Civil Aviation

IndiGo COO, DGCA officials appear before Parl panel on flight chaos

The committee did not take any view and decided to wait till the report of the ongoing investigation ordered by the civil aviation ministry comes, the sources said

AAI's Mumbai radar to be moved, freeing land for affordable housing: Naidu

The Airports Authority of India's (AAI) high-frequency radar at Dahisar in Mumbai will be relocated to Gorai, unlocking hundreds of acres of land for affordable housing projects in the area, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has said. This decision was taken following a meeting between various stakeholders, including the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Maharashtra government and others. Addressing the meeting virtually, Naidu on Sunday said the Civil Aviation Ministry will seek cabinet approval for the relocation so that the construction work on such projects can start at the earliest. Radar installations at Dahisar and Juhu restrict building heights. On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly that the state government had decided to shift high-frequency radar centres from Dahisar and Juhu to technically suitable alternative sites. Fadnavis said the Civil Aviation Ministry, the Union government, and the AAI had agreed to the shiftin

IndiGo estimates over ₹500 crore payout after mass flight cancellations

The budget airline said in a post on X it was in the process of identifying flights where customers were severely impacted and stranded at airports on December 3, 4 and 5

SpiceJet plans to add 100 daily flights to boost winter operations

Domestic carrier SpiceJet on Wednesday said it is planning to introduce up to 100 additional daily flights during the current winter schedule. The airline said it is looking to ramp up its flight operations amid the growing demand across key routes this winter, and also to ensure adequate capacity in the market. The statement came a day after the government announced a 10 per cent cut in IndiGo's winter schedule in a bid to help the crisis-hit airline stabilise its operations and lead to reduced cancellations following the large-scale disruptions that started on December 1. "As part of this (ramping up operations) effort, we plan to introduce up to 100 additional daily flights during the current winter schedule, subject to regulatory approvals," SpiceJet said in a statement. Under the current winter schedule, SpiceJet has been allowed to operate 1,568 flights per week or 224 per day, which was 20.89 per cent higher compared to 1,297 flights per week, operated by the carrier during

IndiGo crisis prompts Centre to enforce fare caps on major routes

Ministry of Civil Aviation caps fares after IndiGo's disruptions send prices soaring, warning airlines against exploiting stranded travellers and promising action in case of violations

Ethiopia volcano ash disrupts many flights, govt says no cause for concern

An aviation industry source said Delhi airport saw seven international flight cancellations and twelve delays between 1 am and 6 pm on Tuesday owing to the ash cloud drifting eastward

Alliance Air launches fixed fare plan amid festive season: Check details

MoCA introduces Alliance Air's "Fare Se Fursat" pilot project with fixed ticket prices on select routes till December 31, aiming to make air travel predictable and inclusive

Seaplane services to restart on 2 routes by Oct: Civil aviation minister

The Civil Aviation Ministry will restart seaplane operations on at least two routes in India by October, Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said here on Monday. Addressing the Eastern Region Civil Aviation Ministers' Conference, Naidu said, "Seaplane operation was there once, but it was limited to a single route. The government has simplified the guidelines to operate seaplanes, and we hope that by October, we will have two seaplanes in the country operating either on the Andaman & Nicobar, Kerala, or Andhra Pradesh network." He added that the service could also be extended to Odisha's Chilika Lake and the entire eastern coast. "The service can be started on any water body where you have more than five feet depth and 200 metres of landing space," he said. Naidu said the norms for setting up a waterdrome, training pilots, and the rules and regulations governing seaplane operations have been simplified. He urged airline operators present at the conference to explore the opportunity, ...

Andaman & Nicobar plans commercial helicopter services to boost tourism

The Andaman & Nicobar administration has invited Expressions of Interest from Indian aviation operators to launch commercial helicopter services, aiming to connect 11 islands with faster travel

Won't be correct to reach a conclusion...: Civil Aviation MoS AI 171 crash

The minister's remarks come in the wake of a Wall Street Journal report on the Air India AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad

AAIB to release initial report on Ahmedabad plane crash: Parl panel

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will make public this week its preliminary report on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in which at least 260 people were killed on June 12, top Bureau officials told a Parliamentary panel on Wednesday. Sources also said that no report has been finalised so far and investigations are underway in one of the worst air disasters in India. The AAIB officials told the panel that the black box and voice recorder of the aircraft were intact and data was being investigated, the sources said. They said that the help of foreign players, including aircraft manufacturer Boeing, was sought to carry out detailed and thorough investigations. The AAIB had initiated an investigation a day after the crash and had constituted a multi-disciplinary team headed by its Director General GVG Yugandhar in line with globally prescribed norms. The sources said this is the first time such an important investigation is being held in India. The AAIB chief a

Best of BS Opinion: India must go from pro-business to pro-market

Today's newsletter ties together multiple issues, but the central theme remains one of much-needed reform and regulatory action, be in in job creation or aviation or industry

Ahmedabad plane crash most heartbreaking of my career: Chandrasekaran

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran further said that all the employees should stay on course and be determined in everything they do

Air India long-haul flights may face delays due to Boeing 787 safety checks

Air India warns of possible delays on long-haul flights as DGCA orders safety checks on Boeing 787s. Government mandates inspections after Ahmedabad crash; refunds or reschedules offered to passengers

Tata Group needs to fine-tune key aspects of Air India's ops: Praful Patel

Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Friday said the Tata Group needs to fine-tune key aspects of Air India's operations, including maintenance, in the wake of the crash of its Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad. "After three-and-a-half years of the takeover of Air India by the Tatas, the management needs to fine-tune various aspects of running a world-class airline, including maintenance," Patel told reporters here. Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner (AI171) carrying 242 passengers including 12 crew members crashed in the Meghaninagar area shortly after the take-off from the Ahmedabad airport on Thursday afternoon, killing 241 persons on board and others who were on the ground. The accident is being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) which comes under the civil aviation ministry. Terming the accident as a temporary setback, Patel said India's aviation sector remains largely well-managed. A Rajya Sabha MP, Patel headed the civil aviation ministry .

PM Modi reviews Air India crash in Ahmedabad, orders swift relief efforts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu after an Air India flight crashed near Ahmedabad. Rescue efforts are underway, and all agencies are on high alert

The hub of the matter: Airport competitiveness to shape air treaties

The subtext here is that the Indian airline industry is looking to expand international connectivity substantially

Airbus sees supply chain stability, targets 75 A320s per month by 2027: CCO

Airbus aims to boost A320 family aircraft production rate to 75 per month by 2027 as supply chain stabilises, says Chief Commercial Officer Benoît de Saint-Exupery

IATA summit: PM Modi bats for India as global aviation, manufacturing hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights India's aviation growth at the IATA AGM, noting the country is now the third largest domestic market with 162 airports and strong global industry presence

IATA is holding AGM in India after 42 years; PM Modi to address delegates

PM Modi will deliver keynote at IATA summit hosted by IndiGo in Delhi, with key discussions on industry growth, sustainability, innovation and India's aviation strategy