Budget carrier SpiceJet took a giant expansion stride on Monday with its code-sharing agreement with Emirates that will open up for its passengers the Dubai-based airline’s vast network across the US, Europe, Africa and West Asia. The deal, however, is subject to government approvals, besides the settlement of the controversial issue of slot allocation for […]
Category: Civil Aviation
Rahul expresses regret to Supreme Court on Rafale comment
Rahul Gandhi on Monday expressed “regret” to the Supreme Court that in the heat of political campaigning he had juxtaposed the Congress slogan “chowkidar chor hai” while citing the court’s recent ruling on the Rafale review petition. Rahul reaffirmed the allegation that the Rafale deal was a “tainted transaction” that merited a joint parliamentary committee […]
GVK to sell 49% in Mumbai airport
Sovereign wealth funds Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund will jointly pick up a 49 per cent stake in Mumbai airport operator GVK Airport Holdings. Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) had recently attracted the attention of the Adanis, who are aggressively foraying into the airport business. GVK Power and Infrastructure […]
Rivals eye plum slots
The crisis at Jet Airways has opened a window of opportunity for rivals with existing players such as SpiceJet and IndiGo rushing to grab the slots and garner market share in the peak summer season. With Jet Airways suspending operations, as many as 440 slots are vacant across the country. These slots will be allocated […]
Jet Airways lenders ready Plan B
Lenders of Jet Airways are in favour of a resolution outside the insolvency law framework in case the ongoing bidding process fails to take off, sources said. Running into a debt of more than Rs 8,500 crore, Jet Airways has shut down operations temporarily after lenders decided against extending emergency funds for its survival. The […]
Jet Airways employees seek PM intervention
Employees of Jet Airways have written to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking their intervention to recover outstanding dues as well as to expedite the process of emergency funds for the airline, which has shuttered its operations temporarily. Cash-starved Jet Airways, which has around 23,000 employees, has delayed payment of salaries […]
Flights fewer, fares soar
The withdrawal of Jet Airways flights has made flying to at least two destinations from Calcutta costlier. The airfare from Calcutta to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore has skyrocketed despite this not being a tourist season, tour operators and passengers said. A one-way trip to Mumbai on April 11 will cost between Rs 17,000 and Rs […]
Roof leak shuts down Calcutta airport aerobridge
A leaking roof at the airport has forced the authorities to close down an aerobridge in the domestic terminal since Saturday. A thunderstorm, followed by heavy showers, saw water dripping from the ceiling of the terminal. The “downpour” was particularly heavy on aerobridge No. 24, officials said. Senior officials inspected the aerobridge around 10.30pm on […]
Bid to check surge in airfares
The aviation regulator plans to ask airlines to come up with immediate and medium-term plans to increase domestic flights and check the spike in fares. Official sources said the regulator would be meeting the airlines on Wednesday. They have been asked to come out with an “immediate and medium-term plan to augment the additional capacity […]
Jet Airways lenders offer up to 75% in sale
The lenders of Jet Airways on Monday invited bids from overseas and Indian investors for up to 75 per cent of the beleaguered carrier, sparking some confusion about whether founder Naresh Goyal and estranged partner Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways’ holdings were also being put on the block. The bids have been sought from both strategic […]
Vijay Mallya denied permission to appeal against extradition by UK court
A UK High Court judge has denied embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya permission to appeal against his extradition order to India to face alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crores. The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss had filed the application in the High Court after UK home secretary Sajid Javid signed […]
Jet Airways grounds 15 more planes
Troubled airline Jet Airways on Tuesday announced that it had grounded another 15 planes, bringing the number of aircraft still in operations down to 29. The grounding of more planes can only mean one thing: the lenders have not kept up with their funding commitments under the amended resolution plan that was agreed earlier last […]