IAG to acquire Irish government stake in Aer Lingus

International Airlines Group has agreed to purchase the Irish government held stake of flag-carrier Aer Lingus for approximately €1.4 billion.

Existing Aer Lingus shareholders will receive €2.55 in cash for each Share, comprising a cash payment of €2.50 per share and a cash dividend of €0.05 per share.

The terms of the transaction represent a premium of approximately 40 per cent on the closing price of €1.82 per Aer Lingus Share on December 17th 2014, the last dealing day prior to the first IAG offer.

Commenting on the deal, Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG said: “Aer Lingus, Ireland and IAG would all benefit from this deal.

Air France plane narrowly avoids Mount Cameroon crash

A Boeing 777 operated by Air France narrowly missed crashing into Mount Cameroon earlier this month French investigators have revealed.

Flight AF953 was travelling from Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, to Douala, the largest city in Cameroon, when it came close to Africa’s highest mountain.

Avoiding storm clouds on May 2nd, the plane came close to hitting the 4,040-metre Mount Cameroon.

French accident investigators BEA have now opened an investigation.

Qatar Airways prepares fleet for Paris Air Show 2015

Qatar Airways is preparing to showcase the newest and best of its fleet with a display of five aircraft at the 2015 Paris Air Show, which takes place next month at Le Bourget in Paris.

The planes include the Airbus A380 and A350 XWB, both of which entered service for the airline recently, with Qatar Airways receiving the A350 as Global Launch Customer.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker, said: “The five aircraft that will be on display at this year’s Paris Air Show symbolise the dynamic growth of our airline and our constant focus on world-class quality.

“Not only will we be showcasing our A350 XWB for which we are the Global Launch Customer, but we will also have four other benchmark-setting aircraft this year, showcasing Qatar Airways’ five-star hospitality.”

CLIA UK launches new website dedicated to online cruise training

CLIA UK & Ireland is re-launching its travel agent website as figures show that more users than ever before are visiting the site for the dedicated online cruise training and its unique resources. 

More than 6,500 users completed twenty-seven thousand online modules in the past year. 

Recognising the changing way in which travel agents visit the website, will become fully compatible for users on mobiles and tablets for the first time. 

In addition the site will be organised into three distinct areas. 

Boeing delivers first Next-Generation 737-800 to Transaero

Boeing has delivered Transaero’s first Next-Generation 737-800.

The airplane, sporting a new livery, arrived at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport earlier.

Transaero’s newest 737 has a recognizable radome “bump” on top of the fuselage just behind the wings.

The dome-shaped radome covers a Ku-band satellite antenna system that enables broadband passenger connectivity all over the world — even over oceans.

Kempinski Seychelles to welcome World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2015

Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare has been selected to host the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2015.

Set to take place on Saturday, June 20th, the dazzling red-carpet ceremony will welcome hospitality leaders and luminaries from across the regions.

Located on the south end of Mahé in Baie Lazare, Kempinski Seychelles Resort is the perfect location for the Gala Ceremony.

An indulgent retreat offering a huge variety of facilities and activities, the hotel offers everything from adventure holidays spent exploring the unique natural landscape of the Seychelles to romantic breaks in one of the breathtaking suites.

International Air Transport Association workshop visits Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has played host to the International Air Transport Association workshop aiming to play its part in improving all aspects of air travel for passengers with some blue-sky thinking.

The two-day workshop, held at the Rotana Hotel on the emirate’s Yas Island, was organised by IATA and welcomed airline professionals from across the Middle East and North Africa region in a bid to discuss and create innovative solutions to make the industry easier to do business with for both customers and partners, to improve the customer experience as well as to reduce industry costs.

The event, partially sponsored by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, tackled all aspects of air travel in the industry with delegates looking to offer new and exciting ideas to boost customer satisfaction and at the same time dealing with any regional constraints.

Ryanair sees profits rise as customer service overhaul pays dividend

Low-cost carrier Ryanair has seen profits rise 66 per cent for the year to the end of March, reporting net full-year profits of €867 million.

The ‘Always Getting Better’ customer experience programme launched by Ryanair had attracted “millions of new customers to Ryanair” chief executive Michael O’Leary said, leaving figures slightly ahead of analysts’ expectations.

Falling oil prices also reduced operating costs.

Passenger traffic at the low-cost carrier was up 11 per cent for the year, with Ryanair carrying 90.6 million customers.

Mueller moves to allay Malaysia Airlines fears following administrator appointment

Christoph Mueller, chief executive of Malaysian Airline System Berhad and CEO-designate of the new airline, Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), has assured customers MAS operations will continue as normal with the appointment of the administrator.

Malaysia Airlines remains continues to implement a restructuring plan which will see it cut upward of a third of its workforce in an effort to recover after two plane tragedies last year.

The carrier was battered by an avalanche of negative publicity last year after the mysterious disappearance of flight MH370 and the shooting down of MH17 over Ukraine.

Commenting on the appointment of an administrator to oversee the restructuring process Mueller stated: “I assure you our operations are very much business as usual.

Celebrity Cruises sees new website go live in Middle East

Celebrity Cruises Middle East representative, Travel Matrix has announced the launch of their new website dedicated to the Middle East market.

This new site will provide an online brand presence for Celebrity Cruises and its impactful content and images give great insight into its plethora of amenities, entertainment options, food and beverage outlets, range of kids and family activities, meeting facilities and more.

The site will also highlight exciting offers and provide the facility for browsing Celebrity Cruises unique itineraries and for booking online.

Abu Dhabi makes play for golf tourism market with new portal

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority is teeing up an ambitious golf tourism drive to strengthen the UAE capital’s standing as a world-class golfing destination.

The plan will target expanding golf markets in Europe, China, India and across the GCC as well as across the United Arab Emirates.

Pitching the extensive promotional push to the emirate’s golf industry partners, TCA Abu Dhabi is set to get into full swing through the establishment of a powerful Industry Development Committee, supported by Abu Dhabi’s leading golf courses, tour operators, hoteliers and destination promotion agencies, which will work together to fulfil the emirate’s expanding golf tourism ambitions.

Air France boosts Cuba connections as tourism soars

Air France has confirmed it will operate an additional weekly flight to Havana in Cuba from October 2015, increasing its offer to 11 weekly departures during winter 2015.

Air France has offered flights to Cuba for the past 17 years, operating daily services from the UK to Havana via Paris-Charles de Gaulle throughout the summer season.

HNA Group joins with NetEase for new online travel venture

Air France has confirmed it will operate an additional weekly flight to Havana in Cuba from October 2015, increasing its offer to 11 weekly departures during winter 2015.

Air France has offered flights to Cuba for the past 17 years, operating daily services from the UK to Havana via Paris-Charles de Gaulle throughout the summer season.

Civil aviation ministry fails to take flight

Uncertainty looms large over the expected key civil aviation policies and decisions of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

The sector is waiting for the government to take decisive steps on aviation policy, new flying abroad rules and route dispersal guidelines.

India Air Traffic Management. Unique CAPA report: the ATM system and AAI's plans for integration

The most comprehensive (170 page) report ever produced on India's ATM system reviews the structure, governance and operation of Air Navigation Services in India. The global vision and plans set down by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for the global Air Traffic Management system are also described and considered in their context for India’s air navigation services provider (ANSP), the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Airport privatisation: Airport Authority of India extends deadline for submitting bids

NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has again extended the deadline for submitting bids for control of four airports, further delaying their privatisation process.
The private players can now submit their applications for short-listing till July 1, the AAI said today.

SpiceJet Bombardier Q-400 fleet pilots get 20-25 per cent pay hike

NEW DELHI: Budget carrier SpiceJetBSE 1.09 % has hiked the salary packages of its Bombardier Q-400 fleet commanders by 20-25 per cent, bringing them on par with Boeing pilots, sources said.
The move is also aimed at arresting the increased migration of such pilots to the cash-rich gulf airlines, who offer attractive pay packages, they said.

Lost hope to recover money from Kingfisher Airlines: United Bank of India

As per a PTI report, United Bank of India, the state-owned lender, has become the first of the 17 lenders to publicly admit that it no longer expects to recover its dues from the beleaguered Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KFA).

Interestingly, the Kolkata-based lender was the first bank to attempt to get Vijay Mallya, Chairman of KFA, tagged as a wilful defaulter. Mallya and UB Group, however, challenged this tag in the court.

Air Asia Begins Operations From New Delhi

Air Asia, the budget airlines which began operations almost an year ago in India, is now flying from New Delhi. Initially the low cost airlines had started operations only in the Southern part of India covering places like Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi.

Promoters of AirAsia to pump close to Rs 100 crore equity in few months

MUMBAI: The promoters of AirAsia India have pumped in close to Rs 100 crore equity into the company and increased its authorised share capital by more than three times in the past few months, according to official documents and two persons familiar with the matter.

Mumbai: Delayed, Air India fliers create chaos at T2

Around 50 passengers who had arrived from Bangkok created an unruly scene, shouting slogans against the national carrier after their onward connection to Ahmedabad was delayed for around 3 hours

Ryanair steps up Manchester - Dublin service

Ryanair will increase flights on its Manchester to Dublin service from 5 to 6 times daily, due to overwhelming demand, offering UK business customers even more low fares to Dublin.

UK business customers can enjoy allocated seating, a free second carry-on bag, reduced fees, an improved website and app with mobile boarding passes, while also availing of our Family Extra and Business Plus services, making Ryanair the ideal choice for business travellers.

Etihad to fly fourth daily frequency to Bangkok

Etihad Airways will add a fourth daily service between Abu Dhabi and Bangkok from 1 July 2015.

Operated by a B777-300ER aircraft, the new service will increase the number of roundtrip flights which Etihad Airways operates between the two cities to 28 per week, and add approximately 5,000 weekly seats to the route.

The new flight will offer business and leisure travellers in the UAE and Thailand the convenience of additional departure and arrival times.  It will also increase capacity for guests connecting to the Bangkok service from other points on Etihad Airways’ global network and from flights to Abu Dhabi operated by its partner airlines.

Etihad appoints general manager for Kazakhstan

Etihad Airways has appointed Robert “Dougie” Douglas as its General Manager for Kazakhstan.

Mr Douglas, who assumes his new role on 1 July, will lead the airline’s commercial operations in Kazakhstan based in Almaty. He will also be responsible for further growing Etihad Airways’ relationships with its travel trade and corporate customers.

Mr Douglas’ aviation career spans more than three decades, including over 10 years with Etihad Airways, prior to which he worked with British Airways and its partner airlines in more than 10 countries, including Kazakhstan.

‘Gulf carriers rule Indian aviation’

NEW DELHI: India does not have 'genuine' low-cost carriers (LCC) as there are no budget terminals in the country. Low fares advertised by LCCs are mainly 90-day advance fares and very few can actually plan their trips so far in advance, Tata-Singapore Airlines JV Vistara chairman Prasad Menon told TOI in a freewheeling interview.

Civil Aviation Ministry not to regulate airfares after analysis, okays price structure

NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has dropped its plan to regulate airfares. The decision, which spells a relief for airlines, came after the ministry's analysis of lowest and highest fares showed fares have come down or only marginally increased in the past few years.

Predatory pricing a 'big issue', says aviation minister, favours airfare cap

Making a case for the capping of economy class airfares, which skyrocket during peak travel seasons and hit rock bottom in lean periods, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma has said that "predatory pricing" by the airlines is a "big issue" for passengers.

Five parachutes that entered Mumbai airport airspace were remote controlled: Report

The five suspected parachutes seen in the Mumbai airport airspace on Saturday were remote or radio-controlled, reported a leading daily.

PPP members protest over name of international airport

The controversy over naming the upcoming international airport met with another hurdle as members of the People’s Party of Punjab staged a protest on Sunday demanding the name of the upcoming international terminal at Mohali be changed from ‘Chandigarh International Airport’ to ‘Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh International Airport’.

20-aircraft target by 2018 is just the tip of the iceberg: Phee Teik Yeoh, Vistara CEO

Full-service carrier Vistara, the country’s latest airline, is about to complete four months in operations. With a six-plane fleet, it currently flies to 10 destinations. Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara, in an interview with Sunny Sen, talks about his expansion plans and the company’s wait for the ‘5/20’ rule to be done away with. Excerpts

Flyers' body opposes DGCA move on unbundling services

NEW DELHI: The Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI) has lambasted the directorate general of civil aviation's (DGCA) move to allow airlines to unbundle services, which means carriers can now put a separate price tag on services like selecting all seats in an aircraft.

Rise in aircraft acquisition to boost MRO sector: Industry body

The exponential rise in aircraft acquisition by domestic passenger carriers has the potential to boost the local maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry in India, the association for the sector has said.

Domestic air traffic growth in April highest since September 2014

NEW DELHI: India's aviation sector in April recorded the highest year-on-year growth in passengers since September 2014. The number of passengers during the month grew 23.33% over that a year ago, the highest increase after the 27.82% spike seven months ago.

SpiceJet Holds Five-Hour Long Flash Sale on Completion of 10 Years

New Delhi: SpiceJet, which completes 10 years of operations today, has offered a flat 10 per cent discount on its select domestic flights with a single day five-hour booking period.

Travel period for the bookings made under the "Happy Birthday to Us" flash sale offer, would be from July 1 to October 15, the airline said on Friday, adding, bookings should be made between 10 am and 3 pm.

GoAir cuts schedule of flights by 10%

NEW DELHI: Wadia Group carrier GoAir's troubles seem to be mounting by the day. The airline is learnt to have cut its schedule by at least 10% in recent days.

Over 3 kg gold seized from couple at airport

Over three kilogrammes of gold were seized by customs officials from a couple who arrived at the international airport here from Dubai today.

Missed first sale? SpiceJet gives you another chance to avail discounted air travel

New Delhi, May 23: If you missed its recent offer, then you have been given another chance by SpiceJet to avail cheap air travel.

SpiceJet Says to Raise More Funds, Increase Fleet Size

MUMBAI: Low-cost carrier SpiceJet Ltd, which came close to collapsing in December after running out of cash to pay its creditors, is looking to raise an additional 3 billion rupees ($47 million) and increase its fleet size to 45-50 aircraft by the end of fiscal 2015, the company said on Thursday.

New rules for home carriers to fly global on the cards: Mahesh Sharma

The government may soon notify new norms for domestic airlines to commence international operations with the much-debated 5/20 rule been sent for Cabinet review, minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma said at Express Group’s Idea Exchange.

Carriers will need region-specific approvals to fly overseas: DGCA

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will withdraw permissions given to all air operators’ permit (AOP) holders to fly worldwide from July 1, 2015. All scheduled airlines and charter operators, henceforth, will have to submit requisite proposals and demonstrate operational capability to fly to different geographic regions across the world barring which their operations will be restricted to within India.

Govt rapped on spraying of pesticides in aircraft

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the government and private airlines for not filing satisfactory reply to the plea of a US-based neurologist against spraying of pesticides in aircraft with passengers on board.

SpiceJet plans to raise Rs 300 crore debt

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Spice-Jet plans to raise a low-cost debt of Rs 300 crore as part of recapitalisation to shore up its finances after the budget carrier changed hands earlier this year, said a senior executive.

AirAsia launches services in Delhi

New Delhi, May 21: Budget carrier AirAsia India launched its services in the national capital from Thursday, nearly a year after it commenced operations in the country.

Indo Thai Airport Management Services to provide ground-handling services to Vistara

NEW DELHI: Dhoot Group joint venture firm Indo Thai Airport Management Services today said that it would be providing ground-handling services to the full-service carrier, Vistara.

The company recently signed an agreement with the Delhi- based airline in this regard, a release said here.

PMO upset with CBI enquiries into business deals, say sources

New Delhi: There is an apparent tussle between the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as the former is upset over the unnecessary enquiries being conducted into business deals, sources informed on Thursday.

Jet Airways extends ‘Seat Select’ product

Jet Airways, one of India’s premier international airline, has extended its seat selection product to the airlines’ travel agent partners. This enables guests the opportunity to pre-select their preferred seat, while booking through the travel agents. This will be valid on select international and domestic routes serviced by the airlines’ Boeing 737 aircraft to begin with, and will include the entire network shortly.

Airlines again under CCI scanner; face cartelisation probe

Airlines face a fresh probe for suspected cartelisation and for the alleged arbitrary hike in airfares, with the fair trade regulator CCI on Thursday saying it needs to get to the bottom of the issue.

AirAsia Adds New Route, Fares Start At Rs 1 Per Km

Budget carrier Air Asia India, which started operations from Delhi today, has also added a new route to its list of destinations from base Bengaluru.

AirAsia offers 50% discount on base fare

No-frills carrier AirAsia India has annouced 50 per cent off on its base fares. The discount is available on booking till May 24 2015 for travel period starting from 1 September 2015 to 31 March 2016.

SpiceJet Inducts Ajay Singh's Wife on the Board

Spicejet on Thursday said that the airline has appointed promoter Ajay Singh's wife Shivani Singh on its board. There had been speculation in the market that the Spicejet promoter's wife may be brought on board to comply with Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi) norm for listed companies to have at least one woman director.

Quiport unveils latest expansion at Mariscal Sucre Airport

After a tour led by the mayor of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Mauricio Rodas, the Mariscal Sucre Airport’s expansion Phase 2A became operational earlier.

The development will offer more comfort, greater services and increased efficiency for the thousands of domestic passengers that daily pass through the terminal.

This work, built with an investment of $22 million financed exclusively by the shareholders of Corporacion Quiport, ratified the concessionaire’s mission to focus its efforts on providing a first class service in all areas; in other words, for domestic and international passengers alike.

Andrew O’Brian, president, Quiport said: “It is an honour to present this new infrastructure to the city of Quito, in order to not only improve passenger comfort but also, thanks to an architectural style and materials employed, project a sense of identity and belonging to Quito, thus contributing to the excellent image that the city and the country have.”

Rocco Forte Hotels launches new events packages

Rocco Forte Hotels, the family of ten hotels across Europe, has announced a newly developed offering for meetings, conferences, events, and incentives - Rocco Forte Events.

Creating a consistent offering across the hotels, the group is launching Silver, Gold and Platinum packages.

Each of these will be personalised and tailored to clients’ individual requirements with tiered benefits for meeting planners, as well as unique offerings for delegates throughout their stay.

The new offering will be available for bookings from July.

Qatar Executive to purchase 30 Gulfstream jets

Qatar Executive, the Qatar Airways’ business jet division, has announced it has agreed to purchase up to 30 aircraft from Gulfstream Aerospace Corp as part of a memorandum of understanding originally announced in October of last year.

The original sale called for Qatar Executive to purchase up to 20 Gulfstream aircraft, including the all-new Gulfstream G500.

The recently signed final agreement increases the purchase to 30 firm orders and options that are a combination of both of Gulfstream’s new clean-sheet, wide-cabin aircraft, the G500 and G600, and the flagship G650ER.

Amadeus reveals millennial travellers increasingly open to cruise travel

New research from Amadeus finds 42 per cent of adults who holiday abroad have never embarked on a cruise holiday, but would be tempted to do so in the future.

In addition, 30 per cent would consider swapping an all-inclusive land holiday with an all-inclusive cruise trip of the same value, presenting a significant opportunity for travel agents and the cruise industry to expand its customer base and change existing perceptions of cruise travel.

The representative survey of 2,000 British adults conducted in April by YouGov, provides insights into how consumers’ attitudes towards cruise travel are changing and highlights key opportunities in this space.

Thomas Cook sees losses narrow as revenue increases

Thomas Cook has reported strong financial figures for the first half of financial 2015, with the travel agent revealing group revenue increased by £37 million to £2,742 million for the period.

Gross margins were maintained at 21.3 per cent, as improved yield management and cost efficiencies compensated for continued competitive pressures.

However, underlying EBIT improved by £18 million to a £173 million loss, excluding a £5 million benefit from Easter falling earlier this year.

Peter Fankhauser, chief executive of Thomas Cook commented: “Overall the group has made positive progress during the first half. 

ritish Airways prepares for summer sun bank holiday getaway

British Airways is expecting a staggering 626,735 people to fly with the airline over the coming May Bank Holiday weekend, in a bid to bask in the sun now that summer is on its way.

UK holiday makers look set to make the most of the five days from tomorrow to May 25th to get some much-needed sun.

The busiest days are expected to be Thursday, May 21st, with 134,337 customers flying with the airline and on Monday, May 25th when 135,523 people will take to the skies.

This is a ten per cent increase over the same period last year.

Etihad Airways welcome UAE foreign minister to Expo 2015

Etihad Airways and Alitalia have welcomed Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, to their joint pavilion at Expo Milano 2015 this week.

The airlines are Official Global Airline Carriers of Expo Milano 2015, which takes place under the theme of ‘Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.

A total of 20 million visitors are expected to attend from across the world, with Alitalia and Etihad Airways’ pavilion serving as a highlight of the Expo experience.

Thomson Airways expands Dreamliner order with addition of 787-9 planes

Two years on from the delivery of Thomson Airways’ first 787 Dreamliner, the UK’s largest holiday airline has announced it will take delivery of up to four new, larger Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft to expand its long-haul programme.

Demonstrating its continued commitment to the Dreamliner, Thomson Airways has converted two existing orders for 787-8 (for delivery in summer 2016) to the new larger capacity 787-9 aircraft. 

The airline has also placed an order for a third 787-9 with an option to purchase a fourth, growing its Dreamliner fleet to 13 aircraft by June 2016.

Qatar Airways to bring A350 to Munich-Doha route

Qatar Airways has announced the expansion of its A350 services to Germany, with the new state-of-the-art aircraft being deployed on its Doha-Munich route.

Commencing October 1st 2015, the Doha-based airline will be launching the A350 XWB to Munich alongside its existing Boeing 787 Dreamliner service on one of the two double-daily flights to Munich.

Legoland Hotel opens at Legoland Florida Resort

Legoland Hotel at Legoland Florida Resort has opened, marking the expansion of the resort to become an immersive, multi-day experience for families.

The grand opening was honoured with thousands of colourful Lego minifigures blasting out of cannons atop the hotel and a child discovering a key to open the hotel built for kids.

The Legoland Hotel debuts several features unique to LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

Embraer predicts sales of $96bn in US aviation by 2035

Embraer has released its 20-year Market Outlook for the North American market in which it forecasts 2,060 new jet deliveries in the 70 to 130-seat segment.

It represents nearly 35 per cent of the total worldwide demand for aircraft in this particular segment and is valued at US$ 96 billion at list prices.

Some 47 per cent of the region’s new deliveries are expected to support market growth while 53 per cent will replace ageing aircraft that will be retiring by 2034.

Top US airlines are exiting India and the reason can seriously dent the Indian aviation market

Even though New Delhi and Washington share strong bilateral and trade relationship, especially in IT and agriculture sector, the US is not happy with the aviation trade between the two nations.

Air India's Mental Health Test for Pilots Runs into Trouble

NEW DELHI:  In the wake of the horrific German Wings plane crash in which 149 people died, Air India revamped its recruitment process for pilots to include evaluation of mental health.  But the process has run into trouble, with the rejected candidates calling the system flawed and unscientific.

AI flight makes emergency landing at Amausi

LUCKNOW: An Air India flight from New Delhi to Bhubaneswar with 169 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Amausi airport here on Tuesday afternoon after the pilot saw a crack on the aircraft's windshield.

India's First Private Greenfield Airport Begins Operation in Durgapur

NEW DELHI:  On May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew out of Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Durgapur in West Bengal.

Drunk pilot prevented from flying from Sharjah

A pilot was prevented from flying an Indian Airlines Airbus A320 from Sharjah after he was found to be drunk.

'I Was Wrong,' Says Union Minister Who Tried to Break the Rules at Patna Airport

PATNA:  Despite public opinion railing against VIP culture, some ministers are finding it hard to recalibrate what appear to be default settings. In Patna today, union minister Ram Kripal Yadav tried, with his entourage, to enter the airport through the exit gate.

Air India plane with 169 on board makes emergency landing

BHUBANESWAR: A Delhi-Bhubaneswar Air India flight (AI 873) made an emergency landing at Lucknow airport with 169 passengers onboard at about 12.30 pm on Tuesday. All the passengers were safe after the landing.

SpiceJet offer: In new sale, tickets priced at Rs 1,010 for limited period

Budget airline SpiceJet has come up with a new offer as it turns 10 this week. To celebrate the occasion Spicejet, on Tuesday, launched a special discount offer called the #CelebrationSale with tickets priced at Rs 1,010, which is all inclusive.

Air India operates inaugural flight between Durgapur & Kolkata

NEW DELHI: Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Durgapur started commercial operations today with an Air India flight connecting Durgapur to Kolkata today. The flight may be upgraded to a bigger Airbus planes after 45 days of operations.

AI pilot caught drunk in Sharjah suspended

NEW DELHI: Air India has suspended the commander who was caught drunk in Sharjah on Saturday just before operating a flight to India. The airline has instituted an inquiry and will take further action — that could even be termination of service — as this is the third time this particular captain has failed pre-flight breath analyser test.

Andal airport promises a star-studded take-off today

KOLKATA: Stars will literally descend on Andal near Durgapur on Monday evening, adding glitz and glamour to the inauguration of commercial operations at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport. The unassuming 42-seater turboprop plane that is scheduled to touch down on the runway of the country's first greenfield airport at 5.40pm has on its passengers manifesto matinee idol Dev and a host of Tollywood celebrities including Moon Moon Sen, Nusrat Jahan, Mimi Chakraborty, Hiron Chatterjee, Raj Chakraborty, Shrabonti and Soham Chakraborty.

AirAsia India wants foreign flying clarity before expansion

Low-cost carrier Air Asia India has decided to go slow with its fleet expansion due to lack of clarity on international flying rules. It has also deferred its one-plane-per-month fleet expansion plan, and plans to end the year with 7-10 planes from the present five.

Jet Airways Misled On Reason For Delay, Claims Flyer

NEW DELHI: A Jet Airways customer has dragged the airline to aviation regulator DGCA as he sought a probe into the delay of one of its flights after accusing the airline of misleading the passengers regarding the cause behind the same.

AirAsia India Wants Foreign Flying Clarity Before Expansion

MUMBAI: Low-cost carrier Air Asia India has decided to go slow with its fleet expansion due to lack of clarity on international flying rules and has also deferred its one-plane-per-month fleet expansion plan, ending the year with 7-10 planes from the present five.

Jet Airways misled on reason for delay, claims flyer, moves DGCA

New Delhi, May 17: A Jet Airways customer has dragged the airline to aviation regulator DGCA as he sought a probe into the delay of one of its flights after accusing the airline of misleading the passengers regarding the cause behind the same.

Now, SpiceJet Offers Discount on Select Flights

Amid airlines in the Indian market trying to attract more customers than rivals, SpiceJet is offering a discount of 5 per cent on base fares for select flights on its domestic network.

Kangra airport set for expansion

DHARAMSHALA: Located at the height of 2,492 feet above sea level and spread over 1,269 acres, the scenic airport of the Himachal Pradesh may finally get the expansion plan rolling after a decade-long wait. Urban development minister Sudhir Sharma has passed orders to locate the land for the expansion of the Kangra airport within a month.

Rejected pilots find Air India recruitment test flawed

A day after Air India rejected 56 candidates out of the 160 pilots selected for recruitment interviews for flying A320 aircraft, a group of pilots, some of them from Mumbai, has alleged that the psychometric test that was the ground for their rejection was conducted in an improper manner.

Aviation ministry to send back all junior staff on deputation from various PSUs to save sensitive data

NEW DELHI: The civil aviation ministry has for the first time decided to send back all executives below the rank of assistant manager who are on deputation to the ministry from various public sector undertakings, an attempt to further tighten loopholes that could lead to leakage of sensitive information.

Air India’s Nagpur MRO ready for commercial operation

Air India’s Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at Nagpur is almost ready to commence operation and according to officials it will be operational by next month.

India's first private greenfield airport at Andal set to start flights

Satyajit Bose, a prominent senior cardiac surgeon in Durgapur and chairman of The Mission Hospital there, is planning to fly Air India to Kolkata on May 18 to be a part of what he thinks will be “a historic moment” for the people in the region. That is the day the Bengal Aerotropolis Projects (BAPL)-promoted private greenfield airport – India’s first such – at Andal near Durgapur becomes operational.

“I am very happy. Finally it has happened,” he told Business Standard.

Budget carrier flydubai targets more routes to India

Flydubai plans a huge expansion in India and the subcontinent as it targets emerging under-served commuter routes in the world’s second-most populous nation.

But it will first have to overcome strict capacity limits imposed on foreign carriers in the country.

Coimbatore's airport expansion foremost priority, says new director

COIMBATORE: Land acquisition for the expansion of the runway at the Coimbatore International Airport might get an additional thrust with the appointment of a new director.

Now, Chennai Airport Takes Off With New Twitter Handle

CHENNAI:The place where the city airport gets the most amount of flak and ridicule is social media, particularly when a piece of ceiling or glass panel falls down. To counter this and boost the image of the airport as a clean, modern transit space the Chennai Airport now has an official twitter handle @aaichnairport.

Congestion in Security Hold Area at Tiruchi airport all set to ease

Congestion in the Security Hold Area (SHA) accommodating air passengers at the new terminal building of Tiruchi international airport will greatly ease henceforth with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) modifying the SHA.

Frasers Hospitality sweeps serviced apartments categories at World Travel Awards

Frasers Hospitality has won four highly coveted awards at the 2015 World Travel Awards Middle East, retaining its title as Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand for the third consecutive year.

Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain, Fraser Suites Doha and Fraser Suites Dubai also won Leading Serviced Apartments for its respective territories, recognising its commitment to excellence and innovation in maintaining high product and service standards.

The most prestigious awards of the travel and tourism industry, the World Travel Awards is the ultimate hallmark of quality, where travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers vote winners.

Revenue up but losses continue at LATM Airlines

LATAM Airlines Group has reported strong operating results for first quarter 2015, with operating income reaching US$227 million, 102 per cent higher than the US$113 million reported in first quarter 2014.

Operating margin reached 8.1 per cent at the South American group, compared to 3.5 per cent in the same period 2014.

The significant margin expansion during the first quarter 2015 was mainly driven by a 16 per cent reduction in the company’s operating costs.

Cost per ASK equivalent decreased by 17 per cent, including the effect of lower fuel prices.

Rotana makes European debut with double hotel launch in Turkey

Rotana, the leading hotel management company operating hotels across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, has announced that both Burgu Arjaan by Rotana and Tango Arjaan by Rotana in Istanbul, Turkey will officially open their doors to guests on June 1st 2015.

The double opening marks Rotana’s expansion into the European market.

Adding a total of 318 rooms to Rotana’s existing 13,359-strong room count, both properties will share a host of recreational facilities including the lobby, lounge café, business centre, restaurant, Fitness & Wellness Club, indoor and outdoor pools and landscaped areas, as well as three meeting and conference rooms.

Air India turns to banks, financial institutions for financing Dreamliner purchase

NEW DELHI: Air India is seeking offers from banks and financial institutions to raise $110 million for making the advance payment for six Dreamliner (Boeing 787-8) aircraft which the carrier has to acquire during the next fiscal.

Nadda seeks to improve Himachal airport

Union Health Minister JP Nadda met Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here and discussed proposals to improve air connectivity for Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said here on Friday.

UAS opens regional office in India

UAS International Trip Support is strengthening its presence in India through its new office in New Delhi, which opened last month at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Bengaluru airport to have self check-in, baggage handling systems

Bengaluru, May 14 (PTI) Passengers flying out of Kempegowda International airport here will no longer have to stand in long queues for check-in as the airport operator plans to implement a system that allows passengers to print their own boarding passes as well as baggage tags from next month.

Man held with 320g gold at airport

AHMEDABAD: The Air Intelligence Unit of Customs department on Thursday held a Patiala-based man for smuggling 320 grams of gold worth Rs 8.78 lakh at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. Gurpreet Singh was held with two gold bars which were concealed in rectum. Singh was coming from Bangkok via Mumbai.

Suspicious powder seized at airport

AURANGABAD: Around 250gm of a yellow powder, suspected to be an explosive, was seized at the Chikalthana airport here on Tuesday night. The forensic report of the substance is awaited even as police quizzed three persons trying to send the powder through a courier agency.

650 gm gold seized at airport

JAIPUR: If customs officials go by usual conventions, gold smuggler can go scot-free as the smugglers have now brought in innovations in their modus operandi.

One in three pilots fails psychological test in Air India hiring drive

A stringent psychological test for pilots in the wake of the Germanwings disaster has led Air India to reject nearly a third of the prospective candidates.

The airline might find it difficult to fill posts for senior trainee pilots for Airbus A320 aircraft.

DGCA examining high cancellation charges of airlines, may step in

NEW DELHI: Livid at most private Indian carriers sharply hiking ticket cancellation charges, flyers and passenger organizations have approached the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to stop this 'fleecing'.

Cheap Flight Tickets: Book Jet Airways flight tickets at Rs 1,280

New Delhi, May 14: Jet Airways has come up with another interesting offer. The domestic carrier has been offering flight tickets at Rs 1,280. The offer is available only on advance bookings for select flights within India.

Bengaluru airport to have self check-in, baggage handling

Passengers flying out of Kempegowda International airport here will no longer have to stand in long queues for check-in as the airport operator plans to implement a system that allows passengers to print their own boarding passes as well as baggage tags from next month.

India to Look at Enhancing Air Connectivity to China

NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-day visit to China from tomorrow, India may look at enhancing air connectivity between the two nations.

"We will certainly look at increasing air services to China," a Civil Aviation Ministry source said here today.

Air links, tourism on PM Modi’s China agenda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to sign an agreement to boost tourism on his maiden visit to China.

MPs oppose cancellation charge hike by airlines

NEW DEHI: Upset at the hike in cancellation charges by some Indian carriers, 20 MPs on Wednesday demanded that aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju rein in the airlines and get the hike rolled back. Led by BJP's Kirit Somaiya, the MPs gave a list of troubles that air travelers in India face — high fares in peak seasons, delayed and cancelled flights and "arbitrary and very high" cancellation charges.

CBI to look into ‘irregularities’ in handing over land for IGI airport

The CBI on Monday registered a preliminary enquiry against unknown officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) for irregularities in lease of government land to DIAL during the UPA government’s tenure.

Now, Pre-Booking Seat With Extra Leg-Room on Airlines to Cost More

New Delhi: Fliers of two no-frill carriers, IndiGo and SpiceJet, will have to shell out more if they pre- booking a seat of their choice or wants to collect early their baggage from conveyor belt at the airport as the airlines have decided to tag a cost to these services, if availed.

West Bengal’s Andal Airport to commence operations from May 18

In a move which will help in the growth of trade and tourism industry in the Asansol- Durgapur industrial belt in West Bengal, the State chief minister, Mamata Banerjee announced that the commercial operation of the country’s first private ‘Greenfield Airport’ at Andal in Burdwan district will start from May 18, 2015 with a six-day-a-week flight service between Durgapur and Kolkata.

AP’s ambitious airport projects run into trouble

HYDERABAD: With the farmers refusing to part with their land and opposition parties launching movements against land acquisition, the AP government's grand plan to build an international airport near Visakhapatnam and to develop five other airports has hit a major road block.

SITA’s passenger processing system to be operational in Kempegowda Airport from next month

Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (KIAB), which is the busiest airport in South India, will use passenger processing technology from air transport IT specialist, SITA to manage its passengers. The system operations will start next month. The seven-year, multimillion-dollar contract includes SITA’s AirportConnect Open passenger processing platform, the latest self-service check-in kiosks, and SITA’s baggage reconciliation service - BagManager, as per a release.

WiFi facilities for Bhubaneswar airport soon

BHUBANESWAR: WiFi facilities will start both at the domestic and international terminal buildings of Biju Patnaik airport soon. Bharti Infratel Limited has signed a seven-year contract with the airport to provide the facility.

Travelport signs with Etihad for new global distribution deal

Travelport and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have today jointly announced the extension of their multi-year, full content agreement.

The agreement means that Travelport-connected agents worldwide will have continued access to effectively search, compare and book Etihad Airways fares and offering via Travelport’s industry-leading Travel Commerce Platform.

Katara Hospitality brings Excelsior Hotel Gallia to Milan

Starwood Hotels & Resorts will today unveil the multi-million euro full restoration of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in Milan.

The move is part of the American company’s continued strategy to invest in the creation and restoration of its luxury portfolio.

Owned by Doha-based Katara Hospitality and situated in the heart of the city’s rapidly emerging Porta Nuova district, Excelsior Hotel Gallia is a glittering reflection of Milan’s rich culture, sophisticated style and vibrant scene. 

The property is expected to be the latest success for Katara, which was recently recognised asMiddle East’s Leading Hospitality Development Company by the by the World Travel Awards.

This historic hotel has been one of the most prestigious hotels in Milan since 1932 when it first opened as Palace Gallia.

United Airlines trials new united.com website

United Airlines has unveiled the beta version of the company’s new homepage and flight booking features for united.com.

The new site encompasses everything from searching and sorting flight options to reserving and buying tickets.

The site offers a sleek, modern and touch-friendly design, along with all-new personalised features and tools to help customers select the best flights and travel options to meet their needs.

Air India hires 365 for cabin crew, 435 more to join

NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India has picked 365 candidates this year while the recruitment exercise is under way for filling up 435 vacancies to tackle shortage of cabin crew, Parliament was informed today.

Indigo has maximum number of CAT-IIIB equipped aircraft

NEW DELHI: Indigo owns the maximum number of aircraft laced with CAT-IIIB system, which helps in dealing with low visibility during takeoff and landing, followed by Air India and Jet AirwaysBSE 0.28 % in the second and third position respectively, Parliament was informed today.

SpiceJet launches ancillary products for add-on fees

NEW DELHI: Days after the directorate general of civil aviation allowed airlines to unbundle services, low cost carrier SpiceJet has launched four new ancillary products for add-on fees.

GoI grants approval for setting up of 15 Greenfield airports 'in principle'

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma on Tuesday said confirmed the Government of India has granted 'in principle' the approval for setting up of 15 Greenfield airports in the country.

Theft cases at Delhi's IGI Airport increased in 2014

The number of theft cases reported at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here rose to 67 last year compared to only 14 in 2013, the government informed the Rajya Sabha today.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma, in a written reply, said that 67 theft cases were reported at the IGI Airport in 2014 compared to 14 in 2013.

Flying gets costlier as airlines hike rates

NEW DELHI: All aisle and window seats on IndiGo flights will cost more, if pre-booked. This follows the DGCA's nod to airlines to pre-book all seats.

Indian Aviation: Flights of Fancy

The Indian civil aviation industry continues to lurch from one controversy to another, without much respite. The main reason is that India believes in governance by discretion. Every rule, and policy, remains on paper and is conveniently waived to suit specific political interests.

Maharaja in tatters: Air India runs aground over ageing fleet

Ageing fleet and poor maintenance of aircraft by Air India is becoming a nightmare for the crew operating these aircraft and passengers flying them.

Air India flight delay, thanks to rest-deprived crew

Passengers booked on Air India’s Jeddah-Mumbai flight on Friday had to suffer for three hours, as four members of the cabin crew refused to board the flight citing inadequate provision of rest hours. The flight, scheduled to leave at 2115 hours, left only at 0015 hours after the crew rested for 22 hours, the duration they deemed fit.

Indian air traffic jumped 18% in March

According to the latest data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the country’s passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger kilometres, or RPK), jumped 17.9% year-on-year during the month.

Narendra Modi first passenger to use Andal airport

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first passenger to fly out of the Kazi Nazrul Islam airport in West Bengal's Andal, days before it begins commercial operations.

Tiruchi airport gets radar feeds from Chennai

Air traffic surveillance mechanism of Tiruchi international airport has enhanced with the transfer of radar feeds from Chennai airport having commenced.

Vistara will continue to learn from dynamics of the market: Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO

India's newest airline, Vistara, launched by a JV between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, has had tough promises to live up to in the four months since it spread its wings in the Indian skies.

SpiceJet to hire 100 pilots, 200 cabin crew

NEW DELHI: Low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet may have come a full circle from its troubled days when it was witnessing an exodus of pilots, cabin crew and other staff.

AI may tie up with SBI, Citibank to raise funds through ECB

National carrier Air India is likely to tie up with Citibank and public sector lender State Bank of India to raise USD 300 million from overseas market via External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) route, sources said.

Stuck for 7 years, govt decides to rope in AAI for Kushinagar airport

After failing to build Kushinagar International Airport on the public-partnership model for seven years, the state government has now decided to take the support of Airports Authority of India (AAI) to make the project a reality.

Govt nod may clear skies for civil use of drones

In what would make civil use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) a reality in India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has forwarded for approval draft norms to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), based on regulations unveiled in Australia and the United States. It, however, remains to be seen whether India approves commercial operation of drones for deliveries by e-tailers as both United States and Australia currently require UAVs to be launched within line-of-sight of operators.

Air Asia expands wings

AirAsia Berhad is offering all inclusive fares from as low as Rs.3,399 from Visakhapatnam to Kuala Lumpur for the booking period till May 17 and travel period from May 10 to September 30, 2015.

Air India refutes pilots body’s claims, says junior pilots not exploited

Air India has dismissed Indian Commercial Pilots Association’s (ICPA) claim that the airline pays its junior pilots on an ad hoc basis, doesn’t pay them for domestic night stops, forces them to fly overtime and does not grant them leave, causing illness. ICPA had written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on the issue, marking a copy to Air India, last month.

West Bengal's 1st greenfield airport to be operational from May 18

KOLKATA: The first private greenfield airport in West Bengal is ready for commercial operation from May 18. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has informed this through Facebook.

HAL airport denied permission to reopen

The civil aviation ministry on Friday decided not to reopen the once-thriving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for short-haul flights citing technical reasons. The airport has been closed since 2008 after the Kempegowda International Airport became operational.

Air India plane makes 'precautionary landing', passengers safe

KOLKATA: An Air India Delhi-Bagdogra plane, with 152 passengers on board, made a 'precautionary landing' at the N S C Bose International airport here today.

INDIAN AIR CARGO INDUSTRY TO GROW AT 5.5%, SAYS STUDY

The total market opportunity in the Indian air cargo sector is expected touch 2.8 million tonnes by 2018, increasing at a compounded annual growth rate of 5.5%, a study said.

In 2014, the market size was 2.26 million tonnes. Experts said that the industry will maintain the growth path for at least the next five years.

AirAsia Berhad celebrates maiden flight from Visakhapatnam to Kuala Lumpur with awesome low fares!

AirAsia Berhad today celebrated its maiden direct flight to the capital of Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur from the city of Visakhapatnam following its announcement of the new route in March,

11.34 kg of gold seized

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Air Customs Intelligence wing seized 11.340 kg of smuggled-in gold from four passengers who arrived at Calicut International Airport, Karipur, from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday morning.

Jet Airways Offers Discount on Select Flights

As airlines in the domestic market continue to eye more customers than rivals, Jet Airways has come with a scheme offering a 5 per cent discount on one-way base fares of select flights.

Qatar Air eyes stake in India’s IndiGo but wary on A380neo

Qatar Airways would be interested in buying up to 49 percent of India’s IndiGo though the owners of the sub-continent’s largest carrier by market share have no immediate plans to sell, the Doha-based airline’s chief executive said.

Onyx signs two OZO properties in Malaysia

Thai-based Onyx Hospitality Group has signed management agreements for two new projects under select-service brand OZO and serviced apartment brand Shama in Iskandar, Malaysia.

Located within the burgeoning township of Medini in Iskandar, the two new developments, OZO Medini and Shama Medini will be part of the multi-purpose UMCity Medini Lakeside complex from leading lifestyle developer United Malayan Land.

LAN Airlines welcomes first Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 to South America

LAN Airlines has added the first 787-9 aircraft in Latin America to its fleet.

The 787-9 is an extended version of the 787-8, capable of transporting 27 per cent more passengers and 23 per cent more cargo. 

LAN will configure the cabin with 283 Economy Class seats and 30 Premium Business Class seats.

AHIC 2015: Technology key to hospitality future says Trump

Global leaders at The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference today agreed that technology and innovation is very important in developing hotels for the next generation.

AHIC morning witnessed a strong interview with Ivanka Trump, executive vice president of development and acquisitions of The Trump Organisation, who was in conversation with Susan Harmsworth founder of ESPA on the future of luxury and the next generation of luxury traveller.

AHIC 2015: JLL argues for long-term bet on Middle Eastern hospitality

JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has released its 2015 Middle East Hotel Intelligence Reports for the key markets of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah and Riyadh at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai. 

Amid strong international appetite for hotel assets in the Unites States, Western Europe and Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa region continues to witness solid hotel development activity and destination building.

AHIC 2015: Dubai World Central signs three new hotel partners

Dubai World Central has announced the signing of separate agreements that will see the development of three international hotels – Aloft, Studio M and Millennium – at DWC.

The agreements were signed with Radar DWC (Aloft), Tetra Hospitality Investment (Studio M) and ABA Hospitality DWC (Millennium).

The hotels are scheduled for completion between 2018 and 2019 and will collectively add 1,300 rooms to DWC’s hospitality offering.

Civil Aviation Ministry hails Air India for evacuation of Indians from Yemen

According to a PTI report, the role of Air India Ltd. in safe evacuation of stranded Indians and people of other nationalities from war-hit Yemen was appreciated, with Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India, felicitating the airline crew in recognition of their efforts.

Air India revamps Australian schedule

Air India is dropping tag flights between Sydney and Melbourne and will instead offer non-stop services from Delhi to both cities.

The change, which will apply from May 16, will result in Air India flying the Delhi-Sydney route four times a week and offer three weekly Delhi-Melbourne services.

17,000 Air India employees set to elect union leaders

Grappling with labour issues ever since its merger with Indian Airlines in 2007, Air India will see more than 17,000 of its employees, and that of its subsidiaries, elect their union leaders in July.

Sydney Airport welcomes Air India’s non-stop Sydney-Delhi service

Air India is now offering four weekly non-stop flights from Sydney to Delhi, providing a convenient connection to India, according to Sydney Airport.

“India is one of Sydney Airport’s fastest growing markets so we’re pleased that this non-stop Sydney-India service will improve convenience for a growing number of passengers,” Sydney Airport managing director and chief executive officer Kerrie Mather said.

Delhi airport witnesses diversions and delays

NEW DELHI: The Delhi airport witnessed diversions and delays in the afternoon on Thursday after two runways out of three were not available for operations for half an hour due to a glitch in the Instrument Landing system (ILS).

Direct flight from Surat to Diu from June

SURAT: There is some good news for the travel freaks in Surat as the travel time between Surat and the Union territory of Diu is set to reduce from treacherous nine hours to less than an hour. Come June and the Diamond City will get the much-awaited air connectivity to Diu.

Air India in talks with Airbus for $1.5bn jets

Air India, the state-owned carrier, is in talks with Airbus Group to order single-aisle jets worth $1.5bn at list prices, according to a person with direct knowledge of the discussions.
The carrier wants to purchase at least 14 A320neo aircraft, according to the person, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. An A320neo costs $106.2mn at list prices, and buyers usually get a discount if they order planes in bulk. Air India will sell the new planes to lessors and then lease them back, the person said.