14 Aug 2017

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 14 August

Air India Express (AIE) to operate 40 extra flights Air India Express (AIE), the low-cost arm of the national carrier Air India, is to operate 40 additional flights from Kerala and Delhi to Sharjah and back to clear the heavy rush during Onam. The flights, which can carry 186 passengers, will be operated from August 22 to September 4 from Thiruvananthpuram, Kochi, Kozhikode and Delhi international airports. Air India seeks $740 million loan to finance purchase of 6 Boeing planes Air India is looking for bridge loans worth up to $740 million to finance purchase of six Boeing 787-8 planes, according to a tender document. The airline has sought offers from banks and financial institutions to arrange bridge financing of up to $740 million for the six aircraft. The amount translates into around $123.3 million per plane. Air Asia India Announces FLY-THRU program Air Asia India recently launched the FLY-THRU program for good connectivity across the globe, This service will allow fliers to transfer from the original destination to the final point. This program connects domestic and international travellers flying on the Air Asia global network to 120 destinations across 26 countries. The main idea of the program is to connect the Indian domestic market to al the networks. Amar Abrol, MD & CEO, AirAsia said “This marks yet another milestone in AirAsia India’s progression. We believe this will be one of the reasons for our guests to choose AirAsia India over other airlines.” Civil Aviation Policy envisages growth of cargo volumes to 10 million tonnes by 2027 The National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 has envisaged growth of cargo volumes to 10 million tonnes by 2027. As per data maintained by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), air freight handled at Indian airports grew by more than 20 times from 0.08 million metric tonnes in 1972-73 to 2.5 million metric tonnes in 2014-15, and its compound annual growth rate (CAGR) was 8.8% during 2013-14 to 2016-17. GMR’s Hyderabad airport introduces new facility GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has revamped its infrastructure with new facilities – notably the introduction of express security check. In order to speed-up the check in procedures, GHIAL has introduced express security check or pre-embarkation security check at RGIA’s terminal’s entry gate for domestic passengers with only hand baggage. The airport has become the first in India to have such a facility. Jet Airways may stop first class in Boeing 777 Jet Airways may remove the eight first-class seats and instead add economy and business class seats in its wide-body Boeing planes. The objective seems to be to improve revenue and reduce unit costs. Unit costs refer to cost incurred in transporting a passenger per kilometre. SriLankan launches services to Hyderabad in India SriLankan Airlines has launched new services to the southern Indian city of Hyderabad.  The airline is offering a four-times-a-week service to Hyderabad, connecting the city to Doha and other places through its global route network. Accordingly, SriLankan has deployed its brand-new A320neo and A321neo aircraft on its routes to south India. Thai and Jet Airways agree to fly from Amritsar: Gurjeet Singh Aujla According to the Yugmarg report, Thai and Jet Airways have agreed to start flights from Amritsar, informed Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Member of Parliament for Amritsar. Aujla met Sunil Kumar, Sales Manager - North India, Thai Airways International and Kavita Joshi, Head - North India & Nepal, Jet Airways on various instances and invited the airlines to visit Amritsar and its airport to explore business prospects. Both the airlines have shown keen interest in starting inter-national flights from Amritsar and informed Aujla that the airlines has been awaiting for the arrival of new aircraft to expand it operation. UAE in talks to facilitate air transport with India The UAE is taking the initiative to make travel from India to airports in the Emirates affordable and accessible as the share of Indians in tourism in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reaches record numbers. Dr. Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al-Banna, UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of India, has held extensive discussions with India’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha, on augmenting air transport facilities and services between the two countries. Acumen Aviation © 14 August All Rights Reserved.