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Jet Airways will lease out aircraft that have been rendered surplus following the route rationalisation and cost pruning. The airline recently entered into a Wet-Lease Agreement with Gulf Air Company G S C, Bahrain, for leasing out two A330-200 aircraft for four months. It has also entered into similar agreement with THY Turkish Airlines Inc, for leasing out three B777-300 …

Agreement provides Delta with more than $2 billion in combined incremental liquidity and contract enhancements Agreement to result in expanded opportunities for American Express across Co-brand credit card, Membership Rewards, merchant services and travel Delta Air Lines and American Express announced a multi-year extension of their exclusive Co-brand Credit Card partnerships, which commenced in 1996.The companies also agreed to extensions …

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) painted a grim forecast for the airline industry as it announced its forecast for 2009 showing an industry loss of US$2.5 billion. All regions, except the US, are expected to report larger losses in 2009 than in 2008. Forecast highlights are: Industry revenues are expected to decline to US$501 billion. This a fall of …

British Airways announced today, it is making significant changes to its in-flight entertainment brand High Life with an upgraded system offering customers a greater choice and more control over their entertainment on board. The system, known as audio and video on demand, or AVOD, is a huge step forward for the airline boasting the ability to run over 200 entertainment …

Thick fog over Hyderabad early today, hit operations at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad. The meteorological department attributed the thick fog to a “rare phenomenon” in Hyderabad. Mr. A. Viswanath, chief commercial officer of GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), which operates the airport, said, 19 departing flights and 10 arriving flights were delayed. An additional 6 scheduled flights …

Deutsche Lufthansa AG has further reduced its fuel surcharge on its flights as crude oil and kerosene prices have decreased. The fuel surcharge on domestic German and intra-European routes will lower by 3 euros to 21 euros per flight segment. On long-haul routes the corresponding fuel surcharge will be decreased by 10 euros to 82 euros per flight segment. The …

The current slowing economy needs an extra large dose of stimulus to bring it back on track. Unlike previous slowdowns, this time a 360 degree effort is required to prime the pump and beat the “FUD” factor (Fear Uncertainty Doubt). The government has to do it’s part and focus on areas like infrastructure and other plan expenditure, the companies have …

On Jan. 7, 2009, Houston, Texas based Continental Airlines will partner with Boeing to test a 737-800 passenger jet using a biofuel and traditional jet fuel mixture. The biofuel is to be made from algae and jatropha plants. Air New Zealand and Boeing were to test bio-fuels on a Boeing 747 Jumbo jet, using UOP (a Honeywell company) technology, on …

SpiceJet has announced the re-launch of its services to Kochi, from New Delhi and Mumbai, from December 15. The starting fare will be Rs.1,350 (Kochi-Delhi/Delhi-Kochi) and Rs.750 (Kochi-Mumbai/Mumbai-Kochi). The seats are available for immediate booking. The SpiceJet call center numbers are 1800 180 3333/987 180 3333. Flight SG 101 will start from New Delhi at 6 a.m. and reach Kochi …

CNN is reporting a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighter attack jet crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, California, on Monday as it tried to land at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The pilot ejected before the jet, an F/A-18, went down two miles from the airfield about 11:55 PT (19:55GMT), Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said. Photo : …

As per PTI, as part of the ongoing initiatives to enhance Bengaluru International Airport’s (BIA) infrastructure, a cargo village, the first of its kind, was inaugurated at the airport on Monday. The facility, built at a cost of Rs 12 crore and completed in 10 months, would house 120 freight forwarders and 80 custom house agents, a release said. The …

We, in Bangalore, have been debating the terminal at the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA). I came across a very interesting story entitled What happens when an airline designs an airport? It is most definitely worth a read.

Airbus reported completion of the largest civil aircraft deal of the year, a 51-plane order from Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways worth over $10 billion. The order includes 6 A380 superjumbo, 25 A350XWB and 20 single-aisle A320 aircraft. The order was first announced at the Farnborough air show in July. However, Etihad’s financial woes, and speculation of a merger with …

The travel agents appear to have won Round 1 of the “Zero Commission” battle. Less than four days after the agents decided to boycott Jet Airways and low cost subsidiary JetLite, Jet Airways announced restoration of the travel agents’ commissions. As per the release from Jet Airways, Recognizing the difficult economic environment for the travel industry as a whole, Jet …

The government owned Air India has been undergoing a steady decline ever since it was nationalised. Air India faces a dilemma. It is owned by the Government of India, and all government functionaries, from Members of Parliament (MPs) to the lowest in the hierarchy of government employees, treat the airline as their personal fiefdom. The management of Air India, also …

As per a Bloomberg article, in the face of continuing declines in global air travel, British Airways Plc, Europe’s third- largest airline, will cut more than 100 jobs at London’s Gatwick airport as it reduces services there by 15 percent from mid-2009. The number of aircraft based at the airport will be reduced to 37 from 41, the Harmondsworth, England-based …

PTI reports, Jet Airways’ unlisted subsidiary, low-cost airline JetLite, had incurred a loss after tax of Rs 273 crore ($54.6 million) for the second quarter ended September 30, which made the accumulated losses of the erstwhile Sahara Airlines exceed its net worth. While declaring its results of the second quarter ended September 30, Jet Airways had said the subsidiary had …

British Airways commenced operations to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA),Hyderabad, today. The new route provides a direct flight from Hyderabad to London Heathrow Terminal 5 and is aimed at the IT segment of Hyderabad, with its connections to 22 destinations in North America. British Airways will operate five weekly Boeing 777-200ER non-stop flights between Hyderabad and London, with a three …

As per an SPEEA release, refusing to respond to union proposals, without notice The Boeing Company today (Dec. 5) unilaterally announced a “recess” to contract negotiations with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001. The union learned of the “recess” from a company email to employees. “The company has not responded to our proposals and …

IndiGo joined fellow airlines Air India, Jet Airways, JetLite, Kingfisher Airlines, and Kingfisher Red and announced a cut of Rs 400 in its fuel surcharge across all domestic routes, today. IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh said “Effective December 6th, IndiGo has reduced its fuel surcharge to match that of Air India, Jet Airways and JetLite,” He said this was aimed at …