Village Action Council vows to disrupt Aranmula airport work

Construction work for a proposed airport at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district by a private group has run into trouble with the local Village Action Council announcing that it would disrupt any such work.

Aranmula, which had been declared as a heritage village by the Centre and United Nations Development Programme, would cease to exist if the project came up, The Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council patron Kummanam Rajasekharan said.

He claimed that the plan of the KGS group, promoters of the private airport project, was to develop an aerotropolis centring the airport for which at least 3,000 acres would be required.

"This will not be allowed by people of Aranmula. We will disrupt the construction work if it is started this month as announced by KGS group," Rajasekharan said, adding the construction would sound the death-knell for the culture and heritage of the ancient village.

He alleged the state government had acted in haste to accord sanction to the project.

As per an RTI reply the Council had received, the Centre had not yet given 'in-principle' approval to the airport project. No environmental impact study was conducted by any government agency and the objections raised by Assembly committee on environment was overlooked, he said.

The reports prepared by the company's own consultants were taken as the final word, he alleged.

Rajasekharan said the people had no other way but to resort to a confrontationist approach if the work starts this month.

All those opposed to the project would be brought together and a meeting would soon be convened to chalk out future course of action.

Any construction work would be disrupted with the support of all parties against the 'anti-people' project, he added.

He challenged Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to reveal the clearance obtained by the KGS company from the Centre and announce the area of land demarcated for the project.

The state government had last week given sanction for the project and decided to hold 10 per cent shares in the company to be formed for the airport.

http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/village-action-council-vows-to-disrupt-aranmula-airport-work/109972/

Spicejet confirms interest from foreign investors, shares soar

Amid reports of Gulf carrier Qatar Airways holding talks to acquire stake in SpiceJet, the Indian low-cost carrier today said some foreign players have evinced interest in the company but did not name its suitors.

"Though few investors have evinced interest in the company post government allowing FDI in civil aviation sector to foreign airlines, it will be very pre-mature to comment on the possibilities of any fresh equity issuance to such interested parties or confirm, deny names of any specific entity," Kalanithi Maran-led Sun Group entity SpiceJet said in a BSE filing.

The company made the statement following reports that Qatar may buy equity stake in SpiceJet, which also fuelled a strong rally in its share price.

Recently, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker had told reporters in Doha that the airline was interested in buying stake in some Indian airline, but had not disclosed any names.

"India is a huge market, India is a potentially lucrative market. Qatar Airways will be interested once we are sure the regulations and the laws are properly liberalised," Al Baker had said.

The statement of Qatar chief has fuelled speculations about the potential targets in Indian aviation space.

Another Indian carrier Jet Airways has already confirmed being in talks with Etihad for a potential stake sale, while crisis-ridden and currently grounded carrier Kingfisher

Airlines is also said to be looking for potential investors.

SpiceJet said it would like to reiterate that these are speculative media reporting.

Following stake sale speculation, shares of Spicejet jumped as much as 8.5 per cent this morning. The scrip was later trading at Rs 46.10, up 4.65 per cent in late afternoon trade.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/spicejet-confirms-interest-from-foreign-investors-shares-soar/1059665/

Spicejet confirms interest from foreign investors; shares soar

MUMBAI: Amid reports of Gulf carrier Qatar Airwaysholding talks to acquire stake in SpiceJet, the Indian low-cost carrier today said some foreign players have evinced interest in the company but did not name its suitors. 

"Though few investors have evinced interest in the company post government allowing FDI in civil aviation sector to foreign airlines, it will be very pre-mature to comment on the possibilities of any fresh equity issuance to such interested parties or confirm, deny names of any specific entity," Kalanithi Maran-led Sun Group entity SpiceJetBSE 1.20 % said in a BSE filing. 

The company made the statement following reports that Qatar may buy equity stake in SpiceJet, which also fuelled a strong rally in its share price. 

Recently, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker had told reporters in Doha that the airline was interested in buying stake in some Indian airline, but had not disclosed any names. 

"India is a huge market, India is a potentially lucrative market. Qatar Airways will be interested once we are sure the regulations and the laws are properly liberalised," Al Baker had said. 

The statement of Qatar chief has fuelled speculations about the potential targets in Indian aviation space. 

Another Indian carrier Jet AirwaysBSE -0.14 % has already confirmed being in talks with Etihad for a potential stake sale, while crisis-ridden and currently grounded carrier Kingfisher AirlinesBSE 1.99 % is also said to be looking for potential investors. 

SpiceJet said it would like to reiterate that these are speculative media reporting. 

Following stake sale speculation, shares of Spicejet jumped as much as 8.5 per cent this morning. The scrip was later trading at Rs 46.10, up 4.65 per cent in late afternoon trade.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/stocks-in-news/spicejet-confirms-interest-from-foreign-investors-shares-soar/articleshow/18032762.cms

Airbus Narrows Boeing Gap as 2012 Orders Top $27 Billion

Airbus SAS is narrowing the order gap to Boeing Co. (BA), with the European aircraft maker announcing a flurry of sales in the final weeks of last year valued at more than $27 billion as it closes the books on 2012.

Airbus this week has announced deals with Chinese leasing firm BOC Aviation for 50 A320s, including 25 of the new-engine neo model, as well as Indonesian low-fare airline Citilink for 25 A320neos, bringing its declared order total to 861 aircraft for 2012. The two sales, with a combined list price of $7 billion, come on top of $20 billion in purchases the Toulouse- based company has announced since November.

Airbus will spell out its 2012 performance for orders and deliveries on January 17 as it chases Boeing, which saw net orders climb 49 percent to 1,203 units, led by purchases of single-aisle 737s. Airbus had a target of 650 sales for 2012 following a record a year earlier.

Commitments from BOC Aviation and Citilink bring demand for the A320neo to more than 1,700 firm orders since it went on sale in December 2010, against 1,064 orders for Boeing’s competitor, the 737 Max, which has been on the market since late 2011. Neo deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2015, about two years before the Max.

“Airbus has done better than I would have thought, given that Boeing only formally launched its Max at the end of 2011, while Airbus had their really big year for the neo that year,” said Nick Cunningham, an analyst at Agency Partners in London.

The A320 and 737 families are the backbone of Airbus and Boeing production, with more than 800 combined deliveries last year. The rivalry has intensified as the pair’s duopoly is about to be challenged by new entrants from Canada and China.

Boeing is poised to regain the title as world’s largest aircraft maker, having delivered 601 aircraft last year with Airbus expected to meet its target of shipping about 580 units.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-15/airbus-narrows-boeing-gap-as-2012-orders-top-27-billion.html

Airbus narrows sales gap with Boeing

European aircraft maker Airbus SAS announced a flurry of sales in the final weeks of last year to narrow its gap with Chicago-based Boeing Co.

Airbus booked more than $27 billion in sales at the end of 2012 and has this week announced deals with Chinese leasing firm BOC Aviation for 50 planes and Indonesian airline Citilink for 25 aircraft.

Airbus total orders for 2012 came to 861 aircraft. Boeing saw net orders climb 49 percent last year to 1,203 units.

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has a facility at Port San Antonio where employees perform modifications work on aircraft before final deliveries.

Airport expansion project takes a step forward

The project to expand the Hubli airport and make it an all-weather airport of international standards has taken a step forward with the State government handing over 600 acres of land for the purpose.

After chairing a meeting with the Hubli Airport Consultative Committee here on Tuesday, Pralhad Joshi, MP, told presspersons that Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) V.P. Agarwal and Civil Aviation Secretary K.N. Shrivastava would be coming to Hubli on January 23 to sign a memorandum of understanding.

Mr. Joshi said the Hubli airport was being developed at a cost of Rs. 169 crore. The State government had given 600 acres of land for free to the AAI.

However, there had been delay in commencing work. Hence, the meeting had been convened, he said.

Mr. Joshi said various issues like shifting the graveyard, mobile towers and various structures on the land, and acquisition of the road leading to Tarihal were discussed in the meeting.

He said that proposals regarding various works, including widening of the existing runway, were before the AAI, and as soon as the issues were solved, work would commence.

Exemption

Mr. Joshi said the AAI had sought exemption from property tax and free supply of electricity and water to the airport. However, the State government had asked the AAI to review these conditions. “On January 23, Secretary to government, Infrastructure Development Department, will also participate in the meeting to sort out these issues to make way for signing of the MoU,” he said.

To a query, Mr. Joshi Rs. 10 crore was required for clearing the structures on the land. A proposal for additional funds would be sent to the government through the Deputy Commissioner. He expressed confidence that the Chief Minister would sanction additional funds.

Virabhadrappa Halaharavi, MLA; Sameer Shukla, Deputy Commissioner; and B.A. Padmanayan, Police Commissioner, were present.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/airport-expansion-project-takes-a-step-forward/article4311389.ece

Art expo at IGI airport

New Delhi, Jan. 15:  

Indian contemporary art has spread its wings to a new display terrain by connecting to thousands of international travellers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) with ‘Hamanta-Shishir’, a collection of 34 paintings and sculptures by 22 artists.

It is part of a larger art project, Art Walk — an attempt by the Delhi International Airport Ltd to provide a platform for fliers to appreciate Indian art, buy art works and raise awareness about art, DIAL said on Tuesday.

‘Hemanta-Shishir’ is an autumn-winter collection. It will be followed by ‘Basanta-Greeshma’ (spring-summer) and ‘Varsha-Sharada’ (monsoon-autumn). A decision on continuing the cycle will be taken at a later date.

The works are priced between Rs 25,000 and Rs 18,00,000. The exhibition will close on March 15.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/art-expo-at-igi-airport/article4310539.ece

Kingfisher CEO likely to meet DGCA today

New Delhi, Jan. 15:  

Another attempt could be made on Wednesday to get Kingfisher Airlines back to flying with the airline’s Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Agarwal set to meet the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

This meeting comes days before a crucial meeting of a consortium of bankers that have lent over Rs 7,500 crore to the now defunct airline.

The consortium is refusing to lend any more money to the airline till the promoters bring in more funds. The airline suspended operations on October 11, 2012 and its operating licence lapsed on December 31, 2012.  

Earlier this week senior Government officials indicated that they were not satisfied by the airline’s plans to invest Rs 650 crore as it might not guarantee efficient and reliable services.

“The revival plan, which was submitted by the airline, had lot of issues regarding lenders and staff payment which we felt may not lead to reliable services,” a senior Government official had said.

The revival plan also has no provision for payment to airport operators, the official had said. Payment of salaries and wages of staff in a phased manner could lead to a situation where the airline may not be able to provide reliable services because if staff members were not paid then they may stop working again and this could inconvenience passengers, he added.

In another development when employees sought a sale of assets to clear their back wages, the airline’s promoter and Member of Parliament, Vijay Mallya wrote to them telling them that a revival plan would be submitted to the DGCA.

In the letter Mallya mentioned how the UB Group was willing to provide Rs 650 crore to the airline. He also mentioned that the airline plans to restart operations in two phases.

In the first phase which should be implemented from Summer Schedule 2013, the airline plans to start operations with seven aircraft and increase this to 21 aircraft in four months.

In the second phase the airline plans to grow to 57 aircraft within 12 months of recapitalisation.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-economy/kingfisher-ceo-likely-to-meet-dgca-today/article4310480.ece