Category Archives: Aviation

Air India suspends Tel Aviv flights amid Middle East crisis

 

Air India announced on Friday the immediate suspension of all flights to and from Tel Aviv in response to the ongoing unrest in the Middle East. The airline emphasised that it is closely monitoring the situation and prioritising the safety of its passengers and crew.

“In light of the current developments in the Middle East, we have suspended our scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect until further notice,” Air India stated.

The airline is offering full refunds to passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv and reiterated that the safety of its guests and crew remains its top priority.

Earlier, on August 2, Air India had announced a temporary halt to its Tel Aviv services until August 8 due to escalating tensions in the region. The airline, recently acquired by the Tata Group, typically operates five weekly flights from New Delhi to Tel Aviv. The tensions have been exacerbated since the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Iran, reportedly by Israeli forces.

HHTDN urges WB CM to reconsider VAT on ATF for Bagdogra flights

The recent imposition of a 12.5% VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) at Bagdogra Airport has sparked concern among tourism stakeholders in North Bengal, leading to a formal appeal by the Himalayan Hospitality & Tourism Development Network (HHTDN) to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The HHTDN, representing key players in the region’s tourism industry, has requested the state government to reconsider the VAT decision, emphasising its potential negative impact on the local tourism economy.

Samrat Sanyal, GM, HHTDN, highlighted that the state’s earlier decision in 2013 to waive VAT on ATF at Bagdogra led to a significant increase in flight services, benefiting the tourism sector. The introduction of new flights at competitive rates was partly driven by the cheaper ATF available at Bagdogra, making it a more attractive option for airlines. However, with the recent reintroduction of VAT, some airlines have already reduced services, such as flights to Mumbai, leading to higher ticket prices and potentially deterring tourists.

Shankar Ghosh, the Siliguri MLA, pointed out that while VAT on ATF was reimposed at Bagdogra, it was reduced at Kolkata Airport, suggesting a bias against North Bengal. He warned that this could stifle the region’s growth, particularly in terms of air connectivity and passenger inflow.

The outcome of this VAT dispute could significantly influence the future of tourism and air travel in North Bengal, especially with the recent elevation of Bagdogra to a “point-of-call” airport, which could open the door for more international flights if the cost structure remains competitive.

‘AAI receives INR 2,032cr of passenger fee via 6 leased airports’

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received passenger fees totalling about INR 2,032 crore till June this year from the private partners operating six airports that were leased out in 2019.

The airports at Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram have been leased out to Adani group under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) since 2019.

“Private partners of these airports have paid approximately INR 2,032 crore to AAI as Per Passenger Fee (PPF) till June 2024.

“AAI has also received an amount of approximately INR 2,758 crore from the private partners of these six airports in the form of upfront fee towards the capital expenditure incurred by AAI at these airports,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told Lok Sabha on Thursday.

According to him, these airports were leased out for better operations, management and development for 50 years.
The Minister also said in a written reply that as per the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), 25 AAI airports have been earmarked for leasing over the years 2022 to 2025. “However, this is an indicative list and finalisation is subject to further assessment”.

Currently, there are 157 operational airports in the country with the capacity to handle more than 530 million passengers per annum.

In a separate written reply, Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued 16,092 aircraft maintenance engineer licenses during the period from 2019 till August 1 this year.

There are 57 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) training institutes approved to impart maintenance training. (Source: PTI)

Bagdogra can now host international flights without MoCA approval

The inclusion of Bagdogra Airport in the list of India’s “point-of-call” (PoC) airports marks a significant milestone for international connectivity in North Bengal.

This designation allows Bagdogra to host international flights without requiring prior approval from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), making it easier for airlines to operate directly from the airport.

This development is particularly important because Bagdogra, located just 14 km from Siliguri, serves as a key gateway to the region. With around 60 daily flight movements and approximately 8,000 passengers passing through the airport each day, the addition of more international connections could significantly boost tourism and business in the area.

Currently, Druk Airways is the only international airline operating at Bagdogra, with a route connecting Paro and Bangkok, which includes a stopover at Bagdogra. With the airport’s new status, more international airlines could be attracted to operate flights, enhancing the region’s connectivity to the rest of the world.

The announcement of Bagdogra’s elevation as a PoC airport was made by Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, in the Rajya Sabha.

Mohol also emphasised the need for infrastructure expansion at the airport and suggested that the Bengal government reconsider its decision to impose a 12.5% VAT on air turbine fuel (ATF) at Bagdogra, which could impact the cost and availability of flights.

Tamil Nadu Travel Expo to debut in Madurai from Sept 20-22

Tamil Nadu’s tourism sector is gearing up for the inaugural Tamil Nadu Travel Expo (TTE), scheduled to take place from September 20 to 22, 2024, at the IDA Scudder Auditorium in Madurai. This landmark event aims to boost the state’s tourism profile and attract a larger number of visitors both from within India and neighboring countries.

The Tamil Nadu Travel Expo is being organized as a collaborative effort by the Travel Club, Madurai, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA), with strong support from the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

Designed as a buyer-seller meet, the TTE will welcome 250 prospective buyers, including tour operators, travel agents, and influencers from India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. The event organizers will cover lodging and boarding expenses for these buyers, facilitating their exploration of Tamil Nadu’s rich travel and tourism offerings.

The expo will feature between 150 to 200 stakeholders and sellers representing Tamil Nadu’s diverse tourism sectors, including heritage tourism, medical and wellness tourism, and destination wedding planning. These participants will showcase the state’s unique experiences through themed stalls and table displays.

On September 22, the final day of the expo, the event will be open to the public, allowing local residents and visitors to experience Tamil Nadu’s varied tourism themes.

T Nataraajan, the Honorary Secretary of SIHRA, has been appointed as the Convenor of this pioneering event, which is poised to become a significant fixture in Tamil Nadu’s tourism calendar.

Turkish Airlines seeks expansion of bilaterals with India to increase network

Turkish Airlines is aiming to expand its operations in India by revising the current bilateral air service agreement.

According to Erkan Erdogan, General Manager for Northern and Eastern India, Turkish Airlines, there is significant untapped potential in the Indian market due to the current limitations on flight capacity.

At present, Turkish Airlines operates 14 weekly flights between New Delhi and Mumbai to Istanbul, utilising B777 aircraft with a capacity of 400 passengers. However, the airline is eager to increase this capacity by adding new destinations such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Benglauru and Chennai. This expansion would allow Turkish Airlines to offer more direct flights between Istanbul and major Indian cities, thus enabling Indian travellers to explore a broader network that spans 130 countries.

Erdogan emphasized that the demand for transit travel from India to Europe, the continental United States, and South America justifies the need for more destinations in the bilateral agreement. Additionally, the airline’s codeshare agreement with IndiGo already covers six domestic destinations from Delhi and Mumbai, further facilitating connectivity within India.

This planned expansion is part of Turkish Airlines’ broader strategy to capitalize on the growing demand for international air travel in India.