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AirIndia0001 · Member Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 391

Am I missing something here... pardon me guys but nowhere in this "media report", mentioning the new proposed service to IAD via MXP, is it mentioned that AI is proposing to connect MXP with multiple flights/a scissors hub.

karatecatman · Guest

BUSINESSLINE
Bank consortium provides Air India Rs 1,000 cr for working capital

Richa Mishra
Ashwini Phadnis

New Delhi, Feb. 24

A consortium of banks led by Canara Bank is believed to have provided Rs 1,000 crore as working capital to Air India, it is reliably learnt.

This is intended to provide emergency relief to the beleaguered airline. The airline is losing Rs 14 crore a day.

The airline is likely to report a loss of Rs 5,600 crore this year.

PRIVATE EQUITY

The airline is also said to be examining the possibility of turning to private equity funds, if the Union Cabinet allows it, sources told Business Line.

Sources indicated that political will was now required to make a change over in the fortunes of Air India. "Pumping in funds alone will not make a difference. A clear road map is required on the way forward and how to get there which should have the blessings of all major stake holders," sources said.

The actual survival kit for the airline will be firmed up only after a nod from the Union Cabinet. The Ministry of Civil Aviation will soon send a `status paper' to the Cabinet, which will only state the current position in the airline.

The Cabinet paper is likely to be prepared in the second week of March after the Hyderabad air show is over.

VENDOR ISSUE

To overcome the current vendor problem, the airline board, at its meeting here last Saturday, cleared a proposal to enhance the working capital by Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 18,000 crore.

The airline's working capital limit stood at Rs 7,000 crore two years ago. The urgency of finding an immediate solution to the airline's financial woes comes as the three state-owned oil marketing firms have threatened to stop providing aviation turbine fuel unless the previous dues of over Rs 2,000 crore including Rs 1,100 crore owed to Indian Oil were cleared.

The Union Cabinet recently provided Rs 800 crore as equity infusion to National Aviation Company of India Ltd.

karatecatman · Guest

Boeing 747-400, which are being phased out by the A-I due to financial crisis

www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2010022520100225030256971f8c09136/DGCA-asks-AI-how-it-plans-to-fly-VVIPs.html
DGCA asks A-I how it plans to fly VVIPs
Aneesh Phadnis
February 25, 2010

Owing to the faulty simulator of the Boeing 747-400, used to fly VVIPs, the airliner’s pilots haven’t flown the plane in the transatlantic sector since Sept

A week after terminating the services of the 27 pilots who flew the six Boeing 747-400 in its fleet, Air India now has to explain to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) how it proposes to fly the Prime Minister or the President in these aircraft.

VVIP flights are a matter of prestige for A-I and a lot of planning goes into them, including pre-flight training of commanders. Though the airlines is phasing out these aircraft, it has retained the planes for VVIP flights.

Boeing 747-400, which are being phased out by the A-I due to financial crisis

However, since September the airline has not flown 747-400s on the busy transatlantic route and, with its simulator not functioning for a while now, pilots need to undergo fresh training.

As per the airlines manual, those flying on these routes after a long gap need to undergo pre-flight briefing, simulator checks, fly as a super numerary on a regular flight or do a route check under guidance of senior pilots.

Those flying VVIPs have to compulsorily undergo a refresher course and a simulator check for the route. “If the Boeing 747-400 simulator is not functional, pilots will have to be sent abroad for the check,” said an airline source. Initially, A-I planned to fix the simulator.

“However, since it’s in a financial crisis and the 747-400s are being phased out, there has been no move in that direction,” the source added.

A-I corporate communication did not respond to an email query sent by this newspaper.

ryder1650 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Who says there is lack of O-D to MXP from BOM, DEL?

There is enough of that and it perfectly makes sense to operate DEL-MXP-IAD given there is no enough O-D to justify a non stop DEL - IAD flight.

While it is not clear that MXP will be a scissors hub, I personally feel it should not happen. The article is not clear. Maybe a hub at DEL is being thought of.

And this whole convenience via DXB, other than AMD, COK, TRV every city has alternate airlines via Europe to major points in the USA.

I believe AI should start AMD-BOM-EWR; DEL - SFO/ORD/YYZ i.e have DEL as a hub rather than moving places in Europe.

ryder1650 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

ryder1650 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

747-237 · Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 6:01 am Post subject:

Air India has added a new Airbus A320 to the fleet; VT-EDD was delivered today (25 Feb 2010) at DEL.
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ryder1650 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Posts: 554

karatecatman · Guest

AirIndia0001 · Member Joined: 28 Sep 2007 Posts: 391

rdr · Member Joined: 10 Feb 2010 Posts: 42 Location: SINGAPORE

the only decision which should be taken about Air India, is when to close down. preferably today, or tomorrow.

karatecatman · Guest

GENERAL BUDGET 2010-11

As part of the process of financial restructuring the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), an amount of Rs.1200 crore has been provided in the Budget 2010-11 and included in the Outlay of the Ministry of Civil Aviation which totals at Rs.9588.30 crore of which budgetary support is Rs.2,000 crore. This was announced by the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee in his Budget speech in Parliament today.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been provided with a budgetary support of Rs.600.50 crore out of which Rs.120.50 crore has been earmarked for development of airports in North-Eastern States. The remaining Rs.480 crore is for the development of airports in other crucial areas like Leh, Ajmer, Agatti, Port Blair, Tirupati, Pudducherry etc. and the satellite based navigation project (GAGAN). A provision of Rs.40 crore has been made for development of helipad at Rohini in the National Capital Region of Delhi and for helicopter training institute/heliport in Pune by Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd.

jasepl · Member Joined: 26 Jul 2008 Posts: 4257 Location: bund-bay

iah87 · Member Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 2566

If AI has been given only Rs. 1200 crores, then how is AI expected to cover the remaining Rs. 3800 crores based on Rs. 5000 crore loss. They are not a public stock company where they can issue more shares.

This arithmetic does not compute.

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

karatecatman · Guest

747-237 · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject:

Jaysit · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 4346

So what's the upshot?

Are these hopeless people going to launch flights via MXP to North America or are they still going to establish 5000 committees staffed by chamchas of the various politicians to study the viability of these operations (or whatever Govt./babu speak that passes for "how do we waste more time and line our pockets in the process").

circleglobe · Member Joined: 27 Mar 2008 Posts: 709

Pure speculation of course, but maybe AI at MXP operating transatlantic flights is a temporary plan concocted by the Lufthansa Group bosses in Cologne.

When Lufthansa Italia (LHI) began operating there were noises about expanding into longhaul flights as well. For now LHI does not yet have their Italian operator certificate--they are operating under the Lufthansa air operator certficate. They don't have any widebodies either. Perhaps they postponed expansion given weak economic conditions, or they want to establish themselves first in Europe.

For now the LH Group may be happy to allow AI to operate a few transatlantic flights, but once LHI are ready to do it themselves, they can drive out AI in some way or another. (Driving them out, or forcing them to cut back, may be a good thing: Indian carriers inevitably must have hub operations in India at some point.)

Interestingly three major Star Alliance hubs in North America--ORD, YYZ, and IAD--don't even see nonstop flights to MXP by any airline (not now or in Summer 2010). Apparently they are weak O&D destinations from Milan.

The strong O&D transatlantic destinations from Milan are New York, Miami, Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires.

Nonetheless the LH Group may eventually want to connect MXP with select Star Alliance hubs along with the O&D-rich places across the Atlantic. AI offers an indirect way for LHI to get a few of these routes going for now.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India Selects Chromalloy for Engine and APU Repairs
March 1st, 2010

Chromalloy

MRO MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, DUBAI, February 28, 2010 – Chromalloy announced today that Air India has awarded the company a two-year agreement for repair of certain parts and components on the airline’s CF6-80C2, PW4000, CFM56-7B engines and Auxiliary Power Units (APUs).

The contract is valued at approximately $10 million and calls for Air India to ship parts to Chromalloy for repair over the next two years.

“The Air India agreement proves once again our customers’ confidence in Chromalloy products, services and the value we deliver,” said Armand F. Lauzon, Jr., President. “We offer value through advanced innovative repairs that help customers improve engine performance and lower maintenance costs.”

Sanjeev Rotkar, Director of Marketing, Air India Ltd., said, “Air India is extremely pleased with the continuous support provided by Chromalloy for more than 15 years. Advanced repairs from Chromalloy have been very useful in reducing engine management costs for Air India.”

Rotkar continued, “In addition to repairs, Air India has been aggressive in the use of Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) parts for the CF6-50C2 and CF6-80C2 engines provided by Chromalloy, realizing considerable savings and outstanding performance.”

In addition to in-house services for its fleet, Air India’s parent organization, the National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for other commercial aircraft operators in India and the Middle East at the NACIL facility in Mumbai. The MRO center has offered services since 1966. The facility is certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and India’s Dictorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and has offered services to third-party aircraft operators since 1999.

Chromalloy provides turbine engine operators with a full range of services, repairs and replacement parts including high pressure turbine (HPT) blades that cost significantly less than OEM-produced equipment. The company’s FAA-approved replacement parts have demonstrated outstanding reliability, quality and durability.

Chromalloy is the world’s largest independent supplier of technologically advanced repairs, coatings, and FAA-approved replacement parts for turbine airfoils and other critical engine components for commercial airlines, the military and industrial turbine engine applications.

Founded more than 50 years ago, the company operates manufacturing and service centers in 14 countries.

In support of land-based applications including power generation systems, Chromalloy employs identical engineering disciplines used to produce its FAA-certified parts for turbine engines that power commercial and military aircraft.

karatecatman · Guest

AI weighs financing options for for buying three Boeing 777S
Rupesh Subhash Janve
Feb 28 2010
Mumbai

National Aviation Company of India (Nacil) is mulling its options for financing the purchase of three Boeing 777 aircraft that will be delivered later this calendar year. Nacil that owns Air India and the erstwhile Indian Airlines, needs $450 million to fund the acquisition.

The options being considered are whether to take a bridge loan or go for delivery financing to fund the purchase “We have invited bids from banks and financial institutions to raise another $450 million to fund acquisition of three Boeing 777 aircraft,” a senior company official in the know, told Financial Chronicle.

The airline has received a bid from Standard Chartered Bank for bridge financing, while most other banks seem to prefer bidding for delivery financing. “The board is yet to decide whether to go for bridge loan, as done while acquiring nine Boeing aircraft in 2009 or go for financing at the time of delivery,” he added.

The Seattle based aircraft manufacturer is expected to deliver the Boeings between April and September. A typical Boeing 777-200LR such as the one to be delivered to Nacil can carry 276 passengers, including 43 in business class. “We will announce the name of preferred bidders only after analysing the bids,” the official said.

karatecatman · Guest

MUMBAI MIRROR
AI hits a new low

It’s not cost-cutting!The understaffed cabin crew of Air India voice their protest by not serving liquor on international flights

Aneesh Phadnis
March 02, 2010

If you relish a peg of scotch and find it missing on an Air India flight, don’t think the airline is cutting costs. Liquor is not being served on certain Air India (AI) flights since last week because the crew is overworked and short-staffed! AI cabin crew, belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines (IAC), representing the Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) have stopped serving liquor to guests in protest of inadequate staff members deployed on international flights.

The IAC cockpit and cabin crew operate few international flights including those to Dubai, Sharjah, Muscat, Bangkok, Singapore and Shanghai. There are about 250-270 crew members of whom 70 per cent are ACEU members.

Last week ACEU general secretary Vivek Rao issued a directive to its members not to provide bar services if crew strength on the flight was a bare minmum.

“The shortage has been on for four years now. While the number of flights have increased the staff strength hasn’t. Bar services cannot be provided with a minimum crew on board. Recruitment processes began last year but no one has been hired as yet,’’ a crew member said.

The IAC crew operate Airbus 319/320/321s and Airbus 330s. The number of crew members is determined by the number of exits which need to be manned by them. So, each aircraft type has a minimum specified crew complement; which is 4, 4, 5 and 8 respectively.

“Most of our international flights are going with a minimum crew complement. If the flight loads are full a single cabin crew has to serve upto 50 passengers,’ crew member added.

The union has demanded that the crew complement on international flights with bar services should be 5, 5, 6 and 9. (for Airbus 319/320/321 and Airbus 330 respectively)

Only the cabin crew belonging to management cadre are not following the directive and serving liquor on board. But they number around 50 and on certain flights only the business class passengers are being served.

Dinkar Shetty, president of ACEU said “We met the management on Tuesday but it seems uninterested in finding a solution. Hence,we have not withdrawn our directive.’’

R Harihar, the airline’s Executive director (West Region) denied that bar services were stopped on any of the flights. “I haven’t received any such report.

There are no passenger complaints yet,’’ he stated. Harihar said the management was discussing the issue with the union. “It will be resolved in a day or two,’’ he added. He refused to comment on whether the airline was facing a shortage of crew.

***

ECONOMIC TIMES
Air India risks turbulence as it seeks to cut costs
3 Mar 2010
AGENCIES

MUMBAI: State-run carrier Air India is set for dramatic cost-cutting in the months ahead as part of a government bailout that will test the
willingness of workers to accept painful restructuring.

Last month, the Indian government approved an injection of 173 million dollars for the ailing company and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has told the airline it must "shape up" to receive the funds.

The money is part of a phased planned government injection of 50 billion rupees (1.1 billion dollars) over three years for the carrier, which has reported massive losses in recent years.

But the government has insisted the money will only be handed over if the airline reduces costs -- partly by reducing its bloated fleet size by some 30 percent to 105 aircraft by March 2011, and also by cutting wages.

"The airline is in a mess. Tough decisions will need to be made, for which the Air India leadership needs a free hand," said KPMG India aerospace analyst Amber Dubey, arguing that a temporary shutdown might be necessary.

Air India's once-dominant market share has shrunk to 18 percent in the face of fierce competition from private carriers, including more nimble low-cost operators, after India liberalised its commercial aviation market in the 1990s.

Some analysts have suggested privatisation but the government insists such a move is not on the cards, and that the carrier has a role to play in flying to remote parts of the nation not served by commercial airlines.

The group operates 435 flights to 117 destinations in India and overseas daily, with a fleet of 146 aircraft.

Average salaries at Air India, which employs more than 31,000 people, are 15 to 20 percent above those at private-sector rivals. It averages 230 employees per aircraft, compared with 105-120 at private airlines.

"Rationalising manpower is a process and will take time," Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav told reporters earlier this month.

The company tried last year to cut loss-making routes and wages, but it ran into stiff resistance from pilot and staff labour organisations and was hit by wildcat strikes.

A bid to cut performance-linked pay sparked a five-day walkout by pilots in September, resulting in the cancellation of 400 flights.

George Abraham, secretary of the Aviation Industry Employees Guild, a trade union, is willing to consider salary cuts but "only where performance-linked incentives for senior pilots and aircraft engineers are substantial".

Outright job cuts are out of the question, he said, adding: "No decision can be taken without our consent."

But aviation analyst Mahantesh Sabarad at Mumbai-based Centrum Broking said: "The airline is overstaffed. Job cuts is the way ahead for Air India."

The government's planned bailout calls on Air India to match the 1.1 billion dollars in handouts with a similar amount in cost cuts and increased revenue, which analysts say will be a challenge.

The airline declared a 1.19-billion-dollar net loss for the year to March 2009 due to the global economic downturn and reduced passenger traffic.

For the first half of the current fiscal year, the airline trimmed its operating loss by 23 percent to 438.2 million dollars but it is still a long way from profit, industry experts say.

With India's economy rebounding, private carriers are expected to post a total profit of 250 million dollars to 300 million dollars in the fiscal year starting in April, the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation said.

But Air India will remain in the red, dragged down by high operational costs and a fall in passenger numbers, the Singapore-based consultancy said.

"Air India will continue to have cash deficits for the next five to seven years which could cumulatively amount to four to five billion dollars," said Kapil Kaul, India chief of the consultancy.

karatecatman · Guest

Sent through Air India

Air India Airbus 320 lands at India Aviation
The first of the new generation Airbus A320 aircraft on order joined the Air India fleet today, with the arrival of a mint fresh aircraft at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad, where India Aviation 2010, India’s first civilian air show is on. The aircraft also becomes the 74th own aircraft of the 111 on order, to join Air India’s fleet.

After being accorded a ceremonial landing, the aircraft was received by Mr Praful Patel, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Mr K.Rosaiah, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, in the presence of an august gathering of guests and mediapersons from all over the world, attending the air show. The aircraft will be on display at the air show for visitors. Soon after the landing, a formal handing over ceremony saw Dr Kiran Rao, Executive Vice-President, Airbus, transferring the title of the aircraft to Mr Arvind Jadhav, Chairman and Managing Director, Air India.

The 140-seater A320 aircraft has a twin-class configuration – 20 seats in Executive Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. The cabin is spacious and the seats are wide and comfortable. The two by two abreast seats in Executive Class have a seat pitch each of 40 inches. In Economy Class, the three by three abreast seats each offer a pitch of 32/31 inches. Like all the other new Airbus aircraft in the fleet, the A320 aircraft comes equipped with the Thales i3000 entertainment system. Passengers flying the new A320 can look forward to a wide range of audio-visual entertainment like Hindi and regional movies, variety programmes and different types of music.

The A320 aircraft is fitted with the advanced Weather Radar System, Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) and the LCD cockpit display system. The aircraft is also equipped with the state-of-the-art digital cabin management system.

Air India has on order 43 Airbus aircraft – 20 A321, 19 A319 and four A320. Of these, 40 aircraft have now been received – 19 A321, 19 A319 and one A320. The remaining A320 and A321 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by April this year. The airline also has on order 68 Boeing aircraft of which 35 -- eight B777-200LR, nine B777-300ER, and 18 B737-200 (for low cost airline Air India Express) -- have been delivered so far.

The national carrier has a wide domestic and international network. Its international network covers 51 destinations across the USA, Europe, Canada, Far-East Asia, South-East Asia and the Gulf. The domestic network covering 62 destinations, includes far-flung areas of the North-East, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Airbus family aircraft are deployed on short and medium haul routes of Air India. Major metros, state capitals and cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Sharjah are among the destinations that are covered by the A321, A319 and A320. Erstwhile Indian Airlines was one of the first operators in the world to have inducted the fly-by-wire A320 aircraft in a big way, over the last two decades.

Hyderabad/Mumbai/New Delhi
March 3, 2010

Nimish · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:51 am Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

BUSINESS STANDARD
Nacil restive at pace, manner of govt aid

Mihir Mishra
New Delhi
March 04, 2010

National Aviation Company Ltd (Nacil), which runs Air India, is unhappy over the civil aviation ministry deducting a part of the money given by the government for infusion of equity capital in the company and instead giving it to Airports Authority of India (AAI) to clear a portion of the state airline’s dues.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) monitoring the revival of AI had cleared an equity infusion of Rs 800 crore in the beleaguered carrier, reeling under losses of over Rs 7,200 crore, in two equal instalments.

Of the first instalment of Rs 400 crore, the airline received only Rs 325 crore. The other Rs 75 crore was used by the ministry to part-clear AI’s dues to AAI, for using its various airports and infrastructure across the country.

“What is the point in giving us the money when the ministry, without consulting us, gave the money to the airport operator, leaving no scope for us to negotiate with the operator?” complained a senior airline official, who did not want to be identified.

The official said the next instalment was to come this month and “we do not know how much we will actually get, leaving us a bit confused over our future strategy”.

The airline owes AAI another Rs 550 crore and has dues to the three public sector oil companies (IOC, HPCL, BPCL) of Rs 2,000 crore. Its monthly cash deficit is Rs 400 crore. It has sought Rs 5,000 crore from the government to increase its debt-raising capacity. Its current equity base is Rs 145 crore.

The official also said the government had created confusion over the future of Air India: “On the one side, it seems that the government is serious about the functioning of Air India but on the other, there are reports that the airline should be demerged. Because of this confusion, our and the airline’s fate is at stake.”

In the Budget proposals, the government had cleared Rs 1,200 crore as equity infusion in the next financial year, 2010-11. Air India, as well as Air India Express, had also projected a substantial decrease in non-plan expenditure.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India's response to pilots' refusal to fly to Kabul
March 4, 2010, New Delhi

Air India has issued a press release in response to Air India pilots' refusal to fly to Kabul:

Reports have appeared in a section of the media questioning the safety of Air India flight operations to Kabul. In order to allay misapprehensions caused by this media report, the following clarifications are issued:

1. The points raised by ICPA (Indian Commercial Pilots Association) in regard to operations to Kabul are not tenable due to the following reasons:

2. All procedures and safety requirements laid down by DGCA are being complied with for the said operations. As such Air India has been operating safely to Kabul for many years without any untoward incidents and safety violations. It is also true that many other airlines are also operating to Kabul safely with similar type of aircraft (Category-C) for many years.

3.The RTOW (maximum take off weight mathematical programme) programme for any given condition are made to meet the regulatory and safety standards for every flight, even in the eventuality of one engine failed condition operation.

karatecatman · Guest

AI pilots demand clear—cut guidelines for flying to Kabul

New Delhi, Mar 4 (PTI) Air India pilots have threatened not to operate flights to Kabul if the national carrier does not give “clear—cut guidelines” for flying into Afghanistan as it directly affects the safety of crew and passengers.

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) has said that if the pilots do not get any suitable reply, it would be .

“forced to ask our members not to operate flights in these unsafe conditions” to Kabul.

In a letter to Executive Director (Operations) of Air India , ICPA General Secretary Captain S Sabu said that the political situation in Kabul has been deteriorating and that the NATO forces have launched a major offensive against insurgents in the region.

National Aviation Corporation of India Limited (I) (erstwhile Indian Airlines) is the only Indian carrier registered with IATA member operating into Kabul.

Pointing out the shortcomings, he said, the airspace (over Kabul) “is not free of conflicting traffic resulting in frequent occurrences of traffic advisories and resolution advisories. Also the air traffic control is poor.”

“No special procedure for unlawful interference has been devised after the Kandahar hijack of IC—814. Also there is no clear cut guidelines whether low visibility take off is permitted or not from Kabul,” Sabu said.

Apart from this, he said, “no ‘Communication Failure’ procedure has been circulated to the flight crew nor is it mentioned in the Jepessen emergency chapter“.

No topographical map of the region has been provided to the crew as being provided in Jammu, Srinagar and North—East which is a requirement, he claimed.

_________________

Air operations to Kabul safe, will continue: Air India

Hyderabad, March 4 (IANS)

Flight operations to Afghanistan are safe and will continue, Air India said Thursday after its pilots’ association sent a letter to the national carrier seeking discontinuation of air services to the troubled region citing security concerns.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of India Aviation 2010 here, Air India chief Arvind Jadhav said that the airline had received the letter from the pilots and he would look into the issue.

“We have cordial relations with Afghanistan. There is no point in taking up this issue. We will ourselves not fly if it is unsafe,” he said when asked to comment on the letter.

“Afghanistan is our friend and it (operating flights) involves national prestige,” said Jadhav, who is the chairman and managing director of National Aviation Company Ltd (Nacil), which operates Air India.

Jadhav however said that the security concerns of the pilots would be addressed.

The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) — a union of pilots belonging to Air India — had written to Nacil saying operating conditions in Afghanistan were unsafe. It asked its members not to operate in such conditions.

The letter came after the Feb 26 terror attack on Indians in Kabul. Seven Indians were killed in the attack.

The letter added that there were no standard operating procedures laid down so that the flight crew could respond effectively in a hijack situation, even after the incident in Kandahar where Air India flight IC—814 from Kathmandu to Delhi was taken hostage.

The ICPA also complained about the poor management of air traffic at Kabul and absence of norms for operating flights in low—visibility conditions.

“The points raised by the ICPA in regard to operations to Kabul are not tenable. All procedures and safety requirements laid down by the DGCA are being complied with for the said operations. As such Air India has been operating safely to Kabul for many years without any untoward incidents and safety violations,” said a company statement.

“It is also true that many other airlines are also operating to Kabul safely with similar type of aircraft (Category—C) for many years,” the statement added.

Air India is the only carrier that flies from the country to Afghanistan and operates six—times—a—week flights between New Delhi and Kabul.

The chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) Nasim Zaidi said his office had not received any request from the pilots regarding operating conditions but would look into the matter.

“I have not received anything so far from the pilots’ association,” said Zaidi, but added: “We will try to address their concerns whenever such a request comes to us.”

***

Air India, GE Aviation to invest USD 90 mn in MRO facility
Hyderabad, Mar 4 (PTI)

National carrier Air India and GE Aviation will together invest USD 90 million to set up a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility to cater to the latter’s GEnx—1B engines.

“The investment in this facility at Mumbai will be around USD 90 million,” GE Aviation’s Country Director Nalin Jain told reporters here today.

The US—based jet engines provider will invest USD 20 million while the balance will be pumped in by the Indian Government—run airline. The foreign company’s investment will be spread over 7—8 years.

“Our (GE Aviation) investment will be over a period of 7—8 years,” Jain said.

The two companies today inked an agreement here, under which Air India will be licensed to perform MRO work on the GEnx—1B engine, which powers Boeing 787 aircraft.

“Air India envisages a state—of—the—art facility catering to GE 90 and GEnx engines, including a new engine test facility. Our strong collaboration with GE will enhance the visibility of the facility across the globe and will result in India becoming one of the major engine MRO players,” Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director, Arvind Jadhav, told reporters here.

As a part of the agreement, GE Aviation will provide technical support to Air India as it offers MRO services for the GEnx—1B engine.

vikramv2 · Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject:

Just saw on CNBC that Anand Mahindra, Amit Mishra (Ficci), Harsh Neotia and one one more person have been appointed as part titme direcotrs by the government to help AI turn around....Only time will tell i guess!!!
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karatecatman · Guest

BUSINESSLINE
Anand Mahindra among 4 new directors of Air India

Our Bureau
New Delhi, March 5

The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of the Mahindra Group, Mr Anand G. Mahindra, and the Chairman of Ambuja Realty Development, Mr Harsh Neotia, are among the four new faces on the board of the National Aviation Company of India (NACIL) which manages state-owned airline Air India.

NACIL is the new company created through the merger of Air India and Indian.

The Secretary-General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Dr Amit Mitra, and the former chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major, have also been appointed non-official part-time directors of the airline.

Eminent banker and former Chairman of ICICI Bank, Mr N. Vaghul, was earlier a non-official part-time director of the airline; he retired recently.

An official statement issued late on Friday stated that the new appointments are for three years or till further notice whichever is earlier.

This is not the first time that the airline board has had eminent people from trade and industry. The former Chairman of ITC, Mr Y.C. Deveshwar, was the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India between 1991 and 1994. Industrialists Mr Rahul Bajaj and Ms Shobhna Bharatiya have also been on the airline board.

con spirito · Member Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 577 Location: Inflight

As long as the MOCA and the Aviation ministers continue to interfere with the decision making process,it wont matter even if they hire Bill Gates as the CMD.
_________________
India is one of the richest countries in the world.
The only problem is........all the wealth is distributed in the wrong hands.

Devesh · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:05 am Post subject:

karatecatman · Guest

karatecatman · Guest

LIVEMINT
Air India engages Booz, rejects Rothschild plan

The airline, run by state-owned Nacil also put on hold an employee training plan proposed by consultancy firm McKinsey and Co

P.R. Sanjai

Hyderabad: Ailing national carrier Air India has engaged management consultancy Booz and Co. to help it hive off its non-core businesses, but rejected a financial restructuring plan by investment bank NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.
The airline, run by state-owned National Aviation Co. of India Ltd (Nacil), also put on hold an employee training plan proposed by consultancy firm McKinsey and Co, two civil aviation ministry officials familiar with the matter said.
Air India chairman and managing director Arvind Jadhav confirmed the developments without giving reasons.
“The condition of engaging Booz was linked to conditions such as revising the consulting fee and government releasing funds towards equity infusion,” Jadhav told Mint on Wednesday on the sidelines of Indian Aviation 2010 international conference.
Mint could not immediately contact Booz, Rothschild or McKinsey for the story.
Nacil was in talks with the three firms for advice on financial restructuring and turnaround. It had said it needed different advisers for different roles.
Air India, which suffered a loss of Rs5,548 crore in 2008-09 and runs up a monthly cash deficit of Rs400 crore, is seeking Rs5,000 crore from the government to boost its debt-raising capacity. Its current equity base is Rs145 crore. The equity infusion is linked to effective cost-cutting by the airline.
Booz had suggested at least 70 cost-cutting and revenue-enhancement measures to Air India, which it said could generate up to Rs5,000 crore over 18 months, as Mint reported on 18 November. But Air India had later issued an ultimatum to Booz to lower its fee.
Jadhav said Booz agreed to lower the fee, but didn’t divulge more details.
He added Air India has put on the back burner McKinsey’s proposal for a training programme to reorient employees towards passengers.
“The future course of action and restructuring will be decided after (the) cabinet reviewing the current conditions,” Jadhav said.
A senior civil aviation ministry official said Air India has to find its own way out of the crisis as it has exhausted its working capital drawing limit of Rs18,000 crore.
“Hiring consultants could be one way. But it cannot add to your cost,” he said.
For operational restructuring, Air India has hired three other foreign firms—US-based aviation consultant Simat Helliesen and Eichner Inc, Flugwerkzeuge Aviation Software GmbH of Austria, and Texas-based technology company Sabre Holding Corp.—to help redraw its flight network and save fuel costs.
It also continues to pay Accenture for overseeing the integration of Air India and Indian Airlines, which were merged to form Nacil.

karatecatman · Guest

TIMES OF INDIA
Centre may seek strategic investor for AI
Saurabh Sinha
TNN
Mar 6, 2010

NEW DELHI: The government may bring in a strategic investor to keep the loss-ridden Air India-Indian Airlines combine afloat. A complete paper on the airlines financial condition is currently being prepared for the Cabinet.

"We will send it this month itself, listing all options in it. There will be a plan A, plan B and so on. Bringing in a strategic investor can be an option," aviation minister Praful Patel told TOI on Friday, shortly after the government cleared the four new names including Anand Mahindra of Mahindra and Mahindra as independent directors of the airline.

The Cabinet will be told the stark truth of the merged entity, National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL)s, financial health with accumulated losses of over Rs 7,000 crore; working capital loan of Rs 16,000 crore and orders for 111 new planes worth Rs 55,000 crore of which 74 have already joined the fleet. Highly placed sources said keeping the company afloat will require an annual infusion of Rs 5,000 crore to keep paying the oil and airport charges and wages.

Clearly, putting in that much taxpayers money in NACIL year after year is something that the government may not find feasible as NACIL, by its own estimate, is unlikely to achieve even operationally break even for the next five to seven years at least. Sources added that prime minister Manmohan Singh has made it clear that AI cant be allowed to die and now the government will very soon have to decide how to keep it alive.

It recently cleared equity infusion of Rs 800 crore into NACIL and kept a provision of another Rs 1,200 crore for the next fiscal but this amount can keep the airline airborne for at best a few months. Sources said despite its poor financial health, the hope for getting a strategic partner comes from AIs huge advantages like its traffic rights, airport slots and prime properties in many parts of the world.

Patel told TOI: The government means business when it talks of saving AI. It has cleared an equity infusion of Rs 800-crore and now cleared four eminent people to be independent directors so that the management is answerable to a larger audience. We will appoint a chief operating officer for NACIL this month itself. Some names from across the globe have been shortlisted for this purpose and the final selection will be made soon.

He, however, made it clear that though the government was doing everything to save the national carrier, the management would have to respond by taking equal measures. I am not satisfied with whatever has been done so far. Cost cutting has not been adequate, he said.

NACIL barely managed to prevent getting grounded late last month as oil companies had threatened to put it on cash-and-carry with jet fuel dues mounting to Rs 2,000 crore. Its board had to enhance working capital limit (amount a company is authorized to borrow from banks to meet daily operational costs) by a whopping Rs 1,000 crore from Rs 17,000 crore to Rs 18,000 crore. This meant, it could borrow another Rs 1,000 crore and add to its mounting debts to partially clear oil dues.

The paper being prepared for the Cabinet will also list the option of wage cuts, something that will be exercised only after clearance from the highest political levels. There has to be wage rationalisation, even if there is a temporary pay cut, said sources.

karatecatman · Guest

Women to pilot AI's March 8 Mumbai-New York flight
2010-03-06

For the first time, women pilots will operate Air India's Mumbai-New York non-stop flight on March 8 to commemorate International Women's Day.

Captain Rashmi Miranda and Captain Sunita Narula will be the flight commanders, and Captain Swati Rawal and Captain Neha Kulkarni will be the first officers on the 14-hour flight that will be operated with a Boeing 777-200 long-range aircraft, the airline said Saturday.

The national carrier will also operate other flights with all-women crews on the occasion, the airline said in a statement.

The National Aviation Company India Limited (NACIL), which operates Air India, has more than 136 women pilots flying on various international and domestic sectors, the airline said.

***

To celebrate Women’s Day on 8 March 2010, Air India will make history by using only women pilots to fly Ultra Longhaul flight AI-141 from Mumbai to JFK non-stop on, using a B777-200 Long Range aircraft. The flight is approximately of 14 hours duration and will be operated with a double set of all women crew and supported by women of the National Aviation Company India Limited (NACIL).

Capt. Rashmi Miranda and Capt. Sunita Narula will be the Commanders alongwith Capt. Swati Rawal and Capt. Neha Kulkarni as First Officers. Mrs. Harpreet A De Singh, Head-QMS will carry out a Line Observation Safety Audit, the flight will be despatched by Ms. Nandita Deshpande and the Load and Trim Sheet will be prepared by Ms. Ferzin Kuruvilla. Various additional flights will also be operated by All Women Crew on that day. On the Airbus A310, Capt. Trisha Mohan will operate as the Commander of AI 815/816 from Hyderabad-Damam-Chennai along with First Officer Capt. Thanmai Papagari. Other flights from Mumbai to be operated with All Women Crew will be IC-686, IC-105 and IC-129. Capt. S. Deshmukh, Capt. Sangita Bangar and Capt. L. Nagrath will be the Commanders and Capt. Rikita Singh, Capt. Deepali Pratape and Capt. Aprajita Lal the First Officers. The flights will be despatched by Ms. Anjali Dhiman and the Load and Trim Sheet will be prepared by Ms. Archana Patki. In the Southern Region, Capt. Deepa will operate IC 573/574 accompanied by First Officer, Capt. Sonia Jain on Chennai-Colombo-Chennai sector. The Northern and Eastern Regions also operated with All Women crew on various sectors.

Ms. Neetu Sharma who is an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) on the B737-800, in Air India Express, will certify the aircraft from Sharjah. Lady Doctors Dr Varsha Sawant and Dr Alka Mathur will carry out the breathalyzer tests at Mumbai.

NACIL has more than 136 women pilots flying various international and domestic sectors. Women Pilots, Flight Despatchers, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Safety and Quality Auditors, Cabin Crew, Doctors, Technical Officers, Simulator Maintenance Engineers, Ground Instructors for training pilots etc. all form part of a highly skilled, technically proficient team of women in Air India.

karatecatman · Guest

Air India offers 10 per cent discount on purchase of web tickets

March 6, 2010
Passengers purchasing tickets through the Air India website for travel on Air India flights are in for a bonanza. A 10 per cent discount will be applicable on the basic fare component of Economy Class tickets purchased through the Air India website www.airindia.in. The discount is valid from March 9, 2010 till April 30, 2010, for international flights originating from India as well as for Air India’s domestic flights.

What’s more, the discount will apply on tickets bought under all fare categories of Economy Class. Outbound travel will have to commence on or before April 30, 2010. The discount will not apply for travel on Air India's code share flights.

Air India offers huge discounts on international fares

March 6, 2010
National carrier Air India is offering attractive discounts on tickets purchased for First and Executive class travel on its international services originating out of India. The discounts will be applicable on tickets purchased from March 8 to 13, 2010. Outbound travel against these tickets will have to be undertaken between March 15, 2010 and June 30, 2010.

A 50 per cent discount will be available on the highest market basic fare for First Class travel to the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Tokyo, Jeddah and Riyadh. Passengers buying an Executive Class tickets for travel on AI designated flights to the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam, as also on IC designated flights to Dubai, can avail a 40 per cent discount on the highest market basic fare. All applicable taxes and levies will be extra.

Sandy29 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:45 am Post subject:

[quote="karatecatman"]

[b]Air India offers huge discounts on international fares
[/i]

Good move to capture some of the summer liesure travel traffic