Category Archives: Aviation

Vistara has announced the launch of two new routes to cater to growing customer demand. Starting March 26, 2017, Vistara will fly direct daily between Kolkata and Pune, and starting April 15, 2017, will also fly direct between Delhi and Port Blair (Andamans) on Saturdays and Sundays during the upcoming summer season. These new flights are in addition to Vistara’s recently announced service to Amritsar from both Delhi and Mumbai, and to Leh (Ladakh) from Delhi, both starting in March. Vistara’s Kolkata-Pune flight will serve business professionals as well as a large population in Pune that hails from Kolkata. The Delhi-Port Blair flight will cater not only the people residing in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands who visit the national capital, but also attract businesspeople and tourists from northern India to discover the history, beauty and trade potential of the Andaman Islands. Bookings for these flights are now open. Customers can book their flights on Vistara’s official website (www.airvistara.com), on its iOS and Android mobile apps, and through Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and other travel agents. Vistara’s GDS partners including Amadeus and Travelport allow customers to book via all major channels worldwide, including through our global interline airline partners.

Jet Airways has announced another new initiative, which possibly indicates an attempt to get more and more customers on to its website and reduce its distribution cost. Under its new ‘Billion Miles Festival’ the airline will offer its customers assured bonus on JetPrivilege Miles on its every flight – domestic and international. This frequent flyer reward promotion is valid from February 21 to March 31, 2017. The assured bonus miles on Economy Class is 1,500 JP Miles, on Premier Class is 5,000 and on First Class is 10,000. This is available for existing as well as new members. The airlines assures quick one-minute enrolment under its JP program on its website. The bonus miles are available only on booking tickets through its website or mobile application.

Cathay Pacific Group has partnered with HDFC Bank India for a limited period discount offer. Cathay Pacific customers making flight bookings through the Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon website can also enjoy up to five per cent discount on transactions made through all HDFC credit or debit cards. This discount is applicable on select Business and Economy classes. This offer is applicable exclusively for Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon flights to Hong Kong as per the booking period Feb 16 to March 15, 2017 and travel period of March 1 – August 31, 2017. Rajesh Menon, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager – South Asia at Cathay Pacific Airways, said, “HDFC being the largest credit card issuer India, this partnership brings to us the opportunity to reach out to our shared pool of high net worth individuals. Our synergies meet at the junction of our quality and premium customer service, thereby amplifying the level of ease experienced in making transactions. With upcoming holidays and events lined up, Hong Kong is a great choice for a getaway.”

Passengers carried by Indian domestic airlines during January 2017 were 95.79 lakh as against 76.55 lakh during the corresponding period of 2016 thereby registering a growth of 25.13 per cent, informs the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). According to the data released by DGCA, domestic air passenger traffic had increased by 23.91 per cent during December to 95.52 lakh from 77.09 lakh during the corresponding month last year. SpiceJet recorded the highest passenger load factor (PLF) during January 2017 at 93.6 per cent followed by GoAir at 90.8 per cent and IndiGo at 90 per cent. SpiceJet also recorded the highest punctuality rate at 71.6 per cent at four major airports of Bangalore, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai followed by IndiGo (71.2), GoAir (60.6), Jet Airways and JetLite (59.4), Air India (56.8) and Vistara (53). “SpiceJet has excelled on all operational parameters yet again and emerged as the country’s most punctual airline for the fourth successive month. We have had the best on-time performance in tough weather conditions and will continuously strive to better ourselves,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet. IndiGo recorded the highest market share of 39.8 per cent followed by Jet Airways (15.5), Air India (14.1), SpiceJet (12.8) and GoAir (8.2), Vistara (3.2), AirAsia India (3), JetLite (2.5), Air Costa (0.5), TruJet (0.3) and Air Carnival (0.1).

India’s first heliport, built by state-owned Pawan Hans, is set to become functional next week. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju will inaugurate the new facility on February 28, which has come up at an investment of Rs 100 crore, Pawan Hans Ltd Chairman and Managing Director B.P. Sharma reportedly said. The heliport, set up at Rohini area of North Delhi, consists of a terminal building having capacity of 150 passengers, four hangars with parking capacity of 16 helicopters and nine parking bays. Besides, it has a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility also for the upkeep of Pawan Hans fleet as well as for third-party maintenance work. “Rohini facility is India’s first integrated facility for rotor wing aircraft including their landing and takeoff. It has a terminal building that can cater to 150 passengers per day besides separate air traffic control (ATC), fire and fuelling services,” Sharma said. Pawan Hans had successfully carried out trial sorties from the heliport in February last year and had planned to go for full scale chopper operations from May. The commencement of services from here is also expected to reduce congestion at the Delhi Airport, which currently handles about 40-50 helicopter arrivals and departures on an average per day besides the large-scale fixed-wing operations, Sharma said. Source: PTI

Scoot and Tigerair have announced the #YaadeinBanao campaign for travellers across their India network with attractive all-in one way fares starting from as low as Rs. 5,099. The offer period begins from February 20, 2017, and lasts until March 02, 2017. The applicable travel period for this offer is from March 01, 2017 to October 28, 2017. Passengers from all 8 destinations from India namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Jaipur, Amritsar, Lucknow, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) can enjoy exclusive fares on Scoot and Tigerair’s network such as Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bali, Manila, Cebu and many more. Speaking on the roll-out of this offer, Leslie Thng, Chief Commercial Officer for Scoot and Tigerair said, “Summer is the most preferred holiday period for Indians to plan their annual family getaways. It is an apt opportunity to bond with loved ones and make memories that will last for a life time. We are confident that this specifically curated value for money offering will provide Indian families enough time to plan comfortably by choosing from our wide network of international destinations.” Tickets can be booked through Scoot and Tigerair’s official websites – www.tigerair.com and www.flyscoot.com or from Scoot and Tigerair’s mobile app for supported devices. Scoot and Tigerair together operate a total of 50 weekly flights to Singapore from eight Indian destinations – Amritsar, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow and Tiruchirappalli.

AirAsia’s first flight to Srinagar was received with great enthusiasm at Srinagar Airport by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, flanked by state’s Secretary of Tourism and Floriculture Farooq A Shah, Director Tourism Kashmir Mehmood A Shah, and the top management of Air Asia India operations. The tourism secretary termed it one of the big leaps in connecting Kashmir through this affordable budgeted international airline and hoped that this will increase seat capacity as well as the flying options to for the potential visitors to the valley and should result in the reduced airfare. He further added that Tourism Department is aggressively promoting Jammu Kashmir and doing everything possible to make it a round the year destination.

At three events held simultaneously across Canada in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, Air Canada unveiled for its customers and employees, a bold new livery inspired by Canada for its entire fleet, new uniforms for its employees, and a taste of some of the new onboard menu offerings that its customers can look forward to. “Air Canada’s new livery signals a pivotal inflection point in our 80-year history,” said  Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines. On the occasion of Canada’s 150th anniversary year, with our new livery, new uniforms for our employees, the award-winning international cabin standard introduced with the launch of our Boeing 787 aircraft, and enhanced onboard offerings, the future Air Canada represents the strength of our nation and the future-looking spirit of our airline.” Air Canada’s fleet of 300 mainline and regional aircraft are being repainted in a bold black and white design that highlights its iconic red maple leaf encircled ensign, or “rondelle,” that returns to the tail of the flag carrier’s fleet after an absence of 24 years.  The new look reflects Canada’s vastness and contrasting seasons, with references to its wildlife and First Nations heritage. With the new livery providing a sleek, contemporary backdrop, Air Canada premiered elegant charcoal grey and black employee uniforms with red accents and accessories by Canadian designer Christopher Bates. Air Canada will receive its first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the end of 2017, marking the start of its narrow body fleet renewal program, to be followed in 2019 with the delivery of its first Bombardier C Series aircraft.

Singapore Airlines has announced the launch of its fourth weekly flight from Ahmedabad to Singapore, starting March 26, 2017. All flights will be operated by the Airbus A330-300 wide-body aircraft. David Lim, General Manager India, Singapore Airlines, commented, “Travel to and from Ahmedabad has steadily increased over the years. Singapore Airlines is pleased to offer an additional frequency to meet the growing market demand. The new service will provide travellers a much sought after weekend departure window, to travel to Singapore and to onward destinations.” Furthermore, travellers from India can redeem a complimentary S$20 Changi Dollar Voucher for use at all participating shops, restaurants and lounges when they transit at Singapore Changi Airport. Indian nationals can also avail of one-way, Visa Free Transit Facility for up to 96 hours in Singapore with a valid onward ticket and a valid visa from selected countries. The transit facility will be provided at the discretion of the immigration authorities.

Air India has become the latest A320neo operator after taking delivery of the first of 14 aircraft leased from Kuwait headquartered ALAFCO Aviation Lease And Finance Company, becoming the first CFM powered NEO operator in India. The delivery is also the first NEO for ALAFCO from an order for 85 A320neo Family. The A320neo will join Air India’s existing fleet of 66 A320 Family aircraft. Through a network of over 45 Indian suppliers, more than 6,000 professionals in India contribute directly and indirectly to all Airbus programmes and every aircraft produced today is partly made in India. The A320neo Family incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020. The A320neo Family is the world’s best-selling single aisle product line with over 5,000 orders from 92 customers since its launch in 2010 capturing almost 60 percent share of the market. Thanks to their widest cabin, all members of the A320neo Family offer unmatched comfort in all classes and Airbus’ 18” wide seats in economy as standard. To date over 70 A320neo have been delivered to 18 customers.