Lifting Times

	Kingfisher Airlines to launch flights from India to Thailand Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Kingfisher Airlines has announced the launch of daily direct flights between Kolkata and Bangkok from August 14, 2009. After London, Colombo, Dhaka and Dubai, Bangkok will be the fifth international destination on the international route network of Kingfisher Airlines.
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	DGCA warns of action against airlines for not distributing Health Screening Card to the passengers on board Wednesday, 12 August 2009
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has written to all airlines operating international air services to/from India asking for compliance to its instructions regarding distribution of Health Screening Card to the passengers on board. It has warned of appropriate action against airlines which fail to comply with the DGCA directions.
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	Air Transport Association says FAA Crew Training proposal unworkable Wednesday, 12 August 2009
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, yesterday filed comments expressing serious and broad concerns about a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposed regulation that would rewrite pilot, flight attendant, flight engineer and dispatcher training requirements. In particular, ATA believes that the proposal could adversely impact current ‘best practice’ training programs – a result neither the FAA nor the industry want to see.
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	Jet Airways announces the launch of weekly twice Bangkok – Gaya – Varanasi flights Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Jet Airways will connect the Thai capital of Bangkok with Gaya and Varanasi, two important Indian cities on the famed Buddhist circuit, effective October 6, 2009.
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	Air Traffic India - an update Tuesday, 11 August 2009
The total domestic passengers carried by Scheduled Indian Carriers in June 2009 were 3.69 million against 3.93 million in May 2009.
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	Tourism sector registers positive growth during July 2009 in India Monday, 10 August 2009
Ministry of Tourism compiles monthly estimates of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) and Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEE) from tourism on the basis of data received from major airports. Following are the important highlights as regards these two important indicators of tourism sector.
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	Air India embarks on a turnaround Plan Saturday, 08 August 2009
Global Aviation Industry is currently going through the most difficult phase. Airlines have collectively lost over US $10.4 billion last year, and are estimated to lose a further US $9 billion this year, of which US $2 billion (Rs 10,000 crores) will be the share of Indian carriers. With Air India operating in a global environment, the national carrier has been impacted as adversely as other airlines the world over.
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	SpiceJet website is 3D compliant Friday, 07 August 2009
In compliance with the RBI mandate of making on line transactions more secure, SpiceJet website has been 3D compliant from August 1, 2009. This means that credit card transactions through our website are now more secure and safe. Consumers purchasing tickets online can log on to spicejet.com and provide relevant details for authentication and registration.
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	Airport Charges in India among the lowest in the World: APAO Friday, 07 August 2009
: Recently there has been a lot of discussion about the state of the airlines and their operating cost structure in the current economic environment. The Association of Private Airports Operators (APAO) wishes to clarify the misconception that airport charges in India are amongst the highest in the world.
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	90 percent increase in passenger air traffic and 85 per cent increase in services to & from India in past 5 years Friday, 07 August 2009
There has been an increase of around 85 per cent in services per week to/from India by foreign airlines over the past 5 years.
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	Jet Airways begins inaugural service to Riyadh Thursday, 06 August 2009
Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, today launched its inaugural service to Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from the Indian financial capital of Mumbai.
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	Cathay Pacific announces 2009 Interim Results Thursday, 06 August 2009
The Cathay Pacific Group reported a profit of HK$812 million for the first six months of 2009. This compares to a loss of HK$760 million in the first half of 2008. Earnings per share rose by HK39.9 cents to HK20.6 cents. The profit declared is primarily a result of a HK$2.1 billion unrealised mark-to-market fuel hedging gain.
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	Approval for GSAT-10 Communication Satellite Thursday, 06 August 2009
The Union Cabinet today approved undertaking design and development of GSAT-10 spacecraft at a cost of Rs.735.00 crores with a Foreign Exchange component of Rs.634.00 crores.
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	Tiger Airways to increase its frequency from Singapore to Bangalore, from four to five times a week Wednesday, 05 August 2009
Low cost airline, Tiger Airways is set add another flight to Bangalore from Oct 25, increasing its frequency from four to five times a week.
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	Etihad set to fly to Hyderabad in November Wednesday, 05 August 2009
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is to boost its Indian flying programme with the addition of Hyderabad to its expanding global network.
More » Emirates becomes world’s largest Boeing 777 operator Wednesday, 05 August 2009 Emirates has become the world’s largest airline operator of Boeing 777 aircraft with the arrival of its 78th Boeing 777 today. More » India and Singapore sign Joint Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation Tuesday, 04 August 2009 India and Singapore signed a Joint Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation here today. At the signing ceremony, the Indian side was represented by Shri Sujit Banerjee, Secretary (Tourism), Government of India, while the Singapore side was represented by Shri Lawrence Leong Yue Kheong, Assistant Chief Executive of International Group, Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore. More » Jade Cargo International expands partnership with Air Logistics Group in India and the Middle East Monday, 03 August 2009 Jade Cargo International and Air Logistics Group have entered into agreement to further expand their partnership. In August 2009, Air Logistics will assume the role of General Sales and Service Agent for Jade Cargo in India and the Middle East. More » Bombardier Signs Airline for five Q400 NextGen Airliners Monday, 03 August 2009 Bombardier Aerospace announced today that it has received a signed, firm order for five Q400 NextGen turboprop airliners. The airline which placed the order has requested to remain undisclosed at this time, and has also taken options on an additional five Q400 NextGen aircraft. More » Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) half year 2009 traffic results Monday, 03 August 2009 Preliminary figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) showed that its member airlines carried a total of 9.9 million international passengers in June, 16.5% fewer than in the same month last year. More » Airport Council International Monthly Traffic Statistics - June 2009 Sunday, 02 August 2009 Airports Council International reports that global traffic in June 2009 was down by 5 percent compared to June 2008. Although markedly lower than June 2008, this is a clear improvement over the 8 percent slump recorded in May. More » Yashwant Bhave takes over as Chairperson, AERA Saturday, 01 August 2009 Shri Yashwant S. Bhave today took over as the first Chairperson of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA). With the joining of Shri Bhave, AERA is likely to commence its regulatory functions within the next few months. More » DGCA writes to all airlines to report compliance of civil aviation rule regarding flight cancellation within 48 hrs Saturday, 01 August 2009 In view of media reports relating to suspension of flights by private airlines on 18th of August09 the DGCA has written the following letter to select private airlines. More » ATF prices increased by over 1.6%, effective August01, 2009 Saturday, 01 August 2009 Indian Oil Corp., the largest supplier of jet fuel in the country, has increased fuel prices by over 1.6% for domestic airlines, and slashed by over 2.68% for international airlines, effective August 01, 2009. On July 16, 2009, jet fuel prices were slashed by over 5.5%. The last price cut were preceded by two consecutive increases in price, by over 6% on July 01, 2009, and by 12% on June 16, for domestic airlines. More »