Page 2 - Private Airlines

Air India appoints Jayaraj Shanmugam as head of global airport operations

Jayaraj Shanmugam has previously worked with renowned companies such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Jet Airways

Vistara to discuss rostering system with pilots, incorporate feedbacks: CEO

After facing significant flight disruptions due to the non-availability of crew, Vistara chief Vinod Kannan said the airline will look to review the current rostering system after discussions with pilots and emphasised that there has been no unusual spike in attrition. The Tata Group airline, which is in the process of getting merged with Air India, has temporarily reduced flight operations to ensure the availability of adequate pilot buffer and expects the situation to normalise by May. A stretched roster on account of the high utilisation of pilots is the key reason for the recent disruptions, according to the airline while there are also concerns among a section of pilots about the new contract that will also result in pay revision. In an interview with PTI on Friday, Kannan said that during a town hall with pilots, some concerns were raised around rostering, and pilots were told that the airline would look at how the rostering process can be reviewed. Out of the airline's total

Air India pilots join Vistara crew in voicing concerns over fatigue, pay

The pilots said they're made to rack up maximum flying hours, face difficulties in having leave approved and deal with unstable rosters, according to the letter dated April 4

Air India launches revamped customer loyalty programme with added features

Private carrier Air India on Wednesday launched a revamped loyalty programme with a simplified structure, offering more rewards and added benefits to its customers. In its first overhaul in more than a decade, the revamped loyalty programme -- Flying Returns -- moves away from the legacy model of miles-based collection of points to a fairer, more equitable spend-based approach, Air India said in a statement. Members of the programme will now be able to avail the benefits and collect points based on the new structure, starting Wednesday, it said without divulging the number of the existing members. Some of the features of the revamped programme include no expiry of points for active members, no blackout dates, same tier privileges, collection and redemption across Star Alliance partner airlines worldwide and new customer-friendly digital interface to provide a one-stop platform for transactions, among others, it said.

SpiceJet to own 13 Bombardier Q400 planes after $91 mn settlement

SpiceJet has over the last few months reached settlements with multiple lessors, including Aercap, as the company looks to restore its grounded fleet and return to full capacity

HC sends show-cause notice to Go First official over maintenance issues

The Delhi High Court has issued a show-cause notice to the resolution professional of crisis-hit 'Go First' airline, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for prima facie willfully disobeying judicial orders on allowing inspection and maintenance of lessors' aircraft. The high court said the RP (Resolution Professional) cannot plead difficulties in the implementation of the October 12, 2023, judgment after contempt proceedings have been filed by a lessor seeking to enforce court orders. "Prima facie, the orders of this court have been wilfully disobeyed by the respondent/ RP. Issue notice to show cause as to why proceedings of contempt be not initiated...," Justice Tara Vitasta Ganju said. The counsel for the RP submitted that he was willing to revert to the position regarding the maintenance of the aircraft. The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 15. It was hearing a petition filed by one of the lessors DAE (SY22) 13 Ireland Design

Canada's Lynx Air to shut down, leaving no clarity for customers on refunds

Canadian discount airline Lynx Air will shut down on Monday and suggested that it could cancel many flights over the weekend too, leaving customers scrambling to make new travel plans. Lynx announced the shutdown late Thursday and told customers to contact their credit-card company about getting a refund for cancelled flights. The Calgary, Alberta, airline said it could not help with refunds. Canada's transport minister, Pablo Rodriguez, said he was following Lynx's announcement that it was filing for restructuring. He said he expected Lynx to help passengers get home and fully refund customers. The shutdown will take effect early Monday. On its website, the airline said, we will continue to operate the majority of our flights through this weekend. The airline said it put tremendous work into growth after launching the Lynx brand two years ago, but that inflation, fuel costs, competition and other factors have ultimately proven too steep a mountain for our organisation to ...

Post-pandemic recovery fuels robust attendance, hopes at Singapore Airshow

About 50,000 trade delegates attend Singapore Airshow, the most since 2018

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

Airlines can save Rs 1,000 cr annually with use of flexible airspace: Govt

Airlines will have potential savings of Rs 1,000 crore annually with the flexible use of airspace that helps in reducing flight time, fuel usage and carbon emissions, according to the civil aviation ministry. In a review of the aviation sector released on Saturday, the ministry also said that a record number of commercial pilot licences at 1,562 have been issued this year till December 18 by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). To address the issue of congestion at airports, the ministry said additional space has been created at various airports by restructuring the available terminal infrastructure to augment capacity at several passenger touch points. Meanwhile, the ministry said that earlier about 40 per cent of the airspace was unavailable for civilian use, resulting in aircraft adopting circuitous routes to reach their destinations. The Indian Air Force controls 30 per cent of the national airspace and out of that, 30 per cent has been released as upper airspace .

Airbus names sales chief Scherer CEO of core planemaking operation

The appointment of Scherer, 61, heralds broad continuity inside the main commercial arm, which competes with Boeing and makes up about 70% of the company's revenues

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

NCLAT allows Go First's airplane lessor Jackson Square to inspect planes

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has permitted Jackson Square Aviation Ireland Ltd to inspect aircraft that it has leased to crisis-hit airline Go First. A two-member NCLAT bench on Thursday disposed of the plea filed by the aircraft lessor for inspection. Jackson Square Aviation Ireland is the second lessor that has been allowed by the NCLAT to inspect its assets leased to now grounded Go First. Earlier, on August 18, 2023, the NCLAT allowed the Engine Lease Finance BV, the company that had leased the engine to Go First, to inspect its assets. During the proceedings, counsel appearing for Jackson Square Aviation Ireland submitted the order passed by the NCLAT on August 18, 2023, and sought similar direction. Consenting to this NCLAT said: "We are of the view that this Appeal is fully covered by the aforesaid judgment. This Appeal is also disposed of in terms of the order dated August 18, 2023." Earlier NCLT had rejected Go First lessors' petitions to take back

Go First to credit two months of salary in Sept: CEO Kaushik Khona

Go First has 2,198 employees on its payroll, of which 1,000 are serving their notice period. The airline has 103 captains, 26 co-pilots, and 374 cabin crew staff

Airlines should start allowing extra luggage in cargo to entice flyers

As passengers whip out their frequent-flyer cards for the first time in years, many have found that points expired or travel patterns changed. Securing these ought to be a major goal of airlines

Tata aviation companies report higher loss of Rs 15,532 crore in FY23

In 2022, the Tata group had acquired Air India from Rs 2,700 crore in cash and had taken over liabilities of Rs 15,986 crore from the Indian government

DGCA okays Go First plan to resume flights on availability of interim funds

The regulator has asked the resolution professional (RP) to submit the proposed flight schedule in proportion with the available resources

Paris air show returns with jets and missiles in demand, says report

But they also face a challenge to meet that demand as suppliers struggle with rising costs, parts shortages and a scarcity of skilled labour in the wake of the pandemic

'India's the new China' as airlines more than double profit outlook

Bullish on the Indian market, Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr has said the airline group is working closer with Air India as well as expanding its own operations into the country

Bombay Burmah Trading Corp's Go First exposure falls to Rs 65 crore

Bombay Burmah will also make a claim with the resolution professional appointed by the National Company Law Tribunal. If the airline restarts early, the losses of the banks would reduce, say corporate