growth trends, the airport is expanding its capacity to meet future requirements. The Central Government is also focusing on connectivity to smaller cities so passenger traffic will certainly increase in coming years” said a senior airport official.

Airport officials said that presently there are 26 check-in counters in the departure area of Terminal 2 while construction of 13 more counters is underway. “Seating capacity on the first floor of the departure area has been increased by 100 by shifting the boarding gate along with construction of an ultra-luxury lounge for the comfort of passengers. Refurbishment of the lounge on the ground floor is also on the cards. Other major changes include installation of additional baggage conveyor belts in domestic departure, deployment of additional security personnel and X-ray machines in security hold area,” said an airport official.

10/10/2023 Times of India

Read More

Vizag airport night flight shutdown nears, stakeholders raise alarm

Visakhapatnam: The decision to restrict flights at night-time to enable authorities to undertake resurfacing work at the runway of Visakhapatnam International Airport has forced the Scoot Airlines to change its time of departure and arrival for its flight between the City of Destiny and Singapore. Airports Authority of India (AAI) maintains the airport as a civil enclave on INS Dega-an airfield of the Indian Navy used for operational convenience of the Eastern Naval Command headquartered here.

The airport has a night-landing facility with a separate terminal recently built for use by international travellers at a cost of Rs 60 crore. Another terminal building is under proposal with an investment of Rs 240 crore. Post-Covid, though flight to Singapore was revived, other airlines including IndiGo, AirAsia, VietJet Air, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways at various points of time have shown interest to operate flights to Colombo, Dubai, Bangkok, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur. It is proposed to shutdown the airport for domestic flights once Bhogapuram International Airport, under construction by GMR Group at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore for the first phase, gets ready.

As announced earlier, Visakhapatnam Airport will be closed for flights as the authorities want to prohibit flight operation from 9 pm to 8 am from November 15, 2023 to April 1, 2024 to undertake the resurfacing work of the runway. A senior official of the AAI told Bizz Buzz that the resurfacing work at Visakhapatnam was long due necessitating taking it up now.

10/10/2023 Santosh Patnaik/Bizz Buzz

Read More

Parathas to varmala, flyers leave behind a slice of life at airports

Kolkata:  From casseroles full of parathas to gold bangles, whisky bottles to idols of gods and goddesses, cheese blocks to wedding sherwanis and varmala - forgetful flyers have left behind some 9,000-odd items at Kolkata airport's security hold area so far this year keeping the "lost and found" section of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport quite busy.

Passengers have mostly lost their items at security counters, food and beverage outlets, retail stores and lounges where they might have stepped in for a quick bite or to read a book or take a nap before boarding their flights. Several have left behind belongings on flight seats and there have been instances of fliers forgetting their luggage on airport kerbs after getting off the cab.

Data shows in the past 90 days as many as 3,515 flyers have left behind belongings at the city airport. Officials said passengers tend to lose their stuff more on weekends than on weekdays.

"On weekends and holi-days, there are a large number of people travelling for leisure in large groups, which accounts for more missing items. On weekdays, when more people travel for work with less luggage, fewer items go missing," said an airport official.

Among stuff left behind, electronic items like earphones, data cables and chargers top the list. Next on the list are personal items like watches, wallets, pens, umbrellas and wearables like jackets that are placed on separate trays during security check. There have been four instances in the last three months when people have left behind baby strollers.

At the Kolkata airport, all unattended and lost items are collected, categorised and kept safe to be reclaimed later by the rightful owners, said officials.

10/10/2023 Tamaghna Banerjee/Times of India

Read More

Flights from Bathinda takes wings after 3 years hiatus

Bathinda airport on Monday resumed flight operations, almost three years after the last aircraft having landed here, with an Air Alliance flight from Delhi touching down here at around 1pm.

The inaugural flight, which ferried 10 passengers from Delhi, was met at the airport by both Bathinda MP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal as well as AAP leader and Punjab Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who together welcomed passengers with smiles and flower bouquets.

The bonhomie between the ministers at the airport notwithstanding, there was a tug-of-war for taking credit between both the parties even before the flight had landed, with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann having taken to the social media on Monday morning to announce that there was good news for the people of the Malwa region with the starting of a direct flight service from the afternoon.

“The area of Malwa will be directly connected with Delhi which will be beneficial for masses. This will open more ways for their happiness and progress. Steps taken by the Punjab government to make it ‘Rangla Punjab ‘ are continuously succeeding,” Mann posted on Facebook.

He added that Air Alliance had decided to keep the inaugural fare as Rs 1,999 and the state government was making efforts to start similar flights from other airports of Punjab as well.

10/10/2023 Raakhi Jagga/Indian Express

Read More

Mumbai Airport Commissions Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit To Tackle Runway Excursions

India’s second-busiest airport, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, has commissioned special equipment to help manage a runway incident more efficiently. The device is called Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK) and is capable of lifting even heavy widebody planes, should the need arise.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has equipped itself with a special machine to help deal with runway excursions or similar incidents much more efficiently.

CSMIA has commissioned a specialized Disabled Aircraft Recovery Kit (DARK) with high-pressure lifting bags to lift even heavy aircraft such as the Boeing 777s. In the event of a runway excursion involving a disabled or damaged aircraft, this powerful equipment is expected to quicken the recovery process by requiring minimal human involvement and decongesting the runway faster. The Deccan Herald quotes a CSMIA spokesperson as saying, “DARK, a remarkable addition to CSMIA's infrastructure, empowers the airport to respond to such scenarios with unparalleled precision and efficiency, hence minimizing disruptions and reducing the impact on travellers.”

Mumbai has become the first airport in Asia to have such equipment. The lifting bags of this machine are quite durable, and the process of recovering an aircraft after an incident follows a sequence of steps involving everything from ground preparation to eventually lifting and towing of the plane. DARK is believed to offer far better results than other low-pressure bag equipment.

As powerful as the DARK is, it is also relatively easy to handle. It has a compact design, which helps in easy transport to the incident site and can be handled with relatively fewer trained individuals. Mumbai Airport has already trained its firefighting and rescue staff on how to handle the machine, covering various aspects from ground stabilization to de-bogging procedures and everything in between.

10/10/2023 Gaurav Joshi/Simple Flying

Read More

Aviation ministry plans development of 6 ‘Twin City’ airports by 2030

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation is looking at developing six ‘Twin City’ airports by 2030 in order to decongest existing airports located at major cities and expand the airport infrastructure to address burgeoning demand for air travel.

So far the ‘Twin City’ airport development plan has been undertaken in Delhi-National Capital Region, with under development Noida International Airport at Jewar (Greater Noida), complementing Delhi International Airport, D. B. Patil International Airport at Navi Mumbai complementing Mumbai International Airport and the recently operationalised Manohar International Airport complementing Dabolim Airport in Goa.

According to an official from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, state governments such as Tamil Nadu have approached the ministry to set up new greenfield airports in addition to an existing one in their major cities.

“TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation) has approached the ministry for the development of a new greenfield airport,” said Joyanta Chakraborty, Director at Ministry of Civil Aviation to ET Infra on the sidelines of a roundtable conference on airport sector organised by India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd.

“Like in Delhi NCR, we will have Delhi and Jewar, in Mumbai we will have Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and along with Mopa and Dabolim and we are looking at around six such twin city airports by 2030, 15 by 2040 and maybe 30 plus by 2047,” said Chakraborty.

In a reply to a question in Parliament in July, General V. K. Singh (Retd), Minister of State for Civil Aviation, outlined that Tamil Nadu has submitted an application to the ministry for grant of site-clearance for development of a greenfield airport at Parandur, Kancheepuram District in Tamil Nadu. Parandur is located at a distance of about 60 KM from Chennai International Airport.

According to Chakraborty, the proposal has been shared with the Airports Authority of India, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and a steering committee on greenfield airports headed by the secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation will be evaluating it.

09/10/2023 Dev Kachari/ET Infra

Read More

Nanogence technology pivots Noida airport's sustainable infra

Noida: The upcoming Noida International Airport - billed to be India's largest upon completion -aims to be a net zero carbon emissions facility, setting a new standard for sustainable airport operations.

Construction work is currently underway in full swing at the greenfield site, some 75 km off Delhi, for the first phase of the airport, expected to be completed by the end of next year, officials said, adding that their key focus lies in keeping the mega project environmentally sustainable.

The developers of the airport said they are using a breakthrough technology from Nanogence Catalysts, which are patented smart activators that enhance the binding efficiency of cementitious material, providing high material performance while incorporating eco-friendly substitutes and reducing production costs.

"A state-of-the-art tailor-made catalyst is being used in construction work for the Noida airport. This technology allows for direct reduction or replacement of up to 20 per cent of cement requirement," a project official said.

"This has led to a significant drop in carbon emissions at the airport site as well as improved the project's cost efficiency, since one of the biggest capex in building large infrastructure projects is the usage of high amounts of concrete, contributed by the cement demand. Moreover, cement is one of the largest contributors to the embodied carbon footprint of infrastructure projects," the official added.

09/10/2023 PTI/ET Infra

Read More

Aviation experts ponder over relevance of hub airport for India

The selection of hub airports is based on strategic geographic factors and demand. It is to cater to this precise need that a specific planning method and route optimisation are used. An international hub had become imperative with Air India ordering 470 narrow and widebody aircraft from global original equipment makers (OEMs) Airbus and Boeing and IndiGo expanding by adding more international destinations to its route network.

Countries looking to develop their economies and create employment for the people often see tourism as a key revenue source from foreign investment. Not only does travel and tourism, directly and through its supply chains, support 10.4% of global GDP and one in every ten jobs across the world, its growth has remained sustained at a level above that of the global economy in each of the last seven years.

Aviation route development is a key factor in the success of travel and tourism. Over a period of time and through a strategic approach, some aviation hub cities have been able to extend stays of transit visitors into multi-day stopovers and to encourage visits to the city as a final destination in its own right.

Developing this move from transit hub to destination relies on a number of factors. Those that have had great successes in making this transition have benefitted from a combination of factors, a strong national airline that is sound both financially and reputation-wise; solid appeal with a robust inbound tourism; excellent airline connectivity, sufficient infrastructure and favourable regulatory frameworks developed through prominent stakeholder partnerships,

Commercial aviation is dominated by a series of hub airports where passengers connect seamlessly between airlines, frequently in the shortest possible times with their luggage perhaps following a few days later.

Reducing the costs of travel and increasing their connectivity are major advantages of the hub and spoke network system. Connectivity is increased within the hub by concentrating landings and takeoffs at the hub (hub waves). Furthermore, in relation to the network pattern in flight, there are “hub” and “spoke” flight network patterns where all flights head to one large central location and passengers can transfer to other flights to reach their final destination. This pattern has been able to expand and organise the route network and prioritise the interest of consumers or air passengers.

09/10/2023 Vincent Fernandes/Bizzbuzz

Read More

Why you should be extra careful with your luggage at Delhi airport

In a shocking incident at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, a passenger fell victim to a baggage theft racket. As per a TOI report, the victim, a woman traveling from Melbourne to Tarn Taran in Punjab, realized her gold ornaments were missing upon reaching home. The incident shed light on a carefully orchestrated theft operation involving airport loaders. The police swiftly apprehended six loaders associated with Air India and Vistara airlines, with a seventh person identified as the the receiver of the stolen items.

Devesh Kumar Mahla, DCP (IGIA), told TOI, "Six loaders have been arrested while the seventh person is the receiver of the stolen items. The loaders work with Air India and Vistara airlines." The stolen items recovered from the suspects included 15 pieces of jewelry, a De Grisogono luxury watch, two Apple Air Pods, a pair of expensive sunglasses, and currency notes from five different countries.

The crime came to light when the victim, Paramjeet Kaur, recounted her experience on September 16, after arriving in Delhi from Melbourne en route to Amritsar. Kaur sensed her wheelchair assistant's suspicious behavior but only understood why when her jewelry vanished upon reaching home.

Following Kaur's complaint, the police initiated a thorough investigation, scrutinizing CCTV footage and questioning the loaders who were on duty that day. "We obtained a video from the phone of one of the loaders, in which another loader is seen admitting that the stolen jewelry was fake," said Mahla.

09/10/2023 Economic Times

Read More

Indian airports will need 300 CT body scanners over the next 5 years: Smiths Detection Systems

India will need to upgrade around 300 computed tomography (CT) machines at its airports over the next five years, Smiths Detection Managing Director Vikrant Trilokekar told Moneycontrol on October 6.

Smiths Detection is one of the world’s largest threat detection and security screening equipment maker.

"The upgrade requirement for CT in India is currently over 300 units in the next 3-5 years," Trilokekar said, adding that Indian airports were expediting the acquisition of the equipment to comply with the latest Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) requirements.

The BCAS has directed non-Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) airports to upgrade scanners from single view to dual view by March 31, 2024.

Body scanners will do away with the need of patting down passengers after a primary screening through the walk-through metal detectors. Body scanners will allow "clean" passengers to walk through and frisking will only be necessary for others.

In September, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) received clearance to install full-body scanners at four airports in the country, including Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, and Goa.

BCAS had ordered all hypersensitive and sensitive airports to replace door frame metal detectors (DFMD) with full-body scanners by March 2022, back in November 2021.

07/10/2023 Yaruqullah Khan/Moneycontrol

Read More

CIAL's Grand Infra Project Launch Graced by Kerala CM, Featuring Mantra Softech's Biometric Digi Yatra Solution

 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan unveiled a significant stride in Cochin International Airport Limited's (CIAL) progress with the inauguration of seven transformative infrastructural developments. The event, held at the CIAL cargo terminal premises on October 2, marked the formal inauguration of critical projects including the CIAL import cargo terminal, CIAL's proprietary Digi Yatra Project for paperless passengers’ entry to the airport using face credentials/ mobile boarding pass, and the modernization of the airport's emergency services.

Mantra Softech, one of the leading biometric technology solution providers, was awarded a turnkey project to implement the Digi Yatra System at Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)in February 2023, bolstering the digital transition in air travel experiences.

The project implementation included the deployment of e-gates, face terminals, IT Infra, Mantra’s Central integrated Application Platform and face recognition system for paperless passenger processing. Facial recognition has streamlined the passenger journey at various crucial checkpoints within CIAL. The 3-step process, enabled by the Digi Yatra app, encompasses credential sharing to the airport; obtaining a boarding pass, and facial validation at entry gates, followed by facial validations both at security check and boarding Gates. This innovative approach ensures a swift transition from entry to the aircraft.

07/10/2023 Mediawire/Times of India

Read More

AAI deploys instrument landing system at Karnataka's Belagavi Airport

In order to cater to the rising traffic at Karnataka's Belagavi Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has commissioned, a category-I instrument landing system (ILS) for its runway on Thursday.

As per the AAI, the total cost for installation of the facility is Rs 12.38 Cr.

The installation of ILS on runway 26 approach of Belagavi Airport will enable the landing of aircraft in low visibility as well as for night landings, the authority added.

An Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to aircraft to allow them to approach a runway at night or in bad weather.

The new facility has a 16-element Localizer antenna system that will help in the precision approach of all aircraft landing at the Belagavi airport in all weather conditions.

07/10/2023 WebIndia123

Read More

India flights: 7 baggage handlers arrested for stealing gold, cash, AirPods in series of thefts

Delhi Police have arrested seven baggage handlers in connection with a series of thefts at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, officials said on Saturday.

Police have also recovered a huge stash of gold ornaments, luxury watches, AirPods and foreign currency from the possession of the accused.

The officials added that to curb such incidents of thefts, officials of the airlines concerned are also being interrogated.

"There has been a focus on the cases of baggage thefts throughout the year, and in order to curtail the thefts, a dedicated team was deployed to solve this case," said Devesh Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police.

According to officials, a special task force was formed with a specific task of tracking the thieves down.

"The team minutely scrutinised the CCTV footage and interrogated the whole batch of loaders in that shift. Finally, one of the loaders broke down and [confessed to] stealing the said gold jewellery and selling it to a jeweller," officials said.

The accused further disclosed that he has stolen many more items from the baggage of passengers in the past and various staff of different airlines have helped him do so.

Six more suspects were named and interrogated, the police added.

During the course of interrogation, it was found that the airlines are not following the periodic guidelines issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, and letters issued by the Delhi Police and are working hand in glove with these thieves, the officials said.

The recovered items include a pair of golden earrings studded with white pearl; two pairs of golden earrings; a gold chain; a pair of gold tops; a golden small chain; a pair of golden earrings; a golden broken mangalsutra having one pendant; two pieces of a broken golden chain; a golden women's chain; two luxury watches; two AirPods, a pair of sunglasses; and currency of five different countries.

07/10/2023 ANI/Khaleej Times

Read More

As Jewar airport gets ready, Khurja pottery looks to fly business class

It came here hundreds of years back with the Mughals or the Afghans and has travelled the world as an iconic specimen of Indian artisanship. When the late Queen Elizabeth II was marking the platinum jubilee of her reign, PM Narendra had presented a commemorative set of the famous glazed ceramics painted with decorative motifs to the then British PM Boris Johnson.

But more than three years since the first Covid lockdowns, Khurja pottery finds itself in need of a boost. Help has arrived in the form of the government’s ‘Kumhar Sashaktikaran Yojna’, but those at the workshops in its eponymous hub, located about 120 km from Delhi in UP’s Bulandshahr district, say that the upcoming airport in Jewar could be the answer.

Just 30km away from Khurja and expected to start operations in September next year, the airport would bring buyers, and profits, closer to Khurja’s pottery traders. Exports could increase by 35-40%, they say.

The workshops do business of about Rs 150 crore annually, but exports make up a mere 10-15% of the total turnover even though the earthenware made here has a high demand in the US, Brazil and African and European countries. Between 2017 and 2020, the annual turnover touched Rs 250- 300 crore, but there was a gradual slide thereafter as several small and large units were forced to down shutters and never came back following the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.

“Today there is hardly any direct link between foreign buyers and pottery manufacturers. All our goods are sold via third parties. Export houses buy pottery in bulk and send it to customers abroad. With an international airport, the buyers can directly reach out to us. It will also help us source raw materials from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal,” said Ravi Rana, president of the Khurja Pottery Manufacturers’ Association.

The Noida International Airport, the official name of the Jewar airport, is likely to carry out its first test flight in March next year. Shailendra Bhatia, officer on special duty, Noida International Airport Ltd (NIAL), said that “the airport is currently undergoing runway layering work with installation of air navigation services to begin in December”. He agrees that the airport would transform the area and bring opportunities for local businesses and the people.

While it will be a “much-needed lifeline” for Khurja pottery, Rana of the pottery association said they’re hoping for a “fast-moving highway so that goods can easily reach the airport” as there is only a single road now connecting Khurja and Jewar.

“Local industry will surely benefit with the airport. Transportation, logistics, and exports will improve. Khurja will see major growth once flight operations start. Several new industries are also expected to come up,” said Ashutosh Singh, deputy commissioner (industries) at Bulandshahr’s industry centre.

07/10/2023 Rahul Singh/Times of India

Read More

Ambala airport will increase city's status, says Haryana minister Anil Vij

Ambala: Haryana's home and health minister, Anil Vij, emphasized the positive impact of establishing a civil enclave for a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment under the RCS UDAAN Scheme.

He noted that this development would enhance the city's status, stimulate business growth, and generate employment opportunities.

The construction of the civil enclave is set to commence soon, overseen by the Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Limited.

The foundation stone laying ceremony, to be officiated by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, is scheduled for the first day of Navratri on October 15. The project is expected to be completed within six months from the foundation stone laying.

Vij also acknowledged the support from defense minister Rajnath Singh, who sanctioned Rs 133 crores for the acquisition of 20 acres of land, with the funds deposited in the Defense Ministry.

06/10/2023 Jaskaran Singh/Times of India

Read More

Once Ready, Noida International Airport To Have 65 Daily Flights

Passenger footfall in airports is exponentially increasing these days. With the surge in the number of passengers and demand for flights, airports often get too crowded, and that sometimes leads to inconveniences. Recently, many new airports are getting ready to make their debut in different Indian cities and Noida International Airport is one of them. Here’s all the information and latest updates that we know about this new infrastructure.

It is expected that operations at this brand-new airport are going to begin in October of the upcoming year. It looks like the Noida International Airport is ready to begin its operations in about a year. There are plans to run a lineup of a maximum of 65 flights regularly, according to a report by the Economic Times. This is a significant beginning while keeping in mind the major uptick of domestic flights in different routes of India.

According to the schedule of the new airport, 62 flights is going to be operating daily domestically. Along with a huge number of daily flights, the airport is all set to operate one flight only for cargo services. Since the beginning, the airport has been set to enter the global aviation industry. The Economic Times report states about the airport’s plans to run 2 flights for international countries.

SP Goyal (@spgoyal) shared some glimpses of the humongous construction undergoing to construct the much-awaited airport. In the caption, he added that the airport ‘has been assigned the International Air Transport Association (IATA) code DXN’.

Passengers can take flights to connect with cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. Apart from the bustling cities, there are also plans to operate flights connecting small distances. The cities that are coming under this list are Dehradun, Pithoragarh, and more.

06/10/2023 Shreya Ghosh/Curly Tales

Read More

Air India opens mega engineering warehouse at Delhi airport

Air India has opened a mega warehouse facility at Delhi airport spread over 54,000 square feet with capacity to store more than a million engineering spare parts to ensure quick checks and repairs of its aircraft.

The facility is located at the Delhi airport’s cargo terminal near Terminal 3, which is close to Air India’s aircraft hangars and will ensure swift movement of spares to address technical issues. 

The warehouse would meet maintenance requirements of Air India, Air India Express and AIX Connect fleet from a centralised location by integrating 16 smaller facilities scattered across Delhi and Mumbai, the airline said in a press statement.

“The warehouse is a major milestone for Air India and a reinforcement of the quality, professionalism, and investment that we are now committed to make,” CEO Campbell Wilson said in the statement, adding that its proximity to the airline’s hangar at the Delhi airport would enable Air India to promptly address engineering requirements leading to improved punctuality of flights.

06/10/2023 The Hindu

Read More

Ambala airport will increase city's status, says Haryana minister Anil Vij

Ambala: Haryana's home and health minister, Anil Vij, emphasized the positive impact of establishing a civil enclave for a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment under the RCS UDAAN Scheme.

He noted that this development would enhance the city's status, stimulate business growth, and generate employment opportunities.

The construction of the civil enclave is set to commence soon, overseen by the Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation Limited.

The foundation stone laying ceremony, to be officiated by Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, is scheduled for the first day of Navratri on October 15. The project is expected to be completed within six months from the foundation stone laying.

Vij also acknowledged the support from defense minister Rajnath Singh, who sanctioned Rs 133 crores for the acquisition of 20 acres of land, with the funds deposited in the Defense Ministry.

06/10/2023 Jaskaran Singh/Times of India

Read More

1,500 passengers stranded, flights delayed as server issue hits Chennai airport

Over 1,500 passengers were stranded at the airport in Chennai for three hours due to a server problem on Wednesday morning, sources told India Today TV.

Only international departures were affected, due to disruption in printing boarding passes and baggage handling. The technical issue led to the delay of nine flights destined for Dubai, Paris, Bangkok and Colombo at around 1.30 am.

The faulty server was repaired by around 4.30 am, after which regular flight service resumed.

04/10/2023 Pramod Madhav/India Today

Read More

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport awarded Level 4+ transition accreditation

Hyderabad: GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL) on Tuesday announced that it has been awarded Level 4+ Transition accreditation in recognition of its alignment with global climate goals in carbon management from the Airports Council International (ACI).

This is the highest accreditation under the coveted Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, introduced by Airports Council International (ACI) EUROPE in 2009.

The ACA programme is the industry standard for the assessment of an airport’s efforts to manage and reduce carbon emissions. It comprises Level 1 (Mapping), Level 2 (Reduction), Level 3 (Optimisation), Level 3+ (Neutrality), Level 4 (Transformation) and Level 4+ (Transition), which makes Level 4+ the highest.

GHIAL CEO Pradeep Panicker said: “Today, climate change is the most pressing challenge and as a global corporate citizen, Hyderabad Airport is building multiple pathways to reduce carbon emissions. Our entire airport operations runs on renewable energy with a mission of zero waste and zero discharge. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to environmental responsibility. We have set ambitious targets to achieve zero carbon emissions.”

04/10/2023 New Indian Express

Read More

Hyd airport bags topspot in climate goals

Hyderabad: GMR Hyderabad International Airport (GHIAL) has been awarded with Level 4+: Transition accreditation in recognition of its alignment with global climate goals in carbon management from Airports Council International. This is the highest accreditation under Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme, introduced by ACI Europe in 2009.

Speaking on this milestone, GHIAL CEO Pradeep Panicker said, “Hyderabad Airport is building multiple pathways to reduce carbon emissions to help build a greener world.”

04/10/2023 Times of India

Read More

Technical issue affects outbound international services at Chennai airport

A server problem led to disruption in services at the International Departure at the city airport here on Wednesday, affecting 9 outbound services and about 1,500 international passengers, officials said.

The technical issue that was noticed around 1.30 am was fixed by 6 am, they said.

Only international departures were affected, impacting printing of boarding passes and baggage handling, officials added.

International services to destinations including Colombo, Dubai and Bangkok suffered delays.

04/10/2023 Financial Express

Read More

Fitch Affirms GMR Hyderabad International Airport at 'BB+'; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has affirmed GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited's (GHIAL) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and outstanding senior secured notes at 'BB+'. The Outlook is Stable.

The rating affirmation reflects the recovery in traffic from the Covid-19 pandemic in Hyderabad's growing catchment area, GHIAL's ability to reach near completion of its expansion capex and a steadily improving regulatory environment with the implementation of third control period (CP3) tariffs from the financial year ended March 2022 (FY22) onwards. The Outlook reflects adequate headroom at the current rating level with rating case leverage declining to about 5.5x in FY26 from 10.4x in FY23.

Furthermore, GHIAL's partial refinance of its senior secured note due in 2024 and 2026 with domestic non-convertible debentures (NCD) of equivalent value at a lower rate of interest, with a tenor of 10 years and amortisation starting in the sixth year, is an improvement to its debt maturity profile.

Strong Passenger Growth Expectations - Revenue Risk - Volume - High Midrange

Fitch expects total passenger traffic at GHIAL to reach 24 million in FY24, against 21 million in FY23. Total passenger traffic in FY23 was 97% of the FY20 level on a strong rebound in domestic passengers. Domestic passengers were about 80% of the total mix in FY18-FY20. Total passenger traffic in 5MFY23 stood at 10.3 million, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of 9.2 million in 5MFY20. International passenger traffic in FY23 reached 87% of the pre-Covid high, and continued to improve in 5MFY24.

GHIAL is exposed to significant carrier concentration risk with IndiGo dominating the Indian domestic market. Still, the airport is a major international airport for the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with limited competition from other cities and other modes of traffic. The airport had CAGR of 12.8% in passengers from its first year of commercial operations in 2009 until the pandemic.

03/10/2023 Fitch Ratings

Read More

Tamil Nadu: Vellore’s New Airport To Be Operational Soon

The airport in Vellore in Tamil Nadu may finally become operational soon. On Sunday (1 October), a plane flew low over the facility to conduct tests and calibrate the surrounding air.

The airport in Vellore was initiated under the Union government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme in 2016. However, it has faced numerous challenges along the way, causing doubts about its functionality.

Despite expanding the runway to 850 meters and completing the terminal building a year ago, there seemed to be no progress.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials have confirmed that ground calibration tests have already been completed, and the recent test focused on air calibration reports dtnext.

During the tests, five AAI officials were involved, with two on the ground and three in the aircraft. One of the objectives of the test was to ensure clear visibility of the landing lights on the runway from the air.

To prevent any signal interference, measures were taken to remove trees, water tanks, and buildings over 25 feet in height. The sources expressed hope for a prompt approval to commence operations by December this year.

The facility currently does not have a permanent control tower and is only using a mobile tower. Additionally, fire tenders and an ambulance are available at the airport for emergency situations.

The airport perimeter is fully fenced and the approach road from Abdullapuram has been re-laid, leading officials to believe that the facility will soon become busy with activity.

03/10/2023 V Bhagya Subhashini/Swarajyamag.com

Read More

SpiceJet Resumes Puducherry To Hyderabad And Bengaluru Flights After 3 Months

Flight services between Puducherry and Hyderabad, as well as Puducherry and Bengaluru, were resumed on Monday after a hiatus of nearly three months.

Spicejet, the sole operator serving these routes, had temporarily suspended its services from Puducherry to both destinations three months ago, citing operational challenges.

As per a report in The Hindu, on Monday, in accordance with the operator’s timetable, the flight from Hyderabad arrived in Puducherry at approximately 1 p.m. Subsequently, the same flight departed for Bengaluru and later returned to Puducherry before departing for Hyderabad in the evening.

“The services resumed after a break of three months. The passenger load to both Hyderabad and Bengaluru was reasonably good,” said an official at Puducherry Airport, as per The Hindu.

SpiceJet initiated its operations from Puducherry back in 2013 with the introduction of a direct flight connecting Puducherry and Bengaluru. However, just a year later, in 2014, the airline reportedly discontinued services on both routes due to visibility concerns.

03/10/2023 News18

Read More

Mangaluru airport’s cargo terminal handles 1676.21 tonnes since May

The integrated cargo terminal (ICT) of Mangaluru International Airport handled 1676.21 tonnes of domestic cargo from May 1 to September 30. The terminal was inaugurated on May 1. Of the 1676.21 tonnes of domestic cargo handled during the period, 1560.23 tonnes were outbound cargo.

A media statement said that post office mail from various stakeholders dominates bulk of the outbound cargo. General cargo, valuables, marine products, and ornamental fish form a minor part of the cargo handled.

The inbound cargo, on the other hand, has an almost equal spread of post office mail, valuables, machinery parts, medical supplies and medical equipment. The ICT has also handled occasional parcels of fruits and vegetables, and excess baggage that travelling passengers had booked as cargo.

The statement said the streamlined approach to handling cargo is one of the major commitments that the airport had given to the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) at a recent interaction meeting with its members. Efforts are on to start international cargo operations as demanded by KCCI. This will become operational once the airport receives Customs clearance/custodianship for export handling, it said.

03/10/2023 Business Line

Read More

Pinarayi Vijayan to Launch Major Initiatives at Kochi's CIAL

The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, is set to inaugurate seven substantial projects at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) in Kochi on Monday. These initiatives are expected to significantly upgrade the airport's infrastructure and services, providing a more seamless and comfortable experience for its users.

One of the key projects being inaugurated is the operation of the Import Cargo Terminal. This new facility will bolster CIAL’s cargo handling capacity, increasing it to an impressive two lakh metric tonne annually. The enhancement in cargo handling capabilities will not only boost trade but also improve efficiency and speed up operations.

Vijayan will also launch DigiYatra software developed by CIAL's IT wing with an aim to streamline services for passengers. Although details about this software have not been disclosed yet, it is anticipated that this digital solution will simplify processes and enhance customer service at the airport.

In addition to these developments, Vijayan will inaugurate upgraded Airport Emergency Services at CIAL. The Fire and Rescue force has been enhanced with two Austrian-made fire engines along with other advanced vehicles as part of safety measures undertaken by the airport authority.

The first phase of expansion for Terminal 3 is another project that will be launched by Vijayan. Alongside this expansion plan, he will also unveil an intrusion detection system aimed at bolstering security within the airport premises.The chief minister further announced plans for launching a luxury aeroplane lounge named "0484" which boasts 42 luxury guest rooms, a restaurant, mini conference hall among other facilities spread over a sprawling area of 50,000 sq ft., making it the largest lounge facility in India. Additionally, a golf resort is also part of this seven-project inauguration.

02/10/2023 Krishna Kripa/One India

Read More

New terminal at Chennai airport still has miles to go

Chennai: The new terminal will offer a hassle free travel experience, said Airports Authority of India (AAI). But this seems to be far from true. Passengers who land at the international terminal suffer crowding and delays at the immigration area.

On Saturday, passengers who landed from Bangkok at around midnight saw the immigration area packed with people. Though there were many counters, the queue was moving slowly and people were jumping the queue by removing the elastic lines that were installed. This led to chaos and unpleasant experience for many who were reaching after a four hours flight. The passengers said that there was hardly anyone to regulate the queue.

“There was no order. It was like a free for all. The experience was unpleasant and disappointing. I had to wait for 30 minutes in the queue. Other passengers were also not behaving well. The airport should have posted staff to regulate the crowd. The crowd management was not there,” said P Loganathan, who reached on Sunday.

Pradeep C, another passenger said, “At every stage, the experience is not good. The experience at shuttle buses, immigration, customs, baggage claim can be improved. This will lead to people forming an adverse opinion about the airport though we have a swanky new terminal.”

After several complaints about inadequate counters at the immigration in the old terminal, AAI and the immigration authorities have taken steps to ensure that there are adequate counters and the clearing of passengers is also faster. There are around 48 counters and up to 35 counters are used and the rest of them too are opened during peak hours, said an AAI official. “The time taken to clear passengers is very less in the new terminal. But there is a space constraint in the area,” he added.

02/10/2023 Times of India

Read More

Amid massive protests, IIT-Madras team conducts survey for new airport

A team from IIT-Madras has been conducting several surveys of the land pooled-in for greenfield airport construction at Parandhur in Kacheepuram district amid massive protests by the villagers.

For more than 400 days, people from 13 villages surrounding the land chosen for airport construction have been protesting against the government.

Villagers have been claiming that fertile land has been chosen for the airport which would destroy their livelihood and have also called for a road roko, refusing to allow construction of the new airport. Police officers deployed in strength detained the protesting villagers.

The proposed greenfield airport shall comprise 4,791 acres and will be built at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore. Villagers have been protesting, claiming that more than half the land of the proposed area is wetlands.

01/10/2023 Pramod Madhav/India Today

Read More

Aeroflot resumes direct flights from Moscow and Ekaterinburg to Goa

Russian flag carrier Aeroflot resumed direct flights to Goa from Moscow and Ekaterinburg on September 30. The services will be operated at Goa’s Dabolim International Airport, Aeroflot said in a statement. Besides Goa, the Russian carrier will also operate direct flights from Moscow to Delhi.

In line with a bilateral agreement between India and Russia, the airline will operate three weekly flights from Sheremetyevo airport on wide-body Airbus A330 on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Aeroflot said.

From October 3, three weekly flights from Ekaterinburg will be operated on Boeing 737- 800 on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, it added.

“These flights operated on A 330 to Moscow will cater to cargo demand from the western side of India, where domestic Indian airlines will be benefitted as feeder carriers, similarly road transport will play a significant role for custom bonded cargo transportation from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai,” said Karpov Dmitry, Head of Cargo Department at Aeroflot Russian Airlines.

Traditionally, south India is a favourite place for beach holidays of Russians in fall and winter, the airline said, adding the flights are expected to be in high demand.

01/10/2023 Travel Trade Journal

Read More

Delhi Airport likely to get air train for seamless travel — What we know so far

New Delhi: In a bid to make travel simple, the aviation authority is likely to introduce the long-delayed air train at the Delhi airport. It is learnt that Indira Gandhi International Airport officials are considering two options for a transit system to ease commuting between terminals. The options are – six km route with four stops or eight km route with six stops. This change is intended to provide a seamless connection between Terminals 3 and 2 on one side and Terminal 1 on the other, thereby minimizing the current road congestion.

The civil aviation ministry had been sent a proposal for an automated passenger mover (APM) from Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL). In addition to user development fees (UDF), the proposal proposes user development fees (UDF) to address the viability gap.

According to sources, DIAL has been asked to consider the Airports Authority of India’s recommendation that it adhere to the original master plan for Delhi airport. According to sources, the air train route will be 6 kilometers long with four stations at T1, Aerocity, the cargo terminal, and T3.

The Singapore-based consultant hired by DIAL to evaluate the alternatives favoured the eight-kilometer route with six stations. The two additional stations are proposed for the hotel and office districts of Aerocity. Due to the increased foot traffic at these stations, DIAL may be able recover Rs 2,500 crore of the project’s cost. In different countries, the use of an air train to travel from one airport terminal to another is free.

01/10/2023 Shaheryar Hossain/NewsNine

Read More