Air India

IndiGo Increases Airfare On Domestic Routes To Counter Rising Oil Prices!

AirWhizzMay 31, 2018 No Comments

IndiGo Increases Airfare On Domestic Routes To Counter Rising Oil Prices!

Aviation Insider

In a bid to cater to rising oil prices, IndiGo will increase the fuel surcharge on flight tickets for domestic routes. This will increase air ticket prices and it is speculated that other airlines may follow IndiGo’s footsteps.

The cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) has increased by 30% in the past 1 year and it was just a matter of time, that airlines passed on this burden to passengers. IndiGo is the first domestic airline to do so.

Here are the details of the price hike –

  • IndiGo flight tickets will carry a fuel surcharge of Rs 200 for a short flight, covering a distance of 1000 Km and below.
  • Flights on longer routes, which cover more than 1000 Km, will carry a fuel surcharge of Rs 400 per passenger.

To make things clearer, you will be charged Rs 400 for fuel on a return flight ticket from Delhi-Chandigarh and Rs 800 on a return flight ticket from Delhi-Mumbai.

In addition to fuel charges, a passenger pays a CUTE(Common Use Terminal Equipment) charge of Rs 50, Rs 200 for the Regional Connectivity Scheme(RCS) provision and Rs 153 for Passenger Service Fee along with airport development fee and taxes on a flight ticket.

All this, along with an increase in fuel charge, will surely affect passengers and their holiday plans.

According to Mr. Sanjay Kumar, IndiGo’s Chief Commercial Officer, ATF prices in India have increased by 25 % in the last month, which is the highest in the last 3 years and the airline has no other option but to pass on some of its increased cost burden to the passengers. He also said that the airline is confident that this marginal increase in ticket prices will not affect the demand.

ATF accounts for 45% of the total operating cost of an airline. With Indigo being the first airline to make this move, others may follow them and aviation experts are saying that airlines in India may increase their ticket prices by 15%.

With people gearing up for summer vacations, the timing of this decision could not have been worse. People who were looking forward to booking last minute tickets to holiday destinations within India will be very disappointed.  However, this decision will not affect those who have booked their flight tickets well in advance.

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Airlines Unhappy About New Air Passenger Charter!

AirWhizzMay 26, 2018 No Comments

Airlines Unhappy About New Air Passenger Charter!

Aviation Insider

A few days back the government proposed a new passenger charter for changes in the rights of air travellers in India.

Airlines in India, however, have shown their displeasure towards these proposed changes saying that if new rules are implemented, it will lead to a rise in airfares.

According to experts, these rules will have a massive impact on air ticket prices since airfares in India are already at a lower level as compared to other countries. They have said that the government has to decide whether they want air travel to be accessible to the common man or treat aviation as a luxury sector.

Airlines are opposed to the rules regarding relaxation in cancellation charges. Currently, every airline has a cancellation policy of their own. For example –

  • IndiGo charges its passengers a minimum of Rs 3000 on cancelling flight tickets
  • In case of GoAir, a passenger has to pay Rs 2950 for cancelling the ticket within 2 hours of the flight’s departure time.

Airlines like Vistara and Jet Airways allow their passengers to modify or make cancellations for free within 24 hours of booking the ticket, but the government is looking to make this a standard rule across all airlines in India.

Airlines have come out strongly against the proposed changes in compensation for loss or damage of passenger baggage as well. According to the government’s proposal –

  • The airline has to pay Rs 3000 Per Kg for loss of baggage.
  • For damaged baggage, the airline has to compensate Rs 2000 per kg.

Airlines claim that the compensation for loss is 10 times that of what a passenger pays for excess luggage and these rules may lead to scams. It may lead to a situation where a passenger can tell another person to pick up their bag and claim it as lost.

This latest development can slow down the government’s plan to empower air travellers and safeguard their rights against flight cancellations, delays or other inconveniences caused by the airline.

The passenger charter has been published on ministry’s website for public consultation. The public has a 30-day window to put in their recommendations and the new norms will be released by 15th July 2018.

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10 Simple Tips To Fly With Your Pet!

AirWhizzMay 25, 2018 No Comments

10 Simple Tips To Fly With Your Pet!

Travel Like a Pro

A few years back, travelling by air for a pet owner meant that they had to bid a painful farewell before going on a trip.

Today, that scenario has changed. Thanks to airlines and hotels becoming pet-friendly, you can now bring along your furry friends with you when you fly.

But you need to prepare yourself if you want to enjoy a hassle-free flight along with your pet.

We at AirWhizz have come up with a few simple tips you can follow the next time you decide to fly with your pet!

1.CHECK AIRLINE POLICY

Check whether your airline allows pets on board and if they do, carefully read the airline’s policy regarding travelling with them.

There are rules regarding the pet’s size and weight which you have to keep in mind.

So go through the guideline and restrictions mentioned in the airline’s policies multiple times before booking flight tickets.

In India,  Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet and Vistara allow you to carry pets on their flights.

2.BOOK EARLY

If the airline allows you to bring your pet along, you will have to book your flight tickets by directly calling the airline.

Also, airlines only allow limited pets on board.

So, the sooner you call them and book, the better. Also, it would be clever on your part to select a backup airline just in case the first option doesn’t work out.

3.VISIT THE VET

Now that you have selected the flight you and your pet will travel in, check whether your pet is fit for travel.

Consult your vet as to how you can keep your pet comfortable on the flight and whether they should be given a sedative.

Also, don’t forget to get the clearance certificate from the vet deeming them fit to fly and carry an up-to-date copy of the vaccinations that have been given to your pet.

4.GET A COMFORTABLE PET CARRIER

Buy an animal carrier which is comfortable for your pet and meets the criteria given by your airline.

A few weeks before your flight, take your pet out for car rides in their pet carrier. This will help them to get used to it and will be comfortable when they fly.

Also, attach an information label to the carrier with your personal details and the details of the destination you will be travelling to.

5.GIVE THEM SOME EXERCISE

Do everything you can to get them tired before getting on the airplane.

Take them for a long walk, play catch and spend time talking to them before leaving for the airport.

Get all that playful energy out and hopefully, they will be tired enough to sleep through the flight.

6.PACK YOUR PET’S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Pack your carry-on with things that are essential for your pet.

It’s important to make sure you have enough toys and treats to keep your pet occupied for a while during the flight.

If possible, carry a collapsible travel bowl inside of the carrier and place a few ice cubes in it on the flight.

Don’t be alarmed if your pet doesn’t play with his favourite toy. This could just be due to travel anxiety. Similar to how humans get butterflies when they lift off!

7.FEED YOUR PET

Feed your pet and make sure they are well hydrated before boarding the flight.

Many airlines suggest that your pet must be fed four hours before the flight’s scheduled departure so that they are comfortable on the flight.

Just make sure you don’t stuff your pet with food or give them too much water to drink. A pet with a full belly may vomit from anxiety and travel sickness.

8.ARRIVE EARLY AT THE AIRPORT

Once you’re set to go with your pet, make sure you reach the airport well in advance.

Pets need to go through additional security checks where they are weighed, measured and examined properly before boarding the flight.

Many airline policies state that the extra fee for carrying pets has to be paid at the airport and not during the booking.  Try to reach the airport as early as possible so all such formalities can be taken care of conveniently.

9.CONSIDER UPGRADING YOUR SEAT

If you want to travel comfortably on your flight, then you might want to consider upgrading your seat.

Your pet’s carrier will be eating up a lot of your seat’s leg room.

An upgrade would mean you will be able to stretch your legs comfortably and will get some extra space for your pet’s carrier.

10.EXAMINE YOUR PET UPON ARRIVAL

When you arrive at your destination, open the carrier as soon as you are in a safe place and examine your pet.

If something seems wrong, take your pet to the vet immediately. Don’t forget to get the results of the examination in writing with the date and time on it.

Follow these travel tips and make air travel simple for you and your pet. After all, your pet is also going on a trip!

If you want to know about your airline’s policies for carrying pets on flights, Simply download the AirWhizz app. Get all the information about your airline’s regulations regarding pets along with real-time flight updates on your phone itself and plan your trip on the move.

Bring your faithful companion along the next time you travel and Fly Stress-Free!

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Government May Not Sell Air India If The Price Is Not Right!

AirWhizzMay 24, 2018 No Comments

Government May Not Sell Air India If The Price Is Not Right!

Aviation Insider

Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr. R.N.Choubey, announced on Tuesday that government may pull the plug on sale of Air India if they don’t get the right price for the airline.

He said that the government holds the right to sell Air India and if the bid price is found to be inadequate they may consider not selling the airline. However, he also said that there is still hope and the national carrier may fetch a good price.

In March 2018, the government had decided to sell 76% stake in Air India, along with its subsidiary Air India Express and 50% stake in its ground handling joint venture AISATS, as a single entity.

The Expression Of interest(EoI) has to be submitted by interested companies by May 31st. The qualified bidders will be selected by June 15 and the government will release a Request For Proposal (RFP) which would be a more detailed document on the disinvestment of the airline.

The Successful bidder will be known by end of August after they get the security clearance and are verified by the DGCA that the substantial ownership and effective control will go to an Indian according to FDI norms.

The government will decide the ‘floor’ price for Air India after the financial bids have been received. They have hired Ernst & Young as its transaction advisor to decide on the airline and its asset’s value, which will be used to fix the floor price.

Domestic and foreign firms had shown interest in the airline sale, but many backed out after the EoI was released. Aviation experts say that the reasons for domestic airlines opting out from the bid are as follows-

  • The New buyer will have to take over 61 percent (or Rs 33,392 crore) of the debt burden.
  • The winning bidder has to Retain 10000 – 15000 Air India employees.
  • The government will have 24% stake in the airline after the sale.

Foreign players such as International Airlines Group (IAG), Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Etihad and other non-aviation firms have shown interest in the airline, however, they will have to partner with Indian companies to bid for the airline.

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Air India Might Have To Compensate USD $8.8 Million To Passengers On Delhi-Chicago Flight!

AirWhizzMay 18, 2018 No Comments

Air India Might Have To Compensate USD $8.8 Million To Passengers On Delhi-Chicago Flight!

Aviation Insider

Following an incident that happened on a Delhi-Chicago Flight on 9th May, Air India may have to pay its 323 passengers onboard a compensation of $8.8 million.

The flight was delayed due to Directorate General Of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) order to restrict variations or changes in flight duty time limitation(FDTL) of the flight’s crew.

Here are the details of the incident that took place on 9th May 2018 –

  • Air India flight AI 127 was to depart from Delhi and reach Chicago in 16 hours.
  • The Flight was diverted to Milwaukee, due to bad weather conditions.
  • The duration of a flight from Milwaukee to Chicago is around 19 minutes.
  • The flight could have taken off after the weather cleared up, however, the flight crew was exhausted after travelling for 16 hours and waiting for 2 hours for the weather to settle down.
  • The crew was permitted to only one landing due to the DGCA’s decision to restrict variations in FDTL.
  • The Airline had no choice but to arrange for a new crew.
  • This change in crew caused the flight to be delayed by 6 hours at the Milwaukee airport. Passengers stayed onboard during this time.
  • Milwaukee airport itself was in distress due to diverted flights and did not have a gate available for the passengers to proceed to and get some rest.
  • Amongst the 323 passengers, there were 41 people in wheelchairs, 2 infants and an autistic kid onboard.
  • According to US guidelines, if passengers are onboard for more than four hours for international flights, the airline has to compensate travellers.
  • This delay affected passengers at the Chicago airport waiting for the Air India flight which was to travel back to Delhi.

In such cases, the airline has to pay $ 27,500 per passenger. If Air India is given the order to compensate for this delay, they will have to pay all the 323 passengers, which amounts to $ 8.8 Million.

Air India and The Federation Of Indian Airlines, represented by IndiGo, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and GoAir, submitted a plea on May 15th to reverse DGCA’s decision to not permit variations in the FDTL. The High court has asked the government and the DGCA for their take on the incident and what should be done to solve this situation.

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Iceland’s WOW Air Will Start The ‘Cheapest Flights’ From India To North America!

AirWhizzMay 17, 2018 No Comments

Iceland’s WOW Air Will Start The ‘Cheapest Flights’ From India To North America!

Aviation Insider

There is some good news for air travellers in India. Iceland’s low-cost airline, WOW Air, announced that it will start flying from Delhi to various cities in North America and Europe via Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.

Here are the details about the services being offered by WOW Air –

  • The airline will start its services from December 2018
  • The passenger will just have to pay Rs 13,499 to fly from Delhi International Airport to Keflavik airport located in Reykjavik.
  • From there the flights will take passengers to other North American and European destinations.
  • This fare is inclusive of all taxes. However, the passenger will have to pay for in-flight meals and check-in baggage.
  • The airline will be charging Rs 49,599 for its seats in the premium segment which is inclusive of all taxes.
  • The airline will be flying to 15 North American destinations which include Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Toronto and San Francisco.
  • Passengers will also be able to fly to destinations such as Paris, Iceland and London with the airline.
  • The airline will use wide-bodied Airbus A330 Neo’s to fly in India.
  • There will be 5 direct flights a week from India to Iceland and may offer daily services in the future.

The services by WOW Air will reduce the travel time from India to USA to just 20 hours which includes a 2-hour layover in Iceland.

Founder of WOW Air, Mr. Skuli Mogensen, is very excited about this opportunity to operate his airlines in India. According to him, this would be the shortest one-stop layover airline from India to North America.

On a daily basis, more than 20000 passengers travel from India to North America. This move will surely make the airline take advantage of the ever-increasing air passenger traffic in the country and will allow Indian travellers to fly to fly at a lesser cost to new international destinations in a shorter time.

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IndiGo Plans To Expand Its Operations To 24 New International Destinations!

AirWhizzMay 16, 2018 No Comments

IndiGo Plans To Expand Its Operations To 24 New International Destinations!

Aviation Insider

IndiGo Airlines is all set to increase its market-leading share of 39.5% by expanding its flight operations to 24 international destinations in the next 18 months.

Here are all the details of the expansion process –

  • The Airline will order wide-bodied aircraft at the Farnborough air show which will happen in July 2018.
  • The airline will start flying to 18 new destinations in the Middle East, China and Southeast Asia.
  • They will also start 6 long haul flights which will fly to airports in Germany, United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Switzerland.
  • Between October 2018 and March 2019, the airline will start flying to countries like Germany, Iran, Maldives, Afghanistan, France, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and United Kingdom
  • Between March 2019 and October 2019, IndiGo plans to start flight operations to Italy, Myanmar, Switzerland, Belgium and China.

This move is part of IndiGo’s second phase of expansion.

According to an interview conducted by Economic Times with IndiGo’s founder, Rahul Bhatia, expansion of flight operations and fleet size is the airline’s main priority. He also said that the airline is planning to further introduce medium and Long haul flights in the coming few years and increase its fleet size to 200 by the end of 2018.

Currently, the airline boasts of a fleet size of 163 aircraft which fly to 42 domestic and 8 international destinations which include Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal, Oman, Dubai and Sharjah.

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Government Will Look Into Air Ticket Pricing Practices!

AirWhizzMay 12, 2018 No Comments

The Competition Commission Of India(CCI) has announced that it will asses the algorithms used by domestic airlines on the ticket pricing. This is being done to check as to why there is a sharp rise in airfares during peak demand.

CCI is the governing body which keeps a check on unfair business practices across different sectors.

They started investigating when the issue of sharp rise in air ticket pricing came to light during the Jat agitation in early 2016. Rail and road connectivity were severely affected by this incident because of which, ticket prices on Chandigarh to Delhi flights shot up sharply.

At a conference organized by The Associated Chambers Of Commerce of India(ASSOCHAM), CCI chairperson D K Sikri addressed this matter. Here’s what he had to say –

  • Secret/collusion cooperation between digital players with the help of self-learning algorithms is one of the biggest challenges the CCI faces.
  • This issue caught the CCI’s attention when there was a sudden rise in airfares for flights between Chandigarh and Delhi during the Jat agitation.
  • When they asked the airlines about this issue, the airline officials said that the algorithms were driving up the prices and they had no clue as to why this was happening.

At the conference, Mr. Sikri also highlighted the fact that algorithms are not systems that are developed on their own and that somebody has put logic into its design.

CCI is in talks with technical experts to understand the indicators & variables used and the weightage given by the algorithm used by airlines. The governing body is looking to develop its own algorithm to look into this issue but that will require a huge investment.

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