15 Jan 2018

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 15 January

AAI plans national strategy for airports development State-owned AAI plans to have a national strategy for airports development and formulation of model concession agreements amid growing passenger traffic, which is expected to touch 322 million in 2018-19, according to its chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra. Air India to take delivery of B777 plane on January 24 Air India is set to take the delivery of the first of the two B777 aircraft, which will be used to fly the VVIPs, on January 24. A team of pilots along with some senior ministry officials will be flying to the Seattle facility of plane maker Boeing via San Francisco on January 20 for this purpose, an airline source close to the development told PTI. The induction of the two Boeing 777-300ERs will replace two Boeing 747-400s CAPA India welcomes decision to permit foreign airline investment of up to 49% in Air India CAPA India welcomed the Indian Government's decision to permit foreign airlines to invest up to 49% in Air India in the upcoming divestment process. CAPA India noted this is in line with recommendations issued by CAPA three months ago on the key success factors for the privatization of Air India and brings to an end the uncertainty on the issue. The decision should result in four to six serious bidders for Air India, including significant interest from foreign carriers, subject to the eventual terms and conditions of the offer. CAPA India stated the government's plan to allow foreign carriers to participate in the privatization of Air India is not only a momentous reform for the aviation sector, but represents a very significant national economic policy decision, which will send a positive signal to global investors. India tops domestic air traffic demand at 16.4% in November: IATA India's domestic air passenger traffic grew by 16.4 percent in November last year, topping the growth chart worldwide, global aviation body, reported the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA said India continued to witness double-digit growth for the 39th consecutive month. The ASK for India was at 10.4 percent, second only to China where capacity grew by 12.9 percent. India to Split Flag Carrier Into Four Parts Ahead of Sale India will break up its debt-burdened flag carrier into four separate companies and offer to sell at least 51 percent in each of them as part of a disinvestment proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The core airline business comprising Air India and Air India Express -- the low-cost overseas arm -- will be offered as one company, and the process will be completed by the end of 2018, Junior Aviation Minister Jayant Sinha said. Its regional arm, ground handling, and engineering operations will also be sold separately in the same process. Mumbai-Delhi world’s 3rd-busiest air route The air route between Mumbai and Delhi was the third busiest in the world, according to an report by UK-based air travel intelligence company OAG Aviation Worldwide Ltd. A total of 47,462 flights operated between the two airports - that's around 130 flights every day. Acumen Aviation © 15 January All Rights Reserved.