16 Nov 2020

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 16 November

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation relaxes cap on number of domestic flights in operation India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has recently decided to allow Indian airlines companies to increase the number of flights. Currently, the airlines were operating flights which equalled 60 per cent of their capacities. According to a tweet by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, domestic carriers will be allowed to increase their operations from the existing 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the pre-COVID approved capacity. India needs more major air cargo hubs to attract transhipment traffic India’s airlines and airports need more international cargo to meet the country’s ambitious throughput targets according to stakeholders. The goal for India’s airports is to handle 10m tonnes of cargo a year by 2027 almost triple the current capacity. SpiceXpress CEO Sanjiv Gupta stated “We have to change our approach and become the preferred transhipment hub between South-east Asia and and the west.” New routes from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) this month The Kempegowda International Airport (KIA), which has been witnessing a steady increase in the number of domestic flights over the last few weeks, will be adding more flights and routes starting this month.  Air Asia India has started daily flights between Bengaluru-Kolkata, Kolkata-Bengaluru and Bengaluru-Kochi, Kochi-Bengaluru effective from 12th November. SpiceJet announced new flights on the Bengaluru-Jabalpur route and Bengaluru-Nashik-Bengaluru sector will commence from 20th November. SpiceJet handles 10,000 cargo flights since lockdown in March SpiceJet has handled around 10,000 cargo flights since the lockdown in March, besides becoming the top cargo handler in October from the country's busiest Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to the airline. During the coronavirus-induced lockdown that was imposed on March 25, the government permitted operations of only cargo and special flights while suspending all scheduled domestic and international air services. SpiceJet Chairman Ajay Singh stated “I am proud of the stellar performance of our cargo operations that has seen us emerged as the largest international cargo operator, among both Indian and foreign carriers operating out of the Delhi airport in October.” SpiceJet to start twice-weekly flights on Delhi-Ras Al Khaimah route from 26 November SpiceJet announced said it will operate twice-weekly flights between Delhi and Ras Al Khaimah from 26th November and will also start 12 new domestic flights. SpiceJet Chief Commercial Officer Shilpa Bhatia stated “Ras Al Khaimah is a very special addition for us and a strong hub from where we have actively operated 350 cargo and 195 repatriation charter flights in the last few months.” Acumen Aviation © 16 November 2020 All Rights Reserved.