Aneesh Phadnis &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

Stories by Aneesh Phadnis &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

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

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.

'Govt equity in Vodafone Idea hinges on stock recovery'

'Govt equity in Vodafone Idea hinges on stock recovery'

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2022

The conversion of interest into equity stake for the government in Vodafone Idea (Vi) will be decided after the telecommunications (telecom) company's stock price stabilises above Rs 10, India's largest mobile tower installation company Indus Towers has said in its second-quarter report. The board of Vi had, in January, approved the conversion of Rs 16,130 crore worth of interest on adjusted gross revenue dues into equity for the government. This will give the government around 33 per cent stake in Vi.

Sunil Bhaskaran may pilot Air India's arm after AirAsia India merger

Sunil Bhaskaran may pilot Air India's arm after AirAsia India merger

Rediff.com   24 Oct 2022

Sunil Bhaskaran, AirAsia India's chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD), is the front-runner to head the low-cost carrier that will take birth after the merger of Air India Express and AirAsia India, sources said. In a show of confidence, the airline's board extended Bhaskaran's tenure by three years -- until March 2025 -- in a meeting held earlier this year, according to the documents reviewed by Business Standard. Moreover, AirAsia India's board of directors has increased Bhaskaran's salary twice in 2022 -- first in January by 5 per cent and then in June by 7 per cent, the documents showed.

Adani enters aircraft maintenance with Air Works buyout

Adani enters aircraft maintenance with Air Works buyout

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2022

The maintenance, repairs and overhault firm, which has six investors, received its first external funding from GTI Group and Punj Lloyd in 2007. All existing investors will exit the company following the transaction.

Sparkling Diwali For Hotels, Tour Operators

Sparkling Diwali For Hotels, Tour Operators

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2022

'Consumers are willing to increase travel spends by 20-30 per cent versus pre-pandemic.'

Singapore Airlines confirms Vistara-Air India merger discussions

Singapore Airlines confirms Vistara-Air India merger discussions

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2022

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is engaged in confidential talks with Tata Sons for merging Vistara with Air India, the flagship carrier of the Republic of Singapore informed the stock exchange in the Southeast Asian nation on Thursday in a first acknowledgement of a possible integration of the two airlines. "In line with its multi-hub strategy, SIA is currently in confidential discussions with the Tatas to explore a potential transaction in relation to the securities of Vistara and Air India. "The discussions seek to deepen the existing partnership between SIA and Tatas and may include a potential integration of Vistara and Air India," SIA said in a notification to the Singapore stock exchange. SIA owns 49 per cent stake in Vistara and is among the four airlines run by Tata Group.

Planning a vacation this Diwali? Good news awaits you

Planning a vacation this Diwali? Good news awaits you

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2022

After years of being sequestered by the pandemic, some intrepid travellers are planning to settle their score with the novel coronavirus. With fewer or no travel curbs, they are eager to get back on the road, again. Hotels and tour operators, too, are eager to shed excess Covid baggage. And this year's Diwali promises to add that extra layer sparkle with the introduction of new flights.

Nokia to scale up mfg in India by 1.5x to support its 5G service rollout

Nokia to scale up mfg in India by 1.5x to support its 5G service rollout

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2022

Telecom gearmaker Nokia will boost its manufacturing capacity in India by 1.5x over the next few years to support the 5G services roll-out, said Tarun Chhabra, the company's country head of mobile networks business. Nokia is supplying network equipment to Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio for their 5G networks from its plant in Chennai. Vodafone Idea is yet to finalise its contract as it awaits fresh funding.

Tatas to invest $90 bn in India in 5 years

Tatas to invest $90 bn in India in 5 years

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2022

The Tata group is planning to invest $90 billion in new industries such as mobile components plant, semiconductor, electric vehicles, batteries, renewables energy and e-commerce by 2027. The Tata group's investment in India is far higher than the $75-billion investments planned by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries and $55-billion investment planned by the Adani group in the next five years in the country, the Economist reported recently. The investment by the Tata group is a shift in its strategy to focus more in the home markets instead of international markets where the group lost money.

Air India's 5-year plan - 30% domestic market share

Air India's 5-year plan - 30% domestic market share

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2022

The Tata Group-owned Air India has readied a five-year transformation plan, which is expected to take its domestic market share to 30 per cent, up from 8.4 per cent logged in June. IndiGo leads with a market share of 58.8 per cent. The transformation plan--Vihaan.AI-unveiled on Thursday revolves around tripling the domestic market share with investments in new aircraft, technology and improvements in customer service.

Battle for skies: Tatas kick-start Air India fleet expansion via leasing

Battle for skies: Tatas kick-start Air India fleet expansion via leasing

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2022

In its first move to significantly expand the fleet after the Tatas took over, Air India has leased 25 Airbus narrow-body aircraft and five Boeing wide-body planes. These will enter service starting December, the company said on Monday. A wide-body plane has a bigger fuel tank, allowing it to travel longer distances such as India-US routes.

Jet Airways faces turbulence ahead of launch as 3 senior executives quit

Jet Airways faces turbulence ahead of launch as 3 senior executives quit

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2022

Jet Airways has been hit by three top-level resignations ahead of its relaunch. The three senior executives who have resigned include Captains Niraj Chandan (head of flight safety), Vishesh Oberoi (head of operations) and Sorab Variava (head of training). These posts are critical and generally senior pilots are nominated for the roles.