Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  November 13, 2015, 4:11 PM An award to two consortia to design, construct, finance, develop, operate and maintain   FBO s at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport for 20 years and upgrade the present facility in phases is being called a monopolistic move by the general aviation industry. Airport management company Delhi International Airport Ltd. (Dial) would not comment about the award. Following two earlier canceled tenders, Dial and bid advisor InterVistas released the request for proposal ( RFP ) last year that mandated a partnership of Indian companies with foreign providers. Concessionaires Bird Group with ExecuJet and Indamer Co. with Mjets of Thailand won the bid. Others bidders were Air Works with Turkey’s Celebi and Shaurya Aviation with U.S.-Aurora Aviation. However, the very tenets of the bid are being questioned by India’s Business Aviation Operators Association ( BAOA ). R.K Bali,   BAOA ’s managing...

Neelam Mathews Aug 12, 2014 India is buzzing. Lufthansa expects to start flying A380s to Mumbai and Delhi from around Nov 1, this year, with the start of the winter schedule, South Asia Director Wolfgang Will told AeroSpaceDiary here. The A380s will replace the 747-800 to Delhi and 747-400s flying into Mumbai. The carrier is “in the final steps of getting approval.” The carrier has ordered 15 A380s, of which the 11 th and 12 th aircraft are in delivery mode. The last aircraft will be delivered by 2016. The entry of the world’s largest commercial jet will bring in 180 additional seats per flight and that’s no mean job to fill. Interestingly, the first ever region-specific commercial presently on major channels, “More Indian than you think,” to be followed by billboards and “much more,” is “a prelude to the A380 coming into India,” Will added. “We realize there are challenges, but we see huge opportunities. We will reach out to new customer segments like the leisure...

Neelam Mathews April 27, 2014 As Jet Airways inches towards its 25 th anniversary on May 5- or is it the 26 th?  as people have different modes of calculation- AerospaceDiary has learnt an all- business class service on B737-900 could be started between Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai. We hear the aircraft is being reconfigured presently, but could not confirm this.                   While many would look at this as a gutsy step given that it were to happen, and with the economy not having bounced back, a ministry official here informed us the seats could be between 78- 92. Presently, Jet Airways has 28 business class seats on the sector. This could be in the footsteps of its partner Etihad Airways that is believed to be looking at a similar service from Abu Dhabi to London. While many might wonder whether load factors will meet expectations, we hear Jet has managed to woo its business c...

Neelam Mathews  March 20, 2014 Gulfstream is confident the Indian business aviation market will rebound and to show it means business, it flew the G650, the ultra high-speed, ultra long-range business jet that took off from the Westchester County Airport in White Plains, US on March 10 with two passengers and four crew members on board to Mumbai.  Thirteen hours and 49 minutes later, the aircraft landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, giving it an average cruise speed of Mach 0.85 for the 7,115-nautical-mile/13,177-kilometer flight. The G650’s ability to link these two key business destinations reinforces its utility as a vital tool for corporations to advance their economic interests around the world,” said Jason Akovenko, regional vice president, Sales, Asia-Pacific, Gulfstream. "The speed and range of the G650 are just two of the many reasons why this aircraft is in such high demand.” Pending approval by the U.S. National Aeronautic Assoc...

Neelam Mathews Sept 18, 2013 It's the return of the native, we are hearing. Kingfisher House in Mumbai is abuzz with the news that a Saudi investor is looking at investing $500 million in the grounded airline. "At current share prices (Rs 4), this will prove a good deal for the investor even as shares are expected to jump once the market gets news of this deal," said a financial consultant to AerospaceDiary. We could not confirm this. So what will the new branding be? A Kingfisher pecking at profits? Or another icon? We're hearing, it is likely the name of the new airline if its starts, will be Kingfisher Air or King Air- closest to its old recognizable brand. Wonder if that's a good thing even as images of lessors holding begging bowls in hand come to mind. Looks like the prayers of the some 1800 employees still at KFA are being heard by a bigger power. Last friday, we learn, the employees held a prayer session where they asked the good lord to shower hi...

AIN AIR TRANSPORT PERSPECTIVE  »  APRIL 1, 2013 by    NEELAM MATHEWS IATA director general Tony Tyler (right) urged Ajit Singh, India’s minister for civil aviation, to accelerate the pace of air transport policy reform at last week’s India Aviation Day conference in New Delhi.  April 1, 2013, 6:00 PM India’s long-awaited new civil aviation policy needs to address key issues on infrastructure and high taxation, according to Tony Tyler, director general and  CEO  of the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ). Speaking at the annual India Aviation Day in New Delhi on March 26, he urged the country’s government to produce a coordinated policy framework for aviation that all relevant departments, including the ministries for finance, economy, development, rural infrastructure and tourism, can pursue. Tyler made the point that an uncoordinated approach across government undermines what little aviation policy India no...

Neelam Mathews March 1, 2013 So, for those of us who thought or didn't, that AirAsia would come and takeover the budget seat business in India, here's some news. IndiGo has launched 8 new flights on its domestic network including its fifth daily and direct flight between Delhi and Chennai, AirAsia's hub. It now has a second direct daily between Delhi and Kochi.  Additionally, 6E will operate its fourth daily and direct flight between Mumbai and Chennai. Few guesses why Chennai is so important to its agenda. And while AirAsia has already said Delhi and Mumbai airports are too expensive for its business model for the moment and will stick to sectors from Chennai that do not connect to these two metros, one feels IndiGo is thinking a step ahead. The question is how long can these two city pairs not be part of a scheduled carrier's business model. We're waiting........!   IndiGo n ew flight schedules  Flight Origin Destination Departure Arriva...

Neelam Mathews Feb 19, 2013 AAIs twice released bid for the Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) at ten airports is moving, according to an AAI spokesman speaking to Aerospace Diary today. The tenders are now under technical evaluation, and "hopefully by the third week of February, we will open the financial bids and then go for the approval process." The AOCC will bring together the diverse processes relating to the passengers, cargo and baggage through an improved coordination through integration and optimisation of existing  resources.  Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport was the first to set up AOCC in the country followed by Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and later in Bangalore.

Neelam Mathews Dec 22, 2012 Singapore Airlines will be investing nearly SGD$95 million to refit ten Boeing 777-  200ER aircraft with new long-haul cabin products to provide customers with  additional space and comfort. S ervice between Singapore and  Mumbai SQ 422/ 421   will start on March 31, 2013.   The cabin upgrade program will provide greater product consistency across the a irline’s long-haul fleet, with Business Class seats that convert into full-flat beds  and larger in-flight entertainment screen sizes for both Business Class and  Economy Class. The first refitted B777-200ER will operate between Singapore and Amsterdam  from 13 Jan 2013. Upgraded B777-200ERs will be deployed to more  destinations in Europe and to points in India, South Africa, Australia and New  Zealand as additional aircraft are refitted. In Business Class, the seat reclines up to 125 degrees and unfolds into a 76-inch full-flat bed.  In Econom...

Neelam Mathews Dec 16, 2012 Looking Ahead?!  Credit- Gulf Times  While we're not in the business to track people, this is just to clear some reports that have said Naresh Goyal, the tsar of India's Jet Airways  is in Abu Dhabi. Goyal was spotted at Udaipur airport taking the flight back to Mumbai this morning, Aerospace Diary learns.

Neelam Mathews Oct 12, 2012 Bombardier Aerospace has enhanced its worldwide aftermarket service network for business aircraft customers with the addition of a second Line Maintenance Facility (LMF) in India. Air Works in New Delhi has been named an LMF for Challenger 604 ,  Challenger 605 ,  Global Express  and  Global Express XRS  business jets. The facility will complement Air Works’ center in Mumbai, which has been part of Bombardier’s Authorized Service Facility network since 2008. Éric Martel, President, Customer Services & Specialized and Amphibious Aircraft, Bombardier Aerospace said: “The two Air Works facilities are an important part of our overall network in India, anchored by our Mumbai Regional Support Office. We continue to place a heavy focus on growing our local roots in key markets, and are pleased to collaborate with local partners.” The newly authorized New Delhi facility, centrally located at Indira Gandhi International Airp...

Neelam Mathews Sept 28, 2012 Starting Nov 15, Maldivian, the national carrier of the Maldives, will launch direct services from Mumbai, Chennai and Dhaka to Male. To cater to the new direct routes, Maldivian will be adding a 154-seat Airbus 320 aircraft to its fleet by October 2012. Presently, the fleet consists of 2 Dash8-200 series aircraft (37 seats) and 3 Dash8-300 series aircraft (50 seats). Abdul Harris, Managing Director, Maldivian, said. "We are entering new passenger markets where we see a need for more air services, particularly where such markets are under served and in need for extra capacity", he said. Maldivian, which has only been in operation for 12 years, began its operations to Trivandrum, India in January 2007. Maldivian already works in partnership with a number of key resorts in the country such as Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi, J Resorts Alidhoo, Waldorf Astoria Maldives, Six Senses Laamu, Park Hyatt Maldives, Robinson Club Maldives, Jum...

Neelam Mathews April 17, 2012 With the largest Routes Asia event coming to a close in Chengdu, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CDIA) have officially handed over to Mumbai, the official host destination of Routes Asia 2013. The forum for the entire Asia region will take place on 17-19 March 2013 in Mumbai hosted by Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd, GVK managed, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA). This status will be further enhanced upon the completion of the new state-of-the-art integrated passenger terminal T2 which will coincide with the hosting of Routes Asia 2013 opening later in the same year. The choice of CSIA as a host airport also helps to reinforce its position as India’s foremost airport at the cutting edge of comfort, technology and design. CSIA is a standing participant of the Route Development Forums (World & Asia). With a total of 44 international airlines, and 7 domestic passenger airlines currently operating more than 687 fligh...

Neelam Mathews February 18, 2012 It’s not the best of times for five star airline, Kingfisher, that is believed to have flown only around 20 of its fleet of 66 on Saturday. Aerospace Diary now hears this will be cut down to another four aircraft on Sunday (Feb 19). Interestingly, these will be a mix of ATRs and A-320s. This was confirmed by officials who told Aerospace Diary over five Kingfisher aircraft each were parked at Delhi and Mumbai airports. Attempts to reach the corporate communications head to confirm or deny the report were met with no repsonse. A letter to Kingfisher Airlines employees from senior management states that Kolkata will be pulled off from its routes from monday, while hinting Hyderabad will follow soon. The carrier is also looking at withdrawing from all its international routes starting with Dacca, Kathmandu, Colombo, Bangkok, and then London and Hong Kong. It is not clear if the DGCA has been informed of this decision. A distraught employee tells u...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Feb 1, 2012 SpiceJet has started flights on Surat - Delhi and Surat - Mumbai routes. .   With the launch, Surat has become SpiceJet’s second destination in Gujarat. SpiceJet also operates flights on Ahmedabad-Chennai and Ahmedabad-Trichy routes.   The airline says it is offering tickets for Surat-Mumbai route at as low as Rs 999 and for Surat-Delhi at Rs 1,499 (all inclusive).  Interestingly, the airline decided to start flights from Surat following requests from its fans on Facebook. SpiceJet currently has 311, 629 fans on Facebook.    “The launch of flights from Surat reiterates our commitment to provide affordable air connectivity in the country. We have been adding new destinations from non-metros in our effort to connect Tier-II and Tier-III and addition of Surat is step forward in this regard,” SpiceJet CEO Neil Mills said. “We see huge potential in non-metros as people need affordable and timely connectivity t...

Posted by- Neelam Mathews Jan 19, 2012 The recent decision of AirAsia X  to stop  flying to Mumbai and London raised many eyebrows about the sustainability of long haul low cost services. Though the immediate concerns  point  towards high jet fuel prices, immigration concerns as well as  high  airport  taxes  have  also impacted the overall grand strategy to increase  yields,  rationalization and allocation of aircraft fleet to more profitable routes, says consultancy Frost & Sullivan. “These routes (Delhi and Mumbai and Paris and London) were  bleeding  on  a  low cost model and with the MAS-AirAsia collaboration, cutting off duplicate capacities makes sense,” says Amartya De, Frost & Sullivan Senior Consultant for Aerospace & Defense. “Part of the  network rationalisation process is also to bring passengers from European destinations on MAS up to Kuala Lumpur and then giving the...