Green tribunal dismisses petition against Aranmula airport

Chennai:  The proposed KGS Aranmula International Airport in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala got a reprieve on Tuesday when the National Green Tribunal, Chennai Bench, dismissed a petition that challenged the project.
The petitioner had challenged the notification of the proposed airport site as an industrial belt and the no-objection certificate given by the state government for the project.
The present order also sets aside the interim order passed by the bench two weeks ago. In the interim order, the bench had stayed construction at the site.
The verdict is expected to speed up the project.
30/04/13 Jayaraj Sivan/Times of India

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Following Jet-Etihad deal Qatar Airways and Air Arabia may be next to invest

New Delhi: Gulf carriers Qatar Airways and Air Arabia are learnt to be next in line to invest in India after Etihad decided to pick up a 24% stake in Jet Airways for Rs 2,058 crore last week.
Qatar is learnt to be looking at investing in an existing Indian carrier with SpiceJet and GoAir being the frontrunners. IndiGo continues to tease investors with its most eligible and sought after status but has so far not shown any interest in selling stake to them.
Highly-placed sources said grounded Kingfisher Airlines also tried to woo Qatar Airways . Sharjah-based LCC (low-cost-carrier ) Air Arabia is learnt to be looking at tying up with an Indian partner for investing in a start-up like AirAsia India JV between the Malaysian budget carrier and the Tata Group.
30/04/13  Saurabh Sinha/Economic Times

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Malindo Air eyes network growth in India, China

Kuala Lumpur: Malindo Air will roll out more destinations in India following the launch of its first international route between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi in June.
 CEO, Chandran Ramamuthy, told TTG Asia e-Daily that the airline would commence flights between Kuala Lumpur and Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata in the second half of 2013, subject to regulatory approval.
 He added: “We see India is a big and growing market. In terms of tourism arrivals, it is the second largest medium-haul market after China.”
 Besides ramping up seat capacity, Malindo Air’s new Indian services might pave the way for lower airfares and new outbound destinations for Indian tourists, said Grandlotus Travel Agencies managing director, K Thangavelu.
29/04/13 S Puvaneswary/TTG Asia

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Pawan Hans to provide services to IITs

Mumbai: Helicopter company Pawan Hans may soon be providing helicopter services to two IIT campuses. Pawan Hans officials said that they have got demands from IIT Kanpur and Manali to operate services from their campuses to neighbouring cities to facilitate the movement of people.
On Monday, the chairman and managing director of Pawan Hans, Anil Srivastava, said that IIT Kanpur has asked for helicopter services from their campus to Lucknow. Similarly, IIT Manali has also requested for services from the campus to Chandigarh. "Most people come to Kanpur from Delhi. But the number of flights is very less. Also, Kanpur airport is about an hour away from the campus. Hence, there is a request to have services from Lucknow, which is better connected by air to other parts of the country," said Srivastava. "We will start services to IIT Manali from next month," he added.
30/04/13 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Gopinath puts airline application on hold, to watch AirAsia India fate first

New Delhi: The founder of low cost flying in India — Captain G R Gopinath of Air Deccan fame — has decided to keep his application for launching a new budget airline here on hold. The ex-armyman will first see the fate of the AirAsia-Tata Sons joint venture startup's fate before moving with his papers.
After getting Foreign Investment Promotion Board nod, AirAsia on Tuesday filed a formal application with the aviation ministry to seek clearance for starting the Indian subsidiary. The airline plans to start operations with three to four planes and take the number to 37 in next five years.
"The aviation ministry feels that last September when the government relaxed foreign direct investment in the sector, it allowed foreign airlines to invest in local ones. So the government will have to clarify that even start-ups are allowed under the relaxed FDI norms," said sources.
29/04/13 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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What made Tata group return to aviation?

A good partner and untapped potential in the low-cost sector made the Tata group re-enter the aviation space, although the industry remains tough, and the competition cut-throat, according to a company official.
"If you look at the low-cost carrier space, it is huge and it has not been adequately tapped. So, the opportunity is there," Tata group brand custodian and spokesperson Mukund Rajan said, when asked what made the group change its stand on re-entering the sector.
There are many people from many cities wanting to travel but are not receiving the services, and that offers immense potential, he said.
The Tata group, which pioneered civil aviation in India, is making a comeback to the sector with Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and Telestra Tradeplace of Arun Bhatia in a 49:30:21 joint venture AirAsia India, a no-frills airline.
29/04/13 PTI/NDTV.com

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Seaplane services to take off at Juhu Chowpatty ‘airport’

Mumbai: The next time you wish to travel to Lonavala, Shirdi, Murud-Janjira or Bhandardhara, you will have the option of flying there, as Mumbai is all set to get its first seaplane service to Maharashtra's most popular tourist destinations from June. This will also include a commuter service from Juhu to Nariman Point for just Rs 750.
Having received all the necessary aviation, tourism and security clearances, Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR), which currently operates seaplane services in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is ready to launch services in Maharashtra with Mumbai as its base.
A top Airport Authority of India (AAI) official in Mumbai said, "The company applied for government and aviation-related clearances at the end of 2012. They have received all necessary clearances from the government, which has asked us to provide hanger and parking facilities for the operator on priority."
Mehair will use Cessna 208 (amphibian) aircraft, which can accommodate up to nine passengers, for the service.
29/04/13 Nazia Sayed & Bipin Kumar Singh/Mumbai Mirror

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Land-locked Punjab to hop onto Boeings: Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh: For a state, whose urban vacationers frequently set off to Macau and Jats zip between Majha and Doaba in their SUVs, airports with facilities for large aircraft like Boeing-747s and 4/6 lane roads have received an official stamp to overcome Punjab's limitation of being a land-locked state.
Speaking at the Times Group's Achievers of the North ceremony here on Saturday, Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal promised to make the state epicentre of investment by improving air connectivity and road infrastructure. The programme had Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa and revenue minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia attending.
"We are conscious of Punjab's land-locked status. Which is why the roadmap ahead for us is to have an airport every 100-km and Boeing 737s and Airbus 320s landing here," Sukhbir told business tycoons who had gathered at the gala event.
29/04/13 Times of India

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DLA Piper advises Etihad Airways on $600m investment in Jet Airways

DLA Piper has advised Etihad Airways on its investment of $379m in a 24% stake in Jet Airways as part of an extensive strategic alliance between the two airlines. This is the first investment by a foreign airline in an Indian airline since the Indian government liberalised its rules for the Indian aviation sector in September 2012.
The balance of Etihad's $600m overall strategic investment in Jet comprises a $70m purchase and leaseback of Jet Airways' three pairs of Heathrow Airport landing and take-off slots which was announced in February and, subject to appropriate regulatory and corporate approvals, Etihad will invest $150m in a significant equity investment in Jet Airways' frequent flyer program "Jet Privilege".
28/04/13 AME Info

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Yet to appoint CEO for India foray: AirAsia

Mumbai: AirAsia today said the low-cost airline group is yet to appoint CEO for its India foray, more than a month after AirAsia Group Chief Tony Fernandes tweeted that he had selected a person for the top job.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the Malaysian carrier has not yet applied for the flying licence to the sector regulator, even though it has already received the FIPB approval.
“AirAsia India has not appointed a CEO,” AirAsia spokesperson said in an e-mail statement to PTI from Airline’s headquarters in Sepang, Malaysia.
The e-mail came in response to a PTI query seeking confirmation of the name of CEO doing rounds in the industry.
21/04/13 PTI/Business Line

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Good partner made Tata group return to aviation

Mumbai: A good partner and untapped potential in the low-cost sector made Tatas re-enter the aviation space although the industry remains tough, and the competition cut-throat, according to a company official.
"If you look at the low-cost carrier space, it is huge and it has not been adequately tapped. So, the opportunity is there," Tata Group Brand Custodian and Spokesperson Mukund Rajan said, when asked what made the group change its stand on re-entering the sector.
There are many people from many cities wanting to travel but are not receiving the services, and that offers immense potential, he said.
The Tata group, which pioneered civil aviation in India, is making a come-back to the sector with Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia and Telestra Tradeplace of Arun Bhatia in a 49:30:21 joint venture 'AirAsia India', a no-frills airline.
28/04/13 PTI/Indian Express

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Jet-Etihad deal: How James Hogan’s strategy worked for the UAE carrier

James Hogan had spent over three decades working with airlines like Ansett and Gulf Air, hotel and restaurant chain Forte and car rental firm Hertz before he joined Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways in October 2006. But the Australian will be remembered more for what he unleashed at the UAE national carrier, where he is president and CEO, than for any of his achievements in all those years. In 2008, he placed a $43-billion order for 205 aircraft. That was just the start.
Three years later, Hogan turned industry conventions on their head by kicking off what Etihad calls 'equity alliances'. Instead of joining an airline alliance like Star Alliance or OneWorld, Etihad bought just under 3% in Air Berlin, and later raised it to nearly 30%. Etihad also lent the ailing German airline $255 million.
Etihad has since picked up equity stakes in four other airlines, the most recent and largest being 24% in Jet Airways for $379 million earlier this week. (It has invested another $220 million in Jet, including $150 million in its frequent-flyer programme and $70 million to buy its three slots at Heathrow airport.) Etihad, with these acquisitions — all minority ones — has now strengthened its presence in Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa.
28/04/13 G Seetharaman/Economic Times

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Airports Authority of India developing northeast's defunct airports

Guwhati:  The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is developing three non-operational airports at Daparizo in Arunachal Pradesh, Tura in Meghalaya and Kamalpur in Tripura for operating ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft to connect the remote hill areas of the NE region.
An official said the AAI is also developing civil enclaves at Along, Passighat and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh and Rupsi in Dhubri district of Assam.
The source said the proposals are subject to land acquisition by the state government concerned.
Operationalisation of Tezu airport has also been taken up, which can handle ATR-72 type aircraft.
27/04/13 Times of India

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Navi Mumbai airport delay to hit investors hard

Mumbai: The proposed international airport at Navi Mumbai is indefinitely delayed, leaving investors, politicians, builders and land traders in the lurch. Ever since the airport was announced a few years ago, speculators put a heavy premium on land surrounding the site of the new airport. Land prices shot up manifold as investors believed they would reap a bonanza once the airport came up. But early this month, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan confessed that the government was in no position to fix a timeline to start construction work. Cidco, the nodal agency for the project, is yet to acquire 475 hectares of private land for the airport, which is to be spread over 2,072 hectares. Of the 475 hectares, about 291 are required for aeronautical purposes.
26/04/13 Nauzer K Bharucha/Times of India

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AirAsia seeks Ministry nod to launch operations

New Delhi: AirAsia India, the newly formed no frills airline by the Tata group, Malaysia-based AirAsia and another Indian investor, is understood to have filed an application with the Civil Aviation Ministry seeking permission to formally start operations later this year.
The joint venture company is likely to have at least six members on its board, comprising two nominees each from AirAsia and Tata Sons and one representative from Telestra Tradeplace, the third partner. There would be an independent director on the board, who would also be the non-executive Chairman.
Tata Sons has nominated R. Venkatraman, former executive assistant to Ratan Tata, and Bharat Vasani, chief legal counsel of the Tata group, on the board. AirAsia would be represented by Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Bin Meranun, who are among the largest shareholders in AirAsia Bhd, while Arun Bhatia would represent Telstra Tradeplace.
25/04/13 The Hindu

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Smaller cities get global gateway in Abu Dhabi

The biggest gainers of the deal between Jet Airways and Etihad could well be those living in the mid-sized and smaller cities of India.
Post the deal, Jet plans to connect close to a dozen of these cities to destinations across the world through Etihad’s home base of Abu Dhabi, which will become the new hub for the Indian carrier.
“People in Tier 2 and 3 cities will see enhanced global connect, which may give a fillip to trade and tourism in those locations. They can expect more competition, better regional connectivity, higher efficiency and lower fares,” says Amber Dubey, Partner and Head-Aviation at global consultancy firm KPMG.
In three years from now, Jet Airways has plans to connect 23 cities to the world through Abu Dhabi. The cities include Patna, Baroda, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Amritsar, Baroda, Jaipur and others, including the metro cities. A Jet Airways source said that they have plans to induct 54 aircraft over a period of three to five years to support their expansion plan.
26/04/13 Mihir Mishra/Financial Express

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Etihad Airways can fly only two flights a day

New Delhi: Even as India has almost quadrupled the bilateral entitlements with Abu Dhabi, from 13,300 to 49,970 seats a week, the civil aviation ministry has placed a cap on the number of flights airlines from Abu Dhabi can operate from these cities, to prevent revenue losses for airport operators.
According to the new agreement, Etihad can fly 3,300 passengers a week out of Delhi and Mumbai, subject to a frequency of two flights a day.
“We have made provisions to address the concerns of airlines and airport operators in India. Etihad wanted the limit on the number of flights they can operate between any airport in the country and Abu Dhabi be waived off but we ensured the limit remains on two flights a day from Delhi and Mumbai and one daily flight from any other airport in the country,” said a ministry official.
26/04/13 Sharmistha Mukherjee/Business Standard

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Will AirAsia get approvals to begin Indian operations soon?

Malaysia’s Air Asia has plans to launch operations in India as early as this year. The airline is pro-actively trying to complete bureaucracy related formalities so that it can begin operations in smaller towns and cities with an Airbus fleet.
After getting a formal approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to set up an airline in the domestic market, the airline is learnt to have submitted an application to launch low cost airline in India along with Tata Sons and Telestra Tradeplace in a 49:30:21 partnership.
Earlier, there was a talk that the aviation ministry had disapproved AirAsia's India entry on grounds that Tata Sons should have first set up an airline company, obtained a flying permit and then should have offloaded stake to it. But later, the foreign investment proposal panel okayed the venture.
26/04/13 Moneycontrol.com

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SpiceJet to add three India–China routes

SpiceJet, which currently flies to Guangzhou from Delhi, will add three destinations in China this year, CEO Neil Mills has told Bloomberg.
The carrier also plans to shift towards international routes, to triple their contribution to revenue up to 20% over the next 18 months, he said.
SpiceJet may fly to CIS nations and start flights to Thailand, Mills told Bloomberg.
 Despite withdrawing an application to fly to Abu Dhabi, SpiceJet aims to fly more Middle East routes, he added.
 But, as few flights now connect China and India, this market represents a clear opportunity, he added.
 "You’ve got over a third of the world’s population in two countries that sit side by side, but they are almost not connected by air," he told Bloomberg.
 Overseas flights could help pull SpiceJet back into the black through dollar earnings and savings in fuel costs from avoiding heavy taxes in India.
 Although China is India’s second-largest trading partner, only 142,000 Chinese nationals visited India in 2011, according to Indian Ministry of Tourism figures.
26/04/13 Routes News

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Taking off

Jet Airways's sale of a 24 per cent stake to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways for approximately Rs 2,050 crore is a win-win for the two airlines. It is also a much-delayed step into the future for India's crisis-hit civil aviation sector. Jet has become the first Indian carrier to utilise the government's change of policy last September to allow foreign airlines to acquire equity in Indian carriers. While Etihad gets access to India's large outbound passenger market, Jet will see a near-tenfold increase in its capacity in addition to strategic expertise, cheap financing and fuel import benefits, apart from a doubling of its market worth. The deal suggests the potential for restoring growth in the cramped and ailing sector.
At a time when global perception of the Indian economy is gloomy, the Jet-Etihad deal underscores the fact that civil aviation is a growing market in India that will continue to invite competition and investment. Having posted a loss of Rs 10,000 crore for FY2011-12 due to adverse circumstances, however, the industry is by no means out of the woods. Instead of throwing good money after bad, such as in providing a sovereign guarantee to Air India's debts and bailing it out, as with the Rs 30,000 crore package last year, the civil aviation ministry should have left AI to fend for itself and given private carriers the leeway to strike the best deals for themselves.
26/04/13 Indian Express

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