Airliners-India

747-237 · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 6:10 am Post subject:

Air India has added a new A320NEO to the fleet today, as VT-CIM.
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:47 am Post subject:

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/jnpt-set-to-buy-ais-iconic-sobo-building/articleshow/64770844.cms

JNPT set to buy AI’s iconic SoBo building

Jun 28, 2018

The government has started discussions for the sale of Air India’s iconic building at Marine Drive to the country’s biggest container port JNPT as part of efforts to raise funds for the cash-strapped airline.

Sources in New Delhi confirmed the proposal has received in-principle approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, following which an inter-ministerial panel has been constituted to work out the modalities.

Air India’s 23-storey building, which was also once the airline’s headquarters, is a prime property and its sale could significantly lessen the airline’s debt. The building also houses priceless artwork, acquired over the past 60 years, including the works of MF Husain, SH Raza, and VS Gaitonde.

The proposal to sell the building to JNPT comes after the government’s efforts of Air India strategic disinvestment failed to take off. This newspaper had reported on June 18 how the Marine Drive building was earning the airline Rs 100 crore annual in rentals. The top floors are occupied by the Income-Tax Department, while the TCS and the State Bank of India are among the other tenants.

Each of the Air India building’s 23 floors are spread over a carpet area of 10,000 sq ft, and the lease rate in the area is around Rs 350 per sq ft, which means a single floor is earning the airline at least Rs 35 lakh. Said a source in the government, “A committee comprising secretaries from the civil aviation and shipping ministries has been set up to decide on the valuation of the building.”

The JNPT chairman, Pawan Bansal, confirmed the port trust was “one of the contenders” to buy the building. “The thinking in the government is the building must remain with the government. We are one of the contenders but there is presently no offer by Air India,” Bansal said.

Meanwhile, sources in the JNPT said the building’s name may not be changed. “In any case, no matter what it is called, it will always be known as the Air India building,” the sources said.

A query sent to Air India spokesperson about the proposal did not elicit a response. According to some Air India officials, who are aware about the proposal, a section within the airline is vehemently opposing any such move. They said that the building was a “cash cow for the airline”.

The JNPT at Navi Mumbai, formerly known as the Nhava Sheva Port, is India’s biggest container port. It handles around 55 per cent of the container cargo in the country and has annual profit worth Rs 1,300 crore. It handled 66 million tonnes of container cargo in 2017-18.

On Monday, Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had said the government is giving a new thrust to strengthen Air India’s management practices and operational efficiencies while the disinvestment plan would depend on various circumstances. “In the next 18 months, you will see the visible change,” he had said.
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himmat01 · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1392 Location: DEL

747-237 · Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2018 9:01 pm Post subject:

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-indias-artefacts-to-be-handed-over-to-culture-ministry-for-upkeep-1876108

Air India's Artefacts To Be Handed Over To Culture Ministry For Upkeep

July 01, 2018

Air India is in talks with the Ministry of Culture to hand over its priceless art collection to them for their display in the National Gallery of Modern Art in various metros, said officials today.

Air India is holding consultations with the Ministry of Culture on the matter as preservation and upkeep of over 2000 artefacts, some of which date back to the ninth century, is of prime concern now, said an official.

The modalities are being worked out for taking a final decision on the matter, said another ministry official.

Almost all the art works are now housed in the Air India building in Mumbai.

The officials said the artefacts could be displayed under a separate Air India pavilion in the National Gallery of Modern Arts.

The art collection includes stone sculptures dating back to the ninth century, woodwork, decorative friezes and a collection of exquisite clocks, they said.

The clock collection includes a mantle clock in an ebonised break-arch wood case which is said to have been made in London in 1845.

The prized collections include works of legendary artists like M F Husain, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jatin Das, S H Raza, V S Gaitonde and K A Ara.

According to Air India, several of the paintings came under its possession when the artists were not even household names. Artists had also readily availed of an Air India's unique option to barter flight tickets for their artworks.

Much of the credit for the huge art collection goes to the airline founder J R D Tata, who also served as its chairman. Thanks to his efforts, the art work graced the office walls of Air India in cities like Paris, London, Rome, Geneva and Cairo, giving a peek into the rich Indian culture to the visiting people.

The latest development to hand over the art collections comes at a time when the Government has put the ailing airline on the block, though no bidders have evinced interest in the latest round of the bidding process.

Officials said the upkeep and the preservation of the art works have been a casualty because of the uncertainty over the future of the airline. Air India is incurring a loss of about Rs. 15 crore each day.
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747-237 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 12:34 am Post subject:

https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/68704-air-india-looking-at-leasing-in-dedicated-freighter-aircraft

Air India looking at leasing in dedicated freighter aircraft

Air India is working on a business model which could lead to the re-introduction of dedicated freighters into its fleet.

The carrier's Executive Commercial Director (Cargo), Abhay Pathak, told Asia Cargo News that the studies come as demand has outstripped the airline's bellyhold capacity.

“To be honest, freighters are the need of the hour for us,” he said in an interview. “The only thing is, the organization has to make a call on when and how we’d like to go about it. We can really use them for places like Hong Kong Int'l and Shanghai Pudong, as well as connecting Dhaka and Colombo Int'l to the US. We can play a very big role with a hubbing operation. The requirement will not be less than a daily 747 freighter to Europe and the US.”

However, according to the executive, the business model Air India is looking at would not involve it buying any aircraft. Given the longterm liabilities this would expose the carrier to, it is rather looking at the flexibility that lease or charter arrangements can offer.

“If we’re to be more aggressive in the cargo market globally, there is a need for an Indian carrier like us to use freighter aircraft to change the paradigm,” he said. “Belly space can only satisfy the requirements of the market up to a certain extent, but not beyond that.”

Pathak added that Air India Cargo carries approximately 250,000 tonnes of cargo per annum but is looking to increase that to around 350,000 tonnes in the next few years. It is also hoping to implement more product segmenting and to transport more high-yield shipments.

In terms of infrastructure, he said Air India has no capacity issues at its Delhi Int'l hub, where the cargo facility is outsourced and is a joint venture between Delhi International Airport Limited and Cargo Service Center India.
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Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

The_Goat · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 11:55 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:44 pm Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/san-francisco-delhi-get-closer-as-air-india-cuts-travel-time-by-an-hour/articleshow/64911585.cms

San Francisco, Delhi get closer as Air India cuts travel time by an hour

JULY 9, 2018

Air India has shaved off almost an hour from the over 16-hour Delhi-San Francisco (SFO) flying time by charting a new path over North Russia while taking the Pacific Route to the Golden Gate. AI’s is the only direct flight between India and US west coast, also one of the longest nonstop on earth, which currently goes nine times a week.

“AI operations zeroed in on a new route that involves flying over north Russia where the average flying time, depending on wind, will be 15 hours and 30 minutes.

It will be 50 minutes less than the usual 16 hours and 20 minutes taken on the other Pacific route we took till now. Lesser flying time will mean we will save $5,625 (about Rs 3.9 lakh at Rs 69 to a dollar) in terms of fuel burn on this route over the earlier Pacific route,” said a senior AI official.
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indopaki · Member Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 479 Location: Pakistan

Did AIX ever srve Nepal and Maldives?

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

Caliguy · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 6:17 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 1:51 am Post subject:

Air India has added a new A320NEO to the fleet today, as VT-CIQ.
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747-237 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 3:01 pm Post subject:

Alliance Air has added a new ATR72-600 to the fleet today, as VT-RKJ.
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747-237 · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2018 2:50 am Post subject:

Air India has added a new A320NEO to the fleet today, as VT-CIP.
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747-237 · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 4:01 pm Post subject:

Over the last few weeks, three banks and two aircraft leasing companies have issued default notices to the airline, threatening legal action if the dues are not paid, sources told the paper.
In a letter of demand by Wells Fargo, a trustee of Air India, reviewed by the paper, said that 'an event of default' has occurred as the airline has not paid lease rental payments for over two months on three Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

https://www.cnbctv18.com/aviation/banks-aircraft-lessors-issue-default-notices-to-air-india-says-report-399521.htm
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Caliguy · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 6:47 pm Post subject:

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

But the GOI has hundreds of millions of US $$$ to spend on 3 special VVVVVVIP 77Ws for Modi and his chamchas to travel the globe.

Yet they don't pay their own employees on time, and can't service lease debt.

747-237 · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:48 pm Post subject:

https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/air-india-to-offer-cookies-nuts-instead-of-samosas-on-flights-less-than-1-hour/263833

Air India to offer packaged snacks instead of meals on flights of less than 1 hour duration

Aug 03, 2018

Air India will now offer boxes with packed items such as cookies or peanuts instead of samosas and sandwiches that were served on flights of less than an hour's duration.

A senior AI official told TOI that they have got multiple complaints of the samosas and sandwiches being spoilt and the new move to offer packed dry fruits will stop such episodes. The official suggested that the boxes will be kept near the entrance of the aircraft and passengers would have to pick their pack as they enter. "They can eat it on the flight or take with them. We are not going to have direct saving on meal cost by this switch,” the AI official said.

The individual went on to add that the new move will, however, help in cost-cutting indirectly, as packed items with longer shelf life will not require any kind of refrigeration or heating before they can be served. He went on to indicate that such items will also reduce the weight of the plane and thus lead to saving on fuel costs.

Considering the number of less than one-hour duration flights operated by Air India, the total saving after the measure would be significant. Worth mentioning that it was only last year that the national carrier had decided to offer vegetarian food in the economy class of domestic flights.

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iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2562

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Good.

Indian peanuts are delicious, and all you need for those short flights is something to munch on at best.

luvleen · Member Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay

Government mulls Rs 11,000 crore bailout for Air India

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/government-mulls-11000-crore-bailout-for-air-india/articleshow/65316079.cms

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

what will be the final outcome of the bailout? Something along Chapter 11 in the US? No point of bailout unless it is reformed. Maybe retrying disinvestment after bailout.

VT-ASJ
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747-237 · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:14 am Post subject:

The_Goat · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 12:30 pm Post subject:

Aseem · Member Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ

The_Goat · Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 11:37 pm Post subject:

747-237 · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 5:39 pm Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nearly-one-fourth-fleet-grounded-for-want-of-spares-say-air-india-pilots/articleshow/65373672.cms

Nearly one-fourth fleet grounded for want of spares

Aug 12, 2018

Almost a quarter of fund-starved Air India's fleet is currently grounded and the airline is losing significant revenue due to this, say its pilots. While every airline has some planes grounded for regular schedule maintenance checks, in AI's case the figure is higher due to lack of spares caused by the crippling cash crunch.

The pilots also find it hard to believe that India's safety regulator DGCA has turned a blind eye to the site situation in AI and has not called for any clarification from the airline.

"Overall, almost 23% of the Air India fleet is grounded for lack of spares. Aircraft worth $3.6 billion or Rs 25,000 crore (at today’s list price) are lying idle in the hangar.... a significant number of flights are getting canceled/rescheduled on a daily basis. There are also aircraft fleet swaps which result in last minute change of inventory resulting in non-optimal revenue management and utilisation," the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA, union of erstwhile Indian Airlines' pilots) said in a letter to AI chairman P S Kharola on Sunday.

An airline spokesman said: "(This is an) internal matter of AI. Engineering release the aircraft. Why is ICPA sending letter to media than to meet management? AI has now more than 85% on time performance."

The union has given aircraft type-wise break-up of grounding.

"Of the 20 Airbus A-321 aircraft operated by AI, only 12 are available for operation on a daily basis currently. 40% of the Airbus A321 fleet is grounded at various stations for lack of spares. This aircraft is the workhorse of the domestic network operating on high-density routes and has the maximum seating capacity. Such a high percentage of this aircraft type being grounded is criminal at the very least! Considering the high seating capacity, there is a significant loss of revenue happening on a daily basis," ICPA says.

"Of the 22 Airbus A319 aircraft in the fleet, 4 aircraft are not available for operation. The Airbus A-320 fleet fairs better but only because it currently consists of a significant number of newly acquired Neo planes," it says.

The wide situation is "desperate". "Of the 15 Boeing 777-300 aircraft, 5 aircraft are in hangar. Of the 26 Boeing-787 aircrafts, 2 are grounded," the pilots say.

The union asks since the airline incurred massive debt to acquire these planes and finds it "impossible to pay interest, is there any reason why these aircraft continue to remain grounded?"
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747-237 · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:51 am Post subject:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-says-aircraft-grounding-for-maintenance-a-common-practice/articleshow/65391120.cms

Air India says aircraft grounding for maintenance a common practice

Aug 13, 2018

Air India today termed the aircraft grounding for maintenance a common practice, a day after one of its pilot unions alleged that as many as 19 aircraft were on ground due to lack of spares.

"It is a common practice for every airline to ground some of its aircraft for routine maintenance and checks periodically by its engineering department so that the aircraft are fit to fly in conformity to laid down standards," Air India said in a statement.

Asserting that it accords "top-most priority" to safety of the aircraft in its fleet, the airline said, "Our aircraft also go for these checks without affecting our flight schedule and causing inconvenience to our passengers."

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747-237 · Posted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 3:14 am Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/fake-air-india-letter-saying-airline-to-be-shut-down-by-october-1-creates-panic-govt-orders-probe/articleshow/65535574.cms

Fake Air India letter saying airline to be shut down by October 1 creates panic, govt orders probe

Aug 24, 2018

A fake staff notification on Air India (AI) letterhead dated August 25, 2018, informing that the airline will be permanently shut down by October 1 and that employees should look for alternate jobs created panic among AI personnel on Friday night. The fake mail was circulated among members, especially on WhatsApp groups. Aviation secretary RN Choubey and AI chairman PS Kharola confirmed the letter was fake. Choubey said the government is ordering a probe to find out who is behind it.

While the fake letter - with the subject "Air India to be closed permanently on 1st October, 2018, as per Government Order" - was a bombshell for AI employees, the first line was a giveaway that it may be fake. As it claimed AI was being shut due to a memorandum from the Supreme Court! "It is fake and a very poor quality fake," said a senior official.

"Vide Office Memorandum… dated 18.08.2018 from The Supreme Court of India, it has been decided that Air India Limited would be permanently shut down by 1.10.18. It has been decided unanimously by the board of directors of the company as well as officials from the ministry that Air India has become too unsustainable to operate properly. Due to poor profit margins and stagnant growth for years, the government is unable to bail out Air India owing to low probability of future returns. Therefore. Air India is to terminate all it's operations by 1 October 2018," the fake letter with signature of GM (industrial relations) read.

"Compensations for all permanent employees would be decided on a later date by the heads of the Personnel Department. All employees are requested to look for alternative means of employment and to be understanding in this time of turmoil," it reads.

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The_Goat · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:14 pm Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-to-connect-mumbai-with-new-york-resume-frankfurt-services/articleshow/65596511.cms

Air India to connect Mumbai with New York, resume Frankfurt ..

To me the 4W BOM-FRA 787 is a waste of aircraft unless it connects to LH's North American departure bank, which would imply a midnight ish deprture from BOM, and a mid morning dep from FRA.

The BOM-JFK could be interesting.
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747-237 · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:39 pm Post subject:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/air-india-to-connect-mumbai-with-new-york-resume-frankfurt-services/articleshow/65596511.cms

Air India to connect Mumbai with New York, resume Frankfurt services

Aug 29, 2018

Air India will start flight services to New York from Mumbai, besides resuming services to Frankfurt, which it discontinued in 2010, from winters this year.

Air India is set to spread its wings further in the US and European skies from the coming winters. As part of this, it will launch flight services for the first time to New York from Mumbai and restart operations to Frankfurt in Germany," a source said.

These two new flights are expected to be launched from October, the source added.

When contacted, an Air India spokesperson confirmed the proposed roll out of the two new international flights from winters.

"The two new flights are a part of our winter schedule. We have all regulatory approvals in place for the Frankfurt flight and the same for JFK services are being processed," the spokesperson said.

According to the source, the Mumbai-Frankfurt flight will be four-times-a-week service and be operated by the airline's flagship jetliner Boeing 787-800, while the Mumbai- New York will be three-times per week service with Boeing 777-300ER.

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

BOM-JFK is interesting, given the cautious 3x week schedule. In addition to trying to counter DL's BOM plans (though from ATL), the caution is justified after their earlier attempt with AI 140/1 on the B77Ls. The lightning quick B6 interlining move when UA moved out of JFK, was a very shrewd and smart move from AI. As such, AI 101/2 has been looking up, and a lot fo the hard work is bearing fruit.
Cheers, Sumantra.

yashkhullar · Member Joined: 20 Nov 2014 Posts: 44

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

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2562

AI needs to be lauded to take advantage of relatively few carriers flying nonstop on India-USA route. Jet Airways has no flights, UA is the only airline currently and that too only to EWR. AI has certainly taken advantage to fly to JFK, ORD, IAD and SFO and now adding BOM to the schedule is a good choice.

This will force DL to rethink about JFK - BOM, they might go with ATL-BOM perhaps.

All AI has to do now is to fly to Canada as ME3 competition is weak and DEL-YYZ can withstand another nonstop flight.

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

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

747-237 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:54 pm Post subject:

Air India / SriLankan Airlines expands codeshare network from August 2018

Air India and SriLankan Airlines in the second-half of August 2018 expanded codeshare partnership, covering all flights between India and Sri Lanka, as well as domestic India and selected service beyond Sri Lanka.

Planned codeshare routes listed below went into effect gradually from the week of 20AUG18 (or earlier).

Air India operated by SriLankan Airlines
Colombo – Bangalore
Colombo – Coimbatore
Colombo – Hyderabad
Colombo – Kochi
Colombo – Kolkata
Colombo – Kuala Lumpur
Colombo – Mahe Island
Colombo – Madurai
Colombo – Mumbai
Colombo – Thiruvananthapuram
Colombo – Tiruchirapally
Colombo – Vishakhapatnam

SriLankan Airlines operated by Air India
Chennai – Ahmedabad
Chennai – Goa
Delhi – Ahmedabad
Delhi – Amritsar
Delhi – Bhubaneswar
Delhi – Guwahati
Delhi – Jaipur
Delhi – Kathmandu
Delhi – Lucknow
Delhi – Patna
Delhi – Varanasi
Mumbai – Ahmedabad
Mumbai – Lucknow

Source:Airlineroute.net
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747-237 · Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 4:49 pm Post subject:

Air India resumes Mumbai – Frankfurt route from mid-Oct 2018

Air India from October 2018 plans to resume Mumbai – Frankfurt service, opened for reservation around Thursday 06SEP18.
The Star Alliance member last operated this route on daily basis with 777-300ER until late-October 2010.

From 16OCT18, the airline will operate this route with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, 4 times a week.
The following schedule is effective from 28OCT18.

AI125 BOM1000 – 1400FRA 788 x146
AI124 FRA1545 – 0415+1BOM 788 x146

Source : Airlineroute.net
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