Oil firms cut ATF prices by 7%

New Delhi: State-run fuel retailers slashed jet fuel or ATF rates by a further seven per cent, making it the 11th reduction since September last year.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices in Delhi were slashed by Rs 2,052 per kilolitre to Rs 27,106 per kl, effective midnight tonight, an official of Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
But for the one-off 3.3 per cent increase in rates on January 16, jet fuel prices are declining in tandem with the fall in international Oil rates.
In Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, ATF rates were down to Rs 27,861 per kl from Rs 29,985.19 per kl.
The reduction in jet fuel prices announced today varied from airport to airport depending on local taxes and levies and an on average worked out to Rs 2,125 per kl.
ATF prices had peaked to Rs 71,028.26 per kl (in Delhi) in August on international crude prices touching historic high of USD 147 a barrel. But they have since been slashed every month till October and twice in November.
28/02/09 Indian Express

'Airlines unlikely to slash fares'

New Delhi: Indian airline operators are unlikely to reduce fares immediately following another cut in jet fuel prices announced on Saturday, with the industry saying the earlier price cuts have failed to raise demand for air travel.
The state-run fuel retailers slashed air turbine fuel (ATF) rates by a further seven per cent with effect from midnight tonight, the 11th cut since last September. But officials of most of the airlines said there is no decision as yet on lowering air fares.
Industry sources said most carriers are still recovering from the "huge losses" they incurred through the last year due to unprecedented rise in global crude prices. Observing that domestic fares are fixed on the basis of several factors like demand and competitive environment, they said lowering of ticket prices in January did not raise passenger traffic as was being anticipated.
Despite the price cuts, the airlines in late January suddenly withdrew low-fare segments and promotional fares, inviting criticism for a possible cartelisation.
28/02/09 ZeeNews

Airline saves crores with `weight loss' programme

Mumbai: Airline cost-cutting measures have come a long way since the `80s when American Airlines removed one olive from each salad served in first class and saved about $ 40,000 annually. These days, airlines bring about savings with unobtrusive measures-rationalising meal and water upliftment in each flight, doing away with heavy garbage compactors, reducing bar items, etc.
Air India, for one, announced on Saturday that it had saved Rs 45 crore in the last five months simply by reducing the weight of its aircraft with these measures. The fuel prices may be at an all-time low, but the airline is monitoring every drop of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) usage literally and is looking forward to increasing its savings to Rs 75 crore in the coming year.
"Simple measures like reducing potable water upliftment were implemented. Water consumption on different flights were monitored and the practice of filling up the tanks completely was stopped. We saved Rs 45 crore since September 2008. Next month, a new computerised flight planning system will be introduced and we expect a saving of Rs 75 crore this year,'' said K M Unni, head of AI MRO (Air frame) in the sidelines of a seminar on Fuel Management organised by the Aeronautical Society of India on Saturday.
For instance-you may have not noticed it-but the 1-litre water bottles on Mumbai-New York ultra-long haul flights have disappeared. The airline figured out that as the flight departed at 12.45 pm and landed in New York at 6.30 am, the bottles were hardly asked for by the passengers.
The airline, in consultation with International Air Transport Association (IATA), has introduced a number of aircraft-specific measures like removing the 81-kg trash compactors on all their Boeing 737 flights, but retaining them on aircraft doing longer flights like the Boeing 777. Meal upliftments are monitored-older, heavier trolleys have been replaced with lighter ones, and bar items have been reduced. "This has reduced two to three tonnes on our Boeing 737s,'' he added.
01/03/09 Times of India

Air India will go green

Mumbai: With new flight plan system, national carrier hopes to save Rs80 crore and lower its carbon emissions as well.
What started as a cost-cutting exercise, has become a movement with national carrier Air India (AI). Inspired by its savings of Rs50 crore, the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) has decided to go green. It is soon going to launch a new flight plan system that will help it save up to Rs80 crore annually on fuel.
On Saturday, NACIL declared that it is soon going to sign an agreement with a software company to develop a new flight plan system that will help save 36 per cent fuel annually.
"We are on the verge of signing the agreement with the company and this will help us save more fuel, money and lessen carbon emissions," said Harpreet Singh, head of Quality Management Systems (QMS), on the sidelines of a fuel management seminar organised under the aegis of Aeronautical Society of India.
"Since September, we have already been working with a new flight plan that has helped us save 45,787,270 kg of turbine fuel."
01/03/09 Navita Singh/Daily News & Analysis

NACIL to implement new flight-planning system in six months

Mumbai: A new computerised flight- planning management system is likely to be implemented by the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) over the next six months to cut down on fuel expense, a senior company official said.
"A new computerised flight-planning management system is expected to be in place over the next six months, which will result in substantial cost-savings," the official told PTI here today.
The company was in the process of signing an agreement with an European vendor to implement the system, the official said, adding "once the new system is in place, we will be saving around USD 15-million annually, compared to the current base line".
The savings would primarily come out of fuel-efficiency as the proposed system would suggest best routes, give weather alerts, besides guiding the airline on fuel uplift, he said.
28/02/09 Press Trust of India

Foundation stone laid for development of New Greenfield Airport at Pakyong

The foundation stone for the development of New Greenfield Airport at Pakyong and the New Terminal Building at Dibrugarh were inaugurated today.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up development of new Green field Airport at Pakyong, Sikkim for operation of ATR 72 type of Aircraft. The development works include construction of New Terminal Building, runway and apron with link taxi-track, fire station, technical block-cum-control tower and other associated works at an estimated cost of Rs. 310 crores.
The proposed Terminal with an area of 3000 sq.m will incorporate local architectural features and have all modern passenger amenities such as baggage handling system, Close Circuit TV, FIDS, fire fighting and alarm system etc.
The new runway will be 1700 mtr. long with apron capable to park two ATR-72 type of aircraft at a time. The work involves heavy earth work in cutting and filling & construction of Geo segmental reinforced earth retaining wall with height up to 72 mtr. and channellising of existing jhoras (water streams) without disturbing their downstream flow.
The airport will be provided with latest CNS facilities like VHF, NDB, DVOR, DME etc. alongwith other aids like PAPI, HIRL, Apron lights etc.
28/02/09 Press Information Bureau

Air India sets up global aviation hub at Frankfurt

New Delhi: In a major initiative towards strengthening its global network, Air India will make its first-ever international hub operational at Frankfurt this month-end, launching scissor operations to and from North America with a brand new fleet of Boeing aircraft.
At Frankfurt, a passenger flying from Delhi to Newark will be quickly transferred to the Mumbai-Newark flight and a person travelling to Chicago from Mumbai would have to change the aircraft on the Delhi-Chicago route.
It will take about 19 hours, including the changeover time at Frankfurt, for a passenger to reach the US cities from India.
"The Frankfurt hub will become operational on March 29, the beginning of the summer schedule, for some of Air India's flights and will offer more convenient connections to a larger originating traffic," airline's Executive Director Jitender Bhargava said here.
AI's decision to have a global hub in Europe follows a similar hub being operated by Jet Airways at Brussels.
01/03/09 PTI/Economic Times

Surat airport: AAI asks govt for 864 ha

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought an additional 864 hectare land from the state government for expansion of Surat airport. This was disclosed on Friday by VP Agrawal, the chairman of AAI, in Surat.
"We are committed to development of Surat airport as a world-class airport and have sought 864 hectare land from state government. This land will be required when a second runway is needed at the airport to cater to increased traffic and other future developments," Agrawal said.
Agrawal was speaking during the inauguration of the new terminal building at Surat airport. In the absence of civil aviation minister Praful Patel, who had to cancel his visit due to unavoidable circumstances, the building was inaugurated by union minister of state for petroleum Dinsha Patel.
"We have prepared a Master Plan for the whole area. We will use the allotted land as and when required, and protect the rest for future requirements," the AAI chairman said.
The AAI is investing Rs110 crore for development of Surat airport. This includes extension, strengthening and widening of the runway, construction of terminal building, air traffic control tower, hangars, parking areas, night landing facility, instrumentation landing system, among others.
Union minister Patel said on the occasion that lot of development has taken place under UPA government, and air travel has become affordable for everyone. He assured that demands for better air connectivity for Surat will be fulfilled.
28/02/09 Daily News & Analysis/Topnews.in

Airport ordeal for mum and toddler

An Indian mother and her toddler were due to leave Bahrain International Airport last night, after being stranded there for 24 hours because the woman left her daughter's passport in India.
P Naziath, 19, arrived at the airport at around 10.30pm on Friday on an Indian airlines flight with her 18-month-old daughter P Janna Fathima.
They came here to visit Mrs Naziath's husband Azeel Kalathil, who works as a messenger at a bank.However, the mother realised her daughter's passport was missing when they reached the immigration desk in Bahrain.
The Indian Embassy was informed and was able to track down the passport with the help of staff at Kozhikode International Airport, who found it under a seat in the airport lounge where she was sitting before departure. However, Bahraini authorities refused to let the woman and child enter Bahrain yesterday morning - despite the embassy promising the passport would be presented to them as soon as it was brought to Bahrain.
The passport arrived in Bahrain at 10.30pm last night after a pilot on the next flight brought it to Bahrain.
01/02/09 Begena P Pradeep/Gulf Daily News, Bahrain