AirAsia India`s maiden flight on Bangalore-Goa route; ticket starts at Rs 339

Chennai: Low cost carrier AirAsia India on Friday said its maiden daily flight will be on the Bangalore-Goa route, with a price tag of Rs 990 including taxes.
The first A320 flight is scheduled to leave Bangalore on June 12 afternoon, AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya said.
The airline opened the bookings from 9.30pm today. AirAsia India flights from Bangalore to Chennai can be booked at a starting price of Rs.490 including taxes while flights from Chennai to Bangalore flights will be come at Rs. 339 including taxes.
AirAsia's website said that the booking period will be from May 30 to June 1 for the travel period between June 12 and October 15.

Small airports to be Centre’s aim

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry under its new minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has now begun work on a list of priorities including restoration of the top category ranking for India by the US Federal Avia-tion Authority (FAA), more air-connectivity to towns and smaller cities, smaller airports in towns, and establishment of a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in place of current regulator DGCA.
The current state of loss-making national carrier Air India is also expected to be a top priority, with the Minister expected to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Privatisation could also be on the cards if the situation does not improve.

Air India privatization an option: Aviation Minister

New Delhi: The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) said it is open to the idea of privatization of loss-making Air India (AI), as infusion of tax payer’s money couldn’t be endless.
The new government is open to the idea of privatising loss-making Air India (AI), which is surviving on a bailout funded by the taxpayer, civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said on Thursday soon after taking charge of the ministry.
The new aviation minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the government will look into all issues related to the national carrier and that it is "not close to any idea".

AirAsia Finds Wings to Fly out of City's Coop?

Chennai: When AirAsia India announced that it would be running its India operations from Chennai last year, the southern aviation industry was ecstatic. One year down the line, the city’s love affair with the carrier seems to be standing at the brink of a chasm. Signs indicate that the low-cost carrier may well shift its base of operations elsewhere.

Despite affirmations of the carrier’s continued belief in Chennai, AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya admitted today that while Chennai remains the home base as of now, the next month may well see the city losing that status. “Chennai will remain our base of operations for now. But I think what happens in the next month will go a long way in determining whether that remains the case,” he stated.

AirAsia India's maiden flight on Bangalore-Goa route

Mumbai: AirAsia India Friday made sure everyone knew it had arrived, by announcing a Rs 990 fare and then topping it with a Rs 5 base fare offer on its two maiden routes.
The airline said bookings for the 5 rupee fares are open from 9.30 pm on Friday night till June 1, valid for travel between June 12, when it launches operations, and October 25.
The airline has 15,000 seats on sale. In a post on Twitter, the airline CEO Mittu Chandilya said the promotion is to celebrate its new airline code i5.
A spokesperson for the airline separately said booking for the Rs 990 fares are valid from tonight till June 9 for travel between the launch flight and October 25.
Read news in full 30/05/14 Economic Times

Tata-SIA Airlines deal: Delhi HC seeks Centre's response

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the Centre and Tata-SIA Airlines on Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) plea seeking quashing of approvals being granted to commence its air transport operation.
A bench comprising Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Pradeep Nandrajog issued notice to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Tata-Singapore Airlines (SIA), Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and others on FIA's interim application.
FIA has contended that since no formal notice was issued on its petition, therefore the pleadings in the matter have not been completed and are still at the admission stage.
"No notice has been issued till date in the present petition and the instant matter is simply tagged along with accompanying plea. The pleadings have not been completed," the petition said.
"It is therefore requested that formal notices shall be issued in the petition for completion of pleadings before matter is heard," it said.

AirAsia India sounds price war bugle with R990 all-inclusive fare

New Delhi: It is raining discounts for domestic flyers as the aviation industry is set to witness aggressive pricing triggered by AirAsia India that is launching its flight from Bangalore to Goa next month at an all-inclusive Rs 990.
“Bookings open on our website from 9:30 pm. Tickets are also available with our major travel partners, from tonight,” AirAsia India CEO Mittu Chandilya said on Twitter.
As part of its inaugural offer, AirAsia India is selling 15,000 seats for Rs 5 per seat, excluding taxes and fee. The seats can be booked between May 30 and June 1, for travel June 12 and October 25. They would be available on the Bangalore-Chennai and Bangalore-Goa sectors.While SpiceJet already responded by offering tickets at Rs 1,499 excluding taxes on the route, other airlines are likely to respond after the launch.

First superjumbo Airbus A-380 plane lands in Delhi

New Delhi: The first superjumbo Airbus A-380 plane landed here today from Singapore with Singapore Airlines becoming the only global carrier to launch commercial flights of the 'big birds' to India.
The landing of the long-haul, wide-body and fully double -decker aircraft that can carry a total of 471 passengers, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport was preceded by a thunder storm and high-velocity winds that led to the diversion of 21 flights to nearby airports.
On landing, the superjumbo was given a 'water-salute' by the fire brigade at the airport run by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) which made special arrangements to handle the large number of passengers and their baggage.

Case in Point: IndiGo airline stays focused on its low-cost, on-time mission

The big idea: News flash — airlines are service operations. With elites comfortably flying the friendly skies under Premieres, AAdvantage, Gold Member and SkyPriority programs, what do service operations look like for an airline carrier that offers no frequent-flier perks? What choices must an organization make to compete effectively?

The scenario: The passenger-airline industry in India was messy: The government bailed out its national carrier; a once-thriving independent airline looked close to folding; fuel prices hit a longtime high; debt levels were climbing among carriers. Yet, a relatively new company, IndiGo, grabbed market share from more-established fliers in 2013.
The airline offered “one type of fare — low.” It allowed assigned seating at airport check-in counters and through Web check-in without cost, but it had no loyalty program. There was no onboard entertainment. IndiGo focused on providing a clean aircraft, good onboard service and “being on time.”

Air India defends concessional tickets for employees

New Delhi: National passenger carrier Air India on Friday defended giving promotional tickets to its employees, saying that it is obliged to do so under an International Air Transport Association (IATA) resolution.
"Air India wishes to clarify that Air India`s employees passage scheme is in tune with the IATA resolution 788 which provides for giving free and reduced fare transportation to an employee of an air carrier or to the employee`s immediate family members," the airline said in a statement.
"Such passages are given only against vacant seats available and never at the cost of a revenue passenger, hence Air India does not lose anything on account of such concessional passages."
According to the airline, the employees who avail such facilities have to pay staff travel fare, passenger service fee and all taxes, including airport tax.

Hong Kong Airlines announces codeshare with Air India

Hong Kong Airlines today signed a code share agreement with Air India, one of the most extensive flight service providers in India.
Commercial Director of Hong Kong Airlines , Mr. Li Dianchun, attended the contract signing ceremony in Delhi and jointly announced the code share with Mr. Pankaj Srivastava, Commercial Director of Air India. Under the code share agreement, Hong Kong Airlines  will place its code (HX) on direct flights operated by Air India between Hong Kong and three cities including Delhi, Osaka and Seoul respectively.

Sonia's son-in-law Robert Vadra may lose frisking immunity, hints Aviation Minister

New Delhi: On his first day in office, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati on Thursday indicated that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra could lose the privilege of not being frisked at airports.
When asked whether Vadra would continue to be in the VIP list and not be checked at airports, Raju said, "Security should be meaningful and not ornamental. It will depend if the Home Ministry feels there is a threat perception, and I am not talking about Vadra, we'll have to see."
Ever since Narendra Modi-led NDA swept the polls, rumour was rife that Robert Vadra would be deprived of the powers he njoyed while the grand old party was in power.
Interestingly, Vadra, the husband of Priyanka Gandhi, is the only civilian who is not frisked at airports.

Farmers agree to part with land for Bareilly airport

Barelly: With the district authorities completing the procedure for acquiring land earmarked for the civilian airport in Bareilly, and local farmers agreeing to sell their land, the wish of local people for a domestic airport is set to come true.
Talking to TOI, officials said the final decision in the matter was taken by the divisional commissioner, and the procedure for undertaking civil work would be started soon.
"The main hurdle in the project was that farmers were earlier not ready to sell their plots at rates we proposed. But now they have agreed to hand over their land at double the circle rate," said Land Acquisition Officer Laxmi Shankar Singh.

Turkish Airport Stake Sale Props Up GMR Profit

Hyderabad: GMR Infrastructure reported nearly two-fold increase in its profit after tax  (after minority interest) at Rs 1,170 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 as against Rs 579 crore during the same quarter a year ago. The rise in profit was a result of its 40 per cent stake sale in the Turkish Airport to Malaysian Airports Holdings BDH, which fetched the company Rs 1,659 crore.
Gross revenue for the fourth quarter increased by 12 per cent to Rs 2,961 crore from Rs 2,638 crore.
PAT for the financial year ended March 2014 dipped to Rs 10 crore as against Rs 88 crore a year ago. Gross revenue increased to Rs 10,653 crore from Rs 9,975 crore during the same period.

30 minute Havoc at the IGI airport

Have you ever heard an aircraft standing stationary at the parking bay turn nearly 90 degrees owing to heavy winds ? Unbelievable as it may sound but that's  exactly what happened at the airport in the national capital.
An Air India plane at the parking bay could not take the might of the gusty wind with the result that the wings turned to a side hitting the step ladder resulting in extreme damage to the outer layer of the engine.
An A 330 is a huge body but because of the heavy winds it suffered damage.
Headlines Today is in the exclusive possession of these pictures that show how a big plane has been damaged.