Page 25 - Airlines

COAI demands deadline for airlines to phase out radios, seeks 5G services

Telecom industry body COAI has written to the civil aviation ministry seeking a strict deadline for phasing out old altimeters used by Indian airlines as that will help in rolling out 5G service in areas around airports. Aviation regulator DGCA has imposed restrictions on the rollout of 5G services in mid-frequency range of 3.3 GHz band due to apprehensions that the wireless signals may interfere with those of the radio altimeters used by aircraft. Altimeters determine altitude of aircraft and any interference could lead to wrong readings that could also jeopardise the movement of a plane. Against this backdrop, the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI), whose members include BhartiAirtel and Reliance Jio, has written to Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam seeking his intervention with respect to the curbs imposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The industry body has said the DGCA should mandate all airlines to phase out non-conforming radio .

Air India crafts action plan to resolve spectrum of pilot concerns

In light of pilots identifying errors in flight plans, the airline will randomly scrutinise five per cent of dispatched flight plans for enhanced oversight

Bombay HC allows Akasa Air to proceed with case against pilots in Mumbai

Justice SM Modak said that the actions rose within its jurisdiction as resignations were accepted by the company in Mumbai

Vietnam's Vietjet to launch more services to India to tap growing interest

As Vietnam is largely becoming an emerging tourism destination for Indian travellers, Vietjet, the country's largest private carrier, is getting ready to tap this growing interest by expanding its service to India connecting more cities. A new route connecting Tiruchirappalli (Tamil Nadu) and Ho Chi Minh City is expected to be launched this November, airline authorities said here. Direct flight services from Kerala's Kochi to Ho Chi Minh City had already been launched by the private carrier from Cochin International Airport in August. A senior airline official said here that Vietjet currently has 32 return flights servicing India each week. "From November, Vietjet is expected to launch a new route connecting Tiruchirappalli and Ho Chi Minh City and we have plans to have an initial frequency of three return flights per week, in order to meet rising demand from travellers in both countries," the official, who doesn't want to be named, said. Vietjet would like to eventually expand it

Go First says airline's revival could be derailed by lessors' demands

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Capital and ACG Aircraft Leasing recently sought a Delhi court's intervention by complaining some parts had been allegedly "robbed" or the jets were corroding

Former Akasa pilots challenge maintainability of lawsuits filed by airline

The pilots contend that since their employment contracts were signed in Delhi, the case should fall under the jurisdiction of the Delhi High Court

EU boosts green aviation with 70% sustainable fuel at airports by 2050

EU lawmakers approved Wednesday new rules requiring airlines to use more sustainable fuels across the bloc in a bid to help decarbonise the sector. Under the new standards adopted during a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France, 2 per cent of jet fuel must be sustainable as of 2025, with this share increasing every five years to reach 70 per cent by 2050. The Parliament said that sustainable fuels will include synthetic fuels, certain biofuels produced from agricultural or forestry residues, algae, bio-waste, used cooking oil or certain animal fats." Recycled jet fuels produced from waste gases and waste plastic, as well as renewable hydrogen, will be considered green, while food crop-based fuels and fuels derived from palm and soy materials won't. The aviation sector accounts for 13.9 per cent of transportation emissions in the EU, making it the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the sector after road transport, the European Commission said. If

IndiGo to lease 22 aircraft to overcome impact of P&W engine snags: Report

IndiGo has the largest fleet with 135 planes running on the P&W engines which will be impacted due to safety inspection

JetBlue steps up campaign to save plan to buy Spirit Airlines for $3.8 bn

JetBlue Airways said on Monday it has reached agreement to turn over Spirit Airlines' operations at airports in Boston and Newark, New Jersey, as JetBlue ramps up its effort to win regulatory or court approval to buy Spirit. JetBlue CEO Robin Hays said the announcement is aimed at removing any doubt of our commitment to promoting competition. The US Justice Department is suing to block JetBlue's proposed USD 3.8 billion purchase of Spirit, arguing that it will hurt competition and raise prices by eliminating Spirit, the nation's biggest discount airline. A trial is scheduled to start next month in federal court in Boston. Lawyers for two dozen consumers have filed a similar lawsuit in the same court. The Justice Department was emboldened after it won a similar case and blocked a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines, leading JetBlue to scramble to salvage its Spirit deal. The New York-based airline argues that buying Spirit will make it bigger and a stronger competitor

Adani, Emirates, Tata interested in SriLankan Airlines, claims report

Private companies, including Tata Sons, Adani Group, and Emirates, engage in discussions as the Sri Lankan government looks to privatise SriLankan Airlines

G20: Air India, Vistara announce waivers for ticket holders from 7-11 Sept

A spokesperson for Delhi airport said it has also formed a team of senior officials who will monitor G20 arrival and departure operations to ensure the best experience for the arriving delegates

TMS Ep514: G20 Summit, Sahasra chip plant, metal stocks, airline codes

What are the key things to look for at the New Delhi G20 Summit? What is the significance of the Sahasra chip plant? Do metal stocks have more mettle? What are airline codes? All answers here

Qantas CEO to depart early as airline looks to rebuild reputation

Over a decade and a half Joyce faced regular criticism for cutting jobs, including a 2011 decision to ground the entire Qantas fleet over an industrial dispute

Scores of flights likely to be affected at Delhi airport during G20 meet

Scores of flights are likely to be affected at the Delhi airport during the three days from September 8 in connection with the G20 Summit and airlines are offering waiver of charges for customers planning to reschedule their travel dates. Officials in the know on Tuesday said airlines are making adjustments to their flight operations and select flights are being cancelled or rescheduled. One of the officials said that around 120 flights are likely to be impacted during the September 8-10 period. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by DIAL, in the national capital is the country's largest airport and handles around 1,300 flights daily. On August 26, DIAL said it had received requests from airlines for cancellation of 80 departing and as many arriving domestic flights during three days from September 8. "Due to elaborate regulations on vehicular movement planned by the Delhi Traffic Police, in view of the G20 Summit that is expected to impact approach routes to

Go First cancels all flights till Sep 10 due to operational reasons

The company assured that the bookings will resume shortly as they have filed an application for immediate resolution

Delhi airport braces for G20 Summit, airlines rue last-minute curbs

Special team to handle VIP arrivals; airlines cancel 160 flights after govt order

Pakistan airline seeks $75 million as bailout package from interim govt

The Pakistan International Airline (PIA) has sought a bailout package worth Rs 23 billion Pakistani currency (approx. 75 million USD) from the government

Go First extends flight cancellation till August 31 from August 27

Go First added that the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations and is optimistic about resuming bookings shortly

Air India to deploy additional cabin crew on narrow body planes: CEO

An official from Air India clarified that narrowbody planes require more cabin crew members to deliver premium service

NCLAT permits Engine Lease Finance to inspect its jet engines with Go First

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Friday allowed Engine Lease Finance BV to inspect their four engines leased to crisis-hit carrier Go First. A two-member bench of the appellate tribunal granted relief to Engine Lease Finance (ELF) after modifying the earlier order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on July 26. NCLAT has directed the resolution professional of Go First, which is going through the corporate insolvency resolution process (CIRP), to allow the world's leading independent engine financing and leasing company to inspect the engines within 10 days of the order. "We are of the view that inspection be permitted within 10 days from today," said an NCLAT bench comprising Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan and Barun Mitra. During the proceedings, counsel for the resolution professional submitted that in view of the orders passed by the Delhi High Court, the inspection shall be allowed, and the date for carrying out the inspection shall be intimated