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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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justbala wrote: | Then again, the US is probably one of the last places u would look for international connections | Not really, Balagopal. I have seen many of my colleagues connecting in the US for destinations in South America and Canada, of course, among those who have long-term US visas.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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iah87 Member
Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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AI has an interline with JetBlue and JetBlue has excellent connections from JFK. Also Air Canada is leaving JFK also.
There are far more BOM-EWR passengers than from DEL and many choose that flight precisely because it is non stop. As far as the billboard issue, if GVK and AI really raise a stink they can succeed, but for some reason they are holding back. |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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iah87 wrote: | AI has an interline with JetBlue and JetBlue has excellent connections from JFK. Also Air Canada is leaving JFK also. | Interesting, iah87: it is a bit surprising to me that a conservative Government airline as AI is interlining with a non-IATA carrier. Yes, JetBlue indeed commands a sizeable presence at JFK, but working for a semi-Government organisation where AI is more the norm than an exception, the official travel agents have never given me a B6 connection yet, out of JFK. It has almost always been DL, and on occasion, AA as well. While code-sharing is possibly too early to think of currently, I am indeed pleasantly surprised at the interlining news. This is nice.
I see Air India mentioned as one of the airline partners, below.
http://www.jetblue.com/airline-partners/
iah87 wrote: | As far as the billboard issue, if GVK and AI really raise a stink they can succeed, but for some reason they are holding back. | Here, I doubt it, unfortunately. All of us who have been Mumbaikars at some point of time or the other, would realise the futility of the exercise. The local politics is incredibly strong, and AI and GVK are smaller fry. A strong political will is need for this, which to date, had unfortunately been lacking. It is indeed very sad!
Cheers, Sumantra.
Last edited by sumantra on Fri Feb 26, 2016 10:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Aseem Member
Joined: 15 Dec 2006 Posts: 2841 Location: YYZ
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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iah87 wrote: | AI has an interline with JetBlue and JetBlue has excellent connections from JFK. Also Air Canada is leaving JFK also. |
Why would AC leave JFK? _________________ [url=http://openflights.org/user/aseemsjohri]
[/url] |
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Jeh Member
Joined: 06 Apr 2010 Posts: 669 Location: Delhi, India
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:19 am Post subject: |
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Aseem wrote: | iah87 wrote: | AI has an interline with JetBlue and JetBlue has excellent connections from JFK. Also Air Canada is leaving JFK also. |
Why would AC leave JFK? |
Consolidating in LGA and EWR. AC have few flights to New York beyond the LGA perimeter, and EWR is a Star hub, so makes sense to move there. |
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justbala Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Posts: 1898 Location: Bangalore
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Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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sumantra wrote: | justbala wrote: | Then again, the US is probably one of the last places u would look for international connections | Not really, Balagopal. I have seen many of my colleagues connecting in the US for destinations in South America and Canada, of course, among those who have long-term US visas.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
I have done it myself and it is a pain - transited to BOG via MIA and JFK. Having to clear customers twice in a journey is a pain and given I was flying from Colombia, I got the works at JFK. Not a pleasant journey. |
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luvleen Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2012 Posts: 179 Location: Bombay
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Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 11:46 am Post subject: |
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MHA flags Air India's security gap
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mha-red-flags-air-india-s-hub-spoke-policy-116022800497_1.html
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Finding security risks in Air India’s hub-and-spoke policy, the home ministry has red flagged the national carrier’s ambitious plan connecting several tier-II cities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi, with international destinations.
Several security lapses have been detected in the Air India’s Hub and Spoke operations, which connect Amritsar, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Panaji, Bhubaneswar and Varanasi with metro cities before flying the passengers to foreign destinations, home ministry officials said. Under the facility, international passengers are required to clear immigration and security at the boarding airport but no check is done at the last port of exit. Since such flights also carry domestic passengers, who get off at Delhi and Mumbai, there is a risk that someone, who police is looking for, can leave the country by exchanging boarding passes with someone who may have a pass for the international trip.
This is a very serious security risk which we can’t ignore. We want the Air India to ensure that the system is foolproof,” an official said. The home ministry wants a security and immigration check at Delhi and Mumbai hubs or any of the last port of departure.
There have been reports of international passengers skipping India-bound exit immigration checks at the spokes during disembarking.
Incidents of passengers exiting without immigration check at spoke international airports like Ahmedabad, Panaji and Amritsar have happened.
As per the Hub and Spoke policy, metros like Delhi and Mumbai are used as hubs. The spoke-hub distribution paradigm (or model or network) is a system of connections arranged like a wire wheel, in which all traffic moves along spokes (smaller cities) connected to the hub at the centre. |
Why is this coming up NOW? Hasn't this always been the norm at AI? I remember taking a flight from BOM to SIN via HYD in 2003 and it was the same process. I cleared immi at BOM and all they did was check my boarding pass during the stopover at HYD. |
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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luvleen wrote: | MHA flags Air India's security gap
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mha-red-flags-air-india-s-hub-spoke-policy-116022800497_1.html
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Finding security risks in Air India’s hub-and-spoke policy, the home ministry has red flagged the national carrier’s ambitious plan connecting several tier-II cities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi, with international destinations.
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Why is this coming up NOW? Hasn't this always been the norm at AI? I remember taking a flight from BOM to SIN via HYD in 2003 and it was the same process. I cleared immi at BOM and all they did was check my boarding pass during the stopover at HYD. |
The problem can be solved by checking both the boarding pass and the passport/ID of the passengers who are transiting, to make sure that it is the same person. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/budget-2016-air-india-to-get-rs-1713-crore-against-demand-of-rs-4300-crore/articleshow/51192084.cms
Budget 2016: Air India to get Rs 1,713 crore against demand of Rs 4,300 crore
Feb 29, 2016
The government has announced to allocate Rs 1,713 crore for Air India to be infused as equity during the 2016-17 fiscal.
According to the Budget papers, the national carriers plan outlay for the fiscal has been pegged at Rs 2,065 crore.
This infusion is much lower than Air India expectations of Rs 4,300 crore for the fiscal. Of the total amount, the carrier had sought about Rs 3,300 crore from the government under the Turnaround Plan and backlog amount of around Rs 977 crore, which is mainly on account of steep appreciation in dollar against
the rupee.
Air India, which is saddled with debt of around Rs 40,000 crore and losses of over Rs 20,000 crore, is estimated to return to operational profit by the end of this fiscal. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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http://thestandard.com.ph/business/200771/7-foreign-airlines-eye-flights-to-clark.html
7 foreign airlines eye flights to Clark
March 02, 2016
Clark International Corp. said Wednesday seven foreign airlines have expressed interest in establishing operations at the former US military airbase.
CIAC president Emigdio Tanjuatco III identified the seven airlines as Jet Star of Singapore, Thai Smile of Thailand, Rayani Air of Malaysia, Express Air of Indonesia, Air India, V-Air of Taiwan and Airline 4.0. _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:36 am Post subject: |
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http://www.asianage.com/mumbai/air-india-operate-all-women-crew-flight-025
Air India to operate all-women crew flight
Mar 03, 2016
Two days prior to International Women’s Day on March 8, national carrier Air India will salute women power with the longest flying operation on the longest route. Official sources from the airline said that on March 6, an Air India flight will take off from Delhi to San Francisco, which is the longest flying route, with an all-women crew on board.
Sources informed The Asian Age that to commemorate International Women’s Day, all four pilots as well as the crew operating the Delhi to San Francisco flight will be women. Furthermore, the flight dispatcher and flight engineer will also be women. Line safety will be conducted by women and safety audit will be conducted under the chief of flight safety, Air India, Harpreet A.D. Singh. The cherry on the cake will be that load and trim staff of the flight too will be strictly women.
Ms Singh told this newspaper that while the airline celebrates International Women’s Day every year by deploying women crew, this is the first time that an all women crew will operate the longest flight and will also be rewarded after operation. Official sources said that while the airline operates a few flights with entirely female crew every year on International Women’s Day, this is the first time a complete cabin crew will be on board the longest flight route of the national carrier. To achieve the target, Air India is also working with the Indian Women’s Pilot Association.
To mark International Women’s Day last year, Air India operated four “all women crew” flights to international and domestic destinations, with one flown by two pilots who were also part of a similar feat way back in 1985. On the international network, two such flights that were operated were the Delhi-Melbourne and Mumbai-Muscat-Mumbai routes. While, AI806 Mumbai-Delhi and AI475 Delhi-Jodhpur-Mumbai were the flights operated by an all-women crew on domestic routes.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Caliguy Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 723 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't read the article to say they are launching AMD-LHR-EWR. That flight would make zero sense when people can fly daily EWR-BOM-AMD. Now a 3X per week EWR-DEL-AMQ on peak days would probably make sense.
I think DEL-IAD is long over due. That said should be 4 time per week with 3X making people connect in JFK or ORD. |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.firstpost.com/business/air-india-to-opt-for-business-economy-class-seats-in-a320-neos-2661446.html
Air India to opt for business, economy class seats in A320 neos
Mar 7, 2016
Buoyed by rising number of business travellers, Air India will opt for two-class seat configuration in the 14 Airbus 320 neo planes to be inducted into the fleet in the coming months.
Air India is reverting to the two-class configuration after more than four years when it had decided to do away with it amid economic slowdown.
A Kuwait-based leasing firm is to provide the A320 neos (new engine option) aircraft on dry lease basis starting early next year.
These planes with 160 seats will have a two-class configuration - 12 in business class and the rest 148 in economy category, a senior Air India official said.
The 14 A320 neos will also have more "seat pitch" or seat width, compared to other airlines, the official said.
Once the A-320 neos come in, the airline would phase out some of the existing A320s -- a number of which are as old as 26 years.
Air India has an Airbus fleet of 66 aircraft, comprising 24 A-320s, 20 A-321s and 22 A-319s.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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sabya99 Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 1399 Location: New Jersey/CCU
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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From Delhi to San Francisco, AI operates ‘world’s longest all-women flight’
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/from-delhi-to-san-francisco-ai-operates-worlds-longest-allwomen-flight/article8324001.ece?homepage=true
Air India on Monday said it flew the “world’s longest” all-women-operated flight from Delhi to San Francisco.
The flight, which travelled a distance of around 14,500 kilometre in close to 17 hours, was operated as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
The non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight took off from the national capital on March 6.
“This year for the first time, on the world’s longest non-stop flight, entire flight operations from cockpit crew to cabin crew, check-in staff, doctor, customer care staff, ATC (air traffic control) and the entire ground handling... were handled by women,” Air India said in a release.
Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said it was a historic flight and “the longest operated by all-women crew”. “The airline has immense respect for women and it is a symbol of women empowerment,” he added.
The flight was under the command of Kshamta Bajpayee and Shubhangi Singh, along with First Officers Ramya Kirti Gupta and Amrit Namdhari. _________________ Sabya99 |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 7:17 am Post subject: |
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Air India S16 Moscow Operation Changes as of 08MAR16
Air India in last week’s schedule update has made further revision to its Delhi – Moscow Domodedovo operation, effective 27MAR16.
During summer 2016 season, the Star Alliance member will operate 3 weekly flights, instead of previously planned 2 weekly.
This route was served up to 4 weekly in summer 2015.
AI155 DEL2030 – 0030+1DME 788 135
AI156 DME0130 – 1300DEL 788 246
Source: Airlineroute.net _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2015 6:51 pm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/AI-Express-to-connect-Delhi-central-Asia/articleshow/48397742.cms
AI Express to connect Delhi, central Asia
Aug 8, 2015
"We are going to launch flights from Delhi to Central Asian destinations like Tehran, Tashkent, Almaty, Kuwait, Doha and Abu Dhabi next year. Currently, AI flies to Abu Dhabi and they will stop once we start our flights there. Delhi will be a new station for us and we plan to have at least four international flights out of here by early next year," AI Express CEO K Shyam Sundar told TOI. |
Looks like Tehran is on the top of the list for AI Express.
Air India Limited (AI) invites ‘Technical’ & ‘Commercial’ Bids from authorised fuel suppliers for Supply of Jet A / A1 Fuel (ATF)/ Intoplane Services at VIENNA(LOWW/ VIE), TEHRAN (OIII/ THR) & TORONTO (CYYZ/ YYZ) as per the details given hereunder. This tender includes the fuel requirements of AIR INDIA LIMITED and AIR INDIA CHARTERS LIMITED (brand name AIR INDIA EXPRESS), a wholly owned subsidiary of AIR INDIA LIMITED.
http://mmd.airindia.co.in/aimmd/tender/JET%20FUEL_160.html _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:15 am Post subject: |
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http://www.traveldailymedia.com/233641/air-india-offers-passengers-paid-seat-selection/
Air India offers passengers paid seat selection
New service allows passengers to pay for extra legroom or front cabin seats
9th March, 2016
Air India has introduced the facility of advance seat selection in economy class on its long haul US-bound flights.
The available seats are identified by specific criteria including the extra leg-room and those located towards the front of the cabin, allowing passengers deplane faster upon arrival.
The airline charges an additional US$50 for preferred seat selection in economy class on US routes. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying to/from Newark, New York JFK and Chicago has a total of 36 preferred seats distributed across five rows, including the emergency exit row.
A total of 29 seats are available on B777-200LR aircraft flying to/from San Francisco. Passengers availing preferred seats in emergency exit rows should be valid, 12+ years old and cooperate with the crew in case of emergency evacuation.
The provision for advance seat selection will remain available up to 48 hours prior to departure. Passengers can make their payments in local currency at Air India booking offices or through the airline’s call centre. The scheme is not available for domestic passengers or other international flights.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.india.com/news/india/government-not-to-force-air-india-to-fly-to-unconnected-cities-1021352/
Government not to force Air India to fly to unconnected cities
March 10, 2016
Government today said it will not “force” Air India to flying to unconnected cities after a Congress member in Lok Sabha said it should ask the state-run carrier to do so if it was unable to push private airlines into it. Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said Air India is coming out of losses because of the government’s “non-interference” policy and maintained that its job was to “facilitate and not compel” airline operations.
Raju made the remarks during Question Hour after a number of members raised the issue of lack of air connectivity to the regions they came from and Rajiv Satav (Cong) urged him to ask Air India to connect places like Nanded, a pilgrimage centre of the Sikhs. ”Air India is coming out of losses because of our non-interference. We won’t force them,” the Minister said. Raju, however, said the government from time to time gave suggestions to airlines and noted that in the draft civil aviation policy there is a proposal to connect unserved and unconnected airports under the Regional Connectivity Scheme.
“The details of the scheme including the action plan are being finalised… An indicative cost of Rs 50-100 crore has been envisaged in the budget speech for 2016-1017,” he said. ”The commencement of activity in these unconnected, unserved airports and airstrips depends on the willingness of the airlines and of the state governments to agree to the conditions of the scheme,” he said in a written reply.
_________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Subject: Change of Nomenclature from Executive Class to "BUSINESS CLASS"
Dear Sir/Madam
As per the approval from competent authority, henceforth the nomenclature used for different types of classes in Air India shall be only “First”, “Business” and “Economy”.
The same shall be applicable to both Domestic and International sectors.The usage of the term “Executive Class” is being discontinued. The existing stock of Boarding Cards shall continue to be used till New Boarding Cards with revised nomenclature are made available.Request to please disseminate this information to all concerned under your jurisdiction please.
Regards//
Aditya Mathur
Dy. General Manager (C-TS) _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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Manish Soni Member
Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Posts: 102 Location: LHR
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it is great to hear about Sanat, Karan-ji and Mehta-ji!
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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..and this is from a FB post.
THE FOLLOWING WAS POSTED BY A PASSENGER Mr ANANT RANGASWAMI ON HIS FACEBOOK WALL:
❝The wonderful story of Ms. A. Singh, head of cabin crew on AI 667 from Mumbai to Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, 4 March.
The flight was late, and the delay did nothing to make me think better of Air India. I wish I had taken the Indigo, which is a couple of hours later.
Finally, we board. I'm one of the last to board as I have no cabin baggage and I have an aisle seat. Seat 8D.
I quickly scan the passengers seated next to me, in front of me and behind me and I notice row 7. Occupying row 7 A, B, C and D is a family of four. A young girl, around 5 years old, I would guess, occupies the window seat at 7A, her mother is seated in 7B. In 7C is a young boy, about 10 years old. It's apparent that he's mentally challenged. The father is across the aisle from the son.
The flight takes off. Every now and then, the boy yells. Loud. The parents, seated on either side of him, soothe him and calm him down.
It's time for the lunch to be served. The head of the cabin crew, Ms. A. Singh, (I stared at her name tag as we disembarked) served the family. No sooner had the mother taken the aluminium foil off her son's hot rice than he sent the tray flying, spraying rice across the aisle.
Ms. Singh rushed to the boy -- only to check that he was OK. She calmed him down. Next, she told her colleague to carry on with the service. Ms. Singh then quickly brought another meal for the boy. One could see the gratitude in the eyes of both parents.
Ms. Singh, who I would imagine is in her 40s, then proceeded to clean up the rice in the aisle; she was on all fours and using just napkins to deal with the mess. It took her both time and effort, but she carried on till it was done.
After that, it was business as usual for Ms. Singh.
She kept checking that the boy was okay in between the work routine.
The flight done, I walked up to her and told her that what she did was fantastic.
Her reply? "It was nothing. Imagine what the boy is going through."
Why do I post this? Because Ms. Singh needs to know that she is appreciated. Will someone who knows someone who knows someone in Air India makes sure she gets the message?❞
And two photos: Ms. Singh and CMD Lohani
https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12814036_10156583716495162_4138075320372160576_n.jpg?oh=8ea3b9e16418c4a9944417da3b1fa07f&oe=57962B84
https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12803124_10156583716120162_6394065972878506107_n.jpg?oh=72272de0373c5dc0bf76c7674917b87b&oe=5753E846 |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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The_Goat Member
Joined: 03 Mar 2007 Posts: 3260 Location: South of France
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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Well done indeed, but must they wear bindis the size of Eden Gardens Stadium?
I wish they would do away with that, or at least wear smaller, more elegant bindis. _________________ I don't know which is the more pampered bunch : AI's widebodies (the aunties) or Jet's widebodies (the planes).
-Jasepl |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2016 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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The_Goat wrote: | Well done indeed, but must they wear bindis the size of Eden Gardens Stadium? | He he...the dot-com days are not yet gone
On a more serious note, please also look at the Ms. A. Singh felicitation which happened a few days back. Air India is perhaps seeing its best day ssince the JRD era: first under Team Nandan, and now things look even better under Team Lohani, a team with a mission. Team Lohani is paying serious attention to the HR issues in addition to profitability, route analysis, and many more.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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Jaysit Member
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:25 am Post subject: |
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True, Sanjay. What is encouraging is the general progress in the airline, and a really positive attitude. Team Nandan, and now Team Lohani's actions really give one hope about things getting much better.
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:49 am Post subject: |
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AI-using-faulty-simulator-to-train-Dreamliner-pilots/articleshow/51387177.cms
AI using faulty simulator to train Dreamliner pilots
Mar 14, 2016
For the past two weeks, cash-strapped national carrier Air India has been training its pilots on a faulty Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator with defective warning lights.
Inside a flight simulator, pilots are put in charge of emergencies like engine failure, fire and malfunctions they might encounter in real life. If a warning light comes on, they are taught not to ignore it. But AI pilots undergoing training are being instructed to go against the rule book and ignore the light.
AI's executive director (training) has warned its engineers and instructors against reporting the flaw in the defect logbook. On Sunday, four days after TOI sent a query to AI on the issue, the flaw was finally allowed to be reported, though it hasn't been rectified.
"The warning light indicates that the navigation system (called the Inertial Reference System or IRS) now runs on battery, that is, it will shut down once the battery runs out of power. But it's a false warning light as the simulator's IRS has continued to work all these days, an impossible feat had the IRS actually malfunctioned and switched to battery power," said a source.
So why the hullabaloo over a false warning light? "Given that the said light concerns the aircraft's navigation system, instructing trainee pilots to ignore it is not a safe practice," the official added. First, on a real aircraft, an "IRS on BATT" warning light would have been a "no-go".
Said a source: " A false IRS warning light has the potential to send a confusing message." _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.hindustantimes.com/business/ai-menu--tushar/story-HCIWxEEBkPM6G0aVyFPcVM.html
After 10 years, Air India gets new menu
Believe it or not but the menu on Air India’s (AI) flights from Delhi to London has remained unchanged for nearly ten years. And, if you thought this was due to a strong demand from frequent flyers for the same old dishes, you are wrong.
This has happened simply because each small or big decision had to be approved by someone sitting in Delhi, said a senior official, who did not wish to be named. However, this will change soon.
Ashwani Lohani, the airline’s new chairman and managing director, was shocked when he was told about the issue during a recent visit to some of AI’s European stations. Lohani, on the spot, ordered a change in rules allowing the regional offices to take a call on such issues like in-flight food.
“I have delegated the power to regional offices to take decisions on such issues. They will have the power to decide on the menu,” Lohani said.
“In airline and hospitality business, you can’t let such issues drag on for years. The decision has to be quick and in line with the changing times. We have seen a new domestic start-up airline in India change its menu multiple times in the last one year after observing passenger demands,” said another official.
“London is one of the most important routes for us and was one of the first destinations where we started operating the Dreamliner,” the official said.
So gear up for a steaming hot new menu, the next time you fly to London by Air India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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Air India S16 Italy Service Changes
Air India in summer 2016 season is adjusting service to Italy, as the airline moves 4th weekly flight from Delhi – Rome to Delhi – Milan Malpensa.
The frequency change will begin from the week of 27MAR16, operated by Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
Delhi – Milan Malpensa
AI137 DEL1415 – 1930MXP 788 x357
AI138 MXP2100 – 0825+1DEL 788 x357
Delhi – Rome
AI123 DEL1415 – 1905FCO 788 357
AI122 FCO2040 – 0740+1DEL 788 357
Source: Airlineroute.net _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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iah87 Member
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megatop747 Member
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Caliguy Member
Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Posts: 723 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 3:35 am Post subject: |
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747-237 wrote: | http://www.hindustantimes.com/business/ai-menu--tushar/story-HCIWxEEBkPM6G0aVyFPcVM.html
After 10 years, Air India gets new menu
Believe it or not but the menu on Air India’s (AI) flights from Delhi to London has remained unchanged for nearly ten years. And, if you thought this was due to a strong demand from frequent flyers for the same old dishes, you are wrong.
This has happened simply because each small or big decision had to be approved by someone sitting in Delhi, said a senior official, who did not wish to be named. However, this will change soon.
Ashwani Lohani, the airline’s new chairman and managing director, was shocked when he was told about the issue during a recent visit to some of AI’s European stations. Lohani, on the spot, ordered a change in rules allowing the regional offices to take a call on such issues like in-flight food.
“I have delegated the power to regional offices to take decisions on such issues. They will have the power to decide on the menu,” Lohani said.
“In airline and hospitality business, you can’t let such issues drag on for years. The decision has to be quick and in line with the changing times. We have seen a new domestic start-up airline in India change its menu multiple times in the last one year after observing passenger demands,” said another official.
“London is one of the most important routes for us and was one of the first destinations where we started operating the Dreamliner,” the official said.
So gear up for a steaming hot new menu, the next time you fly to London by Air India.
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Really??? Is there any airline where regional offices (ticket offices????) decide the menu for a flight? Shouldn't AI catering be changing the menu every month or two and have some rotation of dishes between markets as well as some regional specific dishes (like pasta to rome or chinese food to HK). Also has the menu really not changed for 10 years?? Or is it that the ten dishes they rotate have not changed for ten years? |
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sumantra Member
Joined: 28 Oct 2007 Posts: 4685 Location: New Delhi
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 5:20 am Post subject: |
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Caliguy wrote: | Also has the menu really not changed for 10 years?? Or is it that the ten dishes they rotate have not changed for ten years? | Caliguy, I think your second point is more like it. The article has the usual Indian aviation journalist's sensationalism hyperbole, and a possible weird interpretation.
Caliguy wrote: | Is there any airline where regional offices (ticket offices????) decide the menu for a flight? | You have been spot-on with regard to why that article should be taken with more than a pinch of salt! A regional office can send suggestions, the headquarters take a decision, apart from small and temporary local decisions that need not wait for the HQ's approvals.
Caliguy wrote: | Shouldn't AI catering be changing the menu every month or two | This is one aspect of AI that perhaps hasn't changed that much since the heady JRD days: the innovations in the food, and the rotating menus. The rotations and choice of options have been excellent, even in AI's dark days. Even Indian Airlines had picked up, in their heady Sunil Arora era.
Caliguy wrote: | ...and have some rotation of dishes between markets as well as some regional specific dishes (like pasta to rome or chinese food to HK). | AI's catering has been spot-on with the regional runs. I have been lucky to have flown a large number of AI's routes, both International, as well as domestic. And of course, special meal requests have always been available on AI. In the non-special options, I have always been on the look-out for the `third' option in Economy, on International flights. It usually comes with a blue stripe on the box or two: the regional option. The two regular options are the Indian veg and Indian non-veg. The third on the US/European runs has been a Continental option (typically, non-veg) with a regional touch. US-style lamb/grilled hake/Norweigian Salmon/French-style/...there have been many. The NRT runs see a Japanese-style dish, and the ICN-HKG runs see a Korean-style or a mixed Chinese-style main dish.
AI's domestic runs include regional offerings, and more importantly, seasonal ones. Their Onam offerings on the Southern sectors have sent my tummy into an overdrive
Cheers, Sumantra. |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/air-india-expects-rs-8-crore-operating-profit-this-fiscal-mahesh-sharma/articleshow/51409391.cms
Air India expects Rs 8 crore operating profit this fiscal: Mahesh Sharma
Mar 15, 2016
With substantial improvement, Air India is expected to post an operating profit of Rs 8 crore in the current fiscal, the government said today.
This would also be the first time since the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines that the national carrier would be reporting an operating profit.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma told Rajya Sabha that Air India is expected to "post substantial improvements" as per the revised estimates of 2015-16 compared to the previous financial year.
"Air India is expected to earn operating profit of Rs 8 crore as compared to the operating loss of Rs 2,636.18 crore in the previous year. This is the first time that the company is going to achieve operating profit since its merger in 2007-08," he said in a written reply.
The airline expects to shave off its losses by around 40 per cent to Rs 3,529.80 crore this fiscal.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:28 am Post subject: |
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Accident: Air India A320 at Mumbai on Mar 15th 2016, burst tyres on landing
An Air India Airbus A320-200, registration VT-ESL performing flight AI-630 from Nagpur to Mumbai (India) with 161 people on board, landed on Mumbai's runway but burst both aft left main tyres during roll out. The aircraft became disabled while turning off the runway, an emergency evacuation via slides was initiated. A number of passengers received minor injuries in the evacuation.
Source: avherald.com _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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Air India Discontinues Delhi – Abu Dhabi Service from mid-May 2016
In the recent schedule update, Air India plans to discontinue Delhi – Abu Dhabi service, where it currently operates 3 weekly flights with Airbus A319 aircraft.
Current listing shows the airline operates last flight on 15MAY16 (16MAY16 from AUH).
AI941 DEL2025 – 2255AUH 319 357
AI942 AUH0005 – 0505DEL 319 146
Source: Airlineroute.net _________________ 11000 posts (and counting) on Airliners-India.
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abhijith16 Member
Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 1575 Location: DOH/IXE/MEL
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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747-237 wrote: | Air India Discontinues Delhi – Abu Dhabi Service from mid-May 2016
In the recent schedule update, Air India plans to discontinue Delhi – Abu Dhabi service, where it currently operates 3 weekly flights with Airbus A319 aircraft.
Current listing shows the airline operates last flight on 15MAY16 (16MAY16 from AUH).
AI941 DEL2025 – 2255AUH 319 357
AI942 AUH0005 – 0505DEL 319 146
Source: Airlineroute.net |
Air India Express will be taking over the same route effective 16MAY, with a daily service.
It is also expected that Delhi-Bahrain be transferred to IX. _________________ <a><img></a> |
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747-237 Member
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 11359 Location: Gordon Gekko's Boardroom
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Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 8:03 am Post subject: |
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http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-air-india-inks-pact-to-induct-14-a320neo-aircraft-2190215
Air India inks pact to induct 14 A320neo aircraft
17 Mar 2016
Air India on Wednesday signed a pact with a Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO for leasing 14 Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The deal was inked on the inaugural day of the India Aviation 2016 which is being held in Hyderabad. The delivery of aircraft is likely to start from early next year.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director, Air India, said, "This is a very important partnership for Air India. The A320 aircraft will add strength to our existing fleet and enhance our role as a major player in the domestic market."
The airline officials said the induction would augment Air India's capacity in domestic market. Air India already has strong infrastructure maintenance facilities for the Airbus A320 family.
These A320neo aircraft will come fitted with the new generation CFM leap engines which will reduce noise and emissions, enhance the operational efficiency and reduce fuel consumption by at least 15%.
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