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Kolkata ( NSCBI ) Airport: past, present and future.
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sabya99
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 27, 2016 1:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You are right. That night landing facility will very helpful to pleasure traffic down the road! Here are some youtube videos ; https://youtu.be/oYNlaSSS71o and https://youtu.be/lpf8uMC37II
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lounge low-cost hope
- Lack of business-class fliers prompts move

Sanjay Mandal

Business-starved Calcutta lacks business-class passengers to fill its airport lounges, leaving service providers to hedge their bets on the so far untapped business of paid lounge access for low-cost travellers.
IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir are working with Travel Food Services, the concessionaire managing F&B services at the city airport, to introduce lounge facilities for their passengers against an optional fee payable with the fare.
The two 100-seater lounges run by Travel Food Services - one each in the domestic and international sections of the integrated terminal - are currently open only to business-class fliers and holders of premium privilege cards such as Priority Pass and gold and platinum memberships of full-service airlines.
On an average, about 400 people avail themselves of domestic lounge facilities daily. "Compared to Delhi and Mumbai or even Bangalore, this is a very small number," an airport official said.
Travel Food Services said paid lounge access would be available in the domestic section by April.
Anyone who opts for the lounge service would get a choice of complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages, the menu depending on the time of day. Unlike a business-class lounge, alcohol would cost extra.
"We are setting up a separate lounge in the domestic area which low-cost airline passengers can also access. It will have a capacity of 70 seats," Gaurav Dewan, CEO of Travel Food Services, confirmed to Metro.
Clipper Lounge, an old favourite of many, had been used by some low-cost airlines as a stop-gap arrangement until last year, when the Oberoi Group shut it down because the Airports Authority of India didn't renew its contract.
An official of a low-cost airline said paid access to the proposed lounge would be available as a value-added option while booking a seat on a flight. "There will be three parts to the boarding pass of a passenger who buys that service. The third part of the pass can be used to check into the lounge," the airline official explained.
The other metro airports too offer paid lounge access along with lounges for business-class passengers, the difference being that neither is dependent on each other.
"In Calcutta, there are hardly any business-class passengers on domestic flights. So, for the concessionaire too, it makes sense to have a paid lounge for low-cost passengers," an IndiGo official said.
The sprawling integrated terminal opened three years ago, but it hasn't quite become the aviation magnet it had promised to be.
In the domestic sector, Jet Airways and Air India are the only full-service airlines with business-class seats and neither operates as many flights from Calcutta as they do from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
Of the 330-plus domestic flights to and from the city every day, more than 75 per cent are operated by low-cost carriers.
In contrast, Delhi has 900 domestic flights, about 40 per cent of them full-service ones. In Mumbai, which has 780 daily flights, the percentage of full-service domestic airlines is almost the same.
Sources said that on an average, business-class seat occupancy on Jet Airways flights out of Calcutta is between 30 and 35 per cent. The percentage doubles on flights from Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.
"For a round trip to Mumbai, a business-class seat costs between Rs 60,000 and Rs 65,000, four times the average economy fare. You need big-ticket corporate travel to sell such expensive seats every day," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160309/jsp/calcutta/story_73557.jsp#.VuAyhn0rLGI
Comment: I heard ME3 airlines are operating full service flights from CCU on a regular basis. May be wealthy NRIs fill up the business class seats with international flights.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Morning take off from Kolkata airport using Kilo taxiway: https://youtu.be/bmLv1ss1IJo
Kolkata:’s flavor; a city full of kebabs: https://youtu.be/oGDst94tCYE
Landing on 19L of Kolkata airport: https://youtu.be/KFYlCHq4c2A
The Indi Go hub at NSCBI airport, early morning; https://youtu.be/i2MisneGaqc ( posted by Jishnu )
Busy international apron area of the new integrated terminal with multiple wide body aircrafts: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=22.640229&lon=88.438681&z=18&m=b
An update on Panagarh AFB. More apron construction going on, Runway almost complete: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=23.471060&lon=87.431903&z=16&m=b All the Sal forests are gone. Perhaps this is the end of Durgapore / Panagarh forest area!!
Emirates landing from south side on main runway night time; https://youtu.be/wrdIpB_STtg Huge area have been incorporated on the south east side of main runway.
Landing at Kolkata airport from south side with new terminal brightly lighted: https://youtu.be/yhaHiebMnZw
Landing at Port Blair airport : https://youtu.be/8mYEzgGiY70
An evening scene at NSCBI airport: https://youtu.be/_2j9cOLvXE8
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 31, 2016 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Full-service airline set for city entry
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160331/jsp/calcutta/story_77419.jsp#.Vv0aOJwrLGI

Vistara, a full-service domestic carrier partly owned by the Tatas, is finally flying to town after avoiding Calcutta for around two years.
The airline will fly between Calcutta and Delhi from this summer, a spokesperson told Metro on Wednesday.

Calcutta will be the 17th stop for Vistara, a pointer to the relative insignificance of the business-starved city in the aviation industry.
"We'll start operations to Calcutta from this summer from our hub in Delhi. The detail plans of frequencies and timings are being worked out," the spokesperson said.
The airline began operations with a Mumbai-Delhi flight on January 9, 2015, and has added 12 stops, including Bagdogra, to its map since. Calcutta will blip on its radar only after it starts flying to a series of smaller cities - such as Jammu, Srinagar and Kochi.
Industry watchers think Vistara - 51 per cent owned by the Tata Sons and 49 per cent by Singapore Airlines -was reluctant to fly from Calcutta because of a lack of enough business passengers.
Since March 2013, when Calcutta's new terminal became functional, Etihad Airways has been the only full-service airline to have started functioning from the city.
Vistara, which will operate Airbus 320 aircraft, will have a business-class segment, along with premium economy and economy segments.
"The decision to start operating from a city depends on market dynamics and demands," said a Vistara official when asked why Calcutta was so down on the priority list of the airline.
Calcutta now has two full-service airlines in the domestic sector - Jet Airways and Air India.
The average Calcutta-Delhi round trip business class fare on a Jet Airways flight is Rs 60,000. The airline normally has 30-40 per cent occupancy in the 12-seat business class segment on its Delhi flights.
Comment: Why so hurry? CCU will not be a major business class destination in near future. Is it because didi’s days are numbered?
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2016 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

GoAir flights from Durgapur

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDUBUSINESSLINE.COM/ECONOMY/LOGISTICS/GOAIR-FLIGHTS-FROM-DURGAPUR/ARTICLE8286116.ECE

KOLKATA, :
India’s first private greenfield airport at Durgapur in West Bengal would be linked to Patna and New Delhi with thrice a week flights by GoAir. Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd, the owner of the airport, said in statement that GoAir would operate a 180-seater Airbus 320-200 flights soon. The low-cost airline will fly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Air India already runs a tri-weekly flight from the Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Durgapur to New Delhi via Patna on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
(This article was published on February 26, 2016)
Comment: This is the only direct flight between DEL and Andal area without any connectivity with CCU. Let us see whether it is sustainable!
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 08, 2016 12:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Runway resurfacing at Kolkata airport. Old rigid surface giving away to flexible asphalt runway using new technology. https://youtu.be/cH5YwDlTQXc
Major airports like Singapore follow a very similar approach https://youtu.be/ABtsqkd-8CU . https://youtu.be/E_oPFftJrTg . Airport taxiway, apron area construction : https://youtu.be/jaH3mxTgWCk
New terminal of NSCBI airport, huge improvement from the past : https://youtu.be/j8-bw5tH28w
Problem of close proximity between human and aircraft near NSCBI airport : https://youtu.be/qJTBPiUWBL0
More on inside the new terminal at NSCBI airport : https://youtu.be/RQX62jfvpcY
Taking off from Kolkata airport main runway on ATR-72 and Dreamliner waiting for takeoff from secondary runway : https://youtu.be/i0o6toSajBU
Landing at Agartala airport on runway 18 : https://youtu.be/k0aswFnNPjY
Takeoff from Agartala airport on AI A320 : https://youtu.be/oC0-rtiBzno
Indi Go A320 landing on main runway, while our aircraft taxing two more flights landed on main runway ; https://youtu.be/7nEjkMKbc4E
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 6:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Emirates Celebrates 10 Years of Operations in Kolkata
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kolkata/Emirates-Celebrates-10-Years-of-Operations-in-Kolkata/2016/04/14/article3380424.ece


KOLKATA: Air carrier major Emirates marked ten years of operations in Kolkata, by deploying a second Boeing 777 on the route, the company said on Thursday.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, deployed last month, replaces the current A330-200 providing higher seat capacity to meet rising demand on the route.

"In addition to the new on-board product, we are able to offer more seats, ensuring capacity to meet growing demand on the route, not just from Kolkata but the entire east and northeast India region," said the carrier's senior vice president (commercial operations- West Asia and Indian Oceans) Ahmed Khoory.

Since the start of its operations, it carried over two million passengers on the route and moved more than 66,000 tonnes of cargo from the city.

With demand for air travel expected to double in the next five to 10 years in India, the carrier is well positioned to bring a growing number of tourists and business travellers to the eastern region of the country, further enabling trade and investment, said a company statement.

Completed 30 years of operations in India in 2015, the third-largest international carrier serving India has grown its operations to serve nine destinations in the country. It operates 10.4 percent of international capacity in the market, the company said.

Comment: Emirates has saved Kolkata and eastern India from total isolation from western international destinations. Today nobody could ignore international traffic potential from Kolkata any more.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 15, 2016 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Panagarh airbase renamed after former IAF chief Arjan Singh

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/panagarh-airbase-renamed-after-former-iaf-chief-arjan-singh/article8479380.ece?w=alauto

In a first, Panagarh airbase was today renamed as Air Force Station Arjan Singh after the former Indian Air Force chief.
On the occasion of 97th birthday of Arjan Singh, Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal C. Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, renamed the airbase at a simple ceremony here.
“It is a proud moment for the Indian Air Force and the state of West Bengal. He is an icon and a role model. We have to work hard to ensure that the name is suitably looked after in terms of capability and performance,” Kumar told reporters.
“It is for the first time that we have taken a conscious decision to rename an airbase after an individual.”
Panagarh, approximately 150 kms from Kolkata, is located in Burdwan district. The airbase in Panagarh was constructed in 1944 during the Second World War.
Coincidentally, around the same time in eastern theatre, a young Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron, then Squadron Leader Arjan Singh, was leading the ‘Tiger’ squadron in saving Imphal Valley against the marauding Japanese forces.
His leadership and daring exploits earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), which was pinned on him by Lord Mountbatten in Imphal during the operations.
Air Force Station, Panagarh, post the Second World War, played a significant role in the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan.
Singh was the IAF chief from August 1964-69. He was the first Indian Air Chief to be elevated to the rank of Air Chief Marshal on January 16, 1966.
In recognition of his lifelong services, the government conferred the rank of the “Marshal of the Indian Air Force” on Arjan Singh on January 28, 2002 making him the first and the only ‘Five Star’ rank officer with the Indian Air Force.
Comment: A fitting tribute to a long forgotten hero !
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PostPosted: Sun Apr 17, 2016 7:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

New Super Hercules squadron to become operational at Panagarh from May

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/New-Super-Hercules-squadron-to-become-operational-at-Panagarh-from-May/articleshow/51846789.cms

PANAGARH (Burdwan) The 87 Squadron of Indian Air Force (IAF) will formally become operational at Air Force Station Arjan Singh in Panagarh on May 5 in the presence of IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. This was announced by Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, at the air base on Friday. The 87 Squadron will be the second one in the IAF to comprise C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. The first squadron is based at Hindon near Delhi.

"The additional C-130J aircraft will be coming in from April, 2017. All construction work, including hangers, will be completed by the end of this month and the squadron will become operational on May 5. The Super Hercules are strategic assets and Panagarh is the perfect location for them as it is deep inside the hinterland. As the newly raised Mountain Strike Corps of the Army is also headquartered in Panagarh, the location of this base is extremely crucial. Lockheed Martin has been contracted to build the hangers and other infrastructure for the aircraft. They are being constructed as per US standards," Hari Kumar said.

The AOC-in-C was in Panagarh to rename Air Force Station Panagarh as Air Force Station Arjan Singh in honour of the first and only Marshal of the Air of the IAF. Singh turned 97 on Friday. This is the first time that an operating air base in the country is being named after a personality, that too living. According to Hari Kumar, it is a proud moment for the base as well as West Bengal, Singh being an icon and a guide to all those who join the air force.
Though the Super Hercules is classified as a transport aircraft, it is utilized as a tactical asset by defence forces across the globe. One of its most important features is the aircraft's ability to take off and land from airfields that have runways of shorter length. This makes the aircraft ideal for take-off and landing from several of IAF's Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the northeastern states, close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
The hangers being constructed by Lockheed Martin are not normal ones. According to a source, they have space in the basement where Special Forces personnel can stay and train till they are ordered for operations. As the troops are based directly below the aircraft they are to use with all equipment, valuable time is not wasted when deployment for a Special Operation becomes necessary. The aircraft can take off at a moment's notice. While the 'Veiled Vipers' squadron based at Hindon takes care of operations in the western sector, the new one at Panagarh will deal with threats in the east.
Hari Kumar would not give out details but said that the facilities are advanced. No wonder, a lot of impetus is is on security. "This is quite natural. When one builds a house today, it has better features than one built several years ago. We have taken lessons from the Pathankot incident. We have not only refreshed our training but increased reliance on technology. We also have better tie-ups with agencies like the Army, central paramilitary forces and the police. We have also managed to get the local population on our side to keep a watch out for suspicious movement," the AOC-in-C added.
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

MiG-27 squadron number-plated at Hasimara.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/MiG-27-squadron-number-plated-at-Hasimara/articleshow/51846931.cms

PANAGARH (Burdwan) With another squadron of Mig-27MK based at Air Force Station Hasimara in north Bengal getting number-plated, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is now at least 10 squadrons less than what is ideally required to counter strikes from both the western and eastern sectors together. Number-plating is the official name for decommissioning of a squadron in the IAF.
The latest squadron to go was the celebrated 18 Squadron, also known as the 'Flying Bullets'. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, the only Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardee in the IAF belonged to this squadron that earned the sobriquet of 'Defenders of the Kashmir Valley' by being the first to land and operate from Srinagar. In November, 2015, nearly 44 years after Sekhon received the PVC posthumously, the 18 Squadron received the Presidential Standard at Hasimara. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha had then said that one of the squadrons based at Hasimara would be number-plated in the days to come.


On Friday, Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, confirmed at Panagarh that the squadron has been number-plated. He also said that the IAF realizes the strategic location of Hasimara and is on the lookout for an appropriate replacement for the Mig-27 aircraft for the 18 Squadron.
"We do have plans to base other aircraft in Hasimara, given its strategic location. However, details can't be divulged at the moment," Hari Kumar said.


With the indigenous Tejas and French Rafale yet to be inducted, the only option for the IAF seems to be a squadron of Su-30MKI for Hasimara. For some time now, the IAF has maintained that it would no longer shop for specialized aircraft like the Mig-27 that specializes in ground attack. It is on the lookout for multi-role fighters. What makes Hasimara so crucial is its proximity to Bhutan. The Chumbi Valley region, a tri-junction between Bhutan, India and China, has always been a matter of concern for defence analysts in this country. Should China attempt to sweep across Bhutan and cut off the Siliguri corridor and the northeastern states from the rest of the country, Hasimara is in the best position to intervene.
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PostPosted: Thu Apr 21, 2016 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

An update on Hasimara air force station : http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=26.705171&lon=89.362407&z=15&m=b&search=hasimara%20
What makes Hasimara so crucial is its proximity to Bhutan. The Chumbi Valley region, a tri-junction between Bhutan, India and China, has always been a matter of concern for defence analysts in this country. Should China attempt to sweep across Bhutan and cut off the Siliguri corridor and the northeastern states from the rest of the country, Hasimara is in the best position to intervene.
A new runway has been built with turning pad on both sides. The old and shorter runway being used as Mig-27 parking lot! Other aircrafts are dispersed all over the air base.
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PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2016 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Vistara date for city landing
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160429/jsp/business/story_82793.jsp#.VyNgANQrLGJ

Srinagar, April 28: Full-service carrier Vistara plans to start a Delhi-Calcutta flight in mid-June, making the city its 18th destination in the country.
"Bookings for the Delhi-Calcutta flight will start in mid May. Also, there are plans to add another destination in the east between July and August," a senior airline official told The Telegraph. The airline flies to Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati in the east.
"Whenever we connect a metro city, we try to connect a tier-II or tier-III city in the airline map. We have submitted some cities to the directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) for approval," the official said.
The move is part of Vistara's larger plan to increase its market share in the domestic air traffic, which is growing at a rapid pace.
Domestic traffic continued to soar high in March, registering a growth of 25.25 per cent at 78.72 lakh fliers compared with 62.85 lakh fliers a year ago, according to DGCA data.
The number of passengers carried by airlines during January-March this year jumped 24.03 per cent to 230.03 lakh from 185.46 lakh in the year-ago period.
While the bulk of the air traffic is still flown by IndiGo, Jet Airways, Air India and SpiceJet, the number of fliers carried by Vistara is growing.
Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, carried 1.50 lakh passengers in January. The number dipped to 1.49 lakh in February. It rose to 1.58 lakh in March.
Vistara's market share during the quarter remained at 2 per cent, indicating that it continues to cater to a loyal customers base.
Vistara, which has nine planes, plans to add another in early May and increase the number to 13 by the end of this calendar year.
The carrier looks to add seven A-320 aircraft by mid-2018. However, the plans to expand its fleet is likely to change if the new aviation policy scraps the 5/20 rule.
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PostPosted: Fri May 06, 2016 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Panagarh gets two Super Hercules from Hindon till arrival of new aircraft

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Panagarh-gets-two-Super-Hercules-from-Hindon-till-arrival-of-new-aircraft/articleshow/52137427.cms


Kolkata: Thursday was a special day for Air Force Station Arjan Singh in Panagarh, West Bengal, when two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 'Veiled Vipers' squadron based at Air Force Station Hindon was stationed here in the presence of Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. Air Force Station Arjan Singh (formerly known as Air Force Station Panagarh) has been upgraded to accommodate a second squadron on Super Hercules for which an order has been placed with Lockheed Martin. The company was also tasked with construction of special hangars for the strategic aircraft. The construction was completed in April and the new aircraft will start arriving from April, 2017. Till then, the two C-130Js from Hindon will operate from Panagarh.


"After formalizing flying procedures, the two aircraft will commence operations from AFS Arjan Singh. Air Chief Marshal Raha reviewed the new hangar facility on Thursday along with Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, air-officer-commanding-in-chief, Eastern Air Command. As a turnkey project, Lockheed Martin built the hangar facilities at Panagarh and other associated infrastructure as in Hindon. They are similar to the facilities built world over for Super Hercules tactical aircraft that IAF operates since February 2011," said defence spokesperson Wing Commander S S Birdi.


The hangar facilities are extremely top secret. According to a source, the hangars are built in such a way as to accommodate Special Forces underneath. When the need arises, the troops are ready within minutes to board the aircraft. The Army has also raised a Mountain Strike Corps headquartered at Panagarh to secure the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China along the northeastern states such as Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. India plans to use the Super Hercules, not only for air support to troops stationed at inaccessible areas along the LAC but also for quicker deployment of Special Forces and equipment in case of exigencies. Special Forces are already playing a vital role in counter insurgency operations in the northeastern states.


"A fly-past by a single C-130J was timed to coincide with the air chief's visit to the newly built hangar facilities at the airbase even as the second aircraft was parked at the tarmac for static display. The air chief interacted with the air warriors of the airbase as well as Lockheed Martin officials. A new transport squadron will be raised at AFS Arjan Singh to operate the Super Hercules aircraft. Presently, two AN-32 squadrons operate out of the Jorhat airbase in Upper Assam, while a flight of Avro aircraft undertakes VIP communication duties from Borjhar airbase, Guwahati. Air Chief Marshal Raha will also visit other adjoining airbases at Kalaikunda, Salua and Purnea in the next couple of days," Birdi added.
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PostPosted: Thu May 12, 2016 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Calcutta on Vistara radar
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160512/jsp/calcutta/story_85083.jsp#.VzR6wdIrLGI

Vistara will start flying from the city on June 10.
Metro had on March 31 reported that the full service airline planned to start Calcutta-Delhi operations this summer.
The airline, partly owned by the Tatas, will operate two flights between Calcutta and Delhi. It is offering an introductory fare of Rs 2,499 (one way) in the economy class. The average fare between the two cities is Rs 6,000.
One of the flights will operate daily while the other will operate six days, except on Sundays. Unlike low-cost airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet, Vistara flights (Airbus A320) have three segments - business, premium economy and economy.
Vistara chairman Bhaskar Bhat said the number of business class seats would be slashed and the economy class seats increased. "Now the aircraft have 16 business class seats, which will be reduced to eight," he told Metro on Wednesday. Bhat, who is also the managing director of Titan, was in the city to take part in an interactive session with Millennium Mams'.
In Indian aviation, the opportunity is big as a large market remains untapped. "There are about 70 million fliers. Only 346 aircraft fly in the country, which shows the penetration is poor while the potential is big." Bhat said Vistara, 51 per cent owned by Tata Sons and 49 per cent by Singapore Airlines, was looking at passengers who weren't price sensitive.
At present, there are 25 flights between Calcutta and Delhi every day.
Jet Airways, Air India and Etihad Airways are the full service airlines operating out of Calcutta.
Despite the strong presence of IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet, Vistara expected good passenger volume from Calcutta, Bhat said.
A bulk of the passengers from the city head for Europe and the US, a tour operator said. "From noon till late in the evening, about 20 per cent passengers from Calcutta to Delhi are international passengers - mostly heading for Europe and the US," said Anil Punjabi, chairman, east, Travel Agents Federation of India. "They are forced to travel through Delhi because the city doesn't have direct flights to Europe."
A Vistara official said the airline was looking at passengers from Calcutta going to places like Chandigarh and Srinagar. "International travellers from the city will benefit from same terminal connections and international baggage allowance to global destinations via Vistara's hub at T3 Delhi."
Vistara began operations on January 9, 2015, with a Mumbai-Delhi flight.
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PostPosted: Thu May 19, 2016 9:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Landing at Dacca airport ,cockpit view : https://youtu.be/bo5FlQwiZis
Arrival area of the new NSCBI airport ; https://youtu.be/ML7SpNmSuVA
Arriving NSCBI airport, Kolkata : https://youtu.be/1F7VViH2lEU
View of Kolkata airport runway from Indigo flight : https://youtu.be/b8PtNuJVVo4
Old domestic terminal also being used as aircraft parking lot : https://youtu.be/asCgqFHq_1k
Busy apron view of Kolkata airport : https://youtu.be/JI4HmhbURGA
Landing on main runway followed by rapid exit taxiway : https://youtu.be/1YeTMT-dtkY
World’s heaviest aircraft on the runway ( AN-225, Mriya): https://youtu.be/Ix2thCAHi2U t
Asia’s largest airports : https://youtu.be/I_XKjByisfI
Landing and taxing at the new terminal : https://youtu.be/m3X4vTPithg
Takeoff from main runway after long wait in front of the new terminal : https://youtu.be/Ufjt9K8jlKY
Almost simultaneous landing and takeoff from Kolkata airport : https://youtu.be/wZr97FCC4ME
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PostPosted: Tue May 31, 2016 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mamata's growing clout in Delhi may get Kolkata a direct flight to London

http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mamata-s-growing-clout-in-delhi-may-get-kolkata-a-direct-flight-to-london-116052801128_1.html

She had invited several pvt airlines as well as Air India to start service. While pvt airlines said the route wasn't commercially viable, Air India kept on delaying the matter.

Mamata Banerjee's mammoth victory in Assembly elections may help Kolkata, the only Indian metro city without a direct flight to Europe, get a regular Air India flight to London.


Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who was present at the swearing-in ceremony of the West Bengal chief minister on Friday, has said he would ask Air India to re-introduce a direct flight between Kolkata and London, which was discontinued because it was commercially unfeasible.

"The CM has asked the Union minister to look into the matter and he promised that he will ask the state-run carrier to consider the proposal," a top state government official told Business Standard. Air India had withdrawn its direct flight between Kolkata and an European city in 2007.

The assurance came after Banerjee personally requested Raju to look into the matter. And the Civil Aviation Minister was quick to respond positively. Interestingly, this is not the first time when Banerjee has sought a direct flight between Kolkata and cities in Europe. In her previous term as chief minister, she had invited several private airlines as well as Air India to start the service. While private airlines, after conducting feasibility study, said the route wasn't commercially viable, Air India kept on delaying the matter. Many analysts are seeing Raju's response as a sign of Mamata Banerjee's rising clout in Delhi after the Trinamool Congress won 211 seats in the 294-strong West Bengal Assembly.

With Banerjee's rising stature in Indian politics and the Centre's efforts to seek her support in the Rajya Sabha for getting crucial Bills cleared, sources said West Bengal government might be able to get go-ahead for some crucial projects in the coming months. "The CM wants rapid development of West Bengal. She has gone to the extent of offering a complete waiver on Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) tax," the state government official added.

But aviation industry is sceptic about commercial success of such a route. "If any airline has to fly to Europe from Kolkata, which is an eight-hour journey, it has to operate a wide-body aircraft. Our study suggests it will be difficult to get even 60 per cent occupancy," said a top official of a private airline. The state government had earlier approached five European airlines - Lufthansa, Germanwings, KLM, Air France and Thomson Airways. Jet Airways had also conveyed its inability to operate in a low-yield market.

Kolkata Airport director Atul Dixit claimed such a route was completely viable. "Our data suggests there are enough passengers flying to European countries via Delhi," he said.

Kolkata's international airport doesn't have any direct flight to the Europe or the US as the last such route, Kolkata-Frankfurt, was discontinued by Lufthansa in 2011. British Airways had earlier withdrawn its Kolkata-London flight in 2008. Of the remaining 17 international routes, Qatar Airlines and Emirates fly to the Middle East, while the rest operate between Kolkata and South and Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Singapore and Thailand.

Comment: At last she is thinking of white color bongs and issues relating their life style. Will this generate profit for vote bank? I suggest Kolkata people should avoid transshipment within India and use ME3 airlines as much as possible. Although Kolkata is a low yield market but sheer quantity has its own commercial value. Some airlines are willing to exploit that.
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 10, 2016 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Business bet in Vistara debut
- Eye on Europe in choice of Calcutta over Chennai

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160610/jsp/calcutta/story_90324.jsp#.V1q03dIrLGI


Full-service airline Vistara is making its debut in Calcutta ahead of Chennai on Friday with an eye on the city's yawning European gulf.
International carriers like British Airways, Air France and KLM, with whom Vistara has commercial tie-ups, had apparently proposed to the airline that it start operating from Calcutta and connect Europe-bound travellers to their flights from Delhi.
Vistara is starting off with two Delhi flights, one daily and another for six days a week barring Sunday.
"European airlines don't get enough business to fly from Calcutta but are keen to get passengers from here. This is one of the reasons why we came to Calcutta," Sanjiv Kapoor, chief strategy and commercial officer of Vistara, said on Thursday.
Since Chennai has direct air connectivity with London, Frankfurt and Paris through British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France, overseas passengers don't need to take a domestic flight to a hub for the onward journey.
Europe-bound passengers from Calcutta currently have to choose between taking an international airline that connects them to their destinations through the Gulf or fly out to Delhi or Mumbai.
Asked whether Chennai too was on Vistara's radar, Kapoor said: "We are not looking at Chennai at this moment. Maybe not this year."
He said Calcutta was a better business option for the airline, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, because of the Europe conundrum. "The European carriers don't get enough passengers to fly to Calcutta and we have enough passengers to feed them from Calcutta."
Vistara expects 15 to 20 seats on every flight - it will operate 158-seater Airbus 320 aircraft on the Calcutta-Delhi sector - to be filled by Europe-bound travellers. The pull factor for these passengers would be special baggage allowance.
"Any passenger who can show an onward international ticket will be allowed more baggage. The allowance would be one-and-a-half to two times more than normal, depending on the class of travel," Kapoor said.
All Vistara flights would have three segments: business, premium economy and economy.
"With no Europe link, passengers from Calcutta either go through the Gulf countries or Mumbai and Delhi. For lack of enough passengers, Calcutta has become a catchment area for domestic airlines, who can feed international airlines flying out of Delhi or Mumbai," said Anil Punjabi, chairman of the Travel Agents' Federation of India (east).
British Airways and Lufthansa used to have direct flights to Europe from Calcutta but withdrew for want of passengers.
Even Air India scrapped its Calcutta-London flight and now carries passengers to Delhi to connect them to its London flight. These passengers get their boarding passes and immigration clearance in Calcutta.
Vistara launched in January 2015 and is coming to Calcutta after 17 months of building its reputation elsewhere as the full-service domestic airline of choice among discerning fliers.
The airline's CEO, Phee Teik Yeoh, said the reasons for the delay in flying to and from the city were shortage of aircraft and central government norms that make it mandatory for airlines to fly to the Northeast and Tier II cities.
Vistara would be launching a flight to a second destination from Calcutta next week, Yeoh said. He declined to divulge the destination, but aviation industry sources said it could be Port Blair.
Airline officials said Vistara would be flying to four destinations from Calcutta with six to eight flights a day by the end of this year.
COMMENT: It seems Vistara wants to put itself as a major player in spoke operations from DEL hub. They don’t care to develop CCU as a major international airport by its own right. So our option remains the same : use ME3 airlines as much as you can and avoid this spoke operation.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

AI Andal flight suspension arbitrary and unfair: BAPL

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/AI-Andal-flight-suspension-arbitrary-and-unfair-BAPL/articleshow/52826328.cms

Kolkata: Greenfield airport operator Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL) has alleged the move to withdraw the Air India (AI) flight to Andal airport near Durgapur was arbitrary and cited several other routes in which the airline continues to operate with much lower passenger loads and without viability gap funding (VGF).

"BAPL with the support of the state government brought AI to the Asansol-Durgapur region by paying VGF at a rate that was nearly double of what it would have had to fork out to a private airline with the sole intention of connecting the hinterlands of south Bengal to Delhi. The state government on its part extended a tax holiday on refueling of aircraft at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport. Yet, AI unilaterally decided to suspend air services to Andal without prior notice and ground the airport while talks were still on to rationalize the VGF," said BAPL managing director Partha Ghosh.

With AI discontinuing the tri-weekly Kolkata-Durgapur-New Delhi and return flight from June 16, there are no scheduled flights between Kolkata and Durgapur and the airport is idle. While the airport can be used by chartered flights, it is only in October that a new scheduled carrier could reconnect Durgapur. Zoom Air that is awaiting DGCA's final nod for operations said Durgapur would be among its first port of call. The airline plans to operate 50-seater CRJ-200LR aircraft between Durgapur and Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata with Durgapur acting as the airline's regional hub, Zoom Air CEO Koustav M Dhar said.

"A confirmed agreement between BAPL and Zoom Air is in place. We had wanted AI to continue till at least then to enable seamless operation for passengers. But AI acted with unprecedented speed to discontinue flights on the very day the Centre announced the new civil aviation policy that harps on regional connectivity," Ghosh pointed out.

In six sectors - Delhi-Tirupati, Delhi-Kullu, Delhi-Khajuraho, Delhi Rajkot, Mumbai-Gwalior and Bhubaneswar Varanasi - AI operates flights despite poor passenger occupancy and no VGF. AI had charged BAPL the highest slab of charter rack rate without factoring in facilities like no landing and parking charges and no tax on ATF.
AI quoted an operation cost of Rs 22. 5 lakh, much higher than SpiceJet's Rs 13.5 lakh, Go Air's Rs 14 lakh and IndiGo's Rs 14.5 lakh. VGF is the difference between the operation cost and revenue per round trip.


"Of the 17 greenfield airports that were announced at the time, Durgapur is the only one that is operational. We have already invested Rs 750 crore. But how can an airport continue to operate with an outgo of Rs 1.5 crore in VGF subsidy per month?" Ghosh posed. Incidentally, several VIPs have used the airport, including PM Narendra Modi, who has flown in and out of it twice.


BAPL has also alleged that since AI was assured of high VGF, it did not try to market the route and in fact sandwiched the flight between two other departures to Delhi from Kolkata. On-time performance on the sector was poor.

Meanwhile, sources said BAPL was looking at fresh equity infusion in excess of Rs 100 crore through the rights issue route. At present, Changi Airports has 36.2% stake, ILFS 11%, WBIDC 1.2% and the three promoters - Partha Ghosh, Utsav Parekh and RR Modi - have 51.6% stake. Incidentally, WBIDC had 11% stake at the beginning of the project that got eroded as other shareholders brought in money. Now, BAPL has written to WBIDC, urging it to raise its stake to 11% by pumping in around Rs 70 crore.
Comment: Perhaps flight was introduced in the first place with upcoming Bengal election in mind. AI has very little interest in Bengal’s infrastructure issues.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160620/jsp/bihar/story_92124.jsp#.V2ggdtIrLGI
Flight operations at Patna's Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport will now be safer even when the visibility is poor.


India Meteorological Department (IMD) has installed Drishti - an indigenously developed transmissometer that will record exact visibility readings for pilots even when visibility is less than 2,000m.
The system started functioning at Patna airport from last week.
A transmissometer helps the pilot to land and take-off safely, especially when visibility is poor. Visibility condition at the Patna airport has always been a concern because of the short stretch of the runway. It did not have any digital machinery to measure readings before Drishti.
"A transmissometer has been installed adjacent to the runway near the touchdown point for flights," said airport assistant general manager (air traffic management) Santosh Kumar. "It has three components - a sensor, a receiver and a transmitter. There is a gap of 30m between the receiver and transmitter. The censor records visibility readings and the data is continuously sent to the air-traffic controller."
Senior officials at Patna airport said the runway visibility range was three to five kilometres but it reduced considerably in case of dense cloud cover during monsoon or fog in winter. This leads to cancellation and diversion of flights.
Sources said two transmissometers were initially proposed to be installed at the airport - one at each end of the runway. "Considering the short stretch of the runway at Patna airport, one transmissometer was considered sufficient to serve the purpose," said Ashish Sen, director of Patna meteorological centre.
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) designed Drishti for the India Meteorological Department. They signed an agreement on May 20, 2014 for the joint production of Drishti. Sources said it costs just one-third the price of an imported transmissometer and gives more accurate readings. Transmissometers have been made mandatory at all airports according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and World Meteorological Organisation guidelines.
Twenty-seven airports across the country will be equipped with Drishti transmissiometers. Patna airport features in the first phase among eight.
Aviation experts were happy with the technology. They said such advanced equipment will ensure safe operation of flights. "The present system where we take rough readings to assess visibility is not accurate," said an aviation scientist in the city who is settled in the US at present. "The modern day aviation industry needs a better system to record visibility. The practice is unsafe because majority of the accidents in the aviation sector are linked to bad weather."
Every airport in the country has an airport meteorological office that provides it with weather related information. This includes visibility condition and forecast required for flight planning and operations to the air-traffic controller. The controller then conveys information to other locations.
According to the guidelines of ICAO, equipment such as transmissometers and instrument landing system (ILS) are used to ascertain the visibility.
Comment: Patna deserves a better airport than this one!
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 22, 2016 11:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ailing flier forced to lie on terminal floor for 2 hours

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Ailing-flier-forced-to-lie-on-terminal-floor-for-2-hours/articleshow/52862147.cms


Kolkata: A sick passenger transiting Kolkata airport was forced to lie on the floor for nearly two hours and wait for her plane with neither the airline nor airport officials making a dignified arrangement. Aviation regulator DGCA and international agency IATA guidelines on how such passengers should be handled were blatantly flouted.
Passengers taking flights between 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday were in for a shock when they walked into the domestic departure lounge. They were met with a bizarre sight of a woman lying on a stretcher that had been left on the floor near the Jet Airways check-in counters. The hapless woman stared at the ceiling, embarassed to look sideways lest she catch fellow passengers gaping at her or whispering about her plight.
Amit Ghosh, a sales executive bound for Delhi, was aghast at the airport's lack of sensitivity in dealing with a woman who, besides her physical pain, had to now endure the ignominy and trauma of being made to lie on the floor. "The least that can be done is to arrange for a private area for her to wait. I don't know how the passenger endured it but it made my blood boil. I wonder how the officials would have felt if it were their mother who had been made to lie on the floor in full public view," he fumed.

Captain Sarvesh Gupta, chairman of the Airlines' Operators Committee who attended the Airport Advisory Committee meeting on Tuesday, said either of the two private hospitals that run the medical first aid centres at the airport should have accommodated the passenger. "The sight of a woman lying on the floor is very disturbing. I am ashamed for what has happened," he said.
Airport director Atul Dixit put the onus on Jet Airways, the carrier she was booked on. "She arrived from Bagdogra and had to wait for the flight to Mumbai. As per protocol, the airline is supposed to call an ambulance to the arriving aircraft, place her stretcher in it and then wait till the arrival of the next aircraft that she is meant to board. It is extremely unfortunate that the airline staff left her on the floor," he said.
Gupta, however, pointed out that a passenger could not be made to wait in an ambulance, enduring the heat and humidity for two hours. "There is a humane way of handling passengers. This is a sprawling terminal. I don't believe there isn't space for a wait area to be created for passengers on stretcher and wheelchair," he said.
DGCA and IATA norms require the airline to alert the airport about passengers needing special attention booked on their flight so that appropriate action for arranging the required assistance is taken in advance.

COMMENT: Medico tourism to Kolkata is increasing at a good rate. Patients from neighboring states are pouring in for treatment and sight of wheel chair bound passengers in the terminal is not uncommon. AAI must prepare airport for such events. You cannot park patients in a hotel or day care center!!
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Flight restrictions at Bagdogra Airport in July.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Flight-restrictions-at-Bagdogra-Airport-in-July/articleshow/52879312.cms



Due to runway recarpeting work at Bagdogra airport, all flights will be able to land only between 12 noon and 6 pm (6 hours every day) from July 20, 2016 till September 20, 2016.
During this period, the runway length will also be reduced to 7500m for installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS CAT 2).
This work has been taken up by AAI in collaboration with all airlines operating at Bagdogra.
Flights will be least affected as this is the lean period at Bagdogra. With installation of ILS, flights will be able to land even in poor visibility at Bagdogra.

Comment: This was long overdue. This airport must handle civil flights at night time and without ILS that is impossible. It is the gate way to north east.
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PostPosted: Thu Jun 30, 2016 11:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Emirates flight landing at Kolkata airport night time : https://youtu.be/wrdIpB_STtg
Luggage collection after arrival at Kolkata airport ; note the huge space in the arrival area : https://youtu.be/WYZqhpuPtsE
Night time landing at Kolkata airport : https://youtu.be/ry7CbuKrcEg
Take off from BLR, landing at CCU, daytime: https://youtu.be/xOxJTTMEbUQ
How aircraft stops on runway: https://youtu.be/CwNi8Mtf_iM
Daytime activities at Kathmandu airport : https://youtu.be/xEFLyOn2fdY
Landing at Kathmandu airport : https://youtu.be/kmqDRp0drxQ
Ten best economy class airlines of the world 2015-16 : https://youtu.be/SZSKewXwVjo
Comparison of Dhaka vs. Kolkata; unbiased view : https://youtu.be/Lrj5HRLq_hI
Kolkata domestic departure terminal, inside view : https://youtu.be/JN7coPsyBHg
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 01, 2016 12:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Air India to fly to two more U.S. destinations
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/air-india-to-fly-to-two-more-us-destinations/article8788842.ece?w=alauto

Market for seats to U.S. can grow to 12 lakh by next year
Air India will connect with two more destinations in the U.S. by next year, including a service on the Delhi-Washington route, a top official said.
“We want to connect the capital cities of the two largest democracies of the world; we wanted to launch a flight on the Delhi-Washington route this year itself but due to some shortage of flights we deferred it,” said Ashwani Lohani, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Air India. “It will happen…if not now then maybe by April end next year.”
Big market
“We are providing 8.5 lakh seats for flying to the U.S. right now with 82-83 per cent load factors. This market can grow to 12 lakh by next year,” Mr. Lohani said at an event organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.
Air India will also introduce an Ahmedabad-Newark flight, the CMD said.
Beginning August 15 this year, the national carrier will fly thrice a week on the Ahmedabad-London-Newark route.

The national carrier will also look into the demand for flying to Los Angeles, he said.
The airline chief said he would also consider providing a flight connection to the U.S. from Hyderabad.
Last December, Air India started a non-stop thrice-a-week flight between New Delhi and San Francisco. Air India also operates non-stop flights to Chicago and New York from Delhi and to Newark from Mumbai.
“The U.S. is very encouraged by improving air connectivity, and we hope the recently announced National Civil Aviation Policy will make air travel in India even more affordable and accessible,” U.S. Ambassador Richard Verma said.
Comment: What’s wrong with other cities in INDIA like,MAA,HYD,CCU. This airline runs on political line all the time. When its going to change?
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2016 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Night landing from south side of the airport, note brightly lighted perimeter wall and the terminal : https://youtu.be/-iZvCh01CtU
B737 landing on main runway, cockpit view at night: https://youtu.be/hJRrKklxF6g
Megastructures ; how modern airports are built and operate : https://youtu.be/VEmWJAe32Uo
India’s mega kitchen Taj SATS : https://youtu.be/hbc9jWYaqoM
Inside the Kolkata terminal near Bay 56R : https://youtu.be/ZqAK7JfKN2s
SilkAir Boeing 737-8SA(WL) Pushback, Taxi and Takeoff at Kolkata Airport
; new taxiway / apron construction in the east visible: https://youtu.be/vcQoTHutTz4

KOLKATA DRONE -BRING ME BACK TO LIFE ; https://youtu.be/FfT8Wq-FmOs

Megastructures Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2 Construction Documentary :
https://youtu.be/OLblDB9xEcU
Landing at Kolkata airport from south side : https://youtu.be/aEdMTsdl9g0

Kolkata to Paro by Royal Bhutan : https://youtu.be/gKXoGxx9R78
Bengaluru to Kolkata by Indi Go : https://youtu.be/xOxJTTMEbUQ
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hawk AJT crashes in Kalaikunda, pilots eject safely
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Hawk-AJT-crashes-in-Kalaikunda-pilots-eject-safely/articleshow/53542291.cms

KOLKATA: A Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed immediately after it took off from Air Force Station Kalaikunda in West Midnapore, nearly 200 km from Kolkata, around 11 am on Thursday.

The IAF confirmed that both pilots ejected safely and ordered a Court of Inquiry.

According to an official, preliminary inquiry points to a technical snag. This is the second AJT that crashed after take-off from Kalaikunda. The first one crashed on June 3, 2015, near Baharagora close to the West Bengal-Odisha border.

"The aircraft was from the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) and on a routine training sortie. It took off at 11 am, but seemed to have suffered an engine flame-out. It went into a free fall when the pilots, including a trainee, ejected. The aircraft finally crashed into a wooded area within the air base. There was no damage to property or loss of life on the ground. Investigators have recovered the flight data recorder (black box) and other vital equipment from the crash site," the official said.


AJT Hawks started being inducted into the IAF from 2008 as a replacement for the ageing Mig-21s that were used as Advanced Stage - III trainers by the OCU. The first lot of Hawks were stationed at Bidar in Karnataka. Kalaikunda continued to use the Mig-21s till December, 2013, till the Mig-21 Type 77 aircraft was officially decommissioned. The OCU started using the Hawks thereafter.


The first Hawk to crash was on April 29, 2008, near Bidar. The next two to crash (including the one on Thursday) were from Kalaikunda. No lives were lost in any of the crashes though. While the IAF has ordered 106 Hawks, the Navy is to receive 17. An additional order for 20 Hawks was placed with HAL for the Surya Kiran aerobatic display team.


Thursday's crash occurred at a time when India's first women fighter pilots are receiving their Stage-III training in the Hawks at Bidar. Those who qualify as pilots in the IAF first need to fly a minimum of 55 hours in the Swiss-built Pilatus PC-7 basic trainers before moving on to the Kiran Mark-II aircraft for intermediate training. After completing a minimum of 87 hours in Kirans, they are formally commissioned into the IAF. After this, they move to the Hawks that they need to fly for a minimum of 145 hours. They are then assigned to squadrons and start flying combat aircraft like Migs, Mirages and Sukhois.


After the 2015 Hawk crash, it was claimed that there are problems with the 'quill shafts' or 'radial drive shafts' in the aircraft engines. HAL had denied this and said that highest standards are maintained while manufacturing Hawks under licence from BAE, UK.
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PostPosted: Fri Aug 05, 2016 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

London direct on Air India radar
Sanjay Mandal
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160805/jsp/calcutta/story_100636.jsp#.V6SIe9IrLGJ

Air India aims to restore Calcutta's direct London connection with a Dreamliner flight by mid-2017, six years after Lufthansa snapped the city's last Europe link.
"A Dhaka-Calcutta-London flight is on our radar and I have asked my people here to start a survey. It can be launched by the middle of next year with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft," Ashwani Lohani, chairman and managing director of Air India, said in Calcutta on Thursday.
Air India officials said the flight would possibly operate non-stop between Calcutta and Heathrow, where the national airline operates from Terminal 4.
"International travel is increasing and so we need more international connectivity," Lohani said.
For any airline to operate on a new route, it has to plan a year in advance, starting with a market survey and requests for landing and parking slots at both destinations, said an official of an international airline operating out of Calcutta.
Earlier this year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had requested civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju to start an Air India direct flight to London.
Air India had withdrawn its Calcutta-London flight in October 2008. A year later, British Airways pulled out from the city. German airline Lufthansa, which was Calcutta's last direct connection to Europe, also withdrew its Frankfurt flight in 2010.
These airlines took flight mainly because Calcutta didn't provide enough business for operations to remain viable. For most airlines, profitability is defined by demand for high-yield seats.
Lohani said the proposal to revive the London flight came from tour operators during a meeting in the city on Thursday. "There has been an increase in the number of passengers from Calcutta flying to London, but the demand is still restricted to a maximum of one flight in this sector," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India.
Data provided by sources in the aviation industry show that 150 to 200 passengers travel daily from Calcutta to the UK. Corporate travellers account for only a small portion of this segment.
The only option available to these passengers is a stopover and a connecting flight from Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Delhi or some other destination.
The Air India CMD said the airline was looking at Bangkok and Singapore too as part of its expansion plans for Calcutta. In both these sectors, the airline used to operate flights that were withdrawn for want of enough passengers for high-yield seats.
Comment: This has happened earlier. The babus of AI will introduce a CCU-LHR flight reluctantly under just political pressure then operate that flight in most unprofessional way. As a result people will avoid that flight. Then they will discontinue that flight. AI has no loyalty for Kolkata passengers. This is a reflection of India’s regional politics and unavoidable. GOI has to think hard who will take care of large cattle class passengers from Kolkata.

Embarassed Embarassed
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PostPosted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sabya99 wrote:

Comment: This has happened earlier. The babus of AI will introduce a CCU-LHR flight reluctantly under just political pressure then operate that flight in most unprofessional way. As a result people will avoid that flight. Then they will discontinue that flight. AI has no loyalty for Kolkata passengers. This is a reflection of India’s regional politics and unavoidable. GOI has to think hard who will take care of large cattle class passengers from Kolkata.
AI has no loyalty for Calcutta passengers? Sir, please see the statistics, and you will see what the reality is. Domestically, AI comes a close second after Indigo, and Internationally, the chunk of passengers on AI will surprise you, after the ME3, who obviously, rule the roost at CCU. And with a decent functional hub at DEL, CCU passengers are doing other destinations quite well, via DEL.
As regards the earlier botches AI 130/131 (which too was under political pressure, AI operated the aircraft that suited the route's economics the best: the A332s. There is a good reason why no self-respecting carrier with the non-ME3 business models does not look at long-distance connections out of CCU, as you yourself concede. CCU is not a part of the Essential Air Services part, like the North East, wherein the Central Government has to subsidise air travel from CCU. The state in general has more to blame itself for its miseries, than blame the Centre. This mentality of always blaming external factors for one's miseries, doesn't quite make the cut. As an Indian taxpayer, if an Government-run airline does not make money on a route out of a destination, it makes sense for the route not to exist. I think the industry insiders on this forum have elaborated on these same points again and again, in the past.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 3:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

@Sumantra I am pleased to see you in this thread after sometime!. I agree with you partially. I have no complaint about domestic AI flights from Kolkata. Geographically Kolkata is the jumping off point for North-East India and naturally there will be more flights from Kolkata. But AI international flights are over flying Kolkata ( both east and west bound ) and that space is being filled up by ME3 airlines is unacceptable to me. Do you think ME3 airlines will lose a ton of money just to pick few low yield Kolkata passengers?
In the past ,some AI international flights from Kolkata have been discontinued after many decades of successful operation, without giving any clear cut reason.AI 130 is a clear example how AI goofed up an established flight opening the sky to ME3 airlines. If that makes GOI happy so be it. But please don’t quote industry insiders in this business as most of them are political appointee. They have no knowledge beyond their own city or state and no loyalty beyond their political party. These people even six years ago declined to approve integrated terminal construction which is now handling close to 15-14 M passengers annually.I demand LHR must be connected to Kolkata with a multistop service x 3.National airline cannot escape its obligation for Eastern India.
Embarassed
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PostPosted: Mon Aug 08, 2016 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sabya99 wrote:
...space is being filled up by ME3 airlines is unacceptable to me.
Sir, their operating economics are way different from the rest of the world. There is a good reason for this, as we all can guess why this is so. Second, once they have made inroads into India, and gained at the cost of all other airlines (Indian ones, included) and grown into the behemoths they now are, it will not be prudent to take them on, in any way. At least, right now.
sabya99 wrote:
But please don’t quote industry insiders in this business as most of them are political appointee
Sir, do you mean to say that industry insiders (who also work for airlines outside India) are political appointees? We are lucky to have many of them on the forum. They quote hard facts and figures, which are more credible than armchair enthusiasts like you and me. They know their onions Smile
Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 5:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sukhoi touches down in Pasighat
- Advanced landing ground to serve as strategic asset along Sino-Indian border

PRANAB KUMAR DAS
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160820/jsp/northeast/story_103339.jsp#.V7eay9QrLGg

Pasighat, Aug. 19: India today strengthened its defence along its border with China in Arunachal Pradesh by opening an advanced landing ground in Pasighat and landing a Sukhoi-30 fighter.
The landing ground is a strategic asset in view of China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh and it would be one of the operating bases under the Eastern Air Command capable of operating all types of aircraft and helicopters.
Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju, after dedicating the upgraded Pasighat advanced landing ground to the nation, said the Centre is working towards improving the infrastructure along the international border and the opening of the facility is a major step in this direction.

"We are neither challenging nor competing with any country by improving our border infrastructure. We will have to build robust infrastructure to strengthen our defence. Whatever we did is because of the fact that India is an emerging power and IAF should have operational bases in every border state," the minister said.
A flypast by a formation of three Sukhoi-30 MKI aircrafts, which took off from IAF's Chabua airbase was the highlight of the event followed by a Sukhoi landing at Pasighat. The touchdown by a frontline fighter jet of the IAF is a "historic first" in the predominantly hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, which has several advanced landing grounds at varying altitudes.
The minister said there was no fresh Chinese incursion in Arunachal Pradesh but there had been reports of transgressions by its troops in the border state. "There was a reported transgression by Chinese troops at Kibithu in Anjaw district on July 22 and another similar incident at Thangsa in Tawang district," Rijiju said.
He said the Kibithu incident was reported by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The opening of the Pasighat facility not only provided a boost to India's military capabilities along the international border but will also facilitate air connectivity with the rest of the country, thereby giving a fillip to tourism in Arunachal Pradesh.
IAF officials said apart from IAF's fighter and transport aircraft, all propeller-variant planes such as C-130 and other ATR planes will be able to operate from Pasighat for civilian purposes.
"There is a memorandum of understanding between the Airports Authority of India and the ministry of defence under which the former will construct the civilian enclaves for operation of civilian places," a source said.
Singer Asha Bhosle and Air Marshal C. Hari Kumar, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, were present.
The advanced landing ground at Pasighat was taken over by the IAF in February 2010. It was earlier a small strip that was partly paved, partly grassy, and reinforced with perforated steel plates. It was utilised for air maintenance sorties and casualty evacuation by the IAF. Commercial helicopter operations were also undertaken from the earlier helipads.
Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Arunachal Pradesh government and the defence ministry in June 2009, the IAF embarked on an ambitious reconstruction plan to upgrade eight advanced landing grounds, including infrastructure development, at nearly Rs 1,000 crore.
The new runway and other infrastructure built at Pasighat are similar to the other upgraded facilities that have been inaugurated in recent months.
Replete with facilities such as aprons for ground manoeuvering, air traffic control tower, perimeter road and a security wall, the landing ground will facilitate operations of both civil and military fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, during an interaction with a delegation of Arunachal Pradesh Tour Operators Association in Itanagar today, said his government would take up with the Centre the utilisation of the upgraded advanced landing grounds for civilian purposes, which will boost the inflow of tourists as transportation is one of the major bottlenecks. He also revealed that many private airlines have approached the government to operate fixed-wing aircrafts in the state.

Comment: Pasighat is located right on hump aircraft flight path. Surely it will be useful for desi forces years to come!
Pasighat today:
Wikimapia published this updated picture of Pasighat Airport still under construction. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=28.063290&lon=95.335021&z=15&m=b
Length of the airport runway about 2550 meter, it could also function as civil airport.
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PostPosted: Tue Aug 23, 2016 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SpiceJet To Add Four Q400 To Its Fleet Focusing North-East
The airline intends to penetrate the underserved markets within its domestic network and thereby aims to enhance regional connectivity

http://businessworld.in/article/SpiceJet-To-Add-Four-Q400-To-Its-Fleet-Focusing-North-East/22-08-2016-104650/

India’s fourth largest airline, SpiceJet, has decided to add four Bombardier turboprop aircraft, Q400, to its fleet with a focus to get more North-eastern states on its network and also to meet the growing passenger demands during the upcoming festive season.

A Q400 aircraft can accommodate 78 passengers and currently, the low cost carrier operates with 28 Boeing 737 and 14 Bombardier Q400 aircrafts with 298 daily flights.

Shilpa Bhatia, senior vice-president, commercial of SpiceJet, said, “Enhancing the country’s regional connectivity has always been a prime focus for SpiceJet. And with the new aviation policy in place, there is an added encouragement to enter the underserved markets.”

The airline intends to penetrate the underserved markets within its domestic network and thereby aims to enhance regional connectivity.

“North-East, despite being a crucial tourist locale, has been deprived of good air connectivity. Hence, our new schedule lays special attention on this region, connecting the major hub-points of the seven sister states. And we look forward to further strengthen our presence in this market in the near future,” she added.

From October 4, the budget airline will operate new flights on sectors like Kolkata-Silchar-Guwahati, Kolkata-Aizawl-Guwahati and Kolkata-Gorakhpur-Delhi.

Kolkata-Visakhapatnam-Kolkata flight will be effective from November 1.

The new schedule will also include additional frequencies with a direct flight on its existing routes of Kolkata-Bagdogra and Kolkata-Guwahati.

Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal expressed his gratitude to the SpiceJet and saying, “Your decision to enhance air connectivity between North East and other parts of the country will serve as a fillip to the tourism potential of Assam and other North Eastern States”.

SpiceJet has been registering more than 90 per cent passenger load factor (PLF) for 15 consecutive months, which is the highest as per the industry standards.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

OCCUPANCY PAIN - Emirates pulls 2 flights off Kolkata airspace
Subhro Niyogi

Kolkata
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31812&articlexml=OCCUPANCY-PAIN-Emirates-pulls-2-flights-off-Kolkata-31082016002028

Travellers to Europe and the US from Kolkata will see the already depleted flight options dented further from October when Emirates takes two flights off the air, reducing the seat count on international travel by 748 seats a week.
With no direct flights to the West, Emirates, with its global network, has been the preferrered option for fliers from the city bound for Europe and east coast of America. Two other Gulf-based carriers -Qatar and Etihad -have followed Emirates to grab a pie of the West-bound market.
According to the aviation industry , the Dubai-based carrier will reduce its weekly frequency from 13 flights to 11from October 31 when the winter schedule kicks in. Though the carrier has not cited any reason, industry sources said a 1012% dip in occupancy in the peak season could have influenced the decision. The travel trade industry said the withdrawal of two flights was an ominous signal.
Emirates, which commenced operations between Dubai and Kolkata a decade ago in March 2006, increased the frequency from seven to 12 before adding a 13th flight in March 2015. This allowed the airline to offer twice-daily flights on all days of the week except Tuesday when it only operated a morning flight. When it added the 13th flight, Emirates also enhanced the aircraft type to a larger Boeing 777-200ER that added a first-class cabin to offer threeclass configurations. It will continue to operate the same aircraft on the sector. But from October 31, the airline will have twice-daily flights on Sun days, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, it will operate flights only in the morning.
Industry analysts said the deployment of so many flights when Qatar and Etihad had begun operating daily flights had perhaps backfired. They also felt the introduction of first class when most carriers found it difficult to fill up business class meant low occupancy in the cabin up front.
Emirates sources though insisted the decision was not owing to poor load or low yield from the sector. In fact, they claimed it had more to do with the carrier's decision to phase out the aeging B 777-200 fleet than anything else. Earlier this month, an Emirates B 777 aircraft had crashlanded in Dubai, leading to the airline conducting a review of its fleet.
The airline sources, however, admitted that occupancy had dipped during the AprilMay peak season while being higher than usual during the January-March lean season.“The MICE movement has reduced drastically ,“ they pointed out.
Travel Agents' Federation of India chairman (east) Anil Punjabi felt the move could discourage other international carriers. “ Airlines need a good mix of corporate and leisure travellers. Unless we attract business and industry , carriers to Kolkata will continue to find it difficult to thrive,“ he said.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sabya99 wrote:
OCCUPANCY PAIN - Emirates pulls 2 flights off Kolkata airspace


Sir: whether you may want to believe it or not, a search on a set of random dates (I chose 12-16 Sep) gives some interesting information: CCU-JFK-CCU (via DEL both ways) is actually cheaper than DEL-JFK-DEL. This is also not an accidental blip on the radar. AI has given a lot of sops on the CCU-DEL-CCU connectivity, for international passengers out of CCU.

There are two interesting repercussions:
1. AI may actually be doing relatively well on international connectivity out of CCU, making a semblance of a fight-back against the capacity and operating economics of the ME3.
2. AI has often been a carrier of choice for international connectivity out of CCU. I have repeatedly written about circumstantial evidence for the same, on my trips on the International-DEL and DEL-CCU sectors. A one-stop via AI's DEL hub is quite fine, as compared to a one-stop via a ME hub.

Two more points:
1. AI has a mini-hub at CCU, as the gateway to the North-East, many places out of which are not economic to operate, but as a Government-run airline, AI provides the required necessary connectivity. Please note that this is in addition to the lucrative stations, to which SpiceJet now plans to operate, and Indigo has also started operating.
2. AI is possibly #2 on the domestic front out of CCU, after Indigo.

Cheers, Sumantra.
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 9:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sumantra, Please check your mail box.
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 6:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Land ready for Bagdogra ILS: Deb
- Minister says five families agreed to vacate their plots and accept compensation

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160906/jsp/siliguri/story_106503.jsp#.V84SoNQrLGg

Siliguri, Sept. 5: Minister Gautam Deb today said the land required for installation of Instrument Landing System at Bagdogra airport would be handed over to the Airports Authority of India as five families who were refusing to vacate their plots had agreed to accept the compensation.
"There are some families who own a part of the land required for installing the ILS. They have agreed to accept the compensation from north Bengal development department against the land they own. We would hand over the land to the Airports Authority of India and hope the ILS would be operational at the airport soon. The compensation, as far as we know, would be paid to the families by next Friday," the tourism minister told a news conference here this afternoon."
Installation of the ILS - required to help flights in landing and take off during inclement weathers and when there is poor visibility-has been held up at Bagdogra as the state could not provide the necessary land to extend the runway and install approach lights, which is a part of ILS, and guide flights to align with the runway.
In Bagdogra, once the AAI is given the land, it would in turn hand over the plot to the Indian Air Force that will install the ILS under its Modernisation of Air Fields of India (Mafi) programme.
In total, 24.16 acres of land are required for the ILS and of them, 9.97 acres are with the IAF. Of the remaining 14.19 acres, the state has already taken over 12.91 acres. This leaves 1.28 acres, of which 1.16 acres are owned by five families. There is a temple in the remaining 0.12 acres of land.
There were some encroachers on the 12.91 acres but the state has rehabilitated them at another location after paying them money.
"However, the problem was with these five families who were not ready to accept the compensation offered by the state government. They were not encroachers and owned the land. The district administration has even written to the state, seeking approval to buy the land from these people. It seems there has been a new development and that is why the minister made the announcement," an administrative source said.
A senior official of Darjeeling district administration, when asked about the minister's remarks, said: "The north Bengal development department is buying the land and most of the details have been finalised. As far as I know, the process of selecting legal heirs to the landowners, who will receive the payment, is in progress."
He could not furnish details of the compensation that would be paid to these families. The Telegraph could not verify independently as to whether the five families had agreed to give up their land after accepting the compensation.
As there was delay in handing over the 14.19 acres, the IAF had started the task of installing the ILS in a truncated way in June this year.
"As of now, a flight needs at least 2,100 metres of visibility at Bagdogra. Once the CAT-II ILS is introduced completely, visibility of only 350 metres would be required. Since the ILS is commissioned the way we plan to, visibility will come down to 1,000 metres," the airport director had said then.
The required visibility of 350 metres will be ensured only after approach lights were installed over a stretch of 900ft ahead of the existing runway. "As the state government is yet to provide us with land to build the extra runway of 900ft, we are putting the lights only over the stretch of 1,500ft. That is why the required visibility will not come down to 350 metres but up to 1,000 metres only," said an AAI official. Under ALS, there are approach lights ahead of the runway (900 ft in case of Bagdogra), then there are lights on both sides of the runway and also along the central line of the runway up to a definite distance (1,500 ft in case of Bagdogra), followed by lights only on both sides of the runway till the end of the runway.
Told about Deb's statement today, an official of the AAI said: "We are aware that 12.91 acres are cleared and the state can hand it over to us any time. But we need the remaining 1.28 acres and have requested the officials of district administration to hand over the entire plot together. Work of the ILS is likely to finish by September 30."#
The tourism minister also said today that a meeting had been convened at Uttarkanya on September 19 with regard to the airport.

Comment: At last Bengal Govt. wakes up!
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2016 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

London cheaper to fly than Kerala
- Increase in capacity and drop in demand trigger fare deals


Sanjay Mandal

Destination: London. Date of travel: September 19. One-way fare: Rs 15,800.
Destination: Thiruvananthapuram. Date of travel: September 19. One-way fare: Rs 18,000.

Airfares to London and Paris from Calcutta have dipped to their lowest in several years - a few thousand cheaper than tickets to even some domestic destinations - because of a surge in capacity and a slowdown in demand.
Airlines are known to cut fares during the lean season of travel from Calcutta, which doesn't provide enough business travellers to keep demand high through the year. But never in the past few years have airfares to Europe been so low.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gulf carriers like Etihad and Qatar Airways were offering round-trip fares for travel between Calcutta and London in September in the range of Rs 36,000, inclusive of all taxes. Calcutta-Paris round-trip fares for the same period of travel were around Rs 39,000.
A year ago, around this time, the minimum round-trip fare to and from London was more than Rs 40,000. For Paris, it was above Rs 45,000, said officials of several airlines.
The number of passengers to Europe has shrunk by more than 12 per cent over last year, several international airlines said. The decline corresponds to airlines scaling up capacity.
The Gulf carriers take their Europe-bound passengers from Calcutta through their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha.
Fares have increased for the holiday season starting with Durga Puja next month, but demand continues to be low till mid-December. Even for the Puja period, fares to London are not as high as they were last year. Etihad Airways' round-trip fares to Europe for travel during the festive weeks last year had shot up to Rs 65,000.
"We plan to introduce low fares for other European sectors too," an Etihad official said.
He said low fares had been offered for the lean season last year too, but the number of seats available in that category were few. This time, more seats are available for lower fares.
According to sources in the aviation industry, the period July to September usually witnesses a slowdown. That is the period when only a handful of students, incentive travellers, businessmen and people visiting friends and relatives travel between Calcutta and the continent.
This year, the numbers are even lower, officials of various airlines said.
One possible reason could be the recent terror attacks in Paris, Brussels and Istanbul, say tour operators.
The surge of the euro and the pound since Brexit has also had its impact on airfares, which are primarily calculated on the basis of how the rupee is holding up against these currencies.
Since Calcutta no longer has any direct flight to Europe, most of passengers opt for stopovers in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi en route to London, Paris and other destinations across Europe. The rest go through Delhi or Mumbai.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad launched its Calcutta operations in February last year, adding 136 seats to this sector.
In December, Qatar Airways, whose hub is Doha, brought in larger aircraft and that immediately increased the number of seats from 144 to 254, a 76 per cent increase in capacity.
Emirates has two flights a day to Dubai with 354 seats.
Airline sources said that on an average, 40 per cent passengers aboard these flights are those who would travel onward to Europe.
"While capacity has increased, demand has dropped sharply because of several factors, including terror attacks in Europe. Fares are falling despite the fact that London and Paris are the two favourite destinations in Europe for most Calcuttans," said Anil Punjabi, chairman (east) of the Travel Agents' Federation of India. "We need more corporate travellers from the city to revive demand."
While demand for seats to Europe has shrunk, interest in Southeast Asia and several domestic sectors has surged.
The current round-trip fare for Hong Kong is Rs 34,000 and that for Singapore is about Rs 30,000. For the Puja period, seats on flights to several Southeast Asian destinations were almost booked by June. On Tuesday, the round-trip fare to Hong Kong for October was Rs 55,000.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160914/jsp/calcutta/story_108028.jsp#.V9lGolsrLGI
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PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

SpiceJet's hub in Kolkata to start more flights

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/SpiceJets-hub-in-Kolkata-to-start-more-flights/articleshow/54418141.cms

KOLKATA: SpiceJet will make Kolkata its hub both for domestic and international flights, airline chairman & managing director Ajay Singh said on Monday . The city will be the low cost carrier's third hub after Delhi and Hyderabad and will be a base for bothBoeing B 737-800 and Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. Emerging from a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Singh who had started the airline in 2004 and scripted its turnaround after it went into a tailspin and crash-landed in 2014, said the airline was now ready for expansion and had decided to start with Kolkata as the mar ket was under-served and offered great potential.

"We are looking at expanding domestic and international network from Kolkata. In the immediate future, departures will go up 40% from 15 to 21. Apart from adding two more frequencies to Guwahati, we will connect to Aizwal, Sil char andGorakhpur from October 4. We will also connect Vizag and Jaipur from November-December. The CM has requested for connec tions to Durgapur and Bhubaneswar. We will examine the former proposal but the latter looks feasible," Singh said.

While Bombardier aircraft will be used for regional connections, Jaipur and Vizag markets are likely to be serviced by Boeing planes.


Apart from the surge in regional connectivity, SpiceJet is also firming up plans to increase its international operations from Kolkata that is currently restricted to a daily Bangkok flight. The airline plans to increase the frequency on the Kolkata-Bangkok sector to twice daily from December and daily to Dhaka and Chittagong with Bombardier from the same month.


"We are also evaluating flights to Yangon, Dubai and Sharjah from Kolkata. There is a good demand for low-cost flights to these cities from Kolkata," said Singh. At present, full service carriers Emirates, Qatar and Etihad operate to the Gulf.


The airline CMD urged Mamata to take up the issue of exemption of landing and parking charges for sub-80 seater regional aircraft at Kolkata airport. Though a policy exists, it is not enforced in metro airports. Offering her assurance, Mamata said her government would extend full support to the airline.


She also requested Singh to introduce a direct flight to Europe and Far East from Kolkata. Speaking to TOI, the airline boss said the airline did not have planes to do the distance. "We will continue to explore possibility in shorthaul flights in a 4-hour radius. That restricts us to West and South-East Asia," Singh pointed out.
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PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oman Air to start operating from Kolkata from early next year

http://www.financialexpress.com/indu...t-year/385317/

As part of its plans to connect more destinations in India, Oman Air would start operating from the city from early next year.
“We are expecting to start operating from Kolkata from early next year. We are waiting for the nod from the Civil Aviation Ministry and hopefully we will get it soon. Kolkata is a potential market and we will be happy to start our operations from this city,” Oman Air Regional Vice President Sunil V A told PTI here.
In fact, besides, Kolkata, Oman Air is also planning to start operations from Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, he said.
Asked whether the commencement of the operations from the other two cities would be at the same time, the Oman Air official said, “Still the talks are on. The operations from these cities may start from the same time but we are surely going to operate from next year.”
At present, Oman Air is operating from 11 destinations in India with 126 flights every week, offering onward connections to a number of European and African cities.
Elaborating about the operations from the city, the Oman Air official said, “From Kolkata it (the operations) will be double daily basis to all points in India. We are planning to have flights to Europe and African nations also.
“And with the number of people from West Bengal working in Oman we think there will be a good response. And we are bringing the flights here because lots of Omanis come to India for education, health check up.”
Asked whether they have spoken to the state government, Sunil, who is part of a Oman Tourism delegation seeking to woo Indian tourists, said, “Once we finalise the operations we will have a word with them.”

Comment: Hopefully this will not lead to further reduction in EK frequencies!
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PostPosted: Thu Sep 22, 2016 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

200 cases in three years - Aerobridge glass panel crumbles


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/200-cases-in-three-years-Aerobridge-glass-panel-crumbles/articleshow/54455735.cms



KOLKATA: Yet another glass panel shattered and crumbled at the integrated terminal atKolkata airport on Wednesday morning, sparking fresh concerns over safety and worries about the failure to identify the cause. More than 200 toughened glass have shattered at the airport since it became operational in 2013.

Around 9.30 am, one of the glass panels of Aerobridge No. 21that had shattered earlier fell apart, leaving a massive 5x12ft hole in the wall.The facility was shut down to avoid a hazard as it exposed users to a 15-foot drop to the concrete apron floor.


"There was no passenger in the aerobridge when the incident happened. We sealed the gap with a polycarbonate sheet and restored the aerobridge within noon," airport director Atul Dixit said. Though the crumbling panels don't cause injury as they disintegrate into small bits, they have triggered accidents. Earlier this year, an IndiGo ground staff tripped on the concrete and got injured when he saw a glass panel come apart and panicked.


Last year, a CISF jawan died when a glass floor panel shattered similarly and was replaced by a polycarbonate sheet which gave way under his weight and he plunged to death.


While the cause of the shattering has not been found yet (Chennai airport is also plagued with the problem), officials of agencies working at the airport said Airports Authority of India (AAI) was negligent in replacing the panels as soon as the glass shattered. "AAI waits for the glass to crumble and fall instead of being proactive and replacing it after cordoning off the section," an airline official said.


There are 40,000 panels of toughened glass in the terminal. The airport director said there has been no problem in the fresh glass panels that have replaced the ones that have shattered.
Comment: Is there a problem in finding shatter proof glass from open market ? AAI could easily import hardened and tampered glass from abroad!
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sumantra
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Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 9:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sabya99 wrote:
Comment: Is there a problem in finding shatter proof glass from open market ? AAI could easily import hardened and tampered glass from abroad!
Yikes. Just as we thought that the earlier airport director Dr. B. P. Sharma's initiatives had arrested the problem, we have had another incident. The aero-bridges were sourced from Indonesia, so I guess the terminal glass is still ok. However, this is a scary situation. And yes, we do manufacture good suitable glass in India.
Cheers, Sumantra.
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