Tag Archives: aviation

The New Zealand travel and tourism industry is facing a storm as the government’s recent decisions on visa fees and the International Visitor Levy (IVL) threaten to derail its recovery efforts. The double whammy has significantly increased the cost of visiting the country, making it less attractive to international travellers. According to Dr. Xie Xingquan, Regional Vice President, IATA, North Asia and Asia-Pacific, the combined impact of these changes could delay the return of visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels well beyond 2026. This is a major setback for the industry, which is a crucial contributor to the New Zealand economy. IATA had strongly opposed the increase in the IVL during the public consultation process for the IVL, arguing that it would harm the country’s competitiveness as a tourist destination. Unfortunately, the government ignored these concerns and applied the levy in the 2024 budget despite ongoing discussions. Dr. Xie also expressed concern about the lack of transparency regarding the allocation of funds collected through the IVL. He urged the government to consider investing these resources in initiatives that support the decarbonisation of the aviation sector. As the industry struggles with these challenges, it is clear that the government’s approach to tourism policy needs to be reassessed. By fostering a more welcoming environment for international travellers, New Zealand can position itself as a leading destination and drive economic growth.

Hyderabad: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport debuted a luxurious new terminal exclusively for private aircraft and chartered flights. This state-of-the-art terminal, designed with Indo-Saracenic-Indo-Gothic interiors, offers a seamless and upscale experience for business and leisure travellers. With its private entrance, dedicated car park, and chauffeur services, passengers can enjoy hassle-free travel in and out of Hyderabad. The terminal also provides a range of amenities, including multiple lounges, separate arrival and departure corridors, and all the standard airport services.

Aviation Regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday, has placed low-cost carrier SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance due to safety deficiencies uncovered during a recent audit of August 2024. This is the third time SpiceJet has faced strict supervision from the regulator, following safety incidents in 2022 and weak finances in 2023. The airline’s monetary troubles have resurfaced, as evidenced by recent incidents like the Dubai Airport halting boarding of SpiceJet flights due to unpaid dues and flights being unable to fly over Pakistan due to unpaid overflying charges. The DGCA’s decision to place SpiceJet under enhanced surveillance underlines ongoing safety concerns with the airline’s operations. The repeated regulatory scrutiny of SpiceJet can damage the reputation of India’s aviation industry and raise questions about safety standards. “Due to concerns about SpiceJet’s recent flight cancellations and financial difficulties, the DGCA conducted a special audit of the airline’s engineering facilities on 7 and 8 August, 2024. This audit uncovered certain deficiencies,” the DGCA announced on Thursday. The DGCA will conduct more spot checks and night surveillance to ensure safety of SpiceJet’s operations. The airline faces significant financial challenges, including unpaid dues to aircraft lessors, vendors, and suppliers. SpiceJet’s market share in India’s aviation sector has been declining, further impacting its financial stability. While most Indian airlines rebounded significantly from the COVID-19 pandemic, SpiceJet faced ongoing financial challenges. SpiceJet’s repeated regulatory interventions and ongoing financial struggles pose a serious challenge to the airline’s future. The DGCA’s decision to place the airline under enhanced surveillance underscores the need for immediate action to address safety concerns and ensure the well-being of passengers.

As  per ICRA report, domestic air passenger traffic saw YoY growth of 8.6 per cent in comparison to 121 lakh in July 2023 and higher by 10 per cent than pre-Covid levels. However, it was estimated at 131 lakh in July 2024, 0.5 per cent lower vis-a-vis 132.1 lakh in June 2024.

The AAI’s draft of National Airports Development Plan has scribed its agenda to expand the airport count to 300 by 2047. As per the plan, around 70 airstrips can be developed into full-fledged airports that can handle narrow-body aircraft such as A320 or B737, and nearly 40 airstrips can be developed to handle smaller aircraft.

The newly appointed Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, said, “We want to make airfare affordable and want to make airways the new railways of India. Our agenda is clear.” He also announced that they will create a 100-day action plan to lead to a long-term vision for the sector aligned with the ‘Viksit Bharat’ plan.

Vumlunmang Vualnam, Secretary of Civil Aviation, Government of India said, “While we have 157 airstrips already, which are functional, which we are proud of, we have already started looking at the 453 full list of airstrips that exist in our country. We are considering to develop these as brownfield projects. We also look at the defense airfields to expand joint user concept.”

Amitabh Khosla, Country Director-India, IATA said that India’s air traffic had already surpassed 2019 levels, both for domestic and international flights, in 2023 itself.  “So certainly, we are witnessing rapid growth, as demonstrated in the unveiling video of the 2025 AGM. There is a significance amount of activity and technology driving aviation growth in India, ” he added.

Olivier Ponti, Director of Intelligence & Marketing, Forwardkeys, shared that high airfare posed a significant obstacle recently due to strong demand and limited supply. As capacity returns, airfare is beginning to see a dip, although remaining 4% higher than 2019 levels by the end of April 2024. Despite some fluctuations, the global trend indicates a positive shift.

Cambodia Angkor Air will start its first direct route between Phnom Penh and New Delhi from 16 June with 4  flights per week, heralding a new era of seamless air travel between India and Cambodia. David Yuhong Zhan, CEO, Cambodia Angkor Air, said, “We plan to open new routes connecting Siem Reap to Delhi and Phnom Penh to other cities in India soon.”