BAOA opposes DGCA's proposal to prescribe minimum three aircraft for NSOPs

Delhi: The Business Aircraft Operators’ Association (BAOA) today said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) proposal to prescribe operation of a minimum of three aircraft for non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) holders would severely retard the growth of connectivity to regional and remote destinations in the country.

In a statement here, the BAOA said the proposal was also contrary to the policy of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA).

The association said a majority of NSOPs operate only one aircraft and are looking forward to deploying them on remote routes. "It would be in the best interest of aviation industry to frame regulatory requirement in conformity with the policy of MoCA," it said.

Air Asia plans to induct 10 more aircraft next year

Bangalore:  Budget carrier Air Asia plans to induct 10 more aircraft next year that would take the strength of its fleet to 15.

"I think realistically we may do ten aircraft by next year. January and February, probably we won't have many. Ten more aircraft next year, taking the total tally to 15 aircraft," Air Asia CEO Mittu Chandilya told PTI.
He was speaking on the sidelines of unveiling of Bangalore Raptors official team jersey ceremony in the presence of ace Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj who is conducting the Champions Tennis League (CTL).

Jet Airways reply to clarification sought by the exchange

The Exchange has sought clarification from Jet Airways  with respect to news article appearing in The Financial Express on Oct. 27, 2014 titled "Etihad drops plan to lease Boeing aircraft from Jet".

Jet Airways (India) replied stating, "We wish to inform you that Etihad has already denied it. Etihad has also issued the clarification in this regard.

Tigerair increases connectivity on Chennai-Singapore route

Chennai: Singapore-based budget air carrier Tigerair has announced two more weekly flights between Chennai and the city state from December.

"The airline has added two additional weekly flights on this route that will ensure more convenience for travellers from and to the city", a company statement said today.

Tigerair currently operates seven weekly flights between Chennai and Singapore. The two additional weekly flights will come into effect from December 4, 2014, it added.

Heads may roll at Air India after delays last week, one in 5 aircraft on ground

New Delhi: The story is becoming repetitive. Air India network reports massive delays and passengers take to social media to vent their ire for severe delays and clubbing of flights. The airline says frequent engine failure of its Airbus fleet has lead to grounding of 20% of the fleet strength.

This, coupled with Diwali rush on some days and inadequate loads on other days, has lead to flight delays, clubbing two or more flights or even advancing some flights.

Extension for Air India boss. PTIExtension for Air India boss. PTI
But the story does not end there. It now transpires that the airline is helpless in getting the engine manufacturer to compensate it or bear the costs of engine trouble with the fleet because at the time of buying these aircraft, no performance guarantee was sought from the manufacturer!

Air India violates flying norms, puts lives of passengers at risk

New Delhi: In the news yet again for wrong reasons, India's state air carrier Air India has been accused of flouting civil aviation guidelines and putting lives of hundreds of passengers at risk everyday.
A month before the Unites States aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency that downgraded India to Category 2 of safety standards, is scheduled to come to India for an audit, reports reveal that Air India has been violating the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms.
The data from several voluntary reports of Air India's Delhi-Sydney and Sydney-Melbourne-Delhi flights shows the crew members were made to fly for 17-18 hours and perform two consecutive landings without the prescribed rest period.

Aviation Minister asks DGCA to probe into cheap airfares scheme

New Delhui: Civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has asked director general of civil aviation Prabhat Kumar to investigate whether airlines have been misleading flyers by offering discounted fares.
A top ministry official told MAIL TODAY that carriers would soon have to submit to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data on discounted tickets offered in the past one year.
Raju has taken note of a complaint by Chennai-based Air Passengers Association of India (APAI) to DGCA alleging that discounted fare schemes were a gimmick as tickets were not available at the mentioned price.

DGCA rule changes leading to delay in launch, says Vistara

New Delhi: Full-service carrier Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, said that changes in rules by the aviation regulator with regards to the final approval process for new airlines is leading to delays in starting its commercial operations. The airline is likely to start flying only from around January next year, four months behind the original plan for a launch in September 2014.
“There is an approval process that every new airline needs to go through and we are also following the same process. It is however taking a little longer time than we anticipated. As a team we are quite focused and concentrating all our energies towards operational readiness,” Vistara said in a response to an email query. “There have been some new developments with respect to Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines and we are working to swiftly comply with the same,” the company added.

Vistara likely to receive flying permit by Nov end

New Delhi: Vistara — the joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines — may be able to take to skies by the end of this year, as it expects to receive its air operators’ permit from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) by the end of next month.

Sources in DGCA said the airline had only recently imported two aircraft into the country and unveiled the livery on the first. Vistara is now in the process of readying itself for base audits and to conduct proving flights as required by the regulator before it can secure its permit.

Launch of Tata-SIA's Vistara delayed, likely to start flying in January

New Delhi: Full-service carrier Vistara, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, said that changes in rules by the aviation regulator with regards to the final approval process for new airlines is leading to delays in starting its commercial operations. The airline is likely to start flying only from around January next year, four months behind the original plan for a launch in September 2014.
"There is an approval process that every new airline needs to go through and we are also following the same process. It is however taking a little longer time than we anticipated. As a team we are quite focused and concentrating all our energies towards operational readiness,” Vistara said in a response to an email query. "There have been some new developments with respect to Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) guidelines and we are working to swiftly comply with the same,” the company added.

JetLite pilots threaten strike over forceful transfers

New Delhi: Jet Airways’ plan to merge its low-cost brand JetLite with itself seems to be facing turbulence. The new JetLite pilots union, JetLite Welfare Association (JLWA), has threatened mass resignations and strikes from this week because the Jet management is now invoking a bond in the contract of some pilots to force them to join the airline under “unacceptable” terms.
The development comes even as Jet faces major flight delays, especially for flights out of Mumbai, due to acute pilot shortage and inability to absorb JetLite pilots under favourable terms. The situation could get worse for the Mumbai-based full-service carrier if the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decides to act on a previous suspension notice served to 129 of its pilots for flying without mandatory certification — a decision is likely this week.

India, Vietnam agree to improve air connectivity

New Delhi: India and Vietnam have agreed to work towards improving connectivity between the two countries, via both air and maritime. In a joint statement issued by the two nations after a meeting between the respective Premiers at New Delhi, India and Vietnam have resolved to encourage more airline companies to commence operations between the two. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Vietnam, is on a two-day visit to India.

Rajasthan to have intra-state air services to religious and other tourist spots soon

Jaipur:  In order to utilize and develop the 16-air strips across the state and provide air connectivity to religious spots, the state government on Tuesday signed an MOU with a company to facilitate air travelers.

Vasundhara Raje, Chief minister in her budget speech 2014-15 had promised to get helicopter and other services to the intra-state religious places and tourist spots.

Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme expected to be rolled out for TAAI members by June 2015

The Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme for members of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) has been globally approved. The Passenger Agency Conference (PAConf) has approved, without a single negative vote, the Joint Bank Guarantee Scheme as an exception for India. IATA Legal has been asked to review the legal aspects and may ask Agency Programme Joint Council (APJC) India to create norms and review its working, informed Harmandeep Singh Anand, Hon Secretary General, TAAI.

PAConf is the annual meeting of IATA airlines from across the globe to consider proposals to amend/review the Passenger Agency Program of IATA. The event was held at San Diego in California, USA from October 16-17, 2014.

Soon, boarding gate details on flight tickets

Ahmedabad: Like Delhi and Mumbai, soon people booking flights from Ahmedabad airport will have their boarding gate numbers printed on their tickets. The air traffic controller (ATC) at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport is planning to start parking allocation system for regular flights operating out of the city airport.