Category Archives: Aviation

In a recently concluded CAPA Airline CEOs in Seoul Summit, SpiceJet’s Chief Customer Service Officer, Kamal Hingorani, states that the annual passenger growth from Indian Tier-II and Tier-III cities is 18% while growth happening in the main metros is about 5-6% and this growth has created the need for the development of new hubs in smaller cities. Traditionally, Delhi and Mumbai have been the only hub airports but according to Hingorani Hyderabad and Bangalore are now being expanded to cater to domestic and international growth. (Souce: CAPA)

SpiceJet has recently announced that it will fly between Guwahati and Dhaka beginning July 1. This will be the first flight under the Central Government’s UDAN International scheme, set to enhance air connectivity between Indian states and international destinations. The airline has also announced that it will be launching 14 other flights on its domestic network from June 20. Frequency increases have also been proposed on the existing routes of Kolkata-Dibrugarh, Guwahati-Dibrugarh, and Bengaluru-Mangaluru. Expanding its network further, the low-cost carrier will also soon fly daily on the Bengaluru-Belagavi route.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport has announced that Singapore Airlines has introduced its Airbus A350-900 aircraft on the Kolkata-Singapore sector. The A350-900 features higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body delivering more space and comfort as well as lighting designed to reduce jet lag. Fitted with the new regional business class and economy class cabin products, the A350-900 medium haul business class cabin has 40 seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement that ensures direct aisle access for every customer, while the economy class cabin has 263 seats arranged in a comfortable 3-3-3 configuration.

With effect from 8 June 2019, Delhi will have 22 flights to Bangkok and beyond weekly. THAI offers four flights option from Delhi to Bangkok on Saturdays and four flights option from Bangkok to Delhi on Fridays. Triple daily service continues for remaining days of the week from Delhi. Additional early morning flight is open for booking on websites and GDS. At present the airline has 21 flights operational from New Delhi to Bangkok. Schedule for New Flight: FLIGHT NO. ORIGIN ETD DESTINATION ETA DAY TG335 BKK 2125 DEL 0025+1 5 TG336 DEL 0155 BKK 0750 6

In order to make asset documentation a robust and real time process, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed an agreement with NTrust Infotech – Anarock Consortium for asset rationalisation, lease administration and related services on pan-India basis through cutting edge Lease Administration Technology. S. Suresh, Member (Finance), AAI says that this pact will help AAI in rationalising its assets thus by making use of best potential of land and properties and making asset documentation a robust and real time process. The agreement is signed for a period of 3 years. Anil Gupta, Executive Director (Land Management & Business Development), Airports Authority of India informed that by engaging NTrust Infotech – Anarock Consortium who are the global industry leaders, specializing in delivery of technology enabled services, will help AAI who is managing 129 airports all across the country in identifying best potential of land asset which in turn will improve revenue stream for AAI. This will also result in bringing transparency, better management control and monitoring of costs for AAI. AAI is committed towards upgrading itself continuously with best in class system technology and knowledge for streamlining day to day operations bringing higher efficiency and transparency.

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.