Airbus eyes production in U.S., India

Paris: Weeks before the first China-built Airbus rolls off the assembly line near Beijing, the European planemaker's top official has pulled out the map and targeted future jetliner production in the United States and India.
Airbus Chief Executive Tom Enders, writing 40 years after the birth of the first plane project by a four-nation European consortium, said Airbus must become global to stay competitive.
"We have to leave national sentiment behind us," Enders wrote in a column in Friday's edition of the Financial Times.
"Airbus will only remain competitive in the long term if it develops resources and markets globally and becomes a genuinely international company, with development and production also in the U.S., China, India and elsewhere."
Airbus agreed in 2006 to set up an assembly line for the A320 family of jets, its most popular model, at Tianjin in China to reduce costs and gain an edge over rival Boeing in one of the world's largest aviation markets.
The first plane will be delivered by end-June, the first time an Airbus has been assembled outside its two main host countries, France and Germany, supported by Britain and Spain.
India has pressed Airbus to consider opening a production line there also, but so far the European company has been tied up in domestic restructuring and a series of aircraft production delays, as well as fierce union opposition to offshoring jobs.
When India's civil aviation minister floated the idea of an Indian assembly line at an Airbus ceremony at the Paris air show two years ago, Airbus officials cautiously welcomed the concept but said the costs might outweigh the benefits.
30/05/09 Alibaba.com

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Air-India considers strategic alliance with JAT

Mumabi: Air-India is considering a strategic alliance with Serbia's state-owned carrier, Jugoslavenski Aerotransport (JAT), and may bid for a stake at a later stage, an official for the Indian airline said on Monday.
"We are conducting due diligence and the first step would be a strategic alliance," a spokesman for Air-India said.
"They are open to the idea of Air-India as a strategic partner, and we might then take an equity stake if we are able to agree on the valuation and sharing of profits," he said.
The two airlines had been in talks for several months, and the due diligence of the Serbian carrier was scheduled to be completed by the end of the month, the spokesman said.
"A joint venture or partnership will help us extend our footprint in Europe and we can consolidate routes in markets such as North America and Australia," the Air-India spokesman said.
04/06/07 Reuters/NDTV.com

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Jet Airways to begin Toronto-Delhi flights from Aug.

Toronto: Jet Airways will begin flights from Toronto to Delhi in August on a route that Air Canada has discontinued from this month.
Jet Airways (India) Ltd will begin five flights a week from Toronto through Brussels, destined for New Delhi beginning August 23, a senior General Manager for the airline, Abraham Joseph said.
The Indian carrier aims to deliver daily service by the end of October as part of a major push into North America, he said.
Jet Airways expects to get its licence to fly into Canada within the next few weeks.
Hemant Shah, President of Cubex India and leading aviation professional, who runs a pilot training school in Winnipeg said that it would help 710,000 citizens of Indian descent who have been demanding excellent customer service that matches international service standards, and boost trade links between the two countries.
31/05/07 PTI/The Hindu

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Maharaja in race to buy Serbian airline

Mumbai: After surviving all bids at privatisation, Air India and Indian Airlines, the two merging state-run carriers are bidding to buy controlling stakes in Jat Airways, Serbia’s national airline.
It’s the first time in its history that Air India is looking at buying another airline, let alone an international flagship. The only other contender to acquire Jat – formerly called Yugoslav Airlines – is Russia’s national carrier Aeroflot, which has already made a competitive bid for the offer.
V Thulasidas, who was on Tuesday appointed chairman and managing director of the merged airline, confirmed the move. “We have asked our consultants to look into the Jat Airways project,” he said.
Jat is expected to choose its partner for privatisation by June-end.
Sources from AI said that the Maharaja is looking at a controlling stake in the Serbian airline. Jat Airways CEO was in India early this year to discuss the proposal with AI.
31/05/07 V Manju/Times of India

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Pvt airlines may soon fly to West Asia

Mumbai: More domestic airlines are expected to fly to the Gulf apart from PSU carriers. The ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) may allow all airlines to fly international destinations, including the Gulf routes, if a carrier completes three years of operations. A policy in this regard, christened Vision 2020, will come before the Cabinet on Thursday for approval.
Currently, the Gulf region is reserved for national carriers Indian Airlines and Air India, along with its international low-cost carrier Air India Express for a period of three years, which expires in 2008.
Jet Airways and Air Sahara (now JetLite following the acquisition by Jet) — which have been lobbying for opening it up — would be the first airlines flying in these routes.
“The government is planning to relax the norms for the international operations to three years of operations and 20 aircraft in its fleet against the current five years and 20 aircraft. The new civil aviation policy envisages this relaxation is irrespective of international destinations,” said government sources.
This would mean that any airline which has completed three years of operations can fly on the Gulf route, which is considered a cash cow. If the Cabinet approves MoCA’s proposal, low-cost carrier Air Deccan can immediately fly Gulf, while Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines and another Delhi-based budget carrier SpiceJet can make it to the Gulf destinations by May 2008.
31/05/07 P R Sanjai/Business Standard

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Time served, deportation for groping on a plane

An Indian computer engineer who groped female passengers during a London-to-Philadelphia flight in March and later caused a commotion in a courtroom here was sentenced yesterday to 69 days in prison, or time served.
Thirumurthy Nakka Boomaiah of Chennai, India, is expected to be deported. He had pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew and faced a sentence of as long as six months.
Boomaiah was arrested March 21 at Philadelphia International Airport after passengers and crew complained that he had rubbed the legs and genital areas of female passengers and thrown water in the face of a flight attendant who told him to stop. Passengers told authorities that after crew members strapped Boomaiah to his seat, he continued to shout obscenities until the plane landed.
During his first appearance before a federal magistrate in Philadelphia, Boomaiah was wrestled to the courtroom floor by marshals after he began to move toward a female clerk and shouted, "I am a man! I am a man!"
Government doctors initially found Boomaiah incompetent to stand trial. About a week later, they conducted further tests and determined that he had regained competency.
30/05/07 John Shiffman/The Philadelphia Inquirer, US

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Malaysian firm takes 'Touch & Go' to India

New Delhi: The “Touch & Go” ticketing system at Malaysian highways and car parks will be used in India, after a Malaysian-based company, Tenaga Group, clinched a contract to manage the automated parking management system at the Hyderabad International Airport that will be commissioned next March.
Tenaga Parking (India) Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of Tenaga Group, secured the three-year contract to operate the car park facility, designed to accommodate 3,500 vehicles, in the face of tough competition from car park specialists from Australian, South Africna and Indian companies.
Under the deal, Tenaga will use the “Touch n Go” system at the airport, which is set to handle 12 million passengers a year by 2020.
Describing the project as a tough challenge for the company in India, where paid parking is a relatively new concept, Rashpal said Tenaga will use its Sri Lanka experience to implement the system in Hyderabad.
30/05/07 Business Times - Malaysia, Malaysia

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US plans $1.1 billion cargo plane sale to India

Washington: The Bush administration announced Wednesday a proposed sale to India of six Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile , Research) C-130J cargo planes and related gear worth up to $1.1 billion in what would be the first modern U.S. military aircraft deal with India.
The sale would bolster a "U.S.-Indian strategic relationship that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in South Asia," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress.
The C-130J Super Hercules would give India "a credible special operations capability that will deter aggression in the region, provide humanitarian airlift capability and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces in coalition operations," the notice said.
The C-130J is a U.S. workhorse in Afghanistan and Iraq. India has requested as many as six of them along with four four Rolls-Royce Plc (RR.L: Quote, Profile , Research) spare engines, eight AAR-47 missile warning systems and communications equipment, the Pentagon said.
The package's estimated cost was $1.1 billion, it said, including personnel training and U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support.
30/05/07 Reuters.uk, UK

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Hoax threat to AI flight: Man found guilty

Stop the plane from leaving Changi Airport now.A terrorist is going to make it crash and kill everyone on board.
This was the chilling threat made by an anonymous caller on 6 Nov last year regarding an Air India flight to New Delhi.
Thrice the caller delivered the threat.
Police immediately stopped the plane, the luggage was re-screened and the 73 passengers and crew members were interviewed.
The threats turned out to be a hoax and the plane was allowed to leave after nearly four hours.
The caller was Nanda Sudhir Kumar, 53, a Canadian who was on holiday then.
Yesterday, after a six-day trial which started in mid-April, District Judge Victor Yeo found Nanda guilty of making the three hoax calls. He is to be sentenced next Monday.
Nanda, who faced three charges under the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations, faces up to five years in jail, a fine up to $100,000 or both.
According to court papers, Nanda made the first threat to the Police Combined Operation Room at 3.17pm on 6 Nov, from a public phone in the Terminal 1 arrival hall.
He had gone to the airport to check on the flight schedule, especially for AI481 to Delhi.
He told the operator that the flight, which was to leave at 3.30pm, had to be stopped immediately to prevent a crash by a terrorist on board.
Nanda then took the MRT to the Singapore Expo, where he made the same threat from a public phone near Hall 3 at around 3.50pm.
The last threat was made at 4.38pm from a public phone at Block 12, Haig Road, where he had travelled to by bus.
In the last call, Nanda identified himself as the one behind the first two calls. He said: 'Okay, I phone two times already... one bad guy terrorist inside the plane... the plane will be crashed, did you stop the plane or not?'
31/05/07 Electric New Paper, Singapore

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Facing judge's subpoena, Air Canada agrees to participate in Air India probe

Ottawa: A reluctant Air Canada has agreed - under threat of subpoena - to co-operate with former Supreme Court justice John Major and offer its views on aviation safety at his inquiry into the 1985 Air India bombing.
Brian Gover, a member of the legal team for the inquiry, said Wednesday he's spoken to a senior Air Canada lawyer who has "assured us of complete co-operation" and agreed to work toward setting a date for the testimony.
The airline had rejected an earlier invitation to appear, but reversed course after an irate Major threatened to use his legal powers to force compliance with his wishes.
A key issue at the inquiry is whether domestic and international security practices have been reformed sufficiently over the last two decades to avert another tragedy like the terrorist attack on Air India that took 329 lives.
Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for Air Canada, would not elaborate on the nature of the original dispute but said Wednesday the airline will now be "pleased to appear before the inquiry" and provided any useful knowledge it has.
Air Canada was the domestic agent for Air India at the time of the bombing, but Major indicated he's more interested in hearing the company's views on more general topics related to aviation security, such as passenger screening and baggage handling.
30/05/07 Jim Brown/Canadian Press/Canada.com, Canada

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Air India 'big-bang event,' court told

The Air India bombing was the crescendo in an international campaign by Sikh extremists that included nine earlier hijackings, the Ottawa inquiry probing the 1985 terrorist attack heard yesterday.
"Air India was the 10th and the big bang event as far as the Khalistan independence movement was concerned and, therefore, to that degree it was predictable," University of Manitoba professor Peter St. John testified. "We could anticipate that something might happen."
Prof. St. John began studying aviation security and terrorism after losing his best student and teaching assistant, 23-yearold Rahul Aggarwal, in the bombing.
His research showed him that for years before the Air India blast, there were cycles in terms of both hijackings and sabotage of aircraft that should have been an indicator to aviation authorities.
"You could see the movement gathering for something extreme," Prof. St. John said of Sikh separatists here. "I don't think that Canadian airport security or transport Canada or any of our security people were ready for Air India."
Prof. St. John, who has authored several books on aviation security, was part of a panel of three experts who testified at the inquiry as it began yesterday to examine airport security.
Rodney Wallis, an international civil aviation security consultant, explained he predicted a bombing like that of Air India at a U.S. conference in April, 1985, and made recommendations that could have prevented the attack.
"What I tried to do is warn that this is the danger -- we had to consider how do we cope with this," he said. "We pushed for passenger and baggage reconciliation."
30/05/07 Kim Bolan/CanWest News Service/National Post, Canada

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Young airlines may get to fly global routes

New Delhi: Airlines with less than the currently stipulated five-year domestic flying experience may soon be allowed to operate on international routes, benefiting carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines, Air Deccan and others with ambitions to fly to overseas destinations, but held back by the rule.
The civil aviation ministry has suggested that the rule be removed and approvals be granted on a case-by-case basis. This is part of the new civil aviation policy named ‘Vision 2020’ likely to be considered by the cabinet this week.
“If approved in its entirety, it will not be mandatory to have certain years of experience for plying international routes,” said a civil aviation ministry official, who asked not to be named because a final decision is pending cabinet approval.
The ministry is likely to give approvals for global routes based on the airline’s capacity and traffic on a given route, the official said. A similar arrangement works in the domestic sector with carriers allotted routes ahead of every winter and summer season.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel, earlier this month, had said that the government was looking at reviewing global flight norms by the year-end given the number of foreign carriers coming into India under the various bilateral agreements. India has air services agreements with more than 100 countries, but since only a handful of Indian carriers fly abroad, they don’t often result in reciprocity.
30/05/07 Tarun Shukla/Livemint

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Draft aviation policy focus on AAI recast, connectivity & FDI

New Delhi: The Cabinet is scheduled to unveil the new civil aviation policy on Thursday which, among other things, makes out a strong case for restructuring the Airports Authority of India (AAI), improving domestic and international air connectivity and reviewing FDI norms in the sector to encourage investments.
Though the civil aviation ministry has for long thought of giving shape to a proper policy framework to regulate the sector, it is only now that it is being put before the Cabinet.
The NCAP contains a blueprint of the ministry’s roadmap for the sector, enunciated in a document christened Vision 2020. The paper is divided into six sections, each focusing on a separate theme. While the first chapter presents an overview of the current situation and emerging trends, air transport services, measures for enhancing affordability, airport infrastructure, safety regulations and civil aviation security form the thrust areas.
Realising that AAI had failed to live up to the expectations of the consumers by ensuring development of airports with state-of-the-art facilities, the document makes a strong case for revamping the body.
It reiterates the government’s commitment to put in place world-class airport infrastructure by building new airports and modernising/restructuring the existing ones, including revival of non-operational airports. It also exhorts the government to go in for multiple airports in larger metropolitan regions, such as Delhi and Mumbai.
30/05/07 Devesh Kumar/Economic Times

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Oman Air flies direct to India's 'Pink City'

Starting 1st June 2007, Oman Air will spread wings to reach its 8th destination in India.
The national flag carrier of Oman will operate direct flights connecting Muscat with Jaipur, the 'Pink City' via 4 flights a week (Saturday - Monday - Wednesday - Friday).
Jaipur is the fourth new destination to be launched by Oman Air within this year, after the successful inauguration of Chittagong in Bangladesh in May 1, as at 5 flights a week. Oman Air was the first foreign airline to operate to this sightseer city. Also, re-establish our operation to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as per one flight daily.
The airline too inaugurated operations to Lucknow, India on the 3rd of May, as of 3 flights a week. The launch of these destinations come in line with Oman Air resulted plan to expand its network by increasing the number of international destinations. The company is in the process of implementing a strategy to upgrade services and propping up operations by bringing in wide body aircraft.
29/05/07 AME Info (press release), United Arab Emirates

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Thailand launches "shopper's airline" between Bangkok-Bangalore

Bangkok: Thailand's low-cost Nok Air announced Wednesday the launch of the world's first 'Shopper's Airline' flight between Bangkok and Bangalore, India.
Starting Thursday, Nok Air will operate daily flights from Bangkok to Bangalore, using a Boeing 737-400, with a capacity of 150 seats.
It will not only be the first international route for Nok Air, an affiliate of the national carrier Thai Airways International (THAI), but also the first flight to use the 'Shopper's Airline' marketing concept, airline executives claimed.
'Shopper's Airline,' bringing those who enjoy shopping for quality to Bangkok for the exclusive discounts available only for Nok Air passengers,' said the airline's chief executive officer Patee Sarasin.
The budget airline has joined hands with Thailand's The Mall Group, which operates some of Bangkok's most popular department stores such The Emporium, Siam Paragon and The Mall Department stores, to offer Nok Air passengers from Bangalore exclusive up to 50 per cent shopping discounts.
30/05/07 Monsters and Critics.com, UK

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India’s air cargo rates fall

International air cargo rates have fallen in India. The fall follows a surge in imports that has resulted in abundant capacity. Increasing competition is putting pressure on yields as carriers are forced to slash rates to fill bellyhold capacity.
"There has been an ingestion of huge capacity due to growth in imports and anticipation of an export boom which has resulted in supply surpassing demand, resulting in a rat race, and consequently a drop in yields," said Ravi Madhavan, cargo manager, Sri Lankan Airlines.
Besides an excess in supply, fuel surcharges are also more of a concern. "Fuel prices are a concern as they are volatile and account for a significant part of our operating expenses,” commented Blue Dart Express’ senior-vice president Tulsi Mirchandaney.
Yields in India’s domestic air cargo market have been flat or marginally up with the volume growth helping to compensate for the price falls.
29/05/07 Air Cargo News.net, UK

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Indian government agents targeted Sikh separatists

Indian government agents were flashing large amounts of cash around Vancouver in the months before the Air India bombing to get Sikh separatists to switch their allegiance, the Air India inquiry heard Tuesday.
Former Vancouver Police officer Don McLean, then part of the Indo-Canadian Liaison Team, testified that he was repeatedly told by sources that the Indian spies offered up to $10,000 to pro-Khalistan newspapers to get them to reject their position and adopt a moderate stance.
“The Indian government would send their agents in and they would have $10,000 to use to change the paper.”
McLean said it was obvious seeing some of the community media outlets when they had been approached because their views would shift dramatically from week to week.
The two-person Vancouver team had wide-ranging responsibility for everything from domestic problems within the community to temple elections.
But after Amritsar’s Golden Temple was raided by the Indian Army in June 1984, McLean said his team got more and more intelligence about violent Sikh separatists assaulting and intimidating moderates who spoke out against the Khalistan cause.
McLean testified the separatists “used threats and force in an attempt to accomplish that aim.”
Still, he managed to gather intelligence on some key militants including suspected Air India mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar, which he passed on to both RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
In fact, it was McLean who heard through his sources around June 9, 1985 - just two weeks before the deadly bombing - that Parmar had warned congregants at the Malton temple not to fly on Air India because it would be dangerous.
After the bombing, McLean helped both the RCMP and CSIS with the investigation.
But he said he felt marginalized as the “token munie” – the only municipal police officer working on the case – and he soon went back to his work in Vancouver.
He criticized the way the RCMP was using standards methods, such as door-knocking, to try to get information from members of a community that feared police.
29/05/07 Kim Bolan/CanWest News Service/Canada.com, Canada

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Diplomat saw it all for India

Three days after S.J.S. Chhatwal landed in Ottawa on June 20, 1985, as India's high commissioner, Air India Flight 182, en route to New Delhi from Toronto and Montreal, was bombed, killing 329 people.
"I was still suffering from jet leg," he said.
"This news of the horrendous tragedy hit me hard. I was absolutely stunned and I didn't know which way to look."
Joe Clark, then minister for external affairs, invited Chhatwal to the June 24 condolence meeting at Nathan Phillips Square in.
"It was the saddest journey I ever took," Chhatwal says, describing his flight from Ottawa to Toronto with Clark.
In his 35-year diplomatic career, Chhatwal has attended a number of condolence meetings. But that one, he said, he'll never forget.
"I felt family members who turned up there were like corpses moving around," he says.
"My heart goes out in sympathy for those whose families perished in the tragedy," he adds. "I know some women whose entire families perished. I know of a man who too lost his entire family. A couple of years in Canada, he couldn't take it any more and moved out to do charitable work in India."
There are countless such stories to recount and cry about, Chhatwal says.
He has been retired for 17 years now but he's still cautious about weighing in on the ongoing inquiry.
"Yes, I read about it. I can't comment on the investigation. I was not part of it."
Unlike many of his colleagues, he's also unwilling to criticize the Canadian law enforcement agencies despite the recent disclosures at the Air India inquiry.
As for his life as a diplomat, dealing with crisis after crisis, he says he got used to it.
30/05/07 Ajit Jain/Toronto Sun, Canada

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Airport upgrade: GE Looks to Unite With India Firms

General Electric Co. is looking to team up with some of India's top construction companies to help the U.S. company win lucrative contracts as India upgrades its airports, a news report said Tuesday.
GE officials have begun talks with at least three Indian companies - Larsen and Toubro Ltd., Gammon India Ltd. and the GVK group, the Mint financial newspaper reported.
India is expected to spend about US$12 billion (euro8.9 billion) over the next 15 years in upgrading airports, according to a joint study by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Sydney-based Center for Asia-Pacific Aviation
The country's airports have failed to keep pace with a boom in air travel that has followed the country's rapid economic expansion, making traffic chaos and flight delays routine.
Airports at New Delhi and Mumbai, which handle more than two-thirds of international flights into India, are being modernized and expanded, while Bangalore - the country's technology hub - is building a new airport. Airports in several other cities are getting upgrades.
29/05/07 AP/Forbes, US

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Serbia airline takeover: Air India too made an offer

The government of Serbia said that it will privatise its national airline by the end of the year. Government officials said that Aeroflot has given the best price and offer for the airline which has promised to expand Jat Airways, modernise Jat’s fleet and promised it will keep jobs of everyone working in Jat which is 2,000 people. Jat Airways confirmed that last week it had extensive meetings with Aeroflot which looked at the airlines structure. Meanwhile Air India also made a serious offer for the airline but it also wants to make Belgrade Nikola Tesla (Serbia’s and Jat’s main hub) it’s European home while Aeroflot focuses more on expanding and growing Jat Airways.
Meanwhile Jat turns 80 in June. Will this be its last year as a state run company? Jat Airways in 2006 managed its best results in the last 16 years having the second most passengers transported out of all the Ex-Yugoslav airlines and being the only EX-YU profitable airline in 2006. 2007 looks even more promising passenger and money wise. The airline’s main problem is an ageing fleet of 10 Boeing 737-300’s and 4 ATR72 aircraft.
28/05/07 Luchtzak Aviation, Belgium

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