Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews , Jan 7, 2016 Star Alliance founder member United Airlines’ network operations center in Chicago keeps abreast of flight planning, weather forecasting, crew scheduling, maintenance control and ATC liaison. (Photo: Neelam Mathews) Airlines pay a steep price for their memberships in global alliances, but with those costs come the benefits of pooled investment in modernizing information technology hubs and connectivity systems. For Star Alliance, the use of technology to accelerate complex booking and operational processes ranks among the chief advantages, according to executives attending a recent chief executive board meeting in Chicago hosted by founding member airline, United. In June, Star Alliance collaborated with Sabre to use an industry-first technology to simplify booking of its Round the World fares. Travel agents connected to the Sabre global distribution system ( GDS ) can now book and automatically calculate the corresponding f...

Neelam Mathews May 4, 2013 cr-hindubusinessline   Always one to call a spade a spade, we caught up with SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills at the launch of India Aviation 2014. Couldn't spot any other domestic airline CEO at the event. While Mills was very clear in saying there was no FDI planned "for now," he wasn't saying 'never.' Which leads us to believe, there's a pot boiling in the kitchen. Because, can it be a coincidence that there is sudden spurt in buying of the carrier's shares? Word has it that once media-shy Maran picks up 51%, announcements will be made. Who could be SpiceJet's partner? Qatar has denied they are interested- but then, Qatar also denied they were joining OneWorld alliance a day before the announcement. We, at AerospaceDiary, wonder how a budget-full-service alliance would work given the logistics including the FFP and the IATA membership issues. But then, the times they are a changing. ANA, that was said to be in talks ...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  APRIL 29, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Jet Airways A330s will become a common sight in Abu Dhabi under an expanded alliance with Etihad. (Photo: Airbus) April 29, 2013, 11:21 AM Even as AirAsia India prepares to apply for a No Objection Certificate to start domestic operations, Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has invested $379 million in India’s Jet Airways. The outlay gives Etihad a 24-percent share in India’s second largest carrier. Signs of the alliance became clear in February, when Etihad purchased three pairs of Jet’s Heathrow slots through a sale and leaseback agreement for $70 million. It plans to further inject $150 million through a majority equity investment in Jet Airways’ frequent flier program within the next six months. Etihad Airways’ investment in Jet Airways follows the minority equity stakes the airline took in Airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus over ...

Neelam Mathews Feb 21, 2013 Analysts we spoke to could not  fathom Jet Airways rational for the destructively low fares it has put into place- around   two million tickets with immediate effect.  The only people with smiles on their faces are the passengers who get a respite from the comparitively high but saner prices that had come to roost.  Now with Air Asia around the corner with a penchant for cutting fares, I can see all airlines sweating before summer comes. And while Jet might have set the trend for cut throat prices with SpiceJet and Indigo to follow, the fact remains that operating costs of these carriers are around 45% less than a full service carrier like Jet that has to bear the costs for FFP, IFE and catering costs among others. So the question is: "Who is hurting whom and who is committing harakiri here? While SpiceJet had a limited offer last month for slashed fares, it did not dilute its immediate travel nor cannabalize on existing traffic...