Airliners-India.com

tayaramecanici · Member Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 648

[quote="Nimish]
Assuming a price of GBP10m for a pair of slots, why did MH give up a potential 30m GBP? Anyone with more details on this? And what time are these slots at?[/quote]

Don't be surprised to hear the entry of AirAsia to India soon, AA has been trying hard to get rights to fly to India and is now part owned by the same co running Malaysian.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India Express completes two years, aims higher

Air India Express, the country's only low-cost international airline that is celebrating the completion of two years of operations, aims at ferrying a million passengers and earning revenues to the tune of Rs 10 billion ($242 million) in the current fiscal.

The airline began operations on April 29, 2005, with a Thiruvananthapuram-Abu Dhabi flight. It currently has 129 weekly flights from 10 Indian airports to 10 international airports.

He (THULASIDAS) added that Air India Express and Alliance Airlines, a subsidiary of Indian, would come together after the merger between Air India and Indian Airlines.

http://tinyurl.com/35znnk

HAWK21M · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

Congrats AIX.
That was a fast Two years.
regds
MEL
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!

karatecatman · Guest

Thulasi hints at a change in name for Air India Express.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/May/subcontinent_May26.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

AI Express eyes domestic routes
From T.K. Devasia (Our correspondent)

1 May 2007

Karan69 · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1334

karatecatman · Guest

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/AI_to_allow_travellers_to_surf_/articleshow/1982214.cms

AI to allow travellers to surf
Saurabh Sinha
[30 Apr, 2007 l 2351 hrs ISTlTIMES NEWS NETWORK]

NEW DELHI: Air India has decided against introducing inflight mobile phone technology in the new planes that would start joining the fleet from May-end. The airline took this decision after fiercely debating the pros and cons. But the new planes would get internet connections that would allow passengers to send SMSes. The airline will get both the new generation Boeing 777-200 lone and extended range aircraft this year.

"It was technically feasible. But if in a big plane with hundreds of passengers, if bells keep ringing and people keep taking calls, there could be disturbance for many others. So we will go about this concept very carefully and as of now there are no plans," said V Thulasidas, AI CMD. Inflight mobile phones have the normal international roaming rates and now with cheaper calling cards available, people can keep talking without burning a hole in their pocket.

But armed with a new fleet, AI is not willing to be left behind now. "Our planes are going to have internet connections. We have found a company that will do the job as ‘Connection By Boeing' has stopped giving this service. So from the third plane onward, we will have internet on board that would allow people to send SMSes," Thulasidas said.

In fact, when Emirates announced its plan to install this technology in its planes — beginning with a Boeing 777 that AI is also getting for its fleet — it's focus was also on mobile manners. The airline told its cabin staff to "advise and encourage" passengers to switch their phones to silent or vibrate mode when used in the aircraft. If passengers are found to be disturbing other travellers, the cabin crew have also been trained to ‘gently' advise them to lower their voice.

"Phones may only be used at cruise altitude and cabin crew will have full control over the system, including the ability to prevent voice calls at certain times such as during night flights. The number of calls that may be made at any one time is also limited to a maximum of five or six calls," an Emirates official had said. In India, Jet and Kingfisher also plan to introduce inflight mobile technique in coming years.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India is looking at reopening Rome.

AI is exploring if it can be used as a stopover onto the US.

G-BYGB · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 6:00 pm Post subject:

Will AI ever use MAN as a stopover for flights to North America in the future?
_________________
www.flickr.com/G-BYGB photos

karatecatman · Guest

Air India goes aggressive on cargo operations

[url]
http://tinyurl.com/35bdws[/url]
(Hindustan Times)

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

AI's third 777-200LR, VT-ALC, is still half-painted as of April 27, 2007.

Take a look at this pic:

Are they really waiting for the new livery of AI-IC to be finalized or is it just a matter of time before the aircraft is painted in the AI livery?

D-ABTH · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 10:03 pm Post subject:

so is it confirmed that the livery VT-ALA sports is not the final new livery AI is gonna use? i've gotta admit.. i didnt think much of it first.. but i kind of like the way it looks on the T7 gradually growing on me.

or are these just rumours that they are gonna change the livery again in view of the merger?
_________________
If it aint Boeing.. I aint going.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Coming to think of it, the AI livery just after a few months of being unveiled is already looking tired.

That tail is a mess and the Centaur looks like he's on pot.

They should slap on the Indian livery, call the airline Air India and call it a day.

In comparison, the Jet Airways livery is smart and stylish and a great improvement on its old boring SQ/LH combo livery.

XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

Wow the Dream Lifter Looks Marvelous.. Wink

karatecatman · Guest

http://www.ndtvprofit.com/homepage/storybusinessnew.asp?id=37956&template=&cache=5/2/2007%208:39:28%20PM
Air India inks JV with Singapore firm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Press Trust of India

Wednesday, May 2, 2007 (Chennai):

Air India on Wednesday signed a Joint Venture (JV) agreement with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) to provide ground-handling services for the new international airport at Devanahalli, Bangalore.

"This is the first time that Air India has formed a JV with a foreign company to provide ground-handling services in an Indian airport," said Air India Chairman V Thulasidas.

"The two companies would sign another JV for the new international airport at Hyderabad in a few days for the same services. However, Indian would be a partner of the JV in the agreement for the ground-handling services at Hyderabad," he added.

karatecatman · Guest

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/article/20070502120616945

Amadeus partners with Air India
Wednesday, May 02 2007 @ 12:06 PM GMT

Amadeus has announced the launch of electronic ticketing for Air India.

Globally, Amadeus has 188 airline partners distributing e-tickets.
Air India, India's national air carrier, will offer the Amadeus-enabled e-ticketing service across all its domestic and international routes.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India to launch cargo operations from June

Air India will launch an all-freighter operation from June this year. The carrier has taken delivery of its first freighter, a converted Airbus A310 passenger aircraft, which it intends to deploy on the Kerala-Gulf sector.

According to airline officials, the national carrier had an air cargo market share of 30 per cent in the 1990's, which it now hopes to regain. Officials have indicated that the carrier is planning to deploy a fleet of 10 to 12 cargo aircraft, with services to the Gulf, the US and the Far East markets over the coming three years.

http://www.domain-b.com/aero/20070502_air_india.htm

karatecatman · Guest

Air India is seriously considering AIX services on flights longer than 4 hours.
Currently, the definition of AIX services are for those sectors of 4-hour flight duration.

AI is also considering `business jet' services - both on `on charter' as well as on `schedule' basis. These would be relatively smaller jets with all-business class seats.

An Air India helicopter service (city centre to airport) might also be revived in the metros and for F and J passengers only.

AI is also going to also set up another MRO facility for engine repair and overhaul with either GE, or Pratt & Whitney or CFM. The project might come up in Mumbai.

karatecatman · Guest

Update:
AI has announced that it will be operating direct non-stop flights between Mumbai and New York from June, with a flight duration of 14 and half hours with the new 777LRs.

***

Air India is also serioulsy examing (and close to finalising is the buzz) non-stop flights from Chennai to Europe. Aircraft will be either the 747-400 or the 777.

(Air India is now under threat from an aggressive Jet that has announced direct flights to Brussels this summer. Jet Airways will use Brussels Airlines to connect to other parts of Europe, North America and Africa. Daily direct flights from Brussels to Mumbai and New York area’s Newark airport would start Aug. 5, with another daily service from Brussels to Delhi and Toronto starting later in the year. Jet plans 10 daily flights via Brussels to cities in India and North America. Jet is also seeking approval to operate from Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Chennai to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York’s JFK airport, via Brussels.)

***
On the financing agreement for the new 68-aircraft fleet, AI has finalised the financing agreement for all the aircraft. But these will be signed in instalments. The last aircraft will come in 2011. EXIM Bank has guaranteed 85 per cent of the finance and the remaining 15 per cent is external commercial agreements.
The total cost of this works out to be Rs 35,000 crore.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India will be starting its dedicated cargo operations from June. It plans to have a huge function to celebrate the arrival of the 777LR and the launch of the A310 cargo service.

The first converted A310 aircraft reached Mumbai on April 27, 2007 and the second plane will reach in the first week of June.

The cost of conversion of the aircraft by European Aeronautic Defense & Space Company (EADS) NV, a subsidiary of Airbus based in Germany is around USD 7-million and the payback period is around four years.

Six more A310s will be converted for USD 6-million each over the next three years.
The first A310 goes on the Gulf sector and may be extended to Europe.

AI had dedicated cargo operations to the US till 1996, which it discontinued due to operational reasons.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

XBValk · Member Joined: 27 Jan 2007 Posts: 124 Location: NYC/COK

Jaysit:

No schedule has been published for the nonstop as far as I can tell…

the_380 · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject:

IMO its an exclusive by Kcm, he's got us a lot of stuff before the media has... Laughing

_________________
http://www.myspace.com/avsatsworld
A Walt Disney and 20th Century Fox Audio Producer!!! Very Happy

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

karatecatman · Guest

When technology acts as a life-saving drug
ISRO to help Air India

KAMRAN SULAIMANI

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MAY 04, 2007 09:30:34 AM]

AHMEDABAD: A heart attack case, panicky relatives and a confused cabin crew. A crisis situation mid-air. Worse, if there is no doctor among the passengers.
Several deaths on long-haul flights have triggered questions about the state of medical facility available on board as well as at the airport. But, now technology is ready to build bridges between life and death.
Indian Research Space Organisation (ISRO) is developing and designing telemedicine facility, which can be useful in saving lives of the people on board. And the mandate is from none other than the Maharajah . The telemedicine facility would enable hospitals to issue instructions via satellite to the cabin crew of the airline.
Says ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair: “Air-India has approached us for developing telemedicine support to in-flight emergency cases. The existing technology can be used, provided we make a compact antenna. It should also have a capability of tracking the satellite on the move.” Nair was speaking at a two-day conference on telemedicine in Space Application Centre Ahmedabad.

A-I is in the process of issuing tenders for a portable medical equipment that can be carried on the flight and can record ECG, pulse, blood pressure and temperature and send the data to medical centre on the ground. “In absence of in-flight specialist, doctor at the medical centre will provide proper instructions to the patient onboard ,” says Air-India chief medical officer Dr L P Nakwah. “The system will be in place by the end of this year,” she said.
[url]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/When_technology_acts_as_a_life-saving_drug/articleshow/2000897.cms[/url]

the_380 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 9:55 pm Post subject:

Good move...hope they are fast
_________________
http://www.myspace.com/avsatsworld
A Walt Disney and 20th Century Fox Audio Producer!!! Very Happy

abn · Member Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 113

wow!!!!!!!!!! AI/IC is soaring high at the moment, they merged company includes
-AI/IC
-AI Cargo
-LCC service AIX/Alliance Air
-AI Charter
-AI helicopter service
-AI business jet service
-AI MRO facility

umm did I forget something? so whats next? maybe with the help of ISRO Thulasidas can set up an AI Galactic service Idea

_________________

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

karatecatman · Guest

The technology may not be brand new, but does get modified with some juggling.

Main thing is the backup for the actual medical services.

Dr. Devi Shetty and Apollo Hospitals are tying up with Air India for this.
And the entire AI fleet is to have it --- AIX as well.

Internationally, Virgin and SAA advertise the Medilink service.

AI would never have thought of Medilink until Boeing planted the idea alongwith Connexion (since discontinued --- but AI has found a replacement.) Was discussed after planning went over the flightpath and the point of ultra longhaul of the 777LRs --- most parts will be over inhospitable parts of the earth and the issue of DVT.

karatecatman · Guest

The details regarding the number of pilots released on premature retirement/resigned during each of the last three years and in the current year so far is as under:-

Year
Proceeded on premature retirement
Resignation

2004
128
-

2005
77
-

2006
56
-

2007 (as of April)
16
-

The average training costs vary from service to service and stream to stream ranging from Rs. 0.302 crores to Rs. 10.35 crores.

Certain domestic problems relating to inheritance of property, need to look after ailing parents, family business, serious illness of wife requiring officer’s presence at home, possibility of breakup of conjugal life if the officer continues in service, etc. are considered as compassionate grounds, depending upon the circumstances of each case.

The Indian Air Force has agreed to allow officers in the age group of 54 years and above to join the national carrier. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between IAF and Air India on 5th April, 2007. This is to facilitate a second carrier option to the retiring IAF officers and also reduce the requirement of expatriate pilots for the national carrier.

The exit of the officers being sponsored would not affect the operational status of the Air Force as these officers would have already served their useful tenure as pilots. The officers being sponsored are generally those who are superannuating within a year or so. Hence, this would neither lead to shortage of pilots in the IAF nor any loss incurred on their training.

This information was given by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Badiga Ramakrishna and Shri Eknath M Gaikwad in Lok Sabha today.

karatecatman · Guest

The three 777LRs are supoosed to have been "moved in".

Not on the field anymore. So something might be happening.

777-237LR · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 140

KCM, how did you know that the 777LRs were not on the field anymore?
The latest panaromic photo in Matt Cawby's Photos of 2nd May showed the aircraft there. Is there another site you know of, showing KPAE pictures? Also do you know of any site listing future 777 line nos. now that Seattle Deliveries is closed?

karatecatman · Guest

Just had a tipoff, but this needs to be confirmed.

There has been a lot of step ladder activity on the first two aircraft and the new seats must be arriving for installation.
If that;s the case, the aircraft get moved in as there has to be the extensive IFE installation as well.

karatecatman · Guest

HAWK21M · Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:47 am Post subject:

Whens AIs scheduled arrivals on the B777s.
regds
MEL
_________________
Think of the Brighter side !!!

andrew · Member Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 212

First one is apparently in July 2007. Their MD recently indicated in an interview that they will induct 4 trippies (777) this Calender year....

karatecatman · Guest

First 777LR is due in June 2007.

The first 747-400 is undergoing its refurbishment.

karatecatman · Guest

Seat slection for the 787 was done this time by NRIs!@!!

Ronen Sen, Indian Ambassador to the US
Shashi Tharoor
Mr N. Vaghul, ICICI officer
&
a few other NRIs (includes some from the hotel industry).

HAWK21M · Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 6:05 pm Post subject:

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

Since when does the Indian Ambassador to the US become a NRI?

Boeing7xx · Member Joined: 23 Dec 2006 Posts: 477 Location: WSSS