Ramco Systems, an enterprise software company, has bagged a contract from Wadia Group-owned Go Airlines (GoAir) for its maintenance and engineering suite of software. Under the agreement, Ramco will deliver its web-based Series 5 M&E system and Ramco ePublications, including engineering and configuration, maintenance programme and planning, line maintenance, technical records and complete materials, says a release. — Special Correspondent
Thursday 20 September 2012
Bhubaneswar airport to be upgraded soon: Ajit Singh
New Delhi, Sept 20:
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met with the Union Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, on Thursday, to discuss the issues of upgrading the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar to an international airport and the development of airports in Orissa.
A statement from the Ministry of Civil Aviation said that, at the meeting, Patnaik was informed that the new domestic terminal building at Bhubaneswar airport was expected to be commissioned by December this year.
After the new building is commissioned, the existing terminal building will be renovated to make the airport suitable for international operations. The renovation includes enhancing ground lighting facilities, instrument landing system for operation of aircraft at night, besides, making available customs, immigration, health, animal and plant quarantine services. The modification work is expected to be done by April next year.
On the issue of development and operationalisation of Jharsuguda airport, Patnaik was informed that the Airports Authority of India had plans to develop the airport initially for ATR 72-500 type of aircraft operations.
Singh also suggested the possibility of developing the airport through the public-private partnership route.
Kolkata airport’s new terminal may miss Oct deadline
Kolkata, Sept 20:
The new terminal of Kolkata airport is likely to miss the October deadline for commercial operation.
Developed by Airports Authority of India, the modernised facility underwent its first trial run on July 15.
While operations were scheduled to kick off before the Durga Puja Festival beginning October 21, sources confirmed to Business Line that it would be delayed by at least by another two to three months.
“The AAI is yet to announce any official date for the operations to begin formally at the new terminal.
Pending work
A lot of work need to be completed starting from installation of aerobridges to preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various destinations,” they said.
Declining to commit on a specific timeline, B P Sharma, regional airport director, said: “I am not sure whether the operations will begin before Durga Puja. AAI headquarters will take a call on this.”
According to sources, the entire IT system has to be installed and tested before commercial operations kick off.
HC asks ICPA to file additional affidavit
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), the union of erstwhile Indian Airlines, to file an additional affidavit with detailed information on changes made by Air India in the flight duty time limitations (FDTL).
Justice Suresh Kait, who heard briefly the submissions of senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for ICPA, asked the counsel to give more details of the alleged drastic changes made in the FDTL of the pilots.
With that directives, the judge posted the matter to October 5.
The ICPA in its petition has sought setting aside the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh’s order asking the national carrier to immediately implement the guidelines of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) wherein it said that the pilots and cabin crew should put in more flying hours.
“There is no scope of any diktat here,” said senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi.
Mukul Rohatgi told the judge that the issue of the FDTL had been settled time and again between the airlines and pilots under the purview of the Industrial Disputes Act but, the diktat of the minister is against the law.
The pilots are not taxi drivers who can be asked to go to Gurgaon from Delhi after a long drive just to optimise the use of the workforce, the counsel said.
It was on September 11 that the minister had directed Air India to follow the DGCA guidelines on FDTL for pilots and cabin crew saying that a comprehensive analysis had warranted the change.
http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article763779.eceStop eating up flyers' food, Air India tells stewards
NEW DELHI: Air Indiahas issued a circular asking cabin crew to behave themselves mid-air, in the face of many complaints about them consuming passengers' meals and their boisterous guffaws in the galley area.
Since the complaints came from first class passengers, the airline wasted no time in issuing the fresh circular on September 5 (TOI has a copy). The circular to the cabin crew talks about the manner they have to "eat" and "talk" during flights.
Since the complaints came from first class passengers, the airline wasted no time in issuing the fresh circular on September 5 (TOI has a copy). The circular to the cabin crew talks about the manner they have to "eat" and "talk" during flights.
A senior AI official said the airline was getting complaints that cabin crew ate the passengers' meals in front of passengers during the flights.
The crew now has been told to speak softly while in the galley, which is close to the first class seats, and draw the curtain down while having food. In each flight, the meals are uplifted as per the number of passengers and the cabin crew keeps some of the food packets for their consumption during flights.
In the circular, the airline has instructed the cabin crew to be restrained while eating their personal and the airline's meals. As per some complaints, on many occasions, cabin crew group together to eat meals in the aircraft, delaying the response time to attend to passengers' call during flights.
The circular clearly said the crew has to take meals in turn so that sufficient numbers are available to attend to calls. The circular also instructed the crew to quietly work in the galley and speak softly as passengers in first class were getting disturbed.
The cabin crew heads have been asked to check all documents relating to the flight beforehand as in the past, there were instance that the immigration cards of wrong country were kept in the flight, resulting in an embarrassing situation. Grapping with the financial losses and turnaround strategies, the airline cannot afford to upset passengers in both domestic and international sectors.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-19/india/33951924_1_cabin-crew-galley-area-flightsSpiceJet looks at exotic foreign destinations
NEW DELHI: Young Indian low-cost carriers (LCC) are eager to spread their wings to territories left unchartered by their older full service counterparts. The country's second biggest LCC SpiceJet has sought government nod to fly to 10 new destinations, majority of which are in the former Soviet Union and China. These include places like former Kazakh capital Almaty, Uzbek capital Tashkent and Chinese special administered region (SAR) Macau.
The airline will launch flights to other Chinese SAR Hong Kong next month along with Guangzhou, according to airline CEO Neil Mills. It already flies to Kabul, along with tourism-cum-trade centres of Colombo, Dubai and Kathmandu. The airline will bring Male, Riyadh and Dhaka on its network soon.
"We follow a blue ocean strategy for international flights which means flying to places where not too many airlines go. We would like to go to more points in China," Mills said. At present, no desi carrier flies to the former Soviet republics, while their airlines have started flying to India. Similarly, Guangzhou and Macau are not on the network of any other Indian carrier.
The airline will launch flights to other Chinese SAR Hong Kong next month along with Guangzhou, according to airline CEO Neil Mills. It already flies to Kabul, along with tourism-cum-trade centres of Colombo, Dubai and Kathmandu. The airline will bring Male, Riyadh and Dhaka on its network soon.
"We follow a blue ocean strategy for international flights which means flying to places where not too many airlines go. We would like to go to more points in China," Mills said. At present, no desi carrier flies to the former Soviet republics, while their airlines have started flying to India. Similarly, Guangzhou and Macau are not on the network of any other Indian carrier.
Erstwhile Indian Airlines had planned to fly to Guangzhou some years back but that did not happen as it was merged with Air India and foreign destinations were then left to be served by the merged carrier. Jet cancelled its Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco flight in 2008 due to a combination of poor loads amid a global economic meltdown. Indian carriers have since then stuck to big hubs with the exception of Jet flying to Brussels, its base in Europe. India's biggest LCC IndiGo currently flies to Bangkok, Dubai, Muscat, and Kathmandu. It has sought permission to add Kuala Lumpur and Sharjah to the network from next year.
Travel industry insiders say there is a rising interest in travel to places like former Russian republics and China for both trade and tourism. Airlines from these regions had been quick to cash in on the rising travel to and from India while our airlines have not showed any interest so far. SpiceJet's strategy to fly to places that do not have intense competition could pay off as there is demand on these routes that could lead to rewarding fares.
Travel industry insiders say there is a rising interest in travel to places like former Russian republics and China for both trade and tourism. Airlines from these regions had been quick to cash in on the rising travel to and from India while our airlines have not showed any interest so far. SpiceJet's strategy to fly to places that do not have intense competition could pay off as there is demand on these routes that could lead to rewarding fares.
Air India’s Dreamliner develops technical snag on first day
NEW DELHI: Air India's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner developed a snag on the first day of its commercial operations on Wednesday. A cooling unit, meant to prevent the power generating equipment of the aircraft from getting overheated, malfunctioned when the aircraft was being pushed back. The plane had to return to the parking bay and was delayed by 40 minutes.
Earlier in the day, the aircraft (VT-ANH) had its first commercial flight when it went from Delhi to Chennai and then returned to IGI airport. It was to take its second flight to Bangalore. Sources said that the snag developed when the aircraft was being pushed back and its power generation was being shifted from electric generator to the engine generator.
Sources said the same part had been replaced twice in the US before AI took delivery of the aircraft. In fact, when it landed in Delhi on September 8, sources said that another electric part, called actuator, had developed a snag and was replaced. AI spokesman said, "The main reason for delay was refueling of the aircraft. When it was being pushed back, it developed some problem in its cooling unit. While that was being replaced it was decided to refuel the aircraft."
However, AI had a reason to cheer. A lady commander-under-training of erstwhile Indian Airlines, Nivedita Bhasin, flew in AI's second B-787 from Charleston to Delhi via Frankfurt. Captain Bhasin was in the commander's seat on the Frankfurt-Delhi leg of the flight under supervision of two Boeing pilots - becoming the first woman to commandeer a commercial flight of the 787 in the world.
Earlier in the day, the aircraft (VT-ANH) had its first commercial flight when it went from Delhi to Chennai and then returned to IGI airport. It was to take its second flight to Bangalore. Sources said that the snag developed when the aircraft was being pushed back and its power generation was being shifted from electric generator to the engine generator.
Sources said the same part had been replaced twice in the US before AI took delivery of the aircraft. In fact, when it landed in Delhi on September 8, sources said that another electric part, called actuator, had developed a snag and was replaced. AI spokesman said, "The main reason for delay was refueling of the aircraft. When it was being pushed back, it developed some problem in its cooling unit. While that was being replaced it was decided to refuel the aircraft."
However, AI had a reason to cheer. A lady commander-under-training of erstwhile Indian Airlines, Nivedita Bhasin, flew in AI's second B-787 from Charleston to Delhi via Frankfurt. Captain Bhasin was in the commander's seat on the Frankfurt-Delhi leg of the flight under supervision of two Boeing pilots - becoming the first woman to commandeer a commercial flight of the 787 in the world.
Air India’s loaded hope takes to the skies
After a four-year wait, Air India’s Dreamliner — purchased to save the ailing airline — made its first trip from Delhi to Chennai on Wednesday. The flight, arriving from the national capital with 118 passengers, touched down at 9.45 a.m. and was welcomed with a water cannon salute and puja.
“No doubt, the experience is an unmatched one, what with better seating arrangement and an extraordinary sound system. One major difference I found from normal flights is that I feel less tired after the travel,” said Suresh, a passenger on the aircraft.
With 256 seats, comprising 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats, the flight boasts a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system and an enhanced gaseous filtration system that reduces headaches and dizziness inside the aircraft.
The business class has seats with flat-bed recline, reading lamps, larger LCD screens, and footrests. The windows have an electronic dimming system, a feature that allows passengers to choose the level of brightness they desire.
The flight returned to Delhi with 92 passengers after an hour and was expected to make its second trip to Bangalore in the evening.
Asked about procuring the aircraft at a time when the airline is faced with heavy loss, an Air India spokesperson said, “It is overwhelming to have incorporated the best aircraft in the world into our fleet. For the survival of the airline, we have to upgrade and modernise constantly.”
Seven of these aircraft will arrive by the end of the year, he said. The fares for passage on the aircraft, surprisingly, are on a par with an ordinary Air India flight, airport sources said.
The aircraft will be deployed to fly in the domestic sectors in the beginning and will be put on the international sectors in the forthcoming winter schedule.
· Dreamliner’s gaseous filtration system reduces headaches and dizziness inside the aircraft
· It will fly in the domestic sectors to begin with and on international routes by winter
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/article3916566.eceFor Chennai-bound Dreamliner passengers, an experience to cherish forever
Chennai, Sept. 19:
Work at the Chennai airport came to a standstill for some time this morning as the first Air India Dreamliner aircraft touched down.
Airline staff working on getting other aircraft ready for departure started clicking pictures of the Dreamliner with their phone cameras, as the plane carrying passengers from Delhi landed.
As the aircraft taxied to its parking stand, it was welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute. Soon after the engines were switched off, a traditional puja followed.
In Delhi, from where the first flight of the Boeing 787 took off for Chennai, the airline staff gave the passengers roses and special cards which said “Congratulations! You are among the very first passengers to board the Dreamliner in India. Be Proud.”
Soon after take-off, as vegetarian passengers tucked into a breakfast of spinach upma, milagaipodi idli and pesarattu or palak paneer burji with sabzi parantha, the flight captain left the deck and began describing the finer points of the aircraft.
“The aircraft brings many advantages for the airline, passengers and the environment. The passengers get to fly a much quieter aircraft, as the aircraft consumes almost 20 per cent less fuel than an equivalent aircraft and the cost of operations is less for the management.
“Besides, it has lower carbon emission and is less noisy, which is a big issue at some airports in Europe, North America and, now, even India,” Atul Soman, the aircraft’s commander, said.
The excitement on board was palpable.
Soman chatted with every passenger, inquiring about his or her well-being and asking if they wanted any more details about the aircraft.
Some of the 787’s special features are that passengers in the business class can enjoy a lie-flat bed experience. All passengers can also experience mood lighting, lower cabin pressure, which makes long-haul flights more comfortable, and electronically-operated windows that are 60 per cent larger than conventional windows.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3914608.eceAir India’s second Dreamliner to arrive in Delhi this evening
New Delhi, Sept 19:
The second of the 27 Boeing 787 aircraft ordered by Air India arrives in India later this evening. The second aircraft is expected to touch down in Delhi around 5 p.m.
The B 787 aircraft, more popularly known as the Dreamliner, will be used on services from Delhi to Kolkata and possibly either Dubai or Kathmandu.
Meanwhile, the first of the airline's Boeing 787 started commercial flying for Air India. The first flight was operated as the morning flight on the Delhi-Chennai-Chennai sector. The same aircraft is to be used to operate a Delhi-Bangalore-Delhi flight later this evening.
The aircraft which can seat 256 passengers. including 18 passengers in business class and 236 in economy. will initially be used to operate flights within the country. In December, the airline plans to utilise the aircraft to launch services between India and Australia with services to Sydney and Melbourne.
Flight to Colombo from Madurai airport takes off on Thursday
Madurai, Sept. 19:
Madurai Airport will see the launch of the first international flight to Colombo on Thursday. SpiceJet will be launching the international air connectivity.
A 50-member delegation from Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be on boardthe inaugural flight to explore ways to enhance two-way trade and investment between Tamil Nadu and Colombo.
Expressing happiness over the realisation of a long-pursued goal, the chamber, in a statement said the service would pave the way for acceleration of industrial and economic growth in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.
It said that a few more infrastructure facilities at the airport would enable operation of jumbo jet aircrafts which would facilitate setting up car manufacturing/assembling units in the vicinity of Madurai.
Being an all-weather airport, it should be provided with night landing facility at the earliest, the chamber said. Inclusion of Madurai airport in the bi-lateral Airport Treaties with Malaysia, Singapore, UAE. and other Gulf Countries by the Union Civil Aviation Ministry at the earliest would truly establish its international status.
Its non-inclusion in such treaties was preventing airliners from those countries in introducing air service to Madurai although they are keen to operate the service, the chamber added.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3915265.eceAviation, retail shares likely to attract more demand: Experts
New Delhi, Sep 19:
Shares of aviation and retail firms which gained up to 24 per cent since government’s decision to allow overseas investments, are likely to attract demand in the near-term as well, experts have said.
Last Friday, the government allowed 51 per cent foreign investment in multi-brand retail, 49 per cent investment by foreign airlines in aviation and raised the FDI cap in broadcasting from 49 per cent to 74 per cent.
Stocks from these sectors have attracted buyers’ since the announcement and have surged as much as 24 per cent.
Shares of Kingfisher Airlines have gained 24.42 per cent, while Spicejet moved up by 10.43 per cent and Jet Airways by 2.15 per cent.
“In the coming days, demand for these stocks will grow in the wake of FDI announcement. Stocks have been rising as sentiments have improved after the FDI demands were finally met,” Geojit BNP Paribas Research Head Alex Matthews said.
From the retail pack, Pantaloon Retail India shot-up by 14.21 per cent, while Koutons Retail India surged 10.13 per cent and Provogue India gained 10.16 per cent. Among others, Shoppers Stop climbed 4.77 per cent, while Trent rallied 3.68 per cent.
According to Gajendra Nagpal, CEO, Unicon Financial Solutions: “The rally might continue in coming days. But one needs to be watchful of the political outcome of these decisions.”
From cable stocks, Dish TV has gained 2.73 per cent in the last two trading sessions.
Analysts at Edelweiss Research have said the decision to allow FDI is expected to be positive for the Indian retail sector, as it will reduce piling debt and stimulate investments.
“We believe that discretionary consumer goods and larger organised consumer players too will benefit as it will help increase consumption and prop volume growth,” they said.
The government had last year allowed 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, but the same could not be implemented in the face of strong opposition from UPA allies, including Trinamool Congress.
The decision to allow foreign carriers to invest in domestic airlines would help cash-strapped carriers like Kingfisher to bring in strategic partners, experts said.
Similar could be the case for retail entities like Future Group’s Pantaloon Retail, Provogue India and Koutons Retail.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/article3914980.eceUB Holdings auditors raise concern over Kingfisher exposure, defaults
New Delhi, Sept 19:
Auditors of UB group’s holding firm, UBHL, have raised concerns over its significant exposure to debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, as also on delays and defaults related to tax dues and repayments to lenders.
UBHL (United Breweries Holdings Ltd) is the holding firm for Vijay Mallya-led UB group, whose companies include United Breweries Ltd (UBL), United Spirits Ltd, McDowell Holdings, Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers and UB Engineering, besides crisis—hit Kingfisher Airlines (KFA).
The observations have been made by the auditors in UBHL’s latest annual report for the financial year 2011-12 that is being circulated among the shareholders ahead of the annual general meeting on September 27 in Bangalore.
As per the Auditors’ Report, UBHL has a “significant financial exposure to KFA in the form of investments in equity, loans and advances and guarantees.
“KFA has considerably scaled down its operations and it is under severe financial stress. No provision has been made in the accounts for the probable loss that may arise due to non-recovery of loans and advances and other receivables, decline in the value of investments and invocation of guarantees.”
UBHL, on its part, has said that the company along with its subsidiaries has significant financial exposure on various counts to KFA, which has ceased to be a subsidiary with effect from February, 18, 2012 and is now an associate company.
This exposure as on March 31, 2012 included equity investment of Rs 2,114.28 crore, loans and advances Rs 1,048.7 crore and other receivables Rs 209.08 crore, and corporate guarantees to banks/aircraft lessors Rs 8,925.86 crore.
“Certain corporate guarantees have been invoked and KFA is under negotiation in this regard with beneficiaries. The management is reasonably confident that none of the guarantees would eventually devolve upon the company,” UBHL said.
“The ultimate impairment of investments and non-recovery of loans and advances are not quantifiable and hence no provision has been considered in the accounts,” it added.
The company said that the Indian airline industry and KFA in particular is currently exposed to one of the toughest operating environments and is expected to struggle with profitability pressures.
The auditors of UBHL further observed that service tax dues amounting to Rs 2.42 crore and Customs duty of Rs 7 lakh have been outstanding for more than six months.
UBHL is generally regular in depositing its statutory dues including those related to provident fund, investor education and protection fund, employees state insurance, income tax, sales tax, wealth tax and other material statutory dues, they added.
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