Airliners-India.com

sabya99 · Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 6:01 pm Post subject:

Airport lands a big bite
- F&B firm at T3 & Mumbai gets contract

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131102/jsp/calcutta/story_17519902.jsp#.UnTv5lMlhvA

The Calcutta flier has just been served a Diwali gift.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has awarded the food and beverages contract for the airport’s new terminal to Travel Food Services, the organisation that caters to Mumbai airport and Delhi’s T3.
The contract, formalised in Delhi earlier this week, will cover three lounges, six food courts, two bars-cum-restaurants and multiple other outlets. The concessionaire is planning to open the first outlets by early next year.
“The agency is the master concessionaire that will bring all the big national and global F&B chains to the airport. They will set up their own stores as well,” airport director B.P. Sharma said on Friday.
The contract is for 10 years and the concessionaire will be responsible for all operations and maintenance. The F&B outlets will be spread across passenger areas, including the departure and arrival lounges, security hold and also on the city side, just outside the terminal.
“We will be doing a mix of international brands along with local favourites as well as concepts that are famous in other parts of India. We will also be conceptualising and putting our own concepts that we expect will be warmly received by the people of Calcutta,” Sunil Kapur, chairman of Travel Food Services, told Metro.
Kapur’s company, headquartered in Mumbai, also operates at Muscat airport in Oman.
“The wide range of offerings will stand out. Food is such an important part of the city and we are confident that we will bring joy to the hearts of all passengers passing through the airport,” the chairman said.
The awarding of the contract is part of the civil aviation ministry’s plan to privatise operations and maintenance of Calcutta airport in phases. AAI sources said the contract to get a master concessionaire on board and bring in retail brands and a private agency for operations and maintenance of the terminal would be finalised soon.
“Calcutta is a city that we believe is on a strong upsurge. The airport today is now world-class and the new infrastructure makes it one of the best in the country. The offerings we are aiming to provide are focused on value for money…. Passengers passing through Calcutta airport will be pleasantly surprised by the affordable prices of the products,” Kapur promised.
According to Kapur, the lounges would be of a standard that would please business travellers and other passengers. “Currently the lounges at the airport are not of the standard expected and we will ensure they are world class with complimentary Wi-fi, extensive snacks and buffet offerings, a wide variety of beverages along with personalised care and service,” he said.
Entertainment options would range from TVs and newspapers to massage chairs.
The integrated terminal, which became operational in March, currently has a handful of small F&B outlets that passengers say don’t offer the choices they would like.
At Mumbai airport, the authorities had drawn up a wish list of brands for the concessionaire based on a survey among passengers about what they would like.
Travel Food Services isn’t expecting any significant challenge in the rollout of its portfolio at Calcutta airport, having operated in the city before and found it to be “very pro-business”.
“There is a great amount of support from the administration that gives operators like us confidence to invest in the city as well as Bengal,” Kapur said.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Nov 06, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject:

New terminal an engineering 'marvel'

TNN | Nov 6, 2013, 03.34 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/New-terminal-an-engineering-marvel/articleshow/25281123.cms

KOLKATA: The new integrated terminal building at Kolkata airport has been adjudged an engineering marvel, bagging the second highest Jury award in the prestigious competition organized by Engineering Watch, a professional publication dedicated to engineering community. The airport has also been declared as the second-most impactful engineering marvel.

The 1,80,000 sq metre terminal that can handle 20 million passengers a year was developed by the Airports Authority of India at a cost of Rs 2,300 crore. Designed by international architect firm RMJM, which has studios in Europe, Middle East, Asia and the US, the sprawling terminal integrates cutting-edge technology with unique cultural qualities.

North-facing roof lights and a central courtyard flood the interior with natural light. The large front window, shaded by the overhanging roof, is also a ventilated double wall that removes heat generated from sunlight. The roof is designed to harvest rainwater.

RMJM worked closely with landscape designers Strata to ensure a close relationship between the building and its landscape. Both landscape and architecture designs revolve around an abstract reference to the writing of Rabindranath Tagore, with symbolized scripts adorning the airport and the internal courtyards. Sikka Associates was the executive architect in this project.

The project that beat the airport to bag the best engineering marvel prize was Vedanta Aluminium Ltd's conversion of an electro-static precipitator (ESP) to hybrid ESP.

More than 11,000 tonne of structural steel and 2 lakh tonne of concrete were used to build the terminal. Constructing and erecting the massive trusses on which the entire roof rests was a huge engineering challenge.

In the most impactful engineering marvel category, Kolkata airport was pipped by none other than the humble Indian chapati. A machine by CSIR-CFTRI that can continuously dish out fresh chapatis won the jurors' hearts.

"The airport terminal has been widely appreciated for the aesthetic, environmental and user-friendly technology. We are proud to have created a building," said airport director BP Sharma.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 6:55 pm Post subject:

Bhutan Airlines set for a double 'first' at Kolkata airportTNN |

Nov 8, 2013, 05.55 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Bhutan-Airlines-set-for-a-double-first-at-Kolkata-airport/articleshow/25405472.cms

KOLKATA: When Bhutan Airlines touches down at Kolkata airport later this month, not only will it be its maiden international flight, it will also be the first new carrier to arrive at Terminal 2 that opened to passengers eight months ago.

Bhutan Airlines commercial director Ugyen Tenzin said the airline will start daily flights on the Bangkok-Kolkata-Paro-Kolkata-Bangkok route later this month following a formality to be completed with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

"We are eager to begin services to Kolkata that is a evolving as an important market for tourist traffic to Bhutan," said Tenzin. At present, Jet Airways operates two daily flights to Bangkok while Thai Airways, Indigo Airlines and AirAsia have a daily operation. On Kolkata-Paro sector, the only operator at present is Druk Air.

While the flight to Bangkok will depart at 11.50am, the one from Bangkok will arrive at 7.30am. Similarly, the flight to Paro will department at 8.10am while the Paro-Kolkata flight will touch down at 10.35am.

Lalit Mohan Khosla, vice-president of Bird Group, the carrier's general sales agent in India, said the fares would be competitive. "Bhutan Airlines is a full-service carrier. So it will offer fares that are in sync with Thai and Jet," he said.

While additional seats on Kolkata-Bangkok sector may lead to more competitive fares, Khosla said the airline would match fares offered by Druk on the Kolkata-Paro sector and not undercut it in any way.

Welcoming the prospect of a new airline flying into Kolkata, Travel Agents' Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi said the carrier would be a boost to tourists keen to explore Bhutan. "With just one flight to the Himalayan kingdom at present, few seats are available and they are all very expensive at present. Hopefully, the scenario will change now," said Punjabi.

Khosla also informed that Bangladeshi private carrier Regent Airways that currently operates three flights from Kolkata to Chittagong will add a daily Dhaka connection from November 15. The GSA is also hopeful of Air China responding positively to their study favouring flight between Beijing and Kolkata.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:24 pm Post subject:

An update trip report about NSCBI airport along with nice pictures : http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/trip_reports/read.main/246222/
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Sabya99

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

I flew into CCU for the first time since the new terminal opened.
Arrivals (international) ... like a monochromatic prison. Better than the old one but still unimpressive. Departures was better .... though it doesn't have the same feel as a HYD/BLR.
Looking on the bright side - it's an improvement and at least the ceiling wasn't leaking Wink

Once you get out of the terminal the car drop off/pick up is great

Here are some amateur pics of the terminal.

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eP007

Nimish · Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 6:32 pm Post subject:

^^ The terminal building looks pretty nice - esp. with all those contact boarding gates. I thought EK has pilots do the return flight as well - or is CCU too far away for that to happen?
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We miss you Nalini!

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2013 8:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks to security, it'll be old terminal for Cameron

TNN | Nov 13, 2013, 03.03 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Thanks-to-security-itll-be-old-terminal-for-Cameron/articleshow/25663840.cms

KOLKATA: The intricate ceiling design in the new airport terminal that is based on Bengali script inspired from Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel prize-winning 'Gitanjali' has wowed travellers from around the world.

But when British Prime Minister David Cameron lands in Kolkata, he will be unable to catch a glimpse of the art work executed by a British firm because he will be received at the old ceremonial lounge located at the far end of the now decommissioned international terminal.

The screen printing on the honeycomb aluminium composite panels and aluminium tube line on the roof and ceiling were manufactured by SAS, UK and Dongshin, Korea.

Sources said the state government was keen on welcoming Cameron at the swanky new ceremonial lounge in Terminal 2 but had to opt for the older facility because it is secluded, and therefore, makes it easier to handle visits by heads of state that entail an elaborate security arrangement. "Though the old ceremonial lounge looks dated and presents a poor first impression of the city to VVIPs, it is preferred due to security protocols involved with the visits of Presidents and Prime Ministers," explained an officer involved in the security arrangements for Cameron's visit.

The ceremonial lounge at T2 isn't as sprawling as the old one. All VIPs other than heads of state are currently received at the new lounge.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and chief secretary Sanjay Mitra are expected to be at the ceremonial lounge by 2pm, well before Cameron's chartered aircraft lands at 2.30pm. After being welcomed by Mamata and other dignitaries, Cameron will receive a guard of honour and then proceed to the ceremonial lounge. When he leaves for the city, his motorcade will use gate 5, bypassing the new terminal altogether.

Airport officials revealed that they received intimation about the British premier's visit nearly 10 days ago, but it was officially communicated only on Sunday when Cameron's security team from UK as well as British High Commission in Delhi arrived and conducted a recce of the airport as well as the ceremonial lounge.

Before Cameron lands, the air will be sanitized. "Five minutes before his plane touches down and five minutes thereafter, no flights will either take off or land. That is the usual protocol when heads of state arrive," an airport official explained. Usually, passenger flights take off at an interval of three minutes with one landing allowed between two takeoffs.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:55 pm Post subject:

Bring British Airways back, Bengal tells British PM

TNN | Nov 15, 2013, 03.09 AM IST

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Bring-British-Airways-back-Bengal-tells-British-PM/articleshow/25782010.cms

KOLKATA: Bengal, once the hub of British India, will again be one of the focus areas of United Kingdom, said David Cameron. To begin with, his PM's visit may herald the return of British Airways to Kolkata.

Cameron assured industrialists on Thursday that he would take up their request for BA's return. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and finance minister Amit Mitra also impressed upon the need for the airline to touch down at Kolkata. 'Please get BA back' was Mamata's simple message to Cameron during their interaction at the British Deputy High Commission.

"It is not for me to take the decision. But my coming here should send a positive message to the airline. I will take up the issue of a direct service between London and Kolkata," Cameron said in reply to industrialist Sanjeev Goenka's request for resumption of the BA service that was withdrawn in 2009. The PM met a select group of businessmen for a brief interaction at IIM-C.

Making the case for BA, Goenka had pointed out to Cameron that there was no direct flight from Kolkata to Europe. "We believe there is enough traffic in Kolkata for BA to resume services. Load was never an issue as the flights were recording high occupancy when the services were terminated. The chief minister has waived levies, encouraging more airlines to come to Kolkata," Goenka pointed out.

"If the British PM wants to truly forge strong links with the erstwhile capital of British India, the flight should be foremost on the agenda," Sanjay Budhia explained.

Cameron remarked: "That is nice. We must explore the possibility." He then turned to his minister for business engagement with India, Gregory Barker, and said: "It's a good input."

Travel Agents' Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi said the return of a direct connection to Europe would be welcome but cautioned that BA needed to get its mix of business and economy seats right. "The viability of any international carrier depends on the sale of business-class seats," said Punjabi.

The chief minister met Cameron for around 30-minutes at the British deputy high commission office.

Prior to this, the British premier had a brief 10 minute interaction with select industry representatives at IIM-Calcutta where he indicated that UK is keen to engage with Bengal on the industry front.

The industry representatives included RP Sanjiv Goenka Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka, Ambuja Realty chairman Harsh Neotia, Patton International MD Sanjay Budhia, GRSE CMD rear admiral (retd) A K Verma and Globsys chairman Bikram Dasgupta.

Earlier, the industry captains had an hour-long interaction with Barker where the UK minister wanted to know about the business environment in the state and the possible area of co-operation. "Barkar said that he would tell UK companies to invest in Bengal," Harsh Neotia said.

"I told British premier that we are really honoured that he has decided to come to Kolkata. This visit will help us promote our state in other parts of the world," he said.

Terming Cameron an inspiring leader, Goenka said there is tremendous scope for UK and Bengal to work together. Budhia said that he has suggested that UK companies could make Bengal the production hub for their South East Asian operations. Dasgupta remarked that the British PM was approachable and friendly with them.

Comments: Yes, there was no shortage of passengers for CCU-LHR sector in the economy class. This flight must come back, at least 3 times a week. But will it be able to withstand stiff competition from ME carriers?
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Sabya99

stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

sabya99 · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2013 8:59 pm Post subject:

Demand for flights to Bangkok gathers steam.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Demand-for-flights-to-Bangkok-gathers-steam/articleshow/26171244.cms
TNN | Nov 22, 2013

KOLKATA: Industrialist and honorary Malaysian consul general Sanjay Budhia on Thursday wrote to AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes and urged him to reverse the decision to withdraw flights to Bangkok from March.

Referring to a TOI report, Budhia wrote to Fernandes: "I am enclosing herewith the very disturbing news item that appeared in leading newspaper The Times of India. As Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Kolkata, I have been receiving numerous calls... I request you to reconsider the decision to continue direct flights between Kolkata and Bangkok as well as Kolkata and Kuala Lumpur (KL)."

Earlier in the day, an AirAsia spokesperson told TOI that the carrier did not intend to withdraw services to KL while the curtailing of flights to Bangkok from January and its disappearance from the airline itinerary was a seasonal phenomenon. "Frequency of flights is a business decision. But AirAsia is not exiting Kolkata," the spokesperson said.

However, travel agents are wary of flights being operated seasonally. "An airline can increase or decrease frequency based on passenger demand. But when it pulls off flight from a sector, it is damaging," an agent reasoned.

Budhia, who was instrumental in persuading AirAsia to revert to the daily schedule after flights to KL had been slashed to thrice-a-week in 2011, pleaded with the dynamic airline chief to persist with both the sectors, assuring him that it would pay dividends in due course.

"Kolkata is the hub for the entire north-eastern and eastern states as well as neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar. Therefore, having direct connection from Kolkata would be ultimately commercially viable in the long run," Budhia argued.

In fact, he has advised Fernandes to increase fares by Rs 2,000-3,000 on the sectors to boost yield and introduce limited number of business class seats for passengers who want more comfort.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2013 12:03 am Post subject:

NSCBI airport at night : http://youtu.be/lkB8I9mlfnA Facade of Kolkata airport : http://youtu.be/zeLxn743gRc Landing at Kolkata airport : http://youtu.be/YvphyZ56iNQ ; http://youtu.be/tj1nr2UTjyc , http://youtu.be/K9xTCBL7XRo , http://youtu.be/1i3Yxfri6K4 ; http://youtu.be/hmyj1Nofnto Future of Kolkata , Part 1 ; http://youtu.be/W0T5Ko2UjCA Part 2 : http://youtu.be/LuRiR8sGLE4 Part 3 ; http://youtu.be/WRiwEkWPgOA Kolkata my city : http://youtu.be/BxX7DvZ5A0M
Kolkata to Dibrughar : http://youtu.be/EvhlCyZdhT0 Takeoff from NSCBI airport : http://youtu.be/Nle8_eYmLFY ; http://youtu.be/waiAFxEqx9o ; http://youtu.be/YwNXaMX7r_w ; http://youtu.be/WbdTSDCvjh0 Aircraft called back for faulty fire alarm : http://youtu.be/WkDGrreQYuE Flight over New Town , Kolkata : http://youtu.be/K9xTCBL7XRo
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject:

Bengal’s helicopter dream!!
(The Telegraph Nov. 30th , 2013 )

The state government on Friday drew up a blueprint for a helicopter service connecting Calcutta with destinations across Bengal.
PROMISE
Better connectivity and shorter travel time
TAKE-OFF
As soon as formalities such as fixing travel agents and the procedure of selling tickets are worked out. “This is the first time that such a service will be launched in Bengal,” said a senior official of the transport department.
OPERATOR
Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited. Chief secretary Sanjay Mitra met the top brass of Pawan Hans on Friday to finalise the plan
ON BOARD
Bengal Aerotropolis Private Limited, an infrastructure company developing an aerotropolis near Andal, has already agreed to book seven seats on every Durgapur-Calcutta flight, said insiders.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 12:56 am Post subject:

Wi-fi signal & smart signage at the new terminal of NSCBI airport.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131203/jsp/calcutta/story_17636049.jsp

Calcutta airport’s integrated terminal has gone Wi-fi and put up additional signage across the sprawling facility to help fliers find their way.
“Tata Docomo is providing Wi-fi facility in the terminal. The W-fi network already covers the departure area and will be available in parts of the arrival zone soon,” airport director B.P. Sharma told Metro on Monday.
The first-floor departure lounge has had a Wi-fi network since November 15 while trials are underway elsewhere. The airport has signed a three-year deal with Tata Docomo, which provides Wi-fi connectivity at Delhi’s T3.
“We have the contract to provide Wi-fi services exclusively at Calcutta airport’s domestic and international lounges. The first 30 minutes of usage is free,” said Prateek Pashine, head of SME operations at Tata Communications.
Any passenger taking a flight out of Calcutta can access Wi-fi on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop after entering the departure area.
Once the user’s gadget detects a network, he or she will be prompted to provide a mobile number or email address. “A password will be immediately provided to the user to log in. Each visit will require a new password for Wi-fi access,” an airport official said.
A user who exhausts the free quota will get a pop-up message saying that the service would now be chargeable. The surfing fee will have to be paid online.
Wi-fi allows digital devices within a particular area to connect to the Internet and, by extension, one another. For travellers on the move, especially foreign tourists, it is the ideal alternative to a high-tariff mobile phone connection with international roaming.
Many use the facility to check in by showing e-tickets on their tablets or send WhatsApp, Skype or FaceTime messages to those waiting outside airports to receive them.
Metro had highlighted the lack of Wi-fi facility in the integrated terminal through the experience of an NRI on a visit to Calcutta in October.
Mumbai has had the facility since 2007.
Some airports put restrictions on bandwidth or websites visited. Dubai International Airport and Changi International Airport in Singapore offer free Wi-fi, but airports in New York and Paris charge for it.
The Airports Authority of India had first signed a contract with state-owned BSNL for a Wi-fi network. Parts of the terminal did get Wi-fi under a pilot project, but BSNL withdrew it in May by citing technical difficulties.
Apart from Wi-fi, the new terminal has 150 additional signs to make it easier for fliers to navigate through the facility without having to ask anyone for directions. “We had received complaints from passengers about inadequate signage. There was also confusion at the boarding gates,” the airport director admitted.
In the old set-up, fliers sometimes had to walk a long way to their designated airline counters after getting off vehicles at the wrong gates.
The AAI has spent Rs 24 lakh to install new signage across the terminal to indicate washrooms, boarding gates, ATMs and other areas. The project was completed a few weeks ago, an official said.
“Signage has improved, but there should be more of them for the exit gates at the arrival lounge,” said surgical oncologist Gautam Mukhopadhyay, a frequent flier.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 8:54 pm Post subject:

Fly to Durgapur in a chopper from next week

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Fly-to-Durgapur-in-a-chopper-from-next-week/articleshow/26815235.cms

ANDAL: Helicopter service provider Pawan Hans is scheduled to start passenger chopper services between Behala and Durgapur from Sunday.

The helicopter, which can seat eight, would reach Durgapur in 40 minutes and use the passenger terminals of the Aerotropolis. The fare has been fixed at Rs 4,200.

In preparation for flight operations, work has started on laying 400KV high-tension high-tension hybrid power lines at the Aerotropolis.

Sources said the airport construction is almost complete and is awaiting Airports Authority of India (AAI) approval for the diversion of high-tension electric lines and poles of the state electricity provider in and around the airport.

Sources said that 11.1km of 400KV lines and 5.5km of 220KV lines would be diverted. About 102 poles need to be erected, of which construction on a few has been completed.

Land acquisition for the poles and cables has been done by the district administration.

Partha Ghosh, the CEO and director of Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL), said the company was trying its level best to meet the deadline of running the first flight from Poila Boisakh, in keeping with chief minister Mamata Banerjee's wish expressed during her recent visit to Andal.

"The district administration is helping us a lot in the matter and we expect the diversion of electric poles would be finished by February and we'll be able to meet the deadline," he added. Very Happy

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Sabya99

harshwcam3 · Member Joined: 18 Oct 2012 Posts: 114

The Shatabdi Express in the morning takes about 1 hour more than the chopper. I dont think its a significant gain over the train.

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:32 am Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

WiFi: CSIA T1-A/C is perhaps the best of all. Free 24 hour WiFi, enough power-ports all around. Both the speed and connectivity is quite good. I haven't seen enough of T1-B to compare it, but the current CSIA T2 completely lacks power-ports. I look forward to the new integrated T2 opening to passenger traffic!
Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject:

Air force’s ‘flying coffin’ laid to rest
- MiG-21 decommissioned after 50 chequered years

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131212/jsp/nation/story_17671855.jsp

Kalaikunda, Dec. 11: MiG-21, the combat aircraft that earned monikers like the “flying coffin” and “widow-maker” and was at the centre of Aamir Khan blockbuster Rang De Basanti, was decommissioned from the Indian Air Force today.
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 FL, which formed the combat backbone of the IAF for over five decades, took off for its last sortie from the Kalaikunda airbase near Kharagpur around 10am today.
A truck towed away one such jet into a hangar in a symbolic gesture, relegating the fighter to the pages of history.
Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne, who was present at the flypast this morning, termed the phase-out of India’s first supersonic aircraft a “watershed moment”.
“Today’s event marks a watershed moment in (the) IAF’s history as we reach the end of nearly five decades of remarkable operational service rendered by this iconic fighter,” Browne said at the base from where the MiG-21 FL had taken off for the first time in 1963.
Other upgraded variants of MiG continue to be a part of the air force’s fleet.
Although the MiG-21 was commissioned in the early 60s, it was in the 1971 war with Pakistan — leading to the formation of Bangladesh — that it provided an edge to the Indian defence. “In that one war alone, it claimed eight fighter planes of Pakistan. It played a pivotal role in the Kargil war, too,” recalled a retired air force pilot.
Four MiG-21s had entered enemy territory in erstwhile East Pakistan, striking with precision the governor’s house in Dhaka in attacks that turned the war in India’s favour.
But in Kalaikunda this morning, as the curtains came down on a different set of MiG-21, their roar muffled all other sounds.
An air force pilot recalled his first sortie on the plane in the late 80s. “My first reaction, as the wheels went up, was wow. I was piercing the air. The flight sent my adrenaline rushing,” said the pilot.
He has flown 3,000 hours on the jet. According to other IAF officials, every two out of three pilots serving the IAF currently has been trained on the MiG-21.
But the standards of the MiG-21, along with that of other variants, have come under the glare often.
Rang De Basanti, the 2006 film starring Aamir, dealt with frequent crashes of MiG aircraft and the role of go-betweens in brokering defence deals and procuring unsafe planes in exchange for kickbacks. A character in the movie, playing Aamir’s friend, dies in a MiG-21 crash.
According to an air force officer, close to 160 pilots have died while flying various variants of MiG over the past 50 years. Close to 50 civilians lost their lives as the planes fell on houses and farms.
An air force pilot who had survived a crash moved court 10 years ago with a plea to scrap the entire MiG fleet from the Indian Air Force.
That hasn’t happened but back in Kalaikunda today, it was time for one member of the family to face the ground reality and bid adieu after half a century in the skies.
The decommissioned MiG-21 FL will now acquire the status of “gate guardians”, placed as static displays at the entrance of institutions, mainly those related to the air force.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Tue Dec 17, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject:

11-hour delay irks Air India passengers

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/11-hour-delay-irks-Air-India-passengers/articleshow/27492760.cms

KOLKATA: Passengers booked on an early evening Sunday flight to Delhi reached the Capital on Monday morning after an inward flight to Kolkata was delayed by more than nine hours. The reason: Air India (AI) floundered, first with arranging an airworthy plane and then getting hold of crew to operate it. Of the 222 passengers who were scheduled to take the 5.15pm flight to Delhi, just over 100 finally boarded the plane that took off nearly 11 hours after the scheduled departure for the 2-hour journey.

Problem started when the aircraft that was to operate the Delhi-Kolkata sector on Sunday afternoon was held up in Frankfurt. While an airline usually uses a spare aircraft in such an exigency, AI did not have any as two of the nine Dreamliners in its fleet are currently grounded with the Boeing team changing its on-board computer circuit. Hence, all the airline could do was wait. It rescheduled the Kolkata flight from 2.20pm to 7.30pm. Those living in Delhi were lucky to be alerted about the schedule change but around 45 passengers travelling on international sectors were caught unaware.

Though more than a dozen flights took off for Kolkata from Delhi between 2.20pm and 7.30pm including an AI flight at 5pm, the airline did not attempt to accommodate the passengers in them. A couple of passengers who were to travel to Kolkata to attend a conference did manage to get boarding passes on the 5pm AI flight but were denied boarding after the airline suddenly claimed the flight was full.

The apparent reason for the delay was expiry of the crew's flight duty time limitation. The time limit is set by the watchdog agency governing civilian flights to avoid exhaustion among crews and prevent a mistake that can prove catastrophic. But why the airline did not anticipate the situation and have a spare crew ready is anybody's guess. It was only after the carrier could arrange for a new set of crew members that the flight finally took off at 11.45pm.

Harvard University professor and head of Presidency Mentor Group Sugata Bose, who was also on the flight, said he had been waiting since 2.20pm on Sunday when he arrived from Boston. "No senior AI official was seen at the airport. This is extremely callous," said Bose.

Many of those who landed decided to wait at the airport for three-four hours more before calling home for transport. "For many, it didn't make sense to venture out at 2.30am. Among them were several Bengalis who were visiting home from US and Europe. They didn't want to disturb their parents so late at night," said a passenger. In Kolkata, the situation was worse as the airline periodically announced delays due to the non-arrival of aircraft but failed to cite the reason behind the inordinate delay. It was only later that they learnt about the problem with the aircraft and the crew in Delhi. By the time the plane arrived, many had either cancelled their ticket or returned home after opting to fly later. Though the airline did serve refreshments and dinner during the long wait at the terminal, what passengers are irked about is the lack of information.

"One expects an airline to be a little more informative instead of creating an information vacuum. If explained, passengers will understand a technical snag or a delay in aircraft arrival due to inclement weather somewhere else. But airline officials have to speak. They cannot remain mum," said passenger A Sarkar.

Comments: ; Watch out AI passengers!
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Sabya99

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

...and here I go. We made it in spite of the fog and the backlog due to it, well in time, to Jodhpur. AI (and 6E to some extent) remain one's best bets out of Delhi. The latter have Cat-3B compliant planes and crew, but being an LCC, have a lot of fine print associated with passenger privileges (or the lack of them). Delhi sees this fog for around 15 days each year. Among other airlines: 9W has a large fleet, but quite a few B737s are only Cat-3A compliant (as is the case with SG's much smaller fleet).

AI has hardly any PR so to say, and for any delay and mishandling, the media love to flog AI around. While fog affects all airlines, more so those with smaller fleets, they have their share of IRROPS. However, we hear just a whisper of the same, and not much of it on the media. Have you heard of paid journalism? AI could do with some effective PR, for IRROPS.

Dr. Ganguly: here is something that may interest you. We had a full flight on an A319 in both Economy, and Business as well. There was a disproportionately huge number of Bongs on board - having come in from Calcutta on AI 763 [this is the 7am-9am: currently mentioned as 06:45 am - 09:10 am flight], connecting to a 11am-12:10pm DEL-JDH flight. I guess this is the exotic sonAr kellA Jaisalmer and Jodhpur trip. Bongs patronising Air India, and Air India effectively using Delhi as a hub, as a convenient option for Calcutta passengers. Does that tell you something? Smile

Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 9:50 pm Post subject:

Quote: Bongs patronising Air India, and Air India effectively using Delhi as a hub, as a convenient option for Calcutta passengers. Does that tell you something?

Most Bongs are traditionalist and I have noticed they patronize state owned airlines like IA and AI. Although privately owned LCC are doing brisk business here at CCU , I am not surprised to see large passenger loads on AI flights in CCU-Del sector. CCU-Del/ BOM are very crowded trunk route like LGA-ORD in USA. May be some day airlines will use widebody aircrafts in these sectors ( and AI is using A330 already ). So far AI is doing a good job by its connector services to CCU and I recommend most of my associates to fly to Kolkata by AI as transshipment in DEL is hassle free.

However most NRIs of Kolkata origin will complaint about AI for not offering originating flights ( west bound to EU ). Perhaps this is a fall out of political rivalry between two capitals and Bengal’s dismal industrial performance. As Bengal goes down the drain in industrial sector more young bongs will be forced to leave that land in search of job as Sabya did many decades ago. This will crank up passenger loads of NSCBI airport. Smile

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Sabya99

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

Nice to see you mentioning this, Sir. While AI does well on the DEL-CCU sector and has a hub for the North East at CCU, Indigo perhaps has the lion's share of the traffic ex-CCU, where they have made a nice hub. From what I hear in reports, AI has been a bit tardy with Cat-3B certification on the Dream)liners, else there was at least one Dream)liner doing the rounds on the DEL-CCU and back routes (at least AI 20: the `LHR connector' and AI 701 back), which had gone up to even three Dream)liners a day. Right now, it is back to the narrow-bodies, which are (obviously, because of the loads) all-A321s on Cat-3B fog-affected days. No A332s are there on the route right now. You may observe something interesting: the next few days sees some flights completely booked out in advance, and for those not so, you'll find the fares sky-high. I follow AI a bit sitting here in Delhi, on my numerous excursions, more across the country than overseas, though I certainly do not mind either Smile

Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Mon Dec 23, 2013 8:00 pm Post subject:

Travel through Bhutan and Bangladesh : http://youtu.be/P-zmgrpTf4I
Custom checks at Kolkata’s NSCBI airport : http://youtu.be/J5N9Rxn5On4
Take off at Singapore airport for Kolkata : http://youtu.be/1fZu3N8xlh4
Night landing at Kolkata airport : http://youtu.be/IghZyYyB5JY
Port Blair - Kolkata flight on A319 ( animation ? ) : http://youtu.be/dsUDB5X6fgE
Flight take off and landings at Agartala airport : http://youtu.be/bH8VPThrT6c
Landing at Kolkata airport : http://youtu.be/-n4bkI5W5Sc , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDoh3dpNJlM&feature=share&list=PL244402F864F60AF0&index=1
Take off from Kolkata in rain : http://youtu.be/YwNXaMX7r_w
Night landing at JFK airport ( A320 ) : http://youtu.be/uxSPfeVbOi8
Dum Dum airport : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvHAUpJbN0g&feature=share&list=PL244402F864F60AF0&index=4 ; Night time take off from Kolkata : http://youtu.be/FEShEG-WP34
Takeoff from NSCBI airport and landing at IGI airport, Delhi : http://youtu.be/UWi4uN0dHb4
Pilot's View of Airbus A380 approach and landing at San Francisco :
http://youtu.be/UWi4uN0dHb4
Kolkata airport main runway, night time : http://youtu.be/ca731e_F0vY
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 8:58 pm Post subject:

Chopper service to Ganga Sagar takes off

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Chopper-service-to-Ganga-Sagar-takes-off/articleshow/28117472.cms

KOLKATA: At around 10.30am on Sunday, while his friends were still reading newspapers over a cup of tea, Rajiv Ranjan Pandey was soaring high. On the maiden flight of Pawan Hans from Kolkata to Ganga Sagar, the clothe merchant was on a flight of fancy.

As the eleven-seater Dauphin SA 365, the iconic twin-engined Eurocopter helicopter, started soaring to 3,000 feet above Kolkata, Pandey could feel the thrill he never felt on a plane. "I could see the city becoming smaller gradually. The ramming sound of the rotors that was driving the blades was the only sound I could hear. I was a little afraid initially," said Pandey, with a smile.

Minutes after taking off from Behala Flying Club, the helicopter took the southward route along the Hooghly river. "From above, the river looked like a long grey stretch flowing through green patches all across. You never get to see the cities so clearly if you are on a plane," a seemingly excited Pandey said.

"While the river was about to join the seas, it widened and for a moment it seemed we were flying over an ocean," Pandey said. Further south, Haldi river joined Hooghly.

The twin engine Dauphin that left Kolkata at 10.30am, picked up a speed of around 250 kilometre per hour within a few minutes. The entire stretch to the Sagar Island was covered in 30 minutes. "I could also see the huge chimney strutting out of the ground," said an amazed Sitaram Verma. One of the main obstructions for the pilots is the 965-feet high chimney stack of the CESC power plant in Budge Budge. The safety norms require helicopters to fly 1,000 feet over the tallest structure in the area.

While going from Kolkata to Ganga Sagar via road and waterways, passengers have to drive till Harwood Point. A ferry service from Harwood Point crosses the Muriganga river to reach Ganga Sagar.

On his first ride in a helicopter, Verma was excited to notice how a four-hour long journey to Ganga Sagar was reduced to merely 30 minutes. "There was no bumpy ride on the road, no waiting for the launch from Harwood Point. The journey was smooth," Verma said. "As the helicopter approached the Sagar Island, I could see Kapil Muni's Ashram. I think we were flying at 2,000 feet then," he added.

"We will fly from Kolkata to Ganga Sagar every Sunday initially. The state government has kept the fare at Rs 1,500 for one-way ride," said Sanjay Kumar, general manager (marketing), Pawan Hans. The once-in-a-week helicopter service will also cover Durgapur and Malda-Balurghat routes soon.

Kolkata- Gangasagar service

Will fly once every Sunday

Fare kept at Rs 1,500 (one side).

Tickets can be booked from Quick Service (Jadavpur) and Surabhi Communication (Howrah)

Will have to bring photo -ID both for purchasing tickets and boarding the aircraft.

Will have to reach at least one hour before boarding time.

Comment: Bengal’s chopper dream ultimately took off . Hope this one will not be short lived!
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 10:32 pm Post subject:

Take off from NSCBI airport , day time : http://youtu.be/t8bZnU8wVhM
Take off from Jaipur for Kolkata : http://youtu.be/SvoFKFfecAw
Daytime Indigo take off from Kolkata: http://youtu.be/Kok4LDb9EA8
Landing at Leh airport : http://youtu.be/On5irCPrrxU
EK take off from south side of main runway : http://youtu.be/bXJbA17STPk
Biman Bangladesh DC-10 take off from Dhaka airport : http://youtu.be/MgYStkd44DM
Runway problem at Kolkata airport : http://youtu.be/32BMUDJP2wM
Landing of Indigo at Kolkata Airport 2013 : http://youtu.be/GhAMi1Aa_xw
Aircraft marshalling at the new terminal : http://youtu.be/imjVPivHpu0

Tatas in race for Chennai, Kolkata airport projects ; http://youtu.be/fy-FxPb_PtA
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:16 am Post subject:

Back from World War shelf
- Work begins to make two airstrips in Birbhum operational

SNEHAMOY CHAKRABORTY

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140104/jsp/bengal/story_17750656.jsp#.Usd0kVMlhvA

Surichua (Birbhum), Jan. 3: The Indian Air Force is setting up an auxiliary air base on two abandoned airstrips in Birbhum’s Surichua that were last used during World War II.
An air force spokesperson said the new base, which will also be used as a training centre, would be monitored from the Panagarh air force base in Burdwan, 120km away.
In the past one month, the IAF conducted four trial landings of helicopters on two of the six Surichua airstrips fit for use.
The two strips have been repaired and cleared of rubbish.
The four other airstrips, sources in the district administration said, had developed cracks and would require major repairs. The IAF does not have immediate plans of using them.
Birbhum district magistrate J.P. Meena told The Telegraph: “Air force officials informed us that they wanted to make the abandoned aerodrome in Surichua functional and also use it as a training centre. They had sought our help in clearing the place and we have provided it.”
A senior officer of the Eastern Air Command in Shillong, under which Surichua falls, said the IAF had planned to develop the air base because of its “strategic location and the availability of air strips”. He said that by strategic location, he meant the base’s proximity to international borders.
The air base, which is 11km from Birbhum’s Rampurhat town and near the Bengal-Jharkhand border, has been cleared of undergrowth and unwanted trees. The work was carried out under the central 100-day job scheme and monitored by the local Kusumba gram panchayat.
The total area of the abandoned air base is around 550 acres. The land belongs to the defence ministry. But as there is no boundary wall, encroachment has taken place on a portion of the land.
“Fortunately, the encroachment is minimal as there are dense forests around the air base,” a district official said.
An IAF officer said it was “imperative” to build a boundary wall. “It has been decided that a boundary wall will be built, but we still don’t know when work will begin,” he said.
The officer said C 130J Super Hercules aircraft would operate from the Surichua air base. “The runway is long enough for such aircraft to land here. Besides, the area is sparsely populated,” he added.
Dividers are now being marked on one of the two airstrips, each around 2km long. The air force is supervising the restoration work. Offices and residential quarters will also be built.
Birbhum police said the IAF had requested them to provide security around the air base.
“We have assured the air force of adequate security,” a senior police officer said.
The officer said the air base had been “neglected” for years. “But as it is the property of the central government, the district administration had not taken steps to protect it,” he said.
“Occasionally, men from the army would come to inspect the air base. But such inspections rarely took place. This is evident from the condition of the base.”
Residents had used the airstrips as walkways for years. Trucks had also been using them, opening up cracks and often leaving behind a trail of pebbles and sand.

Comment: Surichua as of today : http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=24.185908&lon=87.699652&z=15&m=b
Its good to see that these old HUMP airstrips are being used again after so many years.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 8:57 pm Post subject:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140110/jsp/calcutta/story_17771516.jsp

Chaos checks in after snag

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The check-in system of Jet Airways and Air India collapsed for three hours at Calcutta airport on Thursday morning, triggering long queues at counters and confusion over luggage tags.
Airport officials said the breakdown in the computerised system happened at 11am, forcing airline employees to fall back on the cumbersome process of issuing boarding passes and luggage tags manually until normality was restored at 1.45pm.
“The manual system delayed the entire process and triggered passenger confusion because most of them had blocked seats via online check-in. We struggled to make the flights take off on time,” said an official of Jet Airways.
SITA, the global aviation information and technology service provider, is responsible for the common user terminal equipment (CUTE) software that connects all the check-in terminals at Calcutta airport to a single platform. The software enables airlines to use any vacant terminal during rush hour.
SITA sources said a snag at its hub in Mumbai tripped the system for the two airlines across 25 airports.
The glitch got the passengers off guard. Tapas Roy, who was flying Jet Airways on an official trip to Indore via Mumbai, was livid about the manual luggage tagging.
“Normally (in a CUTE check-in), I would be issued a through check-in from Calcutta to Indore via Mumbai. I was told that it was not possible today and I had to collect my luggage at Mumbai airport and go for fresh check-in,” he said.
When Metro contacted him later at night, he was more furious because his luggage had not reached Mumbai and Jet officials told them that it would be sent later.
“Manual tagging, since the online system was down, caused all these problems,” said an airport official.
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Sabya99

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sabya99 · Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:48 pm Post subject:

@Sumantra, a large number of HUMP airstrips have been abandoned and are being used as cattle grazing ground. IAF should think of using them with minimum infra investment. Also state govts. could use them as industrial hubs as land shortage is phenomenal in this part of India! Very Happy

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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 11:45 pm Post subject:

Airport set for sip and bite, at last
- Brands to open outlets by March 15

SANJAY MANDAL
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140113/jsp/calcutta/story_17774278.jsp

Now: Next to nothing.

March 15: McDonald’s,KFC, Grab & Go, Cafe Coffee Day, Ultra bar, Pizza Hut, Copper Chimney, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Kusum Rolls,Idli.com, Kookie Jar, Café Ccino...
We are not talking about yet another mall in the city but Calcutta airport’s new terminal.
The agency that was given the contract by Airports Authority of India (AAI) to bring F&B chains to the new terminal has signed up popular brands that will open outlets by March 15, airport officials said.
“The agency, Travel Food Services, is the master concessionaire and has finalised deals with several F&B chains,” airport director B.P. Sharma told Metro.
“Work for setting up stalls would start on January 15 and in two months, most of the F&B retail outlets would become operational. Along with the stores, there will be four food courts and six bar-cum-restaurants,” said Sharma.
The biggest food court will be spread across 600sq m and two others will be 400sq m each. The smallest one will cover 250sq m.
The F&B outlets will be set up across passenger areas — including departure and arrival lounges — security hold and also outside the terminal on the city side. The outlets will cover three lounges, including the platinum lounge.
The contract is for 10 years and the Mumbai-headquartered Travel Food Services, which also operates at Muscat airport in Oman, will be responsible for all operations and maintenance.
“The wide range of offerings will stand out. Food is such an important part of the city and we are confident that we will bring joy to the hearts of all passengers passing through the airport,” Sunil Kapur, the chairman of Travel Food Services had earlier told Metro.
The lounges would be of a standard that would please business travellers and other passengers with complimentary Wi-fi, extensive snacks and buffet offerings, a wide variety of beverages and personalised care and service, Kapur had said.
Entertainment options would range from TVs and newspapers to massage chairs.
The integrated terminal, which became operational in March, currently has a handful of small F&B outlets, including Subway and CCD.
“There is nothing to choose from, unlike Delhi’s T3 or Mumbai airport,” said IT professional Subhasis Dutta, a frequent flier.
The awarding of the contract is part of the civil aviation ministry’s plan to privatise operations and maintenance of Calcutta airport in phases.
According to the airport director, the contract to get a master concessionaire on board and bring in retail brands and a private agency for operations and maintenance of the terminal would be finalised soon.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 8:32 pm Post subject:

SpiceJet set for radical overhaul to gain revenues, market share

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/p5ptyc9GJ7ju50i0LwXFdK/SpiceJet-set-for-radical-overhaul-to-gain-revenues-market.html

SpiceJet is likely to withdraw its Delhi-Guangzhou flight soon leaving way for China Eastern on the route, according to the first airline person quoted above. Instead, it will start Kolkata- Guangzhou and Kolkata-Hong Kong flights in a few weeks.
The airline informed travel agents earlier this fortnight it was pulling out of another international sector. “Due to operational reasons, the SpiceJet operations to Varanasi-Sharjah stand suspended until further notice,” the airline said in a note to travel agents, which Mint has reviewed.
It offered to fly passengers who had booked tickets on the route via Sharjah or give a refund. SpiceJet is also likely to shut the Pune-Bangkok flight it recently launched.

Comment: Desi airlines will slowly appreciate Kolkata’s ( airport ) geographical and economic potentials. It has long been marginalized by AI and other airlines. One example is CCU-Hong Kong sector. It was ignored by every airline for about three decades. Only last year Dragon Air found its potential and now it is well utilized flight. Perhaps Spice Jet have noticed that and jumping into this sector. I think some day CCU-Tokyo flight will appear again! The new terminal at NSCBI airport is underutilized.
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Sabya99

sabya99 · Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:47 am Post subject:

From Kolkata airport to City : http://youtu.be/9PtYf9BcTt8
Outside view of NSCBI airport : http://youtu.be/iKRiSLRk1S0
Daytime landing at Kolkata : http://youtu.be/PwERJxSqR2c ; http://youtu.be/aduNOuY5rTM
Taxing at NSCBI airport : http://youtu.be/2jR0oXfmL70
Landing at IGI airport : http://youtu.be/U74fovBa208
Daytime take off from Kolkata: http://youtu.be/biONucbOiJ8
Day time landing on main runway ,south side : http://youtu.be/P1pyY-U8JbI
Landing on main runway followed by taxiway Roger : http://youtu.be/H6kBB_eWawQ
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Sabya99

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sabya99 · Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:55 pm Post subject:

Jet takes flight from Bangkok ;
- Lack of corporate fliers in ‘crowded’ sector forces airline to join AirAsia in exit queue

SANJAY MANDAL

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140129/jsp/calcutta/story_17869880.jsp

Jet Airways is withdrawing its full-service flights from the Calcutta-Bangkok sector in the face of stiff competition from low-cost rivals.
Barring a last-minute change of heart, the airline will go off the route in April to become the second airline after AirAsia to ground Calcutta-Bangkok flights this year. AirAsia, a low-cost carrier, is also planning an April exit.
“Our yield is very low, making the route unsustainable for a full-service carrier,” a source in Jet Airways said. “Fares are down from what they were two to three years ago because of low-cost carriers in the fray.”
Jet’s operational costs have shot up by 30 to 35 per cent over the past two years, sources in the aviation industry said. The need to marginally cut fares to keep up with the competition has bled the airline further.
The average return fare in this sector was in the range of Rs 14,000 to Rs 16,000 in 2011-12. In 2013-14, the average return fare offered by most airlines has been between Rs 12,000 and Rs 14,000.
But two airlines withdrawing together could trigger a fare hike because of 40 per cent fewer seats on offer. Currently, 1,120 seats are available daily on Calcutta-Bangkok flights.
After IndiGo and Bhutan Airlines jumped into the fray, a subsidiary of Tashi Airways started a Calcutta-Bangkok service, triggering a new price war that has hurt full-service Jet Airways badly.
“Increase in airport charges and aviation turbine fuel prices have led to the rise in our operational costs. The depreciation of the rupee has added to the burden,” a Jet official said.
Jet Airways had started its first daily flight between Calcutta and Bangkok in January 2007. It added a second flight in mid-2012.
If Calcutta is no longer a viable choice for a full-service airline, Jet’s Bangkok flights from Delhi and Mumbai are apparently doing well because of corporate travellers who find connectivity with the US and Europe from there convenient for business trips.
Metro has highlighted on several occasions how lack of industry — and the corresponding dearth of corporate travellers — is chasing airlines away from Calcutta even as short-haul international operations from India have increased by 10 per cent.
Short-haul sectors are routes that flights take less than five hours to cover.
“The rise in passenger traffic on short-haul routes has been negated by stagnation in the long-haul sector,” said Kapil Kaul of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
Aviation officials blame “market saturation” for even a highly profitable sector like Calcutta-Bangkok becoming the graveyard of full-service airlines.
Around 800 of the 1,120 seats on offer every day on flights from Calcutta to Bangkok are sold on an average. “The occupancy rate isn’t bad. It shows that Bangkok is still one of the more popular destinations from Calcutta,” an official of a private airline said.
Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents’ Federation of India, said 900 passengers daily would correct the supply-demand mismatch. “Airlines then won’t have to sell off high-yield seats at lower rates.”
The two Jet flights have 32 business class seats with average occupancy less than 30 per cent.

Comment: We all know that CCU is not for business class travel and that was the reason of BA departure from the city. But who will take care of little passengers ( desi and NRI ) ? What to do with them ? Dump them to IGI or Bay of Bengal !
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Sabya99

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 11:14 pm Post subject:

sumantra · Member Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi

The SG thread post may interest you, Dr. Ganguly. SG plans to start DAC and HKG from CCU. It will be nice if this works out. SG has changed its schedules in a jiffy of late, so let us keep our fingers crossed. SG has started some innovative routes, but it does not have much of a presence at CCU, where 6E is the dominant domestic player, along with AI. If 6E has not looked at these markets even when they have a mini-hub at CCU, and 6E's financial health is possibly the best among all carriers in India, I wonder how SG will fare here.
Cheers, Sumantra.

sabya99 · Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 12:30 am Post subject:

sabya99 · Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:26 pm Post subject:

City pair wise distribution of passenger and freight among various Indian international airports : http://www.dgca.nic.in/reports/pass-ind.htm
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Sabya99