3rd India Airport & Airline 2009 Expo

Aeronautics industry needs to capture national market
June 27, 2008

Given that India would require an estimated 1000 civilian aircrafts - for long and short haul flights in the next 10 years, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman has identified this area as an opportunity for Indian aerospace industry. Given India’s technological capabilities in aerospace, the country should strive to meet the national market demand, which would translate into significant revenues.

India confirms first foreign deal
June 25, 2008

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a US$ 51 million deal with Ecuador Aviation Authority to supply seven helicopters in semi knock-down conditions in coming 15 months to 24 months. With this deal India has joined the select group of nations like US, EU and Russia with the capability to bid for international contracts for helicopters.

5 more routes added to connect IGIA
June 15, 2008

Five new routes will be open to decongest the traffic leading to Indira Gandhi International Airport by 2010 before Commonwealth Games. It includes two underpasses at Rao Tularam Marg, a separate route from Dwarka circle, a tunnel at Mahipalpur, a northern underpass crossing the National Highway-8 and a separate access from the international terminal to the domestic one on the southern side of the airport.

India about to buy VVIP jets soon
June 12, 2008

India will buy three VVIP Boeing Business Jets by early next month fully armed with infra-red counter measures (IRCM) at a price of over US$ 937 million and would be refurbished with another US$ 40 million Large Aircraft Infra-Red Counter Measures Systems AN/AAQ-24 LAIRCM to deflect any threat from incoming missiles.

Companies assemble to set up private airstrips
May 5, 2008

Government of India under its new aviation policy allows setting up of private airstrips and airports. Many companies like Gwalior Sugar, Vedanta, Adani have applied for private airport at different locations. Leading hospitals like AIIMS, Escorts have also applied for the helipad at the rooftop under this policy.

Mumbai-based Topworth Group of Companies is about to enter in air cargo business with an US firm by early next year with an investment of US$ 100 million. After getting the NOC from the Aviation Ministry, Topworth Group of Companies has inked a 51:49% JV with Avicore LLC. The joint entity called Avicore Aviation will initially cater to domestic needs and has plans to fly overseas by December 2009. The company expects to register revenue of US$ 116.27 million in the first year of operation.

Air India to launch cargo services
June 10, 2008

Air India has launched its much awaited cargo services in the country from Nagpur, which will connect six major destinations like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The first cargo flight will arrive from Kolkata.

Lufthansa Technik, the world's largest maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company, is planning to pick up a 75% stake in GMR Group to set up country’s first foreign-owned, airport maintenance facility. The Joint entity is expected to invest US$ 23.25 million in the first phase and it would be located at new Hyderabad International Airport in Shamshabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Ran Air plans to acquire MRO firm Shaurya
June 20, 2008

Ranbaxy promoted, Ran Air Services - one of the largest players in the private and chartered aviation business, is said to be in advanced stages of talks to acquire the Delhi based Shaurya Aeronautics. The company which plans to expand its fleet to 20 aircraft & choppers, the acquisition will assist in having in-house servicing capability.

IBS Software buys Visaer Inc.
May 21, 2008

IBS Software Services is marking its entry in the US$ 40-billion global aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) market by acquiring 100% equity stake in US-based aviation maintenance and engineering (M&E) company Visaer Inc. According to KPMG, the Indian MRO market is worth US$ 405 million at present and is likely to touch the mark of US$ 1.6 billion by 2014.

Airports are emerging as business hubs in India with world-class office, retail space and hospitability. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has allocated huge land for development of commercial realty and retail space to exploit the trend of developing city centers near airports. For airports in Mumbai and Delhi, 50% of the total real estate space has been provided for commercial development

Airlines looking at foreign operations to reduce fuel pain
June 27, 2008

Indian airlines are eyeing foreign operations to benefit from cheaper ATF since international carriers pay 35% less for fuel compared to local carriers. Oil companies in India are selling aviation fuel at US$ 1186 per kilolitre to overseas carriers and at US$ 1595 per kilolitre to local carriers, thus making operating costs of domestic carriers higher than the ones with international operations.

Indian airlines are increasing fares to cover up the losses caused by increased ATF prices and cutthroat competition. The hike between 5-20% in fares could further slow passenger growth. The combined losses posted by airlines are US$ 938 billion in the fiscal year to March 2008 and according to government if oil prices will remain high then the figure is expected to double this year.

Air India is planning to reduce the frequency of some of its international flights including its recently introduced Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York flights due to surging ATF prices and mounting losses. Airline’s officials are also considering the proposal of cutting the New York flights by half from both the destinations. Currently, there are seven flights a week from each destination.

'Reliance about to acquire minority stake in Jet Airways'
June 17, 2008

Reliance industries ltd is in talks with Jet Airways Ltd to acquire a minority stake of 6-7% in the private air-carrier as it wants to be associated with the domestic carrier’s proposed air cargo airline. Jet plans to launch a cargo unit in either mid or later half of 2009 with an investment of US$10-15 million.

As a part of its expansion strategy, Oman Air has launched a five-times-a-week flight to Bangalore from Muscat. Oman Air is planning to start its operation from IT hub Bangalore, making it as its tenth destination in India and the 12th in the Indian sub-continent, said the Airlines Country Manager Muhammad Salem. Oman Air is currently operating 73 flights into India and planning to expand to more destinations like Mangalore, Ahmedabad and Amritsar, which are considered as high-density areas.

As the airline industry is facing brunt of high fuel prices, Jet Airways, a private carrier, has formed a 50:50 JV with Shell-MRPL to supply aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at the new airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad. The joint entity would market and supply aviation fuels to local and international air-carriers in India, initially with these two new airports and expand to other at later stage.

Jet become first private airline to launch service to China
June 14, 2008

Jet airways headed by Mr. Naresh Goyal has become the first private airline for operating a service to China by launching its Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco flight on June 14, 2008. Jet Airways is also in talks with Chinese carriers for code-sharing deals to other destinations.

Emirates Airways, the national carrier of UAE, is planning to expand its services to India by adding 18 new weekly flights. After adding these 18 flights, Emirates will have 132 flights per week between India and Dubai. Emirates will introduce 4 additional flights to Delhi, 7 new flights to Bangalore, two from July and five from October.

Converge M, a JV between the Future Group and Axiom Telecom, has joined hands with Skywards, the award-winning frequent flyer program of Emirates Airline, which will offer the ‘Buy and Fly Offer’. With effect from June 14, 2008 every customer who will buy mobile phones from Big Bazaar, Central and Mport will get the opportunity to earn up to 3,50,000 points.

Jet Airways and Etihad Airways have signed a code share agreement and reciprocal frequent flier partnership on the New Delhi-Mumbai-Abu Dhabi sectors.

Indian airlines saves US$ 3 million by switching over to e-tickets
June 09, 2008,

As a step towards cost cutting Indian air carriers have shifted to e-tickets from carbonized air-tickets (paper air-tickets) thus saving approximately US$ 3.48 million within a week. The IATA had asked for mandatory shift over to e-tickets globally, including in India from June 1.