Category Archives: Aviation

Delhi HC to hear Go First’s lessors’ plea on October 19

The Delhi High Court will hear aircraft leasing companies’ plea for deregistration of Go First aircraft on October 19.
With a favourable notification from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the lessors pressed for the release of the planes leased to Go First during a hearing on Thursday.

However, counsels of the airline’s committee of creditors and resolution professional sought time to examine the notification that was issued on Wednesday evening. The court accepted the plea and posted the matter for hearing on October 19.

The notification disallows moratorium for leased aircraft and that has come as a shot in the arm for lessors who are trying to recover the planes leased to Go First.

While lessors are seeking de-registration, Go First is expected to oppose the plea.

A senior Go First executive said the notification will not impact the airline. “Notifications are always prospective – as a rule,” he said.

 

IndiGo introduces fuel charge of INR 1,000 amid rising ATF prices

IndiGo has introduced a fuel charge of INR 1,000 on domestic and international routes, in order to check rising ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) prices.

The decision follows the significant increase in ATF prices, which have surged in the last three months with consecutive price hikes every month, the carrier said in a statement.

ATF accounts for a substantial portion of an airline’s operating expenses, necessitating fare adjustment to address such a cost surge. Under this pricing structure, passengers booking IndiGo flights will incur a fuel charge, per sector, based on the sector distance, it added.
On October 1, the government jet fuel or ATF price by 5 per cent — the fourth straight monthly increase since July.

Aviation turbine fuel (ATF) price was increased INR Rs 5,779.84 per kilolitre, or 5.1 per cent, in the national capital to INR 118,199.17 per kl from INR 112,419.33, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

 

Airport experience can influence Fear of Switching Off: Priority Pass Research

According to new global research from Priority Pass, owned and operated by Collinson – surveying 8,500 people across 11 countries – over a third (35%) of people find it difficult to truly switch off from everyday life while on their travels.

The data also shows that the airport experience is critical to how well people can – or cannot – switch off, with more than 6 in 10 (62%) travellers saying pre-flight issues can initiate FOSO on the rest of their trip. However, FOSO can be subsided with particular airport services: 53% of people said that visiting an airport lounge has improved how they’ve been able to switch off during previous travels.

Unpacking FOSO

With travel once again on a resurgent ascent, Priority Pass asked respondents what was causing FOSO and holding them back from experiencing the true benefits of travel.

The constant pressure to be connected is proving a challenge for many. The majority of respondents admitted to feeling worried about missing messages when not looking at their phone (73%), feeling more stressed having it turned off than on (67%), or leaving their accommodation without it (59%).

The presence of FOSO is particularly prominent among younger travellers. Over half of Gen Z (aged 18-27) respondents admit they struggle to reduce their phone usage (58%) and still check work messages (51%) when travelling, which far exceed that of Baby Boomer (aged 59-77) respondents (33% & 29% respectively).

According to 76% of all respondents, tackling FOSO ahead of travelling could significantly benefit their overall well-being. This implies that its influence lasts beyond the moment you return home and forms an important part of your day-to-day happiness.

Making every trip count

As such, Priority Pass asked survey respondents to dig deeper into the habits and environments that best enable them to combat FOSO and effectively switch off on their travels.

The airport experience has fast become a leading barometer for how well people can relax or enjoy their trip. However, data also suggests the pre-flight experience can actually be a valuable place to tackle FOSO.

In addition to those that have already enjoyed the airport lounge experience, (70%) of all people believe that visiting one would have a beneficial impact on how they switch off for the remainder of their trip. Travellers selected a smooth check in, food & beverage, sleeping, and shopping as the next most effective ways to switch off pre-flight.

For many, ‘that holiday feeling’ associated with travelling actually begins long before arriving at the airport. One-third (34%) of people switch off when they’re planning their trip, highlighting how important it is for the travel industry to make every step of the journey stress-free and enjoyable, from the booking to the beach.

“We all know that being able to switch off and get away from the stress of every day is more important than ever. That is why so many are turning to travel. However, from our research FOSO is real. We want to ensure people can unwind and relax from the start of their journey, creating memorable experiences,” said Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International.

“We remain agile to changing travel trends to ensure we’re always innovating our range of premium experiences and providing offerings which go beyond the airport lounge. From pre-booking airport transfers and lounge access to visiting sleeping pods, gaming lounges, and spa experiences, we are evolving our portfolio worldwide to ensure travellers can switch off at every point of the journey.”

Finally, Priority Pass asked survey respondents to build the perfect FOSO-free trip. According to them, the best type of travel to switch off is a trip to the beach – followed by a city break, safari, and wellness retreat. The ideal time to go away for most travellers is 1 to 2 weeks, although three out of the four Asian countries surveyed, namely Hong Kong, India and Thailand, prefer to go away for two to six days only. The ideal pre-flight activity is to visit an airport lounge.

Sumit Prakash, Country Director, India and South Asia, Collinson, added, “56% of travellers in India believe visiting an airport lounge helps them to ‘switch-off’ before their trip begins. This is further supported by our recent Asia Pacific customer engagement and loyalty research report, where airport lounge access topped respondents’ list of travel benefits, with other highly-rated experiences including dining, lifestyle and wellness experiences. Aligned to this, we are looking forward to welcoming travellers – especially with the holiday season approaching – to our network of over 60 airport lounges and travel experiences in India, and over 1,400 worldwide.”

 

Tamil Nadu’s Vellore airport to be operational soon

The Vellore airport in Tamil Nadu appears to be on the verge of becoming operational soon. On Sunday, a test flight conducted low-level passes over the airport facility to carry out calibration tests for the surrounding airspace.

This airport project in Vellore was initiated as part of the Union government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme back in 2016. However, it has encountered several challenges along its journey, raising doubts about its viability.

Despite efforts to extend the runway to 850 meters and the completion of the terminal building a year ago, progress seemed to stall.
Officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) have now confirmed the completion of ground calibration tests, with the recent focus being on air calibration.

The test involved five AAI officials, with two stationed on the ground and three aboard the aircraft. One of the key objectives was to ensure the landing lights on the runway were clearly visible from the air.

To prevent any signal interference, measures were taken to clear the area of trees, water tanks, and buildings exceeding 25 feet in height. Sources expressed optimism for a swift approval to commence operations by December this year.

It’s worth noting that the airport currently lacks a permanent control tower and relies on a mobile tower. Additionally, it has fire tenders and an ambulance on standby for emergency situations.

The airport’s perimeter is fully enclosed by fencing, and the approach road from Abdullapuram has been freshly laid, indicating expectations of increased activity at the facility.

Covering an expansive 97 acres, the airport will soon feature high-resolution lighting along its perimeter to enhance security.

Basic infrastructure, such as access roads from the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway, has been developed by acquiring private land parcels. Furthermore, a passenger waiting hall has been established near the airport’s entrance.

At present, the new airport boasts an 850-meter runway, a taxiway, ground handling equipment, air traffic control (ATC) facilities, and an aviation information receiving facility.

Additionally, it features a terminal building and an oil depot. The previously limited airstrip, which could only accommodate eight-seater planes, has been upgraded to cater to 20-seater aircraft.

 

Air India to start non-stop flight between Kolkata and Bangkok from Oct 23

Air India is set to introduce non-stop flight service between Kolkata and Bangkok from October 23, 2023. In its official statement, the airline said, “AI322 will depart Kolkata at 2200 hrs to reach Bangkok at 0205 hrs the next morning. The return flight AI321 will take off from Bangkok at 0305 hrs to land in Kolkata at 0410 hrs (All Local Time). The flight, operated with a narrow body Airbus family aircraft, will have a two-class configuration of Economy and Business Class and operate six days a week from Monday to Saturday.”

Air India currently operates a total of 14 flights to Bangkok per week with daily non-stop flights from Delhi and Mumbai connecting the destination. Earlier in March, the Tata Group-owned airline said that it would add frequency on the major eastbound routes of Asia like Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand), and Seoul on its 2023 summer schedule.

The airline said that it would add a total of eight new weekly flights – six to Bangkok (three each from Delhi and Mumbai), and additional weekly flights from Delhi to Seoul (Incheon) and Hong Kong, starting from March 26.

Uganda Airlines to start tri-weekly Entebbe-Mumbai flights from October 7; looking for partnership with local airlines

Uganda Airlines announced the commencement of its India Operations with the launch of its new direct service, connecting Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Entebbe International Airport in Uganda, with effect from October 7. This flight will be operated thrice a week between the two cities and offer a direct service on its Airbus A330-800 neo aircraft. The service will offer a three- class configuration with the Business (20 seats), Premium Economy (28 seats) and Economy (210 seats). The development will be the first time in more than 50 years that India and Uganda will be connected by a non-stop air service.

The route augments Uganda Airlines service outside the African continent and joins a rapidly expanding network that offers travellers convenient connections to South, West, Central and Eastern Africa. The direct service will last approximately 5 & 1/2 hours in each direction, bringing convenience to people travelling between the two points for business, family or tourism.

“We are excited to introduce this, the latest addition to our network, which affirms Uganda Airlines expands travel options for our passengers. Besides convenience, we hope this route will add energy to the existing business and commercial relations between India and Uganda that date back more than a century.” said Adedayo Olawuyi, Chief Commercial Officer, Uganda Airlines.

“Since 2017, I have relentlessly pursued the dream of a direct flight from Mumbai to Entebbe, believing it to be the catalyst for enhanced trade, commerce, and tourism between our two nations. I am elated to witness the realization of my vision.” H.E. Madhusudan Agrawal, Hon. Consul of Uganda.

Speaking exclusively to TravelBiz Monitor, Lenny Malasi, Country Manager-India, Uganda Airlines, said, “Mumbai is the commercial capital of India and because of this a lot of trade activities happen between Mumbai and Uganda. When it comes to student traffic, they(Students) mostly come to Mumbai and then go to other universities located in different parts of India. When it comes to business especially manufacturing segment, a lot of visitors originate from Mumbai. Because of this we are starting our flights from Mumbai.”

When asked to comment, whether they have any plans to codeshare agreement with other African airline to provide wider connectivity in the African countries? Malasi replied that they are looking for a partnership with local airlines. “Absolutely no way one can work alone in these days, hence, we are exploring partnerships with local airlines. Because India has a vast domestic network and we have to ensure that our passengers have connectivity both in India as well as Africa,” explained Malasi.

The inaugural flight UR 430 from Uganda will depart Entebbe on Saturday October 7 and the return UR 431 will depart Mumbai on Sunday October 8.

The schedule has been designed to fit neatly into the existing network to meet needs of those passengers who might wish to continue their journeys beyond Uganda.

Bookings are open and have been made convenient through the Uganda Airlines App, which allows passengers to make reservations, pay for tickets, modify itineraries and print boarding passes. The app is available on both Google Play and Apple iStore.

Uganda Airlines currently operates flights to Dubai, Johannesburg, Bujumbura, Nairobi, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Juba, Kinshasa and Mogadishu. Flights to Lagos, Nigeria, are scheduled to start shortly.

Flight Schedule for Uganda Airlines:

Flight No. Departure Airport Departure Time (local) Arrival Airport Arrival Time (local) Days of Operation
UR 430 Entebbe (EBB) 20:15 Mumbai (BOM) 05:55 Mon, Wed, Sat
UR 431 Mumbai (BOM) 07:55 Entebbe (EBB) 12:25 Tue, Thu, Sun