Mallya inks $1 Billion deal with Airbus:
Vijay Mallya promoted Kingfisher Airlines on Monday signed a $1 billion deal to buy five Airbus 340-500 which intends to fly non-stopto the US. The deliveries are expected to start in 2008and the aircraft would be deployed on the San Francisco and New York routes.
(April 26, 2006)
Low cost Carriers bag 30% share:
The four low cost domestic airlines - Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, SpiceJet and GoAir - are now close to capturing almost a third of the domestic aviation market pie, having cornered nearly 30% share in February 2006 - a 3% growth in the market share over January. While Jet continues to dominate the skies with 36% share of the market, Indian Airlines ended February with just over 23% share of the pie. Air Deccan emerged as the most significant gainer with over 14% market share. (April 25, 2006)
ATM's as air ticket machines:
US technology firm NCR Corporation is currently developing a software to enable users to make bookings by accessing flight schedules, select destinations and dates of travel. NCR is the first ATM manufacturer in the world to launch real-time airline booking services through the machines. ( April 25, 2006)
KfW open to funding Delhi Airport Modernisation:
KfW is open to financing the modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airport. KfW has invested 25 million euros in IDFC's India Investment Fund and another 5 million euros in IL&FS's India Project Development that take care of pre-feasability stage financing. (April 24, 2006)
Singapore Airlines:
Singapore Airlines expects 30 per cent growth in passenger traffic from Punjab in 2006-07 and will focus on tourists and leisure travelers in the state. Singapore Airlines has tied up with Singapore Tourism Board and Malaysia tourism board to offer special packages for passengers. to capitalise on the state's growing tourist traffic. (April 24, 2006)
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines recently launched its fourth weekly flight between Amsterdam and Hyderabad. With the new flight, KLM, in cooperation with its alliance partner Northwest Airlines, now offers 18 weekly roundtrip flights between India and Amsterdam. This is following the encouraging response to the airlines’ thrice-weekly service between the two cities.
(April 21, 2006)
Nippon Cargo Airlines:
Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), one of the biggest air cargo carriers in the world, has signed an agreement with the Thiruvananthapuram-based IBS Software Services. This will make NCA the launch customer of iCargo, which is IBS’ next generation cargo and logistics management system. (April 20, 2006)
Air India – Indian Airlines IPO:
The Government of India is planning to float a consolidated IPO for Air India and Indian Airlines after the process of merger between the two Indian public sector airlines is concluded. The move follows apprehensions that individual IPOs for the two state owned airlines could create obstacles for the proposed merger plan. (April 18, 2006)
General Electric:
General Electric CO has emerged as a curprise participant in the battle to buy British Airports operator, BAA Plc. The report stated that General Electric’s name was not in Goldman’s consortium at this stage but they were expecting it to get into the fray. GE had expressed interest in the BAA sometime earlier. (April 18, 2006)
Air India mulls foreign tie up for Pilot Training:
Air India is scouting for foreign partners to set up pilot training facilities in India, as part of the plans to counter the lack of infrastructure for pilot training in the country and the acute shortage of trained pilots the company is likely to face in the future. (April 17, 2006)
Kingfisher Airlines:
Kingfisher Airlines will increase the number of first class seats from 20 – 32. The Airline plans to launch Kingfisher First, a first class option from May 19, in the Delhi – Mumbai Sector.
(April 17, 2006)
Pilot Project Takes Off:
With the growing need of trained pilots in India and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) extending pilots’ service years to the age of 65, there has been a spurt in people of various ages learning to fly. The numbers have risen from an average of 170 – 200 aspirants a month to about 3,700 students in March 2006. (April 16, 2006)
