Page 3 - India Airlines

Air India appoints Ravindra Kumar as chief human resources officer

Air India on Friday said Ravindra Kumar G P will take over as the airline's Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) from April 1. Kumar, who is currently with Tata Motors, will replace Suresh Dutt Tripathi who is retiring from the airline. "Following a long career with General Electric Company, the last four years of which as CHRO for South Asia, Ravi joins from Tata Motors Ltd where he has held the role of President & CHRO since 2018," the airline said in a release. Kumar will report to Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson. "At the same time as welcoming Ravi, we acknowledge the outstanding contribution of Suresh who, upon Air India's privatization, answered the call and has played a vital role over the last two years," Wilson said. Tata group took over the reins of loss-making Air India in January 2022.

India needs over 2,500 new aircraft deliveries by 2042: Boeing outlook

Backed by high traffic growth, India will need more than 2,500 new aircraft deliveries by 2042, Darren Hulst, Boeing vice-president of Commercial Marketing said on Friday. Addressing a press conference, Hulst said to meet rising passenger and cargo demand, South Asian carriers are projected to quadruple the size of their fleets over the next two decades and they will require more than 2,705 new airplanes to address growth and fleet replacement. "Over 92 per cent of that (2,705) or over 2,500 (aircraft India will need) by 2042. It is based on the (forecast given in) middle of the last year," he told reporters. "We project that carriers here (South Asia including India) will need more than 2,700 aircraft deliveries by the year 2042," he said, adding a similar composition of the fleet with more than 2,300 single aisle, nearly 400 wide body aircraft for long haul. According to Boeing, India is the only large economy, a large market in Asia that has evolved to pre-pandemic levels both .

Airlines, plane makers set to unveil new orders at Indian aviation event

The activity comes despite the financial struggles of two budget carriers GoFirst and SpiceJet, in the wake of the collapse of two other Indian airlines since 2011

'Hope airfares come to right sweet spot,' says Vistara's chief Vinod Kannan

Emphasising that airfare is a function of supply and demand, full-service carrier Vistara's chief Vinod Kannan has expressed hope that ticket prices will come to the "right sweet spot where customers will travel and airlines can make money". Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, currently, operates around 320 flights daily. To a query on concerns in certain quarters about air ticket prices going irrationally high, the airline CEO said the thing with airfares is that people complain when it goes high and no one compliments when it goes down. "There are times in the year due to seasonality...our fares in 2023 were even lower than 2022," he noted. During an interaction with PTI, Kannan said that certain measures are in place to ensure that airfares are not irrational, especially when there are natural calamities or when something unfortunate happens. In such situations, "we want to make sure that it is not a price-gouging opportunity," he said. "If you

DGCA to enhance regulatory capacity to induct more planes this year

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Thursday said there are a total of 16 airlines in the country that are operating with 771 aircraft.The DGCA informed through an official statement on Thursday that in line with the anticipated increase in aircraft inductions in 2024, it was suitably enhancing its regulatory capacity to further speed up the regulatory approvals related to the induction of aircraft.It informed further that the DGCA grants Air Operator Certificates (AOC) to Airline Operators for undertaking Scheduled and Scheduled Commuter Air transport Services. As of December 31, 2023, there are a total of 16 AOC holders endorsed with a total of 771 aircraft, the topmost regulatory authority for flight operations informed.In addition, DGCA has permitted airline operators to induct 21 aircraft on a wet/damp lease basis in 2023 to cater for capacity shortfall due to the grounding of aircraft.Last year, the scheduled operators inducted a total of 112 aircraft in their fleet ...

Government may implement 2-month asset freeze of airlines under insolvency

To prevent immediate repossession of aircraft by lessors after default, the government is contemplating a two-month moratorium rule for the aviation sector

SpiceJet-Wilmington Trust SP Services in deadlock over rental agreement

Spicejet said that as per the repayment schedule of arrears they received, the total amount due from February to December alone was $1,560,011

DGCA rejects telcos' proposal to provide 5G services on airport premises

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated that the frequency can interfere with aircraft altimetre and cause disruptions

Limiting bilateral rights not the way to grow Indian aviation: IAG Cargo

CEO David Shepherd calls for 'fair competition' between national and international carriers

Asia Pacific airlines aim to boost transition to renewable energy: AAPA

A top Asia Pacific airline association on Friday called on the governments, fuel producers, airports, and other organisations to work together globally to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and fuel the industry's journey towards carbon neutrality. Addressing the 67th Assembly of Presidents of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines here, AAPA Director General Subhash Menon said, A harmonised global framework that enables the cost-effective supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is crucial for aviation to attain a net zero emissions goal by 2050. By highlighting their collective ambition on SAF usage, AAPA Airlines are indicating the level of SAF demand as an impetus for governments to consider the necessary support initiatives for SAF supply and for fuel producers to plan SAF production capacity to meet the needs of the industry, he said. He said a globally agreed accounting approach should be in place to ensure that the relevant carbon abatement credits are properly

Go First lenders to not release more funding to grounded airline: Report

"Now the situation is quite different and the future is bleak," said a banker with a state-run bank that has exposure to Go First

Govt to meet airlines officials to discuss consumer grievances on Nov 8

Amid rising complaints from air travellers, the Centre has called a meeting on November 8 with senior officials of all airlines and travel portals to discuss grievances related to 'refund not given after ticket cancellation' and showing every seat as 'paid' despite free web check-in, among others. Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh, in a media briefing, said about 10,000 complaints related to the airline sector has been received through the government's National Consumer Helpline in the last one year. About half of the complaints are related to "ticket cancelled but no refund received from airlines". Some of the major grievances also include airlines showing every seat as paid despite free mandatory web check-in, he said. "These complaints are just a tip of the iceberg. We have called a meeting on November 8 to discuss these consumer grievances with all airlines, travel portals and consumer organisations," Singh said. While booking a ticket either through airline websites

Lessors seek deregistration of Go First aircraft after MCA notification

Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju initially remarked that 'it is incumbent upon the DGCA to deregister the aircraft'. However, she later permitted the DGCA to articulate their position on the matter

Pilot exodus: Akasa stops flights on 8 routes, reduces service on 10 others

The airline's spokesperson said that the airline is poised to take delivery of additional aircraft from Boeing in the remainder of 2023-24

Delay looms over Go First's revival as another bench will now hear matter

The bench highlighted that since the requests made by all involved parties were based on similar grounds, a fresh bench could determine the outcomes

Bombay HC allows Akasa Air to proceed with suit against former pilots

Rejecting the pilots' plea, the court stated that the cause of action, including the act of resignation, fell within its jurisdiction

Green deposits, corrosion on leased planes, Go First lessor tells Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court reserved its orders in three applications filed by aircraft lessors of the airline seeking permission to maintain their aircraft

Delhi HC raps Go First's RP for not complying with inspection order

The judge referred to photographs submitted by a lessor that allegedly showed critical parts of the aircraft missing

Go First seeks emergency funding of Rs 100 crore from creditor banks

The funds will go towards operational costs such as insurance and repairs that could keep the airlines afloat

SpiceJet seeks shareholder approval for 5.91% stake transfer to Carlyle

Airline seeks shareholder approval for change in shareholding structure