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Delhi airport upgrade program lacks fund
20-Jan-2009
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the GMR-led consortium that is modernizing and operating India’s busiest airport, is seeking to change its lead banker from private sector ICICI Bank to government-owned Canara Bank.
The company is facing difficulties in raising further loans to complete the Rs 8,890-crore project, scheduled to be ready by March 2010, owing to the reluctance of some promoters.
Delhi International Airport chooses Unisys for its expansion project
14-Jan-2009
Unisys Corporation’ India branch, Unisys India subsidiary has been named master systems integrator in support of the infrastructure project to modernize and restructure Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).
Unisys will also work on the airport’s new Terminal 3, which is expected to provide much needed additional capacity to Delhi during the 2010 Commonwealth Games and to serve over 34 million passengers per year as anticipated by DIAL.
Domestic passengers at Bengaluru International Airport will have to pay UDF
13-Jan-2009
The Ministry of Civil Aviation announced on 09-Jan-2009 that with effect from 16-Jan-2009, all domestic outbound passengers from the Bengaluru International Airport will have to pay a UDF of INR260 (inclusive of taxes). This announcement was in response to the domestic User Development Fee (UDF) application filed by the Bangalore International Airport Limited.
So, irrespective of the date of booking or purchase of ticket, all domestic departing passengers will now pay the UDF, the receipt of which can be obtained at the counters located before the departure hall of the terminal building.
Changi Airport acquires 26% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis
6-Jan-2009
Singapore's Changi Airport International Pte has bagged up a 26% stake in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL), which is setting up an Rs 10,000-crore airport city in Durgapur. The stake has been picked up by Changi Airport India Pte Limited, the 100% subsidiary of Changi Airport International.
A formal announcement on Changi’s stake in the project and the equity size of BAPL would be made at a later time.
Airport regulatory body in place by March
2-Jan-2009
The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) is expected to be in place by 31 March 2009. The prime objective of AERA is to create a level-playing field and foster healthy competition among all airports.
The Authority will have a chairperson and two persons appointed by the Government from those having adequate knowledge and professional expertise in aviation economics, commerce or consumer affairs.
UPS introduces new facility at IGI Airport to reduce transit time
UPS Jetair Express launched a new operations facility at the cargo terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, which is expected to reduce transit times significantly across North India. This facility is targeted towards customers in Delhi and the NCR.
Delhi Airport may charge development fee soon
The Central government is planning to levy airport development fee at the GMR-led Delhi International Airport Ltd from passengers to meet the shortfall in financing the cost of expanding and modernising the IGI Airport here. The ADF in Delhi will only be (in operation) for two to two and a half years, during which the shortfall can be met.
Emirates Airways cuts UAE fares to 85 destinations
29-Jan-2009
Emirates Airlines revised its fares for tickets issued in UAE on its First, Business and Economy Class fares to 85 destinations, including cities in India, China, US, Europe, GCC, Middle East, Africa and Australia. The fares are valid for booking until 15-Feb-09 and for travel until 31-May-09.
Paramount Airways launches ‘Smart Flyer APEX Fares’
28-Jan-2009
Paramount Airways has introduced a new scheme called ‘Smart Flyer APEX Fares’, which offers passengers economical travel on all sectors in the South and West by booking tickets fifteen days ahead of travel.
The lowest fare on the APEX Fare Scheme starts from INR 1825/- inclusive of all taxes, varying from sector to sector.
Jet Airways in collaboration with ICICI Lombard launches travel insurance products
21-Jan-2009
Jet Airways and ICICI Lombard General Insurance have joined hands to launch an overseas and domestic travel insurance product called ‘JetProtect’, which offers security against possible risks during travel. The overseas and domestic travel insurance policy covers a host of situations such as medical expenses caused by accidents, possible loss from trip cancellation and loss or delay of checked in baggage.
The insurance policy can be purchased on the airline website simultaneously while booking flight tickets.
Proposal to allow 49% stake for foreign airlines moved ahead
20-Jan-2009
The proposal of the Civil Aviation Ministry to allow foreign airlines to pick up a stake in domestic airlines has moved ahead to the next level. Cabinet Secretary along with the Committee of Secretaries will now consider the proposal to allow foreign airlines to hold a 49 % stake in scheduled, non-scheduled and charter airlines.
At the moment foreign airlines are barred from holding a direct or indirect stake in the domestic airline sector.
According to Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Praful Patel, the Ministry was examining a proposal to allow foreign airlines to hold a 20-25 % stake in domestic airlines. The final decision on how much stake foreign airlines will be allowed to hold in domestic airlines will be taken by the Union Cabinet.
Promoters of Paramount Airways keen to increase stake to 100%
18-Jan-2009
The promoters of the Coimbatore-based, Paramount Airways, are keen to increase their stake in the airline to 100 % by buying back the 5 % stake held by others. The promoters currently hold 95 % stake, while the remaining 5 % stake is held by Kotak Mahindra and Bennet & Coleman together.
Report says 2009 will see manageable airline losses
15-Jan-2009
According to Policy Outlook 2009, a report by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), the turbulence that hit the aviation industry in 2008 is likely to clear up in the third quarter of this year. Though there will be airline losses this year too, it will be of manageable magnitude.
According to Kapil Kaul, CEO Indian Subcontinent & Middle East, CAPA, if oil prices stay below US$50, airline losses will be significantly reduced.
InterGlobe Technology might bag Air India’s ticket contract
14-Jan-2009
InterGlobe Technology has emerged as the front-runner for Air India’s ticketing and package booking services tender.
National Aviation Company of India (Nacil), the merged entity that controls Air India, had floated a contact centre services tender for domestic and international callers last year. And as per highly-placed sources, InterGlobe Technology is likely to be awarded the contract.
The winning bidder will undertake ticketing and package booking services for Air India and receive a 2% commission on the transaction amount.
Government to allow 25% FDI in airlines
14-Jan-2009
Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr. Praful Patel announced that the government was considering foreign direct investment (FDI) of up to 25 % in Indian carriers by foreign airlines. This means that the foreign carrier will not have the right to block special resolutions in the board, for which an investor requires a 26 % shareholding.
Jet in talks with foreign carriers for leasing out aircraft
13-Jan-2009
Jet Airways is holding talks with Oman Air and several other airlines for exploring possibilities of leasing out aircraft. The recent developments in the aviation industry have made many carriers to get on to route rationalization plans, cost cutting measures and re-looking at their operations.
In this scenario, carriers like Jet are leasing out their surplus aircraft. The carrier leased two A330-200 aircraft to Gulf Air, and three B777-300 ER to Turkish Airlines in December 2008. The wet lease agreement with Gulf Air is on till March 2009, whereas the deal with Turkish Airlines will last till May 2009.
Foreign airlines might be allowed to buy equities in local carriers
08-Jan-2009
Aviation secretary Mr. M Madhavan Nambiar announced that the government was examining a proposal to allow foreign airlines to buy equities in domestic carriers.
The foreign direct investment (FDI) guideline prohibits foreign carriers from owning stakes in domestic airlines. However, it allows other foreign entities to take up to 49% equity stake in an Indian carrier. According to Mr. Nambiar, the ministry would consult industry stakeholders such as private domestic airlines before taking a decision. The move is aimed at attracting FDI in the sector.
Air India grants passenger service contract to WFS, Chicago
07-Jan-2009
Air India has awarded a new three-year passenger services contract to Chicago based Worldwide Flight Services (WFS). The new agreement extends a working relationship between the two companies that began in 1998. Air India has daily Boeing 777-300R flights from Chicago to Mumbai via Frankfurt and carries over 210,000 passengers a year on the route.
Jet airways slashes fare up to 40%
Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines have announced reduction in fares following steep fall in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices. Jet Airways spokesman have stated that the airline is reducing fare from 15% to 40% across all domestic sectors, whereas Kingfisher airlines fare cut has also come into effect from 1 Jan ’09 across its network.
As per official sources, even Air India is also planning to announce cut in base fares on its domestic routes from mid-January.
MRO facility to aid Air India on saving costs
26-Jan-2009
Air India’s Maintenance Research and Overhaul (MRO) facility would bring in important savings for the carrier soon. The national carrier has already started performing ‘C’ Checks for one of the variants of its Boeing 777 fleet from December 2008.
Moreover, National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), the operator of the national carrier plans to market this strategic business unit (SBU) as third party engineering facility for these checks as well.
A ‘C’ Check costs US$4,00,000 outside of India, which is performed every 7,500 hours of flying or 750 calendar days. By performing these checks here, Air India is saving on fuel and cost incurred on crew that flew the aircraft to foreign MROs. The savings are about over US$ 2 million per aircraft.
Embraer selects Indamer to be its authorised executive jet service center
21-Jan-2009
Embraer, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world based in Brazil, has named India’s Indamer Company Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of European Aviation Holding Co. Pvt. Ltd., an authorised executive jet service center. This is the first Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Company to serve Embraer’s Phenom and Legacy 600 jet customers in India.
Indamer acquired by European Aviation Holding
20-Jan-2009
European Aviation Holding Co Pvt Ltd acquired Indamer Co Pvt Ltd, a leading Mumbai-based MRO firm for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 1947, Indamer has been maintaining both fixed and rotary wing aircraft for private owners, charter operators, state governments and training institutes.
Sandesara to open country's first private aircraft MRO
09-Jan-2009
The Sandesara group is all set to take off the country’s first private aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) project in Vadodara. The company has lined up investments to the tune of over US$ 1.4 billion for this. The unit will come up at Jambusar in an area of about 4,000 acres.
The company also aims to set up a power SEZ for an overall investment of over US$ 3.2 billion which will be capable of generating 4,000 MW of power.
Airstrips have not been used for air cargo: Report
5-Jan-2009
According to the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), five small airports in Maharashtra, namely Solapur, Nanded, Karad, Kolhapur and Latur, which were upgraded with Centre’s financial assistance for boosting exports, are hardly handling any of the export cargos.
As per the report, the Centre gave over US$ 22 million between 2002 and 2007 to MIDC for infrastructure upgrade at small airports and industrial parks and funds were spent on creating facilities for exports at the airports.
Lufthansa Cargo to promote cool chain through workshops
Lufthansa Cargo is organising a series of workshops to be held from 10 Feb to 13 Feb ‘09 to promote temperature controlled transportation or cool chain. These workshops are going to be held in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai and are targetted at the industries requiring temperature controlled transportation.
Civil Aviation Ministry issues notification for requisition of aircraft
27-Jan-2009
As per a notification issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, an authorized officer of the Central Government, not below the rank of Joint Secretary, in the Ministry of Civil Aviation or the Ministry of Home Affairs can requisition one or more aircraft from any specified Aircraft Operator for placing at the disposal of the Government in the interest of public safety.
The Aircraft Operator will be required to provide the aircraft with crew, maintenance personnel and all materials that will be necessary for the operation of an aircraft - for the purpose of public service. As per the notification, the Central Government shall pay to the Aircraft Operator, compensation as determined in the Aircraft Act, 1934.
Airports Authority of India got the 'Miniratna Category-I' powers
15-Jan-2009
By introducing four non-official Directors on its Board, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) got restructured and became eligible to exercise its Miniratna Powers. AAI had been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I last month.
India, US to sign bilateral safety agreement
07-Jan-2009
India is intending to sign a bilateral safety agreement with the US next year to enable certification of each other's products and technology.
Civil aviation authorities of both the countries are already talking to each other to conclude the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement (BASA).
The proposed agreement would enable certification of Indian aviation and aeronautic products by the US authorities and vice-versa. It would also enable India-made aviation products to be sold globally.
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