Indian Aviation

DGCA details certification requirements for vertical take-off, landing

This circular has been issued after extensive interaction with all concerned stakeholders

Defence ministry, HAL sign Rs 26,000 cr pact for Su-30MKI jets' engines

The Defence Ministry on Monday sealed a Rs 26,000-crore deal with state-run aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) for the procurement of 240 aero-engines for Su-30MKI aircraft. The aero-engines will be manufactured by the Koraput division of HAL and are expected to fulfil the Indian Air Force's need to sustain the operational capability of the Su-30 fleet. In a major boost to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Defence Ministry signed a contract with HAL for 240 AL-31FP aero engines for Su-30MKI aircraft at a cost of over Rs 26,000 crore, an official readout said. The contract agreement was inked by the senior officials of the ministry and the HAL in the presence of Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari.

Tata aviation cuts losses by Rs 9,077 cr in FY24, Air India revenue up 24%

Air India, which was privatised in 2022, achieved its highest consolidated revenue of Rs 51,365 crore for FY24, marking a 24 per cent rise from the prior year

What's a CUTE fee, asks IndiGo passenger; check breakdown of flight ticket

A passenger travelling from Lucknow to Bengaluru has expressed his frustration over the numerous charges 'levied by IndiGo', asking if the CUTE fee is charged for being cute

Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak to address discrepancies in aviation law: Govt

The government on Thursday said the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill 2024, which seeks to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act, would address the current discrepancies in the aviation law and help the industry grow. Speaking during a discussion on the Bill in the Lok Sabha, Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu underscored the need for the new legislation, noting that the Aircraft Act, 1934 has become outdated due to its numerous amendments over the years. The Bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 31, is intended to "regulate various aspects of the aviation industry, including the design, manufacture, maintenance, operation, and sale of aircraft". Naidu explained that the 1934 Act had undergone 21 amendments, resulting in ambiguities and contradictions, particularly regarding the powers and functions of internal organizations like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He pointed out that these issues have created confusion within the aviation sector, ..

HAL aims to deliver first LCA Mark 1A by Aug 15; GE engine supply by Sept

The aircraft was first planned to be delivered to the IAF by February-March timeframe this year but the schedule has been shifting for one reason or another

India to double airports to 300 by 2047 amid surging passenger traffic

AAI's draft plan indicates 70 airstrips could be developed into airports capable of handling narrow-body aircraft such as the A320 or B737, while 40 airstrips could be upgraded for smaller aircraft

Air India likely to offer voluntary separation scheme for 600 employees

Air India will introduce a Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) for around 600 employees whose roles may become redundant due to the merger with Vistara

Tata airlines complete harmonising operating process ahead of merger

Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Group (51 per cent) and Singapore Airlines (49 per cent), is being integrated into Air India to create a single full-service carrier

Aviation market big enough for Akasa Air to succeed: CEO Vinay Dube

As Akasa Air spreads its wings on domestic and international routes, the less-than-two-year-old airline's chief Vinay Dube has said he does not think about competition in encouraging or discouraging terms, as the aviation market is "big enough for us to succeed". The carrier, which took to the skies in August 2022, currently has a fleet of 24 Boeing 737 MAX planes and operates more than 900 flights weekly. While emphasising that the focus is on service excellence and cost leadership, Dube said the airline is looking for network and international expansion. "I don't think about competition and certainly don't think about it in encouraging or discouraging terms. If we focus on ourselves, the market is big enough for us to succeed," he told PTI in a recent interview. In response to the query on whether current competition is encouraging, Dube said, "We don't spend so much time focused on what competition is doing unless we have things we can learn from... what can be improved upon...

Budget 2024: Aviation sector gears up for expansion, DGCA funds reduced

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is budgeted to receive Rs 302.64 crore, down from Rs 397.55 crore in the revised estimates for 2023-24

Air India passenger recounts dirty seats, uncooked food on flight to Newark

In a social media post, the business-class passenger alleged delayed takeoff, unclean and non-functional seats, and to make the experience even worse, he was served uncooked food onboard the flight

Chargesheets to cabin crew can be detrimental: Air India Express Union

The Air India Express Employees Union (AIXEU) has termed the alleged issuance of charge-sheet by the airline's management to around 200-odd cabin crew members for reporting sick during last month's strike as unfortunate and unfair labour practice. In a letter to Air India Express chief Alok Singh on Sunday, the Union also warned the Tata Group-run airline's management that such actions could be detrimental to the interests of the company and its passengers. According to Union sources, the charge-sheet was issued to around 200 cabin crew members on June 5, with a deadline of 72 hours to file a response. Around 200 cabin crew members of Air India Express went on strike on May 7, to protest against the alleged mismanagement in the airline, resulting in cancellation of hundreds of flights. Consequently, the airline management terminated the services of 25 cabin crew members and warned the others to join work or else face the same action. Three days later, the strike was called off aft

Akasa on path to profitability; will launch more int'l flights: Co-founder

Akasa Air is well on the path to profitability and will fly to more international destinations, including in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to its Co-Founder Aditya Ghosh. In less than two years of taking to the skies, Akasa Air has a fleet of 24 planes and has more than 4,000 employees. In an interview to PTI in the national capital, Ghosh, who has donned multiple and diverse roles during his career, said that airlines are becoming more of a consumption story in India. "We will increasingly see it as consumer-focused businesses where the learnings which are there from ecommerce companies will help us address the needs and behaviour of consumers better in the transportation business," he said. Among other roles, he had served as IndiGo's President and Whole Time Director for ten years till 2018. When a customer-focused and employee-centric organisation is being built, it is also important to build a financially sustainable business, Ghosh said and emphasised that Akasa A

Go Air crisis: Central Bank set to auction Wadia's land for Rs 1,965 cr

Over 94 acres of land will be sold under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act 2002

Air India in 'good position', to retrofit over 100 planes: CEO Wilson

Air India will be retrofitting more than 100 planes, including 40 wide body planes, and has ordered around 25,000 aircraft seats as part of revamping the fleet, its chief Campbell Wilson said on Wednesday. Emphasising that "plenty of things" are going on as part of the transformation at Air India, Wilson said the focus is on integration, growth, optimisation and customer experience. As part of Tata Group consolidating its aviation business, AIX Connect, formerly AirAsia India, is getting merged with Air India Express and Vistara with Air India. There is "immense flexibility" for the group whether it is full or low cost services and "we are in a good position," the Air India CEO and MD said at the CAPA India Aviation Summit here. According to him, Air India will be retrofitting more than 100 aircraft and has also ordered around 25,000 seats as part of retrofitting the planes. About costs for the airline industry, Wilson said airfares have been underperforming overall inflation. Ai

Govt to develop more airstrips, calibrate airport rules, says official

The civil aviation ministry is looking at developing more airstrips as well as calibrating regulations for major and small airports to boost air connectivity, a senior official said on Wednesday. India is one of the fastest growing civil aviation markets in the world, with domestic air traffic on the rise and airlines expanding their fleet as well as operations. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said the number of airports in the country has increased to 157 from 74 in the last ten years. The ministry has reviewed the full list of 453 airstrips in the country and around 157 of them are operational, he said and added that more airstrips would be developed as brownfield projects. Also, efforts will be made to jointly develop more defence airfields for civil aircraft operations. Speaking at the CAPA India Aviation Summit 2024 in the national capital, the secretary said the ministry would look at calibrating regulations for major and small airports. These are steps aimed at

Indian airlines poised to capture 50% of country's international travel mkt

The improvement would be driven by Indian airlines deploying additional aircraft and adding new routes in the international segment

Delhi HC asks SpiceJet to pay Rs 50 cr or face grounding of two engines

Justice Pratibha Singh instructed the SpiceJet counsel to obtain guidance by May 3 regarding the feasible time period for SpiceJet to pay Rs 50 crore to its lessors

Cheaper air fares? New DGCA guideline to make flying more affordable

The new DGCA guidelines require airlines to offer these services as "opt-in" options. This means the base fare will not automatically include these charges, and passengers can choose to add them on on