Air India

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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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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SpiceJet Will Soon Offer Free Inflight Wi-Fi!

Low-cost airlines in India aren’t particularly known for their inflight services.

To keep costs low, free snacks don’t exist and in-flight entertainment is no more than a magazine, half of which is full of advertisements

However, all that is soon about to change!

In a bid to grow its popularity, SpiceJet will be the first airline in India to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi when it is cleared by the government.

Normally, airlines charge a fee for providing the service. SpiceJet will not charge passengers for the inflight internet but they will cover their costs by charging advertisers for pop-up ads.

India’s regulatory policy continues to ban inflight internet in the country. Even international flights entering Indian airspace must switch off their systems.

However, in May 2018, Telecom Commission – the highest policy-making body of the Department of Telecommunication, had approved the proposal for allowing internet inside flights. Airlines are expecting all the other necessary approvals to be completed by November.

The wi-fi will be available in SpiceJet’s new Boeing 737 Max, for which they have tied up with “Immarsat”, a mobile satellite service communication provider who will fit the aircraft with Satcom (Satellite Communication) antennas.

SpiceJet’s strategy to offer free inflight wi-fi is in tandem with its strategy to blur the lines between low-cost and full-service airlines. In the past few months, the airline has launched onboard entertainment, has revamped its loyalty programme. It will also retrofit its aircraft with USB charging points.

According to Mr. Ajay Singh, Chief Managing Director of SpiceJet, In India, you cannot define a low-cost airline by the service provided. Airlines like SpiceJet are low-cost carriers because the cost of operations is low.

He went on to say that if they can use those savings from the cost to better customer experience, it will obviously work in their favour.

SpiceJet will join the club of a handful of carriers providing inflight wi-fi for free. Among global carriers, JetBlue, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines provide wi-fi as free.

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Singapore Airlines Successfully Conducts The World’s Longest Flight!

Singapore Airlines has successfully carried out the world’s longest flight!

The airline’s Flight SQ22 departed at approximately 11:35 p.m. yesterday for New York with 150 passengers and 17 crew on board. The flight had a journey time of 19 hours.

This journey was made possible by the aircraft, an Airbus A350-900ULR, which has a twin-engine with a modified system that burns 25 percent less fuel. It can carry up to 161 passengers – 67 in business class and 94 in premium economy.

The flight can take up to 18 hours and 45 minutes but the pilots have reserve fuel in the aircraft to make it capable of flying more than 20 hours non-stop, in case of an emergency.

Two pilots, a special “wellness” menu and more than seven weeks’ worth of film and television entertainment accompanied the passengers on the 16,700-kilometre (10,400-mile) journey to the Big Apple.

The cabin has higher-than-normal ceilings, larger windows and lighting designed to reduce jet lag. This has been done to lessen the stresses that can accompany any passenger after spending almost a day on an airplane.

To promote healthy eating, the airline offered a special menu which included organic dishes.

Singapore Airlines originally flew the route for nine years using the four-engine A340-500 before abandoning it in 2013 because high oil prices made the service unprofitable.

Previously the record for the world’s longest flight was held by Qatar Airways Flight 921 from Auckland to Doha, which takes 17 hours 40 minutes. However, Singapore Airlines has now officially broken that record.

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GoAir Has Officially Become An International Airline!

Low-Cost carrier GoAir has become the 6th domestic airline to fly international skies with the launch of its inaugural flight from New Delhi to Phuket.

The inaugural flight (G8 031), with 182 passengers on board, was given a ceremonial flag off for Phuket in Thailand at 1 a.m. on Thursday from Indira Gandhi International Airport.

GoAir’s first international service took place on an Airbus A320 Neo aircraft. The airline will provide direct flights, two times a week between New Delhi – Phuket and three times a week between Mumbai – Phuket.

According to the CEO of GoAir, Mr. Cornelis Vrieswijk, The launch of their first service to Phuket represents another step of transition from a domestic carrier to a global airline for GoAir.

He went on to say that Phuket is a key market in India and holds a significant base for business and tourism and they are delighted to include Phuket in GoAir’s new global network.

Besides the national carrier Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express, private carriers Jet Airways, IndiGo and SpiceJet also fly internationally.

GoAir became eligible to fly overseas two years ago when it took delivery of its 20th aircraft, which was also the first Airbus A320 Neo for the airline.

The airline currently operates over 1,544 weekly flights across 23 domestic destinations with a fleet of 38 Airbus A320 planes, including 19 A320 Neos.

GoAir, which launched its domestic operations in November 2005, was granted rights in August 2016 to operate to nine countries, including China, Vietnam, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, among others.

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Runway Repair To Cause Major Flight Disruptions At Delhi & Mumbai Airport!

Air passengers should brace for flight delays and disruption, as India’s 2 busiest airports, Mumbai and Delhi Airport, will close their runway for maintenance at different periods starting next month and stretching through the first quarter of 2019.

While one runway at Delhi airport will be closed for 13 days starting 15 November 2018, the airport in Mumbai will remain shut for 6 hours, thrice a week, between 7 February 2019 and end of March.

It is expected that more than 2000 flights will be cancelled or rescheduled during this period. According to the Delhi airport, 1300 flights will be affected. More than 700 flights will be affected in Mumbai according to airline executives.

Airport operators, Delhi International Airport Limited(DIAL) & Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) have said that the runways need repair and that they have planned the maintenance with proper coordination with all stakeholders, including airlines.

Delhi airport, with three runways, will close its Runway 27, the oldest runway at the airport that is used primarily by flights using Terminal 1D, starting November 15.

According to MIAL, this closure is to strengthen the intersection in the runway at Mumbai airport. Since the repair work is to be done at the intersection, they will have to close the runway completely.

The runway at the Mumbai airport will be closed from 11 am to 5 pm during a 52-day period starting February 7, 2018. It will also be closed for a few hours for runway maintenance on 23 October 2018 which is set to impact at least 32 flights.

According to Air India, around 200 domestic flight departures and arrivals are likely to be affected by the runway closure.

A spokesperson from Vistara has said that the airline has decided to cancel as well as re-schedule some flights during the runway closure period.

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17 Airlines Keen To Operate From Kannur International Airport In Kerala!

According to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, 11 international and 6 national airlines have expressed their willingness to conduct services from Kannur International Airport.

The international airlines include Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Saudia, Silk Air, Air Asia and Malindo Air. Domestic carriers such as Air India, Air India Express, Jet Airways, Indigo, SpiceJet and Go Air will operate out of Kannur International Airport.

Mr Vijayan was speaking at the annual public meeting of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, where other issues related to the Kannur airport were also discussed.

Here are the key points from the meeting-

  • Authorities are planning to increase the length of Kannur airport’s runway from 3050 meters to 4000 meters. The formalities of acquisition of lands are in progress. The CM said that Kannur Airport will become the largest airport in Kerala.
  • The Kerala police will have the temporary responsibility of immigration. Air India Services Limited and Celebi Ground Handling have the responsibility of ground handling services.
  • Construction of terminal building and arranging facilities inside terminal have been completed.
  • Monti Carlo Limited has been given Rs 113 Crore to construct the International Air Cargo Complex, 4 storeyed airport office building, 5 storeyed CISF residence building and the approaching roads to the airport. They have also been given the task of lighting and decorating the airport.
  • 29 people in the families who lost houses when the government acquired lands were appointed in different positions. The remaining people in this category will be appointed through Air India ITSL, ground/cargo handling agency of the airport.
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Airlines Set To Connect Mumbai With 6 New Global Destinations!

There is some good news for air travellers flying from Mumbai!

Passengers travelling from the city will now be able to experience a seamless connectivity to at least 6 new destinations across the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom starting next month.

America’s third largest carrier, United Airlines will be offering US-bound passengers from Mumbai more seats, as it plans to deploy a bigger aircraft as part of the airline’s winter schedule in India

Air India, Jet Airways and GoAir will be starting new flights to international destinations from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport from October.

Apart from this, foreign airlines such as Air Italy and Uzbekistan Airways will be entering the Mumbai aviation market for the first time ever.

Here are all the details about it:

  • Air Italy will start five-times-a-week non-stop service from Mumbai to Milan from 31st October 2018
  • Uzbekistan Airways will have three direct flights in a week between capital city Tashkent and Mumbai from 30th October 2018.
  • Air India, which is the only Indian carrier flying directly to the US, will commence its direct flight services from Mumbai to the German city Frankfurt and New York’s JFK Airport from 1st October 2018 and 4th October 2018.
  • Mumbai will also get direct connectivity to Phuket in Thailand and Male in Maldives with the budget carrier, GoAir, set to fly to these destinations from 12th October 2018 and 14th October 2018.
  • Jet Airways will be connecting Mumbai with Manchester in the UK with five-times a week flight services starting 4th November 2018. It will be the airline’s 21st international destination and fifth non-stop service to and from the UK.
  • United Airlines will operate its latest higher seating capacity aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, between Mumbai and New York/Newark route from 1st October 2018, replacing the 777-200ER, which is currently being operated on the route.
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