Category Archives: Aviation

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.”

Expanding its reach to new destinations under UDAN III, SpiceJet has announced the commencement of eight new daily flights to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The city will be the airline’s 11th destination under the regional connectivity scheme and overall 52nd domestic destination. The eight new flights will also make SpiceJet the first airline to offer daily direct flights on the Gwalior-Hyderabad-Gwalior, Gwalior-Jammu-Gwalior, Gwalior-Bengaluru-Gwalior and Gwalior-Kolkata Gwalior sectors. The budget carrier has also announced four new daily flights connecting Bhopal including daily non-stop flight between Udaipur and Bhopal from March 31. It also announced daily direct flights between Chennai and Bhopal.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Narendra Modi has given its approval for extension of time and scope for revival and development of un-served and under-served air strips of State Governments, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Civil enclaves, CPSUs, helipads and water aerodromes at the total cost of Rs.4500 crore with the budgetary support of Government of India. As an outcome, small cities/towns shall be connected on commencement of operation of flights to under-served/un-served airports and it will further boost the economic development in these as well as surrounding areas in terms of job creation and related infrastructure development.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Air India is all set to ply 40 of its domestic and 12 international flights with an all-women crew. “Air India is set to fly 12 all-women crew flights on its medium and long-haul international routes and over 40 return domestic and short-haul flights all over India to celebrate the International Women’s Day on March 8 this year,” Air India said in a statement. Air India will deploy its B787 Dreamliners and B777s aircraft to operate the aforementioned 12 international flights. Women pilots and cabin crew will be operating Airbus family aircraft as well as dreamliners to over 40 domestic destinations and back to commemorate the occasion,” the airline added. On the ocassion, Ashwini Lohani, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India said, “I would like to congratulate our women crew for operating so many flights on various international and domestic routes fuelled by their indomitable ”nari shakti” (women power).” (With inputs from PTI)

According to The International Air Transport Association, air transport makes a significant economic contribution to India. In 2010, 79 million people travelled to/from/or within India. By 2017 that doubled to 158 million. That number is expected to treble to 520 million by 2037. Aviation in India supports 7.5 million jobs: 390,000 directly, 570,000 in the value chain, and 6.2 million in tourism. Aviation contributes some US$30 billion annually to India’s GDP.