From the previous thread, last post by Legacyins:

I heard through the grape vine here at SFO that AI will not be starting their SFO service in August 2009.

[Edited 2009-04-09 10:44:10]

If SFO service is off, then where would AI use the 772LRs? Any chance they would be leased?

Why has AI decided not to fly to SFO? Any link(s) to this news??

Maybe when they get their remaining 772LR, they can think of a DEL-IAD routing, i am sure United won't mind since AI will eventually join *A and united could codeshare on the flight, that way united can still market it as capital to capital service, which they so like to do these days.

Quoting Mk777 (Reply 2): Why has AI decided not to fly to SFO? Any link(s) to this news??

They had requested landing rights at SFO with CBP and withdrew. No official release.

Quoting Mk777 (Reply 2): Maybe when they get their remaining 772LR, they can think of a DEL-IAD routing, i am sure United won't mind since AI will eventually join *A and united could codeshare on the flight, that way united can still market it as capital to capital service, which they so like to do these days.

I think DEL-IAD could be a workable route, if scheduled keeping in mind UA's IAD connections to cities in the west and south.

LH Cargo launched Hyderabad, Sri Lankan drop Goa.

SpiceJet looking to order 20 planes as rates head south

http://www.livemint.com/2009/04/0821...piceJet-looking-to-order-20-p.html

Quote: SpiceJet Ltd is looking to place orders for at least 20 planes. Delivery of these planes is projected to be around 2012, just in time for the firm’s expansion plans. Under consideration is Boeing Co.’s 737-900 Extra Range, or ER, planes that can be used to fly as far as west and South-East Asia

Probably they want to start intl. operations, however, the big question is - do they have the required liquidity and resources. Recently there were also rumors that they want to acquire one domestic airline.

AI to get Boeing 787 Dreamliner in June 2010

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...-June-2010/articleshow/4370541.cms

Quote: After a delay of almost two years, Air India will get delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft by June next year, which would enable the national carrier to have more long-haul international flights. "The first 787 will be delivered by June 2010," Boeing International's Vice-President Dinesh Keskar told PTI here, adding that the aircraft, called the Dreamliner, would enter into service in the first quarter of calendar 2010, with Japan's All Nippon Airways being the launch customer.

This also confirms that AI got hold of some early slots. This is a great news, AI needs this aircraft ASAP to replace A310's. If everything goes smoothly (first flight / certifications) we will see the dreamliner gracing the Indian skies in AI's beautiful livery in 14-15 months from now.

Sahara takes Jet to court, seeks Rs 2,000 cr

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...contract-seeks-rs-2000-cr/58332/on

Quote: Sahara Commercial Corporation today filed an application in the Bombay High Court alleging that Jet Airways had committed breach of contract in the takeover deal and was liable to pay it (Sahara) Rs 2,000 crore instead of the renegotiated Rs 1,450 crore agreed on by them. While Jet sought four days to file a rejoinder to Sahara's application, the court has given the airline time till this afternoon to go through the application, and it will then hear the matter. The court will give the date of the next hearing today. Jet bought Sahara India Airlines from the Sahara Group in April 2007 for Rs 1,450 crore after an arbitration award. Naresh Goyal-led Jet paid Rs 900 crore, and was to pay the balance in four instalments.

It looks as if Jet has shot in their own foot.

a direct payment of Rs 2000 cr might just kill the airline....millions in losses and now getting sued..

Saudia to use A332 to Kozhikode from 21 April, Bangalore from 15 May replacing 757 and Hyderabad from 18 May replacing 777. Also introduing new two class 777 Riyadh - Chennai 1 weekly from 28 June, DEL getting it since 29 March once weekly.

Noticed that Aeroflot is operating an MD-11F between Moscow-Mumbai-Moscow at nights out here.Any details.
regds
MEL

Here HKG-BOM http://eng.aeroflotcargo.aero/cnews/news/1362.html

Quoting 777way (Reply 10): Hyderabad from 18 May replacing 777.

They used to operate 777 to HYD, however, currently they are operating 757.

EK is sponsoring the Kings XI Punjab IPL team.......

Does anyone know how the new service from BHX to ATQ is doing ? Akal Air was supposed to have begun serivce on April 4th.

Thanks

Pilots have slept on flight, admits DGCA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...-says-DGCA/articleshow/4396787.cms

Quote: The next time you board a flight, pray that, among other things, the pilots are fully rested and do not doze off at the controls. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has admitted that in India, as across the world, there are instances when both pilots on duty have fallen asleep and overshot destinations. The issue of pilot fatigue, which the DGCA says is a "serious safety hazard and a contributory factor in accidents/serious incidents", raised concern in India in June last year when both pilots of a Jaipur-Mumbai flight allegedly nodded off and ventured towards Goa.

Sounds scary...

Air India saves over Rs 46 Cr between Sept ‘08 and Feb ‘09 through fuel efficiency programmes

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...gh-fuel-efficiency-programmes-6024

Quote: According to a PTI report, Air India recently announced that it had managed savings of over Rs 46 crore in six months till February this year by implementing several measures to enhance fuel efficiency, as it strives to become a ‘green airline’. Quoting experts of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), who carried out its fuel efficiency audits, Air India said that the total fuel savings projected for the year with ‘revised processes’ were over Rs 4.56 crore kilolitres of fuel. The IATA's Fuel Efficiency Gap Analysis (FEGA) team of experts, during its second visit to analyse the airline's performance, had indicated that Air India saved Rs 46.11 crore between September last and February this year.

Wow good to hear that AI is working towards savings and finally succeeding.

Air India introduces Member Get Member acquisition scheme

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...get-member-acquisition-scheme-6046

Quote: According to a Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) report, Air India, which claims to have the largest frequent flyer membership base in the country, recently introduced a Member Get Member acquisition scheme in an effort to further widen its reach. Under the short-term scheme effective from April 6, 2009 to May 5, 2009, members of Flying Returns can earn mileage points by introducing new members. Every Flying Returns member who introduces a friend or acquaintance will earn 500 mileage points per enrolment, with a cap of five references. The points will be credited to the valid member's account once the new member undertakes his/her first qualifying travel on Air India

As per the article the scheme is effective from April 6, 2009 to May 5, 2009. I just found the information on "https://www.flyingreturns.co.in/html/get_member.php" however, I did not find the way to invite others.

SpiceJet: Crafting a niche

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/spicejet-crafting-a-niche-6051

Quote: With 115 daily flights, SpiceJet operates out of 18 Indian airports covering about 88 per cent of the domestic aviation traffic footprint. The carrier works on a multiple frequency approach, wherein it operates 9.3 weekly flights from all 18 cities. With 19 Boeing 737-800 / 737-900 ER aircrafts, the airline operates 787 weekly departures. With over 14 million page views a month and eight lakh registered database per month, its website accounts for 75-80 per cent of the airline's ticket booking. In order to minimise online fraud, it is the first (amongst Indian LCC) to implement the Decision Maker, an automated risk management solution.”

Spicejet has the best website and online reservation is much easier and faster than the other Indian carriers.

Air Arabia offers special fares for Indian passengers to Greece, Egypt, Jordan and Gulf region this summer

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...passengers/articleshow/4395322.cms

Quote: Sharjah-based Low-Cost-Carrie,r Air Arabia yesterday announced special fare packages for its Indian passengers to travel to Greece, Egypt, Jordan and Gulf region this summer. Apart from the new competitive return fare of Rs 10,973 between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the airline is also offering discounts for its Indian passengers on their hotel stay in the Gulf country and other perks like car assistance, free baggage up to 30 kg and sightseeing tours. According to a release by the airline, it has introduced special holiday fares from Indian destinations to its international network destinations, with return fares as low as Rs 18,525 to Egypt, Rs 23,085 to Turkey, Rs 19,950 to Jordan and Rs 22,088 to Kenya. All fares are inclusive of taxes and surcharges, but exclusive of Airport User Fees, Service Tax and agency handling charges. Air Arabia will also launch services to Athens (Greece) from April 21, 2009 and offer a special return fare of Rs 25,223 on the route. The airline is also scheduled to launch its service to Goa from April 16, 2009.

Egypt market has been largely under served and has good potential.

GoI mulls charging development fee in nine airports in the country

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/goi-...-nine-airports-in-the-country-6095

Quote: According to a PTI report, the Government of India (GoI) is mulling charging development fee from passengers departing from nine airports in the country, after imposing development fee in four private airports. Certain sources informed that a proposal to impose development fee on passengers departing from nine airports being modernised by Airport Authority of India (AAI) is likely to get government’s nod soon, which will enable AAI to recover its cash shortfall. The proposal is being reviewed by the Finance Ministry and if the proposal is approved the development fee will be levied from May 1, 2009 for a ‘limited period’. The nine airports where AAI is carrying out major expansion and modernisation activities include Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Amritsar and Trichy. The fee will be about Rs 200-250 for outbound domestic passengers and Rs 1,000 for departing international travellers, in line with those being imposed on passengers travelling out of major privatised airports at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai.

The time is not appropriate for implementation of such new fees; considering the new data released by Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation Indian domestic passenger numbers fell 14.8% year-on-year in Mar-2009 to 3.2 million.

Soon, flyers to shell out Rs 300 more

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...-300-more-/articleshow/4419523.cms

Quote: Flying within the country will now cost between Rs 200 and Rs 300 more. Market leaders Kingfisher and Jet-JetLite combine hiked their fuel surcharge of Rs 1,950 and Rs 2,700 levied on flights of below and above an hour's duration to Rs 2,150 and Rs 3,000, respectively, with immediate effect. India's second biggest low-cost carrier SpiceJet also said it is looking at a hike of Rs 200-300 in the next few days. The move follows as jet fuel prices have gone up thrice in past one month after 11 successive falls since last August. While other airlines — both low cost and full service — are likely to follow suit, they did not come out publicly on the issue to avoid the charge of price fixation by acting like a cartel. Only government-owned Air India said it had "no immediate plans" to hike fuel surcharge.

Fuel surcharge when the ATF is at a three-year low, instead of passing on the benefit to passengers by lowering the fuel surcharge they are increasing it.

Why dont they increase the fare itself instead of fooling the customers.

SpiceJet may pick 7.5% stake in IndiGo

http://business.rediff.com/report/20...cejet-may-pick-stake-in-indigo.htm

Quote: In a move that signals a fresh round of consolidation in the recession-hit aviation industry, budget carrier SpiceJet may pick 7.5 per cent stake in another low-cost airline IndiGo.

As per the article SpiceJet has even appointed a merchant banker and the deal is simply for purchasing equity and not any merger. Both the airlines have different types of aircraft and separate management control.

Little while ago SpiceJet was struggling to raise funds.

DEL a.netters, any pics or impressions of the new T1D domestic terminal? Any improvement in the taxi melee that greeted travelers in the old terminal?

Thanks

Has there been any progress on the proposed Visa on Arrival scheme which was touted about some months ago, its such a hassle getting one!

Quoting Ammunition (Reply 25): Has there been any progress on the proposed Visa on Arrival scheme which was touted about some months ago, its such a hassle getting one!

The latest news I found was :

http://www.visabureau.com/worldwide/...countries-travelling-to-india.aspx

This does not include UK in the list though. By the way - from experience - hassel of getting UK / US / Schengen Visa is a lot worse.....Indian consulate experience does not come close to being worse experience......

Quoting Ammunition (Reply 25): Has there been any progress on the proposed Visa on Arrival scheme which was touted about some months ago, its such a hassle getting one!

I wish both countries would just agree to a reciprocal "visa-on-arrival" thing and get rid of visa hassles altogether.

Quoting Nimish (Reply 27): reciprocal "visa-on-arrival"

..the issue is with the Indian visa system ...just got Taiwan visa on basis of USA valid visa...
witnessed a Japanese business man desperate to attend an urgent meeting in India..the SIN CONSULATE guys very in their most UNHELPFUL BEST....

    

Quoting Comorin (Reply 24): Any improvement in the taxi melee that greeted travelers in the old terminal?

The arrival terminal still remains the same. Terminal 1D is meant to serve only departures. All arrivals are still being handled out of the common terminal.

- Vivek

Quoting Comorin (Reply 24): DEL a.netters, any pics or impressions of the new T1D domestic terminal? Any improvement in the taxi melee that greeted travelers in the old terminal?

http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6704

Quoting Nimish (Reply 30): http://airlinersindia.s4.bizhat.com/...=6704

Thanks Nimish.

It looks really amazing.



Rajrs.

Quoting Nimish (Reply 30):

Quoting Vivekman2006 (Reply 29):

Thanks for the updates, I note there's a separate thread now. Would be nice to get some non-wide angle views too to get a better sense of scale.

What happens eventually to the arrivals terminal, and will T1D eventually become arrival+departure?

even Jakarta airport has a streamlined system of cabs on arrival.....Indian Intl airports really need to fix this...the hotels are aware of this mess and charge US$ 65 for a one way pickup..

Quoting Leftwing (Reply 33): Indian Intl airports really need to fix this

Last time I used the domestic arrivals in DEL, I did see an effort to streamline the taxi services. There are now taxi bays where you board the taxi and need to obtain a number from the bay manager. But, no one sems to bother about the queue and all pax just sit into the next available taxi.... to the surprise of many westerner pax.......

12 more Kingfisher pilots quit, to join Qatar Airways

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...lots-quit-/articleshow/4429020.cms

Quote: On the heels of about a dozen pilots quitting Kingfisher Airlines, 12 more have put in their papers at the Vijay Mallya-run air-carrier. "Twelve more pilots have put in their papers and will soon be joining the Gulf-based airline Qatar Airways," a Kingfisher Airlines' official said. About 12 pilots had resigned earlier to join other domestic air-carriers, the official said.

New investment rules for airlines come into effect

http://www.business-standard.com/ind...airlines-come-into-effect/58961/on

Quote: New rules governing operation of scheduled airlines which include fixing minimum levels of equity and barring any investment by foreign carriers, have come into effect by becoming part of the civil aviation regulations. The rules, which were approved a few months ago, were incorporated recently into the 1994 Civil Aviation Requirements (CARs) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), official sources said.

The new rules, to be applicable for new entrants in the sector, require that applicants for the scheduled airline permit, must have:

* a minimum paid up capital of Rs 50 crore; and
* a fleet of five large aircraft
* For each additional aircraft beyond these five, the company should put in additional equity of Rs 20 crore.

Air Works signs MoU with Kingfisher Airlines for maintenance of its ATR 72 aircraft

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...enance-of-its-atr-72-aircraft-6148

Quote: Air Works today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kingfisher Airlines, for the maintenance of its ATR 72 aircraft. Under this agreement, Air Works will perform ‘C Checks’ on Kingfisher Airlines ATRs at its MRO facility in Hosur, near Bangalore. With this partnership, Air Works becomes the first Indian MRO to do third party airline maintenance. The first aircraft arrived in Hosur on April 15, 2009 for scheduled maintenance.

GF canceled the 3 year lease on 7 x B777-300ER from 9W

being discussed here:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4389390/

Jet Airways to slash fleet size by fifth

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...e-by-fifth/articleshow/4427750.cms

Quote: Jet Airways is planning to cut its fleet by nearly a fifth, as the Naresh Goyal-controlled company looks to further slash costs amid the economic downturn that has sharply reduced demand for air travel. India’s second-largest airline by market share, after Kingfisher Airlines, currently has 87 aircraft operating on domestic and international sectors. It is planning to lease out around 15 from this fleet, said a company official familiar with the matter. The official, who asked not to be named, said the planes being leased out were from its fleet of Boeing 737s, and the company plans to ultimately lower the size of its fleet flying purely on domestic routes to around 40. Jet denied it was looking to lease out 15 Boeing 737s, but said it was evaluating “tactical” adjustments to its capacity, ahead of an “upcoming lean season” that would reduce its fleet by a limited number of aircraft. “The information regarding 15 aircraft to be leased is incorrect. No decision has, however, been taken on the number of aircraft to be reduced,” a company spokeswoman said.

However, the return of 7 B777 from GF will add to more woes for 9W.

Air India News

1. AI plans premium economy, starting with AI domestic if the plan materializes
2. No dinner and lunch on domestic flights less than one hour, as part of cost-cutting measure

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...nomy-class/articleshow/4437472.cms

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 39): However, the return of 7 B777 from GF will add to more woes for 9W.

I'm thinking of the number of staff being given the pink slips.
regds
MEL.

GoI may appoint Chiefs of AI, AERA today

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/goi-...point-chiefs-of-ai-aera-today-6188

Quote: According to a PTI report, a decision on the appointment of Chiefs of national carrier Air India and the newly created Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is likely to be taken today in a high level meeting chaired by K M Chandrasekhar, Cabinet Secretary, Government of India (GoI).

JetLite, SpiceJet introduce low return fares

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/jetl...et-introduce-low-return-fares-6158

Quote: JetLite has introduced new low return fares starting from today. JetLite passengers can now enjoy low fares on 24 domestic sectors starting from Rs 4, 170. These return fares are all inclusive and exclude Airport Development Fee, User Development Fee and Passenger Service Fee components. JetLite passengers will also have to pay an additional transaction fee, over and above the other charges. Low-Cost-Carrier SpiceJet has also introduced Special Return Fares. Under this, travellers can save Rs 500 on their return travel bookings. Tickets are already made available for all sectors and bookings can be done for travel up to October 25, 2009.

It looks that a mini fare war is brewing up among the LCC's.

Quoting AirIndia (Reply 34): Last time I used the domestic arrivals in DEL, I did see an effort to streamline the taxi services. There are now taxi bays where you board the taxi and need to obtain a number from the bay manager. But, no one sems to bother about the queue and all pax just sit into the next available taxi.... to the surprise of many westerner pax.......

Much improved, the EasyCab service (the Air-con cabs - essential in 45C) cabs are still marked a way away though

9W starts flights to Saudi from 14th June

Mumbai Jeddah - 9W 522 Mumbai 19:00 Jeddah 21:30
Jeddah Mumbai - 9W 521 Jeddah 22:30 Mumbai 6:10 (+1)

Mumbai Riyadh - 9W 524 Mumbai 19:15 Riyadh 21:15
Riyadh Mumbai - 9W 523 Riyadh 22:05 Mumbai 05:30

Quoting 15A (Reply 45): 9W starts flights to Saudi from 14th June Mumbai Jeddah - 9W 522 Mumbai 19:00 Jeddah 21:30 Jeddah Mumbai - 9W 521 Jeddah 22:30 Mumbai 6:10 (+1) Mumbai Riyadh - 9W 524 Mumbai 19:15 Riyadh 21:15 Riyadh Mumbai - 9W 523 Riyadh 22:05 Mumbai 05:30

Finally the D-day is arriving.

I positively look forward to the proposed flights to Saudi by IT, Particularly JED-HYD

Air India appoints interim chairman to replace Raghu Menon

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...rim-chairman-to-replace-raghu.html

Quote: Air India has appointed senior civil servant E. K. Bharat Bhushan as interim chairman and managing director to replace Raghu Menon, who has been eased out after only a year in charge. Bhushan, who is the Joint Secretary and Financial Advisor at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, takes charge with immediate effect until the government appoints a new head at National Aviation Company of India (Nacil), Air India's parent company. The state-owned airline confirmed his appointment in a statement, but did not provide a reason for the change. A source close to Air India says that Menon was replaced due to "serious differences" with civil aviation minister Praful Patel. According to various Indian newspapers, these centred around the slow pace of integration with Indian Airlines, the carrier that merged with Air India in 2007 to form Nacil.

9W to start BOM - RUH and BOM - JED from June 14th

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4395466/


KF will start daily CCU - DAC from May 15th using an ATR42/72

IT 073 CCU - DAC 1335 1515
IT 074 DAC - CCU 1600 1615

[Edited 2009-04-27 05:36:32]

9W launches Dubai-Chennai and a second service on the Mumbai-Dubai sector.

9W 542 BOM - DXB 0930 1105
9W 541 DXB - BOM 1235 1710

9W 546 MAA - DXB 1245 1530
9W 545 DXB - MAA 1630 2215

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 46): Finally the D-day is arriving. I positively look forward to the proposed flights to Saudi by IT, Particularly JED-HYD

Will Kingfisher cabin crew still wear the short skirts on the service to Saudi ?

Quoting Tonyban (Reply 50): Will Kingfisher cabin crew still wear the short skirts on the service to Saudi ?

Yes they can wear. The FA's of SQ, BMI, AF etc. do wear skirts. They can check out and travel in the bus to hotel wearing skirts, however, if they are in public places (malls, restaurants etc.) they have to wear abaya.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 51): Quoting Tonyban (Reply 50): Will Kingfisher cabin crew still wear the short skirts on the service to Saudi ? Yes they can wear. The FA's of SQ, BMI, AF etc. do wear skirts. They can check out and travel in the bus to hotel wearing skirts, however, if they are in public places (malls, restaurants etc.) they have to wear abaya.

There's a very interesting thread in progress about a BMI F/A who was to fly to the KSA......in view of some of the posts there, I doubt if the typical IT uniforms will be allowed in KSA....

A better livery suggestion.



[Edited 2009-04-27 12:18:20]

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 52): There's a very interesting thread in progress about a BMI F/A who was to fly to the KSA......in view of some of the posts there, I doubt if the typical IT uniforms will be allowed in KSA....

I travel frequently to JED & RYD on projects.

Most of the posts there (BMI F/A) are from the people who knew nothing and had never traveled to Saudi. Moreover the media report was exaggerated by mentioning that females have to follow males; in reality it is not true. However, females have to wear abaya in public places.

Coming back to your question, I have seen many FA going out or coming in the airport wearing skirts in all the three major airports of Saudi which are JED, RYD and DMM.

MoCA issues Gazette notification for further transparency in air fares

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/moca...her-transparency-in-air-fares-6242

Quote: In a significant development, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has passed a Gazette notification not to show fuel surcharge and airport charges as taxes. As per the Gazette notification, the tariff to be published or advertised in any other way will show the following particulars – the total amount payable by passenger and complete break-up of the total amount, indicating the fare, taxes, fees or any other charge, if any, separately. The letter also explains that tax means the amount payable to the Government of India (GoI) and fees means the amount payable to the service providers for provision of any service or facility to the passengers.

Finally MoCA has acted and airlines will not be able to fool the passengers by increasing fuel surcharges and other surcharges instead of increasing the basic fares.

Quoting 777way (Reply 53): A better livery suggestion.

Good One .

But wait..... Still many AI birds are flying in old livery.

Personally I would prefer AI's current livery.


Rajrs.

Can't understand why Kingfisher is so slow...

I see Jet piling into the Gulf - which we all agree is a good and steady source of profit - and I read that IT planes were going to be rapidly redeployed from domestic to international, so where are they?

Quoting 777way (Reply 53): A better livery suggestion

If AI changes it's livery one more time, they'll make it to the Guiness Book of Records 

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 35): 12 more Kingfisher pilots quit, to join Qatar Airways

Oh god...while I can't admit to know how things are like working as crew in Kingfisher, the stuff I've heard coming out of Doha (especially QR A320 crew) those guys might have made a disastrous decision...some of those QR rosters sound ghastly!

Quoting 15A (Reply 45): 9W starts flights to Saudi from 14th June Mumbai Jeddah - 9W 522 Mumbai 19:00 Jeddah 21:30 Jeddah Mumbai - 9W 521 Jeddah 22:30 Mumbai 6:10 (+1) Mumbai Riyadh - 9W 524 Mumbai 19:15 Riyadh 21:15 Riyadh Mumbai - 9W 523 Riyadh 22:05 Mumbai 05:30

Nice - what aircraft will be utilized on the route?

Quoting SQ_EK_freak (Reply 59): Nice - what aircraft will be utilized on the route?

As expected it is 737-800.

Bomb scare aboard Air India flight, man arrested

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...t-man-held/articleshow/4464454.cms

Quote: An Air India aircraft had a bomb scare on Wednesday after a man in Mumbai called the airline and said a bomb was placed on it, an official said, adding that the plane was being searched and all passengers were safe. All passengers were moved out of the aircraft as soon as it landed at Jaipur airport and a bomb disposal squad took over the plane, an airline spokesman said. "Our call centre had received a call from a person who had claimed that there was a bomb in the Mumbai-Jaipur-Delhi flight. All passengers were taken off from the aircraft, which has been parked at a bay at Jaipur airport. A bomb disposal squad is extensively searching the aircraft," the spokesman said. He said the identity of the accused is yet to be known. But the person has been arrested in Mumbai.

Qatar Expansion

India and Qatar have revised bilateral air services agreement and Qatar gets three new points of call viz Amritsar, Bangalore and Goa.

Wonder with this downtown if any of these will get a new service..!

Quoting BlrBird (Reply 62): Qatar Expansion India and Qatar have revised bilateral air services agreement and Qatar gets three new points of call viz Amritsar, Bangalore and Goa. Wonder with this downtown if any of these will get a new service..!

What benefits would accrue to Indian carriers - will more services to Doha be started by 9W and IT now, I should hope so.

Aviation fuel prices cut by Rs 311 per kilolitre

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...-Rs-311-KL/articleshow/4468420.cms

Quote: State-run oil companies on Thursday announced a cut in aviation fuel prices by Rs.311 per kilolitre (kl), after three consecutive hikes. The aviation turbine fuel (ATF) will now cost Rs.31,615 per kl in Delhi, effective from Thursday midnight, an Indian Oil Corp (IOC) official said.

Quoting BlrBird (Reply 62): Qatar Expansion India and Qatar have revised bilateral air services agreement and Qatar gets three new points of call viz Amritsar, Bangalore and Goa. Wonder with this downtown if any of these will get a new service..!

Bangalore? the press releases say they would start Amritsar and Goa, but are you sure they are granted BLR too?

QR suspends Doha - Nagpur from May 15th.

I thought finAir stopped BOM.Noticed an MD11 last night.
regds
MEL.

Quoting Ojas (Reply 65): but are you sure they are granted BLR too?

Yes 100%  

Quoting BlrBird (Reply 68): Yes 100%

Nice! Though in this environment I won't blame them if they don't start service immediately, only to see EK go from 3 daily to 5 daily...

Can some one help me I am curious about the AI, IC merger and some of the other cabin refits going on.

How much of the IC fleet now appear in AI colours, if any is thsi part of the merger one brand, or was I mistaken? Are IC staff wearing AI uniforms?
And I remember reading that AI had refitted some of their cabins, which ones may I ask and to what degree will they eventually become inline with their 773ERs?
And what aircraft do they have on order? Is there a dedicated international and short-haul fleet?
Sorry for all the questions the AI sight some what confused me lol!

AI Cargo wins 'Cargo Airline of the Year’ Award in Best Central Asia category

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/ai-c...in-best-central-asia-category-6280

Quote: Air India Cargo bagged the ‘Cargo Airline of the Year’ Award for the year 2009 in the category ‘Best Central Asia Cargo Airline’ at the 26th Cargo Airline of the Year Award function held in London end of last month. This is the first time that Air India Cargo has won this Award.

Good to hear some positive news re AI.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 71): AI Cargo wins 'Cargo Airline of the Year’ Award in Best Central Asia category

What was the selection criteria?
regds
MEL.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 72): What was the selection criteria?

.....wonder...if there was any other cargo operators in that contest...WHAT A JOKE........

which aicraft are deployed on the ATQ-LHR-ATQ route? is it the newer 777 or the affectionately named ex UA 777 'rustbuckets'?

Thanks You

[Edited 2009-05-04 07:10:56]

Quoting LeftWing (Reply 73): 26th Cargo Airline of the Year Award

Best Central Asian Cargo Airline
Voting results:
1. Air India
2. Jet Airways
3. Sri Lankan
4. PIA

http://aircargonews.net/CAY-Results-Winners.aspx

Air India appoints new MD and chairman

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-appoints-new-md-and-chairman.html

Quote: India's government has appointed Arvind Jadhav as managing director and chairman of Air India. A spokeswoman in Mumbai for the carrier confirms the government has appointed Jadhav as managing director and chairman. She says he started today and he was previously principal secretary infrastructure development for the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Air India had an interim chairman and managing director for a few days and before that Air India's boss was Raghu Menon who was in the job for about one year.

PIA does not even operate frieghters.

Quoting 777way (Reply 77):

I don't think the other two do either. I guess they only need to carry cargo but not have a dedicated fleet for it. Perhaps AIs dedicated fleet put it over the top.

AI A320 door damage after hitting an aerobridge at Mumbai airport :

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...aerobridge/articleshow/4486057.cms

Quoting Sammyk (Reply 75): Best Central Asian Cargo Airline Voting results: 1. Air India 2. Jet Airways 3. Sri Lankan 4. PIA

No Blue Dart.....I'm Surprised.
regds
MEL

Kingfisher seeks Rs 20 billion loan from SBI:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...r-SBI-loan/articleshow/4488667.cms

Jet Airways announces a codeshare agreement with Virgin Atlantic on the Mumbai-London route .

http://www.jetairways.com/Cultures/e...ases/codeshare_virgin_atlantic.htm

Effective from 6 May 2009.


Rajrs

Other topics regarding Indian Aviation

AI Plane Rams Into Aerobridge At Mumbai Airport
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...general_aviation/read.main/4403965

Paramount Aw Will Buy 15 Airbus Or Boeing
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4403682/

Indian cargo carrier Deccan to launch 19 May

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...rrier-deccan-to-launch-19-may.html

Quote: Deccan Express Logistics, a new Indian cargo airline and logistic's firm, plans to launch commercial operations on 19 May using one of its three Airbus A310 freighters. The carrier is in the final stages of receiving its air operator's certificate and will launch on 19 May with a twice-weekly service on the Hong Kong-Delhi-Chennai-Hong Kong route, says Deccan's founder GR Gopinath. The carrier's first A310F is in India and Deccan has another two coming, says Gopinath. He says in the weeks following the launch the airline will be adding Dubai to its network followed by Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Air India will be providing the new airline with line maintenance services and Lufthansa Technik in Frankfurt will be providing spares and overhaul services, he adds. When Gopinath first started promoting the business, it was known as Deccan Cargo. But the company name is now Deccan Express Logistics to highlight that it is more than a cargo airline but rather an integrated logistics company. Gopinath has been securing warehouse space across India and its main base will be in Nagpur in central India. "By August we will be starting the express logistics business" that will connect 25 Indian cities using trucks, says Gopinath. He also says the company's main brand name will be Deccan 360.

The wait is over, however, no news about flyington freighters.

I have always seen good shots of a/c's at BOM from spotters but not enough from DEL. Is it because there isn't a good spotting location for a/c's at DEL or is it something else???

So are there any good spotting locations at DEL either on the east or the west side of approach??

Haven't seen any pics from spotters at DEL on the new rwy!!!

Quoting Mk777 (Reply 85): I have always seen good shots of a/c's at BOM from spotters but not enough from DEL. Is it because there isn't a good spotting location for a/c's at DEL or is it something else??? So are there any good spotting locations at DEL either on the east or the west side of approach?? Haven't seen any pics from spotters at DEL on the new rwy!!!

BOM is a city always on the move....things always move slowly in DEL....    

an someone explain why 9W is doing this despite the fact that they have S2... whats the point???

Mumbai, May 07, 2009: Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline will introduce a new all Economy service, Jet Airways Konnect starting May 08, 2009, on select routes in India.

Jet Airways Konnect is a new economy class service designed to meet the needs of the low fare segment. It will complement Jet Airways’ full service product, by providing a service that is better suited to cater to a market that desires an economically priced low fare product

Jet Airways Konnect offers a no-frills, economy class service where guests will be offered attractive and competitive low fares on specific routes.

The on ground and in flight service will be delivered by Jet Airways staff, the only difference will be that travellers will have to buy their meals on board.

Jet Airways Konnect will have dedicated aircraft for this service, the flight number range for this service will be unique and will help both guests and travel agents identify the class of service.

Guests can book flights either on the airline's website www.jetairways.com or through the call centers or Jet Airways’ city and ticketing offices. Travel Agents can book the service using the global distribution systems (GDS). All guests using Jet Airways Konnect will enjoy the accrual and redemption of JetPrivilege’s mileage points.

Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways commented "Consumer demands are changing rapidly in a dynamic global environment, we believe the Jet Airways Konnect service will give us the flexibility and speed to deploy capacity to meet these changing trends .”

The Jet Airways Konnect Service will initially operate with two 737 and six ATR aircraft on sectors such as Chennai-Coimbatore, Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Kochi, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Bhopal, Mumbai-Udaipur, Bengaluru-Pune, Bengaluru-Mangalore.

Quoting Cricket (Reply 87): an someone explain why 9W is doing this despite the fact that they have S2... whats the point???

1. They're plain stupid
2. They plan to dump S2 (which would also be plain stupid).

I can't think of a better reason - so I hope 9W has something up it's sleeve. I just hope they don't spend a penny on creating a new brand (stationary, advertising, boarding passes, aircraft painting, uniforms etc. etc.).

Quoting Cricket (Reply 87):

Hasn't this stupidity been tried over and over again and failed? You can keep the frills lower but creating a sub brand (and especially when you already have one) is not going to get you anything and in reality you would probably spend more promoting the damn thing than you would save. Song by DL, Ted by UA and still no one learns.....

Sometime I think some top shot dreams up something which he thinks is a brilliant move without some basic due diligence and others are too timid to say "the emperor has no clothes"....

Quoting Cricket (Reply 87): The Jet Airways Konnect Service will initially operate with two 737 and six ATR aircraft on sectors such as Chennai-Coimbatore, Chennai-Madurai, Chennai-Kochi, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Bhopal, Mumbai-Udaipur, Bengaluru-Pune, Bengaluru-Mangalore.

Most of these routes are non metro as well as short haul (less than 1 hour flying time) where there is no need to for full service, but the concept will be difficult to sustain becuase of maintaining sub-brand.

Some more topics re Indian Aviation:

9W Codeshare With VS
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4404237/

Kingfisher Firms 5 X A358XWB's
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4405419/

Airlines In India Also Asked To Cite Final Prices
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4404918/

Quoting Nimish (Reply 88): Quoting Cricket (Reply 87): an someone explain why 9W is doing this despite the fact that they have S2... whats the point??? 1. They're plain stupid 2. They plan to dump S2 (which would also be plain stupid). I can't think of a better reason - so I hope 9W has something up it's sleeve. I just hope they don't spend a penny on creating a new brand (stationary, advertising, boarding passes, aircraft painting, uniforms etc. etc.).

As per MOCA's recent reports S2’s passenger numbers has declined by 14.1% year-on-year in Mar-2009. Their load factor is also on the lower side. Probably they want to dump S2's image and go for a complete revamp with new corporate identity. However, the big question is ....does 9W have the resources to do it.

At this point of time this decision looks stupid.

Probably their lawyers might have suggested that they may loose the new case against Sahara so instead of paying the penalties to Sahara; lets hand over the airline back to them and start our own LCC.   This may sound weird to everybody but I cannot think of a positive reason for this move. 

MIAL to bid for new Navi Mumbai airport

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ai-airport/articleshow/4488763.cms

Quote: Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), which operates Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, has decided to bid for the city’s second airport, which is coming up at Panvel in Navi Mumbai. MIAL , a consortium led by Bangalore-based GVK Industries, has the first right of refusal if its bid for the new airport is up to 10% lower than the highest offer. “We will certainly bid for the second airport in Navi Mumbai and confident of winning it too,” said MIAL managing director GV Sanjay Reddy, who is also vice-chairman of GVK Industries.

After a long silence, good to hear some update re Navi Mumbai

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 92): As per MOCA's recent reports S2’s passenger numbers has declined by 14.1% year-on-year in Mar-2009. Their load factor is also on the lower side. Probably they want to dump S2's image and go for a complete revamp with new corporate identity. However, the big question is ....does 9W have the resources to do it.

What was S2's 14.1% decline compared to 9W's or IT's? I'm guessing in the same range.

Did S2 have any visibility or offers or increase in fleet etc? I'm guessing not.

9W would need to be extra stupid to pay so much to buy it in the first place, and then shelf it a few years on.

Silk Air take over Hyderabad servcie from Singapore Airlines in June, SQ will offer code share.

Quoting Nimish (Reply 94): What was S2's 14.1% decline compared to 9W's or IT's? I'm guessing in the same range.

Also reported here:
http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...ore-passenger-numbers-growth/page1

Along with
Kingfisher Airlines captures majority market share with strong passenger growth in Mar-2009
http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...passenger-growth-in-mar-2009/page1

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 84): The wait is over, however, no news about flyington freighters.

Won't start,only orders will be announced  

Quoting Mk777 (Reply 85):

http://www.airliners-india.net
Has some great shots.

regds
MEL.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 93): After a long silence, good to hear some update re Navi Mumbai

Someone needs to go out there and replace the rusted signboard saying "Site for proposed airport"....when I last saw it, about 9 years ago, it looked very rusted and desolate....maybe they'll have to send a team of archeologists to locate the signboard..... 

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 93): which is coming up at Panvel in Navi Mumbai.

Makes it sound as though they've already built a runway and started work on the terminal building....  

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 93): MIAL to bid for new Navi Mumbai airport

Could someone enlighten me about the international airport future of Mumbai? Why is it that the current international airport is being developed? What is its purpose when Navi Mumbai is already in the plans? I doubt whether two international airports would really make much sense for Mumbai. Navi Mumbai was in the plans since years or decades..and nothing much was happening there, whereas one could notice a lot of hotel development around the current airport in the last 5-10 years...Leela as the lone premium hotel near the international airport is history now. ..Now there will definitely be some hotel lobby to keep the current international terminal there at least until those hotels and other infrastructures (like the new metro) will be amortized.
I am not of the opinion that Mumbai cannot economically sustain two international airports. Population, economy, the position of Mumbai on the world air routes etc. could justify it. If one doubts Dubai's Jebel Ali and the current airport development plans, then Mumbai could live with 2 international airports as well.. But I don't quite get the planning there..

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 98): about 9 years ago, it looked very rusted and desolate....

if not mistaken,The signboard still exists,only a little more corroded  

Quoting SR183 (Reply 99): But I don't quite get the planning there..

The Navi Mumbai Airport is currently on a plan.The existing Airport Modification is on in full swing through out the entire Airport.

Unless there is a quick connectivity between the two Airports,the Navi mumbai plan will not be effective.

regds
MEL.

Quoting Rajrs (Reply 56): Personally I would prefer AI's current livery.

With a better tail.

Airlines flouting safety rules will have to fork out up to Rs 10 Lakh fine

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...to-Rs-10L-/articleshow/4504519.cms

Quote: Cost-cutting on aircraft maintenance, which endangers passenger safety, will soon cost airlines dear. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has hiked the penalty for violation of rules on safety and passenger comfort — from a measly range of Rs 250-1,000 earlier, it is now a whopping Rs 10 lakh, on the upper limit. And the maximum punishment of one month at present is being enhanced to two years. Working on a philosophy of "zero tolerance for wilful defaulters", DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi is getting the stiff graded-penalty system readied, which will be implemented very soon. Shockingly, the existing puny punishment has hardly ever been used and old timers don't recall a single case being pursued in any court for enforcement of even the few days' jail term.

Good to see DGCA looking into safety. After asking the airlines to quote the final ticket price that the passengers have to pay in their advertisements, DGCA has decided to look into safety norms. However, implementation has been a concern over the history.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 100): The Navi Mumbai Airport is currently on a plan.The existing Airport Modification is on in full swing through out the entire Airport. Unless there is a quick connectivity between the two Airports,the Navi mumbai plan will not be effective.

You sure that the new and current airports would be dependent on each other for domestic and international connections? I doubt whether it will work in Mumbai at all as we have seen at Bangkok recently. Independent airports like in London, Paris, New York etc. would still work. What I don't understand is that the current one is developed with lots of efforts by rehabilitating the people around and a lot of reengineering works..I have read about the possibility to build parallel runways at Sahar, but I doubt whether the space for seperation is available there..

The latest about the MIAL development can be read here (not for HAWK21M, it's for other mortals ..  ) : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=347144&page=71

[Edited 2009-05-10 05:56:56]

Air traffic witnesses eight per cent fall year-on-year in April 2009

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...fall-yearonyear-in-april-2009-6383

Quote: Last month has been the third month that airlines have witnessed traffic declining on a year-on-year basis as fewer passengers are travelling by air. Air passenger traffic in the domestic sector may have fallen by eight per cent in April this year compare with last year, according to market experts and travel industry officials. The official figures for April will be released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) by next week. According to a report in Economic Times by Mithun Roy, Amadeus, a global technology and distribution partner to the aviation industry, estimates the fall of around five per cent and predicts that the traffic may move downwards, despite aggressive fare cuts by airlines from January this year.

8% is a bit on the higher side.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 92): Probably their lawyers might have suggested that they may loose the new case against Sahara so instead of paying the penalties to Sahara; lets hand over the airline back to them and start our own LCC.   This may sound weird to everybody but I cannot think of a positive reason for this move.

Very interesting theory now that you mention it. But I still think this is insane on routes you already operate and on which people are used be being fed. But I guess they'll just hand the airline back to Sahara and let them deal with the problem... And just when they started painting those planes.

Quoting SR183 (Reply 103): I have read about the possibility to build parallel runways at Sahar, but I doubt whether the space for seperation is available there

Not possible.....It was considered but shifting of the Hangars South of 09-27 was too much of a task including the slums.
regds
MEL.

Quoting Cricket (Reply 105): And just when they started painting those planes.

...they better stop that ugly livery....who was the color blind guy who approved jet lites colors..

Kingfisher to start Bangalore -Dubai from June 25, 2009.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...next-month/articleshow/4506070.cms



Rajrs.

Quoting 777way (Reply 101): With a better tail.

Nice one 777way. It looks as attractive as currrent one.

I think,
# curved red design on end of fuselage is very attractive on current livery.
# Red colour on winglets & Star/Sun on engines also looks superb on current livery.

So , when you are going to propose new livery to AI?   


Rajrs.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 106): It was considered but shifting of the Hangars South of 09-27 was too much of a task including the slums.

Moving hangars is easy....it's the slums that block all development down there.... 

Quoting LeftWing (Reply 107): ...they better stop that ugly livery....who was the color blind guy who approved jet lites colors..

I don't know how describe the shade of turquoise i guess it is.... makes the carrier look el cheapo... well it is. Though they haven't painted the CRJ's...

Poor AF pax from CDG to BOM:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4512909.cms

South African Airways to operate six additional flights between India-South Africa-India between May 18- 26, 2009

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/sout...aindia-between-may-18-26-2009-6403

Quote: South African Airways (SAA) will now operate six additional flights between India-South Africa-India and will introduce six higher capacity equipment to meet the growing demand during the IPL season. These additional flights will be deployed on this route between May 18-26, 2009, to meet the rush for the semi-final and final IPL matches. Seeing a sudden escalation in the demand for the India - South Africa route this season, due to heightened cricket craze among Indians, South African Airways has taken this strategic step to accommodate the growing passenger traffic. Flying on the route will be state- of- the- art Airbus 340-600 aircraft along with the existing Airbus 340-200 aircraft. SAA has chosen a spacious layout, seating 42 passengers in the premium Business Class and 275 seats in the Economy Class of Airbus 340-600.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 92):

They cant give away S2 even if they tried to. Sahara group does not want the money losing airline, they just want the money. In fact no one would buy S2 now.

Quoting SR183 (Reply 112): Poor AF pax from CDG to BOM: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/v...9.cms

I have started a separate thread on this topic.


Rajrs.

PNQ New terminal takes off ahead of schedule.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-n...akes-off-ahead-of-schedule/457900/


Rajrs.

Paramount Airways announces second daily services from Chennai to Kolkata, effective May 14, 2009

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/para...kolkata-effective-may-14-2009-6405

Quote: Paramount Airways yesterday announced a second daily service from Chennai to Kolkata, following the high demand on its recently launched Kolkata flight. The new daily return will offer increased flexibility and convenience making it ideal for business travellers. The schedule is effective from May 14, 2009. The airline’s second flight service will leave Kamaraj Domestic Airport at 18:50 hrs and will reach Netaji Subash Chandra Airport at 20:50 hrs. On return from Kolkata the flight will depart at 21:25 and arrive in Chennai at 23:30 hrs. The service will offer connections to Coimbatore, Madurai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Pune, Ahmedabad and Goa.

Good to see Paramount expanding, they are keeping their words and not just hogging the limelight. I would be very much interested to see what they do in regard to their earlier statement regarding the purchase of widebodies.

India's Air Works gets approval to do more commercial MRO

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...pproval-to-do-more-commercial.html

Quote: India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted approval for Air Works to do heavy maintenance checks on Boeing 737s and the Indian maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm has also applied for EASA approval. The firm says in a statement the DGCA has granted it approval to do heavy maintenance checks on Boeing 737-600/700/800/900 aircraft fitted with CFM International engines. It also says it has applied for EASA approval as a JAR 145 repair station and anticipates EASA will audit it within the next 60 days. "We look forward to working with India and neighbouring Boeing 737 operators on their airframe maintenance requirements," Air Works CEO, Fredrik Groth, says in the statement.

Indian carriers will be pleased as they raised this concern several times that they can save a lot, if such work is done in India itself instead of costly overseas aircraft ferrying.

Air India to launch direct Ahmedabad-Frankfurt service

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...urt-flight/articleshow/4525971.cms

Quote: National air-carrier Air India will launch a direct air service between Ahmedabad and Frankfurt from June 1. The airline would also connect the city with London via Mumbai from June 1, a company release said here on Wednesday. The Ahmedabad-Frankfurt service would provide a convenient connection to New York and Chicago, the release said, adding "the new flight will be operated with a Boeing 747-400 aircraft."

Paramount advertised the start of their DEL-MAA (or to be correct, the RE-start since DEL-MAA was Paramount's first ever route) in the Delhi papers today.
The service is starting 20/05

MAA-DEL 1635-1840
DEL-MAA 1940-2155

Also, 9W and S2 have completed their switch to DEL T1D. I guess I'll finally see it next week when I'm off to BOM for a day  

Turkish Airlines to operate 737-800 to Bombay for May.

Drove past YYZ on Hwy 401 this evening, Thu. 14th May (around 7pm)....there were 2 AI 777's parked side-by-side at T3.....any have any idea what happened...? Was one of them stuck for technical problems or something? Since when....?

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 123): Drove past YYZ on Hwy 401 this evening, Thu. 14th May (around 7pm)....there were 2 AI 777's parked side-by-side at T3.....any have any idea what happened...? Was one of them stuck for technical problems or something? Since when....?

I had read on a plane spotting mailing list that AI 772s were going to be in IAD per following schedule:

AIC187/12May ATQ-LHR-YYZ1630 772 Arrive as per normal
AIC187/12 YYZ1900-IAD 772 Ferry out

AIC187/14May ATQ-LHR-YYZ1745 772 Arrive as per normal
AIC187/14 YYZ1930-IAD 772 Ferry out
AIC188/14May IAD-YYZ1845 772 Ferry in
AIC188/14 YYZ2245-LHR- ATQ 772 Depart as per normal
AIC188/18May IAD-YYZ1845 772 Ferry in
AIC188/18 YYZ2245-LHR- ATQ 772 Depart as per normal


Per this - one had arrived VIA LHR from ATQ and the other one had returned from IAD. I have no idea what these two ferries were planning to do at IAD - someone had remarked - may be meeting their UA siblings for a family reunion... or some kind of maintenance checks may be?

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 119): Air India to launch direct Ahmedabad-Frankfurt service

Any idea if AI will restart India-LAX service via FRA?

Quoting PNQIAD (Reply 124): Per this - one had arrived VIA LHR from ATQ and the other one had returned from IAD. I have no idea what these two ferries were planning to do at IAD - someone had remarked - may be meeting their UA siblings for a family reunion... or some kind of maintenance checks may be?

Thanks....though I still don't know what both of them were doing at YYZ....and they were both side by side at regular boarding gates at T3....not out near the maintenance hangars....but it was good to see that....made me feel like I was at FRA or LHR 

Also, living out here in Toronto, it's probably the last few times I will get to see the old AI livery (which is very dear to me).....I guess these 772's are going to be the last in the fleet to be painted in the new colors.....

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 97): http://www.airliners-india.net Has some great shots.

Thanks for the link!

the pictures look awesome...gives an idea what DEL would look like starting next year, that terminal 3 looks huge. Will there be a cross taxiway constructed at the eastern end of rwy 11/29 for domestic flights to cross rwy 28 when landing from dwarka side??? I am assuming no, since the domestic terminal airlines will move to terminal 3 in 2010.

Also, isn't a parallel rwy to the current 11/29 in the expansion plan for DEL, will it be closer to the terminal or farther away??

Has rwy 28/10 closed for repaving work??

Quoting Mk777 (Reply 127): Thanks for the link! the pictures look awesome...gives an idea what DEL would look like starting next year, that terminal 3 looks huge.

What are the plans for BOM (aside from the never-going-to-happen Navi Mumbai airport)....?

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 128): (aside from the never-going-to-happen Navi Mumbai airport)....?

Some more update

Navi Mumbai Airport gets environmental clearance

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/navi...-gets-environmental-clearance-6508

Quote: According to a PTI report, the Maharashtra government yesterday informed that the Greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai has received the environmental clearance and work will commence next year. T C Benjamin, Secretary, Urban Development, Maharashtra government said, “The environmental and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) issues which had so far hindered the project, have been cleared by the government.” The basic facilities at the airport are expected to be operational in September-October 2013.

DGCA plans to make mandatory for airlines operating in India to report flight data

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/dgca...n-india-to-report-flight-data-6486

Quote: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) plans to make it mandatory for airlines operating in the country to report the time of arrival and departures of their flights, and delays, if any. According to report in LiveMint by Tarun Shukla, the data will be published monthly along with passenger data. DGCA has also asked all airlines to submit a detailed report on the ongoing time performance of their flights every fortnight. This data will be collated to analyse the reasons for delayed flights at various airports, this will be the first effort to put in place such a monitoring mechanism.

This can be another good move in the recent time by DGCA.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 130): DGCA plans to make mandatory for airlines operating in India to report flight data

DGCA seems to be on a roll....  

9W is granted access to SHJ from BOM, CCJ, COK, TRV.


http://www.livemint.com/2009/05/2200...irways-to-expand-West-Asi.html?h=B

New Delhi/Mumbai: India’s second-ranked airline by passengers carried, Jet Airways (India) Ltd, has been permitted by the aviation ministry to expand services to West Asia, connecting four Indian cities with Sharjah, raising concern among smaller rivals planning to fly to the region that their large peers are hogging limited, bilaterally negotiated rights.
Click here to watch video
Jet entered the West Asia market in January last year on expiry of a rule that allowed only the national carrier—National Aviation Co. of India Ltd, or Nacil, that runs the Air India services—to fly to this region. With some six million Indians estimated to be working in the region, with about a quarter of them in the United Arab Emirates, Jet Airways expanded quickly into these lucrative routes as part of its first phase of international expansion that included connections to the US and Europe.
Of the 18 cities it connects internationally now, six are in this region, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait and Muscat. It plans to add three more cities—Riyadh, Jeddah and Sharjah—to its West Asia network.
Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, Jet Airway’s bigger rival by share of passengers carried, which flies to London, Dhaka and Colombo, does not operate flights to West Asia yet.
A Jet Airways spokeswoman confirmed to Mint that her airline had received permission for flights to Sharjah but declined further detail.
Outbound: Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal. Six of the airline’s current international destinations are in West Asia. Ramesh Pathania / Mint
The permissions for Jet Airways from the outgoing government cover daily services to Sharjah from Kochi, Kozhikode (formerly Calicut), Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai, according to a senior government official who wanted to remain anonymous.
The airline earlier this year started flying the Chennai-Dubai and Mumbai-Kuwait routes even as it cut down on domestic routes.
“The introduction of these new flights will serve to further strengthen our Gulf network, better enabling us to offer passengers seamless connectivity and a world-class product on the Indo-Gulf sector,” Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, chief executive officer, Jet Airways, said in an April statement while announcing the launch of Mumbai-Riyadh and Mumbai-Jeddah services.
The ongoing expansion by large carriers to West Asia is likely to make it difficult for smaller carriers such as SpiceJet Ltd, which too is in the process of selecting routes to fly international next year when it completes flying the stipulated minimum of five years on domestic routes for eligibility to fly overseas.
On routes in countries in West Asia or those such as China, the civil aviation ministry grants rights to carriers based on agreed bilateral rights with each of those countries, and several West Asian routes have already used up the maximum number of flights.
SpiceJet may have to keep in mind the bilateral capacity while selecting the routes it chooses to fly, said Samyukth Sridharan, its chief commercial officer. “It is too early. We are still doing our study and will finalize (routes) by mid-July,” he said of the international operations from next year. “Obviously we will have to keep that (bilaterals) in mind.”

An aviation expert said the ministry should check if the permission given to Jet Airways to fly on any overseas routes governed by bilateral agreements are utilized or not. “If not, other carriers should get an equitable share,” said Kapil Kaul, India CEO for the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, an aviation consultancy.
The permission given to Jet Airways comes at a time when the airline has been told by West Asian carriers to which it had leased four long-haul Boeing Co.-made 777 planes to that the aircraft will be returned by the end of this year. A Jet Airways executive, who asked not to be identified, said it was in talks with two SouthEast Asian airlines and one West Asian carrier to lease out these aircraft for six more months after December.
The once profitable Jet Airways has seen its losses mount over the past three years, and analysts expect it to post a loss of Rs150-250 crore for the last quarter of fiscal 2009.
If the airline is unable to clinch the new leases, this executive said, it could result in changes in its international operations or parking the planes on ground.

AI to upgrade CCJ - JED from 5 weekly A310 to 5 weekly B744 starting Jul 1.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 129): Navi Mumbai Airport gets environmental clearance

Well, rumour has it that PP is getting the ministry again and he plans to finish everything that he started in his last term (I don't know what that means for AI)

Air India lays foundation stone for MRO facility in Hyderabad

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...for-mro-facility-in-hyderabad-6571

Quote: Air India commenced work on the Rs 80 crore, Maintenance, Repair and Overall (MRO) and engineering facility at Shamshabad Airport in Hyderabad yesterday. Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India laid the foundation stone for the construction of the facility to come up in a five-acre land at the new airport. Air India said the facilities at the new airport will consist of a hangar, where major maintenance of aircraft will be carried out and an annexe building to accommodate Component Overhaul Shops and various Engineering offices. The size of the Hangar will be about 100 metres x 90 metres x 24 metres (height). The new hangar will be capable of accommodating two A320 family aircraft simultaneously or one B777/B747 aircraft.

Great news...

Quoting Cricket (Reply 134): Well, rumour has it that PP is getting the ministry again and he plans to finish everything that he started in his last term (I don't know what that means for AI)

Excellent news!....probably PP is the best aviation minister India have/had.

Modernisation of Kolkata, Chennai Airports to cost Rs 1,000 crore more

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/mode...ts-to-cost-rs-1000-crore-more-6562

Quote: According to a PTI report, modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata Airports is expected to cost an additional Rs 1,000 crore over and above the original estimate of Rs 3,750 crore. Certain Planning Commission sources informed that the original estimates have increased and the modernisation of both the airports is expected to cost about Rs 2,300 crore each. The issue came up during a meeting to review the implementation of the decisions of high-powered Committee on Infrastructure (CoI), which is headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Hope this does not stall the proceedings for some more time and to find later on that the cost will be an additional 2K crore.

Direct flight to Saudi Arabia awaits clearance from new Ministry

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/dire...s-clearance-from-new-ministry-6561

Quote: According to a UNI report, introduction of direct flight to Saudi Arabian destinations by Air India Express awaits clearance from the new Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) at the Centre. Sources at Mangalore’s Bajpe Airport told UNI that the process of direct flight between Mangalore and Dammam by Air India Express was kept on hold due to the general elections. Mangaloreans, who reside in sufficient number in Saudi destinations were hopeful that once the new Aviation Minister assumes office, the process of direct flights between Mangalore and Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam would gain momentum and a final confirmation would be expected soon. According to earlier plans, the flight to Saudi Arabia was supposed to take off in April this year, but due to the pending government nod, the plan was kept in abeyance.

Mangalore-Saudi sector will be profitable for AIX. There is sufficient Mangloreans in Saudi Arabia to justify this introduction.

Quoting Cricket (Reply 134): Well, rumour has it that PP is getting the ministry again

Interesting.....I thought Scindia would get the nod.

regds
MEL

9W to start DXB - TRV/COK/HYD/IXE


http://www.business24-7.ae/Articles/...5a436b02a4ade97d1de092863842d.aspx

Jet Airways, India's largest private carrier, plans to launch four new Indian routes from Dubai in the next three months, a senior executive said.

The airline launched operations to the UAE last year with daily direct flights to Abu Dhabi in April, followed by Dubai in August.

"From Dubai, we are planning to launch flights to four more Indian destinations – Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore. Talks are in process and we should be able to launch these routes in the next two to three months," Abraham Joseph, Senior General Manager for Jet Airways Middle East and North Africa, told Emirates Business.

The Indian carrier currently operates daily non-stop flights to Delhi and Mumbai from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Last month it included Chennai to its route network from Dubai and added one more frequency to Mumbai again from Dubai. Plans are also afoot to launch daily services from Mumbai each to Jeddah and Riyadh starting June 14 this year, Joseph said.

In order to battle the declining demand in air travel and boost traffic on the UAE-India route, the carrier has slashed its airfares by about 20 per cent this year.

The first cut for Jet Airways' airfares was in March this year when the carrier slashed fares by about 12 per cent on flights from the UAE to India. This was followed by a 10-per cent cut in fares last week on the same sector.

Asked if the airline was planning any further cuts in airfares this year, Joseph said: "Airfares are already quite low. I do not think we would be able to reduce it any further than what we already have. As with all other airlines, we also reduced fares because of the market pressures. But it is not good for airlines to keep reducing fares in the long run."

Declining market conditions also forced the carrier, which started international operations four years ago, to pull out of two of its international markets – San Francisco and Beijing – early this year. "We had to pull out of a couple of not-so-good routes in early January. We basically did right-sizing in order to cope with the worsening economic conditions," Joseph said.

Asked if the airline planned to pull out of any of its Middle East markets, he said: "On the contrary we are expanding our reach and operations in this region."

Despite the air travel business suffering from a serious slowdown globally as well as in the region, Jet Airways claims it has witnessed a good 20-25 per cent increase in its future bookings for this summer in Abu Dhabi.

"Our Dubai services have yet to complete a year, but in Abu Dhabi our future bookings for the three summer months – June, July and August – are up about 20-25 per cent this year compared to last summer," Joseph said.

He added the airline's average load factors for the Middle East rested 75 per cent for the year 2008-09. "In the UAE, however, we expect the load factors to be slightly higher – up to 80 per cent, in 2009-10," he said.


JETLITE'S UAE LAUNCH

JetLite, the budget arm of Jet Airways, may soon start flying to the UAE, according to Abraham Joseph.

"We already have the rights from India as well as the UAE. We only have to make a commercial decision. We are still evaluating our options and the decision to start JetLite flights to the UAE is in the discussion stages as of now. If we decide to launch services this year, it would either be to Dubai or Abu Dhabi," he said

I have to say I like AI's new advertising campaign.

Has Deccan Cargo A310F started flying commercially?
regds
MEL...

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 142): Has Deccan Cargo A310F started flying commercially?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the first aircraft (VT-AIN) is still in Bordeaux (BOD), France.

Quoting Ojas (Reply 140): "From Dubai, we are planning to launch flights to four more Indian destinations – Hyderabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangalore. Talks are in process and we should be able to launch these routes in the next two to three months," Abraham Joseph, Senior General Manager for Jet Airways Middle East and North Africa, told Emirates Business.

Cool - hopefully they can grab the O&D traffic on this route, though that's going to be only a fraction of the total traffic on this sector. Good luck to 9W on this routes - hopefully this part of their international foray fares better than their earlier wide bodied routes.

Quoting OA260 (Reply 141): I have to say I like AI's new advertising campaign.

That's interesting....sort of admitting that there was a bad, old image of AI and now here's the new.....hope they succeed with this....

Robbery at Air India's cargo complex in Mumbai

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ai-airport/articleshow/4574878.cms

Quote: Three people carried out a dacoity on Monday morning at the Air India cargo complex adjacent to the domestic airport in Mumbai, an airport official said. The trio, armed with revolvers, barged into the high security zone and overpowered the security guard after threatening to shoot him. When he attempted to stop them from trespassing into the cargo area, the dacoits whipped out a sharp object and injured him in the leg. He was rushed to a nearby hospital. "As per preliminary information available, they succeeded in looting a consignment but its content or value are not yet known," the official said.All three criminals managed to escape.

A big security lapse.....

Quoting Viasa (Reply 143): I'm not 100% sure, but I think the first aircraft (VT-AIN) is still in Bordeaux (BOD), France.

negative.Its parked at DEL.
regds
MEL

Flight operation suspended at Kolkata airport

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ta-airport/articleshow/4576311.cms

Quote: All flights from the city were temporarily suspended on Monday at the NSC Bose International Airport here as a severe storm with a wind speed of 80 km per hour hit the city, airport sources said. The sources also said all incoming flights including domestic and international ones are being diverted to different routes since 2 pm as low visibility at the runway is making it difficult for planes to land and take off. A total of seven incoming domestic flights have either been sent back to their place of origin or have been diverted to other airports of Aizawl, New Delhi and Mumbai, they said, adding that international flights like those from Bangkok and Dhaka were also diverted. The main runway, which was shut down for repairs, was also put to use as the situation worsened since morning.

Jet Airways jumps into profit in Q4

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...ofit-in-Q4/articleshow/4576187.cms

Quote: Jet Airways, on Monday said it swung into a net profit for the fourth quarter ending March.The company said it showed a net profit of 529.9 million rupees (11.04 million dollars) in the three months to March against a net loss of 2.21 billion rupees in the same period last year. Total income for the quarter fell 5.66% to 25.66 billion rupees. For the full year ending March, the carrier announced a net loss of 4.02 billion rupees from a net loss of 2.53 billion rupees the previous year. Full-year revenues rose 24.3% to 117.86 billion rupees. Jet shares rose as much as 4.18% to a day's high of 316, before retracing to close at 305.25 on profit-taking.

Good to hear that they are doing fine lately. The increase in the operating income will help them in the time to come, however, they have sustain and grow in similar fashion.

IndiGo bags award for contribution to safety

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/indi...rd-for-contribution-to-safety-6586

Quote: IndiGo, the low cost domestic airline, has received the ‘Safety Excellence’ award from the GMR Group. The award is in recognition of its contribution to airside safety for the GMR Hyderabad International Airport. With its brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline offers over 125 daily flights, connecting 17 destinations with a fleet of brand new 19A-320, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, a company release said. GMR is a Bangalore-based infrastructure major with interests in airports, energy, highways and urban infrastructure.It completed and commissioned the Greenfield Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad

I could not understand the barometer, objective and worthiness of this particular award. I would appreciate, if somebody with better insight enlighten me.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 146): Robbery at Air India's cargo complex in Mumbai

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 146): A big security lapse.....

I wouldn't call it a security lapse....there was a security officer and he challenged the intruders and got injured in the process....there's not mention of the intruders gaining access to the parking apron or other sensitive areas.....a 'lapse' would have occured if they got in unchallenged...this is more of a breakdown in the system....should have been some backup to ensure one person doesn't have to face such situations alone....

Is low-cost the way to go in India? Too bad if the economic situation eventually force the full-service carriers like 9W and IT to eventually restrict their great service to a few cities.

http://business.rediff.com/slide-sho...ready-for-low-cost-airline-war.htm

Bahrain Air is starting daily services to BOM from 6th July.

Schedules are

2B 517 BAH - BOM 2300 0440 +1
2B 518 BOM - BAH 0530 0650

Flights to be operated by an A320.

With this Bahrain Air will have 14 weekly flights to India. BAH - BOM will have 31 weekly flights ( GF 2 daily , 9W 1 daily, 2B 1 daily and AIX 3 weekly)

Quoting SR183 (Reply 152): Is low-cost the way to go in India?

Undoubtedly, culturally indians are thrifty in their attitude to cash.

Unfortunately the early generation pvt airline operators were people with access to easy money i.e. Naresh Goyal (JET), Thakkiuddin (EASTWEST), Subroto Roy (SAHARA) and the mentality of avg indian was Flying is for the well off. For Most of the labour travelling to the Gulf it was a means to an end. Hence the emphasis was heavily on the service levels, a fact evident in many for the journey reports of Indian spotters.

Presently 2 of the most popular airlines are No Frill i.e. 6E and SG, both very professional and good value for money. On the Gulf India sector Air Arabia has proven the success of the LCC concept and Flydubai is evidence of the trend.

Going by the reports originating in DELHI post elections CIVIL AVIATION MINISTRY is being mentioned alongwith other very important economic ministries i.e. Surface transport, Railways, Telecoms etc though it still is not considered a CABINET (Higher office) post it has been deemed a independent Ministry of State. This leads one to believe that the present Govt considers CA to be a very important part of the economy like in EU ( LHR is considered 1 of the 4 main pillars of U.K. economy) and hopefully will be looking at encouraging this sector with a more enabling enviourment. Here in EU the mighty successfull Easyjet and Ryanair have set the tone of the industry.............i am sure the MoCA in India has noted these events.

LCC is the way fwd for Indian aviation and if allowed unfettered access to markets and finance, the airlines in India could create benchmarks in Longhaul LCC travels.........a la AIRASIA.

Having said that i believe India will have only one premium airline KINGFISHER and that too only longhaul. Its a very strong and viable brand with a captive pax catchment presently served by the likes of BA and EK.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 150): I could not understand the barometer, objective and worthiness of this particular award. I would appreciate, if somebody with better insight enlighten me.

Seems too many awards are floated & everyone gets one  

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 151): I wouldn't call it a security lapse....there was a security officer and he challenged the intruders and got injured in the process....

The Area is very near the Security post.I'm amazed that this occured in broad daylight.

regds
MEL.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 155): Seems too many awards are floated & everyone gets one Smile

I want one too; for nothing......   

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 142): Has Deccan Cargo A310F started flying commercially? regds

India's Deccan Express has its first flight

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-express-has-its-first-flight.html

Quote: Deccan Express Logistics, a new Indian cargo airline and logistic's firm, had its first flight today using one of its Airbus A310Fs. A spokeswoman in Delhi for the carrier says the A310F took off today at 12:00 and it was a positioning flight from Delhi to Hong Kong. She says over the next fortnight the carrier will have a twice-weekly service from Hong Kong to Delhi and in the coming weeks will be adding Chennai and Mumbai to its network.

The wait is over...however, still no update on Flyington Freighters.

Mumbai flight's tyre deflates

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...e-deflates/articleshow/4587893.cms

Quote: The left nose wheel tyre of a Bhopal-bound Mumbai flight of the Jet Airways deflated on Thursday after the aircraft landed at Bhopal airport. "The nose wheel tyre of flight number 9W 2501 deflated after the flight landed safely," a Jet Airways spokesperson said. The incident took place after the flight landed at the Bhopal airport around 0754 hours, the spokesperson said adding all the passengers onboard are safe. However, the number of passengers was not immediately known. The spokesperson further said that the incident will cause a slight delay in the return flight as the deflated tyre will have to be replaced.

Which aircraft 9W operates on this sector B737 or ATR.

Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways to soon launch code-share flights on select domestic routes

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/king...hts-on-select-domestic-routes-6670

Quote: According to a PTI report, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines will soon launch code-share flights on select routes. Both airlines, afflicted by mounting losses, had entered into a strategic alliance in October last year to work together on certain business aspects to minimise losses. A Kingfisher spokesperson informed that they are in discussions with Jet Airways on code-sharing on certain routes. Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways will soon launch such flights (code-share) shortly. While initially the agreement will be limited to domestic routes, it will later be extended to international routes as well.

Whats new in this, I thought that they have already started code-sharing; as this was announced long time back.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 159):

9W & Kingfisher made a series of grand announcements but nothing happened after that, this is the first time they are doing something about code sharing.

Quoting Colts001 (Reply 160): 9W & Kingfisher made a series of grand announcements but nothing happened after that, this is the first time they are doing something about code sharing.

Well - even this time it's just a grand announcement, no code shares announced or even hinted at yet  

Quoting Nimish (Reply 161): Well - even this time it's just a grand announcement, no code shares announced or even hinted at yet Sad

It is true that this time also it is just an announcement. I think this time they will work out something as 9W is more keen on reducing domestic flying where the yields are less and go after international short haul (Middle east/South Asia).

PP is coming back as aviation minister; I wonder if he has any major initiatives in mind.

JAL 777 back to Delhi from October.

Interesting article:

Rwy 29 at IGI won't have landings from 2200hrs till 0600hrs due to noise issues. I am surprised by this since most activity at IGI takes place within these hours

http://indiaaviation.aero/news/airli...9s-discontinued-during-nighttime--

How will this affect the repaving work scheduled for rwy 28 or is this not happening anymore?

Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 163): PP is coming back as aviation minister; I wonder if he has any major initiatives in mind.

Providing an even field for Indian operators should be one.
regds
MEL.

Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 166): Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 163): PP is coming back as aviation minister; I wonder if he has any major initiatives in mind. Providing an even field for Indian operators should be one.

I assume you mean scrapping the five year requirement for international flights.

Any chance AI will be asked to raise some private equity in a year or so? I would like to see TATA/LH combination take a stake in AI when offered.

Emirates to add 22 weekly flights to India this year

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4427634/

Air India plans to hire laid-off Jet Airways staff.

http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/25/stories/2009052555281000.htm

This is really great news.

Rajrs.

BA announces changes in its schedule for Hyderabad flights

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200905281763.htm

Quote: BA on Thursday announced changes in its flight schedule from Hyderabad to allow passengers make easy onward connections from London's Heathrow airport. Implemented from Wednesday, the airline's flight BA 276 will depart from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 0655 hours. On Saturday and Sunday, it will fly on the same time as before, departing at 0635 hours and 0630 hours respectively. While returning from London, BA 277 will leave London Heathrow Airport on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 1430 hours and will reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at 0440 hours the following day.

Does anybody have an idea about the load factor on this sector.

Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 167): I assume you mean scrapping the five year requirement for international flights.

Afirm.

Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 167): I would like to see TATA/LH combination take a stake in AI when offered.

Foreign Airlines cannot directly invest in an Indian Airline at present.

regds
MEL.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ai-airport/articleshow/4599936.cms
An Incident involving AI & 9W aircraft....Although the report is not very clear.If both were given T/O clearence.Who lined up on the runway.
regds
MEL.

Jet Airways to reduce domestic flights by ten per cent by June 2009

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/jet-...-by-ten-per-cent-by-june-2009-6699

Quote: Jet Airways is all set to reduce domestic capacity by ten per cent within a month. This will be over and above 20 per cent capacity pruning the airline has done during November-May, to tackle slowdown in traffic and mounting losses. The airline’s net loss touched Rs 961.4 crore in 2008-09. However, the reduced capacity in domestic routes will be added to the international operations where the airline is making profit. Hence some Boeing 737s deployed on the domestic route will be diverted to Gulf and Southeast Asia, while some 737s will be shifted to the airline’s new low-cost brand, Konnect.

There is still no clarification on Jet Konnect; and its difference when compared with JetLite.

Air India and ITDC announce joint promotion for Flying Returns members

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-...on-for-flying-returns-members-6692

Quote: Air India’s Frequent Flyer Programme ‘Flying Returns’ members can now avail 50 per cent discount on room tariff (from June 3 to September 20, 2009), 35 per cent discount on room tariff (from October 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010) and 25 per cent discount on Food and Beverage services in the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) chain of hotels, as part of a joint promotion being introduced effective June 3, 2009.

Jet fuel prices hiked again

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...iked-again/articleshow/4600819.cms

Quote: ATF prices continued to rise with state-run oil firms on Sunday hiking the rates marginally by Rs 108 per kilolitre. IndianOil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum raised the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price by an average of Rs 108 per kilolitre (kl) effective midnight tonight. The jet fuel rate will go up by Rs 104 per kilolitre in Delhi to Rs 32,303, an IOC official said. The increase comes on the back of a 1.8% hike in rates on May 16. On May 1, state-run oil firms marginally reduced the price by 1%, which had brought the rates in Delhi down to Rs 31,614.51 per kl.

are the airlines going to increase the fuel surcharge, however, the price hike is marginal and the airlines have not decreased the earlier levied surcharge either.

Jazeeera dropping Kochi from June, Mahan Air seem to have cancelled Amritsar plan.

Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 163):

....get approvals for Foreign Airlines directly invest in an Indian airline .... upto 49%...its the only way his buddies Goyel & Mallaya will survive...

The story is Jet & LH are already in talks..

Quoting Leftwing (Reply 177): .get approvals for Foreign Airlines directly invest in an Indian airline .... upto 49%...its the only way his buddies Goyel & Mallaya will survive... The story is Jet & LH are already in talks..

I hope your source is correct. 9W and LH would make a fine combination.

I also heard that PP is planning an IPO for AI in the near future.

Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 178): I hope your source is correct. 9W and LH would make a fine combination. I also heard that PP is planning an IPO for AI in the near future.

AI IPO is not going to be in the near future, PP has clarified. check below link
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ady-market/articleshow/4606180.cms

Also Naresh Goyal is opposing foreign investment in domestic carrier. check below link

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...c-carriers/articleshow/4606108.cms

Quoting Colts001 (Reply 179): AI IPO is not going to be in the near future, PP has clarified.

The link suggests that IPO will be initiated when capital markets improve. I suppose that means when Sensex goes up to 20,000 and there is better valuation for the airline industry.

Quoting Colts001 (Reply 179): Also Naresh Goyal is opposing foreign investment in domestic carrier.

I think the rest of the industry may not share this view as evidenced by Kingfisher's support for foreign investment.

Any news on Deccan Cargo A310F flights.
Whats their schedule like?
regds
MEL.

AI To Sell Older A320s And Return Leased Aircraft
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4434786/

International airport to come up in Kushinagar soon

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/inte...to-come-up-in-kushinagar-soon-6730

Quote: An international airport will soon come up in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, the destination of Buddha ‘Parinirvana’ or final salvation, where Buddha breathed his last. Currently, the place is only connected by road. According to an ANI report, although it has an airstrip, it is not enough to meet increasing volume of tourists from across the world. The state government has hence taken a decision to develop an international airport in the city. “It is a backward area and secondly it is the place of Parinirvana, final nirvana of Buddha, the place where Buddha breathed his last. An international airport is important here. This will help develop the area. If international level facilities were developed here, tourism will get a boost,” said Avinash Avasthi, Director Tourism, Uttar Pradesh.

This will be good to attract tourism particularly Buddhist

AAI earmarks Rs 3,000 crore for development of airports across India

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/aai-...ment-of-airports-across-india-6755

Quote: The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked Rs 3,000 crore for undertaking various developmental works in different airports across the country during 2009-2010, according to D Devaraj, Regional Executive Director (Southern Region), AAI. According to a UNI report, while talking to media persons after the launching operations of the new two-storeyed Integrated Terminal Building at Tiruchirapalli Airport, which is constructed as per international standards at a cost of Rs 80 crore, Devaraj said the terminal with a capacity to handle 400 passengers at a time has two aerobridges. Devaraj said of the Rs 3,000 crore outlay, Rs 2,000 crore was for carrying out developmental works at Chennai Airport. The ongoing work at Chennai Airport included expansion of the secondary runway across the Adyar River. The work is expected to be completed by end of next year or early 2011. Apart from this, Rs 125 crore had been sanctioned for undertaking developmental work at Madurai Airport, Rs 90 crore and 70 crore for Mangalore and Coimbatore Airports respectively. Work on these airports has already commenced.

Good to see some more funds going for Chennai Airport. With Mamta in the government Kolkota will also get the required attention.

Uzbekistan Airways launching Cargo flights from Navoi to Bombay and Delhi with A300F.

Quoting 777way (Reply 176): Mahan Air seem to have cancelled Amritsar plan.

Starts 3 July.

Veer Savarkar International Airport to soon have world class integrated terminal

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/veer...rld-class-integrated-terminal-6794

Quote: According to a PTI report, Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair will soon have a world class integrated terminal building with best passenger amenities at a cost of Rs 450 crore. Officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI), New Delhi recently made a presentation before Bhopinder Singh, Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar at the Raj Niwas in Port Blair on the new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar Airport. Singh asked the officials to take into consideration the high seismic vulnerability of the area during the construction of various structures.

One more airport added in the list of upgradation....

GoI likely to allow AAI to raise Rs 5,000 crore through infrastructure bonds

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/goi-...-through-infrastructure-bonds-6786

Quote: According to a PTI report, the Government of India (GoI) is likely to allow state-owned Airport Authority of India (AAI) to raise Rs 5,000 crore through infrastructure bonds, to enable it to finance its ongoing programme to modernise and expand a large number of airports across the country. While confirming that AAI was considering raising Rs 5,000 crore through this measure, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said, “They are free to raise resources whichever way they want to. Airports are a vital infrastructure. GoI will definitely consider the proposal.”

Great move....if it is allowed then AAI can have the required fund available at their disposal for the upgradation of airports.

Kingfisher Airlines gets Rs 2,000 crore funding from select Indian banks

http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/king...ding-from-select-indian-banks-6792

Quote: According to a PTI report, Kingfisher Airlines has received crucial funding of Rs 2,000 crore from State Bank of India and a consortium of other banks to meet working capital requirements. According to certain sources, while Rs 950 crore has been given by State Bank of India (SBI), the rest of the amount has been arranged from Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Punjab National Bank. The large part of the funding raised from SBI and other banks could go towards clearing of fuel bills of the airline and other airport related charges. When contacted, the company spokesperson said, “Fund raising is an ongoing process and because we are bound by confidentiality/non disclosure agreements, it will be inappropriate to comment at this stage.” Earlier this year, the airline's parent company United Breweries Holdings (UBHs) had sought shareholders' approval to authorise the board to provide corporate guarantee worth up to Rs 12,000 crore to lenders of UBH's subsidiary Kingfisher Airlines, by pledging shares and mortgaging its movable and immovable properties.

Might be a great relief for IT.

Saudi Arabia-based LCC Nasair plans India operations by year end

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4437847/

AirAsia to fly between Penang and Chennai

http://asia.businesstraveller.com/as...-to-fly-between-penang-and-chennai

Quote: AirAsia has been given the green light by the Malaysian government to operate direct flights between Penang and Chennai (formerly Madras) with a probable October start up. The airline is currently working out the details of the service, including flight frequencies. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said “it will take three to four months to finalise the details”. A daily flight is planned.

AirAsia expanding in India...

Fire service declares Delhi's new airport terminal 'unsafe'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...nal-unsafe/articleshow/4627062.cms

Quote: The Delhi Fire Service has declared the brand new departure terminal 1D at the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) unsafe. According to the information accessed by IANS under the Right to Information Act (RTI), Delhi Fire Service chief R C Sharma has refused to provide a no-objection certificate (NOC) for terminal 1 D, citing many shortcomings during the two inspections conducted by his team in the past few months. In his last report on May 13, Sharma cited six shortcomings. He said the ventilation system in the VIP lounge, baggage area and the office area was yet to be completed. Further, he stated, the exit route in the retail area should have a separate staircase or passage. "In some places sprinklers are hidden in the false ceiling, which should be brought down. Some of the restaurants are under construction and are using wooden material. The wood works need to be painted with fire retardant chemicals. Necessary fire alarms or sprinkler system should be extended to these areas," Sharma noted in his report. He further said systems at the new departure terminal could not be checked due to passenger movement and asked for arrangements to test the systems whenever possible.

I dont understand how can they start without having a clearance. Now they need an empty terminal for the purpose of checking; which is not possible.

Jet Airways says may defer Boeing order

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...eneral_aviation/read.main/4438727/

AI mulls no-frill service for domestic sector

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/B...ll-service/articleshow/4628234.cms

Quote: State-run Air India may enter the no-frill segment in the domestic sector to beat the downturn in the aviation industry, after domestic private air carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher, which have launched all-economy services to tap low-cost travellers. "We don't see a turnaround in the industry at least before two years ... we have to look at different business models. One of the options could be a low-frill model ... if a decision is taken, it has to be Air India Express for the domestic sector," a top NACIL official said.

If it happens then we will get to see some more fascinating tails of AIX livery, probably on A320's as well.

More on Jet Konnect

Mumbai, June 08, 2009: In response to strong customer demand, effective June 13, 2009, Jet Airways Konnect, Jet Airways’ new all-economy service, will enhance its network to include thirty new flights to its current pan-India network of 62 daily flights.
Jet Airways Konnect currently links several destinations across India, including Kochi, Pune, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhopal, Amritsar, Jorhat, Agartala and Guwahati with five major metros - Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai.
With the launch of these new services, Jet Airways Konnect will link Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram with Chennai, while enhancing current services on the Coimbatore-Chennai sector.
Jet Airways Konnect will also introduce services from Thiruvanathapuram and Mumbai to Bengaluru, while enhancing existing services on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru sector.
In addition, the airline has also introduced a new service on the Ahmedabad-Indore – Bhopal – Raipur - Hyderabad sector, among other services.
According to Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways, “The Jet Airways Konnect service has proved to be extremely popular with our guests. There continues to be latent demand for a quality, all-economy service on several key domestic routes. The launch of these new Jet Airways Konnect flights is in response to the same.”
With the introduction of these new flights, the Jet Airways Konnect service will operate with a fleet of ten ATR 72-500 and three Boeing 737-800 aircraft on key domestic routes across India.
For more information, passengers are requested to log on to jetairways.com.

Latest monthly AAI data: Domestic Traffic Falls in Delhi & Hyderabad

Delhi International Airport: false signs of traffic recovery as passenger numbers fall sharply again

http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...r-numbers-fall-sharply-again/page1

Quote: Latest monthly Airports Authority of India (AAI) data confirms the short-lived improvement in domestic passenger numbers at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport in Feb-2009. In Mar-2009, domestic passenger numbers fell 11.1% year-on-year to nearly 1.3 million passengers. International growth remained flat, increasing just 0.9% year-on-year in Mar-2009 to approximately 720,000 passengers.

No signs of recovery for domestic traffic at Hyderabad

http://www.centreforaviation.com/new...omestic-traffic-at-hyderabad/page1

Quote: Airports Authority of India (AAI) reports total passenger numbers at Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport declined 18.7% year-on-year to 464,060 passengers in Mar-2009, showing no signs of improvement. Domestic passengers led the decline, dropping 24.9% year-on-year to approximately 342,000 passengers. International passenger growth began its upward climb, increasing 5.7% year-on-year in Mar-2009 to approximately 122,000 passengers.

Quoting Aviationbuff (Reply 191): I dont understand how can they start without having a clearance. Now they need an empty terminal for the purpose of checking; which is not possible.

At least its good to see the Fire Dept. taking a tough stand on the issue....rather than being sorry later....

Jet offloads Australian for abusing crew

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/J...using-crew/articleshow/4637864.cms

Quote: The crew of a Dubai-Chennai Jet Airways flight had a tough time after an Australian national locked himself up inside the toilet for more than 30-minutes mid-air on Monday. When he came out, he allegedly abused the cabin crew and refused to apologise. The police were called after the flight landed at Chennai at 10.30 pm. However, he was let off and no case was registered as he apologised to the Jet Airways officials. Sources said that the passenger, who was upgraded from economy to business class, had consumed liquor and had gone to the toilet when the flight was on its way to Chennai. As the toilet displayed the occupied sign for a long time, the passengers informed the crew. They knocked on the door anxious to know about the condition of the passenger inside. When he came out, he started questioning the crew why they had knocked on the door. The crew tried to explain that they were worried about his condition, said a Jet Airways official. The passenger started abusing an air hostess and demanded that he wanted to meet the captain of the aircraft, the sources said. Meanwhile, the sign telling passengers to fasten their seat belts was displayed, as the flight had started to land at Chennai airport. The Australian refused to occupy his seat even after repeated requests from the crew. The pilot informed the airport about the incident and CISF personnel came to accompany the passenger to the police station.

So its not only students, crew is also on their list.... 

Boeing's India MRO to be ready in late 2011

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles...-mro-to-be-ready-in-late-2011.html

Quote: Boeing aims to start construction in the fourth quarter on a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centre it is establishing at Nagpur airport with Air India. The aircraft-makers' newly appointed president for India, Dinesh Keskar, says they are currently drawing up the tender documents to issue to prospective construction companies. It aims to select a winner so construction can commence in the fourth quarter after India's monsoon season ends, he says, adding that construction will be completed in late 2011. Keskar says the plan is to be build two aircraft hangars and each one will be able to accommodate one Boeing 747. This MRO will focus on heavy maintenance work for widebodies, namely Boeing 777s and Boeing 787s, says Keskar, adding that there is no need for it to do narrowbodies because Air India already has its own MRO for this. The repair station is part of a maintenance and training condition in Air India's December 2005 order for 27 Boeing 787s, 23 Boeing 777s and 18 Boeing 737-800s, the largest commercial aircraft order in India's civil aviation history.

Nagpur is benefiting a lot with PP at the helm.

DGCA orders safety check of Airbus A330s

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...rbus-A330s/articleshow/4633709.cms

Quote: With almost 20 Airbus A330s being used by Indian carriers on their international routes, concerned aviation authorities here have swung into action following the June 1 crash of Air France flight 447 over the Atlantic that killed 228 people on board. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered comprehensive checks of this aircraft — 12 of which are with Jet, five with Kingfisher and two with Air India. Its air safety division has written to Airbus, seeking information about the crash under International Civil Aviation Organisation rules. The idea: get to know if any remedial measures are being suggested on the aircraft so that the same could be made here too. French air accident agency (BEA) suspects that faulty speed sensors that gave inconsistent speed readings could have been one of the factors responsible for downed the A330 while it was on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. Indian carriers and DGCA say all equipment, including the speed sensors, are being constantly monitored. ‘‘All systems of the A330s with Indian carriers have been checked. The initial suspicion was that an electric fault caused the crash. But that has been found to be okay. The A330 is a safe aircraft. Any changes prescribed by the aircraft major will be carried out,” said an official.

Good to see DGCA in action recently.

Quoting Gr8Circle (Reply 196): At least its good to see the Fire Dept. taking a tough stand on the issue....rather than being sorry later....

Agree with you....however, they could have done the same before it was open for public. My concern is probably they are making hue and cry at this moment to get some bribes. That's how our bodies function.

I would be very happy if it is for good. However, we need to change the approach.

Airport tanker on fire, close shave for 268

Quote: Two hundred and sixty-eight passengers on board a Singapore Airlines flight had a narrow escape at Kolkata airport late Wednesday night when a tanker caught fire seconds before it was to start refuelling the plane. Thanks to a quick-thinking Indian Oil driver, who put his life at risk, no one was hurt.

link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ta-airport/articleshow/4642430.cms

THIS THREAD IS CLOSED. PLEASE GO TO PART 81.
Indian Aviation Thread:Part 81 (by LAXDESI Jun 11 2009 in Civil Aviation)