IndiGo becomes 1st airline to land aircraft using navigation system GAGAN

 

IndiGo turned into the primary carrier in the country to set down airplane utilizing the native route framework GAGAN, as indicated by an explanation gave on Thursday.

The flight was led utilizing an ATR-72 airplanes and arrived at the Kishangarh air terminal in Rajasthan on Wednesday morning, utilizing GPS-supported geo-expanded route (GAGAN), which has been mutually evolved by the Center-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the assertion gave by IndiGo said.

GAGAN is utilized to give sidelong and vertical direction when an airplane is moving toward a runway for landing. Its accuracy is particularly valuable at little air terminals where the instrument arrival framework (ILS) has not been introduced.

"In India's affable avionics area, GAGAN will modernize the airspace, lessen flight delays, save fuel and further develop flight wellbeing," the assertion said....Know More

We share your concerns over divestment: Air India chief to employees

International News
Air India chief Ashwani Lohani said on Thursday that the airline's management shares the concerns of its staff and is taking necessary steps to protect their interests, even as its employees' unions are planning to protest against the government's disinvestment move.
While the government is planning to invite bids for the national carrier next month, its employee unions on Wednesday decided to oppose it, saying there is no clarity regarding salary arrears and pensions.
Lohani in a communication to the employees said, "Air India, your very own national carrier, is easily the most well-known Indian brand across the globe. It is incumbent upon all of us together to ensure that the brand retains its sheen even in the present testing times."
He said it is natural that many employees would be concerned about the future in light of the disinvestment scenario as any change in ownership brings about changes in the work culture and environment.
"Kindly be rest assured that the management fully shares your concerns and is taking necessary steps to protect the genuine interests of all Air Indians," said the airline's chairman and managing director.The government would be conducting roadshows at global financial centres like London and Singapore this month to entice investors for the disinvestment.
Lohani said Air India has been going through an extremely stretched financial situation, primarily due to huge debt servicing liabilities that has been affecting the airline."It (disinvestment) may enable sustainability as well as help in attaining the full inherent potential of the national carrier, thereby also helping the nation in attaining its economic goals," he noted.

"At this juncture, despite considerable constraints, it is essential that Air Indias as always continue to put in their best efforts in their area of responsibility," Lohani said....READ MORE

Jet Airways timeline: How the 'Joy of Flying' airline's dreams soured

Current Affairs

Beleaguered carrier Jet Airways halted all operations on Wednesday after its lenders rejected its plea for emergency funding from the airline that was once India's largest private carrier.

The airline, known for its "The Joy of Flying" tagline, has been teetering for weeks, saddled with over $1 billion in debt.

Its lenders, led by State Bank of India (SBI), last month agreed to bail it out in a complex deal that involved the banks taking a majority stake and providing a fresh loan of $217 million, while continuing to look for a new investor. That loan never materialised, gradually crippling the 25-year old airline's operations.

Here are some major developments in Jet's story:

2018

Aug 3 - Jet denies media report it cannot fly beyond 60 days, dismisses rumours of stake sale

Aug 11 - State Bank of India (SBI) chairman says Jet's loan is on watch list. Jet says regularly paying banks.

Aug 27 - Jet posts June-quarter loss, says will inject funds, cut costs by more than 20 billion rupees ($288 million) in two years

Sept 6 - Jet says paid salaries to 84 percent of its employees after media reports that pilots warned 'non-cooperation' over salary default

Nov 5 - Media report says Indian conglomerate Tata Group aims to buy 51 percent stake in airline and merge Jet with Tata's Vistara


 Dec 5 - Jet and UAE's Etihad Airways have been holding rescue talks with Jet's bankers, sources tell Reuters..Read More

Jet shares rise on report that airline has secured $293-mn loan from PNB

Companies News

Shares of Jet Airways Ltd rose as much as 4.8 per cent to Rs 255, the highest in over a month, after a report said the debt-laden carrier has secured a loan of Rs 20.50 billion ($293.07 million) from the Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The airline has raised foreign currency term loans worth Rs 11 billion and a non-fund based credit facility of Rs 9.50 billion from PNB, according to copies of loan documents reviewed by Indian daily Mint.

Jet and PNB did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The loan documents mention that Jet will use the credit facility for its working capital needs, but the money would be mainly used to pay rental dues to aircraft lessors and salary arrears, Mint reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

Jet said last week another three aircraft had been grounded due to its failure to make payments, taking the total number to 28, but it has not specified the lessors involved.


 The airline has an option to sell down as much as Rs 2.50 billion of the term loan to other investors, Mint added...

Jet will re-emerge as a robust airline: Goyal, Etihad CEO in joint message

Companies News:

Jet Airways and Etihad Airways are working together on a resolution plan to make the airline robust and viable, the two airlines said in a joint statement .
The communication comes in the backdrop of lessor actions to ground planes and threats from a section of pilots to stop flying over salary delays.

“Jet Airways, its principal shareholders, including Etihad Airways, and key financial stakeholders are working towards the finalisation and subsequent implementation of the bank-led provisional resolution plan (BLPRP) to ensure the carrier emerges as a financially strong and resilient airline. The approval of the BLPRP by the board of directors of Jet Airways last week was an important step in this direction,” Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal and Etihad’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said in a joint statement.

“We are confident that once the BLPRP is finalised and implemented, Jet Airways will re-emerge as a viable and robust airline to reclaim its rightful place as the airline of first choice for its customers,” it said.

The statement comes four days after the extraordinary general meeting to approve the increase in authorised share capital and conversion of debt into equity. While Goyal skipped the meeting, Etihad abstained from voting on the resolution. Etihad, which owns 24 per cent in the airline, is also laying stiff conditions to infuse fresh capital. The Abu Dhabi-based airline had earlier demanded stripping Goyal of all his powers and also wants a right of first refusal and waiver from the open offer.


 Jet Airways faces a cash crunch leading to defaults in lease and loan payments. On Saturday, the airline informed the stock exchange that lessors had forced the grounding of two additional aircraft. The airline is also negotiating the early return of some of its leased planes because of fund shortage. Meanwhile pilots are also getting impatient over salary delay...Read More

GoAir bird strike case: Pilots shut down wrong engine, says DGCA probe

Current Affairs:

While engine number 2 of the flight was affected due to bird strike, the pilots on GoAir's Delhi-Mumbai flight decided to shut down engine number 1, stated a report of Indian aviation watchdog DGCA on the incident that occurred on June 21, 2017.

Once the aircraft stopped climbing at an altitude of 3,330 feet, the pilots "realised their mistake", and consequently started engine 1 and brought back the plane to Delhi airport, stated the Directorate General of Civil Aviation report dated November 5, 2018.

"(The) incident was caused by incorrect identification of engine affected with high vibration followed by non-adherence to recommended procedures, lack of situational awareness, poor cockpit resource management and poor handling of aircraft during emergency subsequent to bird strike," it said.

The probe report has recommended that "suitable corrective action" should be taken for both the pilots "as deemed by the DGCA headquarters in view of the above findings".


The incident happened on an A320 aircraft, which had a total 156 passengers, at 5.58 am on June 21, 2017...Read More

With jobs at stake, Jet Airways is casting a shadow on 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Companies News:

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode to power five years ago on his business friendly credentials and the promise of generating millions of jobs. Now an airline is on the verge of collapse, bringing Modi’s image under attack just months before national elections.

Struggling in a competitive market where basic air fares can get as low as 2 cents, Jet Airways India Ltd., the country’s second-biggest airline, has piled on $1.1 billion in debt and failed to pay loans and salaries. With about 23,000 jobs at stake, pressure is building on Modi for a rescue package as a collapse would mean bad optics in his re-election bid in a poll due by May.


 While Modi is not to blame for the unraveling of Jet Airways -- the airline was brought to its knees because of high fuel prices and intense competition -- his policies to make air travel affordable to more and more Indians didn’t help it either. The fate of the teetering carrier is now part of the opposition’s narrative that businesses are ailing, with the $2.6 trillion economy losing jobs on Modi’s watch...Read More

Naresh Goyal sets terms for Rs 700-cr infusion into debt-laden Jet Airways

Companies News:

A day after Jet Airways’ foreign partner Etihad Airways told lenders that promoter Naresh Goyal must not keep more than a 22 per cent stake and that he should have no role in running the airline, the man at the centre of the controversy has hit back.

Jet founder Goyal, in a letter dated January 16, has told State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar that he was willing to infuse Rs 700 crore and also pledge all his shares in the company provided he can have at least 25 per cent stake in the airline. Goyal currently controls 51 per cent while Etihad holds 24 per cent in Jet.

ALSO READ: Lenders of debt-laden Jet Airways likely to write off up to 25% of loans


In what looks like a no-holds barred corporate battle for control and ownership between the once close partners, Goyal has pointed out in case his stake falls below 25 per cent, he would not be able to infuse fresh funds or pledge shares until the markets watchdog grants him an exemption related to the takeover cide...Read More

BI, other lenders & stakeholders working on resolution plan: Jet Airways

Companies News:

Crisis-hit Jet Airways said State Bank of India along with other lenders and stakeholders is working on a comprehensive resolution plan to turnaround the airline.

The full service carrier, which has been grappling with financial woes, defaulted on loan repayment to a consortium of Indian banks led by State Bank of India (SBI) on December 31, 2018.

In a statement, the airline said a resolution plan that contemplates various options, including proportion of equity infusion by various stakeholders and the consequent change in the company's board, is being worked out.


 "SBI in consultation with the other members of the consortium and the other stakeholders has been working on a comprehensive resolution plan towards a turnaround of the company for its sustained growth and restoration of financial health," Jet Airways said...Read More

Vistara to raise frequency on existing domestic routes, says Leslie Thng

Companies News:

Vistara, joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, is to raise its frequency on existing domestic routes, besides adding one or two destinations, Chief Executive Leslie Thng said.

It began flying in January 2015 and operates 130 daily flights, with 22 aircraft. Thng said they were aiming at double-digit capacity growth and would add six to 10 of Airbus’ A320neo planes in 2019. Deliveries will begin from the second half of the year. There is no plan to take more aircraft on lease.

The airline has 56 planes on order — 50 of Airbus (A320s and A321neos) and six of the Boeing 787-9s. It will induct the Boeing planes from the first quarter of 2020 and has begun training its pilots for this.

ALSO READ: Govt committee to decide if Vistara should get foreign flying permit


 “We are still waiting for final approval for international operations,” said the chief executive. The airline was originally aiming to ply abroad from the end of 2018. Government rules require an airline to have a minimum of 20 planes before this could be allowed. Vistara became eligible last year and had applied the civil aviation ministry in June, with a plan for flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo and Male by the winter schedule of 2018...Read More