Rajnikanth’s ‘Kabali’ gets re-branded AirAsia aircraft
AirAsia India, the official airline partner for Rajinikanth-starrer ‘Kabali,’ has unveiled its new re-branded aircraft featuring a livery dedicated to the upcoming movie and Rajni-fans. “AirAsia India unveiled its all new rebranded aircraft, with a livery dedicated to the most awaited movie of the year—Kabali,” said AirAsia in a statement. According to the company, this special aircraft is a mark of respect to the Thalaiva for his contribution to Indian cinema. AirAsia said that parts of the aircraft have been painted and stickered with the livery, bearing image of the 65-year-old actor from the movie. Reportedly, the planes from this low fare airline were used in a few scenes of ‘Kabali.’ The aircraft will be flying across the AirAsia India network covering destinations including Bengaluru, New Delhi, Goa, Pune, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Guwahati, Imphal, Vizag and Kochi. Derrius Guice Authentic Jersey
Mangaluru airport revenues up 27%
Aided by the increase in passenger handling, Mangaluru International Airport recorded 26.88 per cent growth in revenue during 2015-16. A press release by JT Radhakrishna, Director of Mangaluru International Airport, said that the airport achieved total revenue of ?85.62 crore during 2015-16 against ?67.48 crore during 2014-15. The airport handled 16.75 lakh passengers during 2015-16 against 13.07 lakh passengers in the previous fiscal, recording a growth of 28.15 per cent. Justin Falk Jersey
Two towns of north Bengal to have airports soon
The process of having airports in Malda and Balurghat, two towns of north Bengal, has started with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) agreeing to hand over airport land and runway to the state government. Transport department officials said AAI has agreed to hand over 132.66 acres and 114 acres of airport land including runway in Balurghat and Malda airport respectively for use by the state government initially for a period of 30 years at a token cost of Re 1. A cabinet decision in this regard has already been taken while an MoU for this purpose was signed today with AAI at ‘Uttar Kanya’, the state secretariat in the north Bengal. PWD will take up the development work of existing runway at Balurghat airport immediately, officials said, adding development of Malda airport will also be taken up as soon as possible. Kwon Alexander Womens Jersey
Intense competition amongst airlines becomes customer’s gain as last minute airfares were 52% cheaper this year
If you are planning to book air tickets for your next holidays, and are worried about the extra money that you have to shell out because of booking tickets at the last minute, which is 15 days before their travel date, relax! Turns out, booking air tickets last minute has become cheaper up to 52% as compared to last year, because of intense completion amidst airlines, excess capacity and lower fuel prices. Yatra.com analysed the fares and came out with a conclusion that average fares for travel on all dates between June 29, 2016 and July 4, 2016, when booked on June 28, 2016, were cheaper by up to 50% as compared to fares booked during the same time last year. “We are seeing a significant drop in airfares across sectors and this can be attributed to a reduction in oil prices by over 20% on a year-on-year basis, as well as a 7-8% increase in passenger capacity by the airlines. The drop in airfares has resulted in strong passenger demand which is up by 22% this year, resulting in increased passenger load factors and improved financial health of the sector as a whole,” Yatra.com president Sharat Dhall. Brian Boyle Jersey
Fliers to pay less for excess checked-in baggage from Friday
From Friday onwards, fliers will be required to shell out lesser money for excess checked-in baggage up to a certain limit as the revised fee structure comes into effect. Extra baggage on board to cost cheaper from 1 July 2016. ReutersExtra baggage on board to cost cheaper from 1 July 2016. Reuters Under the new tariff regime, only Rs 100 would be charged per additional kilogramme of checked-in baggage up to a certain level compared to the existing charge of Rs 300 per kg. The reduced rates, announced by the government earlier this month, was initially scheduled to come into force from 15 June. However, the implementation date was extended to 1 July by aviation regulator DGCA after airlines sought more time to upgrade their system. Currently, all domestic airlines allow free checked-in baggage up to 15 kg. Beyond that, they charge Rs 300 per extra kg. Only Air India allows a free baggage of up to 23 kg. Mike Hull Jersey
Kirloskar partners with Gulf Petrochem to launch K-Oil
UAE-based Gulf Petrochem has partnered with a subsidiary of Indian conglomerate Kirloskar Group to launch a specialised diesel engine oil in the Middle East and African markets. The engine oil will be launched following an extensive six-month engine trial and product evaluation and will build upon strong foundations in India, where K-Oil has been servicing engines, spare parts and gensets for over 15 years. Gulf Petrochem announced the partnership with Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL), part of India’s engineering conglomerate Kirloskar Group, to launch K-Oil into the Middle East and African markets. “Following a rigorous testing at Kirloskar R&D in Pune, the robust design and proven performance in extreme conditions ensures the final product will be suitable for all types of diesel engines,” a joint statement released by the two companies here said. Gulf Petrochem Group specialises in oil trading and bunkering, oil refining, grease manufacturing, oil storage terminals, bitumen manufacturing, and shipping and logistics. “This is a great opportunity to expand into the Middle East & African market and compliments KOEL as part of our value addition and portfolio enhancement. What makes us particularly positive about the move is the reputation and expertise of our partner, Gulf Petrochem, and the quality of the product, which is designed to withstand demanding conditions such as those in the region. We believe the demand here will be high,” KOEL Managing Director Rahul Kirloskar, said. Sudhir Goyel, Managing Director of Gulf Petrochem, said: “Due to the extreme weather conditions we face in the Middle East and Africa, these products are ideally suited to the growing market here and the fact it is designed by an engine manufacturer will only strengthen its appeal”. James Van Riemsdyk Womens Jersey
Indian, 1 Chinese firms in race for GAIL project
Six firms, including one from China, are in the race to build the much-touted Kochi-Kootanad-Managalore-Bengaluru pipeline project of GAIL (India). The pipeline would give a lease of life to Petronet LNG’s 5 million ton per annum re-gasification terminal at Kochi, which remained underutilised at a mere 5% capacity, due to the lack of an evacuation route. Sources told FE that for the Kochi–Kootanad–Managalore-Bengaluru pipeline project, the countdown has started as bids were invited for two sections of the stretches of 220 km covering five districts of Kerala — Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakad, Mallapuram, and Kozhikode. “The estimated cost for this stretch is about Rs 3 billion, of which six bids have been received for the 90-km section from Punj Lloyd (PLL), Corrtech, Kalptaru Power Transmission (KPTL), JSIW, IL&FS and China Petroleum Bureau (CPP), while for the other section of 130-km PLL, KPTL, JSIW, IL&FS and CPP have submitted bids,” a senior official privy to the development told FE. “The bids are being evaluated and the job will be awarded in August 2016, and the work will commence in September-October this year,” the official added. In January 2014, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled a Rs 4,500-crore LNG terminal at Puthuvype in Kochi set up by Petronet LNG. The terminal became idle due to the non-laying of the pipeline by GAIL due to local protests. The pipeline would raise the utilisation of Petronet’s terminal to at least 50%, in addition to making natural gas available to Kerala and parts of Karnataka. Land acquisition issues and opposition by farmers and the Tamil Nadu government had disrupted a key section of GAIL’s ambitious Rs 3,400-crore Kochi-Kuttanad-Bengaluru-Mangalore project, which is passing through farmland in seven districts of the state. Josh Ferguson Authentic Jersey
Rename Mumbai High as Veer Savarkar Mumbai Offshore: BJP
Mumbai High, India’s biggest oil and gas fields, should be renamed after freedom fighter Veer Savarkar, a leading energy expert and BJP spokesperson has demanded. The Mumbai High fields, which were previously called Bombay High, should be named Veer Savarkar Mumbai Offshore, BJP spokesperson Narendra Taneja said. The fields, operated by state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), produce 40 per cent of India’s crude oil output and more than half of natural gas. In a letter to Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he sought a direction to be given to ONGC “to name their flagship Mumbai Offshore oil and gas fields, located in his (Savarkar’s) home state Maharashtra, after the Amar Shaheed Veer Savarkar.” There will be no change of name involved as such. The fields can be just named the Veer Savarkar Mumbai Offshore, including the Mumbai High,” he wrote. Taneja said Mumbai Offshore is the single most valuable asset controlled by the Government of India. “The total value of Mumbai Offshore, based on the proven and estimated reserves of oil and gas, should be in the excess of USD 200 billion,” he said. “Naming India’s most valuable asset after the great Veer Savarkar will be a lasting tribute to his immense contribution in the freedom struggle and nation building,” he wrote. He complimented Pradhan for building the Veer Savarkar Jyot at the Cellular Jail in Port Blair last month. “However, I think we, as a nation, need to do more to remember the great sacrifices ‘Swatantra Veer’ Vinayak Damodar Savarkar made in the service of his Motherland,” he added. Derwin James Womens Jersey
Petrol price cut by 89 paise per litre, diesel cheaper by 49 paise per litre
Petrol price was today cut by 89 paise a litre and diesel by 49 paise a litre, the first decrease in rates in two months. Petrol will cost Rs 64.76 a litre in Delhi from tonight as compared to Rs 65.65 per litre currently, Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s largest fuel retailer, announced. Similarly, diesel will cost Rs 54.70 per litre as against Rs 55.19 a litre currently. This is the first reduction in rates in two months. Petrol price was last hiked by 5 paise a litre on June 16 and diesel by Rs 1.26 a litre. Petrol prices in the four hikes since May 1 had been raised by Rs 4.52 a litre, while diesel rates had gone up by Rs 7.72 per litre. “The current level of international product prices of petrol and diesel and Rupee-US Dollar exchange rate warrant decrease in selling price of petrol and diesel, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision,” IOC said in a statement. Barring an exemption on April 16, when price of petrol was cut by 74 paise a litre and diesel by Rs 1.30, the upward trend in rates had been a phenomenon since March 17. After discounting the April 16 reduction, petrol prices have jumped by Rs 9.04 per litre since mid-March and diesel by Rs 11.05 per litre. The movement of prices in the international oil market and Rupee-USD exchange rate shall continue to be monitored closely and developing trends of the market will be reflected in future price changes, IOC added. Phillip Gaines Womens Jersey