Cathay Pacific:
Cathay Pacific is expanding its world cargo network with twice-weekly freighter service linking Hong Kong to Mumbai and Chennai. It will be the airline’s first direct freighter service from India to Hong Kong. The addition of Chennai will open up a new market for the airline, and offer broader national coverage beyond the existing services to Delhi and Mumbai. The new service will operate every Tuesday and Friday from 2 June 2006 with a Boeing 747-200F freighter. (30 March 2006)
India-Kuwait Air Fares:
India and Kuwait have agreed to allow two low-cost airlines, Air India Express and Jazeera Airways, to start international flights between the two countries. Air fares on this route are expected to drop by 20-30 percent. The designated airlines have been permitted to operate all-cargo flights between India and Kuwait and also to onward destinations. (30 March 2006)
SpiceJet:
With net sales of Rs. 1.3 billion during the quarter ending February, India's low-cost SpiceJet airline reported a net profit of Rs. 43 million, against a net loss of Rs. 213.6 million in the previous quarter. The airline achieved net sales of Rs. 1.3 billion against Rs. 815.3 million in the last quarter. The airline's operating profit too improved to Rs. 96.7 million. It had reported a loss of Rs. 244.8 million in the previous quarter. The airline's total turnover stood at Rs. 1507.40 million in the quarter ended February, against Rs. 821.70 million in the previous quarter. SpiceJet is yet to firm up funding plans for the Boeing 737 aircraft that it plans to induct shortly. The airline is weighing various options such as going in for debt or getting them financed.(30 March 2006)
British Airways:
British Airways plans to provide three weekly flights to Heathrow London from Kolkata and would soon introduce online boarding pass facility. The airline plans to operate five flights a week from Chennai and six flights a week from Bangalore from 4 May 2006. Double-daily flights would be introduced on the Delhi-London route from 8 April 2006. The total number of flights operating from five cities in India would be increased to 42 from April this year.
(28 March 2006)
Indian Aviation Sector:
The Indian aviation sector is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Domestic airlines now have permission to fly to international destinations, and the Indian ministry of civil aviation has recently announced plans to modernise 35 airports over the next five years. This will entail investment of over $ 3.5 billion, offering a huge opportunity to airport service and equipment suppliers. (27 March 2006)
Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways plans to expand flights to China, India and the US this year as it competes with Emirates and Etihad. The airline currently only uses Airbus planes. In June last year, the carrier placed a US $10.6 billion order for as many as 60 of Airbus's A350 models.
(27 March 2006)
Malaysian Airlines:
Malaysian Airlines has announced a promotional return airfare of Rs. 6,000 from India to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore routes. The airline also launched its Internet booking facility. The online reservation for the promotional fare will commence from 1 April 2006 and last till 15 April 2006, with outbound journey to commence between 8 April 2006 and 30 April 2006.
(27 March 2006)
Indian, Air India Merger:
The civil aviation ministry is planning to bring Air India and Indian together to create a giant carrier that could take on rivals like Singapore Airlines and Emirates. While efforts are already on to achieve 'operational synergy' between the two airlines, the ministry is now mulling a formal merger of the two state-owned carriers through a holding company. While the final decision on the proposed merger will depend on approval from the Union Cabinet, various aspects related to the proposals, such as IPOs of both airlines, are yet to be discussed. The Air India-Indian merger is likely in the current fiscal. The merger would turn the combine entity into a mega carrier with about 130 aircraft. (21 March 2006)
Emirates:
The Emirates airline recently announced plans to start services to Kolkata and Bangalore. According to official sources, the Kolkata flight would be launched on 26 March, and the one to Bangalore would be launched on 29 October this year, taking the total number of flights to India to 71. The airline currently has a presence in six cities, the latest being a flight to Thiruvananthapuram. Emirates will launch eight flights a week to Bangalore.The airline is expected to clock in cargo revenue of US $ 1 billion during the current financial year.
(21 March 2006)
Qantas Airways:
Qantas Airways has been operating three flights a week between India and Australia since September 2004. India is an important market for Qantas, and the airline has invested in the weekly services by operating the new Airbus A330 aircrafts. According to official sources, Qantas may also launch additional flights into the huge Indian aviation market.
(21 March 2006)
