Jet Airways plans more US links : HindustanTimes.com

Jet Airways plans more US links : HindustanTimes.com
Jet Airways plans to operate flights to Chicago and San Francisco via Paris even as it negotiates with Continental Airlines and United Airlines for a tie-up.

"We shall be starting flights from Mumbai to New York in two months time but on the long term are looking at operating flights to Chicago, San Fransisco and Houston or Dallas", Jet CEO Woolfgang Prock-Schauer said.

Jet has tied up with South African Airways for taking on lease three Airbus 340 for operating direct flights to London from next month, he said on sidelines of the listing at the National Stock Exchange.

"We are looking for more aircraft, either A340 or Boeing 777s for operations via Paris instead of Brussels" by winter, he said. "We are also talking to Continental and United for a tie-up in the US", said the CEO.

Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal said, "We are carrying out studies for long haul aircraft and come up with a firm plan shortly. Both Airbus (A340s) and Boeing (777s and 787s) are in the race for the fleet plan.

"As part of our expansion plans, we are firming up to take more aircraft on lease in the next few weeks", he added.
Courtesy:The Hindustan Times

This is a ton of information.

The Telegraph - Calcutta : Business

The Telegraph - Calcutta : Business
New Delhi, March 7: State-run Indian Airlines has decided to apply for the rights to fly five times a week to Gatwick.
Following the clarification, Indian Airlines ordered a dozen wide-bodied aircraft on rent and floated tenders for this. Sources said the airline wants to fly to Gatwick, London’s second international airport, by the end of this year.
Courtesy: The Telegraph

J&K, HP & Uttaranchal look to no-frill airlines to boost tourism - The Economic Times

J&K, HP & Uttaranchal look to no-frill airlines to boost tourism - The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Several states are waking up to the potential that no-frill airlines hold in giving a fillip to tourism and in unlocking the value of various tourist destinations in the country.

The North Indian states of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are undertaking a feasibility study for launch of a mountain airline service, comprising small aircraft and helicopters.
Courtesy:The Economic Times

IA, A-I may hive off repair, ground handling wings

IA, A-I may hive off repair, ground handling wings
NEW DELHI, MARCH 1: With a view to make them independent profit centres and seek market abroad, the two public sector Indian carriers are planning to hive off their ground handling and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) wings by forming joint ventures with foreign firms.
Courtesy: The Financial Express

IA $2-b fleet deal inches forward - The Economic Times

IA $2-b fleet deal inches forward - The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: The $2-billion acquisition of 43 Airbus aircraft by Indian Airlines moved a step further on Thursday with the price negotiation committee headed by former Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) C G Somiah paving the way for consideration of the proposal by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The project has already been cleared by the Public Investment Board (PIB) and the government has allocated Rs 325 crore in the 2005-06 Budget for boosting the capital base of Indian Airlines.
Courtesy: The Economic Times


This seems to be going through. Don't expect Govt of India to chicken out at this stage....

here is some more news regarding IA

PMO monitors IA fleet plan

Our Corporate Bureau / New Delhi March 04, 2005
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has stepped in to keep a close watch on the Rs 9,475 crore fleet acquisition plan of Indian Airlines.
According to sources, the report of the committee set up to oversee the price with Airbus Industrie, will be presented to the PMO shortly.
The price negotiations committee, set up to hold consultations with Airbus also met here today. The committee’s report is also expected to be closely scrutinised by the government.
“Once the report of the price negotiations committee comes, it will be examined and subsequently be forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for its approval,” said the source.
Courtesy: The Business Standard

AI Express to pay annual royalty to AI- The Economic Times

AI Express to pay annual royalty to AI- The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Air India Express, the low-cost subsidiary of Air India, would pay an annual royalty to the parent company after it starts operations to the Gulf next month end.
The no-frills carrier would also be asked at a later stage to take over some domestic operations of Air India from Indian Airlines besides carrying out its global operations.
Beginning April end, AI Express will fly a total of 37 flights a week primarily to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Three of these flights will operate from Mumbai and Delhi each, while 31 services will operate from Kerala.
Courtesy The Economic Times.

Jet, Sahara to dump fuel burden as ATF gets cheaper - The Economic Times

Jet, Sahara to dump fuel burden as ATF gets cheaper - The Economic Times
Jet Airways and Air Sahara — recently designated to operate flights to key international hubs like London, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur — can now buy aviation turbine fuel (ATF) at a cheaper rate for their international operations.

In a significant bonanza to the two private sector carriers, the government has included them in the list of designated carriers eligible for exemption from central excise and sales tax on the ATF procured for international operations.

The fuel purchased by these carriers for international operations will be considered as deemed exports, eligible for exemption from these levies. A-I and IA already enjoy this facility, which has been extended to private airlines too, Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.

Jet, Sahara to fly to France- The Economic Times

Jet, Sahara to fly to France- The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: After London and Singapore, private carriers Jet Airways and Air Sahara could soon get permission to fly to Paris.

India has signed a revised bilateral aviation agreement with France, incorporating a provision for multiple designation of airlines. This will allow the government to designate Jet and Sahara to use the landing rights available to the India.

Connectivity between India and France is set to improve as the revised agreement allows for 35 flights per week between India and France as compared to 14 earlier.

While Air-India is the only Indian carrier flying to Paris at the moment, Air France operates services to Delhi and Mumbai. The Paris-based carrier can now expand its operations in India to cover Bangalore and Hyderabad too, apart from the four metros.

Indian airlines have also been allowed fifth freedom rights to operate flights to New York and four other points in the US via France. Similar connectivity to Montreal and Toronto in Canada has also been cleared, according to civil aviation ministry sources.