www.myairlinecareer.com

NEWS | Spirit Airlines has finalised its firm order for 75 Airbus single-aisles including 45 A320neo aircraft.

2012-02-23T23:58:00.000+05:30

Spirit Airlines has finalised its firm order for 75 Airbus single-aisles including 45 A320neo aircraft.

The airline has yet to unveil its engine selection.

Spirit’s order for 45 A320 neo aircraft was booked in December 2011. The firming up of the additional 30 A320s in January brings the total new firm order to 75.

“For seven years we have been very successfully flying the A320 Family,” said Ben Baldanza, president of Spirit Airlines.

“The aircraft have been successful from every perspective – economy, environmental impact, comfort and efficiency. With more A320s and now the A320neo on their way to Spirit, we look forward to building on all the positives we’ve experienced so far.”

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/spirit-boosts-airbus-order/

Join

NEWS | High drama at Kochi airport

2012-02-23T00:07:00.000+05:30

Security officials at the Cochin airport late on Monday prevented three officials of the Italian Embassy who had been on board an Air India flight to Thiruvananthapuram from disembarking at Kochi.

According to official sources, the Embassy officials had boarded the flight AI 465 from Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram via Kochi and were bound to de-board at Thiruvananthapuram. However, they insisted on disembarking at Kochi after the aircraft landed here for a brief stop over by 8.45 p.m.
And despite repeated warnings from the cabin crew, they managed to get out of the aircraft. However, they were stopped at the ladder point by the airport security personnel and were forcibly taken into the aircraft following negotiations with the airline authorities.
“The embassy officials appeared furious but the airline and security personnel were in no mood to yield and they finally returned to the aircraft,” an airport official said. According to him, the booking details of the passengers clearly showed that they had purchased tickets to a destination beyond Kochi.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2913995.ece

Join

NEWS | Now, no mobile rule for regular air staff

2012-02-23T00:04:00.000+05:30

All contract workers who cried ‘foul’ after AAI banned them from using cell phones while on duty, will now be appeased.

A day after sleuths from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence nabbed a senior catering superintendent working with Air India after he took $300,000 USD into a parked aircraft and put it in a magazine pouch so that a passenger would pick it up, AAI has decided to come down hard on all ‘regular’ permanent employees and officers. Henceforth, they also will not be allowed to carry mobile phones on duty and cannot leave their work place without the permission of their supervisors, said the airport director.
Reacting to the incident, he said in an official statement that the “connivance of a senior employee is a point of concern. He had free access to all sensitive locations including the interiors of the aircraft. He connived with a porter (courier) for some pecuniary benefits.” After some contract workers with Jet Airways were apprehended trying to smuggle a huge haul of ephedrine into a flight, authorities came down hard on all non-permanent staff. Now, these norms are set to become standardised.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/now-no-mobile-rule--for-regular-air-staff/232195-60-120.html

Join

NEWS | Chandigarh airport may take time to go international

2012-02-23T00:01:00.001+05:30

At a time when foreign airlines are keen to connect with Chandigarh on the international flight map by offering flights from the local airport, the higher authorities in Delhi are dashing all hopes by delaying necessary approvals. It's been almost five months since the low cost airline, Air Arabia was principally allowed to operate Sharjah-Chandigarh flight from local airport, but the airline is still waiting for an approval from the ministry of defence (MoD) and director general civil aviation (DGCA). Company has also been writing to authorities so that they can start their operations.

On Monday, commercial head of Air Arabia, A K Nizar, said, it's very unfortunate that higher authorities in India are taking a longer time in giving necessary approvals for operating international flights from Chandigarh. "The airline was principally allowed to operate from Chandigarh airport in October, but even after almost five months they are yet to receive the final approval," Nizar said.

Source: http://avindia.blogspot.in/2012/02/chandigarh-airport-may-take-time-to-go.html

Join

NEWS | Jamshedpur, Bokaro to have airports soon; Airports Authority of India signs MoU

2012-02-22T23:58:00.001+05:30

Steel cities of Jharkhand, Jamshedpur and Bokaro will soon figure on the country's air map as the Airports Authority of India will set up airports there.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the AAI and the Jharkhand government for establishing airports in both the cities in the presence of AAI Chairman and Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

Source: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2012-02-20/news/31079617_1_airports-authority-aai-chairman-full-fledged-airport

Join

NEWS | Move to levy UDF at Madurai airport flayed

2012-02-22T23:56:00.001+05:30

The move by the Airport Authority of India to impose an “exorbitant” user development fee (UDF) on passengers flying out of Madurai airport has been strongly opposed by the industry here. They say it was inappropriate to “penalise” passengers with the UDF when the airport in the tier II city was yet to be put to optimum usage.
Report says the AAI was planning to levy UDF of Rs. 400 for each domestic passenger and Rs. 750 for each international passenger. “Ideally, there should not be any UDF at all in Madurai airport for the initial period of three years with an aim to motivate people of the region to fly. The UDF of Rs. 400 will only discourage passengers from using the airport,” senior president of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, S. Rethinavelu, said.
Besides, the levy of Rs. 400 cannot be justified in a tier II city airport, which has no international flight operation. “We strongly oppose any such move,” he said.
A leading travel agent, N. Sriram, said that the UDF for domestic and international passengers taking off from metros like New Delhi and Bangalore was much lesser. It was Rs. 221 and Rs. 260 respectively.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article2915378.ece

NEWS | Kingfisher Air woes: 34 pilots quit

2012-02-22T23:53:00.000+05:30

At least 34 pilots of struggling Kingfisher Airlines have quit earlier this month, with the total number rising to about 80 since last October, industry sources said.
The sources said 34 pilots, both commanders and co-pilots, had put in their papers as of five days ago. Another over 40 cockpit crew had earlier resigned.

However, there was no confirmation from the airline about these resignations. Kingfisher has been suffering from a severe cash crunch that has culminated into the Income Tax authorities freezing its bank accounts last week on grounds of non-payment of tax dues.
Reports also suggested that a large number of ground staff, mostly on contract, were also put on notice by the cash-strapped carrier and their contracts not renewed.
Trouble had started in Kolkata last Friday when the airline announced it would stop operations for four days, leading the employees at the airport to demand their salaries and finally staging a walkout, leaving passengers in the lurch.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kingfisher-air-woes-34-pilots-quit/914775/

Join

NEWS | Aviation again calls on government to boost capacity

2012-02-21T23:15:00.000+05:30

The three leading trade associations in the aviation sector have come together to call on the government to be “bold” when it launches its consultation on aviation policy next month.
ADS Group (ADS), the Airport Operators Association (AOA) and the British Air Transport Association (BATA) issued a joint statement earlier calling on the government to “prioritise a favourable planning and regulatory regime” for aviation.
Together the bodies represent over 2,800 aviation manufacturers, airports and airlines.
“As the coalition government recognises, the UK’s economy needs to compete in both established and emerging markets,” explained the statement.
“This requires excellent aviation connectivity right across the country, ensuring the UK has both vibrant point to point airports and sufficient world class hub capacity.
“This means prioritising a favourable planning and regulatory regime and developing a bold aviation policy, permitting new airport capacity where required.

“To ensure there is no further erosion of the UK’s competitive position, the Government must set a clear timetable for these measures to be put in place, as part of a new aviation policy.”
The government has presently ruled out expansion at all airports in the south of England.
Scrapping of plans to build a third runway at Heathrow have proved particularly divisive.
BATA chief executive, Simon Buck, said: “Aviation is directly responsible for nearly a million jobs.
“If one looks at the wider visitor economy as a whole, its direct and indirect impact is 8.2 per cent of GDP, equivalent to £114 billion and 2.6 million jobs.”

Sourcehttp://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/aviation-again-calls-on-government-to-boost-capacity/

Join