ATF prices descend, but airfares maintain altitude

New Delhi: A steep 11.7 per cent decrease in the price of jet fuel have raised the hopes of fliers of a further slump in airfares, but airlines are non-committal.

Airlines refused to comment on the decline in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices, or whether they would contemplate slashing fares against the backdrop of jet fuel prices, decreasing from Rs 46,407.36 per kilolitre (in Delhi) in August, to Rs 40,938.24, this month.

Did Air India allow 90 crew members to skip compulsory medical check?

To ensure that flight operations during the Haj season are not hampered, Air India has allowed around 90 crew members to skip the mandatory medical check-up.

According to rules, the crew will not be allowed to fly without certificates that say that they have undergone the check-up. If licences expire -- as in this case -- the airline could be short of crew, hampering flight operations. The Haj operations, which will involve 230 direct flights from seven Indian cities to Jeddah, will carry nearly 40,000 pilgrims.

A section of Air India pilots not to fly beyond prescribed duty hours

New Delhi:  State-run Air India is likely to face some fresh turbulence as one of its pilots’ union, Indian Commercial pilots Association (ICPA), has decided not to fly beyond the prescribed duty hours in the interest of passengers “safety” and avoid “stress”. The Association, in a communication to airline’s executive director for operations today said that it has directed all ICPA members not to give extension on flight and duty period under any circumstances.

Air India pilots serve notice over omission from workmen category

New Delhi: One of Air India’s pilots unions has served a notice on the carrier demanding immediate recall of a notification that has removed commanders from the workmen category, prompting its management to request it to maintain “peace and harmony” in the interest of the organisation. Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), in a legal notice sent to Air India Executive Director for Personnel and Industrial Relation Deepa Mahajan yesterday, has warned of dragging it to court and resorting to industrial action if the notification was not taken back.

Air India asks pilots union to maintain peace in wake of ‘commanders/workers’ controversy

Air India has asked one of its pilots unions to maintain peace and harmony in the interest of the carrier while clarifying that the decision to remove commanders from workmen category was taken by the labour ministry and not by the airline management.
Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), one of the pilots unions of Air India, had yesterday directed all its members to stick to mandated duty hours and not to accept any request for extension.

Aviation fuel, LPG prices cut sharply

New Delhi: A day after they cut the prices of petrol and diesel, oil companies on Tuesday announced a cut in the prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and non-subsidised LPG.

The price of ATF in Delhi was cut by Rs. 5,469.12 a kilolitre (kl). It now costs Rs 40,938.24 per kl. This marks the second-sharpest cut in ATF prices following the Rs. 7,520 per kl cut on January 1.

Custom authorities hand over air taxi to aviation company

Indore:  Custom authorities on Monday handed over the recently aquired Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft for providing Air Taxi services to Mumbai-based company Supreme Aviation at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport. Company will be operating air taxi services connecting prominent cities and tourist destinations under an agreement with MP State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC).

AI’s Delhi flight to skip Kozhikode

Kozhikode: From September 1, Air India’s flight (AI-657/658) from Delhi will not touch down at Kozhikode. Air India has been operating this service in the Delhi- Mumbai- Coimbatore- Kozhikode sector.The airline’s office in Kozhikode said in a release on Monday that the flight would not touch Kozhikode because of “non-availability of runway”.

IndiGo adjudged best low-cost airline in central Asia, Qatar Airways tops world ranking

Skytrax, the specialist research advisors to the air transport industry, recently declared the ranking for airlines and airports from across the world. Among the leading airlines in the world featured India's IndiGo Airlines, which was adjudged the best low-cost airline in central Asia.

Local carriers wake up to Modi's Varanasi

New Delhi: All flights these days seem to lead to Varanasi. The temple town of Uttar Pradesh, has come on the radar of domestic airlines since it became the parliamentary constituency of prime minister Narendra Modi.

After SpiceJet announced direct flights from Hyderabad and Mumbai to Varanasi, country's largest private carrier IndiGo on Tuesday announced four flights to the town.

British Airways to target SMEs, student travellers

Chennai: British Airways has turned its focus more on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and students to boost traffic out of India. “These two are very important segments for us now,” said Moran Birger, Regional Commercial Manager for South Asia, British Airways.

The airline has re-launched On Business rewards and discount to help the SME sector, which is growing rapidly and officials travelling abroad frequently.

As a member of On Business, a passenger will have access to exclusive, member-only rewards and discounts. It also helps in spending points on reward flights and upgrades on American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia, he told select newspersons.

Cut in ATF price to fuel aviation sector profit

Mumbai: A 40 per cent year-on-year drop in jet fuel's price will lead to improved operating profits for domestic airlines. On Monday midnight, state oil companies cut the price by 11.7 per cent, the sharpest cut in six months. The price is revised monthly.
Lower aviation turbine fuel prices have given a breather to airlines and helped offset the negative impact of a weakened rupee. About 25-30 per cent of airline costs (excluding fuel) are dollar-denominated.
For the first quarter of 2015-16, the fuel bill of Jet Airways and SpiceJet was down by 20 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively, from a year before. Sharper with SpiceJet due to a capacity cutback.

AAI forms panel for inspection of Goa airport

The Civil Aviation Ministry has formed a team of five officials to regularly inspect the Goa airport terminal, after its false ceiling caved-in earlier this year.

"Airport Authority of India has constituted a safety team of five officers for inspection on daily routine and for conducting safety-related checks and undertaking preventive measures," Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju told South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar in a written communication, a copy of which is with PTI.

An airport in bad weather

Barely three months after Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport near Durgapur in West Bengal took off to a glittering start, India’s first private greenfield airport is in jeopardy. Now, the airport wears a deserted look. A few CISF staff are guarding the airport, a lone Air India ticket counter is open, an ATM that’s shut, and there’s not a single car that’s parked at the parking lot.

Council alleges conspiracy to close down airport

Kozhikode: The Malabar Development Council has alleged that there is a political conspiracy to undermine the Kozhikode Airport at Karipur and gradually push it towards closure.

The council said in a statement here on Tuesday that from May 1 this year, airliners had stopped operating their wide-bodied aircraft from Kozhikode.