Even as the government has promised to improve ease of doing business, it has decided to limit the role of private investors in developing airports infrastructure in India. The NDA government has decided to take forward the previous regime’s proposal to develop no-frills airports by creating assets utilising its own resources. As far as brownfield airports are concerned, the government has opted to award operations and maintenance contracts to private...
Showing posts with label Airports Sep 2015. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Airports Sep 2015. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Abandoned plane gets a new resting place
Nagpur: An abandoned aircraft posing threat to planes landing at Nagpur airport since last 22 years was finally removed on Tuesday. The private jet — a Boeing 720 — was left at the airport in 1991 and was lying there since. The plane belongs to Continental Aviation Private Limited (CAPL), run by former NRI Sam Verma, now based in Betul which is over 100km away from Nagpur. The company has now ceased operations.
The operator's licence of Mihan India...
It took just 30 minutes to shift 24-year long grounded aeroplane
Nagpur: While all failed to shift the aeroplane, long-parked for 24 years in the vicinity of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, the new Airport Director Roshan Kamble, who recently took over the charge of his office, succeeded in shifting the aeroplane to the location of Nagpur Flying Club on Tuesday, Sep 29. The Airport authority personnel took a sigh of relief over this, for it was said be causing threat to the traffic on the...
International carriers may fly into Kannur
The Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) has commenced talks with various international airlines to rope them in to operate services to the airport.
The KIAL authorities have already begun correspondence with nine international airlines, including the national carrier Air India, as the Kannur airport is set to commence commercial flight operations by mid-2016.
Official sources said the initiative was based on the talks KIAL managing director...
Lackadaisical authorities continue to keep Mumbai airport in danger zone
The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) was put under on high alert on Monday following a call received at the airport's control room, claiming that the airport terminals and Taj hotel would be attacked.
Earlier this month, two Vasai residents had entered the high-security Terminal 2 of CSIA using fake Vistara flight tickets. They were caught by security officials while exiting the departure gate without catching a plane. Even as the...
Dabolim runway closure to severely affect charter flights
Vasco: The Navy’s notice to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and aircraft operators regarding closure of the runway at Dabolim airport for six hours for a period of 69 days has upset the AAI authorities as the chartered flights will be severely affected.
According to sources in the civil aviation industry, the Indian Navy has issued a notice to the AAI and the aircraft operators for taking up the repair works of the shoulders of the recently...
Guwahati airport gets Rs 1,200-cr revamp, to become a heli hub
New Delhi: In a major boost to the tourism sector in Northeast region, Minister of State for Culture & Tourism (Independent Charge) Dr Mahesh Sharma on Wednesday said that the Guwahati airport is being revamped at an investment of Rs 1,200 crore to improve connectivity in the region.
Planning to make Guwahati a hub to provide better connectivity in Northeast, the minister said that a helicopter hub in association with Pawan Hans services is...
At Dubai airport, India is the top destination
New Delhi: India is now the top destination country for the world's busiest airport, Dubai, with Mumbai being the busiest destination in the country for flyers to and from the Emirate. This August Dubai saw its highest every monthly traffic of 72.8 lakh international flyers, of which the 8.5 lakh to and from India were the single largest chunk.
"India remained the top destination country (855,550 passengers), followed by the UK (543,213 passengers)...
Air Vistra flight starts from Bhubaneswar airport on Oct 1
Bhubaneswar: Nearly a year after GoAir started operations here at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) with four flights for Delhi and Kolkata, Domestic carrier Air Vistara would start its operations from the airport on October 1.
With Air Vistara starting operations, the city airport will have four airlines running daily flights. A month ago, Air Vistara began online booking of seats and the response has been good, sources said.
Airport...
Tariff issue creates uncertainty over Delhi Airport’s cash flows: S&P
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) will maintain its competitive position but uncertainty continues to surround its cash flows on account of pending tariff decision, S&P said today.
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services also said that DIAL, which operates the Delhi airport, is expected to maintain its good operating efficiency.
The agency affirmed its ‘BB’ long-term corporate credit rating on DIAL with a stable outlook. The ‘BB’ long-term...
Security stepped up at airports, Taj hotel after call warns of terror attack
Mumbai: Security at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) in Sahar, Andheri (East), the domestic airport at Santacruz (East) and at Colaba’s Taj Mahal Palace was beefed up late Monday night after an unknown caller warned of a terror attack. Police said a manager at CSIA received the call around 11.30 pm Monday on a landline. The caller claimed to have heard five persons near the Andheri railway station planning to attack the airports...
Indira Gandhi International Airport shop gives liquor lovers a high
Be it a Dalmore Single Malt whisky worth more than Rs 20 lakh a bottle, or any other high-end brand, liquor lovers are going bonkers at the Delhi Duty Free Services (DDFS) counter at the Indira Gandhi International Airport to avail an easy purchase of their favourite labels at equated monthly installments.
The facility has drastically shot up the sales of the high-end products at the Delhi airport making it a front-runner option for the brand lovers....
Sword of eviction hangs on 20 villages
Jaipur: The sword of eviction hangs on 20 villages near Shivdaspura area after the state government directed the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) to prepare a proposal to acquire land for constructing greenfield airport.
For the project, the JDA has to acquire 2,100.80-hectare land in 20 villages, and it has already received in-principle approval from the state government. An official said, "Recently, the JDA had sought permission for acquiring...
Flight to Abu Dhabi improves aircraft movement at Lohegaon
Pune: The movement of international aircraft at the Lohegaon airport has almost doubled over the past eight months.
The biggest change was observed in August when the number of flights increased from 98 in the month last year to 184 in August 2015, registering over 80% growth. The Pune airport, for the period April to August 2015, registered over 90% increase in international aircraft movement over the same period last year, which is among...
Flight to Abu Dhabi improves aircraft movement at Lohegaon
Pune: The movement of international aircraft at the Lohegaon airport has almost doubled over the past eight months.
The biggest change was observed in August when the number of flights increased from 98 in the month last year to 184 in August 2015, registering over 80% growth. The Pune airport, for the period April to August 2015, registered over 90% increase in international aircraft movement over the same period last year, which is among the...
Air Asia flight suffers bird hit, lands safely
Vasco: An Air Asia flight with over 168 passengers on board suffered a bird hit while heading to Bangalore on Wednesday.
The aircraft returned safely to Dabolim airport under emergency conditions. The airline authorities cancelled the flight (I5-1321), leaving passengers stranded at the airport for over two hours.
This is second bird hit incident at Dabolim airport in three days. On Sunday, a Goa-Mumbai Air India flight had to be cancelled after...
CIAL hands over Rs 20.72 cr dividend to govt
Thiruvananthapuram: Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which manages the first PPP model airport in the country at Nedumbassery in Kochi, today handed over Rs 20.72 crore dividend to the state government.
CIAL Managing Director V J Kurian handed over the cheque for the amount to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function at the CM's conference hall at the secretariat here.
"It is a proud moment for the state',the CM told reporters
The...
Chess wizard motivates CISF officers at airport
Chennai: Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand had three valuable tips for the CISF officers when he gave them a motivational speech at the airport here as part of their training programme: practice well, don't be one-dimensional and don't rest on your laurels.
Addressing the CISF officers on Tuesday, Anand said, "My journey with the game started when I was six years old. I lost the first three games. I played for my club and the first point I gained...
NDRF conducts mock drill at LGBI Airport
Guwahati: The first battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) today organised a mock drill at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.
SK Sastri, Commandant, 1st Bn NDRF, who is looking after the entire north-eastern region for disaster response, said that NDRF, fire brigade and airport personnel displayed amazing skills during emergency exercise. They rescued and evacuated the victims placed under various simulated...
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Draft Civil Aviation Policy may bring back life to India's ghost airports
New Delhi: India's ghost airports may soon get a new lease of life. The country has about 400 airports/airstrips but only close to 100 are being used for commercial purposes as of now. This is set to change, as the Draft Civil Aviation Policy will propose a raft of incentives for airlines to mount flights to remote and regional areas of the country so that the ghost airports can be revived.
Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey told CNBC-TV18 that...
Singapore-bound Air India plane lands on one engine
New Delhi: An Air India Dreamliner flying from Chennai to Singapore on Monday suffered an engine shutdown just as was approaching to land. The twin-engine plane landed safely on one engine and is now grounded in Singapore.
"The pilot got an indication of low oil pressure in one of the aircraft's engines. To avoid damaging the engine by running it dry which could lead to seizure, the pilot switched it off and landed in Singapore on one engine,"...
Mumbai airport on high alert after bomb threat
Mumbai: The Mumbai airport received a threat call on Monday night following which security was stepped up.
"Around 11.30 pm, a unknown person called a landline number of the airport and spoke to an airport staffer. He said he was near Andheri railway station when he heard five people talking about attack at Mumbai airport and hotel Taj with explosive laden 16 hired vehicles," said a CISF official. The call was declared as "specific" in nature and...
Trial flying from Kannur Int'l airport by December 31
Thiruvananthapuram: The flight trial at the new international airport at Kannur in north Kerala, that is nearing completion, is expected to be carried out by December 31, State Minister in-charge of Airports K Babu said here today.
Talking to reporters after the General body meeting of Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL), Babu said even as some working days were lost due to various reasons like rain, the authorities are hopeful of carrying...
Bird-hit grounds Mumbai-bound AI flight at Dabolim
Vasco: An Air India (AI) flight, carrying 120 passengers to Mumbai, was delayed on Sunday after a bird-hit its engine when it took off from the Dabolim airport runway. Sources said that at around 7.15am on Sunday, AI flight number 886 had taken off from the Dabolim runway. The pilot immediately sensed some problem and asked for permission to land. The passengers were brought out and a technical team of engineers checked the flight. They realized...
AI plane grounded at Kangra after flat tyre
Dharmashala: Air India flight connecting Delhi and Dharamshala was grounded after its rear tyre deflated at the Kangra airport some time after landing. Passengers were about to board the airplane but authorities decided to ground the airplane and diverted the passengers to other linking airports Amritsar and Chandigarh.
29/09/15 Times of Ind...
Air Vistara to start ops at Bhubaneswar airport from Oct 1
Bhubaneswar: Brand new domestic carrier Air Vistara will conduct a trial run on Tuesday from here to Delhi. The airline will start operations from the city on October 1.
Nearly a year after GoAir started operations here with four flights for Delhi and Kolkata, Air Vistara will add to the city aviation potential of Biju Patnaik International Airport.
"This is yet another boost for domestic operations. With Air Vistara starting operations, the city...
Survey for runway extension begins
Mattannur: Ports Minister K. Babu has said that hurdles to the plan for acquiring additional land for extending the length of the runway of the Kannur International Airport coming up here from the 3050 metres to 3400 metres have been cleared as action committee of local residents protesting against the extension has agreed to resume stalled survey works.
Visiting the airport project site here on Monday to review the progress of the works, Mr. Babu...
Army agrees to vacate some land near Jammu airport
Srinagar: Army Tuesday agreed to vacate some land near the airport and the University in Jammu while several joint committees have been formed to address other issues regarding transfer of land held by Army to the civil administration at various places in the state.
The Army was also requested to secure areas having landmines, in particular those which are adjacent to the farm or fields of the local inhabitants, along the International Border and...
Flights to Patna, Madurai dearer?
New Delhi: The country's largest airport operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought increase in landing and parking fees for airlines at its nearly 80 non-major airports, a move set to make flying expensive on regional routes.
The state-run AAI is likely to categorise the non-major airports into four categories based on annual passenger traffic handled by them and propose differentiated tariff for each class of airports.
Airport sector...
AAI plans to recruit 400 air traffic controllers soon
New Delhi: Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, the busiest in the country, will soon get respite from the perennial shortage of air traffic controllers.
In one of its major hiring drives in a long time, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to recruit more than 400 air traffic control officers (ATCOs), who are expected to be deployed at airports around the country in the next six months. Sources in the AAI said a large number...
Ahmedabad airport to get its own police force
On an average, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport sees traffic of more than 52 lakh passengers each year, both national and international, along with VVIPs. Larger space and increasing traffic require police supervision but unfortunately, with the Sardarnagar police caught up in routine matters and monitoring VVIP movement, cops are overworked. To make up for this, the home department has approved a new police station for the airport...
Mamata Banerjee's departure to Delhi gets delayed as snag hits flight
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's departure to New Delhi today got delayed by an hour after the Air India flight which was supposed to fly her to the national capital failed to arrive at the airport here by its scheduled time.
After the dreamliner flight did not arrive at the N S C B International airport by 4 PM, its scheduled time, the chief minister booked a ticket in a private airline to leave for Delhi where she is to attend a meeting...
BPIA awaits nod for solar project
Bhubaneswar: A 5 MW solar power project planned by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which could fulfil the entire energy requirements of Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), is waiting for approval from the state cabinet.
The project requires at least 25 acres of land, but sources said land is yet to be identified. Officials said the project will get approval from the state government after land is identified for it.
Considering the huge...
Ist special flight carrying haj pilgrims from J&K to land in Srinagar tomorrow
First special flight carrying Haj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will arrive at Srinagar International Airport from Saudi Arabia tomorrow for which all arrangements are in place. As many as 6642 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir performed the Haj-2015 pilgrimage, where hundreds of pilgrims from different countries lost their lives in crane collapse and stampede.
An official spokesman said with the first batch of pilgrims scheduled to return from...
19-year-old Afghani drug mule arrested in Delhi
New Delhi: A 19-year-old Afghani, who told his mother that he is going to Hindustan to see the jungles, has been arrested for carrying 38 heroin capsules inside his stomach. Majid Malekzada in his broken Hindi says that he needed money for the treatment of his brother, who is paralyzed, and therefore, he agreed to swallow these capsules to traffick it to Delhi.
Majid, who is from Kabul, said that he started working as a cleaning staff in a restaurant...
Wildlife smugglers eye emerging airports
Madurai: On Sunday evening, officials at the Madurai International Airport seized a rather unusual consignment - that of 247 star tortoises, and arrested one person for attempting to smuggle them out of the country. Usually, the seizures at this airport are in the form of either drugs or gold, but this is the first time that tortoises were seized. The seizure of live tortoises has indicated that wildlife smugglers are looking at emerging airports...
Gokul case: Cops to recover idol
Bengaluru: Gokul Macheri, 33, whose arrest for making a hoax bomb call to Kempegowda International Airport earlier this month ended up revealing that he had bludgeoned his wife to death, reportedly disposed of the idol used to commit the crime.
Gokul allegedly hit his inebriated wife Anuradha on her head with a Ganesha idol on July 28 and later sold the idol to an acquaintance, according to HSR Layout police investigating the murder.
29/09/15 Times...
Monday, September 28, 2015
Land turbulence hits airport plan
Siliguri: The state government has told the Airports Authority of India that it could provide around 30 acres, not 118 acres as demanded by the AAI, for the expansion of Bagdogra airport, forcing the central agency to scale down the project, sources have said.
According to the revised project, the new terminal will handle less number of passengers compared to the one proposed in the original plan.
The proposals for parking space for 500 vehicles,...
DRDO system can help check entry of stray animals on runways
New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has offered a solution to the perennial problem of animals treading on airport runways in India. Its suggestion came after pigs were spotted on the runway of Nagpur airport after President Pranab Mukherjee's aircraft landed there on September 15.
Aday after the incident, DRDO wrote to the civil aviation ministry saying that installation of a battlefield surveillance radar — a shortrange...
Tigerair announces 50% discount on airfare
Chennai: Singapore-based budget carrier Tigerair has announced 50% discount on its fares for travellers from Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Tiruchirappalli and Lucknow for travel between November 1 and March 23.
Bookings should be done on its website -- www.tigerair.com -- between September 28 and October 8.
Tigerair currently operates 41 weekly flights to Singapore from five Indian destinations. The airline also connects to Bali, Bangkok,...
Bhagat Singh kin want airport named after him
Chandigarh, punjab: A close relative of the legendary freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh, today urged the National Democratic Alliance led government to name the new civil air terminal at the Chandigarh airport after martyr without any further delay.
Earlier on September 11, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the new building, which will handle both domestic as well as international flights.
"But when it was inaugurated, the Shaheed's...
Ukraine flight to kick-start Goa’s tourist season
Panjim: Amidst speculations of steep drop in Russian arrivals in the ensuing tourist season, the first charter flight from Ukraine will land at Dabolim airport on October 4, marking the beginning of the season.
Speaking to a section of reporters on the sidelines of the opening of e-registration facilitation centre, Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said the charter will carry 265 passengers to Goa that will be followed by charters coming from Germany,...
AAI issues duty free RFP for 14 Indian airports
Following the collapse of a large number of tenders at 12 airports launched in May earlier this year, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has now launched a new ‘tentative’ tender for 14 of its airports.
On 24 September, AAI launched a global RFP for the development and operation of duty free outlets at 14 airports in India for a period of seven years starting with Chennai, Lucknow, Goa, Trivandrum and Madurai Airports.
A ‘pre-bid meeting’ is...
Kempegowda International Airport gives passengers a taste of art
The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at Bengaluru has added a new element. There are now art installations in the airport which will give passengers a peek into the life, culture and history of India.
According to a report in Deccan Herald, the exhibit titled ‘I am India’ has various installations. The installations include those on cricket, literature, Indian spices and even about the invention of zero.
Some of the popular ones at the airport...
Ramadoss wants Trichy airport renamed
Trichy: Even as speculation has been going around that the Trichy International Airport may be renamed after the late former President A P J Abdul Kalam, PMK founder S Ramadoss on Sunday asked the state government to name it after Perumpidugu Mutharaiyar, a king who ruled parts of South India with Thanjavur as its capital.
Contending that it has been a long-pending demand from the people in the region, Ramadoss said it was unfortunate that...
Sportstars to give etiquette lessons to rude airport staff
New Delhi: Those of you who ever wished that somebody could tame rude security staff at airports, it is time to heave a sigh of relief.
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which mans airports across the country, is planning to rope in sports icons like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Viswanathan Anand and Dhanraj Pillay to give airport officials and security personnel tips on proper behaviour and etiquette.
Famous personalities from other walks...
Passenger in possession of 20 bullets taken into custody
Kochi: Police took a passenger bound for Hong Kong via Kuala Lumpur into custody with 20 bullets in his baggage at the Nedumbassery international airport in the early hours of Monday.
According to police the passenger, identified as Salim (52), a native of Pazhyangadi in Kannur, and said to be employed in Hong Kong, was taken into custody as he had with him 20 bullets (.32 mm) concealed in his baggage. This came to light during screening at the...
Pistol seized from ex-DMK MP SR Jeyadurai at Chennai airport
A pistol with eight bullets was on Monday seized from a former DMK MP at the airport here before his departure to Madurai by a private airlines flight.
During the screening of hand baggage of SR Jeyadurai, the former Lok Sabha member from Tuticorin, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel found a pistol with eight bullets, airport officials said.
As the authorities stuck to their position that weapons cannot be allowed, the former MP...
Madurai airport officials seize star tortoises
Madurai: Customs officials seized 247 live star tortoises from a man at the Madurai Airport on Sunday evening. He was identified as Abdul Haleem, 60, from Ilayankudi in Ramanathapuram district. He was transporting the tortoises to Kuala Lumpur and has allegedly been acting as transporter (kuruvi) for someone in Chennai.
The tortoises were packed in a hand luggage and all of them were alive. Customs officials handed the tortoises and the smuggler...
Sunday, September 27, 2015
EC for Mopa airport: Goa to reply to ministry on Monday
Panaji: Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar said the state government will reply on Monday to all 13 queries raised by the ministry of environment, forest and climate change on the Greenfield airport at Mopa.
He told STOI that he had a meeting with civil aviation director Suresh Shanbhogue who has assured him that the directorate has already answered the queries and will submit the same to the ministry on Monday.
The ministry's expert appraisal...
Malindo Air launches Tiruchi-Penang flight
Tiruchi: Malindo Air, Malaysia’s hybrid airline, launched a twice-a-week service on the Penang-Tiruchi-Penang sector on Saturday.
The flights would be operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The airline would operate a Boeing 737-900 ER aircraft with 180 seats on the sector. The flight would depart from Penang at 8.30 p.m. and arrive here at 9.40 p.m. The return flight will depart from Tiruchi at 10.30 p.m. and reach Penang at 4.45 a.m. (all times...
Upgradation of Agartala airport may start in Feb next-Minister
Agartala: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is likely to start the work for upgradation of the Agartala airport to international standards in February next.
"The union minister assured me to start the upgradation works before the next February and Rs 438 crore was sanctioned by the AAI to undertake the work. Papers have been sent to Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for clearance," State Transport Minister Manik Dey told reporters here...
Fun facts before catching a flight at the airport
Bengaluru: A series of attractive installations that will give passengers a sneak peek into the lesser known facts about the life, culture and history of India, have been set up at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).
The ‘I am India’ exhibits will showcase installations on Indian spices, literature, cricket and even one on the invention of zero. A plethora of India’s facets, which form an incredible kaleidoscope that is not only awe-inspiring...
Glass Door Brakes at Chennai Airport; Non Injured
Chennai: A glass door shattered at the arrival area of the Domestic airport in Chennai today, officials said.
The glass door on the first floor of Domestic arrival gave away and broke, airport officials said.
However, none was injured in the incident and officials had launched an inquiry into the matter, they said.
27/09/15 NDTV
...
70 protestors detained near Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport
Bengaluru: Over 70 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike members were detained by the Bangalore city police when they tried to enter the Kempegowda International Airport, forcefully.
Protestors were trying to enter the airport to make their presence felt there. The airport police detained them and have sent them to CAR North for the rest of the day.
26/09/15 Merlin Francis/Times of Ind...
Rise in gold smuggling at IGI Airport; about 100 arrested
Cases of gold smuggling have shot up at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here, with customs officials seizing yellow metal worth over Rs76 crore and arresting about 100 people so far this fiscal.
Smugglers have been found following different modus operandi including use of newly wed couples and airport staff as carriers to avoid suspicion while smuggling gold, customs officials said.
During 2014-15, a total of 230 people were arrested...
Saturday, September 26, 2015
After Bird Strike, Python Scare Bites Bhubaneswar Airport
Bhubaneswar: The Biju Patnaik International Airport, struggling to contain bird-hit menace, has found yet another problem on its hands. This time, slithery reptiles.
On Friday, a nine feet long python appeared at the apron area of the airport scaring the airport staff. The reptile, sighted from near the 7th bay of the airport, was immediately bundled into a bag by fire fighters whose unit is located nearby. The Snake Helpline was informed and...
Unknown to authorities, bats nest inside Odisha airport premises!
Bhubaneswar: Tired of the bird menace in and around the airport, authorities of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Odisha’s capital city have procured costly gizmos and spend lakhs to drive them out. But curiously, they are not even aware of the birds that nest inside the campus itself!
There are quite a few trees around the old airport road that have nests of various small birds, including bat nests.
Airport authorities readily admitted...
EC for airport at Mopa on hold
Panaji: The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has deferred its decision on granting environment clearance to the 3,000-crore greenfield international airport project at Mopa following a representation by an NGO from Margao, seeking directions to the state government to conduct a proper and factual study as it alleged that the recently conducted environment impact assessment (EIA) process was full of 'flaws'.
The NGO, Federation...
20 International Airlines keen to start operations from Odisha
Bhubaneswar: As many as 20 international airlines have expressed their interest to start operations from Odisha’s Biju Patnaik International Airport here. According to sources, 20 major international carriers including Mega Maldives Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Kenya Airways, Hong Kong Airlines, and Fly Emirates are willing to add Bhubaneswar in their list of destinations.
Currently, Indian Airlines is the lone carrier that has been providing connectivity...
Advanced radar installed at Coimbatore airport
Coimbatore: A new radar, known as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), has been installed at the Coimbatore International Airport (CIA).
This is a surveillance technology which allows an aircraft to determine its position through satellite navigation and periodically broadcast it. This allows the air traffic control ground stations to receive this information and coordinate flight landings.
This information can also be received...
Tuki asks Centre to fast track airport
New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has urged the Centre to fast-track the process of setting up a greenfield airport near Itanagar to facilitate direct flights to the rest of the country.
Tuki had a detailed meeting with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here on Tuesday and requested him to do the needful for getting clearance for the Rs 650 crore project to construct the greenfield airport at Hollongi, near...
AAI grants Rs.438 crore for Agartala airport upgrade
Agartala: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a Rs.438 crore project to upgrade the Agartala airport to international standards by providing world-class facilities, union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said.
The project is expected to boost the north-east region’s connectivity with Southeast Asia, especially with Bangladesh.
Raju, accompanied by senior officials held a meeting with the Tripura Transport and Power...
HC lets carriers manage ground ops at new terminal
Chandigarh: Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday quashed Airport Authority of India's (AAI) decision to hand over the ground operations of the new terminal at Chandigarh international airport to a subsidiary company of Air India.
With this decision, private airlines will continue to handle the ground operations at the terminal, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11. Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL)...
Land acquired for airport expansion
Rajahmundry: The government has acquired 857.09 acres for the expansion of the Madhurapudi airport here. Of the total land acquired, 797.38 acres of belonged to private persons, while the remaining 59.71 acres are owned by the government. Sub-Collector V. Vijaya Rama Raju said ex gratia would be paid to evacuees from October 1.
26/09/15 The Hin...
Rajinikanth shoots for Kabali at Chennai airport
The craze and fan frenzy surrounding a Rajinikanth film cannot be matched by no other. But off late, the Tamil superstar has tasted failures at box office.
Taking a cue from his mistakes, Rajini is back with an experimental role in Pa Ranjith’s Kabali. Playing an ageing gangster, Rajinikanth will be paired opposite Bollywood actress Radhika Apte. The buzz around the film is slowly building up and has reached its peak when Thalaivar’s first look...
CM wants Andal airport at par with Jammu
Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded that Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal near Durgapur be clubbed with airports in the North-East, Andaman & Nicobar, Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshdweep where it is mandatory for Indian carriers to operate flights. The civil aviation minister has promised to evaluate the proposal favourably.
At the meeting between Mamata and civil aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju on Thursday,...
The Hispanic trail into the USA via Delhi airport
New Delhi: More than 100 passengers from Punjab have flown from Delhi to the US' doorstep, San Salvador, via Havana in last two months and many of them have not returned to India on scheduled dates.
The mystery does not end there. From San Salvador, these passengers - mostly from Chandigarh and Jalandhar - were suspected to have been transported to Mexico by sea, aviation sources told Mail Today, adding that a Punjab agent made arrangements for...
Rectum concealment seems a preferred mode for gold smugglers
Tiruchi: Concealment of gold in the rectum had been reported at frequent intervals at the Tiruchi airport from where overseas flights are operated to Colombo, Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai every day by different foreign carriers.
Customs officials say they had detected 51 such cases from January till now wherein the modus operandi of the gold smugglers was to smuggle the yellow metal in the rectum.
A majority of those caught at Tiruchi airport...
Smuggler gulps heroin capsules, hospitalised
New Delhi: An Afghan was admitted to a hospital in south Delhi after he swallowed capsules of heroin. Doctors found 34 capsules wrapped in a polythene. Police have so far recovered 240 grams of heroin worth Rs 35 lakh in the international market.
Abdul Majid Malekzada from Kabul is undergoing treatment and will be arrested on charges of drug trafficking.
It is suspected that Abdul swallowed the capsules to smuggle heroin from Kabul to Delhi’s...
Friday, September 25, 2015
Finnair passenger left injured on Helsinki tarmac
New Delhi: An Indian passenger of Finnair AY832 from London to the airline's hub Helsinki was left bleeding on the tarmac of the airport for 29 minutes, with a jaw bone fracture, a deep gash and four teeth broken when she slipped and fell down while de-boarding on Sep 15, her family says.
Finnair did not respond to questions sent by IANS on the incident.
"Believe it or not! No ambulance came to the site for 29 long minutes. When it did, it took...
Finnair says sorry for delay in aid to bleeding Indian passenger
New Delhi: An Indian passenger of Finnair AY832 from London to the airline`s hub Helsinki was left bleeding on the tarmac of the airport for 29 minutes, with a jaw bone fracture, a deep gash and four teeth broken when she slipped and fell down while de-boarding on September 15, her family says.
In response, Finnair said in an e-mail that it confirms a passenger was injured as she tripped on the stairs while deboarding her flight at Helsinki airport....
Ground-handling at Chandigarh Airport: High Court holds contract given by AAI to AIATSL ‘unreasonable’
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday held that the contract given by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AIATSL) for entire ground-handling services at the new terminal of the Chandigarh International Airport, ousting private airlines to self-handle their services, as “patently illegal and unreasonable”.
Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain made it clear that 13 aircraft operators’ aviation security...
Hubballi bound aircraft makes emergency landing at KIA
Bengaluru: An Air Pegasus aircraft bound for Hubballi made an emergency landing, due to technical issues, on Thursday evening. According to officials at Kempegowda International Airport, flight OP 111 R took off 3.50pm from Bengaluru but returned within 20-25 minutes of the takeoff, citing technical snags.
One of the passengers told the Times of India on the condition of anonymity that the captain announced about the emergency landing citing technical...
CM wants London flight back on radar
Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged civil aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju to facilitate direct connectivity between Kolkata and Europe. At present, passengers from Kolkata have to fly to Europe either via Delhi or Mumbai, or via the Gulf cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.
Impressing upon Raju the need to ask national carrier Air India to operate a flight between Kolkata and London or any other European...
Uber drivers' protest fizzled out, airport drop incentive hiked
Bengaluru: Not even half a day, the Uber drivers' protest fizzled out completely. On the contrary, the company resolved the complaints of drivers and also hiked the incentive for airport drops from Rs 200 to Rs500.
On Thursday, about 500 drivers driving for Uber had protested at their HSR Layout office of the San Francisco based taxi hailing app company in Bengaluru. And drivers had stopped plying for about four hours but when the issues...
No pick-up point for app-based cabs at airport
Chennai: Air travellers who want to hire an app-based taxi to the city are in a fix as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is yet to formulate a policy to manage these cab operators. Many passengers prefer these cabs to the highly-priced prepaid ones, but authorities are yet to allot a parking space or pick-up points.
Passengers often struggle to locate the cabs that wait outside the airport on GST Road and drive in soon after a booking is made....
3D map of Odisha unveiled for tourists at city airport
Bhubaneswar: The 3D map has mention of different tourist spots across the districts in the state. The map will make it easier for tourists to obtain information on different tourist destinations in the state.
“The 3D map will surely turn out to be an attraction for air travelers/tourists arriving here. They can have a synoptic view of Odisha’s flora fauna, its tourism products and places of sightseeing. This will serve as an eye opener. This...
Jet Airways crew member held with 11 kg gold worth Rs 27 lakh
Mumbai: A Jet Airways crew member was held by Customs early Thursday morning for attempting to smuggle 11 kg gold worth Rs 27 lakh. This is the second time, this year, that a crew member of the airline has been apprehended for smuggling gold. According to Mumbai Customs, the crew member, aged 24, was one of the two flight attendants onboard Jet Airways flight 9W-543 that arrived in Mumbai from Dubai, to be questioned. “Through profiling on-board...
Flask used to smuggle Rs 1.35 cr worth gold
Chennai : About four-and-a-half kg of gold, worth Rs 1.35 crore, was seized by Customs officials from a passenger this morning at the Chennai airport.
During routine check carried out by the Customs, Ibrahim Sheik (35), a Kadapa-bound passenger who arrived from Bahrain at 7.30 am, was found in possession of the gold biscuits.
Sources said, 'Due to the suspicious behaviour of the passenger, the officers conducted a detailed personal search,...
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Unused Airports Across India to be Operationalised: Civil Aviation Minister
Kolkata: The government wants to develop strategies to operationalise unused airports in the country, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju has said.
"There are around 31-32 airports in India which are not active today. There is one in Coochbehar (in West Bengal) as well. We want to develop strategies to operationalise them," Mr Raju said after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He said the problem in some such airports...
Airports Authority of India mulls to invest Rs 1,400 crore on Chennai Airport expansion
New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has drawn up plans to invest Rs 1,400 crore for further expansion of Chennai Airport and setting up an modern air traffic control (ATC) tower at Kolkata Airport as the state-run operator swings back into action with the government having dropped its airport privatisation plans .
A senior AAI official confirmed that as part of the second phase of the expansion plans, the domestic and international...
AAI goes for expansion
New Delhi: Government-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) will invest around Rs 1,400 crore in expansion of Chennai airport and in setting up an air traffic control (ATC) tower at Kolkata.
AAI will take up the second phase of the Chennai airport development, earlier planned to be given to a private entity, in a public-private partnership (PPP) deal. It will develop one of the tallest ATC towers (83 metres from ground level) at the Kolkata airport,...
Is Chennai airport safe for passengers?
Chennai: Security lapses at the international terminal of the city airport have become a major concern in recent times, with the latest incident of two passengers travelling on each other’s tickets.
According to airport sources, Abdul Hamid Uvais (46), who was to travel from Chennai to Colombo, and Kajendran (37), another passenger bound for Paris, had exchanged their boarding passes after the security checks and had travelled in the other’s ticket.
It...
Small towns have more flights than Diamond City
Surat: When it comes to air connectivity, the Diamond City could well be defeated by even small towns in Maharashtra, namely Nanded and Latur.
Both these towns have population of less than 4 lakh, still they have three daily flights each to various destinations. However, despite being the fourth fastest growing city of the world and eighth largest city in the country and having population of 44.62 lakh, Surat is left to fend with a lone flight...
Nashik’s non-inclusion on AIP map delays air service at Ozar
Nashik: It's been almost two months since the state government handed over the Ozar airport terminal to the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) to promote air service and tourism in Nashik, but the service is yet to take off. Reason — Nashik has not yet been included on the enroute map of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A month ago, the Nashik Industries & Manufacturers' Association...
India Has a New Eco Friendly Airport Terminal
Spread over 53,000 sq. m, the brand new terminal at the Chandigarh airport has been designed around the green building concept, right from the start. The terminal will handle both domestic as well as international flights.
Airports all across the world cannot dazzle and amaze travelers without their huge displays of artificial lights — which add on to their maintenance and running costs, not to speak of environmental degradation. But this Chandigarh...
Raipur termed best non-metro airport
New Delhi: Raipur's Swami Vivekananda Airport Raipur has won the National Tourism Award for being the best airport in rest of India (non-metros).
The airports were adjudged on seven parameters— tourist-friendly infrastructure; maintenance and upkeep; adaptation of eco-friendly practices; availability of transport facility from the airport to the nearest city center; display of proper signage at important locations; facilities for the disabled and...
Karipur airport: Govt to give fair compensation for land
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government today decided to give "fair and just compensation" to those whose lands were being acquired for the development of the Kozhikode international airport runway.
The decision in this regard was taken at the cabinet meeting, Information and Culture Affairs Minister K C Joseph told reporters here.
He said government had decided to give "fair and just compensation" to those whose lands will be acquired for further...
Garbage mounds draw birds, pose threat to aircraft
Bengaluru: The garbage menace hasn't spared even the Indian Air Force (IAF) station in Yelahanka. Heaps of waste at Mavallipura, a landfill in disuse, and Razakpalya around the station are drawing birds in droves and causing threat to aircraft, officials said.
"We ensure the station and areas in the periphery are clean but garbage accumulating in Mavallipura and Razakpalya, which also has catfish farms, is a matter of concern. We urge Bengalureans...
Real estate boom threat for Air Force Station Yelahanka
Bengaluru: Mushrooming growth of real estate in Bengaluru is the newest problem posing a threat to flying operations of Air Force Station (AFS), Yelahanka, said Group Captain Amit Pushkar, COO, AFS Yelahanka, here on Wednesday.
He said though every new construction in the vicinity of AFS has “to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and multiple permissions from various agencies like the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Directorate General of Civil...
Chennai airport’s new app is so outdated, it’s embarrassing
Chennai Airport’s new app, like any application created for a major airport in the country has so much potential to be great, but unfortunately, fails to impress.
You’d think the primary function of the app would be to keep you up-to-date with the latest flight information. For this, you are redirected to an external website, defeating the very purpose of an app. The most publicised highlight of the app however is the ‘My Place’ feature that pin-points...
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Govt to revive plans for low-cost airports
New Delhi: The Union civil aviation ministry is set to revive plans to develop low-cost airports in non-metro cities. Sources said the government might do away with the requirement of maintaining a minimum rate of return for developing regional airports. This will be part of a draft civil aviation policy being formulated by the aviation ministry, to be released for public comment soon.
Currently, the finance ministry’s public investment board appraises...
Build airport on our tombs: villagers
Vizianagaram: “Build the airport on our tombs,” reads a banner tied at Gudepuvalasa in Bhogapuram mandal, bringing to the fore the villagers’ stiff opposition to the international airport planned in an extent of 5,311 acres.
Of the total extent of land, 4,478.77acres will be acquired in three gram panchayats (Gudepuvalasa 1,604.55 acres, Kavulavada - 1,567.82 acres and Kancheru - 1,306.40 acres).The remaining 832.23 acres will be acquired from...
Air India's Boeing 787 makes emergency landing in Kolkata
Mumbai: An Air India Boeing 787 plane on the Delhi-Hong Kong route made an emergency landing in Kolkata in early hours of Tuesday after passengers complained of smoke inside the aircraft cabin.
The Boeing 787 is the latest aircraft in Air India’s fleet but in recent weeks its serviceability has been impacted due to snags.
The Boeing 787 (AI 314) departed Delhi at 11.30 pm on Monday and was diverted to Kolkata following complaints of smoke. The...
Plane scary: Air India has a bad Dream(Liner) in HK
Mumbai: Despite claims by Boeing that Air India's problems with the Dreamliner aircraft were history, an Air India flight from Delhi to Hong Kong had to make an emergency landing in Kolkata late Monday night, after passengers complained of smoke in the cabin.
Officials of the flight safety wing of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) who examined flight AI-314 told Mirror, "Prima facie it appears that there was a failure with the aircraft...
Arunachal CM asks Centre to fast track greenfield airport
New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has urged the Centre to fast-track the process of setting up a greenfield airport near Itanagar to facilitate direct flights to the rest of the country.
Tuki had a detailed meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here yesterday and requested him to do the needful for getting all clearance for the Rs 650 crore project to construct the greenfield airport at Hollongi, near capital...
Airlines plan international flights from new airport around Xmas
Chandigarh: After the inauguration of the new civil air terminal in Mohali by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many airlines are planning to start international flights near Christmas.
As the terminal was inaugurated without holding trials for flight operations, the authorities had decided to start flights on October 19. However, despite many hiccups, airlines are planning to start international flights near Christmas. Moreover, the international airport...
GoAir to change departure terminal at CSIA from Friday
Mumbai: Private carrier GoAir is all set to shift its departure operations to terminal IB from terminal IA of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) here from Friday.
GoAir would relocate terminal for its departing flights to IB from September 25 while the arrivals will continue to operate from terminal 1A of the domestic airport till further notice from the airport operator, a spokesperson said.
"Apart from intimating our passengers...
Mock plane crash exercise
Madurai: The state of preparedness of various departments of Madurai Airport and that of various other related agencies was tested at a full-scale mock accident and rescue exercise carried out by the Airport Fire Service here on Tuesday.
As per the drill, an aircraft of ABC Airlines crashed while landing and went up in flames. Within a few minutes, the fire tenders of Airport Fire Service rushed to the spot and put out the ‘flames.’ The firemen...
Cargo clearance hit; Int'l airlines flock domestic ones
Mumbai: Twenty major international airlines flying from Mumbai found themselves in a spot of bother with 1,200 tons of export cargo remaining un-cleared at the airport since Sunday. Global Aviation Services, a regulated cargo agent employed by the likes of Emirates, Qatar, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian and Gulf had to suspend services as its security clearances were withdrawn.
"The company has been handling security job functions at the Mumbai airport...
Plans in place to clear export cargo pile-up
Mumbai: Contingency plans have been put in place to clear the export cargo consignments that have been piling up at the Mumbai airport in the last 48 hours.
The export crisis began on Sunday evening after the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked the licence it had granted to a private company to carry out the security screening of cargo consignments that are exported abroad on board passenger flights operated by foreign carriers.
Global...