Category Archives: Aviation

MoCA is in talks with various others ministries – Home Affairs, Health, and External Affairs – for restarting the tourist visa. It has also revealed that AAI will privatise 6-10 more airports April onwards. Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, MoCA, says that the government will look to club profitable airports with loss-making ones during the sale process.

Air travel can get expensive as the prices of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) have increased by 3 per cent in a recent revision. This is the 5th increase in ATF prices in the last two months amid rising international crude oil prices. The price of ATF in Delhi has increased by Rs 1304.2 per kl to Rs 53795.41 per kl.

The first direct Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) Air India flight to Amritsar from Rome took off on Wednesday with 243 persons onboard. Dr Neena Malhotra, Ambassador of India Italy met the crew members & passengers and wished everyone a pleasant and safe flight.

IndiGo is now the world’s 7th biggest airline by capacity and the largest outside the US and China, according to data firm OAG. The low-cost airline has a 52% share in the domestic aviation market in 2020 compared to 47% in 2019.

Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Bird Group, commented that India’s vaccination program may help in economic recovery. “However, the Indian economy is awaiting a return to normalcy in sectors such as travel and aviation. These sectors are now carrying most of the COVID-19 burden and have yet to start operating at anywhere near pre COVID-19 levels. They are also the sectors responsible for enormous job losses and consumption declines. We expect a full throttle vaccination programme to bring the long-awaited cheer to the sector,” he added.

With the objective of expanding Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport’s current capacity of handling 2.5 crore passengers annually to 3.4 crore, a growth of approximately 36 per cent, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has successfully priced an offering of $300 million bond in the international bond market.

IndiGo has announced direct flights from Kurnool to Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam, and Chennai March 28 onwards, strategically enhancing regional connectivity in southern India. The LCC will begin these operations under the UDAN scheme.

Turkish Airlines has launched a new hygiene programme ‘TK Extra Care’, which highlights new protective hygiene measures, in collaboration with the global carrier’s ambassador Dr. Mehmet Oz, the producer and host of the world-renowned ‘The Dr. Oz Show’. In the three-minute animated video, Dr. Oz shows that from checking-in online and carrying only personal items in the cabin, passenger contact is reduced. Viewers learn that upon entering the airport, all passengers must wear a mask and are provided with hand disinfectant and body temperature screenings throughout the terminal. The video also highlights that Turkish Airlines has taken extra safety steps to ensure peace of mind, such as disinfecting luggage with a UV system and boarding passengers in smaller groups from the back of the plane to the front. Hygiene Experts are present on each flight to maintain a high health and safety level, while each passenger will receive a hygiene kit upon boarding.  

Malaysia Airlines has received seven stars – full marks – from Airline Ratings in an independent review of its COVID-19 health and safety measures. The rating is based on seven criteria— COVID-19 guidance on the airline’s website, social distancing during boarding, flight attendants’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the compulsory wearing of face masks onboard, modifications to the meal service, passenger hygiene kits, and the deep cleaning of the aircraft. Malaysia Airlines was deemed to have excelled in all categories, resulting in it being awarded all seven stars.. Group Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Airlines, Captain Izham Ismail said, “COVID-19 has presented a challenge unlike any the aviation industry has faced previously, and Malaysia Airlines has needed to adapt our services and protocols quickly to ensure that our passengers and staff are kept safe and comfortable. In July 2020 we introduced the “Fly Confidently” campaign, to educate passengers on the enhanced measures implemented across touchpoints at airports as well as on board. We are very proud that the range of measures we have put in place from check-in through to arrivals have been recognised by Airline Ratings and hope that this seven-star rating provides further reassurance to our customers that every flight with Malaysia Airlines will be safe and enjoyable for all onboard.”

Royal Jordanian Airline has appointed STIC Travel Group as its India GSA for passenger services. “Travel agents can contact any of the STIC offices across India. I hope that together we can contribute to growth of business,” says Subhash Goyal, Chairman, STIC Travel Group.