Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews July 19, 2014 If you thought the end of losses for airlines operating in India was history, you might want to think again. So volatile is the situation that with the possible start of giant Tata-SIA soon, even Jet-Etihad has realized it cannot be silent anymore. A press briefing called next week will have both Naresh Goyal and James Hogan addressing us mere mortals. Don’t bash me up for this, but besides the fact they are expected to inform us on how the India market figures in their strategy, we are hearing a buzz that they might even announce the acquisition of a large ailing budget airline (SpiceJet?) that is suffering from TDS and service tax payment defaults. However, AerospaceDiary could not confirm this.  Just reporting a buzz! Moreover, that is where, we suspect a blog differs from a newspaper report. Taking a bit of editorial leverage here! Air India has joined Star Alliance and that might give it a temporary relief as it adds more codeshares to ...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  FEBRUARY 25, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS Malaysia-based AirAsia has announced plans to launch a new domestic airline in India before year-end. (Photo: Airbus) February 25, 2013, 1:52 PM Malaysia’s AirAsia has unveiled plans to launch a new domestic airline in India by the fourth quarter of 2013. Under the terms of a deal announced on February 21, the largest low-fare carrier in Asia will hold a 49-percent stake–the maximum holding permitted by the Indian government for a foreign investor–in the new airline. AirAsia is partnering with major Indian industrial groups Tata (to carry a 30-percent stake) and Telestra Tradeplace (21 percent). AirAsia chairman Tony Fernandes has decided against buying into an existing Indian domestic airline, as he could have done under foreign investment rules revised last year. By contrast, Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways recently confirmed plans to buy 24 percent o...

Neelam Mathews Nov 26, 2012 In typical Tony Fernandes, no-nonsense style, the LCC tsar put media speculation to rest with a statement- AirAsia would  like to enlighten the public and its shareholders on the  speculation that has been actively spreading in regards to the purchase of an Indian budget carrier.   AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer   Tony Fernandes said: “AirAsia rejects the speculation surrounding our possible expansion in India. These reports are completely incorrect. AirAsia has not submitted a bid for the Indian budget carrier, and has no intention of doing so." Hopefully, the Indian government will question  its ill-conceived aviation FDI policy that is restrictive and insular, and one that permits only existing players- many in the pits- to tap foreign investment. 

                                                           Indian Aviation: hazy picture Opinion Neelam Mathews Aug 8, 2012 Things are not good at all in our sector - barring a slight escalation in yields- because of two airlines pulling out capacity. What happens when those two get back on track or another carrier fills in, one wonders. So, the false optimism might be just that, and lows might be around the corner. Some thoughts: One has no idea if Kingfisher has put in another note recently informing the DGCA of reduction in its fleet given that the last time its fleet count rate was around 20. Today with the flying fleet size down to approximately 10 and with appro...