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The Complex Process Behind Your Airline’s Flight Schedule!

We all have at some point complained about how late our flight was or rejoiced about an early flight.

But have you ever wondered how exactly does an airline schedule a flight?

Well, it turns out that those scheduled flight timings aren’t random. Your flight timings are a result of a complex system which is handled by a dedicated airline team.

But, before we get into the factors that determine a flight’s schedule, we first need to understand a few terms.

Departure Time –  Most of us think that departure time is the time at which the flight takes-off, but that’s not the case. Departure time is the moment your flight leaves the boarding gate.

Arrival time – This is the moment when your flight reaches the boarding gate and not the time it lands on the runway.

Block Time – This is the time between the arrival and departure time.

Airlines use a complex matrix called ‘Airline Scheduled Planning’ to fix flight timings. They use a software and feed in the historical data for a flight’s departure, arrival and block time for each specific route on a specific day. The software analyses this data and suggests a schedule for that flight.

Other than the software, airlines also keep in mind certain variables to schedule flights!

Factors That Affect A Flight’s Schedule.

1.Airport

Flight schedule of an airline is affected by the passenger traffic at the airport.

Busy airports such as Delhi or Bombay airports allot airlines a 30-60 minute window to operate their flights in a day, to keep things organised.

The infrastructure of the airport is also taken into consideration, including how many boarding gates does it have, how many runways are operational or whether there is an ongoing construction happening.

2.Connecting Flights

Airlines have to consider the timings of the connecting flights. They have to determine the departure time of their flight by analyzing what time the connecting flight is going to arrive at the other airport.

The time taken by a passenger to leave the airplane and walk to the boarding gate for the connecting flight is also added.

3.Turnaround Time

Airline turnaround time is the time taken to unload an airplane after its arrival and to prepare it for departure again.

This factor also includes the time taken to switch the airline crew. Airlines have to check whether the new crew is present at the destination or is arriving at the airport on another flight. Accordingly, they schedule their flight.

4.Flight Route

Another variable that is used to schedule a flight is how busy the route is and how much time does a flight stay in the air on that particular route.

For instance ,on busier routes, the airline might opt to operate its flights during less crowded times of the day or week.

5.Competition

This may come as a surprise to you, but the airline’s brand value in the market determines a flight’s schedule.

In some areas, you will find that airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet are more popular, while in other areas people prefer flying with Air India or GoAir.

Airlines aim to schedule flights to capture the largest customer base and avoid bottlenecking at airports, at the same time.

For Instance, if flights from 7 different airlines land during the same time at an airport, the airline may schedule its flight an hour earlier to avoid competition and get better returns.

6.Type Of Destination

Wherever possible, airlines schedule their flights based on why people are flying to a specific destination.

That is why you must have noticed that there are a lot of early morning flights to/from cities such as Bangalore ,Mumbai, or Delhi since a lot of business travellers fly there.

Scheduling late morning or afternoon flights from holiday destination such as Goa makes more sense for airlines. They want their guests to make the most of their relaxation time.

7.Unexpected Factors

Flight schedules are decided several months in advance by the airline’s “Schedule Planning Team”.

But unexpected events, such as bad weather or runway construction, might happen during that time, which can affect the arrival and departure timings.

Most airlines have a different set of employees on the team for this purpose or have flight dispatchers, who sit in the system operations center. Their main job is to tweak schedules to accommodate real-time changes as the need arises.

To sum it up, scheduling a flight is not as simple as just picking up a time which sounds good. Airlines have an experienced and dedicated team that helps them to solve this jigsaw puzzle and see which timing fits. In fact, many international airlines such as JetBlue give their schedule planning job applicants a “Sudoku Puzzle” to solve in the interviews.

If you want to know about your flight status, simply download the AirWhizz App. You will get real-time flight/ weather updates along with airline and airport information on the move & Fly Stress -Free!

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Civil Aviation Ministry May Reform Airline Ticket Cancellation Policy!

In May 2018, the Civil Aviation Ministry had submitted a passenger draft to change the rules regarding cancellation of airline tickets.

The rules say that passengers can cancel a ticket for free within 24 hours of booking a flight and travel agents/airlines cannot levy cancellation charges which are more than the base price plus fuel surcharge.

The airline fraternity has pointed out a few shortcomings in these rules and is asking the ministry to reconsider the passenger draft.

Mr. Biji Eapen, National President of IATA Agents Association Of India, has written to the ministry saying that fuel charges cannot be a part of the cancellation charges. Any attempt to include this cost in the basic price, without merging both base fare and fuel charges together, is illegal and a violation of the law.

In fact, according to the “Aircraft Rules 1937”, base fare is the price of the airline ticket before adding the tax, fees and surcharge.

This is why Mr. Eapen has asked the ministry to review and amend the draft to specify that, airline ticket cancellation charges, under any circumstances, shouldn’t be more than the base fare.

Aviation analysts say that charging a cancellation fee more than the basic fare is quite illogical. This is because, the aircraft is not burning any fuel on the account of the passenger who has cancelled their ticket and only the basic price of the ticket should be refunded.

Airlines in India started adding fuel surcharge to basic airfares in 2005 on account of volatile fuel prices. Most airlines in the world include fuel cost in the original price of a ticket and add a fuel surcharge during the booking process.

The new norms are expected to be notified by 15th July 2018, after the ministry analyses the public comments on the proposed charter.

Read more about the “Changes Proposed By Civil Aviation Ministry In New Passenger Charter

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Flight Operations Resume At Bali International Airport!

Flight operations at Bali’s international airport have resumed after the Indonesian government shut down the airport due to a volcanic eruption at Mount Agung.

Government authorities had announced that the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali would be closed from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. However, a favourable change in the wind direction allowed the airport to resume flights by 2:30 p.m.

Shutting down of Bali Airport led to cancellation of almost 450 flights including 207 international ones. This affected 75000 air travellers globally.

Amongst these stranded travellers , there were a few Indians as well. The Consulate General Of India(CGI), Bali, had set up a help desk at the airport to assist Indian nationals.

According to a report, there was a group of 10 Indians holidaying in Indonesia and one of their relatives tweeted to CGI asking for help. CGI responded to the appeal and told him that the Bali airport had reopened at 2.30 p.m. and that his relatives should contact the airline to reschedule their flights.

Indonesian authorities have said that the airport was safe from the volcano since it’s about 60 -70 kms away. But, due to the ash clouds rising almost 16454 feet above sea level, they had to shut down flight operations.

Air Asia had cancelled almost 50 flights, while airlines such as Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines and PT Garuda had to temporarily shut their operations down in Bali.

Last year in November, the airport was shut down for more than a day because of high volcanic activity in the region. This led to a loss of more than $1 billion for the country’s tourism industry.

The government has suspended all tourist activity near Mount Agung and everyone within a vicinity of 4 kms from the mountain has evacuated the area.

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7 Tips To Avoid Business Travel Burnout!

Business travellers are called “Road Warriors” for a reason!

They fly most of the time to get the job done for their company while staying away from the comfort of their home and loved ones.

But business trips can become physically and mentally exhausting, which in turn can affect your personal and professional life.

To help you avoid getting burnt-out, we at AirWhizz have come up with a few effective tips that you should keep in mind the next time you go on a business trip.

1.Keep Your Routine Going

It’s easy to forget about the things that you usually do at home when you’re on a business trip.

Whether it’s working out, reading or meditating, make sure you take out time for these activities on your trip.

If you do this it will make you feel less homesick and help you cope with travel fatigue.

2.Make The Most Of Your Time

If you’re going on a business trip and have a flexible schedule, take out some time to explore the place.

Planning a few free days to wander off into the city lets you engage with the locals, experience the local cuisine, and indulge in the nightlife.

Not only will you make new memories but will also feel active and mentally refreshed when you get back.

3.Book A Vacation Home

While some business travellers prefer staying in hotels, others may start to feel claustrophobic in the small hotel rooms.

Today we have services such as Airbnb that can help you get a nice vacation home to stay in.

These accommodations not only offer more space, but you’ll also gain access to a kitchen to make your own meals and simulate the feeling of home that you can’t get in a hotel.

4.Maintain A Healthy Diet

Gaining or losing  weight is one of the first signs of travel exhaustion.

After all, its easier to grab a slice of pizza at the airport or skip meals when you’re working!

Try to keep a healthy diet to keep your energy levels up which will help you navigate through the new city , new people or new challenges.

Read more about “How To Eat Healthy When You Fly”.

5.Take A Break From Flying

Constant flying can drain you of your energy and make you unenthusiastic about doing the things that you love.

This is a sign of physical exhaustion and needs to be tackled ASAP.

Think about whether your physical presence is needed at the meeting. If that’s not the case, then you can cut down on your travel.

With this you will give your body some much needed rest while contributing and being involved in meetings while sitting at home or in the office.

6.Keep In Touch

Being constantly on the move makes it hard to stay connected to your family, friends, and colleagues back home.

This tends to cause a lot of stress!

Rather than allowing this to get the better of you, try to find as many possible ways to keep in contact with them while you’re away.

Nowadays, it’s easy to use facetime, texting and social media to stay in touch with your loved ones.

7.Stay Physically Active

We’ve mentioned work-out before, but if physical activity is not a part of your routine, then it’s time to buy a pair of running shoes.

If you’re a business traveller then being active and physically fit is as important as that spreadsheet you’ve been working on.

We know it sounds tough but following a workout schedule will keep you active and mentally refreshed while you travel.

Don’t want to skip your workout the next time you fly? Simply download the AirWhizz app to get information about different fitness/Yoga centers available at the airport along with real-time flight updates on the move and Fly Stress-Free!

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Indonesia Shuts Down Bali Airport After Volcano Erupts At Mount Agung!

The Indonesian government has shut down Bali’s international airport after a Volcanic eruption on Thursday evening.

Here are all the details about the incident –

  • Mount Agung, a popular tourist destination in Bali, erupted last night sending volcanic ashes several miles high into the sky.
  • Almost 450 flights have been cancelled, which include 207 international flights.
  • It is estimated that 75000 air travellers have been affected by this incident.
  • Domestic airports at Banyuwangi and Jember in Java have also been closed down.
  • Airlines such as PT Garuda, Singapore Airlines and Qantas Airways have cancelled all their flights to and from Bali.
  • AirAsia Indonesia has cancelled at least 50 flights.

The Airport was shut down at 3:00 a.m. local time, and authorities will review the closing at 12:00 p.m. today, after taking into account the latest volcanic ash distribution data.

Indonesian authorities have closed down the Ngurah Rai International Airport, in Bali, for the second time in seven months due to volcanic activity in the region.

Mt. Agung, which is about 70 kilometres northeast of Bali’s tourist hotspot, Kuta, last had a major eruption in the year 1963, taking the lives of about 1,100 people.

National disaster agencies had issued a ‘High Alert’ after increased volcanic activity at the mountain in 2017,causing thousands of people to evacuate nearby cities. However, things became normal by February 2018 and authorities lowered the alert status.

Indonesia is located in the Pacific’s “Ring Of Fire” region which is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. There are almost 120 active volcanos in the region which is monitored by government and other seismologic agencies.

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Passengers Can Check-in For Flights From Hotels Near Mumbai Airport!

Passengers travelling from Mumbai Airport will now be able to remotely check-in for their flights from hotels located near the airport.

Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) has installed self-check-in kiosks at 3 transit hotels within the airport and 6 hotels located outside the premises.

Here are all the details about it-

  • The self-check-in kiosks have been installed at the Sahara Star, Hyatt, Taj Santa Cruz, ITC Maratha, Hilton and The Lalit.
  • MIAL is in the process of installing these Kiosks at 5 other hotels located nearby.
  • Flyers will be able to check-in for their flight without any human interaction. This type of platform is known as Common Use Self Service(CUSS) Kiosk.
  • With the help of these CUSS kiosks, travellers will be able to print their boarding pass and baggage tags for their check-in luggage before leaving the hotel.
  • Passengers can move directly to the security queue once they reach the airport.
  • This system will make the entire check-in experience electronic.

The upgrade of IT infrastructure inside Terminal 1 of the Mumbai Airport has also made it fully self-check-in compliant.

Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir are now on the CUSS platform with baggage tag-enabled kiosks and self-bag drop facility. Passengers can generate their boarding pass and baggage tag from the kiosk and move to either the fast bag drop or self-bag drop counter.

The concept of “self-bag drop” has been implemented by many airports outside India for a while now. However, Mumbai airport implemented this system back in 2016 when it introduced self-check-in kiosks equipped to print out boarding passes and baggage tags inside the airport.

With the implementation of the CUSS platform, Terminal 1 at the Mumbai Airport becomes the first terminal in India to have a fully automated check-in system.

Airport officials have said that they are trying to bring more airlines on this platform for the convenience of passengers.

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Airlines Go Eco-Friendly After Ban On Plastic In Maharashtra!

Plastic cutlery and bottles may become a thing of the past on airplanes, as airlines in India go eco-friendly.

The decision to cut down on plastic has been taken by airlines to comply with Maharashtra government’s rule of banning plastic in the state.

There is still a grey area as to whether the state government’s decision is applicable to airplanes, however, airlines are doing their part.

Use of plastic cutlery is a common practice on flights , especially in economy cabins and low-cost airlines. Other plastic items used on flights include water bottles, food wrappers, trash bags and covers of headphones/blankets.

The government has banned the use of single disposable plastic items such as spoons, forks ,cups and glasses. Items such as plastic bags and wrappers are also included in the ban.

Here’s what domestic airlines are doing to go eco-friendly-

  • GoAir has stopped using plastic cutlery on their flights.
  • Air India is replacing plastic cups onboard with those made of bone china or paper.
  • Vistara will reduce the use of plastic on their flights by 50% this year by replacing plastic casseroles with aluminum dishes, plastic straws and stirrers with paper or wooden ones and disposable bowls in economy class with reusable containers.

According to Vistara, the airline is actively in touch with its vendors and considering alternative ways for packaging water, to avoid the use of plastic. In fact, Vistara is the first airline in India to use ‘Oxo-Biodegradable’ cutlery and serve meals in  Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) certified meal boxes.

Jet Airways has also come out with a statement saying that most equipment onboard is reusable and the airline has been doing its part to minimize environmental impact. They have been using paper cups , bio-degradable bags and insulated boxes for hot and cold items to be served on their flights.

With airlines going green, the ban on plastic items will not only benefit Maharashtra but also have a positive domino effect on other states in India.

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Flights Will Be Rescheduled At The Chennai Airport For Taxiway Work

In a bid to improve operations at the Chennai Airport, Airports Authority of India(AAI) has started the construction of new taxiways.

Airport authorities have announced that due to this construction, 2 international flights will be rescheduled and many domestic flights will have to use the second runway.

Here are all the details about it-

  • 4 exit taxiways have been under construction and the work to link them to the main runway will begin next month.
  • AAI is also making a parallel taxiway on the north side of the main runway.
  • For this purpose, the main runway will be closed for a few hours every day, for about 9 months.
  • The runway will be closed in 2 phases – from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in July and August, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September.
  • The departure of a Saudi Airlines flight has been rescheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 11:15 a.m. The airline will be given a different schedule during winters.
  • Air India flights and a Cathay Pacific flight will also be rescheduled however the timings have not been specified for now.

According to an AAI official, they have selected non-peak hours to do this construction work because wide-bodied aircrafts generally don’t operate during this time.

He also said that AAI has done all the assessments and discussions. All airlines have agreed to use the second runway and reschedule flights that fall within this closure period.

The rapid exit taxiways and the parallel taxiway are being constructed to reduce the time taken by the airplane to move out of the runway after landing. It will help airplanes to move out in less than 70 seconds after landing.

With new taxiways, Chennai Airport, which currently handles 450 flights daily, will be able to handle 500 airplanes per day.

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