Jet Airways announces summer sale till August 4

Muscat: Jet Airways, India’s premier, full service international airline, continues its summer offers with one week of up to 30 per cent savings on international travel.

Guests travelling to Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Kathmandu and Singapore can enjoy substantial savings on their Premiere as well as Economy class bookings.

Tickets booked under the week-long fare sale till August 4 will be valid for immediate travel making it an attractive proposition for guests booking last minute and those planning their future travels.
31/07/18 Muscat Daily

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Air France-KLM appoints Jean-Noel Rault as GM for Indian subcontinent

Air France-KLM has appointed Jean-Noel Rault as its new general manager for Indian subcontinent.
Rault, who succeeds Max Smits, will be assuming charge of the new position tomorrow,the firm said in a release today.
Prior to this, Rault was heading Air France-KLM's business in Canada as the vice president and general manager.
Air France-KLM operates up to 2,300 daily flights, mainly from its hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.
31/07/18 PTI/Economic Times

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Brussels Airlines announces special airfares

Chennai: Brussels Airlines has announced special airfares for economy class travellers to more than 70 European destinations in a sale from July 30 to August 10 for travel till December 2018.
The limited period sale will allow passengers to travel to destinations within Europe at a price starting as low as Rs 39,000, inclusive of taxes, said a press release.
The special fares are applicable to all Brussels Airlines flights on Mumbai-Brussels route and its network of more than 70 European destinations. These fares will offer considerable savings for guests and are available for return bookings.
30/07/18 Times of India

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US may soon allow laptops, liquids in carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints

The United States may soon allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in their carry-on bags at airport security checkpoints, if screening technology being tested at select airports is widely adopted.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Monday announced the plan to test computed tomography (CT) scanners for carry-on bags, with up to 40 units expected to be in place at US airports by the end of year.

The X-ray scanning equipment creates 3D images that can be analysed on three axes for explosives and other threats. The CT technology is similar to what is used for medical imaging.
31/07/18 IndiaTV News

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Keralites availing amnesty in UAE to fly home for free

Abu Dhabi: Illegal UAE residents from Kerala who wish to avail of the upcoming visa amnesty to exit the country will be flown to India for free, the south Indian state's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, announced on Monday.

"Those who wish to apply for it should get in touch with the nine (amnesty) centres that will be opened there (UAE). The state-run Roots-Norka will coordinate for their smooth return ... They will be brought home for free and safely. The first batch of arrivals will take place in the middle of August," said Vijayan.

Norka resident vice-chairman K. Varadarajan told Khaleej Times that the entity would provide free air tickets to Malayalees availing of the amnesty. "The air tickets are expensive during this season and we understand many people won't be able to afford it. So our first priority is to make sure that expats can return home safely.
31/07/18 Anjana Sankar/Khaleej Times

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AirAsia Bumper Sale! Upto 40% Discount For International And Domestic Flights.

New Delhi: The Malaysian Budget carrier AirAsia announced a discount sale under a limited period offer. If you have the desire to travel, but are worried about burning a hole in your pockets? You can now take a deep breath as some of the famous airlines of the country are offering heavy discounts on their domestic and international fares as they come at loggerheads with each other aiming to increase the sales.
AirAsia is now offering a hefty discount on international as well as a domestic flight which can go upto 40 percent. Significantly, a major chunk of the air fares comprises fuel surcharge, airport fee, taxes and other charges.
AirAsia is a 51:49 joint venture between Tata Sons and AirAsia.
If one wants to avail the offered discount, then the person can book the tickets till 5 Aug 2018. The travel needs to be from 31 Jul - 30 Nov 2018.
30/07/18 ABP Live

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IndiGo connects India with two new routes

IndiGo, India’s largest carrier by one-way seat capacity in 2018 according to OAG Schedules Analyser, has commenced year-round operations from its base in Chennai (MAA) to Kozhikode (CCJ) and Tuticorin (TCR) on 26 July. The routes span a distance of 502 and 528 kilometres respectively, and both are operated by the LCC’s 74-seat ATR 72s. Kozhikode will be served daily, with Tuticorin being connected three times a day. SpiceJet is the sole competitor on both routes, operating six weekly frequencies to the former and twice-daily to the latter. At the launch, N. Subramanian, Airport Director at Tuticorin, outlined the target demographic for the route: “The airport caters to passengers from Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari districts. As flight tickets cost around ₹3,000, it would attract passengers taking second class (seats in trains) and omni buses.”
31/07/18 anna.aero

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Naqvi flags off batch of Haj pilgrims from Mumbai

Mumbai:  Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi flagged off the first batch of Haj pilgrims from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai on Sunday.
This is the first year when Haj pilgrimage is taking place without being provided any subsidy, the minority affairs minister said.
Besides Maharashtra, pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh were also among those who left from Mumbai.
"The Union government, in co-operation with the Saudi Arabia Haj Consulate, Haj Committee of India and other agencies concerned, completed preparations for Haj 2018 well before time to ensure a smooth pilgrimage," he said.
29/07/18 PTI/Times of India

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25 flights to ferry 7, 232 Hajis this year

Hyderabad: The first flight carrying Haj pilgrims will depart from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on August 1, said Telangana State Haj Committee chairman Mohammed Masiullah Khan on Sunday. This year, 25 flights will carry 7,232 haj pilgrims from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Karnataka to Saudi Arabia.

The flight is scheduled to fly to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia at 7.30 a.m. and the first batch of pilgrims would be driven to the airport by a Telangana State Road Transport Corporation bus from the Haj House early in the morning. “The hajis (pilgrims) should report to the Haj House 48 hours before their scheduled flight departure,” he said.
29/07/18 The Hindu

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Airfare to bleed passengers during peak Onam season

Thiruvananthapuram: Get ready to shell out extra from the pocket if you are an air passenger from the Middle East wishing to celebrate Onam with family. The Civil Aviation Ministry, in reply to a question by the MPs from Kerala, has made it clear it would not take any steps or intervention to reduce the air fare during the festival season along with providing additional flights to clear the extra rush.

Further, Kochi- headquartered budget carrier Air India Express, which operates around 264 flights between Kerala and the Gulf in a week and is the largest service provider in the route, said it would not operate any additional flights in the current season. Last year, Air India Express had operated 18 additional flights between Sharjah and Kerala during the festival season of Onam & Eid.

Speaking to Express, a senior Air India Express official said the AIE used to announce additional flights during the peak season based on the booking pattern in advance. But this time, the company is not planning to deploy additional flights during Onam considering the market dynamics of the airline which claims it has already increased its number of services in the summer schedule than winter schedule. The low-cost and other scheduled airlines used to effect a steep hike in airfares from various destinations in West Asia to the international airports in the state every year to cash in on the high demand from Non-Resident Keralites during Bakrid and Onam seasons.
30/07/18 Dhinesh Kallungal/New Indian Express

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First Boeing Apache, Chinook helicopters for India complete inaugural flights

Boeing and India recently took a significant step towards modernizing the Indian Air Force’s helicopter fleet by completing the first flights of Apache and Chinook helicopters destined for delivery in 2019. India ultimately will receive 22 AH-64E Apache attack, and 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook transport, helicopters.

Boeing has been a long term strategic partner to India in the development of indigenous aerospace and defense ecosystem thereby contributing to the success of ‘Make in India’ initiative. This will support aerospace and defense programmes across the Boeing enterprise.

“We look forward to delivering this phenomenal capability to India,” said David Koopersmith, vice president and general manager, Boeing Vertical Lift. “From coastal operations to high-altitude mountainous missions, these aircraft will play vital roles with the Indian armed forces.”
30/07/18 Stat Times

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Lufthansa faces delays at its German hubs, many Indians among those affected

New Delhi: Passengers flying to, from and through German carrier Lufthansa’s hubs of Munich and
Frankfurt are facing serious delays and uncertainty of their flights since last Saturday (July 28) morning. From India, Lufthansa has two daily flights to Munich and four to Frankfurt and desi travellers have taken to Twitter to express the hardships they are facing.
An unidentified woman made it to Munich Airport terminal 2’s security hold area reportedly without going through security or passport checks on Saturday morning due to which this terminal was closed for some time, causing delays here over the weekend. Frankfurt is having bad weather, said Lufthansa. Former Indian Army chief General V P Malik was among the passengers stranded in Germany over the weekend. He tweeted from the handle @Vemdalik1 on Sunday morning: “Travelling through Frankfurt. Total chaos at airport.
Thousands stranded. Lufthansa staff most unhelpful. Even discourteous. Business cl(ass) passengers being sent from pillar to post. Refusing to provide accn (accommodation) to passengers whose flights cancelled today (Sunday).”
29/07/18 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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The World's Loneliest Airport Has India, Sri Lanka In a Tough Spot

New Delhi: Sri Lanka and India seem to be on the opposite sides of the table on a crucial issue of bilateral ties.
Earlier this month, Sri Lankan civil aviation minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had told the Parliament that the government had asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to submit its business plan to operate the loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.
However, India’s minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha on Sunday told Parliament that there was no proposal under consideration for the AAI to buy a controlling stake in the airport. Sinha also clarified that there were no plans for the AAI to build a flying school and a maintenance, repair and overhaul unit at the airport.
The airport, dubbed the world’s loneliest, was built with high-interest commercial loans from China. The AAI is reported to have a 70 per cent stake, while Sri Lanka’s CAA will invest 30 per cent. The airport was officially inaugurated in March 2013 but the lone flight operating from there was also stopped in May this year due to losses.
30/07/18 Aishwarya Kumar/News18

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Public representatives weigh in on fate of Mattala Airport

Colombo: What steps will the government take in the future, regarding the Mattala International Airport?

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera had on an occasion stated that there is no proposal whatsoever to sell the Mattala airport. While Minister Amaraweera maintains that a decision has not been taken, leaders of the government he represents seem to have different ideas.

Both PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and subject minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had openly stated previously that they are in talks with India on the Mattala airport while Minister Eran Wickramaratne on the 19th of this month stated that the agreement for the Mattala airport would be a 40-year agreement.

India’s State Minister of Civil Aviation Services, recently said in the Lok Sabha that the Indian Aviation Authority had not taken a decision regarding investing in Mattala. Given this contradiction, is there any truth to the statements that have been made by members of our country’s government from time to time?
30/07/18 News First

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Three international teams line up for Jamaican airport PPP

Three teams are in contention for a public–private partnership deal to take over the operation and expansion of Norman Manley International Airport near Kingston, Jamaica.
The winner will finance, develop and maintain the airport, the second largest in Jamaica after Sangster International, which serves the tourist resort of Montego Bay.

A request for proposals was issued by the Ministry of Transport to eight prequalified bidders in June 2017. The three that responded are:

Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico
A team led by Corporación del Este, a subsidiary of Dominican developer Grupo Puntacana. This team also includes China Harbour Engineering and local companies Corporación del Kingston, GBG Energy and Jamaica Producers Group
A team led by Egis Projects, a French engineer that specialises in international transport PPPs. Its team includes Jamaican investment adviser GK Capital Management, Kingston finance house Sagicor Investments Jamaica and Razel-Bec, the civil engineering arm of France’s Fayat Group.
Among the prequalified teams that did not submit final bids were Vinci Airports, GMR Infrastructure of India, Zurich Airport International, Cedicor of Argentina, the Korea Airport Corporation and A-Port Chile.
30/07/18 Global Construction Review

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India to send back seized turtles to Sri Lanka

Indian forest department  plans to send back a consignment of exotic turtles to Sri Lanka, mostly red-eared sliders, that was seized from a passenger at airport recently.

According to sources, officials are planning to send it back to Sri Lanka as it came from there, the Indian Express reported.

Sources added that SriLankan Airlines also failed to notice the consignment carrying the turtles during security check with the reptiles kept in different boxes inside a stroller bag.Last year, Customs caught hold of another Sri Lankan passenger with 3,000 red-eared sliders at Chennai International Airport. In many such cases, the Forest department was helpless in taking tough action against such illegal importers as these non-native species are not listed under the scheduled lists of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
30/07/18 Daily Mirror

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Ramco Aviation signs Fighter Jet Maintenance Software deal with a leading Defense Contractor

New Jersey: Global Aviation software provider, Ramco Systems has secured an order for Ramco Aviation Suite v5.8 from one of the leading Defense Contractor. The client also operates and maintains advanced tactical aircraft used to train pilots of defense establishments. Ramco’s comprehensive functionality for fleet management and deep understanding of industry have helped secure this order.

Ramco’s one stop solution will enable the client to manage its fleet of advanced fighter jet aircraft by deploying a unified enterprise application for Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Safety, Compliance, and Quality while delivering simplified user experience via Mobility, Hubs and Advanced visualization dashboard.

Ramco’s Aviation Suite will enable high productivity and automation of fleet sustainment by moving away from manual recording of data and enabling access to real-time information. The application will ensure high aircraft.
29/07/18 India Education Diary

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Mattala Airport Deal Will Embroil Sri Lanka in India-China 'Regional Power Games': Rajapaksa

Colombo:  Sri Lanka's proposed deal with India over the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport will "unnecessarily" embroil the island national in India-China "regional power games", former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Friday.

The Sri Lankan government earlier this month had announced that it would go ahead with the deal with India to jointly operate the airport in the southern Hambantota district. The country has also entered a 99-year lease with China to develop an industrial park and an oil bunkering facility at the Hambantota port.

"We are opposed to the selling of national assets," Rajapaksa said while in Tangalle town of his home district Hambantota. "Our country will be unnecessarily caught in regional power games due to this," he added.
27/07/18 PTI/News18

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New Singapore option with Sikkim flight debut

Dum Dum: Low-cost airline IndiGo will start a daily flight from Calcutta to Singapore in mid-September, coinciding with SpiceJet flying to Sikkim just ahead of the Puja season.

The average return fare for the Singapore flight could be around Rs 16,000, almost half the market baseline of Rs 30,000.

"IndiGo will operate an Airbus A320. The flight will take off at 6.55pm and land in Singapore at 1.45am local time. On the return journey, take-off will be at 1.40pm and arrival at 3.25pm," an official of the airline said.

The only airline that currently directly flies to Singapore daily from the city is Singapore Airlines.
28/07/18 Sanjay Mandal/Telegraph

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Women monitor ‘dozing’ cops on CCTV, flee police station

Kolkata:  They were locked inside a room that housed the CCTV monitor. And they knew exactly what was happening in and outside the police station. They took advantage of that, and gave the cops the slip.
Two woman—one Bangladeshi and one Indian—who had been arrested at Kolkata airport on Monday evening walked out of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport police station around 5am on Friday, when the cops on duty were apparently too sleepy to react.
Along with these two, a third woman, also a Bangladeshi national, had been arrested, but she failed to escape.  The Bangladeshi women, Tanjila(20) and Mastura (26), both residents of Comilla, were set to board a SpiceJet flight from Kolkata to Delhi on July 23, when a CISF jawan smelt something suspiscious and accosted them. These two were found to be travelling with fake names and forged Aadhaar cards and were suspected to be victims of a trafficking racket. The Indian woman, Tasleem (24), who lived at Nirmal Vihar in Delhi, had claimed she was taking the two to Delhi to work as domestic help, but the police suspect she was trafficking them.
28/07/18 Tamaghna Banerjee/Times of India

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