Madurai (IXM) Airport

[Madurai]

Hi Ananth,
I think the continuous service may not be an issue (I am not sure though) as it was discontinued on and off due to the court orders only and not on their own. Anyways, this kind of rule is really a bogus one. Indian government doesn't enforce such things for a foreign carrier. Kingfisher Mallya was blasting this rule earlier before they acquired Air Deccan. Mallya even threatened to register Kingfisher abroad and start international services as a foreign carrier. So, Paramount could use this approach, if needed and if they are interested.

[ANANTH]

Originally Posted by Madurai

Hi Ananth,
I think the continuous service may not be an issue (I am not sure though) as it was discontinued on and off due to the court orders only and not on their own. Anyways, this kind of rule is really a bogus one. Indian government doesn't enforce such things for a foreign carrier. Kingfisher Mallya was blasting this rule earlier before they acquired Air Deccan. Mallya even threatened to register Kingfisher abroad and start international services as a foreign carrier. So, Paramount could use this approach, if needed and if they are interested.

Dear madurai, I remember Mallaya was upset with that rule. But I dont think govt will break this rule. The reason is, govt of kerala wanted to start its own airlines few years back to take care of Malayalis staying in middle east by offering a low cost service. They tried a lot with union govt to relax the rule. But Union govt said no. Then kerala govt started insisting on offering cheaper service by AI and that led to birth of AIE. So relaxation of this rule may not happen. That will lead to every new airline which starts operation in India applying for starting international service and create confusion in the sector.

[Madurai]

Dear Ananth,
I am not saying the govt will relax the rules. The Airlines might try the alternate route of registering it abroad and flying it as as international entity instead of an Indian entity. Again, this will happen only if any particular airline is so interested in this like how Mallya was few years back.

[allaboutmadurai]

Originally Posted by Madurai gilli

I visited the Madurai airport just 30 minutes ago, arond 7.45 pm...What an excellent look it is..Our new terminal looks majestic and colourful in night-lights..

I saw the PARAMOUNT counter in the new terminal, with their altered logo..

Hi Gilli, Did you took any photo of our new terminal? If yes, please share with us. Thanks in advance.

[ANANTH]

Originally Posted by Madurai

Dear Ananth,
I am not saying the govt will relax the rules. The Airlines might try the alternate route of registering it abroad and flying it as as international entity instead of an Indian entity. Again, this will happen only if any particular airline is so interested in this like how Mallya was few years back.

Yes I agree. But I doubt any airlines will try to do that way since almost all the airlines are on the verge of completing 5 years or already completed 5 years in operation. So it may not be needed. Few years back, it was required since kingfisher was not 5 year old and so also spicejet. Now that clause is not going to affect practically any airlines.

[SridharMS]

Hi

I noticed in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai_Airport that Gulf Air is starting service to Madurai from Bahrain (Begins 05 March).

Is it True ? Kindly confirm.

[amarprince]

Originally Posted by SridharMS

Hi

I noticed in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurai_Airport that Gulf Air is starting service to Madurai from Bahrain (Begins 05 March).

Is it True ? Kindly confirm.

there is no reference or source…so just ignore it.. I don’t know who has added it....without reference and all…

[Britboy]

Good News-Air Travellers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stor...0855470400.htm

Paramount Airways to resume services soon

S. Sundar



MADURAI: Paramount Airways is all set to resume its services soon. It proposes to introduce Madurai-Kolkatta and Madurai-New Delhi flights with touch down at Chennai.

Airlines sources told TheHindu that four flights between Chennai and Madurai would be operated by first week of December.

The airways grounded its flights after Director General of Civil Aviation suspended its license in July. Now armed with a recent Madras High Court stay on the operation of the DGCA order of suspending the Scheduled Operator Permit, the airlines now is keen on expanding its services on new routes.

“We are planning for a Madurai-Mumbai direct flight. The permission is expected in early January. Mumbai service will commence in New Year,” the source added.

Besides, the airline that completed its fifth year of service on October 19 is now eligible to operate international flights.

“We are evaluating the options of services to Singapore and Bangkok from Madurai. But a decision on this aspect would be taken later,” the source said.

Paramount Airways, which has got two Embraer Class aircraft, has got in-principle approval of the Union government to import new aircraft.

It is expected to add six A-320 aircraft by end of November. Besides, it had placed orders for eight Bombardier Q400 aircraft, which would be supplied in phases by March 2011.

[amarprince]

Originally Posted by Britboy

Good News-Air Travellers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stor...0855470400.htm

Paramount Airways to resume services soon

hi dude, your reference is incorrect… here is correct one.. just visit...

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stor...0855470400.htm

[himmat113]

Originally Posted by Britboy

Good News-Air Travellers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stor...0855470400.htm

Paramount Airways to resume services soon

Another joke from Thayagu. I'll believe it only after I see an Airbus A320 in Paramount colors at MAA.

The joker did not pay any salary to the expat pilots for over 3 months, defaulted on lease payments, did not pay the fuel charges and the landing fee. Which fool is going to lease aircrafts to this airline even if it is allowed to commence operations? It won't find any experienced pilots and engineers willing to work for it.

[amarprince]

Originally Posted by himmat113

Another joke from Thayagu. I'll believe it only after I see an Airbus A320 in Paramount colors at MAA.

The joker did not pay any salary to the expat pilots for over 3 months, defaulted on lease payments, did not pay the fuel charges and the landing fee. Which fool is going to lease aircrafts to this airline even if it is allowed to commence operations? It won't find any experienced pilots and engineers willing to work for it.

Every airline has the same problem (for example “kingfisher airlines got cash and carry mode”) so you cannot blame only paramount airways… let you wait and see.. he will or won’t...

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...3051990100.htm

http://profit.ndtv.com/news/show/kin...m-monday-88705

[Madurai_Thalapathy]

Originally Posted by amarprince

hi dude, your reference is incorrect… here is correct one.. just visit...

http://www.hindu.com/2010/11/08/stor...0855470400.htm

Same news
http://www.rttnews.com/Content/India...d=1472264&SM=1

[ANANTH]

Originally Posted by himmat113

Another joke from Thayagu. I'll believe it only after I see an Airbus A320 in Paramount colors at MAA.

The joker did not pay any salary to the expat pilots for over 3 months, defaulted on lease payments, did not pay the fuel charges and the landing fee. Which fool is going to lease aircrafts to this airline even if it is allowed to commence operations? It won't find any experienced pilots and engineers willing to work for it.

Hi, let us not become judges on the basis of past issues. We will wait and watch. If paramount has not paid salary, lease charges etc it is problem between paramount and the employees. We dont need to worry about it. Let us worry about whether he starts service from madurai or not.

[Madurai]

Paramount set to take off as Ministry allows aircraft import


Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 10


Chennai-based Paramount Airways will take to the skies again.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday cleared a proposal of the airline to import 20 aircraft including eight Airbus A-320 and six Bombardier Q 400. The airline will be purchasing these aircraft.

In addition the airline has been permitted to ‘wet lease' six more aircraft from an airline in Turkey. A wet lease involves acquiring the aircraft along with the operating crew.

Sources indicated that Paramount will purchase the Airbus aircraft from a leasing company, for which permission was given on Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the airline's scheduled operator licence was suspended due to the downgrading of requirement of a scheduled airline as it did not have the required number of aircraft in its fleet.

Recently, however, the Madras High Court stayed an order of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspending the scheduled operators' licence of the airline.

Paramount operated Embraer aircraft but the operations were suspended after the aircraft were taken back following a dispute.

This resulted in the airline, which has completed five years of operations, not flying any passengers in August and September, according to the latest passenger traffic data released by the DGCA.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1152420400.htm


Good to see this news. So far, only The Hindu seems to be publishing news about Paramount in the recent past. Anyways, the wet lease would mean that they could start operations soon. Let us hope it happens soon.

[Malaysia Mustafa]

"as the matter is in discussion, nothing can be revealed yet." Disappointing answer from CEO of Airasia in his facebook page. I have sent a personal mail too. Let me see what will be the reply for it. Most probably the same.

[Ram in Seattle]

Originally Posted by Madurai

Paramount set to take off as Ministry allows aircraft import


Our Bureau

New Delhi, Nov. 10


Chennai-based Paramount Airways will take to the skies again.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday cleared a proposal of the airline to import 20 aircraft including eight Airbus A-320 and six Bombardier Q 400. The airline will be purchasing these aircraft.

In addition the airline has been permitted to ‘wet lease' six more aircraft from an airline in Turkey. A wet lease involves acquiring the aircraft along with the operating crew.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...1152420400.htm

This is excellent news. Over the years, I've taken several different airlines to Madurai (including now defunct airlines like East-West and NEPC) and I've found Paramount to offer the best service and comfort. So I'm looking forward to Paramount resuming service.

With 5 years of service and 20 aircraft, Paramount will be in a position to start international flights as well and that is good for Madurai.

[Madurai]

This news gives kind of a hint that the earlier Paramount 737 picture could be true.

--------------------------------------------------

MUMBAI: After being grounded for over three months, the Chennai-based business class airline Paramount will resume operations on its entire 19-station network, the airline’s promoter and managing director , M Thiagarajan told ET.

The airline was grounded after a legal dispute with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer , over payment issues which led to its licence being suspended by the civil aviation regulator. The Chennai High Court recently passed a judgement in favour of Paramount. The court ordered the directorate of civil aviation (DGCA), to lift its suspension of Paramount’s licence, according to Mr Thiagarajan.

The airline will be able to start operations as it has got permission from the empowered committee of the civil aviation ministry, on Wednesday, to take six aircraft — three Boeing 737-800s and three Airbus A320s — on a so-called wet lease from two Turkish carriers. The committee also gave approval to the airline to import eight A320s and six Bombardier Q400 aircraft type.

“Getting the wet-lease aircraft (where the cabin crew and maintenance services are provided by the leasing airline) is a quick-fix to resume operations fast,” Mr Thiagarajan said. The lease agreement entered with Turkish carriers is for six months, he said.

Paramount, before being grounded, was operating 56 flights a day within south India. The airline was the leader in the market in which it had a 27% market share. Mr Thiagarajan, however refused to give any financials for the leases and aircraft purchases to be carried out by his airline. The civil aviation ministry’s aircraft acquisition committee had in July, given in-principle approval to Paramount to import 22 aircraft.

As far as the business model of the airline is concerned, Paramount will not be able to reconfigure the aircraft according to its business class airline specifications, but Mr Thiagarajan maintained that his model would be what he described as a “hybrid between higher economy and low business class fares.” Paramount, an unlisted entity, reportedly made a profit of Rs 7.25 crore in the financial year 2010. The airliner had planned entry into regions beyond South India , specifically Mumbai and Gujarat, before it ran into trouble.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/6904742.cms

For a small network, such a variety of aircraft choice doesn't look good. But, so long as they are able to get it and start operations, people like us will feel happy .

[Madurai]

A bigger picture of the Paramount 737 from Hindu, with couple of other Paramount flights in the BG. Hope it's not an edited picture.



http://www.thehindu.com/business/com...icle878741.ece

[HARISH RAVI]

Originally Posted by Madurai

A bigger picture of the Paramount 737 from Hindu, with couple of other Paramount flights in the BG. Hope it's not an edited picture.



http://www.thehindu.com/business/com...icle878741.ece

i thinks its edited pic see the font of paramount looks like it is edited

[sammyk]

Originally Posted by Madurai

A bigger picture of the Paramount 737 from Hindu, with couple of other Paramount flights in the BG. Hope it's not an edited picture.



http://www.thehindu.com/business/com...icle878741.ece

Originally Posted by HARISH RAVI

i thinks its edited pic see the font of paramount looks like it is edited

You better believe it's edited. Firstly, Paramount does not and has not operated any 737s. Second, there is no airport in the world where you are likely to see several Paramount aircraft along with a narrowbody Iberia aircraft. This photo (the original) wasn't even taken in India, probably in Europe somewhere.

The edit is so bad that they've made the aircraft look like it was drawn and not photographed.

Now I'm curious what the original one looked like.