Angsana Dubai Hotel and Suites to be closed

Damas Hotels LLC and Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts have agreed to terminate the hotel management contract for the five star Angsana Dubai Hotel and Suites. The hotel will cease to operate as of September 30 and will be converted into residential units that are expected to be sold on a vacant possession basis. Staff will also be compensated and helped to find new jobs, Bernold Schroeder, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Hotel Operations said.

Hilton Hotels Corporation rebrands corporate name and logo

Hilton Worldwide, formerly Hilton Hotels Corporation, has announced launch of its new corporate name and logo. According to the group, Hilton Worldwide signifies the company's global reach, and the logo incorporates key design elements reflecting Hilton's heritage, vision for the future and commitment to excellence in service. 'The changes have also been mirrored by the internal launch of a refreshed company vision, mission, values and key strategic priorities, which are intended to communicate more clearly how Hilton conducts business and plans to achieve company goals,' the company said in a statement.

US Federal Aviation Administration decides against downgrading India

India was saved a huge international embarrassment on Wednesday when the US Federal Aviation Administration decided against downgrading the country’s aviation safety standards from the current top billing to sub-Sahara Africa level. The aviation ministry let the agency responsible for ensuring safe flying, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), weaken over years despite the International Civil Aviation Organisation pointing out major deficiencies in 2006 and air traffic in India growing by leaps and bounds. 

Finally, earlier this year, the FAA came for an audit and gave five months before downgrading it, something that would have meant no new flights by Indian airlines to America and strict checks for their planes on US soil. In this short timeframe, aviation secretary M M Nambiar and DGCA’s new chief Nasim Zaidi mounted a herculean effort to strengthen the regulatory mechanism by getting almost 600 technical posts sanctioned for effective implementation of much needed rules for safe flying that were also put in place. Now as a result, Indian carriers will be able to able to expand service in US through more flights and new access points.

Indian carriers dish out offers aplenty to attract fliers

With full service airlines making inroads into the low fare airspace, existing budget carriers are going beyond price advantage and handing out sops to attract and keep passengers. These carriers are either giving away gifts or offering discounts at hotels, restaurants, and retail stores against boarding passes. Low-fare carriers such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and JetLite, consider this the most effective way to counter loyalty programmes that are being offered by full service rivals. Jet Airways, Kingfisher Airlines, Air India and Paramount Airways are full service carriers and run loyalty programmes that offer flying miles based on how often a passenger uses the carrier. India’s largest low-fare carrier IndiGo has announced a 20% saving on the prepaid in-flight meal if a passenger books tickets online. In the prepaid excess baggage option, too, the airline has offered a discount of up to 25% on luggage weighing between 10kg and 25kg.

 

Last week, SpiceJet launched its Privilege Pass Programme that allows travellers to avail special benefits from partner hotels against a used boarding pass. Benefits range from complimentary meals worth Rs1,500 or a discount of Rs500 on their total hotel billing. The partner includes Trident Hotels, Ista Hotels, Keys Hotels, Pride Hotels, Maidens Hotels, Rain Tree Hotels, JHM Interstate and The Park. GoAir in early September ran an offer of gifts worth Rs3,000 on tickets sold through 20 September. The gift catalogue includes men’s watches and ties, and an oval pearl jewellery set for women. JetLite, the low-fare unit of full service Jet Airways, is also offering discounts of up to 20% on car rentals with Avis and Hertz, dining, retail stores, and Lemon Tree and Marriott International hotels.

Indian Air Force takes control of 5 civilian airbases in Arunachal Pradesh

India has begun fortifying its borders in Arunachal Pradesh against China. As the first step, five air bases in Arunachal Pradesh have been taken over by the military. On the night of September 18, the Pasighat, Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong and Mechuka bases close to the China border were passed from the Airports Authority of India to the defence ministry. The five bases were transferred to the military authorities after a quick clearance from the Prime Minister's Office.
 
The bases were initially only to be upgraded by the defence ministry, but now it has been given full control. Under military control, the five bases will be used by the air force and the army to increase surveillance across crucial stretches of the border with China. The defence ministry has already drawn up a fresh airborne surveillance plan for the eastern sector. The plan will coincide with the visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

Air India & Star Alliance hold discussions on integrating network

The top management of Air India and the Star Alliance held discussions as the national carrier presented its progress report on integrating its domestic and international network, including the work on evolving a common flight code. Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav held talks with a six member Star Alliance delegation and briefed them about the work being done on integrating the two erstwhile carriers, Air India and Indian Airlines, their fleet and network strength and of integrating their IT systems, official sources said.

 

One of the biggest obstacles for Air India in becoming a part of Star Alliance is the absence of same flight code, which is IC for Indian Airlines and AI for Air India. A common IT system, on which a US company was working, is likely to be finalized soon, the sources said, adding, eventual integration would take another six months. Efforts were being made to align the processes and systems of the two erstwhile airlines and bring them on par with the Star Alliance standards, the sources said.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts to manage Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts will manage a newly built five star hotel in Abu Dhabi when it opens on October 1. The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, which is owned by the Al Fahim Group unit Rmal Hospitality, is located near the Abu Dhabi International Airport and has 369 guest rooms, a variety of restaurants, in addition to a private beach, two outdoor swimming pools, a fitness centre and a spa.

New cruise terminal planned in Goa

Mormugao Port Trust is planning a world class cruise terminal to promote cruise tourism in Goa by attracting passenger ships and foreign naval vessels to the state. "We are in the process of developing a large noncargo berth near the port’s breakwater to handle cruise traffic," MPT chairman Pravin Agarwal said. MPT also plans to attract navy ships from countries that opt for Goa as a destination for rest and recuperation. The 235 metre wide and 450 metre long berth will be built on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. 

 

"We will go for a PPP model in order to make a world class cruise terminal after creating the basic infrastructure. But we are yet to finalize on this," he said. Incidentally in 2005 MPT had constructed a cruise terminal but due to lack of requisite facilities failed to attract such ships. In 2008-09, MPT received 52 cruise ships with just about 20,000 passengers alighting. "Goa is a popular place, but we don’t have adequate facilities. Also when these ships come, we dock them next to berths 11 and 12, which are the coal handling berths. The coal dust renders the port a less attractive destination for cruise vessels. Once we have regular facilities then we will come on the tourist cruise map," he said.