Tag Archives: congestion

SabreSonic Airlines now have easy access to BAGTAG platform

BAGTAG, an in innovative baggage solutions provider has entered into a strategic partnership with Sabre Corporation.

This collaboration introduces an innovative digital baggage tag solution for SabreSonic Airline customers, marking a transformative shift in how passengers and crew manage their baggage check-ins.

Through this partnership, SabreSonic Airline customers now have the option to easily implement BAGTAG’s electronic bag tag solution, effectively eliminating the need for traditional paper label check-in processes at airports.
This significantly improves traveller experience by enabling faster bag drop-offs and reducing congestion at check-in counters by empowering travellers to tag their own bags off-airport.

“This partnership with Sabre signifies another pivotal moment for BAGTAG and corroborates our multi-vendor approach. By integrating Sabre’s extensive industry expertise and airline network with BAGTAG’s pioneering technology, we are looking at an even brighter future for checked-in baggage,” said Jasper Quak, Managing Director, BAGTAG.

On its mission to simplify and speed up processes for passengers choosing to travel with checked baggage, BAGTAG developed a multi-vendor solution and works with its hardware partners to provide airlines and their passengers a range of connected products to elevate their baggage experience. Now working with 15 airlines worldwide, BAGTAG’s solutions are increasingly finding adoption with carriers to digitalise and optimise their crew baggage operations.

“As Sabre continues to drive innovation and collaboration within the global travel industry, our partnership with BAGTAG exemplifies our commitment to solving the most complex challenges in travel for our customers and, ultimately, their passengers. We all know from our own travel experiences that long check-in lines can be major sources of frustration. By combining Sabre and BAGTAG’s technologies, we can provide our airline partners with an innovative solution to reduce hassle and simplify the travel journey for travellers worldwide,” added ike Reyes, SVP Product Management. Sabre.

 

Mumbai Airport Takes Off with Fewer Flights to Ease Congestion and Delays

 

Facing growing congestion and flight delays, the Indian government has directed Mumbai airport to streamline its operations by reducing scheduled flights and restricting business jet movements during peak hours. This move, impacting around 40 flights and private jet operations, aims to improve on-time departures and enhance passenger experience.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) instructed the airport to decrease aircraft movements from 46 to 44 per hour during rush hour, from 44 to 42 per hour during non-peak hours.

IndiGo, the busiest carrier, will reduce 18 flights.Air India group, including Vistara, will cut 17 flights.While this may inconvenience some travellers, the changes are expected to reduce congestion and delays, ensuring smoother air traffic flow.

It would improve on-time departures, minimising waiting times for passengers and enhance overall airport efficiency, benefitting travelers and airlines alike.

This initiative aims to strengthen Mumbai’s position as a key aviation hub and provide a more reliable and efficient air travel experience for all.

In an effort to combat skyrocketing congestion and improve on-time performance, Mumbai airport has been ordered to reduce scheduled flights and restrict business jet operations during peak hours. This move, aimed at boosting efficiency and minimizing delays, has sparked opposition from major corporate groups who rely heavily on these private jets.

Mumbai airport, owned by the Adani Group, stands second busiest in India behind Delhi, renowned for its high volume of business jet traffic.

It operates the most flights among all single-runway airports and reached a record high of 4.88 million passengers in December 2023.

Airlines are exceeding the airport’s peak handling capacity, leading to ground congestion and delays. Parking stands and runway availability are insufficient to accommodate the increased traffic. Government and business jets add to the chaos, impacting scheduled flights.

Airports need to factor in unforeseen circumstances when predicting peak hour capacity.

Sudden cancellations hurt their ability to redeploy aircraft, resulting in losses and compensation costs. New restrictions significantly hamper their operations, impacting Mumbai’s commercial hub status.

Asking airports to consider unforeseen circumstances in peak hour forecasts. Advocating for better coordination between airlines and ground operations and mandating additions of new flights to be based on passenger handling capacity at security checkpoints.

Balancing the aviation boom with infrastructure limitations is crucial to ensure smooth operations and passenger satisfaction.

Collaborative efforts among airlines, airports, and regulators are needed to find sustainable solutions.

JetSeGo inks deals with 3 AAM partners worth USD 1.3bn; to acquire 150 aircraft for USD 780mn

JetSetGo builds strategic partnerships with Electra.aero, Horizon Aircraft, and Overair and signs agreements with a deal value of over USD 1.3 billion to accelerate India’s Air Mobility Future

JetSetGo, a marketplace for private jet and helicopter charters, and a fleet operator, has entered into a strategic partnerships with three global aviation technology leaders – Electra.aero, Horizon Aircraft and Overair – to bring Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) solutions to India. The partnerships were unveiled during the first-ever AAM conference held at Begumpet Airport.

As part of the agreements signed this week, JetSetGo is set to acquire 150 aircraft for an aggregate deal value of USD 780 million. The agreements include further options to acquire additional aircraft for a potential fleet size of 280 to scale its air mobility solutions, raising the overall deal value of above USD 1.3 billion.

The AAM event saw participation from operators, OEMs, regulators, investors and policy makers, coming together to showcase new technologies and solutions in Advanced Air Mobility, in an Innovation Zone at the exhibition and a conference session debating the opportunities and challenges ahead for developing Advanced Air Mobility in India’s cities and regions.

Advanced Air Mobility utilises new aviation technologies like electric and hybrid-electric propulsion to enable air taxi-style services for short distance travel between and within cities. JetSetGo believes AAM solutions have immense potential for greater mobility and connectivity across India’s urban and regional landscapes akin to the economic and social impact commercial air travel has had.

As per the company’s analysis, the three AAM aircraft designs selected offer an optimal mix for five identified use cases: airport transfers, regional connectivity, intercity commute, intracity shuttles and urban air taxis. JetSetGo intends to pioneer AAM’s application to these use cases starting with hybrid-electric planes from Electra.aero and Horizon that can utilise existing infrastructure, followed by Overair’s Butterfly advanced electric eVTOL aircraft for future urban air mobility applications as the infrastructure to support that develops in India’s cities.

Kanika Tekriwal, CEO and Co-founder, JetSetGo, said, “I am very excited about the partnerships we are building today and the scale of the vision these agreements represent. India’s geography and demographics make it an ideal launch market for AAM. Our partnership with these three leading innovators will introduce unique technologies like ‘blown lift’ and ‘fan-in-wing’ lift systems, hybrid and electric propulsion, and super-quiet optimal speed tilt rotors to India. We want to lead the transformation of urban and regional connectivity and believe we have the right partners and technologies to make this vision a reality. The scale of the agreements we’ve signed this week emphasise the scale of our ambition and belief in these new technologies.”

She added, “The enthusiasm and ideas showcased at today’s conference reaffirms our belief – India has the energy and the building blocks to become the world’s leader in AAM solutions tailored for developing economies. JetSetGo will strive to play the role of an accelerant by leading the discussion and debate in India, pioneering the application of cutting-edge global technologies, and engaging local stakeholders in a collaborative effort to make Advanced Air Mobility a reality.”

Brandon Robinson, CEO, Horizon, added, “We are truly honoured by this commitment from JetSetGo, a leading regional on-demand operator with a shared vision of a more sustainable and efficient on-demand regional travel. We are confident that our Cavorite X7 eVTOL will operate sustainably and profitably across India as well as many other global locations. As a hybrid electric aircraft, there is no need to install expensive charging support equipment across the travel network; it is a machine designed for challenging, real-world operations.”

“JetSetGo continues to be a first mover in India’s private aviation market by embracing AAM and adding Electra ’s hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft to its fleet,” said Marc Ausman, Chief Product Officer of Electra.aero. “Our aircraft’s unique ability to operate from soccer field sized spaces, with the capacity to transport nine passengers up to 500 miles, enables JetSetGo to identify new routes using eSTOL capability, and deliver sustainable, affordable air connections to India’s communities previously underserved by flight. Electra is committed to partnering with JetSetGo for the long term to grow regional transportation markets in India, and help bring jobs and vital economic growth to these communities.”

Valerie Manning, Chief Commercial Officer, Overair, said, “We’re thrilled that JetSetGo has selected Overair to support its commitment to bringing sustainable, advanced air mobility to India’s rapidly growing and innovative transportation system. Butterfly will provide a safe, quiet, and efficient mobility solution for urban and regional transport across the broadest range of weather conditions and geographic environments. In addition, the associated advanced air mobility ecosystem will create a multitude of jobs and fuel economic growth.”

AAM has the potential to revolutionise transportation, ease urban congestion through air taxi services, provide rapid regional connectivity, and enable economic growth. With lighter, emission-free aircraft designs, AAM promises to offer eco-friendly intra-city and last mile transportation options. India offers a vast untapped opportunity for AAM to aid mobility and economic growth, whilst also tackling the scourges of traffic congestion, environmental impact and aviation emissions. India’s geographical expanse, infrastructure challenges, and road congestion issues make it an ideal test bed for sustainable air taxi and commuter solutions.

Navi Mumbai International Airport Set for Commercial Operations by March 31, 2025: Scindia

Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, revealed that the commercial operations of the ambitious Rs 18,000-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport are anticipated to commence by March 31, 2025.

Providing insights into the phased development plan during his inspection visit to Navi Mumbai, Scindia disclosed that the initial phases (1 and 2) will witness the creation of one runway, one terminal, and a passenger capacity of two crore. Subsequent phases (3, 4, and 5) will incorporate the addition of a second runway, four terminals, and an increased passenger capacity of nine crore.

The minister emphasized the comprehensive connectivity the airport is set to offer, with road, rail, and metro linkages. The airport will be connected to NH 4B (348), the Sion Panvel Highway, and Atal Setu (new sea link). Railway connectivity will be facilitated through the Targhar Railway station, while metro links include Metro line 2D, Metro line 8, and the Navi Mumbai Pendhar Belapur Taloja metro line. Future plans include hovercraft connectivity from Colaba and cargo connectivity from Raigad in Phase 2.

Scindia highlighted that the airport, spanning 1,600 hectares, is designed to be the country’s first with automated passenger movement, fostering seamless travel within the airport premises both on the city side and the airside.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, committed to environmental sustainability, is being developed as a hundred percent green airport in its initial phase. The project aims to alleviate congestion at the Mumbai International Airport and is expected to significantly boost air traffic. Scindia underscored the government’s ambitious goal to double domestic passenger traffic from the current 15 crores to 30 crores by 2030, emphasizing the plan to establish over 200 airports across the country in the next six years. The overall physical and financial progress of the project has reached 55-60 percent completion.

 

AAI to use new system to reduce congestion at Chennai airport

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will implement the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) which will help in reducing congestion and delay of flights at the airport and also aid in saving fuel for airlines, reports The Hindu.

A-CDM is a common sharing platform to process real time information regarding flights arriving and departing at Chennai airport between different stakeholders like airlines, air traffic controllers, AAI and ground handling agency.
Officials of AAI said this would be greatly beneficial during the peak hours particularly for the departure flights. “If a flight is scheduled to depart at a specific time from the airport, as soon as the passengers have boarded, fuel and food are loaded and the door is shut, the airline will key in the information to the system which can be accessed by the other stakeholders. So, from the parking bay till take off, at every step, this system will ensure that the clearance for the aircraft comes on time and the aircraft need not wait for it, thereby saving fuel and time,” an official said.

Implementing this system also gains significance since it comes at a time when AAI plans to increase the number of aircraft movements in Chennai airport from 35 per hour to 45 per hour. “For the last few years, we have been carrying out airside work which will improve the number of aircraft the runway can handle per hour. Since these projects will come to an end soon and the aircraft movement will go up, it will be very useful to have this system to bring down the congestion,” another official said.

This will also help in efficient use of aircraft parking stands, he added.

“The focus of A-CDM is for all airport partners to share information, so that each organization has a more complete operational picture, enabling the effective and timely resolution of issues. A-CDM results in reduction of congestion at holding point at the runway of an airport. It also helps reduce fuel consumption, carbon emission and taxi time of the aircraft,” according to a press release.