Indian Airlines to fly Haj pilgrims directly from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia

There is good news for the highest ever number of Haj pilgrims from the state this year. The 9,100 Haj pilgrims can now board a direct flight from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia unlike the past when they had to board the Jeddah flight from Delhi. Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that come September 17, Indian Airlines would be flying directly from Srinagar to the holy land for this year's Haj pilgrimage.

It was in 2009 when the first international flight took off from Srinagar airport to Dubai after being inaugurated by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. But the optimism did not last long as all international flights were grounded owing to various reasons, including objections by Pakistan over using its airspace.

"The direct operations of Haj flights by the Indian Airlines would make the pilgrimage smooth and relieve the intending Haj pilgrims of the burden of transshipment from one aircraft to another," said Omar Abdullah who is also the chairman of the J&K State Haj Committee.

The Haj quota for the state has been increased from last year's 8441 to 8670 this year, which is the highest in the last four years. In addition to this, private Haj operators are facilitating 500 Haj pilgrims.

Directing the state Haj committee to provide the best facilities to the Haj pilgrims, the CM said that every care should be taken for their accommodation, immigration and custom clearance.

"The committee shall publish a guide book for the pilgrims indicating details of the facilities, emergency service, enquiry and related issues that would prove helpful to them in Saudi Arabia," said an official spokesman quoting CM.

Abdullah also directed for providing SIM cards as introduced during Haj-2011 to Khudam-ul-Hujaj (caretakers and guides) so that pilgrims could contact them in the hour of need.

Commissioner secretary Haj and Auqaf, B A Runiyal gave details of the arrangements for Haj-2012.
He said that the first Haj flight will take off on September 17 this year and each day 270 pilgrims will be flown from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia.

He said one flight is scheduled for one day. However, he added that two Haj flights would be operated for eight days.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Chandigarh/Indian-Airlines-to-fly-Haj-pilgrims-directly-from-Srinagar-to-Saudi-Arabia/SP-Article1-928244.aspx

KIAL to invite fresh bids

For selecting project consultant

Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) will invite fresh bids for selecting a project consultant for the fourth airport of the State.

A decision to this effect was taken at a board meeting of the KIAL chaired by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at Kochi on Tuesday night.

The consultancy agreement with the Mumbai-based STUP Consultants was cancelled after it was found that the ‘request for proposal’ (RFP) conditions had been violated by the Indo-French consortium.

Fifteen days

Since the KIAL was inviting bids for selecting the project consultant for the second time, only 15 days had been given to submit the bids. KIAL sources told The Hinduthat September 27 would be the last date for submitting the bids.

The agreement was cancelled last week after it was found that the STUP was blacklisted by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board when it submitted the bid for the Kannur airport project.

The KIAL had also decided to include a rider to prevent the STUP from participating in the fresh bidding process, the sources said.

Guidelines

The bidding process would be transparent and as per the guidelines of the Planning Commission. The bids would be opened in the first week of October.

Resignation

The sources said the KIAL board had not taken a decision on the resignation of V. Thulasidas, special officer for Kannur airport and MD of KIAL.

A decision might be taken after the Emerging Kerala summit.

He had submitted his resignation in the wake of adverse remarks against him and his colleagues in the KIAL following the cancellation of the consultancy agreement.

The consultancy agreement for Rs.14.3 crore was signed with the STUP after a bidding process when Cochin International Airport Ltd. (CIAL) demanded Rs.105 crore for the same. The STUP has already approached the High Court challenging the KIAL decision.

The High Court had been informed that the KIAL was going to invite fresh bids to select the new project consultant, the sources said.

The tender process for awarding the work for levelling and grading of the operational area of the airport in Kannur is progressing.

---

·  Bids should be submitted by September 27

·  Decision taken at KIAL board meet on Tuesday

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3891228.ece

Air India earns cash surplus for first time since 2007

Revenue up 6.5% in April-Sept

New Delhi, Sept. 12:  

Air India posted an increase of 6.5 per cent in revenue during April-September this year at Rs 4,757 crore, compared with Rs 4,467 crore in the same period last year.

Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh said the better financial performance was despite a section of pilots going on strike.

“During the same period, expenditure has reduced by Rs 268 crore from 2011. For the first time since the merger (with Indian) in 2007, the airline has made a cash surplus of Rs 48 crore during April-July 2012, against a cash deficit of Rs 586 crore during the same period previously,” he said.

The net loss of the airline during April-July 2012 fell by Rs 557 crore, Singh added. The Minister was speaking to the media after formally inducting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft into the Air India fleet.

The airline had taken back 316 of the 413 pilots who had reported sick en masse, a move that led to disruption of normal schedule of Air India, he said.

“Of the remaining 97 pilots whose services were terminated, 50 have been recommended for reinstatement, five pilots have not been found suitable for reinstatement and the case of the remaining 42 pilots is still under consideration,” Singh said.

Singh said that there will be “induction of new aircraft” as the airline is not content with its market share and wants to operate more flights.

Airlines Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan added that the airline had set up a committee to take a closer look at the market and decide on whether there was need to induct more aircraft.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/article3890021.ece

Many hankering to board the Dreamliner

New Delhi, Sept. 12:  

It’s the sort of buzz that is rarely seen, even for a new aircraft. Well before the Boeing 787, popularly known as the Dreamliner, takes off on its first commercial flight for Air India, many want to reschedule plans just to fly on it.

From senior government officials to flyers from Lucknow, all are ready to rework their schedules so they can fly on the Dreamliner.

What’s so special about this aircraft? Apart from being the newest and the latest aircraft, in terms of the technology used, the Dreamliner has many other features to make the time on board comfortable. It has the largest windows among commercial aircraft and a quieter cabin.

Passengers will feel less jet lagged, particularly after long-haul flights, as the cabin is pressurised to 6,000 feet instead of 8,000 feet, as on all other aircraft.

Special features

Its USP is that it is made of composite material, which not only reduces its weight but also allows the aircraft’s frame to withstand greater pressure at higher altitudes. It is also equipped with a gaseous air purification system which, along with the reduced cabin pressure, means that a passenger arrives feeling fresher.

No wonder, then, that Air India, which has ordered 27 Dreamliners and inducted the first into its fleet, is promising a new travel experience.

The second aircraft is likely to be inducted in the next few days. The airline will get seven aircraft by March next year.

The Dreamliner’s first commercial flight will be on September 19, on Delhi to Chennai and Bangalore sectors.

A soft international launch to Dubai is also expected. Air India Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan said the aircraft would fly to six or seven cities within the country.

International routes

Come December, the aircraft will also be used on Air India’s long-haul international routes, starting with Melbourne and Sydney.

The aircraft can fly non-stop for 13 hours, which means Australia, Africa and most of Europe will be well within reach of Air India’s Dreamliner.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/article3890037.ece