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sabya99
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 Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 4:32 am Post subject: |
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Flights shorter, wait to land longer
https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/flights-shorter-wait-to-land-longer-244805?ref=calcutta-new-stry
Dum Dum: Flights are reaching Calcutta and other cities faster than before because of more airspace being opened to commercial aviation, but that has proved counterproductive for airports unable to handle the increased frequency of landings.
Around 33 per cent of India's airspace was earlier closed to commercial flights because this portion had been reserved for the Indian Air Force. But a more flexible airspace policy has allowed airlines into the hitherto restricted zone, reducing the flying time of many flights.
But speakers at a seminar on Challenges in Aviation - Ground to Sky, organised by the Air Traffic Controllers' Guild (India) in New Town, said a corresponding upgrade in airport infrastructure was required to prevent flight delays.
On some routes, flights now arrive for landing ahead of schedule, only to hover above Calcutta for permission to touch down.
Not that Calcutta hasn't benefited from the flexible use of airspace. The Indian Air Force now allows commercial and private aircraft to fly over its airspace at bases like Barrackpore, Kalaikunda and Bagdogra, air traffic control (ATC) officials said.
"This airspace is opened to commercial flights mostly at night and that considerable reduces the distance some flights would otherwise need to travel," said Kalyan Choudhury, the general manager of air traffic management at the airport.
ATC officials said the flying time from Hyderabad to Calcutta is 19 minutes less when an aircraft is allowed to fly over restricted airspace. Flights operating between Europe and South East Asia can avoid Calcutta and fly over Kalaikunda, clipping 10 minutes off the normal flying time and also decongesting the highway in the sky.
The city airport handles about 700 flights every day. Mumbai has close to 1,000 daily flights and Delhi is even busier with 1,300 of them.
In Calcutta, congestion strikes when several flights approach the city for landing, some of them before time.
"We need to enhance infrastructure at the airport. Runway capacity needs to be increased and we also require rapid taxiways to allow aircraft to vacate the runway quickly. Ditto the number of parking bays," said Captain Sarvesh Gupta, the chairman of the airline operators' committee at the airport.
"The turnaround time of an aircraft should be reduced as well. To achieve this, the terminal must be larger than it is."
Turnaround time is the period when an aircraft lands, passengers disembark, boarding takes place again and the flight is ready for take-off.
The average turnaround time for an aircraft in Calcutta is 35 to 40 minutes. A larger terminal would ensure faster passenger flow and reduce the turnaround time to 20 to 25 minutes. "This would also mean aircraft occupying parking space for lesser durations," Gupta said.
Airport director Atul Dixit said that since April, runway capacity had increased from 30 to 35 flights an hour. "We are building about 15 parking bays. The F taxiway is being extended till the secondary runway to ensure faster evacuation by a flight after landing."
Aviation experts estimate that congestion will only increase because India's aviation sector is growing every year. "With flights increasing, runway capacity is saturating. We need to find ways to address this problem," said Kailash Pati Mandal, general secretary (eastern region) of the ATC guild.
Comment: Taxiway F should have been extended 5 years ago, while Kilo taxiway was being build. Secondary taxiway require a few set of taxiways for smooth functioning.
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sabya99
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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New Singapore option with Sikkim flight debut
Airlines aim for mid-September start with eye on puja holiday travel
Dum Dum: Low-cost airline IndiGo will start a daily flight from Calcutta to Singapore in mid-September, coinciding with SpiceJet flying to Sikkim just ahead of the Puja season.
The average return fare for the Singapore flight could be around Rs 16,000, almost half the market baseline of Rs 30,000.
"IndiGo will operate an Airbus A320. The flight will take off at 6.55pm and land in Singapore at 1.45am local time. On the return journey, take-off will be at 1.40pm and arrival at 3.25pm," an official of the airline said.
The only airline that currently directly flies to Singapore daily from the city is Singapore Airlines.
Travel operators see the Singapore sector doing well, especially with IndiGo eyeing a start just weeks before Puja.
"With Hong Kong posing visa problems, tourists from Calcutta looking to travel during Puja need similar alternatives. The proposed IndiGo flight with a much lower fare than the competition provides them an option other than Thailand and Malaysia," said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India.Metro had reported in June about Hong Kong routinely rejecting visa registration applications from Calcutta.
Punjabi said student traffic from Calcutta to Singapore had also been growing. "A cheaper flight will provide them the opportunity to travel home more often."
For those looking closer home for holiday options, SpiceJet is finally ready to inaugurate its daily flight to Pakyong airport in Sikkim.
"There were some technical issues that have since been resolved," said an official of the airline. "The flight will start in the morning from Calcutta and take about an hour to reach Pakyong. It will go onward to Guwahati, although the timings have yet to be finalised."
SpiceJet has been granted permission to fly to Pakyong from Calcutta and Guwahati under the civil aviation ministry's regional connectivity scheme UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), which aims to revive airports equipped to handle commercial flights but are still not operational.
The cap on fares for the routes is Rs 2,500, applicable to 50 per cent of the seats. SpiceJet will operate Bombardier Q400 aircraft with 78 seats on this sector.
Pakyong airport is 4,600ft above the sea level and around 30km from Gangtok. The terminal building is spread across 3,200sq m.
Tourists headed for Gangtok by air now have to fly to Bagdogra and travel 123km in more than four hours by road to reach their destination.
Air connectivity will also spare tourists and Sikkim any uncertainty over travel resulting from political unrest in the Darjeeling hills.
Source:
https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/new-singapore-option-with-sikkim-flight-debut-248247?ref=calcutta-new-stry
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sabya99
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| Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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Google Earth update of NSCBI airport, July, 2018.
After a long delay Google updated NSCBI airport satellite view.
https://www.google.co.in/maps/@22.6637403,88.4482433,282a,35y,39.47t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
Salient features are :
1) Extensive land filling on north side of the airfield with some reddish clay like materials
2) New service road constructed and painted white.
3) R19 RESA has a service road over it with white paint.
4) Preparations are going on to build taxiway F North. This important project must be taken care sooner.
5) Old airport pond filled up by sand possibly this area will used for new hangar complex or parking lot.
6) On the east side adjacent to main runway service road and apron areas are coming up This road may be prelude to a parallel taxiway in future.
7) Water body right next to R01 and across the airport boundary wall is now completely filled up with sand. This airport is expanding EAST now.
 New apron construction over the dismantled AI hangars still going on.
9) Outside the airport on the south side some land acquisition going on. But its full scope is not clear.
10) Church and mosque are in safe/sound condition and well preserved!
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2018 3:28 am Post subject: |
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Roomier airport in revamp focus
https://www.telegraphindia.com/calcutta/roomier-airport-in-revamp-focus-249954?ref=calcutta-ft-stry
A consultant has suggested that the Calcutta airport set up 32 more aerobridges, extend the width of the security hold area by 7 metres and set up an additional check-in area by demolishing the old domestic terminal.
Landrum & Brown, the US-based firm which specialises in aviation planning and development, has reviewed the master plan drawn up in 2008-09 for the airport's expansion and surveyed the new terminal building before recommending the changes based on utilisation of the facilities.
Representatives of the consultant gave a presentation on their recommendations to the Calcutta airport authorities on July 26.
"The proposal is being studied. We will give our feedback. The airline operators' committee, too, has been asked for feedback. The expansion plan will be finalised after all the suggestions are taken into account," said an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which had hired the American consultant.
The aviation scene has undergone a sea change since the AAI had drawn up the master plan a decade ago.
Landrum & Brown has projected that the 180,000sq m-terminal, which can handle 20 million passengers a year, will see an annual footfall of 45 million by 2027.
Officials said the integrated terminal, which now handles 20 lakh fliers a year, is nearing saturation.
Metro takes a look at some of the key suggestions
Aerobridges and check-in counters
The consultant has suggested that a check-in and security hold hub be set up at the spot where the old terminal building stands. The new facility, which will be adjacent to the integrated terminal, will be for domestic passengers.
"There are two proposals. According to one, an L-shaped structure housing the security hold will jut out from the check-in area," an official said. "The other proposal is to build two parallel structures attached to the check-in hub, which will house the security hold area."
The agency has suggested that 32 aerobridges be built for the new security hold area.
The airport has 18 aerobridges, which officials said are insufficient. Passengers are often taken to the aircraft on buses of the respective airlines.
Security hold
Landrum & Brown has suggested that the width of the security hold area be expanded by five to seven metres.
"They said there is huge unutilised space between the terminal entry gates and the check-in counters. In the security hold area, on the other hand, there are not enough seats for passengers. The area is often congested," the official said.
Besides, more retail stores are coming up in the security hold area and they need more space.
Additional space will be available once the inline baggage scanning system becomes operational, expectedly by the end of this year, and the standalone X-ray machines for baggage scanning are removed.
Officials said the washrooms in the security hold area are small, often resulting in queues. The agency has suggested bigger washrooms.
Runway capacity
The consultant has suggested a simulation study of the two runways to ensure their optimum utilisation.
The study will document runway occupancy time of an aircraft after landing and before take-off and the minimum distance that has to be maintained between an aircraft that is landing and another that is taking off.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Emirates offers major discounts on India, Pakistan tickets
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/lifestyle/travel/emirates-offers-major-discounts-on-india-pakistan-tickets/ar-BBLOusq?li=BBqrVLO
Emirates has launched one of its biggest sales yet with special fares to over 70 global destinations within its network. Passengers can still plan a short getaway before the summer season ends to destinations in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and the Far East.
The offer applies to bookings made today until 20th August 2018 for travel between 1st September 2018 and 31st March 2019.
Economy Class passengers can enjoy fares to Beirut starting at Dh945, Mumbai starting at Dh995, Bangkok starting at Dh2,345, Lisbon starting at Dh2,945, Mauritius starting at Dh2,995, Los Angeles starting at Dh4,835 and Santiago starting at Dh5,105.
Business Class passengers can enjoy fares to Mumbai starting at Dh2,795,
Beirut starting at Dh5,245, Bangkok starting at Dh9,795, Mauritius starting at Dh9,975, Lisbon starting at Dh15,415, Santiago starting at Dh20,925, and Los Angeles starting at Dh21,275.
Travellers can also book with Emirates Holidays and enjoy a five-star holiday experience for an additional spend starting at Dh300 per person for Economy Class passengers and Dh500 per person for Business Class passengers, exclusive of the airfare.
Family members can now pool up to 100% of Skywards Miles earned on Emirates flights with Emirates Skywards rewarding programme, 'My Family.' The programme allows travellers to redeem rewards faster than before in over 100 programme partners including airlines, hotels and retail outlets.
Passengers on Emirates flight can enjoy the airline's award winning in-flight entertainment system with up to 3,500 channels and up to 20MB complimentary on-board Wi-Fi, as well as regionally inspired meals on-board prepared by award-winning chefs.
For more information on Emirates, including how to book flights and a complete list of terms and conditions, visit www.emirates.ae, travel agent or through the local Emirates Sales Office.
COMMENT: Thanks a lot Emirates, the second national airlines of INDIA!
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sabya99
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sumantra
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| sabya99 wrote: | | Google Earth update of NSCBI airport, July, 2018. |
This is still not completely up-to-date. Among the three propeller-driven aircraft, only Biju Patnaik's DC-3 remains. The F-27 and HS-748 have possibly been parted out.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sabya99
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Sumantra.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 4:50 am Post subject: |
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Stressed pilot caused Nepal crash: Probe
Kathmandu/Dhaka: The pilot of the US-Bangla plane that crashed in Nepal in March, killing 51 people, had cried and suffered an emotional breakdown during the flight, according to a report by Nepal's investigators.
The Dhaka to Kathmandu US-Bangla Airlines flight, with 67 passengers and four crew members on board, caught fire after it careened off the runway and ploughed into a football ground near Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport on March 12.
Captain Abid Sultan was going through tremendous personal mental stress and anxiety, and a series of erroneous decisions on his part led to the crash of the flight, according to the details of the official investigation led by the Nepal government, the Kathmandu Post reported.
Throughout the flight, Sultan was engaged in erratic behaviour that marked a departure from his usual character-signs that should have immediately raised red flags, Nepali investigators concluded in the report. jumbo A380?
They said Sultan had been smoking cigarettes frequently during the hour-long flight from Dhaka to Kathmandu.
"When we analysed the conversation on the Cockpit Voice Recorder, it was clear to us that the captain was harbouring severe mental stress. He also seemed to be fatigued and tired due to lack of sleep," investigators wrote in the report.
"He was crying on several occasions," the report added.
It also showed that Sultan made multiple abusive statements towards a female colleague (another co-pilot in the company) who had questioned his reputation as an instructor, and their relationship was a major topic of discussion throughout the flight, it said.
The voice recorder has captured nearly an hour-long conversation between the captain and his co-pilot in the cockpit, further demonstrating Sultan's tense mood during the flight and a complete lack of situational awareness.
"I don't f***ing care about safe flight, you f*** your duty," Sultan said at one point inside the cockpit, according to the report. It was not clear whom the pilot was directing the statement at, as the co-pilot was the only crew member present inside the cockpit during the flight. PTI
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/stressed-pilot-caused-nepal-crash-probe-255102?ref=world-new-stry
Comment: How comes such a mentally unstable parson enter the cockpit. Did the airlines had any in-house psychiatrist? In the west pilot’s mental health, sleep pattern and alcohol consumption all are closely monitored by airlines concerned !
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sabya99
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| Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2018 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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July passenger report analysis 2018:
Domestic passengers: DEL 4.35M BOM 2.99M BLR 2.39M HYD1.45M MAA 1.42M CCU 1.56M
International passengers: DEL 1.54M BOM 1.15M BLR 0.36M HYD 0.35M MAA 0.515M. CCU 0.22M Cochin 0.45M
Kolkata domestic has done impressively although CCU international very poorly.
Perhaps wishes of GOI in keeping Kolkata as a domestic airport will be fulfilled indirectly. However, two other airports of Bengal IXB: 0.22M over last year 0.14M,and new Andal airport 3000 over last year 478 are doing well.
Of all desi airports HYD ‘s performance is impressive. It may be because of Haj passengers also. All the airports of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh doing well, showing large population migration with or without H1 visa!!
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sumantra
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 7:44 pm Post subject: |
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| sabya99 wrote: | | Kolkata domestic has done impressively although CCU international very poorly. |
Now, the 14-15 flexi-gates (domestic/international: the ones which can be quickly converted into the other, extending or retracting the domestic portion of the terminal, around the bend) are being used along with 16-17, keeping the domestic increase in mind. The F&B options are also relatively decent now. These are the other notes from my end-Aug transit through CCU.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sabya99
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the update. You have forgotten this thread almost!
I think AAI should start using the adjoining old domestic terminal without delay. Passengers will be comfortable and safe. There will be no line or rush to enter the aerobridge. That terminal already has three fully functional aerobridges. Why they are not using them!
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sumantra
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| sabya99 wrote: | | Thanks for the update. You have forgotten this thread almost! I think AAI should start using the adjoining old domestic terminal without delay. Passengers will be comfortable and safe. There will be no line or rush to enter the aerobridge. That terminal already has three fully functional aerobridges. Why they are not using them! |
No Sir: I haven't  Too much of work-related absences cause my irregularity.
The erstwhile International terminal is used as the Haj Terminal/Alliance Air flights terminal (at least, used to be used for that till some time back, at least) as it was smaller, and easier to maintain, compared to the larger one. The fixed costs: air-conditioning, maintenance, F&B operation all need to be considered vis-a-vis the growing numbers. My guess is that they will open this up soon, when the demand-cost analysis crosses a threshold. MAA integrated the old with the new due to the heavy international demand, especially. DEL T2 got a facelift and was opened.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sabya99
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| Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Centre clears Rs 1217-cr project for Patna airport
Terminal building designed by Singapore firm will be able to handle 45 lakh transits a year
The cabinet committee on economic affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the construction of a new domestic terminal building and other allied structures at Patna airport at an estimated cost of Rs 1,217 crore, and handed over the Hotel Patliputra Ashok to the state government.
The airport nod comes after a delay of around six months, which happened due to the estimated cost escalating from around Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,150 crore. Hence the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had to wait for the Union cabinet’s approval, mandatory for any project that exceeds Rs 1,000 crore.
With the new terminal building, the airport will be able to handle up to 45 lakh passengers per annum, up from the existing 7 lakh.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/centre-clears-rs-1217-project-for-patna-airport/cid/1670320?ref=more-from-states_states-page
Comment: A project long over due!
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| Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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First flight to Pakyong packed
The SpiceJet flight that landed in Pakyong at 1.25pm, carried 77 passengers and returned to Calcutta with 68 passengers
Flight operations between Calcutta and Pakyong, Sikkim’s first airport, took off on Thursday amid soaring demand for tickets to the hill destination.
The SpiceJet flight that landed in Pakyong at 1.25pm, carried 77 passengers and returned to Calcutta with 68 passengers.
The airline is flying a 78-seater Bombardier Q400 series aircraft on the route.
The demand is high for seats on the Pakyong flight during Puja and fares for the few seats available on October 16, 17 and 18 — Saptami, Ashtami and Navami — are going at over Rs 30,000 for a round trip.
Tour operators are planning chartered flights for large groups. “We have been flooded with queries for destination weddings in Sikkim. These are groups travelling together. Since the SpiceJet flight can only accommodate 78 people, we are looking at options to charter a flight,” said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, Travel Agents Federation of India.
Pakyong airport officials confirmed enquiries about chartered flights. “Many companies want to charter small aircraft for their owners who otherwise would have come via Bagdogra. There also several companies in Sikkim who want to hire private planes for their top officials,” said
R. Manjunatha, Pakyong airport director.
Sikkim’s first airport is located 4,600ft above sea level and is a little more than an hour’s drive from Gangtok. It’s a big relief for travellers used to making a 124km road journey to Gangtok from the Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri railway station.
The cheapest ticket on the Calcutta-Pakyong sector has been fixed at Rs 2,600 under a central scheme to promote flights to smaller destinations. This price is restricted to about 25 per cent of the available seats.
A SpiceJet official said the subsidized seats are fast filling up.
Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/first-flight-to-pakyong-packed/cid/1671007?ref=states-section-atf_states-pageource
Comment: Another important domestic destination from Kolkata airport. Hope other airlines will operate ATRs soon. MCA do not ignore Kolkata domestic sector, shape up the airport .
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sabya99
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| Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 7:13 am Post subject: |
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Pakyong flight seats command premium
Sikkim’s first airport, located 4,600ft above sea level, is easy on the eye. Not so much on the pocket
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/pakyong-flight-seats-command-premium/cid/1670120?ref=world-related-story-3
Sikkim’s first airport, located 4,600ft above sea level, is easy on the eye. Not so much on the pocket if you didn’t buy a ticket long before the WhatsApp forwards landed.
On Tuesday afternoon, a flight from Calcutta to Pakyong for October 4 was quoting at Rs 9,405 a seat. Calcutta to Bagdogra on the same day costs Rs 2,414.
With a fortnight to go before the first SpiceJet plane to Pakyong takes off, almost all seats on flights scheduled for the four Durga Puja days have been taken.
Till Tuesday afternoon, 69 seats on the October 4 flight had been sold compared to 29 for the new 6am flight to Bagdogra. The Pakyong flights scheduled for October 15 to 18 are full, according to a SpiceJet official.
Anyone wanting to take a flight about six weeks from now would still need to shell out Rs 22,000 for a round trip. Flights to Bagdogra, so far the nearest airport to Sikkim, are considerably cheaper.
“I wanted a ticket to Pakyong for October 22. The return fare was showing Rs 22,000. I went ahead with the booking thinking it will be worth it,” said a resident of Ballygunge Place who can’t stop gushing about pictures of the airport that a friend had WhatsApp-ed to him a few days ago.
The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, fulfilling a dream that took long to take off but could be worth the wait for travellers used to making a 124km road journey to Gangtok from Bagdogra airport or New Jalpaiguri railway station.
The cheapest ticket on the Calcutta-Pakyong sector has been fixed at Rs 2,600 under a central scheme to promote flights to smaller destinations. This price is restricted to about 25 per cent of the available seats.
The subsidised seats for the first few weeks have long been gobbled up and what remains are only the premium tickets, SpiceJet officials and travel operators said.
SpiceJet is also launching its third flight to Bagdogra from Calcutta, scheduled to take off at 6am. Airline officials said the demand for seats on that flight was much lower compared to that for Pakyong.
The airline will use 78-seater Bombardier Q400 series aircraft for both flights. The Pakyong flight will take off at 9.30am and arrive at 10.55am.
SpiceJet officials said demand had exceeded their expectations. “During our market survey, we had predicted an average 80 per cent occupancy. But on most flights during the festive season, 90 per cent of the seats are sold out,” said Debjit Ghosh, the regional sales head of SpiceJet.
An official at Mayfair Spa Resort & Casino said guests who would usually visit three or four times a year were now enquiring about weekend bookings. “Earlier, an entire day would be used up in travelling. This flight has changed that.”
He said once the flight starts operating, demand would possibly increase even more.
Such is the frenzy already that several hotels and resorts have approached SpiceJet for tie-ups, sources said.
“About 40 per cent of passengers to Bagdogra proceed to Sikkim. We expect most of them to fly to Pakyong now,” Ghosh of SpiceJet said.
For Sikkim, for which tourism is the main source of revenue, agitations in Darjeeling over the past few years have been a big blow.
Many tourists could not visit Sikkim last year because of the unrest in Darjeeling from June till September. National Highway 10, which connects Gangtok to Siliguri, had been cut off for months.
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 11:58 pm Post subject: |
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Landing at Kolkata airport from north on main runway: https://youtu.be/eJm4vy2BcGo
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-has-developed-the-worlds-largest-flying-boat-and-it-could-be-used-to-ferry-troops-into-the-south-china-sea/ar-BBNbF4j
China has developed the world's largest flying boat, and it could be used to ferry troops into the South China Sea as also civilians
Boeing 787-9 at Farnborough.
On July 13, the Boeing 787-9 made its Farnborough debut. It's a longer successor to the 787-8 and can carry 280 passengers, not just 242 : https://www.cnet.com/pictures/up-close-with-the-first-boeing-787-9-pictures/?ftag=ACQ-10-10abe9c&vndid=bbc.com&utm_campaign=293469931884&utm_source=bbc.com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/delays-in-arrivals-departures-fall-to-below-20-at-mumbai-airport/articleshow/65825515.cms
Delays in arrival/departure fall below 20% at Mumbai airport.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/how-air-india-pilots-atc-saved-day-on-this-9/11/articleshow/65849277.cms How AI pilots and ATC saved the day!
World’s busiest airlines routes survey. https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/107179692/worlds-busiest-airline-route-by-passenger-numbers
More than 30 Indian passengers, some bleeding from their noses and ears, have received treatment after pilots "forgot" to turn on a switch regulating cabin pressure, officials said. Jet Airways flight 9W 697 from Mumbai to Jaipur turned back shortly after take off.
Videos tweeted by passengers aboard the plane showed oxygen masks deployed inside the aircraft.
The Boeing 737, which was carrying 166 passengers, landed safely.
The aviation ministry said the cockpit crew had been taken off duty pending an investigation.
Lalit Gupta, a senior official of India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), told the Hindustan Times newspaper that the crew had forgotten to select a switch to maintain cabin pressure. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-45584300
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sabya99
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| Posted: Mon Oct 29, 2018 6:18 am Post subject: |
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Guwahati direct flight link to Bhubaneswar, Varanasi
Historic flight from Pakyong, Sikkim to Guwahati started by SpiceJet
Air connectivity from the Northeast to other parts of the country got a boost on Sunday with the launch of direct flights to Bhubaneswar and Varanasi.
An Airports Authority of India (AAI) statement said direct flights have linked Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport here with Bhubaneswar in Odisha, Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Pakyong in Sikkim.
Indigo’s flight (6E-726) arrived at 8.15am from Bhubaneswar and the return flight (6E-731) left for Bhubaneswar at 1.50pm, the statement said. The other Indigo flight (6E-953) departed for Varanasi at 8.45am and the return flight (6E-954) arrived here at 1.15pm, the AAI said.
Guwahati airport director Ramesh Kumar, AAI and CISF officials along with other officials were present to greet passengers of these flights, the statement said.
The historic flight from Pakyong, started by SpiceJet, (SG-3325) arrived here at 12.20pm. The flying time between Guwahati and Pakyong is an hour.
A rousing water cannon salute was given to the flight. The same flight SG-3326 departed Guwahati at 12.40pm for Pakyong.
“It was a long-pending demand of passengers from Assam. This will boost air connectivity and promote tourism in the Northeast where Guwahati acts as major hub for the other states in the region,” an AAI official said.
The flights to Bhubaneswar and Varanasi are important as both Odisha and Uttar Pradesh have great tourism significance.
Fliers who earlier wanted to travel to Odisha had to first go to Calcutta and then take a connecting flight to Bhubaneswar. Several people from here go to Puri as well.
The cabinet committee on economic affairs has already approved the Rs 1,383-crore new international terminal at LGBI Airport, giving a push to the Centre’s plan to make Guwahati a gateway to the Asean.
Traffic has also picked up at LGBI Airport, which is ranked as the eighth busiest airport in the country among those run by the AAI. Sources said around 120 commercial flights (both arrivals and departures) operate from the LGBI Airport every day.
According to data available with the AAI, in 2017-18, the airport witnessed a footfall of 46,68,053 passengers with a movement of 41,172 flights.
Drukair also commenced bi-weekly flights from Guwahati to Singapore from September 29.
The introduction of this service is expected to reduce travel time from almost 10 hours, including transfers, to four-and-a-half hours.
Lim Ching Kiat, managing director of air hub development, Changi Airport Group, had said in a statement that it looked forward to welcoming more travellers from Guwahati, who can tap Changi airport’s network to destinations in Australia, China, Indonesia and Japan.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/guwahati-direct-flight-link-to-bhubaneswar-varanasi/cid/1672864?ref=states-section-atf_states-page
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 3:46 am Post subject: |
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Dreamliner damaged after tanker run-in
the driver of the water tanker, Sanat Chowdhury, has told officials that the brake of the water tanker had malfunctioned, airport sources said
A water tanker rammed into the belly of a Qatar Airways aircraft at the city airport early on Thursday, ripping off a portion of the metal.
The Dreamliner Boeing 737-800 series aircraft had arrived from Doha around 2am and was hit by the tanker around 20 minutes later, airport officials said. All passengers and airline crew had disembarked by then.
The driver of the water tanker, Sanat Chowdhury, has told officials that the brake of the water tanker had malfunctioned, airport sources said.
The water tanker operated by Air India Air Transport Services, a subsidiary of Air India, was to refill the aircraft’s water tanks when the collision occurred. Water tankers are allowed to go very close to aircraft because a pipe is used for refilling.
“The obstructer or the beacon light of the water tanker got stuck in the belly of the aircraft and the driver apparently tried to reverse the vehicle. But a a portion of the outer surface of the aircraft’s belly got ripped off in the process,” an airport official said.
Beacon lights are fitted to alert air traffic control officials on the tarmac as well as pilots about the movement of the vehicles.
The Dreamliner was to fly to Doha at 3.15am but the 101 passengers and 12 crew members had not yet boarded the plane at the time of the accident, airline officials said. The flight was cancelled.
“The aircraft has been grounded and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has started an inquiry. All passengers who were supposed to take the flight to Doha were put up at a hotel,” said a senior airport official.
A bigger aircraft was scheduled to arrive in Calcutta on Thursday night to take the stranded passengers. The aircraft will also fly in engineers and equipment to repair the damaged aircraft, airport officials said.
Qatar Airways was not available for comment. Its spokesperson didn’t take calls.
Air India Air Transport Services is in charge of ground handling at Calcutta airport.
Driver Chowdhury, in his 50s, was taken for a breathalyser test but the results were negative. They said. He has, however, been suspended and an investigation ordered.
Airport sources said some of the vehicles operated by the government-run Air India Air Traffic Services were in poor condition. An Air India official denied the charge.
Source : https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/dreamliner-damaged-after-tanker-run-in/cid/1673536?ref=more-from-states_states-page
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sabya99
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| Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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Tata Sons is conducting due diligence on Jet Airways as it explores the purchase of a controlling stake in the cash-strapped airline, Mint newspaper reported on Tuesday citing two people directly aware of developments.
Saurabh Agarwal, chief financial officer of Tata Sons, is leading the discussions while Jet Airways is represented by its chairman Naresh Goyal, the newspaper said, citing the sources who it said asked not to be identified as the talks are private. ...
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/business/tata-sons-begins-due-diligence-702763.html
Comments: Hope this deal goes through. There are too many airlines in too little space. Consolidation is a must otherwise sky will be dark!
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 5:09 am Post subject: |
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Land hope for Bagdogra airport expansion.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/aai-to-pay-bengal-for-land-needed-for-bagdogra-airport-expansion/cid/1675674?ref=more-from-states_states-page
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to pay Rs 25 crore as compensation for land to be acquired by the Bengal government for the expansion of Bagdogra airport, clearing the decks for a project that has not taken off in five years because of problems over land acquisition.
The AAI will now request the government to expedite the process of taking over a 110-acre plot, which had been leased out to a tea garden, so that a new terminal can be built to accommodate the increased number of passengers.
The AAI had earlier refused to pay for the land, but the pressure on the limited infrastructure of Bagdogra, the gateway to Darjeeling, may have prompted it to change its decision, sources said.
During discussions on land for the expansion of the airport, the Bengal government had told the AAI that it would have to pay the compensation amount that the state would have to give to the planter for the land whose lease would be revoked.
“The AAI board met on November 8 and decided that the agency would pay Rs 25 crore for the land because the infrastructure at Bagdogra airport has to be augmented,” an AAI source said.
“If required, AAI officials would now hold talks with representatives of the tea company concerned. The idea is to get the land at the earliest,” the source added.
Tea gardens are set up on land leased out to companies by the government under the West Bengal Land Reforms Act, 1955. According to the act, the state can cancel the lease if it wants and also change the land’s character. But the tea company will have to be compensated.
While negotiations for land got stuck, thousands of passengers continued to face inconvenience at the cramped Bagdogra airport. The airport handles 32 planes a day on average between 12pm and 4pm. The terminal has the capacity to accommodate 400 passengers together at a time, but the number using the airport now is around 3,000.
“It is obvious that expansion is needed. The total number of passengers was over 2 million in the last financial year. This is why, it seems, the AAI decided at the highest level to pay for the land,” a source said.
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| Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 3:31 am Post subject: |
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Indo-US joint air force exercise
Cope India 2019 with 200 US airmen to be held at 2 air bases in Bengal — Kalaikunda in West Midnapore and Panagarh in Burdwan.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/indo-us-joint-air-force-exercise/cid/1677212?ref=more-from-india_india-page
The air forces of India and the US will participate in a joint exercise, Cope India 2019 (CI19), at two air bases in Bengal — Kalaikunda in West Midnapore and Panagarh in Burdwan — between December 3 and 14, a media release from the US consulate said.
The first Cope India was held at the IAF station in Gwalior in February 2004. It included flight tests, practice and demonstrations as well as lectures on subjects related to aviation. Similar exercises were held in 2005, 2006 and 2009.
IAF sources said Cope India had grown in scope with the involvement of fighter aircraft and force multipliers such as the Airborne Warning And Control System.
The latest edition of the joint exercise — within months of the two countries signing an accord on secure military communications — is likely to further expand the capability of the forces.
“We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to fly and train with our Indian Air Force counterparts within their home country,” the communiqué quoted Col. Darryl Insley, the 13th Air Expeditionary Group-Cope India 2019 commander, as saying.
“Through participation in Cope India, I’m confident that all airmen involved will both increase their skills and build meaningful bonds through bilateral engagements and exchanges,” he said.
Around 200 US airmen with 15 aircraft from the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, and the 182nd Airlift Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, will participate in CI19 alongside their IAF counterparts. The Indian contingent will also be big, but details were not immediately available.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 4:54 am Post subject: |
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Patna airport gets extra runway lights
Aircraft can now land even if visibility is down to 1,000m, against 1,200m earlier.
Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport on Saturday made operational 420m of approach lighting system that will help pilots land their aircraft even if visibility falls to below 1,000m.
It will be a boon for passengers and airlines during foggy weather that envelops the Patna sky and leads to inordinate delays of flights, making flying in and out of Patna a troublesome affair.
“We have made operational 420m of approach lights towards the eastern side of the runway today (December at noon. We got the approval last (Friday) evening on International Civil Aviation Day. Pilots can use it to land at the airport in a visibility of 1,000m,” said Patna airport director Rajender Singh Lahauria.
Lahauria claimed it as a major achievement as it will cut delays due to inclement weather conditions in winter. “At present, flights can land at Patna airport in a minimum visibility of 1,200m. Reducing the criteria by 200m will be a shot in the arm towards maintaining the flight schedule,” Lahauria added.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/patna-airport-gets-extra-runway-lights/cid/1678098?ref=states-section-atf_states-page
Comment: Why this important airport in East India is neglected for so long, I don't understand!
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iflytb20
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| Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2018 9:53 am Post subject: |
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In practice, those 200m won’t really help in the fog season where the average visibility is around 7-800m. They really need to install ILS and extend the runway
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| Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2018 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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India to base Rafale at Hasimara to meet China threat
Beijing built a runway at the Shigatse airport immediately after the Doklam standoff in 2017
New Delhi has selected Hasimara Air Force Station in north Bengal for strategic build-up along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
South Block will upgrade infrastructure at the base to host Rafale fighter jets and increase funds for radar-based intelligence on Chinese airports in Lhasa and Shigatse on the other side of the border, air force officers in the know said.
Officers of the Indian Air Force in Hasimara have written to the defence ministry seeking clearance to relay the runway and build a hanger to accommodate Sukhoi and Rafale fighter jets.
Once done, the Hasimara air base will have the second squadron of the Rafale jets. The first one is likely to be raised at Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana.
China, according to air force officers, built a runway at the Shigatse airport immediately after the Doklam standoff in August 2017.
The distance between Hasimara and Tibet is around 384km and the airport at Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city, is a military-cum-civilian one.
The Lhasa airport in Tibet’s capital is about 364km from the Hasimara air base.
“The runway at Hasimara was last relaid in 1993. We now want to rebuild it. The Rafale fighter jets can pick up even a pebble from the runway. That would be a disaster. We don’t want to take chances,” an air force officer said.
“Dassault Aviation has already laid down certain specifications for its Performance Based Logistics centre that would double as the store for keeping Rafale spares,” the officer said. “We have written to the defence estates for necessary permission to make some constructions and chop down a few trees.”
Hasimara Air Force Station in Alipurduar district, about 128km from Siliguri, is of strategic importance for its proximity to the India-Bhutan border. Also, the base is in the Siliguri corridor, to the north of which is China, the officer said.
Hasimara used to house the MiG-27 ML till the aircraft were phased out towards the end of 2017.
Now, there are the Sukhois — Su-30MKI — one of India’s top-of-the line fighter jets.
“A 8,500 to 9,000ft-long runway in Hasimara will be relaid... it will take around six months to complete the job,” the officer said. “The hanger will accommodate both Rafale and Sukhoi fighter jets. We have drawn up futuristic plans.”
The build-up at Ambala and Hasimara, according to air force officers, is part of South Block’s strategy against Beijing.
China has its bases in Tibet; but their fighters cannot operate on optimum efficacy because of the high altitude.
“We have mounted high-altitude radar to keep a count on their number of sorties towards Indian airspace. Officers are being stationed for three to six months in phases with advanced training for plotting the movements of Chinese jets,” an air commodore said.
“It’s an arduous task. Hasimara has already started preparing for the future.”
https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/west-bengal/india-to-base-rafale-at-hasimara-to-meet-china-threat/cid/1678538?ref=states-section-atf_states-page
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| Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| sabya99 wrote: | | From April, bag scan at check-in kiosk |
This is really good news. Kolkata will join the likes of the other major cities in India in having online scanning: DEL, BOM, HYD, BLR and COK as well(?). CCU has had a string of excellent airport directors, and I guess it tells on the system, and its efficiency.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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