✈India Aviation | Airlines | Airports News II

[Nitro]

Greater Noida airport project gets a push
9 Nov 2007, 0104 hrs IST,Saurabh Sinha,TNN


NEW DELHI: It's a double Diwali bonanza for Delhiites starved of good airports and deprived of chopper facilities.

Bringing the capital closer to a second international airport, the aviation ministry has sent Uttar Pradesh government's proposal for Greater Noida airport to the Cabinet Secretariat for discussion at the highest decision-making level.

In addition, Noida is in the process of finalising a 25-acre plot in sector 148 for developing a heliport by state-owned Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd (PHHL) that could help connect the capital to nearby NCR areas by choppers. The ministry has sent the Rs 3,505 crore airport — Taj International Aviation Hub (TIAH) at Zevar, Greater Noida — proposal to the Cabinet within three months.

UP CM Mayawati had presented airport proposal to PM Manmohan Singh during her first meeting with him after becoming CM. The proposal was sent to aviation minister Praful Patel after two months and Patel has forwarded it to the Cabinet in the shortest time ever, considering an airport proposal.

"The legal aspects of agreements with GMR-backed Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) will have to be studied as the UP site is just 72 km from IGI. The Cabinet may refer it to a GoM. The GMR group has been protesting against this move but all global cities have more than one airport and there's no reason why Delhi shouldn't," said a senior official.

The DIAL group says its development plan for IGI would be enough to meet Delhi's requirement for about next two decades. The finance ministry has also pointed out that developers of Delhi and Greater Noida airports should get level playing fields.

UP is all set to offer 25 acres to Pawan Hans in Noida's sector 148. This site is about 35 km from the proposed airport site. The aviation ministry is also seeking sites for heliports in Delhi and some other parts of NCR for improving connectivity.

[bobbie501]

Deccan international flights from August

A.J. Vinayak

Mangalore, Nov. 16

Deccan Aviation is likely to replicate its model of connecting smaller cities in its proposed international operations also. In this regard, the airline is planning to connect large Indian population in the West Asia with cities like Mangalore.

This was indicated by Capt G.R. Gopinath, Executive Chairman of Deccan Aviation, here on Friday. Addressing the members of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Friday evening, he said that Deccan will launch its first international flight from August next year.

Target countries


International flight will be especially for West Asia countries. “We want to serve a large population of Indians in the Gulf with our international initiative. And the first international flight from Deccan will be from Mangalore to Gulf countries,”he said.

Currently Deccan connects 66 locations in the country with its fleet of 45 aircraft.

He termed Re 1 ticket marketing of the company helped the people of India to travel in aircraft. This created a huge inflow of passengers to aircraft.

Stating the growth story of Deccan Aviation as the story of New India, he said: “For Indians golden age is not behind, it is ahead of them.”

[Euromast]

e paper IE

T AKING forward Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's pet project for a Taj International Aviation Hub (TIAH), the Civil Aviation Ministry has put its stamp of approval in a Cabinet note sent to the government despite objections from the Finance Ministry. This has set the stage for what will now have to be a political decision as the Law Ministry has refused to put its comments on the note.
Justifying the need for a second airport in the National Capital Region, the Civil Aviation Ministry has backed the Mayawati Government's proposal citing unprecedented air traffic growth and the fact that all major global cities like London and New York have more than one airport.

At the heart of the matter is the 1997 airport infrastructure policy that does not permit development of a greenfield airport within 150 km (aerial distance) of an existing airport. The UP Government has proposed a site, Jevar, that is 68 km from the present Delhi airport.

The Rs 3,505-crore project is ambitious and would be spread across 1,500 hectares of land. The main sponsoring authority will be the Taj Expressway Authority that will, in consultation with the State Government, make available the land to either a SPV or a developer. It will be a joint venture with the state holding 26 per cent. Uttar Pradesh is open to considering an AAI stake within the 26 per cent at a later date.

The projected revenue is to the tune of nearly Rs 170 crores in 2011 and, according to the Cabinet proposal, is set to grow to around Rs 2,187 crores by 2038. The State Government proposes to sign no concession agreement, only a land lease agreement.

On the issue of diverting air traffic from Delhi airport, the Civil Aviation Ministry has backed the assessment of the UP Govern ment's feasibility study that in the initial phase 5 per cent traffic will be diverted, which will go up to 15 per cent by 2035. As for cargo traffic, 8 per cent of Delhi cargo will be diverted by 2011 that will go up to 20 per cent in 2035.

In all, the projected traffic volume for TIAH is 3.9 million in 2011, which would grow to 82.6 million over the next 25 years. On the other hand, DIAL plans to touch 37 million by 2010 and 100 million by 2036.

With ministries taking different positions on according in-principle approval to the project, the decision before the Cabinet, sources say, cannot be bereft of political consideration given the kind of real estate interest the mere news of the project has generated.

In fact, the Cabinet proposal itself projects the proposal as a major catalyst to developing SEZs and tourist facilities in the area

[bangalore]

Plans for Mumbai and Chennai too

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/143837.html

[ajay_ijn]

I read in some articles that Instrument landing systems in airports are not good enough except for Delhi or Mumbai airport. what systems will they install in new hyd, banglore aiports? will they be comparable to international standards?
Is it possible to have CAT-IIIC in busy airports like Delhi n Mumbai?

what other new things to tackle heavy traffic will be installed to maintain the distance between two aircraft to avoid accidents? By next year i read that Gagan System will be operationalized with a resolution of 1 meter, will that be big advantage for aircraft navigation? or normal GPS is fine?

Aircrafts burn more fuel due to delay in landing (due to heavy traffic) which leads to more costs? what can be done to avoid that

[bobbie501]

Terminal velocity

A journey of a thousand miles, said Chinese thinker Confucius, begins with a single step. For Indian aviation, the climb has been mostly uphill, but it has been taking those little steps that matter. By Rupkamal Sarma

The Indian skies, pregnant with enough airlines, are expected to witness even heavier traffic in the coming years. This translates into the need for better infrastructure on ground. The wheels, that started turning some time ago, are today in full motion.

From a service that few could afford, flying has become available to a magnitude of consumers. Rapid evolution of low-cost carriers and public and private airlines has left the tarmac open for competition. All kinds of carriers - from cargo to no-frills and international budget carriers, especially Asian low-cost carriers - are also making a beeline to India. All this translates into increased demands on the airports. By 2020, Indian airports are estimated to handle:

100 million passengers
Including 60 million domestic passengers
Cargo in the range of 3.4 million tons per annum
The government's airport modernisation plan proposes investments of US$ 9 billion by 2010. In January 2006, joint venture companies with 74 per cent private sector participation won contracts to upgrade New Delhi and Mumbai airports. Mass upgradation of airports across the country is going on at all levels. Not only international airports but greenfield airports as well are been developed and unused air strips are been revamped. The government plans to develop around 300 unused airstrips across India - a move that has raised projections for jets required for regional connectivity. Boeing and Airbus, along with Embraer (Brazil), Bombardier (Canada), Sukhoi (Russia), ATR (France) and BAE System (UK) are keen to tap the emerging regional jet market in the country.

Ground zero

While there is no doubt about the excitement happening in air, the ground is where all the action begins. Last year witnessed the restructuring and modernisation of the two international airports in Mumbai and Delhi through the public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Due to its success, the model is being used to develop all international airports in the country.

International airports are a significant part of the infrastructure within a country, not only in terms of passenger movement and goods but also in creating good first impressions for anyone visiting the country.

A common feature across all the international airports is the development and upgradation of new terminals, runways and increased passenger amenities. There is also an increased awareness to create a technology-driven business environment.

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport: The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) is evidently the busiest airport in India. On an average, it handles close to 625-650 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) in a day since close to 40 per cent of India's air traffic is routed through Mumbai. The airport has eight domestic airlines and 46 international airlines operating out of its terminals. This has put a lot of pressure on the existing facilities.

One of the major changes proposed at CSIA is to have one integrated passenger terminal at Sahar that will have the capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. Moreover, MIAL has plans to construct a domestic Terminal 1C at Santacruz to connect the existing two terminals - 1A and 1B. This terminal amongst other things will include space for hotel and office development, transfer and immigration facilities for international passengers.

Bangalore International Airport Limited: BIAL has selected the Oberoi Group to operate a first class international hotel under the Trident Hilton brand, besides a host of world-class names like HMS Host and Nuance Group from Zurich, Switzerland to handle travel operations and F&B outlets.

Delhi International Airport Limited: In Delhi, DIAL is responsible for constructing Terminal 3 (T3). A master plan 'Vision 2020' was made for the airport which would cater to both domestic and international traffic. The terminal would be ready before the Commonwealth Games in 2010. With a total investment of Rs 8,900 crore, the first phase will see the airport capacity increase to 37 million passengers. This will be built with an ultimate design capacity of 100 million passengers based on a modular expansion plan that can develop more terminals with increasing traffic.

This future-ready terminal will be spread over a 4,80,000 sq m and will be among the best airports of the world with a CAT III B landing system. It would boast of facilities like 74 aerobridges, 30 remote stands, a total of 200 parking stands for aircraft, 130 check-in counters and 23 self check-in counters, 146 emigration counters, an advanced in-line baggage handling system, rail connectivity for the city centre, automated passenger movers for easy intra-terminal connectivity along with a number of airport hotels, executive lounges, shopping and recreational facilities. New rapid exit taxiways, parallel and link taxiways for faster aircraft clearance, additional aircraft stands with CAT III lighting, modern follow-me vehicles assisting in low visibility conditions are also being devised.

Chennai International Airport: Expansion in Chennai is happening on similar lines. Its Security Hold Area (SHA) is being developed and the ground floor has already been expanded towards the air side to provide more space to passengers. AAI now plans to install escalators to create a new SHA on the first floor, thereby diverting traffic and effectively managing congestion.

AAI added about 1,200 sq m of additional space to the international departure terminal in December last year. New modern trolleys with extra maneuverability were introduced. A new feature at the terminal is the revolving glass door that will have automatic security locks.

Prior to April 2006, jostling one's way through the departure gate was like getting past the pearly gates. It was a single-point departure with an extremely small check-in area. The need for expansion made the planners use the previously under-utilised space, which resulted in the creation of some 1,000 sq m. It has a dedicated traffic lane from the terminal from where five airlines can take off. Feedback forms show that foreign visitors to the airport have expressed satisfaction.

Meanwhile a new block is under construction at two levels, which would add about 10,000 sq mts inclusive of both the levels. The authorities also plan to install an escalator that will help decongest the area during arrival times. An in-line baggage inspection system has been introduced along with a new type of carousal baggage conveyor system instead of the flap-type conveyors.

It is also building a Departure II terminal and one can see the changes, right from the corridor outside the domestic terminal with a glass wall (that will be extended to the entire façade of the airport both in the domestic and international terminals) where the over-walked tiles are replaced by vitrified anti-skid floor tiles. The change is more visible inside the passenger lounge. The same flooring continues inside and is spotted with plants. Sleek LCD screens adorn the walls and pillars; one LCD screen gives discerning passengers a map of the airport.

There is also a decent food court. The black signboards with white letters look aesthetic when compared with the old yellow ones. Check-in areas and visitor's lobbies have also seen expansions but the work is still in progress. Ample seating space and massage chairs (recliners) have made waiting comfortable.

Pay phones have been installed inside the passenger lounge but the latest addition to Departure II is the music kiosks, where songs can be downloaded legally and cheaply for as low as Rs 5 into iPods, Mp3 players, pen drives and CDs. The initial phase of the new airport will be capable of handling 12 mppa and more than 1,00,000 tons of cargo per annum. The ultimate capacity of the airport is over 50 mppa and 1 million ton.

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is evidently built to be the most modern airport in India and will start operations from March 2008. Modelled after the Munich airport, it will boast of a plethora of features like the tallest ATC tower in India and accommodation of Code F aircraft like the A380.

A 1,05,300 sq mts terminal, having the capacity to handle 12 million passengers per annum, is being constructed. The terminal building will have 12 contact and 30 remote stands for aircraft parking. Other buildings that will be constructed include the ATC Tower, Technical Building, Cargo (1,00,000 ton capacity), MRO, CFR Station (Crash, Fire and Rescue Station) and utilities having a combined area of 35,000 sq mts.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport: Ashok Chawla, secretary, Union ministry of civil aviation, had recently said, "We are making a sincere attempt to give Kolkata a world-class airport and integrated terminal building." It is learnt that the modernisation programme will be completed in three phases and is estimated to cost Rs 5,000 crore. Rs 1,500 crore has been earmarked for the job in the first phase.

Of this, Rs 1,300 crore will be spent on the terminals, Rs 100 crore on the runway and a cargo complex, and the remaining Rs 100 crore on Communication & Navigation Systems (CNS). Sources confirm that the globally renowned Aeroport de Paris has already prepared the design of the new terminals. As per the proposed schedule, the Kolkata Airport modernisation programme should be completed before the Commonwealth Games.

The Detail Project Report (DPR) plans for two new terminals at the airport, an integrated large one for domestic and international flights, and another relatively small one just for international flights. The proposed buildings will have facilities for ground-floor arrival and first floor departure to ease congestion.

There are plans to install four to five state-of-the-art aerobridges. New parking bays will be built, some attached to the terminal and others in the 'remote' areas. The road network around the terminal buildings will be upgraded. "This will be taken up with the help of the state public works department," said an AAI official.

To cope up with the increasing number of passengers and cars, the DPR proposes a number of underpasses and pedestrian flyovers on the approach roads from VIP Road - the road connecting the airport to the city to the Kolkata airport. There are also plans to set up two new spacious car parks.

The revamped airport would be able to handle 20 million passengers annually compared to five million now. While the first terminal will have the capacity to handle 16 million passengers annually, the second will cater to four million passengers. At present, the domestic terminal handles not more than 4.5 million passengers a year and the international terminal hardly gets one million passengers.

Greater Hyderabad International Airport Limited: Greater Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) with its user-friendly modular design of the passenger terminal will initially cover 1,00,000 sq mts of floor space that would ensure rapid transit between its domestic and international concourses. The complex will have a dedicated 'Airport Village' with a local flavour. There will also be a business hotel adjacent to the terminal building.

Tech it out

Managing the busiest airport in India, MIAL has embarked upon a drive to create a technology-driven business environment that will significantly enhance the operational efficiency and service standards at CSIA. Says GV Sanjay Reddy, managing director of MIAL and vice chairman of GVK, "We have entered into a five-year agreement with Tata Consultancy Services for IT consultancy services along with implementation and management of the technology backbone at CSIA. The scope of services covers the entire airport value chain from operations to services."
In May 2007, MIAL became the first airport in India to introduce an airport management system by SITA that allowed the airport to improve performance across a wide spectrum of activities - efficient allocation of resources including departure gates, aircraft slots, check-in counters, baggage carousels and creating a state-of-the art flight information display for passengers. It also helps in effective co-ordination and real-time availability of information to airport managers and ground-handlers. As a result, CSIA has moved away from depending on manual systems to IT-driven automation, thus enabling end-to-end management of airport resources in real-time.

Realising the pivotal role of the internet, the airport also became the first in the country in March 2007, to provide information and updates including real time international and domestic flight schedules on its website - www.csia.in.

The consortium has also tied up with Nortel to build one of the most extensive communications infrastructure ever undertaken by an international airport in India, which includes a comprehensive communications upgrade with major data, voice, and video projects over a converged network.

For travellers, the airport now provides internet connectivity thus becoming the first international airport in India to launch free wireless network providing Wi-Fi service throughout the domestic and international terminals. Soon, the airport will also introduce paid service for a bandwidth of 512 kbps and above. Free internet kiosks with a minimum of four computers will also be set up at all terminals.

When Rajiv Gandhi International Airport opens in 2008 in Hyderabad, its single terminal will be equipped with contact boarding bridges, remote stands, Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) check-in desks, self check-in kiosks and immigration counters. It would also feature the state-of-the-art IT systems including FIDS, BHS and Airport Operational Database (AODB) technology for the first time in India.

First impression, last impression

Elaborating on the air side efforts, spokesperson for DIAL, Arun Arora says that in an effort to reduce the waiting time for passengers in air and on ground, improving and ensuring faster aircraft movement is important. This means that work on the new runway at T3 is moving at a fast pace. One of the longest runways in Asia, it will be operational by 2008 though the airport will open only by 2010, he cleared. He also added that its ASQ rating as of now is between 3-3.1 but once the airport is completed, it will come at par with other world standard airports to 3.5, which is the maximum any airport has got till now.

Work on the new domestic terminal is underway and will be completed by middle of next year, Arora stated. The new domestic terminal will be able to handle at least 10 million passengers per year and will also get its third run way.

Reigning retail

Due to the improving infrastructure in airports, non-aeronautical revenues are also expected to contribute almost 50 per cent of revenues to the airports. Looking beyond the cosmetic changes, the developers are also working on a comprehensive plan to optimise the commercial revenues. Also, with the retail industry booming, various cafés and fast food joints have opened for business at the international and domestic terminals.

In February 2007, MIAL awarded the duty-free retail contract for CSIA to the Aldeasa-ITDC joint venture as a part of an international competitive bid. Reddy says, "Aldeasa-ITDC is currently working on bringing a world-class duty-free experience at CSIA. Located in the international terminal 2C of the airport, the shopping area will be spread across 24,541 sq ft. Of this, 14,585 sq ft will be at the departure level, 8,395 sq ft at the arrival level and 1,560 sq ft will be for storage. They will be responsible for designing and building the shopping environment, sourcing a wide range of international luxury brands and developing a strong promotional strategy."

Alpha Future, a joint venture between the UK-based Alpha Airport Group and the Future Group, has opened its duty-free shops at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. It will manage one outlet in arrivals and four in departures covering an area of about 8,000 square feet. "This is an attempt at bringing world class shopping to India " says Arora.


Sky is not the limit

With successful infrastructure development, the prospects of India becoming an MRO hub and a leader in the Asia-Pacific region have also become bright. Increased activity in the MRO sector has attracted many foreign companies. Lufthansa has tied up with GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) to open such a facility for which it intends to invest US$ 23 million. Similarly, Boeing intends to invest US$ 100 million in a facility in Nagpur.

Aerotropolis, or the airport cities that are economically dependent on the airport for its existence, may be a distant reality in India. While places like Hong Kong, Beijing and Dubai are already developing Aerotropolises, Bangalore and Hyderabad are following suit.

Moreover, the move to reduce dwell time of cargo from seven days to three days and possibility of using new systems like Common User Terminal System (CUTE) are positive steps. The private sector is also showing interest in the merchant airport policy, being prepared by the civil aviation ministry for building dedicated cargo airports to boost the logistics chain in the country. Airport developers in the private sector are also tying up with realty firms to help them acquire land.

The ambitious Rs 644 crore GPS-based Geo Augmentation Navigation (GAGAN) project - jointly executed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India, having completed its phase one, will provide augmented information for satellite navigation to aircraft flying over Indian airspace and the routes over seas.


Grey clouds

With all the development taking place the scene is set for giant leaps in aviation. But there are also some grey areas which need to be addressed. Vipul Jain, MD and CEO of Kale Consultants, says, "At a macro level, airports need to be integrated into the urban development plan. There needs to be a synchronisation of systems for airports to be truly successful. The idea of an Aerotropolis is good on paper. But the major problem in India today is the problem of connectivity. The airport and the city should be well connected."

Connectivity is the single biggest problem. In Hyderabad measures like the elevated corridor, the longest in India from Masab Tank to Aramgarh is designed to tackle this problem. A plan for a dedicated rail service from Begumpet to the new airport is also at the proposal stage. In Bangalore, the approach to the airport will be through National Highway 7 (NH7). From NH7, the airport is at a stretch of five kilometers. A four-lane approach road is being developed by BIAL. This lane is parallel to the runway and will link NH7 to the terminal complex. This road, primarily serving the terminal building, will also link the other airport support facilities. Albert Brunner, CEO of BIAL, "The trumpet interchange which will connect NH7 to this approach road was to be built by the state authorities but has now been taken into BIAL's scope of work. The construction is underway and this will be ready for AOD (Airport Opening Date). A rail link is needed here."

Jain further talks about an issue which has been often raised in recent times - the need for an independent regulatory authority. He says "At a micro level, there should be an independent regularity authority in place which will have transparent tariffs and governance. An airport by nature is in itself a monopoly. There is no natural competition. When there is an independent authority in place, it creates opportunities for dialogue between the stakeholders. Such an authority is present in other parts of the world and India also needs it soon."

Investment stands not only for financial backing but also interest in terms of time and focus. For instance, there are a number of service providers at the airport and it helps if common standards and common usage of systems are followed - like the cargo community system in foreign countries, one amongst many such set-ups, data about cargo is shared between an agent, shipper, airliner and ground handlers and all others involved in the transaction. The whole process is paperless and results in a smooth transaction. In most Indian airports today, things like cargo handling and dispatch take around five to six days. With transparent integrated systems in place, the burgeoning needs on ground can be addressed efficiently

Another dispute has been regarding the stopover charges levied at the Indian airports which are said to be nearly 25 per cent higher than other international airports, resulting in international airlines avoiding India as stopover points for long-haul flights. The AAI, however, denies these claims. If India is to compete globally, issues like these must be resolved at the earliest.

The Indian government's plan to spend US$ 20 billion over the next five years upgrading airports has brought some respite. But it is not enough. As per International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates, the amount of investment needed by the Indian aviation industry is around US$ 90 billion over the next 24 years and this provides opportunities for investors worldwide.

[bobbie501]

SriLankan Airlines plans to sell Indian Railways' inventory at Colombo Airport

Initial sales will be for trains, ex-Delhi


By Bhisham Mansukhani | New Delhi


SriLankan Airlines plans to sell Indian Railways' inventory to India-bound passengers at Colombo Airport, initially for routes out of Delhi and subsequently for most or all of the 11 destinations that the airline flies to in India, with a current total of 99 flights. The airline, which has check-in counters for its flights at railway stations in Belgium, is currently in discussion with Indian Railways for having a precisely opposite arrangement whereby it will offer passengers the facility to book Indian Railways' tickets, according to Dimuthu Tennakoon, Manager - Maharashtra and Gujarat, SriLankan Airlines. He added, "Delhi is the first destination for which this arrangement will be implemented but a similar arrangement for South Indian destinations is also very likely since a lot of our India-bound passengers flying in from Colombo opt for flights to Chennai and Hyderabad and then travel up north by train."

While international airlines have interline agreements with most Indian domestic carriers for onward connections and feeder services to and from destinations that the former don't fly to, SriLankan Airlines' arrangement with Indian Railways, when it materialises, will be an undeniable precedent and may open the avenue for similar tie-ups between Indian Railways and other carriers. Industry experts say that an advanced model could also be pursued in future, wherein international carriers could contract massive inventory blocks on designated routes in deals akin to codeshare agreements, thereby combining the flight and train journey under a single Passenger Name Record (PNR). In fact, in June this year, TravelBiz Monitor had reported that International Air Transport Association (IATA) - India was in talks with Indian Railways regarding integration of airline and rail inventory on a single operational platform.

[bobbie501]

'We plan to add Hyderabad and Bangalore to our route map'

Amey Amladi, General Manager (Western and Southern Regions), Austrian Airlines, tells Mayuresh Pawar about the airline's future plans for the India market


Q. How has Austrian Airlines' experience been in India?

A. Since commencement of our operations in Mumbai on September 1, 2005, we have had to deal with immense competition from established players. However, in the very first year of operations, we registered a load factor of 67 per cent, and in the following year, the load factor increased to 87 per cent. It was possible only because of the unflinching support of the travel trade in India and the corporate clientele, together with an efficient reservation and sales team.

Does the airline have plans to augment its India operations?

A. Currently, we have daily direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Vienna and plans are afoot to start operations on the Chennai-Vienna route by 2008. Besides, we are also planning to add Hyderabad and Bangalore to our route map, but the plan is still in its initial stages.

What is the airline's USP for Indian travellers?

A. In terms of USP, we have a midnight departure from Mumbai with an early morning arrival to Vienna and immediate onward connectivity to entire Europe, especially Central and Eastern Europe and also convenient connections to New York, Washington, Chicago and Toronto. Our weekend departures are preferred by the corporate segment. Besides Western and Indian cuisine, we also provide Jain meals onboard.

Apart from that, Austrian has introduced Lie Flat Beds in the Business Class from July 1, this year complementing the Chef on Board, Fine Dining, a wide selection of Austrian wines and our Flying Coffee House with over a dozen varieties of coffee served onboard. This year our airline has been the recipient of several awards including the Best Business Class Catering 2007, Best European Airline of the Year 2007 and the Best Performance European Airlines (Overall Business Traveller) 2007.

Q. What are the strategies adopted for India?

A. We have been working closely with the Austrian National Tourist Office (ANTO), and have organised FAM trips for Indian travel agents, journalists and tour operators to Vienna every year. Currently, ANTO is conducting an exclusive programme titled 'Austrian Experts in Mumbai' for the travel fraternity here.

Q. What is the target clientele?

A. Ever since we started our Mumbai operations, our focus has been the Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment. Apart from leisure, incentive travel has been at its peak this year and till August we carried over 2,000 passengers to Austria. Salzburg, Graz, Linz, Innsbruck and Swarovski have been the preferred destinations in Austria. Leisure and incentive movements to Central and Eastern Europe have also caught on. At present, Austrian Airlines flies to over 130 destinations, covering 55 countries.

May Be They Wanna Land In The New International Airports.

[bobbie501]

Air India to convert Boeing 747-400s into cargo freighters

Press Trust Of India / Mumbai November 19, 2007



State-run carrier Air India plans to convert all its Boeing 747-400s into cargo jets in a phased manner and place orders for new, large aircraft to replace them after 2011.

Indicating this, Air India's Chairman V Thulasidas said here that the yet-to-be-ordered large aircraft would either be the double-decker Airbus A-380 or Boeing 747-8.

Air India, which is now expanding its fleet by getting 111 Boeing and Airbus aircraft for domestic and international operations, may consider acquiring at least 60 more aircraft for its expansion beyond 2011.

The present order of 68 Boeing and 43 Airbus aircraft would be completed by 2011, Thulasidas said, adding the fresh order would have to be placed within the next six months to ensure that deliveries start from 2011-2016.

As both Airbus and Boeing are fully booked for the next 3-4 years, “we will have to place orders in 6-months,” he said, adding, “the exercise is on”.

However, no final decision has yet been taken on the number of aircraft nor on purchase of the Airbus A-380. But unlike last time, “we will certainly go in for large aircraft this time,” he said.

“After due diligence and a decision on the types and number of aircraft, the Board will have to approve the decision before we send it to the civil aviation ministry for its approval,” the Air India chief said.

Air India, which had 16 Boeing 747s, is currently operating 12 of them as it has phased out all the Boeing 747-200s. By March, it would phase out two more Boeing 747-300s. Currently, it operates eight Boeing 747-400s, of which it owns six.

On air cargo, Thulasidas said the response has been encouraging and Air India now plans to make Nagpur as its cargo hub for both domestic and international operations.

Air India, which has already converted two of its four Airbus 300s and two of its five Boeing 737-200s into freighters, will start air cargo service from six metros beginning mid-next year.

By then, Air India would have four Airbus 300 and five Boeing 737-200 freighter aircraft, Thulasidas said.

The air cargo will originate from the six metros--Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, which would converge at Nagpur from where international cargo will also be dispatched using Airbus 300s, he said.

For domestic cargo operations, Boeing 737-200s will be utilised. With the growing demand for cargo, Air India may also look at leasing aircraft for cargo service besides going in for new cargo aircraft, he said.

Boeing manufactures 747, 777 and 767 cargo aircraft while Airbus makes A-330 aircraft, he said, adding that Air India would consider all these aircraft for its cargo service.

Air India is the only air-carrier to start cargo service in India. Among the leading international airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, Korean Airlines and Singapore Airlines run regular, full-fledged air-cargo services.

[bobbie501]

Clear rules for flying through fog

Armed with the information from the Met office, airport authorities have drawn up an action plan that will hopefully lessen passenger inconvenience during the fog season over the next three months.




There are plans to impart special training to pilots to equip them to land aircraft in various levels of low fog visibility.

Ashwini Phadnis


That fog will disrupt your air travel plans this winter in north India is a given. Details about how bad the situation could get were provided earlier this month by the Meteorological Department when it informed the Ministry of Civil Aviation that there would be disruptions to normal flight operations between December 8 and February 15.

According to the Met Department, for 150 hours during this three-month period, visibility could drop to below 50 meters, when no flight operations would be possible.

Armed with the information provided by the Met Department, the authorities have drawn up an action plan that will hopefully lessen passenger inconvenience.

For starters, during the fog season, airlines would be allowed to start their aircraft engines only after the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) has been informed that all doors of the aircraft have been closed and has also been told whether the crew is Cat III A/B or Cat II qualified.

Trained staff


Cat II and Cat III are various levels of low fog visibility in which a pilot is trained to land aircraft.

For instance, Cat III B conditions are said to prevail when visibility drops to below 50 meters and no flights can be operated. Airlines are also being asked to ensure that only pilots who are trained and capable of flying in foggy conditions are allowed to operate flights during this period.

In case false information is provided by the airline about the doors of the aircraft being closed, then the start-up sequence shall be cancelled, which would inevitably lead to some delay in the flight.

Besides, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also threatened to take action against those airlines that do not adhere to their schedules by taking away their slots, not only for this year but also the next (a slot is a landing and take-off sequence and is important for an airline to maintain its network and schedule).

The Air Traffic Controller in Delhi has also been asked to inform airlines operating flights from metro airports such as Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad on an hourly basis about the estimated time of the aircraft reaching Delhi, so that there can be better planning. Besides, the ATC has been asked to accord landing priority at Delhi airport to those flights that have been diverted to other airports close to the national capital as a result of low visibility.
Control cells


The Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also asked all airlines to nominate senior level officials as nodal officers and post them at the airport during the fog period to take on-the-spot decisions for passenger facilitation and for co-ordinating with the various control cells that have been established by the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the newly-formed joint venture company running the airport.

On its part, DIAL will make available 47 bays instead of the present 25 bays for CAT III-compliant aircraft

Airlines have also been asked to not only augment their ground staff and position them at the airport but also have them fully briefed on how to handle any passenger queries. Airlines have also been advised to inform passengers in advance through SMS or other means of communication of any delay or rescheduling of flights to avoid congestion at the airport.

Besides, airlines have been asked to periodically update flight information display systems at the airport to inform passengers about any delay or cancellation of flights.

Airlines have not only been asked to provide hourly updated information of their flights to DIAL but also to make frequent announcements about the status of the flights on the public address system in the check-in and security hold areas.

Further, to avoid congestion at the airport, it has been suggested that passengers be allowed to go in for security check by the airlines only after ensuring that the flight is ready to depart.

The DGCA has asked airlines to ensure that if there is a delay in departure after the passengers have boarded the aircraft, beverages such as tea or coffee, water and snacks are provided on board by the airline.

The Ministry has said that in case an airline fails to provide snacks to the passengers, DIAL should do so and charge the airline for it.

[bobbie501]

Continental goes non-stop Mumbai-New York

Houston-based and member of the Sky Team alliance, Continental Airlines recently added its second non-stop service from India to the United States by connecting Mumbai to Newark, New York. Speaking at a press briefing, Jeffrey Smisek, president, Continental Airlines said, "India is fuelling the world economic growth and we are optimistic about the country's economy and position in the aviation world. We are proud to expand our network to India's business capital of Mumbai."

The carrier was the first to launch an Indo-US non-stop service when it introduced the Delhi-New York route in 2005. Taking a note from the route's success, Laurent Recoura, senior country director - India, said, "We have about 80 per cent of load factor on that route and are confident that the new service will match up to this figure."

Smisek further added that with New York being their hub, the carrier would be the first choice for trans-Atlantic travellers. The new service links not only with New York but also - via Continental's unique New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport - with more than 230 other cities throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and beyond. The flights are being operated by a 285-seat Boeing 777 aircraft, carrying 50 passengers in the Business First cabin and 235 in Economy.

The service is initially operating four times a week - Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday at 11:45 p.m. and arriving at New York Liberty at 6.30 a.m. the following day. The return flight departs New York Liberty on Monday and Sunday at 7:20 p.m., arriving at Mumbai at 7:40 p.m. the next day; on Friday and Saturday, the same flight departs New York Liberty at 8:00 p.m., arriving at Mumbai at 8:20 p.m. the following day. Flying times are approximately 16 hours 15 minutes westbound and 14 hours 50 minutes eastbound. Effective October 28, 2007 (westbound), the frequency of the service will increase to daily.

Jim Summerford, vice president Europe, Middle East & India, Continental Airlines said that the carrier will also add more routes to the country and the neighbouring China as new aircraft are incorporated in its fleet. The carrier has an all-Boeing fleet and has ordered 20 777s and 25 787s (Dreamliner) to be delivered from 2009 onwards. It plans to begin its Shanghai-New York non-stop from early next year.

Code sharing with Kingfisher Airlines

In July this year Continental entered into a comprehensive partnership with Kingfisher Airlines for frequent flyer and airport lounge access reciprocity and future codesharing, providing better service to customers who travel between the U.S. and India and transfer between the two carriers. Beginning October 1, 2007, members of the two airlines' frequent flyer programs, Continental's OnePass and Kingfisher's King Club, can earn miles on all flights operated by the other carrier, with redemption capabilities beginning later in the year. Reciprocal airport lounge access for eligible customers, including Continental BusinessFirst and Presidents Club members, also began on October 1. Early next year, the carriers plan to begin codesharing. Continental will place its code (CO) on Kingfisher flights connecting to Continental's daily flights between New York and Delhi and between New York and Mumbai. Customers travelling on connecting flights between Continental and Kingfisher will be able to have single check-in for all flights, including the issuance of electronic tickets, boarding passes and checked baggage to their final destination

[sammyk]

That Continental news is nearly two months old!

[bobbie501]

Originally Posted by sammyk

That Continental news is nearly two months old!

I Donno About That I Got Some Updates while i was Searching

[sammyk]

Oh well, I guess that news agency is behind as the article itself states the service stats Oct. 1st. The news of the flight is even older by a few more months.

[bobbie501]

Nok Air cancels Indian route but pledges to expand network

Nok Air, the budget airline of Thai Airways International, is cancelling its daily Bangkok-Bangalore route, due mainly to aircraft non-availability and higher jet-oil prices.



This Friday will see the final flight on the route.

The airline began its Bangalore run amid much fanfare. Although the airline says the route has been very successful, it is nonetheless cancelling it temporarily.


CEO Patee Sarasin said in a statement that several considerations had forced the company to reconsider its international operations, resulting in the suspension of this route despite a steadily increasing passenger-load factor.


Those considerations include an unexpected shortage of aircraft, increasing need for additional human resources and constant rises in the cost of jet fuel.


Patee said Nok Air always conducted extensive research before launching a route, whether international or domestic, in order to make sure it afforded the company a strategic advantage, strengthened its network and matched its revenue-generation plan. "There is absolutely no question Nok Air will continue to develop our network further, both domestically and internationally, to meet our overall business plan," said Patee.


He said to achieve and go beyond company expectations, as well as those of the passengers, Nok Air needed more aircraft and more human resources.


Nok Air has added another two leased aeroplanes and is in negotiations for additional aircraft.


The Economic Times reported Nok Air's passenger-load factor had fallen to 40 per cent.


"In India, international low-cost carriers take more time to turn a profit, but they withdraw their operations soon. Also, the return-fare difference - including taxes - between Nok Air and full-service carriers like Thai Airways is about 3,000-4,000 rupees [Bt2,600 to Bt3,400]. So Indian passengers prefer a full-service carrier to paying for food and blankets on Nok Air."


All passengers who have booked seats on the route for after this Friday will be transferred to Thai Airways.


Nok Air has not yet launched additional international routes as planned. It is set to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Macau or Hong Kong, Madras, New Delhi and Hyderabad.


The airline will take delivery of four new aeroplanes this year and eight more next year.


Another low-cost carrier, Jetstar Asia, withdrew its five flights per week on the Bangalore-Singapore route, citing low passenger numbers.


Several low-cost airlines, such as AirAsia, are considering revising their pricing policy to use one price that includes airfare, fuel surcharge, insurance and other fees, instead of charging all of these separately, like at present.


Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapon Bijleveld said this would afford travellers greater convenience when making reservations.


"We've been monitoring the uncertain jet-oil prices," said Tassapon, adding that nothing had been decided yet.


Thai AirAsia has been offering one-price ticket sales through its website for certain domestic routes on a trial basis.


One-Two-Go has also been testing one-price ticket sales with all-inclusive Bt1,850 fares between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The offer will be effective from December 1.

[IndiansUnite]

^Thats the second time you've posted that article on Nok airways. Secondly, it would be great if you reduce the content of the articles that you post. The main idea is often conveyed in the first few paragraphs and the rest is pure rambling. In an article, whatever you think is new and informative-->post that.

[bobbie501]

Originally Posted by indiansunite

^Thats the second time you've posted that article on Nok airways. Secondly, it would be great if you reduce the content of the articles that you post. The main idea is often conveyed in the first few paragraphs and the rest is pure rambling. In an article, whatever you think is new and informative-->post that.

The Following Post Refers The Airline Wanna Introduce Service In Some More
Places Like Delhi,Madras,Hyderabad Just Understand The Post N Then Comment.....Anyways Thanks for the suggestions.

[sudheeshnairs]

While posting news items, give only the 'core' and then give the link. Large posts will make people to skip it. Quality is always better than quantity.

[ajay_ijn]

Is there any reason why foreign firms are not allowed open a domestic airliner in India?

[bobbie501]

Originally Posted by ajay_ijn

Is there any reason why foreign firms are not allowed open a domestic airliner in India?

It May Be Issue With Security Concerns Or None Of Them Appeared To The Government.