Aneesh Phadnis &Amp; Bhavini Mishra

Stories by Aneesh Phadnis &Amp; Bhavini Mishra

Go First saga begins to hit passengers with flights diverted, cancelled

Go First saga begins to hit passengers with flights diverted, cancelled

Rediff.com   4 May 2023

A nine-day Kashmir trip ended on a sour note for the Shah family of Ahmedabad with an unscheduled diversion and an expensive road ride back home. The Shahs were among hundreds of passengers whose travel plans went awry with Go First suspending all flights till Friday. "We were supposed to travel from Srinagar to Ahmedabad via Mumbai on Tuesday.

Air India pilot unions oppose salary proposal, call it anti-labour

Air India pilot unions oppose salary proposal, call it anti-labour

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Two unions representing Air India pilots have asked members not to accept the revised compensation and employment offer, calling the company's proposals "unfair labour practices." They said any coercion on pilots to sign the offer would lead to industrial unrest. The Tata group airline announced on Monday a new salary structure for pilots and cabin crew.

Air India revises pilots', cabin crew salaries, announces reward, bonus

Air India revises pilots', cabin crew salaries, announces reward, bonus

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2023

Air India on Monday announced a new compensation structure for its pilots and cabin crew, with a guaranteed flying allowance of 40 hours per month for both categories of staff. While the flying allowance has been doubled for pilots, it has been introduced for flight attendants as part of the new compensation structure. Pilots will earn an additional amount as a reward based on the number of years of service with the airline and get an allowance while undergoing training for command or conversion to another aircraft type.

SBI seeks clarity from SC on granting personal hearing for defaulters

SBI seeks clarity from SC on granting personal hearing for defaulters

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2023

SBI has suggested that banks be exempted from handing over the complete forensic audit report to the borrower as it would hamper future investigation and forewarn the borrower by way of disclosure of confidential information.

'Every airport in India is on our radar'

'Every airport in India is on our radar'

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2023

'Domestic will remain very much the core of what IndiGo is.' 'But the emphasis in our next growth phase is going to be on the international side.'

90 planes set to board Air India fleet in 2 years

90 planes set to board Air India fleet in 2 years

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2023

The Tata group-owned Air India will induct over 90 aircraft in two years as it looks to widen its footprint and grab a larger market share. The plan includes 56 planes from the mega aircraft order that the airline has now finalised with Airbus and Boeing. These will be in addition to previously announced leases of 36 planes that include Airbus A320Neo, A321Neo, and Boeing 777 aircraft.

With Air India's A350 order, Rolls-Royce makes a comeback in engine market

With Air India's A350 order, Rolls-Royce makes a comeback in engine market

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2023

For the first time in 13 years, since Jet Airways' A330 planes exited the airline's fleet in around 2010, an Indian wide-body aircraft will have a Rolls-Royce-powered engine, with Air India ordering 40 Airbus A350 planes. On Tuesday, Air India announced its mega aircraft order for 470 aircraft, including A350 planes. The A350 aircraft, which will come in two variants, are powered solely by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and the local team has begun work to assist Air India with its aircraft-induction plans.

IndiGo restores annual pay hike for pilots after financial turnaround

IndiGo restores annual pay hike for pilots after financial turnaround

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

IndiGo has restored annual increments for more than 4,500 pilots as a financial turnaround helped the airline make a profit in Q3 FY23 after three quarters of loss. An email from the airline's management last week informed pilots of the restoration from April. "The component of annual increment for Indian captains (Rs 10,000 per month) and Indian first officers (Rs 5,000 per month) on the Airbus and ATR fleet which was stopped due to Covid will restart from April 1, 2023," the airline's senior vice president (flight operations) Ashim Mitra said in the staff email.

Sebi probing Hindenburg allegations against Adani Group

Sebi probing Hindenburg allegations against Adani Group

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the market regulator, has said, in a submission to the Supreme Court, that it is "enquiring" into the allegations made by American short-seller Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group of companies and its impact on the markets. In the same matter, the central government has agreed to form an expert committee to strengthen the regulatory regime in order to ensure that market investors are protected. The Supreme Court had last week suggested an expert committee to look into the allegations and had asked the Centre for its response.

One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been

One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2023

When the Tatas re-boarded Air India on January 27 last year, the price of aviation turbine fuel was at over Rs 80,000 per kilolitre. Rupee was trading at around Rs 74 to a US dollar. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 was in prevalence - barely a week earlier, India had reported over 340,000 cases on a single day. Seven-day home quarantine of international travellers was the norm.

Unruly Airline Passenger Incidents Increasing

Unruly Airline Passenger Incidents Increasing

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2023

Most reported unruly passenger incidents were classified as level 1, or intentional non-compliance with safety regulations like not wearing face masks, not wearing seat belts.

Goa's 2nd airport a big boost for regional aviation

Goa's 2nd airport a big boost for regional aviation

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

Goa's second airport began operations last week and if all goes according to plans, the state will be the base for a new regional airline, Fly91. Promoted by the ex-executive vice-president of now grounded Kingfisher Airlines, Manoj Chacko, and Fairfax India's former head, Harsha Raghavan, the airline will offer no-frills buy on board product and serve unconnected routes with two ATR 72 aircraft. An application for the initial no-objection clearance was filed with the civil aviation ministry last week.

How Go First Left 55 Passengers Behind!

How Go First Left 55 Passengers Behind!

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

'Were the Go First pilots aware that 55 passengers were missing when the aircraft was on ground?'

Ganga Vilas: World's Longest River Cruise

Ganga Vilas: World's Longest River Cruise

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2023

The MV Ganga Vilas will traverse through 27 rivers over 52 days, covering over 3,200 km.

Outbound travel picks up, India remains top source for several countries

Outbound travel picks up, India remains top source for several countries

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2023

Travel from India increased significantly after resumption of direct flights in March, Turkiye Tourism Board said, with destination weddings contributing to arrivals

Delhi HC awards Microsoft Rs 20 lakh in 12-yr-old copyright violation case

Delhi HC awards Microsoft Rs 20 lakh in 12-yr-old copyright violation case

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2022

The Delhi high court on Friday awarded Rs 20 lakh to Microsoft in damages in a 12-year-old copyright infringement suit. Microsoft said that a Mumbai-based firm was illegally using its software programs in which its copyrighted products, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and Windows Server were being reproduced and used for commercial purposes at the firm's offices. The court had on May 24, 2010, passed an injunction restraining the Mumbai firm from infringing the plaintiffs' software programs.

Air India pilots warn of non-co-operation

Air India pilots warn of non-co-operation

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2022

Pilots working with Air India have warned of non-co-operation if restoration of pre-Covid overtime allowance is delayed, and if other practices they say are 'discriminatory' continues. "We cannot assure that our members will undertake flying duties exceeding 70 hours a month. Any coercive action by the management will lead to industrial action to safeguard flight safety and well-being of our members," the Indian Commercial Pilots Association and the Indian Pilots Guild said in a joint letter to Air India's management on Tuesday.

European cargo airline moves tribunal to acquire 3 Jet Airways aircraft

European cargo airline moves tribunal to acquire 3 Jet Airways aircraft

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2022

A European cargo airline has moved the National Company Law Tribunal seeking expeditious acquisition of three Jet Airways B777-300 aircraft. The application is by a Malta-based Ace Aviation VIII Limited, which emerged as a successful bidder in the auction of three Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The firm is part of a Belgium-based cargo airline and its application will be heard on Wednesday.

Vi's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call

Vi's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2022

Vodafone Idea's (Vi's) search for a lifeline has turned longer and tougher even as it continues to lose customers and delay vendor payments. Vi's much-needed Rs 1,600-crore fundraising plan got stuck due to the government's silence on picking up a proposed 33 per cent equity in the financially stressed telco. The development spells further trouble for the company, which has an overall debt pile of Rs 2.2 trillion, including hefty dues to the government.

Grounded Jet Airways' cabin crew association moves NCLT for liquidation

Grounded Jet Airways' cabin crew association moves NCLT for liquidation

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2022

A Jet Airways employees' union has moved court for liquidation amid continued differences between lenders and the Kalrock-Jalan consortium over the revival of the grounded airline. Last month, the consortium had made an application to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) seeking control of the airline. The consortium said it has fulfilled all the conditions according to the plan and said banks should initiate steps to hand the company over to them.