Tag Archives: India

Air travel is directly linked to economic activity, and it is globally recognised that the industry grows at roughly twice the GDP growth rate. Conversely, the industry shrinks twice as fast too. Across the world, the harsh economic conditions of the last two years forced the air travel industry to make their organisations leaner and meaner, and find ways to …

India’s Ministry of Defence controlled Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and Russia’s Rosoboronexport and Sukhoi signed a contract todday for the preliminary design of the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA). The FGFA aircraft to be jointly developed is termed Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF). The PMF draws upon the basic structural and system design of the Russian FGFA Technology Demonstrator PAK-FA …

The Outlook magazine and Open magazine have blown the lid of the behind the scenes networks of lobbyists and power brokers in India. [Also read Outlook’s story on the 2G tapes] One of these was Ms. Niira Radia the head of Vaishnavi Communication, a lady so formidable and well connected, she boasted both Mr. Ratan Tata led Tata group and …

In most countries across the world, especially in North America and Western Europe, the use of mobile phones is permitted soon after the aircraft lands and exits the active runway. In India, many a passenger broke current rules by following this practice. No longer. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is finally bringing Indian carriers in line with these …

At an industry gathering in India’s capital New Delhi, IATA’s Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani advocated what most aviation analysts in India have been saying all along — there is a desperate need for a comprehensive approach in Indian aviation, with a common vision by all involved. While most would latch on the the chest-thumping statement of Bisignani “If …

The Government of India has imposed a service tax of 10.3 per cent on the gross value of tickets for all classes on domestic flights and economy class on international flights will be levied on tickets sold, issued or re-issued, from today. Service tax will be calculated on the gross value of the ticket for the calculation of the service …

Keeping in mind the five year term of the Lok Sabha, the first year is the thank you budget, years two and three are the hard and bold budgets, year four is the status-quo budget, and year five is the populist budget meant to garner votes. With coalition politics in full sway, the union budget is also now subject to …

In its latest Frontiers magazine, Boeing details its multi-dimensional partnership with India. With a fast-growing economy, middle class and world standing, India is an increasingly important market for the aerospace industry. Building partnerships and strengthening ties with this dynamic country is crucial for Boeing’s continued success in the world’s second-most populous nation. Although India has been a longtime customer for …

Baggage loss, damage, and/or delay is an accepted hazard of air travel. The best of airports have a 0.1% or 1,000 bags per million that do not get delivered as intended. Unfortunately, even today, most airlines operating international flights from India get away by paying paltry sums as compensation thanks to the ignorance of most international travellers from India. Almost …

Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar while sharing the company’s market data and forecast says India’s commercial airplane market is viable, resilient and poised to rebound supported by the country’s strong GDP growth Boeing forecasts that over the next 20 years the Indian market will require 1,000 commercial jets valued at approximately $100 billion — which represents over 3 percent of …

British Airways has announced a limited time free upgrade offer on all its flights from its five gateways in India (Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai) to London. Passengers travelling from India with British Airways in World Traveller (economy class) would get an upgraded one-way to the airline’s premium economy World Traveller Plus cabin. World Traveller Plus is a dedicated …

At the 65th annual general meeting and world air transport summit held in Kuala Lumpur in early June, Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) put India’s two largest airports — New Delhi Indira Gandhi International and Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International on the ‘IATA Wall of Shame’ for their steep hikes of 207% in fees which, he …

The state owned National Aviation Company of India Limited NACIL, which operates the airline Air India is in crisis. It’s annual losses have reached a staggering Rs. 5,000 crore ($1 billion) and total accumulated debt of Rs. 16,000 crore ($3.2 billion). Air India contributes 10% of global airline losses with just 0.35% of global traffic. It owes over Rs. 1,400 …

Today, we conclude our continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport. Yesterday in part four, we focussed on the future and airport expansion. Today in the last part five we focus on Marcel Hugerbuehler the man. Most people associate Marcel Hungerbuehler’s predecessor Albert Brunner with the …

In the continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport, yesterday in part three, we focussed on the airlines. Today in part four we focus on the future and expansion of the airport. Part 4 – The future expansion of Bengaluru International Airport Q1. Is BIAL committed …

In the continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport, yesterday in part two, we focussed on the revenue streams. Today in part three we focus on the airlines and routes present and future. Part 3 – Airlines Q1. Which airlines is BIAL targeting and trying to …

Brazil’s navy recovered a large part of F-GZCP’s vertical stabiliser better known as the rudder, yesterday. The New York Times reports, the part, bearing the trademark stripes and logo of Air France, bore no evident burn marks and had retained its triangular shape, save for a missing chunk where it appeared to have been torn from the body of the …

In the continuing series of interviews with Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) CEO Marcel Hungerbuehler on the first anniversary of Bengaluru International Airport, yesterday we focussed on the past. Today in part two we focus on the present and more specifically revenue streams. Part 2 – Revenue streams Q1. Can BIAL provide a rough break up of revenue streams. Passenger, …

Bengaluru International Airport was India’s first greenfield private airport conceived. In 1991, just as then Finance Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh began the much heralded liberalisation of the Indian economy, the concept of a privately operated airport was born. Bangalore was still to emerge on the Indian map, forget the global stage. Air passenger traffic was not even one million passengers …