Page 4 - Aviation Sector

Delhi Police busts aviation fuel smuggling racket, 6 held in ₹1.62 cr scam

The Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have busted a racket siphoning off aviation turbine fuel from tankers meant for the international airport here and selling those in the open market as mineral turpentine oil, causing monthly loss of over Rs 1.62 crore to the national exchequer. The illegal operation running for over three years was uncovered following a tip-off received on Sunday, and led to the arrest of six people and detention of two others. The racket is said to be causing a loss of over Rs 1.62 crore to the exchequer every month, with an estimated 5,000 litres of fuel being stolen daily. "The ATF was originally dispatched from HPCL's Asoda Depot in Bahadurgarh for delivery to IGI Airport. However, tanker drivers, in connivance with the transporter and godown owner, manipulated GPS tracking data and diverted the tankers to a concealed location in Mundka," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam said. The security locks on the tankers meant to be opened only a

Airlines weigh Mideast cancellations after US strikes leave many stranded

With Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, the Middle East route is vital for Europe-Asia flights, but FlightRadar24 showed empty skies over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel

Airlines keep avoiding West Asian airspace after US strikes on Iran

Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic

SpiceJet to pay ₹25K compensation to passenger for issuing wrong ticket

A consumer commission here has held that a senior citizen suffered "monetarily and mentally" after SpiceJet issued incorrect tickets while rerouting his journey in 2020, and directed the airline to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 to the passenger. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai (Suburban), in the order passed on June 17, held the budget carrier guilty of "deficient service and negligent behaviour" for the error which caused "mental harassment" to the passenger. In view of the urgent need of the passenger (age not specified in the order), the airline had made an alternate booking- where the wrong ticket was issued- after his initial flight was cancelled due to bad weather. The commission acknowledged that the flight cancellation was beyond the control of the airline, and the Air Traffic Control (ATC) had taken the decision in view of the passengers' safety. It noted the airline had taken all the necessary efforts to provide an alternate ticket to the ...

AAIB to decide black box decoding location after safety assessment: Moca

MoCA says AAIB will assess all parameters before decoding AI171 black boxes, as minister meets airlines and airports to strengthen safety and passenger response

Airbus projects global aircraft fleet to double by 2044, led by India

The global in-service fleet will swell by 24,480 units to 49,210 aircraft in 2044, Airbus predicted in its latest global market forecast

European plane maker ATR bullish on India; in talks with airlines

Bullish on the business opportunities in India, European aircraft maker ATR is in discussions with scheduled and non-scheduled operators to explore sale of its aircraft. Considering the growth potential of the Indian market, a senior ATR official said it expects the country to have 300 more turboprops in the next 10 years. A joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo, ATR manufactures turboprops with up to 78 seats as well as freighters. Currently, there are 70 ATR aircraft in the country that are operated by IndiGo, Alliance Air, and FLY91. ATR is still "very bullish" on the Indian market and is in active discussions with some of the operators, the company's Managing Director and Head of Region Asia PacificJean-Pierre Clercin told PTI in a recent interview in the national capital. Without divulging specific details, he said the company is in talks with scheduled and non-scheduled operators, including those already flying ATR aircraft. India is one of the world's fastest-growing c

Akasa Air signs pact with Adani Airport to launch operations from NMIA

Akasa Air partners with Adani Airports to begin operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport, starting with 100+ weekly flights and expanding to 350+ domestic and international departures

Airlines facing skewed value chain, profit margin never crossed 5%: IATA

Airlines are grappling with a skewed value chain globally and historically, the profit margin has never crossed 5 per cent, according to IATA Chief Economist Marie Owens Thomsen. Also, she expressed hope that any efforts to address making the airline value chain less skewed will surely be an example for other countries. India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation market. At an interaction in the national capital this week, Thomsen said the skewed value chain for the global airlines industry is also a result of legacy policies. Thomsen is the Chief Economist & Senior Vice President Sustainability at the International Airport Transport Association (IATA), a grouping of over 350 airlines. "Nobody sat down from the beginning and said, I'm going to create a super skewed value chain and make sure that the airlines never make any money. "I don't think anybody had that intent. But unfortunately, that's sort of where we've ended up. And our industry globally has never made

Jaipur Airport gets major infra upgrade to boost capacity, user experience

Jaipur International Airport Ltd has started a major infrastructure upgrade aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and accommodating the increasing number of travellers. As many as 14 projects, cumulatively exceeding Rs 600 crore, have been launched to transform various facets of the airport to enhance efficiency and overall passenger experience, an official said. "These projects collectively aim to elevate the infrastructure of Jaipur Airport, ensuring it meets international benchmarks and provides an enhanced travel experience," he said. Under the plan, Terminal 2 is being expanded, which, he said, is a crucial component of the infrastructure development plan. Jaipur International Airport Ltd (JIAL) is a subsidiary of Adani Airport Holdings Limited. "The 15,000 sq mt of expansion will enhance the overall capacity of the existing terminal. Currently, the terminal has 39 check-in counters with 24 new counters planned to be added during the expansion. This will bring the total .

Rising missile threats, airspace closures increase pressure on airlines

Six commercial aircraft have been shot down, with three near-misses since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions

India must clarify tax rules for aviation liftoff, says IATA DG Walsh

IATA Director General Willie Walsh calls on India to provide clarity on tax laws affecting foreign carriers and highlights concerns over airport charges to unlock aviation sector potential

IATA calls for greater clarity on India's complex aviation tax system

Global airlines' grouping IATA on Tuesday said there needs to be greater certainty in India's taxation system, which is very complex. India is one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and airlines are expanding their fleets and networks to meet the rising demand. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said the rate of growth in the Indian aviation market will be higher than China. Against the backdrop of foreign airlines getting tax notices in recent times, Walsh said the taxation system in India is complex and there needs to be "greater uncertainty". The International Air Transport Association (IATA) represents over 350 airlines globally.

HK Express airfares fall amid rising competition, aircraft issues: CEO

Many airlines, including HK Express and its low-cost rivals, are capitalising on the third runway that opened in November to add more flights

Making more noise does not make you right: IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers

IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers pushed back, emphasising that bilateral air service agreements are meant to be mutually beneficial

Air India, Air Mauritius expand codeshare partnership to boost connectivity

Air India and Air Mauritius on Monday announced expanding their codeshare partnership that will provide enhanced connectivity for India with South Africa, Reunion and Madagascar through Mauritius. As part of the strengthened bilateral codeshare agreement, Air India and Air Mauritius will place their designator codes on a total of 17 routes between India, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa and Madagascar, according to a release. Generally, a codeshare partnership allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carrier on a single ticket. "Air India will place its 'AI' designator code on Air Mauritius flights to and from Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa, and Antananarivo in Madagascar," it said. The airline already codeshares on Air Mauritius flights between Mauritius and Mumbai, Delhi and Reunion. The expanded codeshare partnership pact was signed by Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson and Air Mauritius Chairman Kishore Beegoo on the sidelines of the annual general

We've leased every aircraft available globally; nothing left: Air India CEO

With plane supply scarce, Air India has leased every suitable jet available worldwide, says CEO Campbell Wilson, as the airline navigates delays and demand.

Nothing off the table: ATR open to India manufacturing facility

In March, Airbus announced plans to significantly increase its sourcing of components and services from India, targeting $2 billion annually by 2030

Consumer panel directs Flynas Airlines to pay ₹1.25 lakh for lost baggage

A consumer commission here has directed Flynas Airlines, a Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier, to pay a compensation of more than Rs 1.25 lakh to a passenger for the loss of her baggage. There was a "mala fide negligence" and the airlines "purposely avoided all the logical actions to find the lost bag," the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Mumbai (Suburban) said in a recent order. The complainant, along with her family, had gone on a trip to Turkiye from Mumbai between December 23, 2023 and January 3, 2024. Their return flight to the city was booked from Istanbul with a connecting flight from Riyadh. The complainant stated that at the Istanbul airport, she handed over five bags for check-in. The airline staff mistakenly tagged only four bags, and the fifth bag went on to the conveyor belt without a tag, she claimed. The mistake was brought to the notice of the staff present at the ticket and baggage counter. The complainant was given a physical tag by the staff with

Dunes Air enters private aviation market, to offer premium charter services

Ahmedabad-based private aviation firm Dunes Air has announced its entry into the air charter business with the launch of its premium chartered services. Under this vertical, the company will offer aircraft charter services to business leaders, high-net-worth individuals, and discerning travellers, its co-founder Ritesh Hada said. The airline is positioning itself as a premium air carrier delivering efficient, private and flexible flying experiences, Hada said. The non-scheduled operator currently operates two aircraft the Cessna Citation CJ2+, a jet suited for fast intercity routes, and the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, known for its short takeoff capabilities and suitability for regional and remote destinations. Dunes Air said it is also set to induct a Challenger jet into its fleet, enhancing its long-range and luxury offerings, and supporting the growing demand for premium aviation services. The firm has already connected major metros and tier-2 cities, serving corporate leaders