India - Aviation/Airports/Airlines [Archive] - Page 2

Suncity

January 5th, 2005, 02:50 PM

An opinion

High flying
By: Vir Sanghvi
January 2, 2005

http://ww1.mid-day.com/columns/vir_sanghvi/2005/january/100664.htm

Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to find a seat on an aircraft that leaves India during the peak season?

Are you surprised when you read news reports about passengers who stage dharnas at airports because they have been off-loaded from flights on which they have confirmed bookings?

And when you read that India has finally welcomed three million tourists this year, do you not find it odd that we should get less than half the tourists of countries like Thailand and even tiny Singapore?

There’s a simple, single reason for all of the above — government.

Even in the era of liberalisation, aviation remains one of the last great state-controlled sectors. An airline cannot simply decide one fine day, that it is going to fly to say, London or New Orleans.

The total number of flights per week between say, India and the UK or India and the US, is fixed according to an agreement negotiated between the governments of India, the UK and the US.

Further, each airline has to then designate official carriers. For instance, the UK can say (as it just has) that British Airways, British Midland Airlines and Virgin can fly to India from the UK as designated carriers but that Easyjet cannot.

Some of these restrictions make some sense. The business of designated carriers is logical.

Governments must consider the safety of passengers and should therefore grant international rights only to those airlines whose record has been proven: otherwise anybody who runs a paan shop or a beer factory will declare that he’s starting an airline and could take passengers for a ride.

Even the restrictions on the number of flights makes some sense. In the early days of Air-India, our government feared, quite reasonably that large international airlines would swamp the country.

To protect Air-India, it was necessary to restrict the number of flights that foreign airlines were allowed and insist that Air-India got an equal number.
But, as is traditional in India, what started out with the best of intentions soon got perverted to benefit vested interests.

One problem was Air-India itself. Thanks to years of governmental neglect of its fleet requirements coupled with years of governmental interference in nearly every other aspect of the airline, Air-India soon became one of the world’s smallest airlines (when you take fleet size as a ratio of total population.) Service standards dropped. Talented managers were victimised, fired or driven out.

And so, a set of regulations that had been put in place to benefit the Indian passenger began to harm all of us. Take one example. Suppose you discover that there is enough traffic to sustain say, 54 flights a week between India and the UK. (All figures are hypothetical).

The government of India would insist on allowing only 14 flights by British Airways and another ten by Air-India. In terms of capacity, we would be 30 flights short.

This would suit Air-India perfectly because an excess of demand over supply ensured that its flights were always full (and over-booked). Next, Air-India would allow Virgin to fly three times a week on its rights in return for a fee.

But because people who had to go London would need to find a way to get there, flights to such destinations as Vienna, Frankfurt and Amsterdam would be full (the passengers would then take connections to London).

Because Air-India had neither the aircraft nor the wherewithal to bother too much about the Vienna, Frankfurt or Amsterdam sectors, it would simply charge a fee from the airlines that flew to those destinations.

In the process, Indian tourism suffered. Because there were so few flights to India, tourists couldn’t get bookings. As Madhav Rao Scindia memorably remarked in the 1990s, “the rate of growth of Indian tourism is equal to Air-India’s fleet expansion.”

But Air-India did all right. Take away all the money that Air-India makes from selling its rights (that is, the fees it is paid by other airlines) and you’ll find that rare is the year when it has ever made any money from its core business: flying passengers and cargo.

So, the ministers were happy and Air-India was pleased. Only you and I — the Indian passenger — got screwed.

Last week, in what might well be the most far-reaching decision in the field of Indian aviation taken by any cabinet in the last 40 years, the Manmohan Singh government decided to put a stop to the exploitation of the Indian passenger.

Though the Civil Aviation Ministry has yet to announce the full guidelines, my understanding of the cabinet decision is that it provides for the following:

No longer will we curtail the number of flights between countries on the grounds that Air-India does not have enough capacity.

Air-India will buy more aircrafts, it is already in the process of leasing others; and in any case, Jet and Sahara who say they have no capacity constraints, can also operate on international sectors.

Foreign airlines will no longer have to pay a fee to Air-India for flying to India. If they want to bring tourists to our country they are welcome to do so.

It will take till May for the full impact of this decision to be felt but here’s what it means for the Indian passenger.

No hassles in getting seats to fly abroad. Remember how the private domestic carriers put an end to the days of the Indian Airlines wait-list and priority quotas? Well, the same thing will happen here.

Just as Jet and Sahara raised service standards domestically, this will now happen in the international sector. Plus, we’ll have Indian carriers to fly us everywhere —- and that should make us hold our heads up high.

Tourism Minister Renuka Choudhury tells me that Air-France lost her luggage on a short flight from London to Paris, were rude to her and only found it as she was ready to return.

Even after she came back to India and gave interviews about how she made presentation after presentation in her one sari, nobody from Air France called her to apologise.

(At least, not till the time she spoke to me.) So, no more being treated like dirt just because you are an Indian.

Lower Fares: Already you can fly Air-India’s wonderful day-time flights from Bombay/Delhi to London for just Rs 20,000 return thanks to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s decision to increase the number of India-London flights. By next summer when Virgin, Jet, Sahara and British Midland all hit the route, fares will come down even more.

More convenient flight times. If you want to fly to Bangkok or Singapore now, you are stuck with overnight flights where you get barely three hours of sleep. Now day-time services are being planned by everybody.

All this sounds almost great. Indian aviation may finally be entering a new age. But I still have a few quibbles.

A) Let’s not throw the national carriers to the wolves. At its best (largely a function of the cabin crew) Air-India is still a world-class airline. Praful Patel says he is committed to turning it around in the new competitive era. I hope he can keep his word.

I am a great admirer of Indian Airlines, which is a far stronger airline than Air-India. It has held its own in the face of competition from Jet and Sahara and its top management team is in a completely different league from Air-India’s.

My fear is that while Praful will personally oversee the turnaround of Air-India, he will not give Indian Airlines the freedom it requires. Freed of ministerial and bureaucratic intervention, Indian Airlines can be a first rate airline.

B) Whatever Praful Patel achieves, nothing will really change till we recognise that our international airports are a monumental embarrassments.

They are cramped, ugly and badly designed. Worse still, they charge among the highest landing fees in the region for the lowest calibre of services.

If you were to wind up the Airports Authority of India and hand the management of our airports over to a class of 11-year-old children, they would probably do a better job.

And then, there are the agencies that man the airport. I haven’t travelled out of Bombay recently but things have got better in Delhi.

Customs are polite and helpful; the CISF is a vast improvement on the Delhi police; and even Immigration is finally making an effort.

But there are too many different agencies under too many different ministries for us to be sure that these improvements will persist. So, we desperately need some inter-disciplinary supervisory mechanism.

I know that Praful is aware of the importance of airports. But he can’t do very much on his own.

Now that this government has finally made some revolutionary decisions about aviation, it should also ensure that India has the airports that we, its passengers, deserve.

monyaam

January 5th, 2005, 07:32 PM

superb article.

Suncity

January 6th, 2005, 05:30 AM

The ET Editorial

Flight to freedom

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/976493.cms

The decision to allow private airlines to fly abroad is welcome, with two caveats. One, there should be no glitches in the public sector airlines’ plans to add to their fleet.

Two, five years of domestic experience should be dropped as an eligibility condition for flying abroad. The case for allowing local private airlines to fly overseas is foolproof.

There’s absolutely no logic in reserving international flights for the state-owned airlines, especially since the domestic market has been opened up. Thanks to their depleted fleets, the state-owned carriers Air-India (A-I) and Indian Airlines (IA) were not able to use the slots available under the bilateral agreements with other governments.

Foreign airlines have been using these slots in return for a financial consideration. Therefore, it makes eminent sense to allow our own private airlines to work these slots.

There is an element of inequity here, though. The decision to expand the fleets of the state-owned carriers has been pending for years. Had the fleet expansion come on time, these bilaterals would not have been free in the first place.

The government has sought to address this apparent injustice by reserving the lucrative Gulf section for the national flag carriers for three years, sufficient for them to enlarge their fleet and take on the competition.

Simultaneously, allowing A-I’s low-cost carrier, Air India Express, to ply both domestic and international routes brings all carriers on a par. All ‘eligible’ airlines will now be able to fly both foreign and local destinations. And the ensuing competition is welcome.

Indian airlines should reap its fair share of the additional business created by Indians travelling abroad as never before.

However, the package does look unfair to Air Deccan and some other airlines waiting to take off. In five years, the current crop would have consolidated operations, making it difficult for the new entrants to find a place for themselves.

This needs a relook. More importantly, we need a properly laid out policy for allocating the bilaterally negotiated rights among the existing players. Ways to accommodate new players should also be found. Sans such measures, we would only replace the current public monopolies with new private ones.

Suncity

January 6th, 2005, 05:37 AM

http://us.rediff.com/money/2004/dec/24air.htm

New airlines which are planning to take off. But will all of them take wings now that the international sector (especially the gulf market) will be closed to most?

The new domestic airlines expected to start service in India are Air One, Indus Air, Royal Air, East West, Wadia, Kingfisher Air, Visa, Yamuna, Air-India Express [both international and domestic].

Kingfisher, AI Express will take off. Wadia probably. But what about the rest?

centralized pandemonium

January 6th, 2005, 06:02 AM

Suncity

January 6th, 2005, 06:16 AM

IndiaRocks

January 6th, 2005, 06:19 AM

All I can think of is that the situation in the sky will be much like that on the roads. There are hundreds of private luxury bus service companies. You go to one of the bus stations and the ticketsellers crowd you for attention. On the other hand, good for customers as there will be more options. Personally speaking, I'd prefer fewer big companies with bigger fleets and quality service than hundreds of small unstable companies.

kronik

January 6th, 2005, 06:36 AM

They shouldn't let all and sundry start an airline company. Yeh Yamuna, Indus Air, Royal-voyal kaun hai? Only the largest companies should be allowed to fly. These Indus-vindus like companies may not bother about the safety,and may compromaise for money. Sabko udne nahi dena chaiye. :nono: :bash:

Main, you seriously think a private business entity will invest millions of dollars in a venture they are not serious to succeed at? Especially in this stage of the Indian economy?

The airlines that failed earlier this decade was because of lack of demand among other economical and regulatory reasons and not because they were ferrying people in junkpiles! I think there were instances, but look around, they are no more and i am sure the business houses coming forward today have in mind what needs to be done to succeed.

Indian Civil aviation needs more entrepreneurs. It will only encourage the Government to do better because the nation is responding to what they are doing.

Suncity

January 6th, 2005, 03:28 PM

Main, you seriously think a private business entity will invest millions of dollars in a venture they are not serious to succeed at? Especially in this stage of the Indian economy?

The airlines that failed earlier this decade was because of lack of demand among other economical and regulatory reasons and not because they were ferrying people in junkpiles! I think there were instances, but look around, they are no more and i am sure the business houses coming forward today have in mind what needs to be done to succeed.

Indian Civil aviation needs more entrepreneurs. It will only encourage the Government to do better because the nation is responding to what they are doing.

I agree.

Suncity

January 6th, 2005, 03:30 PM

Jetstar touch down in Kolkata?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/981957.cms

Fly from Kolkata to Singapore and back for just Rs 10,000! ($230). Jetstar Asia — the international ‘low-cost-no frills' carrier — is making its first splash in the Indian market by touching down in Kolkata. Talks are on to begin operations from mid-March this year.

While Singapore offers a round trip fare of Rs 19,335, Thai Airways charges Rs 19,350 and Indian Airlines Rs 18,950. These fares exclude taxes. In contrast, Jetstar Asia will offer an attractive round trip fare of about Rs 10,000 per passenger.

The carrier which has received clearance for the Kolkata-Singapore sector will operate thrice a week in the 10 am slot. However, NSCB International Airport director Rajendra Pal, said, "Though the airline has expressed definite keenness and we have received a proposal to this effect, nothing has been finalised in writing."

Jetstar Asia is a regional extension of the Jetstar brand which was launched by Qantas as a low-cost airline in the Australian domestic market.

kronik

January 6th, 2005, 11:59 PM

Air Deccan to acquire 30 new ATRs (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=177490)

Air Deccan, the low cost passenger airline division of Deccan Aviation Limited, will acquire some 30 aircraft from ATR, the Franco-Italian joint venture.

Air Deccan will buy 15 of the new ATR 72-500 aircraft and lease the remaining, the company’s managing director, G R Gopinath, told reporters here on Thursday.

The Bangalore based regional airliner will also lease six used aircraft, including three ATR 42-500 and three ATR 72-500.

These aircraft will be between five and six years old, an ATR official said.
While the so called ‘sticker price’ of an aircraft was $17.6 million, “we will be paying less, as this is a large deal,” Gopinath said. Delivery of the aircraft will start this year and the company aimed to add six aircraft each year, he said.

gyrations95

January 7th, 2005, 12:12 AM

p2p4

January 7th, 2005, 05:53 AM

My brief recollection (of an incident 4 years ago) of Mumbai air traffic controllers threatening a strike due to a possible increase in air traffic reminds me to question the current state of affairs of ATC.

- Do we have enough trained ATCs to handle the increased traffic?
- Which institutes in India impart ATC training in India?

On another note on Delhi
- Will we see any improvement / introductions of advanced ILS systems in fog plagued Delhi air space? Winters in Delhi are notorious for diverting a/crafts to neigbouring a/ports.

All in all, I feel that the government should put a lot of effort in ensuring that all the techno systems are in place BEFORE approving more flights (be they big companies or small operators). Otherwise it could well be the CHALTA HEI attitude resulting in collossal loss of lives (as was the case with the Saudia airliner crashing into another airliner).

God Bless the Indian skies !

Suncity

January 7th, 2005, 06:11 AM

On another note on Delhi
- Will we see any improvement / introductions of advanced ILS systems in fog plagued Delhi air space? Winters in Delhi are notorious for diverting a/crafts to neigbouring a/ports.

There have been conflicting reports about the use of the ILS.

From what I have read, the Cat IIi ILS system is installed, but training pilots to use them is expensive. It's cheaper to reschedule flight for 15 bad days of fog rather than train pilots for it. So whether it's foreign or domestic most airlines reschedule those flights.

Otherwise it could well be the CHALTA HEI attitude resulting in collossal loss of lives (as was the case with the Saudia airliner crashing into another airliner).

As far as your Saudi - Kazak crash go, was the blame placed on ATC? Not so sure...

Here's an old article

An unexplained descent to disaster by Kazak aircraft
Ritu Sarin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NEW DELHI, May 3: The crew got 68 seconds to save their lives but unfortunately, it was not time enough. At 6.40 in the evening on November 12 ,1996, Egor A Repp, radio operator of the Kazak IL-76 heard from Air Traffic Control in New Delhi that "identified traffic" in the shape of a Boeing 747 was flying in their direction.

They were heading towards disaster with every passing moment. But it took 30 precious seconds for New Delhi to give Egor the crucial flight details. ``Traffic is eight miles, level 140 (14,000 feet).'' Egor passed on the message to Captain Alexander Robertovich Cherepanov who was watching the controls blink on the panel in front of him. Cherepanov heard this, but it was 21 seconds later that he, finally, pressed the panic button.

``What flight level has been ordered for us?'' he asked Egor, who was sitting in a niche in the cockpit below. Egor took four seconds to respond. ``Keep the 150-th (15,000 feet), not descending,'' He had realised the incoming ``traffic'' was flying at almost an identical height. Would they hit?

Four more seconds passed before Captain Cherepanov cried out to his crew: ``Regim!, Sanya!'' The Captains words resounded in the cockpit. Five seconds more lapsed before Egor bellowed his final warning: ``get to 150 (15,000 feet), because on the 140th (14,000 feet), that one, uhhhhh...''

It was 6.41 pm. All life ebbed from the 37 people on board the IL-76 as it collided with the Boeing 747, with 314 passengers on it. For four long seconds the microphones in the cockpit recorded the deafening sounds of the crash. The blips on New Delhi's radars disappeared as the two planes, now aflame, plunged into the cotton fields of Charkhi Dadri, 40 kilometres from New Delhi.

Five months after the disaster, all the documentary evidence pointing to the cause of the crash -- one of the worst in aviation history -- have been submitted to the court of inquiry, headed by Justice R C Lahoti. The evidence includes bulky transcripts of the Digital Flight Data Recorders (DFDRs) and the Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) of the ill-fated planes as well as the report of the accident inspector, K P S Nair.

It was at the request of lawyers appearing on behalf of the two airlines that the DFDRs and CVRs, called the ``black boxes'' in common parlance, were sent abroad for decoding. While the equipment of the Boeing was decoded at the Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB), Farnbrough, UK, the decoding of the Kazak equipment was done at the Interstate Aviation Commission (IAC), Moscow.

The IAC transcripts were the last to come in, and it is the English translation of the IL-76's CVR which has proved to be most revealing.

The transcripts reveal, for the first time, that it was the Kazak pilots who had climbed down from their assigned height and this single fact has now changed the scope of the Lahoti inquiry from how the crash took place to how the IL-76 descended to the height at which the Boeing was flying.

As far as the ATC is concerned, the transcripts show that the Kazak's pilots were informed about the approaching Boeing 747 just 68 seconds prior to the crash and about the height at which it was flying, 38 seconds before. While the Kazak pilots were informed late, the pilots of the Boeing 747 were never informed about the approaching IL-76.

Most important are the disclosures about the altitude at which the collision occurred. The altitude question was expected to generate a great deal of controversy, but representatives of the Kazak Airlines too have admitted that the IL-76 had climbed down from its assigned height of 15,000 feet to 14,000 feet. An affidavit submitted to the court on April 25, states that 51 seconds before the crash, the IL-76 was cruising at 15,000 feet. By the time the ATC informed them about the altitude of the Boeing, the plane had climbed down to 14,496 feet. And just 26 seconds before disaster, they had dropped to 14,190 feet.

The question is: why? According to representatives of Kazakhstan Airlines, the steep fall in altitude was caused by the ``severe turbulence'' encountered by the plane 32 seconds before the crash. Due to the turbulence, the pilots had trouble in gaining height and had also switched of the autopilot of the plane.

The lawyers of the Saudia Airlines have contested this version. In a statement submitted on April 30, they have argued that it was impossible for an aircraft to climb down about 970 feet as a result of turbulence without there being even a whimper among the crew members about the adverse weather conditions. The technical data indicates that the Kazak crew tried to lift the aircraft only a few seconds before the collision, by which time disaster was staring them in the face.

Thus, the conclusion of the experts arguing the case for Saudia Airlines is that the descent of the IL-76 was not due to turbulence but that it was a ``conscious'' act.

They have also submitted that there were a plethora of ``contributory'' factors which ultimately led to the crash. There appeared to be ``utter confusion'' in the cockpit in the moments preceeding the crash. This was coupled with secondary factors like the language problem and trouble with converting figures from feet to meters and from kilometers to miles. Yet another factor could be what has been described as ``defective'' configuration of the cockpit'' and cockpit ``mis-management.''

Both sides have highlighted the negligence of the ATC and have directed the courts attention to secondary factors like the non-installation of the Vertical Seperation Radar in New Delhi airport.

The Kazakstan Airlines has stated that this and the fact that the approach to and from the international airport at Delhi is through a single corridor is a reason for causing the mishap.

And from Aviation Safety net:

Narrative:
Air Kazakhstan Flight 1907, an Ilyushin 76 departed Chimkent, Kazakhastan for a flight to Delhi. While descending on Airway G452 the crew contacted Delhi: "Good evening 1907. Passing through 230 for 180, 74 miles from DPN [the Delhi Airport beacon]". The controller then cleared the flight to descend to and report at FL150. In the meantime, a Saudi Arabian Airlines Boeing 747 had departed Delhi at 18:32 for a passenger flight to Dhahran. Flight SV763 followed the Parvi SID and reported aproaching FL100. The Delhi controller cleared the flight, which was also on Airway G452, to climb to FL140. Because Flight 1907 was approaching from the opposite side, the controller told SV763: "Maintain level 140, Standby for higher." A little later, Flight 1907 reported reaching FL150 at 46 miles from the airport. The controller then responded: "Roger. Maintain 150. Identified traffic 12 o'clock, reciprocal Saudia Boeing 747, 14 miles. Report in sight." The Kazakhstan crew replied by querying the distance to which the controller answered: "Fourteen miles now, roger 1907." When no reply followed he again warned: "Traffic in 13 miles, level 140." Apparently the Kazakh aircraft had descended below its assigned altitude and was flying at 14500 feet. A few seconds later seconds later the Ilyushin had descended another 310 feet. Shortly afterwards both aircraft collided, plummeted down in flames and crashed in an arid farming area.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The root and approximate cause of the collision was the unauthorised descending by the Kazak aircraft to FL-140 and failure to maintain the assigned FL-150".

Suncity

January 8th, 2005, 03:33 AM

Royal Airways update

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-980888,curpg-2.cms

NEW DELHI: Cranes International has pumped in Rs 30 crore to revive Royal Airways into a low-cost airline. They are also planning an investment of another Rs 75 crore in association with the current promoters of the airline — the Malwood Group, run by the UK-based Kansagra family.

Royal Airways, the new incarnation of ModiLuft, has already obtained a provisional no-objection certificate (NOC) from the civil aviation ministry to acquire aircraft. The licence of the airline has been restored and Royal has cleared debt to the tune of Rs 58 crore, according to Bhupendra S Kansagra, a director of the airline.

The company has hired expats for the post of chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief finance officer. The CEO, Mark Winders, was earlier the COO of CanJet, a low-cost carrier.

The COO, Jason Bitter, is from V-Bird of Holland, another low-cost venture. Mr Kansagra said Gary Osborne, also from CanJet, has been appointed as CFO of Royal.

The airline plans to re-launch operations this year with three aircraft initially. Royal has infrastructure at Delhi and Mumbai airports, Mr Kansagra said.

Since the company has settled all dues owed by erstwhile ModiLuft to government agencies like the Airports Authority of India and the customs department, he feels there will be no hiccups in launching operations.

The dues owed to non-government agencies are being settled through a separate arrangement, for which court clearance is awaited.

While the top team is already in place, recruitment of key personnel like pilots and cabin crew is being initiated now, Mr Kansagra said. The company seeks to restart operations by this summer.

While Cranes is a Rs 200-crore company with subsidiaries in the US, the Malwood Group has business interests in African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan and Nigeria. The London-headquartered group’s estimated net worth is around $250m.

Apart from trading, the Kansagra family is also engaged in diversified businesses including finance, fertiliser, salt, fuel, ceramics and transportation.

The renewed enthusiasm of the Kansagra family in getting Royal Airways operational follows the sharp growth in passenger traffic during ’04.

Suncity

January 8th, 2005, 03:38 AM

^^^

More funds pour in for Royal Airways

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/983113.cms

MUMBAI: Foreign funds Citigroup Global Markets and ABN Mauritius have together picked up a 5.2% stake in the Delhi-based Royal Airways (formerly Modiluft), which is currently in the process of being re-launched in a new low-cost avtaar.

The airline, listed on the BSE, was grounded in 1996 and has been trying to get airborne since then.

The stakes have been acquired from Royal Holding Services — through which the promoters hold stakes in the airline — in a block deal conducted on Wednesday.

While ABN Mauritius bought 43.56 lakh shares or 3%, Citigroup bought 31.95 lakh shares or 2.2% of the airline’s equity. The deal was struck at Rs 34 per share.

The Royal Airways scrip has been rising steadily over the past few weeks. Its share price doubled to end at Rs 37 on the BSE on Thursday. The spurt in the share price has been accompanied by large volumes, with shares ranging from 1.8 lakh to over 1 crore changing hands during the period.

The sharp rally has been attributed to hopes of a revival in the company, which has already obtained a provisional no-objection certificate from the civil aviation ministry to acquire aircraft.

As reported in ET on Tuesday, Royal Airways has received funding of Rs 30 crore from the promoters of Bangalore-based Cranes Software for the former’s revival into a low-cost airline. Cranes Software, jointly with the current promoters of the airline — the Malwood Group run by the UK-based Kansagra family — is planning to invest an additional Rs 75 crore in the project.

goindia

January 8th, 2005, 03:44 AM

What does a common man have to lose anyway (unless you invest in one of those unheard names). Ultimately like it happens in every sector, there will be some consolidation. The ones with tighter operations, better services and deeper pockets will eat up the others. I would put my bets on Air Deccan .. although Mallaya seems to be quite flamboyant :)
Atleast we will have new planes to fly in. The Indian Airlines planes are still old ATR's. Jet planes are newer and better.

centralized pandemonium

January 9th, 2005, 03:36 AM

Low-cost carriers set to fly into India
ARUN KUMAR DAS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, JANUARY 08, 2005 11:06:15 PM ]

NEW DELHI: As the Indian skies open up, more and more low-cost carriers are set to start their operations here. They are from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, UAE, Kuwait and other West Asian countries. Once operational, their air fares will be 30-40 per cent less than those of regular carriers.

Airlines from Singapore, say industry sources, will connect with the four metros first before zooming in on smaller cities such as Ahmedabad and Amritsar. Ditto with Nok Air and Air Asia-Thailand.

Airlines from Malaysia will connect first with southern destinations and then expand to metros. Air Arabia on the other hand will connect first with Kerala, and then with metros.

However, "the operations of low-cost international carriers are feasible only for short-haul flights of 2-5 hours. They will not be appropriate for long-haul operations of 8-10 hours," says Kapil Kaul, CEO, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

"However, as the sky is opening up, international carriers will eventually plan for more long-haul flights in this category."

He further says, "Low-cost carriers are meant to drive growth in the domestic and regional markets. The consumer will be the ultimate winner as fares will be competitive. Some Indian low-cost carriers too are planning to fly to Asean countries once they get the clearance."

Ankur Bhatia, MD, Amadeus, says, "Last year, India's aviation market grew by 20 per cent. This growth is expected to continue this year too. That's why more and more low-cost carriers are keen to start their operations here. However, the present infrastructure at airports is limited. We need to upgrade these in keeping with the needs of the times."

Praful Patel, the Union civil aviation minister, says a concerted effort was underway to improve this.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/984906.cms

centralized pandemonium

January 9th, 2005, 08:37 PM

From the latest issue of India Today.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skies Wide Open

New aircraft, more airlines, big cuts in fares, additional destinations and world-class airports-Indian aviation seems set on a journey of a lifetime
By Malini Goyal

Welcome onboard Indian skies. We will soon be taking off to one of the most exciting journeys in Indian aviation history. During the journey, airfares will drop 15-25 per cent on domestic and foreign travel. Travel options-be it the type and number of airlines or the choice of destinations-will multiply like never before. By the end of the trip, India will have world-class airports. Depending on market conditions and the policy environment, the journey could take between two and five years and could result in investments of up to Rs 1,00,000 crore. That's over Rs 1,500 crore a month, Rs 50 crore a day.
http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20050117/grfx/48.jpg

At any other time in the past 14 years, such a description would have been considered an outright fantasy. After all, the recent history of Indian aviation is littered with failed promises and recurring controversies. To sample just two, a committee headed by Vijay Kelkar had suggested a fleet of 97 aircraft for Indian Airlines by 2001. The airline still has 62 aircraft with an average age of over 15 years. Bangalore was to have a new international airport by 2001. It is nowhere in sight.

Yet, a mix of policy changes and a shift in preference for air travel in the past one year hold out hopes of a revolution in Indian civil aviation in the next few years. The policy push came in four stages. The clearance of fleet-expansion plans of Air-India and Indian Airlines, on hold since the mid-1990s, alone means that 100 new aircraft will be at the disposal of Indian air travellers by 2010. That is only a third of the new aircraft that are likely to come into Indian skies in the next few years. The launch of low-cost airlines and the permission to private Indian airlines (with five years' flying experience) to fly to all global destinations except the Gulf has airlines scouting the globe with a shopping list of aircraft (see box). Raising foreign investment limit from 40 to 49 per cent in October 2004 added to the impetus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOARING AMBITIONS

AIRLINE NUMBER OF
AIRCRAFT COST(Rs cr)
Indian Airlines 43 15,000
Air-India 50 15,000
Kingfisher 34 8,000
Air Deccan 42 8,000
Jet Airways 16 1,000
Go 20 NA
Jagson 5 NA
Royal Airways 20 NA
Total 230 47,000
Estimates for next five years. Figures for aircraft include purchased and leased planes but cost is only of purchased aircraft.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

No wonder, from airlines to aircraft manufacturers and airport managers to tour operators, the mood is upbeat. "India has the fastest growing aviation sector in the world," says Dinesh A. Keskar, senior vice-president, Boeing. Adds Rono J. Dutta, president, Air Sahara: "These are very exciting times. The Government must be commended for doing all the right things." Sure, many policies still need to be finalised-like the one on the modernisation of 40 airports and leasing of Delhi and Mumbai airports-but a few policy measures after a long drought of decisions have rekindled confidence.

Can a funds crunch be a hindrance? Especially when the bill could run up to Rs 1,00,000 crore. It's unlikely, since the bulk of the funding is to come from the private sector. Of the Rs 45,000 crore airport modernisation budget, more than 75 per cent may come from the private sector. And of the 300 aircraft on the purchase list for the next five years, more than 200 will be bought or leased by private airlines. Two factors that will drive private-sector investments are clarity in policy and booming demand for air travel. After several years of single-digit growth, domestic air passenger traffic rose by 12 per cent in 2003-4. In 2004-5 the growth rate is expected to double at 25 per cent with total domestic air passenger traffic touching 20 million. "It is safe to predict that India's air passenger traffic will grow by at least 20 per cent in the next few years," says Kapil Kaul, CEO, Centre for Aviation for Asia Pacific (India and Middle East). He expects total air passenger traffic to grow to 50 million in the next five years.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT TO EXPECT AHEAD
BETTER CONNECTIVITY Smaller cities like Dehradun, Amritsar and Ludhiana to get onto the air map.

LOW-COST BUZZ At least three low-cost airlines-Go Kingfisher and Royal Airways-to be launched.

GOING GLOBAL Air Sahara and Jet Airways to become full-fledged international airlines.

PRICE WARS Domestic and international airfares likely to dip as competition hots up.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG

CLOGGED AIRPORTS As air traffic increases, getting a parking slot will become more difficult in the future.

ERRATIC FUEL supply There is uncertainty over the privatisation of aviation turbine fuel supply.
DELAY IN MODERNISATION Despite the commitment, there is no time frame for revamping airports.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

This optimism is showing in the expansion and entry plans of airlines. Three new airlines are likely to start operations in 2005-Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher, Nusli Wadia's Go and Royal Airways, the relaunched ModiLuft. Air-India's low-cost airline Air Express is also in the queue. The number of foreign carriers, up from 38 in 2002 to 51 in 2004, will also rise. Aircraft manufacturer ATR sold 24 aircraft in the past five years. It expects to sell over 70 by 2010.

This growth will have its trickle down effect on tourism, jobs and income. Boeing is contemplating setting up training and maintenance centres in India so that private carriers don't have to send aircraft and pilots overseas for training. "We will have enough aircraft here to make the centre commercially viable," says Keskar.

But the growth will also have its pangs. A crumbling airport infrastructure-110 out of 125 Indian airports make losses-will make things worse as passenger and aircraft traffic surge. Airport modernisation has been given a time frame of 3-5 years, but it will be some time before the results. become tangible. "The biggest constraint in the otherwise promising story is the airport bottleneck," says Jean Luc Establie, sales director, ATR.

Even if all the plans of the Government or the private airlines aren't fulfilled, air travellers can be sure of better deals and more connections to their destinations in the months and years to come.

dokadan

January 9th, 2005, 08:49 PM

:) I,VE SPENT OVER A YEAR TRAVELLING ALL OVER INDIA AND ITS MUCH MORE FUN TRAVELLING BY 2ND CLASS SLEEPER TRAIN UNLESS TRAVELLING TO SRI LANKA :cheers: :runaway:

kronik

January 9th, 2005, 09:35 PM

dokadan, The Indian Railways are the lifeline of India, no doubt. And the sleepers are not bad at all.

Hey, if you'd like to know more about the Indian Railways, you can visit the Indian Rail Fan Club Association site.

IRFCA (http://irfca.org/)

meanwhile, more of the same.........

Local carriers give a boost to aircraft majors (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=177664&leftnm=lmnu1&lselect=0&leftindx=1)

Encouraged by the fleet expansion plans of Indian carriers, global aircraft maker Airbus Industrie has upped its forecast for sale of new aircraft to Indian carriers to 400 from 220 by the year 2023.

This would make India the third largest market for new aircraft in Asia, behind China (1,790) and Japan (640), according to Airbus’ Global Market Forecast 2004-2023.

It has been projected that total air traffic in India will rise by 5 million passengers each year over the next ten years. In 2004, the traffic grew by over 30 per cent to touch an all-time high figure of 23 million passengers.

The biggest orders will come from the state-run carriers. While Indian Airlines will soon place the largest aircraft order from India ever to buy 43 Airbus A320s, Air India Express will buy 18 Boeing aircraft and Air-India will need to buy at least 50 aircraft to meet its growth requirements. It is estimated that the two state-run carriers would invest over $5 billion in the next few years to modernise their fleet.

Air Deccan (which has a fleet of 16 now, with 3 Airbus and 13 turbo propelled small aircraft) has ordered 30 A320s for delivery from 2007 to 2010, plus options to buy another 25 airplanes.

Kingfisher Airlines signed a contract with Airbus in December for four A320s and exercised six options, making a total of ten aircraft on firm order. In addition, Kingfisher Airlines will have options to buy 20 aircraft.

Kingfisher expects to take delivery of these A320s at a rate of up to 9 aircraft per year until 2008. Kingfisher has also recently concluded an agreement to lease four A320s from Debis Airfinance, to launch operations in April 2005.

kronik

January 10th, 2005, 03:52 AM

Advantage China as reforms give airspace restructuring a miss (http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=62401)

Reforms in India’s aviation sector are finally taking off, but there’s still a big blip on the radar that seems to have escaped serious attention: airspace restructuring.

Much of Indian airspace is still under Defence control and as a result, the country runs the risk of losing Rs 190 crore—half its revenue from overflights—to China in the coming years.

For, China offers a shorter and more economical alternative to flights between Europe and East Asia, arguably the busiest sector in the world.

The International Air Transporters’ Association (IATA) has worked out a network of three direct routes from Europe and East Asia via China, and indications are that Beijing is keen on operationalising them at the earliest.

The routes run north of the Himalayas on the Chinese side and will be 25 minutes shorter than the existing ones through India.

According to IATA, airlines could save upto Rs 1.2 lakh per flight if they take these routes, which connect all important destinations in the region: from Tokyo and Seoul to Bangkok and Singapore in South East Asia to the direct air route that runs north of the Himalayas into Central Asia and Europe.

India earns Rs 347 crore a year from overflights but once these routes open up, there could be a drastic cut in aircraft ‘overflying’ the country. And, according to projections with the Civil Aviation Ministry, India will lose about Rs 190 crore of this revenue.

India, however, could still be the shorter option if it aggressively takes up the issue of restructuring its airspace and straighten out some of the most circuitous air routes of the world.

While there has been some restructuring in Southern India, most routes in Central and northern parts remain unchanged, largely due to Defence restrictions.

In fact, 65 per cent of Delhi airspace is controlled by the Air Force. As a result, some long-pending proposals for straightening route alignments continue to gather dust.

For instance, here are two such route proposals which, if implemented, would make it easier for overflying aircraft:

• Direct link moving South of Himalayas till Dehradun and directly to Islamabad

• Direct link from Central India to Rahimyar Khan in Pakistan, providing the shortest air corridor for flights entering peninsular India

It’s learnt that several such options had been drawn up in the past but could not be implemented because Defence Ministry has not given clearance. Besides, there are restrictions placed in several other existing routes on time, number of flights, and altitude levels for international carriers.

The good news, however, is that India has some inherent advantages, which it could utilise to compete with China:

• Better weather conditions for most part of the year

• No permanent jet stream winds

• Indian air traffic controllers proficient in English

• More number of alternate airports enroute, in case of an emergency

As the stage gets set for the battle of the skies between India and China, experts say civilian and Defence authorities will have to adopt and quickly implement the concept of flexible use of airspace.

This will make air navigation a joint affair, they say, and allow straightening of route alignments to ensure that India remains a key player in the business of overflights where it already enjoys a headstart because of its geographical location.

Suncity

January 10th, 2005, 04:30 AM

AI to be re-positioned as a premium airline

NEW DELHI: With its no-frills arm Air-India Express taking to the global skies this April, the state-owned Air-India will be re-positioned as a premium international airline with tariffs catering to upper-end travellers.

In a clear departure from its earlier proposal of sharing some Gulf routes between the two carriers, the government has now decided that the parent A-I's services in southeast Asia and Gulf countries would be withdrawn, senior government officials said.

"After handing over the price sensitive and profitable routes in Gulf and southeast Asia to A-I Express, A-I will be able to focus fully on Europe, US and the far east for growth," an official said.

The official said the no-frills arm will help A-I protect and enhance its overall revenue and marketshare in the global skies. Almost half of A-I's revenue comes from the Gulf and southeast Asian routes.

"With the emergence of competition from new low-cost carriers in the region, it was vital for A-I to radically change its strategy of serving this acutely price sensitive market," the official said.

While A-I Express — with its fares 20 per cent lower than the full-service airlines — will cater to this price-sensitive segment, A-I will target higher-end travellers with its premium positioning," the official added.

The process has been completed for leasing six aircraft, which will be inducted by A-I Express in the first phase. Designs for the aircraft are being evaluated and the first aircraft in A-I Express fleet will be inducted in February.
The government is in the process of inducting a professional management team — sourced from the open market — to head the no-frills carrier. The key engineering and maintenance activities of A-I Express will be managed by A-I.

Suncity

January 10th, 2005, 04:31 AM

Wonder what will AI Express look like..

centralized pandemonium

January 10th, 2005, 05:51 AM

I wish that all these aircrafts they are buying were made in India.It would be so cool. Humare logon ko naukri milti. Guys, do you know what is the capacity of the Air-Decan's ATR's.

centralized pandemonium

January 10th, 2005, 05:54 AM

Here's a theek-thak pic of SARAS.

http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2119/images/20040924002709701.jpg

centralized pandemonium

January 10th, 2005, 05:58 AM

From the current 14-seater SARAS, they should upgrade it to 40-50 seater plane. Why don't they use the Kaveri engine, the same as used in LCA?

p2p4

January 10th, 2005, 06:05 AM

Air India EXPRESS

AIR INDIA EXPRESS

Wonder what will AI Express look like..

kronik

January 10th, 2005, 06:41 AM

From the current 14-seater SARAS, they should upgrade it to 40-50 seater plane. Why don't they use the Kaveri engine, the same as used in LCA?

Absolutely.Once the Saras takes to the skies commercially, our aviation scientists will get a great boost to work on better and bigger machines.

They need to develop another engine for it though. It has a turboprob engine, and the Kaveri is a turbojet engine, built for fighter aircrafts.

heres more about the aircraft.

http://www.cmmacs.ernet.in/nal/pages/saraspg/sarashm.htm

p2p4

January 10th, 2005, 08:14 AM

Yes, it would be ideal to see a very possible Indian (designed & manufactured) aircraft industry booming on local demand. The Saras is just for the starters. We will definitely see more higher capacity a/crafts being designed & built in India.

However, bear in mind that any new a/c conceptualisation to final design & actual flight takes anywhere between 5 - 10 years. A 40-50 seater Saras could still be put into SSA (small size ac) category but it would still require lots of studies, experiments, flight tests, a trim here and an addition there to get the new design approved & chartered and then, off the ground.

This does not mean that India (and Indians) cannot D & M our own newer versions. I am 101% certain that we CAN build a 50 seater SSA. We have the resources & the finances to get it off the ground. But again, IF and WHEN we do manufacture one, it will still be an untested aircraft in terms of realistic usage. Airline managements all over will always put their money on tried and tested machines than rely on new high capacity machines. A 50 seater Saras will be given tough competition by a similar sized Fokker or BAe.. or even an Embraer.

And while we dream positively of a bigger a/c than the midgety Saras, precious years will have gone by to catch up on an already saturated market

SkylineTurbo

January 10th, 2005, 09:17 AM

India has got very good potential in the low cost market.

Citi-Zen

January 10th, 2005, 11:39 PM

Boost for Mumbai, Delhi airports plan :)

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2005 11:15:20 PM ]

NEW DELHI: The Centre's plans to modernise Delhi and Mumbai airports have got a boost with Delhi and Maharashtra governments agreeing in principle to waive stamp duty on transfers of land and airport assets for new airport hubs.

"The waiver will have to be cleared by respective state Cabinets. But in principle, governments have agreed not to levy stamp duty when we transfer land and other assets to the special purpose vehicle created for the exercise," a senior government official said.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel had sought this waiver, a huge cost-saving for the government.

Centre has created project SPVs, which will now be holders of assets. "These assets will then be leased to private operator," the official added. Besides, technical bids will be invited from the 9 shortlisted developer consortia by mid-January, and selection process of final two partners will be completed by March 2005, the official said. Work on the two projects will start by Q2 of 2005 calendar year.

In the interim period, the ministry is planning to construct a second parallel runway at IGI airport in Delhi to ease air traffic rush. Delhi and Mumbai airports have reached a level of saturation due to rising volume of traffic.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/986501.cms

centralized pandemonium

January 11th, 2005, 03:54 AM

centralized pandemonium

January 11th, 2005, 03:56 AM

Aur ek aur..............
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Delhi airport upgradation cost pared to Rs 1,946 crore
G GANAPATHY SUBRAMANIAM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2005 01:55:56 AM]

NEW DELHI: Even as the government is planning to attract massive investments to the tune of Rs 20,000 crore to expand the Delhi and Mumbai airports, Airplan — the global technical advisor for the restructuring exercise — has said that a modest investment of Rs 1,946 crore is enough to upgrade the Delhi airport in the short term.

In a report submitted to the government, the consultant firm has called for phased flow of investment in the next 20 years to develop the capital’s airport.

The total investment needed for the Delhi airport till 2024 is Rs 5,133 crore, according to Airplan’s estimates which would be vetted by the civil aviation ministry and ABN Amro, the financial advisor, before bids are called from prospective investors.

The recommendations of the global technical advisor is much lower than the projections of the government and estimates of the aviation industry. While the government had estimated that the investment requirement in the next five years would be Rs 10,000-20,000 crore for Delhi and Mumbai airports, Airplan feels that Rs 1,946 crore is the level of funds required to finance expansion of the Delhi airport during 2005-09.

This includes cost of a new runway, taxiways, expansion of terminals, cargo facilities and parking. The investment requirements indicated by Airplan are significant since the very need for private participation in the expansion of these airports can come into question.

The government has been justifying the need for private participation by citing huge investment requirements to upgrade infrastructure. Investments indicated by the technical advisor can be taken up easily by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) which has reserves & surplus to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore. The organisation has cash in excess of Rs 1,000 crore.

Airplan’s report specifies the technical requirements for expansion upto 2024 on the basis of estimated growth in traffic and the cost of setting up the required infrastructure has also been indicated, highly-placed sources in the civil aviation ministry said. The specifications indicated in the report pertain to ‘air-side’ infrastructure, they added.

The investment requirement from 2010 to 2014 has been estimated at Rs 1,125 crore. The Airplan report has specified the investment requirement for 2015-19 and 2020-24 has been estimated at Rs 979 crore and Rs 1,083 crore respectively.

The investment requirement indicated by Airplan works out to Rs 5,000 crore for Delhi airport from 2005 to 2024. Even if investments in commercial activities like duty-free shopping, entertainment and food are taken into account, there is a wide gulf between the estimates of Airplan and the government.

No official comment was available from the civil aviation ministry on Airplan’s estimates. The sources said civil aviation minister Praful Patel had discussions with top officials of the ministry on the development plans for the metro airports as well as non-metro airports.

The request-for-proposal (RFP) –– the document calling for bids –– pertaining to restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports is likely to be finalised soon, they added. Based on the inputs from Airplan and ABN Amro, the terms of private participation are likely to be finalised.

Availability of land is not a problem in the case of Delhi while clearance of slums encroaching airport land is important for Mumbai to cater to future expansion needs. The civil aviation minister has already indicated that work on upgrading of the metro as well as non-metro airports should begin this year.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/986602.cms

Citi-Zen

January 11th, 2005, 04:05 AM

Isn't it intresting to note that whenever we go on google and type our cities or country's name, earlier it used to be some social or political problem, but now whenever i usally type mumbai or delhi, it is some infrastrucuture projects etc. :cheers:

Couldn't agree with you more...and not just delhi or mumbai, even if you type kolkata, chennai, blr, hyderabad, kochi, chandigarh, or any of the other city for that matter, you get that. and double :cheers: :cheers: to that!

I know we all often get irritated by the two steps forward, one backward style of reforms and change in India, but those are things that are inherent in a diverse democracy like ours, where we need to carry people from Gujarat to Nagaland, from Kashmir to Kerala in our process of economic and social reform and change. The important thing is that change in taking place, it is taking place in the right direction, and even as I write this, development is percolating down to every part of the counrty. We do have our probs, as does every counrty and society, but we are on the right path. :)
Jai Hind!

Citi-Zen

January 11th, 2005, 04:19 AM

With the recent demolitions drive against illegal slums in Mumbai, why isn't BMC targettting the slums around the airport? Many different reports in the media have pointed out that these slums are the major bottleneck behind the airport's expansion and its commercial viablity after privatization, yet no action has been taken to remove them? Are they the pre-1995 slums that the demolition drive isn't touching, or is there some other reason? From what I have read, they are encroatchments on AAI land, and if that is the case, they should be removed, pre-1995 or not. And this needs to be done on a war-footing if the govt plans to appoint the private consortium for the airport by March and have the airport restructuring start in Q2 2005.

Also, if the airport is being handed over to a private consurtium, what the heck is AAI doing with its 65 crore makeover of the airport facade into a steel and glass exterior. Why make that expenditure when a private consortium is going to be appointed for that exact purpose? I know I shouldnt be complaining if the AAI has decided to get off its ass and do something for a change, but this doesn't make sense to me.

Mumbai mysteries...

Gaurav

January 11th, 2005, 06:11 AM

I've just signed up to the forum. It was like a manna from heaven for me. I've been looking for a long time for websites/forums where I could actually "see" development of India's infrastructure, an issue that I'm passionate about. Thank god for this!

Anyway, my take on the 65cr makeover is that the privatisation primarily concerns the international airports and hence AAI will continue to work on the domestic ones. It probably is obvious - I'm a frequent international traveller and have seen no visible change in the outdated and dilapidated Mumbai international terminal for a long time, whilst the domestic one seems to have got new trolleys and undergone atleast a semblance of a cosmetic change.

nithin

January 11th, 2005, 01:43 PM

welcome to the forum gaurav :)

Tmac

January 11th, 2005, 07:19 PM

India allows GMG to fly to Chennai, Mumbai
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi

Bangladesh's only private domestic carrier GMG Airlines Ltd has been given franchise to operate flights between Dhaka and Indian cities Mumbai and Chennai, Indian Civil Aviation Ministry sources here said yesterday.

The permission for GMG to introduce its service to these metro cities has been given under a bilateral agreement and as part of India's increasingly 'open sky' policy, the sources said.

Both Mumbai and Chennai are considered lucrative routes as a lot of Bangladeshis visit the places for medical and business purposes. The GMG had recently launched flight service between Kolkata and Chittagong.

Air Sahara, one of India's leading private airliners, is likely to introduce its service between Kolkata and Dhaka in about a month's time.

With the growing liberalisation of India's civil aviation sector and Indian government's decision to allow its domestic private airlines to fly abroad, a number of low-cost air carriers from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, UAE, Sri Lanka and Kuwait have shown interest in the burgeoning air traffic of India, said the sources.

The prospective flights of these international airlines would be short-haul in nature with a maximum duration of five hours, aviation sector sources said adding that the initiatives are likely to propel the growth of air service sector in India as well as other countries in the region.

Meanwhile, both Air Sahara and Jet Airways have begun to acquire wide-bodied aircraft to introduce their services to Asean countries, London and the US.

The two Indian carriers had embarked on the acquisition drive following the government's decision to allow private airlines to expand in the international sector beyond the Saarc region.

Jet Airways and Air Sahara are already operating flights to Colombo and Kathmandu. Air Sahara is in talks to lease half a dozen Boeing B777 and Airbus A340 planes for its long-haul international services to places like London and New York.

http://thedailystar.net/2005/01/12/d50112012117.htm

nithin

January 11th, 2005, 07:58 PM

great news for india and for bangladesh

Suncity

January 11th, 2005, 08:50 PM

GMG is also starting Dhaka Kolkata flights.

I read in a news article that it's Chennai and Mumbai flights will have to wait for sometime till it gets bigger aircrafts to fly the long distances like Dhaka - Chennai and Dhaka - Mumbai.

But it is good news.

kronik

January 11th, 2005, 11:57 PM

Pondicherry to build new greenfield airport (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=79464)

The Pondicherry government is in the process of developing a greenfield airport at Karaikkal to establish commercial airlinks with the rest of the country. This is expected to boost tourist inflow into the Union territory considerably. The government is also planning to commence commercial flights from its one and only airport to neighbouring states for better air connectivity.

According to a senior official in the Pondicherry’s tourism department, the government has already started the spade works to set up a new airport at Karaikkal. The department of tourism, which is the nodal agency to implement the project, is in the process of preparing a detailed techno-economic feasibility report as a prelude to determine the viability of the project. The report would be prepared by a consultant or a company with sufficient experience.

“We have taken an in-principle decision to set up the project. We have invited expression of interests from various agencies competent to prepare the report. If the report finds the project viable technically and economically, then we will go ahead with the project after obtaining necessary clearances. We will decide about the nature of the project, including its funding if the report finds the project viable”, the official said.

Pondicherry is also exploring the possibility of commencing the operations of small commercial flights to its only airport which is now being used for official purposes. The tourism department has already invited bids from private airlines to start feeder services from this airport to near-by destinations.

The department is expected to finalise the names of airlines which would be given the mandate to operate out from the airport by the end of this month. However, officials have declined to comment on the names of airline companies who have evinced interest. It is learnt that many private airlines have joined the race to get the necessary clearances to operate out of the Union territory.

The officials also said the department is currently doing an impact assessment study to assess the damages caused to the tourism industry by the tsunami. “We are doing a study to assess the extend of damages caused by the tsunami waves to the tourism industry. The assessment is currently on. We expect the report to be ready by this month end,” officials said.

Suncity

January 12th, 2005, 03:50 AM

Suncity

January 12th, 2005, 03:51 AM

Airlines may be free to chart their own flight networks

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to scrap the archaic route dispersal norms, a move that will give airlines freedom to plan their flight network.

Such a step, official said, would enable major airlines to focus efforts on routes of their choice. "This will create room for emergence of specialised airlines to service remaining short-haul, regional, feeder routes."

At least 10-14 new airlines are planning to start services in domestic skies over next one year, and a large portion of these new entrants want to focus on short-haul feeder routes for growth.

More details at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/986510.cms

centralized pandemonium

January 13th, 2005, 01:08 AM

More Delhi-Dubai Emirates flights (http://http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/12flight.htm)

Suncity

January 13th, 2005, 07:32 PM

Deccan Air to introduce more flights / add new destinations

The airline will get two more Airbus A-320s next month, which will be stationed at Hyderabad and Kolkata, respectively. The airline will launch Kolkata-Delhi, Kolkata-Mumbai and enhance connectivity in other existing sectors with these aircrafts.

The airline will also be launching routes such as Kolkata-Jamshedpur and Kolkata-Guwahati, apart from linking other destinations in the north-east. It will use ATRs in these routes.

For more details: http://sify.com/finance/equity/fullstory.php?id=13647141

Suncity

January 13th, 2005, 11:49 PM

More low cost carriers from SE Asia?

Jetstar Asia may soon have more company. Those in the fray include Singapore-based Tiger Airways and ValuAir and AirAsia from Malaysia. Even a Kazakhstan-based low-cost carrier as well as Thailand’s Phuket Air have evinced interest in operating out of India.

These airlines, set to take advantage of India’s limited open skies policy, may start operations as soon as they get the go-ahead from the Centre, though trade sources indicated it will not be before May-June, 2005.

For more details http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/987877.cms

centralized pandemonium

January 14th, 2005, 03:00 AM

India, US begin Civil Aviation talks (http://http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200501140301.htm)

centralized pandemonium

January 14th, 2005, 04:23 PM

Revolution in the air in India

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA15Df08.html]Revolution in the air in India

Suncity

January 14th, 2005, 07:59 PM

Indus Airways set to fly in April?

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/14indus.htm

A group of NRIs and Indian businessmen announced the launch of a new low-cost domestic airline, Indus Airways.

Highlights:

* awaiting the final nod of the civil aviation
* low-cost but 'all-frills' carrier
* start ops with five leased 50-seater Embraer RJ-145 aircraft
* first phase: Chandigarh and Delhi as main centres of operation and connect Jammu, Amritsar, Shimla. Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai later.
* Embraer's business development director says Indus will have an upper hand in comparison with those airlines flying ATRs

drwho

January 14th, 2005, 08:52 PM

Boost for Mumbai, Delhi airports plan

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/986501.cms

technical bids will be invited from the 9 shortlisted developer consortia by mid-January, and selection process of final two partners will be completed by March 2005, the official said. Work on the two projects will start by Q2 of 2005 calendar year.

muttan

January 14th, 2005, 09:01 PM

The central government's decission to, not to let the priavate airlines fly into gulf has really angered kerala chief minister and his fellow NRks(K for Keralites) who are continued to be ripped of by air india and indian airlines. thus the government is now planning/threatening to create its own airline in the model of Cochin International Airport -The first private airport in the country.

Here is the excerpts from the E.T's interview with the Kerala Chief minister on this subject.

ET: There is talk about the state launching an airline company.

CM: Yes, with so many Keralites based abroad and a dearth of connectivity, this is a major issue for the government. We are keen on the project and the managing director of the Cochin International Airport has been asked to submit a preliminary feasibility report for a state-promoted airline company.
We need at least four aircraft to get the licence from the aviation authorities. Four new aircraft may cost us about Rs 350 crore, but we could operate with used aircraft or leased aircraft. Of course, funds are not the issue but there are operational issues.
We are also trying to have internal air connectivity within the state linking the three airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. We may have to pay approximately Rs 8 crore per annum to aviation authorities to have this facility operational in the state.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-990071,curpg-1.cms

Suncity

January 14th, 2005, 10:10 PM

centralized pandemonium

January 15th, 2005, 01:42 AM

Fall Season: Airlines take fare war to the Gulf

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/990939.cms

drwho

January 15th, 2005, 08:43 PM

ok here comes mr dreamer:

we all know that Mumbai and IGI will go trough a upgrade-process(who knows when that will happen). What are the chanses for the airports to get A380-compatible terminal docks?:)

drwho

January 16th, 2005, 01:07 AM

drwho

January 16th, 2005, 03:42 AM

Fin closure for H'bad airport likely in 6 mths

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/967390.cms

Citi-Zen

January 16th, 2005, 04:59 AM

Aviation Minister Praful Patel kept waiting for 3 hours

Patel reportedly roared at Manilal, saying, “I want to make Air-India an airline of international standards and because of you idiots we get a bad name. If there is a delay, inform the bloody passengers.”

http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/january/101529.htm

this is a must read:)

How are AI and IA managers selected? Are they "appointed" like beaurucrats or selected via a competitive selection (interviews, qualifications, etc) like other private companies?

Citi-Zen

January 16th, 2005, 05:04 AM

Fin closure for H'bad airport likely in 6 mths

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/967390.cms

Good to see that they are marketing the new airport aggressively! HIAL has faced a lot less obstacles at every step than BIAL faced. I hope that a sign of things to come because many AAI people often said that BIAL took so long because it is the first greenfield airport in the country and the future ones will be quicker...good to see thats coming true atleast for HIAL :)

Gaurav

January 16th, 2005, 04:38 PM

I have a gut feeling that once the first concrete steps (in terms of execution) in the privatisation of the Del/Mum airports are taken, the ball will really start rolling just like it did with the highways. I get the feeling Praful Patel is passionate and determined about improving our airport infrastrucure, and it probably helps that he is young and well-travelled, and therefore shares the vision that many of us young Indians have. Just keeping my fingers crossed!

kronik

January 16th, 2005, 05:55 PM

long commentary on the state of airports in Indiaby Indian Express. Its pretty long, so i will try to post the most pertinent points.

Indian Air Farce (http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=62777)

ON the face of it, with 126 airports under its control and as among the few public sector units (PSUs) to register profits, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) gives an impression of being in good health. Its unions accuse the government of trying to choke the PSU by privatising Delhi and Mumbai airports, its principal money earners. Two out of 126 should not make that big a difference. But as it turns out, it makes all the difference.

40 of the 126 airports under the AAI are actually non-operational. And just about 10-odd airports of the remaining 86 operational ones account for AAI’s profits, Delhi and Mumbai being the main contributors.

There are over 25 airports that are under the AAI, but where no manpower is stationed because no flights operate to these places.

A tourism expert’s assessment two years ago pointed out that India had 126 airports and 329 airstrips. In contrast, China, geographically much larger, had only 76 airports, but managed them optimally for tourism and travel to boom.

BUT before getting further into details, it is important to take note of what the Ministry and the AAI are doing. Besides the ongoing process of restructuring Delhi and Mumbai airports, the Civil Aviation Ministry has prompted AAI to undertake the modernisation of 23 non-metro airports.

The purpose is to generate more non-aeronautical revenue by utilising airport land and assets to build shopping arcades, malls and restaurants and so on to boost income.

The second part of the Naresh Chandra Committee’s report on a roadmap for the civil aviation sector — submitted in late 2004 — states, ‘‘The AAI is now able to boast of vast reserves of funds only because it has failed to reinvest the revenue for expansion and modernisation, even as it kept raising airport charges exorbitantly at regular intervals. The absence of even one international airport with parallel runways is a sad comment on the monolithic management of airports.’’

But the real challenge is from smaller airports. Here AAI spends far more on both upkeep and personnel despite the fact that no regular traffic is headed to some of these places.

The revenue from these airports is abysmal while the AAI continues to incur huge expenses. Take, for instance, Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport, where Air Deccan finally launched services in December 2004. That’s a beginning but only a small one.

The AAI has been spending Rs. 2.45 crore a year for the upkeep of Jolly Grant and for stationing staff there. In 2002-03, the latest year for which audited records are available, the revenue from this airport was a mere Rs 8.72 lakh.

Similarly, the annual expenditure incurred for a small airport like Behala, near Kolkata, is Rs 17.29 lakh. This may not seem much but stands out when seen against the meagre Rs 5,000 that comes back annually in revenue.

Ludhiana (Punjab): Indications are that even Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has given up hope on this airport, and is now trying to push for a Bangalore-style greenfield airport near Jalandhar. In a pitiable state, the AAI is still maintaining the Ludhiana facility in the hope that it could become an alternative to Amritsar airport someday. At present, Rs 73 lakh is spent on its upkeep annually. Returns are a little over Rs 3 lakh.

Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh): The state’s aviation network seems to begin and end with Lucknow, despite some of the better airfields in places like Kanpur. Now Air Sahara, an airline identified with Uttar Pradesh — it has even begun flights to Allahabad and Gorakhpur — and which used Lucknow as its base when it started operations, too has moved on to Hyderabad. The future is bleak, say analysts, for Uttar Pradesh’s once booming industrial cities.

INDIA’s rich but underused network of airports and airstrips is a legacy of its complex past. Some of these airports are leftovers from World War II, built by the Allies as part of the battle against Japan. Some were inherited from princely states, where the local ruler may have indulged himself by building his own little airport.

Astutely tapped, this matrix could have made air travel an everyday affair for middle class India. Instead, these airports were simply killed off by a mindset that saw a plane ticket as a rich man’s luxury.

With airline fares dropping considerably over the past two years, the idea is to get low-budget airlines to target such locations. ‘‘But when you have a body like the AAI that is happy with the revenue it gets from its few airports, there is a certain resistance to change. It is for this purpose that a restructuring is very important,’’ says a senior official.

KANDLA

IT may be marketed as a Mumbai in the making, but Kandla — India’s first major port post-1947 and first free trade zone — does not have an air link to the rest of the country. This despite a functional civil aerodrome and good air traffic potential, both passenger and cargo.

Is there money to upgrade facilities? Yes, but there’s no intent. ‘‘The government and the AAI don’t appear to be enthusiastic to re-start Kandla airport, as Bhuj, 60 km away, now has a new airport,’’ the official adds.

KOTA

The sprawling airport, spread over 152 hectares, was taken over by the Civil Aviation Ministry from Kota’s former royal family in 1951. Indian Airlines landed its Dakotas here, followed by Jagson Airlines and Vayudoot. But as Kota became a major railway junction and a number of industries shut shop, air traffic dwindled.

The flights stopped and the encroachments began. Today, six hectares of prime land owned by the AAI has been taken over by slums. Half a dozen legal cases are being fought, while a 10-year-old proposal to expand the airport gathers dust.

KANPUR

IT may still be regarded as one of India’s premier industrial towns, but Kanpur’s civil airport tells a different story. Its dilapidated set-up requires Rs 10 lakh per month for upkeep but earns less than Rs 20,000.

Training for aspiring commercial and private pilots is all that justifies its existence.

He also explains why the airport has no future. Initially, 15-seater Dakotas used to use this aerodrome. At 3,500 feet, the runway was long enough for them. It has now shrunk to 2,500 feet due to encroachments.

DEHRADUN

SURROUNDED by mountains, Jolly Grant airport, 20 kilometres from Dehradun, is about the most picturesque place in the Doon valley. Till December 2004, it was also a quiet sort of location, until Air Deccan began flights to Delhi and gave Dehradun residents their first taste of air travel in a long time.

The airport is usually used by chartered flights, private air ambulances or VIPs visiting Dehradun, Haridwar or Rishikesh. Built in 1982, its airstrip of 3,700 feet is too small for big aircraft; and small aircraft, the travel industry says, are not viable. Air Deccan has now tried to square the circle.

Now, as the capital of Uttaranchal, a state so focused on tourism, Dehradun feels the need for a full-fledged airport. An ambitious expansion plan has been drawn up. ‘‘We have started the process to resettle the Tehri Dam oustees, initially settled in the vicinity of the airport, to Rishikesh,’’ says Manisha Pawar, district magistrate, Dehradun.

The Dehradun-Rishikesh highway, running parallel to the runway, is another hazard. It confuses pilots trying to land. Now the highway is being diverted.

‘‘The airport has great potential if bigger aircraft can land here,’’ Vijay Sethi, the first station in-charge of Vayudoot. Sethi now runs his own travel agency in Dehradun. He knows what a modern airport can do for business. He’s waiting.

Across India, so are some 100 towns.

Two years ago i said on a forum, it was a sad day for India when AAI was constituted. And the state of things is still the same, but with a glimmer of hope this time.

gyrations95

January 17th, 2005, 12:18 AM

Indeed another sorry state of affairs. Most of these PSU's have become so used to function under protected monopoly environment that they have lost all urge to be innovative, competative and to grow. All they are interested in is trade unionism and pay commissions. Another legacy of Nehruvian socialism.

Suncity

January 17th, 2005, 04:41 AM

U.S. announces 'Open Skies' agreement with India

The United States and India have reached an open-skies aviation agreement that will lead to more flights, lower fares and stronger economic ties between the two countries, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced.

The announcement Saturday came after three days of negotiations between Mineta and India's civil aviation minister, Praful Patel.

The entire agreement take effect once the deal is signed "in the near future,'' the announcement said. The new deal replaces a restrictive agreement signed in 1956.

Details at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2005/1/16/latest/20751USannou&sec=latest

Suncity

January 17th, 2005, 04:46 AM

The Hindu Businessline interview with the Air-India Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas

HB: How do you see AI in a direct face-off with domestic carriers in overseas routes?

VT: The policy decision has been in the offing for quite some time. It has not come as a surprise to us. Air-India has to improve its services to remain competitive. It has no right to continue in this business, if it cannot take on the competition.

More details of this interview at

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/17/stories/2005011700810600.htm

Citi-Zen

January 17th, 2005, 04:52 AM

Air-India Chairman and Managing Director, Mr V. Thulasidas:
AI has no right to continue in this business, if it cannot take on the competition.

That's the attitude, sir! Now only if you and your brethren learn to walk the talk...

Till that happens, here's a :cheers: to atleast the right attitude!!!

gyrations95

January 18th, 2005, 12:02 AM

Now thats the way to go. Either they fight it out with the others or lose. And if they start losing they should get disinvested. Win-win for the aam-junta :cheers:

drwho

January 18th, 2005, 09:18 PM

Karnataka Govt, BIAL to sign pacts for land lease tomorrow

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/19/stories/2005011901521700.htm

drwho

January 18th, 2005, 09:19 PM

Mr V. Thulasidas sure has the motivation,now lets hope for new planes:)

Sridhar

January 18th, 2005, 10:57 PM

Thulasidas has already walked the talk - he has proved himself to be one of the better CEOs of AI. The Govt. is taking its time in the aircraft acquisition process (and he has zero control over the delays at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan) but he has not allowed that to hinder his plans. He identified early on that the key problem of AI was that it had inadequate seat capacity. It had lost market share steadily over the years in proportion to its reduction in share of seats out of India. Hence, he went ahead and started leasing planes. In the process, AI has expanded its services significantly in the last couple of years - entering new markets and increasing frequencies. It has definitely become a better airline in his tenure.

The problem for him is that even leasing has not been very easy in the very recent past due to prevailing conditions of supply and demand. (this is one of the reasons why Air Deccan and Kingfisher are also going in for outright purchase right at the outset) So GoI HAS to quickly appove the acquisition plan if AI has to have any chance in a highly competitive market. It has good management for a change and this opportunity must not be lost.

dokadan

January 18th, 2005, 11:39 PM

GOD SAVE IMPERIAL COLLEGE AND SKEMPTON!!!!!!!!!

dokadan

January 18th, 2005, 11:44 PM

BETTER FUN BY RAILWAYS!!!!(FROM THE TRAINSPOTTER)

centralized pandemonium

January 19th, 2005, 02:09 AM

Delhi, Mumbai getting ready

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/994462.cms

kronik

January 19th, 2005, 02:43 AM

Air One operations by May (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=80123)

Air One Feeder Airline Pvt Ltd, yet another low-cost airline from the South has finalised plans to launch its services by May 2005. The company plans to have regional routes connecting Southern and Western regions. Initially, Air One will fly 50-seater Embrear ERJ 145 jets, said company promoter and managing director JW Lobo.

The airline will offer tickets at rates that are 20% competitive than the regular airlines but higher than the no-frill players.

Air One has signed a dry lease agreement for two relatively new aircraft with a leasing company two months ago, Mr Lobo said.

Primarily targeting business class clients, Air One will offer two classes such as VFR (visiting friends and relatives) and corporate class. Unlike the existing mass market driven low-cost player Air Deccan, only 15 to 20% of the 60 seats would be allotted under VFR. The corporate class tickets will be 20% higher than in VFR.

He said that to suit business class customers flights will be scheduled to arrive in the mornings and depart in the evenings, so that the travellers can avoid night stays.

drwho

January 19th, 2005, 04:59 AM

Delhi, Mumbai getting ready

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/994462.cms

ahh this is cool,hope the u/c starts next year,altough i will belive it when i see it:)

sudipta_rch

January 19th, 2005, 09:27 AM

Here's an article from the Times that shows how flights are in heavy demand now in Kolkata -

Flights chock-a-block as traffic skyrockets (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/994650.cms)

I feel this is partly due to Kolkata's recent IT boom and partly due to reduced airfares (on early-bird bookings). Whatever it may be it is good news for the aviation sector in India.

drwho

January 20th, 2005, 12:04 AM

VIRGIN ATLANTIC TO INCREASE LONDON-NEW DEHLI SERVICES

NEW DEHLI - Virgin Atlantic is set to commence a daily service between New Dehli and London from February 1, and will also offer three flights per week between London and Mumbai. The British-based airline also plans to launch a service between Bangalore and London post-winter 2005. This will bring the total number of services offered by Virgin to India to around 80 by the summer of next year.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050119/hswedta_1.html

nik

January 20th, 2005, 07:18 AM

More good news for Kochi. I hope Govt of India does not throw spanners into this.

KOCHI: The Cochin International Airport Limited(CIAL), the country's first Green Field airport, proposes to revolutionise the country's aviation sector by launching a low cost airline shortly.

Talking to mediapersons here yesterday, CIAL Managing Director V J Kurien said raising the working capital for the new venture did not seem to be a difficult task, going by the international acclaim earned by the CIAL project itself.

The nearly 10,000 share holders of CIAL, especially Keralite NRIs spread over 30 countries, themselves would be able to mobilise the necessary capital for the airline project, he said.

Once central approval was received, the new airline would operate both on the domestic and international routes on a very competitive rate, Kurien explained.

Kurien, who was instrumental in launching the CIAL project in a record time of five years, and reappointed to head CIAL for a second term, after a brief gap, appeared to be confident in implementing the new project.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had himself mooted the project at the recent conference of Keralite NRIs held in Mumbai.

centralized pandemonium

January 20th, 2005, 04:41 PM

Kingfisher Airlines to take off on May 7

Indo-Asian News Service

Bangalore, January 20, 2005|19:37 IST

India's liquor baron Vijay Mallya will launch his dream airliner Kingfisher Airlines in Mumbai on May 7, with the first commercial flight by A-320 to New Delhi scheduled two days later.

Mallya told reporters on Thursday that the airlines would launch its services on the Mumbai-Bangalore and Bangalore-Delhi trunk routes in phases during the current year when Airbus Industries delivers two more A-320s.

"The launch has been scheduled for May 7 to coincide with the 18th birthday of my son Siddarth and the service will start on May 9. We will focus on the high density trunk routes with the best-in-class in-flight experience," Mallya said after an extraordinary general meeting of his flagship firm United Breweries Ltd (UB).

The new private airline will start reservations on April 1 for the Mumbai-Delhi route, with fares for its economy only class 20 per cent lower than its competitors.

"The budget airlines will offer the luxury of having a video-screen for every single seat with individual in-flight entertainment system to watch movies, videos and a choice of six channels.

"Currently, such a facility is not offered even in the business class by other airlines. The seats will also be one-inch wider than in any other A-320 aircraft of other airlines," Mallya said.

The airlines signed an MoU last month with Airbus Industries for 10 brand new A-320s, with an option for 20 more aircraft at a later stage.

The delivery schedule for all the 10 A-320s is by mid-2007, making it the airline with the youngest fleet in the world.

The airline is also contemplating wide-bodied aircraft (Airbus 380) for operating international routes - to South East Asia and the Middle East as and when the government permits private airlines to fly overseas.

The airline is a 100 per cent subsidiary of UB Holdings through UB General Investments Ltd.

Mallya intends to keep the holding that way in the near term. "We may look at either an IPO or private placement at the appropriate time," he added.

http://hindustantimes.com/news/181_1207205,0002.htm

drwho

January 20th, 2005, 11:16 PM

A380 may open new biz opportunities for HAL

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/21/stories/2005012102270300.htm

drwho

January 20th, 2005, 11:28 PM

Bangalore airport land lease, loan pacts signed — Work MAY begin in March

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/21/stories/2005012101361700.htm

muttan

January 22nd, 2005, 04:01 AM

KOCHI: The Cochin International Airport will be expanded soon, said CIAL managing director V.J.Kurian. He was giving a lecture on ‘Cochin International Airport — Future Plans’ at a session organised by the Kerala Management Association (KMA) at Management House, Panampilly Nagar, on Thursday.

‘‘Last year, we had a profit of Rs 36 crore. This year it will be much better. In 2003-04, 13 lakh flights made use of the airport and the growth rate has been a record 20 percent. This has paved the way for expansion,’’ he said.

By July, the airport will be equipped to provide landing facilities for big planes such as Airbus 380. By 2024, CIAL is planning to provide employment to 2.5 million people. By 2012, the board is also thinking about not collecting landing charges from the airlines. If it materialises, CIAL will be the first airport in the world to do so, Kurian said. ‘‘The other activities of the airport will take care of the revenue that will be lost on that account,’’ he said.

He also said that the State should have an open sky policy to attract more airlines. He also noted that in another 15 years, just like BPO services, CIAL can supply labour to airports in other countries. The board is planning to use 10 acres of land for developing a golf course with the help of government grant.
more (http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050120213900&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0&)

gyrations95

January 22nd, 2005, 06:44 AM

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/21/stories/2005012102210300.htm

the low-cost airline of Air India, Air India Express, has firmed up plans for leasing three Boeing 737-800 aircraft to start operations. The airline, which hopes to take to the skies later this year, plans to offer fares which will be at least 25 per cent lower than the base level of 2003-04.

Madhusudhan

January 22nd, 2005, 09:18 AM

nova

January 22nd, 2005, 10:28 AM

IGIA, Delhi

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/8752/minidsc031444cv.jpg

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/3169/minidsc031456cc.jpg

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/9388/minidsc031462tg.jpg

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/7228/minidsc031471ej.jpg

http://img155.exs.cx/img155/6487/minidsc031490dj.jpg

http://img40.exs.cx/img40/1017/minidsc031509rb.jpg

http://img40.exs.cx/img40/5639/minidsc031510zl.jpg

Suncity

January 22nd, 2005, 03:55 PM

Finally some pics of IGI. Good job!

kronik

January 22nd, 2005, 05:49 PM

I just don't get people's obsession with Golf Courses. India doesn't have much land available and Kerala is really in tight spot. Shouldn't we then use the land for more beneficial and commercial purposes? :bash:

Whats more commercial than a golf course which charges a good amount of money to foreigners to use it?

drwho

January 22nd, 2005, 05:59 PM

Hey Nova!:)

nice pics of IGI..!:)

Madhusudhan

January 22nd, 2005, 06:01 PM

Whats more commercial than a golf course which charges a good amount of money to foreigners to use it?

What about using the same land for the expansion of the current profitable Kochi airport? The way the traffic is expanding and considering the possibilities of the next 25 yrs, it makes sense to plan ahead and have the infrastructure ready when needed? A 18 hole golf course uses the same amount of land that a small airport the size of Kochi does. Now tell me, can this golf course match it's annual profit of 36 crores too?

Madhusudhan

January 22nd, 2005, 06:09 PM

Honestly Nova,

You won't know what a great job you have done! These are probably the first close and detailed shots of the IGI airport. What's more, based on this detailing, one can make suggestions regarding the makeover of this facility. As of now, IGI looks nobetter than a rusty cowshed with a very bad color scheme. Skyblue pillars supporting roof metal sheets? :omg::puke: Doesn't anyone care anymore about India? :cry:

kronik

January 22nd, 2005, 10:30 PM

What about using the same land for the expansion of the current profitable Kochi airport? The way the traffic is expanding and considering the possibilities of the next 25 yrs, it makes sense to plan ahead and have the infrastructure ready when needed? A 18 hole golf course uses the same amount of land that a small airport the size of Kochi does. Now tell me, can this golf course match it's annual profit of 36 crores too?

I seem to be missing something here.

I did think i read this in the article......

The Cochin International Airport will be expanded soon, said CIAL managing director V.J.Kurian.

By July, the airport will be equipped to provide landing facilities for big planes such as Airbus 380. By 2024, CIAL is planning to provide employment to 2.5 million people. By 2012,

must be some other kind of expansion i guess. And you think a brand new golf course might be a part of the expansion?

muttan

January 23rd, 2005, 02:25 AM

According to CIAL website, they have 400 acers of land for commercial use alone.This, i assume, is appart from the 1500 acers of land they own for Airport facilities. I guess their grand plan is to use the revenue from the 400 accers to support the whole operations so that they can eliminate airline's entree fee which in turn will grab huge market share from nearby airports like mumbai!
CIAL can be a grand air traffic maintance hub for aisa, in ten years time. "Cochin is strategically located in the international air map. Three major international air routes intersect near Cochin" The important, europe- south east Aisa route must be one of them. Besides its geographical advantages, its proximity towards the sea port and kochin refinary will surely prove tougher to match anywhere else in india, also since CIAL is already privately held, its competitive spirite oughta be substantial enough to achieve its vision.

muttan

January 23rd, 2005, 02:32 AM

A 18 hole golf course uses the same amount of land that a small airport the size of Kochi does. Now tell me, can this golf course match it's annual profit of 36 crores too?

The news report says only 10 acers will be used for the golf course! I dont know how they gona build a golf course in 10 acers but keep in mind the fastest revenue earner for kerala is still tourism and there is strong demand for this kind of stuffs. I personally don't like golf neither the influx of western tourists in the state but if it provids job for otherwise unemployed... i have to agree with whatever they do!

centralized pandemonium

January 23rd, 2005, 04:25 AM

Meanwhile..............

Mumbai airport to get bigger runway

India News]: Mumbai, Jan 22 : The demolition drive in Mumbai does not seem to be coming to an end. After demolishing several high- profile buildings, BMC is now eyeing slums next to the airport land.

The slums, next to the airport land might be demolished as early as next week. The government has issued notices to the authorities to prepare a schedule for demolition as soon as next week.

It was two years back that the government decided to clear the slums of Rafique Nager to make way for a bigger runway.

Nearly 1,800 alternate homes were given to those slum dwellers who moved here before 1995, the cut-off date for alternative housing under the rehabilitation scheme.

The airport authority has to pay Rs 16 crore to provide alternative accommodation for encroachers on its own land.

But as time passed away and the government did not took proper measures, new hutments came up on the land, which will be cleared by the authorities now.

A staggering total of nearly 1 lakh people live in the slums surrounding the Mumbai airport, and most of them claim to have a right to alternative government housing. (ANI)
[
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=63283

nova

January 23rd, 2005, 06:03 AM

Hey Nova!:)

nice pics of IGI..!:)

Thanks, all! :)

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get interiors/aerials along the way.. though the interior isn't anything special.

AAI has made superficial improvements (changing the flight display monitors while leaving the walls dirty, that sort of thing), which serve only to highlight the worn look of IGIA. It's a mix of the very old and the somewhat new. Basically, it's in desperate need of a blanket overhaul. Hope they get with the upgrade plans, and quick.

drwho

January 23rd, 2005, 07:12 AM

Meanwhile..............

The slums, next to the airport land might be demolished as early as next week. The government has issued notices to the authorities to prepare a schedule for demolition as soon as next week.

It was two years back that the government decided to clear the slums of Rafique Nager to make way for a bigger runway.

this is what i like,action!:)

nik

January 24th, 2005, 07:16 AM

"A 18 hole golf course uses the same amount of land that a small airport the size of Kochi does. "

**In fact, the golf course is being constructed in an area which cannot be used for any other purposes.
**Kochi airport is already 4th biggest in terms of passenger and flight movements (next only to Mumbai,Delhi,Chennai)and the fastest growing in India.

drwho

January 24th, 2005, 11:52 AM

ok i have just taken some bit of a article about BIAL. Surly says something about journalism this days. The topic reads "Bangalore airport project work to begin in March" while Ramakrishna says " We hope to start construction in Bangalore by March 1.
There is a huge difference between hope and to begin,specially when it comes to this kind of project which is uber-delayed.

Bangalore airport project work to begin in March

THE construction of the greenfield airport at Bangalore should start by March this year, the President (Operations) and Deputy Managing Director, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Mr A. Ramakrishna, has said.

"We hope to start construction in Bangalore by March 1. The project cost has definitely gone up due to inflation, however interest costs have come down. But despite this the project is still viable," Mr Ramakrishna said and added that the project is likely to be completed within 33 months.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/24/stories/2005012401620500.htm

drwho

January 24th, 2005, 12:34 PM

Branson Mulls Starting Own Indian Airline - Report

http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1106505565.html

Suncity

January 24th, 2005, 03:33 PM

AI may start Kolkata - London direct flights

Air India on Monday announced thrice a week direct flights to London from Kolkata provided the airline was allowed an arrival slot at the busy Heathrow International Airport. B777 aircrafts will be used on this route and the flights are expected to take off in April. Air India will also operate in the Kolkata Bangkok/Singapore sector four days a week initially. The flights will start in October.

http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/24ai.htm

kronik

January 25th, 2005, 12:57 AM

Sun, if you want, you can start the second India - Aviation thread. This thread is over 300 posts and almost 20 pages.

Suncity

January 25th, 2005, 01:17 AM

Well here's the new thread..

:)

kronik

January 25th, 2005, 01:33 AM

Good call!

New-look int’l terminal soon (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=80661)

KOLKATA, JAN 24: The Netaji Subhas Chandra Airport of Kolkata will soon have a new-look international terminal. The Airport Authority of India (AAI), which will be investing Rs 150-200 crore for the modernisation plan, has shortlisted Charles de Parri for planning and designing the international terminal, according to AAI’s executive director (planning) TK Das.

There is also a proposal for a new international building. Currently, as an interim measure, the terminal is being extended to the northern side. AAI’s regional director Rajendra Pal said that inadequate immigration area (300 sq ft) and security area (1,000 sq ft) is one of the problems that the international terminal is facing.

drwho

January 25th, 2005, 03:52 AM

i wonder how it will look like:)

a dream would be if it looked like Copenhagen Airport...so much glas and teak...scandinavian design in its core.;)

drwho

January 25th, 2005, 10:35 AM

India plans to sell airline stakes

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050125/137/2j7tc.html

drwho

January 25th, 2005, 03:24 PM

Air India negotiating financing for 50 long-range aircraft: Prasad

SINGAPORE : State-run Air India is negotiating with banks to help finance the acquisition of 50 new long-range aircraft with deliveries to start next year, Indian Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said in Singapore.

"We have started negotiations with banks for external financing," Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of a regional aviation conference, adding he did not see any difficulties in obtaining the funds.

He said the new orders would comprise ultra-long range aircraft, medium capacity long-range 350-seater planes and medium capacity long-range 250-seaters.

The initial deliveries of the aircraft are expected in 2006, Prasad said.

While declining to give a value to the orders, he said it will be a "very substantial package."

"Technical and financial bids have been received in December 2004. Air India is likely to come up with firm proposals shortly after due technical and economic evaluation," Prasad said.

He gave no indication as to who the preferred supplier was between US giant Boeing and its European rival, Airbus, who have been fighting it out to establish global dominance in the aircraft market.

Apart from the long-range planes, Air India has also "firmed up a plan" to acquire 18 short-range aircraft at an estimated cost of one billion US dollars for its proposed low-cost carrier called Air India Express, Prasad said.

The budget carrier is expected to make its first flight on March 27.

Prasad was speaking to reporters after giving a keynote address on the final day of the two-day Asia Pacific and Middle East Aviation and Tourism Outlook Conference here organised by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.

Air India said late last year that two-thirds of the planned purchase will be on firm order basis and one-third on an optional arrangement.

The airline short-listed three types of long-range aircraft -- the medium capacity Airbus 340-500 or Boeing 777-200 LR, the 350-seat Airbus 340-600 or Boeing 777-300 ER, and the 250-seat Airbus 330-200 or Boeing 7E7-8.

The new aircraft are scheduled to be delivered over a period of 10 years, during which Air India plans to increase seat capacity by 12 percent annually.

Prasad also confirmed plans by another state-run carrier, Indian Airlines, to acquire 43 new aircraft at an estimated cost of 2.06 billion dollars.

"The government is expediting necessary approvals so that the deal could be finalised by the end of this fiscal year (March 2005) for induction of the first batch of new aircraft by September 2006," he told the conference.

Indian Airlines is also contemplating adding more planes to operate on short-haul and regional routes.

"With the opening up of international skies, Indian Airlines has also come up with specific plans for more overseas operations and proposes to induct nine wide-body aircraft in the first phase from November 2005 onward to service the news international routes," Prasad said.

He said India was also addressing problems in airport infrastructure, which have hampered industry growth.

India has invited bids for the upgrading the airports in New Delhi and Bombay and expects to announce the selection of a private sector partner by July or August.

Upgrading of the two airports is expected to require an investment of more than 2.5 billion dollars in the next few years, while the modernisation of 25-30 other airports in smaller cities would involve around 5.0 billion dollars, he said. - AFP

Copyright © 2005 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved.

Suncity

January 25th, 2005, 08:10 PM

Sri Lankan Airlines to fly to Ahmedabad, Kolkata

January 25, 2005 16:38 IST

Sri Lankan Airlines plans to add Ahmedabad and Kolkata to its Indian destinations this year.

While flights to Ahmedabad would be available soon, those to Kolkata would take some more time, the airlines' commercial head, G T Jayaseelan, said.

Presently, the airline operates flights to 10 cities in India. The traffic on the Indian sector jumped by 30 per cent in the first nine months of 2004-05, compared to the same period the previous year.

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/25lanka.htm

drwho

January 27th, 2005, 12:12 AM

Business Times - 26 Jan 2005

Jet confirms flight to Singapore

(SINGAPORE) India's Jet Airways will start services to Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur by the middle of this year.

The carrier's chief executive Wolfgang Prock-Schauer confirmed this on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific & Middle East Aviation and Tourism Outlook 2005 conference yesterday. 'We will run daily services from Mumbai and Chennai, and our fares will be very competitive,' he said.

Jet, with 33 Boeing 737 aircraft and eight turbo-prop ATR 72-500, is one of the youngest in Asia-Pacific and has won frequent awards from the travel industry for best in-flight service.

Passenger numbers have grown steadily and the airline currently controls 45 per cent of the Indian domestic market.

Mr Prock-Schauer said that his airline would be acquiring 17 Boeing 737 aircraft for delivery by 2007, and several more wide-bodied aircraft, to boost its existing fleet as it spread its wings overseas.

The airline recently started advertising for crew in Singapore newspapers. In his address yesterday, Mr Prock-Schauer pointed out that India was not an easy market for low cost carriers.

'Two-thirds of costs, such as airport charges, fuel and maintenance, are beyond the control of airline operators,' he said.

'That leaves a cost advantage of under 35 per cent, compared with 55 per cent in the US and Europe.'

He said that a full service airline like Jet could easily hold its own against low cost upstarts with astute yield management, careful cost control, innovative fares and good service.

'Jet is the number one domestic carrier in India,' he said. 'We are well positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for air travel both domestically and internationally.'

The airline, which made 1.3 billon rupees (S$48.6 million) in profit during the first half to end-September 2004 and expects to chalk up record profit for the full year ending March 2005, is preparing for its impending initial public offering.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

centralized pandemonium

January 27th, 2005, 12:20 AM

Delhi, Mumbai airports revamp — Govt likely to consider 5-year traffic projections

Ashwini Phadnis

New Delhi , Jan. 26

THE Government's proposed modernisation and restructuring plans for Delhi and Mumbai airport could see infrastructure being created much ahead of airline and passenger demand reaching its peak at the two metro cities.

Official sources told Business Line that the Government is likely to consider passenger traffic growth over a five-year period while finalising the modernisation plans for Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Sources said that the plans for the modernisation of the two metro airports that were being examined by the Government are passenger-traffic driven.

"We would like to create airport facilities in such a manner that they are in a position to cater to traffic growth which is likely to take place in advance. However, every effort would be made to ensure that over capacity is not created at the airports. A final decision on this issue will be taken after consulting with the bidders also," a senior Government official said. Incidentally, both the airports handle a lions' share of cargo and passenger traffic. For the year ended March 31, 2003 alone, the two airports accounted for 49 per cent of passenger traffic 59 per cent of cargo traffic.

Meanwhile, the Government plans to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the nine short-listed bidders by early February and hopes to be in a position to go to the Cabinet in March for approval of the frozen document for the proposed restructuring of the two airports.

The nine entities which have been shortlisted for the modernisation and restructuring programme include Reliance, L&T, DLF group, Bharti and GMR. On the issue of resettlement of people living around Mumbai airport, officials said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had already written to the Ministry of Urban Development seeking alternative place for resettlement of the people who are likely to be displaced.

"The document which will be provided to the bidders will clearly specify the areas where people are living. The State and Central Government will do their best effort to assist the bidder in resettlement of the displaced people. However, there is unlikely to be any financial help which the Government will provide to the bidder on this account," officials said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/27/stories/2005012702210100.htm

gyrations95

January 27th, 2005, 12:39 AM

Industry may foot the bill for cleaning Mumbai airport
BYAS ANAND

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2005 11:56:23 PM ]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1001930.cms

"The government is now trying to get the industry to foot the bill for cleaning up the political mess called unauthorised slums around Mumbai international airport, a move that, analysts say, threatens to derail the mega airport modernisation project."

drwho

January 27th, 2005, 12:45 AM

HK to court Indian air rights
Officials seen pushing for broad expansion of fifth freedoms amid reticence from airlines due to reciprocal nature of deals
Russell Barling and Joseph Lo
26 January 2005
South China Morning Post

Hong Kong negotiators are expected to push for a substantial expansion of the air-service agreement between India and the SAR when the two sides convene tomorrow, despite only modest requests for more flights from Hong Kong's biggest airlines.

The two-day talks in Hong Kong will be held in the shadow of this month's provisional United States-India deal, which lifted almost all limits on the number of airlines and flights between the two markets and beyond.

With India signalling that substantially greater access to its tourism and hi-tech trade sectors is on the cards, the talks are seen as an opportunity for the government to fulfil its ambition of making Chek Lap Kok Asia's premier hub.

The Hong Kong-India markets for years have been constrained by India's protective regulatory regime. But with the mainland setting the standard for the liberalisation of emerging markets in a series of new air-service deals recently, analysts say there is renewed incentive for Hong Kong and India to hammer out a substantive increase in aviation services.

"I am optimistic about the potential for what could come out of this round of talks," JP Morgan regional transport analyst Peter Negline said. "But even if there is a 100 per cent increase in frequencies, it will still be considered a capacity-constrained market."

Provisional numbers from the Airport Authority indicate almost 233,000 passengers flew between India and Hong Kong last year, up a comparative 50 per cent on the Sars-depleted numbers of 2003.

The value of trade by air, a sector virtually untouched by Sars, grew 19 per cent to $35.34 billion in the first 11 months of last year.

However, the India-Hong Kong passenger market represented less than 1 per cent of the airport's 37.3 million passengers last year. So analysts believe the biggest gains for its hub status will come from a substantial rise in fifth-freedom flights.

More fifth freedoms would attract a greater portion of the traffic between bigger markets such as the United States and India to move through Chek Lap Kok, but it would also increase competition for Hong Kong airlines on those routes.

With a new round of US-Hong Kong talks scheduled for late April, Cathay Pacific Airways has counselled caution on expanding fifth freedoms - the right to pick up passengers and cargo bound for third destinations - and put forward what insiders call a "modest" agenda for tomorrow's talks.

The carrier is believed to have asked the government to negotiate for at least daily flights to New Delhi and Mumbai, markets it officially serves four times a week. It is not thought to have requested more destinations or beyond rights as any awards would be reciprocal.

Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, which does not fly to India, is believed to be after flights to Bangalore, the base of the country's hi-tech industries.

Neither airline would comment yesterday.

However, while the government consults with the airlines before all bilateral aviation talks, it has repeatedly said it has a liberalisation timetable to pursue, one that will not be solely dictated by the airlines' agenda.

Hong Kong's desire to partially privatise the Airport Authority has increased the pressure on the government to liberalise air services. As did last year's Sino-US agreement, which in three years will lift almost all restrictions on fifth-freedom flights for US cargo carriers serving the mainland.

"The India-US deal was the 67th open-skies agreement. It is much easier now to name the countries that don't have open skies," said an executive with a seat at the table during last week's US-India talks.

"Almost all major Asian markets now have such an agreement; the exceptions are Hong Kong and Japan. If you're a US carrier and you want to link the Pearl River delta with India, and Hong Kong continues to restrict your ability to do that, you will soon be able to schedule your flights through the mainland."

drwho

January 27th, 2005, 12:50 AM

Suncity

January 27th, 2005, 01:36 AM

Dont get it, isnt it the Gov job to clean out the slums?

Our babus and netas are getting "imaginative" and are creating a channel to milk funds out of the industry.

If any company agrees to such a clause, the number of "claimants" is bound to increase [dishonesty is not so uncommon]. The company will be just going on paying compensation. If anyone is not happy then they will go to court. And of course we will have the NGO queens and kings doing dharnas and gheraos and crying hoarse and shedding crocodile tears over "multinational exploitation" and the "conditions of the poor people".

Suncity

January 27th, 2005, 04:12 AM

The Jet / Sahara wish list:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1001492.cms

Jet Airways

Delhi - Brussels - New York
Delhi - London
Mumbai - London
Delhi - Singapore
Chennai - Singapore
Mumbai - SIngapore
Chennai - Kualalumpur
Delhi - Bangkok
Kolkata - Bangkok
Mumbai - Bangkok

Air Sahara

Delhi London
Mumbai London
Delhi Hongkong
Hyderabad Singapore
Chennai Singapore
Delhi Singapore
Chennai Kualalumpur
Kolkata Bangkok
Delhi Bangkok

Suncity

January 27th, 2005, 04:47 AM

Ahmedabad Airport - new terminal competition proposal by Archigroup India and M/S KHR from Denmark.

These are just models.

http://www.archigroup.org/img/proj_airport_airtermahm3_l.jpg

http://www.archigroup.org/img/proj_airport_airtermahm6_l.jpg

http://www.archigroup.org/img/proj_airport_airtermahm5_l.jpg

Wonder if the government selected any design from the competition and if it did then what is it?

centralized pandemonium

January 27th, 2005, 05:34 AM

^^^ Whoa that's cool. The current airport there really sux. No a/c, no facilities, nothing, ek number ka dbaaba hai. I hope they really built that. Is this going to be a completely new one or an extension of the existing one?

drwho

January 27th, 2005, 07:57 AM

Suncity> whooa! thats cool!..see..scandinavians knows the stuff:)

drwho

January 27th, 2005, 01:41 PM

Our babus and netas are getting "imaginative" and are creating a channel to milk funds out of the industry.

If any company agrees to such a clause, the number of "claimants" is bound to increase [dishonesty is not so uncommon]. The company will be just going on paying compensation. If anyone is not happy then they will go to court. And of course we will have the NGO queens and kings doing dharnas and gheraos and crying hoarse and shedding crocodile tears over "multinational exploitation" and the "conditions of the poor people".

hehe yeap,that will be the usuall stuff:)

right now the CPI(m) is really a pain(their typical pro-poor crap),looks like the sellout of PSU on BHEL and Maruti has been defered until after the election in Bihar and Haryana.

kronik

January 28th, 2005, 03:49 AM

The terminal looks good.
With this terminal, what will be the aircraft handling capacity of the airport, with regards the number of aero-bridges?

I dont suppose we can get ground plans of Indian airports anywhere, can we?

meanwhile, some excellent news.......

Srinagar airport to go international (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1002674.cms)

International flights will soon be able to arrive and depart from the airport at Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar, following a government decision Thursday to designate it an international airport.

One of the most hypersensitive airports of the country located in the insurgency-plagued Kashmir Valley, Srinagar airport is currently undergoing a sweeping makeover besides acquiring new gadgets to insulate it from terror attacks.

One of India's first centrally heated airports located at 1,700 metres above sea level, Srinagar airport is also going for a modular design at a cost of Rs.130 crore ($28.9 million).

Srinagar is a gateway to the Kashmir Valley, nestled in the Karakoram, Zanskar and Pir Panjal ranges of the Himalayas.

The airport connects the militant-affected area with the mainland and is a departure point for Haj pilgrims.

After its revamp, the airport will have colour luggage scanners, vehicle scanners and explosive detection devices as part of a three-tier security cover.

Two Thumbs up.
Go Armed Forces!

gyrations95

January 29th, 2005, 12:05 AM

The usual media build-up. I wish there was some incentive for the "Empowered GoM" to do their work quickly and accurately .. or maybe a dis-incentive :)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1004393.cms

The airport infrastructure needs to be upgraded on a fast track. We have decided to give higher weightage to accelerated development of Mumbai and Delhi airports while finalising the JV partner. Those who promise to modernise the airports faster will get more weightage in the selection process," civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.

centralized pandemonium

January 29th, 2005, 06:49 AM

Air Deccan to float IPO after boosting market presence

Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, January 28, 2005|13:34 IST

Air Deccan, India's only low-cost airline, will decide on floating a share sale offer in the domestic market only after boosting its presence in the fast-growing aviation sector, said a top official.

Refuting reports that the Bangalore-based airline has decided to launch its initial public offering (IPO) by September 2006, the official said no timeframe has been fixed for launching the share sale programme.

"We want private equity and it will happen through IPO. But we have not decided any timeframe for this," chief executive officer of Air Deccan GR Gopinath told IANS in an telephonic interview from Singapore.

"There are lots of issues that need to be considered before we decide a timeframe for the IPO. Before we hit the market, we want to establish a strong brand presence and increase the load factor," he added.

"All this may take time...it may take 12-36 months. The IPO will definitely happen after all the issues are taken care of."

Gopinath said although Air Deccan was aiming to generate between $250 million and $300 million through the IPO, the actual size of the share sale offer would be decided "at an appropriate time."

"The equity to be divested would depend on the valuation of the company at that time," he said, adding the funds raised through Air Deccan's IPO would be utilised for expansion activities.

Analysts say the increased investor appetite for quality public issues has enthused many local aviation players to tap the market to generate funds for acquiring new planes and start new services.

Private sector Jet Airways, the biggest domestic airline, has already submitted a draft prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital market watchdog, for floating 20 per cent of its equity capital.

The share sale offer will make Jet Airways the only actively traded airline stock in India.

Air Deccan said last month that it had entered into agreements with ICICI Venture Funds and US-based Capital International for raising $40 million by placing new shares.

The budget airline plans to have a fleet of 60 aircraft in five years' time with a view to adding new routes in its network in the domestic market as well as strengthening existing services.

Air Deccan, which started operations in August 2003, currently operates three Airbus 320s and seven 48-seater aircraft. Three more ATR aircraft are likely to be added in the fleet soon.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1217942,0002.htm

drwho

January 30th, 2005, 10:58 AM

Here it is,the 777,first appearance in near daylight(25 Jan) at London - Heathrow
http://tinypic.com/1htk7p

IndiaRocks

January 30th, 2005, 06:34 PM

kronik

January 30th, 2005, 08:53 PM

I wonder how this will work..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4213673.stm

The Indian government says it plans to open the main airport in Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir to international traffic.
Officials say the existing terminal at the airport is being updated as part of an effort to attract more tourists and boost economic development.

Tourism in Kashmir declined sharply after the insurgency there broke out more than a decade ago.

Delhi says violence fell after peace talks began with Pakistan last year.

In recent months visitors have started returning to the area, Indian officials say.

It has been working for quite a while now. Infiltration is still there, and terrorists still manage to kill innocent men, women and children or throw bombs in bustling markets injuring even more, but the Armed Forces and the Para-military have been able to do a better job of answering them in kind.

The border fence has done a good job of being the first line of defence. Then the Army now has thermal imagers thus making it possible for them to carry out operations in the night.
These are but two factors. Lots of other inside and outside reasons.

monyaam

January 30th, 2005, 11:52 PM

A nice article about our CA minister
http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/jan/29spec.htm

CeeJay House in Gondia, considered by many in Maharashtra to be the exact centre of India (and not Nagpur, as is commonly believed) is a sprawling bungalow and the home of the bidi king of Vidharbha, Praful Patel.

It's another matter that Patel also occupies an official bungalow in Lutyens's New Delhi in his capacity as minister of civil aviation. But his visits to this small town are frequent.

It was here he lived as a child, here that he owns bidi factories and oversees educational trusts, and here that he lived out his ambitions as both industrialist and politician.

In far-away Delhi, Patel is fast earning a reputation as a minister who works, and works efficiently. In a handful of months, he has changed the way civil aviation had crippled policies and growth, and suddenly "open skies" is no longer just a phrase.

To anticipated criticism but overwhelming relief, he's cleared fleet acquisition plans for the two national carriers, opened up international routes for private domestic players, and won the grudging approval of airport staff for privatisation plans that had been threatened by strikes.

People largely used to ignoring politicians are beginning to sit up and take notice of a minister who, like them, dresses well, enjoys his luxuries, and runs the ministry like he would any industry.

Who is Patel, and what makes him tick? The only son of his father's youngest wife Shantaben, he lost his father when he was a teenager and inherited his father's business while still in school.

As a result, he often had to miss school, and hardly ever attended college. But while many remember him as intelligent, he made the most impression on the playing fields with cricket and football.

Imagine a chubby schoolboy from Campion School in Mumbai some 35 years ago at a badminton match where seats were hard to find. Sitting in the front row was actor Ashok Kumar.

The boy told his friend he would see the match sitting next to the filmstar. Headstrong or go-getter? Either way, Praful Patel showed signs early in life that he could get the job done.

No wonder Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, the sprawling headquarters of the civil aviation ministry, has been buzzing since Patel took charge here a little over six months ago.

There are clear signals that India, along with China, will drive growth in the global aviation business in the near future. Indian carriers are expected to acquire more than 200 aircraft in the next 12 months -- at the moment, there are only 175 aircraft criss-crossing the Indian skies.

Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic has tried every trick in his bag to invest in the sector. Every airline worth its lifejacket wants to mount new services to India, offering connectivity to more and more cities in the country.

In the midst of this, Patel reels off statistics. "Air traffic has grown by 27 per cent since I took over. Over the next three years, we will see a triple digit growth in terms of both traffic as well as capacity.

"Steps have been taken to ensure that flying becomes a possibility for the common man," he says, a Franck Muller watch in rose gold worth a fortune dangling from his wrist.

Patel's detractors are justified in asking how he can hog credit for generating additional air traffic.

"It has resulted from the country's strong economic growth in the last two years," an industry source says, "and it is not Patel but G R Gopinath (of Air Deccan) who has brought air travel within the reach of common people by starting his low-cost service."

Also, the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports was initiated when the National Democratic Alliance was in power.

Patel may have got the benefit of taking over the right ministry at the right time, but to his credit he has created an environment that will help Indian carriers spread their wings and grow.

Bureaucrats in his ministry disclose that unlike his predecessors of the NDA regime, Shahnawaz Hussain, first, and then Rajeev Pratap Rudy, Patel is capable of taking quick decisions.

When the Airports Authority of India employees threatened to go on strike against the privatisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports, there was fear that air traffic in the country would come to a standstill.

Patel stepped in and asked the employees to prepare their own blueprint for the two airports, which would be considered along with the bids of private companies.

The crisis was diffused in time.

The bureaucrats also insist that he has a better feel of the sector than both Hussain and Rudy. But that is not difficult to understand: Patel had become familiar with flying early in life.

His father, Manoharbhai Patel, a hugely successful businessman and a philanthropist, owned a Cessna. Patel too has logged some flying hours, though he does not possess a pilot's licence.

Mukul Raja, a Mumbai-based friend of Patel, recently asked him the specifications of the aircraft the government proposed to buy. He listened in impressed silence as Patel reeled off the complete list.

But Patel's decisions haven't been without their share of controversy. Some in the bureaucracy grumble that Patel's initiatives will only benefit private carriers like Jet Airways and Air Sahara at the cost of the state-owned Indian Airlines and Air-India.

A recent directive by the ministry to Indian Airlines that it should first complete its fleet acquisition programme and then draw up plans to fly abroad met with a frosty response from some bureaucrats.

In his mind, Patel is convinced that the two carriers need to strengthen their fleets for survival.

He has initiated an exercise to offload their shares to bankroll the acquisitions. Senior Indian Airlines functionaries say Patel has convinced the Cabinet about the need to upgrade the fleets and has even managed a sovereign guarantee for Indian Airlines when it raises funds despite stiff opposition from finance ministry officials.

Similarly, he got the Air-India brass to alter its fleet acquisition plan as it was not in sync with market demands and personally supervised the plans for Air-India's low cost international carrier, Air-India Express.

What works in his favour is that he is not seen to be in the habit of currying favours from the state-owned airlines. Rudy bagged the biggest headlines of his career when Indian Airlines picked up the bills for his vacation in Goa.

Of course, Rudy cleared the dues with Indian Airlines subsequently. In contrast, Patel comes to work in his personal car (he owns a fleet of over 20 luxury and vintage cars and is superstitious about registration number either beginning or ending with 2 or 7) and does not draw a salary from the government.

But then he heads the closely-held Rs 500-crore (Rs 5 billion) CeeJay Group that has interests in bidis, pharmaceuticals, real estate, packaging, finance and oil, and employs over 60,000 people.

A charitable trust controlled by Patel runs over 40 schools in Maharashtra providing education to 80,000 students at any time.

The group's mainstay is bidis. The business traces its roots to the 1920s when the father-son duo of Chotabhai and Jethabhai (hence the name CeeJay) came to Gondia from Gujarat to trade in tobacco.

In the 1930s, Manoharbhai, Chotabhai's nephew, joined the business and engineered a forward integration into bidis. Soon, the family was riding the gravy train.

At its peak, some 25 years ago, the group used to run 40 factories in and around Gondia packing as many as 5-6 crore (50-6- million) bidis in a day. The bestselling brands in its portfolio were Monkey Boy and No. 27.

In the last several years, bidi sales have started dwindling owing to an upgradation in lifestyles across the country.

The CeeJay Group operates just two factories now, though it continues to make the same number of bidis. It is here that Patel makes it a point to visit CeeJay house (with its huge lawns, spacious garages and quarters for a staff of 30) at least twice a month.

He still eats off the coal-fired ovens in the kitchen, though the maharajas who now cook for the Patels are more conscious of the health requirements of the family's diet.

People in the town fix up marriages keeping in mind his scheduled visits.

A Delhi-based associate describes Patel as "yaaron ka yaar" -- a friend among friends -- and the people of Gondia are testimony to the close links he has always maintained with the town and its people.

Harish Jhotwani, a Gondia-based lawyer, recently told the minister he would accept his invitation to come to Mumbai only if Patel sent a private jet to collect him.

The next day Jhotwani woke up to be told that a private plane had landed at the Birsi airstrip on the outskirts of Gondia, and he was obliged to fly to Mumbai to meet his friend.

There is place in Patel's circle friends for those who regularly make headlines -- a bevy of Mumbai businessmen, superstar Shah Rukh Khan, steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal -- but the friendship he is known best for is that with Sharad Pawar.

In the beginning, Pawar had two confidantes, Suresh Kalmadi and Patel. But after Kalmadi's rift with Ajit, Pawar's nephew, he drifted away.

This left a vacuum, which Patel was quick to spot and fill. Today, nobody is closer to Pawar than Patel. He is the treasurer as well as spokesman of the NCP.

Whenever Pawar wants to hold meetings away from the public eye, he does it in Patel's house. Patel, on his part, does not go to town about his relationship with the Maratha strongman.

Last year, when Pawar was battling Jag Mohan Dalmiya for the top post of the Board for Control of Cricket in India, Patel was in the thick of it, keeping tabs on every vote that counted.

Pawar lost. But Patel has not given up: "I think Indian cricket needs to be freed from the present one-man show." After he's freed the Indian skies from the tyranny of claustrophobic controls, this could be his unfinished agenda.

Grounded?

If there is one thing that could ground Praful Patel's well-crafted plans it is the state of the country's airports. All the international airports are bursting at their seams, while the domestic airports are in no position to cope with additional flights.

Patel says he is aware of the problem and is embarking on an ambitious Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) project to upgrade the airport infrastructure in the country.

The airport modernisation plan will start with the privatisation and upgradation of Delhi and Mumbai airports. In the second phase the other two metro airports -- Kolkata and Chennai -- will be upgraded through public-private participation.

Simultaneously, he has kicked off an exercise to develop 23 non-metro airports. To generate funds for the development of these airports, the government will undertake commercial development of the "city facing" land of these airports.

To this effect, the Airports Authority of India has shortlisted two consortiums, one led by Ernst & Young and the other by UTI Bank, to come up with a detailed business plan for 10 airports within the next three months.

AAI is expected to come out with another tender for the remaining 13 airports shortly. The consultants are required to ascertain how the land owned by these airports can be commercially utilised.

Various possibilities like setting up shopping malls, multiplexes and hotels are likely to be considered. Some of these airports are known to own 80-100 acres of land, which can be developed for a range of commercial activities.

Once this exercise is closed, another 30 airports will be taken up for upgradation.

Besides, Patel also plans to develop greenfield airports with an investment of over Rs 6, 000 crore (Rs 60 billion) in Goa, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Kannur and the multi-modal international hub in Nagpur.

The early starter

February 17, 1957: Praful Patel born to Manoharbhai Patel and his third wife, Shantaben, in Kolkata.

Celebrations were held for three days at Gondia. A struggling Bollywood director made a film on the occasion called Nanhe Praful Kumar

1970: Manoharbhai, self-taught businessman, philanthropist and educationist, dies.

1973: Patel inducted into the family bidi business at the young age of 16.

1977: Patel marries Varsha, 18, soon after getting a bachelor's degree in commerce from Sydenham College, Mumbai.

Plans to study law get put paid to because of marriage and business. Over the years, Varsha bears him four children -- three daughters and a son.

1984: Encouraged by Vasant Dada Patil, Patel enters public life. Contests on a Congress ticket and loses.

1985: Wins the Gondia Nagar Parishad elections. Remains mayor of the town for seven years.

1991: Wins Lok Sabha elections from Gondia as a Congress candidate. Retains the seat in the 1996 and 1998 elections

1995-96: Suresh Kalmadi withdraws from the Sharad Pawar camp. Patel moves in.

1999: NCP formed. Patel is a key member. Contests from Bhandara and loses by a slender margin. Split in caste votes cost him the seat.

2000: Enters Rajya Sabha as an NCP member.

May 24, 2004: Appointed Union Civil Aviation Minister.

Suncity

January 31st, 2005, 05:09 PM

Malaysia Airlines is keen to strengthen its business in India and plans to soon fly to three more destinations -- Amritsar, Trichy and Thiruvananthapuram.

The airlines already operates on New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata destinations in India.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1222099,00020009.htm

monyaam

January 31st, 2005, 07:35 PM

Joint venture proposal for stuck airport projects in Maharashtra

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=81186

MUMBAI: Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel, who hails from this state, has proposed a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India and the state government to rescue three important projects hamstrung by bureaucratic apathy here.

The Maharashtra government’s move to develop an international airport at Navi Mumbai, the multi-modal hub project at Nagpur and an international airport-cum-cargo hub at Chakan (in Pune district) is still a non-starter. The development of an international airport at Navi Mumbai is expected to cost anywhere between Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 15,000 crore. The Nagpur project would require investment of close to Rs 5,000 crore, while Chakan airport would be possible at a cost of around Rs 3,000 crore.

State government sources told FE they would look into the offer made by Mr Patel and take necessary steps.

Mr Patel, who with Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar was at a meeting here to review progress on these projects, was shocked to learn of the lack of progress, despite the state government being run by a coalition of the Congress and their own NCP. Mr Pawar and Mr Patel were extremely disappointed.

“The civil aviation ministry, through AAI, will like to actively be involved in these projects, especially in view of the large investment required for these projects,” Mr Patel had told the state government. He said the Union government has not yet given in-principle clearance for the much debated Navi Mumbai airport, which the state government has been pursuing for eight years.

The minister was prompt enough to assure he would make all-out efforts for an early in-principle approval. But said a condition was that Navi Mumbai’s proposed international airport have two runways and not one as proposed by the state government.

On the multi-modal international hub at Nagpur, Mr Patel said his ministry can ask Indian Airlines and Air India to launch cargo services as a beginning. “The cargo service can throw open opportunities and thereby increase business and job potential in Nagpur and the other parts of Vidarbha,” Mr Patel noted.

The state government has already formed a separate company, titled Maharashtra Airport Development Company for the development of the Nagpur project. Mr Patel opined that the involvement of the civil aviation ministry would help give the necessary push for the Nagpur project.

Moreover, the state government has already received the environmental site clearance for the Chakan site. The six other Union government clearances needed for the project are already in place and were acquired over the past two years. The airport is expected to function as an international cargo hub, while also catering to domestic passenger traffic.

The state government has proposed the Chakan airport development with Pune’s population expected to increase from 5.5 million to over 10 million in the coming years. The existing airport facility would be hard-pressed to meet the future demand.

monyaam

January 31st, 2005, 09:51 PM

AAI to spend Rs 104 crore in South

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=81297

CHENNAI, JAN 31: The Airports Authority of India would spend over Rs 104 crore in the current fiscal to improve airport infrastructure in the southern region, AAI regional executive director SK Saraswati said here on Monday.

Following requests from the aviation industry, AAI was taking up proposals to enhance airport infrastructure at Vijayawada, Mangalore and Hubli, he said after launching a website of the Air passengers association of India.

He said expansion of the terminal building of the Kozhikode airport was on and AAI was in the process of the improvement of infrastructure at Tiruchirapalli and Madurai airports. The runway of the Coimbatore airport was being expanded to 8,000 feet from 7000, he added.

Deccan Air had evinced interest in operating to Tuticorin and “we are in the process of developing it”, he said.

AAI was also examining a request from British Airways to operate to Hyderabad, where Lufthansa has proposed to introduce a flight from February 17, he said. Mr Saraswati said the aircraft movement had grown 14% and passenger growth 11.4% during 2004 in the country.

Suncity

January 31st, 2005, 10:07 PM

News reports indicate that Jet Airways, Air India and Air Sahara were granted flight rights to UK by the government today. But the number of alloted flights seem to vary with the reports. Air Sahara seems to have got just 2 or 3 flights a week to Gatwick, and Jet 6 or 7 flights a week to Heathrow. Air India got 6-7 flights per week split between London and Birmingham.

It's probably best to wait for a clearer picture to emerge.

kronik

January 31st, 2005, 11:12 PM

Website for your airline grievances! (http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/jan/31air.htm)

Air Passenger Association of India on Monday launched its website which can be accessed at airpassenger.com.

The website will have information on the activities of the association apart from the news related to the aviation sector.

The website will also add space for passenger grievances and the grievances would then be taken up with appropriate authorities, APAI president D Sudhakar Reddy and vice president Milan Zatakia said.

kronik

February 1st, 2005, 12:04 AM

Airport JVs: Fastest design bid will be preferred (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1004393.cms)

In a bid to ensure speedy completion of the Delhi and Mumbai airport modernisation exercises, the government has decided to give greater weightage to bidders promising to develop world-class infrastructure in the shortest duration.

"The airport infrastructure needs to be upgraded on a fast track. We have decided to give higher weightage to accelerated development of Mumbai and Delhi airports while finalising the JV partner. Those who pronmise to modernise the airports faster will get more weightage in the selection process," civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.

The ministry is in the process of finalising the draft transaction documents for the new joint ventures to be floated for developing the two metro airports. The documents is expected to be reviewed by the empowered group of ministers (GoM) at a meeting on February 3.

The documents would list the requirements of new facilities on the civil side of the two airports, besides the additional task of slum clearance for expansion of the Mumbai airport.

Suncity

February 1st, 2005, 03:16 AM

Jet Airways flies away with big UK slice

Jet Airways has been allotted seven flights a week to Heathrow while rival Air Sahara has bagged two a week to Gatwick, 45 km from London.

Air-India has been given three more flights to Heathrow, provided it is able to get time slots at the airport.

Officials said Jet and Sahara have already accepted the slots but Air-India has yet to do so. The government has issued a rider that if Air-India is unable to get slots at Heathrow by mid-February, its allotment would be cancelled.

The slots will then go to the common pool from where it would be awarded to other airlines.

Air-India has also been granted rights for three flights a week to Birmingham.

Details at http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050201/asp/frontpage/story_4322265.asp

drwho

February 1st, 2005, 02:34 PM

Suncity

February 1st, 2005, 02:42 PM

^^
Suncity: hm..just read that news about it on Hindu Business Line...its says that Jet Airways will fly on that route on end of March with a 777 or 340 and Air Sahara with a 310 or a 777.

pretty strange becuase i didnt know they have purchased 777s or 340s or is it on dry-lease?

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/01/stories/2005020102260900.htm

I don't believe thay have purchased such aircrafts. They will probably go for the dry lease mode.

I am hoping these two airlines will change the perception about airlines from India.

drwho

February 1st, 2005, 02:45 PM

I don't believe thay have purchased such aircrafts. They will probably go for the dry lease mode.

I am hoping these two airlines will change the perception about airlines from India.

yeap lets hope for it,a 340 or a 777 would be wonderful.Jet Airways and Air Sahara have a nice customer service and could put more pressure on AI which is good.
:)

Suncity

February 1st, 2005, 03:11 PM

yeap lets hope for it,a 340 or a 777 would be wonderful.Jet Airways and Air Sahara have a nice customer service and could put more pressure on AI which is good.
:)

AI has always been open to international competion and pressure. But it will not change (or improve dramatically) as long as it is a government / babu/neta manipulated organization. The new guy rising from the ranks of AI seems to be making sense but one of the IAS predecessors (Brajesh Kumar) destroyed most of Air India with a lot of foolish decisions.

Set AI free from the Babus / Netas in Delhi and AI too will shine. AI (and IA) have an enormous talent pool waiting to be set free.

Sridhar

February 2nd, 2005, 02:49 AM

Actually, Thulasidas (the new CEO of AI) is an IAS guy and not an internal AI guy, but is making full sense. I agree with the notion that AI inherently has potential if it were to be freed from the clutches of Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan.

Suncity

February 2nd, 2005, 03:33 AM

Actually, Thulasidas (the new CEO of AI) is an IAS guy and not an internal AI guy.

You are right. I was under the wrong impression that the gentleman was from AI.

kronik

February 2nd, 2005, 11:23 PM

Maharashtra takes a u-turn: no duty waiver for airport (http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=81534)

The Maharashtra cabinet on Wednesday took a major decision not to provide stamp duty waiver of Rs 200-400 crore to the private developer during the proposed improvement of Mumbai airport. The cabinet chaired by chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh took a stand that such a sop was not required for the private developer with 74% equity in the build operate transfer (BOT) project.

The cabinet was unanimous that there was enough scope for the private developer to commercially exploit the land and in such case the stamp duty waiver was not needed.

With Wednesday’s cabinet stand the Mumbai airport improvement project, the brainchild of civil aviation minister Praful Patel, may not take off.

The civil aviation minister had called upon the state government to provide stamp duty waiver for the private developer at the time of transfer of airport land. Currently, the state government charges 2% stamp duty on such transfer deals. The ministry had noted that the Delhi government had already given such sop for Delhi airport improvement.

Ah the tragic saga that Indian airports are.

kronik

February 3rd, 2005, 12:15 AM

Airports regulator Bill in Budget session (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=179782&leftnm=lmnu2&leftindx=2&lselect=0)

A Bill to set up an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) for the aviation sector is likely to be introduced during the coming Budget session of Parliament.

The AERA would be regulating the economic affairs of the sector, Ajay Prasad, secretary, ministry of civil aviation, said today at the National Conference of Transport Infrastructure and Logistics Network organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

Being of the view that an independent regulator is required, the government is pushing for greater private participation in air-services operations and developing airport infrastructure.

Prasad also said the government was expecting to complete the first phase of modernisation of the Delhi airport by 2009, well ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

"After the completion of the first phase, the terminal will have the capacity to handle traffic till 2015. It will be ready before the Commonwealth Games 2010," Prasad said.

"We expect the modernisation project to start by middle 2006. In the case of the Delhi airport, the government and the private sector partner will decide the first phase and will complete it by 2009," Prasad said.

He also said the government was considering a new airport in Mumbai as it was of the opinion that the existing airport would outgrow its capacity by 2019.

According to Prasad, the government will give certain concessions to the private players in the airports venture to ensure that their commercial interests are not hurt.

Prasad also said the plan for the Delhi airport included a new parallel runway and high-speed taxiways for easier aircraft movements.

He also said as part of the modernisation project, the government was considering to upgrade airports at Thiruvananthapuram and Ahmedabad through a public-private participation route.

drwho

February 3rd, 2005, 06:11 PM

I don't believe thay have purchased such aircrafts. They will probably go for the dry lease mode.

I am hoping these two airlines will change the perception about airlines from India.

ok looks like we have some deals on our way.

Jet and Sahara in race to lease A340, B777 for London flights
03 February 2005
The Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Jet Airways and Air Sahara are negotiating with South African Airlines for lease of Airbus A340 aircraft as they bid to launch flights to London and other long-haul destinations.

With the government having cleared both of them for operating flights to London, the two airlines are in a fiery race to lease Boeing B777 aircraft too from the international market, industry sources said.

full story:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1009733.cms

drwho

February 3rd, 2005, 06:22 PM

nova

February 4th, 2005, 01:36 PM

Budget carrier JetStar Asia to fly to new Asian destinations

JetStar Asia is set to become the first Singapore-based budget carrier to fly to India.

Its COO Con Korfiatis revealed on Thursday that the carrier has received air rights to Kolkatta.

full story:http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/130715/1/.html

Argh, when will they get rights to Delhi & Mumbai?? They'll help to reduce the ridiculous fares on the India-Singapore sector..

Anyway, a closer look at the article says they've only received rights from the Singapore side - India still has to clear it. Let's see how serious Mr Patel is..

drwho

February 4th, 2005, 01:55 PM

Argh, when will they get rights to Delhi & Mumbai?? They'll help to reduce the ridiculous fares on the India-Singapore sector..

Anyway, a closer look at the article says they've only received rights from the Singapore side - India still has to clear it. Let's see how serious Mr Patel is..

Yeap,now it is up to the Gov to okay it. This will bring more competition and dynamic on India-SG route.
Jet Airways has got green light to fly to Singapore.

Suncity

February 4th, 2005, 02:32 PM

drwho

February 4th, 2005, 03:00 PM

Suncity

February 4th, 2005, 03:24 PM

hm thats strange..have to check it out.Doesnt MAS and SIA(Malaysian Airlines and Singapore Airlines) fly to Kolkata?

Looks like that news item has been removed.

Yes MAS and SIA fly to Kolkata. So does Thai.

Indiawala

February 4th, 2005, 05:16 PM

Madhusudhan

February 4th, 2005, 05:21 PM

Hello there guys and gals...I apologize if this question has been asked and answered before but I looked for it without any luck. I had visited hyderabad a couple of years ago and was told that the Begumpet Airport was to shifted to a new ultra modern airport someplace outside the city. Any info on this new airport? Has construction began? How big is it going to be and are there any models out there? Also does anyone have a map to the location with respect to the rest of the city?

thanks everyone

santosh

All the paperwork for the project is in place. Even MoU's have been signed, and feasibility studies are complete. Whether actual construction has started or not at the Shamsabad site, I can't affirm. But in all likelihood, Hyderabad's airport will come up before Bangalore's.

drwho

February 4th, 2005, 05:59 PM

The intresting thing is...go to google on news search and type " hyderabad-international-airport " and this will show up:

>MAHB ready to build LCC terminal
>New Straits Times, Malaysia - Jan 18, 2005
>... KLIA. On the international front, Bashir said the construction of the new >Hyderabad International Airport will start next month. ...

the link doesnt seem to work but looking at it,it says the u/c will start next month. We need more sources on this tough.One thing is for sure as Madhusudhan pointed out..the u/c of HIAL will start before Bangalore.

Sridhar

February 4th, 2005, 06:21 PM

Tintin27

February 4th, 2005, 06:47 PM

I read in an article in which an AAI official said that the Kolkata airport cannot take any new airlines (?) in the international terminal, till a new one is built. Now that doesn't make sense and it may be a case of journalist misquotation/misinterpretation. Because the same AAI official was talking of the Jetstar proposal a few days back.

BTW Jetstar fares will be about Rs 10,000 return as per reports.

****************
I have noticed in kolkata that the domestic terminal was not built in a way that it could be expanded in the future. Now, there is no room for expansion and I have no idea how they are going to get more room until and unless they demolish the old int terminal. As of now, there are only 3 aerobridges at the domestic terminal and AAI thought that was good enough for kolkata when they built it knowing that kolkata airport will never catch up with mumbai or delhi

Suncity

February 4th, 2005, 08:07 PM

I have noticed in kolkata that the domestic terminal was not built in a way that it could be expanded in the future. Now, there is no room for expansion and I have no idea how they are going to get more room until and unless they demolish the old int terminal. As of now, there are only 3 aerobridges at the domestic terminal and AAI thought that was good enough for kolkata when they built it knowing that kolkata airport will never catch up with mumbai or delhi

Kolkata will have 7 aerobridges (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1010893.cms) in the domestic terminal by 2007.

The international terminal (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1008168.cms) will be demolished to build a new international terminal designed by French firm Aéroports de Paris.

Suncity

February 5th, 2005, 04:44 PM

Air Sahara launches first air hub

Air Sahara on Saturday launched the country's first organised domestic and international `hub' services at Hyderabad aiming at improving air connectivity and cutting down travel time.

In the first phase, the airline would operate 126 flights connecting 14 destinations including Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Coimbatore and Lucknow while in the second phase Kathmandu and Colombo will be connected.

Sahara also intends to connect the hub to destinations like London, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore once all government approvals are received. A massive infrastructure, including hangars and additional lounges, will be developed to handle increased traffic.

Details at http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1012346.cms

Though the hub was officially launched today, services to some sectors began on February 3 on a trial basis and there was an overwhelming response of 73 per cent load factor.

Tintin27

February 5th, 2005, 09:37 PM

Kolkata will have 7 aerobridges (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1010893.cms) in the domestic terminal by 2007.

The international terminal (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1008168.cms) will be demolished to build a new international terminal designed by French firm Aéroports de Paris.

7 aerobridges to a terminal handling flights from all over india especially when there are more flights to come when new airlines take off. I have no idea why AAI doesn think long term plan and build atleast something like 15, which is more of an apporpriate for a terminal of an imp airport like kolkata..
Sun city, do you think kolkata airport has enough space to build bigger terminals? or they have to shift to a new place in the future for a new airport if they need to increase the size of the terminal??

Madhusudhan

February 5th, 2005, 10:35 PM

Yeah it's really pathetic that Indian airports are not planned with the future in mind. Agreed, land acquisitions and other assorted problems add to the woes, but atleast passenger comfort should be attended to. There's no reason for check-in passengers to wait standingly for long hours in queues, for two to three procedures, before entering into the waiting lounge. The reception area should be large enough to accomodate a thousand or so people minimum. Of course it goes without saying, that lighting and proper ventilation are a must along with pleasing environs and comfy seats.

Similarly, for offloading passengers, terminal buildings should have more aerobridges, and the immigrations area should be accordingly expanded. After all, after a long flight the last thing a passenger wants to think about is, how best can he manipulated long serpentine queues?

The discomfort of late incoming and outgoing flights, should be countered by atleast more than decent airport terminals and facilities.

Suncity

February 5th, 2005, 11:36 PM

7 aerobridges to a terminal handling flights from all over india especially when there are more flights to come when new airlines take off. I have no idea why AAI doesn think long term plan and build atleast something like 15, which is more of an apporpriate for a terminal of an imp airport like kolkata..

The domestic terminal building probably can have no more than seven aerobridges. They may have to expand this one or build a new terminal building to increase capacity.

Sun city, do you think kolkata airport has enough space to build bigger terminals? or they have to shift to a new place in the future for a new airport if they need to increase the size of the terminal??

I have not heard of any new airport plans. What do you think?

drwho

February 6th, 2005, 01:58 AM

Not really. Bangalore's airport will reach financial closure before the one in Hyderabad and construction will also start a little bit earlier. The plan is to achieve financial closure for Bangalore by the end of this month. For Hyderabad, the process of financial closure is yet to begin, though they may move quickly because there are few (if any) bottlenecks.

Of course, if you count the time from the inititiation of the project to completion, Bangalore would have taken way longer than Hyderabad.

thnxs for the info Sridhar,

one question that i have ,what is the reason for HIAL moving faster trough beuraucracy than BIAL?

Is it the case that BIAL is a private-gov project and HIAL is totally private or am i missing something?

drwho

February 6th, 2005, 11:34 AM

Remember the talk about Air India Express?
well i guess this is it:)

http://tinypic.com/1jx37m
http://tinypic.com/1jx384
http://tinypic.com/1jx3e0

Madhusudhan

February 6th, 2005, 11:41 AM

Remember the talk about Air India Express?
well i guess this is it:)

http://tinypic.com/1jx37m
http://tinypic.com/1jx384
http://tinypic.com/1jx3e0

I love the livery: must be the first all saffron tail anywhere in the world!:laugh:

Btw, those planes look like the old A300's? Is Air India thinking of creating another Air Alliance? ;)

drwho

February 6th, 2005, 11:44 AM

I love the livery: must be the first all saffron tail anywhere in the world!:laugh:

Btw, those planes look like the old A300's? Is Air India thinking of creating another Air Alliance? ;)

yeap Safron tail...Modi will love it;)

I dunno the story behind the AI-express...but i guess it is their new LCC.btw the planes are 737-800s
:)

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 03:10 PM

That looks cool man!!!

Madhusudhan

February 6th, 2005, 04:10 PM

Do we have any info as to how many planes they're going to start their operations with?

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 05:03 PM

Do we have any info as to how many planes they're going to start their operations with?

Plans:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/17/stories/2005011700810600.htm

Mr V. Thulasidas, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India interview

When do you expect to get approval for the 18 B737-800 aircraft for AI Express?

We hope to get the approval by March 31. Then, we will finalise the terms and conditions of the purchase before placing a supply order. Delivery would begin 12 months hence. We expect to receive the first of the B737-800 by the summer of 2006. These aircraft have a capacity to carry about 180 passengers in the economy class.

Reality:

I read somewhere that they are planning to start operations with three dry leased aircraft. With the boom in the airline industry it seems even leases are difficult to get nowadays.

What's the deal?

Time will tell. Hopefully the government wont sit on the plans forever as has generally been the sad story of IA and IC.

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 05:06 PM

Some relevant news with regard to AI - Express

http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13664217

Air Arabia announces low-cost daily flights to India

Sunday, 06 February , 2005, 18:50

Sharjah: UAE's Air Arabia, the first low-cost airline from the Middle East, on Sunday announced it will operate daily flights to Mumbai from next month, a move which will pose a stiff challenge to national carriers Air India and Indian Airlines.

The keenly awaited flight schedules and fares for India will be announced later this month.

The arrival of Air Arabia may expedite the launch of Air India's own low-cost version Air Express set to start operations in April and may well trigger off a price war, airline sources said, adding low-cost airlines were good news for Indian tourism.

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 08:02 PM

I dunno the story behind the AI-express...but i guess it is their new LCC.btw the planes are 737-800s
:)

yeah they are 737-800

Indiawala

February 6th, 2005, 08:06 PM

This might be a silly question...but what is the difference between the regular Air India flights and the Air India Express flights ?

seth

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 08:13 PM

what is the difference between the regular Air India flights and the Air India Express flights ?

seth

AI express is the low cost carrier of Air India. It will emulate the low cost no frills model. A lot of low cost international airlines are knocking at the doors of India especially ones from the Gulf region and SE Asia. AI Express will provide the competition. AI Express will concentrate on those two regions initially.

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 08:18 PM

NDTV (http://www.ndtv.com/money/templatebusiness.asp?slug=Jet+plans+Singapore+flight&template=Aviationpolicy&callid=5&id=23613) reports that Jet Airways, which has been granted seven flights to London, is close to finalising a lease agreement for three Airbus A340 aircraft to operate the daily service to London from March 27, once necessary approvals are in place, airline sources said.

The daytime flight is to depart around noon and on the return leg arrive here around 11 a.m., the sources added.

The Airline is also planning to introduce its international services to Singapore from March 27.

drwho

February 6th, 2005, 08:21 PM

^^ hey thats great news..so they went for Airbus:)

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 08:36 PM

^^ hey thats great news..so they went for Airbus:)

Yeah. Though I am kind of wondering that since they have generally bought Boeings before, why the Airbus decision. Maybe because leases are not easily available now?

drwho

February 6th, 2005, 08:51 PM

Yeah. Though I am kind of wondering that since they have generally bought Boeings before, why the Airbus decision. Maybe because leases are not easily available now?

could be
or SA-airlines gave the best deal.. i find A340 to look more cool than the 777.
(my pro-euro fealings start to show again?);)Tough,in the economic sense i dont know wich is more effective

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 09:01 PM

could be
or SA-airlines gave the best deal.. i find A340 to look more cool than the 777.
(my pro-euro fealings start to show again?);)Tough,in the economic sense i dont know wich is more effective

As long as they fly us at a reasonable price and treat uswell, I don't care if an airline flies Boeing or Airbus.

:)

Suncity

February 6th, 2005, 10:45 PM

Air Sahara plans

The Hyderbad hub graphic

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/06/images/2005020602120101.jpg

Air Sahara is planning 3 daily flights to Singapore — one each from Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad, 14 weekly flights to Bangkok and and 7 weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur from April. Of course, it requires the civil aviation ministry’s permission for this. They are apprehensive about what allotments they will get in comparison to Jet Airways. They got 2 to Jet's 7 for London.

Air Sahara has a $20 million investment plan for the next three years, It plans to induct five more Boeings and three more A310s to its fleet by this December.

It is also planning to raise the number of operating flights to 140 at Hyderabad hub from next month.

Details at http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=64224

centralized pandemonium

February 7th, 2005, 03:14 AM

Remember the talk about Air India Express?
well i guess this is it:)

http://tinypic.com/1jx37m
http://tinypic.com/1jx384
http://tinypic.com/1jx3e0

What airport is that?

drwho

February 7th, 2005, 03:17 AM

^^^Seattle (i think)

Suncity

February 7th, 2005, 04:26 PM

Here comes SpiceJet!

Royal Airways Ltd on Monday announced the launch of its new low-fares, no frills, brand SpiceJet. The airline is basically a re-launch of ModiLuft, a local carrier promoted by industrialist S K Modi that went bust in 1996.

The company is in talks for leasing three to five B737-800s and plans to start operations from mid May.

"The growing Indian middle class can look forward to not just low air fares but also to world-class standards in safety, efficiency and customer care", said Royal Airways' chief executive officer, Mr Mark Winders.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/09071706.htm

http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/07royal.htm

Suncity

February 7th, 2005, 04:32 PM

Jet Airways and Air Sahara - ups and downs continue

Highlights of today's government approvals

- Jet Airways and Air Sahara can fly on the Chennai - Kuala Lumpur route.

- Jet Airways can fly on Mumbai - Singapore route.

- Air Sahara can fly between Delhi and Singapore.

- There were no routes/capacity left for Jet and Sahara to fly to Bangkok.

- Hong Kong has not amended the bilateral agreement to accomodate the private airlines.

monyaam

February 7th, 2005, 04:33 PM

Lufthansa plans 35 flights between India, Germany

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/07luft.htm

Lufthansa would increase its total number of flights between India and Germany to 35 from February 18 and add Hyderabad as its fifth destination.

"Lufthansa will add three more flights taking the number to 35 between India and Germany from February 18 and add Hyderabad as its fifth destination," the German airlines general manager (passenger sales India and director South Asia) Werner Heesen told PTI on the sidelines of a business session organised by Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai on Monday.
Earlier speaking at the session, Heesen said it would fly 42 flights per week by the end of 2007 and also explore new destinations in due course.

"The market share of Lufthansa has shot up to 12.3 per cent in 2004 from 8.5 per cent in 2002. We are planning to have daily flights to all Lufthansa destinations in India by 2007," he said.

The company would also extend the services of its catering division - Lufthansa Sky Chef - to Hyderabad, he said, adding Sky Chef now offers services at Bangalore.

Referring to an MoU with Air-India for cooperation on air traffic, Heesen said both airlines were aiming at further expanding air traffic between India and Germany.

"Lufthansa will further strengthen its position in India by rolling out a new premium product," he added.

However, Heesen did not divulge the details of the new product.

drwho

February 7th, 2005, 09:11 PM

Jet Airways IPO to open next week - sources

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050207/137/2jgs6.html

kronik

February 8th, 2005, 12:59 AM

Boeing sees India buying $35 bn aircraft in 20 yrs (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?hpFlag=Y&chklogin=N&autono=180180&leftnm=lmnu2&lselect=0&leftindx=2)

Boeing is “talking to all carriers in India," to sell its 777 long haul aircraft, and perhaps before this decade is out, the 7E7, an all composite aircraft that was more fuel-efficient and comfortable, the executive said. That the country had seen seat availability grow from 50,000 three years ago to 5,00,000 this year, was only the beginning.

Some time back, "We had estimated that in the coming years, India would need 317 aircraft worth some $25 billion." The growth would be such that Indian commercial airliners would be able to absorb even more aircraft, worth an additional $10 billion, Keskar said.

drwho

February 8th, 2005, 01:13 AM

i wonder what kind of color they will use on the plane..lets hope they are spicey!;)

Here comes SpiceJet!

Royal Airways Ltd on Monday announced the launch of its new low-fares, no frills, brand SpiceJet. The airline is basically a re-launch of ModiLuft, a local carrier promoted by industrialist S K Modi that went bust in 1996.

The company is in talks for leasing three to five B737-800s and plans to start operations from mid May.

"The growing Indian middle class can look forward to not just low air fares but also to world-class standards in safety, efficiency and customer care", said Royal Airways' chief executive officer, Mr Mark Winders.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/09071706.htm

http://in.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/07royal.htm

Suncity

February 8th, 2005, 01:26 AM

i wonder what kind of color they will use on the plane..lets hope they are spicey!;)

Let's hope. The website still has the Royal Airways stuff.

http://www.spicejet.com/

Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=180133) reports that they will start flying on the Delhi Kolkata, Delhi Mumbai, Delhi Bangalore and Delhi Chennai routes. But they got the aircraft wrong as 747-400 [typo?]. Most other newsreports say it's 737-800 which is 99% probable.

drwho

February 8th, 2005, 02:29 AM

Let's hope. The website still has the Royal Airways stuff.

http://www.spicejet.com/

Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?storyflag=y&leftnm=lmnu1&leftindx=1&lselect=1&chklogin=N&autono=180133) reports that they will start flying on the Delhi Kolkata, Delhi Mumbai, Delhi Bangalore and Delhi Chennai routes. But they got the aircraft wrong as 747-400 [typo?]. Most other newsreports say it's 737-800 which is 99% probable.

yeap,hope they choose a new design

anyway,the Jet Airways IPO is intresting,first time a indian airline will go for IPO to raise cash
:)

kronik

February 8th, 2005, 03:38 AM

gyrations95

February 8th, 2005, 03:47 AM

Both Spice Jet and AI Express look very spicey :)

Suncity

February 8th, 2005, 04:51 AM

isnt this their livery from the site? I think they are progressively updating the site. Right now all it has are numerous job openings!

http://www.spicejet.com/home/images/img_03.gif

I like the AI Express more.

Looks like they are slowly bringing up the site.

I like this one.

Kingfisher is a bit over the top but catches your eye.

http://img118.exs.cx/img118/1035/kingfisher11rr.jpg

But AI Express beats them all!

Jai

February 8th, 2005, 05:56 AM

meanwhile, some excellent news.......

Srinagar airport to go international (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1002674.cms)

Two Thumbs up.
Go Armed Forces!

http://www.hindustantimes.com/wfsf/high/2005/01.30/images/high1220419.jpg

kronik

February 8th, 2005, 06:13 AM

sweet picture Jai.

with regards the aircraft liveries, whats with the emphasis on the color red?

all three have logos in red, and it is the major color in the designs.

Madhusudhan

February 8th, 2005, 08:45 AM

http://www.hindustantimes.com/wfsf/high/2005/01.30/images/high1220419.jpg

Looks good in the Kashmiri environs. I can assure you it will be built in double fast time! :)

monyaam

February 8th, 2005, 07:10 PM

Airbus plans training centre in India

February 08, 2005 15:27 IST

European aircraft maker Airbus on Tuesday said it is planning to set up a training centre in India and announced expansion of its tie-up with Bangalore-based VidhyaCom Technologies to provide engineering services and illustrations for the double-deck A-380 aircraft.

"We are looking at having a specific training centre in India," David Vellupillai, regional press manager of Airbus, which has training centres at Toulouse in France, Beijing and Miami, told reporters on the eve of AeroIndia 2005.

The location had not been decided, he said, but indicated that Bangalore "is one of the possibilities". "We are still in the early stages of looking at the center." He declined to share more details, saying, "studies have not been finished".

He also announced that Airbus has chosen VidhyaCom Technologies, a niche company working with the European aircraft maker since 1998, to provide engineering services and illustrations for A-380 under a new agreement.

VidhyaCom, so far involved in technical publishing and training, would now help create illustrations and drawings that go into various A-380 technical manuals with the work to be performed at its development centre in Bangalore.

On Indian Airlines' $2 billion deal for Airbus' 43 A-320 aircraft to replace the older aircraft, for which the Public Investment Board had granted approval in November 2004, he said, "we are in discusions with Indian Airlines to finalise that deal". IA flies 44 Airbus A-320s now.

Asked about selling its military transport A-400 aircraft to the Indian Air Force, he said Airbus was not actively promoting it in India. But "IAF is a potential customer in the longer run," he said.

drwho

February 8th, 2005, 11:07 PM

Jai> now thats a wonderful pic!! :okay:

drwho

February 9th, 2005, 01:04 AM

Maditssia plea for air links

The Maditssia President, Mr S. Aravind, in a statement, while expressing happiness over the Tiruchi Airport being noted among such destinations, has appealed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation to link Madurai Airport to Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo as most of the passengers are from south Tamil Nadu.

--------

Air Arabia announces daily flights to Mumbai

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/02/09/stories/2005020901360700.htm

--------

drwho

February 9th, 2005, 12:34 PM

Boeing to sell up to 20 737-800s to India's Royal
.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050209/137/2jhwt.html

Embraer drafts deal with India on warning system[/b]

http://in.news.yahoo.com/050209/137/2jhq6.html

kshatriya

February 9th, 2005, 12:57 PM

Airports at Navi Mumbai and Nagpur (7 Feb 2005)
PM News Bureau

Recent meetings between Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilas Deshmukh have decided in principle to construct international airports at Navi Mumbai and Nagpur (apart from Pune).
An international agency is examining the right location in the Navi Mumbai area. The project, costing Rs 3,230 crore, will require about 950 hectares, and will be completed in seven-eight years.
Also, the Union government expects to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the state for construction of the airport near the proposed Nagpur cargo hub.

Pune international airport may have two runways (7 Feb 2005)
PM News Bureau

Fortunately for Maharashtra, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel belongs to the state, and this may help the proposed airport at Chakan, near Pune. The Airports Authority of India will submit within a week a revised feasibility study for the project with two runways to the Civil Aviation Ministry. Though the Pune international airport project had earlier received the consent of the government, a fresh rider posed by the Civil Aviation Ministry that all greenfield airports should have two runways, delayed the entire process. MIDC had proposed the project with a single runway.
Already 750 hectares have been earmarked for the project, and with an additional runway being proposed, extra 200 hectares are required. Also, environment clearance may have to be approached afresh. The ambitious project is expected to cost Rs 550 crore.

Jaipur airport to be upgraded (7 Feb 2005)
PM News Bureau

With the number of foreign tourists visiting Rajasthan increasing day by day, the state administration is taking steps to make tourists comfortable. One of steps is to upgrade Jaipur airport into an international one. The Civil Aviation Ministry is reportedly positive about the idea and the state government expects to get approval soon. The Jaipur airport runway has been extended to 9,000 ft. In addition, 14 airstrips in the state are being developed to make them suitable for air taxi landing.

Bangalore airport project (7 Feb 2005)

Financial closure of the Banga-lore international airport is likely to happen in March. According to the state government there are three more agreements to be signed before the financial closure is achieved. The state government has handed over 3,284 acres through land lease agreement while the rest is in the process of being handed over.

International airport at Chandigarh (7 Feb 2005)
PM News Bureau

After Pune and Bangalore, it is now the turn of the Union Territory of Chandigarh to plan an international airport.
The proposed international airport will connect northern states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. The Chandigarh administration is in touch with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. An elaborate blueprint has been prepared for the project.

Suncity

February 9th, 2005, 05:50 PM

centralized pandemonium

February 9th, 2005, 06:01 PM

US offers latest F-16s, P3C Orion variants

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 09, 2005 01:04:28 AM]

BANGALORE: The Americans are looking at India as a potential market for their military aircraft. The avian relationship between the two countries has been practically limited to commercial airliners till now.

But now, the US and the Indian governments are in touch over the possible sale of the latest generation of F16 (Block 52) fighter jets, P3C Orion and new generation Hercules transporters.

The Indian Air Force has floated a request for information (RIF) document with several potential suppliers including the US for acquiring an estimated 126 multi-role fighter planes, an order which may have more follow-ons, Lockheed Martin’s vice-president, business development, Dennys S Plessas told ET.

The planes being eyed are the latest version powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. Market estimates place the worth of deal at over a billion dollars.

The US has sold over 4,400 F16s till now to 24 countries, and the Indian government’s decision to consider the aircraft is a strategic shift in its defence policy. Other planes which may be under consideration include fighter lines from France, Russia and Sweden.

Two other programmes which are being seriously discussed with the Indian defence agencies include the supply of C103J Hercules transport aircraft for the IAF and the P3Orion maritime patrol planes for the navy.

The air force is looking 6-12 large transporters for special mission applications and heavy payload capabilities. The C130J, which has 20 ton payload capacity, is used by the American special forces for tactical missions.

It can fly at low altitude and is used for troop and equipment movement. More than 2000 Hercules have been sold till now.

The Indian Navy is considering purchase of 8-12 latest version used P3C aircraft from the US navy for special missions. The Orions used by the American forces offers anti-submarine warfare programmes.

A US navy team is visiting India after this week’s air show in Bangalore to take the talks further with its counterparts here. The American aircraft maker will look at involving HAL and other Indian vendors in the local assembly of the F16s, after the initial direct supplies are over.

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NEWS/newsrf.php?newsid=1239

centralized pandemonium

February 9th, 2005, 06:39 PM

Should India buy those F-16's?

Suncity

February 9th, 2005, 07:39 PM

Surprising to see that the Babus and Netas who milk Air India and Indian Airlines have brought these two airlines to such a situation. It's like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.

The tragic story of Indian Airlines Kolkata

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1015549.cms

As foreign carriers from Malaysia and Singapore jostle for additional landing rights and domestic airlines Jet Airways and Air Sahara queue up with more frequencies, Indian Airlines can do little but watch helplessly at the shrinking pie over the Kolkata sky.

The anger is at the quiet withdrawal of an Airbus-320 aircraft from the region. The aircraft, withdrawn three months after being based in Kolkata, forced IA to curtail services on several sectors including Port Blair, Mumbai and Bagdogra. Instead of the earlier 11 flights a week, Port Blair is now served six times a week by Alliance Air's Boeing 737-200.

The Kolkata-Mumbai sector has also taken a hit with the proposed third frequency postponed indefinitely. "The flights, both to and from Mumbai, have consistently carried a load factor of over 85 per cent. We've been pleading for a flight for nearly a year," an IA source said.

Senior officials said while IA was hamstrung with paucity of aircraft, competitors Jet and Sahara took advantage of the surplus demand situation. Not just domestic, even plans on the international sector have been grounded by the aircraft crunch. The Kolkata office had all but sealed plans to introduce six flights a week to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

"It's indeed disheartening to watch all the action and not be a part of it," IA officials said, pointing to the bureaucratic red tape that had held up its fleet renewal plan for nearly a decade. The airline has been leasing planes to mitigate the crisis of late.

drwho

February 10th, 2005, 02:46 AM

^^ that article makes me mad.It shows that it is not the Gov job to run companies,it is the market who takes care of that.

Sadly our politicans are killing the PSUs..

Either they give PSUs more freedom or privatize everything.

centralized pandemonium

February 10th, 2005, 03:15 AM

Aero India show off to flying start

February 09, 2005 14:37 IST
Last Updated: February 09, 2005 15:39 IST

The Aero India 2005 show, where dozens of global military and civil aircraft-makers showcase their products, started in Bangalore on Wednesday.

A formation of three Indian Air Force Mi-8 helicopters in the national tricolour and ensigns of the IAF and the aero show marked the start of the five-day event at the Yelahanka airbase, 25 km from Bangalore.

A low-speed formation of three aircraft -- the homegrown Advanced Light Aircraft, the Kiran trainer and the Sukhoi-30 MKI -- flying at a low altitude, gave the audience a taste of things to come.

It was followed by the Intermediate Jet Trainer, the indigenous aircraft being built to train IAF pilots.

When the Tu-142 took to the skies, the dignitaries were reminded that it was the 'albatross of the Indian Navy', which could fly non-stop for over 18 hours.

India's latest acquisition, the Russian-made IL-78 air-to-air refueller, tugged two Mirage 2000 fighters taking fuel over the skies.

An arrowhead formation of three Jaguar aircraft was tailed by three prototypes of Tejas, the homegrown Light Combat Aircraft in the Indian tricolour.

Tejas, the tailless, delta-winged, fly-by-wire, single-engine supersonic fighter, being developed by Department of Research and Development Organisation's Aeronautical Development Agency, made its maiden fight on January 4, 2001 and is expected to replace the IAF's MiG fleet from the next decade.

http://us.rediff.com/news/2005/feb/09aero.htm

centralized pandemonium

February 10th, 2005, 03:17 AM

Aviation firms eye booming India
Aero India 2005
Aero India is seen as a big business opportunity
India's defence minister has opened the country's Aero India 2005 air show with an invitation for global aerospace firms to outsource jobs to the nation.

Pranab Mukherjee said such companies could take advantage of India's highly skilled workers and low wages.

More than 240 civil and military aerospace firms from 31 countries are attending the show.

Analysts said India could spend up to $35bn (£18.8bn) in the aviation market over the next 20 years.

Giants such Boeing and Airbus - on the civil aviation front - as well as Lockheed Martin and France's Snecma - on the military side - are some of the firms attending the show.

"There is tremendous scope for outsourcing from India in areas where the companies are competitive," said Mr Mukerjee.

"We are keen to welcome international collaborations that are in conformity with our national goals."

Military deals

Lockheed said it had signed an agreement with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) to share information on the P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.

US F-15
The US is keen to sell its aircraft to India

In fact, the Indian Armed Force is considering the buying of used P-3 Orion as well as F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed.

The US military industry has show a strong interest to open a link with India, now that relations between the two countries have improved a lot.

In fact, it is the first time the US Air Force will attend the air show since sanctions imposed in 1998 after India's nuclear tests were lifted.

But the Indian Air Force is also considering proposals from other foreign firms such as France's Dassault Aviation, Sweden's Gripen and Russia's Mikoyan-Gurevich.

Meanwhile, France's Snecma has also said it plans a joint venture with HAL to make engine parts, with an initial investment of $6.5m.

Boeing and Airbus

On the civilian front, Boeing announced a deal with India's HCL Technologies to develop a platform for the flight test system of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The US company also said it had agreed with a new Indian budget airline the sale of 10 737-800 planes for $630m.

The airline, SpiceJet, will also have the option to acquire 10 more aircrafts.

Airbus has also recently signed fresh deals with two Indian airlines - Air Deccan and Kingfisher.

In addition, the European company has plans to open a training centre in India.

Meanwhile, flag carrier Air India is considering to buy 50 new aircraft from either Boeing or Airbus.

"No other market is going to see the growth that will be seen here in the coming years," said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president Boeing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4250223.stm

centralized pandemonium

February 10th, 2005, 04:55 AM

Raise these skies

The civil aviation boom reflects the pent-up demand of a nation that’s been in denial

The Economic Survey in the run-up to the July 2004 Budget had revealed that a comprehensive civil aviation policy based on the Naresh Chandra Committee recommendations was on the cards. The decision to bring a new Bill in the coming Budget session that will engender a Civil Aviation Economic Regulatory Authority is of a piece with that intent and is to be celebrated as evidence of the current boom in the Indian aviation sector as indeed the UPA government’s commitment to reforming it.

Today, the multiplier effects of opening up this sector are there for the world to see — and, as the Bangalore air show indicates, the world is watching. Reform has shored up the bottomlines of the national carriers, Air-India and Indian Airlines, even as private players have registered steady growth. The latter now account for over 60 per cent of domestic air traffic, with new players constantly flying in. Apart from the three older private airlines, Jet Airways, Air Sahara and Deccan Air, which are busy spreading their wings — Jet Airways’ IPO is to open next week — emerging ones like Royal Airways and Kingfisher Airways are presently hard at work acquiring new aircraft. And there is always room for more. According to projections, over the next five years, India would need 200 additional aircraft to the 100-odd that are now in operation. This would demand a quantum leap in airport infrastructure and here, too, there has been progress. While the international airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore are taking shape, the Rs 20,000 crore project of modernising and restructuring the Delhi and Mumbai airports is expected to take off by the middle of this year. Another 80 airports around the country are also in the queue for modernisation. An independent regulatory authority to effect a level playing field and to ensure both accountability and transparency in this rapidly growing sector is, therefore, certainly the need of the moment.

It would have been difficult to envisage this sea — or should that be air? — change even a decade ago. Today’s civil aviation boom reflects the pent-up demand of a nation that has been in denial for decades; one that was caught in the snarls of the old licence-quota bureaucracy. It should prompt a serious rethink among those who are sceptical of economic reform and encourage the opening up of sectors that have thus far resisted change.

http://indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=64356

Suncity

February 10th, 2005, 05:08 AM

Raise these skies

Today’s civil aviation boom reflects the pent-up demand of a nation that has been in denial for decades; one that was caught in the snarls of the old licence-quota bureaucracy. It should prompt a serious rethink among those who are sceptical of economic reform and encourage the opening up of sectors that have thus far resisted change.

http://indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=64356

How True.

But the Left Dosage:

1) Tax the aviation sector even more to generate money for the "poor" [actually the mantri's pockets].
2) Don't allow privatization of airports to protect "national" interests [rather trade union interests].
3) Don't allow privatization of airlines [but let them run a shoddy service and give the netas free tickets]
4) Don't allow private airlines to fly aboard.

In brief put leftist rhetoric and party interests ahead of national interests. But at press conferences claim that it is all in the interest of the nation!

centralized pandemonium

February 10th, 2005, 05:10 AM

Do you guys really think that MMS & C0 are really paying attention to the left. It seems that they willl be carrying out major reforms.

gyrations95

February 10th, 2005, 05:23 AM

The left seem to be in a lose lose situation. They can't go with communal forces and MMS and co won't take no for answer. Advantage India. Nice article by Indian Express.

Suncity

February 10th, 2005, 05:23 AM

Do you guys really think that MMS & C0 are really paying attention to the left. It seems that they willl be carrying out major reforms.

Hopefully MMS and CO will steer clear of Left rhetoric. Even within the left there are divisions. Plus the Left's hands are tied. If it withdraws its support the government may fall and the NDA may come back to power. Then people opposed to the NDA will blame the Left for back stabbing.

The Left is used to the politics of opposition. Now they are going through the most embarrasiing phase of their existence. Here is MMS and Co proposing things that the Left would oppose on a massive scale if the NDA had done the same thing. Now they are having to swallow sugar coated bitter pills prescribed by MMS and Co. It serves them right.

And for India it is good, because the Left is being forced to be part of the reforms process.

kshatriya

February 10th, 2005, 05:28 AM

Airport privatisation may be stalled
By: Deepak Lokhande
February 10, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed privatisation of the Mumbai airport may not take off at all as the Maharashtra Cabinet has thumbed down the stamp duty waiver for the new subsidiary company.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages over 130 airports in the country, decided to privatise Mumbai and Delhi airports, following which the state governments of Maharashtra and Delhi had agreed in principle to grant the stamp duty waiver to the special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up by the AAI for privatising and revamping the airports.

The plan would have been executed immediately if the waiver had been accepted.

According to the proposal, the AAI would set up an SPV to carry out the task and the airport land was to be transferred to this new company. The expansion and modernisation of the airport was a mega deal of Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 7,000 crore.

The stamp duty for this was going to be at least Rs 250 crore and there was a strong dispute within the state administration over the waiver.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel persuaded Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to grant the waiver at the earliest, so that he could go ahead with opening of bids of intent on February 6.

But when the issue was discussed in an earlier Cabinet meeting, the proposal was thumbed down.

While Patel was not available for comment on the development, sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry said it was an unfortunate decision by the Maharashtra government.

‘‘There is no doubt that if the state government insists on recovering stamp duty, the modernisation of the Mumbai airport may never take off. There is no logic in applying the stamp duty since the deal was only notional. The proposed land transfer will happen between the government companies. The land would remain unused if the airport is not developed. In its haste to exploit as much as it can, the state government has sought to kill the hen — a new ultra-modern airport — that will bring golden eggs. It is simply irrational,’’ said sources.

Patel is likely to speak to the CM again on the issue and seek his intervention so that the plans for the new airport are finalised at the earliest.

http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2005/february/103307.htm

mcgrathin

February 10th, 2005, 09:36 AM

Hi,
Anybody knows the data about new cochin internatioanl airport?hope it is the first in its knd of airport built by private sector in india.right?

nova

February 10th, 2005, 11:50 AM

drwho

February 10th, 2005, 02:10 PM

Hopefully MMS and CO will steer clear of Left rhetoric. Even within the left there are divisions. Plus the Left's hands are tied. If it withdraws its support the government may fall and the NDA may come back to power. Then people opposed to the NDA will blame the Left for back stabbing.

The Left is used to the politics of opposition. Now they are going through the most embarrasiing phase of their existence. Here is MMS and Co proposing things that the Left would oppose on a massive scale if the NDA had done the same thing. Now they are having to swallow sugar coated bitter pills prescribed by MMS and Co. It serves them right.

And for India it is good, because the Left is being forced to be part of the reforms process.

True,
right now the dream would be the ultimate reform of them all,the liberalisation of labour laws.Tough i dont think the UPA will do it,we need NDA for that reform.

on my waiting list :
Liberalization of labour laws (hire and fire)
VAT (by 1 April)
74% FDI in every sector
IPO for AI (10% of the stake,hopefully by 2006)
major banking reforms.

centralized pandemonium

February 10th, 2005, 04:07 PM

Aviation policy by March end: Patel
Thursday, February 10, 2005:

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said today that a comprehensive aviation policy would be ready by March 31 this year.

He also said that the government proposed to introduce in the budget session of Parliament a bill providing for an independent regulator for the aviation sector.

Allowing private airlines to fly abroad, unbundling of the monopoly of oil PSUs and addressing the issue of a regulatory framework were part of the recommendations which needed "urgent attention and have already been taken into account", Patel said.

Independent regulator

Emphasising that an independent regulator was required in the aviation sector too, Patel said, "a bill will be introduced in the budget session of Parliament itself".

"The DGCA is a regulator. We are going to come out on how to strengthen the DGCA", he said.

The regulatory framework of DGCA needs to be strengthened and given more teeth, he added.

Noting that the central and state levies on aviation turbine fuel was high, he said it was 30 per cent in India as against 12 to 13 per cent internationally. (PTI)

http://www.ndtv.com/money/templatebusiness.asp?slug=Aviation+policy+by+March+end%3A+Patel&template=aviationpolicy&callid=5&id=23678

nova

February 11th, 2005, 03:45 AM

SpiceJet signs up for 10 Boeing 737-800s for $630 million

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Boeing Co. said on Wednesday it will sell 10 737-800 planes to Royal Airways Ltd. for $630 million for the Indian airline's new discount carrier, SpiceJet, and saw more such deals ahead.
Royal Airways has the option to buy 10 more 737-800s, the U.S. commercial jet maker said in a statement, coinciding with the Aero India industry show in Bangalore.

"In India, domestic growth in the industry is phenomenal. It is 20 percent, and Air-India is a big story as it needs 50 wide-bodied aircraft," Dinesh Keskar president of Boeing's aircraft trading business, told Reuters.

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=businessNews&storyID=7578558

They signed on for 10 additional planes as an option, according to ToI.

SpiceJet inks $1.26-bn deal with Boeing

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1016426.cms

NEW DELHI: The Seattle-based aircraft maker Boeing on Wednesday staged another victory in the no-frills airline market in India by bagging a $1.26 billion order for 20 passenger jets for a new low-cost carrier SpiceJet.

Spicejet is the airline brand for Royal Airways, which has for long been seeking to take to the Indian skies after acquiring the operator license from erstwhile Modiluft. The Airline is scheduled to take its maiden flight in May this year with a fleet of 3 leased B737-800 aircraft.

Boeing announced that SpiceJet has agreed to buy 10 B737-800 passenger jets — in an all-economy configuration — with an option to add 10 more planes to the shopping list. Though the total deal is worth $1.26 billion at list prices, the airline operator would be seeking price discounts on the order size.

This is the second big order for the mid-sized B737-800 — which can carry upto 189 passengers — from the host of new low-cost airlines that are preparing to take wings in the Indian skies this summer. Prior to this, Air India's low cost arm A-I Express had decided to buy 18 of these jets to start services on the southeast Asian and Gulf routes.

monyaam

February 11th, 2005, 04:43 PM

Jet plans to buy 10 Boeing 737s

February 11, 2005 17:25 IST

http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/feb/11jet1.htm

Jet Airways plans to acquire 10 Boeing 737NGs (new generation) from March 2006 and has proposed an outlay of Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) as expenditure towards purchasing slots at foreign airports, aircraft leasing and other infrastructural support.

The Boeing 737NG aircraft had been planned to be delivered between March 2006 and November 2007 and could cost upwards of $450 million, Saroj Dutta, executive director of Jet Airways told newspersons in Mumbai on Friday.

drwho

February 11th, 2005, 11:45 PM

///
Business Times - 11 Feb 2005

India to seek airport bids soon

Final offers will be invited for stakes in Mumbai, New Delhi airports this month

(NEW DELHI) India will invite final bids from companies this month for a stake in the Mumbai and New Delhi airports, the country's two biggest, as part of efforts to improve infrastructure.

Bidders will be given 12 weeks to make technical and financial offers, aviation minister Praful Patel said. 'This year itself we will have joint venture partners for both these airports,' he told reporters on Wednesday in Bangalore.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government is spending on transport links and other public works as India's fastest economic growth in 15 years strains power supplies and clogs roads, airports and ports.

India first sought bids for selling stakes in the two airports in June 2004. Fraport AG, Malaysia Airport, Singapore Changi Airport Enterprise Pte, Aeroports de Paris and five other companies participated in the initial round of bids, according to the government.

India expects air traffic to double to 90 million passengers by 2010 and needs US$7 billion in the next five years to fund the growth. The government plans to spend at least US$17 billion to upgrade roads, airports and ports by 2010, in an effort to make it easier for companies to do business in Asia's fourth-biggest economy.

Separately, India will decide on US$6 billion of aircraft purchases by Air India, the country's biggest overseas carrier, and Indian Airlines, India's second-biggest domestic airlines this year, Mr Patel said.

Air India wants to buy 18 Boeing 737-aircraft for its planned low-cost subsidiary and 50 planes by 2013 for adding more flights to countries such as Canada and Australia.

Indian Airlines is negotiating with Airbus, the world's biggest commercial plane maker, for 43 aircraft. The three contracts together may be worth about US$6 billion, Mr Patel said.

Air India's board will decide this month which planes to buy for its 50-aircraft order, while the Indian government's panel on investment by state-owned companies will consider the 18-plane order next week, he said.

The aviation ministry favours extending a ban on aircraft-leasing tax by one more year starting April 1, he added. India, in July, imposed a tax as high as 40 per cent on leasing of aircraft and decided to delay it until April. - Bloomberg

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

drwho

February 12th, 2005, 04:00 PM

Austrian Airlines proposes Mumbai service from May

"The country drew about 20,000 Indian visitors last year. The board expects this number to grow significantly next year when Austria celebrates the 250th anniversary of Mozart in 2006."

centralized pandemonium

February 12th, 2005, 06:37 PM

Airbus, Boeing eye India
Sandeep Phukan

Saturday, February 12, 2005 (Mumbai):

India is now the latest turf for a corporate war between plane makers, Boeing and Airbus, with each trying to impress the growing Indian market.

So if Airbus is talking about its latest superjumbo - the 550 seater Airbus A-380, Boeing's response is Boeing 7E7 and the 777 series, one of which has already been bought by Air India.

"We have upgraded our business forecast for India from $20 billion to $35 billion for the coming years,'' says Dinesh A Keskar, Senior Vice President.

Big plans

Airbus has already signed deals with Air Deccan, Kingfisher and Indian Airlines.

And Boeing has just announced a deal to supply 20 planes to Spicejet a low cost carrier starting this May.

Deals worth $1.7 billion have been firmed up by Boeing and Airbus. But the manufacturers are hoping to sell about 200 aircraft in India over the next five years.

"We would look to sell our planes to private airlines who are going international. Our planes are most fuel efficient," says David Vellupillai, Regional Press Manager.

It's not just Boeing and Airbus, who are fighting for a slice of the Indian skies, with so many new airlines coming other players like ATR too wants a share of the Indian market.

http://www.ndtv.com/money/showbusinessstory.asp?slug=Airbus%2C+Boeing+eye+India&id=23711

nithin

February 13th, 2005, 01:23 AM

Hopefully MMS and CO will steer clear of Left rhetoric. Even within the left there are divisions. Plus the Left's hands are tied. If it withdraws its support the government may fall and the NDA may come back to power. Then people opposed to the NDA will blame the Left for back stabbing.

The Left is used to the politics of opposition. Now they are going through the most embarrasiing phase of their existence. Here is MMS and Co proposing things that the Left would oppose on a massive scale if the NDA had done the same thing. Now they are having to swallow sugar coated bitter pills prescribed by MMS and Co. It serves them right.

And for India it is good, because the Left is being forced to be part of the reforms process.

with chanches of laloo losing in bihar the UPA government is losing grip. If mms gives the left to many of those bitter pills, they will revolt, and that will lead to the downfall of the UPA coalition. I hope this those not happen, not because i like the UPA. But just because the whole country has to redo the elections all over again and that is a waste of time!

centralized pandemonium

February 13th, 2005, 06:15 AM

India set to emerge as a major outsourcing hub for global aerospace industry

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/AFP/SGE_KDP02_130205033019_00_quicklook_245x158.jpg

BANGALORE, India: After courting success with information technology, India is poised to become a key outsourcing hub for global aerospace firms as it has cheap and skilled engineers on offer, top officials say.

"India's aerospace industry is at the take-off stage," Edward Gordon, manager of offset programs of Northrop Grumman, a US-based defense firm with operations in 25 nations, told AFP.

"Some of the companies such as (state-owned aircraft maker) Hindustan Aeronautics have come a long way. As a result the first-tier suppliers look very promising," said Gordon, whose company is pitching the sale of its Hawkeye, an airborne early warning, command and control aircraft, to India.

Gordon said the combination of information technology and aerospace gave India the edge and some of the companies with whom he was holding talks for partnerships were "hidden treasures".

"Indian aerospace firms are internationally competitive and customer-oriented. They have that can-do attitude. Cost-effectiveness for us is not the lowest price but the best value. There are areas of mutual interest and opportunities to be explored," he said.

More than 1,400 companies have set up base in the southern city of Bangalore, India's technology capital, and international software companies are using India as a base for their outsourcing operations.

An indication of the growing importance of Bangalore's aerospace potential is that already at the five-day AERO India 2005 air show ending Sunday -- billed as the largest in South Asia -- deals worth more than 1.2 billion dollars have been signed between Indian and foreign aerospace firms.

The deals ranged from aircraft purchases by Indian budget carriers from Airbus and Boeing to joint manufacture of missiles and engine parts.

Vincent Gorry, senior national executive of enginemaker Snecma, a French firm, said the rare combination of a large pool of software engineers and quality suppliers is attracting foreign firms to Bangalore.

"In the aerospace industry more and more software is increasingly being used. In India you can get both aerospace engineers and the IT guys and there is cost advantage. India is set to become a major player," Gorry told AFP.

He said the decision of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to get into the civilian aircraft market by making doors for Airbus and Boeings will trigger a chain of suppliers.

"A lot of quality subcontractors will emerge and we are beginning to see that," Gorry said.

The United States has also joined the race to snap up Indian partners, with Boeing saying it has tied up with India's HCL Technologies to develop a platform for the flight test system of its Dreamliner aircraft.

Joseph Raltson, former joint chief of staff of the US Air Force and currently vice-chairman of the Cohen Group, which led the US-India Business Council executive defence mission to the air show, echoed Gorry's views.

"We view the Indian defence sector not only as a market but also as a potential supplier and partner -- and we will be seeking through our discussions to identify additional opportunities in all these areas," he said.

More than 220 global aviation firms from 31 countries are showcasing their wares at Aero India.

Lockheed Martin, the largest commercial exhibitor at the show, said the warming relations between India and the United States would lead to increased defense collaboration.

"Lockheed Martin will look (in India) for allies and partners. These will include information technology companies and Indian aviation companies in the public and private sector," said Dennys Plessas, regional vice-president of the firm.

Michel Dechelotte, chief executive officer of PowerJet SA, a joint aircraft manufacturing firm promoted by Scnema and Russia's NPO Saturn, said India had all the ingredients to make it a successful aerospace hub.

"I think low cost and you have it. I talk of good organisations and not much bureaucratic interference and you almost have that. Then you have technology and software. That is almost everything aerospace needs," he told AFP.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/132252/1/.html