Facing the heat of the financial crisis that has hit the aviation sector, state-owned Air India on Thursday said it is considering a plan to give 3-5 years leave without pay to about 15,000 of its staff.
However, the names which are doing rounds are Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. The latter is yet to start its international operations, which is a major requirement for joining an alliance. The merged Air India has already been invited to join its competing Star Alliance. OneWorld brings together some of the biggest names in the airline business, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Qantas and Royal Jordanian.
Air India is planning to add more flights connecting India and US. Immediate plans include non-stop flight from Bangalore to San Francisco.
In a veiled reference to events in Pakistan and perhaps forces at home, Dr Singh said the rise of non-state actors, often based on intolerance, and narrow conceptions of identity, was a threat to all civilised nations.
Building on the goodwill generated by the landmark handshake between the world's two powerful armies last month in Kumming in China, the two leaders decided to have a second military exercise in India.
India and China are becoming engines of growth and must use their natural and human resources, technology and capital for the benefit of the region, said the prime minister.
"Indian business is ready to face the brave new world of globalisation. China is an important part of that brave new world. We must engage China and learn to both compete and cooperate," Singh, who began a three-day maiden visit here, said at a brainstorming session with the business delegation accompanying him, ahead of the Sino-Indian business summit on Monday.
The Prime Minister was briefed by senior officials on the models like the 'Bird's Nest' (the main Olympics venue), 'Water Cube' (where the aquatic events will take place) and the 'Olympic Green' (the area with plants and trees) that have come up for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The summit, hosted by South African President Thabo Mbeki, is being attended by Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, and leaders and officials of the three countries.
Several airlines in Vancouver are planning to operate to more Indian destinations, subject to bilateral air traffic rights and their respective fleet strengths.
Unveiling its plans for the newly created hub at Brussels, Jet Airways today said it would operate five flights a day from India to the Belgian capital and provide seamless connections for onward journey to the US and Canada.
Days after acquiring control of Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya now looks at rationalising the fleet of the two carriers and considering changes in the total fleet order of 90 aircraft.
"The government seems to have lost its will to carry out the CMP and more and more it is functioning only to benefit a section of our people," Bardhan lamented.
The Left parties have time and again drawn attention of the government to fulfill pro-people commitments of the UPA made in the Common Minimum Programme.
With India going ahead with airport privatisation, a top global aviation official warned on Thursday that the worldwide experience was marred with 'very grave risks' and a tough regulator was essential to ensure proper functioning of private airports
The Russian leader said as part of strengthening the strategic relationship between Russia and India there were serious plans for cooperation in high-tech, space research, aviation, construction of ships, energy, including nuclear energy.
During the visit, Russia is expected to finalise agreements on giving four more reactors in the Kudankulam project.