Page 3 - Civil Aviation

Ambani's Jamnagar pre-wedding bash: IAF helped manage 600+ jets in 5 days

The airfield in Jamnagar was designated an international airport for the five-day event celebrating Anant Ambani's engagement with Radhika Merchant

Summer airfares on major domestic routes increase by 13%, shows data

However, the data also shows that summer airfares on key routes such as Delhi-Leh and Delhi-Kolkata have significantly decreased due to the introduction of new flights

Over 98% pilots signed new contract, ops to stabilise soon: Vistara CEO

Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan on Saturday said the airline hopes to stabilise operations for this month by this weekend and that more than 98 per cent of pilots have signed the new contract. The full service carrier faced significant disruption in operation earlier this week due to the non-availability of crew and many flights were cancelled. In a statement, Kannan said the situation has already improved with its on-time performance improving for the last three days. "We hope to stabilise our operations for the rest of April 2024 by this weekend," he said. Referring to the new contract for pilots, he said some pilots have some concerns and queries regarding the contract. The airline is engaging with them to clarify and resolve the concerns, Kannan said and added that "over 98 per cent of pilots have signed the new contract". Vistara has around 1,000 pilots. A section of pilots have raised concerns about the new contract that will result in pay revision, sources had said earlier. Acc

'Crew unavailability': Vistara cancels 50 flights, several others delayed

The airline has deployed larger aircraft like the B787-9 Dreamliner and A321neo on select routes to merge flights or accommodate more passengers

Pilots body flags deferment of revised duty norms; writes to ministry

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has raised concerns about aviation regulator DGCA deferring the implementation of the revised flight duty norms for pilots, saying the health of pilots cannot be prejudiced for the commercial benefit of operators. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on March 26, deferred the implementation of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms that were to be effective from June 1. The new framework, which would provide more rest hours for pilots, was proposed amid concerns about pilot fatigue. In a letter dated March 28 to Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the FIP has flagged concerns about the DGCA decision. "The action of the DGCA not only endangers pilot safety but also undermines the safety of passengers which the implementation of the revised CAR (Civil Aviation Requirements) could prevent. "Furthermore, the health and safety of the pilots cannot be prejudiced for the commercial benefit of the operators," the

Over 44% passengers paid extra charges on booking flight tickets: Survey

As much as 44 per cent respondents in a survey complained that they had to pay extra charges to get a seat at the time of purchase of a flight ticket. Many of the respondents also reported paying between Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 as seat allocation fee, which can amount to 5-40 per cent of the air fare, LocalCircles, which carried out the survey, said in a statement. It also said there has been a very marginal improvement in the last 12 months in the ability of consumers to get a free seat when booking their flight. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and consumer regulator CCPA late last year convened a meeting of the airlines on the issue and questioned them about the alleged unfair trade practices and misleading claims of "free" web check-in, it said. The new survey, which received over 41,000 responses from consumers across 339 districts of the country, has focused on fliers' problems when booking for travel with family members, particularly young children, LocalCircles said. According

The greening of flights

More airlines are embracing SAF, which has triggered a spurt in production, but its high cost remains a challenge

DGCA refuses to extend June 1 deadline to implement new FDTL rules

FDTL norms are important as they ensure adequate rest for pilots so that there is no untoward incident

Qatar Airways plans 150 widebody orders from Boeing, Airbus; eyes expansion

Major airlines are in a race to procure new fuel-efficient widebody jets to keep operating costs down and to cater to booming international travel demand

CM Mohan Yadav inaugurates 2 air services to promote tourism in MP

Under the two services, two twin-engine aircraft will be operated for an affordable journey, said MP's Tourism, Culture and Religious Trust Minister Dharmendra Lodhi

GE Aerospace inks flight operations software contract with Air India

Air India group to use GE Aerospace solutions to optimize flight operations

PM Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate 15 airport projects on Sunday

The PM is likely to lay the foundation of new terminals in Hubli, Kadappa, Belgavi in Karnataka, Adampur in Punjab, and Pune in Maharashtra

Non-availability of pilots impact flight operations of Vistara: Report

Flight operations of Vistara were impacted at Delhi and Mumbai airports, mainly due to the non-availability of pilots, according to industry sources. Some flights were cancelled and many were delayed at the two airports on Wednesday, they said. Specific details could not be immediately ascertained and there was no comment from Vistara. The full-service carrier operates more than 300 flights daily with a fleet of 67 planes. The sources said some pilots reported sick which impacted the schedule. Also, there are concerns among pilots about the new salary structure being implemented at the airline, which will be similar to that of Air India. The sources also claimed that the situation with respect to pilots has been aggravated by the seasonal phenomenon of crew exhausting their sick leaves as the financial year is coming to a close. According to the sources, in recent times, traffic congestion at the Mumbai airport and weather disruptions have also resulted in flight delays and ...

Supply chain issues to hit aircraft deliveries for Indian airlines: Report

Aircraft deliveries to domestic airlines are likely to be impacted amid the supply chain challenges being faced by aircraft and engine makers, a report said on Wednesday. In its report, credit rating agency Icra said Indian airlines have a total order book of around 1,700 aircraft, which is more than double the size of the current fleet. Supply chain challenges and engine failure issues remain the headwinds in the near term, Icra said in its mid-term outlook on the domestic aviation industry. "The deliveries, however, are likely to be gradual, spanning over the next decade, and will also be impacted by the current supply chain challenges encountered by engine and aircraft Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)," it said. India is one of the fastest-growing civil aviation markets and domestic air traffic is on the rise. Airlines have also embarked on ambitious expansion plans to cater to the increasing travel demand. Since February last year, Akasa Air, Air India and IndiGo togeth

Manoj Chacko's Fly 91 gets air operator permit, routes under UDAN scheme

Goa-based regional airline FLY91 on Wednesday received the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from aviation regulator DGCA. The carrier has now completed all the compliance requirements and will start commercial operations soon, it said in a release. FLY91 received its first ATR 72-600, one of the two aircraft leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, last week. The airline has already been allocated its first set of routes under the government's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN, the release said. Under UDAN, the airline will connect Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded in Maharashtra and Agatti in Lakshadweep. FLY91 (Just Udo Aviation Pvt Ltd) is headquartered in Goa.

Average daily domestic traffic jumps by 3.78% in February, shows data

As the demand remains high, four of out six major carriers recorded load factors at above 90 per cent in February

Akasa Air to trim its budget for 2024-25 as part of cost control measures

Akasa Air, which is all set to start international services this month, has decided to trim its budget for the next financial year starting April as part of cost control measures, according to two sources. When contacted, an airline spokesperson said it is always looking for prudent ways to control costs. The carrier, which commenced commercial flights on August 7, 2022, operates more than 20 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The sources in the know told PTI on Monday that the airline has decided to reduce its budget for 2024-25 fiscal and the reduction could be up to 20 per cent compared to the current financial year. "As a cost-conscious business, we are always looking for prudent ways to control our costs without sacrificing safety, our customers' experience or the long-term health of the business. Cost consciousness does not apply to employee salaries," an Akasa Air spokesperson told PTI. "We take great pride in offering a market leading compensation package to each work group at the .

DGCA fines Air India Rs 30 lakh over failure to provide wheelchair

The 80-year-old passenger died of heart attack after he walked from plane to the terminal in Mumbai airport

Flight delays reduce at Mumbai airport post congestion driven cancellations

The airlines have cancelled about 200 flights per week to and from the Mumbai airport from February 15 onwards

India expected to become centre of world aviation in 15 years, says Airbus

The world's two largest aircraft orders were placed by IndiGo and Air India in the last year. In June 2023, IndiGo had placed an order for 500 A320neo family planes with Airbus