Category Archives: Aviation

Thai Smile is all set to start operating from Kolkata to Bangkok, five times a week, from March 31, 2019. The aircraft used for the operations on this route is Airbus 320. The starting fare for the flight is Rs. 8993 all included. The direct flight will also place TG-coded flight numbers on this route. The flight from Kolkata would take off at 01:00 hrs and would arrive in Bangkok at 05:30 hrs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From Bangkok it will fly every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 22:05 hrs and would land in Kolkata at 23:30 hrs.

Further enhancing its customer experience, Indigo has introduced 3 new routes while adding 14 additional flights on its network. The low-cost carrier will operate its first flight between Chennai-Raipur, Hyderabad-Gorakhpur and Kolkata-Gorakhpur. The airline will also add flights on its existing routes connecting, Chennai – Trivandrum, Bengaluru – Mangalore, Bengaluru – Udaipur and Bengaluru – Chennai.All new services will commence from April 2019. Providing details, William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo, said, “We are very excited to add14 new flights to our network along with along with 3 new routes connecting Chennai, Raipur and Gorakhpur. IndiGo has completed 12 years of successful operations in the India market as a low cost carrier, and adding new flights to its network will further augment the connectivity that we aspire to provide to our customers. It is our constant endeavour to provide our customers on-time, courteous and hassle-free service, and an affordable flying experience always.”

After deciding to ground the Boeing 737-MAX 8 planes operated by Indian airlines, DGCA has now decided to ban overflying of the aircraft which will also restrict take off and landing of the 737 MAX 8 planes in the Indian territory. “No B737 Max aircraft will be allowed to enter or transit the Indian airspace effective 1600hrs Indian time or 1030 UTC (Universal Coordinated Time). The timeline is to cater to situations where aircraft can be positioned at maintenance facilities and international flights can reach their destinations,” the civil aviation ministry said in a post on Twitter. Amid global backlash following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight last week, US and major European nations, including Britain, Germany and France, have also suspended operations of the aircraft. Meanwhile, SpiceJet has decided not to take further deliveries of the plane till the safety concerns are sorted out. The airline has as many as 205 B737 MAX on order.

In a significant move to connect South India to Tokyo, Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced the commencement of non-stop daily flight between Tokyo (Narita) and Bengaluru from 2020. There are no direct flight to Tokyo from any south Indian city currently. The new flight will leave Tokyo at 6:25 pm and reach Bengaluru at 12:05 am (next day). The return flight will leave at 2:45 am from Bengaluru and reach Tokyo at 2:55 pm. “The IT industry is thriving in Bengaluru and is known as the Silicon Valley of India, where global corporations focusing in telecommunications, biotechnology, and automobiles are strategically based in this unique city. As direct flights are currently not in service from Japan, the launch of this route will provide customers from North America a new option when travelling to the southern region of India,” reports the Times of India citing statement from the airline. Welcoming the move, Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul-General, Japan in Bengaluru, in a statement, said, “Launch of non-stop flights from Bengaluru to Tokyo (Narita) will herald a new era of more strengthened economic relation between Karnataka and Japan. With this development not only will tourism flourish in Karnataka and Japan but also many new businesses will be established; thereby creating lots of new opportunities,” he said. Earlier this year, All Nippon Airways (ANA) also announced its plans to launch direct daily flight from Tokyo to Chennai from October 2019.

Vistara, the joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, has got the approval to fly on international routes, making it the fifth Indian carrier to ply on international routes. Vistara reportedly was granted permission after a committee of ministers gave a go ahead for the same, and the decision was conveyed to the airline on March 8. Post the approval, Vistara has sought permission to start operating on Delhi and Colombo route seven days a week. It is believed that Vistara has sought bilateral rights to Sri Lanka and slots from Delhi Airport for the same. The aircraft used for the Delhi-Colombo route would be Airbus A320.

DGCA has decided to ground the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft after the Ethiopian Airline crash, which killed 157 people, including four Indians. According to an announcement by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the planes will stay grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations. MoCA on Twitter announced, “As always, passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety.” The decision by Indian Government came after a number of countries grounded the new model of the US aircraft manufacturer’s best-selling 737. SpiceJet has 13 jets of the model 8 variant in its 75-strong fleet while Jet Airways has five of these aircraft, and after the DGCA directive, both the airlines have suspended the operation of their 737 MAX 8 jets.

Travel agents in Kashmir are requesting the Central Government to include Kashmir as a destination in the Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). This comes as a result of the increasing fares to the destination and the negative perception about the state after the Pulwama attacks. Zahoor Qari, Chairman, TAAI – J&K Chapter, says, “We are demanding that the Government extends the UDAN scheme to Kashmir as well. Currently, the perception of travellers towards Kashmir is negative after the recent attacks, and it is a difficult situation. However, the attack happened in a remote area which is far off from all the tourist attractions, where the situation is normal as usual. Also, if UDAN is extended to Kashmir, the state will have domestic connectivity, which would give a positive signal to the entire nation that tourism is normal in Kashmir and travellers should not hesitate in going there. Currently the situation is difficult, and the valley is suffering from a financial crunch, which can improve if domestic tourism develops in the state.”

The flag carrier airline, Turkish Airlines, is ready for the great change in Turkish aviation history. The great move to Istanbul Airport will begin on April 5 Friday night at 03:00. As the greatest airport project of the world, the first stage of the move towards Istanbul Airport was back on October 29th, 2018. Unique in the global aviation history, the moving operation will take 45 hours in total and it will be concluded on April 6 Saturday night at 23:59. In order to conclude the Great Move successfully according to prior plans, Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport will be closed for all scheduled passenger flights between 02:00 and 14:00 of April 6. Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı, says, “The biggest move of the aviation history will take place. The combined size of the equipment we are going to transfer would cover 33 football pitches. After this great move, which will be watched by the entire world, we will wake up to a new morning. It will be a morning, which the sun shining on Turkish Aviation with the flights operated at Istanbul Airport. I convey my hopes that it will bring a great fortune to both our country and company.”

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued additional safety directives to airlines in the country flying the Boeing 737 MAX after the Ethopian Airlines plane crash. SpiceJet and Jet Airways in India use these disputable aircraft. According to the directive, The pilot commanding the aircraft should have at least 1,000 hours of flying experience while the co-pilot should have at least 500 hours of flying experience. “The DGCA will continue to closely monitor the situation and may impose/ take any other operational/ maintenance measures/ restrictions based on the information received from accident investigation agency/ FAA/ Boeing,” the regulator said in a statement. In addition, DGCA has also asked the airlines to ensure various requirements are complied with by engineering and maintenance personnel with respect to 737 MAX planes.The operators have to ensure that no B737– 8 MAX aircraft in their fleet is operated without compliance with DGCA’s latest directions with effect from 1200 hours on March 12. These include conditions that Minimum Equipment List (MEL) would not be released for operating an aircraft in case dual auto pilot mode and certain other parts are inoperative. “Safety of the passengers is our utmost concern. Directed Secretary and DGCA to take appropriate action immediately,” said Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu in a tweet. (With PTI Inputs)

The Lufthansa Group and Amadeus has announced that they will renew their longstanding technology partnership. Through the deal, Amadeus’ Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) will continue to provide Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines with their IT systems for reservation, inventory and departure control. In addition, the Lufthansa Group and Amadeus are also expanding their partnership to add further areas of collaboration. Areas in which Amadeus technology is supporting the Lufthansa Group range from operations and merchandising & shopping to disruptions management. “Amadeus and the Lufthansa Group are two companies, founded in Europe, driving growth and digitalization across the world,” says Dr. Roland Schütz, Executive Vice President Information Management & Lufthansa Group CIO. “Amadeus systems will continue to support the Lufthansa Group through industry-leading solutions that foster innovation.” “We are very proud to announce an agreement to expand our partnership with Lufthansa Group today,” says Julia Sattel, President, Airlines, Amadeus. “Our partnership is based on a deep mutual understanding and respect, and this agreement is proof of the collaborative, individual approach we take with our customers. Amadeus’ industry-leading technology supports the Lufthansa Group to pursue its business goals.”