Aneesh Phadnis And Vinay Umarji

Stories by Aneesh Phadnis And Vinay Umarji

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.

Double-digit salary hikes return

Double-digit salary hikes return

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2022

Double-digits salary hikes are making a post-pandemic comeback on the back of a buoyant business outlook in 2023, according to global professional services firm Aon. Aon's latest "Salary Increase Survey in India" has not only projected a 10.4 per cent average hike across sectors for 2023, but also identified actual hikes in 2022 at 10.6 per cent as against its previous projection of 9.9 per cent in February. The figure of 10.6 per cent is the highest since 2012, whereas the 10.4 per cent levels projected for 2023 were last seen in 2015.

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.

IndiGo's new CEO Pieter Elbers takes over, eyes 'new frontiers'

IndiGo's new CEO Pieter Elbers takes over, eyes 'new frontiers'

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2022

The coming years will be among the most exciting of your professional lives, IndiGo's new chief executive officer (CEO) Pieter Elbers wrote to the airline's staff after taking charge on Tuesday. Elbers, who spent three decades at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, replaces Ronojoy Dutta at the top post. "Earlier, IndiGo communication summarised it all in just three words: 'Towards new heights' and-let me add here: 'across new frontiers'. "With that vision in mind, you should feel assured that the coming years will be among the most exciting of your professional lives," Elbers said.

3 Pilots Tested Positive For Psychotropic Substances

3 Pilots Tested Positive For Psychotropic Substances

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2022

commercial airlines and air navigation service providers have to carry out random drug tests on at least 10 per cent of their flight crew and air traffic controllers every year.

1,900 private security guards to be deployed at airports

1,900 private security guards to be deployed at airports

Rediff.com   26 Aug 2022

ersonnel in a revamp that aims to provide cost-effective, reliable, and professionally competent security service at airports. Aneesh Phadnis reports.

Telcos pay Rs 17,873 crore as first instalment of 5G spectrum dues

Telcos pay Rs 17,873 crore as first instalment of 5G spectrum dues

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2022

The Department of Telecommunications (DOT) on Wednesday received over Rs 17,873 crore from companies towards 5G spectrum dues. Nearly half the amount (Rs 8312.4 crore) was paid by Bharti Airtel, which made advance payments for four years to free up cash for future investments. Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea paid Rs 7,864 crore and Rs 1,680 crore, respectively.

The Akasa Air experience as it takes to the skies

The Akasa Air experience as it takes to the skies

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2022

Sundays are generally quiet days for air travel, but this Sunday was a tad different. There was quite an excitement at Gate 28 of Mumbai airport's Terminal 1 as Akasa Air, India's newest airline, prepared to take to the skies on Day 1. With a new fuel-efficient Boeing 737 Max aircraft and soft cushioned seats equipped with USB ports, Akasa Air hopes to bring freshness to the flying experience.

Bullish on 5G, Xiaomi to launch sub-Rs 15K phones

Bullish on 5G, Xiaomi to launch sub-Rs 15K phones

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2022

Xiaomi will strengthen its product portfolio and launch 5G devices in the sub-Rs 15,000 segment as it looks to increase its market share in the segment. Xiaomi led the shipments in overall smartphone category in 2021 with a 24 per cent share, according to Counterpoint Research. However, in the 5G segment it is ranked fourth behind One Plus, Samsung, and Vivo, with a 13 per cent share.

Study Abroad: How To Deal With Rising Costs

Study Abroad: How To Deal With Rising Costs

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2022

The rupee depreciation will work in favour of students who are currently studying in the US and plan to secure a job that pays in dollars.

Your visa got delayed? Here's why

Your visa got delayed? Here's why

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2022

It was supposed to be a happy journey to London, one that the Imam family had been planning for the past two months. Everything was set - except the visa, which did not arrive in time for one of its members. "Visa was the villain...As a consequence, half of the family of four will be in London today and the other half at home in India and the US, respectively," Sanjar Imam, director of travel firm Panache World, wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

How Amul bucked Covid blues to launch 100 products during lockdown

How Amul bucked Covid blues to launch 100 products during lockdown

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2022

The dairy major is transforming into a full-fledged F&B and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) player, reports Vinay Umarji.

Ten years on, ex-Kingfisher Airline employees wait for their dues

Ten years on, ex-Kingfisher Airline employees wait for their dues

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2022

Ten years after Kingfisher Airlines was grounded, its former employees continue to wait for their dues. On Monday, the Supreme Court awarded a four-month sentence to the grounded airline's flamboyant owner Vijay Mallya in a contempt case. The apex court also ordered him to deposit $40 million plus interest in four weeks to avoid attachment of his properties.

Airlines cancel, reschedule London flights as Heathrow restrictions kick in

Airlines cancel, reschedule London flights as Heathrow restrictions kick in

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2022

On Thursday, Virgin Atlantic, for instance, cancelled its morning flight between London and Delhi. And Air India rescheduled its London-Ahmedabad flight by several hours. With the Heathrow restrictions to remain in place till September 11, air traffic between India and London is likely to see slower growth over the next two months.

IndiGo's technicians go on sick leave to seek salary revision

IndiGo's technicians go on sick leave to seek salary revision

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2022

Some aircraft technicians at IndiGo are on sick leave since Friday demanding a revision in salaries. The protest comes days after the airline partially restored salaries of its pilots and cabin crew and made changes to its human resource (HR) policies. Some technicians in Hyderabad reported sick on Friday night while those from other bases skipped work on Sunday demanding a revision in salary, an industry source said.

Around 1,500 cabin crew are under training at IndiGo

Around 1,500 cabin crew are under training at IndiGo

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2022

IndiGo's management is of the opinion that Saturday's flight delays caused by sick leaves taken by many in the cabin crew are just an aberration. The airline's on-time performance nosedived to 45 per cent on Saturday as a large part of the cabin crew reported sick to participate in Air India's recruitment process. Privately, Air India executives denied holding interviews on Saturday and the airline did not issue any statement.