Now, fly from Varanasi to Kathmandu direct

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday evening flagged off air services between Varanasi and Kathmandu.

The first flight took off from Varanasi's Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport at Babatpur in what is being seen as a major boost for air travel from and to the spiritual city. While it is well-connected to a number of Indian cities, flights operating between Varanasi and Kathmandu is expected to not just see s spurt in regular travellers but also rise in numbers of those looking to fulfill their spiritual needs.

More importantly, opening up more air routes with Nepal could also be a diplomatic boon at a time when China has trying to improve its connectivity with Kathmandu. While Nepal is trying to balance itself on a tightrope, there is no denying that it has had far closer diplomatic and cultural ties with India for decades. People-to-people connect was also highlighted by PM Narendra Modi when he visited the country earlier this month.
29/06/18 Zee News

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Indians among tourists stranded at international airport to Mt Agung eruptions

Jakarta: Some Indians were among thousands of tourists stranded at Bali’s international airport, which was briefly closed down today following the volcanic eruptions at Mount Agung. The Indonesian government had announced closing of the Ngurah Rai International Airport from 3 am local time until 7 pm. However, with a favourable change in wind direction the airport allowed flights to resume around 2.30 pm.

A group of 10 Indians holidaying in southern Indonesia were among others who were stuck, even as the Consulate General of India, Bali set up a help desk at the airport to assist Indian nationals. “Sir my relatives and their friends about 10 people from India, on a vacation are stuck in Bali. Please help,” a Twitter user posted. Responding to the appeal, the CGI told him that the Bali airport reopened at 2.30 pm and advice your relatives to contact their airlines for rescheduling.

The decision to close the airport was taken after careful consideration by the national aviation authorities, the Centre for Geological Disaster Mitigation and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, according to a statement by the Indonesian Tourism Board. “While the sun is shining and there is little sign of volcanic ash in the southern regions of Bali, evidence of volcanic ash at higher altitudes on aviation approach and departure paths has prompted the decision to close the airport,” it said.
29/06/18 Financial Express

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Rs 57 cr less to be paid to airlines this year as air fare for Haj pilgrims: Naqvi

New Delhi: Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said Rs 57 crore less will be paid to airlines this year for Haj pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee of India even after the ending of subsidy for the pilgrimage.

He said that despite the removal of the Haj subsidy and various new taxes imposed in Saudi Arabia, Indians were going for the pilgrimage without any additional financial burden.

At a training camp for Haj Coordinators, Assistant Haj Officers or Haj Assistants in the national capital, the Union minister said that for the first time after the Independence, a record 1,75,025 Indians were going for Haj this year, of which 47 per cent are female, which is another record.

Last year, Rs 1,030 crore was paid to airlines as air fare for 1,24,852 Haj pilgrims, while this year, Rs 973 crore will be paid to airlines for 1,28,702 Haj pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee of India, Naqvi said.

“Rs 57 crore less will be paid to airlines this year even after ending the Haj subsidy,” a statement from his office quoted the minister as saying at the event.
30/06/18 PTI/Indian Express

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Saudi airline Flynas begins Riyadh-Hyderabad flights

Hyderabad: GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd has announced addition of yet another international airline — Flynas — to its portfolio.

The maiden flight landed on Friday from Riyadh here. Hyderabad is the first city chosen by Flynas to start operations in India with two weekly flights between Hyderabad and Riyadh.

With Flynas launching operations, Hyderabad International Airport is now connected with Riyadh by two airlines providing convenient travel options to the travelers from the region.

Flynas is a Saudi airline offering an extensive network from its hub in Riyadh to Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. It offers flights to 17 destinations within Saudi Arabia and 53 international destinations with a fleet of 30 aircraft.
29/06/18 Business Line

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Nigerian fraudsters use fake African documents to enter India

Hyderabad: As Nigeria is not in the list of countries eligible for e-visa facility for travel to India due to the high incidence of involvement of Nigerian nationals with crimes, including drug peddling and cyber crimes, scammers from the African nation are adopting a new modus operandi to sneak into the country.
Bureau of Immigration's vigil at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad has revealed that Nigerian scammers are entering the country through airports in south India by procuring fake passports of e-visa facility eligible countries like Sierra Leone, Ghana and Guinea.
At least eight Nigerians holding passports of Sierra Leone and Ghana that landed in Hyderabad were deported from RGIA in June 2018.
"Around 165 countries are eligible for e-visa facility for travel to India except for countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria. During surveillance, Bureau of Immigration officials observed that after clearing immigration, some passport holders from Sierra Leone, Ghana and Guinea are heading to the domestic terminal to catch a flight to Delhi. This aroused suspicion. On being grilled, they confessed to having procured fake passports from their neighbouring countries to enter India," said an RGIA source.
The fake passport holders confessed that they paid around 1 million Nigerian Nairas, equivalent to Rs 2 lakh, to brokers for procuring passports and applied for e-visa.
30/06/18 U Sudhakar Reddy/Times of India

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Colombian held with Rs 9 crore Brazilian cocaine

New Delhi:  Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested a Colombian with 66 capsules of Brazilian cocaine worth Rs 9 crore in his stomach. The man was found to be travelling in a flight from Addis Ababa and was scheduled to reach Chennai.
NCB zonal director Madho Singh said that a trap was laid at the airport on the basis of information about the man and he was detained as soon after he deboarded the aircraft. He was taken for medical examination during which doctors found the capsules in his stomach.
He was made to eject the capsules and then interrogated. He said that the capsules were given to him at Sao Paolo by an African man after which he travelled to Addis Ababa from where he boarded a flight to India.
It was found that in a shift of techniques, drug suppliers have been using people from South America to be carriers instead of people from other places. NCB officials said that efforts are being made to track the receivers in India.
30/06/18 Times of India

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At Delhi’s IGI Airport, foreign airline crew members asked to get business visas

New Delhi: The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) Delhi has directed all foreign crew members of scheduled/non-scheduled and chartered flights, operated at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) by scheduled/non-scheduled operators, to get B-5 category of business or e-business visa.

The directive — which states that as per the existing visa manual, foreign crew member scheduled/non-scheduled, and chartered flights operated by scheduled/non-scheduled operators must be in possession of B-5 category of business or e-business visa — was issued by Foreigner Regional Registration Officer Surendra Kumar on June 26.
Last year in September, three foreign airline crew members from US, China and Finland were booked by the Delhi Police after they allegedly skipped immigration clearance at IGI airport. In his direction, Kumar also said that crew landing permit (CLP) should be given only to foreign crew who arrive first time as operating crew. “While granting CLP, the officer concerned may brief the first-time crew member to get B-5 category of business or e-business visa for subsequent visits. While granting CLP, a common register should be maintained by all shift in charge,” the order said.

Reacting to the order, Chairman of Airline Operating Committee (AOC) Gopal Krishnan Nair said they will raise the issue with the authority concerned. As per Bureau of Immigration rules, crew members of scheduled/non-scheduled flights by operators — as approved by the Ministry of Civil Aviation — can be granted landing permit up to seven days without any charges.
29/06/18 Mahender Singh Manral/Indian Express

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From July 14, Air India to fly four days a week to Israel

New Delhi: With tourist volumes going up, Air India will increase the frequency of its Delhi-Tel Aviv flights from three to four per week from July 14, said an Israeli tourism ministry official today.

Air India will now fly a 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner every Saturday, in addition to those presently being operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, it said in a statement. At present, besides the Air India, Israeli carrier El Al operates flights between Mumbai and Tel Aviv.

The ministry said another Israeli airline ‘Arkia’ too has also showed interest to operate direct flights between Israel and India to cater to the significant rise in the air traffic volume between the two countries.
“We are pleased with the Air India’s move to increase weekly flight frequency in light of the significant rise in tourist arrivals from India. The outbound numbers to Israel have grown exponentially in the last few years and this introduction will help meet the growing demand from India.
29/06/18 New Indian Express

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Foreign airlines to get subsidy under the govt's Udan scheme

New Delhi: Foreign carriers such as Singapore International Airlines (SIA), Thai Airways and Malaysian Airlines would be entitled for subsidy from India if they are selected to operate cheaper flights between India and Asean nations under the international UDAN scheme.

The Centre has launched a regional connectivity scheme (RCS) named UDAN to help common man in smaller towns to fly. It provides a viability gap support to airlines for making these flights cheaper. Buoyed by its success, it now plans a similar scheme for connecting Indian cities with those in Asean block.

Both domestic and international carriers, designated by India and Asean nations, can participate in the scheme subject to the provisions under the bilateral air service agreements (ASAs). On Asean routes, the government has proposed to provide the financial support for one year and for limited number of seats.

As per a civil aviation ministry note, the selected airlines for international UDAN would have to operate a minimum of three  and a maximum of 7 flights per week to be eligible for the financial support. The aircraft operated on these routes would have at least 50 seats.

“Monetary support, capped to a specific number of seats per aircraft, will be provided to selected airlines. Monetary support will be in the form of viability gap support per seat,” it said.
28/06/18 Asian Age

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No reason for Air India to list Taiwan as part of China: academic

Taipei: Tridivesh Singh Maini of O.P. Jindal Global University said that Air India has no reason to cave into China's demand to list Taiwan as part of China, unless China recognizes India's territorial claims, during an interview with CNA.

Maini added that India's communiqués with China do not include any mention nor support for the so-called "One China" policy.

China does not recognize India's territorial claims and two countries are currently embroiled in numerous land disputes.

The disputed area of Aksai Chin saw a tense military stand-off between China and India in July 2017.

In this context, there is limited justification for Air India to support China's "Orwellian nonsense", the academic reasons.
On April 25, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) ordered 34 airlines to describe Taiwan as part of China on their websites and in their promotional materials.
28/06/18 Scott Morgan/Taiwan News

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GMR JV’s international airport terminal in Philippines to start operations from July 1

Mumbai: GMR-Megawide, a 40:60 joint venture between Indian airport operator GMR and the Philippines’ Megawide, is all set to welcome airlines and passengers at its newly-constructed Terminal 2 (T2), the international terminal of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA), from July 1.

The $600-million project is part of the first ‘airport resort’ in the world that GMR-Megawide has been managing since 2015 after winning the concession agreement.

MCIA is the second busiest airport in Philippines and is marketed as a destination in itself for the ever increasing number of tourists in the Philippines, where the tourists inflow reached an all-time high of 6.6 million in the 2017. Cebu is also the gateway to the popular regions of Visayas, the cluster of central islands, and Mindanao in Philippines.

The airport expansion and upgrade will boost the capacity of MCIA to 14 million passengers annually. MCIA handled 10 million passengers in 2017, of which 3.1 million were international, with 260 flights per day. Total international flights operating from MCIA in 2014, when GMR took over the project, was six which has now shot up to 22 and international flights are growing at 20% annually. No Indian carrier, however, flies to MCIA.
28/06/18 Financial Express

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Emirates hikes fares, Vistara sweetens deal

Mumbai: With aviation turbine fuel prices shooting up by 40% in the past 18 months, airlines have increased various fees or introduced new ones to tide over the rising costs. The latest airline to make flying costlier is Dubai-based Emirates. Indian full service carrier Vistara, on the other, has put out an incentive to attract more passengers toward its higher priced refundable fare or flexi fare.
Effective June 28, fuel surcharge on a one-way economy class ticket on Emirates will be up by USD 20, on business class USD 40 and first class USD 50. A return ticket then would attract double the fees.
Currently, under the fare break-up, Emirates doesn't list fuel surcharge separately.
Vistara, on the other hand, introduced a "no-show fee" for passengers booked on flexi fare or refundable tickets. No-show is when a passenger changes/cancels a booking less than two hours before departure. Till now, such passengers would forfeit their base fare even if they had booked a flexi or refundable ticket.
28/06/18 Manju V/Times of India

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Bagdogra bottleneck hinders more flights between India, Bangladesh

India and Bangladesh are keen to expand bilateral air services but are hampered by inadequate infrastructure at Bagdogra, one of the key airports on this side.

In a recent media interaction at Indian Hill destination Darjeeling, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali expressed his country’s interest on service between Bagdogra and Dhaka.

The unique geographic location of Bagdogra (IXB) near Siliguri makes it a gateway for half of West Bengal, North East region, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Besides a direct link to all major Indian destinations, it offers regular services to Paro in Bhutan and Bangkok. Bagdogra is just 20 km from the nearest Indo-Bangla immigration point and Land Customs Station at Fulbari.

“Service between Bagdogra and Dhaka can be a highly successful one that can boost bilateral commercial activities significantly. It is in our wish list since long,” said CII North Bengal Chapter Chairman Kamal Tiwary. His view was shared by Mostofa Sohrab Chowdhury, president, Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) from Bangladesh.
27/06/18 Debasis Sarkar/Economic Times

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India 'boost' to Heathrow expansion

London: The two Indian origin Labour MPs with constituencies closest to Heathrow - Virendra Sharma in Ealing Southall and Seema Malhotra in Feltham and Heston - were among those who supported the government when the long delayed plan to build a third runway at Britain premier airport was approved by 415 votes to 119, a majority of 296.

An expanded Heathrow would be good for India, Sharma argued.

He said: "Thousands of young people in my constituency will have access to high quality jobs and rigorous apprenticeships to qualify them for the jobs.

"An expanded Heathrow is not just an airport for West London, it is a nationwide and worldwide hub, with more flights in and out of Heathrow we can expect more direct flights to India and other increasingly important UK trade partners. The government is investing in a global Britain."

The plans will create 114,000 extra jobs in the area around the airport by 2030, with an extra 16 million long-haul seats by 2040, according to officials.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling said support for the new runway would set a "Lear path to our future as a global nation in the post-Brexit world. This is a really important moment in the history of this House and the history of this country."

But never have Britain's political classes been so bitterly divided, not just on Brexit, but also on crucial issues such as the expansion of Heathrow, which will be just about the biggest infrastructural project the country will witness in the next 20 years or so.

An hour before MPs voted, police locked down the Central Lobby, adjacent to the Commons, after 12 chanting protesters sprawled across the floor.

Eight Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against Heathrow expansion while 286 Tories supported the third runway. The eight included the former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers, as well as Greg Hands, who quit as a trade minister ahead of the vote so he could oppose the plans which he dubbed "fundamentally flawed".
27/06/17 Amit Roy/Telegraph

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Bagdogra on Bangla radar for ties boost

Darjeeling: The Bangladesh government is keen on air connectivity to Bagdogra for improving trade and tourism with north Bengal, Nepal and Bhutan.
Interacting with journalists at Darjeeling Press Club, Bangladesh high commissioner Syed Muazzem Ali said the Sheikh Hasina government was in favour of flight services to Bagdogra and a visa facility at Siliguri.
“Not only will this improve trade ties between India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. it will provide people of this region better access to Bangladesh and the rest of southeast Asia,” he said.
At present, Bangladeshis have to travel to Kolkata and then to Bagdogra or New Jalpaiguri. Indians residing in north Bengal need to travel to Kolkata to apply for a Bangladesh visa. Once a visa facility is available in Siliguri, travel documents can be processed there. Currently, the only international flight operating at Bagdogra is a Bhutan Airlines flight.
27/06/18 Deep Gazmer/Times of India

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Actor's illness: Etihad flight makes emergency landing at Muscat

Muscat: Veteran Indian film actor, Captain Raju, is currently being treated for a stroke at Kims hospital in Oman.

He was on his way from Cochin to New York for his son’s wedding, when his son noticed that he had started slurring.

“They boarded from Cochin airport at 11am. He had a previous history of a stroke. So in the plane, when he began slurring while speaking, his son suspected a stroke,” said a Kims Hospital spokesperson.

“Then, his son spoke to the captain of Etihad Airlines, which was bound for New York via Abu Dhabi. The captain recommended an emergency landing in Muscat,” the spokesman added.

He was first taken to the KIMS hospital clinic at the Muscat International Airport and then transferred to the hospital in Darsait. His son was by his bedside at the hospital.
26/06/18 Times of Oman

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Flight to Sharjah: Airport groups fight for relevance

Surat: A fight for relevance is going on between two airport groups ahead of the launch of international flight operations from Surat to Sharjah. The airport groups are involved in a verbal duel ever since the central government designated Surat airport as an authorized immigration check-post through a gazette notification last week.
As soon as the immigration checkpost was approved, ‘We Work For A Working Airport At Surat’ (WWWAS) announced that Air India Express planned to launch a direct flight service between Surat and Sharjah by mid-August.
Two days ago, ‘Surat Airport Action Committee’ (SAAC), the other group, announced that Air India Express will start its Surat-Sharjah service only from September 1. SAAC president Sanjay Ezhawa stated that AI Express has applied for a slot at Surat airport and once it gets approved, the service may begin from September 1. Ezhawa said he had met Air India Express CEO Shyam Sunder and that the airline plans to commence Surat-Sharjah service only from September 1, provided customs and immigration infrastructure was ready and a separate facility is provided for boarding and de-boarding of passengers.
Surat airport sources said Air India Express is looking for morning slot, but the airport remains congested in the morning hours with many flights.
27/06/18 Times of India

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Sushma hands over Dornier plane to Seychelles President

New Delhi: In an effort to boost the defence relations with Seychelles, India on Tuesday handed over a Dornier aircraft to visiting Seychelles President Danny Faure at Palam Technical
Area here. The aircraft was handed over by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in the presence of her junior minister General V K Singh.
The aircraft will enhance surveillance capability of Seychelles to tackle maritime threats.

Speaking on the occasion, President Faure said, “On behalf of the people of Seychelles and the Government, I would like to say thank you to India. We will always be a faithful friend and partner to India. Long live our healthy relations.” “To enhance the surveillance capability of Seychelles to tackle maritime threats, our Prime Minister had announced the gifting of a second Dornier aircraft during his landmark visit to Seychelles in March 2015,” said Swaraj.
27/06/18 Hitavada

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Report early for flights due to peak rush, says Dubai Airport

New Delhi: Passengers flying via Dubai — busiest hub airport for Indians travelling between India and the west — should brace for super rush at the city’s busy international airport (DXB) and reach the airport early for their flights. The airport management says Thursday (June 28) will be the first of its busy days this summer when daily traffic cold be over 11 lakh passengers!
Dubai Airports EVP (commercial) Eugene Barry says: “We are about to face the busiest days of the year here at Dubai International. It is predicted that June 28 is going to be the first of our busy days during the summer holiday. The weekend of the 5 to 8 July is anticipated to be a busier time as the majority of local schools are breaking up for the summer. We expect during those few days to welcome over 1.1 million (11 lakh) travellers.”
Dubai Airports VP (terminal operations) Essa Al Shamsi said, “For those travelling in the next few days, we would advise passengers to get to the airport early and encourage them to use the latest technologies.”
26/06/18 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Some Kerala exporters illegally transporting perishable goods to Gulf via Madurai airport post Nipah outbreak: TNCCI

Madurai: The Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (TNCCI) has cautioned the exporters of Tamil Nadu by exposing a case where some Kerala exporters have illegally tried to transport perishable goods to Gulf countries via Madurai since such exports have been banned by them post Nipah Virus outbreak.

Talking to KNN India about this, Chamber’s President N Jegatheesan said, “One of our members pointed this out to us after which a Kerala number vehicle carrying perishable goods- fruits, vegetables and meat – was found near Madurai airport.”

United Arab Emirates (UAE) in May had banned import of fresh fruits and vegetables from Kerala in the wake of outbreak of Nipah virus (NiV) in the state.

According to some reports, it was indicated that the main host of the disease is the fruit bat, where the virus is transmitted through secretions from the bat to the fruit that it feeds on or touches.

Mangoes, dates and bananas are the bat's most preferred fruit. There have been cases of transmission of the disease among humans and between humans and animals as well.
27/06/18 Knn

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Indian deported from Australia over child exploitation material in phone

Canberra: A 30-year-old Indian man has been deported from Australia after child exploitation material was found in his phone by border protection officials at Perth Airport.

The man had landed at Perth Airport from Singapore last week when Border Force officers stopped him for a baggage check and inspected his three mobile phones. One of them was found to have objectionable child exploitation material.

The phone was seized and his Temporary Skilled Graduate visa was cancelled. The man was held at the Perth Immigration Detention Centre before he was deported on Monday evening, the West Australian newspaper reported.

Acting Australian Border Force Western Australia regional commander Mark Wilson said border force would follow up with relevant authorities in Singapore.
26/06/18 IANS/daijiworld

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AirAsia Offers Discount On All Flight Tickets

AirAsia is offering 20 per cent discount on international flight tickets on all seats of all flights, said the carrier on its official website- airasia.com.  AirAsia's latest on international flight tickets are available on flights flying to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Singapore, Melbourne, Perth, among others. Customers can book flight tickets till July 1, 2018 in order to avail the benefits of this offer. Travel period of the offer starts on July 2, 2018 and ends on November 30, 2018, the airline said. AirAsia India is also offering 20 per cent discount on its domestic flight tickets.
Under this offer, AirAsia is offering 20 per cent off on base fares of flights across carrier's international network. Passengers can book flight tickets on AirAsia's official website- airasia.com or app. Advance booking is required in order to avail the offer. However, this promotion is limited to base fare only and doesn't include value pack bundled category. The promotion is applicable to premium flatbed and premium flex flights, the airline said.
26/06/18 NDTV

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Indian-origin hotelier wants independent process for Heathrow expansion

London: One of the UKs leading Indian-origin hoteliers, Surinder Arora, today welcomed Parliaments go-ahead for the expansion of London's Heathrow Airport but also called for an independent process to determine the best project to deliver it.

At a crucial House of Commons vote yesterday, MPs approved controversial plans to build a third runway at the west London airport by 415 votes to 119. While the vote has been welcomed by businesses as a historic decision, environmental groups have concerns over its impact.

The vote to build the runway at Europe's busiest airport came after decades of bitter debate.

Arora, who had unveiled his own plans for the so-called western hub of the airport last month, welcomed the vote as a step in the right direction.

"This stamp of approval from MPs for Heathrow expansion is a vital further step but there now needs to be an independent process to determine who can best deliver each element of the expansion, said the founder and chairman of the Arora Group.

He stressed that his groups plans to deliver the full extra capacity via a Westerly campus deliver significant cost savings and break the current monopoly at the airport, which "overcharges" airlines and passengers.

Costs must be kept down for the expansion to work and Heathrow's track record should be a cause for concern," Arora warned.

The Punjab-born hotelier believes his plans, designed by architects Corgan, offer the best value for money, with an estimated cost for the airport expansion of around 14.4 billion pounds. The competing scheme, from the existing airport company Heathrow Airport Limited, reportedly comes in at around 31 billion pounds.
26/06/18 Aditi Khanna/PTI/India Today

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Ray of Hope: Air India bombing victim’s memoir released in Canada

An autobiography of a philanthropist who lost his wife and two children in the 1985 Air India bombing was released in Delta last Sunday (June 24).

Ray of Hope is the memoir of Dr. Chandra Sankurathri whose wife Manjari, son Srikiran and daughter Sarada were aboard the ill-fated Air India Flight 182 when a bomb exploded mid-flight on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people aboard. The aircraft was en route from Canada to India.

This was the worst attack in the history of aviation terrorism before 9/11. Widely blamed on the Sikh separatists seeking revenge for the repression of Sikhs in 1984, the attack had turned Sankurathri’s life upside down. Yet, turning his grief into strength, Sankurathri established a foundation in memory of his wife in her native city of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, in India.

The Manjarai Sankurathri Memorial Foundation currently runs a free school and an eye hospital for the poor and needy. Whereas, the school is named after his daughter whose dream of going to school was shattered as she was only four, he named the hospital after his son.

The memoir was released at George Mackie Library in his absence by other Air India victims’ families and friends and two prominent journalists Charlie Smith, Editor of Georgia Straight, and Robert Matas, former reporter of The Globe and Mail. However, his message was read out at the beginning of the event that was organized by Indians Abroad for Pluralist India (IAPI) in commemoration of the Air India bombing anniversary. A day before the book launch, the victims’ families had gathered at the Air India memorial in Stanley Park in Vancouver to remember their loved ones.
25/06/18 Rattan Mali/Voice Online

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Jet Airways starts second Delhi-Dhaka service

Airline major Jet Airways on Tuesday started its second flight service between New Delhi and Dhaka.
This new flight service would operate four days in a week -- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday --, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.
"This new service, which commenced operations today (on Tuesday) will complement the existing daily operations between the two cities, providing guests more flight choices between Bangladesh and India," it said, adding that within India, the new flight would offer "easy onward connections" to Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Pune.
Gaurang Shetty, Wholetime Director, Jet Airways said: "There was a need and potential to develop the operations between the capitals of India and Bangladesh. As economic activities develop along with the ties between the two countries, it provides opportunities for citizens of Bangladesh to be a part of the growth story."
26/06/18 CNBC TV18

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Flight from India makes emergency landing in Oman

Muscat: An Indian aircraft was forced to make a forced landing in Muscat on Monday afternoon, due to a medical emergency.

The flight that was flying from Delhi to Dubai made an emergency stop in Muscat when a passenger on board developed breathing problems, a representative of IndiGo airlines said.

According to the official statement, “IndiGo flight 6E 023 operating on the Delhi-Dubai route was diverted to Muscat on grounds of a medical emergency on Monday. As a precautionary measure, the flight crew informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested for an ambulance and a local doctor. The passenger was examined and was declared fit to fly. [Later] the aircraft departed normally to Dubai.”
26/06/18 Times of Oman

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VVIP chopper deal: CBI sends fresh request to Italy to extradite Gerosa

New Delhi: The CBI has sent a fresh request for extradition of middleman Carlo Gerosa in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case to the Italian government through the Ministry of External Affairs here, sources said on Monday.

The move comes after Italy refused India’s request to extradite Gerosa, saying it did not have any mutual legal assistance treaty.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) source related to the development said that under the Italian law, there is provision to extradite a person wanted in any case after fulfilling certain criteria.

“Thus, the CBI has reminded Italy about its law under which Gerosa can be extradited to India,” he said.

He also said that the extradition request has been sent through the diplomatic channel.

According to CBI officials, Gerosa, 70, is one of the three alleged middlemen wanted in this case and his interrogation and statement is very important for both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI, who are probing the case.

In October last year, Italian authorities, on the basis of an Interpol notice sought by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe in the choppers deal case, had arrested Gerosa but soon released him.
25/06/18 PTI/Financial Express

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Bullets seized from passenger at airport

Kochi: Security officials at the Cochin International Airport on Monday seized five live bullets from the handbag of a passenger, just ahead of his boarding an international flight from here.
The person was identified as Thomas Biju, 52, a native of Punalur in Kollam, who currently works as a professor in a California-based university. A US citizen, Thomas had been staying there for a long now and had recently visited his ancestral home at Punalur.
Officials recovered five live .22 mm bore bullets from his handbag. Upon being interrogated, he claimed that he had been unaware of the presence of bullets in the handbag.
26/06/18 The Hindu

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Air India Delhi-Tel Aviv flight registers over 80% occupancy; to become a daily service

New Delhi: State-run carrier Air India's Delhi-Tel Aviv non-stop will become a daily flight shortly, with the airline giving its seal of approval to the proposal, encouraged by the 80 per cent and above occupancy rate, sources in the airline said.
"The success of the service is a testament to the strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and Israel and growing people to people contact between the two countries. We are working on the last minute details before announcing the increase in frequency to all days from thrice a week," they said.
The move is part of Air India's ongoing efforts to reevaluate its route network, increase services to economically viable routes and cut down frequency and withdraw services from some sectors. The airline could soon withdraw flights from a few European destinations with low occupancy and engage its fleet to far east and neighbouring countries that have seen a steady rise in demand, said a source.
Private carriers such as Jet Airways and IndiGo are already firming up plans to fly to more international destinations along with Vistara which is poised to announce international services later this year. "In such a scenario, we ought to remain competitive in the market as revenue generation is key to the survival of the airline now," the source said. The airline currently has a 17-per cent market share on international routes.
25/06/18 PTI/Times of India

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Air India to launch daily Tel Aviv-Delhi flights

Air India is to expand its Tel Aviv-Delhi route to a daily service, "The Times of India" reports. The three times weekly service was introduced in March, making history by flying directly to Israel over Saudi Arabia, which granted permission for the first time for flights to Israel.
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First Air India flight over Saudi reaches Israel Thurs
An Air India source told the "Times of India" that Air India was "encouraged by the 80% and above occupancy rate."
The source added, "The success of the service is a testament to the strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and Israel and growing people to people contact between the two countries. We are working on the last minute details before announcing the increase in frequency to all days from thrice a week."
24/06/18 Globes

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Air India bombing victims honoured at emotional Stanley Park memorial

Ranbir Bhinder recalled Saturday how his entire family was “shattered” by the 1985 Air India bombing that left his pilot brother Satwinder dead.

Bhinder, who is visiting from India, attended his first memorial to commemorate the 331 victims of the Air India bombings 33 years ago.

“The 23rd of June 1985, as you all know, shattered the lives of hundreds of families and ours was one of them,” Bhinder said, standing in front of the stone wall that bears the name of his brother and the other victims of Canada’s deadliest terrorist attack.

“This really did shatter us and really for a few years — nobody could really think of getting into an airliner,” he said, adding that now eight others in the family are pilots. “His son his now again a pilot with Air India.”

Bhinder was among dozens of family members, politicians and supporters who attended the annual event.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, whose wife Renee Saklikar lost her aunt and uncle in the bombing, said the flags were flying half-mast at the B.C. legislature to remember the victims.

Particularly tragic was the loss of 82 children on the flight — many on their way to India to visit relatives at the end of the school year.

The B.C. perpetrators of the attack “knew there would be a lot of children on the plane and they acted anyway,” Dix said.

“This is mass murder. This is child murder. This is without conscience, without dignity, without honour of any kind. So reflect on that loss today,” he said.

Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland when a B.C.-made bomb detonated in the cargo hold. All 329 aboard died. Another B.C.-made bomb exploded in a suitcase at Tokyo’s Narita airport as it was being transferred to another Air India flight. Two baggage handlers were killed.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge and a public inquiry determined the bombings were carried out by the B.C. Babbar Khalsa, headed by former Burnaby mill worker Talwinder Singh Parmar. Parmar was killed by Indian police before being charged in Canada.

Three of his associates, Ripudman Singh Malik, Ajaib Singh Bagri and Inderjit Singh Reyat were charged in the bombing plot. Malik and Bagri were acquitted and Reyat pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Air India bombing. He was earlier convicted in the Narita bombing.

Former premier Ujjal Dosanjh, who was once viciously beaten by a Sikh extremist, said what is disturbing is that some supporters of Parmar and other Air India suspects have continued to profess their innocence despite a mountain of evidence in the case.

And the suspects are being glorified as martyrs at some temples and events attended by politicians, Dosanjh said.

“If we can take one pledge, I would ask the politicians across this country to stop hob-knobbing with those who glorify or support terror, implicitly or explicitly, and do everything possible to make sure that Canada is never home to a terrorist act like this every again,” he said to applause.
24/06/18 Kim Bolan/Vancouver Sun

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Amid trade war, India offers to buy 1,000 planes, more oil from US

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing trade war + , India is seeking to buy peace with the US by offering to order nearly 1,000 civilian aircraft over the next 7-8 years and step up oil and gas purchase from the world's largest trader. This was conveyed by commerce minister Suresh Prabhu to his US counterpart during their talks last week.
On Sunday, assistant US trade representative Mark Linscott will begin discussions here with commerce ministry officials as both sides try to find solutions to problems on the trade front. India is trying to convince the US that its reciprocal tariffs are part of a WTO-sanctioned right after the US took the first step with steel and aluminium duties. India is keen to see some resolution before the 2+2 talks + between foreign minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman and their US counterparts - secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary James Mattis, respectively - in Washington on July 6.
India has calculated that it will be paying about $5 billion a year for aircraft and about $4 billion for purchase of oil and gas from the US. This is apart from defence purchases + where India is now looking at buying 12 more naval surveillance aircraft P8i. India is now the largest owner of these aircraft outside the US.
23/06/18 Indrani Bagchi/Times of India

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Dubai-Mumbai busiest international route, courtesy migrant workers

New Delhi: The Dubai-Mumbai air sector witnessed the highest flow of passengers at about 2.5 million during the 2017-18 financial year, primarily led by migrant workers, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The route took the pole position in a list of top 10 international destinations that are connected to Indian cities by both Indian and foreign air carriers. The data showed that United Arab Emirates — with Dubai as one of the key cities — constituted almost half of the total international seats from India during the 2017-18 fiscal, “primarily led by migrant workers and business market in the Middle East”.

The Dubai-Mumbai sector was followed by the Dubai-Delhi sector with about two million passenger movement. The Dubai-Kochi sector came next with just over one million passenger flow, the data showed.

The growing appeal of Bangkok as a travellers’ paradise was reflected in the data compiled by the ministry, as the Delhi-Bangkok route came at the fourth place with about one million passengers travelling between these two cities during the financial year. The Dubai-Hyderabad route came in at the fifth place and it was followed the London-Delhi route.
23/06/18 PTI/Financial Express

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Buddha Air files application for Nepalgunj-Delhi flight

Kathmandu: Nepal's private domestic carrier Buddha Air has filed its application seeking permission to fly from Nepalgunj in Nepal to New Delhi.

As per a release made late on Friday by Buddha Air, the domestic carrier submitted the letter to Nepal's Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Adhikari expressing interest to fly between Nepal and India.

The Buddha Air has demanded for three daily flights to New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport proposing to fly its ATR-72 aircraft with regular flight timings of 6:30 am, 1:00 pm and 5:10 pm respectively.

"As soon as we get the permission from Nepal's ministry we will start over the procedure with the Indian airport authorities," the air service provider stated in the release.

The Nepal Government has promised to facilitate the expansion of the Buddha Air by setting up custom offices, building infrastructure and announcing Nepalgunj Airport as a regional international airport within six months.
23/06/18 Outlook

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Diamond industry upbeat over possible Sharjah flight

Surat: Diamantaires in the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre are upbeat about flying to international destinations directly from the city following the central government designating Surat airport as an authorised immigration check-post.
Industry sources said that the Air India Express’s plan to connect Surat directly with Sharjah will further boost the diamond trade with the world’s second largest diamond centre in Dubai.
About 80% of the diamantaires, including small, medium and big ones take flights from Mumbai to Sharjah and Dubai to participate in the rough diamond auctions by leading diamond mining companies. The travel time from Surat to Sharjah and Dubai will be reduced drastically by almost 10 hours as diamantaires find direct flights to their destinations from Surat.
For diamond traders and jewellery makers over the world, Dubai remains an important trade centre for pearls. But, of late, a growing portion of trade in rough diamonds is getting shifted from the Belgian port city of Antwerp to Dubai, a constituent of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Earlier, the rough diamond cutting and polishing business had moved from Antwerp to Surat in Gujarat and a few other places, due to cost considerations. Now, in the last couple of years, Dubai has emerged as the second biggest market for rough diamond trading, with many Indian diamond companies and leading export houses setting up offices at the Dubai Multi Commodity Centre (DMCC).
23/06/18 Times of India

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Why Canadians Don’t Care About the Air India Bombing

Rattan Singh Kalsi kept photos of all his grown children in his room at the seniors’ home, but one of them towered over the rest.

The photo anchored a kind of shrine to his daughter, Indira, who had died more than 30 years earlier, just as she was entering adulthood.

Indira had grown up in Canada and Rattan had bought her a plane ticket so she could see India, the country their family had come from, and spend time with the relatives she might not get to see once the responsibilities of work and adult life set in.

Naturally, Rattan, who had been middle-aged at the time of Indira’s death, was heartbroken when she was killed in the bombing of the plane. He never recovered. He was not responsible for what had happened, but he blamed himself and lived in quiet anguish for the rest of his life.

Not long before he died, he shared his story. I was there to record it, and it was unbearably sad for both of us.

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Rattan had left behind a request to scatter his and his wife’s ashes (she had died some years earlier) over the same patch of ocean where the remains of the plane carrying their daughter had splashed down.
All 329 people on board Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, 33 years ago today, were killed, including 280 citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
They were lost to a bomb that exploded while their plane was in Irish airspace, en route from Canada to India. The bomb had been planted in Canada in an act of terror planned by extremists allegedly advocating for a separate Sikh state in the Punjab.

It was Canada’s worst mass murder, yet it is barely remembered in this country.

Today, Canadians commonly regard the bombing as an Indian tragedy, or at most an Indo-Canadian tragedy. They typically dwell on the terrorism, but rarely on the grief and hardship of fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, children, friends and neighbours left behind.

Why hasn’t this tragedy claimed a prominent place in Canadian history and public memory? Some now call it Canada’s 9/11, but until the attack in New York City some 16 years later, they didn’t call it much at all.

The Canadian families of the dead wonder year after year why no one but them seems to care, or why their grief is seen as less worthy than that of others who are more openly taken into the nation’s heart.

Yes, there was a long criminal trial, a public inquiry and an apology from the federal government for failing to prevent the bombing and for the mistreatment of the families thereafter.

The bombing was belatedly declared “a Canadian tragedy,” so Air India is part of the official record, but it does not appear to be part of the Canadian family album.

23/06/18 Chandrima Chakraborty/TheTyee.ca

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Tragedy foretold: Documentary ‘Air India 182’ traces the heartache of a preventable terror attack

On June 23, 1985, a New Delhi-bound Air India flight took off from Toronto in Canada and a few hours later, plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. All 329 on board were killed after a bomb ripped through the aircraft in what is till date the worst mass murder in Canadian history. But several thousand miles away, another nation was also in shock.

Of the deceased, 24 people were Indian citizens and many others were Canadians of Indian origin. Moreover, the attack was a fallout of a recent and bloody event on Indian soil that played out hundreds of kilometres above sea level, off the coast of Ireland.

Believed to have been carried out by the Sikh militant group Babbar Khalsa, the bomb blast was aimed at sending a message to India one year after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had ordered a military operation on the Golden Temple in Amritsar to crack down on separatist leader Jarnail Singh Bindrawale and his followers. Operation Bluestar (June 1-June 8, 1984) succeeded in killing Bindrawale, who had led the demand for an independent Khalistan homeland for the Sikhs, but the Sikh community across the world was outraged at the violent siege on their holiest shrine. That event had a long and bloody ripple effect, which included Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards later that year, violent anti-Sikh riots across India, and eventually, the explosion in the sky.

The ensuing trial, the lengthiest investigation in Canada, yielded little result: only one of the accused was convicted, another is believed to have been killed in a police encounter in India and two others were let off for lack of evidence. The incident has cast a long shadow on India-Canadian ties, most recently evident during Justin Trudeau’s visit to India in February. The Canadian prime minister got a frosty reception by New Delhi, in no small part because India believes that Canada continues to go soft on Sikh extremists.

The various strands of this tragedy, including the final hours of the passengers on board the flight, the complex and eventually unsuccessful investigation, and the pain of the families who lost their loved ones, were explored in a 2008 documentary by Sturla Gunnarsson. Air India 182 tries to construct – and de-construct – the events surrounding the tragedy, using interviews with investigative officers and families of the deceased, evidence from court documents, declassified intelligence reports and recordings from wiretaps on the suspects.

The documentary combines interviews and real footage from that period with docu-drama style re-enactments of the final hours of the passengers on board Flight 182. It also delves into another terror attack on the same day, which investigators believed was carried out by the same masterminds – the explosion at Narita International Airport in Japan, which killed two baggage handlers. That bomb was intended to cause a second plane crash, on Air India Flight 301, but burst prematurely.

Among those interviewed are officials from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Services, Air India staff members, prominent Sikhs in Canada and bereaved family members.

What stands out over the course of 90 riveting minutes are the many ominous signs – some literal, others symbolic – in the hours leading up to the crash. These fraught moments that were either overlooked or didn’t seem to amount to anything at the time paint a picture of a heartbreaking tragedy that was ultimately avoidable.
22/06/18 Soumya Rao/Scroll

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Flying to US: Powdery substance over 350 grams not allowed in hand bag from next Saturday

New Delhi: From next Saturday (June 30) passengers flying to the United States may not be allowed to carry more than 12 ounce or about 350 grams of powdery substance in hand bags. The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has enacted this rule after a foiled attempt to put an improvised explosive device using powder explosives on a Gulf carrier in Australia last year. Airlines are advising US-bound flyers to put such things in check-in bags to avoid extra screening of the same and possibly being thrown if the security personnel are not sure what it is.
Air India has a number of daily nonstops from Delhi and Mumbai to US destinations + like New York, Newark, Chicago, Washington an San Francisco. United has a daily direct from Newark to Delhi and Mumbai. Delta will start flights to Mumbai next year. From next Saturday everyone traveling with powdery substances including dry spices, talcum or cosmetic powders will need to check them in if carrying more than 350 grams that stuff.
TSA says “powder-like substances greater than 12 ounce/350 ml must be placed in a separate bin for X-ray screening. They may require additional screening and containers may need to be opened. For your convenience, we encourage you to place non-essential powders greater than 12 ounce in checked bags.”
23/06/18 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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African national held at IGI with over Rs 23L in socks

New Delhi: An African man has been apprehended at the Delhi airport for allegedly trying to smuggle USD 34,500 by hiding them in his socks, officials said today.

T N Mwaisemba, a Malawian national, was detected with the huge foreign currency during frisking by the CISF personnel while he was on his way to take a flight to Dubai, the officials said.
A total of USD 34,500, which is over Rs 23.24 lakh, was found concealed in the socks that the man was wearing, they said.
22/06/18 PTI/India Today

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India and Australia ease airline restrictions

India and Australia have moved to significantly liberalize travel between the two the countries in what has been hailed as an important step in bilateral relations.

New bilateral air services arrangements mean Australian airlines now have unlimited access to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore airports in India.

Indian airlines have unlimited access to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide airports in Australia. India may also nominate one additional airport in Australia for unlimited access.

Under the previous arrangements, access to these airports was capped at 6,500 seats each way per week.
22/06/18 Steve Creedy/Airline Ratings

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UK MP Dhesi meets Air India officials for connectivity

Jalandhar: British Sikh MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi met various key members of Air India’s senior management including its International Director for Operations Captain Arvind Kathpalia at London, who had flown to London especially from Delhi at the recently held celebration of 70th anniversary of Air India’s first flight between London and Mumbai.
Disclosing this on phone, Tan Dhesi, who hails from Raipur village in Jalandhar, said he had spoken to the Air India’s senior management about the pending demand of the Punjabi diaspora for direct flights between Heathrow airport and Amritsar airport, and the progress made in this regard.
Dhesi said “Captain Kathpalia had confirmed that he had received all the required information about the demand from his UK team, in particular the new UK and Europe Regional Manager Debashis Golder”. He has assured that in consultation with others in New Delhi he would soon be making the final decision on connecting the two major tourist hubs.
The UK MP had earlier hosted the UK Parliamentary launch of the campaign for direct flights between London and Amritsar and gained the support of other parliamentarians in Britain and India. He said statistics show that in 2016, even with no direct connectivity approximately, 1,88,869 passengers (517 per day) travelled between Sri Guru Ramdas Amritsar International Airport Amritsar and UK, as transit passengers via other Indian and foreign airports.
21/06/18 Tribune

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Terry Glavin: Canada's worst terrorist atrocity and the awful conspiracy theory that won't die

Across Canada on Saturday, flags on government buildings will be flying at half-mast. It’s a good bet that most people won’t even know why, and if previous years’ commemorations are anything to go by, little public attention will be paid to the quiet and dignified memorials that are to take place, in their usual locations, in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Just outside the Irish seaside village of Ahakista, on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula in County Cork, there will be a particularly poignant commemoration, with prayers for the dead and a moment of silence that begins at exactly 8:12 in the morning, as it has every year since 1986. It was at that very moment, the year before, that Air India Flight 182 was blown out of the sky above Dunmanus Bay, killing all 329 passengers and crew. Only 131 bodies were recovered from the sea.
Until al-Qaida’s attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, the Air India bombing was the most savage act of terrorism in aviation history. It was far and away the worst terrorist atrocity in Canadian history. Flight 182 was blown up by Canadians. Of the 329 people murdered that day, 280 were Canadians.

The bomb was hidden in a suitcase that was checked in as luggage at Vancouver International Airport and sent on to Flight 182, bound for New Delhi from Toronto, via London. It was also in Vancouver that a second suitcase bomb, intended to detonate simultaneously, was placed on Air India Flight 301, bound for Bangkok via Narita, Japan. That bomb ended up detonating at Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers.
The atrocity was conceived, planned and carried out by the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa, specifically by its leader, Talwinder Singh Parmar, who ended up fleeing Canada and sneaking back into India, where he was killed by Indian police in 1992. In the years leading up to the Air India bombings, from the safety of his mansion in Burnaby, Parmar had been directing a campaign of assassinations in India’s Punjab state. Parmar was wanted in India on murder charges. Ottawa had declined to extradite him.

The outrageous inattention to Sikh separatist extremism in Canada — a gross negligence that implicated timid federal politicians, understaffed RCMP offices and the fledgling Canadian Security Intelligence Service — was the most damning finding of a judicial inquiry headed up by retired Supreme Court Justice John Major, whose 2010 conclusions shook Ottawa.

Only one person was ever convicted for the Air India bombings. The bomb-maker Inderjit Singh Reyat pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter and was later sentenced to perjury for lying about the identity of his accomplices. Two Babbar Khalsa zealots were acquitted. One potential witness, Indo-Canadian Times editor Tara Singh Hayer, was murdered in 1998 before he could give evidence. Others were afraid to testify.
20/06/18 Terry Glavin/National Post

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Likely to depute aircraft for Haj flights: Air India suspends Chandigarh-Bangkok bookings from July 13 to Sept-end

National carrier Air India has temporarily suspended bookings for Chandigarh-Bangkok flights for travel dates starting July 13 to September end as the airline is planning to depute the aircraft for Haj flights. Officials said if the airline announces the suspension of the flight, the passengers who have already booked their tickets on the dates will be provided flights from New Delhi.

As on Wednesday evening, on the Air India website, booking for the Chandigarh-Bangkok-Chandigarh flight was unavailable after July 13. No direct flight to Bangkok is available from Chandigarh till September end.

Sources in the Air India confirmed to Chandigarh Newsline that the bookings have been temporarily suspended because the aircraft used for Chandigarh-Bangkok sector may be shifted for the Haj operations.

A Delhi-based Air India official told Chandigarh Newsline on Wednesday that the headquarters are yet to take a final call on the temporary suspension of the Chandigarh-Bangkok-Chandigarh flight for the period. The official, however, said that bookings have been suspended.

”Thousands of pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia every year from India and Air India shift the aircrafts from different sector for the Haj operations. This year, the aircraft used for Chandigarh-Bangkok-Chandigarh sector is likely to be deputed for the Haj operations. We will inform the passengers after a final decision is taken by the headquarters,” said the airline official.
21/06/18 Adil Akhzer/Indian Express

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First Hajj 2018 flight from Delhi, Lucknow on July 14; from Varanasi on July 20

Delhi/Lucknow: The Haj Committee of India on Tuesday released the Haj flight schedule 2018 of all outbound and inbound flights from Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi airports on its official website. The pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh embark on Haj from these airports.

According to the Haj flight schedule uploaded on the Haj Committee website, pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh will start embarking from Delhi and Lucknow airports to perform Haj by Air India from July14, 2018 onwards. This means Hajj pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi will be among the first from India along with those from Kashmir, Gaya and Guwahati who will embark for Haj from the country in 2018.

The first Air India Haj flight from Delhi will depart to Madinah on July 14, 2018 whereas the last flight from Delhi airport will be on July 28, 2018.

Similarly, the first Air India Haj flight from Lucknow will depart to Madinah on July 14, 2018 whereas the last flight from Lucknow airport will be on July 29, 2018.

On the other hand, the first Air India Haj flight from Varansi airport will depart to Madinah on July 20, 2018 whereas the last flight from Varansi airport will be on July 29, 2018.

The first return and inbound flight to Delhi and Lucknow will be on August 27, 2018 from Jeddah International Airport, whereas the last flight carrying Uttar Pradesh Haj pilgrims to Delhi and Lucknow from Jeddah will be on September 1, 2018.
20/06/18 ummid.com

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GSSA Cargo Sales Agents in India and Asia Making a Killing in Air Logistics

To begin with India jumped 19 places and ranked 35 in 2016 as against 54 in 2014 in the latest Logistics Performance Index by World Bank. Better performance in logistics not only boosts initiatives like Make in India, by enabling India to become part of the global supply chain but also helps to increase trade.

According to the 2017 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, India climbed to the second position in the 2017 Index, switching spots with UAE; China was once again numero uno.

The Indian air cargo sector is poised to undergo significant growth in the coming years. The international and domestic freight traffic have shown growth of 10.8 percent and 7.0 percent respectively resulting in overall increase of 9.3 percent in total freight traffic during the period (April-January) 2016-17 as compared to (April-January) 2015-16.

Across the world, according to IATA’s forecast, there has been a rise in cargo carried in 2018, which stands at 62.5 million tonnes, up by 4.5 percent to 59.9 million tonnes in 2017. GSSA (general sales and service agent) and GSA (general sales agent) play a large role in facilitating this growth. According to WorldACD, a leading data provider of air cargo markets, around 23 percent of air cargo volume is sold by GSAs. Stephen Dawkins, chief operating officer, Air Logistics Group, a leading GSSA in the UK is cited in media, “the size of the worldwide cargo airline market in 2017 stood at 55 million tonnes, of which the GSSAs controlled 20 percent.”

Adrien Thominet is chief executive of the largest GSSA in the world, ECS Group. In June 2018, ECS was acquired by investment firm Naxicap Partners to help continue the GSSA's acquisition strategy which factors in Asia in a big way
20/06/18 BusinessWorld

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More Indian tourists expected as airline set up direct flights

The influx of Indian tourists visiting the Philippines is expected to further increase following the anticipated opening of direct flights between Manila and New Delhi before the end of this year.

Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Jaideep Mazumdar said it could be “sky is the limit” for Indian tourist arrivals should the plans of both Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific to have direct flights between the two capitals push through.

Mazumdar noted that last year, India became one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism arrivals to the Philippines as it grew by 18-19 percent compared to the previous years.

“Still not very large, about 120,000 Indians went to the Philippines but it is growing very rapidly. Indians are looking at the Philippines as a new destination that they have not yet explored,” the Indian envoy told reporters last week.

Mazumdar cited beautiful beaches, the service industry and the hospitable people as the Philippines’ biggest selling points to inbound tourists.
21/06/18 Roy Mabasa/Manila Bulletin

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More special fares from Emirates: Just over Dh1,000 for Mumbai

Dubai: UAE-based carrier Emirates is launching yet another special fares promotion, giving travellers a chance to secure tickets to their favourite destinations for less.
Summer is one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, and if you’re hoping to escape to a getaway overseas without breaking the bank, you had better act fast and book your tickets.

The airline has announced that starting today, Wednesday, holidaymakers can still bag budget-friendly fares for trips to at least 60 hotspots in the United Kingdom, United States, Thailand, India and New Zealand, among other countries.
Travellers need to book by July 5, 2018, latest, but they have the option to schedule their trip this summer or until March 31, 2019.
Starting today, UAE residents who are planning a UK trip this summer can score economy class tickets for as low as Dh2,125, Bangkok for Dh2,295, Mumbai for Dh1,095, Auckland for Dh6,435 and Newark for as low as Dh3,975.
20/06/18 Cleofe Maceda/Gulf News

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Chinese man arrested with huge quantity of anti-cancer medicine at Delhi airport

New Delhi: A Chinese man was arrested with a large quantity of anti-cancer medicine at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, officials said today.

The accused was intercepted after his arrival from China yesterday, a statement issued by the customs department said.

"His personal and baggage search resulted in recovery of anti-cancer medicines in commercial quantity having approximate market value of Rs 1.19 crore," it said, adding that the passenger was arrested.
21/06/18 PTI/India Today

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Now, common man may fly overseas with Udan scheme

Mumbai: Imagine state governments deftly stepping into the capital-intensive aviation sector and flying their own flights to international destinations in Asean/Saarc regions. It may not be too far-fetched when the civil aviation ministry flags off a new scheme soon, called 'International Udan', to give wings to their dreams. It could be to tap their tourism potential or to lend a hand to the hapless fliers troubled by ridiculously high airfare.
Senior civil aviation ministry officials held a meeting recently with all stakeholders, giving a detailed presentation on the plan. The ministry has asked them to submit their views.
During the meeting, the ministry officials made it clear that the difference between the national Udan and the international Udan would be that the latter would be funded entirely by state governments and not through the fee levied by the central government from fliers in the form of viability gap funding (VGF).
The scheme will start with the neighbouring countries.
Talks on the international Udan scheme first started in March when during an aviation event civil aviation secretary R N Choubey said the success of RCS has prompted the government to extend the scheme for international flights.
20/06/18 Shahkar Abidi/DNA

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Boeing Delivers First 737 MAX to Jet Airways

Boeing and Jet Airways celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 737 MAX airplane.

Jet Airways will be first Indian carrier to fly the new and improved 737 airplane, which delivers a double-digit improvement in fuel efficiency and improved passenger comfort.

“The new 737 MAX is a critical element to our future growth strategy and we are proud to become the first airline in India to introduce this brand new airplane to our customers,” said Naresh Goyal, Chairman of Jet Airways. “The 737 has been the backbone of our dynamic fleet for many years and we are excited to leverage the superior capabilities of the new 737 MAX. The improved economics and efficiency, as well as the passenger-pleasing features of the MAX will enable us to strengthen our position as India’s premier airline.”

This delivery marks the first of 150 737 MAX airplanes the Mumbai-based airline has on order with Boeing, following two separate orders for 75 jets placed in 2015 and earlier this year.
20/06/18 Aviation Tribune

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Cathay Pacific keen to explore new connections in India

Touulouse: Cathay Pacific is keen to explore new connections to India, including non-metros, even as it is awaits the outcome of bilateral negotiations between the respective governments to increase entitlements.

The airline, which currently flies into five metros in India, is trying to improve its carrying capacity by introducing bigger aircraft in the routes it currently caters to.

"India is a very promising market for us. We would like to increase our capacity by deploying bigger aircraft in existing routes," Paul Loo, Cathay's chief customer and commercial officer, told ET.
19/06/18 Rakhi Mazumdar/Economic Times

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UAE lifts Nipah travel advisory to Kerala

Duibai: The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) has lifted the travel advisory to Kerala it had issued in mid-May where a Nipah (NiV) outbreak has claimed over 17 lives.

With summer holidays around the corner, the ministry, however, has asked residents to take all precautions.

In a statement sent to Khaleej Times, the ministry said, "According to the latest report received from the World Health Organization (WHO), the disease has been controlled and there are no travel barriers to Kerala."

"The ministry does not prohibit the public from travelling to Kerala but precautions should be taken by travellers to any area suffering from endemic diseases," read the statement.

"We recommend travelers to any destination in the world to visit Mohap traveler's clinics to consult our doctors before travel for an adequate period of 4-6 weeks for the following reasons," the statement added.

To assess the health risks associated with travel and health status, it said, adding that it was also recommended to conduct some necessary tests if required as well as to introduce the traveller to various types of vaccinations that may be needed for the destination.
19/06/18 Asma Ali Zain/Khaleej Times

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Nirav Modi travelled to 6 countries on revoked passport, reveals Interpol

New Delhi: First he looted Indian banks to the tune of over Rs 13,000 crore, then he fled the country just days before an FIR was lodged and now he roams freely from one country to another on an Indian passport which was revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in February.

The mastermind of India's biggest bank fraud Nirav Modi seems unstoppable for Indian agencies. Does India really want to catch Nirav Modi? If yes, who is responsible for the free run he is privy to?

On February 16, the MEA issued a statement saying, "On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the passport issuing authority in the MEA today suspended the validity of passports of Nirav Deepak Modi and Mr Mehul Chinubhai Choksi."

Modi's passport was revoked a week later. However, what shocked everyone was India Today's expose on June 13. India Today accessed details of an Interpol report dated June 5, 2018 which suggested Nirav Modi is still travelling on his Indian Passport.

Since the time his passport was revoked as claimed by the MEA, Nirav Modi has travelled to at least 6 countries which includes UK, UAE, Hong Kong, France and Germany. According to sources Nirav Modi travelled between the US, UK, Hong Kong and France on his Indian passport.

He travelled on March 15, March 28, March 30 and March 31. Nirav Modi travelled on February 10 and landed at London Heathrow Airport in UK from John F Kennedy Airport in USA .

On February 15 he took a flight from Hong Kong for Heathrow Airport, London. On 15 March, he left London Heathrow Airport to returned to Hong Kong.

Again on March 28, Modi's travel details suggests his trip from USA to London. On March 31, after staying at Mayfair Hotel in London, he took a flight Charels De Gaulle Airport, Paris.
19/06/18 Munish Pandey/India Today

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‘flydubai keen to invest in UDAN, greenfield airports in India’

Sudhir Sreedharan, flydubai’s Senior Vice-President-Commercial Operations (GCC, Africa and Indian Subcontinent), is optimistic about the potential for a slew of collaborative initiatives in India, despite the current investment challenges in the industry.

Speaking to BusinessLine at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai recently, he said flydubai would love to invest in the low-cost greenfield airports that India is planning. It is also interested in participating in the UDAN regional connectivity programme.

“Unfortunately, we’re not able to participate in any of these initiatives,” he said. “Incredible India is a fantastic initiative, but there aren’t even enough seats for Indians to go back home during festivals. So, how does one bring tourists into the country to enjoy the festivities?” said Sreedharan.

He said the airline could work with the authorities to develop secondary or tertiary airports and help drive theme-based tourism. He added: “We are completely open to working with the Tourism Ministry and other authorities to develop any economic zone, if we have access to land there. When more flights land at an airport, more jobs are generated. ”
“We’ve offered to pick up any theme the Indian authorities want us to develop. The health and spa industry, for instance. People from Dubai spend over two billion dirhams a year on health treatments in Thailand. Emiratis are allowed visas on arrival in India, but such experiences need to be promoted,” he said.
Data from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation, especially over the last 14 months, show that the maximum number of visitors to Dubai are from India. Sreedharan said Indian carriers have a 90-95 per cent load factor. “There is no need to worry about opportunity loss if Indian skies are opened up further to flights from West Asia. Expanding the possibilities depends entirely on the policy stance of the Indian authorities.”
17/06/18 Parimala S Rao/Business Line

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India And Nepal To Have Four New Air Gateways

New Delhi: India has agreed to open four new air entry points to Nepal in the eastern and western parts of the country.

This aims at facilitating movement of international traffic.

Two vital entry points, however, are still on hold.

The four routes that India agreed to make two-way are Kathmandu-Biratnagar-Dhaka, Kathmandu-Janakpur-Kolkata, and Kathmandu-Janakpur-Patna in the eastern part of Nepal and Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi (L626) in the west, Kathmandu Post reported.

India will provide an entry on the L626 route for aircraft flying at the heights between 15,000ft and 24,000ft (low-level flights). This way, Buddha Air and other Nepali private carriers will connect New Delhi with Nepalgunj.

On June 16, the technical team from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) signed an accord to jointly conduct a safety assessment of these routes.
18/06/18 NDTV

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Ethiopian Airlines to Expand Operations in India

As the leading and most profitable airline in Africa, Ethiopian Airlines has been a pioneer in African aviation. The carrier has been spearheading aviation technology in the continent for decades, since the first jet service in Africa in 1962. It now contains one of the youngest and most modern civil aeronautics fleets in the world, with an average age of fewer than five years and with examples such as Boeing 787-900 and Airbus A350, the first African B787 Dreamliner and is leading the way again by providing the first African A350 XWB.

Recently, Ethiopian Airlines received its 100th aircraft, to become the first airline to operate that amount of aeroplanes in the history of the continent. “The milestone is a continuation of our historical leadership role in the sector,” said Tilahun. Implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading airline group in Africa with seven strategic business units, the airline has registered an average growth of 25% per annum for the past 10 years.

“India and Ethiopia allow carriers to operate 35 services per week between them. While Ethiopian Airlines are using all of it and offer 11,172 seats per week, we will launch our passenger service in Bengaluru or Ahmedabad later this year,” said Tilahun.
18/06/18  Vaishali Dar/Business World

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Top Indian-origin hotelier Surinder Arora in UK in legal battle with Britain’s Heathrow Airport

An Indian-origin hotelier, Surinder Arora, is taking legal action against Britain’s Heathrow Airport for his right to build a nine-storey car park at one of the world’s biggest airport hubs. Arora has issued a UK High Court claim against the west London airport over his plans to build a 2,077-space nine-storey car park on a land he owns at Heathrow. While Heathrow Airport Limited claims it alone is entitled to build these spaces, Arora has challenged that claim, The Sunday Times reported. Under local planning rules, a maximum of 42,000 car parking spaces are allowed at the airport. Arora believes the 42,000 cap refers to the airport site as a whole, of which his land is a part and therefore should allow him the right to build car-park spaces too.

A planning application has been pending with Hillingdon Council since 2015. Unable to secure approval for his multi-storey car park, Arora was allowed to build a smaller version with 1,000 spaces and five storeys on the site, which opened last year. However, the 59-year-old Punjab-born entrepreneur behind a chain of hotels in the UK wants to add another four floors and undercut parking charges at Heathrow – which are among the most expensive in the world.

But the newspaper notes that Heathrow guards its car parking rights “jealously”. As well as earning money from drivers, they allow it to reap returns from airline passengers by adding the value of the car parks to its asset base, currently worth 15.8 billion pounds. The newspaper also claims that the current row is about more than just car parking. It is a proxy for Arora’s broader battle with the airport on whether competition should be allowed.

The businessman wants the right to build a third runway at the airport, and has backing from airlines including British Airways for his cut-price plan. Heathrow, however, claims the right to develop the runway is its alone.
18/06/18 PTI/Financial Express

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Good News For Indian Travellers, Soon They'll Get Free 48-Hr Transit Visa For Dubai, Abu Dhabi

People flying between India and the rest of the world through United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) mega hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi will soon be able to get a free transit visa to spend up to two days there.

The UAE government has decided that to grant free transit visas for first 48 hours to transit passengers and this visa can be extended for up to 96 hours by paying 50 Dirham (about Rs 930).

The date from which this will be allowed is yet to be announced, say Indian travel industry majors.

UAE is already the single biggest international destination for Indian travellers. Almost a quarter of all international travel to and from India happens on mega UAE carriers like Emirates, flyDubai and Etihad. Jet Airways, in which Etihad has a 24% stake, also serves as a feeder to Etihad’s long haul flights to Abu Dhabi.
18/06/18 Saurabh Sinha/India Times

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Malfunctioning sensor another 'snag' for Trudeau’s aging plane

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s flight to India in February was delayed due to a malfunctioning engine light, raising more questions about the government’s aging executive aircraft.

Emails obtained by CTV’s Mercedes Stephenson through an access to information request show that a gauge designed to monitor engine temperature began "fluctuating randomly" during the Feb. 16 flight to New Delhi, and that a ground crew at a scheduled refueling stop in Rome found “a few loose wires.”

The internal Air Force emails state that the “snag” caused a delay on the ground, and that although the problem seemed to be fixed before takeoff, the “snag came back” hours after the plane was back in the air.
17/06/18 CTV News

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China building three airports near India border

New Delhi: China is building three big airports in close proximity to the Indian border. While the airports are civilian ones, the move is expected to bolster China’s air power against India substantially as Chinese airports are equipped with dual use capability, allowing both civilian and military operations.

On June 8, the Tibet Civil Aviation Administration took the decision to build three airports in Lhunze, Shigatse, and in Burang. The three airports are to be completed before 2022.

The airports can aid the Chinese military by acting as launch bases for support of troops as well as replenishment of supplies, very critical in the backdrop of operational limitations due to high-altitude in Tibet.

It is difficult for aircraft to take off from the 4 km high Tibetan plateau because of the rarefied atmospheric conditions due to which aircraft cannot acquire full thrust resulting in payload limitations.

Comparatively, it is easier for Indian Air Force (IAF) planes to operate as the Indian side is much lower in height than the Chinese side.
18/06/18 Sanjib KR Baruah/Asian Age

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Nepal to get 4 new air gateways

Kathmandu: India has agreed to open four new air entry points to Nepal in the eastern and western parts of the country to facilitate movement of international traffic, but two “vital entry points” are still on hold.
The four routes that India agreed to make bidirectional or two-way are Kathmandu-Biratnagar-Dhaka, Kathmandu-Janakpur-Kolkata and Kathmandu-Janakpur-Patna in the eastern part of Nepal and Kathmandu-Mahendranagar-Delhi (L626) in the west.
However, India agreed to provide entry on the L626 route for low level flights only, or aircraft flying at the heights between 15,000ft and 24,000ft. The move is aimed at facilitating the plan of Buddha Air and other Nepali private carriers to connect New Delhi, India from Nepalgunj.
A technical team from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) signed an initial accord on Saturday to jointly conduct safety assessment of these agreed routes.
“Discussion on two vital entry points remained on hold, but overall the agreement is in fact a significant breakthrough,” said Rajan Pokhrel, deputy director general of Caan.
Nepal’s agenda for the technical panel discussion included bidirectional routes or entry or exit points from Janakpur in the eastern, Nepalgunj in the mid-western and Mahendranagar in the far-western regions.
17/06/18 Kathmandu Post

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Baggage goes missing after Singapore flight

Calcutta: A Calcuttan who flew to Singapore by Singapore Airlines on May 27 has alleged that her registered luggage had gone missing. She got her one-piece luggage back with a lock broken on June 4, three days after her return to Calcutta.

Amie Bhattacharya, the passenger, said she had lodged a complaint with the airline and sought compensation but was yet to get any response.

The airline told Metro on Saturday that another passenger from the flight had mistakenly collected the baggage at Changi Airport in Singapore.

Bhattacharya said she had to spend 800 Singapore dollar - more than Rs 40,000 - on buying clothes and other items during her six-day stay in Singapore.

"All other members of my team got their luggage at Changi Airport but mine was missing," said Bhattacharya, who teaches at a prominent school in Calcutta.
"I immediately handed a complaint to the lost baggage counter at the airport, got myself a file reference number and was sure the bag would be returned by evening. But relentless follow-ups by mail, over the phone and at the counter proved futile."

Bhattacharya returned to Calcutta on June 1 and got back her luggage with a lock broken three days later. "Thankfully, nothing was missing," she said.
17/06/18 Subhankar Chowdhury/Telegraph

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Nashik-Delhi flights ferry mangoes for London, green chili for Dubai

Nashik: The first Nashik-Delhi flight ferried total four tonnes of fruits and vegetables for exports to London and Dubai, via Delhi, apart from carrying 125 passengers on board.
The flight ferried three tonnes of mangoes meant for exports to London and one tonne of green chili meant for exports to Dubai via Delhi airport.
Jet Airways started Nashik-Delhi flight on Friday, which will be thrice a week. Apart from passengers, there is facility to provide cargo with capacity upto three tonnes.
A Nashik-based exporter- All Seasons Exports sent a consignment of mangoes to London via Nashik-Delhi flight, while Amigo Logistics sent a consignment of one tonne of green chillies to Dubai, via Delhi.
A Nashik-based exporter- All Seasons Exports sent a consignment of mangoes to London via Nashik-Delhi flight, while Amigo Logistics sent a consignment of one tonne of green chillies to Dubai, via Delhi.
15/06/18 Tushar Pawar/Times of India

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Gulf Air launches non-stop Bahrain-Kozhikode service

Kozhikode: Gulf Air today launched its daily non-stop service to Bahrain from here.

The inaugural flight was flagged off by director of Calicut International Airport K Srinivasa Rai, a press release here said.

The flight would arrive here at 4.30 am and leave at 5. 30 am, it said.
16/06/18 PTI/Economic Times

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Mad rush for Russia sees airfares jump by over 160%

Kolkata: India has never figured in the Fifa World Cup fixtures, and it probably won’t in the foreseeable future, but that has never stopped soccer crazy Indians, especially those from the city, from travelling to the farthest corners of the globe to be a part of this mega soccer carnival.
graph
That this World Cup is relatively closer home in Russia — the last one was 16,000 km away in Brazil while Russia is only 4,500 km away— has prompted many more fans to make a dash for the quadrennial event.
However, it’s the early birds who planned and made bookings in advance that are having a ball. The rest are feeling the heat from the airfares that are on fire.
Ratul Chaudhury, a Brazil fan and owner of a modest trading business, is one of them. When his friends booked their hotels and flights a couple of months ago for the World Cup, Ratul’s mother was hospitalised so he couldn’t be sure if he would be able to travel. But now that she has recovered and Ratul can join the gang, the rush for Russia has airfares shooting through the roof.
The Delhi-Moscow return fare on Russian flag-bearer Aeroflot has jumped by a whopping 160% in the past month going from Rs 25,645 in May to Rs 66,070 this month. The fares from Kolkata of other airlines, too, have risen by 80-90% and the prices of return flights from Delhi have doubled.
16/06/18 Times of India

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RCMP investigation into June 23, 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 remains open

The passing of almost 38 years since the horrendous mass murder of 329 people in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 on June 23, 1985, off the coast of Ireland has not lessened the determination of the RCMP to bring to justice those responsible for the devilish deed.

Also, the Narita airport explosion in the luggage meant for another Air India plane in Japan on the same day killed two baggage handlers.

Dawn Roberts, Director in charge of BC RCMP Communications, told The VOICE on Thursday: “The investigation into the bombing of Air India Flight 182 remains open for the RCMP. There were 329 people that were killed as a result of the horrific criminal act, as well as two people in Japan, and police have an unwavering commitment to finding answers for their families and holding those responsible accountable.”

She added: “The RCMP remains committed to investigating any evidence that is brought forward, no matter how small it may seem … We are encouraging anyone with information that may pertain to the bombing to contact Sgt. Eric Boucher with the Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) at 778-290-3700, or the National Security line at 1-800-420-5805.”

Roberts said: “As in previous years RCMP personnel will be attending the Air India memorials taking place in Vancouver and Toronto.”
15/06/18 Rattan Mall/Voice

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Breakthrough expected in Nepal-India air route talks

Kathmandu: The eagerly awaited Nepal-India air routes talks started in Kathmandu on Thursday, raising hopes that cross-border airspace issues that have been pending for the last five years will be sorted out. “Discussions are going on. We expect some positive outcomes by Friday,” said a participant in the bilateral talks.
The six-member Indian technical delegation is led by Anil Kumar Dutta, member of Air Navigation Services and board member of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) while Narendra Bahadur Thapa, deputy director general of Air Navigation Services Directorate of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan), is leading the Nepali team.
Thursday’s talks ended at 3 pm after which the AAI made several presentations on satellite-based navigation system focusing on the need for strengthening regional airspace cooperation.
Nepal’s agenda for the technical panel discussion includes bidirectional routes or entry or exit points from Janakpur in the eastern, Nepalgunj in the mid-western and Mahendranagar in the far western regions, according to Caan officials.
Nepal formally asked India to open the new cross-border air routes during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kathmandu in 2014. The proposed bidirectional routes will facilitate the operation of international flights from Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Nijgadh airports.
15/06/18 Kathmandu Post

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AI pilots warn management over safety violation on Delhi-Madrid route

Mumbai: Raising serious concern over the issue of pilot fatigue and passenger safety, a union of Air India pilots has called out the airline for violating norms.
A strongly worded letter issued by the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) to the airline management of Tuesday specifically cites lapses on the Delhi-Madrid route. It goes on to warn the management it will intimate the DGCA if any further violations occur.
AI-135, launched in 2016, flies between Delhi and Madrid thrice a week. Since Madrid and Mumbai are not air-linked by non-stop flights, one of the options for a flyer from Mumbai is to board this flight which transit halts in Delhi. The union says the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is often piloted by two “fatigued” pilots.
To check pilot fatigue, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has laid down work-rest norms (called Flight Duty Time Limitation: FDTL) for rostering pilots. Under these norms, for flights that are just over 10 hours, a three-pilot crew should be rostered.
But flight AI-135 takes less than 10 hours on some days and more than 10 hours on others. “In such a case, the DGCA norm is that if the flight takes more than 10 hours to be completed, then either the airline should try to complete the flight within 10 hours or roster three pilots,’’ said a senior commander.
In May, the union pointed out to AI management that AI-135 is routinely scheduled as a “two-pilot operation” with random instances of “three-pilot operation”. Between December 2016 and April 2018, flight AI-135 was operated 221 times. Out of this, on 116 days, or 52%, the flight exceeded 10 hours of block time. But in violation of safety norms, Air India often rosters only two pilots, alleged the union.
14/06/18 Manu V/Times of India

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Orwellian Nonsense: China Demands Airlines Describe Taiwan As Being Part Of China, US And Indian Airlines Defy Diktat

Airlines from the United States (US) are among the very few companies across the world to defy China’s demand that Taiwan be referred to as being part of China. The US airlines are taking a cue from their government and referring to the issue as something that ought to be settled between the US and Chinese governments. Backing their airlines US senators have asked the companies to stand up to what they described as ‘Chinese bullying’ on the issue. The White House has also referred to China’s demand as ‘Orwellian nonsense’.

Apart from United Airlines and Delta Air Lines from the US airlines in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and India have refused to agree to China's demands. The airlines refusing China's requests include ANA and JAL from Japan, Asiana and Korean Air from Korea, Air India and Vietnam Airlines. All of these countries are involved in territorial disputes of some sort with China.

Airlines that have complied with China's demands on the issue include Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways and Air Canada. Australia's Qantas will also soon comply, according to reports.
14/06/18 Swarajya 

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With no AC, Kolkata-bound passengers fume inside Singapore Airline's flight at Changi

New Delhi:  Passengers flying Singapore Airlines (SIA) from Singapore to Kolkata last Friday (June 8) had a harrowing time as they first had to wait on ground — inside a bus — for a long time, followed by another wait inside a hot aircraft in the humid city before they could finally take off for the city. The flight, SQ 516, has a schedule departure time of 9.10pm, took off that day just before midnight and the delay saw heated exchanges inside the Airbus A-330 on ground at Changi Airport.
A SIA spokesperson said: "SQ 516 operating from Singapore to Kolkata on June 8, 2018, experienced technical issues on ground resulting in a 2-hour-52-minutes delay. SIA sincerely apologises for the inconvenience caused to the passengers on board."
Among the passengers was Chandni Doulatramani who was flying from Brisbane to Kolkata via Singapore with her senior citizen parents and a younger sister. Recounting her ordeal, she wrote on Facebook that the bus which was supposed to take them to the aircraft took about half an hour. "My 73-year-old father and many other senior citizens and toddlers were extremely uncomfortable and exhausted just standing there. Some of us frantically knocked on the door and windows." Finally they were made to alight from the bus and wait inside the terminal. They boarded the plane at 9.30pm.
"Upon boarding, we were told the air-conditioning in the aircraft was not working and it would be fixed within 15 minutes. Every five minutes the captain kept giving us live updates on the PA (public announcement) system — 'the engineer is on his way'; 'the engineer is here and it will be fixed soon'; 'please bear with us, the temperature will increase for 10 minutes before it starts cooling'…. Half an hour passed with zero ventilation in an aircraft full of passengers. An airhostess at some point told me the aircraft hasn't been in use for a long time and so the air-conditioning was not working… It was 31 degrees in Singapore and very humid," she said in her post.
13/06/18 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Singapore's Scoot Airline Refused To Fly With Special Needs Child On Board, Claims Girl's Mother; Complains Of Misbehaviour

A low-cost Singapore-based airline, Scoot, was caught in a controversy after an Indian-origin couple accused employees of the airline of misbehaving with them because they were flying with their special needs child.

Divya George, an Indian-origin woman from Kerala, her husband and their five-year-old daughter, who suffers from a condition called muscular dystrophy, boarded a Scoot Airline flight on Thursday. However, what was to be the start of a family holiday to Phuket, changed into a "90-minute ordeal" when the airline employees started arguing with the couple.
The child, because of her condition, is unable to sit on her own and runs the risk of slipping down despite the seat belt and hurting herself. George narrated her ordeal in several Facebook posts, as she claimed that the airline staff refused to fly with the child until she was seated in her own seat.

George said that due to her condition, the child was unable to do so and needed to be held in her mother's lap with the help of a infant seat belt. However, the cabin crew and the flight captain refused to cooperate and threatened to deplane the family.
"Our request for using an infant seat belt was denied as she’s a child with her own seat. (While she’s 5 years old, she weighs 8.5 kilograms and is the size of a 1-year-old) The Captain cited safety reasons for his inability to let us fly while holding her on our lap with an infant seat belt. He refused to come out and speak to us for an hour and had SAT tell us we could either deboard or leave our daughter on her own seat. Finally when we did speak to him - On mentioning she could hurt herself and will slide off the seat he said 'then it’s the airlines lookout.' Shame !!! Saddened beyond words," one of George's several posts read.

The flight, which was scheduled to take off at 7:35 am from Singapore got delayed for over 90 minutes due to the argument.
George clarified in another Facebook post that she is a frequent flier and had taken 67 flights so far with the child. She said that she always faced minor difficulties but all other airlines helped iron out those issues and ensure a safe flight experience.
14/06/18 First Post

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