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Everything You Need To Know About The UDAN Scheme!

AirWhizzJan 21, 2019 No Comments

Everything You Need To Know About The UDAN Scheme!

Aviation Insider

There was a time when air travel was only for the rich or businessmen.

With the introduction of low-cost airlines a few years back and the government of India taking initiatives, air travel has become cheap enough to reach the common man.

One such initiative is called UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik)!

Here are all the details you need to know about the UDAN scheme.

What Is UDAN?

UDAN is a first-of-its-kind government scheme in the world, which is aimed at bringing together different regions of India which were not accessible through air before.

The scheme also aims at bringing airfares down and making air travel accessible to people from all walk of life.

The scheme was launched on 27th April 2017 and has been a success ever since.

The key Components Of UDAN

The UDAN Scheme has two key components. The first being the development of new and enhancement of the existing and operational airports in the country.

This will be aimed at equipping these airports to handle civilian domestic flights. Under this over 100 underserved and unserved regional airports will be developed by December 2019. This will be done at an initial funding of Rs 45,000 million for 50 airports.

In the second component, several hundred financially-viable capped-airfare regional air routes will be operated to connect over 100 underserved and unserved airports in smaller towns. Each of these towns will be connected to airports of bigger cities.

This will be done in three rounds of bidding that will be completed by the end of this year.

Number of Airports Under The Scheme

The government of India is looking to build and connect Indian airports in different regions to handle the growing domestic air traffic in the country.

The UDAN scheme aims to connect as many as 70 airports of India. These airports include 27 served airports, 12 under-served airports and 31 unserved airports.

As many as 17 out of the 70 airports are located in the North, 12 in East, 6 in North-East, 11 in South and 24 in West.

How cheap are the flights in UDAN?

The price for UDAAN flights will be very cheap.

The scheme has been designed to help the less connected people of the country to reach the major cities with ease.

The cost of living is cheaper in these areas and hence the income is lower too, which is why the government wants to price the ticket for Rs 2,500 on a 1-hour flight.

However, the caped fares are for now based on distance. For instance, Rs 1,420 will be the ticket price for a distance of 151–175 km, Rs 1,500 for a distance of 176–200 km, with a ceiling of maximum Rs 3,500 fare for a total distance of 800 km or more.

Why Are The Flights Cheap In UDAN?

The question that has left everyone’s mind boggling, is how is UDAN going to work?

Taxpayers are worried if the government is going to fund it with their money or if hidden costs are involved.

To put everyone’s mind at ease and help the airlines involved in UDAN, the government has allowed them to levy up the flight cost for passengers on major routes.

This in return will generate Rs.205 crore per annum, which can be translated to Rs.30 per passenger, on major routes like Delhi to Mumbai. This extended viability gap funding will be operational in coming three years.

States To Be Aided By UDAN

20 states and Union Territories are going to be served under UDAN.

The states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.

Airports in Bhatinda, Bilaspur, Cooch Behar, Kadapa, Nanded, Neyveli, and Shimla are also going to benefit from this scheme.

The Future of UDAN

The Regional Connectivity Scheme is aimed at increasing flight operations for more than 100 airports by the end of 2018-2019.

New routes and airports are to be operationalized in near future. The government will open bids for the new projects soon.

For now, the airlines, which won the bid for 128 routes are Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Turbo Megha, Air Odisha, and Air Deccan.

This is one of the best initiatives in the aviation sector that has been taken by the Indian government. It will not only help the people from rural areas to travel with ease but will also connect urban India to the remote places. UDAN is a milestone in the shaping of new India.

*The Report Is Based On The Data Released By The Government In 2018

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Soon Passengers May Leave & Re-Enter Airport If Flight Gets Delayed!

AirWhizzJan 21, 2019 No Comments

Soon Passengers May Leave & Re-Enter Airport If Flight Gets Delayed!

Aviation Insider

A new proposal under consideration might allow fliers to leave the airport if their flights are delayed, and return to board them without any hassles.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) raised this issue during a meeting with Bureau of Civil Aviation Security of India (BCAS), that takes care of security at the airports across the nation.

As of now, passengers can’t leave the airport until they inform the airline and their name is dropped from the flight manifest. Further, the fliers need to be escorted by airline officials and handed over to security.

But soon this ‘tedious’ process will be modified and they can head out in the city or even go back home if the flight is delayed.

About the current process, Hemendra Singh, an assistant inspector general of the Central Industrial Security Force said, “We allow passengers to exit the terminal on directions of the airline. In such cases, the passenger leaves the airport with his luggage”

If the passenger has completed check-in and wishes to return, a new boarding pass is issued and airlines takes a call on luggage.

But the new proposal hopes to do away with the new boarding pass. One way to do that would be an option of leaving through a separate gate.

However, the proposal could take a few months before it is implemented. The facility will be available for both domestic and international fliers but not to those whose visa is expiring or those who have single-entry visas.

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Singapore’s Low-Cost Airline “Scoot” To Expand Operations In India!

AirWhizzJan 19, 2019 No Comments

Singapore’s Low-Cost Airline “Scoot” To Expand Operations In India!

Aviation Insider

Scoot, the low-cost arm of the Singapore Airlines Group, has announced plans to strengthen its presence in India with flights to three new cities, including Coimbatore, Trivandrum and Visakhapatnam.

Scoot, launched in June 2012 and merged with Tigerair Singapore in July 2017, retaining the Scoot brand, currently operates on seven routes between Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Lucknow, and Tiruchirappalli in India.

The new routes are due to be transferred over from sister airline, SilkAir, and Scoot will be the only airline operating direct non-stop flights from Thiruvananthapuram and Visakhapatnam to Singapore.

Flights from Trivandrum to Singapore will commence from 7 May 2019, and flights from Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam will start from 27 October 2019.

The airline has announced a limited-time sale on flights from all its India points – including Trivandrum, Coimbatore and Visakhapatnam ,starting from 14th – 28th January 2019 on its website.

One-way promotional fares (inclusive of tax) begin from as low as Rs4,500 for economy, for trips to 27 cities in Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam via Singapore.

Scoot’s network presently encompasses 66 destinations across 18 countries and territories, with 16 more destinations from Laos, India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia to join the network by the second half of 2020.

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7 Important Things You Need To Know About Passports & Visas!

AirWhizzJan 18, 2019 No Comments

7 Important Things You Need To Know About Passports & Visas!

Travel Like a Pro

For budding travellers, holding their first passport is almost a magical thing, offering a sense of pure possibility and excitement.

You finally made the time and saved enough cash for your first overseas trip, but you start sweating as soon as you start thinking about sorting out your travel documents.

You’ve heard about your cousin’s 3 hour-delay at passport control or the visa approval nightmares that circulate on social media, but its not as bad as it seems.

Here 7 things about passports & Visas you need to know that will help you reach your dream international destination hassle-free.

1.Tripple Check-Your Visa Requirements

Unlike a sought-after USA or European passport, Indians have less options when it comes to visa-free countries aka hassle-free travel destinations.

Always find out about the visa requirements for Indians for the country you’re visiting from multiple internet sources and do a third check by just calling up the country’s embassy in India.

2.Applying To First World Countries

Flying to Europe, Australia or USA? Their visa processes are known to be a drag, so try to do your application three months in advance, or six weeks minimum.

Make sure you make a list of all the documents you need and that you keep a paper trail of all your transactions and interactions with the relevant embassy, in case they make life difficult.

3. 6 Months Validity Requirement

Most countries require your passport to have six months of remaining validity.

As a general rule, you should always make sure your passport will remain valid for six months beyond your planned trip. You never know if your travel plans are going to change, and the last thing you want is to be stuck.

To name a few Italy, Vietnam, Turkey & Thailand require you to meet this criteria.

4.Blank Pages

A handful of countries require at least one or two fully blank visa pages for valid entry. This requirement could be for either an entry stamp or a visa.

Countries that require a passport to have a blank page in order to be stamped include Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Italy, Sweden, Singapore, and Iceland along with several others require at least two blank pages for an entry stamp.

5.Dont Throw Away Old Passports

Hold on to your old passport, even if you’ve never used it.

Some countries want to see where you’ve been and in an age where countries are zooming in on where people have travelled before it’s better to have it than not.

It can also be used as a backup to prove your identity in case something happens to your new one.

Just make sure you don’t give the expired one to the passport control officer!

6.Make Certified Copies Of Your Passport

Before heading off on your Instagram-happy holiday, make a few scans of your newly-minted passport and go over to your local police station, post office or a gazetted  officer to get them certified.

Leave one with a close relative or friend in case you need their help back home. Also, keep a copy of the scan on your phone.

This will help you in case there is a natural calamity or you use your original passport at your destination.

You can never be too prepared!

7. Hire A Professional If You’re Struggling

Hiring a third party to help out with visa applications might seem like a waste of money when you can do it yourself, but if you have a short notice period or travelling in a large group, the hassle saved is worth the price.

They know all the loopholes to getting it processed faster and will follow up on your behalf saving you time.

There are lots of companies you can approach, but always check online reviews and ask the social media universe for advice.

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Over 800 Flights To Be Affected At Delhi Airport Due To Republic Day Rehearsals!

AirWhizzJan 18, 2019 No Comments

Over 800 Flights To Be Affected At Delhi Airport Due To Republic Day Rehearsals!

Aviation Insider

Flights to and from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be affected for seven days till January 26 as the airspace will remain closed for over 1.5 hours every day on account of Republic Day rehearsals.

Flight movement at Delhi airport will remain restricted from 10:35 AM to 12:15 PM from 18th January to 26th January.

The shutdown, which is proposed by Indian Air Force (IAF) every year ahead of Republic Day, is likely to hit nearly 800-900 flights during the time period. Last year, around 1,000 flight movements were hit due to the closure of airspace.

The final tally of affected flight operations will also depend on the weather conditions as Delhi witnesses heavy fog during the month of January.

All airlines are aware of the closure. The airport will try to accommodate as many rescheduled flights as possible but given the slot constraints at Delhi airport, a considerable number of flights may eventually get cancelled

Delhi airport is the busiest aviation hub in the country, in terms of passenger traffic as well as cargo traffic. The airport has three terminals, one for domestic and other two for both international and domestic operations.

The airport handles over 1,200 flights a day and handled 65.7 million passengers in 2018. This figure can cross the mark of 80 million by 2019-20, a report by centre for Asia Pacific Aviation said.

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Passengers To Pay Baggage Scanning Fee At Delhi Airport From February 2019!

AirWhizzJan 17, 2019 No Comments

Passengers To Pay Baggage Scanning Fee At Delhi Airport From February 2019!

Aviation Insider

Airlines are known to charge a hefty amount of money during festive seasons. For selecting seats of your choice while booking the tickets you have to pay an extra sum.

Now, you will have to pay a little more money if you need to get your bags checked-in at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi.

Delhi International Airport (DIAL), from February 1, will charge airlines X-ray baggage fees, ranging from Rs 110 to Rs 880 for domestic and $149.33 to $209.55 for international flights.

With the decision, air passengers flying out from the Delhi airport would have to shell out up to Rs 50 as airlines are expected to pass on the X-ray baggage charges to us.

While passenger frisking and hand bag checks are done by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, check-in baggage comes under the supervision of airport operators.

In a four-page order dated January 10, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) said that DIAL can levy X-ray baggage charges from February 1.

According to an airline official, X-ray baggage charges would be passed on to passengers. He also went on to say that a passenger, who takes a domestic flight, is unlikely to pay more than Rs 5 as ‘X-ray baggage charge’. On an international flight, the per passenger charge would be not more than Rs 50.

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Pune Airport To Get Biometric Boarding System By April 2019!

AirWhizzJan 16, 2019 No Comments

Pune Airport To Get Biometric Boarding System By April 2019!

Aviation Insider

A seamless check-in awaits flyers at the Pune Airport with the authorities ready to roll out biometric boarding system from April 2019.

The system will enhance passenger movement at the airport through facial recognition under the civil aviation ministry’s “DigiYatra” programme.

The document of the ministry’s “Vision 2040”, which was unveiled on Tuesday at the inauguration of the two-day Global Aviation Summit in Mumbai, states that the pilot implementation of the project will be carried out at Bengaluru and Hyderabad airports by February-end.

According to an airport official, the project will be rolled out at the Pune, Kolkata, Varanasi &  Vijayawada airports by April.

The system will be similar during the security check. There will be no need of showing and stamping boarding passes after frisking. The boarding passes and flight details of the passengers registered in the facial recognition system would also be integrated.

Here’s how you can register for this :

  • There will be a one time registration process at the airport terminal entrance
  • A centralised registration system will be created to store passenger information
  • Each passenger will have a unique “DigiYatra” ID
  • The flyers facial features will be captured in a Hight Definition Camera

Once registered, the flyer has to look into the camera instead of showing their boarding pass, ticket or identity card. The flyers identity will be ascertained and he/she will be allowed to pass through the security gate.

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Mumbai Airport To Stop Stamping Of Boarding Passes!

AirWhizzJan 15, 2019 No Comments

Mumbai Airport To Stop Stamping Of Boarding Passes!

Aviation Insider

India’s second busiest airport, Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), will be the 1st airport in India to implement the concept of “DigiYatra”.

On Monday, CSMIA said that they will soon do away with physical stamping of boarding passes by security personnel for domestic passengers.

All domestic full-service carriers ,Air India, Jet Airways and Vistara ,besides international airlines operate out of T2 of the Mumbai airport, where this process will start.

(CSMIA), is now equipped with the latest technology that eliminates boarding pass stamping for all domestic airlines operating out of T2.

Here how this will work:

  • Passengers travelling within the country from Terminal 2 can authenticate their boarding pass at the pre-embarkation security check points.
  • They can do this by scanning the tickets barcode or QR code with their mobile phones at the e-gates reader, using Live Passenger Dataset.
  • It will save time, provide a “harmonious experience” to passengers, and improve the overall throughput of the security check procedure

This authentication will eliminate the responsibility of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to stamp boarding passes.

The move by the Mumbai airport is in line with the government’s Digi Yatra initiative, which aims to make ticket booking, airport entry and boarding pass security check-in digital.

Digi Yatra will also enable facial recognition technology for passengers to enter airports and promote paperless and hassle-free air travel.

This pilot feature introduced by CSMIA aims at reducing the time involved in completing the many pre-flight boarding checks.

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