Sohini Das And Aneesh Phadnis

Stories by Sohini Das And Aneesh Phadnis

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.

New Covid strains may lead to spike in hospitalisation, fear experts

New Covid strains may lead to spike in hospitalisation, fear experts

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2022

An immune-escape Covid-19 strain coupled with the natural spike in influenza and pneumonia cases during winters may lead to a rise in hospitalisation.

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.'

Why Govt Wants To Ban These Cough Meds

Why Govt Wants To Ban These Cough Meds

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2022

Codeine-based formulations are under the scanner for misuse as a narcotic product.

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.

Now, medical device resellers need to register

Now, medical device resellers need to register

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2022

The Centre has asked traders and resellers of medical devices to register in an attempt to expand the ambit of regulating the medical devices industry in the country. The move can have far-reaching consequences for both consumers and traders alike as products like face masks or prophylactics - now sold through grocers and other channels - may face issues of availability. In a notification dated September 30, the union ministry of health and family welfare said anyone wanting to sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale or distribute a medical device, including in-vitro diagnostic medical device, will need a certificate of registration.

Sharp Spike In Fever Cases

Sharp Spike In Fever Cases

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2022

'This year there is a sharp spike in fever cases, and it seems to be more than the pre-COVID-19 levels.'

Hard choice for MSME med device makers: Get licence by Oct 1 or shut shop

Hard choice for MSME med device makers: Get licence by Oct 1 or shut shop

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2022

The transition of Class A and Class B medical device makers to the licensing regime by October 1 seems to be an uphill task with several small and medium manufacturers saying they are still awaiting the audit from the government authorities. If the licenses don't come through, either due to lack of audits or MSME units not clearing the audits, then a few thousand small-scale medical device units will face the issue of business continuity in three weeks. Class A medical devices are those with low to moderate risk to the patient or user (surgical dressings for example), while Class B medical devices refer to devices with moderate risks that require special controls (catheters for example).

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.

Ni-kshay Mitra: Crowdfunding To Fight TB

Ni-kshay Mitra: Crowdfunding To Fight TB

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2022

This would be India's largest crowd-funded programme to help patients with a particular disease.

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.

34 new drugs added to 'essential medicines' list, 26 dropped

34 new drugs added to 'essential medicines' list, 26 dropped

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2022

As many as 34 new drugs were added to and 26 dropped from an updated list of essential medicines on Tuesday, with the government saying this will reduce "patients' out-of-pocket expenditure". The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM 2022) has 384 drugs, up from 376 in 2015. "Drafting this list is a lengthy process, and around 350 experts from across India have held over 140 consultation meetings to draft the NLEM 2022," Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said.

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.