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10 Famous Airlines That No Longer Exist!

Aviation industry has existed for more than a 100 years now, but it has seen many airlines come and go.

Whether it’s rising oil prices, politics , mismanagement or financial loss, this notoriously fickle industry can have an effect on even the biggest airlines in the world.

In fact, on 2nd October 2018, “Primera Air”, a Scandinavian low-cost airline, left thousands of flyers stranded in the Northern Atlantic and European region, when it abruptly ceased its operations.

To give you more insight into the airlines of the past, here are 10 Carriers that managed to make an impression on the industry and passengers before their final flights.

1.Pan Am

Pan Am, short for Pan American World Airways, started off as a tiny, airmail carrier that hopped from Florida to Cuba and back in 1927.

However, it went on to become the world’s largest airline and an industry innovator.

Graduating from small planes to Boeing 747s, the airline pioneered flight routes, opened hotels (InterContinental hotel chain), and symbolized the glamor of the jet age.

Oil crises, hijackings and other operational setbacks plunged Pan Am into financial crisis, and the carrier ceased on December 4, 1991.

Delta airlines acquired its assets for $1.39 billion.

2.Virgin America

Known for its colourful cabin lights and a desire to offer its passengers a stylish flying experience, Virgin America captured the US air travel market and won many prestigious awards for it.

Although Virgin Group head Mr. Richard Branson was only a minority owner, his stunts combined with innovative marketing approaches often grabbed headlines making it a household name in America.

Many hearts broke across the country when the carrier was purchased by “Alaska Airlines” and the final Virgin America flight took off on April 24, 2018.

3.Air Berlin

Founded in 1978, the airline operated holiday flights from Berlin to vacation destinations in the Mediterranean. Eventually, the airline became popular and Air Berlin went on to become one of the biggest airlines in Europe.

Expansion plans, which were dependent on the future, didn’t go as planned and the airline had to scale back its operations leading to financial loses.

It flew its final flight in October 2017. Lufthansa group swopped in to buy 81 airplanes and employed more than 3,000 former Air Berlin employees.

4.Monarch Airlines

Primera Air isn’t the only airline to abruptly fail and strand travellers far from home.

The budget British airline, founded in 1967, flew vacationers to tourism hotspots around Europe and Israel.

However, financial difficulties drove the airline to desperately seek funding and, despite Boeing’s investment in 2016, the airline flew its last flight on 2nd October 2017.

The airline stranded around 111000 passengers, who were shifted to other airlines. It is estimated that this whole operation costed $78 million.

5.Kingfisher Airlines

Since commencing its flights in 2005, Kingfisher wasn’t just a brand name associated with beer in India. It had taken over the masses who wanted to fly in style.

Its international flights featured a bar in first class and top of the line entertainment systems and full-size pillows in the economy class.

Consistent heavy financial losses drove Kingfisher to the brink of shutting down several times before the airline was forced to end operations in 2012, when the government suspended its license and froze its accounts for non-payment of taxes.

6.US Airways

Founded in 1937 as “All American Airways”, the airline went through a lot of name changes (from ‘US Air in 1979 to “US Airways” in 1997), but it was the world’s largest airline during the mid 70’s and early 80’s.

On January 15, 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 landed on the Hudson River following engine failure from multiple bird strikes. All passengers and crew survived in the event, now termed the “Miracle on the Hudson.”

US Airways merged with American Airlines in 2013, forming the world’s largest airline. The final US Airways-branded flight flew in April 2015.

7.Continental

Continental’s long history started in 1937, when the airline was rebranded and refocused from flying airmail to carrying passengers.

The airline was responsible for many historic “firsts” such as, hiring the first African-American pilot to work for any major US carrier (1963), inaugurating the first regular jet routes connecting islands across the Pacific (1968), flying the first non-stop route over 16 hours (Newark to Hong Kong, 2001) and offering 24-hour online support (2009).

Headquartered in Houston, the airline flew until it merged with United Airlines in 2012.

8.Air Australia

About 4000 passengers were left stranded in 2012 when Air Australia went bust out of the blue, suddenly grounding flights in its network.

It had pushed itself to the financial brink, literally running out of money to buy fuel. The Brisbane-based carrier failed to pay its debts of up to $90 million and was liquidated.

Up until a few hours before liquidation, tickets were still being sold online. The airline ended up making $36 million from about 100,000 tickets for future travel, which became worthless.

9.Swiss Air

For years, the national airline of Switzerland seemed unbreakable. Founded in 1931, it was known as the “Flying Bank” because it was so financially stable and had a reputation for great service.

Throughout the 1980s the airline continued to thrive and was one of the major carriers in western Europe. But it didn’t last.

A disastrous overexpansion program and an unstable economic environment hit the airline hard during 2001.

With its entire fleet grounded, it was only kept alive by the government. After months of chaos and injections of millions of dollars, it was closed down the following year in a move that shocked the country.

Most of its airplanes and routes were taken over by a new airline, Swiss International Air Lines a.k.a ‘SWISS’.

10.Trans World Airways (TWA)

One of Pan Am’s main rivals, TWA has a long and glamorous history spanning 71 years.

In its early days, it flourished under billionaire Howard Hughes, however, poor management in the 1980s hurt the airline, which eventually suffered huge losses.

The airline declared bankruptcy in 1992 and 1995 but that was not the end of it. Disaster struck In 1996, when flight TWA 800 exploded and crashed just minutes after taking off from John F Kennedy Airport, killing all 230 people aboard, which garnered negative media publicity.

The airline continued to struggle until it was once again forced into bankruptcy in 2001 and was acquired by American Airlines.

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New International Terminal At Hyderabad Airport To Open On 23rd October!

All international flight departures will take place from the Interim International Departures Terminal (IIDT) at Hyderabad Airport starting Tuesday, 10.30am onwards.

Airport authorities have released a press release , asking passengers to check with their respective airlines about their flight schedule, before they leave for the airport.

Passengers booked on Air India’s international flights AI 127, AI 952, AI 978, AI 988, AI 966 & AI 051 and travelling to domestic destinations ,also have to report to IIDT.

The IIDT is located adjacent to the Haj terminal and can be accessed from both Shamshabad and Srisailam sides of the airport’s main approach road.

Signage with directions to IIDT have been placed starting from the airport approach road. A dedicated free shuttle service has been arranged between the existing terminal and IIDT. It will be available at the arrivals ramp and will operate at regular intervals.

The IIDT is 2 km from the main terminal, and transit between the two takes about five minutes. Volunteers have been deployed at the parking spots and entrance to help the passengers for the first few days to avoid confusion.

The new terminal, which was launched on 10th October, is said to be equipped with new technologies including India’s first remote hand baggage screening facility.

Together with the new automatic tray retrieval system at hand baggage screening, will help security do conduct their baggage checks much faster, plus it will also help passengers since it will reduce their waiting time in the security line.

In case of any query, passengers have been advised to contact the following helpline numbers: 040-66546370; 040-66606660

 

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Government To Only Allow Data Services On Airplanes For Now!

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is planning to allow only data/internet services aboard flights within India in the initial rollout of In-Flight Connectivity scheme.

Voice services have been put on a hold for now on account of some technical issues.

The DoT is likely to approach the Law Ministry next week for the review of these guidelines before notifying them. It could take around two weeks for the Ministry to sanction these guidelines.

They have held meetings with telecom operators and airlines, some of whom have shown interest to offer these services.

Once the licenses are rolled out, the carriers and telecom companies will reportedly have to bid to acquire the license for the service they want to push out.

While mobile phone use will still be restricted during take-off and landing, the Telecom Commission has approved lifting the ban on the use of mobile phones and internet services at cruising altitudes.

While it is still too early for a definite pricing structure for in-flight connectivity, it is anticipated that the cost of installing this will cost the airlines a lot.

Each aircraft would require an investment of about $1 million. The airplane will also have to be grounded for at least 10 days to retrofit the aircraft with the technology. In current circumstances, this revamping may not come across as very welcoming.

Globally, many airlines are offering Wi-Fi for passengers, but they have to switch off the facility when they enter Indian airspace. AirAsia, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among the 30 airlines who have to do this.

Indian carriers have been advocating internet services on flights as it would result in add-on revenues and bring them at par with international flights.

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10 Simple Tips To Pack Like A Pro For Your Next Flight!

Even if you’ve travelled only a few times, you know how pivotal packing is!

Forget an essential item and you’re left disappointed and scrambling to find the nearest store in your destination.

Pack too much and you end up being burdened with heavy bags and losing money to pay for pricey airline baggage fees.

To help you pack effectively for your next flight, here are 10 fundamental packing strategies that every traveller should know.

1.Make A Packing List

This is the most basic tip of packing!

Most of us usually procrastinate until the last day to pack for a trip which may cause us to forget a few important items.

Start your packing process days or even weeks ahead of your departure date by making a packing list. This will help you purchase any additional items you might need for your vacation.

Creating a packing list is a fail-safe way to ensure that you never, ever forget to bring something important.

2.Know Your Airline’s Baggage-Fee Policy

Figuring out your airline’s tricky baggage-fee policy is the key to stress-free packing!

Most airlines allow you to carry one piece of hand baggage and two pieces of check-in luggage for free, however, you still need to know the airline’s weight limit levied on luggage.

Before you begin packing, take a peek at your airline’s website and read its baggage policy.

This is something you might even want to do prior to buying your plane ticket. It will help you create a rough idea of what you can or cannot carry and will help you make your packing list.

3.Use Your Personal Item Wisely

It’s standard for airlines to permit each traveller to bring one carry-on bag and one personal item onboard planes.

This personal item is subject to specific size requirements (these vary by airline), but something like a purse, laptop bag, or backpack is generally acceptable.

So rather than bringing just a small purse, you can carry a bigger carry bag, enabling you to pack more.

4.Don’t Fold Your Clothes, Roll Them

Many travel experts including backpackers, who stuff months’ worth of clothing into small bags, agree that rolling is superior to folding.

Tightly rolled clothes take up less space than folded ones. Plus, they’re less prone to getting deep wrinkles from fold creases.

Plus the benefit of this is you won’t have to arrive at your holiday destination and be faced with a pile of clothes that need ironing.

5.Pack In Layers

“Wear Layers & Pack Layers”! This is the golden rule that most frequent flyers follow.

First, your on-the-road wardrobe should feature plenty of layers, which will help you jet set through multiple climates in style and comfort.

Second, the items in your bag should be packed in neat layers for easy screening. You can pack 1 layer of clothes, 1 layer of electronics, 1 layer of shoes and so on. This will help the security agent screen your bag easily and give him/her a clearer picture.

The faster the security agent can screen your stuff, the faster you’ll get through the security line.

6. Never Keep Essential Items In check-In Luggage

It’s very important to keep your valuable and essential belongings in your carry-on bag, not in your checked luggage.

Your passport, identification, money, credit cards, jewellery, electronics, and other valuables should always be brought onto the airplane with you.

7.Fill Dead Spaces

When it comes to packing, make use of every little inch of suitcase space that you can.

Roll tops, underwear, socks and other small items and stuff them into your shoes to make sure every possible space is filled.

Just make sure that you keep the airline’s baggage weight limit in mind, cause you can end up packing more than you need with this hack.

8.Use Zip Lock Bags

How do you usually organise all of your electronics, cables, those fiddly things that take you ages to dig out at security? Stuff them like the rest of Us?

Well, if you want to organise your packing then get yourself a stash of Zip lock bags.

Use them to store electrical items like a phone charger, camera charger, adaptors or headphones, household items like house keys, medication and other loose accessories.

9.Make Your Suitcase Unique

With air travel on the rise, companies such as VIP and American Tourister are mass producing their bags, which makes it difficult for us to have a unique suitcase.

Don’t be faced with a crisis at the airport baggage carousel, when you’re searching for your luggage amidst its identical neighbours.

Label your suitcase with luggage tags and give it a bit of a makeover to help spot it in the crowd. Decorate it with ribbons, stickers or even colourful shoelaces so it’s instantly recognisable.

10.Buy A Lightweight Suitcase

A suitcase is easily one of the most essential travel items that you can own. After all, you rely on it to pack all the things you love.

Juggling between gifts for the family and airline Baggage Allowance can be a tough task. And that is exactly why lightweight luggage is so essential.

They are spacious, mobile, give less strain to your body and helps you save on baggage fees by being lightweight.

Read more about “Why You Should Carry A Lightweight Suitcase The Next Time You Fly

If you want to know more about your airline’s baggage policy, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get information regarding different airline policies and airport amenities along with real-time flight updates to plan your trip on the move.

*Download the AirWhizz app, add your upcoming flight(s) and get up to 25% discount on Swiss Military Lightweight Luggage and other products from the brand.

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Airport Authorities To Set Up “DigiYatra” Kiosks At City Centers!

There is some good news for air travellers who want to make the use of Government’s “DigiYatra” initiative.

Air passengers who want to gain hassle-free and smooth access to airports will soon be able to verify their Digi Yatra ID at city centers & common marketplaces.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is planning to set up kiosks at various city centers, Indian Railways stations and at other crowded places where passengers can verify the Digi Yatra ID.

These kiosks will help passengers verify their identity at the city centers and walk straight to the departure terminal.

To start using their DigiYatra ID at the kiosks, passengers will be required to undergo a one-time verification process to ensure that the ID is original.

According to an Airports Authority Of India (AAI) official, multiple checkpoints and separate facilities will be created by the AAI at crowded tourist areas, where the frequency of air travellers will be more.

Passengers travelling via air can get themselves an ID under the DigiYatra by providing details like their name, e-mail ID, mobile number and details of one approved identity proof. This ID can be then shared by the travellers while booking tickets. The airline company will then share the information, along with the Digi Yatra ID.

Passengers with a DigiYatra ID will have to undergo a one-time facial verification during his/her first travel. This verification will take place at the departure terminal of the airport. A security official or an airport authority will be present during the verification, in order to ensure that the traveller is not using a fake ID.

One the verification is completed successfully, the passenger’s facial biometric will be captured and stored in his/her DigiYatra ID profile. So the next time the passenger travels, their face will act as a boarding pass and they can complete their airport journey without ever taking out a ticket or ID proof.

If the passenger has chosen Aadhaar as an ID proof for creating the Digi Yatra ID, their verification will be valid for five years, else it will be valid for one year only.

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Tata Group In Talks To Buy Stake In ‘Struggling’ Jet Airways!

India’s largest business conglomerate, Tata Group, has held preliminary talks on Thursday to buy a large stake in debt-ridden Jet Airways Ltd.

Jet Airways has been unable to pay salaries to its pilots and employees on time plus have defaulted on a lot of payments.

Mr. Naresh Goyal, Founder of Jet Airways, has sought equity collaboration, however, Tata Sons, the parent company of the $103 million conglomerate, is looking for management control.

Several points like management rights and future role of Mr. Goyal is causing hindrances in the negotiations, but both the companies are exploring ways to agree on a common ground.

Tata Group is interested to buy at least a 26 percent stake in Jet, which would trigger an open offer of an additional 26 percent from Jet’s shareholders. What this means is that if Tata acquires the 26% stake, they will have an option to further buy 26 % stake from the shareholders later on, giving it total control over the Airline’s management.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, which holds a 24 percent stake in Jet Airways, made a $35 million “cash pre-purchase payment” to help out the airline in financial troubles. However, Etihad Airways may sell a part or all of its stake in Jet Airways if the Tata Group comes into the picture.

Tata Sons chairman Mr. N Chandrasekaran has pushed the company’s aviation business through mergers and acquisitions. Currently, Tata has two aviation joint ventures, one with Singapore Airlines operating Vistara and the other with Air Asia.

With Tata’s investing heavily in the airline business it’s no surprise that they have gone with this decision to acquire Jet Airways.

Speculation is that former IndiGo president Mr. Aditya Ghosh, who is acting as an advisor to Tata Trust’s ‘Cancer Care Initiative’, may eventually pilot Tata’s aviation business. Only time will tell what’s the future of Jet Airways!

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South India’s 1st “Airport Radio” Launched At Hyderabad Airport!

Passengers flying to/from Hyderabad Airport will now be greeted with music!

GMR  Hyderabad International Airport Ltd(GHAIL), the operator of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, has launched an Airport Radio in collaboration with Radio Mirchi.

‘Mirchi Airport Radio’, which is South India’s first Airport Radio, has been launched under GHIAL’s signature #PassengerIsPrime programme.

According to a press release by GHIAL, Mirchi Airport Radio is a 24×7 custom-produced, exclusive airport radio, creating a melodious theme to enhance the travel experience of the passengers at the airport.

According to the CEO of GHAIL, Mr. S.G.K Kishore, the concept of airport radio is one of GHIAL’s many initiatives to improve the passenger experience. He hopes that the passengers will enjoy this welcoming and melodious feature that the Airport offers during their travel.

The airport and Radio Mirchi have co-curated the popular and chart-busting musical numbers with a mix of film and non-film (albums) in Telugu and Hindi languages.

Hyderabad International Airport handles over 55,000 passengers on a daily basis. Typically a passenger stays at the airport from 15 minutes to 3 hours depending on his/her travel.

Airport radio – Mirchi Hyd will offer the passengers a musical treat across the 1.2 lakh square metre expanse of the terminal building and delight them.

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4-Day Dussehra Festivities Kick-Start At Bengaluru Airport!

Bengaluru Airport is all set to dazzle passengers this festive season!

Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru kickstarted its four-day cultural extravaganza to celebrate the spirit of Dussehra on Monday.

Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), who operate KIA, in association with the Department of Kannada and Culture as well as the government of Karnataka, are organizing this event.

They have organized this gala event to showcase the rich cultural heritage of South India, with music and dance performances. It was a treat for the global audience transiting through the Airport.

Here are all the details about the event:

  • TM Vijay Bhaskar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, inaugurated the show.
  • The festivities kicked off with a stimulating performance by award-winning Hindustani Classical vocalist Smt. Sangeeta Katti.
  • This was followed by a dazzling ‘Mohiniattam’ performance by Smt. Sreelekha, one of the earliest employees of BIAL.
  • The final show of the day was a one-hour classical dance performance by Vidhwan Ashok and his team.

During the course of these 4 days, a special Dussehra/Dasara food menu will be available inside the Terminal for passengers, to add flavour to the festivities.

Passengers can also experience a Dasara-themed virtual reality game with Ravana as the main protagonist. Passengers, who play the game and win, will be given gift vouchers that can be redeemed at select outlets at the Airport. A crystal ‘Rangoli’ has been created especially for the festivities.

The next three days promise to be exciting, as several renowned classical and folk artists will captivate the visitors and passengers at the Bengaluru Airport between 6.00 pm and 8.30 pm.

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