Aerospace Diary

  Neelam Mathews March 25, 2012 Frankly, I have to come downright and say it. As a customer I’m beginning to feel I’m being taken for quite a ride both by the government and what seems to be the fast sinking ship of Kingfisher. Aerospace Diary is now hearing 28 stations of Kingfisher have been closed down since yesterday. A staff member told us, nothing had been indicated to them. Hyderabad is closed as is Kolkata and also all international destinations barring London till April 10. The ticket to London from Mumbai via Delhi, costs a meager Rs 65, 423, is available. Except ofcourse, if you try the toll free number- whether for booking a domestic or  international flight, the service has closed down! So good luck to all travelers facing delays or cancellations! I tried booking to Hyderabad, the efficient website had a message saying “Please call our call center for details.” And lo and behold, when I tried the number, a message said “The number does not exist.” Being pers...

Aviation Week Jan 19, 2011   By Neelam Mathews NEW DELHI India’s longest serving Minister of Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, is moving to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. Patel will be replaced by 73-year-old congressional leader Vayalar Ravi who has been given additional charge of the aviation portfolio in the cabinet reshuffle undertaken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, effective Jan. 19. Ravi continues as minister for overseas Indian affairs with cabinet rank. The change comes at a time when Air India will be approaching the Bureau of Public Sector Enterprises for a hefty revival package. BPSE, under Patel’s ministry, is likely to ease the national carrier’s financial woes. Patel has been credited for giving a boost to the civil aviation sector through liberal policies aimed at helping the private sector. Of late, he had been said to have asked ...