edealinfo wrote:

Hyderabad airport receives environmental clearance to double its annual operating capacity from 25 M to 50 M. The expansion would cost $1.2 billion.

https://www.aviationindia.net/2019/09/h ... e-its.html

Timely construction. Per your link:
Built for 12 million pax/year
Currently 18.3 million pax/year
Current facilities sized for 24 million pax/year, at 10% to 15% growth, that is about 3 years away.

Since an airport can run up to 20% over capacity before customers start flying to other cities to do business, it is perfect timing for a HYD expansion.

Lightsaber

unrave wrote:

edealinfo wrote:

Huh? please elaborate. From what I understand, there were only 40 slots available at MAA prior!

40 ex Jet Airways slots. Those are not the only slots at MAA. The airport has a lot more room to grow.

Doesn't MAA have a new terminal under construction?

Lightsaber

lightsaber wrote:

unrave wrote:

edealinfo wrote:

Huh? please elaborate. From what I understand, there were only 40 slots available at MAA prior!

40 ex Jet Airways slots. Those are not the only slots at MAA. The airport has a lot more room to grow.

Doesn't MAA have a new terminal under construction?

Lightsaber

Yes, a new terminal is under construction and a mid field terminal is being planned. The ultimate capacity of MAA is projected at 35 mpa

What is the status of 9W'S 77W and A330 fleets? Any chance of AI taking a look at 9W'S 77W'S to allow for international growth? Would UK or SG consider adding them to commence longer range international flights to LHR MAN or AMS? UK getting the 787 in 2020 I believe should consider taking a couple of the 77W'S to start LHR or LGW service until their 787'S arrive.

georgiabill wrote:

What is the status of 9W'S 77W and A330 fleets? Any chance of AI taking a look at 9W'S 77W'S to allow for international growth? Would UK or SG consider adding them to commence longer range international flights to LHR MAN or AMS? UK getting the 787 in 2020 I believe should consider taking a couple of the 77W'S to start LHR or LGW service until their 787'S arrive.

>>>What is the status of 9W'S 77W and A330 fleets?
Will soon be available for outright purchase as part of Jet's bankruptcy process.

>>Any chance of AI taking a look at 9W'S 77W'S to allow for international growth?
0% chance. They need cash to buy those planes and they don't have any. And, AI is being privatized. Besides 3 months ago they already had about 25 grounded planes for lack of money to buy spares.

>>>UK getting the 787 in 2020
Correct. delivery scheduled for Feb or March 2020

>>>> Vistara should consider taking a couple of the 77W'S to start LHR or LGW service until their 787'S arrive.
Makes no sense to introduce a totally new aircraft just for a single new route. In any case, the first need to get LHR slots and those costs $$$$ to lease. Gatwick has always been a second choice. That could easily wait till March 2020 since no operator currently does Gatwick to India.

Six locations shortlisted for Chennai's second airport

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/ch ... 479974.ece

Separately, after 2 years when the current airport will be upgraded, its existing capacity will almost double from 18 million to 35 million a year. So, the slot constrain Chennai currently faces is only for 2 more years.

edealinfo wrote:

Six locations shortlisted for Chennai's second airport

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/ch ... 479974.ece

Separately, after 2 years when the current airport will be upgraded, its existing capacity will almost double from 18 million to 35 million a year. So, the slot constrain Chennai currently faces is only for 2 more years.

Only terminal capacity will increase. Runway and apron capacity will only marginally increase, so slots will remain a problem. Some enhancements are being made to the taxiway network but nothing too substatial. Also, the airport is currently about 4 mn pax over capacity.

CPS001 wrote:

edealinfo wrote:

Six locations shortlisted for Chennai's second airport

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/ch ... 479974.ece

Separately, after 2 years when the current airport will be upgraded, its existing capacity will almost double from 18 million to 35 million a year. So, the slot constrain Chennai currently faces is only for 2 more years.

Only terminal capacity will increase. Runway and apron capacity will only marginally increase, so slots will remain a problem. Some enhancements are being made to the taxiway network but nothing too substatial. Also, the airport is currently about 4 mn pax over capacity.

What's the logic of increasing the airports "handling/terminal capacity" to 35 million if the available runway slots don't also support that capacity? It just doesn't make sense.

edealinfo wrote:

CPS001 wrote:

edealinfo wrote:

Six locations shortlisted for Chennai's second airport

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/ch ... 479974.ece

Separately, after 2 years when the current airport will be upgraded, its existing capacity will almost double from 18 million to 35 million a year. So, the slot constrain Chennai currently faces is only for 2 more years.

Only terminal capacity will increase. Runway and apron capacity will only marginally increase, so slots will remain a problem. Some enhancements are being made to the taxiway network but nothing too substatial. Also, the airport is currently about 4 mn pax over capacity.

What's the logic of increasing the airports "handling/terminal capacity" to 35 million if the available runway slots don't also support that capacity? It just doesn't make sense.

Runway capacity is already nearly sufficient to handle the increase in traffic. BOM handles nearly 50 mpa with more or less the same runway configuration as MAA.

unrave wrote:

edealinfo wrote:

CPS001 wrote:

Only terminal capacity will increase. Runway and apron capacity will only marginally increase, so slots will remain a problem. Some enhancements are being made to the taxiway network but nothing too substatial. Also, the airport is currently about 4 mn pax over capacity.

What's the logic of increasing the airports "handling/terminal capacity" to 35 million if the available runway slots don't also support that capacity? It just doesn't make sense.

Runway capacity is already nearly sufficient to handle the increase in traffic. BOM handles nearly 50 mpa with more or less the same runway configuration as MAA.

Putting in numbers, it is a two runway airport with about a 10% reduction in runway capacity because taxiways are not optimal. But each runway should be good for 40+ opperations per hour instead of 45+ for optimal taxiways.

So while LHR might do 80 million+ off two runways, MAA will have smaller gauge aircraft (LHR is a widebody extreme destination) and won't be able to fill every off hour slot. I estimate 50 or so million is the airside limit. So more terminal space is required in the future.

Or a 3rd runway too.

I expect BLR, HYD, and MAA to all fill up their expansions quickly. Oh well...

In a country growing as quickly as India, airport infrastructure must be continually updated.

BOM has two crossed runways, a poor arrangement, yet moved almost 50 million in 2018. While MAA crosses, it isn't as poor as BOM. MAA should move 10% or more additional flights than BOM, but smaller gauge.

Lightsaber

lightsaber wrote:

Putting in numbers, it is a two runway airport with about a 10% reduction in runway capacity because taxiways are not optimal. But each runway should be good for 40+ opperations per hour instead of 45+ for optimal taxiways.

So while LHR might do 80 million+ off two runways, MAA will have smaller gauge aircraft (LHR is a widebody extreme destination) and won't be able to fill every off hour slot. I estimate 50 or so million is the airside limit. So more terminal space is required in the future.

Or a 3rd runway too.

I expect BLR, HYD, and MAA to all fill up their expansions quickly. Oh well...

In a country growing as quickly as India, airport infrastructure must be continually updated.

BOM has two crossed runways, a poor arrangement, yet moved almost 50 million in 2018. While MAA crosses, it isn't as poor as BOM. MAA should move 10% or more additional flights than BOM, but smaller gauge.

Lightsaber

There is no room for a third runway, so that option is not possible. An advantage that MAA (and other Indian airports) have is the lack of nighttime curfews. They can "sweat" their airside facilities more than the European airports.

With slot exhaustion at major airports in the country, I hope airports will adopt a more effective method of slot allocation to airlines using higher capacity aircrafts. Larger 737/A32X should be given preference and encouraged and avoid slot wastage on turboprops and airlines like AI. Also smaller airports in the country should upgrade themselves to accommodate such aircrafts.

avier wrote:

With slot exhaustion at major airports in the country, I hope airports will adopt a more effective method of slot allocation to airlines using higher capacity aircrafts. Larger 737/A32X should be given preference and encouraged and avoid slot wastage on turboprops and airlines like AI. Also smaller airports in the country should upgrade themselves to accommodate such aircrafts.

Agree about the smaller airports part. Larger airports are also facing terminal constraints - so unsure if larger aircraft preference will be useful

After a lot of domestic flight cancellations from Kochi, Indigo has cancelled more international flights from Kerala , though some are temporary.
All the airports in Kerala lost one or more service recently, leaving Kannur with only ATR ops for nearly a month.
International flights operating without any cancellations are :

Kochi - Dubai, Doha, Jeddah , Kuwait
Calicut - Dubai, Doha
Trivandrum - Dubai, Sharjah
Kannur - No services

Wonder where they are shifting all these A320s to.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

avier wrote:

With slot exhaustion at major airports in the country, I hope airports will adopt a more effective method of slot allocation to airlines using higher capacity aircrafts. Larger 737/A32X should be given preference and encouraged and avoid slot wastage on turboprops and airlines like AI. Also smaller airports in the country should upgrade themselves to accommodate such aircrafts.

India is expanding airports. If they do not, growth slows to a few percent and the city's growth slows.

Navi Mumbai is under construction
MAA is adding significant terminal space (has runways)
BLR is doubling capacity
HYD finished a doubling and will double again. Currently at 16 million pax/year in facilities for 24 million. This airport will max out in a few years, just before the new expansion opens.

Smaller airports will lose service. All they can profitably fill is the ATR.

What India needs is more hub capacity.

So get Navi Delhi constructed.

Lightsaber

unrave wrote:

lightsaber wrote:

Putting in numbers, it is a two runway airport with about a 10% reduction in runway capacity because taxiways are not optimal. But each runway should be good for 40+ opperations per hour instead of 45+ for optimal taxiways.

So while LHR might do 80 million+ off two runways, MAA will have smaller gauge aircraft (LHR is a widebody extreme destination) and won't be able to fill every off hour slot. I estimate 50 or so million is the airside limit. So more terminal space is required in the future.

Or a 3rd runway too.

I expect BLR, HYD, and MAA to all fill up their expansions quickly. Oh well...

In a country growing as quickly as India, airport infrastructure must be continually updated.

BOM has two crossed runways, a poor arrangement, yet moved almost 50 million in 2018. While MAA crosses, it isn't as poor as BOM. MAA should move 10% or more additional flights than BOM, but smaller gauge.

Lightsaber

There is no room for a third runway, so that option is not possible. An advantage that MAA (and other Indian airports) have is the lack of nighttime curfews. They can "sweat" their airside facilities more than the European airports.

I agree that Indian airports can run more hours. Airport sizing is for 14 hours of operation (nominally 7am to 9 pm local). However, people want to fly at certain hours. A certain fraction just won't fly outside of daylight hours. So yes, more than an EU airport, but only 20% more or so.

If no room for another runway, it is time for a 2nd airport or to move the airport.

Lightsaber

A Very Good Article written by Vir Singhavi about how Indian politcians snatched and killed Air India and a little about the glorious Past of TATA airlines and Vistara Today

https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.hindusta ... M_amp.html

SpiceJet will be joining its rivals into launching Mumbai- Jodhpur from the winter schedule - Oct end. The route will see three new airlines start within a short period- IndiGo, Vistara & now Spice. AI can kiss its monopoly goodbye. Also, during 9W days, this route had just two flights total- one of AI & 9W each. It will now see 4 daily flights. Interesting usage of 9W slots by other airlines. Routes like BOM- Aurangabad/Bhuj/Rajkot still lack seats and require connectivity from pvt. airlines.

How awful is Air India's "celebrating India" special livery. I think I'll need binoculars to see what the images are.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

lightsaber wrote:

avier wrote:

With slot exhaustion at major airports in the country, I hope airports will adopt a more effective method of slot allocation to airlines using higher capacity aircrafts. Larger 737/A32X should be given preference and encouraged and avoid slot wastage on turboprops and airlines like AI. Also smaller airports in the country should upgrade themselves to accommodate such aircrafts.

India is expanding airports. If they do not, growth slows to a few percent and the city's growth slows.

Navi Mumbai is under construction
MAA is adding significant terminal space (has runways)
BLR is doubling capacity
HYD finished a doubling and will double again. Currently at 16 million pax/year in facilities for 24 million. This airport will max out in a few years, just before the new expansion opens.

Smaller airports will lose service. All they can profitably fill is the ATR.

What India needs is more hub capacity.

So get Navi Delhi constructed.

Lightsaber

So, all the 6 metros EXCEPT for CCU have plans. What happened to Calcutta? I thought the left Government was given the boot a long time ago. Is Mamta Banerjee a leftist too?

Not content with wasting Government money, Air India plans to double aircraft fleet from 127 to 250 in just 4 to 5 years.

There is no India like Air India. Couldn’t they have named the airline Hot Air, instead?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... on-461008/

edealinfo wrote:

Not content with wasting Government money, Air India plans to double aircraft fleet from 127 to 250 in just 4 to 5 years.

There is no India like Air India. Couldn’t they have named the airline Hot Air, instead?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... on-461008/

Why cant they just shut it down for good...AI is sucking all the money and for way too long..dunno where they even got money to do that Namesake Special livery paintjob for ?

Like what the Kingfishers is goin on with AI people ?

And what a catastrophe of a job that seems I mean its good they tried to put all the popular World Heritage monuments however whats the use of wasting all that paint when one would need a telescope to see the actual beauty of those.

Couldnt they just do somthin similar to what I saw on saudia livery where they beautifully painted their monuments which was visible to normal human vision unlike Air India's Paintjob gont horribily wrong lolz

edealinfo wrote:

Not content with wasting Government money, Air India plans to double aircraft fleet from 127 to 250 in just 4 to 5 years.

There is no India like Air India. Couldn’t they have named the airline Hot Air, instead?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/artic ... on-461008/

That is just an executive building castles in the air.

How IndiGo messed up its Delhi-Istanbul flight plan

What is with IndiGo and bad news? While the airline seems to have the squabble between promoters behind it, the negative publicity this time was because the airline did not load luggage on its flight to Istanbul for a few days.

Istanbul is the hub of IndiGo’s only codeshare partner, Turkish Airlines. So what happened? Extremely heavy headwinds, which make it difficult to carry the full load.

Istanbul has not been the kind of crown IndiGo would have wanted on its head. The airline announced the Turkish code-share and flights in January, with a launch date in March. The first flight was quickly topped up with another from Delhi.

The closure of airspace by Pakistan from February end after airstrikes by the Indian Air Force pushed the airline to postpone the second daily flight and operates a singular flight with a stop at Doha, which at times has a stopover at Ahmedabad on return. The airline’s ambition of connecting 20 destinations beyond Istanbul through code-share also seems to have run into rough weather with only 12 operational right now.

avier wrote:

SpiceJet will be joining its rivals into launching Mumbai- Jodhpur from the winter schedule - Oct end. The route will see three new airlines start within a short period- IndiGo, Vistara & now Spice. AI can kiss its monopoly goodbye. Also, during 9W days, this route had just two flights total- one of AI & 9W each. It will now see 4 daily flights. Interesting usage of 9W slots by other airlines. Routes like BOM- Aurangabad/Bhuj/Rajkot still lack seats and require connectivity from pvt. airlines.

SpiceJet's newest destination : Rajkot !
Will commence Mumbai - Rajkot from Oct 27th.

This sector badly needed more connectivity(since Jet shutdown), considering Rajkot having a number of industries and their need for good connections to the financial capital. AI monopoly ends here- while they also begin additional weekly flights on this route from the winter schedule.

edealinfo wrote:

lightsaber wrote:

avier wrote:

With slot exhaustion at major airports in the country, I hope airports will adopt a more effective method of slot allocation to airlines using higher capacity aircrafts. Larger 737/A32X should be given preference and encouraged and avoid slot wastage on turboprops and airlines like AI. Also smaller airports in the country should upgrade themselves to accommodate such aircrafts.

India is expanding airports. If they do not, growth slows to a few percent and the city's growth slows.

Navi Mumbai is under construction
MAA is adding significant terminal space (has runways)
BLR is doubling capacity
HYD finished a doubling and will double again. Currently at 16 million pax/year in facilities for 24 million. This airport will max out in a few years, just before the new expansion opens.

Smaller airports will lose service. All they can profitably fill is the ATR.

What India needs is more hub capacity.

So get Navi Delhi constructed.

Lightsaber

So, all the 6 metros EXCEPT for CCU have plans. What happened to Calcutta? I thought the left Government was given the boot a long time ago. Is Mamta Banerjee a leftist too?

The plan is add 10 aerobridges, designs under consideration:
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolkata ... 758340.cms

I just didn't pay attention to small expansions.

Lightsaber

https://www.ndtv.com/business/spicejet-news-spicejet-eyes-10-billion-plus-airbus-deal-chairman-ajay-singh-reveals-2106885

SpiceJet - only Boeing NB operator in India planning on defecting to Airbus due to delays in MAX.

They are interested in Airbus A321LR or XLR or Boeing NMA. No firm decision yet.

Gives 12 months time to Boeing to finalize the the NMA concept.

zionite wrote:

https://www.ndtv.com/business/spicejet-news-spicejet-eyes-10-billion-plus-airbus-deal-chairman-ajay-singh-reveals-2106885

SpiceJet - only Boeing NB operator in India planning on defecting to Airbus due to delays in MAX.

They are interested in Airbus A321LR or XLR or Boeing NMA. No firm decision yet.

Gives 12 months time to Boeing to finalize the the NMA concept.

I am not surprised at all. NMA needed to be launched this year, however MAX fiasco stopped it. A321 neo and B737-8 MAX may not be a bad combo. Unless Boeing is willing to pay via discounts/compensations.

AirAsia India will be shifting it's ops to Terminal 1B from T2 at BOM from Oct 15th.

avier wrote:

avier wrote:

SpiceJet will be joining its rivals into launching Mumbai- Jodhpur from the winter schedule - Oct end. The route will see three new airlines start within a short period- IndiGo, Vistara & now Spice. AI can kiss its monopoly goodbye. Also, during 9W days, this route had just two flights total- one of AI & 9W each. It will now see 4 daily flights. Interesting usage of 9W slots by other airlines. Routes like BOM- Aurangabad/Bhuj/Rajkot still lack seats and require connectivity from pvt. airlines.

SpiceJet's newest destination : Rajkot !
Will commence Mumbai - Rajkot from Oct 27th.

This sector badly needed more connectivity(since Jet shutdown), considering Rajkot having a number of industries and their need for good connections to the financial capital. AI monopoly ends here- while they also begin additional weekly flights on this route from the winter schedule.

Badly needed for us. I frequently travel from RAJ to BOM for a day's work - approx 2-3 trips per month.

Options for us:
1. Take the expensive AI flight. Total time approx 2.5 hrs (with security checks). Most comfortable but most expensive.
2. Take a seat in a private coach (Volvo or Scania) that drops us in the parking area of International Terminal in Ahmedabad and take a cheap red eye flight to BOM. Total time approx 7 hrs. Tiring, costs same or slightly more than a train but can be cheaply booked at last moment also.
3. Take Duroto or other Express overnight trains from Rajkot to Mumbai. Total time approx 12 hrs. Much more comfortable than a red-eye flight but need to plan in advance.

I have been personally boycotting Indigo for my travel in India since last few years. They have never shown a serious interest in Rajkot even after Jet collapsed. They have ATR and A320 (with load penalty) that could be operated from Rajkot.

Walkthru of BLR's new garden terminal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=272&v=RheSNVirYlo

zionite wrote:

I have been personally boycotting Indigo for my travel in India since last few years. They have never shown a serious interest in Rajkot even after Jet collapsed. They have ATR and A320 (with load penalty) that could be operated from Rajkot.

If slots were available at BOM/DEL, I'm sure 6E would have considered the route. Also probably more so when the new Rajkot greenfield airport opens. The current airport's restrictions would make it unattractive for airlines, which are not too keen for such load penalties. SG on the other hand now has a couple of smaller 737's (-700's) suitable for this route. Also they would have chopped another flight to add this one, as this wouldn't be a new slot alloted to them at BOM.

avier wrote:

zionite wrote:

I have been personally boycotting Indigo for my travel in India since last few years. They have never shown a serious interest in Rajkot even after Jet collapsed. They have ATR and A320 (with load penalty) that could be operated from Rajkot.

If slots were available at BOM/DEL, I'm sure 6E would have considered the route. Also probably more so when the new Rajkot greenfield airport opens. The current airport's restrictions would make it unattractive for airlines, which are not too keen for such load penalties. SG on the other hand now has a couple of smaller 737's (-700's) suitable for this route. Also they would have chopped another flight to add this one, as this wouldn't be a new slot alloted to them at BOM.

Geenfield airport:
Seems like we need to wait at least a decade.

Slots at BOM:
Can understand it's a tight schedule. However a higher fare can justify the load penalty.
AMD: 180 seats X avg. 5000 fare = 900,000
RAJ: 150 seats X avg. 6000 fare = 900,000
However, I have little idea on cargo load restrictions.

Slots at DEL:
Relatively much lesser demand to DEL than BOM.

zionite wrote:

I have been personally boycotting Indigo for my travel in India since last few years. They have never shown a serious interest in Rajkot even after Jet collapsed. They have ATR and A320 (with load penalty) that could be operated from Rajkot.

A320s can't operate to RAJ without a lot penalty. Has work started on the new Rajkot airport?

sibibom wrote:

Walkthru of BLR's new garden terminal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=272&v=RheSNVirYlo

Amazing, but I am skeptical about pulling that off. Maybe SIN is one of the only places that has pulled something off like that. Plus I hope they have a good plan for mosquito management.

unrave wrote:

zionite wrote:

I have been personally boycotting Indigo for my travel in India since last few years. They have never shown a serious interest in Rajkot even after Jet collapsed. They have ATR and A320 (with load penalty) that could be operated from Rajkot.

A320s can't operate to RAJ without a lot penalty. Has work started on the new Rajkot airport?

The tender awarded to Reliance Infrastructure (Anil Ambabi group) is reportedly cancelled and is up for re-tender. So another 1 year is wasted. So no work has been started except for some small hand painted board on the highway pointing to the proposed area.

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

On the domestic side, AI will launch from winter schedule '19:
Mumbai- Patna- Amritsar x4
Kolkata- Patna x4
Mumbai- Dehradun- Varanasi x2

zionite wrote:

The tender awarded to Reliance Infrastructure (Anil Ambabi group) is reportedly cancelled and is up for re-tender. So another 1 year is wasted. So no work has been started except for some small hand painted board on the highway pointing to the proposed area.

I didn't know the tender was cancelled. Hopefully the process is resumed soon.

avier wrote:

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

What is the reasoning for this route? As far as I can tell LHR is the best positioned airport for the Indian community in London. Even LGW is closer than STN. STN falls under what is East Midlands (I think based on Google Maps??) where there isn't a significant Indian community except Cambridge which is quite close to STN.

VTORD wrote:

avier wrote:

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

What is the reasoning for this route? As far as I can tell LHR is the best positioned airport for the Indian community in London. Even LGW is closer than STN. STN falls under what is East Midlands (I think based on Google Maps??) where there isn't a significant Indian community except Cambridge which is quite close to STN.

LHR has restrictions in bilateral agreement. Other London airports and rest of UK don't. Also, AI doesn't have any slots at LHR too for launching new flights. Yes, Gatwick would have been better. But they would have done research and they know what they are doing hopefully.

Spicejet's new launches next month, including ones already mentioned earlier:
Mumbai- Rajkot
Mumbai-Jodhpur
Pune-Jodhpur
Ahmedabad-Jodhpur
Chennai- Durgapur
Chennai-Vishakhapatnam
Chennai-Jaipur
Chennai-Patna
Bengaluru- Guwahati
Vijayawada- Vishakhapatnam
Hyderabad-Aurangabad
Surat- Udaipur

avier wrote:

LHR has restrictions in bilateral agreement. Other London airports and rest of UK don't. Also, AI doesn't have any slots at LHR too for launching new flights. Yes, Gatwick would have been better. But they would have done research and they know what they are doing hopefully.

I am not sure if ATQ is in the list of Point of Call in the bilateral - but if it is, the 7x to LHR is allowed.

bostrv wrote:

I am not sure if ATQ is in the list of Point of Call in the bilateral. ..

That doesn't matter. The restrictions are on the UK side, not on India side, for AI.

avier wrote:

VTORD wrote:

avier wrote:

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

What is the reasoning for this route? As far as I can tell LHR is the best positioned airport for the Indian community in London. Even LGW is closer than STN. STN falls under what is East Midlands (I think based on Google Maps??) where there isn't a significant Indian community except Cambridge which is quite close to STN.

LHR has restrictions in bilateral agreement. Other London airports and rest of UK don't. Also, AI doesn't have any slots at LHR too for launching new flights. Yes, Gatwick would have been better. But they would have done research and they know what they are doing hopefully.

Civil Av minister is from Amritsar. Nothing more needs to be said. Pretty sure no research went into it. Worst case AI heard about it from the minister's announcement.

Side note, AI isn't operating the DEL-MAA-DPS route announced by Puri.

Quite obvious that it is a politically motivated route.

The upcoming Jewar airport will have six runaways, which would make it the largest airport in India once completed. This was announced by Yamuna Authority CEO Arun Vir Singh on Wednesday.

“Some 5,000 hectares in Jewar is earmarked as an aviation hub in Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority’s (YEIDA) master plan. Everything, including the six runways, will fall within these 5,000 hectares designated for the airport. After completion, Jewar will definitely become India’s largest airport,” CEO Singh said.


Read more at:
economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/71306023.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

VTORD wrote:

avier wrote:

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

What is the reasoning for this route? As far as I can tell LHR is the best positioned airport for the Indian community in London. Even LGW is closer than STN. STN falls under what is East Midlands (I think based on Google Maps??) where there isn't a significant Indian community except Cambridge which is quite close to STN.

True, Hounslow and surrounding area happens to be a central point. Except the restrictions at LHR are well know.

STN is still reasonably well connected. Not to mention residents outside of London, e.g. Birmingham, could find it convenient to access STN. Route may be politically motivated, but worth running a flight IMHO.

vadodara wrote:

VTORD wrote:

avier wrote:

As per Civil Av. minister, Air India will commence thrice weekly Amritsar- London Stansted flights from Nov '19.

What is the reasoning for this route? As far as I can tell LHR is the best positioned airport for the Indian community in London. Even LGW is closer than STN. STN falls under what is East Midlands (I think based on Google Maps??) where there isn't a significant Indian community except Cambridge which is quite close to STN.

True, Hounslow and surrounding area happens to be a central point. Except the restrictions at LHR are well know.

STN is still reasonably well connected. Not to mention residents outside of London, e.g. Birmingham, could find it convenient to access STN. Route may be politically motivated, but worth running a flight IMHO.

Would it not make more sense to increase frequency on BOM-FRA or DEL-SYD/MEL? Pretty sure once privatized, AMD-LHR, ATQ-BHX/STN and other political routes would be the first ones out.

yashk wrote:

Would it not make more sense to increase frequency on BOM-FRA or DEL-SYD/MEL? Pretty sure once privatized, AMD-LHR, ATQ-BHX/STN and other political routes would be the first ones out.

DEL hub itself is 'political'. It did not happen organically, the govt of the day decided to move all the planes from BOM to DEL.

You are assuming someone may actually want to buy Air India the way it is. Considering it has made money only once or twice in last 20-30 yrs, that may be a stretch.

Mumbai airport's main runway 09/27 will remain shut from Nov'19 to March '20. Will remain shut six days a week Mon- Sat from 9.30am to 5.30pm IST. Secondary runway will be in use at that time.

https://www.cnbctv18.com/aviation/expec ... 442071.htm