SpiceJet Launches Low-Fare Offer On 1 Lakh Seats

Budget carrier SpiceJet on Tuesday (24 Tuesday) put one lakh seats up for grabs on both its domestic and international routes as it rolled out another discount sale offer with tickets priced as low as Rs 1,699 for travel within the country.

Fly India Fly! AirAsia offers “Early Summer sale” starting at Rs 915

Bengaluru: In its series of cheap offers, the budget carrier AirAsia has come up with an "Early Summer Sale".
In the irresistibly cheap offer, the fares start with as low as Rs 915 from Bengaluru.

Co-pilot panicked, caused AI flight to scrape runway

Mumbai: A Directorate General of Civil Aviation investigation to determine the cause of a tail-strike involving an Air India flight from Mangalore has revealed that the co-pilot of the aircraft was responsible for the incident. The airman has not furnished satisfactory evidence that he was cleared to carry out landing manoeuvres, sources in the DGCA said. The aircraft, which sustained a tail-strike on February 15, carried 194 passengers, including seven crew members.

Marans’ 58.46% stake in SpiceJet transferred to Ajay Singh

New Delhi:  The entire 58.46 per cent holding of Kalanithi Maran, Kal Airways Pvt Ltd in SpiceJet has been transferred to Ajay Singh, the airline has informed the Bombay Stock Exchange.

At about 11 am, SpiceJet shares were trading up 1.04 per cent at Rs. 24.25 on the BSE.

A day after changing owner, SpiceJet clears all tax dues with Rs 100 cr TDS payment

New Delhi: Rescued budget airline SpiceJet on Tuesday cleared all tax dues a day after Kalanithi Maran transferred his 58.46 per cent stake to new owner Ajay Singh.

The airline paid the last tranche of Rs 100 crore towards tax deducted at source on Tuesday, while service tax dues were cleared a few weeks ago.

time; no longer in Kingfisher-like situation

With the original owner Ajay Singh now firmly in the pilot's seat, budget airline SpiceJet Ltd may well have a chance of flying away from a Kingfisher Airline kind of crash.

Speaking to DNA, the airline's chief financial officer (CFO) Kiran Koteshwar, said the airline has begun paying staff salaries and service taxes on time.

Sick Baby Dies Just Before Landing at Medical Hub

Chennai: A 17-day-old infant, Murali Basak, from Assam, with a life threatening nerve disorder, stopped breathing and was declared dead as soon as the parents with the baby stepped off the flight.

In a bid to try and save the child, the parents had sent the scans and reports to the neurology team at a private multispecialty hospital here.

Juhu airport to get armed security men soon

After much delay, the issue of manning Juhu airport by armed security personnel seems to be inching closer to realisation. The airport authorities and the state government are in the final stage of getting an approval for 130 personnel from Maharashtra Security Force.

Business Honchos Flying High on Private Aircraft

Kochi: The adage ‘Time is money’ acquires a new meaning for the corporates and big businesses who strive to make every second count to keep their productivity above the mark throughout the year. Relying on commercial flights or other modes of transport is more often not enough to service the busy itineraries of such corporate heads and requires the procurement of a more personalised mode of transport like a chartered flight.

Renuka Chowdary delays Air India’s Hyderabad-bound flight

New Delhi: A former Union minister from Hyderabad delayed an Air India flight from Delhi to Hyderabad after checking in, because she reported late for boarding.

Ms Renuka Chowdary was apparently strolling through the shopping section at the Delhi airport and reported at 7.04 pm for the flight which was supposed to leave at 7 pm, civil aviation ministry sources said.

6 Times Air India Delayed Flights For The Stupidest Reasons

For many, it wasn't surprising that Renuka Chowdhury managed to delay a flight for hours because she wanted to go shopping. Late flights are nothing new to Air India passengers - last year, at least one Air India was late six days a week.  And these aren't the kind of delays that take 20 minutes extra. Between the months of January and June, Air India had seen 145 hour long delays and over 290 delays that were less than an hour.

Didn't Delay Flight with Retail Therapy, Fumes Congress' Renuka Chowdhury

New Delhi: Parliamentarian Renuka Chowdhury has denied reports that her shopping spree at the Delhi airport forced a 45-minute delay for the Air India flight she was meant to board on Friday to Hyderabad. She told NDTV today that she will meet Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapthy Raju to protest the Air India version of events, and if the airline cannot prove its allegation, she will demand action against the official who said her retail therapy inconvenienced many other passengers.

Government plans to set up expert panel to improve Air India's performance

New Delhi:  The government plans to set up an expert panel to find ways to improve Air India's performance but presently no proposal is being considered for its privatisation, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said today.

Boeing’s ‘cooperation’ with AI will continue: Keskar

Nagpur: Dinesh Keskar, head of the American aircraft maker Boeing's Asia operations, was assured full support by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for starting the aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) depot built by the company in Mihan-SEZ.

Five airlines' owe over Rs 664 cr to AAI

New Delhi: Five private carriers, including the grounded Kingfisher, had to pay dues worth over Rs 664 crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at the end of December 2014, the government said today.

Vistara moves court over trademark

Mumbai: Vistara, the Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture, has moved the Karnataka High Court in a legal battle with a travel agent over trademark.

The airline filed a petition in the court in December challenging a lower court's jurisdiction to hear a suit that sought to restrain it from using the Vistara  trademark. The petition will come up for hearing on Tuesday.

MH370: MAS to hold remembrance gathering on March 8

George Town: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) plans to hold a day of remembrance gathering on March 8 for the passengers and air crew members of flight MH370 which went missing almost a year ago.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said a discussion will be held with the Chinese and Australian governments on the event to commemorate the looming anniversary.

After report claiming MH370 in Antartica, Malaysia insists aircraft in Indian Ocean

George Town: Malaysia is certain that missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 ended its flight in the southern Indian Ocean where search efforts are ongoing, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said today.

No proposal to privatise airports, says govt

New Delhi: The government today said it has initiated the process of developing four airports through public private partnership mode but there was no move to privatise them as of now.

"There is no such proposal of privatisation of airports at present," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Air Costa tweaks routes to improve results, will add four planes in 2015

Mumbai: Air Costa is restructuring its network and adding frequencies on existing sectors to shore up its performance. Vijayawada-based airline has a regional operating permit and flies 34 flights daily with four Embraer jets ( 67-seater E-170s and 112-seater E-190s).

Airlines hope for reforms in Budget

New Delhi: The civil aviation industry is keenly waiting for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Budget speech on Saturday with hopes that he would come up with bold measures, including a viable tax structure on airport infrastructure and reduction of taxes on jet fuel.

Brazilian Embraer Can Inspire HAL

At the 10th Biennale Aero India held in Bangalore this week, among the many global defence giants was Brazil’s Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica) selling both defence and executive aircraft.

Embraer’s story is one that India’s own Hindustan Aeronauticals Ltd (HAL) should emulate.

Lenders take over key property of grounded Kingfisher Airlines

Mumbai:  Grounded carrier Kingfisher Airlines, founded by flamboyant liquor baron Vijay Mallya, said on Tuesday it had handed over possession of a property to a group of lenders to which it owes about $1.5 billion.

`Happy Holi’ offer from Air Costa

Hyderabad:  Air Costa today announced the launch of Happy Holi offer for its customers with a starting fare of Rs. 999 (all-inclusive), on every economy class ticket booking across its network.

DGCA notice to JSPL over NSO permit

Aviation sector regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has served a fresh show-cause notice to Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) asking reasons for not terminating its non-scheduled operators’ (NSO) permit. JSPL has been asked to submit its response within 15 days from the date of issuance of the notice.

DIAL 1 for success

When the Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao-led GMR Group won the bid to redevelop the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in 2006, one of the earliest challenges faced by his team was runway delays. “We thought we had found the simplest solution: construct another runway,” recalls Prabhakara Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

Reinsurance rate to remain flat, barring aviation sector

While reinsurance rates for this year are likely to remain flat because no major catastrophic event impacted the books of companies in 2014, some segments such as aviation are expected to see some marginal impact.

In 2014, besides a few aircraft accidents, Malaysian Airlines flight 370 went missing on March 8.

Firms grow wary of govt's airport plan

New Delhi: The response to the pre-application conference on airport privatisation on February 11 was muted. "There were only 12 players, and only six companies were serious," says a senior executive of a leading airport company. "In 2013," he contrasts, "there were over two dozen aspirants for six airports, including international players. The interest in airports is clearly waning."

Reduction in Airport Charges at IGI Airport

Delhi: Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has issued a consultation paper number 16/2014-15dated January 28, 2015 for determination of Aeronautical Tariffs in respect of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), Delhi for the Second Control Period (01.04.2014-31.03.2019). AERA has proposed to consider the X factor in respect of the aeronautical tariffs for the second Control Period (01.04.2014 - 31.03.2019) for the IGI Airport, Delhi at (+78.24%).

AAI to get airport staff absorbed

New Delhi: Faced with the prospect of a looming strike on March 11 called by the unions at airports across the country operated by the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI), the government seems to have swung into damage-control mode by considering amending the proposed Request for Proposal (RFP) for privatisation of operation and management of the AAI-run Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports.

NAC postpones New Delhi flight

Kathmandu: Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) has postponed its plan of resuming New Delhi flights with its new Airbus A320-200 aircraft until further notice.

The national flag carrier had unveiled plans to resume New Delhi flights from Wednesday.

India is the only country on the global network to have its own advertisement: Director, Lufthansa

At a time when the Indian aviation industry is going through much turbulence, international carrier Lufthansa is working towards cementing its ties with Indian customers. So after breaking the norm by launching its first campaign, ‘More Indian than you think’ outside the global network, the aviation company introduced a brand new feature, called the ‘premium economy’ class for international flights from India.

Honeywell to Expand India Footprint with Mahindra Talks?

Per media reports, the aerospace unit of diversified technology company Honeywell International Inc. is holding strategic discussions with Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group about a potential partnership in the defense and civil-aviation sectors.

Bangladesh Customs seizes Indian currencies worth Tk69,57,000 at Dhaka Airport

Dhaka: Bangladesh Customs has seized a huge amount of Indian currency worth Tk 69,57,000 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. A person named Md Akram, has arrested.

Arrestee hailed from Munshiganj, landed in Dhaka by a flight no PK-0266 from Pakistan.

Swimming coach makes hoax bomb call after missing flight

Ranchi: Air security went into a tizzy on Monday at Ranchi airport after getting a call that there was a bomb in a Delhi-bound flight, which was later found to be a hoax call.

A passenger, who had missed the Ranchi-New Delhi flight and made the call, was arrested from the airport later.

Man swallows gold coins, hospitalised

Kochi: A Sri Lanka national who landed in Kochi airport was admitted to the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, on Monday after he attempted to smuggle gold into the country by swallowing it.

Agencies seize 65 kg gold worth Rs 17.84 crore at city airport

Ahmedabad: In two separate incidents, the city crime branch and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized about 65kg gold worth Rs 17.84 crore and arrested seven persons in two cases.

The highs and lows of gold smuggling

The World Gold Council estimated that 200 tonnes of gold was smuggled in 2014 to India, which closely competes with China for being the title of the largest consumer of the metal in the world.
But experts believe that gold smuggling is beginning to wane since the Government in November abolished a rule that required importers to keep apart 20 per cent of their purchase for re-export.

Man held for smuggling gold worth Rs 24.43 lakh at airport

New Delhi: A man has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold bars valuing about Rs 24 lakh at international airport here.

The passenger was intercepted after his arrival here from Sharjah.

Srilankan hospitalised after swallowing 700 gms gold

Nedumbassery: A native of Srilanka was arrested at the Nedumbassery Airport for swallowing 700 grams of gold. He was admitted at the Ernakulam Cooperative Medical College Hospital Monday morning after his condition turned worse when efforts were taken to take out the gold bars.

Original promoter of SpiceJet Ajay Singh becomes its owner again

The original promoter of the budget airline SpiceJet Ajay Singh finally became its owner again on Monday with the completion of the process of share transfer from the former promoter Kalanithi Maran, chairman of the Sun Group, to him.

Maharashtra to secure Juhu airport

Mumbai: Worried about repeated security threats to Juhu airport, the state government has stepped in to provide security cover to it. The airport authority was unable to pay the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the airport has been functioning with inadequate security. The state government, therefore, offered them its own security forces at a very reasonable cost.

Works on Jharsuguda Airport Set to Gain Pace

Jharsuguda: Work on the second airport of the State at Jharsuguda is set to gain momentum as the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will float tender for first phase of the project next month.

Located about five kms from Jharsuguda town along State Highway-10, the airport is expected to boost industrialisation in western part of the State.

Vistara to beam content to flyers’ devices

Goa: In a first for Indian carriers, the Tata Sons-Singapore Airlines JV Vistara will soon start beaming in flight entertainment (IFE) content directly on the personal electronic devices (PED) of passengers. Vistara does not have in IFE screens in its aircraft while other full service carriers (FSC) -- Air India and Jet -- have seat back screens where flyers can watch programs, play games or listen to music.

Air India hires retired airhostesses aged 58-60 years

New Delhi: In a surprising move, Air India is re-hiring its retired airhostesses aged 58-60 to overcome the shortage of crew.

The most interesting part is that the cash-strapped national carrier is reportedly paying them handsomely, matching their last drawn salary levels.

Air India starts direct flight from Rajkot to Delhi

Rajkot: Ending years of wait, the city finally got direct air connectivity with Delhi as an Air India flight landed on Rajkot airport early on Monday morning. The maiden direct flight of Air India from Delhi landed in the city at 8:15 am.

Job racket accused held at Mumbai airport

Coimbatore: After intensive search for a couple of years, District Crime Branch nabbed Sanjay Kumar (31), of Mettupalayam, for cheating many job aspirants to the tune of Rs. 22.43 lakh by promising them jobs in London. The police said that he was arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, when he returned from London two days ago.

VoA facility doubled at Goa airport: Tourism officials

Panaji: The number of visa-on-arrival (VoA) issued at Goa airport at Dabolim has doubled within a month, taking the figure to 10,475 till now, tourism officials said today.

Beside the encouraging VoA numbers, Goa continues to maintain a third spot in the percentage share of different airports for highest number of VoAs issuance, according to a statement issued by Goa tourism department here.

No takers for state govt’s planes

Lucknow: The UP government's plan to sell off one old aircraft and two choppers has crash landed, thanks to recession in the civil aviation sector. Dumped in the hangars of Amausi airport, the Premier 1A aircraft, Chetak and Bell 230 choppers will now be put up for sale again, sources in the civil aviation department said.

Air India will fail to meet its February revenue target

New Delhi: The finance department of Air India has asked its commercial department to carry out "necessary" changes in the national carrier's network after it became clear that the airline will fail to meet its revenue target for February.

MRO in Aviation Sector Still Remains Unexplored

Bengaluru:  Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) for the aviation sector has not kept pace with the ever growing sector in India.  Though this industry is expected to grow to about $1.6 billion (spending each year) in the next 10 years from the current market size of about $700-800 million, it still remains largely unexplored.

Despite less fog readiness, SpiceJet logs lowest flight diversions

Mumbai: Flight diversion numbers put out by the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) Air Traffic Controller (ATC) reveal that diversions at the Delhi airport in the current fog season were lowest in three years at 50.
Diversions have more than halved from 143 in 2013; there were 89 diversions in 2012 and 57 in 2011.

DIAL to exit cargo service operations at Delhi Airport

New Delhi: Delhi International Airport Ltd, a subsidiary of GMR Infrastructure, has announced its exit from the cargo service operations at Delhi Airport by selling its entire stake to India Infrastructure Fund for Rs 29 crore.

Spicejet's B737 MAX 8 order still on says Boeing

Spicejet has not changed the status of its order for forty-two B737 MAX 8 jets the President of Boeing  India, Pratyush Kumar, has said. Placed in March 2014, deliveries are still expected to commence in 2018 as the carrier seeks to return to profitability through an increase in its overall available seat capacity.

Partial Closure to Hit Functioning of Calicut Airport Hard

Kozhikode: The decision to partially close the Calicut International Airport at Karipur and to impose a total ban on wide-body aircraft on account of the recarpeting of the runway will adversely affect the functioning of the airport, causing trouble to fliers and disrupting the cargo movement.

Industrial Market Research Reports Annoucements

Aerospace coatings market is expected to witness growth on account of increased preference towards preventive maintenance instead of breakdown maintenance among OEM in aerospace industry.

Aerospace coatings possess superior properties such as corrosion, ultra violet, abrasion and heat resistance making it suitable for use in airplane parts thus augmenting demand.

AISATS gets ISAGO certification by IATA

Hyderabad: Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS) today said it has received the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certification for adhering to high safety standards at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and at its headquarters in Mumbai.

Mumbai's International Airport ranked among World's Best 5 Airports by Size

GVK-managed Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) has emerged as one of the top performing airports in the annual ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards for 2014, as announced by Airports Council International (ACI). This is the fourth consecutive year that CSIA has been rated among the top five airports worldwide in the 25-40 million passengers per annum category. CSIA had also won the award in the year 2010 in the 15-25 million passengers per year category.

Airport scam exposé: RTI activist alleges death threats

RTI activist Vishwas Bhamburkar, who recently filed a case against the Airports Authority of India-MIAL combine, for the alleged Rs 5,887 crore infrastructure scam, as well as two cases against the police for failing to follow the law, has now complained of receiving death threats.

Passengers to be screened for swine flu at Mizoram's airport

Aizawl: Passengers at Mizoram's lone Lengpui Airport near here will be screened to ensure detection of people infected with swine flu.

The state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme's Nodal Officer Pachuau Lalmalsawma said the screening was being conducted after obtaining permission from the Aviation department.

Accused attempts to fly to Saudi Arabia, arrested

Ramanathapuram: The district police have arrested an accused who was absconding after the police booked him for taking out a ‘padayatra’ to Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial violating police orders, at Madurai Airport on Sunday when he tried to flee the country.

Two women held for smuggling gold worth about Rs one crore

New Delhi: Two women have been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valuing about Rs one crore at international airport here in separate incidents.

"A woman was intercepted by customs officials after her arrival from Hongkong here yesterday.

UP CM inaugurates UPTM; aims to promote state as a leading tourist destination

Uttar Pradesh Travel Mart (UPTM) was inaugurated on February 22, 2015 in Lucknow by Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh. Yadav also launched a new website ‘theheritagearc’ and released a booklet. The two-day Mart is organised by UP Tourism and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Tour operators of nearly 24 countries are participating in UPTM.

Air India, IndiGo flyers worst hit by flight delays in Jan: DGCA

Passengers of Air India and no-frill carrier IndiGo, which has best on-time performance record among the domestic airliners, were most affected due to delays of flights by over two hours in January, according to the DGCA data.

The number of Air India passengers affected due to flight delays beyond two hours stood at 96,232 in January while of IndiGo was 75,034, the monthly domestic air traffic report released by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said.

Jet Airways plans lease of three A330 long haul freighter aircraft from Etihad

New Delhi: In what will be the first such move of its kind, Jet Airways is planning a foray into the air cargo business by leasing up to three Airbus A330-200F wide-body freighter aircraft from its Abu Dhabi based partner airline, Etihad.

The move will help the company beat Dubai-based Emirates, which carried the highest inbound and outbound air freight in 2013-14.

Airports take Robert Vadra off no-frisking list

Goa/New Delhi:  Some airports have begun blanking out the name of Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, Robert Vadra, from the list of those exempt from frisking before flying.

This comes as the Union home ministry is sitting on civil aviation ministry's demand for removing Vadra's name from the list of dignitaries.

Stranded, CRPF Outsources Copters for Naxal Ops

New Delhi: After a bad experience with the Indian Air Force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which handles anti-Naxal operations in the red zone of the country, has got a private player onboard to provide choppers for casualty evacuations. In the past, there have been several incidents where IAF pilots refused to fly into conflict zones to rescue CRPF jawans. This has led to demoralisation of the force at a critical time.

Airport infra, Mumbai Metro projects will add Rs1,450 crore to national GDP: Study

Mumbai: The state and Centre have every reason to expedite work on airport-related infrastructure and Metro projects in the city, if the outcome of recent economic impact audit of Mumbai airport is anything to go by.

AI mulling direct flights to Madrid, Amsterdam

Buoyed by the success of its flights to Milan and Rome, state-owned Air India is actively considering introducing direct flights to Madrid and Amsterdam from Delhi. The airline will deploy B787 Dreamliner airplanes on the two routes.

“Apart from Madrid and Amsterdam, many other routes are also under evaluation.

CAG allegations, Air India controversy now 'dead and buried': Praful Patel

Panaji: NCP leader and former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Saturday said the controversy over his role in the downfall of national carrier Air India, as alleged by former CAG Vinod Rai, was now "dead and buried".

India signs pact for fighter jet trainer's support systems

New Delhi: In order to maintain its fleet of more than 100 Hawk aircraft, India has entered into an agreementwith European Defence major BAE Systems for a comprehensivepackage of support systems for the advanced jet trainers.

HC Notice to CIAL

Kochi: The Kerala High Court has issued a notice to the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) on a petition against the proposal to set up a solar plant on the ground adjacent to the runway, which is a clearance space at the airport.

MH370 search boss confident of result by end of May

The man overseeing the underwater search for MH370 believes the aircraft will be found in the southern Indian Ocean in the next three months.

With the entire 60,000 sq km priority search zone due to be fully explored by the end of May, governments have been reluctant to say what will happen if nothing is found.

Meat shops to lose licence if they don't dispose waste properly

Mumbai: In order to control the increasing number of bird hit cases, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's markets department will inspect meat shops in the vicinity of the international airport in Santacruz, to ensure they are dumping their garbage properly in closed bins.

Disinvestment in LIC, Air India, BSNL will unlocks lakhs of crores of rupees: Deepak Parekh

Mumbai: Pitching for disinvestment in public sector behemoths like LIC, Air India and BSNL, top industry leader Deepak Parekh has said it can unlock huge funds worth "lakhs of crores of rupees" and shares should be given to retail investors without depending on the overseas entities.

Minister seeks more Mangaluru-Gulf flights

Mangaluru:  Karnataka Health Minister UT Khader has urged the Union Government to increase the number of aircraft operations from Mangalore International Airport to Gulf countries.

Khader, who met the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in New Delhi, told him that there is good demand for flights between Mangaluru and Gulf countries.

CM entourage member held at airport after return from Dhaka

Kolkata: Film producer Shibaji Panja, who was part of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's entourage to Dhaka, was detained at the airport here by Delhi Police after the team landed here last night.

Indian anti-terror authorities stop man from boarding Dubai flight

Indian anti-terror authorities stopped a graduate from boarding a flight to the UAE, where he was due to take up a job with a company in Dubai, because of his previous links with the terrorist group ISIL.

Rs 1.50 Crore Worth Gold Seized at Chennai Airport

Gold worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence from two persons who arrived at the international airport here from Dubai, airport officials said on Sunday.

Aero India concludes, no mega deal signed

Bengaluru: Asia's premier air show, "Aero India" came to a close today with the event turning into a carnival on the last two days as nearly three lakh people thronged the Air Force Station at Yelahanka here to witness the splendid aerial feast by the metal birds.

Aero show 2015: Thousands flock to catch metal birds

Bengaluru: Jets soaring past and aerobatics by choppers and fixed-wing aircraft had the crowd's necks craned and eyes glued to the skies on the fourth day of the Aero India here on Saturday .With all their attention on the aircraft, six children, including, a threeand-a-half-year-old girl, were lost, with parents having to spend anxious moments.

Aero India 2015: One lakh plus turnout, traffic goes haywire

Bengaluru: A sea of vehicles crawled on Ballari Road on Saturday morning to catch the air show at the Yelahanka Airforce Station. Traffic snarls began at Hebbal Flyover as early as 7 am and continued till the air show venue, causing inconvenience to those going to and coming from the Kempegowda International Airport, regular commuters and those travelling towards Hyderabad. The evening traffic was no different, and gridlocks had a cascading effect in different parts of the city.

Participation in Aero India rises but sales yet to pick up

Yelahanka (Bengaluru) : Going by the babel on the public days, Aero India 2015 is the world's premier air show. However, if one were to measure its success in terms of the business done or the sales announced, there is far less cause for satisfaction.

The claim of the show organisers - the Defence Exhibitions Organisation (DEO) - to have masterminded yet another success is based on rising participation. The DEO says 328 foreign companies participated this year, up from 212 in Aero India 2013; Indian participation rose even more steeply - from 156 companies to 266.

400 digital eyes, choppers secure venue

Bengaluru: Six months of preparations, a 60-page standard operating procedure (SOP), 400 digital eyes and several security agencies on ground have kept the Yelahanka Air Force Station safe for the VVIPs and hoi polloi flocking to the Aero India, besides the aircraft and critical systems here.
As business days ended, and the first day of all-crowd air show started on Saturday , STOI visited the Operations Control Centre (OCC), mainstay of security at the show.

Aero India 2015: Team ATC keeps a hawk-eye vigil on flying displays

It's curtains for the 10th edition of Aero India today at Air Force Station Yelahanka. Among the unsung heroes, who have stayed far away from the limelight, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower team have played a silent, yet critical role.
With the number of participants at the flying display sharply increasing during every show, the role of the ATC has doubled and their responsibilities becoming more vital.

Phil Camp: Capturing the best of IAF with pure devotion

Bengaluru: Phil Camp first shot the photo of a flying machine when he was 16 years old. It was at the Oxford Airport, in 1973.

"Well, it as a Bollow 105 helicopter," recalls Phil, one of the world's leading aviation photo-journalists, when OneIndia caught up with him for an interaction at Aero India 2015. 
"I used my brother's Russian-made Zenith camera," he adds.

Aero India 2015: City can’t get enough of mid-air thrills

Bengaluru: They braved the longest traffic congestion, the hot sun, and worse, all to watch some of the world’s most sophisticated fighter jets and the world’s most lovable aerobatic teams as the biannual air show opened for the public on Saturday. And they – Bengalureans - were not a few themselves, but a hundred thousand by rough estimate, jostling to get in and angling for the right spots around the runway at the Yelahanka air force station. 

Green Berets float over Yelahanka

Bengaluru: They appear like petals floating in the air. Minutes later, when one realizes what they are, almost every youth with the adrenaline rush wants to try it, at least once in life: Jump out from a flight, float in the air and descend on a parachute.

Aero India could well take off from here

Bangalore: The weekend celebrations began at the Aero India 2015 with the Defence Exhibitions Organisation expecting well over two lakh public visitors at the Air Display Viewing Area (ADVA) and the main operational area on the two public days (February 21 and 22). But for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) these two days would be the most crucial in arriving at a decision on whether to shift the venue of the Aero India from the present Air Force Station Yelahanka (AFSY) in Bengaluru to elsewhere.

Flying Bulls Team Keeps Spirits Up

The organisers of Aero India may be livid with the bad publicity the event got over the mid-air accident involving two Flying Bulls aircraft, but pilots performing at the show are said to have applauded the team’s crew, led by 66-year-old Radka Machova.

UAVs get special slot in Indian Aero Show

Bengaluru: Aeronautical development wing of India's premier Defence Research and Development Organisation showcased indigenous UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) at the Asia-Aero India 2015 in Bengaluru. The UAVs are in great demand by the armed forces battling Maoist insurgency.

Women officers display acrobatic might at 'Aero India' air show

Marking a new beginning for women officers in IAF, two women officers have made their way into the IAF’s much-heralded helicopter display team Sarang. 

Squadron Leader Deepika Misra and engineering officer Flight Lieutenant Sandeep Singh made their debut in the ‘Aero India’ air show. 

Tiger Hill pilot flies Tiger Moth to joy

Bengaluru: Parked next to a metallic MiG-21 Bison at Aero India, a small Tiger Moth sits pretty , making one wonder which era it belongs to. The vintage aircraft belongs to the World War II, when it was the primary trainer for the Royal Air Force.
The two-seat, single-bay Moth is one of the most basic aircraft.

Aero India 2015: Sukhois are the best, say display pilots

Bengaluru: The ground crew was readying a mighty Sukhoi (Su-30 MKI) at the northern side of the runway at AFS Yelahanka when OneIndia was invited for an interaction with the display team.

"We have an early slot during post-lunch display," said Flight Lieutenant Navjot Singh. Along with him are Wing Commander A N Karulkar (Commanding Officer), Wing Commander C U V Rao and Flight Lieutenant Prashant Sharma.

ADA Chief says IAF will get 36 Tejas in FOC format

Bengaluru: Thrilled by the assurance given by the Chief of Air Staff Air Cheif Marshal Arup Raha, Team Tejas is on Cloud 9 as the curtains are drawn on 10th edition of Aero India 2015.

Putting an end to all speculations, Raha had categorically stated at Aero India that the Indian Air Force (IAF) has full faith in Tejas and its capabilities.

India, Russia sort out differences on fighter jet project

New Delhi: India and Russia have generally agreed upon the amount and division of work during the research and development (R&D) stage of the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project.

A contract for the R&D phase is being prepared and expected to be signed this year, said Yuli Slyusar, president and chairman of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) at Aero India 2015 in Bengaluru.

A simulated flight over the Kempegowda airport

Bengaluru: Hyper-graphics with ultra high resolution visuals, digitally stitched together to mimic reality as it is. Project this on a curved canvas, and you are ready with the perfect setting for a helicopter simulator like no other.

As the men flew high, their wives shook the ground

Bangalore: While their husbands flew their fighter jets under the skies, taking spectators by storm, their wives had something equally mesmerizing to offer. Whenever visitors at the aero show decided to take a break and get relief from the scorching sun, they stepped into an aesthetic stall set up by ladies of the Airforce under the banner Airforce Wives Welfare Association.

HAL to support IAF's Hawks for another 40 years

Bengaluru: Bengaluru-headquartered defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said it would support the Hawk project for the next 40 years. The company has absorbed the technology completely, which will enable it to support the jet trainer aircraft, a top company official said.

Bengaluru firm takes big leap in Make in India programme

Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based firm has put in place a joint venture with a Dutch company to exploit “Make in India” opportunities in the defence sector.

SASMOS HET Technologies Ltd, a manufacturer of cable assemblies, wiring harness, panel boxes, and electro-mechanical assemblies, has formed a joint venture with the Netherlands-based Fokker Elmo, a unit of Fokker Technologies, to make products for aerospace and defence applications.

Domestic air traffic up 21 per cent

New Delhi: Air passenger traffic in the country grew by 21.33 per cent in January over the year-ago period despite the domestic airlines clocking a reduced seat factor.

All Indian carriers combined together ferried 62.45 lakh passengers in the reporting month as compared to 57.47 lakh passengers carried by them in January 2014, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) here today.

SpiceJet may receive first tranche of Rs 400 cr soon

New Delhi/Mumabi: SpiceJet is expected to receive its first tranche of Rs 400 crore funding from new investors led by Ajay Singh on Monday (February 23), company officials told Business Standard. The development comes with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) clearing the change of ownership proposal from Kalanithi Maran to Singh on Thursday.

SpiceJet market share crashes, as IndiGo's soars: How 2014 was for airlines

IndiGo and SpiceJet have seen the most remarkable turns of fortune among India's domestic airlines in 2014. Market leader IndiGo further consolidated its hold and closed the year with 36.1 percent market share against 27.7 percent in January. In a sense, from accounting for close to a fourth of the domestic market, IndiGo now accounts for more than a third. The airline has been profitable for some years on the back of steadily rising passenger traffic and is already planning to get publicly listed. IndiGo is the poster boy of Indian aviation in every sense.

Jet Airways to Introduce Mobile Check-In

Mumbai:  Airlines major Jet Airways Saturday said it is pilot testing issuing boarding passes on mobile platform and is collaborating with government and airport authorotes in this regard.

Kochi’s K-Air wins deal for three new aircraft

Bengaluru: K-Air, a provider of new and pre-owned jets and helicopter, has signed memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with corporate jet makers for selling Falcon 2000, Gulfstream G200 and the Augusta 109 Grand helicopter in India. “We are talking with the companies for pre-buy inspection of the helicopter. The two other aircraft are likely to reach India before the end of second quarter,” Capt Robin Cherian, Director, K-Air told BusinessLine.

Union Budget 2015: Aviation industry seeks sops for survival

India has the potential to become the third-largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030, says a FICCI-KPMG report.

ccording to the report, the Indian civil aviation industry is on a high growth trajectory, albeit with minor hiccups.

Competition Commission clears SpiceJet deal with Ajay Singh

Fair trade watchdog Competition Commission on Thursday cleared Ajay Singh's proposal to acquire a majority stake in cash-strapped SpiceJet , moving closer to the much-needed recapitalisation of the budget carrier .

With clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the low-cost carrier's original promoter is closer to taking the management reins and ownership of SpiceJet.

Jet Airways delays TDS payment, gets I-T warning

Jet Airways is getting into trouble with the tax man.

The airline has been delaying payment of Tax Deduction at Source (TDS) to the authorities since 2012.

The company has so far paid Rs 146 crore this fiscal, but is yet to pay the remaining Rs 450 crore, a senior I-T official told dna.

Vistara flew with half its seats vacant in Jan

Mumbai: Vistara, the full-service joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines that launched its service on January 9, flew with more than half its seats vacant in the first month, show Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data. Also, after years, the market share of domestic airline SpiceJet in January slipped into a single digit, 9.4 per cent, thanks to recent financial crises.

Saifai airport gears up for VVIP line-up at Tej’s tilak

Lucknow: The airspace over Saifai, the native village of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, may well turn out to be the busiest in domestic circuit on Saturday when a host of political top guns, industrialists and B-town celebrities fly down to attend the 'tilak' ceremony of Mulayam's grandnephew Tej Pratap Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's youngest daughter, Raj Laxmi.

“Will not permit operation of even a single flight on 11 March”

Ahmedabad: Airport Authority Employees Union has declared one day strike of all staff members of Airport Authority of India(AAI) on 11 March. In this connection, the General Secretary of Airport Authority Employees Union Balraj Singh Ahlawat was in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

DGCA has to play a role of impartial regulator: Delhi HC

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today rebuked aviation regulator DGCA for not filing its response on an Irish aircraft leasing firm's plea seeking de-registration of a plane given by it to troubled SpiceJet for alleged non-payment of dues.

"DGCA has to play a role of impartial regulator.

Can Budget wipe out streaks of red in blue skies?

New Delhi: It's a blue sky scenario for airline industry – jet fuel prices are at its lowest, air passenger traffic is growing at a healthy clip and there's a business-friendly government at the Centre. But it would still need a lot of help in various forms in the coming Budget to wipe out its huge losses.

Airlines in India are set to post losses of $1 billion in the current fiscal, according to airline consultancy firm Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA).

Non-availability of land slowing down IAF pojects: Official

Jodhpur: Non-availability of land to the Indian Air Force and delay within the course of of handing over of the recognized land have emerged as main slowdowns within the enlargement tasks, a senior official stated.

It would be a shame if Avro replacement project is delayed: Airbus

Bengaluru: With no decision in sight yet over the Airbus-Tata consortium's bid to replace IAF's ageing fleet of 56 Avro aircraft with C-295 transport carriers, the European aviation major today said it would be a ‘shame’ if the project is delayed further.

Chinese MH370 relatives criticise Malaysia Airlines

Kuala Lumpur: Grieving Chinese relatives of MH370 passengers blasted Malaysia Airlines today, detailing a long list of complaints and traumas they said were suffered as a result of the flight’s mysterious disappearance 11 months ago. The 21 family members arrived in Malaysia last week from China to demand authorities cancel a declaration that the plane’s 239 passengers and crew were presumed dead, and voiced discontent over the airline’s responses to questions they submitted on a litany of issues.

GVK mulls listing of airport arm

Hyderabad:  GVK Power & Infrastructure plans to list its airport vertical business. The diversified Hyderabad-based infrastructure company is in the process of preparing the documentation and has appointed consultants and bankers to facilitate the filing of the draft prospectus with the regulators within a month. They are looking at bringing down debt by about ?3,000 crore.

AP Govt. in contemplation to set up aviation, aerospace centers in state

The Andhra Pradesh Government on Thursday in a bid to attract investments into the aerospace, aviation and defence sectors stated that it is contemplating set up for the specific industrial hubs in the state.

Emirates A380 Coddles Indian Travelers from San Francisco

Free wifi onboard. Movies in Bengali, Urdu, Malayalam and Marathi. And a free pair of fluffy socks: all in economy class.

As for business and first class, the sky’s the limit, with a trendy onboard cocktail lounge, chauffeured rides to the airport, gourmet food and wine, and top-of-the-line amenities — including a spa-quality shower in first class.

Air India to hire 100 Airbus co-pilots to reduce delays

New Delhi:  National carrier Air India will hire more than 100 copilots for its Airbus fleet to cut flight delays, according to a senior executive of the airline.

The carrier's poor "on-time performance" has been a concern for its management and the government for some time, and shortage of pilots and cabin crew is being cited as a key reason.

Over 100 delegates take part in IOC conference

Hyderabad: Over 100 delegates from India and abroad representing airline industry, statutory agencies and defence services participated in the 20th edition of the International Aviation Conference hosted by Indian Oil Corporation here.

Bomb threat grounds Delhi-bound Swiss flight

Zurich: A bomb threat was made on Friday against an aircraft operated by Lufthansa's Swiss at Zurich airport, a spokesman for the airport said.

Ethiopian Airlines to Increase Flights to Mumbai

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has finalized preparations to start double daily flights to Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport starting March 2015. Ethiopian has been providing reliable air service to Mumbai for over 43 years with the launch of its first flight in December 1971. The airline currently has daily flights to Mumbai and New Delhi.

Officials detain wrong man again

Chennai: In an embarrassing second case of mistaken identity during the ‘execution’ of look-out circulars (LOCs) in the last four months, immigration officials at the Chennai airport detained Kuber Saravanan, instead of Kuber Venkatesh, a suspect wanted in a case of group clash.

Advisory Committee meeting organised by AAI, Bhubaneswar Airport

Bhubaneswar: The Advisory Committee meeting was organised by AAI, Bhubaneswar Airport, under the Chairmanship of Dr. Prasanna Kumar Patasani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (BBSR).

Indian Oil hosts aviation conference in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The 20th edition of the International Aviation Conference hosted by Indian Oil Corporation commenced here today with participation of over 100 delegates from India and abroad representing airline companies, statutory bodies, defence services, airline equipment companies and airport operators.

Evening flights likely at Srinagar Airport

Srinagar: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is likely to extend flight schedules at Srinagar Airport up to 10 pm as the Indian Air Force has approved operation of evening flights.
The evening flights at Srinagar Airport has been a long pending demand of stakeholders particularly tourism players who have time and again reiterated their demand for late evening flights to Kashmir in order to boost tourism.

Pegasus Asia launches flights to Delhi

Continuing to expand its network, Pegasus Asia has launched scheduled flights to India’s capital Delhi. Guests can fly between Bishkek and Delhi on Mondays and Fridays with fares starting at just £104.
Pegasus Asia, born out of Pegasus Airlines’ partnership with the Kyrgyz airline Air Manas, continues its growth with the launch of new routes and increased flight frequencies.

Shiv Sena wing vandalises airport’s new cargo section

Mumbai: Activists of the Maharashtra Maal Vahtuk Sena affiliated to the Shiv Sena vandalised the newly-inaugurated extension of the perishable cargo section at the Mumbai International Airport Limited at Andheri on Thursday to protest the exclusion of the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji on the signage and banners put up to announce the new addition to the cargo complex. While activists claimed responsibility for the damage, the police denied the same.

Smugglers leave behind gold in toilets of aeroplane

Mumbai:  Smugglers recently left behind 6 kg of gold worth Rs 1.5 crore concealed in the toilets of an aeroplane after having arrived in the city from Dubai.

From the city, the flight and the gold travelled to Kozhikode and then on to Delhi, from where it was back to Kozhikode and then the city, where Customs officers finally searched the aircraft on specific information and recovered the contraband.

Customs seizes gold hidden in man's rectum

Mangaluru: Customs officers at Mangalore International Airport seized six 10 thola gold bars totally weighing 700 gm, valued at Rs 18,90,000, brought by a passenger who arrived from Dubai by Jet Airways, on February 19.

Four kg gold, hidden in plane's toilet seized at Vizag

Hyderabad: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday said it had seized about 4 kg of gold worth about Rs 1.2 crore from an aircraft after it landed at the Visakhapatnam airport.

Gold seized at Mangalore airport

Mangaluru: The officials of the Customs Department seized gold worth ?18.9 lakh at Mangalore International Airport on Thursday.

Aero India 2015: Day 4

3:45 pm: Officials of the Department of Posts are keeping a keen eye on visitors, including Defence PSU officials. Some of them were caught trying to pilfer postcards and aero India mugs. They assumed everything was free to take at the stall.

3:15 pm: Officials say the general display area may have more than 1 lakh people.

Mesmerising aerial display by acrobatic teams dazzles skies at Aero India

Yelahanka: The 10th edition of Asia's Premier Air show - Aero India 2015 kicked off at Bengaluru's Yelahanka Airport with aerial displays by military and civil aircraft, including India's own Sarang helicopters.

The world-acclaimed aerobatics team participating in the show are Breitling Wingwalkers from Aero Superbatics Ltd, UK; Yakovlevs Display Team Airborne Services Ltd, UK; Flying Bulls Aerobatic Team, Czech Republic; IAF Sarang Team, India; Scandinavian Air Show team, Sweden including Open Sky Jump by US Special Forces, USA.

400 cameras keep a close watch on air-show venue

Bengaluru: The 10th edition of Aero India saw the security levels setting new benchmarks with a mix of technology and smart coordination by multiple agencies working 24x7.

During a visit to the Operations Control Centre (OCC), functioning from a make-shift, yet spacious building, OneIndia witnessed a host of activities being coordinated with precision.

IAF Garuds impress visitors with their mean machines and killer looks

Bengaluru: Every visitor who steps into the Air Force Station Yelahanka is curious to know about a group of mighty men moving around in a blue open gypsy. Their camouflage attire, killer looks and mean weapons are being admired by every aviation aficionado flocking the show.

If the Breitling Wingwalkers have stolen the hearts of plane people at Aero India with their mesmerising sky party skills, on ground, the Special Forces of the Indian Air Force - Garuds - have caught the imagination of thousands who stop by to take a closer look at these men who appear to be from a different planet!

A free backyard show for these lucky villagers

Bengaluru: "Wanna watch Aero India for free? Just take a left and travel for about 2km," announced a shopkeeper at Hunasamaranahalli, about 1km from Yelahanka Air Base, on Friday morning.

We take a deviation from Ballari Road and crisscross through a narrow stretch to reach Suggata village.

You think Aero India's flying high? Here are some realities

Bangalore: When the gates at the AeroIndia-2015 in Yelahanka airbase open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, it will be a delight for first-timers. But if you are one of those who have participated in previous editions of the biennial aero-show, this one is likely to be a lacklustre affair. Contrary to the grandness of the show in 2011 and 2013, AeroIndia 2015 has almost nothing to much to offer except for the aerobatic teams and the hype generated around PM Narendra Modi's "Make in India" theme.

Russia Hopes to Sign Fifth-Gen Fighter Aircraft Deal with India in 2015

Russia expressed confidence that the long delayed concluding agreement with India on the joint production of the fifth generation fighter aircraft can be signed this year.
A Russian T-50 fighter lands at an airfield of the Sukhoi aircraft manufacturing plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. A new fighter aircraft seen as Russia's response to U.S. advances in military aviation made a successful first test flight, plane maker Sukhoi said.Reuters