Airlines India, Indian Airlines

The civil aviation ministry is likely to move a Cabinet note on the proposed merger of public sector carriers Air-India and Indian Airlines in November after it receives a report from consultancy firm Accenture.
“There are no impediments in the process. Everything is going on as planned,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel said.

He said the consultancy firm, appointed to prepare a roadmap for the merger of the two carriers, would submit its report by October.

“We hope the Cabinet note on the matter should be ready in November after we receive this report,” Patel said in response to questions, adding that the proposed merger process was moving on track and would be completed as planned within the current financial year.

Official sources said there were some key areas like human resources, operations and infrastructure, which needed to be looked into in greater detail, before the proposal could be finalised. A decision on the future of their subsidiaries, Alliance Air and Air-India Express, would also have to be taken, the sources said.

The merger of Air-India and Indian Airlines will create a mega carrier with about 130 aircraft.

Budget carrier GoAir has signed a USD 150 million deal with CFM, a joint venture between US aeroengine major General Electric and its French counterpart Snecma Moteurs for engines to power its to be acquire Airbus fleet of aircraft.

GoAir had earlier signed an agreement with Airbus to buy 10 A-320 aircraft with an option to buy another ten.

As per the deal, these aircraft would be powered by CFM56-5b engines, an airline release said here today.

Deliveries of these aircraft are scheduled to begin in mid-2007, the release added.

Jet Airways, India’s premier airline, has maintained its track record of winning prestigious awards by being conferred laurels by the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) for its in-flight entertainment system with two coveted awards – Best Overall In-Flight Entertainment and Best Single In-Flight Entertainment .

Jet Airways was judged the “best overall” airline for in-flight entertainment in the Small Fleet Category based on number of aircraft. United Airlines was awarded the same in the Large Fleet category among leading passenger airlines world-wide by the World Airline Entertainment Association at its 27th Annual Conference & Exhibition held at Miami, USA on September 15, 2006.

Jet Airways also got the best in-flight Audio programme award and earned the distinction of second runner up for the best in-flight magazine.

The “Avion Award” was conferred to Jet Airways by a 23-member international media panel that evaluated in-flight audio, video, magazines, and interactive media from 42 leading passenger airlines worldwide at the Exhibition. Sponsored by the World Airline Entertainment Association, the “Avion Award”, now in its 18th year, honours excellence in several categories of airline in-flight entertainment.

No more waiting at the Check-in counter; Guests with hand baggage can directly proceed towards security check-in where the Kingfisher Airlines’ Roving Agent will print their boarding passes, Now you can choose your seat and print your own Kingfisher Airlines Boarding Pass at your Home or Office

Kingfisher Airlines India’s fastest growing airline and India’s first carrier to introduce First class premium cabins onboard its flights- Kingfisher First, announced the launch of two world-class technological innovations to enhance guest convenience.

The first cutting-edge innovation is the introduction of the Roving Agent at the airport. Now guests with hand baggage need not wait at the check-in counter to collect their boarding pass. They can directly approach the security check-in counters. Deployed outside the Security check-in area will be Kingfisher Airlines’ Roving Agent who will attend to these guests personally and book them on their choice of seats. Specially trained Roving Agents will reach out to guests and check them in using a mobile digital device and printer. Kingfisher Airlines is the first airline in India to launch this unique service.

Also launched is the facility of Web Check-in. Now Kingfisher Airlines guests can sit in the comfort of their homes or offices and print their boarding passes. All a guest has to do is log onto the official website of Kingfisher Airlines, www.flykingfisher.com and click on the link, web check-in. Fill in your reservation details and the screen will display the choice of seats available onboard that particular flight. Once booked the guest can conveniently print out the Boarding Pass and carry it along with him/her on the day of the flight and proceed straight to the security check counter at the airport.

Stated Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman & CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, “At Kingfisher Airlines we have always emphasized upon the importance of service and hospitality. In the past 16 months we have introduced several world-class initiatives to add to the convenience of our guests. The 2 new services- Web Check-In and The Roving Agent are two highly innovative steps to make our guests’ journey with us even more delightful. In the times to come, many more such innovative initiatives will be undertaken by Kingfisher Airlines.”

Commented Mr. Girish Shah, “The Roving Agent is like a check-in counter on the move. You no longer need to go to the check-in counter; we have ensured that the check-in counter comes to you. So you will be serviced on priority if you are a guest with only hand baggage. At Kingfisher Airlines we constantly innovate when it comes to providing added convenience to our guests. And when we say we want them to enjoy the Good Times with us, we do everything possible to ensure that. There are several more such path-breaking initiatives in the pipeline.”

About Kingfisher Airlines

Kingfisher Airlines is India’s first and only private airline to receive the prestigious, ‘Best New Airline of the Year’ award in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East region from Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). Kingfisher Airlines has also been voted as the 3rd Most Successful Brand Launch of the Year 2005, in the annual Brand Derby Survey conducted by India’s leading business daily-Business Standard. In another Survey conducted by agencyfaqs.com and Brand Reporter, Kingfisher was voted as the 7th Buzziest Brand of 2005 amongst 2000 leading national and international brands. More recently, Kingfisher Airlines has bagged the “Service Excellence for a New Airline” award from Skytrax, a UK based specialist global air transport advisor.

Another addition to the list of laurels is the “Best New Domestic Airline for Excellent Services and Cuisine” award from Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA), the biggest travel writers’ organization, across the globe, that conducts independent annual surveys across various industries related with Travel and Tourism in order to select the best in each category. Lastly in a survey conducted by IMB for Times of India, 46% of the participants voted Kingfisher Airlines ‘The Best Airline” and “India’s Favourite Carrier”. Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations on May 9th, 2005 with a brand new fleet of aircraft. Kingfisher Airlines offers Full Service at True Value and promises an unparalleled experience to the Indian air traveler. On offer are extra-wide seats and spacious leg room, delicious gourmet meals, international-class cabin crew and a whole host of comforts and delights. Kingfisher Airlines also facilitates doorstep delivery of tickets on guest request. Kingfisher Airlines has further raised the bar by introducing the Indian business traveler to a premium product- Kingfisher First, the finest experience in the Indian skies. For more information on Kingfisher Airlines log on to www.flykingfisher.com. Fly the Good Times with Kingfisher Airlines.

Paramount Airways will launch its third Madurai-Chennai service with a link to Hyderabad from Friday.

Talking to newspersons here last night, M Thiagarajan, managing director of the airways, said here that the airways would offer 50 per cent discount on full fare to senior citizens and disabled passengers. Travel for disabled children below 12 years would be free, he said.

A special group rate for college and school students would be given shortly under a scheme by which one ticket would be given free for every group of 10 students, he said.

The airline aimed to operate 56 flights from next month against the 24 flights it was operating now.

It planned to introduce flights between Tirupati and Visakhapatnam in October and Madurai-Bangalore flight from November. It also planned to connect prime destinations in south India. “We will concentrate on south and then move to north. In a year or two, we will be able to do that”, he said.

Thiagarajan requested the Tamil Nadu and Kerala governments to reduce the sales tax on aviation turbine fuel to make air travel cheaper.