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Jet Airways To Revise Baggage Rules From July 2018!

AirWhizzJun 16, 2018 No Comments

Jet Airways To Revise Baggage Rules From July 2018!

Aviation Insider

India’s second largest airline, Jet Airways, announced on Friday that they will be revising their baggage rules from 15th July 2018.

The airline has said that they will be changing their baggage policy from the ‘Weight’ concept to ‘Piece’ concept for check-in luggage on all their domestic flights.

Here are the details of the revised baggage policy-

  • For economy class passengers, the airline will allow only one free check-in bag which does not exceed 15kg.
  • Business or ‘Premiere’ class passengers can carry 2 check-in bags for free which do not exceed 30 kgs (15kg per bag)
  • ‘Jet Platinum’ members who are travelling in the economy class can carry 2 bags, with a maximum weight of 15kg per bag.
  • ‘Jet Platinum’ members travelling in the ‘Premiere’ class have been allowed two bags not exceeding 25kg per bag.
  • The new rules won’t apply to those who have bought their tickets before 15th June 2018.

Currently, passengers flying on domestic routes have a restriction on the weight of the luggage and not on the number of bags they can carry. Jet Airways will be the first airline in India to implement this system.

The concept of free baggage allowance based on the number of bags is a popular concept in countries like the United States and most international airlines follow this. In fact, many airlines in India follow this rule when they fly internationally.

This move will benefit the airline because, with lesser bags to load, the flight will be able to take-off quickly. Also, it will free up space in the belly-hold of the aircraft, which can be utilized for carrying extra cargo and in the process, increase their revenue.

*Learn more about different ‘Airline Baggage Rules In India’

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Government Plans To Sell 100% Stake In Air India!

AirWhizzJun 13, 2018 No Comments

Government Plans To Sell 100% Stake In Air India!

Aviation Insider

After an unsuccessful attempt to sell 76% stake in Air India last month, the government is reconsidering its terms and might sell the airline’s entire 100 % stake.

Government’s transaction advisors, Ernst & Young, conducted an analysis and found out that there were four reasons why no one bid for Air India –

  • The reluctance of the government to sell 100% shares of the airline.
  • The clause to retain over 27000 employees for a year.
  • The buyer taking over 61% (Rs 33,392 crore) of the total debt of the airline.
  • Keeping the operations of the airline independent of the buyer’s business for at least 3 years.

EY has said that the biggest reason for the failed disinvestment bid was the government’s clause to hold a minority stake in the airline after the sale.

The Government will review EY’s report and take a call. A group of secretaries will hold a meeting to discuss the terms of Air India’s disinvestment. Based on their decision the Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM), a group of ministers headed by Mr. Arun Jaitley, will do what is necessary.

According to one of the officials, Air India sale will be decided on the political will of the government. He also said that there is no reason that the deal should be called off, however, it will all depend on AISAM’s decision.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to lend Rs 32 Billion to Air India as part of the bailout package that was announced in April 2012. Till now the airline has received Rs 260 Billion under this clause.

A few days back the airline had asked for short-term loans from banks to handle its day to day operations, but banks such as Dena Bank, Standard Chartered Bank & Allahabad Bank have already refused to extend their line of credit.

Aviation Experts have asked the government to take bold steps to sell Air India, citing that a massive debt burden might cause the airline to close down.

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Top Low-Cost Airlines That Fly Out Of India!

AirWhizzJun 11, 2018 No Comments

Top Low-Cost Airlines That Fly Out Of India!

Travel Like a Pro

We all have, at some point, dreamt of travelling abroad, but expensive international airfares make us turn our heads to the beaches of Goa or the mountains in Himachal instead.

But, what if we told you that you can fly out of India at a price which costs less than your mobile phone?

Unbelievable right!

To help you plan your next holiday, we bring to you a list of airlines which offer international travel that suits your wallet!

1.AIR ASIA

Operates From: Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia

Price: Starting at Rs 6990*

Started in 2001, this Southeast Asian airline has been named the best low-cost airline in the world by Skytrax for the last 9 years.

AirAsia offers you a very comfortable flying experience with exceptional service at an affordable rate.

They offer a wide selection of food & beverages onboard and have an amazing in-flight entertainment system which you can view on your personal tab.

2.MALINDO AIR

Operates From : Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Amritsar, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Perth.

Price : Starting at Rs 10000*

Malindo Air flew its inaugural flight in 2013 and is headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.

The airline offers a personal TV with a wide selection of in-flight entertainment on every seat, free wi-fi, light snacks, free meal and a lot of leg room for passengers in economy as well as business class.

Another benefit of flying with Malindo is that you can avail discounts at Malindo Air’s partner outlets by showing them your boarding pass.

3.FLY DUBAI

Operates From : Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, Kochi and Lucknow

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Istanbul, Zanzibar, Moscow, Vienna, Prague, Amman, Doha and Beirut

Price : Starting from Rs 6500*

People don’t generally associate Dubai with anything that is low-cost, thanks to its reputation as a luxurious city.

But you will be surprised about the fact that it offers affordable travel to almost 90 destinations across Asia, Africa and Europe from India.

A full meal service is offered on long-haul flights with the option to purchase alcoholic beverages and additional snacks.

You will also be pampered with In-flight entertainment with a wide selection of movies and Tv shows which is available for pre-purchase.

4.SCOOT

Operates From : Jaipur, Amritsar, Lucknow, Kochi, Hyderabad and Chennai

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Macau, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Gold Coast

Price: Starting from Rs 10000*

This award-winning budget carrier, is a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, which has recently started operating in India.

Previously, Tigerair used to operate flights from India to more than 41 destinations in Asia and Australia till 2017, however now it flies as Scoot.

They have an In-flight entertainment system called “Scoot TV” which is the most unique service offered by the airline.

You get to choose from over 100 movies and Tv shows, which you can watch on your personal laptop, tablet or mobile using free wi-fi.

5.AIR ARABIA

Operates From : Mumbai, Delhi, Goa, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kochi

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Russia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Turkey, Qatar and Kenya

Price : Starting from Rs 6000*

The Sharjah based airline offers great deals on flights from India to holiday destinations in Asia, Africa and Europe.

The airline has one of the best loyalty programs amongst other airlines in the region and offers you maximum value for the points earned.

They also have a very unique program known as ‘Fun Onboard’ where passengers can showcase their talents on the flight.

6.INDIGO

Operates From: Mumbai ,Bangalore, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Singapore, Kathmandu, Muscat, Dubai, Doha, Colombo, Bangkok and Sharjah

Price : Starting from Rs 7500*

IndiGo was one of the first low-cost airlines in India to ferry passengers abroad and is the biggest airline in the country.

Being a low-cost carrier it offers only economy class seats.

There is no wi-fi or Inflight entertainment, however, it has one of the best on-time performances and is very pocket-friendly.

You can get your snacks along with you onboard but you also have the option to buy food if you are in a mood to spend.

So if you’re looking to reach your destination without major delays and don’t really care about the fancy amenities that airlines generally provide, IndiGo is a very good option.

7.SPICEJET

Operates From : Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Male’, Muscat, Colombo, Bangkok, Dubai, Dhaka And Kabul

Price: Starting from Rs 7500*

The second biggest Low-cost airline in India has been flying internationally since 2010 and is different from traditional budget carriers.

The airline offers Its “SpiceMax” members premium services such as pre-assigned seats with extra leg-room, priority check-in/boarding/baggage handling and complimentary meals.

8.AIR INDIA EXPRESS

Operates From :Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Amritsar, Lucknow, Jaipur, Varanasi, Kolkata and Chandigarh

Popular Holiday Destinations It Flies To : Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, Muscat, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Riyadh and Dhaka

Price: Starting from Rs 7000*

Air India Express is the low-cost subsidiary of Air India and is known for connecting Tier 2 cities to international destinations with their flights.

You have a choice between Indian and continental cuisine onboard with complimentary liquor/wine, which you can have while watching your choice of in-flight entertainment.

If you want to know more about the different services offered by your airline, look no further. Simply download the AirWhizz App to get information regarding different airline rules, policies and services on your fingertips and fly stress-free!

* Please note that all prices mentioned here are only indicative. They are meant to give you a general idea. For the actual price and service details please refer to the information displayed on the airline’s official website or online travel portals.

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Air India Seeks Rs 1000 Crore To Manage Day To Day Operations!

AirWhizzJun 08, 2018 No Comments

Air India Seeks Rs 1000 Crore To Manage Day To Day Operations!

Aviation Insider

With the Air India disinvestment falling into shambles, it seems like the debt-ridden airline can’t catch a break.

The airline is looking for a 1000 crore short-term loan to manage its day to day operations. The airline is cash-strapped and has not paid its 11000 employees their salaries for the last 3 months.

The airline has released a bid document, requesting banks to provide them with a loan and put their financial bids by 13th June. The short-term loan will be for a duration of one year from the date of availing the loan but, they can renew their loan after this period.

The airline has borrowed a total of Rs 6700 Crore from various banks between September 2017 and January 2018 to manage their working capital requirements and other needs.

Air India till now has received Rs 26000 Crore under the bailout package which was announced by the former UPA government back in 2012. The bailout clause said that Air India will get a total of Rs Rs 30,231 crore till 2021 if they can achieve their targets set by the UPA government.

The airline has been getting this money despite not achieving its targets. In 2016-2017 Air India recorded a loss of Rs 3643 crore and it is projected that in 2017-2018 it will suffer losses of Rs 3579.

The Government had agreed to sell 76% stake in Air India last year in June, but they received no bids for the national Carrier despite the fact that the date for submitting bids had been extended to 31st May 2018.

According to Civil Aviation Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, the future course of action for the Air India disinvestment will be decided by Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM), a group of ministers headed by Union Minister Arun Jaitley, in due course of time.

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Singapore Airlines Will Re-Launch The World’s Longest Flight!

AirWhizzJun 02, 2018 No Comments

Singapore Airlines Will Re-Launch The World’s Longest Flight!

Aviation Insider

Singapore Airlines announced this week that they will relaunch the world’s longest flight, from Singapore to New York, in October.

Here are all the details about it –

  • The airline will fly from Singapore’s Changi International Airport to the Newark Liberty International Airport in New York.
  • The aircraft will cover a distance of 16,700 Km in 19 hours, making it the longest flight, by duration, in the world.
  • Singapore Airlines will use the long-range Airbus A350 – 900ULR for this route. The airline has ordered 7 of these airplanes with the first one arriving in September and the rest 6 by end of this year.
  • This aircraft is configured to carry 161 passengers with 67 seats in Business Class and 94 seats in Premium Economy. This flight does not have an Economy Class.
  • The airline will launch their flights on this route from 11th October 2018.

Till 2013, the airline used to regularly operate its flights to Newark Airport but had to stop owing to the rising fuel costs, which made flying their previous jets, Airbus A340 – A550, uneconomical. Since then it has flown to JFK Airport in New York via Frankfurt.

Currently, the record for the longest flight is held by Qatar Airways Flight 921 from Auckland to Doha, which takes 17 hours 40 minutes.

With no economy class on this flight, the airline is looking to tap into the premium market and wants to promote their brand amongst wealthy customers. The airline has said that they have plans of flying non-stop from Singapore to Los Angeles using the same airplane.

This decision will help Singapore Airlines fetch more revenue, since long-haul flights often make more cash than flights with more than one stop and make a mark in the highly competitive international aviation market.

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No Bids For Air India As Deadline Expires!

AirWhizzJun 01, 2018 No Comments

No Bids For Air India As Deadline Expires!

Aviation Insider

The government’s plan to sell Air India has come to an unfortunate end as no buyers have shown interest in the national carrier.

The Civil Aviation Ministry published a tweet at 5 p.m. yesterday, saying that transaction advisors (Ernst & Young) have informed them that they have not received a response to the Expression of Interest (EoI) for the disinvestment for Air India.

Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr. R N Choubey, had released a statement saying that the May 31st deadline set by the government will not be extended and was confident that they will receive bids for the airline.

The deadline for potential buyers to submit a response was extended from 14th May 2018 to 31st May 2018.

Here are some of the reasons that may have put off potential buyers –

  • The new buyer would have had to take over 61 percent (or Rs 33,392 crore) of the debt burden.
  • They would have had to accommodate Air India’s 27000 strong-workforce.
  • The Government would have retained 24% stake in the airline.
  • A rise in crude oil prices globally.
  • The general elections being held in 2019.

Industry experts have said that the government needs to tweak its terms of sale if they want the airline to be privatized, however, with only a few months left to the general elections, the possibility of that happening is looking bleak. They have also said that offering the entire equity would be a wiser option as private players want no government intervention.

The government will take Inputs from Ernst & Young on what went wrong and will decide what further action has to be taken.

They will also discuss the airline’s expansion plan about adding more airplanes and routes to their network, which were put on hold due to the planned disinvestment.

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Airlines Unhappy About New Air Passenger Charter!

AirWhizzMay 26, 2018 No Comments

Airlines Unhappy About New Air Passenger Charter!

Aviation Insider

A few days back the government proposed a new passenger charter for changes in the rights of air travellers in India.

Airlines in India, however, have shown their displeasure towards these proposed changes saying that if new rules are implemented, it will lead to a rise in airfares.

According to experts, these rules will have a massive impact on air ticket prices since airfares in India are already at a lower level as compared to other countries. They have said that the government has to decide whether they want air travel to be accessible to the common man or treat aviation as a luxury sector.

Airlines are opposed to the rules regarding relaxation in cancellation charges. Currently, every airline has a cancellation policy of their own. For example –

  • IndiGo charges its passengers a minimum of Rs 3000 on cancelling flight tickets
  • In case of GoAir, a passenger has to pay Rs 2950 for cancelling the ticket within 2 hours of the flight’s departure time.

Airlines like Vistara and Jet Airways allow their passengers to modify or make cancellations for free within 24 hours of booking the ticket, but the government is looking to make this a standard rule across all airlines in India.

Airlines have come out strongly against the proposed changes in compensation for loss or damage of passenger baggage as well. According to the government’s proposal –

  • The airline has to pay Rs 3000 Per Kg for loss of baggage.
  • For damaged baggage, the airline has to compensate Rs 2000 per kg.

Airlines claim that the compensation for loss is 10 times that of what a passenger pays for excess luggage and these rules may lead to scams. It may lead to a situation where a passenger can tell another person to pick up their bag and claim it as lost.

This latest development can slow down the government’s plan to empower air travellers and safeguard their rights against flight cancellations, delays or other inconveniences caused by the airline.

The passenger charter has been published on ministry’s website for public consultation. The public has a 30-day window to put in their recommendations and the new norms will be released by 15th July 2018.

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