Anirban Chowdhury &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta In New Delhi

Stories by Anirban Chowdhury &Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta In New Delhi

IFC shareholder rebels against Raghav Bahl

IFC shareholder rebels against Raghav Bahl

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2009

The dispute involves a UK-based hedge fund, Altima Partners, and the company's principal promoter Raghav Bahl, founder and largest shareholder of Network18, the broadcasting group which runs TV channels such as CNBC-TV18, Colors and Awaaz.

Additional FDI won't help airlines, say experts

Additional FDI won't help airlines, say experts

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2009

The move will help mop up not more than Rs 10 billion, which is only a fifth of the capital requirement of the industry, led by Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, say experts. The expected investment has been calculated on the basis of a 100 per cent premium on the current valuations of Jet Airways and Kingfisher -- two of the country's largest carriers by market share -- which require over Rs 50 billion.

3G spectrum auctions may be delayed again

3G spectrum auctions may be delayed again

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2009

Auctions for spectrum for 3G or third-generation telecom services could be delayed from an already rescheduled date of January 30 after the Department of Telecommunications sought legal opinion on whether it should send the finance ministry's suggestion on doubling the reserve price back to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India for its endorsement.

Low-cost airlines may get more peak-time slots

Low-cost airlines may get more peak-time slots

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

The civil aviation ministry and the directorate general of civil aviation plan to award the low-cost carriers some key morning and evening peak-time slots (a fixed time for departure or arrival of a particular flight) lying unused with the full-service carriers at metro airports like Delhi and Mumbai. DGCA officials and airline officials confirm that airlines like Jet and Kingfisher are not using around 10 per cent of their slots during the peak periods.

Advance bookings surge 30% on air fare cuts

Advance bookings surge 30% on air fare cuts

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

While portals such as makemytrip, cleartrip and ezeego have seen a rise of 30 per cent in advance booking in the first week of January, others such as yatra and travelocity, with a 10-15 per cent surge, are also expecting more bookings in the coming weeks. The cleverly-introduced advanced booking fares have induced passengers to book tickets until as late as November.

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

3G spectrum row: DoT offers a compromise

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2009

Will scrap bid if it falls below government's revenue expectations.

Banks turn the heat on Delhi airport promoters

Banks turn the heat on Delhi airport promoters

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2008

The lukewarm response to the proposed real estate development around the Delhi airport has put its Rs 8,940-crore modernisation in a financial bind.

Banks continue to extend loans to airlines

Banks continue to extend loans to airlines

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2008

Despite sharp erosion in the net worth of airline companies due to losses in the recent past, banks and financial institutions have decided to sanction loans to some of them including Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines, while some of the companies in this sector are still waiting.

Air India agrees to pay commission to travel agent

Air India agrees to pay commission to travel agent

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2008

Travel agents in the country have had their way with airlines, at least in the domestic sector. National carrier Air India today agreed to pay a 3 per cent commission to travel agents, nearly two weeks after Jet Airways and Kingfisher agreed to do the same.

Global majors queue for Delhi cargo airport

Global majors queue for Delhi cargo airport

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2008

Several Indian and international aviation and logistics companies such as Air India, Singapore Airport Terminal Services, Menzies, Bobba, Swissport, Bird Group and Worldwide Flight Services have responded, individually or through tie-ups with each other, to two requests for proposals to set up a new cargo facility at Delhi airport and upgrade the existing one. The RFPs were sent by Delhi International Airport Limited, the GMR-led consortium that is modernising the airport.

Six-year-old Bajaj dispute set to end

Six-year-old Bajaj dispute set to end

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2008

Bajaj family members are in the final stages of reaching a peace formula to their six-year-old dispute over the division of group companies and assets. Sources familiar with the developments said an announcement can be expected in the next 10 days, but did not want to divulge details.

Hyundai to lay off 2,000 temporary workers

Hyundai to lay off 2,000 temporary workers

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2008

Korean car maker Hyundai Motors India Ltd said it will have to lay off 2,000 temporary workers, about one-fourth of its labour force, to tide over a decline in car sales. The company employs over 8,400 workers, of which around 3,300 are temporary.

DLF-led consortium sole bidder for Gurgaon metro

DLF-led consortium sole bidder for Gurgaon metro

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2008

This is the second project in the country in which a metro rail project is being undertaken through a PPP model after the 71-kilometre Hyderabad metro project was won by Maytas Infrastructure. According to industry sources, infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro had also initially shown interest for the project, but backed out finally.

Hill & Knowlton Asia gets nod to set up Indian arm

Hill & Knowlton Asia gets nod to set up Indian arm

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

This is the first time Hill & Knowlton, part of the WPP group that has several joint ventures in advertising, is venturing into India in this area. The Hong Kong-based company has presence in more than 41 countries across the globe. The PR business has been attracting the attention of international agencies and many have already set up JVs or signed partnerships with Indian players.

SpiceJet overhauls top management

SpiceJet overhauls top management

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2008

Delhi-based low-cost carrier SpiceJet is looking at restructuring its core leadership team as part of US investor Wilbur Ross's strategy of turning around the company.

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Companies hedge on ATF to tackle price volatility

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

In addition to that, an increasing number of airlines like SpiceJet, national carrier Air India and GoAir are either getting into hedging of aviation turbine fuel or increasing the quantum of ATF hedged on the MCX. Last month, state-run Indian Oil Corporation approached MCX to provide it with a platform to hedge its refinery margins and end products from crude oil.

Travel agencies won't sell Jet tickets from Dec 4

Travel agencies won't sell Jet tickets from Dec 4

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

Move aimed at forcing airlines to revoke decision to withdraw 5 per cent commission.

Mumbai terror sees mass cancellations in Goa

Mumbai terror sees mass cancellations in Goa

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2008

Inbound travel to the balmy beaches of Goa is expected to drop a significant 60 per cent following large-scale cancellations by charter flights after last week's terror attacks in Mumbai.

Airports on high alert

Airports on high alert

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2008

Mumbai's unprecedented terror attacks have put airports across the country on a high alert.

Bangkok airport crisis to continue till next week

Bangkok airport crisis to continue till next week

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2008

The India-Bangkok sector is operated by carriers like Air India, Jet Airways, Thai Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines amongst others and travel companies say it constitutes more than 40 per cent of their business in the south east Asian market. Thousands of protestors have laid siege to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, the world's 18th largest in terms of passenger traffic, as their latest mark of protest against the elected government.