Mumbai/New Delhi: Marking the state visit of Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang's to India, Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding which covers the areas of commercial services, technical and training, a Jet Airways official said.
This agreement was signed in the presence of Truong, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) president B. Muthuraman and members of the Vietnamese delegation in New Delhi Wednesday, the official said here.
"This agreement with Vietnam Airlines is an integral part of our strategy for increased international growth and providing seamless service for travellers between India and Vietnam. We look forward to the future of cooperation and collaboration with Vietnam Airlines, bringing greater benefits to our distinguished passengers," said Naresh Goyal, chairman of Jet Airways.
Truong said he believes the agreement will be translated into a fruitful cooperation between the two airlines. He also stressed that the development of the relationship between the two countries needs such partnerships.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Plane skids off Surat runway while landing
Surat: Four persons including an instructor and three trainee pilots had a narrow escape when their plane skid off the runway here after landing, police said.
Nobody was injured in the incident. A trainee pilot was flying the plane which belonged to a flying school Club One Air from Mumbai, they said.
According to police, the plane was damaged but nobody was injured.
"Nobody was hurt in the incident and every thing was alright," Surat police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.
Airport authorities at Surat refused to divulge details as to how the accident took place.
Nobody was injured in the incident. A trainee pilot was flying the plane which belonged to a flying school Club One Air from Mumbai, they said.
According to police, the plane was damaged but nobody was injured.
"Nobody was hurt in the incident and every thing was alright," Surat police commissioner Rakesh Asthana said.
Airport authorities at Surat refused to divulge details as to how the accident took place.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
ATF prices hiked again; Air fares to go up?
New Delhi: For the second time this month, state-owned oil companies on Friday hiked jet fuel, or ATF, price by 1.5 percent as falling rupee made oil imports costlier.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price at Delhi's T3 airport was hiked by Rs 899 per kilolitre (kl), or 1.5 percent, to Rs 58,578 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an official of Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
IOC and other state retailers, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, had on September 16 raised jet fuel price by 2.5 percent.
ATF in Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, will cost Rs 907 per kl more at Rs 59,359 per kl from tomorrow as against the old price of Rs 58,452.31 per kl.
Jet fuel makes up for 40 percent of an airlines' operating cost and no immediate comments were available from airlines on the impact of the price hike on passenger fares.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price at Delhi's T3 airport was hiked by Rs 899 per kilolitre (kl), or 1.5 percent, to Rs 58,578 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an official of Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
IOC and other state retailers, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, had on September 16 raised jet fuel price by 2.5 percent.
ATF in Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, will cost Rs 907 per kl more at Rs 59,359 per kl from tomorrow as against the old price of Rs 58,452.31 per kl.
Jet fuel makes up for 40 percent of an airlines' operating cost and no immediate comments were available from airlines on the impact of the price hike on passenger fares.
Despite problems, Air India wins Asia's leading airline award
Despite the increasing problems, including debts and huge daily operational losses, the national carrier Air India has won two awards at the World Travel Awards.
The ailing Maharaja has been selected as Asia's leading airline in the Economy class and the country's leading airline at WTA awards function in Bangkok over the weekend. Airlines from over 30 countries participated in the competition.
"The awards reaffirm the trust reposed by passengers in the national carrier's proactive approach, persistent performance and undeterred commitment to customer satisfaction," the airline said in a statement.
The ailing Maharaja has been selected as Asia's leading airline in the Economy class and the country's leading airline at WTA awards function in Bangkok over the weekend. Airlines from over 30 countries participated in the competition.
"The awards reaffirm the trust reposed by passengers in the national carrier's proactive approach, persistent performance and undeterred commitment to customer satisfaction," the airline said in a statement.
Grounded plane a threat to air safety at city airport
Nagpur: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) have several times raised objection to presence of a grounded aircraft within kissing distance of main runway of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.
The plane is seen as a threat to the flights taking off and landing here. Still, the airport operator Mihan India Ltd (MIL) is refusing to do anything about it. Strangely, it expressed its inability to do anything. "The aircraft has been abandoned at the airport and a case is pending in the Bombay high court," a senior MIL official told TOI.
The aircraft of Continental Aviation Private Limited (CAPL) and owned by US-based NRI Sam Verma made an emergency landing at the city airport after developing an engine snag on July 21, 1991. It has remained here since then as its owner never paid up the parking charges. Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) had planned to convert it into a unique restaurant after moving it to a site near Wardha Road. Nagpur Municipal Corporation also planned to acquire it and use it for education purpose at its Aero Park project near Swawlambi Nagar. However, both plans never materialised.
The plane is seen as a threat to the flights taking off and landing here. Still, the airport operator Mihan India Ltd (MIL) is refusing to do anything about it. Strangely, it expressed its inability to do anything. "The aircraft has been abandoned at the airport and a case is pending in the Bombay high court," a senior MIL official told TOI.
The aircraft of Continental Aviation Private Limited (CAPL) and owned by US-based NRI Sam Verma made an emergency landing at the city airport after developing an engine snag on July 21, 1991. It has remained here since then as its owner never paid up the parking charges. Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) had planned to convert it into a unique restaurant after moving it to a site near Wardha Road. Nagpur Municipal Corporation also planned to acquire it and use it for education purpose at its Aero Park project near Swawlambi Nagar. However, both plans never materialised.
Advanced tech to help streamline air traffic
Chennai: The Chennai region will soon be equipped with an advanced aviation system to help regulate fuel consumption of aircraft and ensure passenger safety. The cost of flying per minute for a plane is now estimated to be around $100.
Under the 'Gate to Gate Flow Management' system, the delay at the airport where a plane is supposed to land will be informed to navigators and air traffic controllers (ATCs) at the departure airport to help the latter hold the plane for a while longer. This will help the plane avoid circling the airport at the destination, wasting precious fuel. An 'En-route Safety Monitoring Agency' to monitor oceanic movements covering seven countries is also effective in Chennai.
Chennai Air Traffic Control (ATC) general manager N Ganesh said the aviation sector had to make use of the latest technology and infrastructure. "The integration of radar, enhancement in VHF-radar coverage, data link initiatives, air traffic flow management should all be used to cut down the overall operational costs of aircraft. It will benefit the industry and the public by making the aviation sector sustainable and safe," he told the media after an Air Traffic Services (ATS) coordination meeting here.
Under the 'Gate to Gate Flow Management' system, the delay at the airport where a plane is supposed to land will be informed to navigators and air traffic controllers (ATCs) at the departure airport to help the latter hold the plane for a while longer. This will help the plane avoid circling the airport at the destination, wasting precious fuel. An 'En-route Safety Monitoring Agency' to monitor oceanic movements covering seven countries is also effective in Chennai.
Chennai Air Traffic Control (ATC) general manager N Ganesh said the aviation sector had to make use of the latest technology and infrastructure. "The integration of radar, enhancement in VHF-radar coverage, data link initiatives, air traffic flow management should all be used to cut down the overall operational costs of aircraft. It will benefit the industry and the public by making the aviation sector sustainable and safe," he told the media after an Air Traffic Services (ATS) coordination meeting here.
Maran to up stake in SpiceJet
SpiceJet, the low-cost air carrier, on Thursday got its shareholders' approval to issue additional equity shares to promoter Kalanithi Maran, who in turn will infuse Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion) into the airline. Maran's equity holding would go up from 38 per cent to 43 per cent of the company's shares.
At the sidelines of its annual general meeting, Neil Raymond Mills, chief executive officer, said: "He (Maran) will be paying 50 per cent more compared to the price quoted in the market. He could have saved Rs 50 crore by buying these shares from the open market, but he was ready to pay the premium, which shows the confidence of the promoter in the airline."
The shares were trading at Rs 22 each on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Thursday, down by 2.65 per cent from yesterday's close.
The fresh shares will be issued by the first week of next month. Mills said the money would help in covering losses, as well as fund expansion.
A senior official from the airline said Canada's export finance agency, Export Development Canada, is funding SpiceJet's purchase of planes and had sanctioned $270 million of credit for this, 85 per cent of the total value for the 11 Q400 turboprop aircraft the company has planned to add by the end of March 2012.
At the sidelines of its annual general meeting, Neil Raymond Mills, chief executive officer, said: "He (Maran) will be paying 50 per cent more compared to the price quoted in the market. He could have saved Rs 50 crore by buying these shares from the open market, but he was ready to pay the premium, which shows the confidence of the promoter in the airline."
The shares were trading at Rs 22 each on the Bombay Stock Exchange on Thursday, down by 2.65 per cent from yesterday's close.
The fresh shares will be issued by the first week of next month. Mills said the money would help in covering losses, as well as fund expansion.
A senior official from the airline said Canada's export finance agency, Export Development Canada, is funding SpiceJet's purchase of planes and had sanctioned $270 million of credit for this, 85 per cent of the total value for the 11 Q400 turboprop aircraft the company has planned to add by the end of March 2012.
Mallya has done a good thing by having one brand: Gopinath
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mallya-has-donegood-thing-by-having-one-brand-gopinath/451116/
Bangalore: Captain Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost aviation model in India, is known to be a straight talker. He is always to the point. And, he was in full swing when he spoke exclusively to Business Standard about Vijay Mallya’s recent decision to ground the low-cost service offering of Kingfisher Airlines.
Mallya, chairman and managing director, Kingfisher Airlines, entered the low-cost aviation business when he acquired Capt Gopinath’s Air Deccan during 2007 in a $300-million deal. Following this, Mallya merged the two airlines and then rebranded Air Deccan as Kingfisher Red to offer low-cost service in addition to the full service offering.
“It is probably a good decision by Mallya to have one brand now. But I would have probably said that he should have made all the domestic service as low-cost offering and all international as full service,” said Gopinath, late on Saturday evening at his sprawling bungalow, just yards away from Mallya’s home in Bangalore.
According to Gopinath, having almost a similar looking brand and then when the offerings are just a little bit different there are bound to have been problems. “And that is what happened. You just cannibilise your existing customer base. When companies were merged and almost a single branding came in to existence, it was sort of a double whammy for Kingfisher. First, the economy passengers of Kingfisher started to look at Kingfisher Red as the offerings were almost same while the price was cost effective. And when Mallya decided to raise the fares of Kingfisher Red, customers switched over to other LCCs such as Indigo or Spicejet,” Gopinath said.
Bangalore: Captain Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost aviation model in India, is known to be a straight talker. He is always to the point. And, he was in full swing when he spoke exclusively to Business Standard about Vijay Mallya’s recent decision to ground the low-cost service offering of Kingfisher Airlines.
Mallya, chairman and managing director, Kingfisher Airlines, entered the low-cost aviation business when he acquired Capt Gopinath’s Air Deccan during 2007 in a $300-million deal. Following this, Mallya merged the two airlines and then rebranded Air Deccan as Kingfisher Red to offer low-cost service in addition to the full service offering.
“It is probably a good decision by Mallya to have one brand now. But I would have probably said that he should have made all the domestic service as low-cost offering and all international as full service,” said Gopinath, late on Saturday evening at his sprawling bungalow, just yards away from Mallya’s home in Bangalore.
According to Gopinath, having almost a similar looking brand and then when the offerings are just a little bit different there are bound to have been problems. “And that is what happened. You just cannibilise your existing customer base. When companies were merged and almost a single branding came in to existence, it was sort of a double whammy for Kingfisher. First, the economy passengers of Kingfisher started to look at Kingfisher Red as the offerings were almost same while the price was cost effective. And when Mallya decided to raise the fares of Kingfisher Red, customers switched over to other LCCs such as Indigo or Spicejet,” Gopinath said.
Already bleeding, airlines set to take another 6% hit in profits
New Delhi: Cash-strapped domestic airlines could see their margins eroding with the rupee weakening by 11% against the dollar since the beginning of August.
Indian carriers will take a hit of at least 6% in profitability as dollar-linked expenses, such as lease rentals, maintenance and expat salaries, would cost more now in rupee terms, say industry heads and experts. This burden comes at a time when most carriers are already incurring losses.
Low-cost airlines, such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir, which serve nearly half of the 50 million annual domestic traffic, have one-third of their quarterly cash outgo in foreign currency. “Weakening of the rupee has just begun. Its impact would be felt later,” said SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills.
“The high-cost aviation turbine fuel, coupled with a weakening rupee, is the biggest challenge that the aviation industry in India is currently dealing with and we are no exception,” Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya said.
Indian carriers will take a hit of at least 6% in profitability as dollar-linked expenses, such as lease rentals, maintenance and expat salaries, would cost more now in rupee terms, say industry heads and experts. This burden comes at a time when most carriers are already incurring losses.
Low-cost airlines, such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir, which serve nearly half of the 50 million annual domestic traffic, have one-third of their quarterly cash outgo in foreign currency. “Weakening of the rupee has just begun. Its impact would be felt later,” said SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills.
“The high-cost aviation turbine fuel, coupled with a weakening rupee, is the biggest challenge that the aviation industry in India is currently dealing with and we are no exception,” Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya said.
India rallies 30 other nations vs EU airline emission tax
Manila: India is working with more than 30 nations to draw up a strategy to counter the European Union’s plan to impose emission charges on airlines flying into the region starting next year.
“How can they dictate terms to us and why should we accept it?” Vayalar Ravi, India’s civil aviation minister, said in an interview in New Delhi Saturday before a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization on the EU’s plan. “This is their fantasy.”
Measures by the 27-nation bloc to impose carbon curbs on flights to and from the region have sparked protests from China’s airline association and carriers including American Airlines and Continental Airlines. The EU plans “contravene” international law and “is an attack on sovereignty,” the International Air Transport Association said this week.
More than 30 members of the International Civil Aviation Organization started their meeting on the EU’s emission trading system in India’s capital Sunday. The Montreal-based ICAO has 190 member states, including the U.S. and China, according to its website. India’s aviation ministry is hosting the two-day meeting, Ravi said, without naming the countries that are participating.
“How can they dictate terms to us and why should we accept it?” Vayalar Ravi, India’s civil aviation minister, said in an interview in New Delhi Saturday before a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization on the EU’s plan. “This is their fantasy.”
Measures by the 27-nation bloc to impose carbon curbs on flights to and from the region have sparked protests from China’s airline association and carriers including American Airlines and Continental Airlines. The EU plans “contravene” international law and “is an attack on sovereignty,” the International Air Transport Association said this week.
More than 30 members of the International Civil Aviation Organization started their meeting on the EU’s emission trading system in India’s capital Sunday. The Montreal-based ICAO has 190 member states, including the U.S. and China, according to its website. India’s aviation ministry is hosting the two-day meeting, Ravi said, without naming the countries that are participating.
Vayalar Ravi inspects Air Traffic Control Tower at Chennai
Chennai: Union Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi on Saturday inspected various units at the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at the Chennai airport.
Airport sources said the Minister arrived at the Chennai airport around 8.45 a.m. Soon after landing he came to the Air Traffic Services Complex, where the ATC tower is situated. Accompanied by Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman V.P. Agrawal, V. Somasundaram, Member, Air Navigation Services, AAI, Airport Director E.P. Hareendranathan, Regional Executive Director D. Devaraj and Executive Director (Project) S. Bhaduri, the Minister visited the tower complex.
The Minister spent nearly an hour at the tower, inspecting various units functioning there.
Airport sources said the Minister arrived at the Chennai airport around 8.45 a.m. Soon after landing he came to the Air Traffic Services Complex, where the ATC tower is situated. Accompanied by Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman V.P. Agrawal, V. Somasundaram, Member, Air Navigation Services, AAI, Airport Director E.P. Hareendranathan, Regional Executive Director D. Devaraj and Executive Director (Project) S. Bhaduri, the Minister visited the tower complex.
The Minister spent nearly an hour at the tower, inspecting various units functioning there.
Bombardier Breaks Into Indian Market with Q400s
Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet took delivery of its fourth Q400 NextGen on September 7 and planned to deploy it late last month along with three others it received starting in late August. A delay in clearance from the Reserve Bank of India forced a postponement of first deliveries from July to the last week of August.
“We decided to strategically focus on improving air connectivity in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns as we believe there is a large market in India that is yet to be touched by the benefits of the aviation revolution,” SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills told AIN. “We chose the Bombardier Q400 because it is the aircraft best suited to the available infrastructure in India. It can operate from small runways and will be the game-changing aircraft for the Indian aviation industry,” he said.
The deliveries to SpiceJet represent Bombardier’s first foray in the fast-growing Indian commercial aviation market, where rival ATR has already made significant inroads.
SpiceJet planned to launch the first phase of its regional connectivity strategy on September 21 with the 78-seat turboprops, connecting Hyderabad to Aurangabad, Bhopal, Indore, Mangalore, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Vijayawada.
SpiceJet also plans to add service within its existing destinations using the Q400 and will now operate direct flights from Hyderabad to Goa, Madurai, Nagpur and Pune and Bangalore to Vizag
“We decided to strategically focus on improving air connectivity in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns as we believe there is a large market in India that is yet to be touched by the benefits of the aviation revolution,” SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills told AIN. “We chose the Bombardier Q400 because it is the aircraft best suited to the available infrastructure in India. It can operate from small runways and will be the game-changing aircraft for the Indian aviation industry,” he said.
The deliveries to SpiceJet represent Bombardier’s first foray in the fast-growing Indian commercial aviation market, where rival ATR has already made significant inroads.
SpiceJet planned to launch the first phase of its regional connectivity strategy on September 21 with the 78-seat turboprops, connecting Hyderabad to Aurangabad, Bhopal, Indore, Mangalore, Rajahmundry, Tirupati and Vijayawada.
SpiceJet also plans to add service within its existing destinations using the Q400 and will now operate direct flights from Hyderabad to Goa, Madurai, Nagpur and Pune and Bangalore to Vizag
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