320 back from Cairo, 200 expected on next flight

Mumbai: Cut off from the world for days and battling looters on Cairo streets since anti-Hosni Mubarak protesters captured the main city square, a planeload of 320 harried Indians were evacuated from the Egyptian capital on Monday and flown to Mumbai.
Soon after the Air India special Boeing-737 landed in Mumbai, vacationers, business travelers and even NRIs settled in Egypt poured out to meet anxious friends and relatives and share stories of horror from the last week.
Many who were there to receive the evacuees said the last three days were the most anxious ones of their lives as communications with stranded relatives were snapped with authorities briefly blocking net access and mobile phones. Since most were tracking events on television, the relief of seeing loved ones safe was hard to contain with much hugging and weeping seen at the arrival terminal.
"Even after I reached the airport, I didn`t know if I would make it to India. There was utter chaos. Lots of people had gathered at the airport and were trying to find a way out,`` said the Mumbai-based businessman who spent a night at Cairo airport.
The 320 passengers who came in on Monday were lucky to have made it as many others were stuck and struggling to get a ticket back.
01/02/11 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

Aircraft buy to hit AI financials from this year: CAG

New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is likely to strongly criticise a decision by Air India to spend 50,000 crore to buy 111 new aircraft, as they are unlikely to generate enough revenues to service the national carrier's colossal debts. This would badly impact the airline's financials from 2011 onwards, a draft report from the national auditor said.
The erstwhile Indian Airlines had ordered the purchase of 68 Boeing aircraft in 2005 at a price of 33,000 crore. "The debt service of this deal is estimated to be 3,300 crore per year. The revenue generated by the induction of these aircraft will not be sufficient to service the debt," said a top CAG official, requesting anonymity.
The draft report, which will be tabled in Parliament during the Budget session, also slams Air India for opting for what it describes as an " expensive" loan to purchase its 43 Airbus aircraft though it could have opted for a cheaper loan. CAG audits the finances of public sector undertaking, including Air India.
"As per the agreement between Air India and Airbus, the latter will make provision for funding the purchase of 43 aircraft at LIBOR rate (London Interbank Offered Rate). However Air India did not utilize this clause and had to avail loan at higher rate of 11%, which will result in a payment of 2,700 crore as interest premium," the CAG official said.
01/02/11 Anindya Upadhyay & Rohini Singh/Economic Times

Indonesia-India Join Forces to Establish Airline

Jakarta:Indonesia and Indian businessmen plan to establish a new airline company to be called PT Pacific Royale, confirmed air transportation director-general Herry Bhakti.
The plan was triggered by an air service agreement between the two countries that has been renewed. The agreement regulates flight availability for national airlines wanting to fly to India.
Herry also said that Samudra Sukardi had been named as the new project manager for the airline. Samudra, who may be the candidate for the company’s president director, was previously the candidate for the CEO position at PT Garuda Indonesia.
Pacific Royale is currently lodging its flight permits in India and Indonesia and has not yet made a company presentation at the Indonesian Transportation Ministry.
PT Garuda Indonesia also plans to start flying to India. According to Elisa Lumbantoruan, Garuda’s information technology and strategic director, the company is arranging the permits so that it can start flying to India in the second semester of this year. Garuda said that in principle, the airline has already obtained the permit.
31/01/11 Tempo Interactive, Jakarta

For Egypt rescue flight, AI charged up to 55,000

Mumbai: It was not just the violence which spooked those evacuated from Cairo. The fare, charged by Air India for the special flight was almost double that of the usual return ticket.
Most passengers were charged Rs 45,000 and in some cases the ticket fare went upto Rs 55,000. Usually, a one way fare on Mumbai-Cairo sector is between Rs 17,000 to Rs 20,000. Many flyers complained they were forced to pay cash.
AI refused to comment on the fares. An AI official said the fares had to be high as the airline had operated the flight from Mumbai to Cairo empty. ''Also, the airline does not have a base in Cairo. All check-in and take-off formalities had to be managed with whatever small staff available,'' said a senior AI official.
Civil aviation minister Vayalar Ravi, who also handles the overseas Indians ministry, received several complaints.
01/02/11 Times of India

Jet fuel prices hiked by 4.5 per cent

Mumbai: State-owned oil firms on Monday hiked jet fuel prices by a massive 4.5 per cent, the biggest hike in almost a year, on the back of spiralling international oil prices.
Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) rates in Delhi have been hiked by Rs. 2,194.79 per kilolitre, or 4.5 per cent, to R.s 50,958.79 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an official of Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the nation’s largest fuel retailer, said.
This is the eighth straight increase in jet fuel prices since October 2010, when international crude oil prices started soaring.
Last time the oil companies had affected such a massive hike on January 16, 2010 when rates in Delhi were hiked by Rs. 2,519.83 per kl or 6.5 per cent.
The ATF price in Delhi on October 1 was Rs. 40,728.52 per kl. The rates were increased by Rs. 10,230.21 per kl or 25.1 per cent in eight tranches since then, in tandem with a surge in global oil prices.
The basket of crude India buys has averaged $93.75 per barrel in the second half of January, as against December average of $89.78 per barrel.
Jet fuel will cost Rs. 51,332.82 per kl in Mumbai, home to the nation’s busiest airport, from tomorrow, as against Rs. 49,046 per kl currently.
31/01/11 PTI/The Hindu

Kingfisher to re-induct seven grounded planes

New Delhi: Good times appear to be returning to Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines.
A spokesperson of the carrier confirmed to DNA on Monday that seven of the A320 family aircraft, which were grounded due to engine trouble last year, will return to the fleet by March this year.
Earlier, the airline had estimated that their return will happen only around September—so this development gives it a six-month head start.
The re-induction of this last batch of aircraft follows a similar re-induction of seven aircraft by the airline in December 2010.
The aircraft grounding issue has impacted Kingfisher since April 2009, leading to some loss of market share.
Though the airline did not share details on routes on which of these aircraft would be deployed, industry experts said Kingfisher could use the re-inducted aircraft to strengthen its presence within the country and also on short-to-medium haul international routes such as the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
Already, the airline has announced new flights between Mumbai and Jabalpur, Mumbai-Belgaum, Jabalpur-Indore and Indore-Mumbai from January.
01/02/11 Sindhu Bhattacharya/Daily News & Analysis

Airports pitch for relaxed alcohol, duty-free allowances

New Delhi: India’s largest airports want to sell more spirits and wine at shops inside their facilities and have sought a relaxation in duty-free limits in the upcoming budget.
India currently allows 2 litres of spirits or wine per passenger. That should be changed to allow 2 litres of spirits and the same amount of wine, according to a letter written by industry lobby group Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The grouping includes operators of the airports in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kochi, which account for 65% of passenger traffic. Alcohol, cigarettes, cosmetics, perfumes and chocolates comprise a bulk of purchases from duty free shops, analysts said.
Such allowances at airports such as Dubai, Singapore and Sri Lanka are higher, the grouping said.
“To be in competition with some of these tourist-friendly countries, it would be appropriate for government of India to allow duty free import of two litres of liquor plus two litres of wine in India, provided the articles are purchased only at Indian duty-free shops,” APAO secretary general Satyan Nayar wrote in the 10 January letter reviewed by Mint.
Mukherjee is scheduled to present the Union Budget later this month.
01/02/11 Tarun Shukla/Live Mint

Work begins on new fire station at Chennai airport

Chennai: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Monday began work on a new fire station at the airport to meet category 10 requirements. The works are expected to be completed in 10 months.
The fire station, to cost an estimated Rs 12 crore, would be between the runways at a central location from where all corners can be accessed, said a press release.
The three-floor building will have 10 parking bays for wide body crash fire tenders, control room, foam room on the ground floor. The second will have an apron watch tower and the third a watch tower for fire.
01/02/11 Times of India

Restrictions on visitors' entry lifted at Amausi airport

Lucknow: The Airport Authority of India (AAI) withdrew the restrictions imposed on entry of visitors into terminal of Amausi airport on Monday. The ban was imposed by the authority following Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) inputs of a possible security threat to the airport.
Airport authorities said that such restrictions are essentially put in place during Republic Day and Independence Day. This year, the restriction came into effect from January 15 and lasted for 15 days period till January 30. On Monday, the visitors were issued visitors pass to gain entry into the terminal along with a passenger.
Official sources said that the dates often vary as per the directions of the BCAS. Sources, however, admitted that this time the restriction were a bit prolonged.
01/02/11 Times of India

Dump yard gives pilots the heebie-jeebies

Bangalore: Scavenging birds hovering above the Mavallipura garbage dump pose a grave threat to the fighter jets that will zoom at the Aero India show being held from February 9-13.
S V Ranganath, chief secretary, heading the committee on preparations for the aero show, expressed his concern at the Mavallipura garbage dump. "With most of the aircraft flying low, the garbage dump here needs to be cleared on a war-footing," he said.
Mavallipura is the biggest garbage dump in north Bangalore and is 4 km from the Indian Air Force station in Hunasamaranahalli, where the aero show will be held. The station is also a few kilometres from the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). The garbage dump is also close to the Central Industrial Security Force (CRPF) unit.
BBMP and hotels use Mavallipura as a dump yard for wastes. "More than 100 truck loads of garbage is dumped here every day. Repeated requests and protests by the locals has bee in in vain. It has been very difficult for us to live with the garbage and the stench," said A H Ananda, a resident of Rajanakunte, close to Mavallipura.
The preparation committee has issued directives to BBMP and Bangalore Urban district authorities to clear the garbage.
01/02/11 Anil Kumar M/Times of India

AeroIndia 2011 to Highlight Global Cooperation in Aerospace Technologies

Next month will witness a grand event in Bengaluru. Organized by the Ministry of Defense, AeroIndia 2011 a biennial Air Show is scheduled to take place from the 9th to 13th of February 2011. Aero India is Asia’s premier show held every two years at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, India. As a prelude an international seminar will be conducted from the 7th to 9th of February by the Defense Research & Development Organisation in association with the Aeronautical Society of India. The seminar will highlight current and emerging technologies and will be held at the Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) Convention Centre.
Aerospace professionals including scientists, designers, manufactures, operators and academia from across the globe are expected to interact and launch collaborative programmes in research, development and manufacture.
The seminar’s theme is “Aero and Space Technologies, Success through Global Co- operation”. Speakers at the event include CEOs and technologists from leading companies such as Eurojet, Boeing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, SAAB, Goodrich, Professors from Indian Institute of Science, MIT USA, Scientists from DRDO, CSIR, and BEL.
The air show itself will be a feast to the eyes and will comprise of a flying display, a static display and an exhibition. The flying and static displays will showcase products from international participants.
This grand ensemble is slated to be more elaborate and massive compared to previous shows. India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft a remarkable achievement for the nation will be displayed besides Aerostat and live exhibits of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.
Several global armament majors will participate in the air show showcasing their fighters, helicopters, submarines, missiles, howitzers and many others. It is expected that about 380 foreign companies will display their products making a 25 percent leap compared to AeroIndia 2009.
31/01/11 Shamila Janakiraman/Asia-Pacific Business & Technology

Surya Kirans: They are back to kiss the Sun

Do the phrases ‘scissors cross’, ‘barrel role’, ‘bomb burst’ and ‘arrow piercing the carved heart’ sound familiar? Yes, the roaring, daring Surya Kirans are back with their breathtaking maneuvers for this year’s edition of Aero India, starting on February 9.
After a gap of four years, the team has returned with their nine-aircraft formation. During the 2009 edition of the air show, the Kirans performed with only six aircraft and the show time was cut down to a mere seven minutes from the usual 20 minutes of spectacular air extravaganza.
This caution was the fallout of the deadly air crash which took place on January 22, 2009, claiming the life of Wing Commander R S Dhaliwal. The tragic accident occurred near Bidar during a routine training sortie. The Surya Kiran team, which is based in Bidar, was practicing for the Aero India event when the fatal mishap took place. Two years later, the daredevils are back. “They have returned to their nine-plane formation and they have something special in their kitty for Bengalu reans. Bengaluru has always been a favourite destination for the team, which have exhibited their brilliant aerobatics worldwide,” said a senior official from Indian Air Force.
The Surya Kirans are one of only three aerobatic teams in the world which have a nine-aircraft formation. Two teams , Red Arrows from Britain and Snow Birds of Canada, fly frontline fighter aircraft or advanced jets, but the Surya Kirans fly a basic indigenous jet trainer – Kiran MK II.
01/02/11 Deccan Chronicle

Ruckus at Patna airport

Patna: Fliers to and from Jayaprakash Narayan International (JPNI) airport on Sunday had a difficult time as most of the flights operated far behind schedule.
About 90 passengers booked on Go Air's Patna-Delhi (G8-342) morning flight created a ruckus over the abnormal delay in its operation.
"It's hell. We have been left in the lurch. The airline officials are not listening to us," a lady passenger complained.
Go Air's G8-341 was on Monday scheduled to take off from Indira Gandhi International airport (IGI), Delhi at around 9 am. And its return journey from JPNI airport was scheduled at 10.50 am.
As the flight was delayed, passengers wanted to know whether the airline was planning to cancel it. As passengers' queries regarding the status of G8-341 failed to elicit a proper answer from airline officials, bedlam broke out. Poor visibility had delayed the flight's take off from IGI Delhi by around 4 hours. It finally arrived here around 1.45 pm.
31/01/11 Alok K N Mishra/Times of India

Etihad Airways introduces chauffeur service in India

Mumbai: Etihad Airways has introduced complimentary luxury chauffeur service in its eight Indian operations-- New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and Kochi, Bengaluru.
Guests travelling in Diamond First Class and Pearl Business Class from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru or Hyderabad to any of the airline’s destinations around the world will now be able to enjoy the comfort of a Mercedes E series car when travelling to and from the airport.
31/01/11 TravelBizMonitor

Birmingham Airport crackdown on bogus students

Scores of bogus students have been stopped from entering the country via Birmingham airport in a crackdown by UK Border Agency officers.
Last year officers at the airport refused entry to more than 50 foreign nationals who attempted to enter the country on student visas.
Officials said the majority of bogus students stopped by UK Border Agency officers at the Airport were from Bangladesh, China, India and Pakistan.
Agency assistant dirrector Alex Lawther, the agency’s assistant said: “Intelligence on attempts to gain entry by fraud is routinely shared so that our officers can identify would-be fraudsters.”
31/01/11 Mark Cowan/Birmingham Mail

NRI forum seeks international status for airport

Mangalore: The NRI forum is seeking the perfect birthday gift for Mangalore airport that is in the midst of its diamond jubilee year from both the central and state governments -- the tag of an international airport. The Mangalore Airport having completed 59 years of fruitful existence entered into the 60th -- diamond jubilee year on December 21 last. The diamond jubilee celebration will be held here on February 27 under the aegis of KCCI.
K Thejomaya, former chairman of MUDA, told reporters here on Saturday that the forum feels that the international status is imperative. The respective governments must take steps to extend the existing runway to 11,000 feet in order to accommodate wide-bodied jets. The state government must acquire land required for the purpose and hand it over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), he said.
AAI should pay more attention towards providing various facilities for the convenience of the passengers at Mangalore airport. While extending the runway of the airport will give it a distinct place, Thejomaya said proper lighting; safety and security system will make it the safest airport. The air cargo complex system should be handled at the old terminal building of Mangalore airport for the convenience of international passengers.
31/01/11 Times of India