The 'aura of invincibility' around Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been 'shattered' by the Indian voters who gave the Opposition a new lease on life, this is how the international media described the outcome of India's general elections.
In March 2020, soon after the cessation of airline operations globally and domestic flights within India, many in the aviation sector had written Delhi-headquartered low-fare airline SpiceJet's obituary well before that of most of its rivals. Unlike IndiGo, GoAir (now rechristened Go First), Vistara and even AirAsia India, SpiceJet did not have founders or backers with deep pockets. Although it is the only other listed carrier in India besides IndiGo, it was considered the weakest and the least likely to survive the pandemic. But chairman and managing director Ajay Singh surprised everyone by not only surviving but taking the lead on many fronts. Within a few weeks of the scheduled flight stoppage, SpiceJet was doing as many charter flights as it could get hold of.
Seeking to further democratise air travel with dependable and affordable services, airline Akasa Air is aiming to start flights in late May or early June after getting its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in April. Bullish on the long term growth potential of the country's civil aviation sector, ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed carrier is looking to have 18 planes in its fleet by the end of March 2023. Despite COVID clouds continuing to cast a shadow on the airlines, Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube is more than optimistic as he asserted that "if you look at the long term future of commercial aviation in India, it is as exciting as anywhere in the world".
IndiGo had the best on-time performance (OTP) of 95.4 per cent at four metro airports in February, while Go First secured the number two position with 94.1 per cent in the same month, according to data released by aviation regulator DGCA. Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai were the four airports where Indigo had the best OTP, the data released on Monday said. In January, the situation was inverse as Go First had logged the best OTP of 94.5 per cent at the four airports while IndiGo was at number two with 93.9 per cent OTP.
'Within five years, we should be achieving more on the international front than what it took most airlines 15 to 20 years back.'
It's too big to digest as one whole airline.'
Bangladesh's One-Day International debutant Tanzim Hasan, who grabbed public attention with a scintillating opening spell in the Asia Cup Super Fours match against India, in Colombo on Friday, described India skipper Rohit Sharma's dismissal as a "dream wicket".
India's tactical and operational response demonstrated its ability to prosecute tri-service operations, even without a formal tri-service doctrine or the higher command structure needed to coordinate it, points out Ajai Shukla.
According to latest data, new airlines have a combined market share of 5.4 per cent.
The $100 billion Tata group conglomerate is a major beneficiary of the decision to open up aviation in India.
Except GoAir, all other Indian airlines have opened bookings for their domestic flights that will start operating from May 25. GoAir will open bookings on domestic flights from June 1 onwards.
Airfares on the India-Malaysia route are likely to decline in the next few months, with no-frills Malaysian carrier Air Asia planning a major foray into the Indian market at fares ranging between Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.Air Asia plans to fly to 12 cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.
The offer is applicable to airline's all domestic destinations, including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, a company official said.
Images from the Asia Cup T20 match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday.
India on Sunday said it is seriously concerned over escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, and called for immediate de-escalation of the situation.
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Tata Group have made it to the prestigious TIME's list of 100 World's Most Influential Companies of 2024. TIME called Reliance 'India's Juggernaut'. This is the second time that Reliance has found its way into the TIME list. Jio Platforms, the firm that holds digital properties of the conglomerate, was included in the inaugural TIME 100 Most Influential Companies List of 2021. Serum Institute is the other Indian company on the list.
Kamra allegedly heckled Goswami, the editor of Republic TV, on IndiGo's Mumbai-Lucknow (6E5317) flight on Tuesday.
The national carrier has sought dry-leasing these planes for six years instead of buying them, as part of its Turnaround and Financial Restructuring Plans, airline sources said.
Russia continued as India's main arms supplier, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said.
Ratan Tata says FIPB nod for Tata Sons' new airline with AirAsia reflects investor friendly policies of Indian government.
Experts said the risks associated with the Indian Experts say that aviation sector would keep investors away from airline stocks.
Curtailment of flights between India and China will help Air India and other airlines to boost their seat occupancy and market share.
While Air India and Jet Airways flights to Kathmandu were grounded at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, no-frills airline AirAsia's Goa flight from Bengaluru also failed to take off on scheduled time due to similar reasons.
The country's fourth budget carrier has also announced the addition of Kochi to its existing network from July 20.
The letter shared with the media on Saturday comes amid Maharashtra losing several big-ticket projects to neighbouring Gujarat.
Fashion designer and actor Masaba Gupta on Wednesday slammed former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja for laughing at a racist comment directed towards her parents, West Indies batting great Vivian Richards and veteran actor Neena Gupta
Right from the early days of liberalisation, there have been political controversies surrounding several cases that landed on the FIPB table and which, in turn, have often led to court battles.
'Covid patients have infected lungs and the pollutants will further damage it.'
IndiGo, Vistara, Air India, SpiceJet have cancelled their flights, while GoAir and AirAsia India announced waiving date change/ cancellation fee.
AirAsia's Fernandes says CEO for India will be an Indian; proposed airline firm with Tata may hit ministry hurdle
'Because it is the only public sector company in this sector, currently.'
GoFirst, AirAsia India, Star Air and TruJet will resume all their domestic operations from Terminal 1 from October 20 midnight, the private airport operator said in a release.
Taking a dig at Pakistan without naming it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said a country which was a supplier of aatank (terror) is struggling for aata (flour) these days.
Severe skilled, unskilled shortage threatens to pull emergency brakes on India's industrial engine.
Tata said that their exposure in the airline was merely a "financial investment", does not represent a major re-entry into the airlines business.
Jet Airways will operate flights with female cabin crew members in its start-up phase and hire male cabin crew members once it reaches a certain operational scale, the airline said on Sunday. It will be following the footsteps of Vistara, which had started hiring male cabin crew in March 2018, approximately three years after it was launched. Jet Airways, which has not flown since April 17, 2019, is currently in the process of re-launching operations under its new promoters Jalan-Kalrock Consortium. Aviation veteran Sanjiv Kapoor took charge as the chief executive officer of the airline on April 4.
With the strain and anxiety of the longest Lok Sabha polls now behind the leaders, governance, with consensus, is the next step.
Air Asia is partnering with Tata Sons and little known Arun Bhatia for their India entry.
As China's Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visited Pakistan on a mediation mission, a statement from Foreign Ministry on Monday said it is maintaining close contacts with Pakistan and Iran to 'bridge their differences'.
Growing trade and commerce in the region could support passenger demand
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