Page 3 - Aviation News

Govt cuts airport charges by 25% for 3 months; airlines to save ₹400 crore

Government reduces landing and parking charges by 25 per cent for three months to ease airline cost pressures amid rising fuel prices and disruptions

AERA orders major airports to cut some charges by 25% in relief to airlines

The move to cut charges comes after IndiGo and Air India sought the rationalisation of some fees levied by airports

DGCA temporarily relaxes pilot duty time limits for long-haul long flights

Airline regulator DGCA has temporarily relaxed pilot flight duty time limitation (FDTL) for long-haul flights, a senior official said on Tuesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) move is aimed at ensuring pilot availability for smooth operations, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Asangba Chuba Ao, told reporters during a media briefing.

Air India CEO Campbell Wilson steps down amid continuing losses: Report

Air India ​CEO Campbell Wilson has ​stepped down from ‌his position, Indian newspaper Mint reported, citing two people with knowledge of the matter

How the Iran conflict is reshaping global aviation, shifting market share

The global aviation dynamic changed almost overnight when the Iran war broke out, shuttering airspaces, grounding planes and leaving regional airlines in disarray

Govt keeps 60% free airline seat allocation directive in abeyance

Civil aviation ministry defers rule mandating 60% free seat selection after airlines flag concerns over fares, ancillary revenues and impact on deregulated pricing framework

Govt order to offer 60% flight seats without additional charges put on hold

The government on Thursday "put in abeyance" its earlier direction to airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats in a flight without levying any additional charge from April 20, according to sources. On March 18, the civil aviation ministry announced that directions have been issued to the DGCA to direct airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight free of any additional charges to ensure fair access for passengers. "The matter has been reviewed in light of representations received from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, highlighting operational and commercial implications of the above provision, including its potential impact on fare structures and consistency with the prevailing deregulated tariff regime. "In view of the above, and pending a comprehensive examination of the issue, it has been decided that the provision relating to offering at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge shall be kept in abeyance till further ..

Datanomics: One-third of airline costs burn in fuel in Indian skies

ATF consumption per aircraft moderated during FY16 to FY 25, showing gradual efficiency improvements in the aviation sector

ATF, commercial LPG and premium fuel prices soar amid oil squeeze

Jet fuel prices were partially raised to cushion domestic travellers despite global surge, while commercial LPG prices were hiked and domestic rates kept unchanged

Indigo to raise ticket prices again starting April 2 as ATF costs surge

For domestic routes, the airline said it has adjusted fuel charges based on distance bands after the government allowed only a partial pass-through of rising costs

SpiceJet, Indigo welcome ATF price increase amid West Asia crisis

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh on Wednesday said the government's decision to allow only a partial increase in jet fuel prices would be a significant relief for the country's aviation industry at a time of unprecedented global uncertainty. PSU oil marketing companies, under the Ministry of Petroleum, in consultation with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, decided to implement only a partial and staggered increase of 25 per cent or Rs 15/litre for domestic airlines, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X. Airlines are already incurring higher operational costs due to the airspace restrictions in the West Asia region amid the conflict. The situation is forcing carriers to take longer routes for international flights, resulting in increased fuel burn. "The government's decision to allow only a partial increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel prices comes as a significant relief for the Indian aviation industry at a time of unprecedented global ...

IndiGo appoints William Walsh CEO to steer growth, stabilise operations

Former IATA chief to take charge from August as airline looks to stabilise operations and drive global expansion following recent disruption and leadership change

Vikram Yadav new DGCA chief; Faiz Ahmed Kidwai's turbulent tenure ends

Faiz Ahmed Kidwai moved after tenure marked by aviation crises, safety lapses and regulatory challenges, as Centre appoints Vir Vikram Yadav as new DGCA chief

Aviation in a tailspin again as it recovers from last year's shocks

Disruptions from Iran war have sharpened underlying challenges in a sector that is still recovering from last year's shocks

IndiGo launches Shanghai-Kolkata flight boosting India-China connectivity

IndiGo airline on Monday launched its daily flight from Shanghai to Kolkata boosting the air connectivity between India and China. The IndiGo6E flight was launched by Indian Consulate General in Shanghai Pratik Mathur. Meeting the IndiGo management team on the occasion, Mathur underlined the positive momentum, appreciated the growing confidence and enthusiasm being expressed through the booming air connectivity and the resurgent economic links between India and the region, the Indian Consulate in Shanghai said in a post on X. Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have started connecting Shanghai with metro cities such as New Delhi and Kolkata. Kolkata is the second Indian metro after New Delhi now linked with Shanghai, China's commercial capital. Air China plans to launch a direct flight between Beijing and New Delhi on April 21, according to officials. The new route linking Shanghai-Kolkata is also expected to push the development of India's northeast, Mathur said. Kolka

Aircraft supply crunch 'hurdle' in India's aviation growth: Rammohan Naidu

India's aviation sector is facing a bottleneck in new aircraft procurement, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said, citing that while 1,700 new planes are on order, supply chain disruptions could stretch deliveries up to 15 years. The government is emphasising domestic manufacturing of aircraft through joint ventures with global giants like Embraer, and a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is already underway to produce the Sukhoi Superjet 100, Naidu said on Sunday. He flagged off new flights at Bhavnagar airport in Gujarat. The minister remarked that building airports is not difficult once land is made available, but getting aircraft has become a major bottleneck after the COVID-19 pandemic. Aircraft manufacturing has slowed down worldwide, affecting the speed at which planes are being delivered, he noted. "After COVID-19, there were many difficulties in aircraft manufacturing. There was some disruption in the supply chain. So the speed and scale at w

PM inaugurates Noida airport, says it will drive growth in western UP

The Prime Minister positioned the Jewar airport as a key connectivity and economic hub for cities including Agra, Meerut, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, and Mathura

Locals seek affordable fares as PM Modi inaugurates Noida airport

Welcoming the inauguration of the Noida International Airport, several locals on Saturday urged the government to ensure affordable airfare so that the facility benefits not just the affluent but also the economically weaker sections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the airport on Saturday at Jewar in Gautam Buddh Nagar district. The project has been developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model by the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and other dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony. Thousands of locals also attended the event and shared their expectations from the airport, with many emphasising the need for affordable air travel. Speaking to PTI Videos, Sanjay Kumar, a local, said the project would be truly successful only if it became accessible to the

Commercial flights from Noida airport to start in 45-60 days: Naidu

Commercial flight operations from the Noida International Airport will start in the next 45 to 60 days, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Saturday. The Noida International Airport (NIA), located in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Naidu said flight operations from the airport would start in 45 to 60 days. Security plans for the airport are being worked out and IndiGo is keen to start flights from the airport, he told media persons. Earlier in the day, billboards and cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dotted the approach road towards the venue where bhajans and songs filled the air before the formal inauguration. People poured in to the venue having elaborate and segmented seating arrangements under an expansive shamiana. Among the largest greenfield airport projects in the country, NIA, located in Jewar, Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh, will initiall

Travel crisis deepens as jet fuel shortage grips Asia, may spread to Europe

The amount of jet fuel lost because of the conflict is ultimately too much for the world's refiners to offset