05 May 2020

India Aviation Industry Newsletter 5 May

IndiGo transports 50 tonnes of pharmaceuticals, fruits, vegetables amidst lockdown IndiGo has transported over 50 Tonnes of pharmaceuticals, fruits and vegetables from and to Singapore and Maldives. Joining India’s fight against coronavirus, IndiGo has operated three international CarGo flights, to and from Singapore and Maldives. Ronojoy Dutta, Chief Executive Officer said “We have been successfully using our A-320 passenger aircraft in a ‘freighter mode’ helping maintain and support supply chains in and out of the country at this critical time. Having previously operated these CarGo flights to the Gulf region, we have now operated these flights to Singapore from Bangalore and to Maldives from Trivandrum and Mumbai. While flying medical supplies, fresh vegetables and other export cargo, IndiGo continues to contribute and adapt its business to the needs of the hour.” Jet fuel now costs less than a third of diesel price in India Jet fuel (ATF) prices have been slashed by a steep 23 per cent in line with a slump in international oil prices and it now costs about one-third of petrol and diesel whose rates continue to be frozen for the 50th day. Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price has been cut by Rs 6,812.62 per kilolitre, or 23.2 per cent, to Rs 22,544.75 per kl in the national capital, according to a price notification by state-owned oil marketing companies. ATF, which is used as a fuel in aeroplanes, now costs less than one-third of the price of petrol used in cars and two-wheelers.

Lifeline Udan flights delivered over 795 tons of medical cargo across country in lockdown: Govt

Tweeted by @AIRGovernment has said that Lifeline Udan flights have delivered over 795 tons of medical cargo across the country during the lockdown period. Civil Aviation Ministry said, 430 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, Indian Air Force and private carriers. 252 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air. Helicopter services including Pawan Hans Limited have been operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Islands and North East region transporting critical medical cargo and patients. Domestic Cargo Operators SpiceJet, Blue Dart, Indigo and Vistara are operating cargo flights on a commercial basis. New Delhi T3 to handle all flights post corona shutdown When commercial passenger flights are permitted to resume at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), all airlines will initially operate from Terminal 3. The airlines will also be assigned specific entry gates, self check-in machines and check-in bays to avoid crowding. To maximise safety, all luggage will also be passed through disinfection tunnels during both in- and out-bound journeys. TOI was first to report on April 10 that Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has prepared a plan to keep all food, beverage and retail shops open to avoid crowding and use “ultraviolet disinfection tunnels” to sanitise baggage. PM Modi reviews aviation sector, bats for effective use of airspace Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reviewed the civil aviation sector position during the Covid-19 outbreak and decided that the Indian airspace should be effectively used to reduce the flying time of passengers. The Prime Minister held a comprehensive meeting to review the strategies that could help in making India's civil aviation sector more efficient. "It was decided that the Indian air space should be effectively used in such a manner that the flying time is reduced benefitting the travelling public and also helping the airlines to save costs in close co-operation with the Department of Military Affairs." Travel and air connectivity critical to economic growth, says IndiGo CEO IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta remains optimistic about aviation’s future if the liquidity crisis can be overcome. He said that people love to travel and air connectivity is also critical to economic growth. Excerpts of an interview here Acumen Aviation © 5 May 2020 All Rights Reserved.