British Airways aircraft makes emergency landing in Mumbai

A London-bound British Airways aircraft with about 250 passengers aboard on Thursday made an emergency landing at Mumbai as the fire alarm went off in the cockpit soon after its take off. The flight took off from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 0300 hours but landed back at 0410 hours as the fire alarm went off in the cockpit, Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) spokesperson said. Emergency was announced, which was withdrawn at 0424 hours, the spokesperson said. On landing, the plane's undercarriage was inspected but no damage was detected, he said, adding the plane was later parked at a bay. A British Airways spokesperson said the aircraft had about 250 passengers on board and the "flight requested a priority landing after it developed a technical problem. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers were disembarked," the BA spokesperson said.

Etihad branded taxis launched in Manchester

Etihad Airways has unveiled 12 'hackney carriage' Manchester taxis in its unique black and gold livery. The taxi sponsorship was unveiled at Manchester City FC's stadium with club mascots, "Moonchester" and "Moonbeam", joining in the fun. The airline recently began a three-year deal to be the official shirt sponsor and partner of Premier League side, Manchester City FC and the taxi sponsorship is the latest initiative to build awareness of Etihad Airways in the Manchester area. Clive Wratten, Etihad Airways UK Country Manager, said, "We are delighted to have these eye-catching Etihad-sponsored taxis on the road in Manchester. The black and gold branding makes the taxis standout and is a novel way to build our brand profile across the city."

Oman's Muscat Festival cancelled due to H1N1

Oman has declared the cancellation of its annual event Muscat Festival due to fears about H1N1 swine flu. The month-long festival is due to be held in January and attracts foreign visitors every year. Oman has reported nearly 2,000 cases and 18 deaths from the H1N1 virus so far.

Norwegian Air Shuttle to start daily Scandinavia-Dubai flight

Europe's fifth-largest low-cost airline and the second-largest airline in Scandinavia, Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA has announced that it will increase its four-days-a week timetable for flights from Scandinavia to Dubai to a daily service during the winter season 2009-10. The privately-owned carrier, which launched Dubai flights last autumn, will fly three times weekly from Oslo and Stockholm each and once weekly from Copenhagen starting from October 15.

Air France to start Airbus A380 flights to Dubai

Air France has announced it will reduce its services to Dubai from 14 weekly flights to a daily service, but will offset the reduction by introducing its A380 aircraft on the route. The superjumbo is scheduled to operate on the route from January 18, 2010. The change is part of the airline's 2009 winter schedule.

Saudi Arabia & India sign expanded air services agreement

Saudi Arabia and India have amended their air services agreement to allow for more airlines to serve the two countries and to increase the weekly capacity. Currently, only Saudi Arabian Airlines and Air India operate services between the two countries. The new amendment enables both sides to 'designate any number of airlines as they wish' to operate services, according to India's aviation ministry. The two countries have also agreed to an open skies agreement for all cargo services with full third and fourth freedom traffic rights.

Taj Hotels joins Etihad frequent flyer program

Etihad Guest, the award-winning loyalty programme from Etihad Airways, has announced its latest exciting new hotel partner to boost the extensive benefits already available to its 650,000 plus members, the Indian Hotels Company. The Indian Hotels Company is one of Asia's largest hospitality groups. The group offers three distinct hotel brands, collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces: Taj (luxury, full-service hotels, resorts and palaces), Taj Exotica (resorts and spas) and Gateway Hotels (mid-market, full service hotels and resorts). The group comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India, ranging from historic sites and pilgrim centres to hill stations and beaches.

The company also offers international hotels in Malaysia, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Etihad Guest members will earn 500 miles per stay at the group's Taj hotels and 250 miles per stay at Taj Exotica and Gateway Hotels. Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' chief commercial officer, said,"With Etihad Guest, we seek to offer our members the most exclusive of benefits when they join our award-winning loyalty programme. The Indian Hotels Company certainly meets these high standards and we are very pleased to have them on board." Ajoy Misra, senior vice president, sales and marketing for the Indian Hotel Company, said, "Like Etihad Airways, we are always looking at ways to offer our guests something extra."

"Our hotel guests are used to sampling the highest standards of hospitality on the ground and now they can look forward to the same experience in the air, when they fly with Etihad." Etihad currently flies to six destinations in India, the commercial capital Mumbai, the national capital New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode in Kerala, as well as Chennai The airline will also launch a new service to Hyderabad from November 2009. Mr Misra added, "This is also a strategic partnership - the geographic spread and location of our hotels complements Etihad's own expanding network, especially within India where the airline continues to expand its presence." Etihad Guest was voted best website, best member communication, best bonus promotion and best award redemption at the 2008 global 'Freddie' awards.

Qatar Airways gets world five star airline ranking

Skytrax Research has confirmed that Qatar Airways has been certified as a world five star airline for the 2009/2010 ranking period, repeating it's earlier quality ranking success in this exclusive group of airlines. Commenting on the latest Certification, Edward Plaisted, Skytrax CEO, said,"This 5-Star Airline Certification is the ultimate quality approval that an airline can receive in recognition of its front-line Product and Service quality. We are delighted to see Qatar Airways again measuring up to the highest quality requirements that are inherent in the 5-Star status."

Qatar Airways is the only airline in the Middle East region to have gained this 5-Star Airline certification, and one of just six airlines worldwide that currently meet the exacting and rigorous quality criteria set for this ultimate ranking. The 5-Star Airline status is awarded to airlines achieving the very highest quality performance across all front-line areas that passengers will experience. The 5-Star Airline status recognizes airlines at the forefront of product and service delivery achievement, and are generally the airlines that set trends to be followed by other carriers in due course.

Air India's flight operations still affected after pilots strike

Notwithstanding the announcement of calling off the strike, a majority of the agitating Air India pilots have not resumed duty yet, leaving the flight operations disrupted on the 5th day of the stir today. Only 23 of the 180 executive pilots, who have been agitating against the cut in productivity-linked incentives (PLI), have reported for duty after Capt V K Bhalla, representative of the protesting pilots, announced that they were calling off the strike in deference to government's decision to maintain status quo on cost cutting measures. Hectic discussions continued late in the evening at the Airlines House, headquarters of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, between the pilots and Air India Chairman and Managing Director Arvind Jadhav.

Air India issued an order keeping in abeyance the controversial Sept 24 order on cutting the PLI allowance "until a Board Sub-Committee comprising the CMD, Joint Secretary and Financial Adviser of the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Joint Secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry examine all issues and submit its recommendations to the Board". Capt R L Mathur, an executive pilot who was part of the talks in the Airlines House, announced later that all pilots would be reporting fit and resuming duty "right away". "This direction will apply to pilots all over the country," he said. Air India decided to operate six long haul international flights tomorrow while cancelling the Mumbai-New York and Delhi-New York flights, the airline sources said in Mumbai. Mathur said the CMD has "assured us very clearly that all problems raised by the executive pilots will be considered and that he would take personal interest in the matter".

He said the pilots would first report to Air India doctors for fitness certificates for which special arrangements were being made in Safdarjung and at the IGI Airport, Delhi. "The pilots will join duty as soon as possible," he said. Facing threat of action, the Air India pilots called off their agitation in the morning saying they had received assurances that there would be status quo on the decision relating to cut in their incentives and allowances. "The agitation is being called off in view of the assurances by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel that status quo will continue on issues," Capt Bhalla said.

Bhalla also participated in the talks at the Airlines House. With about 200 pilots reporting sick as a mark of protest over Air India's decision to cut their productivity- linked incentive (PLI) and allowances, over 240 flights were cancelled and the national carrier is estimated to have incurred a loss of over Rs 100 crore. "I apologise to the passengers for the inconvenience caused to them due to the agitation," Bhalla said asking the pilots to join work immediately. Bhalla also thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Patel for intervening in the matter. Government had issued an ultimatum to the pilots to resume duty from midnight last night or face action.