Airliners-India.com

abhijith16 · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:03 am Post subject:

More changes -

-AI splits DEL-HYD-VGA/TIR into seperate flights. HYD-TIR stays A321.

- AI will upgauge DEL-HYD from 2x daily A321 + 1x daily A319 + 1x daily A320 + 1x daily B77W to 4x daily A321 + 1x daily B77W. (+102 seats per day, almost an new frequency itself!)
_________________
<a><img></a>

Nimish · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 3:47 pm Post subject:

Air India has added a new ATR 72-600 to the fleet, as VT-AIW.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Caliguy · Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2015 8:06 pm Post subject:

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

justbala · Member Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Sydney Airport: Nearly 400,000 pax between Sydney and India in past 12 months
News
23-Oct-2015 1:01 PM
Sydney Airport MD and CEO Kerrie Mather reported (21-Oct-2015) nearly 400,000 passengers have travelled between Sydney and India over the past twelve months. Air India is the sole carrier offering nonstop service between the two countries, operating four times weekly Sydney-Delhi service.

KALINGARAJAN · Member Joined: 05 Jul 2015 Posts: 53

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

abhijith16 · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:07 am Post subject:

abhijith16 · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:18 am Post subject:

More changes from AI,

AI937/938 CCJ-DXB-CCJ, AI997/998 CCJ-SHJ-CCJ will swap from Airbus A321 to Airbus A320 (all-Y), causing a marginal decrease in sears (-2 seats per day).

This move however, does see the end of J class on both routes.
_________________
<a><img></a>

abhijith16 · Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2015 5:23 pm Post subject:

Even more changes ( Laughing

):-

- AI converts all triple daily DEL-BBI flights to intl connector flights (previously just AI077/7 Cool

- AI upgauges DEL-MCT from dual class A320 to Airbus A321 (+42 seats per day)

- AI upgauges BOM-MCT from all-Economy A320 to Airbus A321 (+14 seats per day)
_________________
<a><img></a>

KALINGARAJAN · Member Joined: 05 Jul 2015 Posts: 53

abhijith16 · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:17 am Post subject:

abhijith16 · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:15 pm Post subject:

Seems like AI is also replacing DEL-VTZ-HYD-DXB and v.v with All Economy A320 starting now.
_________________
<a><img></a>

KALINGARAJAN · Member Joined: 05 Jul 2015 Posts: 53

abhijith16 · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 5:08 am Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 8:50 am Post subject:

http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/air-india-aircraft-grounded-after-it-s-hit-van-178

Air India aircraft grounded after it’s hit by van

Oct 27, 2015

An Air India aircraft, Airbus 320, was grounded Sunday morning after being hit by a catering van. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has ordered a probe into the incident, which occurred around 5 am on Sunday when the aircraft, after arrival, was standing in the bay. Suddenly, a catering van, supposed to supply food to the aircraft, hit its middle portion and a few parts of the aircraft were damaged. Later, when Air India engineers checked the aircraft, they declared it technically unfit and grounded it for repair and maintenance work.

BCAS is investigating circumstances under which the van came so close to the aircraft. A BCAS official said, “Luckily, the incident was not big, otherwise some fatality would have occurred. We have decided norms and conditions for every van which operates in the air side area, it seems there was some man-made fault.”

According to a source from Mumbai International Airport Limited, the aircraft arrived in Mumbai from Kolkata on Saturday at around 11.30 pm. It was scheduled to depart for Kochi at about 5.30am on Sunday. “The boarding process was on and then this van reached the spot to supply food but suddenly lost balance and hit the aircraft,” said sources.

An Air India official confirmed the incident and said, “Immediately, another aircraft was arranged and we shifted passengers to the second aircraft, which took off on the Mumbai-Kochi route. Airbus 320 is still grounded.”

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Audit on Air India raises concerns about ageing fleet: report
News
26-Oct-2015 10:23 AM
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said an Air India A320 (VT-ESI) aircraft involved in an incident at Delhi International Airport in Sep-2015 had been exposed to a higher level of flying risk for five months until May-2015 due to engine wear and tear (Business Standard, 26-Oct-2015). The audit revealed that the aircraft had been operating with zero exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margin from Jan-2015 to May-2015 when the engine was replaced. The special engineering audit reportedly revealed a lack of monitoring, staff shortages and the carrier's ageing fleet.

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Air India targets first operating profit in nine year in FY2015/2016
News
26-Oct-2015 10:38 AM
Air India is reportedly targeting its first operating profit in nine years in FY2015/2016, marking its first potential profit since the Air India-Indian Airlines merger in 2007 (Hindustan Times, 23-Oct-2015). The carrier is reportedly targeting an operational profit of INR60 million (USD923,000) and passenger revenue of INR170 billion (USD2.6 billion). The carrier is also reportedly focusing on coming months on increasing premium load factors, aiming for 80% load factors in both business and first class, up from around 40% and 20% respectively at present.

747-237 · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject:

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/508528/ai-starts-afternoon-mysuru-bengaluru.html

AI starts afternoon Mysuru-Bengaluru flight

Oct 27, 2015

Air India said on Monday it has started an afternoon service, on an ATR aircraft, between here and Mysuru on all days except Sunday.

"The new timings will enable inward and outbound passengers to board connecting flights to and from Bengaluru," the national career said in a statement.

Air India flight AI 9513 will depart Bengaluru at 3.35 p.m. and arrive in Mysore at 4.15 p.m. On the return journey, flight AI 9514 will depart from Mysore at 4.35 p.m. and arrive in Bengaluru at 5.15 p.m..
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:16 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Test-flight-for-night-landing-at-Port-Blair/articleshow/49559980.cms

Test flight for night landing at Port Blair

Oct 28, 2015

Air India operated a probing flight to Andaman & Nicobar Islands from Kolkata on Tuesday evening to test the waters before launching night flights to Port Blair.

If the report is positive, it will pave the way for international flights to operate to Port Blair. Captain Jaideep Banerjee and J S Dhaliwal took off from Kolkata around 7.45 pm and reached Port Blair at 10pm. Night landing would make Andamans a more vibrant destination, the captain told TOI. "There can be onward connections to Phuket and Bangkok or other South-East Asian destinations," Banerjee said.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:19 am Post subject:

Interesting to see that this is back - was prevalent back in the 70s & 80s....my folks always made me wear a button down shirt while flying first class - I just thought the old man was giving me a hard time. :p

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Wear-formals-while-flying-on-duty-or-on-leave-Air-India-to-staff-their-families/articleshow/49559517.cms

Wear formals while flying on duty or on leave: Air India to staff, their families

Oct 28, 2015

Air India's decision to implement a travel dress code for its employees, their families and also staff of other airlines who fly it to help maintain a 'standard of good taste' has evoked mixed reactions from employees and their families who will now have to stick to smart business casuals and formal footwear while travelling.

In a circular issued by the airline's director (personnel) NK Jain on Wednesday (October 21), the airline said, "Being in the service industry, it is expected that all employees of Air India, who are the face of the company, while travelling on duty or leave should dress in accordance with the standards of good taste including being neat, clean and wellgroomed."

"Employees, while on duty or leave travel, should dress in traditional or formal clothing which does not include see-through, torn, form fitting clothing, shorts and miniskirts. Further, in business class, wearing casual clothes and footwear are not acceptable," Jain said.

Asking employees and their family members to strictly comply with the directives, Air India warned that those who do not adhere to the prescribed dress code, may be denied boarding by the commander of the flight or downgraded in class inside the aircraft.

According to Jain this dress code will apply to all employees and dependents, including children, and staff of other airlines who travel on Air India flights.

Preeti Kumar of Air Asia asked, "How can they impose a dress code? I am not even an employee." Retired Air India staffer, Rekha J, has four passage tickets (issued to employees) that she will be using in November said she was surprised that such an order has been issued. "The last time was in 2013 when we flew to Goa. Wearing skirts did not cause a problem," she said.

A Mukherjee, who is entitled for a passage ticket because of her immediate family working there, expressed outrage. "I doubt if the commander will step out of the cockpit to check the dress. If that is going to happen, then I am fine with this dress code business," Mukherjee said.

An Air India director said the national carrier had a policy where staff and their families would be presentable, but it is applicable only when they are flying business class.

On April 27, 2014, Jet Airways too had implemented a similar dress code diktat evoking sharp criticism from staffers. The airline circular said, "With a view to maintain an image that exhibits professionalism and dignity, all employees are required to be dressed in appropriate attire at all times. This will be applicable to employee and dependent travel, except children below 12."
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2015 8:24 am Post subject:

Air India’s stylised red-swan-inside-a-wheel logo is being installed atop the Air India building in Nariman Point. In 2007, the state-run carrier had removed its then logo, the centaur, from the top of the iconic structure on Marine Drive. That was the year when the government merged Air India and Indian Airlines. The new logo was supposed to be put up in 2014, but it got delayed as the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority took some time to clear the proposal. There was a time when most AI bosses operated from this building. With operations moving away, AI now plans to give the office space on rent
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 8:25 am Post subject:

Air India has added a new A320SL to the fleet today, as VT-EXE.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Jeh · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 1:42 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013

Jeh · Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 4:41 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 8:09 am Post subject:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/air-india-express-to-get-first-dry-leased-aircraft-in-march-next/article7824598.ece

Air India Express to get first dry leased aircraft in March next

October 31, 2015

The first of the six Next Generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft to be taken on “dry lease’’ by Air India Express (AIE), the low cost carrier of the national carrier, is to join the fleet in March next.

All the remaining Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft will join the fleet by December 2016 and will be deployed to increase frequencies, strengthen the existing network and to expand operations to the Tier II and III cities.

Once the six aircraft are inducted, the strength of fleet of the Kochi-headquartered Air India Express will go up from the present 17 to 23.

The director board of the AIE that met this week in Delhi has given the nod for dry lease. “The routes and deployment of the aircraft is under discussion,” airline sources told The Hindu.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2015 6:58 pm Post subject:

“We are planning to come out with a (global) tender to add 15 more A320 aircraft to cater to the growing market, as approved by the board in the meeting held on 29 October, 2015,” said S. Venkat, director (finance) at Air India on Saturday.

Air India will add six more Dreamliner planes or B787s in the fleet in 2016-17.

“We are in the process of inducting 14 A320neo aircraft on lease basis in 2017-18. Our subsidiary, Air India Express (international low fare airline) is inducting six Boeing B737-800 aircraft in their fleet in 2016,” Venkat said.

He said Air India has retained its initial option of inducting three Boeing B777 ER (extra range) in its fleet which are proposed to be delivered in the year 2016-17 and 2017-18.

The total fleet strength of Air India and subsidiaries today stands at 135 which is one of the largest in the sub-continent.

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/FBu3dw63XD8DQbIVzYxB6N/Air-India-to-add-15-more-Airbus-A320s-to-boost-capacity.html
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:13 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Russian-jet-that-reported-snag-before-crash-turns-focus-on-old-Air-India-planes/articleshow/49612437.cms?

Russian jet that reported snag before crash turns focus on old Air India planes
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 2:50 pm Post subject:

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/government-owned-air-india-mulling-setting-up-aviation-university/articleshow/49617043.cms

Air India mulling setting up aviation university

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 8:38 am Post subject:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Low-cost-regional-flights-take-off-as-states-tie-up-with-AI-subsidiary/articleshow/49623292.cms

Low-cost regional flights take off as states tie up with AI subsidiary

Nov 2, 2015

A number of state governments are in talks with Alliance Air (AA), a subsidiary of Air India that operates upto 70-seater aircraft, to connect big cities with small towns. The states are going to tell AA what fare to charge, to ensure affordable rates, and will bridge the airline's gap in cost and revenue through viability gap funding (VGF).

"We have finalized flights with the Gujarat government. From December 1, we will have flights from Delhi to Bhuj, Jamnagar and either Keshod or Kandla under the VGF model," said AA spokesman Anil Mehta. The airline will launch tourist packages with the Gujarat government for a complete travel-and-stay deal in the state. The governments of states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan apart from the administrations of Andaman and Nicobar and Diu are also talking to AA for regional flights. "UP wants flights from Lucknow to Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Agra. Andaman and Nicobar wants flights from Port Blair to islands like Campbell Bay. Rajasthan is looking at flights to places like Bikaner and Jaisalmer," said Mehta.

AA, which currently has 10 turboprops, will be inducting 10 more ATR-72s next year and will have a fleet of 17 planes (as three planes will be returned). It will by next year have fleet for launching several more regional flights with state governments' support on a "no profit, no loss" basis.

The airline is already operating flights under VGF, however the fares don't exactly reflect the Rs 2,500 hourly cap that the aviation ministry is aiming for. For instance, the one-way fares of its Mumbai-Diu and Kochi-Agatti flights are Rs 5,805 and Rs 5,078, respectively. Both these flights are of under two-hours' duration. "Flights operated under the VGF model don't make money for us. The fares are fixed by the state governments and they give us the gap between cost and revenue earned," said an official.

AA currently operates on about 26 routes and offers 1,600 seats daily on its 70-seater ATRs and CRJs and 42-seater ATRs. The CRJs will next year be replaced by the ATRs as the former's lease is expiring. These small aircraft allow it to operate on routes like Bengaluru to Mysuru and Puducherry; Vizag-Port Blair and Kolkata-Durgapur.
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Caliguy · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 7:42 pm Post subject:

abhijith16 · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 3:18 am Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 7:30 am Post subject:

These committees report directly to Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani, said an Air India official. They have recently "suggested deployment of Boeing 777s on the Delhi-Mumbai route to cater to the Diwali rush, which will be done", said the official.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/government-wants-air-india-to-boost-passenger-cargo-revenues/articleshow/49651861.cms
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2015 12:24 pm Post subject:

http://english.manoramaonline.com/business/companies/air-india-express-three-seats-companies-business.html

Air India Express to swap coats for seats

04 November 2015

Air India Express is expecting to earn Rs 50 crores each year by increasing just three seats in each carrier. Currently, the firm offers 186 seats each in 17 Boeing 737-800 planes. It is planning to increase this to 189 each.

The carrier is to do away with the coat closet in the front of the plane and accommodate three more passengers there. The closet is rarely used in the economy-class carrier.

The carrier is also planning to replace uniforms of workers to simpler ones so that they would not need more space to stow away their coats and jackets. The new seats would be fitted by Boeing in a few months.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

747-237 · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:45 pm Post subject:

Air India Splits Abu Dhabi / Bahrain Service in W15

Air India at the launch of winter 2015/16 season has split operations for Abu Dhabi and Bahrain route. The airline now operates 3 and 4 weekly flights respectively on Delhi – Abu Dhabi and Delhi – Bahrain route, from 25OCT15. This replaces Delhi – Bahrain – Abu Dhabi – Delhi triangle daily flight.

Delhi – Abu Dhabi
AI941 DEL2025 – 2255AUH 319 357
AI942 AUH0005 – 0520DEL 319 146

Delhi – Bahrain
AI939 DEL1950 – 2155BAH 319 x357
AI940 BAH2300 – 0520+1DEL 319 x357

Source: Airlineroute.net
_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.

Nimish · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:04 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject:

http://www.livemint.com/Companies/PekkPPjT1Op39n2eprVvJJ/Air-India-to-post-operating-profit-this-fiscal-says-govt.html

Air India to post operating profit this fiscal, says govt

Nov 06 2015

Air India will report an operating profit in the current fiscal, primarily benefiting from low crude prices and improved operational efficiency, the government said on Monday. The loss-making national carrier, surviving on a Rs.30,000 crore bailout package, is implementing a turnaround plan.

“Air India is going to report operating profit in this financial year (ending 31 March 2016) and is expected to be Rs.6 crore,” civil aviation secretary R.N. Choubey said. The airline is benefiting from fall in crude oil prices and improved operational efficiency, he added. According to him, better on-time performance and increased availability of passenger aircraft have helped in improving operational efficiency.

_________________
11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.