The deadlock between the agitating executive pilots of Air India ( A- I) and its management continued on Saturday. Some flight schedules were disrupted because of the pilots’ strike, but the airline claimed flight operations were large unaffected.
The senior had pilots gone on indefinite strike on Friday in protest against salary cut and a reduction in productivity linked incentives, approved by the A- I board a few days ago. The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) extended its “moral support” to the striking pilots on Saturday. The ICPA is a body comprising more than 600 junior non- executive pilots the erstwhile Indian Airlines.
Addressing a press conference, ICPA president Captain Shailendra Singh said: “We have extended moral support to the executive pilots and request the A- I management to resolve the issue amicably.” An ICPA office- bearer said the decision to join the strike would be taken in two- three days, but “it is non- cooperation” for now. “We have already written to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about pilots being under mental pressure due to salary cuts,” Singh said.
A senior A- I official said in the event of ICPA pilots joining the strike, domestic flight operations would come to a halt. An A- I spokesperson said the airline’s chairman and managing director ( CMD) Arvind Jadhav had called the agitating executive pilots for talks on Sunday.
But Captain V. K. Bhalla, spokesperson of the agitating pilots, said there was no question of going for negotiations till the time the order regarding the salary cut was withdrawn. Bhalla said none of the pilots was in a fit state of mind to fly and this had a direct bearing on passenger safety.
“We are also being subjected to racism, Expat pilots are getting more salary than their Indian counterparts,” he alleged. The CMD “has issued a Talibani order of cutting our salaries by 50 per cent,” Bhalla said. In fact, with productivity linked incentives also reduced, it will actually be a 70 per cent cut, he added.
On being asked about the inconvenience being caused to flyers because of the strike, he said: “We have been forced to go on strike and the CMD is responsible for it. Call it by whatever name, but it is a strike and the pilots are refusing to fly.” Bhalla said about 400 executive pilots had not reported for work and the ICPA may also join the agitation. The A- I rejected the claim as wrong. The airline’s spokesperson, Jitendra Bhargava, said only 28 pilots had reported sick.
He also said the strike had not affected flight operations. Only 13 of the 200 domestic flights were cancelled. Three of the affected flights were from Delhi to Lucknow, Srinagar and Kabul. The affected passengers were transferred to other A- I flights, he said. From midnight till 5 pm on Saturday, all the 58 international flights operated normally, Bhargava said.The agitating pilots are expected to meet the A- I management in Mumbai on Sunday to discuss their demands. Though the airline claimed the agitation has had no effect on its operations, the management will meet the representatives of the protesting employees in Mumbai on Sunday to address their concerns. CMD Jadhav, is scheduled to meet the agitating executive pilots and discuss the reduction in their productivity- linked incentives, the main reason for the strike.
Source:
Mail Today
Date- 27 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Global air travel getting back on track, but full recovery only after ’11
International air travel, whacked by the economic downturn, is starting to stabilise but may not recover until 2011 as companies and passengers continue to scale back, executives at aviation giants Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS said on Wednesday. Passenger travel, somewhat better so far in the second half of 2009 than in the first, was still expected to slump between 6% and 8% for the year, said Randy Tinseth, a Boeing vice-president for marketing. Still, there were signs the drop in demand was slowing, with global airlines beginning to restore capacity and the Chinese and Latin American markets picking up, he said. “We’re already starting to see some improvements in traffic and traffic growth, but we’ve got a long ways to go,” Tinseth told reporters at an Asian aerospace and aviation show in Hong Kong.
Source:
The Economic Times
Date-10 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
Source:
The Economic Times
Date-10 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
AI to shut 22 offline stations to save costs
Flag carrier Air India (AI) is in the process of closing down 22 offline stations across the globe, which would lead to cost savings of nearly 4% —around Rs 680 crore — of its revenues of Rs 17,000 crore.
Offline stations are ticketing and administrative offices set up in cities where the airline has stopped flying or has minimal network. Each of these stations have a minimum of eight officials and use expensive office space. The carrier had set up offices at Seoul, Jakarta and Auckland in Australia, among others, to operate on these sectors profitably, but failed to generate business on these routes.
AI's CMD Arvind Jadhav has also asked its executive directors posted in foreign cities, where there is marginal business, to return to India. He has asked top AI officials to prepare a detailed report on savings generated by shutting these non-profit stations.
The closing down of these offline stations will, however, have minimal impact on the airline's operations globally, as it is set to become a member of the Star Alliance by 2010. After joining Star Alliance, AI would benefit by partnerships with other member carriers for marketing, sourcing of spares and long-term contracts for fuel. As the full integration happens with Star Alliance, the flying returns scheme of AI would also be integrated with the frequent flier programmes of member carriers, where miles earned on one carrier can be redeemed with any of the other member airlines.
Joining the alliance would also mean sharing of airport lounges and synchronisation of Air India flight schedules for the national carrier. Passengers would be able to undertake seamless travel on a single air ticket, even if it requires flying several carriers on a single journey.
The carrier is reeling under losses of Rs 7,200 crore for FY09 and is taking steps to stay afloat at a time when its debt is Rs 16,000 crore. It is looking to infuse equity of over Rs 2,500 crore and is also seeking a loan of Rs 10,000 crore. Arvind Jadhav had recently told the media, "We will turn around the carrier within three years. Efforts are on to bail it out of dire circumstances."
Simultaneously, the carrier has taken other cost-cutting measures like hiving off its cargo section into a separate subsidiary, which would again churn revenues of Rs 1,200 crore from the existing Rs 800 crore. AI's team of officials is already studying newer markets in South-East Asia, far and Middle East and Europe to increase their capacity from 1,500 tonnes to over 5,000 tonnes within 36 months.
Source:
The Financial Express
Date-9 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/AI-to-shut-22-offline-stations-to-save-costs/514626/
Offline stations are ticketing and administrative offices set up in cities where the airline has stopped flying or has minimal network. Each of these stations have a minimum of eight officials and use expensive office space. The carrier had set up offices at Seoul, Jakarta and Auckland in Australia, among others, to operate on these sectors profitably, but failed to generate business on these routes.
AI's CMD Arvind Jadhav has also asked its executive directors posted in foreign cities, where there is marginal business, to return to India. He has asked top AI officials to prepare a detailed report on savings generated by shutting these non-profit stations.
The closing down of these offline stations will, however, have minimal impact on the airline's operations globally, as it is set to become a member of the Star Alliance by 2010. After joining Star Alliance, AI would benefit by partnerships with other member carriers for marketing, sourcing of spares and long-term contracts for fuel. As the full integration happens with Star Alliance, the flying returns scheme of AI would also be integrated with the frequent flier programmes of member carriers, where miles earned on one carrier can be redeemed with any of the other member airlines.
Joining the alliance would also mean sharing of airport lounges and synchronisation of Air India flight schedules for the national carrier. Passengers would be able to undertake seamless travel on a single air ticket, even if it requires flying several carriers on a single journey.
The carrier is reeling under losses of Rs 7,200 crore for FY09 and is taking steps to stay afloat at a time when its debt is Rs 16,000 crore. It is looking to infuse equity of over Rs 2,500 crore and is also seeking a loan of Rs 10,000 crore. Arvind Jadhav had recently told the media, "We will turn around the carrier within three years. Efforts are on to bail it out of dire circumstances."
Simultaneously, the carrier has taken other cost-cutting measures like hiving off its cargo section into a separate subsidiary, which would again churn revenues of Rs 1,200 crore from the existing Rs 800 crore. AI's team of officials is already studying newer markets in South-East Asia, far and Middle East and Europe to increase their capacity from 1,500 tonnes to over 5,000 tonnes within 36 months.
Source:
The Financial Express
Date-9 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/AI-to-shut-22-offline-stations-to-save-costs/514626/
Monday, September 7, 2009
BA redeploys planes to tap luxury leisure routes
British Airways, Europe's third largest airline, will use planes freed up by the slump in business travel to start flying to longhaul leisure destinations such as Las Vegas, Jamaica and the Maldives. Five of the six new routes that the Londonbased carrier will begin for its winter timetable are to vacation hotspots, including Sharm El-Sheikh on the Red Sea and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.
"Initial bookings are very encouraging, Richard Tams, head of UK sales," said in an interview. "We chose the routes carefully where we think demand will hold up," Tams said by telephone. "We don't normally have the aircraft available, so this has given us the opportunity to build some business there."
Passenger numbers fell 2.8 per cent in the five months through August, prompting British Airways to park 16 aircraft and cut capacity by 5 per cent for the coming October-March timetable. The carrier's new routes are targeted at upscale resorts catering to wealthier clients who are less likely to rein in spending in the recession, Tams said. "There is still a very healthy market in premium leisure," the executive said in the September 4 interview. The passengers are high-end travellers who not only want comfort at the resort but also on the way there. British Airways will deploy widebody Boeing 777 aircraft for the new routes. The service to Las Vegas will leave from London Heathrow and others from the UK capital's Gatwick airport. The flight to Montego Bay in Jamaica is being revived after a four-year gap, while services to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt were dropped last year when the company sold its GB Airways subsidiary to EasyJet. British Airways will this month also begin an experimental business-class-only service from London City airport to New York using two Airbus SAS A318 narrowbody planes.
The new service was announced on February 1 last year. The airline will scrap short-haul flights from Gatwick to Malta, Krakow in Poland, and to Alicante, Palma, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. British Airways will also screen its first UK television commercial for two years this month. The airline said it's taking advantage of a drop in advertising prices.
Source:
Financial Chronicle
Date-8 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
"Initial bookings are very encouraging, Richard Tams, head of UK sales," said in an interview. "We chose the routes carefully where we think demand will hold up," Tams said by telephone. "We don't normally have the aircraft available, so this has given us the opportunity to build some business there."
Passenger numbers fell 2.8 per cent in the five months through August, prompting British Airways to park 16 aircraft and cut capacity by 5 per cent for the coming October-March timetable. The carrier's new routes are targeted at upscale resorts catering to wealthier clients who are less likely to rein in spending in the recession, Tams said. "There is still a very healthy market in premium leisure," the executive said in the September 4 interview. The passengers are high-end travellers who not only want comfort at the resort but also on the way there. British Airways will deploy widebody Boeing 777 aircraft for the new routes. The service to Las Vegas will leave from London Heathrow and others from the UK capital's Gatwick airport. The flight to Montego Bay in Jamaica is being revived after a four-year gap, while services to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt were dropped last year when the company sold its GB Airways subsidiary to EasyJet. British Airways will this month also begin an experimental business-class-only service from London City airport to New York using two Airbus SAS A318 narrowbody planes.
The new service was announced on February 1 last year. The airline will scrap short-haul flights from Gatwick to Malta, Krakow in Poland, and to Alicante, Palma, Madrid and Barcelona in Spain. British Airways will also screen its first UK television commercial for two years this month. The airline said it's taking advantage of a drop in advertising prices.
Source:
Financial Chronicle
Date-8 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
Air Astana organises FAM trip for Indian travel trade to Astana and Almaty from September 7-12, 2009
In a bid to promote Kazakhstan as a tourist destination in the Indian market, Air Astana, which is the national carrier of Kazakhstan in association with Embassy of Kazakhstan has organised a FAM trip to Astana and Almaty for the Indian travel trade from September 7-12, 2009. Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan, while Almaty is the largest city and commercial centre.
The airline is taking 10 representatives from major tour companies and OTAs like SOTC, Cox & Kings, Raj Travels, Kesari Tours, Makemytrip etc. According Chander Mulchandani, Manager (Sales & Marketing), Air Astana in New Delhi, the main aim of the FAM trip is to create awareness about beautiful places in Kazakhstan and promote it as a MICE destination in India. As reported earlier by TravelBiz Monitor, the airline in association with Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA) will also organise a FAM trip for the Indian media in November this year.
Source:
Travelbizmonitor.com
Date-4 September 2009
Edition- National
http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-astana-organises-fam-trip-for-indian-travel-trade-to-astana-and-almaty-from-september-712-2009-8108
The airline is taking 10 representatives from major tour companies and OTAs like SOTC, Cox & Kings, Raj Travels, Kesari Tours, Makemytrip etc. According Chander Mulchandani, Manager (Sales & Marketing), Air Astana in New Delhi, the main aim of the FAM trip is to create awareness about beautiful places in Kazakhstan and promote it as a MICE destination in India. As reported earlier by TravelBiz Monitor, the airline in association with Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA) will also organise a FAM trip for the Indian media in November this year.
Source:
Travelbizmonitor.com
Date-4 September 2009
Edition- National
http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/air-astana-organises-fam-trip-for-indian-travel-trade-to-astana-and-almaty-from-september-712-2009-8108
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Jet starts Kochl Sharjah daily flight
Private carrier Jet Airways today launched a daily flight from Kochi to Sharjah in the Gulf and has deployed Boeing 737 aircraft for the purpose. This is Jet's fourth daily flight to the Gulf from Kochi. The carrier currently flies daily from Kochi to Doha, Kuwait and Muscat, it said in a statement. The airline also operates daily flights twice to Dubai from Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai, in addition to a daily flight to Abu Dhabi from Delhi and Mumbai.
Source:
The Hindu Business Line
Date-2 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
Source:
The Hindu Business Line
Date-2 September 2009
Edition- New Delhi
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