Aviation regulator okays SpiceJet’s ‘zero baggage’ fare scheme

New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given its nod to no-frills airline SpiceJet to offer discounts to passengers travelling without check-in baggage.
As per the scheme firmed up by the airline, all passengers travelling without check-in baggage will be able to avail of a discount of Rs 200 at the time of booking their air tickets.
A senior official in the DGCA said, “Passengers will get a discount of Rs 200 if they travel without check-in baggage. But if the passenger reports for the flight with check-in baggage, he will have to pay Rs 400 at the airport.” This charge would include a penalty of Rs 200 and the Rs 200 he had availed of as discount earlier.

Aurangabad airport can be utilised for parking'

Aurangabad: The Aurangabad airport is under utilized and hence the idea of provision of parking slot here will be promoted. The government would also like to give concession and incentives for the airlines preferring Aurangabad airport for parking their airplanes, said Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju, while interacting with the media at the Aurangabad airport on Friday afternoon

GoAir crewmembers revive 76-yr-old after he falls unconscious

Two crewmembers of an airline managed to revive a senior citizen, a passenger of another company, who had fallen unconscious at the domestic airport, recently. The incident took place on August 25, when at around 11.15 am, Mukundrao Panshikar (76), a passenger of Air India arriving from Nagpur, suddenly fell unconscious on an aerobridge.
Two crewmembers of GoAir were returning to their cabin crew centre along with team members, when they saw him lying unconscious between Bay A-8 and A-9. The two, Rayomand Sidhwa and Arshee Khan, had returned after operating their flight G8 368 from Ahmedabad.

Hopping into an app-based cab in airport? Pay more!

Mumbai: Passengers hiring popular taxi services like Uber and Ola to and from Mumbai airport will now have to pay Rs110 extra. The airport authorities have recently started levying this amount on these vehicles.

Gurezi sees off Hajj pilgrims at Srinagar Airport

Srinagar: Deputy Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi gave a warm send off to the Hajj pilgrims who left for the holy city of Medina in 17th special flight from Srinagar International Airport today.

Bank loan for airport project affected persons

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai International Airport project has provided an opportunity for the airport project affected persons (PAP) to avail loans from banks or exploit the developed plots under the 22.5% scheme allotted to them at Pushpak Nagar, Cidco joint M D, V Radha said.

GMR puts airport hotel on the block yet again

Hyderabad: Infrastructure major GMR Group has put its hotel property at the Hyderabad International Airport on the block as a part of its asset light and asset right strategy. The 304-room Novotel Hyderabad Airport Hotel is expected to fetch anywhere between Rs 300-400 crore.

This is second time that GMR Group has put this luxury hotel property on sale under the Swiss Challenge model as it could not finalise the sale despite receiving some bids in 2013-14 fiscal.

Airfare War Continues: Jet Airways Tickets at Rs 1,031

Domestic airlines continue to be locked in fare war, with Jet Airways now offering tickets at Rs 1,031 (all-inclusive).

To avail Jet Airways' 'LoFares' offer, customers can book tickets till October 7, and the travel period to avail these special fares also ends on the same day.

Charge Rs 400 for 'zero-bag' violations: DGCA to Spicejet

New Delhi: Aviation regulator DGCA has nixed a proposal by no-frills airline Spicejet to charge up to Rs 750 from passengers who avail a "zero-bag" discount while booking a ticket but turn up with check-in baggage at the time of travel.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, instead, has suggested the Gurgaon-based carrier to levy Rs 400 as penalty, including taking back the Rs 200 discount that is to be availed by the flyer, sources said today.

New Civil Aviation policy in advanced stage of finalisation

New Delhi: The new civil aviation policy, which is in the advanced stage of finalisation would provide a long-term road map for the sector's growth, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said.

"Government is in the process of developing a comprehensive Civil Aviation Policy which shall provide a long term road map for the aviation sector...the growth of aviation and tourism industry also has significant ripple effects on other segments, particularly in the services and hospitality sectors", Raju said while inaugurating the 8th International Conference on Indian Civil Aviation & Tourism,' organised here by Assocham.

Do away with 5/20 norms for international operations: CAPA

New Delhi: Favouring scrapping of the international flying norms for domestic airlines on the ground that its continuation would only result in more un-utilised bilateral, an off-shore aviation consultancy research firm today welcomed government's decision to go for public consultations prior to finalising the new aviation policy.

At present, an Indian carriers is allowed to fly overseas only when it has completed five years of domestic operations and have a minimum of 20 aircraft fleet.

Sudden Deployment of Oxygen Masks Forces Jet Flight to Return

Chennai:  A Delhi-bound Jet Airways flight carrying 165 passengers and seven crew members onboard was forced to return today after the sudden deployment of oxygen masks in two rows of the aircraft.

Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated a probe into the incident, which happened this morning, sources said.

Israel and Russia are building aircraft for India

Israel and Russia have started creating two aircraft for Airborne Early Warning and Control for India. Work has already started in Taganrog, where they are installing Israeli radar on an IL-76.

The Military Gazette wrote that Israel and Russia have started creating two aircraft for Airborne Early Warning and Control for India. This is the joint project called Falcon – an airborne early warning radar system created by Elta, installed on the IL-76 aircraft manufactured by the Ilyushin Company.

Qatar Airways to revive Doha-Nagpur direct flight by December

New Delhi: Gulf carrier Qatar Airways plans to resume a direct flight to Nagpur from Doha by December, which it had discontinued over six year ago due to poor passenger traffic on the sector at that time.

SpiceJet in talks with aircraft makers for a ‘sizable order’, says promoter

New Delhi: Gurgaon-based no-frills airline SpiceJet is in discussion with the aircraft manufacturers for ordering more aircraft, Ajay Singh, the airline promoter said.
Singh did not specify whether he was in talks with Airbus, Boeing or any aircraft manufacturer.
“We have not discussed any specific numbers but we expect the aircraft order will be a sizable one. Negotiations have been on for a while and we expect to complete the negotiations and place the order this financial year,” Singh said on the sidelines of a conference on civil aviation organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham).