Bangalore airport turns into a ‘Playport’ for travellers
Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has announced the commencement of ‘Playport’, a fun customer engagement activity, designed specifically for the holiday passengers who pass through the airport in larger numbers during this time of the year. The concept revolves around turning Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (KIAB) into a playground where children have fun and experience the airport in a whole new way. Based on the theme of ‘Then & Now’, Playport strives to enhance the experience of travellers through a series of fun activities and visuals that showcase the games of yesteryears combined with the latest digital gadgets. Passengers can enjoy a life-size Hopscotch, Snakes & Ladders alongside PSP and Xbox games and even send a post card to their loved ones right at the airport. Additionally, magic shows, balloon sculpturing, tattoo artists, upcycled goods workshop and other exciting activities will be a part of Playport. This on-ground activity will be on till 15th May. Tom Seaver Womens Jersey
Airlines have hiked ticket cancellation charges, says Mahesh Sharma
An analysis has showed that there has been an increase in cancellation charges for air tickets, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma said on while emphasising that airfares are not regulated by the government. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, he said cancellation charges are not fixed and varies from Rs 1,500 to 100 per cent fare of the ticket depending upon the class, price level and time before departure. “Analysis on the increase of the cancellation charge was carried out and it was found that there was increase in cancellation charges. Cancellation charges are not fixed,” Sharma said. The Minister of State for Civil Aviation was responding to a query on whether the ministry has taken note of steep hike in cancellation charges by airlines. However, he did not provide details on whether aviation regulator DGCA has taken any action on the matter. “Airfares are not regulated by the government. With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the provision of fare approval was dispensed with by the government, including charges for cancellation,” Sharma said. In recent times, many local carriers have increased the charges for cancellation of air tickets. Last month, taking note of domestic airlines increasing ticket cancellation fees by a significant amount, aviation regulator DGCA last month sought an “explanation” from the carriers on the rationale for such a steep hike. Jamar Taylor Authentic Jersey
India’s domestic air passenger traffic grew by 27% in March: IATA
India’s domestic air passenger traffic grew more than six times of the US’ domestic travel demand in March, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA). The IATA passenger traffic data, released today, for the month of March 2016 shows a growth of 27.4 per cent in India which is over six times more than the growth of the second highest market–the US at 4.1 per cent. Globally, the overall domestic demand rose 3.7 per cent in March this year compared to March 2015, driven primarily by performance in the two largest markets, the US–which accounts for two of every five domestic passengers–and China, it said. However, India accounted for only 1.2 per cent in the over all global domestic traffic. According to IATA, March performance shows a moderate slowdown on the year-on-year growth rates recorded in January (7.2 per cent) and February (8.6 per cent) even after adjusting for the leap-year impact in February. Demand for international traffic grew significantly more quickly (6.2 per cent) than that for domestic travel, it said. “While in line with long-term trends, demand growth in March represented a slow-down compared to January and February. It is premature to say whether this marks the end of the recent very strong results,” IATA Director General and Chief Executive Officer Tony Tyler said. IATA expects further stimulus in the form of network expansion and declines in travel costs, he said, adding however, the wider economic backdrop remains subdued. Although India has been growing constantly, the difference between the two markets is significantly vast for the month of March 2016. Growth in the India’s domestic market is being propelled by the comparatively strong economic backdrop as well as sizable increase in services, it said. According to IATA, the average flight frequencies within India are expected to go up by 11.5 per cent year-on-year in this year. IATA also said India’s annual domestic revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) growth rate has now been in double digits for 19 consecutive months. The combination of such rapid growth in India and slower (even negative) growth in other similarly-sized domestic markets has seen India overtake the others in terms of seasonally adjusted domestic RPKs over the past year or so, most recently Brazil, which it surpassed in March, it said. Riley Dixon Authentic Jersey
Air India scandal: Officials, ex-minister Praful Patel were paid bribes
Even as the scandal of AugustaWestland VVIP chopper involving bribery and corruption by high-level officials for purchasing a new fleet of helicopters continues to rock Parliament, new details have emerged in a similar scandal involving a Union minister under the UPA rule who was let off by the office of then Prime Minister on flimsy grounds. An investigation by Zee News (sister concern of dna) has thrown new light into the bribe and bid rigging scandal involving former civil aviation minister Praful Patel and a contract for Air India’s facial recognition software with Canadian firm Cryptometrics. The Ontario court in Canada in 2014 convicted India-born Candian businessman Nazir Karagir for offering bribes to Air India officials and Patel to win the contract worth US$ 100 million. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2012 cleared Patel’s name after examining the matter at the minister’s behest. According to the letter written by Patel to the PM, the tender remained “inconclusive and was scrapped virtually at the inception and no follow-up action was taken in this regards”. Documents obtained by Zee News reveal that the deal with the Canadian firm was taken forward in meetings and communication, almost a year after the tender in question was allegedly scrapped, and that money was paid from foreign shores to Air India officials to influence the contract in favor of the Canadian firm. The case dates back to 2006, when Air India floated tenders for Biometrics Passenger Indetification System for Air India flights. M/s Cryptometrics, Canada was one of the two parties who qualified in the technical bid and even called for price negotiation discussions with Air India officials. Contrary to Patel’s defence that the project was scrapped and never followed up, Zee News has found that the tender in question was recommended by Air India Tender Committee in September 2006 to award the contract to Cryptometrics Canada at the cost of US $105,000,000. A copy of the tender available with Zee News shows that the Cryptometrics was to recover the cost of the $100 million project from flight passengers (approximately 50,000,000 for period of five years) at no extra cost to Air India. Even before the tender was floated in February 2006, Karigar approached officials from Cryptometrics posing as a businessman whose firm has done business in India, and discussed the passenger identification solution for Air India using the company’s technology. Karigar indicated that he and his associates had the necessary connections with Air India management and politicians to win the contract, the judgment by Ontario court notes. The judgment also points out that after convincing officials at Cryptometrics of the deal, Karigar played his role as an agent between the Candian firm and Air India officials as well as the miniser of civil Aviation to help the firm win the contract. Email communication between Karigar and Mario Berini, the chief operating officer for Cryptometrics Canada, reveals that as a part of the deal $200,000 were transferred from Cryptometrics USA to the bank account of Deputy Director of Security, Air India Captain Mascarenhas who was also the co-chair of the selection committee for the project in Mumbai on 21 June 2006. After Cryptometrics was shortlisted in August 2006, Karigar sought another $5000 for the Chairman and Managing Director, Air India who was to be in New York. Vasudevan Thulasidas who was the CMD at the time, told Zee News that he never asked or received any money in New York or elsewhere from Karigar or his representatives. “After a detailed examination (of the biometric proposal), it was I who decided to not go in for such a system,’’ he said in an email reply. The project it seems was, however, not dropped. The court judgment further details events in 2007 where Karigar sent an email to the Berini saying that he had `met with PP’ (Praful Patel) and they discussed the ìncrements’ that the project would be cleared right away. Around May, Karigar admitted to have paid Minister Patel a bribe through an agent in order to clear the process and obtain the Air India contract for Cryptometrics. Although the amount or the identity of the agent is not known, Karigar has said that government figures would get “up to 8 per cent of the value of a contract as a bribe payment.’’ When the file did not move forward, on July 12,2007, in an email sent by Karigar to Berini, he wrote: “After PP took the money, I thought all was done and went ahead… I guess by now you know why Patel has the Cryptometrics project on hold.’’ Finally in August, Karigar decided to report the case annonymously to the Fraud Section (FCPA) of the US department of Justice informing them about US citizens paying bribes to foreign officers. Karigar was sentenced to three years in prison for arranging bribes to public officials in India by the Ontario court in 2014. When contacted by Zee News for his response that contrary to the information given by him that the bio metric project was scrapped and the evidence by the judgment of the Candian court that bribes were paid to win the contract, Patel dismissed the allegation as “bogus.’’ Once again reinforcing that the tender was “scrapped’’, Patel said that such tenders are dealt by Air India and never come to the ministry. “This gentleman (Karigar) has misused my name and may be of others to cheat his company and court verdict says it could not be proved or verified about my involvement.’’ Patel added that when the matter first came to light in media had written to the PM and asked him to investigate the matter with any agency including the CBI. “The PM wrote back to me after due examination that he was satisfied there was no wrongdoing on my part.’’ Kyler Fackrell Jersey
Over 100 pilots turned up drunk for their flights!
Pilots can’t stop hitting the bottle before entering the cockpit and the most frequent offenders in recent years are from Jet Airways and IndiGo, two airlines that dominate the country’s aviation market. As per the data available with the DGCA, 112 pilots tested positive for alcohol prior to the commencement of their flights from January 2013 till April 28, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha recently. Of these, a maximum number of 33 pilots were from full service carrier Jet Airways, while 25 belonged to budget airline IndiGo, he said. Nineteen pilots of national carrier Air India were found positive in the breath analyser test during this period, he added. A total of 30 pilots tested positive for alcohol during the pre-flight medical test in 2013. The number came down to 26 in 2014, he said. In 2015, 43 pilots tested positive for alcohol. Till April this year, the number stood at 13, he said. The DGCA rules mandate that pilots and cabin crew of all scheduled flights must be subjected to pre-flight breath-analyser examination. “For all scheduled flights originating from destinations outside India, post-flight breath-analyser examination of each flight crew and cabin crew shall be carried out on reaching in India,” the rules add. In case of a violation, a pilot’s licence will be suspended for three months for a first time offence. For a second violation, the pilot’s licence is suspended for three years. A third time offence leads to a cancellation of the pilot’s licence. “I am at loss for words,” an aviation expert said, requesting anonymity. “This is completely unacceptable behaviour and needs to be eliminated ruthlessly. No normal office goer goes to work drunk, stating physical, mental or emotional fatigue,” he said. “Here, we are talking about someone who is responsible for human lives both in the aircraft and on the ground. A tiny error of judgement can cause irreparable damage,” he added. Airlines respond IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, explained that the company undertakes an alcohol dependency check after a pilot is suspended and, so far, has not found a single case of alcohol dependency. A spokesperson for Jet Airways said the airline is compliant with Indian regulations on pre-flight screening of all pilots and cabin crew. “On the basis of this and as per internal airline policy, crew members if found BA+ (breath analyser positive) face a 3-month suspension without pay and benefits. A second offence results in termination of services,” the spokesperson said. “The rigorous nature of the screening process for crew members before a flight, and the punitive action taken against those who do not comply with such safety standards, is in itself a deterrent,” the spokesperson added. By 2020, India is likely to become the world’s third largest aviation market after the US and China, with the country’s airports expected to carry as many as 369 million passengers compared to 190 million currently. The regulator is of the view that alcohol present in the body “even in small quantities” jeopardises flight safety on several counts and is likely to adversely affect an aviator well into the hangover period. Ryan Callahan Womens Jersey
Proposed Greater Noida airport-another ghost airport in the making?
Will the proposed international airport in Jewar, Greater Noida be another ghost airport in the making? Built at a cost of Rs 1400 crore the Chandigarh International Airport, which is 250km from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport has failed to start international operations. Will Jewar, which is hardly 84km from Delhi, meet the same fate? The Uttar Pradesh government recently sought approval from the central government for an international airport in Greater Noida. Greater Noida is represented by minister of state for civil aviation Mahesh Sharma in Parliament. “Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport is capable enough to handle the rising growth of air traffic. As of now the total Terminal passenger capacity at IGI Airport is 62 million passenger per annum against the actual traffic of approx. 41 million passengers handled in the FY 2014-15,” said an official. “As per the master plan IGI Airport is expected to handle 109 million passengers in the year 2034. This would be adequate to meet the likely traffic demands over the next 18-20 years,” he said. Huge investment has already been made for expansion of the passenger handling capacity and modernisation at IGI Airport. “Now, a new airport within 84 km radius is sheer wastage of public money,” he said. India has spent more than $50 million since 2009 on eight airports that do not receive scheduled flights – white elephants that are a reminder of the pitfalls for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he bets on an infrastructure drive to fuel growth. Two-and-a-half years after the completion of a new $17 million terminal building, the Jaisalmer airport has no flight operations. Opened with much fanfare as the city’s link to the world, the Chandigarh International Airport, around 250km from Delhi airport, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister in September, could not attract the airlines to start international operations as yet. The Airport is now under the scanner of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with the Rs 1,400 crore ($210 million) facility failing to deliver. There are international examples of failed airports too. Mirabel Airport in Canada was built at a huge cost for Montreal Olympics 1975. Canadian Government was sparing no efforts to make this airport – a show piece for the entire world. But its location – 55 km from Montreal down town and unpopularity with Airlines- which had already established base at Dorval, the existing airport – killed the Mirable airport. Finally, the airport was closed in 2004 after phenomenal losses and today it is functioning as a cargo airport, with some GA Services. The proposal for an airport in Jewar was first mooted in 2001 by home minister Rajnath Singh, then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. His successor Mayawati also backed the plan and acquired more than 2,000 acres for the proposed airport. Chris Carson Jersey
India to be the third largest aviation market by 2020
With 81 million trips, India’s domestic aviation market grew at over 20.3% during Jan-Dec 2015 – the highest growth rate recorded in the world. India is well on its way to become the third largest aviation market by 2020 says the FICCI-KPMG ‘India Aviation Report 2016’. The report suggests that aspects such as increasing disposable incomes, fall in prices of Aircraft Turbine Fuel (ATF), increase in tourism, visa reforms, etc. have placed India in a unique position. This is bringing the country closer to achieving its vision of becoming the largest aviation market by 2030. The civil aviation sector is hugely susceptible to oil price volatility, economic cycles, natural disasters, epidemics and political upheavals. According to the report, the Indian civil aviation industry has exhibited tremendous resilience to the global economic slowdown and ranks ninth in the global civil aviation market. This is attributed largely to the growing economy, increased competition among airlines, especially among low cost carriers, modern airports, greater use of technology, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and increased emphasis on regional connectivity. The report highlights that the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP 2016) is likely to provide a significant fillip to the industry. The various fiscal and monetary incentives, liberal policies focused on ‘ease of doing business’ and enhanced push for regional and global connectivity are extremely positive. Steps taken to revive and operationalise around 160 airports in India, if chosen carefully, will improve air connectivity to regional and remote areas. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in the sector will get substantial support from the state in terms of financing, concessional land allotment, tax holidays and other incentives. According to Harshavardhan Neotia, President, FICCI, “Enormous growth in domestic passenger traffic, substantial strengthening through Government initiatives, decrease in global crude oil prices and airlines showing profits indicates a significantly positive transformation for the Indian civil aviation market. The close partnership between the government and the industry in ongoing and future projects will further improve regional connectivity. I am certain that the sector will take complete advantage of the positive momentum and help sustain the growth.” Amber Dubey, Partner and India Head of Aerospace and Defence, KPMG said, “The positive impact of NCAP 2016, rise in disposable incomes and the fall in ATF prices are likely to help India leapfrog into the top three of the world. One hopes that the government can match domestic ATF prices with global levels for a three year experimental period. MRO is likely to see a huge revival if the service tax is zero-rated. Growth of aviation and tourism can create a huge multiplier in terms of GDP growth and jobs.” The report sheds light on the astounding growth of 17.1% in the total passenger throughput for FY 2015-16 till January 2016 standing at 184 million. Passenger throughput is expected to reach around 370 million by 2020. According to International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger traffic on international routes showed an increase of 6.5% in 2015 compared to 2014. In comparison, during Apr-Dec 2015, international passenger throughput at Indian airports grew at 7.7%. Middle East continues to lead in the growth of revenue passenger kilometre (RPKM) followed by Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Europe. North America and Africa showed sluggish growth. By 2034, it is expected that Asia-Pacific will be the biggest market for global aviation. The report strongly suggests that in order to ensure high-geared growth, it is imperative to broaden the base of domestic flyers through greater air connectivity in Tier 2/3 cities. Many Indian states have taken positive initiatives, largely in the field of development of airports, reduction in sales tax rates on ATF and direct subsidy to airlines for improvement of connectivity. The government and industry are engaged closely in addressing the various opportunities and challenges in the aviation sector; and that’s a welcome sign. The collaboration needs to be strengthened and institutionalized. With positive macro-economic factors, low ATF prices and industry-friendly government policies, India is well placed to achieve its vision of becoming the third largest aviation market by 2020 and the largest by 2030. Dale Murphy Womens Jersey
Not fully giving lower fuel cost benefits to customers: IndiGo
Amid rising concerns over higher airfares despite fall in oil prices, no-frills airline IndiGo has acknowledged that it is not “passing on all” the benefits accruing from lower fuel costs to the customers. The steep fall in international crude oil prices in recent times has provided a boost for airlines as ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) costs account for over 40 per cent of a carrier’s total operating costs. IndiGo President and Whole Time Director Aditya Ghosh said the airline continues to use the low cost fuel opportunity to lower fares and register strong increases in passenger numbers. However, the full benefits of fall in fuel prices are not passed on to the customers, he said. “If you look at fourth quarter (January-March 2015-16), then fuel prices came down 29.5 per cent whereas the average fares came down I think above 15.2 per cent. “So clearly, we are not passing on all of its back to the customers, but of course the lower fuel prices and the lower average fares also has a positive effect on our load factors,” he said during the conference call after financial results last week. Further, Ghosh said: “We are not driving down fares, there is some amount of competitive pressure from other operators as well”. While the airline is are benefiting on the higher load factors, he said, “we think we will kind of stay with how the market moves” as per the transcript of the conference call posted on IndiGo’s website. Concerns have been expressed in various quarters, including by Parliamentarians that airlines are not passing on benefits from lower ATF costs to the passengers. Hit by higher expenses, IndiGo’s parent InterGlobe Aviation today saw its net profit remain flat at Rs 579.31 crore in the three months to March. Notwithstanding nearly 15 per cent fall in fuel costs to Rs 1,023.61, IndiGo witnessed its total expenses in the March quarter jump nearly 12 per cent to Rs 3,409.86 crore. Aviation regulator DGCA has meanwhile asked carriers to provide details on the number of tickets sold in the highest fare bracket and share of revenue earned from this on 20 identified routes. On May 3, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju told the Lok Sabha that his ministry would hold consultations with airlines to explore the possibility of curbing the menace of charging exorbitant airfares during emergency situations. His assurance came after Lok Sabha members voiced concerns over exorbitant airfares during emergency situations like unprecedented floods in Chennai and Srinagar and the recent Jat agitation. Ben McLemore Womens Jersey
DGCA seeks info on ticket pricing from airlines
With concern being expressed over steep fluctuation in airfares, civil aviation regulator DGCA has sought details from the airlines on their pricing ways, especially the highest fare bucket. The latest move comes against the backdrop of concern expressed in various quarters, including by the MPs, about steep fluctuation in airfares, mainly during emergency situations and peak seasons. The regulator has sought details of ticket prices from the airlines, especially those sold in the highest fare bucket, a DGCA official said today. As it seeks to clamp down on airlines charging exorbitant ticket prices, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also asked them to submit specific information about the number of seats and relevant fares on 20 identified routes, the official said. The routes, for which ticket pricing information has been sought, include those connecting Jammu and Kashmir, Leh and Port Blair. On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju had told Lok Sabha that the ministry would hold consultations with the airlines to explore the possibility of curbing charging of exorbitant airfares during emergency situations. “The ministry will commence the process of consultations with stakeholders, including airlines, to explore possibility of containing fares,” he had said. His assurance had come amid Lok Sabha members voicing concern over exorbitant airfares during emergency situations like unprecedented floods in Chennai and Srinagar and the recent Jat agitation. Allan Houston Jersey
Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju bats for solar units at all airports
Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju today said he has asked all the airports in the country to install solar energy units on the lines of Kochi airport. He was talking to reporters after showing installation of 5 KV solar energy panels at his residence here with an estimated cost of Rs 5 lakh. Talking about the expense, the Minister said state government had given Rs 2 lakh as a subsidy for installation. A 12 MW-capacity solar power unit has been installed at Kochi airport run by the Cochin International Airport Limited. Similarly, solar unit has also been installed at the Delhi airport, he said, adding that he had asked other airports in the country to emulate this step. The Minister also batted for grant of special status to Andhra Pradesh, saying the delay in granting it may cause more financial distress to the state. Brandon Mebane Authentic Jersey