Some quick updates from the world of travel around me: Neil Mills is leaving Spicejet, and that makes him the second airline CEO to go away from an Indian airline in 3 months after Nikos Kardassis moved out from Jet Airways. Media seems to be linking this to the potential funding they will receive, perhaps from Kuwait Airways. Have you ever had to cancel someone else’s First Class reservations to get your own client on the plane? These travel agents used to cancel/modify reservations for other passengers and get their own passengers on their way. They’ve now been arrested. If you miss your connection, it may now be the airline’s problem. Jet Airways learnt the hard way. Not travel related,…
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Lounge Bites: May 05, 2013
I’m just trying to wriggle my way out of a bad bout of cold and flu which kept me out of action since 2-3 days. I figured a complete, medicinal recovery would be better than trying to drag my feet and keep up with work and other stuff, so I missed out some things. Here is a recap for you: Travel Agents across India seem to be off work on Tuesday 7th May 2013. So, if you depend on them, organise your business a day before or after. I am still refusing to believe this fully, but I am scared for flying Air India if this is true. Apparently on a Bangkok – Delhi flight, both the pilots went to…
Finally, expect a global Indian airline
We’ve all seen a lot of press on Indian aviation going down the dumps. Yes it is true that Kingfisher Airlines is spiralling downwards, and Air India is surviving on my money (apart from other Indian taxpayers), but looks like when push comes to shove, it is finally the time for India’s government to get over its protective policy stance and give Indian airlines some rope. First up, they’ve allowed airlines to buy their own jet fuel from abroad, if they can facilitate the import and put them on the planes by themselves. And today, some more interesting developments took place. Countries sign bilateral agreements on the government level to control the capacity that can be flown from one country…
More airlines cut flights to India including Austrian and Air France
It has not been long since the news of American Airlines and Air Asia X cutting back their flights to India has been in the news. Bad news is, there is more! A few days after Air Asia X announced their exit from Mumbai and Delhi airports, the assurance that no other Air Asia group flights would be withdrawn was broken. Thai Air Asia decided to cancel its 4 times weekly A320 service on Bangkok – Delhi from from 24th March 2012, with the last flight operating from Bangkok to Delhi on 23rd March 2012. Close on the heels, Austrian Airlines, a part of the Lufthansa Group, has decided to pull out of its 5 times a week Mumbai – Vienna service,…
Let there be cheaper jet fuel…
Airlines in India have continuously blamed the price of jet fuel for their losses. And with Singapore Airlines latest quarterly results showing a 53% drop in profits on the back of high jet fuel prices, I’d sure believe them now! Aviation fuel taxes are a state subject in India, and some states charge up to 40% tax on jet fuel, considering it a luxury to fly and making it pricier. That, added to the high price of fuel already, took airlines to the brink. Kingfisher Airlines, in the throes of pain, asked for a concession from the government to be able to buy and import its own jetfuel from outside India. Looks like the politicos decided to have some fun with…
