Economic reality is reshaping India’s airline industry. Just a few years into a third wave of private operators, the high cost of fuel has led to a number of mergers, including a high-profile agreement to combine Indian Airlines with Air India. Other issues, including infrastructure constraints, increased competition, and wage inflation, have left low-cost carriers, such as Sahara and Air …

Customers from United Airlines and Jet Airways will benefit through an agreement signed by both carriers. The companies plan to offer codeshare service, significantly expanding the number of flights available to customers of both carriers to travel between the U.S. and India. United’s Mileage Plus® and Jet Airways’ JetPrivilege members would also have the opportunity to accrue and redeem frequent …

May 22, 2008Bangalore JournalAn Indian Airport Hurries to Make the First FlightBy SOMINI SENGUPTA BANGALORE, India — For years, frequent fliers in this technology hub complained bitterly about having to suffer the indignities of a tattered and tiny airport scrunched in the middle of a busy city neighborhood. Now, with a new one opening on Saturday, people are clamoring once …

22 May 2008, Saurabh Sinha, TNN NEW DELHI: Domestic airlines will no longer be able to hold passengers who cancel their tickets to ransom by delaying refunds indefinitely or by asking them to fly again instead within a given time. Acting on complaints, the government is set to issue new refund rules: airlines will have to issue refunds within a …

Will target internet savvy leisure and corporate travellersBy Anita Jain | Mumbai Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. launched www.thomascook.in, a complete travel portal offering end-to-end travel solutions for both B2B and B2C customers, in Mumbai today. The portal will offer hotel inventories from UK based hotels4u.com, which was acquired by Thomas Cook in February this year. The website aims at targeting …

The BIAL consortium has launched a new website providing information on the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA), at http://www.bengaluruairport.com. The website has a lot of information and is worth checking out. Please do keep in mind, that it is a work in progress.

Hot breaking news. BIA launch has been postponed by 24 hours. The new launch date is 00:01 24/May/2008. Stay Tuned for more information.

I have received a clarification from BIAL that the User Development Fee (UDF) is to be collected from ALL OUTBOUND INTERNATIONAL passengers. The amount of INR 1070 is inclusive of all taxes. So please make sure, you carry the correct amount of money with you. BIAL has also appealed that passengers paying UDF please remit exact change. A User Development …

Express News Service BANGALORE: Shifting all commercial aviation operations at Bengaluru International Airport on May 23 will put its operator Bangalore International Airport Limited and the Ministry of Civil Aviation in rank contempt as the matter is sub-judice and the Contempt of Court Act mandates that interference in the course of judicial proceeding constitutes criminal contempt which is punishable with …

Govt Studying Options, Wants Some Flights From Old FacilitySaurabh Sinha & Anshul Dhamija |TNN Source : The Times of IndiaNew Delhi/Bangalore: Less than 48 hours before HAL airport shuts down and the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) takes off, the Centre has made a U-turn on its decision of having only one airport in Bangalore. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel told …

In a scenario of rising demand and intense competition between Full Service Carriers and Low Cost Carriers in India, regional airlines are emerging to take the lead discovers Anita Jain The Indian civil aviation sector is poised for a quantum growth with growing levels of domestic and international tourism traffic. With the upward surge, the Indian Low Cost Carrier (LCC) …

21 May 2008, Saurabh SinhaSource : The Times of India NEW DELHI: Coming to the rescue of domestic airlines, government has decided not to accept GMR and GVK’s proposals to hike Delhi and Mumbai airport charges by 10%. The privatisation pact allowed both the GMR and GVK groups — which are modernising these airports — to increase aeronautical charges levied …

The man who pioneered the step forwardS R Valluri Improving the air travel facilities in Bangalore was a long-felt need. Once, in the late ’80s, Dr R Narasimha, my successor as the Director of NAL, and I were returning from Thiruvananthapuram after attending a meeting in ISRO. We noted how crowded the airport was and how badly it was designed. …

May 23, 2008 Bengaluru International Airport Will Become Operational on Friday, May 23, 2008 Source : BIAL Website Bangalore, May 16, 2008: Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) today announced that the Bengaluru International Airport will become operational on Friday, May 23, 2008 following approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airport will be formally inaugurated in the presence of …

The new airport is a reflection of the local cultureCreating jobs for the locals and giving a boost to the economy City locals a part of airport operations The new airport has made substantial efforts to make sure that it is reflective of the local culture and heritage. From a recruitment point of view, qualifications and expertise being equal, preference …

RETAINING HALExpect a bumpy ride to the futureBy V Ravichandar Keeping the HAL airport open is an option that needs to be pursued before it is dispensed with. As we are raising this issue of retaining the HAL airport, I had a mail from a friend in the US, saying, “I am amused to see the 11th hour fuss on …

Jet Airways confirmed plans to launch daily Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco service on 14-Jun-08, using B777-200-ER equipment. The carrier plans to cater to business and leisure travel between the two cities, with a significant Chinese population residing in San Francisco. Jet Airways plans to tailor its China product to the market’s needs, and has commenced recruitment of Chinese crew. Jet Airways will …

Mangalore Airport Traffic up by 92% : Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai Times of India Mangalore airport sees phenomenal growth of 92% Surpasses Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai Third fastest growing tier-II city Airport handles 42 international arrivals and departures per week Handles 28 domestic arrivals and departures per day Even on cargo front, impressive growth of 39% Mangalore, May 18: Mangalore has …

RATIONAL EXPECTATIONSSunil Jain / New Delhi May 19, 2008(c) The Business Standard Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s outburst against Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia is perhaps not difficult to understand since most people think it was actually Patel who should have been keeping an eye on the delays at the Delhi airport — Ahluwalia’s asking the GMR Group officials …

Bureaucratic bottlenecks come in way of projects For timely completion, developers and contractors need more help Instead of having individual reviews, an inter-ministerial panel can perhaps come up with faster solutions that find wider acceptance and quick implementation. — FILE PHOTO NEW AIRPORT, NEW VISTAS: A view of the new Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli. The Civil Aviation Ministry and …