Air India comes up with new scheme at competitive rates

Air India on Wednesday announced the extension of its short term promotion scheme, Silver and Platinum Pass aimed at providing air travel at competitive and affordable rates.

The Silver and Platinum Pass being offered in two variants for unlimited travel in economy and executive class on the domestic sectors of the national carrier will now be valid for fifteen days, the airlines said.

Passengers buying the Silver Pass can fly on economy class to any domestic sector of their choice at a fare of Rs 35,000 any number of times during the 15-day period.

Passengers who purchase the Platinum Pass can enjoy unlimited trips in executive class to any domestic destination at a fare Rs 75,000. This fare is inclusive of taxes, Air India said.

The passes are available for sale at the offices of Air India Airline and its approved travel from September 21, 2011 and will be valid for travel up to January 15, 2012.

The day of commencement of the journey will be treated as the first day and fifteen days will be counted from the date of the commencement of the journey for determining travel validity, officials said.
Source: India Times (Air India Online Booking)

Emirates ice system wins Skytrax award

DUBAI – For your seventh year inside a row, Emirates Airline’s ‘ice’ inflight entertainment program has been awarded the ‘World’s Greatest Airline Inflight Entertainment’ award at the 2011 Skytrax Globe Airline Awards, says a press release.

The awards were based on voting by more than 18.8 million airline passengers from 100 a variety of nationalities Inflight Entertainment (IFE) has become a key competitive benchmark for airlines worldwide. Emirates has maintained its industry-leading position by continuously investing in and expanding its entertainment offering; resulting in an amazing number of movies, television and music from around the world.

Emirates Airlines latest IFE system, ice Digital Widescreen (‘ice’ stands for information, communications and entertainment), offers a staggering choice of more than 1200 channels of entertainment, for instance more than 280 movies from around the world, hundreds of TV options and thousands of music tracks from contemporary to classical.
Source: Nation.com.pk

Turkish Airlines eyes return to Benghazi

Turkish Airlines will begin operating flights to Benghazi if circumstances allow, Turkish Airlines General Manager Temel Kotil said Sunday.

“There was some damage at the Benghazi airport; once it is repaired, the flights will start. We would start today if it were available. Right now, the businessmen are facing difficulties,” Kotil told a group of journalists in Cairo while waiting for the Foreign Ministry officials’ contacts in Egypt ahead of the ministry-led visit to Libya. After the flight ban to Libya’s capital Tripoli, Turkish Airlines stopped all flights to the city.

In response to whether or not the national carrier will resume flights to Tripoli, Kotil said, “If conditions allow, we will fly everywhere.

“We are reaching out not only to the Turks, but to the entire world,” said Kotil, who was among the delegation to visit Libya. “We started flights to Basra. In addition to the Iraqi cities of Arbil and Baghdad, Turkish Airlines will begin flights to the Iraqi Shiite shrine city Najaf next week and later to Suleymaniye and Mosul. We will continue to operate new lines and extend our network,” he said.

It was speculated that Turkish Airlines reduced its number of flights to Syria because of the country’s political unrest. “We didn’t reduce the number,” said Kotil. “There has been a 25 percent decrease in the number of passengers,” he said, noting that the problem was a “temporary” one. “We are flying to Aleppo and Damascus, and we have never stopped our flights,” Kotil told reporters. “Turkish Airlines increased its flights to another politically unrest country, Yemen. The number of weekly flights to Yemen has increased from two to four. Now we are planning to fly to Yemen everyday via Jeddah,” he said. “There has been a lot of demand from Saudi Arabia as well. We are expanding everywhere to establish a network.”
Source: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Global air passenger traffic up 7 percent in May

NEW DELHI: The global airlines association on Thursday reported an increase of 6.8 percent in international passenger traffic for May this year, compared to the like period of 2010.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the positive passenger growth in May has helped in reducing pressure on profits in the high fuel prices environment, but freight segment has continued to be in a slump, with a downfall of 4 percent.

"This (passenger traffic) is 4 percent higher than the beginning of the year, whereas freight traffic has showed a drop of 4 percent against the post-recession peak of the re-stocking cycle in May 2010," IATA said in a statement.

The statement said that India's domestic demand was robust at 13.8 percent in May as compared to previous-year levels with a capacity expansion 19.9 percent.

Meanwhile, IATA's director general and chief executive Giovanni Bisignani said he was confident that the airline industry will make profit for 2011, but cautioned that there were grave risks associated with political unrest in the Middle East and the European currency crisis.

"We still expect the industry to make $4 billion this year. That is a pathetic 0.7 percent margin and another shock could alter the industry's fortunes dramatically," said Bisignani.
Source:India Times

DGCA orders review of 4,000 pilot licences

The back-to-back arrests of an IndiGo and an Air India pilot for forging mark sheets to become eligible for ones career has prompted Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to order review of 4,000 licences, specially those people issued inside past one year.

Air India’s JK Verma was arrested by Delhi Police on Saturday for allegedly with a forged mark sheet to procure the mandatory airline transport pilot’s licence, while Parminder Kaur Gulati, 38, of IndiGo Airlines was suspended following a hard landing and arrested on March 8 in your similar offence.

“We have received complaints against a couple of more pilots — Meenakshi Sehgal of IndiGo and Swaran Singh Talwar of MDLR [both are absconding],” commissioner of police (crime branch) Ashok Chand said on Monday.

“Gulati’s landing procedure had some deficiencies. As soon as I took a contemplate her record, it was a shock that she had obtained her licence on the basis of mark sheets which were not authenticated,” director general of civil aviation EK Bharat Bhushan said.

“Suspecting the same in some other records, DGCA undertook a detailed investigation. So far, there were four cases and a couple of were apprehended,” he said.

The problem has arrive up even as the government searches in your replacement for Bhushan.

Not willing to eat chances, specially mainly because DGCA issues all pilot licences and is in-charge of regulatory issues pertaining to aviation safety, efficiency, and continuity of air transport, such as formulation of air law framework, the government released an advertisement last week generating it mandatory for all aspirants to submit “integrity certificates” and statements of minor or major penalties imposed on them inside preceding decade.

All applications must be submitted within 45 days with the release with the ad.

Apart from integrity certificates, the stress this time is on recruiting a professional. During the past, mostly bureaucrats have headed this crucial office. As per the advertisement, an applicant must have about 12 years experience in aviation, flying, aircraft, engineering or airworthiness.

Of these, minimum five years must were spent in administration and finance disciplines at senior management levels. Possibly, a lesson inside recent chief vigilance commissioner episode that caused the government major embarrassment?
Source: DNA India

Air India gives in, sacks COO of low-cost arm

Despite protesting to the end, the Air India management today finally gave in to pressure to dismiss Pawan Arora, chief operating officer of Air India Express, the low-cost international arm with the federal government carrier.

An AI spokesperson confirmed Arora had been asked to go and said S Chandrasekhar, director (finance), would assist Arvind Jadhav, who is chairman and managing director of both AI and AI Express, till the time a new COO was appointed.

Arora’s appointment was embroiled inside a controversy, following data surfaced that he had been earlier removed from a position of test pilot by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The civil aviation ministry had then asked the AI board to reconsider the appointment. Questions had also been raised about non-renewal of Arora’s flight instructor licence.

Arora joined the airline in October and his appointment was cancelled inside a board meeting a month after. In the meeting, the independent and federal government directors had asked the management to cancel Arora’s appointment.

The management did not and even defied a letter inside the ministry asking it to eliminate Arora. This evening, however, the ministry issued fresh and final orders, asking the management to eliminate Arora.

The airline management is calling it unfortunate and autocratic. “Neither the management nor Arora was allowed or asked to justify (his stand) in any with the meetings. If we are asked to justify now, we will do it and put the situation for the require of the professional COO for AI Express,” said a senior AI official.

The official said it was not a very good factor that another person was chosen following interviewing 170 candidates after which suddenly asked to leave. Arora did not eat calls on his cell phone.

“Such decisions will impact the standing Air India has and also the range of applicants will fall drastically following we call for applications again,” said the official.

Arora did not eat calls on his cell phone. He had served the Indian Air Force for 18 years worked with Jet Airways, Paramount Airways, Kingfisher Airlines and IndiGo. He also served at the DGCA in your year.

CAE Inaugurates Training Centre in India

CAE inaugurated its new aerospace and defense complex in Bangalore on February within the presence of representatives of India's airlines and defence forces, Canada's High Commission to India, along with company executives and employees. Located around Bengaluru International Airport, the complex is headquarters for CAE's operations in India and residence to a majority of its India-based employees.

During the 116 000 square-foot complex, CAE designs and develops defence training systems for India's defence forces and operates an engineering centre of excellence where visual databases and other software components for CAE's simulators are developed. The facility also houses CAE's Bangalore aviation training centre, the very first independent aviation training centre in India.

The six-bay capability centre currently offers Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 pilot training on three CAE-built full-flight simulators. Over 1,500 pilots trained at the centre last year, such as pilots from Indian-based airlines such as Air India, Go Air, IndiGo, Kingfisher Airlines, Spicejet and commercial pilots from the Indian Air Force. Other customers include Fly Wings Aviation and SriLankan Airlines. The training centre is component from the CAE-Airbus Training Services Cooperation agreement.

India is of strategic significance to CAE as well as the new aerospace and defence complex demonstrates the Company's commitment to India. CAE has been active within the Indian market for your past 40 years, beginning from the sale of simulators, and now offers comprehensive training items for India's civil aviation and defence markets. CAE's workforce in India has grown from 13 employees in 2004 to over 300 today.

Non-refundable ticket cancellation: Airlines to return money

Inside a big relief to air travellers, domestic airlines have agreed to refund passengers all prices barring the base fare if a non-refundable ticket is cancelled.

However, passengers can avail this facility only if they cancel their tickets two hours previous to the flight departure.

"At a working group meeting held recently, the airlines have agreed to refund passengers for non-refundable ticket as well.

"The civil aviation secretary has already sent instructions to all of the airlines in this regard,"Air Passenger Association of India (APAI) President D Sudhakar Reddy said.

The decision, that would offer succour towards passengers, was taken at a meeting of the working group of the Civil Aviation Economic Advisory Council which is heading into problems relating to bringing transparency in fixing of airfares and protect buyer interests.

Reddy, a member of the group representing passengers' interests, mentioned the airlines have also been told to appoint a nodal officer to especially deal with this sort of issues.

Apart inside the base fares, fuel surcharge, passenger support fee, user or airport development fee and taxes are another components that an airline charges inside the passengers.

As per the decision, all these components would be refunded in case of cancellation of the ticket.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the six-member Working Group, which comprises all stake holders— airlines, DGCA, buyer groups, market experts, of the Aviation Economic Advisory Council held on January 18 in New Delhi.

Besides passengers, the group comprises representatives of travel agents, Air India ane no-frill carrier IndiGo.

"After discussions, the DGCA gave a presentation towards Council as well as the Working Group on a problem right after which airlines agreed towards proposal," Reddy said.

Reddy mentioned that APAI has also demanded inside the government that it must do away of the support tax on tickets which it introduced inside the last budget.

"We have asked the government to abolish the support tax on air tickets because it is against the International Civil Aviation Organisation norms and not in line with international practice," Reddy said.
Source: DNA India
Author: Yatra.com International

Airlines to Hire 5,000 as Aviation Boom Returns

MUMBAI | NEW DELHI: Indian carriers will hire at least 5,000 professionals across categories this year — pilots, cabin crew and airport ground staff — buoyed by the recent boom during the aviation sector which saw high attrition and retrenchment following the onset of the downturn in 2008.

“Airlines had pulled out at least 20% ability during the industry during the downturn. That ability was restored last year and we see airlines adding another 20% ability this year and would be hiring 4,500-5,000 individuals this year,” said Kapil Kaul, CEO of aviation consultancy company Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, South Asia.

The Indian aviation sector will grow by 18-20% this year, said aviation industry experts. Among airlines, national carrier Air India Airlines and low-cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet will add more than 1,000 this year. “Our flights will go up to 350 flights per day from 221 currently. We are during the technique of hiring 200 pilots, 400-500 cabin crew and as many airport ground staff this year at IndiGo,” said Aditya Ghosh, president, IndiGo.

Demand for pilots is rising because of the dearth of professionals. Airlines are chasing expats as the aviation regulator has allowed foreign nationals being employed as pilots till December 13, 2013.

“The fact these days is that all airlines in India are asking for foreign pilots and no single agency can supply those people many numbers. Airlines in India have asked all agencies that these pilots needs to be recruited on an urgent basis,” said somebody directly involved with hiring of expats, requesting anonymity.

In all, airlines are looking for about 230 commanders on an immediate basis , based on recruitment agencies. “We are searching to hire 500-600 pilots to meet the demand,” Jet’s chairman Naresh Goyal had said recently. Jet, which seems to add 49 aircraft, need 100 commanders alone to meet its international expansion plans. Jet Airways , during the downturn, had fired 1,800 flight attendants only to re-hire them following protests and political intervention. It also slashed salaries by up to 25% at greater levels.

GoAir, which plans to add 20 aircraft by 2014, will hire 250 individuals this year with 100 every for cabin crew and ground staff and 50 pilots. The only airline that doesn't look being on an expanding spree stands out as the Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines . The airline pulled ability by 22% during the downturn, losing pilots to competitive airlines.

Aviation experts, however, feel that the modern-day hiring spree usually do not translate into greater salaries because of inflation and other costs. “Salaries will only go up by 15-20% on an average,” said an expert.

The staffing agencies are conservative in their demand projections. “2010 was a recovery year, which saw world-wide-web addition of 1,500 people, but 2011 is a boom year and we’ll see world-wide-web addition of 3,000 individuals or more,” said Kamal Karanth, MD, Kelly Services India, a global staffing company. Out of these 3,000, two-thirds are going to be cabin crew as well as the sleep are going to be a mix of engineers and pilots. More than the following 5 years, the growth in hiring are going to be among 100% and 200%.”

Source: India Times

International reporting time for domestic flyers?

NEW DELHI: With airlines flying record loads since the Christmas weekend and the rush peaking now, airlines have advised passengers to verify in earlier than usual at crowded airports. SpiceJet passengers flying out of Kolkata this weekend got text messages to report three hours ahead of departure time — the reporting time for international flights! Jet Airways has asked flyers to achieve airports 2 hours ahead of departure time.

"In view of enhanced security at all airports by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, Jet has requested all its guests to verify in early to avoid congestion at airports and also allow flights to depart on time. Guests have been advised to report 2 hours ahead of departure time," said a Jet spokesperson. Airline sources say that domestic site visitors is growing incredibly sharply and airports that have not seen expansion are merely unable to cope from the site visitors figures. "In smaller airports like Goa, the security verify line for outbound passengers beings from arrival terminal itself. Kolkata is also choked. Airport expansion plans are taking off at a incredibly slow pace," complained a senior pilot.

While airlines find it difficult to hold on time performance with passengers stuck in serpentine security queues even when it's flight departure time, flyers are suffering too because of poor infrastructure.

Source: India Times

Air India, Jet Airways to Lease 35 Airbus Planes

NEW DELHI -- Air India and Jet Airways India Ltd. have agreed to lease 35 planes of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV's Airbus from leasing companies.

Flag carrier Air India has decided to lease 10 A330 planes and 15 A320s, Airbus said inside a statement late Monday. Jet Airways, India's biggest carrier by industry share, will lease 10 A330s.

Airbus said the 25 planes that Air India plans to eat on lease have a list acquisition cost of $3.1 billion, while the 10 planes chosen by Jet Airways have a list acquisition cost of $1.9 billion.

A spokesman for Airbus said the deals are, however, possibly being done directly on the leasing firms and are unlikely to give new firm to Airbus.

"The carriers will choose an engine supplier and also a leasing business during the near future," Airbus said.

Indian carriers have started to eat new planes on lease or order new aircraft as demand for air travel rebounds during the global economic slowdown of 2008 and early 2009. Budget carrier SpiceJet Ltd. last month ordered 30 turboprop aircraft from Canada's Bombardier Inc. for $900 million, adding to a $2.7 billion order for 30 Boeing Co.'s 737-800 planes placed in July. An additional budget airline IndiGo has received government approval to buy 150 Airbus planes.

Ragini Chopra, a spokeswoman for Mumbai-based Jet, said the airline is planning to eat the 10 A330s on lease to expand its international operations.

"We are in talks with numerous leasing firms for your aircraft," she said, but declined to elaborate.

The first two A330s are going to be leased among January and June 2011, while the sleep are going to be leased in 2012 for use on long-haul routes, said another Jet Airways executive, who declined being named.

"We are finalising our international expansion plans," the executive said. "We think demand is rising and this really is the proper time to deploy additional capacity."

Jet has already leased four ATR turboprop planes during the aircraft-leasing arm of U.K.-based Investec PLC. A couple of additional ATRs will join the fleet next month.

Air India executives weren't promptly accessible for comment.

Jet Airways Announces to Launch Daily Non-Stop Flight From Milano Malpensa To New Delhi

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, today announced that it will commence daily non-stop flights from Milano Malpensa to New Delhi from December 5th, 2010 in code share with Alitalia, producing Milan the twenty-fourth international destination on Jet Airways’ network.

Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways, said: “We consider Milan a strategic destination, getting the company and commercial center of Italy. India, an emerging marketplace with a booming economy is a youthful and vibrant marketplace that holds beneficial potential. Jet Airways and I consume pride in bringing a taste of Modern India to Italy. Based on our experience in Europe, with a direct flight we expect the marketplace to grow by 30%. During the very first month we already have 89% occupancy on the new flight from Milan. We are therefore incredibly optimistic about this flight. Our product and our service inside air and on ground are anything incredibly special, warm and distinctive and we’re certain that the Italian marketplace will enjoy this”.

Rocco Sabelli, Managing Director of Alitalia, said: “We are incredibly happy to jobs with Jet Airways. This agreement represents a incredibly essential development for Alitalia. Connecting Italy from the principal worldwide destinations, reinforcing our leadership position inside Italian marketplace and our offer of intercontinental flights from Milan is a further step in our strategy. Alitalia stands out as the very first SkyTeam airline for getting signed an agreement with Jet Airways”.

“I am particularly happy from the new daily direct flight to Milano Malpensa – New Delhi operated by the largest Indian airline. This link will support to strengthen the relationships in between our market, wherever only the North West recorded 50% of exports to India, and a single from the major globe powers with powerful economic growth” – mentioned Giuseppe Bonomi, Chairman, SEA Milan Airports – “Malpensa confirms its leadership inside relationship with East Asia thanks also to this new flight activated inside a short time thanks our trade policy that has brought sure results: today Malpensa connects 168 destinations, reaching 86 cities outside Europe and 110 airlines”.

Jet Airways’ new flight, the only a single to offer a daily direct link in between Italy and India will connect Milan, the fashion and type capital from the world, to historic New Delhi, the capital of India.

Effective 5th December the flights will operate towards the right after schedule:

9W 141 / AZ 7082 Milano Malpensa/New Delhi: 21.25-09.55*

9W 142 / AZ 7083 New Delhi/Milano Malpensa: 13.20-18.00 (*the next day)

The airline will likely be utilizing its contemporary Airbus 330-200 aircraft configured in a couple of classes, with 30 seats in Première (Business Class seats that can be converted to 180° lie-flat beds) and 190 seats in Economy (ergonomically created seats for much more space and comfort).

Jet Airways’ and Alitalia’s guests will likely be able to experience the new state-of-the-art Terminal 3 of New Delhi Airport and achieve over 42 destinations on Jet Airways network in India. New Delhi, thanks to its strategic geographical location in between Italy and Asia, is an ideal gateway for guests from Italy to travel beyond India to other Jet Airways destinations just like Colombo, Bangkok, Kathmandu, and Dhaka. The airline will thus provide its guests a seamless travel experience as soon as transiting at New Delhi Airport.
Jet Airways Konnect

Jet Airways on a hiring mode

Mumbai: A controversy pops up among the two leading airline industries which include Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines wherein the latter has blamed the former of recruiting 50 Kingfisher benched pilots as co-pilots. Jet Airways denied the recruitment and commented that Kingfisher has voluntarily enable individuals pilots off due to no immediate requirement.

The Naresh Goyal controlled India's largest personalized carrier by marketplace share also plans to hire some experienced pilots as commanders within the competitor. The very first batch in the 29 benched pilots has already joined them. The airline has also confirmed the amount of pilots sent.

Due for the assumption of facing an opposition within the management, the airline has planned to maintain a meeting on 30th of November, so as to discuss the new recruitments. "How can we permit pilots to arrive and fly with us once our personal pilots aren't given their due, aren't promoted and the salaries have not been reinstated post the revival," stated a disgruntled pilot, who did not would like to be called due to the sensitivity in the matter.

Due to this kind of reactions, a huge opposition is expected within the serving pilots to your newly recruited pilots.
With the growing demand for air travel, Jet nevertheless has hiring plans as based on the marketplace estimates, Air travel is set to grow by 20-25% within the year ending March 31, 2011.

Although Jet leads with a marketplace share of 26.2% followed by Kingfisher of 19%, Jet Airways has had no choice but to hop pilots from its rivals Air India and Kingfisher since the manpower resources have not kept pace with its growth in aviation industries. Pilots must be trained with an experience of a few flying hours before their recruitment.

For the newly recruited pilots from Kingfisher, just a week's long training is adequate to your transition to fly Jet's A330 from Kingfisher's Airbus A320. As informed by the marketplace executives, Jet's management is looking forward to hiring around 300 much more commanders more than the next three years who have more than 3000 hours of flying experience,although the airline entirely declined to give the definite figure.
Source: Silicon India

Kingfisher Gets Okay for Debt-Equity Swap

Kingfisher Airlines' board has approved a debt recast plan that seeks to convert some of its debt into equity. The move will aid the company reduce its interest burden and stem losses.

Kingfisher will convert lenders' loans of as much as Rs. 1355 crore into shares. It also plans to convert founders' debt of as much as Rs. 648 crore into share capital. Kingfisher's balance loans is also repaid to lenders over nine years with a moratorium of a couple of years, it added. The airline plans to problem convertible and redeemable shares to lending banks as well as founder entities in line with its debt recast plan.

It plans to problem as much as 57.5 crore redeemable preference shares and as much as 78 crore convertible preference shares to its consortium of lenders. Its board also approved issuing as much as 64.8 crore convertible preference shares to founder entities United Breweries (Holdings) and to Kingfisher Finvest India. Under the debt restructuring package, lenders can also sanction a lot more funds as well as non-fund-based facilities, Kingfisher said. The package firmed up following a one-time relaxation in restructuring guidelines sanctioned by the Reserve Bank of India, the airline said.

Tata Motors reportedly plans to set up a second factory in Bangladesh, one of its main export destinations for commercial vehicles, in six months to cater to growing sales of smaller and light commercial vehicles.

Separately, Tata Motors reportedly plans to launch compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks within the medium and heavy segments for your domestic marketplace within a year.

Communications Minister Kapil Sibal mentioned on Thursday, 25 November 2010 cellular number portability across the country is going to be implemented from 20 January 2011. Mobile number portability, which allows users to keep their phone number even if they switch operators, was to be introduced in all telecoms zones by 31 March 2010.

The board of Money Matters Financial Services will meet today, 26 November 2010, to select the futures course of action following the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday, 24 November 2010 arrested the Money Matters' chairman and a couple of other officials and also the senior executives of three state-run banks and other financial organizations inside a loan bribery case.

In a statement towards stock exchanges, Money Matters mentioned the board meeting had been called to discuss the matter in detail and select the next course of action. The CBI has mentioned that Money Matters acted being a mediator and facilitator of corporate loans and other facilities by bribing bank officials.

Money Matters mentioned the company will like to assure its shareholders, buyers and company associates that the company firmly believes in ethical practices in all company dealings. The company is fully co-operating with CBI and within the legal proceedings, it said.

Paras Pharmaceuticals has reportedly shortlisted the bids of Piramal Healthcare, Emami and unlisted Taisho Pharmaceutical Co to sell a controlling stake. As per reports, Emami could emerge the winner with its final bid of Rs. 2950 crore.

SKS Microfinance has reportedly occur under the scanner on the Insurance Regulatory Authority of India for deviating from guidelines set by the regulator on commissions and claim settlements.

Glodyne Technoserve's board approved sub-division of equity shares of Rs. 10 each into equity shares of face significance Rs. 6 each. The board also approved raising funds through equity and other methods from domestic and overseas markets.

Pratibha Industries has raised Rs. 50 crore through equity shares issued to Van Dyck, a unit of ChrysCapital V LLC. The company issued 38 lakh equity shares on preferential basis at Rs. 92 a piece to Van Dyck, it said. In addition, it issued 16.3 lakh compulsory convertible participatory preference shares at Rs. 92 a piece to Van Dyck, it added.
Soruce: India Infoline

Kingfisher Airlines cuts losses by 45%

Private carrier Kingfisher Airlines has reduced its September quarter losses by 45 per cent to Rs 231 crore as against a loss of Rs 418.77 crore inside the exact same quarter a year ago. The airline saw a 24 per cent improvement in operating revenues, driven by a growth in aviation demand, focus on improving network profitability, and various cost reduction initiatives.

Sales have grown 24 per cent to Rs 1,382.72 crore when compared with Rs 1,112.70 crore. Meanwhile, shares in the business gained 2.06 per cent to close the day at Rs 81.65 on a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Monday.

Domestic revenues stood at Rs 1,038 crore compared with Rs 989 crore in Q2 FY10. This was a 5 per cent improve in income despite 18 per cent reduction in ability (seats offered). International revenues have been at Rs 345 crore compared with Rs 124 crore in Q2 FY10.

“This performance was despite 11 per cent reduction inside the quantity of departures. The overall EBITDA margin to your quarter improved to a certain 4 per cent inside the unfavorable 24 per cent reported inside the exact same quarter last year. These results have been delivered despite an estimated loss of more than Rs 73 crore because of unplanned grounding of aircraft. Adjusted for this loss, the EBITDA margin would be 8 per cent to your quarter,” said the airline in a filing towards BSE.
Source: Indian Express

Air India empowered to take decision on hiring employees says Praful Patel

NEW DELHI: The Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday mentioned how the Management of Air India was empowered to take any choice during staff selection, right after reports that some of its Board directors had opposed appointment of Pawan Arora as COO of its low-cost arm Air India Express .

"If there is any controversial appointment, I am sure that Air India management and Air India Board will take a right decision. It is a question of an Air India employee, so allow the Air India management and board take care of these issues," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters here.

He was replying to questions on reports that some of Air India's independent directors had raised objections on the appointment of Arora as well as the functioning of its top management.

He asserted that there was "no controversy" within the board's independent directors meeting top officials within the PMO to discuss the trouble on functioning of Air India.

Yesterday, the five independent directors with the business -- Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd , Ficci's secretary general Amit Mitra, Ambuja Realty chairman Harsh Neotia and former air chief Fali H. Major-- met Prime Minister's Principal Secretary T K A Nair and reportedly expressed their anguish over the appointments being made by the company.

They also met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel today and briefed him for the meeting with Prime Minister office.

"There is no question of any controversy. Independent Directors wanted to meet me and they had courtesy call. They have been on the Board for over six months and they wanted to share their views with me," Patel said.

Apart within the trouble of Air India COO, difficulties relating to Air India's financial position, debt case and human resources are also understood to have occur up for discussion within the meeting with TKA Nair.

Source: The Economic Times

7 Mumbai-bound flights diverted

Hundreds of passengers on board seven city-bound flights were forced to country at other airports on Friday night because an Air India flight from London was stuck on the taxiway paralysing operations for nearly an hour. Six flights had to become diverted to Ahmedabad and one was sent to Hyderabad.
Soon
after vacating the principal runway, the pilot of flight AI 130 informed the air targeted visitors control that he was unable to move the landing gear with the aircraft as a result of suspected hydraulic failure.

A Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) spokesperson, mentioned that airport staff saw smoke emanating within the landing gear. “The staff sprayed foam on the gear and passengers were safely deplaned,” the spokesperson said.

At that thing air targeted visitors control officials were using only the principal runway. They had to switch for the other runway because the exit within the principal runway was blocked by the Air India flight. By then, several incoming flights had already aligned themselves to country on the principal runway.
As soon as the ATC official announced the transform of runway, these flights had to re-vector their position mid-air.
In addition, airport ground staff also takes about 30 minutes to switch runways because one end with the principal runway is under repair. By the time the ATC cleared the secondary runway for operations, flights decided to country at a neighbouring airport.

“At least a dozen flights were circling around the airport,” mentioned a senior air targeted visitors control officer. Airport sources blamed runway repairs.
Source: Hindustan Times

T3 of IGI airport to start operating from Oct 30

NEW DELHI: As soon as domestic operations begin inside integrated terminal Three (T3) on October 30, about 70% of domestic site visitors would be moving on the new terminal. Although 3 roads will consume passengers up to the Haj terminal — NH-8, the tunnel road that will be made operational by this month-end and the road from Gurgaon — only 1 road from that thing will bring about the main terminal, posing a site visitors nightmare.

A team inside civil aviation ministry led by joint secretary Alok Sinha inspected operations at the airport on Tuesday. In accordance with sources, officials pointed out that site visitors chaos would probably result right after domestic operations on the 3 main carriers — Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher — shift to T3. ''The tunnel road will open with only two lanes at supply and that ought to not be a problem. However, just right after the Haj terminal, after all site visitors would be pushed onto 1 road, site visitors jams will probably be a huge issue,'' stated sources.

Sources also stated that whilst everything was on schedule at the domestic side on the terminal, the entire airport experience will probably be marred if difficulties like site visitors aren't sorted out. The first four gates at T3 will probably be dedicated to domestic carriers and officials are worried that the starting on the ramp would often be crowded and keep up other traffic. A meeting is probably to be convened among Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd (DIAL) and site visitors police on October 25 to formalise a site visitors plan.

''The other issue highlighted by ministry officials was that of passenger transfer, among international and domestic and within domestic. DIAL is planning to convert IGI into a hub on the lines of Singapore and Dubai. That is a first for India and there can't be goof-ups. The issue will must be sorted out by airlines and the ministry will also keep a meeting with them right after the site visitors issue is sorted out,'' stated officials.
Source: The Times of India

Mumbai FC gun down Air India

Since its launch four many years ago, Mumbai FC had not managed to beat Mumbai football’s powerhouse, Air India. Manager Henry Picardo, a former Air India player, kept dreaming in the result.

And that dream couldn’t were realised at a far better occasion than from the final in the Nadkarni Cup. Mumbai FC defeated Air India 2-0 to win the championship at the RCF ground, Chembur, on Monday.

Ebi Sukore Theophilus’s strike from the 40th minute followed by a superb back volley from striker Pc Lalawmpuia from the dying minutes clinched the 104th edition in the tournament for Mumbai FC.

It looked like an I-League encounter over a local tourney as each the sides play from the national tournament. The intensity was high as there was high quality action and drama involved. Some comical errors from the referees added on the excitement.

However, they also raised question marks over some of the decisions taken by them. From the very first half, several Air India players argued in the referee over the rules during a free kick. However, it was resolved amicably.

For most in the opening period, each sides played both equally well, doing inroads to the opponent’s half but they could not capitalise on the opportunities that came their way.

Five minutes ahead of the very first half whistle, Air India’s Samson Singh committed a foul from the box, which resulted inside a penalty kick for Mumbai FC. Ebi obliged by tapping the ball in without having any issue leaving Air India custodian Kunal Sawant, a mere spectator.

Second half as well had some exciting moments as the ball went over the horizontal bar quite a few times, but a 90th minute back volley strike from Lalawmpui finished the game in style in Mumbai FC’s favour.

Picardo, who was in-charge in the team from the absence of coach Khalid Jamil, was all praise of Lalawmpui.

“He is recognized for that. That goal from him sealed the game for us,” mentioned Picardo.

He mentioned he is happy, especially, mainly because his team had defeated the power property of Mumbai.

“It was dream arrive true. Since our team was launched four many years ago, we had never defeated Air India. Beating this sort of a big and tough side gives you high. As far as winning the tournament is concerned, it'll give us a improve ahead of the I-League begins.”
Source: DNA India

SriLankan Airlines to acquire seven new aircraft by 2011-end

COLOMBO: National carrier SriLankan Airlines today stated it's going to soon purchase its first brand of new aircraft in more than a decade among the seven aircraft it plans to eat delivery of by 2011-end.

They include 5 Airbus A320's, such as three brand new aircraft, and 2 Twin Otter float planes.

"We will likely be celebrating an important new chapter during the history of SriLankan Airlines on the arrival of this big number of aircraft within a short period," SriLankan's CEO Manoj Gunawardena today said.

He stated this would permit the airlines to a lot enhance the passenger service. "This will give us the ability to fly to more cities during the Subcontinent, Middle East and Southeast Asia, and to also enhance ability to existing destinations in these regions," he today stated in a statement.

The last time Sri Lanka's National Carrier took delivery of a brand new aircraft was in June 2000, after it received the last of six A330-200's.

The three brand new aircraft are scheduled to be acquired from May-November 2011, and will sport the latest comforts and entertainment systems, such as Audio-Video On Demand (AVOD) in each Organization and Economy Classes.

"These three aircraft would be preceded by 2 other A320's, that are probably to come in December 2010 and early 2011," he said. All 5 aircraft would be on operating leases at quite attractive terms of monthly payments.

In addition, 2 Twin Otters are to be acquired for the re-launch of its domestic support SriLankan Air Taxi this winter.

The airline can be exploring the possibility of obtaining at least another long-haul wide-body aircraft to launch services to more new destinations in Europe and the Far East, Gunawardena said.

"Our fleet expansion plans are usually updated to aid Sri Lanka's swiftly growing tourism industry, even though keeping in mind the financial requirements on the airline," he said.

Sri Lanka's national carrier started a re-fleeting programme shortly after its management changed hands (when Government got the controlling stakes) in April 2008, obtaining three A320's in 2008 and 2009 to replace old aircraft.

A wide-body A330-200 was also added on the fleet 2 months ago. These seven aircraft will join SriLankan's fleet of 13-- three A320's, 5 A330's, and 5 A340's-- with a global network covering 49 cities in 31 countries.

The twin-engined A320's operate to destinations during the Subcontinent, Maldives, Southeast Asia, and parts on the Middle East, even though the A330's and A340's operate on the Middle East, Europe, and the Far East.

Source: The Economic Times