SriLankan Flagship Airlines explores viability of Vizag operations

They are likely to start by flying a 120-seater airfraft
In view of a large number of Sri Lankan employees working in Brandix and the opening up of the airport to international flights, a team of officials of Sri Lankan Airlines visited Vizag on Tuesday to explore the possibility of flying out of here.

Regional Manager of Indian Sub-Continent of Sri Lankan Airlines Lalith de Silva and Revenue Optimisation Manager of the airlines Dinesh Pathirana went around the city interacting with leading tour operators and persons from the hospitality industry.

Visibly impressed by the view of the hills and the sea, the regional manager felt that this could be a good tourist destination to promote. As there are no direct international flights from the city, it is difficult to get the actual data of how many travellers are heading to international destinations, Dinesh Pathirana said.

Tour operators

He was keen to gather information from the tour operators on the tickets they were issuing and group tours they were organising to international destinations.

The Brandix India Apparel City flies special cargo flights from the city and it also has a large number of Sri Lankan employees, director of Vihar Hospitality Mantri Seshagiri told the team during an interaction.

Also there are food processing units and pharma companies in the region which fly their cargo to international destinations, another director of Vihar Hospitality L. Kiran Kumar said. The team felt they could start their operations by flying the 120 seater aircraft as 60-70 per cent occupancy was sufficient to make it viable.

The airlines is likely to use the smaller aircraft of its subsidiary Air Lanka for its flights to the port city.

Indian shares hit 7-mth closing high; airlines jump on FDI hopes Reuters India BSE rises 0.82 pct, NSE gains 0.76 pct * Potential airline measures cement reform hopes * Fed meeting outcome on Thursday seen key By Abhishek Vishnoi MUMBAI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - India's BSE index rose for a sixth consecutive session to close at its ... See all stories on this topic »

Airports, airline spar over funding self check-in kiosks Times of India NEW DELHI: In yet another indicator of the frail financial health of Indian aviation, airlines and airports are currently engaged in a debate over who should pay for installing self check-in kiosks at airports. The "who's poorer" argument broke out ... See all stories on this topic »

Frontier is latest airline to sidestep online travel agencies with direct ... Washington Post Frontier Airlines is the latest carrier to jump into the fight, announcing Wednesday that it will penalize passengers who don't book directly with the airline. Those fliers won't be able to get seat assignments until check-in. And they'll pay more in ... See all stories on this topic »

Consumer forum asks airlines to pay for deficient service Daily News & Analysis The Consumer Education Research Society (CERS) came to the rescue of a passenger who had to pay from his own pocket due to the alleged deficient service of SpiceJet Airlines. According to a release by CERS, SpiceJet refused to compensate for the stay ... See all stories on this topic »

Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh hopeful of FDI in sector Economic Times Shares in Indian airlines, including SpiceJet, rose early on Wednesday after a newspaper report said the government is preparing measures to potentially allow foreign investment in the sector. Under the current rules, foreign airlines are barred from ... See all stories on this topic »

Sri Lankan Airlines explores viability of Vizag operations The Hindu In view of a large number of Sri Lankan employees working in Brandix and the opening up of the airport to international flights, a team of officials of Sri Lankan Airlines visited Vizag on Tuesday to explore the possibility of flying out of here ... See all stories on this topic » The Hindu

SkyWest signs on with American Airlines to operate American Eagle flights Dallas Morning News (blog) As expected, SkyWest will begin operating as an American Eagle carrier this fall out of Los Angeles International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. SkyWest announced Wednesday that it has signed a four-year “capacity purchase ... See all stories on this topic »

Europe considers suspending airline emissions charge The Guardian China and India have prohibited their airlines from participating in the European trading system (ETS) because it will require airlines that fly to and from Europe to buy permits for all the carbon they emit en route, a measure they say infringes on ... See all stories on this topic » The Guardian

Problems dogging new high-tech air traffic system Businessweek Lacking return on their investment, airlines are reluctant to continue making the multibillion-dollar equipment upgrades needed for the new system to work. After years of delays and cost overruns, the FAA has improved its handling of the modernization ... See all stories on this topic »

Airlines Sometimes Share the Blame for Slow TSA Screening Processes, Deputy ... HSToday The airline industry shares some of the blame for sometime slow processes in airport screening, the deputy administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) told a House panel Tuesday. Long security checkpoint lines at specific US ... See all stories on this topic »

SBI Mutual Fund inks marketing pact with Ratnakar Bank

Mutual fund assets cross Rs 7.5 lakh cr mark Business Today The mutual fund industry clocked a 3 per cent growth in its average assets under management (AAUM) to touch Rs 7.53 lakh crore in August on the back of higher inflows into liquid and income funds, Crisil said on Wednesday. This was the first time since ... See all stories on this topic » Business Today

Mutual funds lose 4.6 lakh equity folio in August Business Standard A day after industry body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi) in its latest monthly data showed higher redemptions from equity schemes at Rs 2,300 crore, statistics released by the capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of ... See all stories on this topic »

Mutual fund industry's AUM crosses Rs 7.5 trillion, says Crisil Economic Times As per the latest numbers released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks' investments inmutual funds have increased from Rs 481 billion as on July 27 to Rs 510 billion as on August 24. Income funds, on the other hand, saw inflows of Rs 75 billion ... See all stories on this topic »

SBI Mutual Fund inks marketing pact with Ratnakar Bank Hindu Business Line Mr. D.P Singh, National Head Sales and Distribution, SBI Mutual Fund said, “We are constantly enhancing our distribution by reaching to new customers in varied geography and our tie-up with Ratnakar Bank is a testimony. Uncertainty in Equity markets ... See all stories on this topic »

Cut in FD rates will not lead to capital flight Moneycontrol.com Lowering interest rates on fixed deposits will not necessarily lead to a flight of capital from banks to other asset classes like mutual funds and gold, feels Shiva Kumar, the MD of the State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ). That is because people ... See all stories on this topic »

Bond funds see least inflows in five weeks-ICI Reuters By Sam Forgione NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Investors in U.S.-based mutual funds continued to favor bonds over stocks in the latest week as they awaited hints from central bankers on additional economic stimulus measures, data from the Investment ... See all stories on this topic »

Top 5 Best Performing Technology Mutual Funds Year to Date - Best Performing ... NASDAQ Investors seeking long-term aggressive holdings need not look beyond mutual funds betting on the technology sector. Even though such funds experience relatively higher levels of volatility, they tend to outperform other categories when markets as a ... See all stories on this topic »

Tata Floating Rate Fund-Long Term declares dividend Moneycontrol.com Wed, Sep 12, 2012 at 15:51. Tata Floating Rate Fund-Long Term declares dividend. Tata Mutual Fund has declared dividend under dividend option of Tata Floating Rate Fund - Long Term Plan. Source: Moneycontrol.com. Share · Tweet · Share on Tumblr ... See all stories on this topic »

Air India's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner to fly on domestic routes from September 19

Air India's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner will start flying on domestic routes from September 19, with the airline hoping that the fuel-efficient aircraft will bring back its good old 'Maharaja' days by saving costs.

With Air India implementing its turnaround and financial restructuring plans for several months now, the beleaguered national carrier has reported a cash surplus of Rs 48 crore between April and July against a cash deficit of Rs 586 crore during the same period last year.

"Dreamliner is an exciting plane. We hope that it will take Air India back to its good old 'Maharaja days'," Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told reporters here.

US manufacturer Boeing claims the Dreamliner consumes 15 -20 per cent less fuel than an aircraft of the same size, thus substantially reducing fuel costs which comprises 40 per cent of an airline's total operational costs.

"Dreamliner will start flying on domestic routes from September 19. The first flight will be on Delhi-Chennai route. Later on, six more destinations will be added. It will fly on international routes in winter," Air India CMD Rohit Nandan said.

Singh, along with former Civil Aviation ministers Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Congress MP Naveen Jindal, cut the ribbon to formally launch Air India's first Dreamliner at a function at the IGI airport.

With the government already committing to provide Rs 30,000 crore to the cash-strapped carrier, he said no more funds would be given to the airline which would now on have carry out aggressive cost-cutting measures to become competitive.

Air India would take deliveries of five more B787s by the end of this year, seven in 2013, five in 2014, six in 2015 and three in 2016, he said, adding the airline would need to add more planes to expand its share in the domestic as well as international market.

"After the pilots strike, we have started to fly all destinations except Toronto, but we are not content with our market share. We need more aircraft but it is a long term plan and will be done after the approval of the Cabinet," Singh said, adding Air India has set up a committee to look into its future aircraft requirement.

Cabinet may discuss FDI in aviation on Friday Hindu Business Line Amid differences among Government's allies, the Cabinet may consider relaxing the norms on foreign direct investment (FDI) in aviation on Friday. “Although the proposal related with FDI in aviationdoes not figure in the agenda list circulated till ... See all stories on this topic »

Air India's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner to fly on domestic routes from September ... Economic Times Singh, along with former Civil Aviation ministers Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Congress MP Naveen Jindal, cut the ribbon to formally launch Air India's first Dreamliner at a function at the IGI airport. With the government already ... See all stories on this topic »

Sensex ends above 18000 at 7-month closing high; aviation stocks surge Economic Times Back home, the market discounted the flat July IIP data and pinned hopes on policy reforms after theaviation minister said he's hopeful the government will allow foreign direct investment into the sector. The 30-share index ended at 18,011.24, up 158 ... See all stories on this topic »

AI chief asks govt to defer Jet's Star entry nod Livemint The civil aviation ministry had asked Air India a series of questions on the issue in a 21 August note, including how it planned to recover the expenses incurred on its own failed bid to enter Star. The ministry also asked whether Air India planned to ... See all stories on this topic » Livemint

Olympic legacy chief takes up aviation role Financial Times The chairman of the body leading the transformation of the Olympic Park is stepping down to head a new aviation policy unit set up by Boris Johnson to press the case for alternatives to a third runway at Heathrow airport. Daniel Moylan, who took over ... See all stories on this topic »

Qantas high flyers begin the hard sell of Emirates alliance in Singapore The Australian QANTAS chief executive Alan Joyce and senior executives are in Singapore meeting aviation and government officials to assure them the airline will remain a player at the Southeast Asian hub. The visit follows last week's announcement of a sweeping deal ... See all stories on this topic »

Aviation landscape set to change The Edge Malaysia SERI KEMBANGAN: The rivalry in the already competitive local airline industry is expected to intensify with the emergence of Malindo Airways. Being a low-cost carrier, Malindo Airways is expected to give a good fight to AirAsia Bhd, which enjoys the ... See all stories on this topic » The Edge Malaysia

Aviation needs innovative ideas to take off for sustainable future edie.net The future of aviation will see a significant drop in carbon emissions, despite an increase in flights, if the industry takes on innovative ideas to reduce its impact on the environment, according to aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Related articles ... See all stories on this topic » edie.net

Aviation Heritage Fair in Stow Sept. 15 The-News-Leader “The goal of the Aviation Heritage Fair has been to not only share with others our love of aviationand our appreciation for alumni, the aviation industry and the local community, but also to raise funds which directly support scholarship efforts of ... See all stories on this topic »

General aviation terminal officially opens today at Augusta Regional Airport The Augusta Chronicle More than $50 million has been invested in Augusta Regional since 2005, when construction began on a commercial airline terminal, said marketing director Diane Johnston. The massive investment includes rebuilding the main runway, expanding parking ... See all stories on this topic »

American Airlines Pilots ponder possible Job action

The pilots union for American Airlines ratcheted up the rhetoric on Wednesday afternoon.

The Board of Directors for the Allied Pilots Association told national officers to get ready for a strike vote.

"Well, this is really a shot across the bow," said Tom Hoban, Allied Pilots Association. "It's the first step the leadership takes in order to prepare the union for the possibility of a strike."

Pilots are the only labor group that have not reached a new contract with American Airlines during its bankruptcy saga.

Pilots overwhelmingly rejected American's final offer this month.

So the airline said it would return to court and ask a judge to cancel their contract.

Pilots said if their contract is canceled, the union will then ask its 8,000 pilots whether they want to strike.

"We've got 8,000 pilots who've simply had enough and they're not going to take it anymore," Hoban added. "When management takes the contract, which is the underpinning of our profession, and says 'We're going to put it to the torch,' it's going to provoke a visceral reaction to this pilot's group."

In a statement from American Airlines, the carrier said that any form of job action by pilots would be unlawful — either before or after a decision by the court on the company's motion.

The pilots would need permission from the National Mediation Board before they could legally strike.

Pilots said this is the first time they made this move since 1997.

Down the hall from where the APA was talking to reporters, senior leaders of the union were in a face-to-face meeting with USAirways CEO Doug Parker and two other executives.

Both sides continue talking about ways to merge with American.