Congenial environment for aviation sector; airlines to have 1,200 planes by FY'24: Survey

New Delhi: Indian aviation sector "re-established" its resilience this fiscal despite a large airline suspending operations and the government has been providing a congenial environment so that airlines can have more than 1,200 planes by 2023-24, according to the Economic Survey.

India is the world's third largest domestic market for civil aviation and has 136 Airports Authority of India (AAI)-managed airports as well as six aerodromes under public private partnerships, it said.

In recent times, domestic traffic growth had faced headwinds.

The Survey for 2019-20, tabled in Parliament on Friday, also said airlines operators in the country have scaled up their aircraft seat capacity from an estimated 0.07 annual seats per capita in 2013 to 0.12 in 2018.

"Indian aviation re-established its resilience in the year 2019-20. Despite a large airline suspending operations on April 17, 2019, the sector swiftly sprung back to fill the void created in passenger and air cargo capacity," it said.
To ease the strain on existing airport capacities, 100 more are to be made operational by FY 2023-24. Besides using 46 idle airstrips, 16 private greenfield airports, 15 AAI airports, 31 heliports, and 12 waterdromes would also be developed, as per the Survey.
31/01/20 PTI/Economic Times

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Govt discusses AI sale with nine firms

Officials met with as many as nine companies during roadshows to gauge interest in a stake sale in
Air India, people with knowledge of the matter said.
Offiicial met executives of companies including British Airways parent IAG SA, IndiGo, India’s
biggest airline that’s operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd., SpiceJet Ltd. as well as Tata Sons Ltd.,
the people said asking not to be identified discussing preliminary meetings.
A successful sale of Air India Ltd. aer a failed attempt in 2018 is crucial for Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to help bridge a widening fiscal deficit exacerbated by dismal tax collections and a
$20 billion corporate tax cut. Air India, which started as Tata Airlines in 1932 and later acquired by
the government, hasn’t made money since 2007. The airline posted a loss of $1.2 billion last year --
its highest ever -- and has $8.4 billion in total debt.
31/01/20 Siddhartha Singh/Bloomberg/Deccan Herald

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‘It’s empty’: Air India crew’s first reaction to landing in Wuhan airport in China for evacuation

While the region of Wuhan stays under lockdown, as the epicentre of the coronavirus disease, India sent a flight on February 1 to evacuate Indian citizens in China. The flight that landed in India on Saturday morning had three minors, 211 students and 110 working professionals, an airline spokesperson said.

Six Indians were offloaded before the plane took off, as screening showed they were running a high temperature, reported ANI. The remaining passengers will be kept in isolation for 14 days at the Indo-Tibetan Border Force centre in Chhawla in Delhi.
In a video taken during the landing of the Air India flight in Wuhan, the first reactions of the crew can be heard. “Khaali hai [It’s empty],” said one of the pilots, as the aircraft taxied across a seemingly deserted airport.
31/01/20 Scroll.in

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You’re not just buying Air India, you’re buying into a dynamic market called India: Hardeep Singh Puri

The government earlier this week released the preliminary information document inviting bid for the 100% sale of Air India. In an interview, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri tells ET’s Mihir Mishra that the buyer will not just get the assets of the airline but will also become a stakeholder in the Indian market, which is dynamic and evolving. Puri is also confident that all issues that the prospective bidders had during the unsuccessful attempt to sell airline in 2018, including the government retaining a 24% stake after divestment, have been addressed this time.
Edited excerpts >>
31/01/20 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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Special Indian flight en route to Wuhan to deliver medical supplies & evacuate citizens stranded in coronavirus epicenter

An Air India flight has been given the green light to travel to the Chinese city of Wuhan – ground zero for a new rapidly spreading coronavirus – in order to evacuate citizens and drop off sorely needed medical supplies.
Taking off from Mumbai early on Friday, local time, the Boeing 747 will first stop off at India’s capital, Delhi to load up on supplies before heading into China for the rescue mission, where a number of nations have issued travel restrictions due to the new virus, recently declared a global health crisis by the World Health Organization.
New Delhi indicated it would take steps to bring Indian citizens home from the embattled city earlier this week, hinging only on approval from Chinese authorities. There are around 250 Indians currently trapped in Wuhan, many of them medical students studying abroad.

The move follows a similar initiative by Washington to bring US consulate officials home from Wuhan, as well as other US citizens who were at a “greater risk” of infection. Australia, Canada, Japan, and a number of EU nations have also either begun or are preparing to begin evacuations.
31/01/20 RT

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Coronavirus outbreak: With 5 doctors on board, Air India's B747 plane departs from Delhi to Wuhan

New Delhi: Air India's 423-seater jumbo B747 plane took off from the Delhi airport at around 1.20 pm on Friday to evacuate Indian nationals from Wuhan as China deals with the novel coronavirus outbreak, officials said.
 There are five doctors from Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital and one paramedical staff onboard, they said, adding that around 400 Indians are expected to be evacuated and the plane is likely to return between 1 am to 2 am on Saturday.
 "The plane did a pushback towards the runway at around 12.50 pm. It took off at around 1.20 pm on Friday. The departure got delayed a little from 12.30 pm scheduled time because of some pending clearances," said a senior airline official.
 After takeoff, Air India spokesperson stated that another special flight may take off from Delhi airport on Saturday to evacuate Indians from Wuhan. About Friday's flight, the spokesperson said, "A team of five doctors from RML hospital, one paramedical staff from Air India, with prescribed medicines from doctors, masks, overcoats, packed food are in the aircraft. A team of engineers, security personnel are also there in this special aircraft. Whole rescue mission is being lead by Captain Amitabh Singh, Director (Operations), Air India."
 The spokesperson added that there are five cockpit crew members and 15 cabin crew members on Friday's flight. Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani said on Friday morning, "No service will take place in the plane. Whatever food is there will be kept in seat pockets. As there will be no service, there will be no interaction (between cabin crew and passengers)." "Masks have been arranged for the crew and passengers. For our crew, we have also arranged a complete protective gear," he added.
 31/01/20 PTI/Economic Times

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And the joke’s on… Kunal Kamra flight bans

Mumbai: Several Indian carriers banned standup comedian Kunal Kamra for heckling television anchor Arnab Goswami after aviation minister Hardeep Puri asked them to follow IndiGo’s example in a tweet.
The airlines were also acting on verbal directions from ministry officials, said people with knowledge of the matter. The minister told ET he’d called for a ban as the video evidence was clear and Kamra’s actions posed a safety threat. Under the rules, any allegation of midair misbehaviour by passengers has to be investigated by an internal committee set up by the carrier concerned. Based on the findings, the aviation regulator places a person on a no-fly list and other airlines follow suit.
 “In this incident, the guy is shooting a video of the person — Arnab in this case, but it can be anyone — and trying to instigate him and even going to the extent of using fourletter words,” the minister told ET. “The person kept quiet in this case, but if the other person got instigated and there was a case of fisticuffs inside the aircraft, it could have become a safety issue. The airline must have done their internal inquiry & took a decision.”
 He added: “As far the issue of rules is concerned, they are that airlines hold an inquiry upon the complaint of a pilot-in-command before banning anyone. That is to ensure that the airlines do not ban passengers arbitrarily. This case, however, is totally different, as there is a video proof.” After IndiGo banned Kamra for six months on Tuesday, state-owned Air India imposed an indefinite ban the same evening. Lowfare carriers SpiceJet and GoAir followed on Wednesday with indefinite bans.
Executives at AirAsia and Vistara said they would wait for a written directive from the government before taking action. Some experts said the ban was excessive for the degree of offence that may have been committed.
 The Civil Aviation Rule (CAR) on such offences “is explicit,” a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told ET. “The airlines will have to follow procedures. IndiGo will have to form a committee and decide on Kamra.” Executives at the carriers that imposed bans said government officials had asked them to take note of the minister’s tweet and ban Kamra. “It’s the minister’s order. Even if it’s in the form of a tweet, we have to follow,” said an executive.
 31/01/20 Mihir Mishra/Anirban Chowdhury/Economic Times

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Mumbai Airport Scans Passengers from China, Hong Kong

Mumbai: Mumbai airport is thermal scanning all passengers from China and Hong Kong before they enter immigration, it said in a statement.
 Thermal scanners use heat sensors and can spot people with high temperature levels. A team is “conducting universal thermal screening for all passengers of flights coming directly from China and Hongkong. For other international arriving flights, only the self declared passengers are screened using thermal camera,” the airport operator said.
 “In case the passenger has symptoms of Coronavirus infection, he/she is being quarantined and sent to designated hospital,” it added. Meanwhile national carrier Air India has sent a flight to Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, to evacuate Indians from there. A person in the know said their immigration and customs clearance will be done at a remote bay at the Delhi airport, following which they will transported to a quarantined area.
 31/01/20 Economic Times

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The strange alacrity of India’s airlines to ban Kunal Kamra

Apart from the super rich at Davos, there can be few who stand in unison for a cause right now as the bosses of India’s airlines. IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir have decided that a comedian is a danger to their passengers.

Who knew they valued safety, uprightness, good behaviour, privacy and a bunch of other things that are fast disappearing from public life. Fist bump for your courage of conviction, guys.

No doubt, Kunal Kamra should not have confronted the television anchor on board the IndiGo flight. Kamra’s boorishness made the man who makes a living from boorishness smell like roses.

Condemnable as the behaviour was, did Kamra deserve the ban? Together, these four airlines represent 86 percent of the aviation market in India. A scrum of experts has weighed in about how the airlines did not follow the rulebook on imposing such bans.

So I will not venture there. What I’d like is tell readers what the flying ban on Kamra reveals about Indian aviation.

There was no —there is still no — official communication from the aviation ministry or the regulator DGCA about keeping Kamra off planes in India.

But the four airlines jumped at the chance of putting Kamra in a no-fly list. What triggered this quick-gun response? A tweet by the aviation minister “advising” them to do so.

The head of DGCA, which is usually unmoved by most aviation incidents, agreed with the minister through a clarification to a media report. Just when some rare praise was coming the institution’s way.

Take a look at the airlines that have joined issue with IndiGo. No surprises about Air India. The government owns the airline.

SpiceJet’s action, despite the well-known political affinity of its boss Ajay Singh, is not. SpiceJet and IndiGo are the Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton of Indian aviation. In a nastier way.

I am not just referring to just pricing strategy or network planning here. They each try to undermine the other through gossip, vitriol and intense lobbying.

Ergo, SpiceJet’s expression of solidarity with IndiGo is no different from Trump singing praises of Hillary.

GoAir is not the “I stand with you, bro” type either. But its action too should not raise eyebrows given its gingerly steps in aviation, careful with expansion, cautious about ruffling feathers, least of all belonging to the mandarins at the aviation ministry.

That is the funny thing about the unanimity of these four airlines. They are actually united by their singular dependence on the government for survival.

No airline in India can stay aloft by getting into the bad books of authorities. Schedules, slots, traffic rights …there is feast of requirements that need clearance from the government.
31/01/20 Binoy Prabhakar/CNBCTV18.com

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Lessons learnt after failed AI sell-off bids

It is good the Centre has realised that the aviation industry is not a pot of gold; neither is there an international scramble to acquire airlines. Jet remaining unsold has also been a learning experience. That is why the third attempt to sell off Air India, after two failed bids in 2018, stands a better chance of success. This time the government is offering prospective bidders the entire 100% in both Air India and Air India Express as well its 50% stake in the ground-handling firm AISATS. Last time round, the insistence of the government of holding on to 24% stake scared off bidders.

In this round, the government has also taken care to withhold the bulk of Air India’s debt overhang, while the buyer will assume charge of a much depreciated Rs 23,286 crore of debt. On the other hand, for the buyer, Air India is a huge brand carrying the national flag, and one that has grown brick by brick since it was founded in 1946 by J R D Tata. Over the years it has acquired a vast network of 52 Indian and 42 international destinations, the largest among Indian airlines.

It has a relatively young fleet of 146 aircraft. It may not be the largest passenger carrier today, but its airport and hangar slots are the most extensive, a huge infrastructure that any player would find difficult to build on its own. In the current scenario where the government has neither the resources nor the will to save the airline, prudence rather than emotion should reign. It is best for all stakeholders that the airline should be put on track in time before it goes the way of Jet Airlines.
31/01/20 New Indian Express

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Sell Air India only to an Indian entity, RSS tells Modi govt

New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has conveyed to the Narendra Modi government that national carrier Air India should be sold only to an Indian entity, ThePrint has learnt.

The Sangh’s opposition to foreign airlines comes at a time when there are reports that carriers like Etihad Airways have evinced interest in picking up a stake in Air India.

Swadeshi lobbies like the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and sections within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have opposed the sale of the government-owned airline arguing that it is against national interests.

BJP MP Subramanian Swamy has also been vocal in his opposition, and even threatened to go to court against the deal. He termed the deal anti-national and questioned why the government wants to sell the family silver.
Two RSS functionaries, who did not want to be named, told ThePrint that the Sangh’s views about the need for the Air India to remain in Indian hands even after divestment had been conveyed “right to the top” in the government.

On 27 January, the Modi government kick-started the process of selling its entire 100 per cent stake after deciding that it cannot pump in more money into the loss making airline. The airline reported a loss of Rs 8,550 crore in 2018-19, as against a loss of Rs 5,348 crore in 2017-18.
31/01/20 The Print

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Vehicle relief rolls at Birsa airport

Vehicles can now drop and pick up passengers at Bisra Munda Airport without having to park at the parking bay, and the airport will have time-based variable parking rates from April.

At present, there is a flat rate of Rs 65 for four-wheelers and Rs 15 for two-wheelers in the parking bay irrespective of the time spent.

“We will be floating the tender for parking bays as per the new parking policy by first week of February and finalise the agency within two months with the new parking tariff,” airport director Vinod Kumar Sharma said. “The new variable parking policy would give respite to those who come for a few minutes at the airport as they would not have to pay the same fare as others who park their vehicle for longer times.”

Airport sources said for up to 30 minutes spent at the airport parking bay, a four-wheeler or an auto-rickshaw will have to pay Rs 20, and two-wheeler will have to pay Rs 10 (see box).
The airport authorities have also introduced from Wednesday a dedicated drop and pick-up lane for passengers.

“The decision was taken this week based on feedback from flight passengers,” airport director Sharma said. “The four-wheelers coming to drop and pick-up passengers can park in the dedicated lane for five minutes absolutely free of cost and leave the airport as against the earlier practice wherein any vehicle coming to the airport had to park in the parking bay at a distance away and pay Rs 65 after the five minutes of free time.”

Before this, passengers had to walk over 30m with their luggage to the space where the vehicles are parked. However, with the dedicated lane the cabs and cars can come near the exit gate and passengers can board without having to walk that distance.
31/01/20 Telepgraph

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3 girls heckle prolific tweeter Mahesh Hegde at airport

Bengaluru: Three random girls heckled prolific tweeter Mahesh Ganesh Hegde at the Mangluru airport to sing the national song Vande Mataram.
Kavita Reddy, Amulya Leona and Najma Nazeer caught up with Hedge at the airport on Friday.
"Please, please. We want you to sing for the country, let''s sing Vande Mataram," said the unidentified woman between Reddy and Leona as Nazeer sat to Hegde''s right in the airport, wearing a burqa and red scarf.
"Vikram, this is cinema opportunity. The best opportunity," said the girl, continuing in Kannada.
The girls promised Hedge that they will join him in singing Vande Mataram with him.
Later in the video, another girl sat beside Nazeer wearing a backpack in a short hairdo.
"This is for you. It''s your time now, come on," said the girl.
As Hedge sat uncomfortably, the girl started pleading him to please sing the national anthem.
"Do you remember what time Godse killed Gandhi? Do you remember? Come on sing Vikram. You have been torturing us on Facebook all the while now," said the lady referring to his posts.
Hegde did not utter a word but was uncomfortable with the girls asking him to sing, moving as he sat.
Akash Banerjee, a satirist, tweeted, "After Amish, Sudhair, Deepak it''s the turn of Arnab of the South and star fake news peddler Mahesh Hedge of Post Card to face humiliation. Too ashamed to sing Vande Mataram?"
Banerjee said he was proud of Reddy, Leona and Nazeer.
31/01/20 IANS/Outlook

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Coronavirus threat: Thermal screening at Goa airport, says Vishwajit Rane

Panaji: Thermal screening will be introduced at the Goa International Airport at Dabolim as a precautionary measure against coronavirus.
Health minister Vishwajit Rane said signage and a help desk have been set up at the airport on Thursday evening.

Confirming the measure, state epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar told TOI on Thursday evening that thermal screening will be introduced at Goa airport to check international travellers.

The Goa government had requested the Centre to set up thermal screening at the state’s lone airport.
Till Thursday, Goa had one suspected case of coronavirus and five persons under observations.
31/01/20 Times of India

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Air India evacuation flight may take off today; China yet to give nod

New Delhi: India is expected to conduct its maiden mission on Friday to evacuate its nationals from Wuhan even as it awaits Chinese green signal for the exercise.
 ET has learnt that first Air India flight is expected to operate flight on Friday for evacuation mission. The flight has been kept ready in Mumbai for past three days after formal permission was sought from China. 
“The government of India has been conducting a regular review on the situation arising out of the outbreak of coronavirus in China. We have put out regular updates on the arrangements which are being made. We have made a formal request to the government of China for bringing back Indian nationals from the Hubei province in two flights. We are awaiting for the necessary approval from the Chinese side. We hope this will be granted soon,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said here on Thursday.
 “Meanwhile, we have established contact with over 600 Indians across the province and are individually ascertaining their willingness to be repatriated. Our Mission in Beijing is working round the-clock on the ground to work out the necessary logistics,” Kumar said, adding, “Arrangements are being put in place for people to travel to the airport. We remain committed to the safety and wellbeing of our nationals abroad. We appreciate the support extended by the government of China and other ministries in the government of India in putting this process together.”
 31/01/20 Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury/Economic Times

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YEIDA ready with report for airport green nod

Greater Noida: The final environmental clearance for the Jewar international airport is expected soon as the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change will review next week YEIDA’s response to seven objections over the project’s effect on the environment.
Officials have now prepared a report specifying plans on how the development agency will rehabilitate Sarus and blackbuck habitats, how many saplings it will plant against the 11,000 trees that need to be cut and the shifting of 14 ponds that are in the area earmarked for the airport project.
An appraisal committee of the environment ministry had in June last year raised objections to the environment assessment report YEIDA had prepared and sought responses on seven specific queries. The committee had sought a conservation plan for birds and fauna in consultation with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Sources said WII had found habitats of blackbucks, Sarus cranes and peacocks within the airport area and suggested plans to conserve them. One of the other points where response was sought from YEIDA was the status of permission from the forest department to cut trees and how many saplings would be planted against it. YEIDA has said it plans to cut 11,460 trees and plant 10 times the number of saplings.
31/01/20 Times of India 

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Comedian Kunal Kamra Seeks Apology, Rs. 25 Lakh From IndiGo Over Flying Ban

Mumbai/New Delhi: Comedian Kunal Kamra has sent a legal notice to IndiGo, demanding a public apology, Rs 25 lakh for "causing mental pain and agony" and revocation of a six-month ban imposed on Wednesday for heckling a prominent TV channel editor, according to news agency PTI. Mr Kamra's lawyer asked the airline to "pay compensation... on account of mental pain and agony suffered by my client as well as losses incurred on account of cancellation of his scheduled shows and programmes".
Mr Kamra, a Mumbai-based stand-up comic known for his sharply critical views against the government and government-friendly media networks, was banned after he posted a video of his encounter with Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV. In the video, he is seen throwing questions at Mr Goswami, who doesn't respond.

Three other airlines, including national carrier Air India, rushed to follow IndiGo's ban after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri urged them to; the other two being SpiceJet and GoAir.

Two others - Vistara and AirAsia - are said to be considering a ban as well.

"Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Mr Puri had tweeted.

All airlines tagged Mr Puri in their tweets announcing their compliance.

However, the ban was swiftly criticised by many, who pointed out the "hypocrisy" in banning Mr Kamra while allowing high-profile passengers - like BJP MP Pragya Thakur - to escape without punishment.
31/01/20 NDTV

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Postcard News co-founder ‘heckled’ at Mangaluru airport, asked to sing Vande Mataram

Bengaluru: Mahesh Vikram Hegde, the co-founder of website Postcard News, was allegedly heckled by a group of women at Mangaluru airport Friday morning and asked to sing Vande Mataram to prove his “Indian-ness”.
Hegde has been arrested twice earlier for allegedly spreading fake news.
Hegde was spotted by Karnataka Congress spokesperson and social worker Kavita Reddy at the airport where he was waiting to board a plane to Bengaluru.

Reddy along with two other student activists then asked Hegde to “prove his nationalism” by singing the national song.
The incident comes just days after the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Republic TV Arnab Goswami was heckled by comedian Kunal Kamra on a plane.
31/01/20 Rohini Swamy/Print

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The Kunal Kamra effect: What Kritika Kamra tweeted from the Air India lounge

New Delhi: Kritika Kamra found herself in an uncomfortable situation at the Air India lounge before boarding a flight as "they were staring" at her and she couldn't understand why. Well, it shouldn't take long to figure out that Kritika's new post on Twitter is with reference to the Kunal Kamra incident that unfurled earlier this week.

Were "they staring" at Kritika Kamra in the Air India lounge because she shares her initials and surname with Kunal Kamra? Ummmm, anyway. On Twitter, Kritika shared a picture of her access card to the Air India lounge, and captioned the post saying, "Why are they staring at me?"
Kritika, in fact, had also opined about the Kunal Kamra incident on her Twitter timeline.

Kunal Kamra occupied the top spot on the trends list since Monday after he roasted a television news anchor on an Indigo flight on January 28, and subsequently shared a video of the incident on Twitter. Hours after his video went viral, Kunal was banned by IndiGo for allegedly portraying "unacceptable behaviour" on the flight.

Meanwhile, the Captain of the IndiGo flight, who flew Kunal and the television anchor, said in a statement on Thursday that he was "disheartened" with his airline's decision to bar the comedian for six months.
31/01/20 India Today

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Guwahati Airport deploys A-CDM system to enhance efficiency

Guwahati International Airport in India has implemented the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) system to boost efficiency of operations.

The system will help airlines ensure seamless arrival and departure processes at the airport.

The A-CDM system uses different factors such as the expected time of aircraft arrival and runway-in-use and runway handling capacity to determine the sequence of flight arrivals and departures.
Others Indian airports that deployed the system include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthpuram.

The Hindu quoted a senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) official as saying: “The benefits of A-CDM are widely recognised in the aviation industry, notably its ability to improve efficiency of airport operations and reduce aircraft holding delays on the runway, consequently saving fuel and reducing carbon emissions.”

Studies undertaken by other airport operators and AAI have stated that the system offers better coordination between airport partners, as well as enhanced ground handling processes.
31/01/20 Airport Technology

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Surat airport finally gets SMC’s fire NOC

Surat: Finally, the Surat international airport has been given no-objection certificate (NOC) by the Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) fire and emergency department after the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had applied for the NOC.
Since 2005, the Surat airport had been operating without taking the mandatory NOC from the SMC’s fire and emergency department. The issue had come up during the inspection of the warehouse at the domestic cargo terminal by the fire authorities in the first week of December-2019. A diesel pump installed inside the warehouse was found to be in the non-working condition.

The fire department had issued notice to the Surat airport authorities asking them to take the NOC within 15 days. On checking the records, it was found that the airport authorities had not applied for the NOC since 2005.

According to the national fire safety manual, every airport has to take fire NOC from the local civic authorities. However, the Surat airport authorities failed to take the NOC.


Official sources in the SMC’s fire and emergency department said that the fire systems installed at the airport were inspected on January 6, 2020 and that they were found in the working condition. The systems including fire hydrant with hose box and hose reel, fire extinguisher, main fire pump with diesel pump, smoke detector with fire alarm system, sprinkler, under ground water tank and exit were all checked.
31/01/20 Times of India

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Jaipur airport slips to 89th spot in 4th quarter: Survey

Jaipur: The Jaipur airport slips to 89th position in the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey done by Airport Council International (ACI) for fourth quarter (October 2019 to December 2019). In the third quarter, Jaipur airport was at 63th position.
The constant increase of passengers, construction works have led to the degradation in the facilities which resulted in the slide of ranking.

In 2017, Jaipur airport ranked number 1 in the ASQ survey but with the constant increase in passengers and increase in frequency of the flights the service has badly affected in past three years.

TOI got the copy of the survey released on Thursday evening.

“The survey is done once in every three months to check the quality of services given to the passengers at the airports across the country. The results are really shocking for us,” said a senior officer of airport authority of India, Jaipur on the condition of anonymity.

Jaipur Airport was voted the number 1 airport in the world in the 2017 survey in the 2.5 million passengers per year. “Till December 2019, Jaipur airport had handled nearly 4.75 lakh passengers,” said an officer.

Ranchi airport has been on the top among 24 airports across the country, while Lucknow at number two and Trivandrum Airport at number three. “Some of the airports that are ahead of Jaipur are Ranchi (1), Lucknow (2), Trivandrum (3), Ahmedabad (4), Calicut(5), Indore (6), Varanasi (7) and others,” said an officer.
31/01/20 Ashish Mehta/Times of India

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Fog disrupts flight operations at Kolkata airport

Kolkata: Flight operations at Kolkata airport ground to a halt late on Thursday night and in the early hours of Friday following dense fog formation in and around the airport. While visibility began to plunge rapidly from 11pm, it hit a low of 25m at 2pm before gradual improvement. Flight operations at Kolkata airport are suspended if visibility drops below 50m.
The fog led to cancellation of two international flights and delay of 9 others including three domestic flights. Most international flights in Kolkata operate at night.

Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air near the earth's surface. It is a low-lying cloud and is heavily influenced by nearby bodies of water, topography, and wind conditions.
31/01/20 Tamaghna Banerjee/Times of India

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Sebi disposes of insider trading case against SpiceJet's former independent director

Capital markets regulator Sebi on Friday disposed of an alleged insider trading case against former independent director of SpiceJet, K R Sasiprabhu, saying the charges could not be established against him.
It had been alleged that Sasiprabhu had traded in the scrip of SpiceJet while in possession of unpublished price sensitive information (UPSI) pertaining to the company's quarterly financial results. Sasiprabhu, who was appointed as an independent director of SpiceJet on December 1, 2015, had resigned from the position in May, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) noted.
 The regulator conducted an investigation in the scrip of SpiceJet to ascertain possible violation of Sebi's prohibition of insider trading (PIT) norms by certain entities as well as to find out whether requisite compliances had been observed by the airline and its officials involved for preparation of financial results for December 2015 quarter.
 The probe found that the UPSI relating to financial results for the quarter ended December 2015 came into existence from January 6, 2016, whereas, Sasiprabhu bought 2,000 shares of SpiceJet on January 7, 2016. Sebi, however, noted that following his appointment in December 2015, he attended the company's board meeting for the first time on January 22, 2016, the date on which the board approved the financial results. Subsequent to this, the results were disseminated by SpiceJet.
 31/01/20 PTI/Economic Times

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GoAir told to pay Rs 16,000 for damaged baggage

A consumer dispute redressal forum in Parel has directed GoAir to pay compensation to a flyer after his baggage was damaged on a flight to the city.
 Marazban Bharucha, a resident of Andheri, who had taken a GoAir flight from Ahmedabad in July 2019, was shocked to see the front compartment of his bag ripped open and a couple of shirts missing when he collected his luggage from the conveyor belt.
 Bharucha, who works with a marketing company, told Mirror that he was advised to send an email to the airline’s feedback system, but he kept receiving automated responses and no one got in touch. Till November 2019, Bharucha claimed that he had sent 17 emails and the airline had replied only eight times. Five of these stated that he was not eligible for compensation, he added.
The airline in their response to Bharucha’s notice, explained that the bag had “minor ordinary wear and tear” and offered him Rs 1000 in compensation as a “goodwill gesture”. Bharucha told Mirror that the airline increased its offer to Rs 7500 on October 7 when he asked the consumer forum for an exorbitant amount as compensation.
 31/01/20 David Delima/Mumbai Mirror

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Man detained from Srinagar airport for posting objectionable content on social media

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday detained a man from Srinagar international airport soon after he arrived here on an Air India flight from Delhi, officials said.
Mudasir Ahmad Teli, a resident of Habbakadal area of the city, is accused of posting objectionable content on social media platforms while he was away from Kashmir, the officials said.
31/01/30 PTI/Outlook

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TV actor Karanvir Bohra deported at Delhi airport for not carrying right documents

Popular TV actor Karanvir Bohra, who was traveling to Nepal from Mumbai in an Air India flight, was deported at Delhi airport after he failed to furnish the right documents. The actor, who was carrying his Aadhar Card, was informed that the document was insufficient for him to go to Nepal by air.
Bohra later took to Twitter, questioning the airline as to why they let him board his flight from Mumbai if the document wasn't enough. "Deported at Delhi airport on my way to #nepal. trvlng wid #adhaarcar not allowed Nepal gov alows (PP,voters ID & Adhaar by road,by air only PP & VI)Then,Y did @airindiain in Mumbai let me fly with my Adhaar?Y didn't they stop me there? #indianembassy @DrSJaishankar@IndiaInNepal," he wrote.
The actor got his hands on his passport after someone flew to Delhi immediately to hand it over. Meanwhile, the airline responded to his tweet, with a list of documents one needed, “Thank u 4 this link,& I believe not only 4 the passengers,its 4the officials2, how could they allow me to travel on an invalid document? If I was told in Mumbai itself I wud have arranged it immed & not make my guy fly down2 Delhi to hand me the passport,” Bohra responded.
31/01/20 Bollywood Hungama

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CISF detects foreign currencies worth Rs 1.34 cr at IGI Airport

New Delhi: In separate cases, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has detected huge foreign currencies worth Rs 1.34 crore at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, an official statement said here on Friday.
 In the first case, the CISF surveillance and intelligence staff on Thursday found USD 31,000 worth around Rs 22 lakh from the possession of two Afghan nationals, could not produce any valid documents for the same.
 The accused, identified as Abdul Saboor Amiri and Zafar Mohammad Nazari, were handed over to the Custom officials for further legal action.
 In another case, the airport guarding force detected 1,19,200 Euro and USD 2000 concealed in a turban of a passenger, who was later identified as Surinder Singh Seehra. He was bound to proceed for Bangkok and could not produce any valid documents for the possession of foreign currencies worth Rs 96 lakh.
 31/01/20 UNI

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IAF plane lands at Leh with bio-jet fuel; Bengaluru pilots execute

.An AN-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF), powered with a 10% blend of Indian bio-jet fuel took-off from Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh.
This is the first time that both engines of the aircraft were powered by the bio-jet indigenous fuel.
The aircraft was flight tested and its performance was validated at Chandigarh Air Base prior to undertaking the operational flight to Leh.
The tests were conducted by a team comprising of test pilots from Bengaluru based Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, and pilots from the operational squadrons.
An IAF statement said Leh at an altitude of 10,682 ft above mean sea level, is amongst one of the world's highest and most difficult operational airfields, it is prone to extreme weather conditions.
31/01/20 Bangalore Mirror

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Domestic airline industry may post net loss of Rs 7,800 crore: ICRA

New Delhi: The domestic airline industry is expected to post a net loss of aboutRs ?7,800 crore in fiscal 2020 as against an estimated net loss of approximately Rs10,000 crore in fiscal 2019, credit rating agency ICRA said.

“Excluding Air India, the rest of the industry is expected to report a net loss of aroundRs1,500 crore in fiscal year 2020 with a total debt of approximately Rs7,000 crore as on March 31, 2020. The industry’s prospects are expected to gradually improve, contingent on the movement in aviation turbine fuel prices,” said Kinjal Shah, Vice-President and Co-Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA.

Shah added, “Many of the industry players have weak balance sheet structure; and with continued losses in the near term, the industry will need approximately Rs20,000-22,500 crore equity infusion over the next three years.”

ICRA expects the domestic passenger traffic in fiscal year 2020 to be lower at 4.5 per cent, after five years of double-digit growth as many domestic airlines are focusing on expanding their international routes.
30/01/20 Business Line

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Tata Sons, AirAsia to discuss joint venture's no-compete rule

Mumbai: Tata Sons and AirAsia will discuss issues related to the no-compete clause, a part of the joint venture between AirAsia Berhad, Tata Sons and Telestra Tradeplace for AirAsia India, Business Standard reported on Tuesday.

The two groups are in dispute over a no-compete clause included in the Memorandum of Agreement signed between the parties and partner company Telestra Tradeplace, which restricted all parties from investing in any competing airline that provided services similar to AirAsia.

According to this, Tata Sons, along with the other two companies, cannot invest in any airline that provides low-cost passenger airline services on narrow-body aircraft flying on domestic and international routes under four hours, the report said.

The clause can cause hindrance to Tata Sons' bid for Air India.

According to the disinvestment plan announced by Air India on Monday, the airline is looking to sell 100 per cent of its equity share capital, including 100 per cent of Air India’s shareholding interest in AI Express Ltd. AI Express is Air India’s low-cost subsidiary airline and a direct competitor of AirAsia.

Tata Sons, which currently holds a 51 per cent stake in AirAsia, had expressed its interest to invest in Air India amid discussions on the national carrier's disinvestment in 2019. One of the Tatas’ major concerns was the lack of clarity in terms of Air India’s outstanding debt and the terms of disinvestment.
The potential bidder will get some relief with regard to AI’s debt as the government has reduced its debt liability from ?60,074 crore to ?23,286 crore. The government has also clarified that the networking capital of the airline will be zero, according to previous reports.

The two groups are in talks to discuss all the pending issues, Business Standard had reported.
30/01/20 Hemani Sheth/Business Line

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Vistara to add widebodies?

India's Vistara is talking up the prospects of adding widebody aircraft to its fleet if it can buy slots at the UK's London Heathrow.
A report in CH-Aviation says Vistara wants to order more wide-bodied aircraft and to start flying to Europe and the United States. A Bloomberg report suggests Singapore Airlines - a 49 per cent shareholder in Vistara - wants to compete harder against Emirates in India.
By 2023, Vistara - with B787s joining the fleet - wants to have a 50/50 split between domestic and international flights.
30/01/20 micebtn

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Refrain from travelling to China: India tells its citizens

A few days ago, India had issued a travel advisory to its citizens asking them to take certain health precautions during their visit to China to avoid getting infected by the Coronavirus. However, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has now revised its travel advisory taking into account the worsening state of health affairs in China.

According to the news reports, in the wake of more cases of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) being reported in China, India has asked its citizens to avoid visiting the Republic of China.

Formerly, the advisory written by the ministry said that travel-related cases of Coronavirus are appearing in several countries, and it is advised that all non-essential travel to China is best avoided. Now, the ministry has clearly asked Indians to refrain from travelling to China.

Airlines in India that operate flights to Southeast Asia have directed the cabin crew members and pilots to wear N95 masks and abide by all possible precautionary measures. A few flights have also been cancelled.

Reportedly, IndiGo will temporarily stall the operations of its Delhi-Chengdu daily flight from February 1 to 20, 2020, and the Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight. In addition, the airline is avoiding any layover for its staff in China.
30/01/20 Times of India

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Coronavirus cloud over China flights

Calcutta: The scare triggered by a new strain of coronavirus has led to a dip in passenger count on flights to China, forcing airlines to suspend some flights from India to Chinese destinations and monitor the viability of the rest.

IndiGo airline has suspended its flights between Delhi and Chengdu and between Bangalore and Hong Kong from February 1.

The airline said on Wednesday that it was also closely monitoring the passenger count on its flights from Calcutta to Guangzhou, another Chinese city.

Air India said it was suspending its flights on the Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14.

In Calcutta, tour operators said people were cancelling visits to China and alleged that some of the money-changers in the city were refusing to accept China’s currency notes, Chinese Yuan, fearing that there would be no takers.

“After carefully assessing the current coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Because of China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1 till February 20. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flights from February 1,” an IndiGo spokesperson said.

“For now, we will continue to operate our Calcutta-Guangzhou flights, which we are monitoring on a daily basis. And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on inbound flights without any layover in China,” the spokesperson said.

IndiGo sources said there was a sharp dip in the number of passengers to Guangzhou a few days back.

“The passenger count on some days was as low 20 or 40. But now it has started to pick up again,” a source said. The flight is operated with Airbus A320 aircraft with 180 seats.

One official said the flight was operated to bring back passengers from China.

China Eastern Airlines, which operates flights between Calcutta and Kunmin, has not suspended its operations.
30/01/20 Sanjay Mandal/Telegraph

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Coronavirus outbreak: ‘Air India’s Wuhan rescue mission would not be a usual one’

Mumbai: With Air India preparing to operate flights to evacuate Indians from Wuhan in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, a pilots' union of the carrier has said the airline cannot afford any mistakes and risk spreading the infection.

In a letter to Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) said the mission would be quite different from usual rescue and relief efforts, and presents new challenges as well as obstacles to overcome.
"... due to the long incubation period of this virus, post mission support for all personnel and equipment involved in this mission is crucial well after the completion of a flight," it said.

The union has around 600 members. Two flights are set to be operated to bring back Indian nationals from China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Chinese government has been requested for permission to operate these two flights.

"Given the complex and dangerous nature of this situation, it would be best if the operating crew is accompanied by the ablest and most experienced members from relevant departments like engineering, commercial and medical to ensure the best on ground support to accomplish this mission safely," the union said.
30/01/20 PTI/TimesNowNews.com

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Indian aviation sector needs ?22,500-crore equity infusion to stay afloat: ICRA

The aviation industry will need an equity infusion of approximately ?22,500 crore over the next three years to stay afloat, according to credit rating agency ICRA.

Excluding state-run Air India, the domestic aviation industry is expected to report a net loss of ?1,500 crore, with a total debt of ?7,000, for FY20. The two listed airlines, IndiGo and SpiceJet, together lost ?1.8 crore per day in the first half of the fiscal. However, this is lower than the ?5.5-crore per-day reported in H1 FY19, said ICRA.

In 2019, the impact of the rupee decline, global economic slowdown, acute cash crunch and taxes on jet fuel caused several Indian airlines, including full-service ones, to go belly up. Air India, which has a debt book of over ?60,000 crore, is up for grabs. Furthermore, low-cost carriers IndiGo and GoAir were seen struggling with engine issues, and SpiceJet is waiting for clearance of the B737 Max aircraft.

According to the ICRA report, since many of the industry players have weak balance-sheets, and with continued losses in the near term, the industry would need an equity infusion of over ?22,500 crore over the next three years.

Kinjal Shah, Vice-President and Co-Head, Corporate Sector Ratings, ICRA, said: “On the back of higher yields due to capacity constraints, the domestic airlines witnessed improved profitability during Q1 FY20. However, pressure on yields and increased maintenance costs and foreign exchange losses (including on financial leases) impacted the profitability of the industry during Q2 FY20.”

Furthermore, many domestic airlines are focussing on expanding on international routes. ICRA thus expects domestic passenger traffic growth in FY20 to be 4.5 per cent lower, after five years of double digit growth.
30/01/20 Business Line

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What can Indian airlines ban you for? The rules around India’s No-Fly List

In 2017, India’s aviation regulator DGCA laid down rules for putting passengers on a No-Fly List. The rules, notified on 8 September, 2017, under the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3, Air Transport Series M Part VI focus on the handling of unruly passengers. It is purportedly under these rules that IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air India and Go Air have banned comedian Kunal Kamra, after he confronted television anchor Arnab Goswami on a flight.

What could put you on a No-Fly List in India?
Said norms define an unruly passenger as: “A passenger who fails to respect the rules of conduct at an airport or on board an aircraft or to follow the instructions of the airport staff or crew members and thereby disturbs the good order and discipline at an airport or on board the aircraft.”

The rules classify three different grades for the offences:

a) Level 1: Unruly behaviour (physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation etc.)
b) Level 2: Physically abusive behaviour (pushing, kicking, hitting, grabbing or inappropriate touching or sexual harassment etc.)
c) Level 3: Life-threatening behaviour (damage to aircraft operating systems, physical violence such as choking, eye-gouging, murderous assault attempted or actual breach of the flight crew compartment etc.)

When there is an incident on board…
The first line of defence is the cabin crew and the flight crew. They are required to attempt to defuse a situation via verbal communication, and then a written notice if required. If this does not have the desired effect, then restraining devices may be applied. If all else fails, the pilot-in-command may determine, in consultation with the airline control room to divert the flight and offload the passenger, with the airline filing an FIR against the passenger.

What is the process for putting a passenger on the No-Fly List?
To be able to assess if a passenger is due to be put on the No-Fly List or not, the incident has to be first enlisted on an internal committee of the airline on the initiative of the pilot-in-command filing a complaint. This Internal Committee needs to have the following set of people:

Retired District & Session Judge as Chairman.
A representative from a different scheduled Airline as Member.
A representative from a passengers association or consumer association or retired officer of Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum as Member.
It is this committee that will decide within 30 days the gravity of the charges against the passengers and the ban to be placed on them. Level 1 offences attract up to three months on the no-fly list, Level 2 up to six months and Level 3 for at least two years or more. However, passengers can also be banned while the committee reviews the matter, but for no more than 30 days.

What happens if you are put on the No-Fly List?
Once the passenger is on the No-Fly List of the airline, other airlines also have the option to ban him from their flights, even if such passengers hold confirmed tickets. Subsequent offences cause doubling of the ban period. The recourse for the passenger is to appeal the ban with an Appellate committee constituted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and further appeal in the high court.

No-fly lists are not new. The USA put out one basis their security assessment after 9/11. But who is on that list is unknown. But a public no-fly list, along with the rules for such a list came out for the first time in India only.

However, airlines make a contract with you as a passenger, known as the contracts of carriage, which govern their treatment of a passenger. Airlines, at their discretion, can reject or eject passengers if they feel that the person’s conduct, status, age, mental or physical condition jeopardises flight safety or order. Misbehaving with the crew or not following instructions are also grounds for being denied boarding.
29/01/20 Ajay Awtaney/Conde Nast Traveller

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Air India pilots union sounds caution on Wuhan evacuation flights

Mumbai : With Air India preparing to operate flights to evacuate Indians from Wuhan in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, a pilots' union of the carrier on Wednesday said the airline cannot afford any mistakes and risk spreading the infection.
In a letter to Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) said the mission would be quite different from usual rescue and relief efforts, and presents new challenges as well as obstacles to overcome. "... due to the long incubation period of this virus, post mission support for all personnel and equipment involved in this mission is crucial well after the completion of a flight," it said.
 The union has around 600 members. Two flights are set to be operated to bring back Indian nationals from China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Chinese government has been requested for permission to operate these two flights.
 "Given the complex and dangerous nature of this situation, it would be best if the operating crew is accompanied by the ablest and most experienced members from relevant departments like engineering, commercial and medical to ensure the best on ground support to accomplish this mission safely," the union said.
30/01/20 PTI/Economic Times

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Cargo terminal opens at Surat airport

Surat: With the opening of the much-awaited domestic cargo terminal (DCT) on Wednesday, Surat airport has added yet another feather in its cap in infrastructure upgradation.
The state-of-the-art cargo terminal being operated by AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Limited (AAICLAS), a subsidiary of AAI has set a target to increase cargo movement from the current 300 metric tonnes per month to more than 1,000 metric tones per month.

Talking at the inauguration ceremony at Surat airport on Wednesday, CEO of AAICLAS, Keku Bomi Gazder said, “Surat has become the 26th city in the country to have the cargo terminal. This terminal will cater to the ever increasing air cargo demand of the entire south Gujarat region. We are looking at doubling the cargo transport in the next couple of months.”

According to Gazder, the DCT is built at the cost of Rs 13 crore on 1,400 square metre having the capacity of handling 50,000 metric tonnes of cargo per annum. The cargo terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for handling in-bound and outbound cargo. The terminal has two strong rooms for valuable cargo, two dangerous cargo rooms and four cold storages for handling general goods, valuables, perishable items, hazardous cargo etc.
30/01/20 Times of India

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IndiGo Pilot Who Flew Comedian Kunal Kamra Objects To His Ban

New Delhi: The IndiGo pilot who flew Kunal Kamra has written to the airline's management asking why was he not consulted before a ban was placed on the comedian for heckling a senior TV Editor on an IndiGo flight on Tuesday. "I was disheartened to learn that my Airline has taken action in this case solely on the basis of Social Media posts, with no consultation whatsoever with the Pilot-in-Command. This is somewhat unprecedented in my nine years of Airline flying," reads the letter by the Captain to the IndiGo management.
The Captain said Kunal Kamra's behaviour, "while unsavoury, was not qualifying of a level 1 unruly passenger" and that he did not find the events reportable in any way.

"Pilots can attest to incidents which were similar and/or worse in nature that were not deemed unruly," he added.

The pilot has sought a clarification from IndiGo saying, "Am I to understand that the bar for interpretation of a disruptive passenger is lower/different when it comes to high profile cases?" as the incident "leaves a lot of room for ambiguity."

News agency PTI has quoted IndiGo as saying they "have received the relevant statements and the internal committee has initiated the investigation regarding this incident."

Kunal Kamra was banned by IndiGo for six months on Wednesday. Three more airlines - Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir - too banned him "till further notice" after the government announced it was urging other airlines to follow IndiGo's example.

However, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources said the ban by these airlines on the comedian is a violation of due process in situations such as this. The sources pointed out that while a ban was not against the rules, there is a process to be followed before such action can take place.
According to the sources, Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) state that on receipt of a complaint an internal committee must be formed, within 30 days to probe the matter. The decision taken by the committee can be appealed against in an appellate body of the Civil Aviation Ministry and a court.

Meanwhile, passengers can only get a temporary 30-day ban.

In an unsigned and unstamped statement posted on Twitter the DGCA said: "the matter is to be referred to the internal committee" that will give a final decision, within 30 days, that will be "binding on the airline concerned".
30/01/20 Vishnu Som/NDTV

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Indigo’s action in Arnab-Kamra issue unfair and smacks of govt direction

No matter whether or not you believe Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami got “a taste of his own medicine” – to quote Congress MP Shashi Tharoor – from stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, the travel bans that four airlines have slapped on him are quite unjustified. While IndiGo, the airline that Goswami and Kamra were flying has banned him for six months, Go Airlines, Spicejet and Air India have banned him “until further notice”. It doesn’t help that the role played by civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri doesn’t befit a person holding such a high public office. Or that Rajeev Chandrasekhar – now a BJP MP – helped fund Republic TV and that Goswami is seen as someone who uses his TV studio to launch high-decibel broadsides into those opposing the government’s stance on a multitude of issues. The fact that IndiGo announced its decision by tagging Puri in a tweet also suggests some back-channel prodding from the ministry. Within a short while of this, Puri tweeted that “we are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned”.

Where was due process? Under the rules, the maximum ban for what Kamra did was a three-month ban, but that too takes place after an internal committee examines the issue and, presumably, Kamra gets a chance to defend himself. Interestingly, the pilot of the IndiGo flight is reported to have sent a mail to the airline saying Kamra wasn’t particularly unruly; indeed that he had witnessed worse behavior from other passengers and that he had not even been consulted in the exercise. And while IndiGo still has reason for taking action since its other passengers were inconvenienced, there is not even the slightest justification for the other airlines to simply go by what the minister tweeted.
Apart from the possibility that this holds out for other passengers getting banned if the government wants this to happen, the double standards are too obvious to miss. Last month, BJP MP Pragya Thakur held up SpiceJet flight for over 45 minutes by refusing to change her seat despite the safety regulations being clear that someone needing a wheelchair could not be seated in the emergency row; but there was no attempt to impose a ban on her by SpiceJet or any suggestion by the minister that this be done by other airlines as well. Puri was not the minister when the Shiv Sena’s Ravindra Gaikwad assaulted Air India staffers but when he was banned from flying, the government directed the airline to revoke the ban after 14 days; the Shiv Sena, at that time, was an ally of the BJP government. And soon after the Kamra incident, a video was posted on twitter, of a Republic TV reporter walking up to RJD politician Tejaswi Yadav on a flight, in 2017, and haranguing him for an interview despite him saying he didn’t want to talk and that this was disturbing other passengers. Both the airlines and the minister are guilty of overstepping their boundaries.
30/01/20 Sarthak Ray/Financial Express

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Air India sale: Govt gets it right, but test is its action if no buyers found

The government has done well to remove most of the mindless restrictions put in place the last time it sought to privatise Air India (AI)—these ensured no one bid for the haemorrhaging airline. What it says about the earlier decision-making process is another story. A complete exit from AI instead of retaining 24% like the last time around will reassure potential bidders that there will be no government interference. Allowing sale-and-lease back can make the purchase debt-free, especially since the Centre is absorbing more debt, and being able to carry forward unabsorbed depreciation and losses helps cushion the balance sheet; this, and the relaxed eligibility criteria, means more potential suitors.
Senseless criteria, like the need to run AI “on a going-concern basis” and “on an arms-length basis from (the buyer’s) other business”, have been done away with, though it is not clear why the AI brand is to be maintained. The idea, possibly, is to placate the RSS/swadeshi groups who refuse to understand that the concept of a national carrier is outdated, but an existing-airline buyer not wishing to retain the AI brand will find this a problem. AI’s falling market share shows its brand loyalty isn’t as high as many think, and, as seen in sectors like telecom, price-value is more compelling than brand value.

The decision against a VRS for AI’s heavily unionised and pampered staff—after the merger, AI and Indian Airlines pilots got into a fight over who would fly certain aircraft—could be a deal-breaker as a new owner may not want to take on this burden since it could complicate operations. And, given the Centre’s generous VRS for BSNL and MTNL employees to make the telcos leaner, it is not clear why this was not done for AI.
The good news is the government saying, should a potential bidder want, it is open to offering more concessions; to ensure no allegations of favouritism arise later, it must offer these concessions to all bidders who express interest but choose to walk away during the sale process. Without this, these bidders can allege that they would have bought AI had they been given the same concessions.
30/01/20 Financial Express

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Breach at Indian airline SpiceJet affects 1.2 million passengers

SpiceJet, one of India’s largest privately owned airlines, suffered a data breach involving the details of more than a million of its passengers, a security researcher told TechCrunch.

The security researcher, who described their actions as “ethical hacking” but whom we are not naming as they likely fell afoul of U.S. computer hacking laws, gained access to one of SpiceJet’s systems by brute-forcing the system’s easily guessable password. An unencrypted database backup file on that system contained private information of more than 1.2 million passengers of the budget-carrier last month, TechCrunch has learned.

Each record included details such as name of the passenger, their phone number, email address and their date of birth, the researcher told TechCrunch. Some of these passengers were state officials, they said.

The database included a rolling month’s worth of flight information and details of each commuter, they said, adding that they believe that the database was easily accessible for anyone who knew where to look.

The researcher alerted SpiceJet about the database, but said they never received a meaningful response. TechCrunch reviewed a sample of the passenger list as well as the researcher’s email correspondence with SpiceJet representatives.

The researcher later alerted CERT-In, a government-run agency in India that handles cybersecurity threats in the nation. The agency confirmed the security lapse, and alerted SpiceJet, which has since taken the necessary measures to protect the database.

An airline spokesperson said in a statement, “at SpiceJet, safety and security of our fliers’ data is sacrosanct. Our systems are fully capable and always up to date to secure the fliers’ data which is a continuous process. We undertake every possible measure to safeguard and protect this data and ensure that the privacy is maintained at the highest and safest level.”
30/01/20 TechCrunch

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Over 10,000 drones registered in 15 days as DGCA due date draws near

More than 10,000 drones have been registered on the government portal in the last 15 days as drone owners rush to avoid penalty. The government has notified that all kinds of drone operators need to register themselves on the Digital Sky platform of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) before 5 pm, January 31.

As of January 29, nearly 10,500 drones have been enlisted, the government said.

Drone operators have been operating their devices without the mandatory unique identification number, unnamed aircraft operator permit and other operational requirements, prompting the government to set up a deadline for registering them.

The government has provided for a “one-time” voluntary disclosure and has clarified that the condition of no-permission-no-takeoff is not mandatory for this purpose.

Drone operators can visit https://digitalsky.dgca.gov.in to obtain a drone acknowledgement number (DAN) and an ownership acknowledgement number (OAN) which will help in the validation of their drone operations.

"Further (beyond January 31), ownership of drone(s) in India without a valid DAN or OAN shall invite penal action as per applicable laws. This database will be used to process each case as per the regulations by seeking further information,” the civil aviation ministry has said.
29/01/20 Anu Sharma/CNBC TV18

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GT junks plea over aircraft dropping poop on Delhi home

New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has junked a retired army officer''s plea that aircraft were dumping human excreta on his south Delhi residence, saying it might have been a mischief done by an individual.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said there was no material to link the waste found on the wall of the applicant to the aircraft.

"If such waste had come from the aircraft, the incidents would have been frequent, given the large number of aircraft flying. Beyond the isolated two incidents which have been pointed out, there is no material to ensure that such incidents are frequent.

"Linking the two incidents of excreta being on walls of the applicant, there is no reasonable possibility of the same being from an aircraft so as to burden DGCA with any liability or to award compensation to the applicant," the bench said.

The bench added, "There could equally be possibility of any individual mischief unlinked to any aircraft. In such circumstances, ''precautionary'' principle of environment law cannot be involved."

The tribunal passed the order after noting a report filed by the Central Pollution Control Board which stated that the source of the excreta could not be identified and no concrete information of the incident was available.

On October 2016, a Delhi resident, Lt Gen (retd) Satwant Singh Dahiya, had filed a case alleging that houses in his neighbourhood were damaged by faeces dumped by aircraft at night.
30/01/20 PTI/Outlook

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Can All Indian Airlines Really Ban Kunal Kamra? Here is What the Law Says

Comedian Kunal Kamra who is known for his anti-Bharatiya Janata Party government jibes and antics, has just made it extremely difficult for himself to fly across the country on domestic airlines after he heckled journalist Arnab Goswami onboard an IndiGo flight.

Following a video of the incident that went viral on social media, IndiGo and Air India announced six-month bans on Kamra. On January 29, two more airlines, Spice Jet and Go Air also decided to ban the comedian.

But are airlines within their legal right to do that? Turns out, they are.

The 'No Fly' List

In 2017, the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation introduced the 'National No fly List' in an effort to curb and punish unruly behaviour on airplanes. The no fly list is meant "to ensure safety and check unruly and disruptive behaviour on aircraft". It is compiled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the basis of inputs provided by airlines.

According to the rules, any airline can report unruly behaviour onboard the aircraft. However, the complaint has to be filed by the pilot of the plane. an internal committee has to then be set up for each case by the airline which can in turn probe the incident and allegations. The committee has to furnish its report within 30 days.

While the ban in initiated by the airline that raised the complaint, other airlines can also choose to follow suit. However, they are not compelled to do so.

In case of a ban, a passenger can contest it and make an appeal but only after 60 days of the committee's decision.

What can get you blacklisted?

There are three wide categories of "unruly behaviour" that can get one on the no-fly list. These include verbal unruliness, misbehavior or harassment that is punishable by a three-month ban (Level 1), physical unruliness punishable by a six month ban (Level 2) and life-endangering unruliness or behaviour which is punishable by a two-year flying ban (Level 3)

What happens to Kamra now?

As per laws, IndiGo as well as other airlines are within their legal right to suspend Kamra's or any other passenger's flying rights in case they violate any of the offences under the 'No Fly List' rules.

So far, four domestic airlines have suspended Kamra's flying rights, Vistara has as yet not made a comment on the issue.

As per rules, IndiGo would now have to institute a special committee to prove the incident and then deliver a verdict on whether Kamra will be allowed to fly or not.

Kamra, on the other hand, has maintained his position and said in a statement that he only asked the journalist when a few polite questions and when the latter refused to answer, he started a monologue to raise his complaints. Kamra also added that he did not regret the incident and would not apologise to Goswami as he was within his right to exercise freedom of speech in doing so.

The comedian said that he approached Goswami twice when the seat-belt signs were turned off and that he went back to his seat within seconds of a stewardess asking him to move.
29/01/20 News18.com

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Kunal Kamra's Airline Ban Vs 9 People Who Did Shitty Things On Board & Got Away With It

Unless you're living under a rock, you've heard the news of aircrafts to bullock carts putting Kunal Kamra in a no-fly list for confronting Arnab Goswami.

While some liberals believe that the confrontation was unnecessary, even they think that the indefinite ban seemed a bit excessive. So, to prove clarity on this matter we looked back into the pages of history to see if precedent had been established for such behaviour.
Read on >>

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Deadly AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to be made in India

An order for six AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for the Indian Army which is expected to be placed this year will be made in India. The $ 930 million will be through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and is in addition to the existing order of 22 machines for the Indian Air Force (IAF). While the approval of the Cabinet Committee for Security is awaited, according to one of the US aerospace ’s giant Boeing Company has already planned to make the critical parts of the attack helicopter here in India. Talking to Financial Express Online, Michael M Koch, Vice President, India, Defense, Space & Security, “Fuselage and most of the additional structures of the helicopter will all be made here locally.”
A joint venture with between Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd. (TASL) — Tata Boeing Aerospace Limited (TBAL) established in 2016 has been manufacturing fuselages for the AH-64 Apache.

With 90 per cent parts sourced from Indian suppliers, this advanced facility is expected to become the sole producer of AH-64 fuselages globally.

Indian company Rossell Techsys which has been a long-standing supplier of Boeing since 2013 has been playing a critical role in supplying high-quality electrical panel for the AH-64 Apache. And has also been making wire harness for the helicopter.
"From the existing 160 industrial partners the number has gone up to 200 and still growing,” according to Koch.

By the year-end, as per the contract IAF is expected to induct all the 22 Apache Helicopters which are replacing the Russian MI25/35 gunships, which are gradually being phased out.

Last year in June, the US State Department had given its approval for an additional sale of the attack helicopters for the Indian Army and the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress about the value of the deal — $ 930 million.
29/01/20 Huma Siddiqui/Financial Express

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Captain on IndiGo flight says Kunal Kamra was not unruly, questions ban by airline

The captain on the flight that saw the Kunal Kamra-Arnab Goswami episode playing out, has observed in his communication to IndiGo that the stand-up comedian never endangered safety or disobeyed any instructions.

Moneycontrol has seen a copy of the email sent by the captain to the airline and is not naming the captain to protect his identity.

"I do not find the aforementioned events reportable in any way. Mr Kamra's behaviour, while unsavoury, was not qualifying of a level 1 unruly passenger. Indeed we pilots can all attest to incidents similar and/or worse in nature that were not deemed unruly."

He adds: "Furthermore, I was disheartened  to learn that my airline has taken action in this case solely on the basis of social media posts, with no consultation whatsoever with the pilot in command. This is somewhat unprecedented in my nine years of airline flying."
"Moving forward, am I to understand that the bar for interpretation of a disruptive passenger is lower/different when it comes to high profile cases?... I would like a clarification from the airline as this leaves a lot of room for ambiguity," he signs off.

Moneycontrol has reached out to IndiGo. The company said, "We have received the relevant statements and the internal committee has initiated the investigation regarding this incident."
30/01/20 Prince Mathews Thomas/Moneycontrol.com

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Coronavirus: IndiGo, Air India cancel several China-bound flights; ask crew to use N95 masks

New Delhi: IndiGo and Air India -- the only two Indian carriers that fly to China -- have started curtailing their flights to the country due to the coronavirus outbreak+ . While IndiGo will suspend its Delhi-Chengdu and Bengaluru-Hong Kong daily from February 1, it will continue the Kolkata-Guangzhou flights 'for now'.

Air India will suspend its six times weekly Mumbai-Delhi-Shanghai flight from January 31 to February 14. Air India’s daily Delhi-Hong Kong-Delhi will operate only thrice a week from January 31 to February 14. So instead of 15, this period will see maximum of seven flights on Delhi-Hong Kong by Air India. “Our crew operating the Delhi-Hong Kong flight will come back on return flight to avoid a layover there,” said a senior official.
Indian carriers operating flights to Southeast Asia have asked pilots and cabin crew to wear N95 masks and take all other precautions. Air India and IndiGo have issued elaborate guidelines to their crew. AI will carry extra masks on its flights and give them to passengers who may wish to use them.
29/01/20 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Salman loses cool, snatches fan’s phone at Goa airport

Panaji: Irked by the behaviour of a fan who tried to click a selfie with him at the Goa airport, Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Tuesday snatched his mobile phone. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. In the clip, a man can be seen approaching Khan and trying to click a selfie when the actor was walking out of the airport.

Annoyed, Khan can be seen snatching the mobile phone from the man, who was later identified as a ground staff working for an airlines. “No formal complaint is lodged but when the video went viral, we inquired about the incident and confirmed it,” said a senior official of the airport. When contacted, Airport Police Inspector Sagar Ekoskar said no formal complaint was lodged.

Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) issued an advisory to Dabolim airport authorities to ask its staff to maintain “decorum”. Confirming the issuance of the advisory, Goa Airport Director Gagan Malik told PTI, “The staff should concentrate on their work. They should do their duty and not indulge in clicking selfies with the passengers at the terminal.”
30/01/20 Hitavada

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IndiGo shareholders vote against Gangwal’s move to amend AoA

New Delhi: Attempts by one of the two co-promoters of IndiGo Airlines, Rakesh Gangwal, to get the Articles of Association of the airline changed failed on Wednesday.

“The special resolution as set out in the Notice has not been passed as the votes cast in favour (48.5584 per cent) of the resolution are less than three times the number of votes cast against (51.4416 per cent) the resolution,” IndiGo informed the BSE late on Wednesday evening. Amending the Articles of Association was the only business listed in the notice for the EGM.

Rakesh Gangwal, who along with the RG Group comprising him, Shobha Gangwal and the Chinkerpoo Family and related entities, had called for the EGM, was not present. The Group collectively holds 36.64 per cent of the paid-up share capital of IndiGo airlines.

The EGM witnessed chaotic scenes as investors were furious over the eroding value of Indigo shares. Differences between the two co-promoters over corporate governance practices, Gangwal’s absence at the EGM and reports over his exiting the company were behind the shares shedding value.
The meeting had been called amidst a war of words between Rahul Bhatia, the other co-promoter, and Gangwal. Last June, Gangwal had written to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), alleging that the controlling rights of Inter Globe Enterprise Group, a minority shareholder, had not been judiciously and prudently used in the best interests of the company. Later in the year, Bhatia submitted a request for Arbitration in the London Court of International Arbitration against Gangwal.

To a question by one of the shareholders who was invited to speak, as to why security personnel were not being deployed to maintain order, M Damodaran, Chairman of the Board, replied, “I am hoping better sense will prevail. They are all good people. They will settle down. Do not worry.” Eventually, the security had to intervene to ensure that the EGM proceeded smoothly.

Shareholders also wondered whether the absence of Gangwal was an insult to the fraternity as he had convened the meeting and was himself absent. “When he has called this meeting supporting the resolution, why is he not here? He should have come here and faced the music,” one shareholder said.
29/01/20 Business Line

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B’luru-Hong Kong direct flight suspended

Bengaluru: Amid growing fears over coronavirus and high number of cancellations, IndiGo Airlines has decided to suspend its Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight from February 1. Indigo operates 6E 1773 from Bengaluru to Hong Kong.
The Delhi-Chengdu direct service has also been called off between February 1 and February 20. With this, the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight remains the only direct flight between the two countries which continues to be operational. Other airlines, including British Airways too have suspended all direct flights to China.

The airline added that the cancellations are ‘precautionary’ and ‘temporary’ and that it’d be providing a full refund to impacted passengers.

“After carefully assessing the current coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 01, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 1, 2020,” read a statement issued by IndiGo on Wednesday.
30/01/20 Times of India

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Rahul Gandhi Comes out in Support of Kunal Kamra After Flight Ban

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday came out in support of comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been banned by four airlines for heckling journalist Arnab Goswami aboard a flight, saying those who use their cameras as “tools of propaganda” should show some spine when the camera is turned on them.

His reaction came after SpiceJet and GoAir banned Kamra from flying with them, a day after IndiGo and Air India suspended him.

“The ban imposed on Kunal Kamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic. Those who use their ‘news’ cameras as 24×7 tools of propaganda, should show some spine when the camera is turned on them,” Gandhi said on Twitter.

Kamra heckled Goswami, the editor of Republic TV, on IndiGo’s Mumbai-Lucknow (6E5317) flight on Tuesday.
In a video clip posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, he is seen asking Goswami if he is a “coward or a journalist”.
30/01/20 PTI/Wire

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Kunal Kamra flight ban: What gets you on a 'No-Fly' List

With four Indian airlines banning stand-up comic Kunal Kamra from flying with them for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami onboard an IndiGo plane, aviation regulator DGCA said the action by the carriers is in complete consonance with its regulations.

While SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir have banned Kamra 'till further notice', IndiGo has suspended Kamra from flying with it for six months.

One of the key questions to be asked at this point is whether the six-month flight ban imposed on Kamra by airline IndiGo, on whose flight the incident occurred, is valid or not.

In 2017, DGCA laid down rules for putting passengers on a No-Fly List. The rules, notified on 8 September, 2017, under the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3, Air Transport Series M Part VI focus on the handling of unruly passengers.

The clamour for a no-fly list became louder after several incidents of violence on board aircraft. In March, MP Ravindra Gaikwad was in the news for assaulting an Air India employee. Months later, another MP Diwakar Reddy created a ruckus at the airport after being refused boarding at Visakhapatnam airport.

Read what could put you on a no-fly list? and what are the procedures to include one in the list >>

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Hasty decision by IndiGo, Air India, GoAir, SpiceJet to ban Kunal Kamra; airlines should specify rules that stand-up comic violated

I woke up this morning to a social media uproar over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra being banned from IndiGo for six months after he posted a video of him challenging TV news anchor and editor-in-chief of Republic TV Arnab Goswami to clarify his stance on various issues. While IndiGo banned Kamra from flying with them for six months, Air India suspended him from flying with them "until further notice" immediately after. SpiceJet and GoAir have also prohibited Kamra from flying with them without giving any reason.

In his statement, Kamra indicated that at no point in time was he disruptive and he was always following crew orders when told to. Further, he is not aware of a formal complaint against him being made by either Goswami or any another passenger or the flight crew. He goes on to state that there is no pattern that establishes him as an unruly passenger.

In this case, then, there is not much to go about to establish the reason why IndiGo banned the passenger in the first place, and how did the other three airlines, which were not even involved, determine their legal position on the ban? Activist Saket Gokhale has filed an RTI asking how can Air India decide to ban Kamra.
There are two ways a passenger can get banned from an airline. India's civil aviation regulator, DGCA notified the Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3 — Air Transport, Series M Part VI, Issue II on 8 September, 2018, which touches on the regulations applicable in case of unruly passengers. According to the statute, unruly passengers are those who "fail to respect the rules of conduct at an airport or on board an aircraft or to follow the instructions of the airport staff or crew members and thereby disturbs the good order and discipline at an airport or on board the aircraft".

According to the regulations, unruly behaviour (such as physical gestures, verbal harassment, unruly inebriation) attract a three-month ban after the first offence. In contrast, physically abusive behaviour (pushing, kicking, hitting, grabbing or inappropriate touching or sexual harassment) attract six months ban.

The regulations determine that the cabin crew need to warn the unruly passenger verbally and then in writing, and if all else fails, physically restrain them. We still have not heard from any concerned party that Kamra was restrained. Next course of action is for the Pilot in Command to divert the flight to the nearest aerodrome, in consultation with the Control Room of the airline where the unruly person would be dropped off, and an FIR would be lodged against him/her by the airline. A review of all the flight logs of IndiGo flights between Mumbai and Lucknow on 28 January, 2020, on flight tracking website FlightRadar24, did not reveal of any such diversion, which indicates the airline did not take this matter very seriously onboard.

Even if the airline later determined something was wrong, the Pilot-in-command needs to file a complaint with the internal committee on the issue. This committee has to have a retired Judge, a representative of another airline and representative from a consumer association, all of who collectively determine if said passenger was "unruly". They have 30 days to decide on the matter, and the airline can bar the customer for 30 days pending the enquiry and the result. The affected flyer has 60 days to contest the decision in a DGCA Appellate committee and then go to the high court if required.

Once an airline follows this process above and determines that a customer is banned, then other airlines can add them to their no-fly list as well using the precedent.

Given that IndiGo has acted so quickly on this case, I went about looking for other ways an airline may ban a passenger from flying. It turns out, the Conditions of Carriage of the airlines allow them to offload customers and determine if they will be trouble. It is like a carte blanche given the contract between the passenger and the airline is one-sided. Since boilerplate language is included on all airlines contract of carriage, all airlines have a specific clause under "refusal to carry passengers", which paraphrased, states that the airline can determine not to carry a passenger if "The Customer has committed misconduct on a previous flight and there is a reasonable likelihood that such conduct may be repeated or The Customer has not observed or is likely to fail to observe, our instructions."

Airlines usually take complete care in banning passengers. For instance, nothing moved after a viral video of BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur surfaced in December onboard a SpiceJet flight for not moving from an emergency exit seat. She was not eligible to fly on that particular seat because of her wheelchair. Neither has any action come to fore against the outburst of Air India passengers where they threaten to break the cockpit door of a Boeing 747 on video after a lengthy tarmac delay.

It is still not determined how IndiGo concluded banning Kamra. Unfortunately, if he decides to challenge this in court, he will still need a Notice from IndiGo determining the regulations under which they prohibited him. And even after that happens, we don't know yet how Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir decide to ban him, which comes without an expiry date.
29/01/20 Ajay Awtaney/First Post

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Mumbai: International airport to get full-body scanners

Mumbai: This year, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is all set to get new full body scanners, in addition to the existing ones, to enable the detection of cases of passengers smuggling gold and other valuable items into the country. This move was deemed necessary after a number of gold and drug seizures were made in 2019 using hand-held machines, which are difficult to use. However, the full-body scanners, to be set up at certain gates, will enable airport authorities to detect non-metallic, plastic explosives as well as chemical, biological and radiation tools of terrorism which would otherwise go undetected, without physical contact.

In a bid to reduce the lines at the CSMIA, which is one of the busiest airports in the world, authorities have made some upgrades to their existing machines and will shortly procure additional full-body scanners. New trolley management systems and advanced tray retrieval systems too will be in place, to ease operations. An official said, after a major spurt was recorded in the number of gold smuggling cases at the CSMIA, it was deemed necessary to get more of these scanners, instead of the hand-held units.

The continuous vigilance and placement of officials for passenger-profiling has led to not only to more seizures of the yellow metal, but also of contraband drugs at the international airport. “The full body scanners will quickly scan the passenger, eliminating the need for personal checking. Usually, it takes at least three minutes for an airport personnel to frisk a passenger. With these machines, the time taken for such checking could be cut down drastically,” said a senior airport official, requesting anonymity.
30/01/20 Yahoo!
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Hyderabad airport to launch self bag drop facility soon

To bring in more automation, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has launched the new self bag drop facility on January 26, 2020. SGK Kishore, CEO, GMR and the officials of Indigo airlines launched live trials of the SBD at the domestic departures terminal.
Currently, the facility is being launched for the Indigo travellers and will be soon extended to the passengers of other domestic airlines.
 "Passengers can print their boarding cards and baggage tags from any self-check-in cabins and proceed to drop their bags at the facility," said SGK Kishore explaining about the facility after launching the services. RGIA, one of the fastest-growing airports in the South has served over 21 million passengers in 2019. Through 25 passenger airlines, the airport currently connects to 71 destinations both domestic and International.
29/01/20 Roja Mayabrahma/Hans India

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Fears over rights of passenger loom after airlines ban Kunal Kamra

New Delhi: A tweet from Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri made four major airlines ban stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for 60 days even though the crew of IndiGo, where the incident took place, filed no complaints.
IndiGo suspended Kamra from flying for six months after he confronted Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami about his style of reporting on board one of its flights from Mumbai to Lucknow on January 28. The ban was followed by Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir after Puri tweeted: “We are left with no other option but ask other operators to impose similar restrictions.”
The move has raised fears that the government can use the no-fly list to settle political scores, undermining freedom of citizens.
Sudhakar Reddy, president of Air Passengers Association of India, said the no-fly list is heavily tilted in favour of airlines. “The success of any law lies in it balancing the interests of all concerned. Unfortunately, at first glance, these rules look skewed against passengers. Who gave the right to airlines to ban the passenger without any enquiry? In all laws you are innocent till proven guilty,” Reddy said.
30/01/20 Arindam Majumder/Business Standard

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SpiceJet and Amadeus strengthen partnership in the Gulf

Looking to the future of travel in the Gulf, SpiceJet—India’s second biggest budget carrier—and Amadeus recently organized a series of empowerment sessions for the region’s travel community held in Dubai, UAE.
More than 100 travel consultants participated in the sessions, which focused on how the Gulf’s travel industry can collaborate to better define and deliver offersto travel agents, corporates, and individual travellers.  A number of success cases were also presented during the sessions, including SpiceJet’s MoU with Gulf Air and codeshare agreement with Emirates.
Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, managing director of Amadeus Gulf, briefed audiences on how the travel tech company is working with ecosystem partners to createfully-open systems, to better harness the intelligent use of data, and to integrate new interfaces and architectures that connect travellers to the journeys they want.
The sessions follow an agreement signed between SpiceJet and Amadeus earlier this year for a new distribution agreement that gives Amadeus’ global network of travel sellers access to unique content fromthe airline—including a range of fares and prices—through the Amadeus Travel Platform. The agreement marks the first time that SpiceJet is working with a distribution partner.
“Offering travellers the opportunity to choose how, where, and when to buy travel online is fundamental to meeting their needs today,” says keynote speaker Ernesto Sanchez Beaumont, managing director of Amadeus Gulf. “To realize the full value of theirinventory in 2020 and beyond, it is essential for the Gulf’s travel community to differentiate their offers beyond just price, while ensuring that moreagencies and travellerscan connect with theirgrowing networks.”
The Middle East travel industry currently has a growing online penetration rate with around 33% of bookings being made online in 2018. An Amadeus report earlier this year revealed that the region is especially receptive to growth in the online travel sector with an increase of 14% expected year-on-year, which will make the MENA region the second-fastest growing online travel market in the world.
28/01/20 PRESS RELEASE/Amadeus 

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Kafeel Khan arrested at Mumbai airport for ‘instigating’ students in Aligarh last month

Mumbai: Suspended lecturer Dr. Kafeel Khan was arrested at the Mumbai airport late on Wednesday night by the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force over a month after allegedly making instigating remarks at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Earlier on Wednesday, Dr. Khan had addressed a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR) in Bihar. He was scheduled to attend a protest in Mumbai Central, where local women have staged a sit-in, at 11 am on Thursday and had flown into the city on Wednesday. However, he was taken into custody after his flight landed in Mumbai and then taken to Sahar police station.
A senior police official said that the STF would take Dr. Khan back to UP on Thursday.
An FIR was registered at Civil Lines police station in Aligarh on December 13, 2019, a day after Dr. Khan had spoken at a protest rally in AMU. In its FIR, the UP Police accused Dr. Khan of sowing seeds of discord and disharmony towards other religious communities among 600 Muslim students he addressed at the University’s Bab-e-Syed Gate at 6.30 pm on December 12.
The police, which recorded the speech, also accused Dr. Khan of making disparaging remarks towards the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and of exhorting students to fight against the central’s government’s citizenship legislation and of attempting to stoke communal tensions.
30/01/20 Indian Express

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