Joydeep Ghosh &Amp; Manisha Singhal In Mumbai

Stories by Joydeep Ghosh &Amp; Manisha Singhal In Mumbai

Kingfisher's dues with AAI at Rs 200 cr

Kingfisher's dues with AAI at Rs 200 cr

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2008

Though private airports did not spell out the exact sum owed by Kingfisher, in strict confidentiality one of the private airport operators confirmed that the airline was the biggest defaulter with them. Airport charges include landing, parking, terminal and route navigation levy. Though AAI has enforceable bank guarantees, private airport operators do not have this facility.

Private carriers ask for Rs 4,700-crore bailout

Private carriers ask for Rs 4,700-crore bailout

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2008

The country's leading private airlines have sought a Rs 4,700-crore (Rs 47 billion) bailout package from the government to counter slowing passenger traffic, rising costs and an industry-wide liquidity crunch.

Defaults threaten fixed maturity plans

Defaults threaten fixed maturity plans

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2008

Fixed maturity plans, which have garnered Rs 102,133 crore (Rs 1021.33 billion) of average assets under management, are facing the prospect of rising defaults on their investments in the real estate and non-banking financial companies. This implies that if there are redemption pressures from their corporate and retail clients, these FMPs would have to raise cash from other resources to meet the demand.

Air France reworks India strategy

Air France reworks India strategy

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

The airline also has plans to renegotiate its flying rights with the Indian government as it mulls deployment of the Airbus A380 - a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine plane - in the Indian skies. Air France might look at a 2010 entry date for India for the superjumbo. It has placed an order for 12 of these aircraft with first deliveries planned next year.

Banks unlikely to offer festival discounts

Banks unlikely to offer festival discounts

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2008

Prospective home buyers, who are looking forward to discounts this festival season, may be in for a rude shock. According to banking sources, most banks are unlikely to offer any discount.

Allow entry to foreign airlines: Mallya

Allow entry to foreign airlines: Mallya

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2008

This is the first time an airline has made such a request to the ministry after the Tata-Singapore Airlines deal fell through in 2001 (Singapore Airlines was to have a 49 per cent share in the joint venture). The Indian government does not allow direct or indirect investments in domestic airlines, a move that was meant to protect domestic carriers. Mallya's request marks a sharp change from domestic players' stand.

Finance firms bank on emails to calm fears

Finance firms bank on emails to calm fears

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2008

In times like these, when the financial industry is reeling under the pressure of scepticism, communication has become the most important tool for financial services providers. Hence the flood of emails to associates, employees and investors.

Four banks to bail out Lehman's India businesses

Four banks to bail out Lehman's India businesses

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

In a move to soften the blow of Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy in the Indian stock and asset markets, four banks are set to take over its structured products businesses in India.

Kingfisher to cut 300 jobs

Kingfisher to cut 300 jobs

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2008

Barely a fortnight after it launched international operations and integrated low-cost carrier Simplify Deccan with it, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines plans to lay off at least 300 employees, official orders for which are to be conveyed on Monday.

Barclays, BNP Paribas eye Lehman's India assets

Barclays, BNP Paribas eye Lehman's India assets

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2008

Barclays and BNP Paribas are considering the acquisition of Lehman Brothers' investment banking and brokerage businesses in India.

Drop in business tours dents travel companies

Drop in business tours dents travel companies

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2008

According to travel management companies, travel budgets of financial sector majors have seen a fall of 40 per cent this year compared with the decline in other segments, like manufacturing, which has shrunk by 20 per cent and IT, which has seen a drop of 10-15 per cent. Global travel conglomerates like Radius, which have a formidable presence across the globe because of the travel agents' network, said times are tough as a majority of businesses are shrinking.

Golden handshake to cost JetLite Rs 5 crore

Golden handshake to cost JetLite Rs 5 crore

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2008

Value-carrier JetLite, formerly full-service airline Air Sahara, which was bought by Naresh Goyal last year, will offer a voluntary separation scheme to 750 employees who have been with the airline for one year or below, Chief Operating Office Rajiv Gupta confirmed on Friday.

JetLite to cut staff by a third

JetLite to cut staff by a third

Rediff.com   12 Sep 2008

Confirming this, Jet Airways' CEO, Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur, said, "In the process of integrating the airlines, which is a must to keep JetLite afloat, there will be a shift of certain employees from JetLite to Jet and the workforce for both the airlines will be combined."

Pay up before the auction action begins

Pay up before the auction action begins

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2008

Home loan borrowers perpetually worry about the consequences of defaulting. And whether they wish it or not, there could be situations where they are forced to do so. For instance, after the Mumbai bomb blasts on July 11 2006, a large number of affected families found themselves in deep financial trouble leading to difficulties in servicing their home loans

British Airways eyes India tie-up

British Airways eyes India tie-up

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2008

UK flag carrier British Airways plans to tie up with an Indian domestic carrier in a franchise partnership.

Deccan to be rebranded Kingfisher Red

Deccan to be rebranded Kingfisher Red

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2008

Low-cost carrier Simplify Deccan will be rebranded Kingfisher Red, a separate brand identity from Vijay Mallya-promoted full-service carrier Kingfisher Airlines.

Auto loans: Floating rate is in

Auto loans: Floating rate is in

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2008

Most car buyers, when applying for a loan, grapple with the question of whether they should opt for a fixed or a floating rate option.

Travel to Malaysia to dip: No visa-on-arrival

Travel to Malaysia to dip: No visa-on-arrival

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2008

Outbound travel from India to the south east Asian destination of Malaysia is expected to see a dip of 20 to 40 per cent with the Malaysian government cancelling the visa-on- arrival facility for Indian travellers, effective August 1.

Tour operators cash in on getaways

Tour operators cash in on getaways

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

Vacationers are showing a preference for areas that are near to their cities and preferably, can be reached by car. The areas in demand are hill stations or beaches four-five hours away from a city. For hotels in the vicinity, this is the right time to rake in the moolah. For instance, room rentals at some of the vacation spots near Mumbai have gone up by as much as 30-150 per cent.

Indian travelers in Beijing: Slower, lower, weaker

Indian travelers in Beijing: Slower, lower, weaker

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2008

Stringent visa procedures, astronomical hotel rates and a scarcity of event tickets have proved a dampener for Indian visitors to the Beijing Olympics, which began today.