Aviation Insider

Articles giving aviation insights

Air India Employees Hold Their First Protest Against Airline’s Sale!

Last week, eight employee unions of Air India had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising the issue about disinvestment of the national airline and to look into an alternative plan to revive it. The letter also contained the concerns of the unions, about the possibility of the loss of jobs due to this disinvestment.

Building on that, a group of Air India employees held a meeting yesterday, at Air India’s Kalina office, to protest the sale of the airline. In this protest which lasted half an hour,the union told its staff member present at the office about the disadvantages of privatisation and the impact it will have on the jobs of the employees.

This was the first time that the Air India Forum had protested against the government’s decision to sell the 76% stake in Air India. There were Nine trade unions which took part in the protest meeting held during the lunch hour. Here are the Nine unions that are part of the Air India Forum –

  • Air Corporation Employees Union
  • All India Service Engineers Association
  • Air India Employees Union
  • Aviation Industry Employee Guild
  • Air India Aircraft Engineers Association
  • All India Aircraft Engineers Association
  • Air India Engineers Association
  • United Air India Officers Association
  • Aviation Industry Employees Guild

Together, the above-mentioned unions represent 10000 Air India employees.

The members of the union are protesting against this disinvestment because they feel that the airline is making operating profits and the government is selling the airline at the wrong time.They also feel that the airline is on its way to improve the financial conditions and operational capabilities. The airline has been consistent and is improving its overall performance. The airline has doubled its operating profit by earning Rs 298.03 crore in the 2016-17 financial year.

On March 28, the ministry came out with the preliminary information memorandum on Air India’s strategic disinvestment. The government plans to sell 76 percent stake in the national carrier and transfer the control over the management of it.

The proposed transaction would involve Air India, Air India Express and Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd, which is a joint venture between Air India and Singapore-based SATS Ltd.

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Only 6 Indian Airports Equipped To Defuse Bombs!

There were concerns about the aviation security and passenger safety after an audit was conducted by a parliamentary agency. The audit found out that only six out of  59 airports that are guarded by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) are fully equipped to defuse and dispose of explosives.

According to the audit, the Bomb Detection and Disposable Squad(BDDS) is operational at airports in Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Cochin. Chennai and Kolkata airports are taken care of by the Airport Authority of India, while in the remaining 4 cities the airports are run by private companies.

According to the rules of the Bureau for Civil Aviation Security(BCAS), for the BDDS to be operational, Airports require 28 pieces of equipment including explosive vapor detectors, bomb disposal suits, and remote-operated vehicles. The required equipment is available at only the six airports mentioned above. The CISF provides security cover to 59 airports out of 98 airports in  India that are operational.

According to the rules, even if one equipment is not available, the squad cannot be made functional. The CISF has written to the AAI, BCAS and civil aviation ministry, asking them to provide this crucial equipment as soon as possible.

The absence of a functional bomb disposal squad at the airport poses a potential risk to aviation security and passengers. The CISF has to take the help of a bomb disposal team from the nearest police station, in case there is a bomb scare or a threat. This causes a delay in the securities response to the bomb threat.

Kempagowda International Airport in Bengaluru, which is run under a private-public partnership, does not have a functional bomb detection and disposal squad. This is reported because the airport houses only 24 of the 28 equipment’s required.

According to the Bangalore International Airport Ltd(BIAL), the requirement of three of the four pieces of equipment is under deliberation with the Government. The fourth item has a long lead time and will be procured shortly.

Even the airports that operate under Airports Authority of India(AAI) lack some of the bomb diffusing equipment such as explosive vapor detectors and remote-operated vehicles. The AAI has procured 18-21 bomb detection and disposal squad equipment for 13 AAI airports, but they will be procuring the 2 pieces of equipment mentioned above and the squads will be operational by September this year at 18 AAI operated airports as part of the first phase. The remaining equipment for the airport will be purchased in phase 2.

CISF was created in 1969 and has been providing security to airports, government buildings, seaports and power plants amongst others. The Air Passenger Association Of India has been pushing the BCAS for a long time to give the CISF all the equipment required to protect and safeguard air passengers.

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#FLYSTRESSFREE Because Flying Is The Safest Way to Travel! Here’s Why!

Catastrophic events in air travel, like the tragedy of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (which disappeared along with its 239 passengers and crew) may explain why 1 in 10 people around the world either feel anxious or scared to fly.

Flight phobics are sometimes so afraid of air travel, they’ll even find alternative routes to their chosen destinations. But is it really safer to drive or to take a boat than it is to fly?

Spoiler alert: It’s not!

Tragic plane crashes are often highlighted by the media because they are so devastating, yet extremely rare. From the plane seats to the cabin air to the course and altitude of the flight, every decision in commercial aviation comes after careful consideration of its impact on safety.

To ease your fear of flying, we at AirWhizz have compiled a list of reasons why flying is the safest way to travel today.

1.STATISTICS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

According to a research conducted by Statistic Brain Research Institute in 2017, the odds of actually being involved in a plane crash is 1 in 29.5 million.

Despite some high-profile accidents in the past few years, the number of aircraft crashes has been steadily declining over the last 20 years, up to the point that 2017 had been declared one of the safest years in aviation history. There were no passenger jets crashes anywhere in the world in 2017, according to the research conducted by Dutch consultancy ‘To70’ and ‘The Aviation Safety Network’.

While plane crashes are often highlighted by the media, the occurrence is extremely rare. In fact, statistics suggest that you are more likely to meet with an accident driving to the airport than flying across the country.

2.FLYING IS ONLY GETTING SAFER

Ever since the Wright brothers invented the airplane in 1903, flying has only become safer!

From sturdy airplane designs to advanced cockpit technology and rigorous pilot training, airlines are investing heavily in passenger safety, making aircrafts safer, faster and more convenient for the passenger.

To put statistics into perspective, there have been two deaths per each 100 million passengers flying commercially over the past 10 years, which looks like a tiny fraction with the 30,000 plus deaths from motor vehicles that take place per year.

3.AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

While no one is helping you watch the road from behind your steering wheel, pilots have many eyes assisting them from take-off through landing with Air Traffic Control.

They rotate around the clock 24 hours a day using radar procedures to track the planes in the sky, give instructions, clearance and information about flight conditions. Your pilots are never the only people in charge of your safety in the air.

4.RIGOROUS TRAINING

If you have a license, think back to your driver’s test! A small test with a demonstration of steering, breaking and signalling while driving in a circle at the RTO.

Pilots don’t have it that simple.

They go through a rigorous training and certification processes. One must go to flight school and receive a license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation(DGCA). Most airline companies also require pilots to attend at least 2 years of college. There is an intense screening process to determine those licensed to fly. In case you did not know, many commercial aircrafts are also flown by ex-Indian Air Force pilots.

5.TECHNOLOGY

With the advancement in airline technology, Aircrafts make motor vehicles and ships look like vessels from the stone age.

Technology on airplanes controls almost the entire flight. Aircrafts contain turbulence detection programming that can predict the intensity, altitude and movement of turbulence. In addition, runway safety technology communicates between planes to warn pilots to stop if another plane or vehicle might be coming.

These technological improvements control all aspects of flying, from the runway to the cockpit. On top of that, they have a dedicated, professionally trained team to take control of this technology in case it develops a glitch.

6.NO RECKLESS FLYING

Unlike drivers, pilots don’t indulge in multitasking, talking on the phone or zig-zagging the plane while flying.

The airline industry has been made extremely cautious not to commit any errors, no matter how large or small. The entire group of pilots, regulators, and cabin crew possess extensive information about flying hazards, with the goal of preventing accidents rather than just reacting to them.

The pilot will not take flight unless he has been cleared and is positive the plane is safe to fly.

7.MONEY ON THE LINE

According to the International Air Transport Association(IATA), in 2017, almost $769 Billion was spent on aviation and air transport.

This reflects companies directly involved in commercial aviation and those working to apply the latest advances in science and engineering to help the industry achieve ever higher levels of safety. Clearly, a lot is riding on doing it right.

To make sure that flying remains safe, authorities and airlines have also established certain rules and regulations for passengers to follow such as turning off your cell phones to avoid any interference of communication caused between the pilot and the air traffic control tower.

So, if you want to play your part in keeping skies safe, download the AirWhizz app and make yourself aware of such air safety rules and regulations you must follow as a passenger. Apart from this, get real-time flight updates, information about airlines and things to do at the airport at your fingertips.

Fly Safe and Fly Stress-Free!

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Mumbai Airport To Remain Shut For 6 Hours On 9Th And 10Th Of April!

If your flights are scheduled to fly in and out of the Mumbai Airport on Monday and Tuesday, there is some news for you!

On April 9 and 10, flight operations at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai will be suspended, for six hours between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. This will surely cause air traffic congestion, which will lead to delays in flights on Tuesday.

As part of the pre-monsoon maintenance practice which happens every year,rubber deposits will be removed from the runway. The maintenance work will be done at the intersection of the main and secondary runway. Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) have already informed all airlines about the planned shutdown well in advance.

Air India will be cancelling 34 of its flights and diverting 4 of its flights mentioned below –

  • AI 611 and 612 (Mumbai- Jaipur) and vice versa,
  • AI 680 (Mumbai- Mangalore)
  • AI 696 (Varanasi- Mumbai)

In case you want to find out whether your Air India Flight has been cancelled or rescheduled click on the link below –

Air India Flight Schedules- https://book.airindia.in/itd/itd/lang/en/travel/schedules

Jet Airways will reschedule 17 international and 53 domestic flights and cancel six international and 64 domestic flights. Below are the links to know which flights have been cancelled and rescheduled of Jet Airways –

Cancelled Flights – https://www.jetairways.com/documents/flight-cancellations-1.pdf

Rescheduled Flights – https://www.jetairways.com/documents/revised-schedules-april18.pdf

Besides the Mumbai Airport, other airports have been scheduled to be closed for pre-monsoon maintenance. Here is a detailed list of the airports –

  • Chandigarh International Airport runway will be closed from May 12 to May 31.
  • Calicut International Airport runway will remain closed till June 15, 2018, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • The Jaipur International Airport runway will remain closed till May 31 from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
  • The Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport in Lucknow will be closed till June 30 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Still confused? Simply download the AirWhizz app and add your flight to get all the information about your flight along with real-time flight updates and schedules on your phone.

So go ahead, plan your schedule accordingly and Fly Stress-Free!

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Aviation Ministry To Increase Compensation For Passengers, Airlines Not Happy!

In a bid to safeguard air passenger rights and tackle the criticism about the government’s involvement in for passenger safety, the Civil Aviation Ministry has proposed that the compensation for loss of baggage or life in air accidents should be increased. They have also said that there should be a cap on the cancellation charges and passengers should get monetary benefits if they fail to board the airplane during connecting flights.

Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Jayant Sinha, tweeted on Wednesday saying that a preliminary discussion of two rounds was held with officials representing different airlines, airports and other stakeholders. This meeting has helped them to draft a passenger charter that they can place for consultation in the public domain.

Recently the ministry introduced a grievance redressal app and abolished the process of stamping passenger bags during airport security checks.

Below are the proposed changes to be made to the compensation structure for air passengers –

  • Passengers will be compensated between Rs 3000 to Rs 20000 for missed flight connections by the airlines
  • In cases of denied boarding, the ministry has suggested an on the spot auction and a minimum compensation of Rs 5000
  • Airlines will have to pay Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 per kg for loss, delay or damage to bags as a liability for both domestic and international travel
  • Airlines will have to compensate the passenger for missing a connecting flight due to the delay.
  • An airline is liable to pay up to Rs 10 million for a passenger death in international travel and Rs 200,000 in domestic travel.
  • The government also want airlines to not levy a fee for a change in name if a spelling error is pointed to by the passenger within 24 hours.
  • Airlines will have to print cancellation charges on the ticket

These changes proposed by the ministry have come under a lot of scrutiny. Airlines have rejected the government’s proposal for changing rules related to compensation given to passengers in case of flight cancellations and delays.

The Federation of Indian Airlines(FIA), which consists of IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and Jet Airways, has asked the government to continue with the current regulations because an increase in the compensation structure will lead to an increase in the airfare. It also said that infrastructure constraints at the airport are responsible for delays and cancellations and airlines cannot be held responsible.

The FIA has opposed to the decision to compensate passengers if they miss a connecting flight. According to the FIA, the airline cannot be held responsible for the passenger beyond the destination for which the ticket has been booked and whether the guest is booked on a different airline or has arranged a different mode of transport.

They have also opposed to the decision of not charging passengers for the change in spelling of the name beyond 24 hours as it may lead to misuse of airline seat inventory for tickets booked through travel agents and online travel sites.

Government officials said that the arguments submitted by airlines will be taken into consideration while drafting the passenger charter. This first draft will be placed in the public domain for consultation in the coming few days.

If you want to know about the different airline and compensation policies, Look no further! Download the AirWhizz App and get all the information related to airlines and their policies on the move.

Know your rights as a passenger and Fly Stress-Free!

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IndiGo No Longer Interested In Acquiring Air India!

India’s leading low-cost airline IndiGo, which is operated by InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, announced that they will not bid to acquire Air India’s entire airline business.

It is said that IndiGo was the first airline to show interest in buying Air India even before the government formally invited “Enquiries of Interest”.

The government has offered to sell 76% stake in Air India along with its subsidiary Air India Express and a 50% stake in AISATS, a ground-handling joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS).

According to the president and full-time director of IndiGo, Mr Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo has expressed its interest from the first day in the acquiring Air India’s international operations and Air India Express. However, that option is not available under the government’s current plan to sell Air India. He also stated that Indigo doesn’t have the required capacity or the capability to acquire the airline and revive its operations.

This will not affect IndiGo’s plan to start international flights. Promoters of the airline had made it clear that they will start flying internationally “with or without” Air India.

IndiGo has the largest domestic market share with a 39.9% share. In fact, IndiGo is the only Indian carrier which is qualified to bid based on the eligibility criteria. According to the criteria, an airline is eligible to bid  if it has a minimum net worth of ₹5,000 crore and has generated profits after tax in at least three of the immediately preceding five financial years.

IndiGo is now officially the second airline to pull out of the bid for Air India.SpiceJet’s promoter Ajay Singh said that the airline is too small to bid for Air India and pulled itself out in January. This leaves Jet Airways and Air Vistara to bid for Air India.

Experts say that if Air India, in its present situation is bought by an airline, it will need a huge capital investment, of $6-8 billion to start the bid and more to turn the airline around.

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Vistara Becomes Eligible To Fly Internationally After Receiving Its 20th Aircraft!

Vistara, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, has joined the list of elite Indian carriers, which fly to international destinations after receiving an Airbus A320neo, its 20th aircraft, on Wednesday.

Airlines in India need to have a minimum of 20 aircrafts to fly on international routes under the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016.

Vistara received its 20th aircraft and its seventh Airbus A320neo. Bank of China Aviation (BOC Aviation) leased this aircraft to Vistara. This addition to the Vistara’s fleet is a landmark for them. It shows that they are ready for the next phase and to expand its operations internationally.

Vistara’s new aircraft has a 158-seats which comprise of 8 business class seats,24 premium class seats, and 126 economy class seats with added first-class features of the A320 Neo aircraft.

Vistara has placed an order for two more A320neo aircraft in addition to its 20th aircraft. These airplanes are expected to be delivered by June 2018. This will surely enable the airline’s to operate on international routes. The company has achieved its target of 20 airplanes which was planned at the early stages when the airline was being set up. Vistara started operations in January 2015.

Vistara will use the new aircraft to increase their operations in Indian market while preparing for international operations which might start soon. Vistara currently serves 22 destinations with over 730 flights per week.

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Flying To Dubai Will Get More Expensive in 2019!

If you are planning to fly to Dubai next summer, be prepared to pay more for your flight tickets. Authorities at various Dubai airports have asked Indian carriers to reduce their capacities by half. This is being done because of the runway closure for 45-days from April 16, 2019. As a result, the airfare to Dubai will go up next summer.

Indian carriers flying to Dubai account for about 65,000 seats a week. The CEO of Dubai Airport, Mr. Paul Griffiths has asked the Indian authorities to reduce this number to half in a letter written by him in February. Dubai airlines, Emirates and  Fly Dubai have also been asked to make reductions in their flights flying from India.

According to the letter, The Dubai airport authorities have asked Emirates and Fly Dubai to reduce their total operations by 33 percent and airlines flying to the airport on a regular basis to reduce their capacities by 50 percent. The letter, however, said that the 33% reduction by the Dubai based airlines will contribute to 55% of the airport’s total cuts.

This decision by the Dubai airport has been met with much criticism as Indian carriers feel that reductions in the number of seats is not equal and discriminatory. India has been generous to Dubai when it comes to bilateral traffic rights. According to officials working with Indian carriers, this situation is not new and airlines in India have faced this kind of treatment when they got the least desired slots during slot allocation in 2016.

Dubai airport officials, in March, had announced that the closure will happen from April 16th-May 30th next year because of maintenance work and installation of upgrades. Flights will be diverted to Al Maktoum International airport during this period. These upgrades are being done to increase the safety and capacity of the runway.

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