Ethiopian B787-9 touches down at Delhi International Airport

Ethiopian B787-9 Dreamliner that joined the airline’s most modern operating fleet on October 27, 2017, made its debut flight to India’s capital city of Delhi.

The Dreamliner fleet which is an integration of design and technology with unique features of biggest windows in the sky, high ceiling, less noise, distinctive lighting, and higher air humidity, has further redefined passengers’ travel experience on-board Ethiopian.

It is to be recalled that Ethiopian has named one of its twenty B787-8 fleets after India’s greatest tourist attraction, Taj Mahal.

Ethiopian presence in India dates back to the 1970’s and currently operates 29 weekly scheduled passenger and cargo flights to India’s major cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
31/10/17 Logistics Update Africa

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Non-stop Air India flights to the US to get additional security measures for electronic devices

Non-stop Air India flights to the US to get additional security measures for electronic devices
Non-stop flights from India to the US, have got extra explosive trace detectors at departure gates to scan personal electronic devices that will be carried as cabin baggage.
According to a report in The Times of India, departure gates dedicated for non-stop US flights at New Delhi and Mumbai airport, now have glass barricades to ensure that passengers go straight to the aircraft.
The United Airlines and Air India are the two non-stop flights that depart from India.
Speaking to the TNN, a senior security officer said that due to some changes in the US rules, personal electronic devices have to undergo the electronic trace detection. However, it is only for those devices which create suspicion.
According to an Air India spokesperson, the additional security measure has begun. Passengers flying to the US would be questioned during boarding about their purpose of visit, strict checking of passports and visas will take place at check-in counters.Recently, international aviation agencies had planned to ban laptops in check-in baggages in India. Instead, they will be carried as cabin baggage
30/10/17 First Post

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Jet Airways Starts Bangalore-Amsterdam Flight Service

Bengaluru: Private full service airline Jet Airways on Saturday commenced its first flight from Bangalore to Amsterdam, adding on to its existing Mumbai - Amsterdam and Delhi - Amsterdam route.
The new service was operated by the wide-body Airbus 330 aircraft. The bookings for this route were open from April 2017.
"The new route will enable people of the IT city to travel to different parts of Europe and North America as Jet has codeshare partnership with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Delta Airlines," said Praveen Iyer, Vice President- India Sales, Jet Airways.
30/10/17 Nagarjun Dwarakanath/CNN-News18

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Air France-KLM to form JV with Jet Airways, Says CEO

Jet Airways which will likely entail synergies on more routes, their respective frequent flyer programmes, "metal neutrality" as well as cargo and engineering, the CEO of the Dutch carrier said Monday in an interview to ET.

This is the first time when Pieter Elbers, the chief of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has in specific terms mentioned the joint venture and how close the airlines are to forming it.

Elbers also confirmed "metal neutrality" is being looked at. It's a concept under which the airline partners become agnostic to whose aircraft or "metal" carries the passenger. US laws also relate it to the term "virtual merger" under which the partners work as closely as possible without actually merging on a strategic or balance sheet level.

Elbers refrained from giving a timeline, but mentioned the above-mentioned contours that will likely be part of the agreement.

The JV would likely give Jet unprecedented reach into the western airspace without necessary having to deploy its own planes. Meanwhile, the airline is firming up plans to order about 100 Boeing 737 Max planes to deepen its reach within India's domestic air routes.
30/10/17 Anirban Chowdhury/Economic Times

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Jet Airways commences its third non-stop daily flight between Mumbai and London Heathrow

Mumbai:  Jet Airways - India’s premier, full-service international airline, is all set to commence its third daily non-stop service between Mumbai and London Heathrow with effect from the forthcoming weekend.

The latest frequency to London Heathrow – 9W 116, will depart on Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 0925 hrs (LT) from Mumbai with an elaborate complement of Premiere and Economy guests on board Jet Airways’ Boeing 777-300 ER - flagship of the airline’s fleet, laid out in a comfortable three-class configuration including its award-winning ‘First Class’ private suites. The flight will arrive in London at 1355 hrs local time.

On its return, flight 9W 115 will depart from London Heathrow at 1555 (LT) and arrive in Mumbai at 0620 hrs (LT), the following day, allowing guests to have a refreshing start to their day.

The addition of the third flight from Mumbai to London Heathrow complements the airline’s existing operations to the English capital from its hubs in Mumbai and Delhi, aboard its flagship B777-300 ER aircraft, that offer a comparatively superior and comfortable flying experience. In fact, Jet Airways will become the only Indian airline to operate thrice daily services between Mumbai - India’s economic capital, and London Heathrow – one of the world’s busiest and best airports.
30/10/17 Tatiana Rokou/Travel Daily News

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Alitalia re-starts direct flight service to India

New Delhi: After a gap of nine years, Italian airline Alitalia has re-started direct flights to India with service connecting the national capital and Rome.
The daily flight service would be operated with a 250- seater Airbus 330 aircraft. The first flight from here took off today.
"Alitalia is flying back to India after a nine-year absence with a new direct service between Delhi and Rome operated every day for the whole winter season until March 24, 2018," the carrier said in a release. The airlines Chief Commercial Officer Fabio Lazzerini said India represents a unique opportunity to position ourselves in a country which is already becoming more and more important. In 2015, over 4.26 lakh travellers from India arrived in Italy, as per official data from Italy. "From a cultural and tourist point of view also, we have thousands of years of history... This is why we are re- investing in the country and we are back. We could have been back earlier than this but better late than never," he said. According to the airline, the decision to launch the service between Delhi and Rome was taken to meet the increasing demand for flights between the two countries and would also help strengthen bilateral trade relations.
30/10/17 PTI/India Today

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Jet Airways Removes 30 ‘Expensive’ Expat Pilots

Jet Airways has phased out the employment of 30 expatriate pilots since April 2017 in a bid to cut costs and appease Indian employees who complained of “stepmotherly” behavior towards them. The National Aviator’s Guild (NAG), its domestic pilots’ union, had demanded that foreign pilots be removed as they are treated better and get higher pay.
In phasing out the expatriate pilots, the second largest airline in India also bowed to the demands of the NAG that had wanted removal of “expensive” pilots. The airline still has 54 foreign pilots but they too would be removed soon, PTI reported citing a source. Indian pilots had also asked for the removal of expat pilots due to racist incidents, including one in which a foreign pilot turned violent with a trainer earlier this year. The NAG, which consists of 1,044 members, had issued a boycott call then, which was later revoked.
“Jet Airways has handed over pink slips to some 40 expat pilots in the last more than six months. However, 10 of them have been hired again. So, in all, 30 foreign pilots have already been sent back home till now. But we want all these expensive pilots to be done away with,” the new agency quoted the person as saying. The foreign pilots were commanding the Boeing 737 and ATR fleet.
“Today, Jet Airways has an overwhelming majority of Indian pilots with only a small percentage of expatriates, which is in line with DGCA guidelines on FATA, as per which, all airlines are expected to duly justify expatriates recruitment as well have a nationalization plan,” the Jet Airways spokesperson told PTI.
30/10/17 Little India

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KLM resumes Mumbai operations after 16 years

Mumbai: Dutch carrier KLM today resumed its flight services to Mumbai, 16 years after it discontinued operations out of the city.
The flight KL 877, a 294-seater Boeing 787-9 aircraft landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here at 2.15 am, Mumbai airport said in a release.
Earlier, Mumbai and Amsterdam route was served with daily services offered by Jet Airways, it said adding now along with KLM, Mumbai-Amsterdam route will be served with a total of 10 services per week.
30/10/17 PTI/Times of India

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Jet Airways launches flights from Bengaluru to Amsterdam

Jet Airways commenced operations from Bengaluru to Amsterdam on 29 October, a route that the airline will offer daily on its fleet of A330-300s. This becomes Jet Airways’ fourth route to Amsterdam, with the airline last March having started daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai, while the carrier also offers an onward connection to Toronto Pearson which too operates daily, making Amsterdam the carrier’s European hub. The route trio was originally launched on the airline’s fleet of A330-300s, but with increased demand, these rotations are now operated on the carrier’s 777-300s. Along with these connections, passengers have a wide variety of onward links thanks to Jet Airways’ partnership with KLM.

In March 2016, the only connection that Amsterdam had to India was a daily KLM service to Delhi. From 29 October 2017 the airport has 31 weekly departures, including Jet Airways’ daily services from Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. While the day was a celebration for Jet Airways’ first flight, the 29 October also marked the launch of KLM’s three times weekly link to Mumbai, completing the 31 weekly flights. When referring to OAG schedules, Amsterdam is now the fourth largest airport in Europe for seat capacity to India, with over 10,500 weekly one-way seats on offer. It sits behind London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris CDG. However, of Europe’s four leading airports, Amsterdam has witnessed the largest rate of growth in Indian seats. Heathrow has observed weekly seat capacity this winter grow by just over 10%, Frankfurt 2.5% and Paris CDG 19%. Amsterdam is by far the star of the show, with it witnessing a climb in weekly seat capacity of just under 45%.

To celebrate the launch of Jet Airways’ first flight from Bengaluru, Amsterdam Airport’s Director of Aviation Marketing – Asia, South America, Africa, and Middle East, Wilco Sweijen, invited anna.aero’s Assistant Editor Jonathan Ford over to enjoy the celebrations. Of course Ford said yes, and was soon booked and on his way to Amsterdam.
30/10/17 anna.aero

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Chandrababu flags off Singapore tour of Amaravati farmers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu flagged off Singapore tour of the first batch of Amaravati farmers on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Chandrababu expressed his happiness in this regard and said that the farmers would face the real development in Singapore.

The Chief Minister also shared his satisfaction with the farmers coming forward to give their lands for the state development.
The first batch consisting of 34 farmers gathered at Secretariat and were taken to the International Airport at Shamshabad by bus arranged by the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA).

120 farmers were selected by the CRDA to visit Singapore in three batches as a part of the agreement between the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Singapore.

The aim of the tour is to help the farmers acquire the knowledge of best practices in business and entrepreneurship.
30/10/17 Hans India

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Tamil Nadu governor inaugurates Chennai-Paris flight

Chennai:  Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit inaugurated Jet Airways' first direct service between Chennai and Paris at a function held at Chennai International airport on Saturday.
An airline official said that the flight had 50% occupancy on the first service. The 9W 128 flight to Paris took off from Chennai at 1.45am on Sunday.
This was followed by a multi-faith prayer, after which the airline handed over boarding passes to the first guests to check in for the maiden flight.
N Shankar of the Sanmarg group gave floral presentations to the passengers while DGCA official Shanmugam and Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijaykumar handed over boarding passes.
29/10/17 Times of India

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Air Arabia flight grounded after bird hit

Coimbatore: An Air Arabia flight from Sharjah with 106 passengers was grounded at the Coimbatore International Airport on Sunday after it was hit by a bird while landing.

Sources at the airport said that the bird hit occurred while the flight (G9 413) was landing here at 3.50 a.m.

A hole developed in the wing of A 320 aircraft.

The flight landed safely at the airport and a technical team of the airlines noticed the hole while inspecting the aircraft. Following the incident, the airline cancelled the return flight to Sharjah (G9 414) which was scheduled to depart at 4.30 a.m. Meanwhile, the airline made alternative arrangements for the passengers bound to Sharjah, many of them Haj pilgrims.

Officials at the airport said that Air Arabia sought the help of the technical team which rectified the hole. The flight left Coimbatore airport at 9 p.m.

Airport Director R. Mahalingam said that the bird hit occurred before the flight entered airport compound. “It must have occurred when the aircraft reached the Chinniyampalayam area. This is the first time the flight had to be grounded after a bird hit,” said Mr. Mahalingam.
29/10/17 The Hindu

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Former airport employee claims discrimination; sues city

A former airport employee has sued the city of Brownsville, alleging he suffered discriminated because he is from India.
Sesha Sai Vorrey, who was appointed interim director of the BrownsvilleSouthPadre IslandAirport after the July 2015 departure of longtime director Larry Brown, originally filed the lawsuit Sept. 8 in the 197th state District Court. On Oct. 20 the suit was moved to federal court. Employment discrimination claims often end up under federal jurisdiction.
According to the lawsuit, Vorrey’s troubles started in December 2016. By Feb. 10, Airport Director Bryant Walker, who was hired in May 2016, issued Vorrey a formal termination letter.
“Mr. Walker states that he is terminating Mr. Vorrey as a result of allegations of misconduct reported on or about December 11, 2016, and on or about December 21, 2016,” according to the lawsuit. “Mr. Walker states he has lost confidence in Mr. Vorrey’s credibility and his ability to carry out the duties and functions of the position he held at the airport at the time of his termination.”
28/10/17 Mark Reagan/The Herald

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New US Airport Screening: What Will Be Different When You Land

Washington:  New security measures including stricter passenger screening take effect on Thursday on all US-bound flights to comply with government requirements aimed at responding to threats of hidden explosives, airlines said.

Airlines contacted by Reuters said the new measures could include short security interviews with passengers at check-in or the boarding gate, sparking concerns over flight delays and extended processing time.

They will affect 325,000 airline passengers on about 2,100 commercial flights arriving daily in the United States, on 180 airlines from 280 airports in 105 countries.

US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials are giving some airlines or airports additional time to comply with the new interviews as long the US government has approved security plans by Thursday.

"TSA will continue to work closely with our aviation partners and verify that all security enhancements are accurately implemented," TSA spokeswoman Lucy Martinez said in a statement Wednesday.

The United States announced the new rules in June to end its restrictions on carry-on electronic devices on planes coming from 10 airports in eight countries in the Middle East and North Africa in response to concerns that explosives could be hidden in electronic devices.

Those restrictions were lifted in July, but the Trump administration said it could reimpose measures on a case by case basis if airlines and airports did not boost security.

European and US officials said at the time that airlines had 120 days to comply with the measures, including increased passenger screening. The 120-day deadline is Thursday. Airlines had until late July to expand explosive trace detection testing.

"We see this as a big issue for China Airlines," Steve Chang, senior vice president of the Taiwanese firm told reporters on Wednesday, adding the airline was trying to consult with the American Institute in the country over the issue.

Korean Airlines, South Korea's flagship carrier, also said it had a lot of concerns with the new measures.

"We are asking customers to show up at the airport early. It's just inconvenient for the passengers," President and Chief Operating Officer Walter Cho told Reuters in Taipei.

Lufthansa Group said on Tuesday the measures would be in place by Thursday and travelers could face short interviews at check-in or at the gate.

Economy passengers on Lufthansa's Swiss airline have been asked to check in at least 90 minutes before departure.


Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it would suspend in-town check-in and self bag-drop services for passengers booked on direct flights to the United States. The airline said passengers would also have short security interviews and it has advised travelers to arrive three hours before departure.

Singapore Airlines Ltd said the security checks could include inspections of personal electronic devices as well as security questioning during check-in and boarding.

Airlines for America, a US trade group, said the changes "are complex security measures" but praised US officials for giving airlines flexibility in meeting the new rules.
27/10/17 Reuters/NDTV

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Jet-Etihad deal: SC to hear Swamy's plea after 8 weeks

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said it would hear after eight weeks BJP leader Subramanian Swamy's plea seeking quashing of the deal between Jet Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways.

Swamy has recently amended his plea to challenge the bilateral agreement between India and the UAE also on increasing the number of flights.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud considered the submission of the BJP leader that a Parliamentary committee shared his view on the bilateral agreement between India and the UAE on increasing the number of flights.

"We will list it for hearing after eight weeks," it said.

Earlier, the court had asked Swamy to file an amended plea, seeking to quash the alliance between Jet Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, by also challenging the bilateral air services agreement between India and the UAE.

The court had in March last year asked Swamy to implead other airlines as parties to the list as they may also get affected if the court decided either in favour or against the Jet-Etihad deal.
27/10/17 PTI/Business Standard

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City-Sharjah flight from Oct. 31

Air India Express will operate its weekly flight service between Mangaluru and Sharjah from October 31.

The flight will be operated on Tuesdays, an Air India release said here on Thursday.

Flight IX 883 will leave Mangaluru at 8.40 a.m. and reach Sharjah at 11.05 a.m. (local time).

Flight IX 884 will leave Sharjah at 12.05 p.m. (local time) and arrive here at 5.10 p.m.

Air India Express now operates flights from Mangaluru to Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Muscat, Dammam and Doha.
27/10/17 The Hindu

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AI puts off launch of Delhi-Los Angeles flight till summer

The state-owned Air India has put on hold the launch of its much-talked-about flight service to Los Angeles from New Delhi, announced earlier this year.
Sources at the airline said non-availability of aircraft and crew coupled with higher costs of operations were the prime reasons for the deferment.
Then Air India chief Ashwani Lohani had in July said that the national carrier would add Los Angeles to its international route network from the coming winter.
"The proposed New Delhi-Los Angeles flight does not figure in our network this winter. We may look at introducing it in the summer schedule," a source told .
Air India flies non-stop services to New York, Newark, San Francisco and Washington in the US. It also has a one-stop service to New York from Ahmedabad via London.
Three of these services - New Delhi-San Francisco, New Delhi-Washington and Ahmedabad-New York via London -- have been launched within the last two years.
"Non-availability of aircraft and crew as well as suitable parking slots have forced the management to decide not to introduce the flight till March next year," the source said.
27/10/17 PTI/Economic Times

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GMR Hyderabad Airport, Malaysia Tourism, MAHB sign pact to promote tourism

Hyderabad:  GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board have come together to promote the growth of tourism traffic.

A memorandum of agreement was inked here on Thursday to promote tourism from the catchment area of Hyderabad to Malaysia and also explore new locations for connectivity.

SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL, Mohd Badlisham Ghazali, Managing Director, MAHB, and Abdul Khani Daud, Deputy Director General (Promotion), MTPB signed, the agreement in the presence of Hidayat Abdul Hamid, High Commissioner of Malaysia.

Over 100,000 passengers travel between Hyderabad and Malaysia every year and the traffic has grown by 28% CAGR in the last five years.

SGK Kishore said, “This is a strategic initiative, which we have taken up to enhance outbound tourism from our catchment region to key international destinations to enhance RGIA’s International connectivity and traffic growth. Through these efforts we can encourage a new segment of potential tourists from our region.”

Mohd Badlisham Ghazali said, “This three-way partnership will enhance the visibility of Malaysia’s tourism attractions in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. This will in turn boost arrivals of Indians from South-central India to Malaysia.”
26/10/17 Business Line

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More hassles for US-bound flyers: All you need to know

Washington: Flying to the United States is about to get more inconvenient, all in the name of security.
New security measures take effect on Thursday at airports around the world. A spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration said the new steps will cover about 2,100 flights a day.
Here's what you need to know.
Which airlines and passengers?
All of them. The new procedures apply to all flights to the US from other countries. They will apply to both American citizens and foreigners.
What's new?
Travelers could face more detailed inspection of their electronic devices. And they could be subject to security interviews by airline employees, according to a US government official. The interviews could differ from one airline to another. Emirates said it will conduct screening interviews at check-in counters for passengers leaving Dubai. Air France said it will provide questionnaires for all US-bound passengers to fill out.
27/10/17 AP/Times of India

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Dassault to invest €100 million in Anil Ambani aerospace venture

Mumbai: The French aircraft manufacturer Dassault and Anil Ambani Group promoted Reliance Aerospace laid the foundation stone for the ₹6,500-crore Dhirubai Ambani Aerospace Park (DAAP) at MIHAN in Nagpur. Dassault will be investing about €100 million in the facility.

The investment is being regarded as one of the largest FDI in the defence sector.

A joint venture Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) will manage the DAAP and make parts for the Rafale fighter jets and Falcon business aircraft.

DRAL was set up as a part of Dassault's offset obligations for the ₹58,000-crore deal to supply 36 Rafale fighter jets to Indian defence forces. The French companies offset obligation is worth about ₹30,000 crore. The facility is coming up at MIHAN.

MIHAN is being developed by Maharashtra Government for the last 10 years as destination for the aviation industry.

Boeing has developed a MRO hanger for Air India and TAL Manufacturing Solutions Ltd of the Tata Group also has a facility at MIHAN. The DAAP will be spread over 289 acres.

DRAL will also manufacture components for the Legacy Falcon 2000 series of civil jets.
27/10/17 Business Line

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AI puts off launch of Delhi-Los Angeles flight till summer

The state-owned Air India has put on hold the launch of its much-talked-about flight service to Los Angeles from New Delhi, announced earlier this year.
Sources at the airline said non-availability of aircraft and crew coupled with higher costs of operations were the prime reasons for the deferment.
Then Air India chief Ashwani Lohani had in July said that the national carrier would add Los Angeles to its international route network from the coming winter.
"The proposed New Delhi-Los Angeles flight does not figure in our network this winter. We may look at introducing it in the summer schedule," a source told .

Air India flies non-stop services to New York, Newark, San Francisco and Washington in the US. It also has a one-stop service to New York from Ahmedabad via London.
Three of these services - New Delhi-San Francisco, New Delhi-Washington and Ahmedabad-New York via London -- have been launched within the last two years.
"Non-availability of aircraft and crew as well as suitable parking slots have forced the management to decide not to introduce the flight till March next year," the source said.
Air India was offered parking slots in such timings that the aircraft would have been on ground after landing for several hours and "that does not make the operations viable", the source added.
27/10/17 PTI/Economic Times

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Student tour package to Singapore launched

Hydreabad: A travel agency in the city, with Scoot Airlines, will launch a four-day tour package to Singapore for students, priced at Rs. 38,000 per person, beginning in January .

Besides the round-trip flight charges, the four days, three nights package cost includes those towards accommodation at a three-star hotel, sight-seeing, travel insurance for six days and visa fee.

It is aimed to suit the pocket of students, said B. Bhoja Reddy of Archana Travels, which has formulated the package.

The firm, he told presspersons here on Thursday, has blocked 1,500 tickets with the airlines for a month beginning January 18. The package, for a group of 50 students daily, is for school students of Class 10 and those in colleges.
Jha Alka from the Sales Department of Scoot Airlines said the air carrier (erstwhile Tiger Airlines) now operated services to eight destinations in India and planned to add one. The new destination will be in northeast India, and the service was expected to be launched in the last quarter of 2018.
27/10/17 The Hindu

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Mangaluru: Air India Express to start Sharjah flight from city , every Tuesday

MMangaluru: Passengers from city now can fly Sharjah directly. Air India Express is starting the service from October 31 once a week on every Tuesday.

Flight no IX883 will depart from Mangaluru at 8.40 am local time and will reach Sharjah at 11.05 UAE time.

Flight no IX 888 will depart Sharjah at 12.05 UAE time and will reach Mangaluru at 17.10 hours IST.
26/10/17 daijiworld

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Air India steps up security procedure for US-bound flyers

New Delhi: Following the American Department of Homeland Security directive to airlines flying to the US, Air India has also started asking passengers questions like the purpose of their trips and about their check-in bags. Starting Thursday, US asked all airlines flying to the country almost 2,100 daily flights from overseas to pose these questions to flyers as an additional security measure.
"We were already doing so by strict checking of passport and visas at check-in counters and also asking (some) passengers about the purpose of their visit and baggage content. We have a pre-boarding security check for passengers on US flights. However, as and when there is a new directive from the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA), we comply with the same and are in compliance for the latest one too," an AI spokesperson said.
Air India is the only Indian carrier that flies to the US, both nonstop and one-stop via Europe. AI and United are the only two airlines that fly nonstop between India and US. Airlines like Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad, Etihad; European ones like Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France-KLM and southeast Asian carriers like those from China, Singapore Airlines and Korean carry the bulk of travel between India and North America.
26/10/17 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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New screenings for US-bound passengers on global airlines

Dubai: Five global long-haul airlines will begin new 'security interviews' of all passengers on US-bound flights beginning Thursday at the request of American officials, the companies said Wednesday.
Long-haul carriers Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, Emirates and Lufthansa all said they'd start the screenings. However, the airlines offered different descriptions of how the interviews would take place.
It wasn't immediately clear if other global airlines would be affected, though the Trump administration previously rolled out a laptop ban and travel bans that have thrown global airlines into disarray.
The US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, it comes at the end of a 120-day deadline for airlines to meet new US regulations following the ban on laptops in airplane cabins of some Mideast airlines being lifted.
Air France said it will begin new security interviews on Thursday at Paris Orly Airport and a week later, on Nov. 2, at Charles de Gaulle Airport. It said the extra screening will take the form of a questionnaire handed over to '100 percent' of passengers.
Emirates said in a statement it would begin doing 'pre-screening interviews' at its check-in counters for passengers flying out of Dubai and at boarding gates for transit and transfer fliers. It urged those flying through Dubai International Airport, its headquarters, to allow extra time to check into flights and board.
25/10/17 AP/Times of India

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Extend UDAN scheme to ASEAN-South Asian countries: Sarbananda Sonowal to Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday requested Union Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju to extend UDAN Scheme to connect capitals of ASEAN and South Asian countries with Guwahati. He also urged Raju to ensure that Guwahati becomes the regional aviation hub in the light of the Act East Policy and Prime Minister’s vision for North East as the new engine of new India. “The capitals of ASEAN and South Asian countries are within two hours flying time, we propose that Udan scheme may be tweaked to cover all destinations within two hours flying time from Guwahati, making the capital city as the regional aviation hub”, Sonowal said when he called on the Union Minister at New Delhi.
“The single modification in the scheme would be a true action on Act East Policy thus bringing in huge economic benefits to the North East”, he added, an official release said here.
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)” of the Government of India, with the objective of “Let the common citizen of the country fly”, aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread.
26/10/17 PTI/Guwahati

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Archana Travels joins hands with Scoot Airlines

Hyderabad: City-based Archana Travels in association with Scoot Airlines has rolled out a four-day tour of Singapore for students at a very competitive price tag.

The four-day tour, priced at Rs 38,000, will enable students to visit various attractions in the island nation. The price includes travelling, hotel, food expenses and entry tickets. 

“The tour package which will allow students to have an elaborate view of Singapore in its pristine beauty and awe-looking locations. Students can explore the city and its treasured places of tourist attractions.
The tour will be enthralling, educative and memorable,” Baddam Boja Reddy, Managing Director, Archana Travels, told the media here on Thursday.

He further said that his company had set a target to send 1500 students this year. “The tour will begin in January next year and will continue for a month,” Reddy said. We are targeting Rs 50 crore business this financial year, he added. 
26/10/17 Hans India

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A band of brothers for gold trafficking

Three brothers joined arms to conduct a gold smuggling business that spanned across Dhaka, Dubai, Masqat, Kuala Lumpur, Jeddah and cities in India. Their empire was built on the complicity of airport staff, cabin crew and even the cleaners.

Using encrypted messaging technology and far-sightedness and keeping their heads down, the trio conducted their business under the noses of law enforcers for years, while growing in size.

The information came to light when Detective Branch (DB) of Police arrested three members of a syndicate on Tuesday night.

The trio, arrested from the capital's Airport area, is Faruk Ahmed, 38, Meer Hossain, 28, and Md Shahin, 21. A team of DB officials found 80 gold bars weighing 9.33 kg in their possession. The DB officials also seized a car (Dhaka Metro Ga-22-1449) from them.

The estimated price of the gold seized is approximately Tk 4 crore, said Shaikh Nazmul Alam, deputy commissioner (north) of DB police.
27/10/17 Daily Star

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Two Sri Lankan smugglers intercepted at Visakhapatnam airport

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India] October 26 (ANI): A Sri Lankan national was intercepted on Thursday on inspection by the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at Visakhapatnam airport.
The passenger later admitted that he had swallowed two pieces of gold.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, another Sri Lankan national was intercepted at the Visakhapatnam airport when she tried to exit through the Green Channel.
88 grams of gold, meant for smuggling, was seized from her.
26/10/17 ANI/India.com

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Philippines sees jump in tourist arrivals from India

Hyderabad: The number of leisure travel visitors from India to Philippines is steadily going up and likely to cross the 1-lakh mark this year. Efforts are being made to woo visitors from select tier-II cities for incentive meetings, weddings and leisure travel.

Raymund Glen A. Agustin, Chief Tourism Operations Officer, Department of Tourism, Philippines, said, “There has been nearly 25 per cent growth during the year so far and we expect to close 2017 with a robust double-digit growth and possibly cross the 1-lakh mark.”

“The focus all through has been on some of the major metros particularly Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata; but now we are looking to tap the tier-II cities of Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Lucknow, where there is immense potential,” he said.

“India currently ranks 12th in the overall tourist visits to the Philippines and we expect this to go up by some notches,” Daks Fernandez Gonzales, Secretary-General, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Philippines, said.
23/10/17 V Rishi Kumar/Business Line

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Pratt & Whitney inks pact with IndiGo for ATR engine maintenance

Global engine maker Pratt & Whitney (P&W) today said it has entered into an agreement with IndiGo under which it will provide maintenance services to the budget airline's ATR 72-600 planes' engine fleet, to be used for regional operations.
The two partners signed the pact in August, P&W said in a statement today.

The 'Fleet Management Program' (FMP) maintenance contract with IndiGo for PW127M engines, that will power the airline's new fleet of ATR72-600 aircraft serving regional routes in India, will be in place for 10 years from the date of each engine's entry into service, and it can be extended further, Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) said in a statement.

P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp of the US.

"This FMP will provide IndiGo with hands-on support as the engines progressively enter into service on the airline's new ATR72-600 fleet. IndiGo also chose to equip each of its new aircraft with our FAST (flight, acquisition, storage and transmission) prognostics solution," P&WC's vice president for regional airlines, Frederic Lefebvre, said.
24/10/17 PTI/Economic Times

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Sharjah Aviation Services goes live with Cargo Flash

Sharjah Airport’s sole ground handling agent, Sharjah Aviation Services (SAS) went live with a new- generation cargo management system that aims to provide real time shipment information and dramatically improve cargo operations at the UAE airport.

The state-of- the-art warehouse and cargo management suite ‘Cargo Flash nGen CMS’ from Cargo Flash Infotech covers business areas including complete Landside operations for Export and Import, Warehouse Management, ULD management, Roster management, Workflow management, EDI management, all landside, warehouse and airside charges, SLA and contract management. As well as supporting management and operations teams in running daily operations, it also aims to provide business intelligence and digital transparency to bring Sharjah and its air freight community closer to reaching its e-freight and operational quality goals.

Cargo Flash, established in 2001 is an emerging IT service provider based in Gurgaon, empowering the aviation and logistics industry with IT solutions.
24/10/17 Stat Times

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CSIA welcomes Thai Smile on Mumbai-Bangkok route

In the past few months, CSIA has been successful in establishing route connectivity to various new destinations, namely Jakarta (by Garuda Indonesia), Bali (by AirAsia X Indonesia), Brussels (by Brussels Airlines), Kigali (by Rwandair), Toronto (by Air Canada) and Beijing (by Air China). Moreover, Thai Lion was a new airline that commenced operations effective 27th September from Mumbai to Don Mueang, the second airport in Bangkok. Facilitating non-stop flights to and from the financial capital of India further strengthens the foundation of city’s rapidly developing trade and commerce relationship with countries around the globe.
Recognizing the importance of route development, CSIA focuses on offering diverse destination choices to the travelling public of Mumbai. As recognition to its commitment, the airport was recently awarded ‘Highly Commended Airport for Marketing’ in the Asia Pacific region in the over 20 million passenger’s category at the Routes Asia Marketing Awards 2017 for its pioneering work in starting new routes out of Mumbai.
Representing 17% of all India traffic, CSIA offers state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure that allows airlines to commence direct flight operations in order to support the burgeoning number of domestic and international travelers transiting through the city. As the airport offers the best-in-class infrastructure required to handle wide-bodied planes, more and more airlines are choosing to operate larger aircraft from the city. Handling the maximum daily air traffic movements (ATMs) on a single runway system in the world, CSIA also briefly earned the distinction of being the only airport in India to handle 4 code F operations per day.
23/10/17 India Blooms

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Empire Aviation Group Wins Middle East ‘Aircraft Management Service Provider of the Year’ 2017

Dubai-based Empire Aviation Group (EAG), the global private aviation and aircraft management specialist, was the winner of the ‘Aircraft Management Service Provider of the Year 2017’ at the 11th annual Aviation Business Awards, held in Dubai on October 11th 2017. EAG was the winner of the award for the third consecutive year. The company is also marking its 10th anniversary in 2017.

This award is presented to the company that has consistently delivered world-class aircraft management services to clients within the Middle East during the past 12 months. Nominated companies must provide evidence of exceptional performance, including examples of business innovation.
Commenting on the award, Paras Dhamecha, Managing Director, Empire Aviation Group, said: “Empire Aviation Group is delighted to win this prestigious award for the third consecutive year and it is a fitting way to mark our 10th anniversary. The award is a recognition for the entire EAG team, which is dedicated to supporting our aircraft owners with a very highly personalised level of service and a quality management approach.”

The company, which launched in 2007 in Dubai, has a team of 120 aviation specialists, and has expanded operations across the globe with branches in India, San Marino and Hong Kong, as well as a dedicated sales office in the USA. EAG operates one of the region’s largest managed fleets of business jets, with more than 22 aircraft based in Dubai, Oman, India, San Marino, Hong Kong and Nigeria. The company continues to expand and develop with new aircraft added to the managed fleet across all the company’s global operations, and new services added to enhance the aircraft ownership experience.
23/10/17 Albawaba

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'US considering Indian request of armed drones for air force'

Washington: : The Trump Administration is "considering" India's request for armed drones for its air force, according to a senior American official.

"Yes, yes," the administration official told PTI when asked about India's pending request about the purchase of armed drones as part of its armed forces' modernisation drive.

The armed drones, the Indian Air Force (IAF) believes, would help it strengthen its defence capabilities.

Early this year, the IAF had requested the US Government for General Atomics Predator C Avenger aircraft. It is understood that IAF would need 80 to 100 units making it approximately a whopping USD 8 billion deal.
22/10/17 PTI/Economic Times

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India Might Finally Terminate Their Stealth Fighter Program With Russia

A new report by Defense News states that India is extremely unhappy with Russia's supposed 5th generation fighter—better known as the T-50, or by its new production name the Su-57—that will act as the base for the sputtering FGFA cooperative fighter program between the two countries. The news comes after years of squabbling over the program, usually characterized by credible reports of the Indian Air Force's dismay with the qualities of the Russian aircraft. Now it seems as if the Indians want out of the program—which aimed for at least a 108 airframe production run—once and for all. Such a move could also be a result of New Delhi's changing geopolitical and military affiliations, in particular its deepening strategic relationship with the United States.
The Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) project between Sukhoi and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is a decade old. It originally aimed to create a variant of Russia's new stealth fighter with a number of alterations specified by India. These include potential enhancements to reach certain low observable (stealth) requirements, as well as particular avionics, communications systems, and weapons integration. A two seat version was also envisioned. The whole idea behind the concept being that the FGFA would leverage a fairly mature Russian next generation fighter design, and build upon it. The problem is that the design in question, the Su-57, doesn't appear to have the "bones" needed to modify it to meet India's expectations.
The T-50/Su-57's degree of low observability has always been in question. It is one of the most hotly debated topics on military aviation forums and I have described how the design balances some stealthy attributes against other features and weaponry, as well as cost and production capabilities. But time and time again India seems to have been doubtful that the base aircraft design could meet their FGFA requirements.
21/10/17 Tyler Rogoway/The Drive

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Air India to start direct flight to Bangkok from Chandigarh on December 11

The first direct flight to Bangkok from Chandigarh will take off on December 11, the Air India announced on Friday. There has been a long delay in the starting of Chandigarh-Bangkok flight apparently due to delivery of new aircraft to the Air India. On Friday, Air India’s local station manager R K Negi told Chandigarh Newsline the first flight would land at Chandigarh Airport on December 11 at 9.20 am and the same flight would depart for Bangkok at 2 pm and would arrive in Bangkok at 8.15 pm. “The inaugural fare for a round trip is around Rs 22,000,” said Negi. He added that the flight would operate thrice a week.
Earlier in May this year, a flight of Air India from Chandigarh to Bangkok had appeared in the winter schedule of the Chandigarh International Airport. The Air India management had announced the direct flight of Air India to Bangkok from Chandigarh a long time ago. But the flight failed to take off.
The Air India counsel had already told the High Court that the airlines was making serious efforts to start the flight sooner. Recently, the flight operations between Kullu-Chandigarh-Kullu were started by Air India’s regional arm, Alliance Air. However, the airline has not received a good response so far.
The new terminal of the airport was inaugurated in 2015. The first international flight, however, started a year later and currently two international flights operate from the airport. From the first week of this month, the new watch hours were implemented due to the runway upgradation work at the airport. The airport is currently available for commercial airlines up to 4 pm only while the airport remains closed on Sundays.
21/10/17 Indian Express

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France wants India to buy more Rafales

India has a hectic diplomatic calendar next week with a series of high-profile visits scheduled. French Defence Minister Florance Parley will be in New Delhi on an official visit during which she is likely to make a strong pitch to sell additional Rafale fighter jets.

Ms. Parley is scheduled to visit India from October 26.

“The two sides will discuss the progress of the implementation of the deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets,” one official said. The issue of additional Rafale jets and the Navy’s mega tender for a new line of submarines are likely to come up for discussion, the official added.

“Ms. Parley will travel to Nagpur on October 27 to lay the foundation stone for a manufacturing facility being set up by Dassault and Reliance Defence as part of the offsets under the Rafale deal,” another official said.

In September last year, India and France concluded a €7.87-billion government-to-government deal for 36 Rafale jets in flyaway condition scheduled to be delivered between 2019 and 2022. The deal has a 50% offset clause to be executed by Dassault and its partners in India amounting up to ₹30,000 crore.

Following this, Dassault Aviation and Reliance Defence announced a joint venture called “Dassault Reliance Aerospace”, which is likely to execute a major part of the offsets.
The Indian Air Force has stated its requirement for additional twin-engine fighter jets and has expressed its desire for more Rafale jets. However, with a depleting fighter strength and several squadrons of MiG-21s and MiG-27s to be phased out, the focus is now on procuring a single-engine fighter jet under the newly promulgated Strategic Partnership model. “Single engine is a priority ... Right now, we are trying to make up numbers with single-engine aircraft …,” Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa said earlier this month in response to questions on the IAF’s procurement plans.
20/10/17 Dinakar Peri/The Hindu

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Jazeera to start flight operations from Ahmedabad

With winter season setting in, airlines have started filling slots for additional routes to catch up on the passenger demands. Interestingly, this winter, a new international airline is all set to commence its operations from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI). Jazeera airways will its operations from Ahmedabad to Kuwait thrice a week.

According to sources, initial discussion on slots also had Spice Jet commencing its flight to Bangkok. Whereas Ethiopian airlines that used to operate freight flights from city intends to add three passenger flights. However, the slots of Ethiopian Airlines and Air Asia will be confirmed by next week.

Speaking of the winter schedule, Manoj Gangal, Airport Director, SVPI said, “I had a meeting with station managers and airlines and clarified that in any case, there should be no rush, which is more than the capacity. I understand the urge of airlines to offer more flights and routes. However, I need to see passengers comfort as well. During winters, we need to also keep the fog and other conditions in mind and hence we have made the schedule as per terminals capacity.”
20/10/17 Tanushree Bhatia/DNA

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Jagmeet Singh needs to get it straight on the Air India bombing: Jonathan Kay

Imagine for a moment if an American politician were asked about Osama Bin Laden, and her response was that she had no idea who was responsible for Sept. 11. She'd become instantly unelectable for dog catcher — no matter what her skin colour, or that of her interviewer. Even here in Canada, Sept. 11 conspiracy theorists have been forced out of politics, though the event was a primarily American tragedy.

Yet here we have the leader of a national Canadian political party telling us he has no idea who orchestrated our own Sept. 11 — the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 — and the response among many is to scold the interviewer for insensitivity. This is insane.
Defenders of federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh claim that he was unfairly ambushed when interviewer Terry Milewski asked him to denounce the glorification of Sikh terrorism on CBC's Power & Politics earlier this month.

Writer Ian Gillespie, for instance, argued that "asking [Singh] to stir up an old, outdated dispute in his community, when no other leader would even be asked the [question], is unfairly divisive." Vice reporter Drew Brown wrote: "It's very hard to shake the impression that the only thing prompting [Milewski's line of questioning] is that he happened to be talking to a newbie Sikh politician and wanted to spring a 'gotcha' moment on him using his ethnic background as a trap."

Singh himself said on Sunday, "I think there was definitely some sort of clear problematic line of thought behind that question, so I'm definitely concerned with it…It was offensive to me that that was even a question."
20/10/17 Jonathan Kay/CBC news

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AT Dubai Airport, luggage of 24 passengers offloaded from flight due to overweight

Chandigarh: Luggage belonging to at least 24 passengers had to be offloaded from an Indigo flight Monday due to overweight issues in the aircraft at the Dubai airport, officials said. The luggage has been sent to the address of the passengers. According to Indigo airline officials in Chandigarh, they had reports of 24 such PNR’s where the luggage was offloaded from the airline at the airport on Monday morning.
“There has to be to complete balance of fueling and the luggage load in the aircraft. Due to overloading and overweight some of the luggage was then taken off from the aircraft,” said an official. Sources said that the passenger were informed about the problem before the aircraft took-off from the Dubai airport, but it was not mentioned specifically whose luggage was offloaded.
Soon after the flight arrived at the Chandigarh International airport, passengers had to face a lot of inconvenience as they had to wait for long looking for their luggage. The Indigo airline officials claimed that the luggage has been now delivered to the passengers. “We had asked the passengers to fill a form and provide the details about the missing luggage. All the passengers filled the forms and then the luggage was sent to the addresses,” said another official from the airline.
19/10/17 Indian Express

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Czech Witnesses Double Digit Growth In Indian Arrivals

With the number of Indian travelling to Central and Eastern Europe is expected to grow by 60 per cent by 2021, CzechTourism has geared up to have a major share of the pie. Czech Tourist Authority recently organized a 3 city roadshow : New Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai in India to showcase their diverse tourism products and create awareness among Indian travel trade. “Indian market offers huge potential for us. The growth in Indian arrivals has been in double digit figure in last few years. We expect similar growth in the next 2-3 years if overall scenario remains good,” Monika Palatková, Managing Director of Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, said.

Czech received 16-17,000 Indians in 2010 and the number continued to grow to 50,000 in 2015 and 66,500 in 2016. The first half of 2017 has already seen around 79, 400 Indians travelling to Czech, according to data shared by Turkish Airlines India office. The growth in arrivals is also attributed to ease of visa process. “This visa facilitation process has been started already and we have 16 Visa Application Centre. We are also exploring possibility of direct flight connectivity between India and Czech,” she added.
18/10/17 Murari Mohan Jha/TravelTrendsToday

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India-China Rivalry Spills Over in Sri Lankan Airport

India and Sri Lanka are close to finalizing a joint venture to manage and expand facilities at the Mattala Airport, which is situated near the Hambantota Seaport, a key port in China’s multi-trillion dollar Belt and Road Initiative.
New Delhi (Sputnik) — Sri Lanka had been scouting for alternate investors for the Chinese-built airport, which began operations in 2013.The airport can handle a million passengers but has not been able to use even 5 percent of its passenger handling capacity. The cargo service has also been extremely under-utilized, with just 69 metric tons moved in 2016 despite an annual capacity of 45,000 tons.

China invested $230 million in the airport, built at a total cost of $253 million. China had reportedly bid to operate the airport, but couldn't reach an agreement over financial conditions set by the Sri Lankan government.
"It was during this time that India came up with a proposal. They were ready for a joint venture with the Airport and Aviation Services," Reuters quoted Sri Lankan Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala as saying.

India's revival plan for the Mattala Airport includes a plan to start a flight school and a maintenance hub at the airport to boost revenues while it builds up traffic. The size of the joint India-Sri Lanka investment in the airport is estimated to be around $293 million initially, of which India will cough up around 70% for a 40-year lease. India's multi-conglomerate GMR has shown interest in the airport's operations.
China, however, may not like to lag behind as the nearby Hambantota Seaport is part of the country's multi-trillion dollar infrastructure-related Belt and Road Initiative. China has a 99-year lease of the seaport. Beijing also plans to build an investment zone and a refinery, the largest in Sri Lanka.
17/10/17 Sputnik News

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Why Gul Panag loves Indian airlines

For those of you who think Indian airlines are bad, all you need to do is fly an American lowcost carrier.

Not my words. Gul Panag says this along with a picture of her flight with Frontier Airlines that she posted on Twitter.

"To appreciate Indian carriers, one must fly an American low cost. Fun staff though. (Check out seat thickness/ tray table) @FlyFrontier," she tweeted along with a picture of a tray that didn't even fit her phone fully.

Another picture of seats with next-to-no legroom would surely have you thank the likes of IndiGo, who you probably love to hate.
18/10/17 Telegraph

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Fliers fume as flight from Dubai lands sans luggage

Mohali: Passengers aboard IndiGo’s flight (6E 56) from Dubai to Chandigarh were left aghast when they arrived at the Chandigarh international airport without their luggage, which was left behind by the airline.
A majority of the passengers were stranded and had to wait in vain for over an hour for their luggage at the baggage re-claim area before airline officials informed them that the luggage of some commuters had been left behind.
According to sources, the same flight, which was supposed to depart from the city to Delhi at 12.30 pm, was cancelled due to a technical fault.
“The airline adjusted some passengers, who had to urgently board the flight to Delhi, on other flight carriers,” said an official at the airport.
An official from IndiGo, who did not wish to be named, said that baggage of 78 passengers had to be off-loaded in Dubai due to pay load restriction and weight issue.
“The flight, with 180 passengers on board, took off from Dubai at 5.30 am (local time) and landed in Chandigarh at 10.30 am (IST). As per the procedure, we have asked the passengers to fill the property irregularity report (PIR) form to record their details. Their baggage will be sent to them in a day or two,” the official said.
17/10/17 Pavneet Singh Chadha/Tribune

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American firm chosen to help make Indian airports sustainable as passenger numbers rise

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDAA) signed the grant with AAI supporting the 20-year master plan.

The Sustainability Master Plan will provide AAI with a roadmap for the development and expansion of its two fastest growing airports to accommodate the anticipated increase in demand while incorporating sustainable and environmental best practices.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow are the fifth and 11th biggest airports in India respectively.

Thomas R. Hardy, the USTDA’s Acting Directors, said: “We are pleased to support this important project that will support India’s rapid aviation growth while connecting U.S. businesses with new export opportunities.”

As the world’s ninth largest aviation market, India’s civil aviation sector is on a high growth trajectory, poised to be the third largest national market by 2020 and potentially the largest by 2030.
18/10/17 International Airport Review

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P&WC to Provide IndiGo with Fleet Management Program Maintenance Agreement for Its Fleet of PW127M Engines

Athens: Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) announced today that it has signed a Fleet Management™ Program (FMP®) maintenance contract with IndiGo for PW127M engines that will power the airline's new fleet of ATR72-600 aircraft serving regional routes in India. The contract, signed in August, will be in place for 10 years from the date of each engine's entry into service and can be extended thereafter. P&WC is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

"This FMP will provide IndiGo with hands-on support as the engines progressively enter into service on the airline's new ATR72-600 fleet," says Frédéric Lefebvre, Vice President, Regional Airlines, P&WC. "IndiGo also chose to equip each of its new aircraft with our FAST™ (Flight, Acquisition, Storage and Transmission) prognostics solution - including the newly certified propeller vibration trend monitoring capability. FAST is helping regional airlines around the world maximize aircraft availability, achieve compliance with their maintenance requirements and optimize their maintenance scheduling."

Tailored specifically to IndiGo, the FMP plan will provide customized support to meet the company's technical and commercial needs. P&WC's FMP plan is a flexible, high-value engine management solution that helps lock in lower operating costs and simplifies fleet operations management. It also serves as a financial planning tool that supports efficient cash flow management while allowing airlines to focus on their core business of passenger and cargo transportation.

"IndiGo is a key operator for P&WC in India and the Asia Pacific market in general," says Lefebvre. "This FMP agreement allows us to take a larger profile in India's growing aviation industry. We are committed to making the debut of our PW127M engine with IndiGo's fleet a seamless process, giving them the outstanding maintenance solutions for which our P&WC FMP team is known."

P&WC will be at ERA, booth B33/34. Interested operators are invited to drop by the booth to speak with a marketing or customer service representative.
18/10/17 Maeketwired

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Jordanian duo sneaks in 6.5kg of gold at KIA

Bengaluru: There was drama at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) on Tuesday as two Jordanians flew in from Dubai with 6.5kg of gold bars worth nearly Rs 2 crore stashed in their custom-made trousers. While one of them was detained at the airport, his accomplice slipped out and was nabbed at a hotel in Electronics City. Sources with the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) at KIA identified the gold smugglers as Abdel Rahman al-Dardasawi and Saleh Talal Yousef Herzallah, both from Amman. "During passenger profiling, we noticed Dardasawi was moving in a suspicious man ner. When we questioned him, he did not reveal anything.But we grew suspicious and frisked him. That's when we saw the trousers he was wearing contained more compartments inside," said an officer. The two Jordanians, who were arrested in Bengaluru on Tuesday for allegedly trying to sneak in 6.5kg of gold bars at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), were involved in electronics and garment trade, according to investigating officers.
While the main accused Abdel Rahman al-Dardasawi was arrested at the airport, the second accused Saleh Talal Yousef Herzallah was tracked down from a hotel in Bengaluru.
18/10/17 Times of India

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Indian company linked to ‘arms dealer’ invited to build Maldives airport

New Delhi: An “invitation” to an Indian company to build an international airport in the Maldives has generated controversy, with the opposition in Male questioning antecedents of its promoters who are facing criminal charges.

A letter by Maldivian tourism minister Moosa Zameer inviting Olialia India Private Limited to submit a proposal under a 50-year ‘build, operate and transfer’ (BOT) model has gone viral on social media. The Indian company is backed by Anca Verma, the wife of controversial businessman Abhishek Verma.

The couple, who is facing serious charges such as violation of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and money laundering to broker arms deals, is currently out on bail. Regular hearings are on in connection with different cases in New Delhi, with the CBI recently appealing in the high court against the dismissal of the of its cases involving German defence company, Rheinmetall.

The ambitious plan, fronted by Anca, is to build a new airport with dual runways by dredging a lagoon. The company also said it has plans to set up a new resort in the Maldives. Investments by Indian companies in Maldives have come under stress in the past, with the government cancelling a contract with GMR to develop the existing international airport in Male.

The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has raised a red flag over the invitation letter to Anca Verma. “Given President Abdulla Yameen’s well-documented links to the criminal underworld, reports about his underhand deals with arms dealers and money launderers are disturbing, but not surprising,” Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, MDP’s international spokesman, told ThePrint.
Olialia India confirmed that it has been invited to set up a new airport in Maldives but said that Abhishek Verma had nothing to do with the project. “Mrs Anca Verma is the group chairperson of Olialia World and is driving the airport project in Maldives, Olialia Island project, as well as Olialia Air project in Europe. Mr Abhishek Verma is not involved in the above-mentioned projects in Maldives,” company spokesperson Ahmed Shareef said.
16/10/17 Manu Pubby/Print

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Etihad Airways Awards IBS Software a Multi-year Contract

Abu Dhabi: IBS Software (IBS) has been selected by Etihad Airways for implementing its award-winning cargo management solution, iCargo. The multi-million dollar, multi-year contract was signed in Abu Dhabi last week. The engagement will see iCargo system manage the airline's air cargo sales and operations worldwide, automating its network-wide booking, pricing and capacity management functions with real-time revenue management-based evaluation capabilities. iCargo will also perform real-time shipment status monitoring and quality management as shipments traverse its extensive network.
David Kerr, Senior Vice President, Etihad Cargo, said: "iCargo will enable us to be available to our customers 24 hours a day through a fully integrated online booking portal. This will significantly enhance our customer service offering. We are also working with IBS to develop the functionality to support our customers with our product provision, loyalty programme and incentives programme. The development of this platform will allow Etihad Cargo to implement end-to-end integration of processes, provisioning for real-time data and greater operational efficiencies."
"To be chosen yet again by a leading airline is a reiteration that iCargo is the most definitive air cargo management solution in the world today. We welcome Etihad Airways to the growing list of iCargo customers and expect to be a transformational partner in their quest to achieve increased operational efficiencies, cost optimisation and growth. This alliance is a testimony to our capability, professionalism and commitment to add value to the business requirements of global airlines. This is a strategic milestone for IBS and heralds the beginning of a long and productive business relationship," said VK Mathews, Executive Chairman, IBS Group.
IBS was selected to replace Etihad Cargo's existing system after an intense selection process that spanned several months. Once implemented, iCargo will connect an international team of users across the business and will interface seamlessly with a host of other system applications within the IT landscape of the airline. The real-time availability of operational information through iCargo will help generate actionable intelligence, vastly improving and streamlining the selling process, revenue generation and quality of service. In addition, through its online booking capability, Etihad Cargo will enable an additional channel that will allow it to be open for business 24 hours a day.
16/10/17 PR News

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Milestone Aviation Group Supports Heligo’s Growth in India

Dublin: Milestone Aviation Group (“Milestone”) announced today the delivery of a Leonardo AW139 to Heligo Charters Private Limited (Heligo) in India. The delivery marks the fifth helicopter leased to Heligo in 2017, increasing the Mumbai-based operator’s fleet and enabling expansion of both on- and offshore services. Milestone, the global leader in helicopter leasing, began its lease partnership with Heligo in 2014 and has played a critical role in expanding the operator’s fleet to 15 aircraft, eight of which are on lease from Milestone.

Of the five helicopters delivered in 2017, the Leonardo AW139 and two Airbus AS365 Dauphins will operate offshore for the oil and gas industry while one Bell 412EP and one Leonardo AW109SP will expand Heligo's onshore VIP charter services. The helicopters were sourced from Milestone’s installed fleet and transitioned from prior operations in Europe, Asia, and the United States.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Heligo at this important time in their company’s growth,” said Milestone Vice President Commercial Michael York. “Heligo has grown to become one of the largest helicopter operators in India by providing highly skilled service through stringent safety standards. We are pleased that they have entrusted Milestone to help them grow their fleet and diversify their client base.”

“We highly value our relationship with Milestone. Their partnership approach gave Heligo access to a diverse fleet of helicopters and the flexibility to bid contracts without taking asset risk” said Chief Executive Officer, Captain K Padmanabhan. “Milestone has provided us with much more than a financial solution, their support has been a central element of our growth strategy, enabling us to grow aggressively but prudently.”
16/10/17 News Wire Today

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3kg gold ornaments seized from SL nationals

Coimbatore: Sleuths of the directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) local unit, along with customs officials, seized 3.272 kilograms of gold ornaments worth Rs 95 lakh from 18 women passengers at the Coimbatore airport on Sunday.
DRI sleuths, who had received a tip-off, had intercepted the group of Sri Lankan nationals at the airport. "They had arrived from Colombo in a SriLankan Airlines flight. The sleuths found gold in the form of crude unfinished jewellery and mercury coated jewellery, which were concealed in handbags of 18 passengers. The passengers confessed that they smuggled the gold into India to sell it at a good price. They also used to get a commission of Rs 60 to Rs 100 per gram for carrying gold," a senior officer said.
The smugglers used to sell the gold ornaments to purchasers in Chennai. "Most of the seized ornaments were 24 carrots. Some of the smugglers had worn anklets covered with mercury. We found them and seized them also," the officer added.
17/10/17 Times of India

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Jagmeet Singh denounces ‘anyone held responsible’ for Air India bombing

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has defended his response when asked if he would condemn any Canadian Sikhs who glorify Talwinder Singh Parmar, the mastermind of the 1985 Air India bombing, as a martyr.

Singh was asked in an Oct. 2 interview on CBC’s Power and Politics if he thought it was appropriate for some Sikhs to glorify Parmar by displaying posters of him in temples. The Brampton-born lawyer-turned-lawmaker responded by denouncing terrorism, but stopped short of naming Parmar or decrying his admirers.
16/10/17  Rahul Kalvapalle/Global News

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43 per cent increase in gold seizure at Mumbai International Airport, Egyptian women acting as carriers

Mumbai: Gold seizure by Customs at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) Mumbai in this fiscal till September has risen by nearly 43 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.

“We had seized smuggled gold worth Rs. 7 crore during the period April 2016 and March 2017. Whereas, in this fiscal year, we have seized gold worth Rs. 10 crore during April-September 2017,” said a senior officer from Air Intelligence Unit (AIU).

Earlier, most of the gold smugglers were only Indians and Sri Lankans but, according to the AIU officer, now there is a new trend of Egyptian women acting as carriers in the gold smuggling syndicate. The kingpins behind smuggling business are using foreign nationals and women as “carriers” to avoid being easily detected.

“Dubai, Sri Lanka, Bangkok and Singapore are major supply centres for gold market. That’s why the international gold smugglers have made their den at these major locations to smuggle gold into India due to price differentiation. The smuggling of gold is directly proportional to the increase in its import duty,” added the officer.

The gold smugglers or carriers or couriers disguise themselves as genuine passengers to dodge the customs check at the international airport. But the customs officers keep tight vigil on the suspects, especially those who avoid red channels where the passengers declare their dutiable goods.

The airport staff also helps smugglers to sneak the yellow metal out of CSIA in Mumbai. “In July, we arrested one airport staff Arif Mohamed Khan (23) near the gate located at V17F and recovered 464 grams gold valued at Rs. 13.68 lakh from the battery slot of the Samsung mobile he was carrying. The mobile phone with gold bars were given to him near the aerobridge by one passenger who had arrived from Dubai,” said the officer.
16/10/17 Diwakara Sharma/Free Press Journal

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Oman flight makes emergency landing at Dabolim

Vasco: Technical snag in one of the engines forced an Oman Airlines flight from Mascat to Goa to make emergency landing at Dabolim International Airport on Saturday evening. All 63 passengers onboard the plane were safe.
According to the information, the Oman flight took off to Goa from Muscat airport at about 2.55 pm thus in midair, the pilot noticed that the one of the two engines stopped working. To avoid any risk, the pilot informed about the engine failure to Goa Air Traffic Control and at 7.40 pm the aircraft safely made emergency landing.
15/10/17 Herald

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Israel's Heron TP Armed Drone May Not Find Its Way to Indian Skies

The Indian defense ministry approved the purchase of 10 Heron TP drones last year and a final deal with the Israeli manufacturer was in the offing. However, the imposition of restrictions by the Israeli defense ministry has pushed the deal towards uncertainty as India's proposal for the purchase posed a mandatory requirement of transfer of technology from the foreign vendor.

In July of this year, Israel had exhibited keen interest in supplying combat drones to India with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signing memorandums of understanding (MoU) with India's Dynamatic Technologies and Elcom for the "manufacture of Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAVs in India under technology transfer from IAI & creation of futuristic UAV enterprise in India." The MoUs were signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit which was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.
"The future is unmanned. Most Air Forces are working to have an uninhabited air vehicle for every possible mission. The USA already has more UAVs than aircraft. India must become an independent UAV manufacturer. No one will give technology. (We should either) beg, borrow or steal the technology…Use economic muscle like China did…Increase research funding," Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired), defense analyst told Sputnik.

With the restrictions in sharing of advanced technologies, the Israel Aerospace Industries will find it extremely difficult to convince India to buy it's million dollar combat drones. For India's part, it would have to explore the possibility of a favorable deal with other contenders like American General Atomics Aeronautical Systems which is interested in selling the MQ-9 Reaper to India.

Israel Aerospace Industries also announced a new export-version of the Heron TP on February 9th of this year at the AeroIndia exhibition in Bengaluru. The export version of Heron TP was meant for members of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) of which India became a member in June 2016.
14/10/17 Sputnik

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Why a journalist's question to Jagmeet Singh about an Air India bombing made them both targets of criticism

It was his first day on the job as federal NDP leader, and in a television interview last week with the CBC’s Terry Milewski, Jagmeet Singh faced a question that on the surface seemed to have an obvious response.

Is it appropriate for Sikh temples in Canada to display posters hailing the alleged architect of the 1985 Air India bombing as a martyr?

The bombing of Air India Flight 182 killed 329 people — 280 of them Canadians. Talwinder Singh Parmar was killed in India by police in 1992 and never brought to trial for his alleged role in the plot, but subsequent inquiries into the bombing identified him as the leader of a conspiracy hatched in British Columbia to bring down the plane.
Singh, who is an observant Sikh, danced around the question. His first response was to caution against exaggerating the conflict between Sikhs and Hindus. He then condemned the “heinous massacre” of people aboard Flight 182, calling it a terrorist act.

Pressed a fourth time by Milewski to denounce the posters of Parmar, Singh replied, “I don’t know who was responsible, but I think we need to find out who’s truly responsible. We need to make sure that the investigation actually results in a conviction of someone who is actually responsible.”


Some commentators have argued it was unfair, even racist of Milewski to ask the question. Writing in Maclean’s, Arshy Mann said the question reflected “a double standard that a white, non-Sikh politician would never have to face.” He noted that when Patrick Brown was elected leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, the CBC did not challenge him over his friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That friendship was forged at a time when Modi was an international pariah, accused of failing to stop the 2002 Gujarat anti-Muslim riots that left more than 1,000 people dead when he was chief minister for the state.

But for Bal Gupta, chairman of the Air India 182 Victims Families Association, Singh’s non-answer was a missed opportunity. “If leaders in Canada don’t disown terrorists and terrorism, then who would?” asked Gupta, whose wife Ramwati was killed in the bombing. He said families of the victims were very upset by Singh’s reply.

“You have to ask him whether he is representing all the Canadians or just one particular interest. I don’t know what is in his mind,” he said.

During his six years in the Ontario legislature, Singh occasionally took up Sikh causes. In 2012 he spoke in the legislature against the death penalty imposed on Balwant Singh Rajoana, a member of the Sikh terrorist group Babbar Khalsa who masterminded the 1995 killing of a Punjab politician. He has argued in favour of labelling as “genocide” the 1984 mass killings of Sikhs in India following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and last April the Ontario legislature adopted a motion to that effect. Singh’s positions have landed him on the bad books of the Indian government, which in 2013 denied him a visa to enter the country.

But it remains a mystery why he would be reluctant to speak out against the glorification of Parmar. Singh has not elaborated, and though the National Post left several messages with his office over the course of the last week, they did not receive a response.
13/10/17 Graeme Hamilton/National Post

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Air travellers press for direct flight to Dubai from Vizag

Will Visakhapatnam ever get a direct flight to Dubai?
Visakhapatnam: Five-and-a-half years after the launch of the first international flight from Visakhapatnam to Dubai (via Hyderabad), this is the question that is still worrying air travellers from the city.

Against this backdrop, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s videoconference with the delegates of Emirates Airlines seeking a direct flight from Visakhapatnam to Dubai and his tweet on the same on Thursday evening has evoked mixed response from the people.

Air India’s stopover flight from Vizag to Dubai, launched in March 2012, has been drawing good response over the years. But frequent travellers from Vizag to Dubai and vice versa have been complaining on the social media over the inordinate delay in Hyderabad.

“The Emirates flight from Vizag to Dubai will result in a saving of around ₹25,000 to passengers travelling from the U.S. to Dubai. This saves the cost of putting up at a hotel in Hyderabad and the need to pay for excess baggage on a domestic flight from Hyderabad,” says P. Raghu, a Vizag-based entrepreneur settled in the U.S.

On May19, 2015, Pran S. Dasan, Country Head of ‘flydubai’ for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, wrote to the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeking permission to commence air services between Visakhapatnam and Dubai with a daily scheduled flight, based on the mutual EoI between flydubai and A.P.
14/10/17 B. Madhu Gopal/The Hindu

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India takes on China at another battlefront: A Sri Lankan airport

The Doklam conflict between India and China amply highlighted the fight between the two countries for supremacy in South Asia. India is strongly asserting against China which is trying to build strategic assets in the garb of infrastructure projects all around India. It is the continuation of the old Chinese 'String of Pearls' policy that aims at ring-fencing India. But now India seems to be determined to fight China on all fronts in South Asia.
The latest battlefield is in Sri Lanka where China has leased a port. Chinese access to a port in the Indian Ocean is a direct threat to India's security. In May, Sri Lanka had rejected Chinese request to dock a submarine on its port. Emboldened after the Doklam conflict, Sri Lanka is now trying to balance China with India.

That's why it is planning to hand over a Chinese-built airport to India right next to the port China has leased. Effectively, India is challenging China's advance into Sri Lanka.

Four years ago, Sri Lanka built Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Hambantota, 250 km south from Colombo, with Chinese assistance of $190 million, more than 90 per cent of the total cost. Today, MRIA is running into losses and Sri Lanka is unable to pay back dues to China’s EXIM Bank. Ironically, Sri Lanka may now hand over the airport to India so that it can repay the Chinese loan.
India is in advanced talks with Sri Lanka to operate the airport on the southern tip of the island, where China has invested heavily as part of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) project.

Not far from the loss-making airport built with Chinese loan is a vital link in the OBOR project—the deep-sea port of Hambantota. China recently got a 99-year lease for running the Hambantota Port.
14/10/17 Economic Times

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India Eyes Airport In Sri Lanka, Near Chinese Belt And Road Outpost

Colombo/New Delhi: India is in advanced talks with Sri Lanka to operate an airport on the southern tip of the island, where China has invested heavily as part of its Belt and Road initiative, a Sri Lankan minister said.

Sri Lanka's civil aviation minister, Nimal Siripala, said the country had been looking for alternative investors in the Hambantota area, where China has built a seaport and is in discussions to build an investment zone and a refinery.

"It was during this time India came up with a proposal," Siripala said Monday. "They were ready for a joint venture with the Airport and Aviation Services Limited," he said, referring to the state-run company that runs Sri Lanka's main airport in the capital Colombo and the one in the south, in Mattala.

China said it was not aware that Sri Lanka was considering allowing India to manage the airport. China also put in a bid to operate the facility, but the two sides failed to agree on financial terms.

"China hopes the relevant country does more to play a constructive role in increasing mutual trust and cooperation between nations in the region and promoting regional peace, stability and development," the Chinese foreign ministry said in response to an email request for comment.

The town of Hambantota sits near one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and is an important part of the Belt and Road initiative, aimed at building trade and transport links across Asia and beyond to Europe.

China runs the seaport with a 99-year lease and was planning to expand its footprint in the area with the refinery, which would be Sri Lanka's largest, and an investment zone of about 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres).
13/10/17 NDTV

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CM urges Emirates to make Vizag, Amaravati its hub

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked the Emirates group to make Visakhapatnam and Amaravati as the airline’s hub.

“A.P. has abundant opportunities in the aviation field and the middle class is keen on using airline services,” Mr. Naidu told Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President Adnan Kazim during a video-conference at his camp office near Vijayawada on Thursday. Explaining the need and growing demand for air services between Andhra Pradesh and Dubai, Mr. Naidu said the State government was keen on improving connectivity between cities in Andhra Pradesh and Dubai. “The Centre is contemplating withdrawing investments in Air India. It is a golden opportunity for private players,” he said, adding: “The Government of A.P. has plans to develop Visakhapatnam and Amaravati airports as greenfield international airports in partnership with private entities.” Mr. Kazim said a team would soon conduct a study on the investment opportunities in A.P.

Mr. Naidu would meet Dubai Civil Aviation Authority CEO Shiekh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum in Dubai on October 22. Mr. Maktoum is Chairman of the Emirates.
13/10/17 The Hindu

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Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh likely to join SIA as product & customer service head

New Delhi: : Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh is likely to join Singapore International Airlines (SIA) soon as its head of product and customer service, a person aware of the development has told ET.

Yeoh is set to leave India this month as his deputation at the Tata-SIA joint venture airline has ended.

“He will be joining SIA in the product and customer service department and would not be dealing with Vistara anyway,” this person said, requesting anonymity.

Yeoh was given an extension of three years in April after completing three years with the airline. However, he was called back recently and former SilkAir CEO Leslie Thng was announced as his replacement.

People in the know say there is no need to read too much into Yeoh’s return to SIA because Singapore Airlines typically rotates its staff, offering them positions in various departments globally every few years.
13/10/17 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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‘Allow foreign airlines to bid for Air India’

An aviation consultancy firm has said the government should allow foreign airlines to participate in bidding for Air India as no major Indian company will invest in such a complex project without an experienced strategic partner.

CAPA India-Centre for Aviation in its report has said allowing foreign airlines to participate will increase the number of bidders and the valuation. The consultancy firm also said the balance sheet of the airline should be cleaned up as, in its current form, it can never be a viable business proposition because of its massive debt and interest burden.

Also, the entire 100 per cent equity should be sold off as any level of equity retention will deter investors because of concerns over the prospect of continued government interference post-privatisation.

The core divestment should consist of the airline operations only, namely Air India, Air India Express and optionally Air India Regional. They should be sold along with aircraft-related debt and reasonable working capital loans.

Special business units such as MRO (Air India Engineering), catering (TAjSATS), ground handling (both Air India Air Transport Services and AISATS) and Centaur Hotels should be sold off separately to raise capital that can be used to retire debt. Property and other non-core assets should be placed in a separate special purpose vehicle. The new investors should have reasonable flexibility to take commercial decisions on employee numbers and productivity over time, particularly for non-core roles, ideally by not replacing retirements. Similarly, with the retention of the Air India brand, the government should be open to discussions.
12/10/17 Business Line

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Indian carriers eye flying slots of Qatar Airways at Dubai

According to a report by Nirbhay Kumar,in The Financial Chronicle,Indian carriers, hungry for expanding their operations to Dubai, are eyeing flying slots of Qatar Airways that remain unutilised after Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Gulf nations broke diplomatic relations and cut all land, sea and air links with Qatar. Some Indian carriers have pushed the case for holding bilateral talks with Dubai and increase seat quota from each side. “Dubai aviation authorities have assured slots to Indian carriers. Getting slots at Dubai airport was the main issue flagged by Indian carriers. But now after the assurance, it does not seem to be a problem. The two sides can now hold negotiations for bilateral seat quota,” a source said.

With Emirates and flydubai exhausting all the seats available to them, Dubai has been pressing India for bilaterally increase the seats and frequency. It had earlier sought to increase the quota by 50,000 seats a week. The designated carriers from the two sides at present operate 65,500 seats a week connecting various Indian cities with Dubai Indian carriers too have used all the rights allocated to them and wanted the quota to go up but they linked it with Dubai providing more slots. While getting a slot at the Dubai airport was very difficult a few months back, it is possible to get one now after Qatar Airways stopped operations to the city-state. In a sudden move, some of the key Arab nations like Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen had last June announced to snap their diplomatic ties with Qatar.
13/10/17 TravelBizMonitor

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Emirates Airlines Joins in Diwali Celebrations With a Special Surprise For Travellers

Emirates is undoubtedly one of the world’s most loved airlines. As a special guesture for all their India bound customers this festive season, they recently announced a delicious surprise.
The airlines will be offering Diwali delicacies on board all their flights to India from Dubai, during the week of Diwali celebrations, from 16th- 22nd October, 2017. Diwali is not just the festival of lights, but also a season where sweets and other delicacies are given prime importance.
Emirates plans to serve Motichoor Ladoos, which will be presented in decorated boxes with special artwork and garnished with pistachio and silver leaf embellishment, representing the traditional decoration of Diwali. This will be offered as part of all Indian hot meal trays on Emirates Economy class.
Business and First class customers will be offered the Ladoos together with a Dry fruit burfi treat, which will be served in boxes decorated with traditional Diwali light artwork, as an alternative to Premium Chocolates.
12/10/17 Kareen DSouza/Masala

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Rs 22 lakh foreign currency seized at Chennai international airport

Chennai:  Officials of Chennai Customs detected eight cases of foreign currency smuggling at Chennai international airport on Friday morning and seized notes worth Rs 22 lakh.
All the eight passengers were bound for Colombo by Sri Lankan airlines UL 126. The passengers have been identified as Mohammed Asarudeen, Sagubhar Sathik, Umar Farook Ali, Navas Khan, Irshath Ahamed, Jahir Hussain, Meera Hussain and Abdul Rahman.
The currency was in the form of 8,000 Euros, 52,500 Saudi Riyals, 2,500 US dollars, 8,500 Dirhams, 235 Kuwaiti Dinars, 4,000 Swiss Francs, 620 Canadian dollars, 40 pounds and 250 Oman Riyals. The currency was found concealed in the rectum of the passengers.
The currency is used to buy gold in countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai which is smuggled back into India, said senior officials.
Usually the currency is shaped into a roll and placed inside the rectum just before boarding the flight, sources said. After the passengers board the flight, they remove it so that there is no discomfort during the journey.
Just before the flight is about to land, the currency notes are again concealed inside the rectum, to escape the eyes of enforcement agencies like Customs and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), said official sources. Women are generally preferred for these kind of operations as they go un-detected on most occasions.
13/10/17 Times of India

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India-EU need long-term comprehensive aviation agreement: European Commission

Singapore: India and the EU need to work out a long-term comprehensive agreement on aviation safety and modernisation of air traffic management to enhance cooperation, a top official of the 28-member bloc has said.

The agreement has to be mutually beneficial, Henrik Hololei, director general for mobility and transport at European Commission -- an institution of the European Union (EU), told here.

"The comprehensive agreement must be a framework to build a real partnership when it comes to aviation safety and security, cooperation in regulatory aspects, modernisation of air traffic management and environmental aspects," he said at the inauguration of the office of the European Aviation Safety Agency ((EASA) in Singapore yesterday.

Hololei was elaborating on the India-EU Horizontal Civil Aviation Agreement which has now been operationalised after the 14th India-EU Summit in New Delhi last week.

"I think this is very good for a closer cooperation because India and the EU have a lot of possibilities to deepen this cooperation. India is a very fast developing market and it is continuously important for both the sides," he said.
12/10/17 PTI/Economic Times

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Jet Airways launches non-stop flight to Paris

Chennai: Jet Airways will start its non-stop service between Chennai and Paris-Charles de Gaulle starting from October 29. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, said the new route will enhance air connectivity between France and India and attract more volume of Indian travellers.
The launch of this direct service will also facilitate corporate travel from French and Indian industries that are based in Chennai and encourage corporate houses from South India to plan their corporate movement in France, he said.

The new service will operate five times a week and complement Jet Airways’ existing daily service between Mumbai and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

In 2016, France received 552,000 Indian visitors to its shores and 136,000 excursionists, registering a significant increase over its arrival figures for visitors in 2014, which stood at 360,400 visitors. This indicates an encouraging increase of 53 per cent in the number of Indian visitors.

This steady rise in numbers is largely due to enhanced air connectivity, persistent marketing and communication initiatives undertaken by Atout France and the ease of visa procedures. Indian visitors planning a French sojourn can now expect their visa within 48 hours.
12/10/17 Indian Express

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Emirates set to serve special treats for Indian flyers during Diwali

Dubai: Emirates is changing its in-flight menu for a week just to treat one of its biggest markets in time for the Diwali season.
The airline announced on Thursday that it will be serving up special delicacies to flyers aboard Dubai-India flights to celebrate the occasion.

“The special treats will be available for customers across all classes during the week of Diwali celebrations, from 16th- 22nd October, 2017, on all on flights to India from Dubai,” the airline said in a statement.
Diwali is celebrated by millions of Indians who make up one of the biggest aviation markets in the world.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had earlier forecast that India could overtake the UK to become the third largest market with 278 million passengers in 2025. By 2035, the Indian market is forecast to expand to 442 million passengers.
12/10/17 Cleofe Mceda/Gulf News

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Turkish Airlines plans expansion in China and India

Istanbul: Turkish Airlines (THY) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said Wednesday the company aims to expand its partnerships in India and China.

Mehmet İlker Aycı said Europe-centered growth was not enough for the airline company, while attending the 2017 Visionary Sectors Summit held by Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) in Istanbul.

"We will have overcome our capacity problem with the third airport," Aycı said, referring to Istanbul's "Third Airport" which is under construction on the European side in Arnavutköy.

"We will expand our flight network by taking on new lines with the opening of the third runway."

Aycı also said the company hopes to promote its regional brand, Anadolu Jet, to international carrier status for the geographical region around Turkey.

Turkish Airlines may begin cooperating with non-Star Alliance airline companies, he added.
11/10/17 Daily Sabah

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Kuwait’s Jazeera Air puts India debut ahead of long-haul move

Kuwait City: Kuwaiti discount carrier Jazeera Airways has delayed a planned expansion into long-haul flights to focus on extending its existing network to serve the Indian subcontinent.
Jazeera, which has previously been limited to operations within the Middle East, will start operating to Hyderabad in India and Lahore in Pakistan this month before adding Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai later in the fourth quarter, Chairman Marwan Boodai said in an interview.
Boodai had said in February that Jazeera aimed to commence intercontinental services this year once it had secured an alliance with a major airline based in Europe or Asia. While that plan remains “alive,” it won’t happen in 2017 after the carrier reset its priorities in light of surging short-haul demand.
10/10/17 Bloomberg

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