Off-airport duty-free outlet in the Capital soon

New Delhi:  Duty-free shopping in the city could soon become a reality. Other than the airport, the Delhi Duty Free Service (DDFS) is exploring the possibility of setting up an outlet within the city to boost sales.
However, the proposed shop will be limited to overseas travellers, embassies and expatriates, among others.

Now enjoy mouth watering cuisines at Amausi airport

LUCKNOW: Mouth watering cuisines like kebabs, warqi parathas, nahari-kulcha, korma, sheermal, zarda, kulfi and khasta will soon be available at the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow.

Spending on air, rail by Indian businesses sees highest rise: Concur Report

Bangalore: The average percentage spend on lodging (31%) was the highest in India as compared to other Asia Pacific countries like Japan (23%), Hong Kong (25%) and Australia (14%). Also, India ranked the lowest in average entertainment spend at 2.44%. the highest being 8.14% in Japan in 2012.

Lack of clear policy in aviation causing confusion: CAPA

New Delhi: Major aviation policy decisions in India, like the FDI policy, have often been implemented in an “ad hoc manner” and retraced at times, leading to political controversies, disillusioned investors and industry losses, an aviation consultancy firm said today.

Qatar grounds another Dreamliner

Qatar Airways said yesterday it had taken one of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners out of service following what it described as a “minor” technical issue, as pressure mounted on the plane maker over possible new electrical problems with the advanced jet.

72 hours before fire, Boeing oven severely scalded air hostess

A day after an oven aboard one of Air India's muchtouted Dreamliner aircraft "caught fire" in midair, just two months after the national carrier resumed flights on the glitch-hit Boeing 787s, it has been found that it was not the first but the second such incident on that very aircraft within a span of 72 hours.

In India: Take the cockpit from a non-aviation background

The Indian airline market is among the few in the world where the heads of two incumbent airlines and the chief executive officer (CEO) of a player waiting in the wings - IndiGo's Aditya Ghosh, Air India's Rohit Nandan, and AirAsia India head Mittu Chandilya - come from the non-aviation background. Even SpiceJet's former CEO, Siddhanta Sharma, who headed the airline from October 2005 to July 2008, didn't come with operational experience in the airline business

Akhilesh Yadav wants what Mayawati has: The right to drive up to aircraft

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav may soon be allowed to take his car, with an armed escort, right up to aircraft at all airports in the country. Having received a request from Uttar Pradesh in this regard, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has referred the matter to the Union Home Ministry for threat assessment.

FIPB clears Jet-Etihad deals with some riders

New Delhi: Following concerns raised by Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the government on Monday gave a conditional go ahead to Jet Airways to sell 24 per cent stake to Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways for Rs. 2,058 after Etihad submitted an amended Holders Agreement (SHA) and Commercial Cooperation Agreement (CCA).

SpiceJet CEO quits over rift with Kalanithi Maran

NEW DELHI: Low-cost carrier Spice-Jet's CEO Neil Mills has resigned following reported differences with the airline's promoter, Chennai-based Sun TV chief Kalanithi Maran.

SpiceJet CEO: Management yet to accept resignation, say sources

Mumbai: SpiceJet Chief Executive Niel Mills has put in his papers 18 months before his contract was to end, but the management is yet to accept his resignation, sources familiar with the development said on Wednesday.

Is SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills clearing cockpit for next investor?

New Delhi: Each change of guard in the no-frill carrier SpiceJet – Neil Mills was the fourth CEO since its launch in 2005 – has largely coincided with a new investor taking control of the born-again airline.

Air tickets going at ‘super premium’ prices

Muscat: Like every year, this year too, there is a huge demand for air tickets during the Eid holidays when most expatriates want to be in their home country with their family members.

Jet-Etihad deal; why Naresh Goyal and Rahul Bhatia must work together

Indian aviation’s biggest rivalry, in many ways, is between Jet Airways’ Naresh Goyal and IndiGo’s Rahul Bhatia. But they shouldn’t just compete. They should cooperate — when they talk to the government.Indian aviation’s biggest rivalry, in many ways, is between Jet Airways’ Naresh Goyal and IndiGo’s Rahul Bhatia. But they shouldn’t just compete. They should cooperate — when they talk to the government.

SpiceJet Chief Executive Niel Mills quits

Mumbai:  SpiceJet Chief Executive Niel Mills has put in his papers 18 months before his contract was to end, but the management is yet to accept his resignation, sources familiar with the development said today.

Chiranjeevi to visit Australia to promote Dreamliner service

New Delhi: The Tourism and Civil Aviation ministries today discussed strategies for the maiden launch of Air India's Dreamliner flight from Delhi to Sydney and Melbourne next month.

New airline to start domestic flights soon from Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A regional carrier will soon start operating from Bhubaneswar airport. Air Costa, the first regional airline from the south, operated from Vijaywada, has evinced interest to start domestic flights from Bhubaneswar from the first week of September, said sources.

Ministry to regulate airfares via CCI

New Delhi: Ticket pricing by airlines is set to come under scrutiny, as the ministry of civil aviation is roping in anti-trust watchdog the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to keep in check indiscriminate increases in airfares in the domestic aviation industry.

Business aviation hit by cost, infra turbulence

The Indian business aviation industry is sputtering. Ballooning fuel bills, frail airport infrastructure, rising operational costs, regulatory knots and, more recently, the tumbling rupee have hit the 120-odd business aircraft operators, even as they maintain that domestic demand for short-haul runs and corporate travel continues to have latent potential.

Grounded Navi Mumbai airport starts taxiing, courtesy babu

Mumbai: This is the story of how a 1994 batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, Vennecaganti Radha, got cracking on the stuck deals in the Navi Mumbai International Airport project. Almost a month into the job, she has broken the deadlock and managed to convince villagers, who were once adamant about their land deals, to undertake a survey and initiate the process.

Infant dies minutes after an emegency landing

Mumbai: A priority landing by an Indigo airline pilot minutes after the aircraft took off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) could not save the life of a seven-month-old Kenyan infant whose condition deteriorated while on board.

Flying in the face of discontent

When Etihad Airways announced in April it was picking up a stake in Jet Airways, it seemed like the long-delayed deal was finally ready to be signed, sealed and delivered.

Aviation Min has no role in Jet Air's Heathrow deal: Srcs

The aviation ministry has denied malpractice charges in allowing Jet Airways sell its three slot pairs at London’s Heathrow Airport, exclusive sources told CNBC-TV18.

Kingfisher Airlines’ lenders make a mockery of pledged shares

The consortium of lenders, which includes State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, which lent money to the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) in exchange for pledged shares, are apparently wondering about a legal course of action even as they are sitting on pledged shares from Vijay Mallya.

Foreign players unhappy over rules on aviation deals

New Delhi: India’s twin plans of replacing its vintage Avro carriers for the air force and opening up the military aviation sector for private companies appear to have hit a roadblock.

Control of Jet Airways could pass into hands of Etihad after deal: Sebi

New Delhi/Mumbai: Capital markets watchdog Sebi has written to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) expressing concern that control of Jet Airways, India's largest private airline by revenues, could pass into foreign hands because of the manner in which its 2,000-crore deal with Etihad Airways has been structured

FIPB to discuss Jet-Etihad deal on July 29

 

New Delhi: The Foreign Investments Promotion Board (FIPB), is set to discuss the Jet-Etihad deal on July 29. The board had deferred the decision on the deal in its July 14 meeting.
In April, Jet Airways had announced the sale of 24 per cent stake to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad for Rs 2,058 crore.

Immigration officer plays moral police, asks woman why she was travelling alone

Mumbai: An immigration officer at Mumbai airport played Taliban-style moral police recently, questioning a woman on why she was travelling alone. Worse, he held that if she had been allowed to go backpacking alone, her family background was questionable.

New airline likely to start operations from Oct

 

Kolkata: Kolkata-based company Northeast Shuttles Pvt Ltd is likely to start operations as a scheduled airline in the north eastern region from October 1.

Administration makes arrangements for remote 'darshan' of Lord Shiva

 

Deoghar: For the first time, there will be remote darshan of Baba Baidyanath during the month-long ShrawaniMela. The temple administration, beginning Monday, has decided to stop entry of devotees into the sanctum sanctorum.

Seven airports put on terror alert after intelligence warning

New Delhi: There may be terror attacks on the airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Ahmedabad, intelligence agencies said issuing an alert on Sunday.

Pak docs save Thane man after mid-air heart attack

The ministry of external affairs yesterday confirmed that on June 24, Vasant Bondale, a resident of Thane, was given life-saving treatment in a Karachi hospital after he suffered a heart attack on board an Istanbul-Mumbai flight. This despite the fact that Vasant, his wife Nalini, and her brother Vijay Phadnis, did not have Pakistani visas.

A whole new Mumbai, near airport

After a delay of over three years, Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has started the first stage of development on 200 acres of land around the airport in Sahar by inviting Request for Qualification (RFQ) from private developers to build hotels and other hospitality projects in the first phase.

Passenger traffic shows slight increase in June over last year; IndiGo maintains lead

New Delhi: Indian carriers ferried less passengers in June compared to May as the peak travel season ended, though there was a slight growth over last year, with IndiGo maintaining its lead, official figures showed today.

CVC seeks report from Aviation Ministry on Jet-Etihad deal

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has sought a “factual report” from Ministry of Civil Aviation on a complaint of alleged corruption in the Rs 2,058 crore deal between Jet Airways and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways.

The intangible AirAsia effect

So AirAsia wants to cut fares 20 to 25 per cent and add 11 aircraft every year, and Aditya Ghosh of IndiGo, the biggest domestic competitor, says he's not going to lose any sleep over the Malaysian competitor's entry. But what about customers? Conventional market logic suggests that they should relish more competition - after all, it's supposed to be good for the customer, right? True, but the impending entry of AirAsia raises a frisson of doubt on that point - and maybe a little regret.

Turkish Air seeks 5-fold hike in flying rights

New Delhi: India's grant of additional flying rights to Abu Dhabi has led to similar demands from other countries. Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has sought a five-fold increase in its current flying rights of about 4,000 seats a week to over 20,000, along with a nod to fly to more Indian cities.

Slack season brings down domestic air fares

Pune: If you are still mulling Diwali travel plans, it's time you finalise them now. The lean travel season has sent domestic air fares plummeting to a low. Not only have the 60-day advance ticket rates come down drastically, but even those for a day before Diwali have dropped by as much as 40%.

Forget Jet, govt may even bend 5-year rule to accommodate AirAsia

The Government is being pummeled for bending backwards to help Naresh Goyal’s Jet Airways in its proposed equity deal with Etihad Airways but Jet is not the only airline it seems to be facilitating.

After Abu Dhabi's extra seats, rival airlines from Gulf clamour for more

New Delhi: Close on the heels of Abu Dhabi being granted additional weekly seats to India, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Gulf Airways will plead their case for more seat entitlements.

Jet-Etihad deal may be revised again

Mumbai: The Jet Airways-Etihad share holder agreement is likely to be revised again following Securities and Exchange Board of India and Foreign Investment Promotion Board's concerns over substantial control to the Abu Dhabi airline under the deal.

New aviation regulator with more teeth gets Cabinet nod

New Delhi: Air fares could go up as the new aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, comes in with the right to levy a cess on air travel.

DGCA to be replaced by Civil Aviation Authority

New Delhi: A bill to replace the DGCA by a new aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with full operational and financial autonomy is likely to be tabled in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

IndiGo steps up price war, slashes fares by over 50 per cent

New Delhi: Stepping up the price war, leading low-cost carrier IndiGo has slashed fares by over 50 per cent for tickets bought, at least, 90 days in advance for flights between Delhi and cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Bhubaneshwar and Patna.

AirAsia looks beyond Expedia, ties up with Makemytrip, Yatra

AirAsia has hooked up with online travel agencies Makemytrip and Yatra to sell tickets for its proposed airline venture in India.AirAsia has hooked up with online travel agencies Makemytrip and Yatra to sell tickets for its proposed airline venture in India.

Naresh Goyal keeps his nose ahead in $600 mn Etihad deal to save Jet Airways

Amid intense lobbying, Naresh Goyal has kept his nose ahead in fashioning — and now trying to save — the deal to save his airline.Amid intense lobbying, Naresh Goyal has kept his nose ahead in fashioning — and now trying to save — the deal to save his airline.

Carzonrent EasyCabs 100% service delivery or free taxi ride for Rs 500

EasyCabs are a major taxi service provider in India with operations in four key cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Operating 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, the company provides assurance to its customers where prompt and timely service is concerned.

AirAsia's Tony Fernandes faces tough test in India

Asian budget airline king Tony Fernandes may face his toughest fight yet in India's hyper-competitive aviation market where existing players are struggling to make a profit.

AirAsia X Has Second-Worst Malaysia Trading Debut in 12 Months

AirAsia X Bhd., the long-haul arm of Asia’s biggest budget carrier, had the second-worst trading debut in Kuala Lumpur in a year after raising 988 million ringgit ($310 million) in its initial public offering.

A Luxury Train- The Best Way To Travel In India

India is a country of many marvels, but smooth flight connections and good roads aren’t among them. Over the last year,  very disturbing  sexual assaults on women, both Indian nationals and foreign visitors, have also received international attention, dropping the number of female visitors entering the country.

Maj quota of tour firms cut after Saudi move

New Delhi: With Saudi Arabia slashing by 20 percent the Haj quota for all foreign pilgrims this year, the Indian government yesterday decided to reduce the Haj seats of private tour operators.

Asiana Airlines: Pilot was getting on-the-job training

The pilot at the controls of an Asiana plane that crashed was getting on-the-job training, the carrier's CEO revealed Monday.

Airport officer told me to take off my clothes: Kirti Azad

New Delhi: Having encountered a nightmarish experience at the Heathrow Airport in London on Saturday, former Indian cricketer Kirti Azad is yet come to terms with the ordeal that he along with his wife and son had to encounter before taking a flight back home.

Why IndiGo, SpiceJet don't see threat from AirAsia

Even as AirAsia is all set to start an airline in India after clearing political hurdles, domestic carriers like Indigo and SpiceJet  do not see it as a threat to their existence.

Gulf could handle up to 4 more low cost carriers - analyst

As Oman considers launching up to two new airlines, a leading aviation analyst said the region’s market could accommodate up to four more low cost carriers.

Oman seeks bidders for new low-cost carrier

Salalah: Oman expects as many as four investors to compete for a licence to operate a new low-cost airline to challenge regional carriers flydubai and Air Arabia and lure business travellers and tourists to the Sultanate.

Air India resuming flights to Australia will boost tourism

New Delhi: Expanding its global network with Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, Air India will be launching its Amritsar-Delhi-Birmingham flight from August 1.

Jet-Etihad deal fiasco: What it means for Jet

Mumbai: The secrecy behind the Jet-Etihad deal and the way it was announced within moments of seat enhancement agreement signed between the two countries had the stink of controversy. And you do not need a canine’s ability to smell a controversy in this deal.

Ajit Singh meets Sonia Gandhi amid Jet-Etihad deal controversy

New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi amid a raging controversy over the Rs2,058 crore deal between Jet Airways and Etihad.

Mr Tata is a fantastic guy,although I have not gone to bed with him: AirAsia's Tony Fernandes

New Delhi: AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes, who is about to launch an airline in India partnering the Tata group, is known to be as outspoken as he is focused on low costs. On Wednesday, at a press gathering to discuss his airline venture's plans, Fernandes did not disappoint.

How brave, tireless pilots fought to give Uttarakhand a sheltering sky

Gauchar, Uttarakhand: Almost a decade ago, Suneet Sohal, then a Major in the Army, was flying me on a tiny Cheetah helicopter from Partapur, a Brigade Headquarters in North Ladakh, to the Army's Siachen base camp, the hub of all operations along the Siachen glacier. We were flying low over a valley above the Nubra river alongside the mighty Saltoro range dominated by soldiers of the Indian Army.

AirAsia hits back at Swamy for calling the deal fraudulent

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes has hit back at Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy for calling his company's deal with the Tata group for a new airline "fraudulent". Responding to Swamy's allegation, Fernandes said that the Indian aviation industry is missing great opportunities due to vested interests.

Air Asia to initially invest $30 million for Indian joint ventures

New Delhi: Malaysian low-cost carrier Air Asia initially plans to invest $30 million in its Indian joint venture with the Tata Group, its chief executive officer, Tony Fernandes, said on Wednesday.

Amausi airport to be privatized/New operator will retain all airport staff

New Delhi: The government has decided to privatize 15 airports of the country,including Lucknows Amausi airport.

AirAsia India will give new dimension to Aviation: Ratan

New Delhi: Tata group chairman emeritus Ratan Tata and AirAsia Group chief Tony Fernandes met several ministers including Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh at his residence on Tuesday, regarding their application for the launch of the new low-cost airline.

Reduce the burden of aviation taxes for a booster shot to the economy

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes hit the nail on the head when he said that the reason large numbers of people are unable to fly in India is steep domestic airfares.

Air passengers can cut flying cost by carrying their own meals

Mumbai: At a time when airlines are looking to put a price tag on nearly every service and amenity, food is an item where flyers can cut cost. Few air passengers know that they can carry their own food on flights, be it a home-packed meal or one bought from a restaurant at a cost lower than that of tasteless in-flight meals.

Subramanian Swamy calls AirAsia India deal fraudulent, writes to PM

Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, who had been vocal about his criticism of the Jet-Etihad deal, on Tuesday, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying the FIPB clearance was “not legally valid”, terming the deal as a fraudulent one.

Is Jet heading the Kingfisher way?

So far, the Jet Airways management was under the impression that a take-off is on the cards as all hurdles have been cleared except the Sebi nod, which has sought clarifications on who will keep the ultimate control.

Pros and cons of Jet-Etihad deal

New Delhi: Even as controversy rages over the Jet Airways-Etihad deal, the UAE-based airline's 2,058 crore investment is likely to encourage other international airlines planning to invest in India. If the deal goes through, then the passengers will get benefit from Etihad's global network.

Sydney Airport Secures Indian Dream

Sydney: Sydney Airport will welcome direct services from India, Sydney Airport's largest untapped market, next month with the announcement of Air India's new daily service to Sydney out of New Delhi.

Jet-Etihad deal under cloud; cabinet secretary to chair meeting today

New Delhi: The Rs 2,058 cr Jet-Etihad deal will be discussed today as cabinet secretary Ajit Seth is likely to chair a meeting of secretaries over security concerns raised by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Jet-Etihad deal: Why 36,670 seats threaten it

New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has defended the proposed deal for Gulf carrier Etihad Airways to buy 24 per cent of Jet Airways for Rs. 2,058 crore. He has also denied speculation that he is contemplating quitting the UPA government as he is upset that the deal has hit turbulence.

PMO wants Jet-Etihad deal discussed in Cabinet

New Delhi: The Jet-Etihad deal has hit a fresh air pocket with the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) asking the civil aviation ministry to bring the proposal for discussion in the Union Cabinet.

Google getting ready to offer flight search service in India

Bangalore: A fledgling effort by Google portending the launch of its flight travel search service in India is creating jitters among online flight aggregators, who fear their business model is under threat.

AirAsia expects to break even with 57% occupancy

Mumbai: AirAsia India would require 56-57 per cent load factor to break even in India, the Group’s Chief Executive, Tony Fernandes, said on Monday. “Once we have seven to eight aircraft operational in India, we will reach a stable cost structure and, at that level, 57 per cent occupancy will help us break even,” he said.

AirAsia notice to rivals, says will play price warrior

Mumbai: AirAsia, the Malaysian low-cost carrier, is ready to take the fight to the local carriers, offering  aggressive air fares and replicating its ancillary revenue model in India.

Rajasthan cheers move to build 4 new airports

Jaipur: Already a tourist hotspot, Rajasthan has got more reasons to cheer after the Central government gave nod to four low-budget airports, which will come up at Ajmer, Kota, Alwar and Bhilwara.

AirAsia to start India ops with 3 aircraft later this year

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia on Saturday said its Indian operations should begin later this year with three aircraft for the southern region and it would also look at setting up some ancillary businesses in the country.

Low-cost carrier AirAsia to start India operations later this year

Chennai: Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia today said its Indian operations should begin later this year with three aircraft for the southern region and it would also look at setting up some ancillary businesses in the country.