Etihad expands UAE-India services

From early 2017, the two airlines will expand their services between the United Arab Emirates and India by adding 28 weekly flights and three further Indian cities. These will enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways’ convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways’ non-stop services to other cities.

Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. Together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. With the newly-announced flights, the airlines’ cooperative services will cover 18 Indian cities with 280 flights each week.

Etihad Airways will launch a fourth daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Kozhikode on 26 March 2017, capitalising on the strong traffic flows between the state of Kerala and the UAE, and beyond. The additional capacity will allow the partnership to better serve the important southern India market.

Etihad Airways will also double its frequency between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad in the western state of Gujarat, from 1 February 2017 with the launch of a new daily service.

Earlier today, Jet Airways announced a number of changes to its operations between India and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
30/10/16 Gemma Greenwood/Travel Daily

Read More

Now fly non-stop to Paris, Beijing and Frankfurt from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Travelers from Mumbai can now fly non-stop to Paris, Beijing and Frankfurt as Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport announced the commencement of flight operations of international airlines – Lufthansa, Air France and Air China from Terminal 2 today. While Air France and Air China will be flying the Boeing 777-200 to Paris and Air Bus 330-300 to Beijing respectively, Lufthansa will be operating code ‘F’ Boeing 747-800 on the Mumbai Frankfurt route.
With the German flag carrier, Lufthansa airline’s announcement to operate the world’s biggest passenger aircraft, CSIA will become the only airport in India to handle four Code – F flights, the largest civilian aircraft, in a single day. Currently, the airport handles three Airbus 380 aircrafts operated by Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.
Lufthansa and Air France, operating daily flights from Mumbai, will together have the capacity of carrying more than 600 passengers on a single trip. Air China, on the other hand, with a capacity of close to 300 passengers, will operate a non-stop flight to Beijing on alternate days.
In addition to this, foreign air carriers Brussels Airlines and Air Canada have also announced plans to launch flight operations from CSIA early next year while RwandAir and Garuda Indonesia Airlines are exploring flight options to Mumbai.
30/10/16 India.com

Read More

Oman Air wins at India cargo awards

Muscat: Oman Air Cargo has been awarded the ‘Best Cargo Airline for Valuable Goods – North and East’ at the India Cargo Awards 2016 held in New Delhi.

This latest commendation is added to a long list of awards recognising Oman Air’s outstanding contribution to the aviation industry. The award highlights the recent developments in the cargo division, as Oman Air embarks on an aggressive growth plan for its cargo operations.

Mohammed al Musafir, senior vice president Cargo – Commercial, Oman Air, said, “We are honoured to receive this award as a testament to our focus on customer satisfaction and offering best-in-class services to our clients. As Oman Air Cargo looks to strengthen its presence in the region, winning an award based on Internet customer voting is a true mark of our attention to customer feedback, which drives our continuous endeavours in service refinement.”

India Cargo Awards is a pan-India platform to recognise the success of the cargo industry and they are India’s first Internet voting-based awards and hence are fair and unbiased.
29/10/16 Muscat Daily

Read More

Etihad Airways, Jet Airways launch strategic partnership

Etihad Airways has announced the expansion of scheduled services between Abu Dhabi and India as strategic partner Jet Airways unveiled new routes and additional frequencies to further strengthen their partnership in one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.

From early 2017, the two airlines will expand their services between the United Arab Emirates and India by adding 28 weekly flights and three further Indian cities. These will enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways’ convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways’ non-stop services to other cities.

Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. Together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. With the newly-announced flights, the airlines’ cooperative services will cover 18 Indian cities with 280 flights each week.
30/10/16 Saudi Gazette

Read More

Taking a flight besieged by fuel woes

Kochi: In what may be termed a double whammy for Malayali expatriates who are already beleaguered by exorbitant airfares, airline companies operating between Kerala and international destinations are yet to reduce the fuel surcharge introduced when oil prices were ruling high, despite the crude price hitting record lows.   Some of the airlines jacked up airfares for travel between the Gulf and Kerala five-seven times, during the peak season. And, they continue to charge ridiculously high fuel surcharges, sometimes more than double the basic fare, from Malayalis who are already bearing the brunt of the economic slowdown in the Gulf caused by the crash in global oil prices.
Though fuel surcharge is levied on flights  to all destinations in India, Kerala is one of the worst hit states, which accounts for more than half of the Indian diaspora in the Gulf region.

“While the sharp fall in oil prices has brought a huge windfall for aviation sector, most of the airlines are unwilling to pass the benefit on to customers. Passengers booking tickets under the ‘YQ’ and ‘YR’ tax-codes are made to pay exorbitant fares, which comprise fuel surcharge, insurance premium and whatever else that is fit to be added to basic fare,” says IATA Agents Association of India national president Biji Eapen.

For instance, while the basic fare for  return ticket to Dubai from Kochi and vice-versa on Emirates, for travelling on November 10 and returning on Feb 5, is around `3,000, the YQ charge is `8,024. For the same booking, Jet Airways charges basic fare of `5,100 and YQ charge of `8,024. The case is almost the same with all the airlines that operate from Kerala, both on the international and domestic routes.
30/10/16 Dhinesh Kallungal/Indian Express

Read More

Etihad, Jet Airways boost Abu Dhabi-India network

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Indian equity partner Jet Airways plans to boost its network between Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India, subject to government approval. The two carriers want to add 28 flights a week—including three new destinations—that will increase the network to 18 cities.

Both carriers said the additional frequencies will strengthen their partnership in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.

Etihad Airways currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 11 Indian cities. Together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India. With the newly announced flights, the cooperative services will cover 18 Indian cities with 280 flights each week.

Etihad plans to launch a fourth daily Abu Dhabi-Kozhikode flight on March 26, 2017. Daily Abu Dhabi-Ahmedabad services will become 2X-daily, starting Feb. 1.

Jet Airways plans to launch daily Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)-Abu Dhabi flights from Feb. 1, 2017. Daily Kannur-Abu Dhabi and Chandigarh-Abu Dhabi services will begin in the second half of 2017, subject to the completion of operational readiness at these airports.
28/10/16 Kurt Hofmann/ATW

Read More

India high on SIA radar: David Lim

Singapore Airlines is looking to add 10 more flights a week – across five existing cities – for the December-January period this fiscal. Additions will be temporary in nature catering specifically to the northern winter schedule.

The airline currently operates 96 flights a week across 11 cities in the country, through the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir brands.

In Kolkata to celebrate 30 years of operations here, David Lim, General Manager (India) of Singapore Airlines, spoke to BusinessLine about the way forward for the carrier here. Excerpts:

How has growth been for the carrier in India?

We have seen double-digit growth over the last five years. We are pretty happy with the demand between India and Singapore, as well as Asia. We are quite optimistic about the Indian market.

How has occupancy been for your flights?

We witness nearly 80 per cent occupancy (load factor) across the system.
28/10/16 Abhishek Law/The Hindu Business Line

Read More

Timely Intervention By ATC Averts Mishap At Gaya Airport

A timely intervention by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) averted a major mishap at the Gaya airport after a Myanmar Airways International aircraft intruded into the runway on which an Air India aircraft was to land.

Aviation regulator DGCA has started its probe in to the incident, which took place yesterday, sources said.

The incident apparently happened due to some "miscommunication," issue, sources said.

According to sources Myanmar Airways Yangon bound flight MMA 602 was given "clearance" for taxiing by the ATC to a "holding point" via alpha taxiways.

Around the same time, an Air India flight from Rangoon for Delhi via Gaya, which was about 6 nautical miles, was to land a little later.


"The Air Traffic Control, however, noticed that the aircraft had breached the holding point on runway 2A, forcing the ATC to instruct commander to manoeuvre the area and come back to the holding point," Gaya airport sources said.
28/10/16 PTI/NDTV

Read More

NZ team impressed with Kochi airport

An 81-member delegation from New Zealand led by its Prime Minister John Key visited the upcoming international terminal at the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery on Thursday.

The delegation also inspected the Rs.100-crore baggage handling system and integrated inline explosive detection X-ray system which were installed by a New Zealand firm.

Addressing the media later, Mr. Key said Kochi had one of the most beautiful airports in the world. “The baggage and security systems installed at the airport here are among the most sophisticated facilities in the world,” he added. Mr. Key, accompanied by his spouse Bronagh Key and team members, went around the T-3 terminal where they were briefed by airport officials. They left for Indonesia by Thursday night. The visiting delegation had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday.
28/10/16 The Hindu

Read More

Etihad Announces Expansion Of Flight Services To India

 Gulf carrier Etihad Airways and Jet Airways investment partner Etihad today announced expansion of its flight services and route network here and said it would add 28 additional flights per week and three new destinations between Abu Dhabi and India, starting early next year.

Etihad currently operates 175 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi from 11 Indian cities. However, together, Etihad Airways and Jet Airways offer 252 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and 15 cities across India.

The addition of three new cities would increase Etihad-Jet Airways' Indian network to 18 cities with 280 flights per week, a release said today.

Etihad Airways holds 24 per cent stake in Jet Airways, which is the second largest domestic carrier in terms of market share.

The expansion aims at further strengthening the partnership between the two carriers in one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets, the release said adding it would also enhance connections between India and the rest of the world though Etihad Airways' convenient Abu Dhabi hub, and complement Jet Airways' non-stop services to other cities.

"Today's announcement reflects how we have been working together to enhance our service... Jet Airways is Etihad's leading equity partner in terms of revenue and passenger contribution," Etihad Aviation Group President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said.
27/10/16 PTI/NDTV

Read More

Lufthansa flies its flagship aircraft the B747-8 to Mumbai on Diwali night

With an increase in demand for business and first class seats out of Mumbai, Lufthansa will operate its flagship aircraft, the Boeing 747-800, to Mumbai during the current winter schedule.
It's jumbo jet flight will land on Sunday on Diwali, said a release issued by the airline. On the Mumbai - Frankfurt route, the Boeing 747-8 has been configured to seat 364 passengers: eight in first class, 80 in business class, 32 in premium economy and 244 in economy class. The airline currently operates the Boeing 747-8 on its Bengaluru - Frankfurt route.
27/10/16 Manju V/Times Of India

Read More

Lufthansa to deploy its flagship B747-800 on Mum-Frankfurt route

German national carrier Lufthansa On Wednesday said it will deploy its flagship B747-800 on the Mumbai-Frankfurt sector from Diwali, offering for the first time a First Class on board.
The 'Queen of Skies' as Boeing 747-800 is known, will offer a fewer seats lesser than (364 with first class seats) the present B747-400 which offers 371 seats in business and economy configuration.
26/10/16 PTI/Money Control

Read More

NZ team to visit CIAL; focus on better trade ties

A trade delegation from New Zealand led by Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key, which is on a tour of India, will visit the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on Thursday.
The visit assumes significance against the backdrop of New Zealand’s recent efforts to strengthen trade and political ties with India.

The team will also visit the newly built international terminal at the airport. The delegates, including John Key’s wife Bronagh Key, will inspect the `70-crore baggage handling system set up by New Zealand-based Glidepath at the new terminal. The company has also won contract for installing a `72-crore computed tomography-based X-ray screening system at the terminal.
27/10/16 The New Indian Express

Read More

Korean Air launches new Delhi services

Korean Air is launching nonstop service between Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport and Incheon International Airport beginning December 2016.

Delhi will be the second destination for Korean Air following Mumbai in India.

The inaugural flight will take place on December 1st, with service aboard an Airbus A330-200 aircraft capable of seating 218.

Equipped with Korean Air’s newest seats in both First and Prestige Class and cutting edge AVOD system, the aircraft will provide customers utmost comfort.
26/10/16 Breaking Travel News

Read More

Air Canada launches non-stop Vancouver/India flights

Air Canada has launched its inaugural non-stop flight from Vancouver, Canada to Delhi, India, the company said.

The company said it is its second route between Canada and India and is operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, featuring three-cabin service configured with 30 international business class individual lie-flat suites, 21 premium economy seats and 247 economy class seats.

In 2017, the airline said it plans to launch new international services between Vancouver-Taipei (subject to government approvals), Vancouver-Nagoya, Toronto-Mumbai, Toronto-Berlin, Montreal-Shanghai, Montreal-Algiers (subject to government approvals) and Montreal-Marseille.
25/10/16 Gulli Arnason/Financial News

Read More

Singapore Airlines celebrates 30 years of connecting Kolkata to the world

On October 29, 2016, Singapore Airlines proudly celebrates its 30th year of operations in Kolkata. It launched two weekly services to Kolkata with the Airbus A310 on October 29, 1986. Today, Singapore Airlines operates four weekly services to Kolkata on the Airbus A330. Combined with its regional wing – SilkAir, it offers seven weekly services to Singapore from Kolkata.

On this important milestone, Singapore Airlines is offering up to 30% discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares from Kolkata, with all-inclusive return fares starting from INR 72,700 and INR 26,200 per person respectively. The fares (subject to terms and conditions) to Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Japan, Indonesia, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea are available on sale from October 14 - November 30, 2016, for the travel period of October 14 - December 15, 2016.Additionally, passengers would be eligible for a complimentary$20 Changi Voucher which is redeemable at participating shopping, dining and lounge outlets at Singapore Changi Airport.
25/10/16 Travel Biz Monitor

Read More

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer to pay $205 million in graft settlement

New York/New Delhi: Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has agreed to pay over $205 million to resolve charges of corruption and making bribe payments to officials in foreign nations, including $5.76 million allegedly paid to an agent in India in connection with the sale of three military aircraft for Indian Air Force.
The corruption charges in India relate to payment of $5.76 million to an agent in kickbacks for clinching a deal for the sale of three highly specialised military aircraft for the IAF's Airborne Early Warning and Control System.
Embraer entered into the resolution to resolve criminal charges and agreed to pay a penalty of more than $107 million in connection with schemes involving the bribery of government officials in the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, and to pay millions more in falsely recorded payments in India via a sham agency agreement, the US justice department said.
Under the settlement, apart from the $107 million penalty to the justice department as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, Embraer must also pay more than $98 million in disgorgement and interest to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
25/10/16 Times of India

Read More

Thai AirAsia To Launch Bangkok- Kolkata Flights

Thai AirAsia will launch flights between Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport and Kolkata, the gateway of North-Eastern India, on December 16, 2016. To celebrate the new route, Thai AirAsia is offering an all-in fare from 1,890 THB per trip. The promotion can be booked until November 2, 2016 for travel between December 16, 2016 and October 28, 2017.

Indian tourists will be able to make use of Thai AirAsia’s Fly Thru service connections to travel beyond Bangkok from Don Mueang Airport to over 35 destinations in Thailand such as Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Surat Thani and even other countries and cities such as Singapore, Macau and Ho Chi Minh.
25/10/16 Travel Trends Today

Read More

Why we need direct flights to India now, not after 3-4 years?

Will the forced cancellation of Prime Minister’s flight to India drive home a message to country’s top political leadership about a pressing need for a direct flight between the two countries immediately now, rather than expecting it growing organically in 3-4 years?

The general expectations among the experts of India-NZ relations have an expected horizon of 3 to 4 years before direct flights become actually operational between the two countries.

It is reported that in “absence of interest” from any major airlines so far to cover the route immediately it may take 3 to 4 years before direct flights between India and New Zealand could become operational.

This is the situation after a recently signed new deal of air services agreement between New Zealand and India earlier this year in June which opens the door for a direct flight between the two countries.
25/10/16 Indian Weekender

Read More

The Sheikhs want to fly India's regional routes

Major airlines from the Gulf countries have shown interest to invest in India’s regional aviation market. This coincides with the government announcing a new policy to kickstart regional airlines in the country through sops and subsidies.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told Business Standard that many foreign airlines, including major carriers from West Asia, have held negotiations with the government to fly on regional routes connecting the country’s major cities to tier-II and tier-III cities.

“We have had large airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet, Jet Airways expressing interest. Then we have people in the UK and the US engaged in regional aviation showing interest… some large global airlines from the Gulf have expressed interest to run regional airlines in India,” Jayant Sinha said in an interview to Business Standard. He, however, declined to name the airlines.

The investment could be in the form of a stake in an existing airline or opening a new regional airline in the country. “With the recent changes in FDI (foreign direct investment) rules, India now has liberal and open policy in the world. Naturally, they will be interested,” the minister said.

In June, the government increased the FDI limit in domestic airlines to 100 per cent. But FDI is on automatic route only up to 49 per cent. The rules, however, state that the principal place of business must be in India. According to industry sources, India being a significant market for the Gulf majors, they would want to have a feeder airline, which brings West Asia-bound traffic from tier-II and tier-III cities to the metro airports. “A significant traffic to the Gulf comes from the smaller cities. Take, for instance, passengers from Chandigarh, who, until recently, had to fly to Delhi to take flights abroad. Similarly, there are cities like Indore, Vizag and Surat, which feed to the Gulf traffic. Having a joint venture with a regional carrier like Air Costa or TrueJet can be captured as a thoroughfare product,” explained an executive of a major domestic carrier.
24/10/16 Arindam Majumder & Aneesh Phandis/Business Standard

Read More

Air India’s Delhi-San Francisco flight sets record for flying the longest non-stop flight

Air India on Sunday has reportedly set another landmark. The flight between New Delhi to San Francisco which flies over Pacific Ocean set the record for operating the longest duration non-stop flight, the Times of India reported. Until last week, the Air India flight used to fly the route over the Atlantic Ocean. By flying over Pacific, the Air India flight covered over 15,300 km in 14.5 hours, almost 1400 km more than the previous route.
The flight, due to help from tailwinds, took two hours less than the actual route, in spite of it being longer in distance. “The Earth rotates from west to east, and winds flow in that direction too. Flying west means facing strong headwinds (that decreases an aircraft’s actual ground speed), and flying east means getting strong tailwinds, which does the opposite,” a senior AI official told Times of India.
The Atlantic route of Delhi-San Francisco, travelling non-stop for a distance of 13,900km, became the second-longest after Emirates’ Dubai-Auckland (14,120km). Air India’s Pacific route will continue to be the world’s longest nonstop flight for next two years, till Singapore Airlines launches the Singapore-New flight covering 16,500km in 19 hours.
23/10/16 The Indian Express

Read More

American woman held with live bullet at IGI

A woman flyer from United States of America was apprehended at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) for allegedly carrying a live bullet in her baggage.
Officials said the incident was reported on October 21 when on-duty Central Industrial Security Force officials detected the live bullet of 9mm caliber gun in the woman's bag, when she was undergoing se curity check before taking a flight to New York.
They said the woman has been identified as one M Posey and she was travelling with her husband to the US.
24/10/16 The Times Of India

Read More

US, UK & Gulf carriers keen on flying regional routes in India

Foreign airlines, especially from the Gulf countries, have shown interest in investing in the Indian aviation space. In an interview to Business Standard , Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said that airlines have held meetings with the government to fly on regional routes.
This comes after the government’s announcement of starting regional airlines in the country through subsidies and sops.
Not naming the airlines, Sinha said that major airlines from West Asia, the US and UK have shown interest in running regional airlines in India. This can either happen through investment in existing airlines or starting a new airline service.
24/10/16 Money Control

Read More

Foreign carriers show interest in launching regional airlines

New Delhi: In a big boost to the Modi government’s ambitious regional connectivity plan, carriers from the gulf region have shown interest in launching regional airlines to implement the scheme that aims to give wings to aam aadmi’s flying dream.

“Lots of people have come to us with queries about the regional connectivity scheme. Some large global airlines have expressed interest in the scheme and some of the gulf carriers too have shown interest in starting a regional airline in the country to provide regional connectivity,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha told ET.

He added that Indian domestic carriers, regional carriers like Air Pegasus (shut operations due to unavailability of aircraft), Air Costa, non-scheduloed operators, state-owned helicopter operator Pawan Hans and players from the US and UK have also shown interest.

According to the regional connectivity scheme — named UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) — the government has announced to offer flights to unserved and underserved parts of the country at a subsidised fare of Rs 2,500 for per hour of flight.
23/10/16 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

Read More

Hindus welcome Yoga Room at Miami Airport

 Hindus have applauded launching of Yoga Room at Miami International Airport (MIA), a major international airport in USA.
"The Yoga Room is a tranquil space devoted to practicing yoga", MIA announcement states. Located in Terminal H, it opens daily from nine am to nine pm.
Calling it a step in the positive direction for MIA, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged all top world airports to provide yoga facilities for the passengers if they wanted to help reduce their stress levels and be "world-class" airports. Zed urged MIA authorities to keep the Yoga Room open round-the-clock and invite the local yoga studios/teachers to hold occasional free yoga classes there for the passengers, employees, vendors and visitors.
Yoga, referred as "a living fossil", was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.
23/10/16 Merinews

Read More

Air Canada Inaugurates the Only Non-Stop Flights from Vancouver to India

Air Canada’s inaugural flight AC72 departs tonight from Vancouver and arrives in Delhi Saturday morning, marking the only non-stop service linking Vancouver and the Indian subcontinent.

“We are delighted to inaugurate our second route between Canada and India right in time for Diwali celebrations. Our non-stop flights from our Asia-Pacific Vancouver hub feature 787-9 Dreamliner service and offer the shortest elapsed flying time from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles to the Indian subcontinent,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.  “Our non-stop flight, coupled with our streamlined and seamless connections process at YVR translates to a savings of 3-5 hours compared to itineraries with connections in Europe or Asia.

“We’re also excited to offer all our customers contemporary, inspired Indian dishes by celebrated Vancouver Chef Vikram Vij in all cabins of service on our Vancouver-Delhi and Toronto-Delhi flights, which complements the signature creations by internationally renowned Canadian Chef David Hawksworth in our International Business Class. Together with our extensive western Canada domestic and western US transborder network and the seamless connection experience through YVR all position Air Canada and YVR to be the preferred gateway hub for Pacific Northwest travel to and from India,” concluded Mr. Smith.

“Thanks to Air Canada’s commitment to growth out of its preferred transpacific hub, YVR has a direct link to one of the most iconic cultural centres and economic hubs in India,” said Craig Richmond, President & CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “This service has long been requested by our community. The much coveted route opens up access to key markets in business and travel and creates more jobs and opportunities for our communities.”
21/10/16 Aviation Tribune

Read More

CBI registers FIR against UK-based arms dealer in Embraer deal

New Delhi:  CBI has registered an FIR against a UK-based arms dealer for allegedly taking kickbacks worth over $5.70 million from Brazilian company Embraer+ in the 2008 three-aircraft deal.
CBI sources+ said a case has been registered against a UK based NRI whose named had also figured in another defence deal probed by the agency.
They said the kickbacks were allegedly paid in 2009 through subsidiaries of Embraer via a Singapore-based company which is owned by the middleman.
It is alleged that payoffs were routed through Austria and Switzerland.
They said the agency, which had registered a preliminary enquiry in September, has converted it into a regular FIR as enough prima facie material has been found by it to proceed in the case.
22/10/16 PTI/Times of India

Read More

THAI Smile Airways To Launch 4 New Flights To India

THAI Smile Airways creates another milestone, as the only scheduled airline from Thailand to fly to Gaya and Varanasi, Jaipur, and Lucknow, with the launch of new flights to India’s aforementioned four cities. The flights will gradually start operation from Bangkok to Gaya and Varanasi from October 1, Bangkok to Jaipur from November 15, and Bangkok to Lucknow from December 1, 2016. These flights will bridge the demand of both Indians and Thais, who have been looking for seamless connections for religion, work and leisure purpose, in Thailand, India and onward destinations.

Isra Stapanaseth, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at New Delhi Office said, “Tourism Authority of Thailand congratulates THAI Smile Airline to operate direct flight from tier II cities like Jaipur, Lucknow to Thailand which are potential markets for India. THAI Smile makes it more convenient and effective in terms of tourism; segments like weddings, corporates, family, luxury travellers and commercial trades will be benefited. With this direct connectivity, we are very positive that it will boost the tourism from these cities to Thailand in the near future.”

Captain Woranate Laprabang, Acting Chief Executive Officer, THAI Smile Airways, said that THAI Smile Airways, which is a 100% subsidiary of THAI Airways, the national flag carrier, introduces new flights to India’s four popular cities. The flights will gradually start operation respectively from Bangkok to Gaya and Varanasi, effective from October 1, Bangkok to Jaipur from November 15, and Bangkok to Lucknow from December 1.

“We consider these connecting flights as one of our strategic destinations in Indian region. THAI Smile Airways is undertaking an ambitious growth programme to develop network and ensure international connectivity. Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that our passengers have greater choice and opportunity to discover new destinations by flying with THAI Smile Airways,” Captain Woranate said.
20/10/16 Travel Trends Today

Read More

Jet adds more flights to Nepal

Effective 30 October 2016, the Indian carrier will introduce a second daily service between Mumbai and Kathmandu and a third daily flight between Delhi and the Nepalese capital. Both new flights will be operated using a Boeing 737 aircraft.

Jayaraj Shanmugam, said Jet’s chief commercial officer, said the new flights were being introduced “to meet the perennially high tourist demand”.

The new Mumbai-Kathmandu service, flight 9W 250, will depart the Indian city’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport daily at 0815 and arrive at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport at 1110 (Local Time). On the return leg, flight 9W 249 will depart Kathmandu at 1210 and arrive back in Mumbai at 1450.
20/10/16 Mark Elliott/Travel Daily India

Read More

IATA chief keen India sign carbon offsets pact early

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed “disappointment” that India “did not come to the table as an early adaptor” of the carbon offset and reduction scheme for the aviation sector that was agreed to at the International Civil Aviation Organisation Assembly meeting earlier this month in Montreal.

“We are disappointed because other developing nations like China, Indonesia, Zambia and Kenya have signed. We are disappointed because we have seen India at the front edge of environment defence policies signing the Paris accord and the Kigali Agreement. So we were expecting India in the front row of environment protection regulation for aviation,” Alexandre de Juniac, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, IATA, said here at a press conference late on Thursday evening. This is Juniac’s first visit to India after taking over charge as IATA DG.

Juniac pointed out that there are wrong ideas or misinterpretations about the system (in India). “Like it does not apply to domestic traffic. It is not a punitive tax. It offsets emissions by investing in projects that produce carbon. Like a tax it attempts to facilitate growth. It is a licence to grow,” he said.

He added that it is an important agreement to fulfill commitments to sustainability with carbon neutral growth from 2020, pointing out that the global aviation industry is the first and only industry in the world to ask for regulation. “Not only ask for regulation but also stick with this commitment,” the DG said.
21/10/16 The Hindu Business Line

Read More

Thai AirAsia spreads wings to Kolkata

The new route will commence on 16 December 2016, with daily flights connecting the two Asian cities, which have a combined population of approximately 20 million people.

Services will depart Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport at 0005 and arrive in Kolkata at 0110. The return flights will then leave at 0210 and arrive back in the Thai capital at 0640.

Reservations have already opened for the new route. Kolkata will become Thai AirAsia’s fourth Indian destination, following Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi. AirAsia’s Malaysian unit already flies direct between Kuala Lumpur and Kolkata.
20/10/16 Mark Elliott/Travel Daily India

Read More

India may impose riders on bilateral air traffic negotiations with Dubai

New Delhi: A commitment on providing desired slots to Indian airlines at the Dubai airport is likely to become a key factor in talks to decide any increase in bilateral traffic entitlements between India and Dubai.

Negotiations between the two sides are likely to begin soon. “I am not saying anything on whether the increase in bilateral entitlements will depend on commitment by Dubai authorities on providing desired slots to Indian carriers or not. But this is going to be the key factor during the discussions,” said a top aviation ministry official, who did not want to be named.

This will be the first time the Indian government seeking such a commitment during the negotiations to increase the quota of flights with a foreign country. Indian airlines have complained to the aviation ministry about not getting desired slots at the Dubai airport.
Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had on January 3, 2016, written to the Dubai authorities about providing such slots to Indian carriers.
21/10/16 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

Read More

South Korean caught Rs 3.26 crore foreign currency at IGI Delhi airport

NewDelhi: A South Korean flier has been held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) for carrying foreign currency worth over Rs 3.26 crore in an alleged unauthorised manner. Officials said the incident was reported at about 12:40 AM when an on-duty CISF official detected the suspicious movements of a passenger, identified as Li Chang H from South Korea, as he entered the terminal-III to take a flight to Hong Kong.

“The flier was made to undergo a detailed check and an assortment of various foreign currencies were recovered from his baggage. He could not immediately explain the reason for carrying such huge some of money. He was later handed over to Customs authorities,” they said.
21/10/16 Avinash Nandakumar/India Live Today

Read More

Singapore Airlines celebrates 30 years of connecting Kolkata to the world

Singapore Airlines proudly celebrates its 30th year of operations in Kolkata. It launched two weekly services to Kolkata with the Airbus A310 on 29 October 1986. Today, Singapore Airlines operates four weekly services to Kolkata on the Airbus A330. Combined with its regional wing – SilkAir, it offers seven weekly services to Singapore from Kolkata.

On this important milestone, Singapore Airlines is pleased to offer up to 30% discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares from Kolkata, with all-inclusive return fares starting from INR 72,700 and INR 26,200 per person respectively.

The fares (subject to terms & conditions) to Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, China, Japan, Indonesia, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea are available on sale from 14 October - 30 November 2016, for the travel period of 14 October - 15 December 2016. Additionally, passengers would be eligible for a complimentary $20 Changi Voucher which is redeemable at participating shopping, dining and lounge outlets at Singapore Changi Airport.
19/10/16 IIFL

Read More

Nepal dragging its feet on opening new air routes

Nepal’s proposal to review the airspace agreement with India to provide more cross-border entry and exit points for airlines, which was gathering dust for years, had seen chances of take-off after it was endorsed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal in August 2014. But Nepal, the proposer, has failed to send a delegation to New Delhi to attend a scheduled meeting on opening new air routes, in another indication of foot-dragging over the issue.
In its proposal, the Nepal government has requested India to provide three more air entry points in Janakpur, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj. The proposal to review the airspace agreement was made with an aim to provide more cross-border entry and exit points for airlines that would be serving the international airports nearing completion in Bhairahawa and Pokhara and the proposed Second International Airport (SIA) in Nijgadh.
The Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation, which has the lead responsibility in conducting the negotiations, abruptly postponed the meeting on Wednesday, one day before it was scheduled to be held, citing lack of preparation. It had not even informed the Indian side until Wednesday afternoon that it would not be coming.
Agreeing to Nepal’s request to arrange the meeting for the third or fourth week of October to expedite the long-pending issue, the Indian Embassy on September 14 informed the ministry that the bilateral negotiation had been scheduled for October 20.
20/10/16 Sangam Prasain/The Kathmandu Post

Read More

Airlines Technology signs pact with British Airways

Ahmedabad: Airlines Technology (AT), an IT solutions provider funded by Travel Startups, has signed a commercial agreement with British Airways as an interface between the airline and its passenger for creating seamless travel experience.

While ticketing aggregators and travel portals provide sketchy information about fares and schedules, Airlines Technology, working on the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) platform, would enable the passengers to pre-book and buy onboard services like wi-fi, food, extra legroom, priority boarding, preferred sitting, lounge access, special services like wine, entertainment, wheelchair, porters etc, Varun Bansal, Director, said.

This will also increase the airlines’ revenues with customised and personalised offers.

Airlines Technology Pvt Ltd, founded in June 2015, recently got funded by Travel Startups Incubator, an investment and advisory firm. “We are also in advanced stages of signing MoUs with three travel technology companies for joint business operations,” he said.

The number of global airline-related transactions is estimated to increase from 1.75 billion now to 3 to 4 billion by 2020. India is expected to be the third largest aviation market in the next 10 years, overtaking the UK, as per a forecast of IATA, which represents 265 airlines comprising 83 per cent of global air traffic.
20/10/16 Business Line

Read More

CBI seeks to examine Canadian national in Air India bribe case

New Delhi: CBI has again sent a reminder to Canadian authorities seeking questioning of Nazeer Karigar, a Canadian national who is a suspect in a case of alleged pay-off to an aide of a Union minister in UPA government in a USD 100-million Air India contract in 2007.

CBI sources said the agency has registered the case and dispatched Letters Rogatory, judicial requests to facilitate provision of information.

They said judicial requests were dispatched in 2013 but only processed in part.
The sources said CBI is seeking examination of Karigar in the case which has not been possible even three years after the sending of judicial requests to Canada.

It is alleged Karigar and unknown officials of Air India had entered a criminal conspiracy in the matter of floating and processing of tender for procurement of bio-metric passenger identification system for various airports of India for causing favour to a company CrypoMetrics during 2005-07.

It is alleged that Karigar had also provided several crucial tender documents to the company even before it was floated by Air India.

The contract was finally scrapped but CBI needs to question him to get to the bottom of the case, they said.

The sources said agency sent the latest reminder in September this year.
The case is likely to figure during talks of CBI Chief Anil Sinha and Bob Paulson of Royal Canadian Mounted Police who is visiting the country and will address annual D P Kohli memorial today.
20/10/16 PTI/Deccan Herald

Read More

Russia and India may set up joint production of Il-114-300 plane

The Ilyushin Il-114-300 project in the future can become a basis for setting up a Russian-Indian joint venture, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at a meeting on aviation development. According to him, a pertinent presentation has already been prepared by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and forwarded to India.

"We believe it is a good aircraft that can be offered up for joint production. At least, we will begin with assembling the aircraft on Indian territory, paving the way for its joint production in India and other countries," he said.

At the same time, Rogozin stressed that in the beginning the project’s full-scale production should be set up in Russia. He said that upon the president’s instructions the work was being wrapped up and "soon a document will be put forward, containing a synchronized schedule on the purchase of aircraft for our air companies, and the production capacities as well."
18/10/16 Russia & India Report

Read More

THAI Smile Airways to introduce new flights to five cities of India

THAI Smile Airways will create a new milestone by becoming the only scheduled airline from Thailand to fly to Gaya and Varanasi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow.

The flights will gradually start operation from Bangkok to Gaya and Varanasi from October 1, Bangkok to Jaipur from November 15, Bangkok to Ahmedabad from December 1 and Bangkok to Lucknow from December 17.

The airline said these flights will bridge the demand of both Indians and Thais, who have been looking for seamless connections for religion, work and leisure purpose, in Thailand, India and onward destinations.

Captain Woranate Laprabang, Acting Chief Executive Officer, THAI Smile Airways, stated that THAI Smile Airways, which is a 100% subsidiary of THAI Airways, the national flag carrier, proudly introduces new flights to India’s five popular cities.

“We consider these connecting flights as one of our strategic destinations in Indian region. THAI Smile Airways is undertaking an ambitious growth programme to develop network and ensure international connectivity,” he said.

“Moreover, we are committed to ensuring that our passengers have greater choice and opportunity to discover new destinations by flying with THAI Smile Airways,” Captain Woranate said.
17/10/16 Defence Aviation Post

Read More

Air India, El Al and WestJet eye Washington DC service

Air India, El Al and WestJet are all actively considering adding new service to the Washington DC region by 2018, as the local airport operator works to increase air service to the US capital.

Executives from each of the carriers have expressed interest in serving Washington DC in separate meetings with officials from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), which operates Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International airports, since June, an internal airline business development report for MWAA's board shows.

Air India is considering a new Delhi-Dulles nonstop, El Al a Tel Aviv-Dulles flight and WestJet service to one of the DC area’s three airports – Baltimore/Washington International, Dulles and National – from Toronto, it says.

Delhi and Tel Aviv would be new nonstop destinations from the Washington DC region, FlightGlobal schedules show. Toronto is the most competitive market with service on Air Canada to all three airports, and both Porter Airlines and United to Dulles.

Delhi-based Air India would like to launch a capital-to-capital route to Dulles from the spring of 2017, the Star Alliance carrier’s chairman Ashwani Lohani told MWAA officials at a meeting in September. However, he expressed concern with operating costs at the airport and asked about incentives, the report states.
17/10/16 Edward Russell/Flight Global

Read More

Build a better route and they will come: Air Canada launches direct Delhi service ex YVR

The launch of the direct Vancouver-Delhi route at an Air Canada gala was a little like the movie ‘Field of Dreams’, only in this case it was ‘if you build it better, they will come’. Air Canada’s long-awaited direct flight shaves off eight hours in connections and flying time as it links Western Canada’s large Indo-Canadian community directly into the Indian capital via Air Canada’s B787-9 Dreamliner service.

“You fill the planes and we will provide the seats,” Air Canada’s Senior VP, Regional Markets, Kevin Howlett, told the crush of travel agents packing the Vancouver Art Gallery, many of whom were drawn from the Lower Mainland’s large Indo-Canadian community.

The new Vancouver-Delhi route starts Oct. 20 in time for Diwali festivities. The seasonal, three times weekly flights complement Air Canada’s Toronto-Delhi nonstop service launched last fall. To promote the new route, Air Canada is offering introductory fares from $999 round trip, all-in.

“Our nonstop Dreamliner flights from our Vancouver hub will also offer the shortest elapsed flying time from Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles to Delhi,” said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada President of Passenger Airlines.  Air Canada’s connections, both trans-provincial and U.S. border, with its Star Alliance partners and domestic network, is expected to provide a feeder service with seamless travel into Vancouver which will be a preferred gateway, he said.
17/10/16 Travel Week

Read More

Fuel efficiency costs Boeing $45 million

After dragging its heels initially, state-run Air India has finally coaxed American plane maker Boeing to pay compensation for lower fuel efficiency than promised in B787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The aviation behemoth has agreed to pay $45 million for additional fuel burn to the airline. But industry sources said the compensation would not be given upfront in cash. Instead, credit memo of this amount would be issued to the airline, which would be settled against future payment made by Air India towards aircraft purchase.

The airline has nine wide-body aircraft, six B787s and three B777s, on order which it hopes to get by March 2018. A proposal to order five more wide-body airplanes is under consideration.
17/10/16 Nirbhay Kumar/Deccan Chronicle

Read More

Advent of foreign low-cost airlines

Though India’s airline industry started well before Independence, it remained accessible only to the well-off, mostly because of high ticket cost. The advent of low-cost carriers in early 2000s opened the sky for masses but international air travel was still out of bounds for them with complete dependency on full-service airlines.
It was in 2007 that foreign low-cost carriers started taking interest in India to operate international flights. Around June that year, several Asian low-cost carriers received or applied for permission to fly to India.
Airlines such as Tiger Air (a joint venture between Temasek Holdings and Singapore Airlines), Malaysia’s AirAsia and Saudi Arabia’s Sama Airways, Thailand-based private carrier Nok Air, Indonesia’s Lion Air, United Arab Emirates’ Ras Al Khaima (RAK) Airlines were jockeying for Indian market share.
According to Harsh Vardhan, an aviation expert and former managing director of state-run airline Vayudoot, situation in the aviation sector globally started changing after terror attacks on 11 September 2001 in the US. Investors shied away from putting in money in the US and European markets. The gainers were the Asian markets.
In June 2007, Tiger Air received permission to fly to six Indian cities—Chennai, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Goa, Cochin and Kolkata. A month later, Nok Air started daily flights from Bangalore to Bangkok. There was a fare war with Nok Air offering Rs.10,000 return fare, which was almost 40% cheaper than that being offered others.
At the same time, Sharjah-based RAK Airways started operating international flights from 10 international airports. However, it shut down in January 2014 over air services agreement requirements and additional traffic rights to India. Meanwhile, Air Asia, founded by Tony Fernandes, also joined the low-cost bandwagon by starting low-cost domestic operation in India and flying from Kolkata to Malaysia.
16/10/16 Sanjay Singh/VCCircle

Read More

Foreign planes may soon fly without Indian registration

New Delhi: Passengers might soon be flying on foreign-registered aircraft operated by Indian firms with the government planning to do away with certain decades-old requirements to further improve the ease of doing business.

The proposal, once implemented, would bring cheer to aircraft lessors by reducing the compliance requirements as well as make the process easier in case they want to re-take the leased planes.

Against the backdrop of the government making efforts to boost regional air connectivity, doing away with India-registration norm would provide more leeway for local operators planning to expand their fleet, sources said.

"We have started discussions and we are exploring the possibility of allowing foreign aircraft without Indian registration to operate in India," a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official told PTI.
16/10/16 PTI/Economic Times

Read More

Pakistan International Airlines cancels some flights to New Delhi, Mumbai

New Delhi/karachi: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has cancelled some flights from Karachi to New Delhi and Mumbai due to “very poor” passenger numbers amid tensions between the two countries. In a statement issued on Saturday, PIA said that its flights from Lahore to New Delhi are operating normally.
Tensions have been running high between India and Pakistan following the Uri terror attack last month.
“Lahore-New Delhi flights are operating normally, however due to very poor load during last three to four weeks few of the Karachi-New Delhi and Karachi-Mumbai flights have been cancelled,” the airline said.
Passengers who had reservations on these cancelled flights have either been accommodated on PIA’s subsequent flights or re-routed to Pakistan through other airlines, it added.
15/10/16 PTI/Indian Express

Read More

Meat exporter Moin Qureshi briefly detained at Delhi airport

New Delhi: Meat exporter Moin Qureshi, whose business dealings are under the scanner of the Income-Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate, was detained at Indira Gandhi International airport here on Friday night, on the basis of a lookout circular issued by the ED.
However, Mr. Qureshi was later allowed to board a flight to Dubai after brief questioning, during which he showed to the immigration officials court documents granting him permission to visit abroad after he furnished a bond. The ED had earlier summoned the businessman for questioning in connection with a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act last year.
The agency initially launched a probe against Mr. Qureshi for suspected violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act. However, following preliminary investigations, the money laundering case was registered.
The ED launched money-laundering probe on the basis of a charge sheet filed against Mr. Qureshi in an alleged tax evasion case. Searches were also conducted at his residence.
15/10/16 The Hindu

Read More

Omar Abdullah detained at US airport for checks

Former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah said he was stopped at a New York airport for two hours on Monday for extra immigration checks. "Another `random' secondary immigration check upon landing in the US. Thrice in three visits, the randomness is growing tiresome now," Abdullah, 46, tweeted shortly after midnight.
"I just spent TWO hours in a holding area and this happens EVERY time..." the National Conference leader said. "I'm here to speak at an event organised by NYU but I almost wish I'd stayed at home instead... That's two hours well and truly wasted!!" Abdullah said.
Stay updated on the go with Times of India News App. Click here to download it for your device.
17/10/16 Times of India

Read More

Not so ninja-turtle smuggling plot foiled at Indian airport

India's Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officers intercepted two passengers - both holding UAE passports - carrying 199 live turtles in four trolley checked-in bags on Thursday night.

A case has been registered against both of them, according to officials.

The two passengers M.A and S.I bought the turtles in Mumbai and were planning to smuggle them to the UAE.
An official said the turtles had been shoddily packed. "Such smuggling harms the animals and many die on-board," he added.

A senior official said they have asked the state forest department to help them identify the species of the seized turtles. The export and import of such turtles are banned in India as they fall under Schedule I of the Wildlife Act.
15/10/16  Ankita Chaturvedi/Khaleej Times/Albawaba

Read More

Foreign registered aircraft may soon fly in India

In an attempt to cut cost, improve ease of doing business and promote regional connectivity, national and regional carriers in India may soon be allowed to use foreign-registered aircraft for charter and regular airline flights.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation held a meeting on Thursday, which was attended by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, secretary R N Choubey and acting Directorate General of Civil Aviation chief B S Bhullar among others.

"Some countries like US allow foreign registered aircraft to operate in their territory. Here an Indian company has to first get the aircraft registered in India after which the aircraft can be used by it for regular or charter flights. We plan to remove this requirement as Indian domestic air traffic is growing at the fastest pace globally and we are promoting regional connectivity in a big way that will also require planes," an official was quoted saying by Times of India.

Under the current system, an Indian company can only use aircraft for regular or charter flights only after it gets the aircraft registered in India. Exemption from the current rule will make it easier for the foreign-registered aircraft owner to take back the aircraft in case of a dispute with the airline operating the aircraft. Since there are less chances of planes getting stuck in India, the leasing companies could also reduce the rentals and thus help domestic carriers.
14/10/16 Pranshu Rathee/International Business Times

Read More

Riyadh Flight Makes Emergency Landing At Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A Hyderabad to Riyadh bound Saudi Arabian airlines flight made an emergency landing soon after it took off from Rajiv Gandhi International airport, on Thursday.
Flight SV 753 which had to travel to Riyadh made emergency landing due to technical reasons. Official sources said that all passenger were safe. The flight was scheduled to depart at 10 a.m on Thursday. It is currently delayed.
An Air India flight from Vijayawada also made emergency landing on Wednesday at Indira Gandhi International airport in Delhi due to a technical glitch in the aircraft.
13/10/16 Sakshi Post

Read More

India, Russia set to sign deal on 200 Kamov helicopters

New Delhi:  In a bid to replace the Army’s ageing chopper fleet, the lifeline for soldiers deployed in high-altitude areas, India and Russia are all set to seal a deal to manufacture 200 Kamov 226T helicopters in India.

According to defence sources, the deal worth nearly $1 billion is likely to be signed on the sidelines of the BRICS 2016 Summit in Goa on October 14-16.

According to a statement by Rostec State  Corporation, an umbrella organisation of about 700 Russian firms founded in 2007 to promote the development, production and export of high-tech industrial products for civil and military purposes, “The complex agreement to set up a joint production facility of Ka-226T helicopters is expected to be signed at the BRICS forum.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his December 2015 visit to Moscow, signed a preliminary contract to replace the ageing Cheetah and Chetak light utility helicopters. A variety of negotiations on the expansion of the military, including technical cooperation and fortification of trade relations with India, will be held. In 2012, the Army headquarters had written a letter to the office of then defence minister A K Antony, in which it highlighted that some of the obsolete issues dogging the fleet were component failures, low reliability, accidents and increased structural failures.
13/10/16 New Indian Express

Read More

Singapore Airlines announces special fares from Indian cities

Singapore Airlines has announced special economy class fares for passengers travelling from various Indian cities including Kochi to three key New Zealand gateways - Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.

Economy class customers travelling on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir from 11 Indian cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam), can avail themselves of all-inclusive, return fares starting from INR 72,000 per person subject to a minimum of two people booking and travelling together, the airlines said in a release.
13/10/16 The New Indian Express

Read More

To save fuel and time, Air India to fly over Pacific Ocean to San Francisco

New Delhi: Now, you can reach San Francisco early, as Air India on October 12 announced its new route from Delhi to San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean which will save both fuel and time.

At present, Air India is using the Atlantic route, which consumes more than 17 hours to reach San Francisco, Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani told to ANI.

"It will reduce flights hours, as earlier we use to cover the distance between Delhi to SFO in more than 17 hours and now with the new route, the time has been reduced by one and half hours," Lohani said.
12/10/16 AFP/Deccan Chronicle

Read More

Airlines to fly new foreign routes from Delhi, Mumbai

Mumbai: Indian air travellers can now fly non-stop to Madrid, Vancouver and Brussels this winter as airlines launch new routes to tap leisure and business travel demand.

"We are seeing a good growth in our international business. Load factors are strong. We are launching a new non-stop service between Delhi and Madrid from December 1 and increasing frequency on the Delhi-San Francisco route. We are further looking to start many new routes next year," said Air India chairperson Ashwani Lohani.

India's international traffic rose 8.9 per cent to 49.8 million passengers in FY 2016 which is the second fastest growth in the last five years. Jet Airways, Air India and Emirates are the top three carriers on international routes from India in terms of market share.

Growing travel demand is attracting new airlines to India. According to sources, RwandAir is planning a one-stop service between Kigali-Mumbai, the first such link between India and the African country, while Garuda Indonesia Airlines too is exploring flights to Mumbai and Delhi.
12/101/6 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard

Read More

Air India gets new Chinese partner

Effective 2017, Juneyao will become a “Connecting Partner” of the alliance, which will enable it to coordinate its operations with other member carriers, including Air India, with connecting flights, lounge access and frequent flyer privileges.

While it will not be a full Star Alliance member, the addition of Juneyao will enable the group to enhance its connectivity in mainland China. Beijing-based Air China is already a Star Alliance member, so the presence of a Shanghai-based carrier will give Star a base in the country’s two largest cities and biggest aviation markets.

“Juneyao Airlines is a terrific addition to our network proposition in China and particularly in the Shanghai market,” said Mark Schwab, CEO of the Star Alliance. “Thanks to Juneyao’s expanding reach, our passengers will enjoy a wide choice of flight connections through our future partner to numerous Chinese metropoles and several international destinations.”

Currently 17 Star Alliance member airlines operate around 1,600 weekly services to and from Shanghai’s two airports – Pudong and Hongqiao – both of which are served by Juneyao. These airlines will now be able to coordinate their operations with Juneyao, which operates 1,700 weekly flights to 69 destinations in eight countries, using its fleet of 56 aircraft.
12/10/16 Mark Elliott/TravelDailyIndia

Read More

Hyderabadi pilgrim stopped at Madina Airport

Hyderabad: Immigration authorities stopped a Hyderabadi pilgrim at Madina airport over difference in fingerprints. He has been taken into custody.
62-year-old, Basheeruddin, R/O Bholakpur, Musheerabad, who is retd servant of postal department, had gone to Hajj along with her wife, son and daughter-in-law. He was to return to Hyderabad on Tuesday at 11:30 pm.
Relatives said that after reaching the airport, Basheeruddin himself requested immigration authorities to take fingerprints, while no other pilgrim’s fingerprint was taken. However as his fingerprint was taken, his fingerprint didn’t match with his previous fingerprint. Hence he was stopped by the authorities.
12/10/16 Siasat news

Read More

Jet Airways To Introduce Kozhikode- Sharjah Daily Service

Jet Airways, one of India’s premier international airlines, is set to launch a daily service from Kozhikode to Sharjah, further expanding its already-extensive network connecting Southern India to the Gulf.

The new service will be introduced starting October 30, 2016. The outbound flight, 9W 208, will depart Kozhikode at 21.25 hrs and arrive in Sharjah at 23.55 hrs (local time). The inbound flight 9W 207 will depart Sharjah at 1620 hrs (local time) and arrive in Kozhikode at 21.45 hrs.

Gaurang Shetty, Whole-time Director, Jet Airways said, “The Gulf region is becoming an increasingly popular destination among the Indian population, whether it’s for business travel, tourism or employment. To cater to this growing demand, Jet Airways has progressively taken steps to enhance capacity on the route either by deploying more aircraft or introducing wide-body options on the sector. Jet Airways has established itself as the preferred airline on Indo-Gulf routes and expanding our already extensive network, allied to our reputation for service excellence, will ensure we remain the airline of choice for guests flying between India and the Gulf.”
12/10/16 Travel Trends Today

Read More

Jet Airways, Etihad Airways say partnership going strong

Mumbai: Jet Airways and its strategic partner Etihad Airways said both partners “continue to enjoy a strong, healthy relationship since the forging of the partnership three years ago”. “The two airlines benefit from each other’s networks and management skill sets. Sharing resources for the short, medium and long-term has always been part of the agreement. It was also planned for Etihad to provide support with personnel or executives until Jet Airways was able to source appropriately qualified people. Neither airline has moved away from this philosophy,” the airlines said in a joint-statement.
“Etihad Airways has representation on the Jet Airways’ board of directors, and all decisions at board level are made collectively,” the statement added.

ET had reported in its edition dated October 8 that six of Etihad’s senior executives in Jet's top management have quit in the last year and half. The Abu Dhabi based airline’s CEO James Hogan and its CFO James Rigney remain part of Jet’s board. Etihad owns 24% of Jet.
The deal was signed three years ago when Jet was struggling with low cash and high losses and Etihad wanted to access to India’s rapidly growing aviation market wherein it faced tough competition from Emirates and Qatar. “Etihad Airways entered into a strategic tie-up with Jet Airways to be part of one of the world’s biggest economies,” the statement also said.
11/10/16 Economic Times

Read More

Airlines to fly new foreign routes from Delhi, Mumbai

Mumbai: Indian air travellers can now fly non-stop to Madrid, Vancouver and Brussels this winter as airlines launch new routes to tap leisure and business travel demand.

"We are seeing a good growth in our international business. Load factors are strong. We are launching a new non-stop service between Delhi and Madrid from December 1 and increasing frequency on the Delhi-San Francisco route. We are further looking to start many new routes next year," said Air India chairperson Ashwani Lohani.

India's international traffic rose 8.9 per cent to 49.8 million passengers in FY 2016 which is the second fastest growth in the last five years. Jet Airways, Air India and Emirates are the top three carriers on international routes from India in terms of market share.

Growing travel demand is attracting new airlines to India. According to sources, RwandAir is planning a one-stop service between Kigali-Mumbai, the first such link between India and the African country, while Garuda Indonesia Airlines too is exploring flights to Mumbai and Delhi.
11/01/16 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard

Read More

Jet Airways to start daily flights from Kozhikode to Sharjah

Mumbai: Jet Airways is set to launch a daily service from Kozhikode to Sharjah, further expanding its network connecting Southern India to the Gulf.

The new service will be introduced starting October 30. The outbound flight, 9W 208, will depart Kozhikode at 2125 hrs (IST) and arrive in Sharjah at 2355 hrs (local time). The inbound flight 9W 207 will depart Sharjah at 1620 hrs (local time) and arrive in Kozhikode at 2145 hrs (IST).

The Indo-Gulf route is among Jet Airways’ busiest and the airline has ramped up the number of flights on the sector to meet this growing demand.

The new service will make Kozhikode the third Indian city to be connected by Jet Airways to Sharjah, adding to the daily flights that the airline already operates to the Emirate from Kochi and Mangaluru.
10/10/16 Varun Aggarwal/Business Line

Read More

British Airways to partner FDCI for India Fashion Week 2016

As one of the world's leading global premium airlines, British Airways has always been synonymous with style and sophistication. The international carrier is now proud to announce its partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) for the much-awaited fashion showcase - India Fashion Week 2016 which begins from October 12 - October 16, 2016. British Airways will be the prime sponsors for one of the fashion shows to be held on October 12, 2016 at NSIC Grounds, New Delhi. British Airways has a long standing history in India and has been flying for more than 90 years.
British Airways has a long standing history in India and has been flying for more than 90 years.
The airline has always exhibited some of the most fashionable cabin crew uniforms that took to the skies since the 1940s. The uniforms over the past 80 years have been created by British Airways' in-house design teams in collaboration with distinguished fashion designers such as Julien MacDonald, Paul Costello and Roland Klein, resonating with its brand value and cultural diversity through every era in fashion.
10/10/16 ANI/Sify

Read More

Etihad, Jet Airways are still together, say airlines

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and India's Jet Airways have termed news reports questioning their three years old tie-up as "unfounded".

"Reports circulating about the relationship between Etihad Airways and Jet Airways are absolutely unfounded and baseless," said a spokesman of Etihad Airways, when approached by Khaleej Times.

"Both airlines continue to enjoy a strong, healthy relationship since the forging of the partnership three years ago. Anything to the contrary is completely false, and reports of such are misguided and misinformed," said a joint statement.

In an article, India's leading newspaper Economic Times reported on Sunday that the top executives appointed by Etihad Airways had left the Mumbai-based airline. The UAE's national carrier had appointed its management after it bought a 24 per cent stake for $379 million three years ago. With their departure, the management control at the airline is back into the hands of Naresh Goyal, whose appointed management team is now running the airlines.

"Etihad Airways entered in?to a strategic tie-up with Jet Airways to be part of one of the world's biggest economies. It is a long-term commitment to work together to provide the travelling public to and from India with greater choice and more travel options," the joint statement said.

The two airlines benefit from each other's networks and management skill sets. Sharing resources for the short, medium, and long-term, has always been part of the agreement, it further said.

"It was also planned for Etihad to provide support with personnel or executives until Jet Airways was able to source appropriately qualified people. Neither airline has moved away from this philosophy," the statement added.
09/10/16 Haseeb Halder/Khaleej Times

Read More

Are Etihad and Jet Airways enjoying a 'strong' relationship'?

Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways and India's Jet Airways have termed news reports questioning their three years old tie-up, as "unfounded."
"Reports circulating about the relationship between Etihad Airways and Jet Airways are absolutely unfounded and baseless," said a spokesman of Etihad Airways, when approached by Khaleej Times.
"Both airlines continue to enjoy a strong, healthy relationship since the forging of the partnership three years ago. Anything to the contrary is completely false, and reports of such are misguided and misinformed," said a joint statement.
In an article, India's business newspaper Economic Times reported on Sunday that the top executives appointed by Etihad Airways have left the Mumbai-based airline. The UAE's national airline had appointed its management after it bought a 24 per cent stake for $379 million three years ago. With their departure, the management control at the airline is back into the hands of Naresh Goyal, whose appointed management team is now running the airlines.
"Etihad Airways entered in to a strategic tie-up with Jet Airways to be part of one of the world's biggest economies. It is a long-term commitment to work together to provide the travelling public to and from India with greater choice and more travel options," the joint statement said.
09/10/16 Haseeb Haider/Khaleej Times 

Read More

Jaipur-Bangkok direct flight to start from November 16

Flying to Bangkok from Jaipur will be easier now as the Thai Sime Airways is set to start direct flights between the two cities from November 16 this year.

"Jaipur will be connected to Bangkok by a direct flight from November 16. The four-hour flight will further encourage in-bound and outbound tourism between the two regions," said Isra Stapanaseth, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi, here.

He said India is an emerging market for Thailand not only for leisure travel but also for big fat Indian weddings, film shoots, and MICE activities. "Thailand provides everything for all segments. Last year, more than 1 million Indian tourists visited the country registering a growth of 14.5%. We expect a similar growth this year as well," added Stapanaseth.
07/10/16 Srikanta Tripathy/The Times Of India

Read More

Abu Dhabi witnesses over 1.52 lakh Indian travellers from Jan-June 2016

In the first half of this year 152,423 Indian visitors checked into Abu Dhabi's hotel - a 20% year-on-year uplift and accounting for 7% of all the emirate's hotel guest stays. Indian guests currently stay in the emirate's hotels for an average of 3.4 nights, stated a release. Later this month Abu Dhabi will host the 63rd annual convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI). Around 600 TAAI delegates, and 40 Indian journalists, are due in the UAE capital for the meeting, and an associated exhibition, which will be held at the signature Emirates Palace hotel from October 14-16.

“The emirate was selected as host venue due to TAAI’s belief in Abu Dhabi’s MICE and leisure destination potential and as a dynamic global business events leader in the region. The convention gives us an unparalleled opportunity to directly speak to these industry influencers who can impact a market which is now the emirates’ largest overseas hotel guest source market," said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi.
08/10/16 Travel Biz Monitor

Read More

Rafale deal: Reliance, Dassault Aviation set up joint venture

In a major deal for India's private defence industry, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group and Rafale maker Dassault Aviation on 3 October 2016 announced a joint venture in India.
The companies in a joint statements said, the entity will be a key player in execution of offset contract worth about 22000 crore rupees as part of the fighter jet deal. Purpose of the Joint Venture is to focus on promoting Research and development projects under the IDDM program (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured), a new initiative of India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
This new joint venture called Dassault Reliance Aerospace will develop major Indian programs with high levels of technology transfer to benefit the entire aerospace sector. The Joint Venture was announced by Dassault Reliance Aerospace within days of India and France signed agreement for 36 Rafale fighter jets value of 59,000 crore rupees (7.87 billion Euros). The agreement on Rafale jets was inked on 23 September 2016.
The agreement includes a 50 per cent offset obligation, the largest-ever offset contract in the history of India.
The main point of the offset agreement is 74 per cent of it has to be imported from India, which means direct business worth around 22000 crore rupees. There is also a technology-sharing component, which is being discussed with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
06/10/16 Jagran Josh

Read More

Calling the Rafale Deal ‘exceptional’, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha says IAF will like to have more of it

IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha described the recent Rafale fighter jet deal as “exceptional” and said the Indian Air Force would like to have more of these aircraft.

He further added that the recently signed contract for 36 fighters was better than other such deals and offers that India received.

“Any Air Force will be proud to have aircraft of the Rafale class which is in mid-weight category. In terms of its weapons capability, air-to-air missiles, beyond visual range, air-to-ground, its avionics, instrumentation and warfare suite, it is exceptional and one of the leading aircraft of the current generation,” Raha said.

Asked if 18 more aircraft would be procured, he said, “Well, we would like to have more. But it is a decision that will be taken in the near future.”
On other proposals from Boeing, Saab and Lockheed Martin to manufacture fighter aircraft in India, he said the company which offers the best deal will be selected.

He said Saab’s Gripen is a “good fighter” as compared to others like F-16 of Lockheed Martin but the decision will depend on many factors.
06/10/16 DefenceAviationPost

Read More

Emirates Palace to welcome Indian travel agents annual jamboree

Abu Dhabi will later this month host the 63rd annual convention of The Travel Agents Association of India – the ‘voice’ of the country’s rapidly expanding travel and tourism sector.

Around 600 TAAI delegates, and 40 Indian journalists, are due in the UAE capital for the meeting, and an associated exhibition, which will be held at the signature Emirates Palace hotel from October 14th-16th.

The emirate was selected as host venue due to TAAI’s belief in Abu Dhabi’s MICE and leisure destination potential and as a dynamic global business events leader in the region.

“The convention gives us an unparalleled opportunity to directly speak to these industry influencers who can impact a market which is now the emirate’s largest overseas hotel guest source market,” said Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi.
“We will be looking to impress upon delegates while they are here the emirate’s outstanding leisure traveller potential and its mounting credentials within the meetings, exhibitions, conventions and exhibitions sector.”
06/10/16 Breaking Travel News

Read More

Fog woes: Middle East flight diverted to Calicut airport

Early morning fog rolling in over the runway at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) saw an international flight from the Middle East being diverted to Calicut on Wednesday. Flight number IX886, scheduled to land in Mangaluru at 3.50am from Damman, only arrived at MIA at 9am. The incident followed the diversion of flight IX814 from Dubai, which was diverted on Tuesday, owing to fog.
Aircraft diverted at Mangaluru, owing to poor visibility, are directed towards Kochi, Bengaluru or Calicut. On Tuesday, the flight from Dubai, which was scheduled to arrive at MIA at 4.45am landed at 7.45am. MIA airport director JT Radhakrishna told TOI that diversion of flights was a recurring problem, annually, during this season. "The airport has faced problems because of fog in October in the past. The end of monsoon and the commencement of winter season produce conditions favourable for fog," he said.
06/10/16 The Times Of India

Read More

Gazpromneft-Aero and Hindustan Petroleum to fuel partner airlines

Gazpromneft-Aero and Hindustan Petroleum (HP) have signed a new three-year agreement, to refuel Gazpromneft-Aero’s partner airlines at Indian airports where Hindustan Petroleum is present.

Under the contract, HP will service and refuel Gazpromneft-Aero, operator of the business jet fuel company Gazpromneft. HP has access to a network of 35 airports in major Indian cities, according to a Gazpromneft press release.

The first cooperation agreement between the two companies was signed in 2010. To date, Gazpromneft-Aero, in partnership with the Indian national supplier of jet fuel, provides refuelling facilities to “Aeroflot” airlines and “Volga-Dnepr” at some of India’s important tourist and business centres, including New Delhi, Hyderabad, Goa, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Trivandrum and Varanasi.
05/10/16 Konstantin Zavrazhin/Russia & India Report

Read More

“Russia” Airlines launches Moscow to Goa flights

“Rossiya” or Russia Airlines has begun operating direct flights from the airport ‘Vnukovo’ airport in Moscow to the popular resort state of Goa in India. It has also launched flights to the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

Flights to Goa will operate twice a week on Boeing 747-400 aircraft. ‘Russia’ FV5883 flights to Goa will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, departing from Moscow at 23.10 (local time). The return flight (FV5884) from Goa will be on Thursdays and Sundays. With the winter schedule, the number of airline flights will be increased.
05/10/16 Russia & India Report

Read More

Pakistan bans low-flying Indian commercial flights

Pakistan will ban Indian carriers from flying at lower altitudes near Lahore and Karachi during October as a result of "operational reasons", the Times of India reports.

A Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PkCAA) prohibiting all Indian commercial carriers from flying below 29,000 feet in Lahore’s airspace and 33,000 feet in Karachi’s airspace from October 8 for thirteen days. It has been suggested the ban may have been imposed as a result of military maneuvers and exercises, however, tensions between Pakistan and India have risen recently over violence in Kashmir. Currently, no Indian carrier offers scheduled passenger flights to Pakistan.

In September, India said it was reviewing its Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Pakistan, which could result in Pakistani carriers being banned from entering Indian airspace. The last time similar action was taken was in 2002, when both India and Pakistan banned airlines from each other’s countries from entering their respective airspace in a tit-for-tat move.
05/10/16 ch-aviation

Read More

Etihad aligns tier benefits across all Etihad Airways Partner airlines

Etihad Guest has aligned tier benefits across all Etihad Airways Partner airlines.
The move means that Air Berlin, Alitalia, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI are all aligned with Etihad, along with the individual programmes such as Jet Airways’ Jet Privilege.

All eight airlines now allow the earning of Etihad Guest miles across all airlines, along with spending (“burning”) on free flights, cabin class upgrades or gifts from the Etihad reward shop.

Tier benefits have also been aligned so that silver, gold and platinum members have aligned privileges such as priority check-in, priority boarding, lounge access and additional baggage allowance, regardless of the class of travel with any of the partner airlines.

The Etihad Airways Partners are Etihad Airways, Air Berlin, Alitalia, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Etihad Regional, Jet Airways and NIKI.

The move does have negative consequences for some members of Etihad Rewards, however. It seems clear that silver tier members will now not have lounge access at the majority of lounges – in fact only the Al Reem Lounge Abu Dhabi, and lounges at Belgrade and in the Seychelles will still be open for silver tier members.
05/10/16  Tom Otley/Business Traveller

Read More

'Heavily drunk' British businessman arrested after 'molesting businesswoman, during flight to India'

A British businessman has been arrested in India after he tried to grope a fellow passenger on a plane, police said.
Technical supplies salesman Barry Anthony is said to have forced himself on a 35-year-old businesswoman, who was sitting next to him on the Silk Airlines flight.
Officers said Antony, 60, was 'heavily drunk' when he boarded a flight to Hyderabad, in central India.
The New India Express reports that Anthony was travelling on board flight MI745 from Singapore.
The newspaper reports that the woman confronted Anthony, and said airline staff provided statements and CCTV footage to police.
Flight crew radioed ahead to alert police at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, where Antony was arrested as he left the plane.
According to the Deccan Chronicle, Anthony had regularly visited Welding Alloys Tubular Wiring Private Limited in Nacharam, a suburb of Hyderabad, to promote his company’s products and to train its employees.
The Washington Post reports that this summer in the US alone there were at least four incidents of passengers being groped on board flights.
05/10/16 Hannah Al-Othaman/Daily Mail

Read More

India’s Buddhist Tourism and Direct Flights

A direct flight between Cambodia and India is in the pipeline to encourage more Cambodians to visit the country for various purposes, especially Buddhist tourism, according to the secretary at India’s Ministry of Tourism.

Secretary Shri Vinod Zutshi said the plan is in the works but requires the cooperation of the private sector to make it happen, while declining to comment on when he thought the flights might start.

“We are encouraging the airlines. Now, there are none, but we are trying,” he told Khmer Times in New Delhi on Sunday during the 5th International Buddhist Conclave, part of a campaign to attract more foreigners to visit the “Land of the Buddha.”

"It is the tourism secretary’s endeavor to seek more connectivity. The new civil aviation policy of India is to unlock the sky.”

Although Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Naveen Srivastrava told Khmer Times last month that direct flights are likely to come into existence next year if talks go well, when pressed about the question, he said: “I cannot give you a timeline. We are speaking with the private sector about that.”

At present, Cambodians who wish to travel to India must transit in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport for about four hours before departing to New Delhi. The direct-flight plan has been in limbo for years. It followed the years-long plan for a direct flight between Japan and Cambodia after direct flights were halted in 2009.

Tourism Ministry undersecretary of state Top Sopheak welcomed the move for direct flights between the two countries.

“It’s good to have a direct flight. More or less it will help promote tourism between the two countries. The ministry has been working to market tourism to Indians as well,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Tourism would invite Indian delegates to promote more tourist destinations.
05/10/16 Khmer Times

Read More

Turkish Airlines plans to expand operations in India

As per an IANS report, describing India as a favoured market, Turkish Airlines' Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee Ilker Ayci said on Tuesday that the company is keen on expanding its operations to various parts in India like Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. "India is a market that is close to our heart. But unfortunately we have a problem of getting permission to fly. We want to fly to Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. We are right now flying to Delhi and Mumbai," Ayci told reporters on the press meet at the headquarters of the national carrier in Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines started operations in India in 2004 with Delhi. It now has seven flights from Delhi and Mumbai in a week.

Addressing media from 18 countries including India, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, China, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan, Ayci said it is important to allay fears from the minds of people to build brotherhood and solidarity which will lead to commercial investments and tourism.
05/10/16 Travel Biz Monitor

Read More

Brussels Airlines to fly to Mumbai

The German carrier recently approved the full acquisition of Belgium’s largest airline, which is expected to close in the coming months.

And on 6 March 2017, Brussels Airlines will commence its first Indian route, operating five times a week direct between Brussels and Mumbai. This route is likely to be operated by an Airbus A330 aircraft.

Mumbai and been without a direct connection to Belgium since Jet Airways suspended its Brussels route earlier this year.
05/10/16 Mark Elliott/Travel Daily India

Read More

Hackers Transmit Pakistani Patriotic Songs As Indian Pilots Come In For Landing Near LOC

In the midst of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, hackers are tapping into the frequencies used by Indian airlines to communicate with Air Traffic Control in Jammu, and they are playing Pakistani patriotic songs while flights are coming in for landing, The Times of India reported today.

"We are made to hear songs like 'Dil, dil Pakistan, jaan jaan Pakistan'," a senior pilot told TOI. "This is a big irritant as we are in final stage of landing," another pilot told the newspaper.

While commercial flights operate out of the airport in Jammu, only Air India flights chartered by the Indian army land in Thoise.
04/10/16 Huffington Post

Read More

Air Canada to add Mumbai to its expanding international network

Air Canada has announced the addition of six new destinations to its international network, including a year-round thrice week Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service between Toronto and Mumbai, India’s financial hub.

The new services will launch on the July 1, 2017.

The new flights to Mumbai will compliment the four-time non – stop direct weekly service between Delhi and Toronto, which will become a daily service on November 6, 2016 as also the introduction of a seasonal thrice a week service between Delhi and Vancouver on October 20, 2016.

“Air Canada is pleased to offer customers new non-stop routes to exciting destinations around the world. While extending our global reach, they also represent a further deepening of our already substantial international network,” said Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada.

“Toronto-Mumbai is our third route between Canada and India and with these new services we will now operate 20 routes between Canada and Asia, including the Middle East.”
03/10/16 Defence Aviation

Read More

Low-cost airline Scoot starts operation at Jaipur

New Delhi/Jaipur: Pink city Jaipur has become the third destination in India for Scoot, the long-haul budget arm of Singapore Airlines, with its first flight landing at the Jaipur international airport yesterday.
Before its Dreamliner Boeing 787 aircraft landed at Jaipur airport, Scoot had launched its operations in India in May this year with flight services to Amritsar and Chennai with a Boeing 787 plane.
Scoot will fly to Jaipur three times a week, which will be increased to four from the month end, a release said.
"We are excited to welcome an international airline like Scoot as it opens new avenues for the public in Jaipur to fly to popular destinations. This will go a long way in boosting trade and tourism for the city making it more prominent on the world map," Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said.
Scoot is the fourth airline from the island city-state to have established its presence in the world's fastest growing aviation market, which has been logging over 20 per cent growth for around two years now.
03/10/16 PTI/Times of India

Read More

Indian flights may have to change routes as Pak imposes curbs on airspace

New Delhi: Commercial flights from India will have to face considerable restrictions in Pakistani airspace, after India conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) in response to the Uri terror attacks.

According to reports, Pakistan has banned low-level flying over its airspace that could result in rerouting of flights to the US, Europe and the Gulf.

A note to airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistani aviation authorities says all flights flying over Lahore will now have to fly above 29,000 feet while crossing Lahore.
These restrictions will be for the whole month of October, says the NOTAM.
Reports said that lower level of airspace or flight levels have been reserved for Pakistani fighter aircraft. This means that Indian flights will have to opt for longer and safer routes which can delay flights, a DGCA official was quoted as saying.
03/10/16 Deccan Chronicle

Read More

Transgender's 'Uncomfortable' Transit at Abu Dhabi Airport

An Indian transgender activist had to face an embarrassing situation at the Abu Dhabi airport in the wee hours of Friday.

Back from Kenya and on her way to India, Mumbai-based Abhina Aher had a transit stop in UAE's capital, she was going through a metal detector when it beeped. According to Aher's Facebook post, airport officers requested to see her passport. One of them asked Aher to keep her bags away and took her passport.

The airport officials, according to Aher asked her to explain the 'T' in her passport. "They were constantly asking me questions in public whether you are a man or woman, "to which I kept replying that I am a woman and a woman should check me," she said in her Facebook post.

Female officers at the airport were not willing to search her and she wasn't comfortable with men frisking her. It was a hapless situation for Mumbai-based Abhina Aher.

"Another officer said I am half-man half-woman. Finally, two men forcefully tried to check me physically," recounted Aher.

"The officers were suspicious as to why I was not letting them touch my body and insisted on a woman to do that. Finally another office suggested me to remove all jewellery and shoe. Finally I was cleared to go but this experience is insisting how important it is to do global advocacy on trans issues," she said.
03/10/16 Ashwani Kumar/Mcclatchy/Aviation Pros

Read More

Come March, fly to Singapore and Bangkok from the city

Chandigarh: The international airport in Mohali is spreading its wings, though slowly and steadily. After the launch of two international direct flights to Sharjah (thrice a week) and Dubai (daily) last month, two more international direct flights to sought-after destinations Singapore and Bangkok are set to take off from here in March.
Besides, an additional direct flight to Bengaluru will take off on October 9, airport director Suneel Dutt told The Tribune here today. It will take 3.05 hours to cover the distance between Chandigarh and Bengaluru.
IndiGo will launch the second direct flight from Chandigarh to Bengaluru. The daily flight from Bengaluru to Chandigarh will take off at 7.10 am and land in Chandigarh at 10.15 am while it will take off from Chandigarh at 10.45 am and land in Bengaluru at 1.50 pm. Already, AirAsia is operating a direct flight between Chandigarh and Bengaluru.
Moreover, direct flights to several other domestic destinations, which are presently not connected directly with Chandigarh, are also in an advanced stage of finalisation.
The direct flights to Singapore and Bangkok will be launched by Air India, which had launched the first international flight to Sharjah from here on September 15.
02/10/16 Nitin Jain/Tribune

Read More

First chartered flight arrives carrying 495 Russian tourists

Vasco: The first chartered flight carrying 495 tourists from Russia arrived at the Dabolim airport on Sunday, ushering in the new tourist season in the state.
Air Rossiya’s chartered airliner, which was expected to land at the  airport at around 8 am, was diverted to Bangalore due to thick fog which enveloped the area reducing visibility at the airport runway. The airliner flew to Bangalore and came back to the Dabolim airport at around 3.15 pm.
Representatives of the Concord Exotic Voyages, which is the chartered tour operator for Air Rossiya, and the state tourism department welcomed the Russian tourists on their arrival at the airport.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, Sheik Ismail, general manager, Concord Exotic Voyages, Goa, rued about hardship the passengers had to undergo due to the flight diversion.
“We are expecting a rise in arrival of Russian tourists this season as compared to the previous year,” Ismail said, adding that the Concord Exotic Voyages is expecting over 50,000 tourists from Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine arriving in the state.
The second chartered flight of Air Rossiya will arrive in the state on October 5 carrying nearly 495 passengers.
03/10/16 Goa News

Read More

Afghan national held at IGI airport for entering on fake e-ticket

New Delhi: An Afghan national has been apprehended at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here for entering the terminal illegally on an alleged fake e-ticket. Officials said the incident was reported at about 7:00 PM on September 30 when a person identified as S Mohammad Faiz was intercepted by CISF officials while he was exiting the airport terminal.
Faiz, an Afghanistan citizen, told the sleuths that he entered the IGIA using a cancelled e-ticket to see off his mother who was travelling to Jeddah. He said he had booked himself and his parents on a flight to Jeddah for September 29 but later changed plans and re-booked tickets for his mother to travel alone on Friday.
02/10/16 PTI/Indian Express

Read More