Bangalore’s Kempegowda International Airport is trying to become India’s first fully biometric airport by the end of next year. Under this system, a passenger enters their Aadhaar UID number when booking their travel. The passenger can enter the airport, check-in, pass through security, and board the aircraft using their stored biometric information like fingerprints. There will be no need for …
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Jet Airways reported results for the first quarter (Q1) of the fiscal year 2017-18 (FY2018 or FY18) yesterday. The results were a mixed bag and showed both areas of improvement and concern. Bangalore Aviation presents an analysis by an external industry professional as the editor of the site owns shares in the airline. The external analyst prefers to remain anonymous. …
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An analysis by Bangalore Aviation of a report by website Routesonline shows New Delhi Bangalore is the lowest cost route among the world’s ‘Top 20’ busiest routes for July 2017. Delhi Bangalore most economical The New Delhi Bengaluru route cost an average base fare of ₹4,830 (approx $75.31) or ₹2.84 per kilometre for the 1,703 kilometre distance between the two …
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The Ministry of Civil Aviation recently announced revisions to the Regional Connectivity Scheme better known as UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik). The revisions and other industry developments show that the scheme has failed to takeoff. This is also reflects the hurried way in which the scheme was put out and the lack of consensus building and consultation. As a …
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A report in the Aviation Network News and Analysis site (ANNA), shows India’s IndiGo as the largest single low cost carrier in Asia. Using data sourced from the Official Airline Guide, ANNA reports, IndiGo grew 14.4% compared to last year, to 35.11 million departing seats in the Summer 2017 schedule. It jumped ahead of Indonesia’s Lion Air which grew 8.8% …
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Rumours are abuzz regarding a leadership change at the Wadia promoted Go Airlines. Bangalore Aviation has reviewed an internal memo circulated to employees which speaks about a corporate realignment. While the operational heads continue to report to the CEO, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, revenue and finance responsibilities have been shifted to the Chairman/Managing Director and promoter Mr. Jehangir Wadia for “final approval”. …
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Jet Airways starts a week-long, in-flight ‘Biryani Festival’, from today, for passengers in economy class on select domestic flights. Till September 4, the airline will showcase eight different biryanis from various states of India, as part of their lunch and dinner menus. These include: Yakhni Pulao Biryani Aloo Badi Ki Biryani Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani Kabuli Biryani Kolkata Style Chicken …
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Driven by a massive 27% increase in passengers at Terminal 1 (T1), the GMR Group led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) consortium, has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan to India’s largest airport, Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. The Master Plan will be implemented in three phases – 3A from 2018 to 2021, 3B from 2021 to 2025 and 4 …
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This is the first in a three part article of my trip from London to Bangalore. After exiting the lounge, I walked straight up to the gate which is right opposite the lounge entrance and immediately reached an agent, had my boarding card scanned and let through to the aerobridge. The experience of transiting the lounge to the aircraft was …
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Flag carrier Qatar Airways entered into a new interline partnership with the Tata-Singapore Airlines Vistara effective today. The agreement allows passengers of each airline to travel seamlessly under a single ticket on the other’s network via Indian gateways where both airlines operate to. The baggage allowances of the passengers will be as per the issuing airline’s rules. Qatar Airways operates …
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Spicejet’s results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2017-18 were a mixed bag, and we find several items of concern. Bangalore Aviation presents an analysis of the numbers: Results snapshot (all figures in Indian Rupees) Revenues 2,068 crores Costs 1,714 crores EBITDAR 479 crores Profit before tax 177 crores Profit after tax 178 crores Revenue per available seat kilometre …
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India’s largest domestic carrier, IndiGo, reported its first quarter results of the fiscal year 2017-2018 (Q1FY18) yesterday. It was a strong result but perhaps what was different this time, were details on its fleet, international expansion plans and strategic direction, the airline shared. Bangalore Aviation is the first to report on and analyse these comprehensive issues. IndiGo Q1FY18 results snapshot …
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After being escorted back to the terminal by one of the transit hotel staff. With the way my luck was running this trip, I decided to double check that my bag were through checked to London. I went up to the business class counter in the check in hall which is an odd experience, because the entrance of the counter …
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As soon as I mentioned to anybody, that I was considering flying Air India to the UK – the reactions I got were ‘Are you crazy?’, ‘Do you enjoy suffering?’, ‘Oh god’ and similar. Booking We had a whole bunch of Air India miles that were going to start expiring soon. So I was originally looking to book a flight …
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The United States air force (USAF) is celebrating the 70th anniversary of it’s formation this year. At the recently concluded Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), the USAF organized a special anniversary display at the show. The USAF displayed a variety of aircraft at the show, on static display were the B-52H, B-1B, C-17A, U-2 and more. The USAF also organized …
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On my Air India trip from Bangalore to London, I finally used the Above Ground Level (AGL) lounge on the domestic side of Bangalore airport. The AGL lounge is located right beside the Plaza premium lounge just after security. The lounge is also located on the mezzanine right beside the Plaza lounge. However unlike the Plaza lounge this lounge does …
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In another demonstration of why Government should not be involved in the operations of national carrier Air India, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani announced the discontinuation of serving non-vegetarian meals in the economy class on all domestic flights. The disclosure made in an interview with The Hindu newspaper invited swift reaction, much of it negative, by many, …
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Indigo’s analyst call on 6th July was scheduled to allay investor concerns about the new direction the airline was taking after submitting the unsolicited bid for Air India. One of the founders admitted, that without numbers, it was like “going to a corporate board meeting in a swim suit” and we wholeheartedly agree. If anything it added to the confusion …
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Just as the cabinet decision for Air India was approved, the unsolicited bid by Indigo caught the entire airline industry by surprise. The surprise factor is perhaps best highlighted by the stock price which took a beating and fell on average by 8% in the two days following the announcement. However, the bid represents a very smart and planned move …
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Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is eliminating its complimentary chauffeur service for its business and first class passengers at all its international destinations. A paid option “at specially negotiated rates” will replace the free service. Economy class passengers can also avail the new paid service, and Etihad Guest members will accrue frequent flier points. The cutback is part of a series …
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Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation