SpiceJet appoints Sharaf Travel as GSA in UAE

Sharaf Travel has been appointed as the first General Sales Agency for SpiceJet in UAE with immediate effect. As per an exclusive agreement, Sharaf Travel will promote, advertise and sell SpiceJet tickets to people residing in UAE. Mr. Salah Sharaf, Chairman of Sharaf Travel, said, 'It is an honour for Sharaf Travel to represent Spicejet, here in the region. We are very happy with this partnership and expect to meet the growing demand of travelers within the country.'

Samyukth Sridharan, Chief Commercial Officer, SpiceJet Limited, said, 'With this step, we begin to expand our distribution footprint to Dubai and make SpiceJet tickets available through travel agents, for people living overseas. We believe that Sharaf Travel with their expertise and reach will be able to stimulate the market and encourage travel into India and SpiceJet.'

Lufthansa unveils new in-flight menu on Indian routes

German carrier Lufthansa unveiled a new in-flight menu to give its first and business class passengers on the India route a rich gourmet experience with Indian culinary delights especially crafted by two well-known chefs. Prawn curry masala, Tomato pappu (lentils), khade masale ka paneer (cottage cheese), lal mans (lamb) and Alleppey fish curry are some of the creations of Farman Ali and Surender Mohan, both of them master chefs with the Leela group.

"We aim to turn our flights into a truly special experience. This includes savouring the cooking skills of our famous 'Star Chefs'," said Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa's director for South Asia. "We cater to specific preferences of Indian customers. Together with our selection of world class wines and personal service, fine Indian dining above the clouds assures our guests a memorable journey," he said. The carrier operates 54 flights a week to seven Indian destinations and will celebrate its 50th anniversary of its operations to India later this year.

Air India to fly only Boeing 777's on India-US route

With the introduction of 777-300ER service from Newark’s Liberty International Airport on September 1, all of Air India’s flights between the United States and India will now be via new Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline’s daily non-stop flights to Mumbai and Delhi from JFK International Airport in New York have been operating with 777-200LRs, and their daily service to Delhi from O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is also aboard 777-300ERs. With an average age of less than one-and-a-half years, Air India now has one of the youngest fleets of Boeing 777s in the airline industry.

All of Air India’s 777 flights offer Economy, Executive and First Class service. Economy Class features a seat pitch of 34" for comfort, a therapeutic footrest and built-in 10.6" LCD monitor. Executive Class passengers enjoy the comfort of flat beds with a pitch of 76", with privacy partitions and 15.4" LCD screens. First Class cabin boasts compartments with flat beds with a pitch of 80" for the ultimate comfort, a built-in massage system, buddy seat, and a large 23" LCD screen.

Etihad Airways offers inaugural fares from India to Chicago

Etihad Airways will start flights to the Chicago from September 2, 2009. Passengers flying to Chicago from Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai can avail of inaugural fares starting at Rs 47,000 (all inclusive) and from Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode at Rs 53,000 (all inclusive) for a limited sale period until September 30, 2009. The airline will operate a three cabin Airbus A340-500 wide body aircraft on the Abu Dhabi to Chicago service which is configured to carry 240 passengers with 12 in First Class, 28 in Business Class and 200 in Economy Class.

Chicago will be Etihad Airways second US destination joining its popular daily flight to New York. The launch of services will also add to the airline’s network in North America, which includes Toronto and enjoys an average seat factor of more than 80 per cent. The new service to Chicago’s O’Hare airport will increase the airline’s global flight network to 55 cities and follows confirmation that Etihad Airways will also begin flights to Melbourne, Athens and Istanbul this year.

Spicejet to start more flights to Goa from Mumbai & Bangalore

SpiceJet is going to introduce more flights to Goa from Mumbai and Bangalore before the festival season. The second flight connecting Goa and Mumbai will start from September 11, 2009. The additional flight from Bangalore to Goa will start from October 25, 2009. With these new flights, SpiceJet’s daily departures will increase from 125 to 129 by October end this year.

British Airways launches special offers ex-India

British Airways is launching a 25% discount offer to its First and Club World (Business Class) customers travelling from India to London, Europe and the US. The special offer is valid till this month end from five cities in India - Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Tickets are valid for a year. Outbound travel must happen between August 28, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Judy Jarvis, Regional Commercial Manager for South Asia, British Airways said, "This deal offers our customers substantial savings when travelling in First and Club World. At three quarters of the actual price, customers can pamper themselves onboard British Airways and travel in luxury and comfort when making that long journey."

Air India cargo plane escapes major disaster at Mumbai

A major disaster was averted on at the Mumbai airport, when the pilot of an Air India cargo plane spotted fire raging in a consignment that was to be loaded onto the aircraft. Preliminary investigation showed the consignment contained matchboxes and incense sticks, categorised by the aviation industry as "dangerous goods". "I am terrified and shocked. Think what could have happened ? The time the fire was detected, the aircraft would have been airborne. This needs to be properly investigated, Captain AK Malhotra, commander of the aircraft, said.

Minutes before the flight’s takeoff, it was scheduled for 11.30 pm, but was delayed, the shipment lying close to the plane caught fire at 11.42 pm. The crew that noticed the fire found no commercial personnel near the aircraft. Captain Malhotra said the rules stipulated that the pilot of the aircraft should be informed about the presence of the consignment of dangerous goods. But he knew nothing about the presence of such a consignment. He said he would not fly the aircraft until he gets satisfactory explanation from the management.

Yemenia Airways flight data recorder recovered

A team of international investigators on Friday retrieved the flight data recorder from a Yemenia Airways flight that crashed in the Indian Ocean on June 30, the Comoros-based investigation team said. The investigation team said the black box was picked up underwater off the coast of the island nation's capital, Moroni, according to a statement. No details were provided about the other box containing the voice recorder. The Yemenia Flight 626 crash killed 152 people flying from Paris to Moroni via Yemen. One teenage girl survived, and is back home outside Paris.

A French naval ship detected signal beacons of the flight data and cockpit recorders key to determining the cause of the crash in July at depths of 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) about nine miles (15 kilometers) northwest of Grand Comoros island. But the ship did not have the deep sea diving equipment necessary to retrieve them. A French ship carrying a special underwater robot arrived at the site Aug. 20 to continue the search for the black boxes and other debris from the plane. Investigators from France, Yemen and Comoros are participating in the operation.

Indian Navy Sea Harriers back in business

The Sea Harrier fleet of aircraft of Indian Navy began operations off Goa on Thursday, after being thoroughly checked by Naval engineers. It may be recalled that Indian Navy fighter pilot and Lieutenant Commander Saurabh Saxena was killed when a single-seater Sea Harrier aircraft crashed in the Arabian Sea on August 21. The entire fleet was grounded on August 25 to execute a systemic check on these fighter aircraft. Navy PRO and Commander M Joshi said that it was routine procedure to halt the operation of aircraft after the crash. "After clearance from the naval engineers, Sea Harriers are back to business from Thursday", he added.

"The hazards of day-to-day naval operations and military profession are well known to the valiant men of Indian Navy, but for them it is a business as usual as they remain well prepared for any challenge that may come their way", informed Joshi. Meanwhile, Joshi informed that efforts were on to recover the wreckage of the Sea Harrier that crashed on August 21. "Naval clearance divers have been braving debilitating pressure and zero visibility in the bottom of the seas off Goa, as they attempt to recover the wreckage of the Sea Harrier that crashed on August 21", said Joshi.

Oman invites bids for three airport contracts

Omani officials have said that foreign firms, including South Korea's Hanjin Heavy Industries, Greece-based Consolidated Contractors and India's Dodsal, have qualified to bid for three airport contracts in the Sultanate. Bids submissions for Salalah airport in the south of Oman is due on September 21, with bids for Duqm and Sohar airports due on September 28. 'The Salalah airport will be converted from domestic to international, while the new Sohar airport is for airfield works and it will be Phase Two for Duqm airport,' an official said. Contracts for the three airports is expected to exceed $1.3bn.

Etihad Airways introduces new first class suite

Etihad Airways has introduced its first class suite on board its new Airbus A340-600, which makes its maiden flight between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow today. The private suite comes with leather seats fully upholstered by Italian furniture maker, Poltrona Frau. Etihad unveiled its new first class suite during Arabian Travel Market in May, using it to attract those who want to travel in luxury and are prepared to pay for such a service.

Lufthansa offers Ramadan special fares to Europe

Lufthansa German Airlines, one of the leading global carriers, launched special fares from the UAE, Kuwait and Oman to 40 destinations in Europe. Destinations include Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Hamburg, Hanover, London, Lyon, Madrid, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome, Valencia, Venice, Vienna, Warsaw, Zurich and more. Mr. Peter Pollak, General Manager Passenger Sales UAE & Director Gulf, Lufthansa German Airlines said, "I would like to wish everyone a warm felt Ramadan Kareem. In our consistent efforts and dedication to our UAE, Oman and Kuwait customers, Lufthansa introduces this Ramadan special with very attractive fares to 40 European destinations, combined with our extensive network worldwide. We are positive this offer will be well received by our passengers who would like to beat the summer heat and fly to their favorite destinations in Europe with these special fares from Lufthansa."

Customers can book their tickets before September 18, 2009 and are required to commence travel latest by February 15, 2010. Hence, Lufthansa is also offering a very long travel period. This gives customers the opportunity to buy now and travel in the coming months, either for leisure, business, Eid break or Christmas holidays. The maximum period of stay is 3 months. Lufthansa German Airlines is the only airline connecting Dubai and Abu Dhabi with 20 weekly flights to Frankfurt and Munich. Lufthansa flies daily from Kuwait to Frankfurt and also offers daily flights from Muscat to Frankfurt shortly before midnight (actual departure times vary for the different weekdays). Lufthansa, the German flag carrier has an extensive route network, connecting the region to a total of 194 destinations in 79 countries which can be reached from Frankfurt and Munich. The Ramadan Special fares offer quoted above for UAE, Kuwait and Oman are available if booked online as well as through local travel agents. These fares are excluding taxes and service charges and subject to special conditions.

Oberoi Group plans luxury hotel in Oman

The Chairman of hotel company EIH, part of the Oberoi Group, has said construction of its 252-room Oberoi-branded hotel in Business Bay, Dubai was 'progressing' and that it would open in 2011. Planning for a hotel in Abu Dhabi and in Oman is underway, he said, although no opening dates were given. All three hotels will be managed by The Oberoi Group.

IAF scrambles fighter jets to intercept Air France aircraft

The Indian Air Force on Thursday scrambled its MiG 29 fighter jets to intercept an Air France flight entering India from Pakistan over Amritsar as the aircraft had switched on wrong Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) code. "Taking prompt action after our radars detected an unknown aircraft over our territory, we scrambled two of our MiG 29 air defence fighter jets from Adampur air base to intercept the aircraft at around 0610 hours in the morning, as it had switched on a wrong IFF code," IAF officials said. "The mission was aborted soon after the fighters took off as the French aircraft had switched over to the right codes," they added.

IFF codes are meant to help the ground-based radars to automatically differentiate between friendly and enemy aircraft. The French Airliner's Airbus 343 aircraft was on its way from Paris to Bangkok and was entering India after flying over Lahore in Pakistan. "After the aircraft switched over to the right codes, it was allowed to proceed towards its destination and the IAF jets came back to its base," they said. After the 26/11 attacks, the IAF has been keeping a tight vigil on the borders to thwart any attempt by non-state actors to carry out any 9/11 type aerial strikes in India.

Deccan 360 plans expansion of cargo business

On 15 October, G.R. Gopinath, pioneer of low-fare aviation in India, will start the first phase of expansion for his four-month-old air cargo venture, Deccan 360, by entering into the small parcels business with Nagpur as a hub. From that date, Gopinath’s Deccan Cargo and Express Logistics Pvt. Ltd, which runs Deccan 360, will fly three large Airbus A310 planes and seven smaller ATR planes to connect 17 small and big Indian cities as well as international destinations such as Dubai and Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Deccan 360 took delivery of a third A310 plane, which will be used to connect international routes from New Delhi and Chennai. "We will be taking delivery of seven ATR planes by the last week of September," Deccan Cargo’s managing director Gopinath said. Gopinath launched Deccan Cargo in May with one A310 plane for its international general cargo business.

Jet Airways to introduce Mumbai-Dhaka flight

Effective September 15, 2009, Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, will introduce new daily, direct services on the Mumbai-Dhaka-Mumbai sectors, aboard state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This will be Jet Airways’ third daily service to the Bangladesh from India, and connect travelers to and from the Gulf with Dhaka, via Mumbai. The airline currently flies daily from Delhi and Kolkata to Dhaka. Flight 9W 276 will depart Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 0840 hrs, arriving in Dhaka’s Zia International Airport at 1300 hrs. Flight 9W 275 will then depart Dhaka at 1530 hrs, arriving in Mumbai at 1700 hrs. According to Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways, "With the launch of our Mumbai-Dhaka service, passengers from Bangladesh may connect on to Jet Airways’ services to North America, Europe and the Gulf, as well as other ASEAN destinations, via our hubs in Mumbai and Delhi."

South African Airways to offer desi menu on Indian routes

South African Airways has taken up a number of initiatives to spice up and strengthen its route to India. Following South Africa’s successful hosting of the IPL cricket event earlier this year where thousands of cricket fans poured into the country and offered constructive suggestions on product and service enhancement from customers, SAA is improving its offering on the route to India, traditionally a very popular route for traders. Many South Africans have already discovered that India offers a host of exciting travel options, such as skiing in the Northern area, excellent beaches in the South and great shopping in Mumbai. SAA has enhanced its product offering and service delivery on flights between Johannesburg and Mumbai, India and the airline is running a marketing promotion in support of this.

"As a further celebration and in keeping with the marketing message that India is "the fastest way to fall in love with the flavours of India", the airline has flown in celebrity chefs from India, to cook the very best dishes India has to offer," SAA reported. Amongst the top Indian chefs that SAA has flown in are Executive Chef Hubert Pereira, Sous Chef Bachaspati Painoli and Cook-Indian Cuisine chef Chandrakant Sutar. The chefs visiting South Africa from India, "the land of exotic spice", will prepare a feast of mouth-watering dishes using only the finest ingredients and authentic Indian culinary styles.

Myanmar International Airways to launch Rangoon-Gaya flight

Myanmar International Airways will launch a Rangoon-Bodh Gaya flight from October 25. The ticket reservation centre of the Burmese National Flag carrier said MAI will operate the Rangoon- Bodh Gaya flight twice a week - Wednesdays and Saturdays. The airfare is yet to be fixed. "We are operating this flight as the number of pilgrims is increasing. We will fly two days a week initially and increase the frequency in keeping with the rise in passengers," Mie Mie, an official at the MAI ticket reservation centre in Rangoon said. An official of the ‘Nilar’ Bodh Gaya pilgrimage tour said that the number of passengers visiting the Buddhist sacred place had increased since 2005. Bodh Gaya in India’s Bihar state, is considered a sacred place for Buddhists, as it is known as the land where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.

Air India flight makes emergency landing in Mumbai

An Air India flight made an emergency landing at Mumbai airport following a suspected hydraulic failure on Wednesday morning. All the passengers on board the Mumbai-Banglore flight IC 109 were safe. According to airport sources, around 10 am the air traffic controller (ATC) declared an emergency after the pilot reported a suspected hydraulic failure in the aircraft. The flight had taken off from Mumbai around 9.35 am with 93 passengers on board. But it returned soon after the problem was noticed.

Jet Airways pilots to strike work from 7th September

Jet Airways pilots served a 14-day notice to the management to go on strike from September 7 midnight. This is for the first time in its sixteen years of existence that Naresh Goyal’s Jet Airways is facing a rebellion from its pilots union. The decision for strike comes after the management refused to reinstate two senior pilots, Captains Sam Thomas and D Balaram who were sacked earlier this month on alleged anti-company activities. The newly formed union of pilots of Jet Airways, National Aviators Guild, had asked the management to reverse its decision but in vain. "Monday at 1 pm, we served the notice as per provisions of Industrial Disputes Act," said Girish Kaushik, president, National Aviators Guild. "The idea for strike was picked up from the management, which had threatened to go on strike demanding a cut in jet fuel prices last month." The guild claims that 680 Jet Airways pilots who are its members would join the strike and the airline did not specify the total number.

Indian low cost carriers increase marketing budgets

As competition in the low-cost carrier (LCC) space increases, many of them have doubled their advertising spending, increased promotional offers and even gone in for a completely new look and feel, as they take on growing competition from the likes of Kingfisher, Jet Airways and Air India. Spice Jet, for instance, has doubled its ad spending from 2 per cent of its turnover last year to close to 5 per cent this year. This July, for the first time, the LCC began considering a television campaign as it moves away from only price point or promo-driven advertising to promoting its brand and services. Likewise, in the past two months, GoAir has increased the pace of its promotional offers to every fortnight, increasing its load factor during the period from 5.4 in June to 5.7 in July.

And this in spite of full-cost carriers like Jet Airways and Kingfisher expanding their existing budget operations. Besides, promotional offers, GoAir has also gone in for a complete new look and feel that includes a logo change and new uniforms for its staff, changing the look from informal to formal attire. Even the three-year-old Indigo Airlines launched its first TV commercial this April, showcasing the airline running a smooth operation and catering to demanding consumers’ service expectations even though it offered a low-cost service. The fleet of budget airlines is expected to double from 75 at the start of the year to over 150 by year-end.

Jet Airways to launch New Delhi-Hong Kong flight

Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, will launch its second daily flight to Hong Kong from India, with daily services on the Delhi-Hong Kong sector aboard state-of-the-art wide-body Airbus 330-200 aircraft, effective September 30, 2009. The airline will also flag off its inaugural flight to Delhi from Hong Kong on October 1, 2009, China National Day, the anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. The new daily flights will facilitate business and leisure travel between the Indian capital and the commercial hub of the East, Hong Kong, and complement the airline’s existing Mumbai-Hong Kong services.

From September 30, 2009 to October 24, 2009 and from March 28, 2010 to October 30, 2010, flight 9W 72 will depart Delhi at 2250 hrs, arriving in Hong Kong at 0705 hrs. Flight 9W 71 will then depart Hong Kong at 1330 hrs, arriving in Delhi at 1650 hrs. From October 25, 2009 to March 27, 2010, flight 9W 72 will depart Delhi at 2325 hrs, arriving in Hong Kong at 0700 hrs. Flight 9W 71 will then depart Hong Kong at 1330 hrs, arriving in Delhi at 1720 hrs. Jet Airways' Première (Business Class) guests will enjoy 180 degree lie-flat beds in a unique herringbone configuration that ensures easy aisle access from every seat, an oversized table, laptop power, telephony, SMS, Email and live text news, providing guests who want to work with a 'flying office'.

Première guests may also choose from a delectable menu of Indian and non-Indian cuisine, and an extensive wine list. Economy guests will enjoy advanced, ergonomically-designed seats to minimise muscular and sinew tension, personal reading lights and on-demand In-flight Entertainment, among other amenities. According to Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways, "We are delighted to connect Delhi and Hong Kong with daily services, and launch our inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Delhi on the occasion of China National Day. There continues to remain a strong demand for quality services on the Delhi-Hong Kong sector, on account of the latter’s popularity as a leading global business and leisure destination."

Taj Group of Hotels ties up for frequent flyer programmes

India's Taj Group of Hotels has partnered with three global airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Sri Lankan Airlines and Etihad Airways for their frequent flyer programmes. The partnership envisages the travellers of three air-carriers earning airline miles while staying at Taj property, a company press release said. "A customer will earn valuable airline miles on the frequent flyer programme while staying at any of the group's luxury hotels, luxury grand palaces or the Gateway hotels," the release said. The Taj will leverage this channel to promote various hospitality offers across destinations and hotels to reach out to customers and the airline would use this to help its members and frequent flyers earn miles on their travels and their stay as well, it said.

Etihad Airways to launch Hyderabad-Abu Dhabi flight

Etihad Airways will offer air travellers a greater choice of flights and improved connections as part of its winter 2009-10 schedule, with a new service to Hyderabad in India and additional services to Athens, Istanbul, Beirut, Cairo, and Kathmandu among the highlights. The new winter flying programme starts on October 25 and by January 2010 it will be almost 15 per cent larger than the same period last year with 950 flights planned to operate each week. The new flights to Hyderabad from November 2009 will join Chicago and Cape Town as the airline's newest routes.

"The winter programme for 2009-10 demonstrates our commitment to provide greater depth to the Etihad Airways global flight network. The increased frequencies will provide air travellers with a greater choice of flights into and out of Abu Dhabi and better connectivity with the rest of our network," James Hogan, Etihad Airways chief executive, said. Etihad Airways will take delivery of three new A320 aircraft during the winter period which will support the frequency increases to short and medium haul destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Tourism Malaysia packages are a big hit in India

The "One Malaysia Endless Experience" package jointly promoted by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS), which offers an affordable package to woo more tourists, is becoming a hit in the Indian market. "The response was overwhelming. We received 1,500 bookings from passengers since we launched the campaign last Monday in Delhi. We have offered 8,000 seats and by the end of the campaign next month it could exceed 75 per cent," Azahar Hamid, MAS regional manager for South Asia said.

Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen, who arrived in Delhi to energise bilateral tourism between India and Malaysia, launched the "One Malaysia" marketing campaign to draw more tourists to Malaysia. The package, which includes a four-day/three-night stay, costs only Rs17,000 (RM1,260), and is about 30 per cent cheaper than the normal packages. Regardless of the Influenza A(H1N1) disease threatening the travel industry and the global economic slowdown, the ministry expects 600,000 Indians to visit Malaysia this year, up from last year's 500,000.

Domestic airfares nosedive due to H1N1 fears

Air fares in several domestic sectors have crashlanded and flying to places such as Goa, Mumbai and Bangalore is once again possible for less than Rs 2,000 if you booking the right flight at the right time. Travel experts say airlines have responded to falling passenger loads and swine flu fears to bring fares to their lowest point in two years. Even flights to usually expensive destinations such as Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati and Jammu are almost 30%-40% lower and tickets are available for anything between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000 if you shop around for the right fare. "Only two months ago, domestic fares were so high that people were choosing to travel abroad because of the attractive fare packages. A ticket to a very well-connected destination, came at between Rs 3,500 and Rs 4,500 even in low-cost carriers," a travel expert said.

"But the situation has turned on its head to benefit economy-class travellers." GoAir, for instance, is offering Mumbai-Goa tickets for Rs 1,975; a discount of Rs 300 brings the fare down to sub-2,000 levels. Spice Jet has pitched the same ticket at 2,150 minus Rs 150 (to give you a ticket for Rs 2,000). Even full-service carrier Kingfisher's ticket is priced at Rs 2,250. Similarly, if you book a Mumbai-Banglore ticket for Sept 1 either on Indigo or GoAir, you can expect to get a ticket for as low as Rs 1,553. The maximum fare, offered by even full-service carriers, is also between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000. You can get air tickets for Delhi, too, at Rs 1,998. And tickets for destinations like Jammu, which are usually priced between Rs 5,000 and Rs 8,000 are priced at Rs 1,803 for September 1.

Air India flight makes emergency landing at Chennai

The Chennai airport was put on a "full emergency" after an Air India flight to Chennai carrying 141 passengers had a tyre burst while taking off from Singapore. The flight landed safe at 11.15 am. "Nose wheel problem, due to technical", radioed the pilot of IC 556 Air India A320 flight to Chennai air traffic control (ATC) as it neared Indian airspace at 9 am. "Assistance required?" asked the traffic controller. But the pilot declined. It seemed like a normal exchange between a pilot and an air traffic controller when an aircraft experiences technical problem. But traffic controllers suspected that there was something more to it and declared a full emergency around 11 am.

Airport officials and emergency team personnel heaved a sign of relief when the aircraft made a safe landing at 11.15 am, despite having a burst tyre. Fire and rescue services personnel, a medical team and engineers monitored the aircraft as it touched down. The engineering team made preliminary checks and found that one of the rear tyres was completely damaged. Nevertheless, the aircraft taxied to terminal for passengers to disembark. "The aircraft landed from the St Thomas Mount side on the main runway and vacated the runway after five minutes. As there are four sets of tyres in the rear, the burst did not affect the landing. All the 141 passengers of the flight are safe," said acting airport director Ramgopal.

GoAir introduces 'Festival Offer'

Low budget carrier GoAir has introduced a festival offer of Rs 1500 per ticket, all inclusive one way fare. The special fare is available only for limited seats and the booking period is open only till Aug 27, 2009. The flying period is valid till March 31, 2010. Tickets under this offer are non-refundable. The offer is not available to travel agents and consolidators and cannot be combined with any other offer or scheme. GoAir is one of the no frill carriers that made a modest profit while others in the aviation sector were bleeding.

Air fares between India and Trinidad to become cheaper

Indian High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Malay Mishra has announced that state-owned Caribbean Airlines and Air India are working on a project to reduce air fares between the two countries. He told a meeting that when the programme becomes operational "an airline ticket purchased in Trinidad and Tobago will connect a Caribbean Airlines flight with Air India in New York." Travel for trade, cultural and religious reasons between both countries continues to escalate, but there could be a higher number of visits if the air fares are reduced. In June, India Tourism and Air India officials based in New York met several travel agents and discussed ways to boost tourism from Trinidad and Tobago to India.

American Airlines hikes baggage fees on India route

Fort Worth based American Airlines Inc. raised fees for passengers checking a second bag on some international routes, matching similar pricing by other carriers. The carrier will charge passengers flying from the U.S. to India and several European countries $50 for a second checked bag, passengers can check one bag at no charge. Besides India, the destinations for the new fee include Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

Swiss Air to add First Class on its flights to Zurich from Mumbai/Delhi

Swiss Air will introduce a first class section on its flights on its Mumbai-Zurich route beginning September and its new Delhi-Zurich route in October, the company said. The new section is in addition to its business and economy classes.Holger Hatty, member of board and chief commercial officer of Swiss Air said that his airline will introduce a new wide body Airbus A330-300 type plane with eight first class seats, 45 business class seats and 183 economy class seats on India routes, starting 2nd September from Mumbai and 13th October from Delhi.

Jet Airways Konnect launches new domestic flights

Effective September 3, 2009 onwards, Jet Airways Konnect, Jet Airways’ all-economy no-frills service, will launch services on several key domestic routes previously operated by Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, aboard state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft. With the launch of these new services, Jet Airways Konnect will further enhance domestic connectivity across its network to/from the major metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata to several smaller cities across India. Effective September 3, 2009 Jet Airways Konnect will launch/enhance services on the Kolkata-Delhi/Bagdogra/Guwahati-Kolkata sectors; followed by the introduction of new services on the Delhi-Pune/Guwahati-Delhi and Delhi-Chennai sectors, effective September 15, 2009.

Effective September 16, 2009, Jet Airways Konnect will launch/enhance services on the Chennai-Delhi, Delhi-Guwahati-Bagdodgra-Delhi, Delhi-Bagdodgra-Guwahati-Delhi, Delhi-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai and Mumbai-Delhi sectors; and on the Mumbai-Aurangabad/Chandigarh/Kolkata-Mumbai sectors, effective September 17, 2009. Effective September 18, 2009, Jet Airways Konnect will launch/enhance services on the Delhi-Hyderabad/Mumbai-Delhi sectors; followed by the commencement of new services on the Delhi-Chennai/Kolkata-Delhi, Mumbai-Udaipur-Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Delhi sectors, effective October 1, 2009.

According to Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways, "Jet Airways Konnect, with its low-fare, high quality services, has proven to be very popular with travellers across India. With strong demand for Konnect services on these domestic routes, we are confident that the new flights will be well-appreciated." With the launch of these new services, as of October 1, 2009, Jet Airways Konnect service will operate over 180 daily flights across India.

Air India to fly all economy flights to West Asia

Air India, the flag carrier operated by National Aviation Co. of India Ltd, will replace several of its West Asian flights that offer business class travel with all-economy flights of its discount carrier in an attempt to reduce costs and increase revenue. Business class travel has been declining globally amid an economic slowdown, according to numbers released by the International Air Transport Association. Global travel on premium tickets declined 23.8% in May from a year earlier, economy travel was down 7.6% in the same month. "There is hardly any business class required in West Asia," said an Air India official.

The carrier’s low-cost affiliate, Air India Express, operates 186 flights a week between India and West Asia and South East Asia. The airline will increase its services to West Asia to make up for the flights Air India plans to pull, said a government official. Air India has committed to undertake an overhaul of its business operations, restructure its massive Rs.15,241 crore debt, raise funds through a public offering in fiscal 2011 and convert three out of four of its flights into low-fare services.

Indian Navy Sea Harrier fighter jet crashes off Goa

An Indian Navy Sea Harrier fighter jet crashed off the Goa coast on Friday and the pilot is feared to have been killed, an official said. The plane was on an exercise with a naval ship, the official said, adding that efforts were on to locate the jet.

Air India Express to start new flights from Muscat

Air India Express announced the launch of a new flight which will connect Muscat with Amritsar-New Delhi (via Abu Dhabi). The airline is also exploring two additional flights a week between Muscat and Kochi (via Mangalore) on Wednesdays and Fridays. The state-of-the-art Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which is a 185-seater, will fly on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with effect from September 4. The announcement was made at a press conference in Muscat, chaired by Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate, Anil Wadhwa, and Air India Express manager for Oman, Mohit Sain. These flights will depart Muscat at 20.35 hrs and arrive at Amritsar at 03.25 hrs the following day. John, airport manager, was also present at the press meet.

Welcoming the introduction of additional flights, Wadhwa said, "These flights will allow connections to places which were hitherto difficult to reach." Sain, who has recently taken over as manager, assured that the airline would explore direct flights to Ahmedabad and Goa. Air India Express in the Oman sector has not suffered any losses, Sain informed. Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, commenced its operations to Oman in May 2005, coinciding with the 50th year of diplomatic ties between the Sultanate and India. Air India Express currently operates four flights a week to Kozhikode, three to Thiruvananthapuram, two to Kochi and three to Mangalore from Muscat. As the only carrier operating international flights between Salalah and Kerala, Air India Express has three flights a week to Kochi, two to Kozhikode and one to Thiruvananthapuram from Salalah.

In addition to Air India Express operations, Air India also provides connectivity with daily non-stop flights to Delhi, Ahmedabad via Mumbai, Chennai via Kochi and Kozhikode and three weekly flights to Hyderabad via Bangalore. Air India Express flies to 14 international destinations — Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Muscat, Salalah, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Colombo and Dhaka from 17 Indian cities, namely Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Delhi, Amritsar, Srinagar, Lucknow, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mangalore and Tiruchirapally.

Oman invites bids for development of Sohar International Airport

Oman's government has invited bids for Sohar Airport's key airfield infrastructure project. This phase includes building a 4,000-metre runway with turning loops at the ends, in addition to a full-length taxiway with high speed exits. With a width of 75 metres, the runway will be designed to handle some of the largest aircraft in operation today, including Airbus' Superjumbo A380. Other works envisaged in this package are airside roads, power and water networks, fuel fire fighting systems, and navigation aids. Sohar Airport, which is designed to handle 500,000 passengers and 100,000 tonnes of air cargo per year, will also serve as an emergency alternative to Muscat International Airport.

Flydubai still committed to starting flights to India

Low cost airline Flydubai remains committed to its Indian hubs, despite postponing three of its routes this month, its CEO said. "India will be operational. We are committed to operating to India," Ghaith Al Ghaith said. Last month the Dubai based carrier was forced to postpone all three of its routes to Lucknow, Coimbatore and Chandigarh due to operational issues. Passengers affected by the cancellation were given a full refund and a free voucher for travel on any of the airline’s routes until the end of November. With more than one million Indians residing in the UAE, India is an important route for the budget carrier.

Regional budget airlines could grow by up to 10 percent in the next two years, Al Ghaith added. Flydubai launched in June amid the global economic downturn, which has seen a slump in passenger traffic. The no frills airline, which is wholly owned by the government of Dubai, has already launched five routes to Beirut, Amman, Damascus, Aleppo and Alexandria, and is due to launch its sixth route to Djibouti in September. Flydubai is competing with other low cost airlines including Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways and Sharjah based Air Arabia.

Jey Airways to post profits on London sector this winter

The London operations of Jet Airways will become profitable this winter schedule, which lasts October through March, a top company official said. The company will also introduce a larger aircraft on that route in October. "Jet Airways claims a market share of 37% in the India-UK market. We are expecting our India-UK operations to be profitable in winter season," Anita Goyal, executive vice president, network planning and revenue management, said on the sidelines of its 17th annual general meeting.

Air India offers special fares on Hyderabad-Mumbai sector

Air India has announced a short term special fare on its flight AI-601 from Hyderabad to Mumbai. The flight AI-601 departs from Hyderabad at 0410 hrs and arrives in Mumbai 0520 hrs. The special fare on the sector is Rs 1929 and for three days before departure it will be Rs 1829, an AI release said. These fares which will be available till September 17 and the travel is to be completed by September 20. User Development Fee as applicable will be payable separately.

IBS Software signs up with S7 Airlines Cargo

IBS Software announced that S7 Cargo acting on behalf of S7 Airlines and GLOBUS airline, based in Russia, has signed up for iCargo, its new-generation cargo management solution. Leading IT solutions provider to the global travel, transportation and logistics industry, IBS Software announced that S7 Cargo acting on behalf of S7 Airlines and GLOBUS airline, based in Russia, has signed up for iCargo, its new-generation cargo management solution. The S7 Cargo has chosen iCargoNet, the SaaS offering of iCargo, that will be hosted from IBS’ state-of-the-art data centres. With this the total number of cargo customers for IBS has grown to 19 in a very short time.

iCargo, developed in association with a Core Group of Influencers comprising 6 leading airlines in the world, has, within a span of a few years grown to be an industry leading air cargo management solution globally. The IBS solution (www.ibsplc.com) was selected by S7 Cargo for its strong customer service and proven ability to help cargo carriers in significantly increasing operational effectivity and cost efficiency. iCargoNet, the hosted version of iCargo lowers the total cost of ownership and facilitates transaction-based pricing, whilst bringing new benefits such as ease of global distribution and ability to add new modules and system features as the business needs of the airlines grow and change.

SITA awarded CUPPS certification

A new standard in passenger processing has arrived with the announcement today that SITA is the first platform provider to achieve CUPPS (Common Use Passenger Processing System) compliance certification and to successfully complete its CUPPS Pilot program. The SITA CUPPS Pilot started in January 2009 at Orlando International Airport with the check-in and boarding of WestJet passengers, followed recently by Continental Airlines passengers. The culmination comes today with the certification demonstrating that SITA's platform is fully compliant with the pre-released version of the IATA (International Air Transport Association) CUPPS Technical Specification. Catherine Mayer, SITA's Vice-President for Airport Services, said, "This is a great day for the air transport community as it brings common use passenger processing to a more efficient level. It is also another milestone in SITA's long history of community leadership in the common use arena."

"SITA first developed CUTE (common user terminal equipment) with the airlines in 1984 and is now the first to receive certification for our platform using the new industry adopted CUPPS Recommended Practice. This certification demonstrates that our systems can run multiple applications according to the CUPPS standards. In fact, SITA's AirportConnect Open is the only fully-integrated common use platform supporting CUPPS, CUTE, and web-based applications, as well as CUSS kiosk applications." SITA's AirportConnect Open is a proven, stable platform that has been in operation since 2004. It provides a low-risk migration path to CUPPS compared with both new platforms that may be introduced by other companies and with existing platforms where CUPPS, CUTE, and CUSS Kiosk capabilities are not integrated as a single system. SITA is the world's leading specialist in air transport communication and IT solutions.

SITA delivers and manages business solutions for airline, airport, GDS, government and other customers over the world’s most extensive network, which forms the communications backbone of the global air transport industry. SITA's portfolio includes managed global communications, infrastructure and outsourcing services, as well as services for airline commercial management and passenger operations, flight operations, aircraft operations and air-to-ground communications, airport management and operations, baggage operations, transportation security and border management, cargo operations and more. With a customer service team of over 1,600 staff around the world, SITA invests significantly in achieving best-in-class customer service, providing integrated local and global support for both its communications and IT application services.

SITA has two main subsidiaries, OnAir, which is the leading provider of in-flight connectivity, and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company dedicated solely to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint ventures providing services to the air transport community, Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for secure electronic identity management. SITA is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for around 550 air transport industry members and 3,200 customers in over 200 countries and territories. In 2009, the company celebrates 60 years in business. Set up in 1949 with 11 member airlines, SITA today employs people of more than 140 nationalities, speaking over 70 different languages. SITA had consolidated revenues of over US$1.47 billion in 2008.

Travelocity Global acquires Travelguru India

Travelocity Global, the US based online travel firm, has acquired Travelguru, one of India's largest online hotel distribution networks, for an undisclosed sum. Industry sources, who termed the deal as a distressed sale, pegged the acquisition size at between Rs 45 crore and Rs 50 crore. Travelocity Global said that the Travelguru will remain a separate entity with co-founder and CEO Ashwin Damera continuing to head its operations. Travelguru between its three offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore employs close to 150 people. Roshan Mendis, regional vice-president of Travelocity Asia Pacific, said the acquisition will complement the company's online business and help it access more than 4,000 hotels in India.

Industry sources said that Travelguru has been in the red for quite sometime and Damera had been trying hard to find a buyer for over a year now, reaching out to the likes of expedia.com, makemytrip.com and Cox & Kings. Travelguru since its inception in 2005 has received two rounds of venture capital funding. It raised $25 million in 2006 -- $10 million from Sequoia Capital India, which the latter followed up with a $15 million co-investment with Battery Venture. In 2007, Travelguru acquired travel portal, desiya.com, reportedly for $25 million in 2007.

Kingfisher Red may start charging for inflight meals

Passengers may soon have to pay for food on board low-fare service Kingfisher Red as the parent carrier, Vijay Mallya-promoted Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, studies ways to change the way it operates in a deteriorating market condition. "In line with market dynamics, Kingfisher Airlines is evaluating various options, including charging for food on board Kingfisher Red," said an official. "The airline has kick-started a market research to find out what is the best option for the airline, but nothing has been finalized as of now."

In October, Kingfisher Airlines began serving free food on Kingfisher Red, comprising a bottle of water, a cup cake, freshly cut fruit and upma, a southern Indian breakfast food made of rice flour. Kingfisher Red, which is a no-frills, all-economy, low-fare service, was created by UB group-run Kingfisher Airlines by re-christening Air Deccan, India’s first low-fare carrier that it acquired in mid 2007. Earlier, Air Deccan was selling food on board, which doubled as a source of revenue. Currently, at least 70% of Kingfisher’s flights are operated under the Kingfisher Red service. Kingfisher has at least 370 daily domestic flights, with 73 aircraft connecting 70 destinations.

Jet Airways planning to add more A330's to its fleet

Jet Airways has decided to go in for more Airbus 330s, and not Boeing 777s, thanks to the aircraft’s cost-efficiencies. "The Airbus 330 is 30 per cent more cost-efficient compared with the Boeing 777. In the current economic downturn, operating a three-class configuration aircraft is tough, especially the first (class). With its two-class configuration, the Airbus makes much more sense," said Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO, Jet Airways. Company sources said that while the Boeing 777’s running cost works out to approximately $13,000 an hour, that of the Airbus 330 is $9,000. Incidentally, the Airbus 330 is a 220-seater aircraft while the Boeing 777 has 312 seats. Jet has 10 Boeing 777s and 12 Airbus 330s in its fleet of 86 aircraft. Of this, it has leased out seven Boeings and only two Airbus. It plans to lease out the remaining three Boeings in the near future.

Kingfisher Red aircraft suffers birdhit at Guwahati

A Kingfisher Red Imphal-Guwahati-Kolkata flight made an emergency landing at Guwahati airport on Saturday afternoon, after a bird hit one of the wings during takeoff. The pilot noticed a technical snag soon after the flight took off at 3.50 pm and sought permission for emergency landing from air traffic controllers. "The flight landed safely and all passengers on board are fine. We have found a few feathers in the propeller," said an airline official.

Jet Airways flight skids off the runway at Dhaka

A Jet Airways Dhaka-Delhi flight skidded on the taxiway of Dhaka's Zia International Airport on Monday morning just before taking off. When the Boeing 737-800 with 131 people on board was heading towards the take off point, it had to make a U-turn. "Unfortunately, Capt Suman Choudhury lost control and the aircraft skidded. The nosewheel of the aircraft entered the soft ground along the runway and got grounded," said an airline official. All the passengers were safely removed and the aircraft was towed to the parking bay. "The incident compelled flight operations to remain suspended for 45 minutes as five international and domestic flights had to be diverted," a Jet Airways official said from Dhaka.

Jet officials said poor runway conditions, particularly due to the monsoon, were responsible for the mishap. "Although the impact of the incident was not too serious and all passengers on board were safe, it was certainly a cause for concern. Flight safety officials in Bangladesh will probe into the matter," an airline official said. Following the incident, Jet sent a plane from Kolkata to take the stranded passengers to Delhi. This aircraft flew back to Dhaka from Delhi and returned here with 94 passengers booked on a Dhaka-Kolkata flight at 6.45 pm, 2 hours and 15 minutes behind schedule. DGCA officials in Kolkata said they were waiting for the pilot's report to ascertain what made the aircraft skid. "The aircraft did not have any snags. A team of engineers was sent to Dhaka to carry out routine inspection," a DGCA official said.

Grand Hyatt Muscat launches 'Rembrandt' package

Grand Hyatt Muscat is showcasing original Rembrandt etchings, as well as offering 'Rembrandt Package' from August 20 to September 20, 2009. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, an exhibition of original Rembrandt etchings will be held in the Afrah ballroom at Grand Hyatt Muscat. This will be the first time that these etchings of Rembrandt van Rijn will be shown in the Middle East and North Africa. Rembrandt van Rijn is one of the most famous Dutch Old Masters, well known for his etchings, drawings, and paintings, which make exceptional use of light and shadow.

The exhibition, which is presented by the Rembrandt House Museum and the Al Salmi Library, will be open daily from 10:00am to 12:00 midnight. Guests can take advantage of a special Rembrandt Package, book a Grand Room and get a second room at a 50% check out. This offer is valid until September 20, 2009, available to GCC residents discount. Every day of the week, children aged up to 12 eat for free at any restaurant at Grand Hyatt Muscat when dining with their paying parents. The promotion is restricted to two children per couple and may not be used in combination with any other promotion.

Jet Airways may lease aircraft to Oman Air

India's private airline Jet Airways has said it has converted the wet lease of its aircraft, where airplanes are given along with the crew and maintenance obligations, to Turkish Airlines into dry lease, which comes without staff and other frills. The airline is also holding talks with Gulf Air and Oman Air for similar conversion. While the lease term with Gulf Air will expire in October this year, the agreement with Oman Air continues until October-November.

Tourists rush to Goa undeterred by swine flu

Flu scare across the country has failed to dampen the tourist inflow in Goa as enthusiasts are still thronging the beaches during weekends, officials said. Goa State Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) said that the state has a bed capacity of 40,000 and most of its hotels have a very good occupancy. The GTDC officials also denied any reports of Flu affecting the tourist inflow in the state. "There is absolutely no need to raise apprehensions. Goa will have around 35,000 tourists visiting this weekend itself," GTDC Deputy Chairman Lyndon Monteiro said. The industry sources also rubbished rumours of weekend travellers cancelling their trips to the coastal state in view of the Swine Flu scare.

"Swine Flu has not yet affected the tourism industry. All the hotels have high occupancy and there is no dearth of weekend tourists visiting here," Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Ralf D'Souza said. "Goa is much safer place compared to rest of the cities. The situation here is much under control and hence this is a good reason for the tourists to come here," he said. The tiny coastal state receives around 24 lakh tourists annually including 20 lakh domestic tourists, who flock to the beaches on long weekends.

AirAsia to start Kuala Lumpur-Kolkata flights

Three years after Malaysia Airlines withdrew operations from Kolkata after servicing the sector for only a year, Kuala Lumpur-based low-cost airline, AirAsia, is set to revive the connection between the Malaysian capital and Kolkata with daily flights from November 7. AirAsia is Asia's largest low-fare, no-frills carrier that began operations in 1996. It will operate a 180-seater Airbus A320 aircraft. The incoming flight AK 203 will touch down at the city airport at 4.30 pm. The return flight, AK 204, will take off for Kuala Lumpur half an hour later.

The revival of flights to Malaysia comes as a huge boost to the sagging fortunes of international traffic from Kolkata with JetStar Asia, British Airways, Gulf Air, Royal Jordanian, KLM and even Air India deserting the city. Among carriers that have touched down are Emirates, Air India Express, Bangladeshi private carriers and international wings of Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. The travel trade fraternity has also welcomed the flight's introduction and believes its convenient schedule will ensure that it does not go the way Malaysia Airlines did.