Indian-Aviation

Airbus Group will present a range of products and technologies at the 10th edition of Aero India, which will be held from February 18 - 22, 2015 at the Air Force Station Yelahanka, Bengaluru. The focus of Group’s participation would be to highlight its strong footprint in India and commitment to the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, as per a release. “We have been used to partnerships in India as is shown by our long-standing collaborations with several Indian public and private companies as well as R&D organisations and academic institutions. We are enthusiastic about the ‘Make in India’ campaign and are ready to leverage our existing local partnerships and invest in new ones to make the most of it. Aero India offers the perfect setting to discuss our plans to make in India with various stakeholders. We look forward to our participation in the show,” said Yves Guillaume, President – India, Airbus Group. On display at the Group’s pavilion (No. OD8) in front of Ha...

As the deadline for enlisting operators for intra-state airline services in Uttar Pradesh (UP) ended last week, three airline companies have approached the State Tourism Department with interest to commence operations as per guidelines of the new Intra-state Aviation Policy announced by the government. The State Tourism Department has identified 12 routes to be covered through intra-state air operations. According to Dr Shashank Vikram, Managing Director & Special Secretary, UP Tourism, the routes, which have been identified, include Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Meerut, Jhansi, and Khushinagar, among others.  “These operators have to fulfill the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) guidelines to start operations. We are hopeful of completing the process in the next one month,” he said. As far as infrastructure at these destinations are concerned, Dr Vikram said that UP has the highest number of airstrips in India. Terming the intra-state aviation policy an open-sky policy,...

Siddharth Verma’s tryst with seaplanes almost ended as soon as it began. In 2010, Verma and his partners, CL Lakshmanan and SS Mann, won a deal to connect Port Blair with different regions of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Their firm — Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (MEHAIR) — was able to pip the competition and snag the contract managed by Pawan Hans on behalf of the Islands. But the Australian aircraft leasing firm that agreed to supply a seaplane to MEHAIR backed out at the eleventh hour, citing the promoters’ lack of experience in running a similar service. “Here was a real chance to do something revolutionary and completely unheard of in the Indian aviation space,” says Verma, who to this day believes that the bidders who lost out to MEHAIR had something to do with the Australian firm suddenly developing cold feet. So despite having the paperwork to support the six-month pilot project, the three partners had almost decided to give up. Backing out would have ...

Air Passengers Association of India has urged the aviation ministry to ensure airlines have a uniform policy in air fare structure, which is passenger friendly and transparent. The cancellation charges levied by airlines have increased by over 300 per cent in the last four years. This must be addressed when they have special low fare offers. “We are certain that the Ministry will formulate a policy by advising the regulator,” the association’s president D Sudhakara Reddy, said in a press release. Some of the airlines are charging transaction fee and convenience fee that are totally unjustified. They relate to booking on the website for which they must offer a special reduction considering the fact that they have no one else to pay for issuing the ticket, the release said. Source:  http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/airlines-body-for-uniform-fare/article6831017.ece

Budget airline  SpiceJet  Ltd is in dire need of funds, but all resource taps seem to have been turned off. Sources, who did not want to be named, said in the latest development, the crisis-ridden carrier is finding it difficult to get funds that were to come from promoter Kalanithi Maran  because of the recent arrest of Sun Group officials by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). One of the arrested executives is a signing authority for all financial transactions at SpiceJet. The fund from Maran is being sought as haircut by co-founder of SpiceJet Ltd Ajay Singh as agreed upon in a pact, which was done for in-principle transfer of ownership of the airline to the later. Haircut is a percentage that is subtracted from the market value of an asset that is being used as collateral. It is, however, not clear why Marans need to infuse the money in the airline. In the revival plan submitted to civil aviation ministry, Singh has committed to infuse Rs 100 crore ...

Budget carrier SpiceJet today said that it has registered a massive 400 per cent spike in its bookings on the first day of its Super Sale scheme, which offers fares as low as Rs 1,499 for a one-way journey on its domestic network.  Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways also slashed fares a second time in a week to match with its rivals.  "400% increase in bookings on Day 1 of our first Super Sale of 2015! Win-win-win for customers, airlines, and travel ecosystem," Kapoor tweeted.  The airline, which had announced a series of flash sale offers last year notwithstanding criticism from the peer group and also the regulator, put on sale yesterday half a million seats for a travel period between February 15 to June 30.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46057675.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Troubled Indian carrier SpiceJet Ltd said its board has approved selling shares worth up to 15 billion rupees ($242.6 million) in the company, following a deal between its current majority owner and a co-founder leading a rescue plan.  Ajay Singh, who helped found the airline in 2005, agreed this month to buy a controlling stake from billionaire majority owner Kalanithi Maran's Sun Group in a bid to turn around the money-losing airline.  SpiceJet has been struggling to pay its bills due to a cash crunch and had briefly grounded planes in December.  The carrier said on Friday its board had decided to increase the authorised share capital of the company to 20 billion rupees, comprising 1.5 billion equity shares of 10 rupees each and 5 million non-convertible redeemable preference shares of 1,000 rupees each.  SpiceJet's board also decided to allot up to 3.75 million preference shares to Kalanithi Maran or one of his group firms.  Read more at: h...

Jet Airways has joined the price war initiated by SpiceJet and Air Asia, offering all-inclusive return fare from Rs 4,459 for travel up to March 31. The full-service carrier came up with the offer on January 29, a day after low-cost carrier SpiceJet, under its new promoter Ajay Singh, announced the launch of its first discounts for 2015 with 500,000 seats for sale at all-inclusive one-way advance booking fare of Rs 1,499. Air Asia is offering discounted fares at Rs 699.  SpiceJet's offer, which is open for bookings made between January 28 and January 30, is for travel between February 15 and June 30 and is applicable to all direct flights on the airline's domestic network.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46055479.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Singapore-based Tigerair has terminated its passenger swapping pact with Spicejet over a year after the two budget carriers forged the inter-line arrangements.  Under the three-year inter-line agreement signed between the two carriers, 14 SpiceJet domestic destinations were connected to Singapore via Hyderabad from January 6 last year to provide a seamless connectivity to the passengers.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46054801.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

When Air India inducted a Boeing 787 with tail number VT-ANI in 2012, no one could have imagined that the aircraft would end up being grounded and its parts used to keep other Dreamliners in the fleet flying. After 10 long months in the hangar in Mumbai due to various maintenance issues, the aircraft is likely to resume flying next month. The national carrier, which is the thirdlargest operator of Dreamliners in the world, had ordered spares for the parts that were used in the other aircraft, which have been delivered. The aircraft is now awaiting approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to take to the skies again. Air India received its first Dreamliner in September 2012 and currently has 18 of them in its fleet. There have been multiple issues such as windshield cracks, engine failures and gear issues with the aircraft ever since they were delivered.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46048409.cms?utm_source=contentofinter...

No-frills carrier AirAsia India has lowered its advance fares, offering its customers one-way ticket prices at as low as Rs 699 with a travel validity period lasting up to March next year.  The bookings under the three-day limited period offer commenced yesterday and are applicable to travel between August 3 and March 26, 2016, according to the airline's website.  As per advance purchase promotional offer, a Bengaluru- Kochi one-way journey is priced at Rs 899, a Bengaluru-Goa ticket is priced from Rs 1,099 while Bengaluru-Pune at Rs 1,499.  Bengaluru-Jaipur and Bengaluru-Chandigarh tickets are offered from Rs 1,999.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46033234.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Budget carrier SpiceJet today joined the low fare race in the domestic market putting on the block half a million seats with ticket prices starting at Rs 1,499 under a limited period promotional offer. The bookings under the three-day "Super Sale" offer can be made from today for a travel period between February 15 to June 30, SpiceJet said in a release. The offer comes two days after its competitor AirAsia India announced a discount fare scheme with a seven-day booking window period. January-March and July-September quarters of the fiscal are traditionally low travel demand period in the country and so airlines roll out such discount fare schemes to woo customers and fill the seats. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46038687.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

With more than a little help from Indian travellers, Dubai has emerged the busiest international airport in the world. Dubai overtook London Heathrow last year, thanks to a growth of 9.3 lakh flyers to and from the India subcontinent — which was second only to the increase of 11.9 lakh flyers the Emirate saw in passengers to and from Europe.  Dubai International (DXB) handled over 7 crore international flyers last year, while Heathrow — which has been pipped for the first time ever — saw 6.8 crore international travellers. India played an important role in Dubai emerging as the busiest international airport. Dubai's Emirates operates the maximum flights among all foreign airlines that operate to India. It has 185 weekly flights to 10 Indian cities, with the number of weekly flights set to rise to 186 from March 29.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46039233.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst ...

Thirteen more airports in the country, including Amritsar, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Patna and Lucknow, will soon become CAT-III compliant, a step which will ensure seamless flight operations even during fog. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) along with Airports Authority of India (AAI) is carrying out the exercise which is expected to be completed by mid-February except for Jaipur Airport, a Civil Ministry official said today. At present, only Delhi Airport is equipped with CAT-III technology. The equipment installation work at the Jaipur airport will be completed by July 31, the official said.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46042082.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

By PTI | 28 Jan, 2015  Government today gave one week's more time to domestic carriers to file their submission on its proposed new norms for international operations and revision of route dispersal guideline (RDG).  The decision was taken at a meeting of the Indian airlines called by the government here today.  "The airlines sought some more time to file their response to the issue at the meeting. They have been given time for one more week to do so," a ministry official said.  The meeting was attended by all seven domestic carriers - Air India, Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet, AirAsia India and Vistara.  Recently, the government had proposed to replace the 5/20 rule which makes it mandatory for airlines to have five years of domestic operations and a 20 aircraft fleet to become eligible for flying international.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46042148.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_mediu...

Most Indian carriers are likely to report profits in the October-December quarter on the back of falling global crude prices and financial problems plaguing SpiceJet, which saw the budget airline drastically scale down operations. Global crude prices have plummeted by almost 60% — from $110 a barrel in June 2014 to close to $45 per barrel. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, is the single-largest element contributing to airlines’ costs in India and accounts for nearly 50% of the operating cost of the carriers. Indian carriers could save up to $400 million (Rs 2,480 crore) in 2014-15 on account of lower fuel prices, aviation consultancy firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) has said. CAPA estimates Jet Airways will post a profit of Rs 120-180 crore during the October-December quarter, which excludes all extraordinary one-time costs including profits from the slump sale of it’s frequent flier programme. Jet had reported a loss of Rs 267.89 crore in the corresponding qu...

By ET Bureau | 26 Jan, 2015  The Federation of Indian Airlines is up in arms against the government's efforts to do away with a rule that mandates a carrier to fly local routes for five years and take its fleet size to 20 planes before being considered for international flying.  The lobby group has also found support from national carrier Air India and former civil aviation minister Praful Patel.   The new rule is likely to be taken up at a meeting called by the civil aviation ministry on January 28 to discuss the draft aviation policy.  The government plans to replace the 5/20 rule with a much easier criteria of accumulating "domestic credit points", a goal that can be achieved with just one year of domestic flying and one plane.  In a letter to the aviation ministry, FIA - which includes IndiGo, Go Air, Jet AirwaysBSE and SpiceJet has alleged that the rule is being changed to favour a new entrant in the domestic airline industry.  Vistara...

Southeast Asia's biggest budget carrier AirAsia is scrapping fuel surcharges on tickets following the decline in global oil prices.  AirAsia said the move also applies to flights under its long-haul arm AirAsia X.  Oil prices are now below $50 per barrel after 6 months of declines, pushing down jet fuel prices.  Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said the move will help reduce travel costs, stimulate demand and boost tourism in the region.  Airlines impose the surcharges to pass on higher fuel costs to travelers when fuel prices are rising.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46018072.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

By  Mihir Mishra , ET Bureau | 26 Jan, 2015  SpiceJetBSE 0.68 % will getRs 1,500 crore in new equity funding over a period of just over three months, according to a turnaround proposal from the cash-strapped airline's new promoters that the civil aviation ministry has approved.  The first instalment of Rs 100 crore was scheduled to be made on January 25, and it wasn't immediately clear if that money has come to the airline. The next instalment, of Rs 400 crore, is scheduled for February 15, followed by two more of Rs 500 crore each on March 20 and April 30, according to the plan approved by the ministry on Thursday.  The plan doesn't say where the money would come from. It says the funding will happen post the new promoter, Ajay Singh, taking charge at the airline after the transfer of equity to him from Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46015696.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&ut...

By PTI | 25 Jan, 2015 No-frills carrier AirAsia India has said it will pursue its growth plans at full throttle from March with the induction of more aircraft and expansion of the route network.  As part of its summer schedule from March to October, which is yet to be finalised, the budget carrier would be looking at 100 frequencies per week and adding one aircraft every month in the fleet, AirAsia India chief executive Mittu Chandilya said here last week.  "Full expansion will take place from March when we introduce more flights and new routes. We also plan to induct one aircraft per month...from March," Chandilya said.  AiAsia India was likely to operate 100 flights per week during its summer schedule, Chandilya said, adding, "We are looking at many Tier-II cities. There are many pick and choose (like) Patna, Lucknow, Raipur."  One of the four budget airlines in the country, AirAsia India at present operates to Goa, Chennai, Kochi, Jaipur, Chandigarh ...

Here is a guide to the seats you should pick and the ones to avoid on India's major airlines  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/46004803.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Tony Fernandes, the Indian-origin founder and CEO of the AirAsia group, has called for a single aviation authority to approve licences to operate in 10 Southeast Asian nations, an issue that assumed significance after the deadly crash of the group's Flight QZ8501.  He, however, dismissed any lack of harmony that could have led to the accident on December 28 that killed all 162 people on board.  "I don't think the non-harmonisation led to the accident. But I think having one aviation authority improves standards for everybody and makes it easier for businesses to operate. And I think that goes across not just aviation, (but) across everything.  "If ASEAN is to be a common market, investors have to see us as a common market, which means one approving authority - you get one license to operate in ten countries. I point that as a point from aviation," Fernandes told Channel NewsAsia at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum here.  Association of Southea...

By IANS | 24 Jan, 2015  Tata's full service passenger carrier Vistara Friday announced the addition of Goa and Hyderabad to its domestic network, a day after it announced an increase in number of flights.  According to the airline, flights to new destinations will start from Feb 20 and March 1, respectively.   The company, which initially started operations with 68 flights weekly, will operate 164 flights a week by March, 2015.  "Vistara has received an overwhelming response since its launch and we are delighted to announce the expansion of our network with flights from Delhi to Hyderabad and Delhi to Goa," said Phee Teik Yeoh, chief executive, Vistara.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45998390.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Private carrier Jet Airways in association with its gulf partner Etihad today announced limited period discounted fares for travel across its network on the occasion of Republic Day.  Besides, the offer will also be applicable on Etihad Airways flights, which holds 24 per cent stake in the Naresh Goyal-promoted airline, for destinations across the US, Europe and the Middle-east, airline said in a statement here.  The three-day offer of 25 per cent discount on tickets, for which the bookings commence tomorrow, is the third in series from the Mumbai-headquartered airline in this year so far.  The offer is applicable for economy fares on Jet Airways' domestic network for travel between March 1 and September 30 (on domestic routes), the airline said in a statement, adding the discount can be availed in both economy and premier fares on the airline's international flights.  Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/45994662.cms?utm_sou...

Vistara, Tata Sons' joint venture carrier with Singapore Airlines, has brought ticket price levels lower to lessen the gaps with rivals — in some cases even offering cheaper tickets than competitors — after price-sensitive Indian customers opted for discounts offered by  Jet Airways and Air India. The fares are almost half of what they were last week, data from travel portals and its own website showed. For instance, a Delhi-Mumbai ticket price booked for a flight a month in advance is Rs 5,481, compared to about Rs 10,700 last week. The price is lower than most rivals, including  IndiGo . The airline, however, hasn't announced any discounts or offers for the lean season starting end January and continuing till April. "They are now at the levels of the others, barring some instances.  Vistara  isn't exactly undercutting anyone yet, nor is it playing the fare war," said an executive from Makemytrip , India's biggest online travel portal by sales. T...

Budget carrier  SpiceJe today said the government has approved its "reconstruction and revival" plan submitted to the  Civil Aviation Ministry on January 15.  "The company has on January 22, 2015 received the approval of the competent authority, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, for the 'scheme of reconstruction and revival for the takeover of ownership, management and control of SpiceJet Ltd' by Ajay Singh in accordance with the application made by the company," the airline said in a filing to the BSE today.  Last week, SpiceJet board had approved a proposal that promoter Kalanithi Maran would transfer ownership, management and control of the airline to original founder Ajay Singh as part of plans to revive the ailing carrier.  The airline also submitted a "scheme of reconstruction and revival" for the takeover of ownership, management and control of the airline by the new promoters to the Civil Aviation Ministry for it...

With ownership changing, low-cost carrier  SpiceJe plans to induct seven more  Boeing  aircraft by the end of March this year to take its fleet strength to 26 Boeings and 15 Bombardier Q400s for the summer schedule, as per a plan approved by the civil aviation ministry on Thursday. "SpiceJet will induct seven aircraft by March-end and increase the Boeing fleet to 26. For the summer schedule, the airline plans to continue operating Bombardier Q400s till they find a way to phase out the aircraft," said a source in the know of things. By that time, the airline will operate 280 flights a day, a big improvement from the current 200 flights, but would still be short of 345 flights the airline used to operate till July last year. Sources also said that the airline plans to stop flying to a few destinations as part of its network restructuring plan. "We will now start the process of analysing routes on the basis of revenue potential. We may shut routes that do not have ...

Perhaps for the first time, petrol in India costs more than the superior jet  fuel  (ATF) used in aeroplanes, as the government has levied a record  excise duty  on the fuel used in two-wheelers and cars. A litre of petrol in Delhi costs Rs 58.91 per litre. On the other hand,  Aviation  Turbine Fuel (ATF), which has a higher octane than petrol and is a heavier fraction in the distillation process, is priced at Rs 52.42 a litre. Traditionally, petrol being of lesser quality than ATF, would cost less. But four consecutive excise duty hikes in three months have reversed this. After four duty hikes totalling Rs 7.75 per litre, petrol now attracts highest ever excise rate of Rs 16.95 per litre. Read more at:  http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-petrol-costs-more-than-jet-fuel-in-india-2054546

By  Mihir Mishra , ET Bureau | 22 Jan, 2015  In a big step forward towards SpiceJet's revival, the civil aviation ministry has approved the airline's plan to transfer the ownership of the airline company from Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways to Ajay Singh, who will now own 58% in the airline.  The airline will now have to apply to Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for an exemption from open offer that this transaction would have triggered.   "There is a provision under the Sebi law that allows exemption in case the transfer is being done to save a business and the airline company can seek exemption on this account.  Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) today lifted restrictions on SpiceJet allowing it to accept advance bookings beyond March 28, 2015. The regulator had earlier restricted the airline to take advance bookings only up to 31 March on account of disruption of operations in Spicejet. Read more at: h...