Category Archives: Aviation

Arun Kumar, a member of the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) cadre, has been given the additional charge of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Kumar, currently holds the position of an additional secretary at the aviation ministry and will succeed B S Bhullar. Kumar will hold his new position that comes into effect from 31 May’for three months’ or ’till an incumbent is selected’, the aviation ministry said in a statement. Source: Livemint

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, has been elected to the Board of International Air Transport Association (IATA) at its annual general meeting held on June 2 in Seoul, South Korea. The new Board will be chaired by Carsten Spohr, Chief Executive Officer, Lufthansa Group, for a one-year term. Other Board members include Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO, Air Canada; Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas; and Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways. In March this year, SpiceJet made headlines when it became the first Indian low-cost carrier to take membership of IATA, which represents close to 290 airlines comprising 82 per cent of global air traffic and plays a key role in the formulation of global aviation policies.

Former IFS officer Hardeep Singh Puri has been given the independent charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry in the new Modi government. He has been appointed as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ministry of Civil Aviation. He was the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Housing and Urban in the previous government. He contested the recent Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar seat in Punjab and lost the election. He is also a Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh. A career diplomat, Puri joined BJP in 2014, In his career spanning 39 years as an IFS officer, he served in senior positions at the Ministries of External Affairs and Defence, held ambassadorial level posts in the United Kingdom, Brazil and served as Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations both in Geneva and New York. He had earlier served in India’s Missions in Tokyo, and Colombo. Born on 15 February, 1952, Puri did BA (Hons) History from Hindu College, University of Delhi and was placed first in order of merit in 1971. He completed his MA (History) in 1973.  

In a recent mailer, Nepal Airlines has announced that Aadhar Card is not a valid document to travel to Nepal. It is mandatory to put contact number, email is of guest/agent and passport details or voter ID card number. Failing which, agent will not be entitled in case of any delays and cancellations of flights. The mailer also clarifies that no show with Aadhar Card, will not be entitled for any refund in any tickets.

The Home Ministry has given its approval to Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport to set up an immigration counter- providing it the status of an international airport. This will enable the airport to commence direct international flight operations from the city. “The central government has designated Indore airport as an authorised immigration check post for entry and exit from Indore with valid travel documents for all classes of passengers. It certainly is a moment of joy and pride for all of us. We have waited for so long to get this clearance,” explained Aryama Sanyal, Airport Director, Indore Airport to Times of India. The airport would now be called Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport. It facilitates round the clock operations and was given its World Standardization Certificate by the UK. Reportedly, the first international flight from the city will be started by Air India to Sharjah in next two weeks.

After adding 100th aircraft to its fleet recently, Spice Jet is planning to add eight more Boeing planes in the next two weeks that were withdrawn from grounded Jet Airways’s fleet by lessors. “In the next fortnight, we expect to add another eight Boeing 737 (Next Generation) NG which were being operated by Jet Airways. We didn’t incur any additional capex on these aircraft,” said Kiran Koteshwar, CFO, SpiceJet in an interview to Mint. The 30 Boeing 737 NG planes that were earlier operated by Jet Airways are being added to SpiceJet’s fleet on short-term leases, with a maximum lease tenure of 24 months, added Koteshwar. The airline’s current fleet consists of 68 Boeing 737 (including 13 Boeing 737 Max planes), 30 Bombardier Q-400s and two B737 freighters.

Air India, which is running in losses currently, may reportedly join hands with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) for a working partnership overseas, under which tourist offices at around eight overseas destinations would shift to Air India offices. Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and MOT are in discussions for the partnership, as part of the cost restructuring by the MOT, under which it will require to shut offices at prime tourist destinations, like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, Tokyo, Sydney and Milan. As part of the arrangement, India Tourism will pay rent to Air India along with a nominal amount for the service rendered by the Air India staff. Last year, MOT, which had 15 overseas offices, was asked by the government to reduce the number of offices in two-three years and shift operations to the embassies in those cities. Th shifting to embassies part has been in debate owing to security concerns and scepticism over manpower.

Pakistan on Wednesday extended the ban on use of its airspace from May 30 to June 15. Air India is witnessing a daily loss of Rs 5-7 crore as its flights towards Europe and U.S. are forced to take a longer route as well as make a stop en route for refuelling. The earlier NOTAM issued by Pakistan’s civil aviation authority was until 3.30 p. m. on May 30 and this has been pushed to 5.30 a.m. on June 15, a senior official of the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed. Source: The Hindu

According to IATA, agents and advisors booking flights for clients through the association’s Passenger Agency Program must ask travelers if they want their contact information shared with airlines in the case of operational disruptions. Agents and advisors will be required to enter the passenger contact information when booking flights beginning June 1. Carriers will be able to use the information to advise passengers of irregular flight operations and disruptions. “In the event the passenger exercises his or her right not to provide contact details it is incumbent on the Agent to indicate that the passenger has declined to provide such details, and to enter the refusal in the PNR to limit any statutory liability,” the IATA rule now reads. “In such a case, the Agent must actively advise the passenger that they may not receive information from the airline relating to flight cancellation or schedule changes (including delay in departure).” For travelers who decline to share their phone number and/or email address, agents and advisors will have to report the client refused to provide the information. While the rule has been in place since 2013, it is now a requirement instead of a recommendation As for how the information will be used, IATA officials said it would not be utilized for marketing or sales purposes, but instead will be for flight cancellations, schedule changes and other related operational notifications. The IATA Passenger Agency Program provides a system for the accreditation of travel agents that meet specific industry standards and financial criteria. Currently there are some 56,261 IATA accredited travel agents operating in 207 countries and territories. (Source: Travel Pulse)

Lounge and transit hotel facilities at the Bengaluru airport will remain partially shut between June this year and March 2021, owing to the refurbishment work which commences from the next month, BIAL said in a statement. The refurbishment project will be executed in two phases spanning 18-20 months, Bengalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) said in the release. “Starting June 1, parts of the domestic and international lounges and transit hotel would be closed,” BIAL said. Billionaire Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Group-promoted Bengaluru airport currently has four lounges — two in international security hold area (SHA) and the other two in the domestic SHA. “Our vision is to improve lounge facilities to enhance the on-ground travel experience of our passengers. The new lounge concept is aimed at providing the ultimate hospitality experience,” said Kenneth R, chief commercial officer, BIAL. The refurbishment work will be executed in two phases spanning 18-20 months, a BIAL spokesperson said adding the AGL (above-ground level)lounge in domestic and international SHA will remain close from June 1 till April 31, 2020. The Plaza premium lounges in the international and domestic SHAs will not be available for services between April 1 and March 31, 2021, he said. The new lounge operator, a joint venture between Gate Group and Travel & Food Service (TFS) India, will take over operations of the facilities, BIAL said adding that all the four lounges will resume operations in a phased manner. Once the refurbishment of the facilities is completed, the users will have a new and exclusive lounge and transit hotel experience, the release said