Tag Archives: Jeh Wadia

Jeh Wadia has stepped down as the Managing Director of GoAir and Ben Baldanza, the former CEO of Spirit Airlines, has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the airline. Baldanza has been advising the board and management for GoAir, and will now work directly with CEO Kaushik Khona and Pankaj Chaturvedi, the Chief Financial Officer.

Cornelis Vrieswijk, Chief Executive Officer, GoAir has resigned from the post within nine months, citing personal matters. The airline said Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, will be discharging the additional responsibilities of the CEO, till it finds a successor to Vrieswijk. The Dutch national joined GoAir only last June after the departure of Wolfgang Prock-Schauer in December 2017. “At the nominations and remunerations committee meeting held by the board recently, Vrieswijk expressed his desire to relocate to Amsterdam since his family was not wishing to settle down in Mumbai,” the company said in a statement. Vrieswijk has over 25 years experience in the aviation and travel industries with stints at Thomas Cook Group and Transavia Airlines. Source: PTI

GoAir further expands its international footprint with the launch of direct flights on Kannur–Abu Dhabi–Kannur route effective March 1, 2019. The airline will operate four direct flight services per week between the destinations with bookings now open at an all-inclusive one way fare starting from Rs 6099. This sector will further strengthen the airline’s growing international network to the Gulf and travellers will now have the opportunity to experience affordable travel experience that GoAir is acknowledged with. Speaking on the occasion, Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “Commercial and cultural links between India and UAE are flourishing and GoAir is committed to contribute in facilitating and enhancing the growth of trade and the strong demand for tourism. Kannur, an incredibly beautiful part of India, is now accessible from Abu Dhabi with direct flights and an affordable and convenient travel option.” Recently GoAir announced international operations out of Kannur to Muscat. GoAir will operate three direct flight services per week between Kannur–Muscat–Kannur effective February 28, 2019. On the domestic front, GoAir currently connects Kannur to Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad.

GoAir is set to expand its international footmark with the launch of direct flights on Kannur – Muscat – Kannur route effective February 28, 2019. The airline will operate three direct flight services per week and bookings are now open at an attractive all-inclusive one way fare starting from INR 4999. Speaking on the occasion, Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “It gives us immense delight to add Muscat as our third international destination. Muscat is a key market for us and is in line with our growth strategy and more so for the Middle East. We are hopeful that this service would also prove equally popular with our flyers. We will continue to deliver convenient and hassle-free connections and we stand committed to provide our customers with superior experience at best affordable prices.” Recently, GoAir added Kannur as its 24th domestic destination and was the first and only domestic airline to launch services when the airport commenced its maiden operations. On the domestic front, the airline currently connects Kannur to Bengaluru with 13 weekly flights, Chennai with 4 weekly flights and Hyderabad with 3 weekly flights. On the international front, the airline has recently introduced direct daily connectivity to Phuket from Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. It also operates 4 direct weekly flights on the Mumbai-Male route, 3 weekly flights on Delhi-Male and 2 weekly flights on Bengaluru-Male route.

GoAir has announced the appointment of Cornelis Vrieswijk as the new Chief Executive Officer. He will be reporting to the Chairman, Managing Director and the Board of Directors of GoAir. Vrieswijk is a seasoned global executive and a consultant with over 25 years of experience in aviation and travel industry. He has rich experience in driving ventures, transitions, turnarounds and large-scale projects for diverse and multifaceted organisations with emphasis in aviation/travel and aircraft maintenance industry on a European Stage. He has significant expertise in international business development, operational streamlining, aircraft engineering & maintenance and process automation. Commenting on the occasion, Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “Vrieswijk will work with the Board and leadership team to expand and implement a range of strategic initiatives to lead the airline into its next phase of growth. I am confident that Cor will help scale GoAir further and establish it as a most profitable low cost carrier in the highly competitive Indian market.” Commenting on his appointment, Vrieswijk said, “I am truly honoured to join this dynamic airline and see myself closely working with the entire GoAir team in realising its objectives. My primary focus will be to grow the airline to a strong position and modelling the desired changes for further growth and expansion.” Vrieswijk is a management graduate from Catholic University Nijmegen.

GoAir has announced the appointment of Jyri Strandman as Chief Operating Officer. He will report to Managing Director Jeh Wadia and be a part of the airline’s core management team. Strandman will be responsible for strengthening GoAir’s operational functions of Flight Operations; Engineering; Airport, Security and Airside Operations (ASA); Flight Safety; Inflight Services (IFS) and Integrated Operations Control Centre (IOCC). He has over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry. Prior to GoAir, Strandman was associated with US based Spirit Airlines as Director, Operations and VP, Flight Operations. At Spirit, he was instrumental in introducing over 70 Airbus A320 family aircraft including the NEOs into the airline fleet. Commenting on his appointment, Strandman said, “I look forward to many challenges that come with this ever-burgeoning market and expanding operations of the airline. I am excited at the prospect of making GoAir the preferred choice of airline for customers.”

GoAir has announced new additional flights for the winter schedule, effective from November 23, 2017. The airline will operate 22 of these flights on new routes apart from increasing the frequencies by eight flights on existing routes during winters. With the new additions, GoAir would operate an average of 240 flights a day, strengthening its market presence at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolktata, Lucknow, Nagpur and Patna. The airline is also inducting new A320 NEOs, taking its fleet strength to 31 aircraft. To commensurate its 12 successful years in the domestic skies, GoAir has also announced an exciting anniversary fare offer starting from Rs 1212 plus taxes on all new sectors. The booking period will be from November 18-21, 2017 for the travel period from November 24, 2017 to October 28, 2018. Jeh Wadia, Managing Director, GoAir said, “The induction of four new aircraft will cater to the enhanced seasonal demand whilst offering flexibility to customers with more flight options to choose from. It is our constant endeavour to provide more flexibility of choice for our customers and offer them seamless connectivity, hassle free and affordable flying experience.”

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) will start the operations at the revamped Terminal-2 of Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 29, 2017 and GoAir will be the first airline to shift its entire operations to Terminal 2 with effect from 00:01 hours of 29th October 2017. The move has come as a mutual decision between DIAL and Go Air to shift operations from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 until the completion of the expansion of T1. However, it’s a temporary move to ease the pressure of fast growing traffic at Terminal 1, so that the expansion works can be carried out at Terminal 1 effectively and efficiently. The Terminal 1 is set to be expanded from the current capacity of 20 million to 40 million per annum with 22 aerobridges, and state of the art infrastructure. The expansion process will encompass all major areas of the airport i.e. Landside, Terminal and Airside and will be completed within four years. I Prabhakara Rao, CEO-DIAL said, “In view of the robust growth in passenger traffic and upcoming airport expansion works, DIAL has revamped and is recommissioning the Terminal 2 of the IGI Airport with effect from 29th October, 2017. We welcome GoAir in its new home terminal in Terminal 2. This will enable us to start the expansion works at Terminal 1 and carry it on seamlessly.” Jeh Wadia, MD, GoAir, said: “ in order to support the government and DIAL’s plans to upgrade and expand the airport facilities as well as continuously improve the customer experience and the seamless integration of international and domestic passengers, we are delighted to move into a newly furbished Terminal 2 at IGI Airport. The move …