The Tatas and the Dubai-based Istithmar Group may increase their stake in Delhi-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet, which has a 10 per cent market share in Indian aviation market. While the Tatas, who currently hold 7 per cent stake in the company through Ewart Investment, may hike their shareholding to 15 per cent, Istithmar is likely to raise its stake from 13 to 30 per cent, sources said.
No more lavish meal choices, no pampered check-ins and fewer options in flight timings. Call it Plan B or an effort by the airlines in India to cope with the crisis caused by soaring aircraft turbine fuel prices.
Air fares are set to go up again, with the government announcing an over 18 per cent average increase in the prices of aviation turbine fuel, effective Saturday midnight.
Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines may move towards a second round of mergers and acquisitions as smaller low-cost airlines and other rivals, hurt by rising fuel prices, seek an exit from the business to cut losses, an industry expert said. State-run oil firms have hiked jet fuel (aviation turbine fuel) prices by 18.5 per cent in line with rising international crude oil prices.
Mumbai-based low-cost carrier GoAir has decided to stop its flights to Chennai from the coming week. This is the fourth destination to which the carrier has opted out after Kochi, Coimbatore and Pune.
Jet Airways has convened a board meeting on Friday, May 23, which is expected to consider the future of executive director Saroj K Datta, who, sources said, may exit the airline after May 31. Chairman Naresh Goyal, who was in Mumbai last week, reportedly discussed the issue with Datta, a veteran of over 46 years in the airline industry.
SpiceJet is planning to raise a total of $100 million for fleet expansion by the end of the current financial year, according to Siddhant Sharma, CEO of the Delhi-based budget carrier. Sharma's comments come just a day after the UK-based promoter-director of SpiceJet said he was willing to divest his 12.91 per cent stake in the airline if he got the right valuation.
The UK-based promoter-director Bhulo (Bhupendra) Kansagra of Delhi-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet is willing to divest the family stake in the airline if the valuations are right. The Kansagra family owns 12.91 per cent in the airline, which is publicly listed, and has a 10 per cent share in the Indian market, and a market capitalisation of $250 million.
Extending the Juhu runway is expected to free 10 to 15 per cent of Mumbai airport's current capacity, which is more than 700 air traffic movements per day. The airport handled 25.8 million passengers last fiscal and traffic is growing at 25 per cent a year.
After losing out to Bangalore-based GMR group for the controversial Delhi airport modernisation contract, Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group is now set to battle it in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, for which bids are shortly to be invited. Late last week, ADAG company Reliance Airport Developers Private Limited submitted an expression of interest to the Prague airport authorities. the ADAG company is willing to take a 100 per cent stake in the airport.
Speaking to Business Standard, Jet Executive Director Saroj Datta said: "SpiceJet and JetLite are an absolute fit in so far as their business models are concerned."
Jet said apart from Hariharan, AS Bedi and S Bandula are leaving the company as a result of better career prospects and family commitments. While refusing to be drawn into specifics, Jet pointed out that attrition was a common phenomena in any business enterprise and the growing aviation industry in India cannot be excluded.
Most major carriers -- barring Deccan (which has a August-September financial year) and Kingfisher airlines -- do not agree on the figure. Hitesh Patel, executive vice-president, Kingfisher, said, "We have not yet decided on our increments but will follow the industry benchmarks."
The environment ministry has objected to the fact that around 115 hectares (or 7.3 per cent) of total land for the project is mangrove forest. It recently conveyed this to both Cidco and the civil aviation ministry. The matter is now with the prime minister's office. Cidco Vice-Chairman and Managing Director GS Gill said the corporation had sought an appointment with the environment ministry officials to make another presentation on the project in the next 10 days.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel's plans to make India a maintenance, repair and overhaul hub for aircraft in Asia are set to crash. China, once again, has left India way behind. While over 300 MRO companies are in operation in China, only three have set up shops in India - Max Aerospace, Airworks and Indamer.
Ticket prices do fall 10-15 per cent every summer. But, this year, the fares have fallen 30-60 per cent. Some airlines have decided to top these rock bottom fares with freebies like free hotel accommodation.
Depending on the fleet size and its age, airlines buy 30-50 per cent of the components that they need, and take the rest on lease. Expenditure on spares and components is a considerable part of engineering and maintenance, which account for over 9-10 per cent of the total operating expense of an airline. For instance, Air India, which has a large and ageing fleet, has to provide $35 million-$40 million for spare parts during any time of the year.
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, decided the welcoming staff at the group's Luxury Hotels would be draped in the rich colours and designs of the Banarasi saris. Taj had adopted three villages in Varanasi and employed 25 master weavers there for the project. It will be subsequently replicated at all 10 Luxury Hotels of the group across the country for duty managers and front office staff. For the Taj sari, a weaver is paid Rs 1800 directly, without a middleman.
India's pioneer of low-cost carriers GR Gopinath is in talks with Cochin International Airport Limited, India's first privately operated airport, to set up a joint venture for dedicated cargo facilities across the country.
Boeing had announced a further six-month delay for the first flight and initial deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner programme to Air India. A high-level Boeing team will discuss the fallouts with IA, including compensation in the coming week. The revised delays will have a significant impact on IA's growth plan and financial aspect. Apart from compensation, Boeing will also have to factor in the impact of the delay on the carrier's growth plan when computing for the same.
© 2025 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances