AI to charter aircraft to evacuate Indians in Iraq

Despite having as many 100 aircrafts in its own fleet, Air India has floated an open tender to charter aircraft from outside to fly back 6,500 Indian nationals stuck in conflict-struck Iraq. The reasons cited for the decision range from crew's reluctance to expenditure estimates, said sources.

The tender issued on June 27 asks, on an urgent basis, for aircraft--both narrow and wide body--on a full charter to bring back the Indians from Iraq and Kuwait. A board member told Mirror the aircrafts will be chartered on wet-lease basis or hired along with pilots and cabin crew. "They will be flown under the supervision of Air India and payment will be made as per the number of block hours of operation," a senior official said.
30/06/14 Aditya Anand/Mumbai Mirror

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Competition from Gulf carriers has made Indian mkt tough: Air France-KLM

Paris : Competition from Gulf carriers has made the burgeoning Indian aviation market “tough” and Air France-KLM would have to upgrade its image to address this challenge, the airline’s global CEO has said.

“Of course, Indian market is an important one, (mainly due to an) enormous population and a growing economy but it is a difficult one,” Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac told PTI in an interview here, stressing that competition was “tough” in India primarily due to the Gulf carriers. Flagging concerns about challenge posed by Gulf airlines, Juniac said the scenario needs to be addressed with the right tools. “We have to address that competition with the right tool …meaning the right aircraft, providing the right service and right products.

Emphasising upon the need for improving aviation infrastructure in India, Juniac said there should be less costly airports.
30/06/14 Free Press Journal

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Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sarod goes missing on British Airways flight

New Delhi: Classical musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sarod, which he has been playing for the last 45 years, has gone missing while he was returning to Delhi from London by a British Airways flight.
The Padma Vibhushan sarod maestro had gone to London along with his wife Subhalaxmi for a performance at Dartington College to celebrate the life of Rabindranth Tagore on June 21 and returned on the night of June 28.
30/06/14 PTI/India Today

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Evacuation plan in the works, 2nd MEA team to visit Iraq

New Delhi: For the second consecutive day, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth chaired a high-level meeting aimed at drawing up a firm evacuation plan for around 2,000 people in strife-torn Iraq, which is roughly one-fifth of the estimated number of Indians there.
Significantly, it has been decided that a second team from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) be sent to Iraq to assess the ground situation as well as the number of Indian nationals who are willing to return.
The evacuation proposal — the blueprint of which is expected to be briefed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday — envisages, to begin with, the use of two IAF transporters and two Air India planes. Diplomatic sources said the possibility of an airport in Turkey being used as a parking bay or logistical base before the Indian carriers land in Baghdad has also been discussed.
28/06/14 Ritu Sarin/Manu Pubby/Indian Express

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To fly a lakh to Iraq, tender floated

Lucknow: The Anjuman-e-Haidery, headquartered at the Dargah Shah-e-Mardan in Jorbagh, Delhi, and which claims to be managing “the largest number of Shia Waqf properties in Delhi,” has floated a tender to fly a lakh volunteers to war-torn Iraq and its adjacent countries to protect Shia shrines from Sunni insurgents.
The tender, floated Friday, invites Expression of Interest from aviation and travel business entities “having capacity to carry passengers in bulk at a short notice.”
From India, the destinations could be Iraq, Syria and/or Turkey and the company should have a capacity to carry 1 lakh passengers from August 1 to November 10 this year, states the tender.
“As the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has threatened to demolish the shrines, our volunteers would stand guard outside them,” says Syed Bahadur Abbas Naqvi, group’s general secretary.
29/06/14  Hamza Khan/Indian Express

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Indian aviation market tough but important: Air France-KLM

Paris: Competition from Gulf carriers has made the burgeoning Indian aviation market "tough" and Air France-KLM would have to upgrade its image to address this challenge, the airline's global CEO has said.

"Of course, Indian market is an important one, (mainly due to an) enormous population and a growing economy but it is a difficult one," Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac told PTI in an interview here, stressing that competition was "tough" in India primarily due to the Gulf carriers.

Flagging concerns about challenge posed by Gulf airlines, Juniac said the scenario needs to be addressed with the right tools.

"We have to address that competition with the right tool ...Meaning the right aircraft, providing the right service and right products.
29/06/14 PTI/Business Standard

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Embraer Issues Aircraft Safety Alert Over Loose Engine Bolts

Montreal: With carriers still jittery as the fate of missing MH370 aircraft is still a mystery after almost four months, a new safety alert has gone out.

American Airlines Group Inc and other carriers inspected engine pylon bolts on Embraer SA E190 aircraft after the Brazilian planemaker recommended the checks. The E190 can carry 98 to 114 passengers.

American found that the engine bolts “were loosened to some degree” on 12 of its 20 E190 aircraft, Paul Flaningan, a spokesman, said yesterday. The planes all were inspected and repaired yesterday and put back into service, he said.

Embraer confirmed that it issued an “alert service bulletin” to commercial operators of the twin-engine E190 recommending inspection of two engine pylons’ shear pins as a “preventive measure.”

India’s Air Costa checked its E190s and found no problems, said Pramod Mitta, a spokesman.
28/06/14 Mayasian Digest

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Expired drugs from India seized at Juba Airport

Juba:The Pharmaceuticals and Foods Control Authority (PFCA) seized a shipment of expired drugs at Juba International Airport on Thursday manufactured by the banned India-based Flamingo Company.

PFCA Director General Peter Aguek told Al Maugif newspaper that the Flamingo Company was banned two years ago from importing medicine to South Sudan because it had brought in fake and expired drugs.

Aguek said they will also sue the Kim Lab Company (KLC) which imported the drugs despite knowing their danger.

He said they will confiscate KLC’s license immediately and shut down the company, and warned other pharmaceutical firms against importing fake or expired drugs.
27/06/14 Radio Tamazuj

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Rafale Deal Likely to Figure During French Foreign Minister's India Visit

New Delhi:  The multi-billion dollar Rafale combat aircraft deal, the Jaitapur nuclear power plant and climate change are expected to figure prominently during talks French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius' will have with Indian leaders during his two-day visit here starting on Monday.

The two sides are also likely to discuss the over Rs 20,000 crore Maitri surface-to-air missile system project alongside holding parleys on the regional and global security situation including Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

The Rafale deal, estimated to be over Rs 60,000 crore, is also expected to come up during the talks along with the SR-SAM project, which is in the final stages of negotiations between the two governments, sources said here.

India had selected the French Rafale combat aircraft two years ago but the negotiations are still continuing between Indian Defence Ministry and the French firm Dassault Aviation as there have been issues over pricing and work-sharing between the two sides.
26/06/14 PTI/NDTV.com

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US Teen Pilot, an MIT Student, Reaches India Flying Solo

Nagpur:  A 19-year-old American attempting to become the youngest person ever to fly around the world solo reached India on Thursday, more than a month into his aerial odyssey.
Matt Guthmiller, a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), smiled and flashed a thumbs-up after he landed his single-engined Beechcraft A36 Bonanza aircraft in the city of Nagpur in western Maharashtra state early Thursday.
"It's been good, actually a lot of fun. I have been to some really interesting places. There have been a few small issues but overall it's been fun," Guthmiller told AFP by telephone.
The bespectacled teen is set to cover 29,000 miles (46,700 kilometres) during his month-long journey, making 25 stops across 14 countries.
He hopes to set a Guinness World Record by landing on July 8 in California, when he will be 16 days younger than Ryan Campbell of Australia, the current record holder.
Campbell was 19 years, seven months, and 25 days old when he arrived south of Sydney in 2013.
27/06/14 NDTV.com

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Modi calls top meeting to discuss evacuation options

New Delhi: In a preliminary move to assess the possibilities to evacuate Indians in Iraq, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered a meeting of top officials here on Thursday.
The meeting, chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth, was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Lavasa and senior intelligence officials, who were asked to give contingency plans on what would be the best route to evacuate Indian nationals in case the situation in Iraq warranted it.
Officials of the Ministry of External Affairs have said repeatedly that no evacuation is required at present given that commercial flights are operating regularly out of Baghdad and Erbil and most areas of Iraq are at present “safe.”
Official sources said very few of the 10,000-15,000 Indians working in Iraq want to leave as there is no violence in their areas and wages are unpaid.
27/06/14 Suhasini Haidar/The Hindu

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Nitin Fire bags Rs 250 crore order from Abu Dhabi airport; stock surges over 5%

Mumbai: Shares of Nitin Fire Protection surged over 5 per cent in trade after the company bagged Rs 250 crore order from Abu Dhabi Airport.
According to Nitin Shah, CMD, Nitin Fire Protection Industries, the order will be completed in next two-and-a-half years time.
The current orderbook of the company stands at Rs 450 crore.
27/06/14 Economic Times

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Will US Airlines operating from India be affected by High Court order in Pan-Am related issue?

Will US airlines operating from India be affected by the Punjab & Haryana High Court asking the Central Government to take up the issue of discrimination by the US government against Indian victims of the 1986 Pan-Am flight 73? It may be recalled that the flight was hijacked in Karachi by terrorists from Libya on 5 September 1986. As many as 13 Indians were killed and around 120 Indian passengers were injured in the attack.

This was the flight on which Pan-Am's chief purser, 23 year old Neerja Bhanot was gunned down by terrorists as she tried to allow passengers to escape from the aircraft, which had mainly American citizens. Neerja Bhanot was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, which is India's highest peacetime gallantry award for bravery, in 1987. She became the first woman to receive the award.

Interestingly, decades after the incident, Indian victims are angry at being discriminated against by the US Government. They are asking for the licenses of these airlines to operate from India, to be suspended until they can prove that Indians would not be discriminated against and abandoned by them again in case a similar hijack or other terrorist incidents on board their planes happens today. If the US airlines are barred from the lucrative Indian market, it will mean a huge dent in their overall profitability.
26/06/14 Money Life

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Air India sees 4-5% rise in revenue post entry in Star Alliance

Reeling under financial stress and increasing competition from Gulf carriers, industry experts said that the inclusion of Air India into Star Alliance will do little for the airline to revive from the current position.

National carrier – Air India on Tuesday announced its much-awaited entry into Star Alliance – the biggest grouping of global airlines. After being rejected by the alliance 3 years ago, the airline is now officially set to join the grouping of 26 other airlines by July 11 this year. The move is expected to increase revenues of the airline by 4-5%, according to the airline.

"Today about 13 Star member airlines operate to 10 destinations in India and account for a total share of 13% of India's to and fro market. The inclusion of Air India in Star would take Star Alliance to a stronger position with a share of about 30%," said a note issued by the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA).

Minister for civil aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati while announcing the inclusion of Air India into Star Alliance said that Air India will get benefit out of this association as a wider reach and access to existing facilities for the members of the world's biggest grouping of airlines would now be available to the passengers of Air India also.
25/06/14 Yuga Chaudhari/Daily News & Analysis

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Air India’s Star Alliance entry is a win-win for the carrier, the flyers and the club

New Delhi: Air India has finally been given the nod to become a part of Star Alliance. Entry to the exclusive international club consisting of 26 airlines including Lufthansa, Air Canada and Thai Airways, came at the end of a meeting of the Chief Executives’ Board of the member airlines in London on Monday.
The formal announcement of the membership was made by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Ashok Gajapathi Raju here on Tuesday.
All the benefits of a Star Alliance membership will be available to Air India and its passengers from July 11 this year. Monday’s announcement marks the end of a journey that began in 2007, during which the Maharaja has seen its shares of ups and down. Air India had been inducted into the Star Alliance in Beijing in December 2007. But in August 2011, the airline’s application for membership was put on hold as it had not met the parameters contractually agreed to in 2007.
Monday’s nod means that Air India will become the first Indian carrier to be inducted into a global airline alliance. The three global airline alliances — oneworld, Star Alliance and Skyteam — have over the years wooed various Indian carriers.
24/06/14 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line

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Local interests to govern new air bilateral deals

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry is developing an entirely new framework for bilateral air services agreements (ASAs) that will focus more on the needs of domestic carriers. The ministry has been criticised for granting bilaterals in a manner that causes domestic players like Air India to lose business to foreign competition. Emirates, for instance overtook Air India in 2013 with a 13% market share.
A senior civil aviation ministry official confirmed to FE it was conducting an internal exercise to review the position on bilaterals. “The idea is to understand in which areas we are underutilised, whether there is a shortage of aircraft or other bottlenecks,” the official said. He explained the new guidelines would pencil in not just the industry’s current ability to use the seats but future potential. “The primary consideration should be: What’s in it for us? There have to be larger economic benefits for the country,” he said, adding that a review of how existing bilaterals had helped had been initiated.
26/06/14 Roudra Bhattacharya/Financial Express

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Etihad Airways Offers Enhanced Access To India

Mumbai: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced a major expansion of its codeshare agreement with Jet Airways, offering travellers enhanced connections throughout India, and linking India with even more destinations worldwide.
The two airlines have obtained regulatory approval to codeshare on 43 additional routes, bringing the total number of services in their codeshare agreement to 71.
As part of the expansion, Etihad Airways has placed its 'EY' code on domestic services in India for the first time, with the codeshare agreement now including 31 Jet Airways routes from hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore to regional centres in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Patna, Trivandrum and Vadodara.
The codeshare agreement has also been updated to incorporate Jet Airways' international connections from Mumbai and Delhi to the Asian tourism and economic hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, together with services linking Chennai to Abu Dhabi and Singapore.
Furthermore, Jet Airways has strengthened its offering to the US and Europe by codesharing on additional Etihad Airways routes between Abu Dhabi and Chicago,New York, Dublin and Milan.
24/06/14 India PR Wire

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Indian Expat Held For Money-Laundering

Kuwait City: An Indian expatriate has been arrested at Kuwait International Airport in possession of KD 12,000, says Al-Seyassah. According to sources, a female customs officer discovered undeclared amount of KD 12,000 in the luggage of an Indian passenger who had arrived at the airport from India. According to the Kuwait law, passengers are not allowed to carry more than KD 3,000 cash. Based on instructions given by the Airport Customs Supervisor Lt General Sulaiman Al-Fahad to be strict with passengers who arrive in the country, the Indian expatriate was arrested for money laundering charges and referred to the concerned authorities for further investigations.
25/06/14 Arab Times

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Air India joins Star Alliance group

New Delhi: Air India Ltd has joined the Star Alliance group of carriers, a spokesman said on Tuesday, a move that could help boost revenues at the loss-making state-run airline.
Executives at Star Alliance met with Air India officials in London on Monday and agreed for the airline, which has been in talks to join since last year, to become its 27th member, Air India spokesman Praveen Bhatnagar said.
Air India will formally complete the process by mid-July, Bhatnagar said.
Membership allows Air India to share routes with the other airlines to more than 1,200 destinations, helping it to compete with Gulf carriers like Emirates, which have increased their share of long-distance flights into and out of India.
The member airlines of Star Alliance together own a total of 4,338 aircraft and fly over 640 million passengers a year, many of whom can also earn and burn frequent flyer miles on the entire alliance network.
24/06/14 Reuters/Indian Express

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Tatas to build Dornier aircraft with Swiss RUAG

Hyderabad: Tata Group aims at further consolidation in the aviation and aerospace sector by rolling out a fully built new generation Dornier aircraft from its Hyderabad facility, in association with aircraft maker RUAG Aviation of Switzerland.
Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), which is spearheading the conglomerate’s interests in the aerospace sector, on Monday tied up with RUAG to set up a manufacturing unit in Hyderabad to make fuselages and wings for the new Dornier 228 aircraft.
It is also the first big-ticket investment for the new State of Telangana. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao laid the foundation stone for the project here.
The company has become a significant player in the global aerospace market by setting up 100 per cent export-dedicated joint ventures with Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin near Hyderabad.
The joint venture with RUAG is its fourth in the aerospace sector.
23/06/14 Amit Mitra/Business Line

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Airlines asked to pay elderly passenger

Chennai: A consumer court here has ordered Etihad Airways to pay a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh to an elderly passenger for causing agony, detaining her illegally and causing embarrassment in front of other passengers. The order was passed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (South) bench.

The complainant, Arumugam Kanthimathiammal (68) of Adyar, had booked tickets on Etihad Airways for a journey to Chicago, via Abu Dhabi, and back. She received e-tickets for the onward journey scheduled for March 21, 2010, and for the return on September 11, 2010.

She had then advanced her return journey and booked a ticket for July 24, 2010. She noticed her name was changed in the boarding pass and informed her son.
24/06/14 The Hindu

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British Academic Denied Entry to India

Officials of Birkbeck, University of London have confirmed a report in The Hindu that one of their scholars was unexpectedly denied entry to India to attend an international academic conference. Indian officials have not confirmed the incident or commented on it.
The statement from Birkbeck follows: “We can confirm that Dr Penny Vera-Sanso, Principal Investigator for research projects on poverty and ageing in India, at Birkbeck, University of London, was turned away at Hyderabad airport early on Sunday morning, June 8. Dr. Vera-Sanso had been invited to attend the International Federation of Aging Conference. She was refused entry by immigration officials without explanation. Dr. Vera-Sanso was traveling with a valid passport and visa issued to her for the purpose of developing further research on aging with India’s academic community, last used for a visit to India in March 2014. Dr. Vera-Sanso, a respected researcher who has undertaken research in India since 1990, has met with an official at the Indian High Commission in London since her return but the reason for the decision is not clear at this point. ..”
23/06/14 Inside Higher Ed

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Charity attends Air India disaster memorial

The international chairman of a Whitley Bay-based charity has attended a memorial to mark the 29th anniversary of the Air India disaster in Ireland.

Vishwanath Pullé from the Angels of the North, who has organised and officiated as Master of Ceremonies at all the memorial services in County Cork, Ireland, was joined by fellow-trustees, relatives and friends who lost loved ones in the disaster, to remember all those who perished in what was then the worst crime in aviation history.

When a bomb detonated on board Air India Flight 182 bound from Toronto and Montreal to New Delhi and Mumbai via London on the June 23, 1985, all 329 passengers perished off the south-western Irish coast in the Atlantic Ocean.

A lasting memorial was created on the beach – a graceful, hand carved limestone sundial, notched so that on the same day every year the sun casts its shadow at 8:13 am, the exact moment of the tragedy.
24/06/14 News Guardian

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Air India anniversary memorial service planned for Stanley Park tonight

Vancouver: A memorial service is being held in Stanley Park tonight to mark the 29th anniversary of the June 23, 1985 Air India terrorist attack that left 331 dead.
Former Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer said the service will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Ceperley Playground, where a memorial has been built with inscriptions of the names of the victims.
Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland after a B.C.-made bomb had been placed in a suitcase and loaded into a connecting flight in Vancouver, then transferred onto the ill-fated Boeing 747 in Toronto.
A second bomb was placed on a flight to Narita, Japan that was connecting with a second Air India flight. But it exploded prematurely, killing two Japanese baggage handlers about an hour before the other bombing.
Two B.C. Sikh separatist leaders were charged and later acquitted in the terrorist attack, which remains the worst mass murder in Canadian history.
23/06/14 Kim Bolan/Vancouver Sun

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5 Indians held with 36 gold bars in Bangladesh

Dhaka: Five Indians have been detained in Bangladesh for allegedly trying to smuggle in 36 gold bars concealed inside their rectum into the country believed to be a major conduit to sneak in the yellow metal into India. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officials detained them from a bus in Jessore district and seized the gold bars weighing 4.4 kg yesterday, The DailyStar reported.
Bijoy Kumar Chandra, Ruhith Ashok, Komal Otharar and Raj Kumar of Nagpur, and Rakesh of Ahmadabad arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka from Dubai on June 19, the report quoted Col Motiur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB 26 Battalion as saying.
Bangladesh is believed to be a major conduit for smuggling gold into India, where the demand for the yellow metal is high and makes smuggling attractive after import curbs by New Delhi to cut-down foreign exchange outflow.
Yesterday, the five Indians came to Benapole by a bus and completed their immigration process to return to India. But instead of crossing the border, they mysteriously boarded a Jessore-bound bus, said Rahman.
23/06/14 PTI/Daily News & Analysis

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GMR deal is not valid by Maldivian laws, insists Azima

The contract with India's GMR to develop and run the Maldives' main international airport was not valid under Maldivian law, despite a Singaporean arbitration tribunal saying otherwise, former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor said on Saturday.

Azima's comments come days after an arbitration court in Singapore declared that the concession agreement between the Maldives and GMR was prematurely terminated by the Maldivian government unlawfully.

Azima, who played a key role in the termination of the contract as the acting attorney general at the time, told Haveeru that according to the common law, a third party need not bear losses for negligence of two other parties. The arbitration court based its verdict on the fact that GMR need not bear any losses resulting from the Maldivian government's failure to abide by certain conditions set out in the Public Finance Act, she said.

Azima stressed that the government did not fulfill the conditions set out in the Public Finance Act, before signing the agreement. That was the basis of the government's argument at the time, she added.

"Even if the agreement is legit under Common Law, it does not necessarily concur that the agreement had also been made according to Maldivian laws. Nobody sitting as AG in Maldives can still pronounce the deal to have been done as per the Public Finance Act. No one can. That's why I spoke against it even then," she said.
22/06/14 Azuhaar Abdul Azeez/Haveeru Online

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Decision on Air India's induction into Star Alliance today

New Delhi: The brass of Star Alliance will meet in London on Monday to decide on Air India's induction into the 26-member global airlines’ grouping which could give the government-owned carrier's passengers the facility of seamless travel to over 1,200 destinations. If the membership is granted, it would end Air India's seven-year wait to access the alliance's global network of 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

The member-airlines of Star Alliance together own a total of 4,338 aircraft and fly 640 million passengers a year, many of whom can also earn and burn frequent flyer miles on the entire alliance network.

The Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB), at its meeting in London on Monday, could give an endorsement vote to induct Air India into the fold, paving the way for the integration of all its systems, including ticket booking and flight scheduling, into the global network.
23/06/14 Business Standard

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Jet, Etihad Airways stop discount fares for children on UAE sector

Mumbai: Travelling with children may become more expensive on Jet Airways and Etihad Airways from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India.
The two airlines have stopped giving discounts to children aged between 2 and 11 on direct flights from Abu Dhabi/Dubai to India, it is reliably learnt. A ticket for a child will now cost the same as that of a regular ticket.
Confirming the development, a spokesperson for Jet Airways said: “Effective June 16, Jet Airways has discontinued the child discount of 25 per cent from Abu Dhabi/Dubai to India. From Dubai there is no child discount since February1. This is due to the prevailing market practice.” The child discount programme remains unchanged on other international routes, Jet said.
Moreover, there is no change in the fare policy for infants, who are charged 10 per cent of basic fee.
For the quarter ended March 30, 2014, Jet recorded its higher-ever net loss of ?2,153 crore due to the weak rupee escalating fuel costs, anaemic passenger traffic growth, and increasing competition.
22/06/14 Adith Charlie/Business Line

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Recalling Air India Flight 182

It was a suggestion that Ann Venketeswaran has regretted for 29 years.
Her husband Trichur Krishnan hadn't returned to his native India in over 10 years and, with a family wedding on the horizon, Ann suggested he take a trip to attend the nuptials.
On June 23, 1985, her husband, known to everyone as T.K., bid farewell to Ann and their two children at Pearson International Airport.
The family had no idea it would be the last time they would see each other.
Later that day, a bomb exploded on Air India Flight 182 and the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cork Island in Ireland.
All 329 people on board, including 45-year-old T.K., were killed. His body was never recovered.
Twenty-nine years later, the Air India bombing remains the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.
"The terrorists have never been found, prosecuted or punished," Ann said during an interview from the two-bedroom apartment she shares with her son.
The Venketeswaran family had enjoyed an idyllic existence before that fateful June day.
Ann, a registered nurse in Welland, met T.K. at a friend's birthday party in 1964. T.K. was one of 30 young men who had been sent to Canada from India to learn about the steel industry.
The duo struck up a conversation and Ann offered to show T.K. around the region.
T.K.'s studies later sent him to Norway and Sweden and then back to India. The couple wrote to each other every three to five days.
He returned to Canada and the two were married in 1966. Ann was 29. T.K. was 26.
A daughter Esther was born in 1970 and their son David followed 14 months later.
22/06/14 Stcatharines Standard

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Decision on Air India's Induction Into Star Alliance on June 23

New Delhi: The top brass of Star Alliance will meet in London on Monday to decide on Air India's induction into the 26-member global airlines' grouping which could give the national carrier's passengers the facility of seamless travel to over 1,200 destinations.

If the membership is granted, it would end Air India's seven-year-long wait to access the alliance's global network of over 18,000 daily flights to 1,269 airports in 193 countries.

The member airlines of Star Alliance together own a total of 4,338 aircraft and fly over 640 million passengers a year, many of whom can also earn and burn frequent flyer miles on the entire alliance network.

At its meeting in London on Monday, the Star Alliance Chief Executive Board (CEB) could give an endorsement vote to induct Air India into the fold, paving the way for the integration of all its systems, including ticket booking and flight scheduling, into the global network.
22/06/14 PTI/NDTV

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Tigerair launches pay only one-way fare on return journey offer for ICICI Bank customers

Mumbai: Tigerair, the budget arm of Singapore Airlines has launched a special offer for ICICI Bank customers, which allows them pay only one-way fare on a return journey ticket to Singapore, as per a PTI report. During the offer period, the debit, credit and pre-paid card holders of the ICICI Bank can avail the opportunity to pay fares only for one way to Singapore, while the return ticket will be complimentary except for airport taxes and other charges, Tigerair said in a release. The offer is applicable on Tigerair flights from Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, it said. This offer is effective from June 16 to July 6, while the travel period will remain valid in two phases - from July 14 to October 31, 2014 and then January 19 to March 26, 2015.
"This unique offering marks the beginning of a new relationship with the ICICI Bank. We are certain that this unique proposition will provide the bank's customers, not only benefits but a reason to travel to Singapore and 30 over destinations in Asia," Robert Yang, Commercial Director, Tigerair said.
22/06/14 TravelBizMonitor

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Turbulence for Jet-Etihad deal in Singaporean skies

New Delhi: After crossing several regulatory hurdles in India, the over R2,000-crore deal between Jet Airways and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad may be in for another spot of minor turbulence. The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) is now scrutinising the ‘proposed commercial alliance’ between the two airlines to see if it will have an impact on Singapore's aviation industry.
CCS has sought feedback from third parties on the Jet-Etihad commercial agreement by July 11 under Section 34 of the city-state's Competition Act, following which it will take a view on the matter.
“CCS received a notification for decision on 6 June 2014, with regard to the Proposed Commercial Alliance between Etihad and Jet. The Proposed Commercial Alliance relates to the provision of international air passenger transport services (and associated support services), with a specific focus on the Singapore origin and destination (O&D) city pairs affected by the Proposed Commercial Alliance,” a CCS statement said.
It added, “The notification is made in relation to Section 34 of the Competition Act which prohibits agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings or concerted practices which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition within Singapore. The Proposed Commercial Alliance includes pricing, route and schedule coordination, marketing, code-sharing, networks, customer service and resourcing decisions between the Parties.”
20/06/14 Financial Express

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Civil aviation ministry clearance for flights to Dubai, Bangkok from Chandigarh

Chandigarh:  The ministry of civil aviation on Thursday gave clearance to start international flights from Chandigarh for Dubai and Bangkok. This decision was taken by the Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati during a meeting held with Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in New Delhi. Sources said the minister for civil aviation confirmed to Punjab CM that Indigo, Spice Jet and UAE airlines had been given permission to operate their international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok in near future. The Union minister also expressed that new flights would cater to major rush from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Haryana, who have to go to Delhi, saving their time, money and energy.

A spokesperson of Punjab chief minister's office confirmed about the clearance for international flights from Chandigarh airport by the the ministry of civil aviation. Chandigarh airport has been waiting for a long time for the international flights.
20/06/14 Times of India

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Zimbabwe, India sign Air Service Agreement

Government has signed an Air Service Agreement with India which seeks to regularise the operation of air transport services between the two countries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Air Services Agreement in Harare, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Obert Mpofu said the agreement seeks to achieve the promotion of an international aviation system based on competition among airlines.

He said the agreement ensures the highest degree of safety and security in international air services and reaffirmation of the two countries grave concern about acts or threats against the security of aircraft, safety of persons or property.

“The signing of this agreement marks the end of a journey that started with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between our two countries on May 20 2010 in New Delhi, India,” Mpofu said.

“As a ministry and government we are really excited by this development, the signing of this agreement which shows the extent of the good bilateral relations which exist between our two countries. We look forward to more economic ties beneficial to both countries as we implement this agreement.”

He said that the agreement states that airlines of each country would be entitled to operate combined services per week in each direction.
20/06/14 Tarisai Mandizha/News Day

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GMR says Maldives govt, aviation agency liable to pay damages

Hyderabad: The GMR Group, which had to exit the Male airport project, today said a tribunal has declared the Maldivian government and the nation's airport agency "jointly and severally liable in damages" to the company for loss caused by the wrongful repudiation of the agreement.

GMR Male International Airport Ltd (GMIAL), a unit of GMR Infrastructure, had entered into a concession agreement with the government of Maldives and Maldives Airport Co for modernisation and operation of Ibrahim Nasir International Airport in 2010.

The contract was unilaterally terminated by the Maldives government, which initiated arbitration proceedings on November 29, 2012, seeking a declaration that the concession agreement was void ab initio, GMR said in a statement today.

"Government of Maldives and Maldives Airport Co. Ltd are jointly and severely liable in damages to GMIAL for loss caused by wrongful repudiation of the agreement as per the concession agreement," GMR Infrastructure said in the filing, citing the arbitration awarded by Rt Hon Lord Hoffman's Tribunal.
19/06/14 PTI/Business Standard

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SLA refutes allegations of inaction in sexual harassment case

Mumbai: SriLankan Airlines on Thursday refuted allegations of inaction in a "sexual harassment" case filed by one of its Delhi-based woman employees, saying a competent committee set up under the Vishaka guidelines has already investigated the matter before closing it in 2012.
However, at the same time, the Airline, in a statement, said it is already in the process of obtaining legal advice from its lawyers in India and will take appropriate action.
An Indian woman employee of Srilankan Airlines had yesterday moved a petition in the Delhi High Court for action against the air carrier for alleged non-implementation of the Vishaka guidelines which deals with cases of sexual harassment at workplaces.
The petition by the woman, a sales executive in the airline, was mentioned by advocate Ajay Verma who said her complaint of sexual harassment against a senior colleague, a Sri Lankan, has been pending since 2009 and the airline has not taken any action against him.
"SriLankan Airlines has already conducted an investigation into the alleged sexual harassment claim, in accordance with Special Policy Against Harassment (SPAH) which characterises the Vishaka guidelines and closed this matter in 2012," the Sri Lankan national carrier said here in a detailed statement.
Therefore, the airline categorically refutes the statement which indicates that the company has not implemented Vishaka guidelines, it said.
19/06/14 PTI/Zee News

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Air India to fly B787 Mumbai–Chennai–Singapore

Air India will introduce the B787 Dreamliner to its daily Mumbai–Chennai–Singapore service from October 25.
The carrier's Boeing 787-8, which will replace the incumbent A330-200 on the route, offers a two-class cabin layout with 18 seats in business (2-2-2) and 238 in economy (3-3-3).
Business class passengers will appreciate the new seat offering available on the B787 — the current product on the A330 only offers a 13-inch recline and 52-inch pitch, whereas the Dreamliner's business seat is a flat-bed and has a more generous 74-inch pitch.
Flight times will remain the same. Flight AI342 departs daily from Mumbai at 2125 and reaches Chennai at 2310. After a short layover, the aircraft will take-off from Chennai at 0045 the following day before arriving in Singapore at 0720.
19/06/14 Business Traveller

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Emirates Airlines to serve Indian regional dishes

Dubai: Those travelling to and from India on an Emirates flight can now enjoy regional Indian culinary offerings like 'sarson maach' and 'dhabe da ghost'.
The Dubai-based airline has introduced enhanced menus across 10 destinations in India that reflect regional tastes and customer preferences from across the country.
For example, customers on the Kolkata route can enjoy a sarson maach (mustard fish curry). Similarly, regional dishes such as turiya vatana muthia (ridge gourd and green peas dumpling) on flights to and from Ahmedabad, meen mulaku curry (fish in red gravy) on flights to Kerala, or dhabe da gosht (lamb meat cooked in pure ghee and flavoured with cardamoms and poppy seeds) on flights to Delhi, are some of the highlights.
"Emirates connects 10 destinations in India to its global network with 185 weekly flights, and we also bring thousands of travellers each week to India — whether they are returning home, doing business or discovering the destination for the first time. Our new tailor-made menus were created to suit the palates of our Indian customers," said Robin Padgett, SVP, aircraft catering, Emirates.
"India has a rich cultural diversity that is reflected in its culinary profile, with flavors and ingredients that vary dramatically as you move across regions," he said.
18/06/14 PTI/Financial Express

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Airline Employee Moves HC for Implementing Vishaka Guidelines

An Indian woman employee of Srilankan Airlines here moved a petition in the Delhi High Court today for action against the air carrier for alleged non-implemention of the Vishaka guidelines which deals with cases of sexual harassment at workplaces.
The petition was mentioned before a vacation bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Sunita Gupta which agreed to hear the matter on June 20.
The petition by the woman, a sales executive in the airline, was mentioned by advocate Ajay Verma who said her complaint of sexual harassment against a senior colleague, a Sri Lankan, has been pending since 2009 and the airline has not taken any action against him.
Verma contended that the Vishaka guidelines have not been implemented by Srilankan Airlines Ltd till date and sought directions to the ministries concerned--Civil Aviation and Women and Child Development--to take action against the company for non-implementation of the guidelines.
The petition seeks government direction to ensure implementation of the Vishaka guidelines as well as provisions of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act in all airlines which fall under the jurisdic'tion of the Civil Aviation Ministry.
18/06/14 Outlook

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Foreign airlines like Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and others bring more business class seats to India

Mumbai: Foreign carriers are bringing a higher number of business class seats in their flights on India on growing demand as positive sentiment returns to the country's economy. German flag carrier and Europe's biggest airline Lufthansa has brought in its new Boeing 747-800 on the Mumbai-Frankfurt route on which it currently operates the 747-400. That will increase the number of business class seats to 80 from 66, making it the foreign carrier offering the most seats in this class to India. The total capacity per flight increases 10% to 386 seats.
"Our entire upper deck and a part of the lower deck will have business class seats," Wolfgang Will, director, south Asia for the carrier told ET in a recent interview.
Similarly, Singapore Airlines is also considering a plan to introduce full business class upper decks on its Airbus A380 flights to India. The airline started operating the world's biggest passenger aircraft to India, replacing its Boeing 777s, increasing the number of business class seats to 60 from 38. In the current configuration, the airline's upper deck is a mix of business and economy class seats. The US is the only destination where it offers an exclusively business class upper deck aboard the A380.
18/06/14 Anirban Chowdhury/Economic Times

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Indian carriers may benefit from Changi Airport's fee reduction drive

Munbai:  In a move that could improve the profitability of carriers offering flights between India and Singapore, the Changi Airport Group is set to reduce the operational charges for airlines. Though the move has been welcomed by carriers, passengers may not see an immediate reduction in fares, according to analysts.

Currently, Jet Airways, Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, Indigo, TigerAir and Air India offer direct flights between various Indian cities and Singapore’s Changi Airport, which is managed by the Changi Airport Group.

A recent directive from the airport says that all airlines operating from Changi Airport are to get an ‘across-the-board reduction’ in operating charges.

From July 1, airlines have to pay 50 per cent less on aircraft parking fees, and 15 per cent less on aerobridge charges for the next 12 months. In addition, the airport operator would introduce a new package of incentives, which would reward airlines for growing transfer traffic at the Changi Airport.

The move assumes significance given the current state of affairs in the Indian aviation sector. Last year, the industry had witnessed combined losses of over Rs 7,600 crore, with some of the leading players ending in the red.
18/06/14 Adith Charlie/Business Line

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Go exotic and sample low airfares to India, South Africa and the Maldives

It's a big world out there -- and planes fly to and fro all day. While many of the price-cutting airfare battles are fought close to home, occasionally the war spills into international markets.
This is one of those times.
As Delta Air Lines spools up its international hub in Seattle, Alaska Airlines is focusing on some of its partnerships with other carriers including American Airlines, British Airways and Emirates. Emirates, by the way, flies a daily nonstop between Seattle and Dubai on a Boeing 777-300ER (extended range). The 7,410-mile flight takes 14 hours and 15 minutes.

Emirates is one of Alaska's mileage partners. And through Nov. 30, Alaska Mileage Plan members can earn double miles on all Emirates flights from Seattle, through Dubai and on to their final destination. You must sign up in advance with your mileage plan number.

If you're watching your pennies and counting your miles, this promotion can come in handy. For example, you can fly from either Fairbanks or Anchorage to Johannesburg for $1,440 roundtrip starting on Nov. 2. From Anchorage, that is 25,670 miles roundtrip -- enough to put you over the "MVP" threshold in just one trip. Don't forget the double miles promotion: You'll earn more than 50,000 miles. That's enough for two domestic tickets on Alaska Air -- or its partners Delta and American.
17/06/14 Scott McMurren/Anchorage Daily News

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Air India jet hit by truck at Newark airport, damaged

A catering truck hit an Air India aircraft at Newark airport in the US on Wednesday evening. The airplane, Boeing 777-300ER, was getting prepared to flyAir_India_ as AI 191 with 335 passengers to Mumbai.

While AI will seek compensation from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which runs the Newark Liberty International Airport, the airline faces a major handicap with an ultra-long range aircraft down.

“The aircraft has been severely damaged in the mishap and had to be grounded. Alternate arrangements are being made for the passengers and the aircraft was being prepared for take off when it was hit,” said an official.

AI is worried that the B-777 which got damaged in the US may stay grounded for a while as the authorities there will take their time to certify it airworthy again.
16/06/14 CanIndia

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Lufthansa banks on Air India to check Gulf carriers

The impending entry of Air India into Star Alliance, the biggest grouping of airlines globally, has got Lufthansa excited as it may help the German carrier check the growing dominance of Gulf carriers in Indian skies.

Air India's entry into Star alliance, which was mentored by Lufthansa, is likely to be a reality by July. Wolfgang Will, director, South Asia for Lufthansa, recently in an interview told dna Air India's entry would benefit both airlines in terms of giving access to newer geographies. "They (gulf carriers) are growing and we respect that. But that does not mean we should be afraid because we feel that, you can sell your product well on the basis of good quality and reach," he said.

According to a report by aviation consultant, Center of Asia Pacific of Aviation (CAPA), the recent rise of Emirates, Etihad (now with Jet Airways) and Qatar Airways in carrying Indian traffic over their highly effective hubs and across their diverse global networks has completely changed the shape of the Indian long?haul market, as it has in many other markets. "Air India's entry will be beneficial for both airlines, as we will able to reach out to much more customers as before. For us, we will able to tap the Indian market beyond big cities and Air India will have larger access to the European region and beyond. Not only this, it's an advantage for the customer. You can earn miles in one programme and redeem them in another. So yes, that is one of the ways to fight back and compete, and be one of the strongest players in the market," Will said.
16/06/14 Daily News & Analysis

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Royal Bhutan Airlines flight makes emergency landing in Kolkata

Kolkata: A Royal Bhutan Airlines flight from Paro to Mumbai was forced to make an emergency landing at the NSC Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Sunday after the windshield of the aircraft cracked during the journey.
The captain of the flight sought permission of the ATC for emergency landing as the aircraft suffered windshield crack during the flight, said an official at NSC Bose International Airport.
15/06/14 PTI/Indian Express

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Airbus’s $6.8 Billion Kingfisher Order Hinges on Takeover

Airbus Group NV (AIR) said it’ll keep an 82-plane order from defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. (KAIR) on its books while there’s still a chance that the Indian carrier might find a buyer which would require new aircraft.

The order concerns 67 A320 narrow-body jetliners and 15 twin-aisle A330s with a list price of $6.8 billion.

“If Kingfisher finds a new buyer for the airline that buyer would need single-aisle planes, so for that reason we’ll keep them until the airline is completely shut down,” Kiran Rao, Airbus’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a briefing at the company’s base in Toulouse, France.

Kingfisher had debt of 91.4 billion rupees ($1.5 billion) as of Dec. 31, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya, the Bangalore-based carrier ceased operations in 2012 and lost its flying permit after defaulting on payments to lenders, staff, airports and lessors.
13/06/14 Anurag Kotoky and Andrea Rothman/Bloomberg

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Indian-American boy fighting for life after plane crash

Los Angeles: An 8-year-old Indian-American boy, who wanted to be a pilot, is fighting for his life after a deadly plane crash that killed the pilot.

Sebastian Joshua Grewal underwent a second surgery to relieve pressure on his brain on Tuesday, after recovered in critical condition from Monday's crash in Hesperia, California, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The 47-year-old pilot, identified by Los Angeles Fire Department as Brian Lee, died in the accident.
Lee, a paramedic, was flying the plane carrying Grewal while off duty. Lee died from the injuries he sustained.

Sebastian, who was pulled from the wreckage in critical condition, is described by his father as wanting to be a pilot.

"He is fighting very hard to live as we speak. Looking at the wreckage of the plane, it's a miracle that he is still alive," Josh Grewal told the Daily Press.
12/06/14 PTI/Business Standard

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India establishes crucial air navigation link with Nepal

New Delhi: India has established a crucial air navigation link with Nepal for exchanging real-time data on various aviation-related aspects, including weather charts and aeronautical maps.
The link, called AMHS (Air Traffic Service Message Handling System), was operationalised between Mumbai and Kathmandu on June 2 by the Air Navigation Services (ANS) Directorate of Airports Authority of India (AAI), its officials said today.
AAI is already implementing a prestigious satellite-based GAGAN system to navigate and guide all aircraft over the vast Indian airspace as well as the high seas.
The AMHS would replace the legacy Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network connectivity which could cater to only small textual messages.
The new facility would provide exchange of global messaging similar to e-mails through which binary attachments containing aeronautical maps, weather charts, digital NOTAM and other directives can be exchanged immediately.
13/06/14 PTI/Zee News

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CBI to examine top Airbus executive in aircraft deal probe

New Delhi: A CBI team will visit London by next week to examine Airbus's executive vice-president Kiran Rao in connection with alleged irregularities in the over Rs 8,000 crore deal for supply of 43 aircraft to the erstwhile Indian Airlines in 2005.

Sources said some clarifications were needed from Rao on alleged non-fulfillment of conditions given in the supply contract. Sources said order for the visit of the team headed by a superintendent of police was issued and the team might leave by next week to record evidence.

Sources said after nearly a year-long probe, CBI felt the need to examine senior executives of Airbus about some crucial points which had come up during investigation of the case in which senior officials of the erstwhile Indian Airlines have been named as accused along with Airbus functionaries.
CBI has registered a case against Airbus Industries and seven officials who held senior positions in Indian Airlines which was later merged with Air India.
12/06/14 Times of India

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India may get top aviation safety rank back from US

New Delhi:  Indo-US ties are on the rebound, with the election of Narendra Modi as PM helping the two countries get over strained relations witnessed in last days of UPA-II. America, which had downgraded India's aviation safety ranking this January, is now helping the country get back its top billing.

The US Trade Development Agency (USTDA) is funding the appointment of America's The Wicks Group (TWG) as advisors to the downgraded directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA). It has started working with the DGCA to identify its weaknesses in various fields like rules, regulations and practices and then will help it rectify them.

The downgrade by US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was a direct result of UPA-I and II's abject failure to strengthen the DGCA to ensure it had the resources to ensure safety in India's civil aviation sector that saw meteoric rise of mishaps since the advent of low-cost airlines here from 2005. It has dealt a body blow to Indian carriers as they cannot add new flights to US and aircraft of desi airlines can be held up for checks indefinitely at foreign airports as the DGCA's ability to ensure safety is now suspect globally.
12/06/14 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Air India flies new Dreamliner to Italy

Earlier this month the national carrier welcomed its 14th Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, and has used the fuel-efficient jet to launch a new triangular route between Delhi, Rome and Milan.
The Delhi-Rome-Milan-Delhi route will operate four days a week. Services depart Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1420 every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and arrive at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport at 1905.
The flight then leaves the Italian capital at 2040 before reaching Milan Malpensa Airport at 2200. Finally, the flight will depart Milan at 2330 and get back to Delhi at 1015 the following day.
“By offering direct services to Italy, Air India will be fulfilling a long-standing demand of not only Indians residing in Italy but also the travel and tourism industry,” the airline said in a statement.
“So far, passengers have been changing to other airlines or transiting at international hubs in West Asia. This move will make Air India the only Indian carrier with direct flights to and from Italy.”
10/06/14 Travel Daily Media

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Flydubai Begins Kochi Service

Kochi: Visa-on-arrival facility and bilateral agreements between India and GCC countries are likely to reduce tariff in the region, said Sudhir Sreedharan, Senior Vice President, Flydubai Airlines, a UAE government-owned company.

Speaking to media here on Wednesday, he said that the recently held IPL matches in Dubai had attracted a sizable number of people to the region and if the visa-on-arrival facility is in place there will be a rush to India for medical treatment from the West Asian region. He also said that the airlines is aiming to tap more markets in India.
Meanwhile,  Flydubai has started operations to Delhi, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. It will have four weekly flights to Delhi and three weekly flights to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to West Asian countries. With this the total number of Indian cities served by the carrier will be six, including existing routes of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Lucknow.

The airline will charge Rs 17,000 for Kochi-Dubai service and 7-kg luggage could be carried. Extra charge has to paid for food, entertainment and luggage beyond the permissible limit. The airline has a network of 74 destinations across the globe.
12/06/14 New Indian Express

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ISI using Pakistan consulate in Colombo to target South India, says arrested Lankan national

Terrorists backed by the Pak ISI were planning to target Chennai port and central railway station as well as airports in Chennai and Bangalore in what now appears to be a deliberate and well coordinated strategy by Pakistan to encircle India through its terror consulate at Colombo, as per sensational revelations by Mohammed Sakir Husain arrested at Chennai in last week of April 2014.
Rattling details contained in the interrogation report (IR) of Husain, kept under wraps so far but to which ET has managed exclusive access, confirm that the electronic city in Bangalore and atomic power plant in Tamil Nadu were also part of the terror strike plan.
Husain (36) is a Sri Lankan (SL) national engaged as an agent by the Pak ISI. Hussain has revealed this and much more, including the identities, names and modus operandi of the Pakistani diplomats who guided, financed and 'handled' him in SL for such dangerous missions. Husain divulged that all planning, tasking and financing was being done personally by Pakistani High Commission (in Colombo) Counselor Amir Zubair Siddiq (code named Mama @ Ravi) and his senior 'Shah'.
12/06/14 Aman Sharma & Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury/Economic Times

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Intense rivalry in the air

New Delhi: The first flight of AirAsia India will take off tomorrow at 3.10pm from Bangalore for Goa, intensifying the competition in the local skies.
Analysts said AirAsia’s entry could trigger a fresh round of price wars at a time some leading players have reported huge losses.
AirAsia India, the domestic arm of the Malaysian no-frills airline AirAsia Berhad headed by Tony Fernandes, will become the fourth budget carrier in the country after IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir.
Naresh Goyal-promoted full service airline Jet Airways also operates a low-cost arm JetLite.
“We honestly believe that we have to be disruptive in pricing. I believe with our model and structure, it is very sustainable. Disruptive pricing is the only way to penetrate the market,” AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya said. The airline is targeting to capture at least 10 per cent market share in this financial year.
On May 30, AirAsia India had announced the availability of 15,000 tickets at a base fare of Rs 5, excluding airport taxes and other fees. Tickets under this offer were sold out by June 1.
11/06/14 Telegraph

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Etihad Fined Rs 3 Lakh For Boarding Pass Mess

Chennai: A 68-year-old wheelchair bound woman from the city, who sufferred a harrowing detention of nearly 12 hours at the Abu Dhabi International Airport due to an error on the part of Etihad Airways, a UAE-based air carrier, was awarded a compensation of `3 lakh by the consumer forum.

The senior citizen, Arumugam Kanthimathiammal, a resident of Adyar, returning from Chicago on July 24, 2010 after visiting her son’s family, was disembarked from a connecting flight at Abu Dhabi as her name was incorrect in the boarding pass issued in Chicago.

For no fault of hers, she had to be in detention in an unknown land, with no knowledge of the local language or any friends to help and was even deprived of her medicines. The airline staff suspected to the old woman be travelling on forged identity and handed her over to the airport staff who in turn detained her in a hotel room at the airport.

Underlining the mental agony that Kanthimathiammal had gone through in a foreign land without knowing either English or Urdu or even an alternative dress and medicines, the Chennai South District Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum directed the Etihad Airways to pay compensation as carelessness of its staff was responsible for the sequence of the events.
11/06/14 J Santhosh/New Indian Express

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flydubai also open to investing in an Indian carrier

flydubai (FZ, Dubai Int'l) has become the latest Gulf-based carrier to put the word out that it would be open to an investment in a viable Indian carrier should the opportunity arise.

“The focus from shareholders is to grow the airline in Dubai, and right now we have no mandate to go outside. But we have a dialogue with Indian airlines all the time. If we find a good opportunity, we will consider it. We will then go and seek approval from the shareholders,” CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith told India's Business Standard.

The Dubai-based LCC's Indian network currently consists of Ahmedabad, Delhi Int'l, Hyderabad Int'l, Kochi Int'l, Lucknow and Thiruvananthapuram.
11/06/14 Ch Aviation

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Mactan airport capacity seen to hit 8 million

Manila: The capacity of Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is expected to nearly double to 8 million passengers from its current capacity of 4.5 million passengers per year, the GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) said on Wednesday.
The consortium of Megawide Corp. and GMR of India, which was awarded the airport’s development and operation contract, said the increased capacity will be seen after the first phase of the modernization and construction of a second terminal.
GMCAC will take over the country’s second largest gateway in October to begin the P17.5 billion upgrade and expansion.
MCIA has been operating above its capacity, with 6.7 million passengers served in 2012 and 6.9 million passengers served in 2013.
“Our aim is to make Cebu an international hub, for in doing so, we not only further promote the island, boost local business and draw in investors, but we also become an invaluable support to the country. And not only that – we make an even more significant mark on the Asian map,” said GMCAC president Louie Ferrer.
11/06/14 ABS-CBNews.com

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Qatar Airways CEO calls on India to rethink aviation policies

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has called on the new Indian government to rethink the country’s aviation policies to bring “prosperity” to the Indian people.
The airline is seeking to increase its seat capacity to India and is also chasing an investment opportunity in Indian carrier Indigo.
“I have always said that India is a great country, a sleeping economic giant, and there are opportunities and capabilities in India that others don’t have, but unfortunately the previous administration in India did not make the maximum use of the available potential,” said Al Baker.
“For the aviation industry in India, the potential is so huge that even if you allotted capacity to every airline that is requesting it, you will still have load factors in excess of 80 percent.
11/06/14 Arabian Business

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Dubai-bound jet makes unscheduled landing at Hyderabad airport

Hyderabad: A Dubai-bound plane today made an unscheduled landing at the international airport here after an Australian passenger fell ill, airport officials said.

The A380 jumbo jet operated by Emirates was on its way to the Gulf city from Melbourne when it was diverted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) at Shamshabad near here.

The 64-year-old passenger was deplaned and taken to a private hospital here, they said.
The plane left after a halt of over an hour.
10/06/14 PTI/Business Standard

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flydubai eyes stakes in India's budget airlines

Close on the heels of Qatar Airways showing an interest in the country’s largest budget carrier IndiGo, Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai on Monday said it was “open” to investing in an efficient Indian airline.
“The focus from shareholders is to grow the airline in Dubai, and right now we have no mandate to go outside. But we have a dialogue with Indian airlines all the time. If we find a good opportunity, we will consider it. We will then go and seek approval from the shareholders,” said chief executive officer Ghaith Al Ghaith.
The Indian government allowed foreign airlines to buy up to 49 per cent stakes in Indian carriers in September 2012. Since then, the Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has bought a 24 per cent stake in Naresh-Goyal’s Jet Airways.
Two new ventures, AirAsia india and Tata-SIA Airlines, have been registered and will start flights soon.
Budget airlines SpiceJet and GoAir are scouting for strategic investors to infuse cash.
10/06/14 Business Standard

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flydubai says ready to fly to any destination available to it

New Delhi: Gulf budget airline 'flydubai', which launched its flights to Delhi and two other cities last week, today said it was ready to operate from any other city which could be made available by the Indian government.
"We are ready to take any challenge... Any destination that is available for us, we can operate," 'flydubai' CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said here. However, all this would depend on the bilateral air services agreement between India and Dubai.
He said the state-owned airline planned to connect smaller cities in India with the Gulf region as "we believe in empowering people in smaller cities".
But for now, "we will focus on ramping up existing frequencies and increasing number of destinations (in India)", he added.
Besides Delhi, the Dubai-based airline now operates to six Indian cities including Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Thiruvanthapuram. With the recent addition in Indian destinations, it has increased its weekly flights to India to 19 from nine earlier.
09/06/14 PTI/Bunsiness Standard

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India condemns Karachi airport attack

New Delhi: India strongly condemned the Karachi airport attack saying there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism and that this scourge must be fought urgently and comprehensively, without making any exception.

"The attack yesterday on Karachi International Airport by 10 suicide bombers must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,'' the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"The attack underlines the magnitude of danger that is posed by terrorism. Left unchecked, terrorism will continue to hinder efforts to promote national economic development, overcome poverty and provide people better quality of lives,'' it added.
10/06/14 Times of India

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Air Asia temporarily suspends four flights on Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur sector

Low cost carrier Air Asia will temporarily suspend four flights a week on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur sector from June 16 to October 15 due to “operational reasons.”
One of the major operators from the city, the airline currently has 21 flights a week, with three flights a day, on the sector. The airline will now withdraw its afternoon flights on four days a week. However, it will continue to operate three flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, airport sources told The Hindu. Confirming the move, airline sources here termed it as a temporary suspension owing to operational reasons including maintenance of aircrafts. “The flights will resume from October 16,” they affirmed and maintained that there was no drop in the passenger load factor. All flights of the airline, which operates 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft on the sector, have been operating to 90 to 95 per cent load factor, the sources said. Travel agents too say that there is no drop in passenger traffic to Kuala Lumpur and temporary suspension of flights for operational reasons is normal among airlines. They also point out that Tiger Airways recently suspended its second frequency to Singapore from Tiruchi on Mondays as a temporary measure till June 30.
08/06/14 S Ganesan/The Hindu

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Premier Inn to expand in India as low-cost airlines grow

The hotel chain Premier Inn is expanding in India to meet the demand for budget hotels amid a growing middle class and the rise of low-cost airlines in the country.
There are three existing properties in India under the Premier Inn brand, which is part of the hospitality group Whitbread and is the largest budget hotel chain in the UK. The India division is planning to open hotels in Goa and Chennai in the coming year, according to VV Giri, the regional director of operations for Premier Inn South Asia.
“Going forward, we strive to close seven to eight deals every year, which should result in four to five fully operational properties every year,” Mr Giri said, adding that it had already invested US$350 million in the Indian market.
“So far we have narrowed down on about 30 potential markets where we wish to set up our properties,” he added. “The relative underdevelopment of the budget hotel sector in India coupled with the pace of economic growth has created an opportunity for Premier Inn India to create a pan-Indian business, which has ambitious plans for setting up hotels. Our expansion plans are quite realistic considering the development process in India is quite difficult and time-consuming. There are various kinds of challenges surrounding acquisitions, licenses, real estate, approvals, supply chain and human resources.”
07/06/14 Rebecca Bundhun/The National

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Missed flight costs man his job, panel awards him Rs 20L

New Delhi: A District Consumer Forum has directed Gulf Air to pay Rs 20 lakh as compensation to a man who lost his job, after the airline officials reportedly refused to allow him to board the flight on the grounds that his visa, which was in Arabic, did not allow him re-entry into Doha.
The man was working as a project manager with a private firm in Doha at the time of the incident.
While reprimanding the airline for causing “unparalleled agony and harassment” to the complainant, the forum said the airline should be equipped with Arabic language translators at the airport.
The incident took place on October 17, 2008. The complainant, a Gurgaon resident, was to board a flight to Doha where he was working as a project manager with Insulation Engineering Company for a salary of 10,000 riyal.
The complainant had come to India on August 22 that year with a return ticket for October 17. But when he reached the Delhi airport on October 17, he was denied a boarding pass on the ground that there was no endorsement for a re-entry journey on the visa which was in Arabic.
07/06/14 Shalini Narayan/Financial Express

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Air India launches direct flights to Rome, Milan from Delhi

Mumbai: Flag carrier Air India today launched direct flight services to Italian cities of Rome and Milan, providing a seamless connectivity to the south-central European country.
The state-run airline will operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a two-class configuration - 18 business and 238 economy class seats - on the route. These flights will be operated from Delhi to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome and Malpensa Airport in Milan on a triangular route with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, an Air India release said here.
While the Delhi-Rome-Milan-Delhi flight (AI-123) will operate on four days - Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays - the Delhi-Milan-Rome-Delhi service will run on the other days of the week, it said.
06/06/14 Economic Times

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CBI presses ahead with Airbus probe

New Delhi: A year after registering a case for alleged irregularities in the Rs. 8,399-crore deal struck by the erstwhile Indian Airlines with Airbus Industrie for supply of 43 passenger planes, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to send a team to the U.K. to record the statement of a top executive of the European consortium.

“Investigations conducted so far have thrown up some questions on the basis of which we will seek clarifications from Airbus executive vice-president Kiran Rao,” said a senior CBI official here on Thursday. The move indicates that the investigation is being speeded up. The deal was finalised during the UPA-I regime when NCP leader Praful Patel was the Civil Aviation Minister.

The deal came under the CBI scanner, and the agency registered a case in March 2013 against seven senior functionaries of Indian Airlines, which was later merged with Air India, and Airbus.

The CBI had about three years ago instituted a preliminary inquiry into the delay in fulfilment of certain conditions of the contract requiring Airbus to assist in the setting up of a maintenance, repair and overhaul unit, a warehouse and a training centre at a total cost of $175 million. Airbus then denied charges of any irregularity.
06/06/14 Devesh K. Pandey/The Hindu

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Aircraft Deal High on Agenda during French Minister's Visit

New Delhi: Delays in India’s bid to sign an estimated Rs 1-lakh-crore deal for 126 combat aircraft is all set to be on the discussion table when France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visits here later this month seeking to ramp up engagement with the new Narendra Modi Government.
Fabius’ visit will coincide with the official talks on counter-terrorism efforts between a team of French experts and their Indian counterparts, against the backdrop of recent Herat terror strikes in Afghanistan targeting the Indian embassy.  Giving details of these meetings here during a media interaction on Thursday, French Ambassador to India Francois Richer said his country’s foreign minister’s talks will encompass all spectrum of bilateral ties, including defence.
He was responding to reporters’ query if any senior French official was expected to visit India soon to discuss the 2007 combat aircraft tender in which the country had selected the French firm Dassault Aviation’s ‘Rafale’ aircraft as the winner.
06/06/14 New Indian Express

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Air India jet hit by truck at US airport, damaged

New Delhi:  An Air India aircraft was hit by a catering truck at Newark airport in the US on Wednesday evening. The Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) was being prepared to fly as AI 191 with 335 passengers to Mumbai.
"The aircraft has been severely damaged in the mishap and had to be grounded. Alternate arrangements are being made for the passengers and the aircraft was being prepared for take off when it was hit," said an official.
While AI will seek compensation from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey which runs the Newark Liberty International Airport, the airline faces a major handicap with an ultra-long range aircraft down.
"Such things like aircraft getting hit by ground vehicles or passenger boarding ramps flying around during strong storms are common at Indian airports. But something like this happening in New York is unimaginable," said a senior pilot.
05/06/14 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Lufthansa wants to fly super-jumbo A380s in India, seeks government nod

German carrier Lufthansa on Wednesday said it plans to operate high-capacity double-deck Airbus A380 aircraft in India from the winter schedule for which it has approached the government for permission. The proposed deployment of the super-jumbo plane on some of its local routes is a part of the airline's India growth plans that it had chalked for the fast-growing market, a senior Lufthansa official said in Mumbai.

"We have interest in operating super-jumbo from at least two important hubs - Delhi and Mumbai - to begin with from the winter schedule. We have already approached the Government seeking its approval and I think it should happen in the upcoming weeks," Lufthansa Director (South Asia) Wolfgang Will said in Mumbai. The winter schedule for airlines in India commences from March-end every year and lasts up to October.

"We will operate them wherever we can but it will also depend on the availability of the aircraft," he added.

If Lufthansa receives the nod, it will become the third international airline to operate the world's largest passenger jet in the country after Singapore Airlines, which started A380 operations to India last week, and Gulf carrier Emirates that plans to fly these planes from July 15. Late January, the Government had cleared the deck for A-380 operations from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore airports, lifting a five-year-old ban.
04/06/14 Daily News & Analysis

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Baron Launches Jet Card for India’s Wealthy Travelers

India’s Baron Aviation has launched a jet card program to encourage the country’s growing ranks of wealthy individuals to fly in a fleet of aircraft operated by an alliance of selected operators. The company’s fleet of eight aircraft consists of two Challenger 604s, a Global Express, a Falcon 2000, a Hawker 750 and three helicopters (an Airbus AS355N TwinStar and a Bell 412 and 407).

Baron has committed to buying blocks of flight time from several Indian charter operators, including Raymonds Aviation, which owns a Challenger 604 and two of the helicopters. It is seeing demand from new private aviation consumers, including wealthy women wanting to fly to Dubai on shopping trips. The company, which is part of the Baron Luxury & Lifestyle group, says that it is contracting for between 70 and 100 percent of the operators’ available fleet hours and on this basis says it is able to set the standards of service to be provided to its clients.

The group offers three levels of Baron Eagle membership, with members establishing a pre-paid deposit that is used to cover the cost of flights. The membership tiers do not cover specific numbers of flight hours, but do give guaranteed availability–based on 48 hours’ notice for domestic flights and 76 hours for international trips–and the right for more than one person to use each membership.
03/06/14 Charles Alcock/AIN Online

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Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370: British Sailor Claims Seeing Missing Jetliner ‘On Fire’ Near Thailand

A British sailor told Australian authorities that she saw what she now believes to be a plane on fire flying in waters off Thailand on the same day that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 people on board, according to media reports.
Katherine Tee filed a report with the Joint Agency Coordination Centre, which is leading the search effort for the missing plane from Western Australia, claiming that a burning flying object that she spotted while sailing with her husband from Kochi, India, to Phuket, Thailand, could have been the missing Beijing-bound Boeing 777. Flight MH370 went missing on March 8, after veering off course shortly after take-off from Kuala Lumpur, and months of investigations have led to very little in the way of concrete findings, leading to widespread speculation about the plane's fate.
“I thought I saw a burning plane cross behind our stern from port to starboard, which would have been approximately north to south,” Tee wrote on sailing website Cruisers’ Forum. “Since that’s not something you see every day, I questioned my mind. I was looking at what appeared to be an elongate plane glowing bright orange, with a trail of black smoke behind it. It did occur to me that it might be a meteorite. But I thought it was more likely that I was going insane.”
Tee expressed her regret that she only spoke about what she saw nearly three months after the plane went missing.
03/06/14 Suman Varandani/International Business Times

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IATA stresses need to work on security in airline industry following MH370

Doha: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Monday it expects airline companies to record combined net profits of $18-billion (R191bn at R10.66/dollar) this year.
Revenues were forecast to reach $746-billion (R7.9 trillion) IATA director general Tony Tyler said in Doha, pointing out that net margins stood to average 2.4% only.
"It sounds impressive. But the brutal economic reality is on revenues of $746-billion dollars we will earn an average net margin of just 2.4%," he said.
This amounted to less than $6 per passenger, added Tyler, who was speaking at an IATA-organised annual conference of the airline industry in the Qatari capital.
"The good news is that airline profits are improving. The average return on invested capital today is 5.4% - up from 1.4% in 2008," said Tyler.
"But we are still far from earning the seven to eight percent cost of capital that investors would expect," he added.
03/06/14 news24

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Maths formulas can help find MH370: Oz academics

Canberra: A series of complex mathematical formulas, which were used to find the wreckage of Air France Flight 447 in 2011, could be used to solve the mystery of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australian academics said on Tuesday.
It took two years but statisticians eventually found the Air France flight at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean using the complex formulas, Xinhua reported.
Professor Michael McCarthy of the University of Melbourne said optimal searching and Bayesian statistics could help the search effort of the missing Malaysian jet, which is concentrated across a vast area of the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia.
This technique — developed in World War II to hunt for submarines — also maps the probability of the presence of a target.
Bayesian methods can be used to boost small data sets with expert opinion in order to get the most out of the data.
04/06/14 IANS/The Hindu

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Emirates chief asks why no fighter jet tracked MH370

Emirates chief Tim Clark has reportedly questioned why fighter jets did not intercept Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 when it veered widely off course, but said he believed the missing plane will be found.
Clark said that more information on the disappearance of the Boeing jet, which was carrying 239 people from Kuala to Beijing, was needed before the industry changes its aircraft tracking procedures.
The Emirates boss told The Australian Financial Review at an annual airlines conference in Doha that the plane would have been intercepted by military aircraft if it had flown off course over other countries.
His comments came as the International Air Transport Association conference looked at ways of improving the tracking of aircraft through flight data transmissions or technologies to monitor their movements.
03/06/14 AFP/Business Standard

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Air India joins Star Alliance

Air India’s forthcoming membership of Star Alliance will be a welcome start to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) governmental term, according to aviation intelligence expert OAG. As the BJP’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to revive economic growth in India, Air India’s new position will improve India’s connectivity to high-growth economies and give Star Alliance members access to India’s vibrant domestic air market.

“With a population of 1.2 billion and an economy projected to grow by 5% this year, India is a market which international airlines have yet to penetrate,” says John Grant, executive vice president, OAG. “Successful integration of Air India into Star Alliance will require some tweaking of schedules but the network benefits look set to work for India’s flag carrier and a good number of the alliance’s members.”

According to OAG, India’s international capacity is growing at a steady rate of 3%. In June 2014, Air India and Star Alliance carriers collectively provide 28% of India’s international capacity. Air India currently operates to 33 international destinations with a focus on the Middle East (54% of seats) and Europe (12% of seats). Joining Star Alliance potentially adds 11 unserved international destinations to Air India’s network. Two of these are in China, three in Africa (where Air India does not currently operate) and five in Europe.
03/06/14 Breaking Travel News

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MMRCA deal: Rafale negotiations expected to be wrapped up in 3 months

New Delhi: India is closer to finally sealing the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multirole combat aircraft) project to acquire 126 French Rafale fighters, which IAF has identified as a top-priority for the Narendra Modi government.

Defence ministry sources said the final commercial negotiations for the MMRCA project, which IAF considers "critical" to retain its air combat edge against Pakistan and maintain "dissuasive deterrence" against China, can now "be wrapped up in the next three months".

In the backdrop of IAF making do with just 34 fighter squadrons, when at least 44 are required, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha called on PM Modi on Monday, barely a few days after he briefed finance and defence minister Arun Jaitley. On Tuesday, the IAF chief will again make "a detailed presentation" to Jaitley on the operational preparedness and different modernization projects of his force.

The worry is that the final negotiations with French aviation major Dassault for the MMRCA project have proceeded at a slow pace since Rafale was "down-selected" over its rivals in January 2012.
03/06/14 Rajat Pandit/Times of India

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India’s air safety fit for Category 1 upgrade: DGCA to FAA

Mumbai: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has written to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) saying that it has completed all the requirements necessary for the latter to upgrade India’s air safety rating back to Category 1. While the original plan was to approach the FAA for a fresh safety audit this month, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India now expects to start the process in August 2014.
Two issues had been remaining as of January this year when the FAA had downgraded the safety rating to Category 2. These were the hiring of “adequate” number of Flight Operations Inspectors (FOIs) and training of airworthiness officers. While the training was completed in March itself, DGCA also selected 35 FOIs for hiring in the first phase, an official said. This month, it will again advertise for posts of 16 more FOIs, Roudra Bhattacharya reported for The Financial Express.
“What the FAA had said was that we need an adequate number of FOIs as per the aircraft fleet of the country. They had not prescribed a number. Our calculation is that we need one FOI per ten planes, and we have about 750 aircraft in the country across both the scheduled and non-scheduled operators,” a DGCA official said.
The official added, “We have selected 35 FOIs, of which 15 are already with us and the rest 20 should join in a month. Some are coming from the Air Force, so they need about 45 days for discharge.”
02/06/14 Travel Biz Monitor

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Airline group to recommend plane tracking options

Doha: An organization representing airlines worldwide will offer a list of recommendations in September to improve the tracking of aircraft after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the group's director said today.
Tony Tyler made the comments to industry officials and airline CEOs at the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Doha, just three months after the disappearance of the Malaysian plane with 239 people aboard.
The IATA represents 240 airlines carrying 84 percent of all passengers and cargo worldwide.
"Discussions about real-time tracking and airline safety feature in many sessions of the IATA meeting, held this year in the Gulf-Arab nation of Qatar. That's because passengers and even experts continue to wonder how an aircraft can just disappear without anyone knowing what went wrong," Tyler said.
02/06/14 AP/ Business Standard

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Etihad Airways offers enhanced access to India

Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced a major expansion of its code-share agreement with India's Jet Airways.
The new arrangement offers travellers enhanced connections throughout India, and linking India with even more destinations worldwide.
The two airlines have obtained regulatory approval to code-share on 43 additional routes, bringing the total number of services in their agreement to 71.
As part of the expansion, Etihad Airways has placed its 'EY' code on domestic services in India for the first time, with the code-share agreement now including 31 Jet Airways routes from hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore to regional centres in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mangalore, Patna, Trivandrum and Vadodara.
02/06/14 IANS/WAM/Business Standard

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Air India signs code-share agreement with Hong Kong Airlines

Mumbai: Air India, national carrier of India has signed a code-share agreement with Hong Kong Airlines (HKA).
Pankaj Srivastava, commercial director, Air India and Li Dianchun, commercial director, Hong Kong Airlines, signed the agreement at a ceremony at Airlines House, New Delhi.
Under the code-share agreement, HKA will place its code on direct flights operated by Air India between Hong Kong and three cities including Delhi (DEL), Osaka (KIX) and Seoul (ICN) respectively. HKA passengers will thus have the advantage of better access to an expanded network of destinations on Air India. They will be able to enjoy daily flights between Hong Kong and Delhi, a three times weekly flight between Hong Kong and Osaka, as well as a four times weekly flight between Hong Kong and Seoul, all to be served by Air India’s B787 Dreamliner. The code share takes effect for flights booked from June 10, 2014 (HKG-DEL) and July 4, 2014 (HKG-KIX, HKG-ICN) respectively.
02/06/14 Financial Express

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Qatar Airways keen on picking up equity stake in IndiGo

Doha: Premier Gulf carrier Qatar Airways, on Monday, said it was keen to acquire a stake in IndiGo ‘if available’, praising the Indian no-frill carrier for its efficiency in containing costs.

The statement came from the Qatari national carrier’s CEO, Akbar Al Baker, when he was asked whether the Gulf airline was keen to pick up stake in the low-cost Indian carrier, which now has the largest market share among all its competitors.

“We are keen to invest in IndiGo, if it (stake) is available. It is the most successful Indian carrier, the most cost-efficiently run Indian carrier and the most progressive one. We, as you know, always like to associate ourselves with success,” Al Baker said at the 70th annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) here. There was no word from IndiGo CEO Aditya Ghosh in response to the messages.

IndiGo has never earlier indicated anything about considering selling its stake, but its consistently profitable performance has attracted several major global airlines. A few months ago, there were reports that IndiGo could go public selling part of its stake. The company management, however, said that considering the positive financial situation, the airline had no immediate plans to bring in an Initial Public Offer to raise money.
02/06/14 PTI/The Hindu

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Double standards by US in PAN AM 73 flight incident, HC directs Centre to take action

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Central government to take up the issue of discrimination by the USA government against Indian victims of 1986 PAN AM 73-hijack case.
The directions, passed on May 29, have come in the wake of a petition filed by Chandigarh resident Aneesh Bhanot whose sister, Neerja Bhanot, a chief purser with Pan Am Airlines, was gunned down by the terrorists who had entered the aircraft posing as Pakistani police personnel carrying arms and hand grenades. Neerja, the country's first woman Ashok Chakra winner, was gunned down when she tried to save three US children from the bullets of the terrorists.
Bhanot had sought directions to the central government to take up the issues pertaining to the safety and security of Indian passengers on-board US airlines in case of a terrorist attack and not allow the USA to abandon the Indians like they did in the case of PAN AM 73. He had also sent a representation to the ministry of civil aviation on January 6, 2014 to take up the issue but no action has been taken.
Hearing the petition, division bench headed by chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed, "We are, thus, of the view that it is for the Government of India to take up the issue keeping in mind the representation made by the petitioner on January 6, 2014 and the material placed on record before us".
02/06/14 Ajay Sura/Times of India

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Emirates to ask new Indian gov't for more landing rights

Emirates Airline will imminently ask the new Indian government to increase the carrier's seat capacity to the Asian nation, CEO Tim Clark has revealed.
UAE airlines are continuously fighting for more access to India, which provides about 900,000 workers to the Gulf country.
The previous Indian government had long restricted landing rights but it was replaced in May by new right wing Prime Minister Narenda Modi, who has a track record of economic reforms.
Clark told Arabian Business he would move swiftly to "again bang the drum" for Emirates to have greater flying rights.
02/06/14 Courtney Trenwith/Arabian Business

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Jet Airways may lease three planes to Etihad Airways

Mumbai: Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways is likely to lease three of its Boeing 777-300 ERs to its equity partner Etihad Airways after they return from Turkish Airlines later this year, according to sources.
Jet was earlier planning to induct these wide-bodied planes, which are on lease with Turkish Airlines and will be coming back by October this year on completion of the lease period.
However after Etihad’s proposal, it shelved the plan, they said.
“Jet Airways wanted these three Boeing planes to be put on its international network. However, Etihad requested Jet to lease out these planes to them as it wants them to deploy for its overseas network, which is under consideration,” a source said.
Etihad had picked up 24 per cent stake in the Mumbai-based carrier for over Rs 2,060 crore last year, making it the first FDI in the domestic aviation sector.
01/06/14 PTI/Indian Express

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Air India posts staff abroad for ghost flights

New Delhi: Notwithstanding the accumulated loss of  Rs.33,200 crore it has piled up, the perpetually sick Air India has posted an absurd number of staff at foreign stations like New York, Paris, London and in many other Gulf countries. It has on its rolls highly- paid staffers at cities in the US and Canada, even at the stations where it does not operate any flight. AI has 53 foreign stations of which 24 are offline, where the carrier does not have flights.
The carrier has close to 100 employees in America, and an equal number of agents and handlers to oversee its limited operations.
Air India has 55 managers deputed in New York, 13 in Chicago and 17 in Toronto.
At each of these stations, the carrier operates just one flight. The staff roll includes dozens of senior managers in Toronto, Los Angeles and many other foreign destinations.
"All foreign stations are being manned by ground service agents and handling agents.There is nothing much to do for these large contingents of manpower which are deputed at Air India's foreign stations. These agents do the booking of tickets, handle luggage and make other clearances at airports," an AI official told Mail Today.
In fact, the carrier has one of the highest manpower-to-plane ratio, compared to other carriers such as the Jet Airways which does not have any staff at most of the stations and a minimal number at others.
01/06/14 Sanjay Singh/India Today

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IATA meet to focus on MH370 disappearance, financial stress

Doha: Continuous tracking of aircraft following the mysterious disappearance of MH370, carbon- neutral air travel and financial stress hitting the airline industry would be the focus of debate among global aviation chiefs at the IATA meet starting here tomorrow.
At the three-day International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 70th Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, heads of over 300 airlines, aircraft manufacturers and other related organisations, would also deliberate on issues like the "economic shock" hitting the industry, high taxation and burgeoning fuel costs.
On the Malaysian Airlines' flight, IATA Director General and CEO Tony Tyler said a working group of top global experts has been set up to examine the entire gamut of technological issues on aircraft tracking. It is expected come out with their recommendations by September this year.
"The loss of MH370 continues to be on everybody's mind. IATA is working with (UN body) International Civil Aviation Organisation to find a global solution to improve aircraft tracking," Tyler told reporters here.
The search for the Malaysian national carrier's Boeing 777, which went missing on March 8 with 239 people on board, in a huge tract of the southern Indian Ocean, has remained fruitless. The massive search area on the high seas stretches from near Indonesia to the south towards Antarctica.
01/06/14 PTI/Financial Express

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