EU-India aviation deal legalizes 26 bilateral agreements

Marseille, France: The civil-aviation agreement signed by India and the European Union ahead of their summit Monday legalizes 26 bilateral agreements on air transport India has with individual EU member states.
Since 1944, civilian air traffic between different countries has been governed by bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASAs) which set out how, when and how often each country's national airlines can enter the other's territory.
Over the last decade, however, the EU has created an Open Skies area across its territory - meaning that any EU airline can operate flights from any EU member state to any destination in the world.
In November 2002, the European Court ruled that bilateral ASAs, which only deal with the airlines headquartered in a EU state, were illegal because they discriminated against airlines operating out of the same state but headquartered in a different EU country.
The EU's solution was to create so-called horizontal agreements on behalf of the bloc. Those agreements effectively amend all existing ASAs with a given country to say that the EU states and the third country agree to treat all EU airlines equally.
Officials in Brussels say that such agreements are acceptable in the European Court, and therefore do not run the risk of a legal challenge based on the 2002 ruling.
The agreements do not force either side to open up new routes or increase traffic. That is to remain an issue for negotiation between each individual EU state and the third country in question.
29/09/08 Monsters and Critics.com

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Russia plans to sell SuperJet-100 airliners to India

New Delhi: Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said Monday it had started talks with Indian firms on the delivery of SuperJet-100 passenger airliners and other civil aircraft to the country.
The SuperJet-100 project is a family of medium-haul passenger aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major U.S. and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr Aerospace and Honeywell.
"We have started preliminary talks with a number of Indian companies on the delivery of SuperJet-100 airliners," Alexei Fyodorov, UAC's general director, said without specifying the potential customers.
Sukhoi, which is part of the UAC, plans to manufacture at least 700 Superjet-100s, and intends to sell 35% of them to North America, 25% to Europe, 10% to Latin America, and 7% to Russia and China.
Sukhoi earlier said it had so far secured at least 100 firm orders for the aircraft. Fyodorov, who is attending a meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission on military-technical cooperation in New Delhi, said that the Indian civil aircraft market is important for Russian manufacturers.
"The Indian civil aviation market is very attractive. It is very dynamic and has a large potential," he said.
The UAC is also holding talks with India on deliveries of the Be-200 amphibious plane for the country's coast guard.
29/09/08 RIA Novosti, Russia

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Airfares to Indian destinations go up

Doha: Airfares to several destinations in India, that had seen a drastic fall recently will go up from tomorrow as the Civil Aviation Authority has stepped in to control the price war among airlines companies operating in this sector.
Travel industry sources say that the normal off-season fares will come to effect from October 1, as per the directive from the Civil Aviation Authority.
Fares to some Indian destinations, particularly Calicut and Cochin had dropped by more than 50 per cent as the airlines companies entered into a price war offering heavily discounted tariffs. Traditionally, fares to these two South Indian destinations remained the highest in the region.
A circular issued by the Civil Aviation Authority a few days ago has directed all airlines companies operating flights to the subcontinent to restore the normal off-season fares, according to travel industry sources.
The price war had in fact become a boon for the large number of Indians workings in Qatar, particularly those hailing from the Southern Indian state of Kerala. Some airlines companies were offering fares as low as QR1,500 for a return ticket from Doha to Calicut or Cochin. This scenario, created after the entry of several new airlines companies to the sector, was unprecedented, with the tariffs dipping to an all- time low. A senior official of a leading airlines company operating in this sector said yesterday that the sector can not afford this situation for long.
The revised fares will be much higher than the current fares, but they are expected to be slightly cheaper compared to those existed before the peak summer season.
30/09/08 Peninsula On-line, Qatar

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Casual AI pilot keeps secret papers in cockpit

New Delhi: In a major security breach, an Air India (AI) pilot kept highly-sensitive officials letters of the Indian embassy in New York in the cockpit of his aircraft while flying back to New Delhi on September 19.
Top government sources told DNA the pilot, captain Gopal Nambiar, knew that the mails should be kept in a special locker, but chose to casually keep them in the cockpit. The incident came to the notice of government agencies because the mails were marked sensitive and highly confidential and the aircraft, being a transit flight, was on ground for three hours in Paris.
Official letter bags are highly-secret items, which are kept in lockers, and the pilot is the sole custodian once they reach an aircraft.
“But in no circumstance the pilot is allowed to keep the bag in the cockpit because the letters are highly confidential. He (Nambiar) should not have taken any chance knowing the prime minister is visiting the US,” an official said.
The Air India spokesperson here feigned ignorance about the incident but said: “The pilot might have kept the bag of mails in the cockpit because it is also a very safe area. It is wrong to say the bag was wrongly kept.”
He, however, agreed embassy mail bags should be ideally kept in a special locker.
The intelligence wing of the airport and the airline found nothing amiss in the bag when the aircraft reached Delhi and handed it over to the ministry of external affairs.
All official communication and letters from Indian embassies are brought home on Air India flights. “But it has been found that pilots, instead of keeping such mails in the secret locker or secret safe at the cargo load point, keep them in the cockpit. This is a security breach,” a top government source said.
29/09/08 Yogesh Kumar /Daily News & Analysis

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Only Indians can head airline security

Mumbai: It is an official government order now: only Indian citizens can be appointed to the top security posts in airlines. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) last week finally cleared the air on the nationality aspect in airline security posts which till now was ridden with ambiguity.
Jet Airways had appointed Steve Ramiah, a Singaporean national as its vice-president, security, a month ago as the country did not clearly dictate the terms in such appointments.
"Only an Indian citizen shall be appointed as chief security officer (CSO) of any Indian air carrier and such CSO would directly report to head of the airlines concerned in all matters of security,'' said the order issued by M Malaviya, addl commissioner of security , BCAS, on September 24. The order was effected by Jet Airways' decision taken in the last week of August to have a foreigner as its vice-president, security. "Since Ramiah is a Singaporean national, the airline mentioned in its offer letter that his appointment would stand terminated if the Indian government does not approve of his employment with an Indian carrier,'' said a source.
29/09/08 Manju V/Times of India

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‘India-US aviation doing well despite recession’

Despite the US recession hitting the aviation sector globally, German carrier Lufthansa is upbeat about its India operations. Axel Hilgers, the new director, South Asia at Lufthansa said India is a very important destination for the airline which was the first European carrier to enter the Indian skies over forty years ago. “Indian aviation sector is poised for growth and it is a challenge to maintain our growth in terms of passenger volumes when there are other carriers also operating in and out of India.”
He further said the airline serves seven Indian destinations which offers it healthy load factors and their latest addition of six flights from Pune to Frankfurt is doing well.
Meanwhile, Werner Heseen, who just retired as director, South Asia, Lufthansa told FE , “Though leisure travel has come down on the India-US sector due to the recession, our passenger load factor remains healthy.”
He further explained the reason for this, despite traffic slowing down on the sector. “We have a hopping flight on the India-US sector which halts at any European destination. Our seats get filled at the European halt by passengers who want to travel from Europe to the US. Hence, our business is not affected,” said Heseen.
29/09/08 Shaheen Mansuri/Financial Express

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India to ink pact with EU for better connectivity

New Delhi: India's connectivity with Europe for both passengers and cargo flights is all set to improve dramatically.
India will sign a horizontal agreement with European Union (EU) at Marseilles during PM Manmohan Singh's visit to France on Tuesday that would allow European carriers to operate from anywhere in the continent to India. This deal would, for example, allow British Airways to have flights from Berlin to India or Lufthansa could fly to India from London.
While this deal is being signed to ensure that India complies with EU's requirement of barrier-free trade for European firms, the former is going to push for some of its long-standing demands. EU has accepted demands that include Indian airlines be able to operate cargo flights to Europe; issue tickets for multi-modal transport within continent; also have code sharing with European carriers and most importantly have no restriction on number of points they operate to in Europe.
29/09/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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ETA-Ascon Star taps into India's rising demand for corporate jets

Dubai: The ETA-Ascon Star Group is seeking to build a solid business jet infrastructure in India by redeveloping hundreds of its small airstrips for the country's growing corporate segment, a top official said.
The group, with an annual sales revenue of $5.69 billion, entered the aviation business by setting up Star Aviation in India earlier this year.
It has launched ETA Star Jet for the corporate jet market in the Gulf.
The company is willing to invest in developing airstrips and helipads wherever needed.
"We have entered the executive jet business by setting up a new company, ETA Star Jet, to serve the growing needs of corporate clients across the region," Hameed Salahuddin, director of ETA-Ascon Star Group, told Gulf News in a recent interview.
"We are acquiring three aircraft to start with and we will unveil this during the next Middle East Business Aviation conference in Dubai."
He said the company will expand its fleet in the coming years as demand for business jet grows.
"However, the biggest demand is expected from the Indian market as the economy is on a fast-track growth. Corporate India has moved to the next generation that needs fast transit facilities across the country."
India is currently developing a number of business and industrial parks and economic zones that need air strips or helipads for business leaders to travel back and forth.
India's aviation sector is yet to expand to its fullest capacity as private airlines are making headway to fill up the gap created by growing demand.
If the Indian government permits, then ETA Ascon Star Group would invest in creating the executive jet facilities, called fixed-base operations (FBO) across all airports in India, while expanding its own business jet fleet to serve corporate India.
27/09/08 Saifur Rahman/GulfNews, United Arab Emirates

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China Eastern Airlines to increase frequency in India

New Delhi: China Eastern Airlines, which connects Delhi and Kolkata with three Chinese cities - Shanghai, Beijing and Kunming - will increase its operations in India from next month, airline sources said.According to airline officials, the carrier will add one more flight on its Delhi-Shanghai-Beijing route, which currently has a frequency of four flights a week.
The company will fly daily from three flights a week on Kolkata-Kunming route by the end of next month. However, the airline is yet to get a clearance from the Indian government, but it expects to get it in next few days. Edward Zhu Xuemin, airline’s representative in India, said it would promote Kunming, a famous tourist destination. The Kolkata-Kunming flight offers the shortest connectivity - it takes two-and-a-half hours.
Kunming also offers excellent connectivity to other destinations in mainland China.
27/09/08 IANS/Thaindian.com, Thailand

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Oman Air celebrates seventh anniversary of Cochin operations

24 IATA agents participated in the competition and the First prize was won by M/s. Akbar Travels of India with M/s. Creative Tours & Travels bagging the runner up prize.
Mr. Manoj, a renowned Malayalam & Tamil film art director who was the judge for the competition along with Mr. Sunil V A - District Sales Manger - COK and Mr. Ashok Kumar, Sales Manager (GSA), visited all the agents to weigh up the flower carpets. Prizes for the winners will be distributed during an upcoming 'Agents Award' function to be held in Cochin.
Mohamed Bin Salim Al Bulushi, Country Manager India, stated that India is the second largest travel market in Asia after China, and is one of the fastest growing throughout the world. The Indian tourism market size was valued at $4878m in 2007.
He affirmed India being an important destination for Oman Air and one of its most profitable sectors. He also highlighted that Oman Air was the first foreign airline to commence operations to two Indian destinations namely Cochin and Jaipur, adding that Oman Air is delighted with the growth it had achieved in India.
Al Bulushi stressed that the carrier enjoys good load factors on all its routes to the India. We are looking currently at other new destinations within India such as Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Pune, and Amritsar as high-density tier-two cities to meet the demand for direct service to Oman and other Gulf countries. India has the potential to emerge as a hub for international airlines like ours to ferry passengers bound towards either direction.
28/09/08 AME Info, United Arab Emirates

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SpiceJet to get 2nd round funding from WL Ross

New Delhi: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet will receive about $65 million (about Rs 260 crore) within a week as the second tranche of investment by US private equity firm WL Ross and Co and by Goldman Sachs.
Wilbur Ross had earlier agreed to invest $80 million in the Delhi-based carrier by buying out its foreign currency convertible bonds from Goldman Sachs Group Inc of the US and Istithmar PJSC, a UAE-based investment house. He also managed to get Goldman to invest $20 million in SpiceJet. The investment was to be made in two tranches.
"The second tranche of about $65 million will be received within a week," SpiceJet Director Kishore Gupta said.
27/09/08 Press Trust Of India/Business Standard

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Govt cold to Mallya's FDI proposal

New Delhi/Mumbai: The civil aviation ministry has said it will reject Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya’s demand for allowing foreign airlines acquire stakes in Indian carriers.
“We have no knowledge of any such letter written by Mr Mallya. However, the ministry’s stance is the same. The Indian civil aviation industry is still at a nascent stage and foreign airlines will not be allowed to pick up stake in any Indian carrier,” said a civil aviation ministry official.
The civil aviation policy caps foreign direct investment (FDI) in the domestic aviation industry at 49 per cent, barring sectors like cargo, maintenance repair and overhaul, and ground-handling at airports. It does not allow direct or indirect investment by foreign carriers.
To make the change Mallya has demanded, the government will have to incorporate it in the proposed aviation policy. The draft policy, being considered by a Group of Ministers (GOM) headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, does not mention changes in FDI limits on scheduled airline companies.
Mallya yesterday said that he had written to the ministry to allow foreign carriers have a strategic investment of up to 25 per cent in domestic airlines.
27/09/08 Economic Times

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Sukhoi civilian aircraft unit at Nagpur

The Russian military aircraft major, Sukhoi, will soon be setting up a civilian aeroplane manufacturing plant in Nagpur.
"The Sukhoi will invest Euro 2 billion (Rs 13,600 crore) for manufacturing about 25 to 50 super jets initially and later 100 aircraft at full capacity," Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar said on Friday.
"The super jets will be of 90 to 130 seats," Muttemwar said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is likely to sign the agreement in the regard in the presence of Union Defence Minister A K Antony early next month.
A Malaysian group, Al-Bukhari, which has expertise in developing airports will be a strategic partner in developing the Special Economic Zone for solar energy, he said.
Bawasi, an Indian partner, will acquire land, rehabilitate the affected people and develop the SEZ as part of the prestigious international passenger and cargo hub in the city.
26/09/08 PTI/Rediff

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China Eastern Airlines to increase frequency and open new routes from India

New Delhi: China Eastern Airlines, which currently connects two Indian cities, Delhi and Kolkata, with Shanghai, Beijing and Kunming in China is planning to increase its frequency of operations to India from next month. The airline will add one more flight on its Delhi-Shanghai- Beijing route, which currently has a frequency of four flights a week. It will also increase the frequency from three flights a week to daily on the Kolkata-Kunming by the end of next month. Although final clearances are still awaited, the airline sources are hopeful of positive response from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
According to Edward Zhu Xuemin, Chief Representative-India, China Eastern Airlines Kunming as a tourist destination has a long history, as well as a lot to offer in terms of tourism products. “Our Kolkata –Kunming flight offers the shortest connectivity. It takes hardly two-and-half hours by air. Kunming also offers excellent connectivity to other destinations in mainland China. We can offer good packages to travellers from Delhi and Kolkata to Kunming and Shanghai, etc.,” stated Xuemin while addressing a recent meeting between members of the Indian travel trade and a delegation of Kunming Municipal Tourism Bureau and its travel trade members in Delhi.
27/09/08 P. Krishna Kumar/TravelBizMonitor

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Gati Forays Into Dubai Airport Free Zone

Gati, a pioneer and leader in the Express Distribution and Supply Chain Solutions in India, has made its foray into the Middle East market setting up operations in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
Jamal bin Marghoob, Deputy Sales Director, Dubai Airport Free Zone said, "We are proud to offer our investors the most attractive incentive packages that would assist them in expanding and growing in the region together with the additional benefits of having their businesses located in one of the busiest airports in the world."
Speaking on behalf of Gati, Mahendra Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO of Gati Ltd. said: "Gati will continue in its quest to meet business needs of today's businesses, redefining connectivity to match the needs of the discerning customer. We are a single window logistic solution provider and have the capability to offer a plethora of services to meet every budget and every customer's need."
Today, Gati has offices in China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka and now in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
In a span of 19 years, Gati is an undisputed market leader in India providing innovative and value added logistics services to customers of all segments.
25/09/08 Zawya, United Arab Emirates

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NIIT Technologies, British Airways ink three-year deal

New Delhi: Leading Indian global software major NIIT Technologies Ltd said Friday that it has signed a "multi-million pound" three-year deal with Britain's premier airline British Airways.
"The deal enables the support and testing of business critical applications across various business areas of the global airline," the regulatory statement said.
The contract is one of the largest ever deals to be signed by NIIT Technologies with a member of the British airlines industry and follows a 12-year relationship between the two companies, the statement said.
"NIIT Technologies has built on its reputation in the airline sector for providing efficiencies and savings through outsourcing by continuing to demonstrate expertise, experience and commitment towards their client’s success," the statement said.
The contract is one of the largest ever deals to be signed by NIIT Technologies with a member of the British airlines industry and follows a 12-year relationship between the two companies, the statement said.
26/09/08 IANS/Sify

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Heroin worth Rs. 14 cr. seized; Vietnamese national arrested

Bangalore: Officials of the Preventive Unit of the Department of Customs (Central) arrested a Vietnamese national at the Bengaluru International Airport in the early hours of Thursday and seized heroin worth Rs. 14.28 crore from her.
Nguyen Thi Trang (24) claimed to be a student. She was arrested while boarding a Hanoi-bound flight around 12.30 a.m. “The accused had concealed 4.28 kg of heroin in specially made cavities in her sandals and the false bottom of a suitcase”, A.K. Koushal, Commissioner of Customs, told The Hindu.
“The accused flew from New Delhi to Bangalore by a Jetlite flight on Wednesday night. We had information on her. She was taken into custody as she was getting ready to take the connecting flight to Hanoi,” said Bijoy Kumar Khar, Additional Commissioner of Customs.
The Customs officials said that the examination of her baggage and two pairs of sandals had led to the seizure of a huge quantity of heroin.
26/09/08 The Hindu

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Boeing eyes Rs 9000 crores business from India

Hyderabad, Bullish about India's growing aviation market, US aerospace major Boeing sees a $20 billion opportunity in the defence sector alone over the next decade.
The company is also eyeing $105 billion worth of orders for over 1,000 commercial airplanes from various Indian carriers over the next 20 years.
'We are excited about India's emerging aerospace and defence markets. On the back of the India-US nuclear deal, there are huge opportunities in the defence sector. There is $20 billion opportunity for Boeing in this sector alone over the next decade,' Boeing India President Ian Thomas said at meeting here Thursday on India-US economic cooperation.
Boeing was committed to India and was looking for long-term and strategic partnerships with Indian companies, he told the meeting, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to mark the visit of a US-India Business Council (USIBC) mission.
He later told newsmen that the company was bidding for Indian defence orders worth $15-$20 billion for F/A-18 Super Hornet combat jets, P8I maritime surveillance aircraft and Apache combat helicopters.
He said Boeing's 60-year journey in India had been exciting, pointing out that Air India had purchased airplanes worth $25 billion during last three years.
'There is boom in the civil aviation industry and we are proud to be part of that boom,' he said.
26/09/08 IANS/Andhra Cafe

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Jet Airways expands codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines

Jet Airways has expanded its existing codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines to include Paris and Manchester (effective October 26, 2008) , via the airline’s European hub in Brussels.
Manchester is Jet Airways’ second codeshare destination in the UK, after Birmingham, in addition to the airline’s direct, daily services to London from Mumbai, Delhi and Amritsar in India.
With this codeshare expansion, Jet Airways now offers its passengers seamless connectivity between Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai in India and Birmingham, Madrid, Barcelona, Lyon, Berlin Tempelhof, Paris and Manchester, via Brussels, through its codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines.
Jet Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said, “With the expansion of its codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, Jet Airways now offers its passengers enhanced connectivity on the India-Europe sector, via its world-class, passenger-friendly hub in Brussels. This network connectivity, an acclaimed in-flight product, superb service and new aircraft has ensured that Jet Airways is fast becoming the carrier of choice for passengers on the sector.”
The airline flies daily to Brussels from three gateway points in India: Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.
Jet Airways currently has codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Qantas, ANA and Etihad, offering its passengers unmatched connectivity across Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan from India.
24/09/08 PRESS RELEASE/Jet Airways

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BJETS eyes push into Asian aircraft management market

BJETS, which aims to start the first pan-Asian fractional ownership firm with 50 business jets, plans to actively offer aircraft management services as well to meet growing demand in India and South-East Asia.
"We have started operations as a fractional ownership, block charter company and traditional charter company, and that remains our core business. India and South-East Asia have great potential and we are confident about the opportunities that lie ahead," says Mark Baier, chief executive of BJETS.
"However, several potential customers in both regions have asked us to manage their aircraft. We did anticipate moving into this area eventually, but the demand for this service has taken us by surprise. There appears to be a shortage of good aircraft management companies in these regions, and we have the expertise to provide this. We believe that we can fill this gap."
For now, the focus remains on BJETS' existing business. It has taken delivery of four of the 40 jets it ordered, and started charter operations as planned in September after test flights in August. Baier admits that the company has not signed any clients for its fractional ownership programme, but he expects that to change shortly.
"There is greater demand for fractional ownership than block charters, and we have flown potential clients on our aircraft to let them enjoy the experience. Fractional ownership is a relatively new concept in India and South-East Asia, but there is growing interest and customers will sign shortly," says Baier.
The company has firm orders for 20 Cessna Citation CJ2+s, nine Hawker 850XPs, 11 Hawker 900XPs, and 10 Hawker 4000s. Three 850XPs and one CJ2+ have been delivered, and it plans to add three more CJ2+s and one 850XP by the end of the year.
25/09/08 Siva Govindasamy/Flight International

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New fixed air fares soon to halt price war

New fixed fares will be put in place from October 1 to halt the escalating price war between airlines, Gulf Times has learnt.The decision was announced at a managers’ meeting – called by the Civil Aviation Authority – of the 12 airlines operating flights to India.
The gathering was organised by the CAA to check the price war in the market – and the consequent eroding of profits.The CAA has now fixed fares for direct, indirect and low cost carriers to various destinations with managers being told that the market would be closely monitored and strict action taken against violators.
According to sources, the new fares will be higher than those currently available but lower than previously fixed fares.
For Mumbai, for instance, the new ‘low season’ one-way fare would be QR790 as against the previously fixed QR950. In the high season, the new one way fare would be QR890, down from the previous QR1,149.
A round trip would be QR1,390 in the low season against QR1,630 before, and QR1,590 in the high season, compared to QR1,990 in the past.
The bargain fares currently available are much lower and vary from carrier to carrier and sometimes from agency to agency. Contacts further revealed that the CAA had also fixed the fuel surcharge. For the GCC and intra-Gulf it will now be QR140 for a one-way flight and QR280 for a return. For India and Europe it is QR240 and QR470.
Currently, airlines have different surcharges and one airline has even merged the cost with the fare. This, the CAA said, should be discontinued and advised everyone to mark the fare and surcharges separately.
26/09/08 Arvind Nair/Gulf Times, Qatar

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SriLankan Airlines commended by Indian Government for SAARC handling

The Government of India has commended SriLankan Airlines for its handling of Indian VVIP flights during the recent SAARC Summit in Colombo.
The gathering of Presidents and Prime Ministers of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) involved hundreds of senior government officials from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, amidst tight security.
SriLankan Airlines provides ground handling facilities for all airlines and private aircraft at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport.
Following the summit, the Indian High Commission in Colombo wrote to SriLankan Airlines, commending its “excellent arrangements and other assistance to the Indian delegation”. The airline was also sent a gift of a designer watch autographed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
26/09/08 eTravelBlackboard - Asia Edition, Australia

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Rahul's dream was to soar high

Mumbai: Rahul Sharma’s dream was to soar high, and he died in pursuit of it. The 20-year-old youth from Mumbai died in a plane crash in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday. Read On >>

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Indian student pilots death: US aircraft to investigate crash

US experts will help authorities investigate a fatal light aircraft crash in Sydney's southwest. Air safety investigators began investigating the crash which killed a student pilot, believed to be an Indian national aged in his 20s, on a training flight on Wednesday. Read On >>

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Probe ordered into drunk pilot case

New Delhi: The recent case of an Air India pilot reportedly getting so drunk that he urinated on his seat while flying as a passenger on the airline’s New York-Delhi nonstop flight has regulatory agencies in a bind.
While there is strong punishment for a pilot caught reporting for duty in a high state, a drunk passenger is - at best - a nuisance against whom no action can be taken. The incident happened in this premium flight’s business class and is reported to have left co-passengers aghast.
As a result, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked AI if the pilot was flying as a passenger or as staff on duty. "The airline has been asked to conduct an inquiry and send us a report. If the person was on duty, then action can be taken like suspending him or sending him for counselling. Otherwise, there’s nothing we can do," said a senior official.
This year, over 20 pilots have been caught drunk when reporting for flying. The airline is also in a bind.
An AI spokesperson said cabin crew have to report any incident that takes place on a flight. "In this case, no such report has been filed on the basis of which we can act. The person accused of this act was an Indian Airlines (that has been merged with AI) pilot who was on leave and flying as a passenger.
25/09/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Incident: Air India B743 at Tokyo on Sep 21st 2008, engine spits parts

An Air India Boeing 747-300, registration VT-EPW performing flight AI307 from Tokyo Narita (Japan) to Delhi (India) with 182 passengers, suffered the failure of engine #4 (outer right) shortly after takeoff, the engine spitting parts of its compressor and turbine onto a parking lot and destroying the windshield of a car. The crew declared emergency and decided to return to Narita, where the airplane landed safely about 80 minutes after departure.
The Japanese Ministry of Railway and Aviation has opened an investigation into the incident considered to be serious.
24/09/08 Simon Hradecky/The Aviation Herald, Austria

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Another Indian student pilot killed

A 20-year-old man killed in a light plane crash in Sydney's west yesterday is the second Indian national in a month to die in Australia while learning to fly.
The aviation student, whose name has not been released, crashed a Liberty XL2 single-engine aircraft into farmland at Luddenham just before 4.30pm. Read On >>

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Indian passenger traffic through Abu Dhabi airport grows

Dubai: India and the Philippines were significant contributors to Abu Dhabi International Airport's 22.9 per cent year-on-year growth in passenger traffic in the month of August.
The Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) announced that a total of 869,868 passengers used the airport during August this year, compared to 707,671 last year, with the year-to-date figures crossing 5.9 mn - up 34.3 per cent against last year's 4.4 mn over the same period.
The number of passengers travelling from or to India passing through the airport jumped by 31.3 per cent during the period while Filipino passenger traffic grew 74.1 per cent.
India's national carrier Air India, budget carrier Air India Express and leading private airline Jet Airways fly to the Abu Dhabi International Airport, which is also the hub of the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Etihad Airways.
Of the 1.5 mn expatriate Indians in the UAE, around 300,000 are in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Among the major destinations in India flights from Abu Dhabi connect to are Delhi, Mumbai, Calicut, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore.
The number of passengers to and from other Gulf States also rose particularly strongly, with Bahrain traffic up 44.4 per cent, Oman up 33.1 per cent, Qatar up 35.2 per cent and Saudi Arabia - the largest Gulf market for the airport - up 18.3 per cent.
Passenger traffic from Britain grew by 30.5 percent. The airport's top five destinations during the month were Doha, London, Cairo, Bahrain and Bangkok.
24/09/08 IANS/Economic Times

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How Air India managed a dead drunk pilot aboard

New Delhi: Staff aboard a recent New York-Delhi Air India flight had a harrowing time with a dead-drunk pilot aboard. Thankfully, the pilot was a passenger and not manning controls in the cockpit.
The pilot was travelling economy and his ticket was upgraded to first class after he soiled his seat. But the airline denied that the ticket had to be upgraded. Captain Dass was travelling alone on a first class staff ticket, an airline spokesman said.
An airline source close to the crew witnessed all the action aboard. Flight attendants noticed his “untidy state” during routine check after all passengers had gone to sleep. The pilot was wearing a T-shirt and shorts and had been drinking.
An Air India spokesperson, however, said, “During the flight he just had wine and there is nothing wrong if crew members helped him.” The crew supervisor, a lady, was shocked to discover that the drunken passenger was a pilot. When things went out of control, the crew informed the commander, Vivek Chabra. Chabra was shocked to find that Captain Dass had wetted his shorts. He and other crew members hurriedly took the passenger to the toilet, wrapped him up in a blanket and brought him back to his seat. But they then realised that he had soiled his seat too. “There was no option than to shift him to another seat,” said the source.
23/09/08 Yogesh Kumar/Daily News & Analysis

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Jet expands codeshare agreement with BA

Jet Airways has expanded its existing codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines to include Paris and Manchester (effective October 26, 2008) , via the airline’s European hub in Brussels.
Manchester is Jet Airways’ second codeshare destination in the UK, after Birmingham, in addition to the airline’s direct, daily services to London from Mumbai, Delhi and Amritsar in India.
With this codeshare expansion, Jet Airways now offers its passengers seamless connectivity between Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai in India and Birmingham, Madrid, Barcelona, Lyon, Berlin Tempelhof, Paris and Manchester, via Brussels, through its codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines.
Jet Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said, “With the expansion of its codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, Jet Airways now offers its passengers enhanced connectivity on the India-Europe sector, via its world-class, passenger-friendly hub in Brussels. This network connectivity, an acclaimed in-flight product, superb service and new aircraft has ensured that Jet Airways is fast becoming the carrier of choice for passengers on the sector.”
The airline flies daily to Brussels from three gateway points in India: Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.
Jet Airways currently has codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Qantas, ANA and Etihad, offering its passengers unmatched connectivity across Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan from India.
23/09/08 PRESS RELEASE/Jet Airways

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MIDC police arrest two Nepalis for job fraud

Mumbai: The MIDC police arrested two Nepali nationals who allegedly duped 800 of their countrymen, promising them jobs of loaders with airlines. The aspirants paid between Rs 500-Rs 3,000 and were promised jobs in Kingfisher Airlines as well as a non-existent Jeevandani airlines.
The fraud came to light when one of the victims Gyanendra Bahadur Lalchina (40) demanded that the accused show requisite documents like a job contract. The accused, Prakash Chaudhari (34) and Ravi Bohora (36) failed to provide the documents. The duo then went into hiding. They have been booked under Sections 34 (common intention) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC.
"I thought I will get settled in life with a good job at the airport,'' Lalchina told TOI, adding that "the victims did not realise that they were going to get conned by people from their own country''.
The job applicants met the duo three months ago when they were informed about the openings at the airports.
Senior inspector Pradip Sonawne of MIDC police station said that the duo has conned many applicants from Mumbai, Thane and Shahapur.
23/09/08 V Narayan/Times of India

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IATA launches an integrated platform through myiata.com

Hyderabad: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched its web portal 'My IATA' (www.iata.org/myiata) at PATA Travel Mart 2008, which concluded in Hyderabad on September 19. The portal was given visibility in Asia for the first time at the mart. An agent will have to register as a member and he can get access to various products, suppliers and functions depending on his level of subscription. The price will also depend on the type of subscription. The agent will be given a user ID and password, which he can set up himself. “Earlier we were selling each product separately. With this portal we will be selling all the products on one integrated platform. This will help the customer choose the products that best fit his profile,” said Inigo Prieto, Manager, IATA - Global Data Products.
There is also a system of e-broadcasting, wherein a customer can choose to broadcast a piece of information to agents across the globe. The customer will have to log in and create an agency list based on various criteria, which he will have to pre-define. The information will be sent to the list of agents as an email with the details of the customer and the information. The agent can choose to unsubscribe if he does not want to be contacted by a particular customer. The broadcast will have a disclaimer and he can unsubscribe on the broadcast itself. A customer can also disseminate sensitive and licensed files. The information on the portal will be updated on a weekly basis. “This system is called pay as you go, as a customer can pay for sending one message. The price can range from five cents to seven cents depending on the size of the message and the number of agents,” added Inigo.
23/09/08 Lakshmi Vishwanath/TravelBizMonitor

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TCS Teams With I-SEC Technologies

Mumbai: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a leading global IT services and business solutions firm, and I-SEC Technologies, a fully owned subsidiary of ICTS International N.V., a world leader in aviation security, today announced through their partnership with Star Alliance, a global airline alliance, the launch of its premier alliance product for automatic document checking, aimed at simplifying the complex task of verifying travel documentation requirements for travelers.
The development of this automatic document checking software is a Star Alliance joint initiative involving experts from eleven of its member carriers. TCS designed the overall solution and managed the prestigious program for Star Alliance, while I-SEC Technologies maintains the systems' rule engine database and assisted in designing its concept.
"The automatic document checking solution helps carriers to significantly expedite check-in processes," said Lee Hock Lye, Vice President, Products and Services, Star Alliance.
Automatic document checking has already been implemented at one leading Star Alliance member carrier. Additional Star Alliance member carriers are presently working on future implementation schedules. This state-of-the-art solution will reduce the time for passenger check-in and help airlines avoid immigration fines.
The automatic document checking solution shortens airport check-in time, especially for international travelers. The automatic document checking software evaluates the passengers' travel documents and provides clear Yes, No or Conditional decisions on whether the passengers' travel documents will allow them to continue to their intended destination. The system also provides travel warnings and restrictions associated with the rules of the country they are traveling to, in a clear, easy to understand format.
22/09/08 PR Newswire, USA

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Air India puts European hub plan on backburner

New Delhi: Huge accumulated losses and a merger that’s yet to lead to the promised mega national carrier has forced Air India to defer its plans for setting up a hub in Europe.
Till some time back, the national carrier had zeroed in on two sites—Munich and Frankfurt—and was to choose one of them. Now with flights curtailed and no global expansion in sight till next winter, the European hub has been put on the backburner.
The idea of a European hub was to provide scissor operations there by taking passengers from different Indian cities and then providing connections to North America, like Jet does at Brussels.
“But at present we are not adding any flights so there’s no question of setting up this hub in a hurry. We will again start the process of selecting a city when the time is ripe,” said a top AI official. In fact, AI is not the only one to defer its plan for a hub. Jet is also reliably learnt to be keen on strengthening its Brussels hub first by linking it to Bangalore and other cities before going in for another European hub.
For AI, European hub is not the only thing that’s on the backburner. The merged AI-IA entity, National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), is now not going to start a domestic low cost carrier service.
22/09/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Concern over Ireland airports treatment of tourists

Tourism officials expressed concern to the Department of Arts and Tourism earlier this year about the behaviour of immigration officers at ports of entry after an Indian man who won a trip to Ireland in a State-sponsored competition reported suffering harassment and racial discrimination at Dublin airport.
He won the trip at an event organised by Tourism Ireland in Mumbai to promote Ireland as an attractive holiday destination.
Newly released documents show the prizewinner wrote to Tourism Ireland on March 2nd to complain of his treatment at Dublin airport. He outlined how, despite his having the required tourist visa and carrying a letter from Tourism Ireland, immigration officers insisted they did not believe the letter was authentic.
"[An officer] then asked us who had booked our hotel. We told him it was done by Thomas Cook in Bombay. He said that can't be possible as why would Ireland Tourism [sic] book through Thomas Cook as they were a British company. We didn't know what to say."
He alleged many other Indian passengers were treated unfairly. "It was only the Indians who were being photographed at the immigration counter. It was clear-cut racial discrimination. Whole thing was very embarrassing."
According to correspondence released to The Irish Times under Freedom of Information rules, Tourism Ireland responded to convey its "deep regret" to the prizewinner over his experience. "We are all very upset and embarrassed about the incident and will be taking it up at the highest levels with the Government department concerned . . ." the agency said.
The following day, an official from Tourism Ireland sent an e-mail to a counterpart in the Department of Arts and Tourism. "Another shock story about immigration," he wrote. "We really need to do something about it. The friendliest destination in the world???"
This was followed by a letter from Tourism Ireland chief executive Paul O'Toole to secretary general of the department Con Haugh. He pointed out that, in line with Government policy, the organisation was seeking to develop new markets in the Asia-Pacific region and warned of the need to be competitive.
"A number of our partners and contacts have reported unfortunate instances when they or their clients have sought entry to Ireland, notwithstanding their belief that they had secured the necessary documentation," he wrote.
Tourism Ireland regards India as one of the most promising developing markets and opened an office in Mumbai three years ago.
22/09/08 Ruadhan Mac Cormaic/Irish Times, Ireland

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A-I new mantra: new aircraft, improved menu, class service

Chicago: The Air India management, at least that is managing the Midwest operations, has now a new Mantra. It follows an old adage which says, " the approach to man's heart is thru his stomach", and then spices it up with offering more comforts thru induction of most improved aircraft 777-300 series from Boeing.The management team recently made a grand presentation of newly developed Air India menu for passengers leaving from Chicago, New York or Los Angeles. And invitees were Midwest travel agents and ethnic Indian media representatives.
The success of the presentation has induced the management led by the recently appointed Midwest manager Jude Crasto to invite now business magnates and business executives who usually travel by business class and first class. The idea was to convince them once again that Air India has best in-flight service and that its exhilarating menu dishes add flavor to their comforting sojourn to the motherland.
Crasto made a detailed presentation of a recent addition to its fleet - 777- 300 series aircraft - and pointed out that business class and first class passengers can enjoy flat beds for night sleep while economy class travelers too will see their comfort levels jump up through better seats and better entertainment gadget.
The new aircraft would be operat- ionable from Chicago beginning October 26 this year for its daily flight to Mumbai.It was an august gathering with top notch business elites from Chicago coming to the Flying Food Services kitchen near O'Hare Airport last Wednesday afternoon.
The Chef team that included Munna Lal, John Rupin, David Iantorno, Rommel Maggsino and Eddie made a grand presentation of the items being served to First Class and Business passengers besides what is offered in economy class. This was followed by the taste of all the food delicacies which would form part of vegetarian and non vegetarian meals.Air India has now changed the meal menu on board beginning this summer.
21/09/08 IndiaPost.com, USA

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New Maldivian flight commences operations

The new aircraft brought for “Maldivian” on the 18th of this month has commenced flights to India’s Trivandrum yesterday.
Assistant Director of Island Aviation Services Ismail Sujau said that this 50 seat aircraft will start flights to other destinations even thought it started flights to Trivandrum now.
“We are first starting the flights of this aircraft to India’s Trivandrum. Two flights will be conducted to Trivandrum from 27th of this month onwards. Although this aircraft conducts flights to Trivandrum, it would also travel to Kaadedhdhoo and Gan also” Sujau said.
The ferry flight took off from Cairns- Australia on 11th September 2008 and it was flown to Darwin in Australia followed by Bali-Indonesia, Singapore, Port Blair-India, Colombo-Sri Lanka and finally to Male’. With the arrival of this aircraft, Island Aviation will have 05 aircraft comprising of 01 Dornier 228 aircraft and 04 Dash-8 aircraft.
This aircraft has been painted with the new livery, “Maldivian”, which is the brand name for the company’s airline division.
21/09/08 Miadhu, Maldives

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No intention to exit SpiceJet: Wilbur Ross

New Delhi: Global private equity investor Wilbur Ross & Co has said that it has no intention of exiting low-cost carrier SpiceJet, in which it had pumped Rs 345 crore (around USD 80 million).
"We have no intention of exiting (SpiceJet)," WL Ross & Co Chairman and CEO Wilbur L Ross told PTI in an e-mail interview.
His comment comes in the backdrop of market speculations that the global corporate turnaround and restructuring master has initiated talks with Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines for a possible merger, with either to get better valuation for it to exit.
"We are pleased with our investment and we are the only low-cost carrier in India to have enough capital in hand to carry the airline through several years, even with higher prices for jet fuel than prevailing now," he said.
In July, Wilbur Ross & Co announced it would invest Rs 345 crore (around USD 80 million) in SpiceJet.
The fund infusion was aimed at clearing the budget carrier's debt as well as meeting its working capital requirements. As jet fuel prices shot up earlier this year, SpiceJet's margin also came under pressure.
21/09/08 PTI/Deccan Herald

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US wind blow for Indian air travel

New Delhi: The US financial market crisis has come as big blow to Indian airlines that were hoping for a reversal of fortunes with increased footfalls in coming peak travel season. Carriers now fear an erosion of traffic to and from the west as troubled investment bankers have traditionally been big ticket spenders on travel front. And since all Indian carriers are grossly undercapitalised, raising funds has become tougher as cost of capital is very high while capacity for taking risks is low.
The troubled US giant, AIG, has a 10% stake in the consortia that has insured Air India. "Our Indian insurance company, New India, has assured there's no problem and we have still an A rating," said an AI official. Clearly, the biggest worry is on travel and funding front. Apart from business travel, NRIs who used to get fat pay cheques from the troubled US giants are also feared to cut down on personal travel in the coming wedding season.
"This crisis will have consequences on all areas of economy, including aviation. While I will not dramatise the impact, there will be some reduced travel. Investment bankers travel a lot. However, Indian economy is going strong and the impact will be not as badly felt as globally," Jet Airways CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur said. He added banks will become very cautious in lending to the capital-intensive aviation sector.
20/09/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Air India gets $548.6 mn Ex-Im Bank loan

Washington: The Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank) of the US has given India's national carrier Air India $548.6 mn in loan guarantees to support the purchase of Boeing aircraft.
Air India chairman and managing director Raghu Menon and Ex-Im Bank chairman James H Lambright signed the deal on Friday at a ceremony at the bank headquarters here. Air India is officially called the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL).
"We greatly value Ex-im Bank's contribution in partnering with Air India in our project to acquire 68 state-of-the-art aircraft from The Boeing Company," said Menon.
"Induction of these modern aircraft into our fleet will be a major step forward in making Air India a truly global airline through a significant expansion of our international network," he said.
"The fast-growing Indian market offers enormous opportunities for US exporters in many sectors including transportation, energy and infrastructure development," said Lambright.
"We're also pleased that India has taken advantage of the new benefits offered by its participation in the Cape Town Treaty," he added.
The Cape Town Treaty is an international treaty that facilitates the cross-border financing and leasing of aircraft, helicopters and aircraft engines.
Ex-Im Bank reduces its exposure fee by one-third on asset-backed financings of new US-manufactured large commercial aircraft and spare engines for international buyers located in countries that ratify and implement the treaty.
20/09/08 IANS/Economic Times

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International routes may hurt airlines now

Turmoil in the US financial sector – triggered by the Lehman Brothers collapse – may prove to be yet another dampener to the international air travel. Aviation experts fear US and the Europe-bound air traffic may be hit due to the crisis which is resulting in loss of jobs.
According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), the financial sector meltdown poses a much sharper economic downturn than the fuel price spike. This may lead to negative growth in travel, affecting revenue of airlines.
“The collapse of US financial giants would certainly affect US-bound air travel. Europe-bound traffic is also expected to get hit as some of the big financial institutions there are also heading to a possible crisis. Also there are many companies in the country which are directly or indirectly related with these falling giants,” Amadeus India managing director Ankur Bhatia said.
Home-grown airlines, such as Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, are, however, not in a hurry to assess the impact of the financial crisis on their international operations. Kingfisher which just started overseas operation by launching a service on Bangalore-London sector doesn’t see any significant dent to its maiden flight at least in the near future.
According to industry estimates, corporate travellers comprise about 63%-65 % of the country’s total inbound and outbound international air traffic.
20/09/08 Nirbhay Kumar/Economic Times

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Lufthansa Seeks To Get the Traveler to India In Style

New York: Lufthansa has long been viewed as the premium airline for those who want to travel in style. The face of the traveler now, has however undergone changes over the past 15 years. Now, those that fly the skies travel to ports like New Delhi and Mumbai. Lufthansa, recognizing this change, is seeking to increase its presence in the South Asian community in the US.
This commitment to the Indian-American audience was clear on Aug. 24 at the Long Island Marriott, here. The Nargis Dutt Fashion Show, an event that was put on to fund a fellowship for Indian doctors, included all the glitz and the glamor that one would expect from an Indian fashion show where the catwalk was graced by Vidya Balan, the chief guest for the night.
Yet, amidst the saris and the salwars that walked the ramp to the beat of Bhangra hits, were three of the Lufthansa crew. All three smiled and waved to the crowd, as if beckoning them to enjoy the flights they have to offer to the South Asian public. While their blond hair and blue eyes may have looked to be in complete antithesis to the audience, their hospitable glances and warm attitudes reflected the commitment to hospitality that the South Asian community is known for and craves for.
It is this need put forth by the South Asian community that has induced Lufthansa to include flights to 7 of India’s major and most traveled destinations; Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune. The airline recognizes that apart from flying to these destinations, it is also the flight time that the South Asian community has to enjoy. Lufthansa has 200 Indian Flight Attendants that are committed to giving the South Asian traveler the best in-flight experience to and from India.
19/09/08 Anjali Abraham/India Journal, USA

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Lufthansa Seeks To Get the Traveler to India In Style

New York: Lufthansa has long been viewed as the premium airline for those who want to travel in style. The face of the traveler now, has however undergone changes over the past 15 years. Now, those that fly the skies travel to ports like New Delhi and Mumbai. Lufthansa, recognizing this change, is seeking to increase its presence in the South Asian community in the US.
This commitment to the Indian-American audience was clear on Aug. 24 at the Long Island Marriott, here. The Nargis Dutt Fashion Show, an event that was put on to fund a fellowship for Indian doctors, included all the glitz and the glamor that one would expect from an Indian fashion show where the catwalk was graced by Vidya Balan, the chief guest for the night.
Yet, amidst the saris and the salwars that walked the ramp to the beat of Bhangra hits, were three of the Lufthansa crew. All three smiled and waved to the crowd, as if beckoning them to enjoy the flights they have to offer to the South Asian public. While their blond hair and blue eyes may have looked to be in complete antithesis to the audience, their hospitable glances and warm attitudes reflected the commitment to hospitality that the South Asian community is known for and craves for.
It is this need put forth by the South Asian community that has induced Lufthansa to include flights to 7 of India’s major and most traveled destinations; Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune. The airline recognizes that apart from flying to these destinations, it is also the flight time that the South Asian community has to enjoy. Lufthansa has 200 Indian Flight Attendants that are committed to giving the South Asian traveler the best in-flight experience to and from India.
19/09/08 Anjali Abraham/India Journal, USA

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WL Ross pitches merger with SpiceJet to rival airlines

Mumbai: New York-based private equity fund WL Ross and Co. Llc., which in August agreed to invest $80 million (about Rs370 crore at the current exchange rate) in low-fare airline SpiceJet Ltd, has, on its own, started talks with Jet Airways India Ltd and Kingfisher Airlines Ltd for a possible merger with the Delhi-based carrier.
Ross, part of investment management firm Invesco Ltd, has also started discussions with other low-fare carriers for a possible merger in an attempt to create a larger airline, said a person familiar with the development.
“The idea is to increase the valuation of SpiceJet or the money invested by WL Ross before the firm exits,” this person added, asking not to be named. WL Ross has also suggested strict cost controls and tighter management to turn around SpiceJet, he added.
Ross is known for buying distressed assets and exiting after ensuring a turnaround and corporate restructuring. In the case of SpiceJet, analysts said it was not immediately clear if the firm wanted to exit the investment by selling its stake to another airline or by brokering a merger for a better valuation.
A senior executive with the UB Group, which owns Kingfisher Airlines, India’s second largest private carrier by passengers, confirmed the Ross approach and would only say: “The talks are at a very preliminary stage.”
Ross had agreed to invest in SpiceJet in two tranches, by buying out its foreign currency convertible bonds from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. of the US and Istithmar PJSC, an investment house based in the United Arab Emirates. The private equity fund also managed to get Goldman to invest $20 million in SpiceJet.
19/09/08 P.R. Sanjai/Livemint

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Air Asia Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur flight from Nov 1

Tiruchi: Air Asia, an international low cost carrier, will enter the Indian market with its first service to the country on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur sector, scheduled for launch from November 1.
The airline had obtained the security clearance from Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and is awaiting clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for commencing operations.
A two-member team from the airline, led by Ahmad Ismail, Manager, Standards and New Stations, Air Asia, visited the airport on Thursday for finalisation of the operational and logistical details. They held separate discussions with S. Sreekumar, Airport Director, and T. H. Radhakrishnan, Station Manager, Air India, which will be the ground handling agency.
Speaking to The Hindu after inspecting the facilities at the new terminal building under construction at the airport, Mr. Ismail said the flights on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchi-Kuala Lumpur sector would be a daily service. The airline would deploy an all-economy class Airbus 320, with a passenger capacity of 180, on the route. The flight from Kuala Lumpur would arrive here at 8.55 a.m. and depart at 9.25 a.m. (Airports Authority of India officials at the Tiruchi Airport have already cleared the schedule, sources said). Mr. Ismail said the airline would look to connecting more Indian destinations after the launch of the Tiruchi service.
19/09/08 S. Ganesan/The Hindu

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Investigators find no reason for copter crash

The investigation into the helicopter crash on Rashid oil rig on September 3 is yet to determine the reason for the crash, the General Civil Aviation Authority said Thursday.
Ismaeil Abdel Wahed, chief of investigations at the GCAA, said in a statement that "the cause of the accident can not be identified at this stage".
The seven victims of the crash were named on September 12. The pilots, who worked for Aerogulf Services, were named as Captain Christopher Brown, from Britain, and Captain Luis Lovera, from Venezuela, the statement said.Two Noble Drilling personnel died in the incident - Adam Rae Duff, from Britain, and Julius Alex Pereira, from India.Baker Hughes Incorporated lost employee Jayant Ingale, also from India and two Production Services Network (PSN) personnel were killed - Shuja Ur Rehman, from Pakistan and Disodado Buhangin, from the Philippines.
“The investigation recorded that the aircraft was not equipped with FDR (Flight Data Recorder) nor CVR (Cockpit Voice Recorder). However, we will continue the investigation until the most probable cause of the tragic accident has been identified," he said.
The Bell 212 helicopter had landed safely on the helipad of the Rashid oil rig and completed its first mission to drop off cargo, he said.
"When the aircraft was ready to depart the helipad, it lifted off to move forward, but in accordance to a witness statement the aircraft moved back ward and it hit a vertical crane, broke up, fell down on the deck and caught fire," he said.
18/09/08 Amy Glass/ArabianBusiness.com, United Arab Emirates

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No limit on carriers in new India-Maldives aviation pact

The cabinet Thursday approved a new air services agreement between India and Maldives that permits any number of airlines to operate between the two countries, replacing a 19-year-old pact that allowed only one carrier from either country.
Maldives is a popular destination for Indians, for both tourists and film makers. India too attracts a large number of tourists from the countries in the region including Maldives.
Either country can impose reasonable user charges on the airlines of the other country and is free to decide tariffs based on commercial considerations.
The designated airline of either party may enter into cooperative marketing arrangements as the operating or marketing airline with any airline.
18/09/08 Indo-Asian News Service/Fresh News

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Mexico seizes ton of pseudoephedrine at airport

Mexico City: Authorities say they have seized more than a ton of pseudoephedrine at Mexico City's airport.
Pseudoephedrine is the main ingredient used to make methamphetamine. Mexico has banned all imports of pseudoephedrine in an effort to thwart methamphetamine production.
The Public Safety Department said in a statement Thursday that the drugs arrived Wednesday on a flight from London. The shipment originated in Calcutta, India.
It said airport police last week seized two separate shipments of pseudoephedrine totaling some 1.4 tons that also originated in Calcutta.
19/09/08 AP/PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung), Austria

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Singur whiff in Boeing miss

Calcutta: A joint team from top US companies has scrapped Calcutta from its India itinerary apparently because of the Singur standoff, denting the state’s longstanding hopes of an investment by Boeing.
Boeing officials are part of an India tour by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) from September 21 to 25, but today the council said it was cancelling the September 21-22 Calcutta leg.
The council — formed by top US and Indian companies to facilitate two-way investment and trade — officially explained that it needed to spend more time in Delhi.
However, sources said the council had informed the US consulate in Calcutta that it was avoiding the city because of the state of affairs prevailing around the Singur stalemate.
Had the US team visited Calcutta, state officials would have had an opportunity to talk to Boeing executives about a possible ancillary in Bengal for the aviation giant’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur.
A Boeing MRO in Bengal had been high on chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s wish list, but the state had lost out to Nagpur, where the company has invested $118 million, creating 3,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs.
18/09/08 Sohini Mookerjea/The Telegraph

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Airbus Confident of A330's Growing Presence in India

Airbus said that the inauguration of Kingfisher Airlines's A330-200 service on its Bangalore-London route illustrates the A330's increasing role in expanding international services from the Indian travel market.
According to Airbus, Kingfisher Airlines will have five A330-200s in service by the end of 2008, serving additional markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Another Indian airline, Jet Airways, which is reported to be India's largest A330 operator, has 10 A330 aircraft in service, plus another two scheduled for delivery later in 2008. Air India also operates two A330-200s on services from India to East Asia and Europe.
When deliveries of all firm orders are completed, nearly 50 A330s will be operated by Indian carriers, including 12 of the new Airbus A330-200Fs cargo aircraft with Flyington Freighters.
18/09/08 Datamonitor/RedOrbit, USA

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AMECO Wins Air India Contract

Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corp (Ameco Beijing), a joint venture between Lufthansa and Air China, has signed an overhaul agreement with Air India Express to conduct safety checks on its nine Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
The first aircraft for checking will be delivered to Beijing in mid September. The deal marks Ameco Beijing's first contract to perform airframe overhaul service for an Indian airline's Boeing 737 aircraft.
Ameco Beijing, which is based at Beijing Capital International Airport, is a joint venture between Air China, which holds 60 per cent, and Lufthansa German Airlines, which holds 40 per cent. It was the first Sino-Foreign aviation services JV to be set up in 1989. It carries out maintenance, repair and overhaul of commercial aircraft, and provides training, engineering and logistics services for China's aviation industry. It has more than 5,000 employees.
18/09/08 Gary Bowerman/BizChinaUpdate, China

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Bilga Air steps in to replace Air India’s flights to Amritsar

A new airline has stepped forward to fill Air Indias shoes by offering flights to the sub-continent from Birmingham International Airport.
Bilga Air will fly from the Midlands to Amritsar in Northern India - home of the Golden Temple in the Punjab - twice a week from October 9.
The announcement follows Air Indias shock decision last week to pull the plug on its Birmingham to Amritsar route in order to protects its valuable slots at Heathrow Airport.
Named after a famous historical village - significant to followers of Sikhism - Bilga Airs flights will be operated by UK Charter Airline Monarch.
Although its schedule will vary at different times of the year, its flights will mainly operate on Sunday and Monday evenings. While some will have a technical stop for fuelling en-route, more than 90 per cent will operate non-stop.
A spokeswoman for the airport said the introduction of the airline would not affect Air Indias slot if it intended to return in the spring and that passengers would have the choice of flying to India with either airline.
16/09/08 Rhona Ganguly/Birmingham Post, UK

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Pawan Hans case enquiry underway

Agartala: A five-member team of Safety Division of Aviation Regulatory Board has spoken to the Airports Authority of India and Pawan Hans officials here in connection with an enquiry. The officials yesterday noted down the statement of the pilot and co-pilot of a Pawan Hans helicopter, which had strayed out of the Indian airspace and landed in Bangladesh last week.
The team, led by H N Mishra, left Tripura last evening after holding separate meetings with the concerned aviation staff and taking the route chart, map and digital voice recorder that taped the audio version of the conversation between the Agartala Air Traffic Control (ATC) and pilot before the helicopter landed in Bangladesh.
The five-seat Pawan Hans helicopter was on its way from Agartala to Gandacherra, a remote sub-division of Tripura, 155 km north of here, to pick up a patient and suddenly its links with the ATC were cut off and it landed in Bangladesh.
Airports Authority of India officials here immediately informed New Delhi with the External Affairs and Civil Aviation Ministries taking up the matter with the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and after four hours of scheduled departure the helicopter had flew back to Agartala.
17/09/08 UNI/MorungExpress

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Deportation of expats arriving on forged papers hits airlines

Riyadh: Foreign workers who were repatriated from the Kingdom’s prisons earlier are being sent home by return flights on arrival in the Kingdom with forged documents.
An immigration official at the Jeddah airport, who didn’t want to be named, said those workers who are sent to prisons and detention camps are fingerprinted when they arrive at the airport for deportation.
“Now, even if they come with different passports, their real identities are revealed after fingerprinting and iris scan at the airport and such passengers are sent back.”
A SriLankan airlines official, who also asked not to be named, said the airline carries at least one such Sri Lankan passenger daily. “The airline is losing a lot of money because it has to bear the travel expenses of workers who are deported from the airport on arrival with forged documents,” he said, adding all airlines are bearing the travel expenses of such passengers.
He said the influx of such passengers are more in Jeddah since a large number of deportees to India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines are repatriated from the Jeddah detention camp.
17/09/08 Mohammed Rasooldeen/Arab News, Saudi Arabia

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Jet eyes Africa in global push

Mumbai: Jet Airways has put its overseas expansion plan back on track. The country’s largest private airline has revised its earlier plan and will use two A330s, to be delivered in December, on India-Saudi Arabia route. Confirming this, Jet Airways chief commercial officer Sudheer Raghavan told ET: “We are considering Africa and we aim to increase our presence in Asia. We need the new aircraft for our international operations.”
An analyst said that Jet Airways, which is aggressively expanding on short-haul international routes and increasing frequencies on domestic routes, will On Monday, Jet launched its daily direct flight between Thiruvananthapuram and Muscat. It has now three daily services to Muscat from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Mumbai and connects six destinations in the Gulf (Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai) from Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai and Delhi. It has expanded its domestic network with three new daily flights from Hyderabad, Goa and Pune.
Jet has lined up deliveries of 30 737NG over next few years indicating that its expansion plan is on schedule. Of the 30 aircraft, 10 will join the JetLite fleet. Also, five 777-300ER and five A330-200 will be inducted into its fleet by 2011. Jet Airways operates a fleet of 85 aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-300 ER, 10 Airbus A330-200, 54 classic and next generation Boeing 737 400/700/800/900 and 11 modern ATR 72-500 turboprop.
16/09/08 Mithun Roy/Economic Times

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British Airways eyes lucrative Indian expansion plan

British Airways is looking to cash in on the lucrative Indian market by holding talks with several local airlines, including Go Air, about striking a franchise agreement.
Civil Aviation Secretary, Ashok Chawla, reportedly confirmed that a senior Indian ministry official is scheduled to meet with BA executives today to examine the carrier's proposal.
Under a franchising agreement, an Indian carrier would be allowed to use the BA livery, brand and flight code, but would retain its own management.
This would allow BA to extend its network within India without having to make an investment.
Crucially, such a partnership would also circumvent the country's Foreign Direct Investment Policy, which prevents foreign carriers from owning equity in Indian airlines. The Indian government has no guidelines on franchising arrangements.
Although BA declined to comment, the carrier is keen to consolidate its market position in India, which is its second biggest market after the US in terms of passenger volumes.
BA's attempts to push into India come as weaker rivals fight for their survival. Italian carrier Alitalia said it may have to ground planes from today because it could not secure fuel from wary suppliers.
Italy's aviation authority also said its operating licence could be revoked.
15/09/08 Karl West/Daily Mail, UK

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Fly to Singapore for Less Than a Trip to Kolkata

Bangalore: Considering an overseas vacation but put off by high airfares? Here's your chance. Flying abroad from Bangalore just got cheaper than flying within India.
A return ticket to Singapore on international low-cost carrier Tiger Airways, inclusive of taxes, is just about Rs 11,000. Compare this with return fares of Rs 10,848 to New Delhi and Rs 10,770 to Kolkata on domestic budget carriers. Last year this time, the cheapest ticket to Singapore was in the range of Rs 27,000.
That's how much the city's air travel market has opened up. Low- cost airlines like Tiger Airways and Air Arabia are stimulating international travel out of the city by creating newer market segments . These airlines came in with the opening of the Bengaluru International Airport. Tiger Airways is the low-cost arm of Singapore Airlines. However, it is positioned as a separate brand.
International budget carriers are doing what Capt G R Gopinath did with the erstwhile Air Deccan brand - giving a chance to painters, carpenters, and autorickshaw drivers to experience flying.
16/09/08 Anshul Dhamija/Times of India/RedOrbit, USA

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Motorola wins Indian airport IP network deal

Motorola has won a five-year contract expected to be worth between $20m and $30m from three international airports in India to provide terrestrial trunked radio, Tetra, communication networks including base stations, MSO switches, and mobile, portable, and fixed radios.
The company will supply scalable Dimetra IP-based networks to new airports in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and replace the existing analog radio network in Delhi's domestic and international airports.
The Dimetra IP system supports voice, messaging, and mobile applications, including remote access to data and data transmission over a single network.
The company has also recently provided Tetra networks for leading airports around the world including Spain's Barcelona and Zaragoza airports, Germany's Cologne Bonn, Munich, and Leipzig/Halle airports, China's Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong airports, and Thailand's Suvarnabhumi airport.
15/09/08 Trading Markets (press release), USA

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Jet Airways commences daily flights to Muscat from T'puram

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, today launched its daily direct services between Thiruvananthapuram and Muscat, connecting the capital cities of the Indian state of Kerala and the Sultanate of Oman respectively.
The maiden flight took off on its inaugural services on the sector with a full complement of passengers, on-board its state-of-the-art, internationally-configured Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a two-class configuration: Première and Economy.
With the launch of this new flight, the airline now has three daily services to Muscat from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Mumbai in India.
Jet Airways’ flight 9W 530 (Thiruvananthapuram-Muscat) departed Thiruvananthapuram at 0815 hrs, arriving in Muscat at 1030 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W 529 (Muscat-Thiruvananthapuram) will depart Muscat at 0155 hrs, arriving in Thiruvananthapuram at 0700 hrs.
Commenting on the launch of these services, Mr. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways said, “In a remarkably short span of time, Jet Airways has established a dominant presence on the important Kerala-West Asia sector, on the strength of its superior in-flight product and service standards. In a bid to further enhance its connectivity on this sector, and in line with passenger demand, the airline is proud to be the first private Indian airline to connect Muscat and Thiruvananthapuram.”
With the launch of this new flight, Jet Airways now flies to six destinations in the Gulf (Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai) from five gateway points in India: Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai and Delhi.
15/09/08 PRESS RELEASE/Jet Airways

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'Illegal' foreign planes in airspace a worry

New Delhi: Many foreign-registered aircraft are making unrestricted flights in Indian airspace without the knowledge of the country's security establishment. The startling finding came to light during the Customs department's ongoing investigation in the Rs 9,000 crore aircraft scam.
Sources said both Customs and security agencies were probing these aircraft and the destinations they had covered in India and if national security had been compromised in any manner.
So far, the probe agencies have dug out details of at least six aircraft — one Boeing 727, three Challenger make aircraft, a Lear jet and a Gulf Stream — registered abroad but freely operating across India in violation of norms. It was found that most of these foreign-registered aircraft were being piloted by expatriates whose security clearance had allegedly not been done by agencies, a mandatory provision in case a foreign national is hired to fly aircraft in India, sources said.
As per rules, a foreign-registered aircraft can enter Indian airspace for "a flight to or across India". If it has to make a halt for some purpose, prior permission has to be taken from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
However, permission to halt is given on the condition that the aircraft will not make trips within the country and will remain stationary till its flight back, sleuths investigating the case said.
In any case, the permission for halt cannot be for more than six months. But, sources said, these aircraft had come into the country and gone back and re-entered Indian airspace, making several sorties within the country using different airports, like the AN-26 aircraft that was involved in the Purulia arms drop case in 1995.
15/09/08 Pradeep Thakur/Times of India

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No rush to follow Singapore in fuel levy cuts

Singapore: Larger airlines serving Asia appear reluctant to follow Singapore Airlines' lead in reducing fuel surcharges as aviation gas prices fall from record highs. The Straits Times newspaper reports today that only Thai has given any indication it will follow suit, with a decision due before the month's end.
Last week, Singapore Airlines trimmed up to US$20 off round-trip tickets for short- and medium-haul flights, amounting to a 10% reduction on a return flight from Singapore to India.
Jet fuel - which is traditionally considerably more expensive than petrol sold for motor vehicles, has eased back from a high of US$181 a barrel in July to around $125. Crude oil prices are fluctuating around the $100 mark.
British Airways says while the price of fuel has droppe din recent weeks "the market remains volatile with Opec again looking to cut its output".
A strengthening of the value of the US dollar was also eating into the impact of falling fuel costs.
The Straits Times reports that Malaysian Airlines plans to maintain fuel surcharges at current levels.
Qantas and Lufthansa have reportedly adopted a wait and see aproach before deciding on cuts.
15/09/08 Aviation Record, Australia

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IATA-govt working improved airspace utilisation in SEAsia

New Delhi: International Air Transport Association has said it is working with India to free up more military airspace for civilian use in the South Asian region, to help airlines cut travel distance and fuel consumption.
"IATA is working with the authorities to establish direct routes between Indian and Pakistani airspace to cater to air traffic between Europe and Southeast Asia," a senior IATA officer said from Singapore.
A similar pilot project was already being implemented at the Chennai air traffic control centre by the Indian military and civil aviation authorities, IATA General Manager (Communications) Albert Tjoeng said in reply to questions.
In a bid to provide seamless navigation over the Indian airspace and waters, the government last week approved implementation of the Rs 774-crore GPS-aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) project that would place India in a select group of nations, like the US, Europe and Japan.
GAGAN, which is being developed jointly by the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Airports Authority of India, would not only guide aircraft over its airspace, but also provide them straight-line fuel-efficient routes and precision approach landings.
14/09/08 PTI/Economic Times

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Special flights for Haj pilgrims

Ranchi: The rigour of Haj pilgrims of the state could lessen from this year as the civil aviation ministry is mulling special connecting flights for them from here.
A special team of senior officials from the civil aviation ministry is scheduled to be here next week to explore the possibilities of the special flight. The fate of the noble plan hinges on the report of this team.
Presently, the Haj pilgrims of the state have to go all the way to Patna, Calcutta, Delhi or other major metropolitan cities in the country for travelling to Mecca.
But if the aviation ministry team is satisfied with the facilities here, the pious people would not have to take the road or rail route to Delhi or Calcutta to board the flights.
If the plan materialises, the pilgrims would first be flown to the towns from where the Haj planes take off by the special flights and then they would shift to a bigger aircraft, which would take them to Mecca.
The officials of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Birsa Munda airport have been asked to look into the possibilities of starting the special flights.
They are toying with the idea of setting up a separate temporary terminal building, which will have all the facilities for the pilgrims.
14/09/08 The Telegraph

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Indian faces death penalty in Malaysia for drug smuggling

Kuala Lumpur: A 21-year-old Indian national is facing a death sentence here for carrying drugs in the false bottom of his aluminium suitcase.
Alarm bells went off for customs officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang after they emptied the bag and found a false bottom in which five kg of ketamine powder worth RM175,000 were hidden.
The New Strait Times said that Customs deputy director-general Mardina Alwi and her officers stopped the man after they noted that the suitcase he was carrying seemed heavy and that he was having difficulty managing it.
Mardina said that the suspect had arrived on an Air India flight from Mumbai at 10.15 p.m. and had waited for Customs officers to change shift at 11 p.m. before trying to walk through the check point on Wednesday.
"We believe members of the syndicate involved would have advised the suspect to wait for the officers to change shift and use this opportunity to escape attention. However, the plan backfired and he could now be facing the death sentence," Alwi was quoted, as saying. She said there was a possibility that the man may not have even known what he was carrying as it was common for drug mules to be ignorant of what they had been paid to bring across.
13/09/08 ANI/Malaysia Sun, Malaysia

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European aerospace industry exploring tie-ups with India

Chennai: The European aerospace industry is exploring a slew of partnerships with Indian industry in the areas of civil and military aircraft manufacturing, Martin Kraus, vice- president (Defence Electronics), EADS Defence and Security, the Munich-based holding company of Airbus said here on Friday.
A combination of tough competition, cost pressures and high oil prices in the civil aviation sector and shrinking Defence budgets in European nations and relaxation of export regulations could see a new ballgame emerging in aircraft development partnerships with India, Mr. Kaus told The Hindu on the sidelines of the “Connect 2008”.
“Our defence strategy is very much to build cooperation with India and facilitate manufacturing tie-ups with engineering companies here,” said Mr. Kraus.
Discussions were in progress on this front with potential partners in industry as well as top officials in Delhi, he said.
The agreements could essentially span specialised areas such as structural design such as airframes, sub-assembly of aircraft, software engineering and testing. The scope of collaboration could also involve development of early warning air-borne systems and multi-role combat aircraft.
13/09/08 Dinesh Varma/The Hindu

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Plunging fares: Fly to London for Rs 25,000

Bangalore: International air fares from India, and particularly Bangalore, are getting attractive. These fares are estimated to be now 30% less than what they were a year ago. The Bangalore-London sector is seeing a huge slugfest after the launch of Kingfisher's maiden flight. Emirates on Thursday announced it's dropping the Bangalore-London (via Dubai) return economy fare to Rs 25,300 effective September. Earlier, the fare was Rs 38,000. The average return ticket used to be Rs 45,000, but is now Rs 35,000.
A return economy ticket on the Bangalore-Singapore route last year was around Rs 27,000 (inclusive of taxes); it's now just Rs 17,000.
The main driver has been the addition of capacity by all airlines. Besides, the opening of the new Bengaluru International Airport, with its higher capacity, has encouraged five new carriers to launch international operations.
12/09/08 Anshul Dhamija/Times of India

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Kingfisher all set to fly on 4 new global routes

Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher airlines is all set to expand its international network by flying on another four international routes in the next two months. Awaiting directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) nod, the premier air carrier expects to launch its first international flight out of Mumbai connecting Singapore, and soon after to Hong Kong, on a daily basis by third week of September.
Thereafter, Kingfisher will connect Mumbai to London in the second half of October.
The much-touted Silicon express connecting the IT hub of the east Bangalore to its counterpart in the west, San Francisco, is expected to start flying in the first week of November on a daily basis. While Airbus A330-200s will fly to South Asia, Airbus A340-500s will fly to the US and the UK.
Kingfisher’s international expansion plans come as good news for passengers.
Two days before Kingfisher Airlines launched its Bangalore-London daily flight, British Airways slashed its base fare from Rs 24,150 to Rs 9,990. Soon after, Virgin Atlantic brought down its base fare on the Mumbai-London sector to Rs 9,990 for some flights where the average base fare for a return flight to London was Rs 23,000.
12/09/08 Shauvik Ghosh/Business Standard

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Three students from India survive plane crash in Canada

Three students from India survived a plane crash west of Golden, B.C., on Thursday afternoon after their Cessna stalled and nose-dived towards the ground. Read On >>

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Trainee pilot's body cremated

Bangalore: Akash, the trainee pilot from Bangalore, who was killed in a tragic mid-air accident in Australia around a fortnight ago, was cremated in Bangalore on Thursday. Read On >>

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No change in air fare for Haj pilgrims

New Delhi: The Centre has decided not to increase the airfare of Haj passengers, allaying fears that the burden of increased aviation fuel cost will be passed on to the pilgrims also.
“The fare to be charged from the pilgrims for Haj 2008 will continue to be Rs.12,000 a pilgrim.
There will be no increase,” Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said after the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.
12/09/08 The Hindu

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Haywood returns to India, says 'I never fled'

Mumbai: American expatriate Kenneth Haywood, who left India suddenly during a probe after his IP address was hacked to send a Terror e-mail before the Ahmedabad serial Blasts , returned to Mumbai on Thursday and said he has been given a clean chit and that he never fled.
Haywood and his family reached Mumbai from the American city of Arizona at around 0100 hrs, sources said. Haywood said he had only gone back for a short break.
His sudden exit under mysterious circumstances on August 17 kicked up a controversy despite a 'lookout' notice issued by the Anti- Terror ism Squad (ATS) to all airports to guard against his departure. Immigration officials had even coming under the scanner.
11/09/08 Indian Express

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Saab, TCS in tie-up for aviation centres

Mumbai: Saab and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) said they have signed a letter of intent to create an aviation design and development centre (ADDC)in India. Saab and TCS will set up a common development centre, which both parties can benefit from, Saab said in a release. Saab serves the global market with products, services and solutions ranging from military defense to civil security.
The partnership to establish ADDC aims at addressing the global aeronautical market. ADDC will create a single source of design and development capabilities within India in addressing domestic and the global defense and civil aeronautical applications.
Tata Industrial Services Limited, which oversees and monitors contracts, was instrumental in forging this co-operation.
11/09/08 Business Standard

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Air India cancels winter flights out of Birmingham Airport

Flagship airline Air India is to suspend its services from Birmingham International Airport in a move designed to protect its slots at Heathrow.
The airline is to pull the plug on its Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto service in late October.
Around 100,000 passengers have flown on the route since the start of the year.
However, officials at Birmingham International are optimistic that Air India, which launched the route in May 2005, will resume operations on the hugely important route next spring.
10/09/08 The Birmingham Post, UK

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Indian carriers offer special fares to amnesty seekers in Kuwait

Dubai: National carriers Air India and Indian Airlines and leading private Indian airline Jet Airways will provide special fares to those Indians in Kuwait who avail of an amnesty scheme that the Gulf nation has launched for illegal foreign residents.
In a statement, the Indian embassy in Kuwait said the three carriers have agreed to a special request from the mission to offer special fares to Indian amnesty seekers.
Kuwait launched a new 45-day amnesty scheme Sep 1, which allowed all illegal foreign residents in the Gulf city-state to either regularise their papers or leave the country.
The amnesty was launched at the directive of Kuwait's ruler Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
"The Embassy of India is happy to announce that on its request Air India, Indian Airlines and Jet Airways have agreed to provide special fares to those who wish to avail the facility of Amnesty-2008 to travel to India," the embassy said in statement.
10/09/09 Economic Times

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Era Infra bags Rs 130 cr order from AAI

Mumbai: Infrastructure firm Era Infra Engineering on Wednesday said that its joint venture with Ukraine-based firm KMB has bagged a Rs 129.65 crore contract from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Era Infra said the contract consists of construction related works at Raipur airport. The scope of work would include civil, sanitary, plumbing, baggage conveyor system among others. The project is scheduled to be completed by September 2009.
"The demand for quality infrastructure with international standards has taken utmost importance in the aviation sector. This contract will be our second assignment in this sector after the Pune airport renovation contract," Era Infra Engg Head (Construction & Contracts Division) T D Arora said. Shares of the company were trading at Rs 486.50, up 1.92 per cent in the late afternoon trade on the BSE.
10/09/08 PTI/The Hindu

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