Category Archives: Aviation

Gulf Air in partnership with VFS Global launched a Bahrain Tourist Visa Service exclusively for the airline’s passengers flying across its global network to Bahrain. Travellers with return tickets of Gulf Air can now conveniently apply for a visa to the Kingdom of Bahrain online via visa.gulfair.com or by visiting their local Gulf Air sales office with the necessary documents no more than 30 days prior to travel to submit their application. Captain Waleed Abdul Hameed Al Alawi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air said, “We are delighted to launch the Bahrain Tourist Visa Service, making the process of obtaining a visa to enter Bahrain easier. We anticipate positive feedback from our customers and look forward to welcoming more people from around the world to Bahrain to experience all that the Kingdom has to offer.” Vinay Malhotra, COO – Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global said, “The dedicated online platform not only makes applying for a visa to Bahrain quicker and more convenient than ever before, but also provides passengers with 24×7 accessibility and online tracking of their visas.”  

Air India is reportedly going to involve its core aviation assets packaged with low-cost subsidiary Air India Express and AI-SATS for sale as part of its disinvestment process. Apart from that the non-core assets, which includes Air India building in Mumbai and other offices, will not be a part of the sale but part of the special purpose vehicle (SPV). Core aviation assets include aircraft, slots at airports and flying rights to various countries. Both Air India Express and AI-SATS are profit-making subsidiaries of Air India. The other Air India arms — profit-making Air India Air Transport Services and loss-making Air India Engineering Services — will be sold separately. The SPV will include Air India’s non-aircraft debt as well as non-core assets. Source: Economic Times  

An average 15 minutes of taxiing at six of the busiest airports in the country is likely to cost airlines Rs 2,000 crore annually by 2021, compelling them to explore ways to reduce fuel consumption and switch to greener ways of steering the aircraft on the ground. According to a study, the total fuel burnt is likely to increase by 40 per cent by 2021–going up from 1,67,000 tonnes in 2016 to 2,34,000 tonnes–as airlines expand their operations. Of the total 85 operational airports in the country, airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata handle nearly 65 per cent of the total air traffic. “Slots are almost over at major airports. This situation will result in an increase in waiting time for both departing and arriving aircraft,” said Lalit Gupta, Joint Director General, DGCA. The experts say alternate ways of taxiing can help airlines save up to six per cent of their total fuel costs. Traditionally, an aircraft taxiing between the main terminal and runway uses jet engines causing a significant fuel burn. Source: PTI

Air India is set to start its inaugural flight on the Jaipur-Agra-Jaipur route from December 8, 2017. The flight will be plying between the destinations thrice a week, namely, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, and will be using an ATR aircraft. The flight will depart Jaipur (AI 9687) at 11:15 am and arrive in Agra at 12:05 pm. The airline will then depart Agra (AI 9688) at 12:25 pm and land in Jaipur at 1:15 pm.

The national air carrier of Tajikistan, Tajik Air is commencing operations of its second flight on the Dushanbe-Delhi-Dushanbe route from December 22, 2017. The flight will take off from Dushanbe at 0830 hours and arrive in Delhi at 1145 hours. On return, the Delhi flight will depart at 1345 hours and arrive in Dushanbe at 1600 hours. The starting for a Dushanbe-Delhi flight start from Rs 15,000 (excluding taxes).

Following a successful launch in Hyderabad in November, Kuwait’s leading low cost airline, Jazeera Airways will now fly to Ahmedabad and Kochi starting January 17 and 18, respectively. Rohit Ramachandran, CEO, Jazeera Airways, said, “This is a major strategic move for us to extend our network into India and provide greater choice and value for the Indian community in Kuwait and broader GCC. We have been delighted with how well our new operations to Hyderabad, Kochi and Ahmedabad have been received both in India and the wider Middle East region. The decision to invest further in India comes from the rising demand of Indian expats visiting their friends and families, as well as the large interest of Kuwaiti travelers in exploring new destinations for tourism and medical visits.” Jazeera Airways will operate three flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays to and from Ahmedabad starting January 17 departing 00.05am from Kuwait arriving 06.00am, ensuring a quick and efficient journey. Kochi flights will operate four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays departing at 12.45 pm from Kuwait and arriving at 20.10pm in Kochi International Airport. Passengers can enjoy a baggage allowance of 30kg for Economy class and 50kg per Business class passenger.

Air France-KLM and Jet Airways have signed a landmark ‘Enhanced Cooperation Agreement’ for the development of their operations between Europe and India. A first in the history of Indian aviation, this agreement strengthens the partnership built between the three airlines since 2014. This cooperation was expanded in 2016 with an extensive code-share agreement for connections between Europe and North America and Jet Airways’ hubs at Mumbai and Delhi in India via Air France-KLM’ hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol. Jean-Marc Janaillac, Chairman and CEO, Air France-KLM, says, “Air France-KLM and Jet Airways are launching the first cooperation agreement of its kind on the India – Europe market, one of the markets at the heart of the group’s strategy for the coming years. We are innovating within the airline industry by offering connections between two partnerships for the first time: our enhanced cooperation agreement for India – Europe with Jet Airways and the Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines’ Europe – North American joint venture. Jet Airways, Air France, KLM, and, Delta Air Lines will thus connect India to a vast transatlantic network via the Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol hubs. With over 1,200,000 customers carried between India and Europe by the Group and our Indian partner, half of whom are travelling onward to North America, we are confirming our ambition to offer customers an enhanced network, and a unique, seamless product tailored to their needs with the best products and services.” Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways, adds, “The enhanced cooperation agreement between Jet Airways, Air France and KLM being signed during Jet Airways’ 25th Year and Air France’s 70 Years in India, represents the next stage in our journey …

Senior IAS officer Pradeep Singh Kharola has been appointed as the new CMD of disinvestment-bound Air India,, an official release said. Kharola would take over as the chairman and managing director of the flagship carrier from Rajiv Bansal, who was given an extension only last week. A 1985-batch Karnataka cadre officer, Kharola would be steering the national airline at a time when the government has started the process for its strategic disinvestment. Kharola has been appointed as the CMD of Air India in the rank and pay of Secretary to Government of India. He has been the managing director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd since February 2015. Among others, Kharola has worked in various posts in Karnataka, including as the chairman of Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation Ltd. He has also served as principal secretary to the Karnataka chief minister. Interestingly, Bansal — who is also additional secretary and financial adviser at the petroleum ministry — had got an extension as Air India CMD only last week after his initial three-month tenure ended on November 23. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle nod for the strategic disinvestment of Air India in June this year. The carrier, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 50,000 crore, managed to eke out operational profit for the first time in a decade in 2015-16. Under a turnaround plan approved by the previous UPA regime, Air India is to receive up to Rs 30,231 crore from the government subject to meeting certain performance thresholds. The ten-year bailout package began from 2012. So far, the embattled carrier has received around Rs 26,000 crore under the package. (Source: …

Air Deccan is all set to start flight operations under the regional connectivity scheme, also known as Udan (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), from December 15 this year,Shillong airport officials reportedly said. Air Deccan will use Shillong as a hub and Udan flights from there will connect to other destinations in the northeast such as Agartala, Aizawl and Imphal, according to a top official of the Shillong airport. The airline will also operate flights between Kolkata and Agartala. Under the government’s Udan regional connectivity scheme, air fares are capped at Rs 2,500 per person for an hour’s flight to Tier-II and Tier-III cities in which the government will provide subsidy for flying with such low fares. “Air Deccan authorities have given the schedule saying that they would start operating from December 15 this year,” said M.K. Nayak, the director of Shillong airport. Air Deccan will use an 18-20 seater aircraft for the Udan flights, he added. Source: PTI

Travizuu has signed an agreement with Jet Airways as a direct travel vendor to its staff at Mumbai International Airport. The company had recently celebrated its two-year anniversary by launching its international reach in Dubai. This collaboration is designed to support Jet Airways growing fleet requirement, and the need to have a designated one point of authorised contact to operate seamless day to day travel. Headquartered in Mumbai, Travizuu recently added hundreds of newer models of car which are authorized and ply under the regulation of Transport Department. This partnership will allow them to service Jet Airway’s growing need of cars on the road, ensuring that vehicles are ready for their staff around the clock. “Our strict process of induction is not only confined to drivers but also to vehicles. We ensure that all the vehicles have valid official documents such as permit, registration certificate, insurance policy and fitness certificate before they are operational and in service,” said Amjadh Waghu, Director, Travizuu who heads Compliance and Vendor Relations. “We are excited to partner with Jet Airways, the fleet management companies are changing the mobility landscape in a profoundly transformative and beneficial manner,” said Juned Khan, Director, Travizuu who spearheads the Investor Relations and Strategy building for National & International Business. He further added, “Not only does this partnership enable us to leverage our current capabilities and reach, but it also allows us to extend our reach with key tie-ups with sub-vendors available in the marketplace across the country.” Travizuu will continue its reach in other cities. Mitteysh A. Rasaikar, Director, Travizuu who leads Strategic Business and Planning said, “We are on positive nods with other prominent brands too.” He further …