INDIA DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
Canopy collapse: Delhi Airport plans flight adjustments to ease congestion at T2 and T3
Delhi Airport is taking steps to reduce congestion at Terminals 2 and 3 following the temporary closure of T1 due to a canopy collapse. Ninety-three domestic IndiGo and SpiceJet flights have been relocated to T2 and T3. To further ease congestion, six flights will move from T2 to T3, and flight schedules will be adjusted to limit T2 departures to ten per hour. These measures will be implemented by July 8 after consultations with airlines.
IndiGo cancels nearly 90 flights as disruptions continue in Delhi
IndiGo, the largest airline from Delhi airport's Terminal 1, has cancelled around 90 flights due to a roof collapse. SpiceJet's flights have been diverted to Terminals 2 and 3, but the number of SpiceJet flights shifted to these terminals is unknown. The airport's roof collapsed during heavy rains, causing at least one death and six injuries. The Indian Institute of Technology and the GMR group have set up committees to investigate the incident.
Delhi Rain: Airlines issue flight advisories amid heavy rainfall; Check latest update
SpiceJet and IndiGo have issued flight advisories for passengers traveling through Delhi and Dharamsala, citing expected delays due to bad weather. Both airlines urged travelers to check their flight status. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, predicting heavy rainfall until July 1, with broader forecasts of significant rainfall across North India, including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. The IMD also anticipates increased monsoon activity, with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in various regions from June 27-30. Passengers are advised to monitor weather updates and flight information.
IndiGo shifts international operations to terminal 3 at Lucknow airport
IndiGo has announced that starting today, all international flights at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow will operate from the newly constructed terminal 3. The airline has proactively informed passengers through SMS, calls, and emails about this change. IndiGo advises passengers to check their terminal by retrieving their PNR on the airline's website or mobile app to avoid any inconvenience.
Explained: How heatwaves disrupt flight operations and may cause mid-air turbulence
High temperatures are disrupting flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport, causing delays and requiring safety measures like waiting for wind speed to stabilize. In some cases, aircraft may reduce fuel or baggage.
Heavy rains lash Chennai, flight services affected. Check IMD's next one week weather forecast
Overnight rains in Chennai and its surrounding areas caused significant disruptions, leading to delays in both international and domestic flights, including those to and from Dubai, Delhi, and Pune. The heavy downpour, which trended on social media, uprooted trees across the city but provided relief from the oppressive heat. According to airport officials, the rains brought a much-needed respite from the sweltering temperatures. The India Meteorological Department has forecasted more rain for Chennai this week.
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ET Graphics: Domestic flyer traffic growth in the slow lane
Domestic air traffic increased by 4.4% in May, with airlines carrying 13.8 million passengers compared to 13.2 million in May 2023, and 723 passenger complaints were recorded.
Want to make airways the new railways, says Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, aims to make air travel affordable to the common man by addressing airfare fluctuations. The steps to be taken to achieve this will be taken by the ministry. Despite the UDAAN scheme and market growth, external factors like Covid have impacted airfares. Discussions to reduce prices are forthcoming, prompted by concerns over high fares during peak seasons and the need for better price regulation in the rapidly growing aviation market.
IndiGo, Air India upgrade playbooks to keep up with India's rising middle class
India's rising affluence is driving a significant shift in the lifestyle of the middle class, with a growing preference for premium products and experiences, both on the ground and in the sky. Airlines are capitalizing on this trend by offering luxurious amenities to cater to the surging demand, such as roomier seats, gourmet meals served on designer tableware, and lavish vanity kits.
Delhi Airport plans to raise capacity by 30% in 3 years
Delhi International Airport (DIAL) plans to expand capacity by 30% due to increased aircraft orders. CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar discussed the expansion at the CAPA India Aviation Summit.
Domestic air traffic likely to touch 164 million in FY25
India's domestic air traffic is projected to increase by 6-8 per cent to 161-164 million this financial year, while international air traffic is expected to rise by 9-11 per cent to 75-78 million by March 2025. Domestic carriers are facing consolidated losses of $0.4-0.6 billion due to capacity shortages from around 130 grounded aircraft. This is excluding the profitable Indigo. The number of grounded aircrafts is expected to increase to 180, including those of Go First. Net inductions of 84 aircraft are anticipated, bringing the total domestic fleet to 812 by March 2025.
Air India Express bets on growth opportunities, group synergies
Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh announced plans to focus on cost-cutting and transformation in 2024-25, aiming to unlock synergies through merging with AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India) and collaborating with Tata Group's airlines, including Vistara. Singh expressed confidence in revenue growth and network expansion without concerns about bilateral flying rights hindering growth at the CAPA India Aviation Summit 2024.
Air India introduces new feature, passengers can now lock fares for two days with extra charges
Air India, now under the Tata Group's ownership, has unveiled a new offering called 'Fare Lock' to enhance passenger convenience and flexibility in travel planning. This feature allows customers to reserve a chosen fare for a period of 48 hours, enabling them to solidify their travel plans while retaining the selected fare. With a nominal fee, travelers can now secure their desired fare for two days, streamlining the booking process and providing peace of mind.
Japan Airlines and IndiGo Agree on Codeshare Partnership; enables JAL to expand reach to 14 IndiGo destinations in India
Japan Airlines (JAL) and IndiGo announced a codeshare partnership benefiting customers with more travel options between Japan and India.
Travel platforms see bookings hot up for chilly destinations
Travel companies are experiencing a surge in bookings as extreme heatwave conditions drive people to cooler destinations like Kullu, Manali, and Ladakh from Delhi. Flight fares to Leh have increased by 54%, with searches for last-minute escapes also rising.
Air, rail, road traffic hit in Bengal ahead of cyclone Remal's landfall
The cyclonic storm Remal, which is expected to reach the land by midnight on Sunday, may disrupt air, road and rail transport. Already South Bengal districts are receiving showers and gusty winds. The Met Office has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in the coastal districts of West Bengal on May 26-27.
Cyclone Remal: IndiGo airlines reschedules and cancels some flights
In a statement, the airlines said, "IndiGo has rescheduled and cancelled some flights due to Cyclone REMAL and the NOTAM issued in Kolkata. Passengers have been informed of all changes in advance and being provided real-time updates on social platforms".
Domestic airfares on northward trajectory; still among lowest globally: Experts
Domestic airfares in India have surged up to 40% in key routes due to higher traffic and capacity constraints in the last six quarters. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets, with an average of 4.5 lakh passengers daily. However, capacity constraints are a key challenge as many aircraft are grounded due to supply chain issues. Aviation consultancy firm CAPA India reported that average fares on the top 20 domestic routes had not moved significantly in nominal terms for the last two decades, until the last six quarters.
Business class coming soon: IndiGo to launch 'tailor-made' product for busiest routes
IndiGo, operated by Interglobe Aviation, announced plans to launch a new customized business product for India's busiest routes by the end of the year. CEO Pieter Elbers highlighted the company's commitment to innovation, aiming to provide more travel options as India's economy grows. The airline saw a 13% increase in domestic passengers, while competitors experienced a 6% decline.
Transition to new crew scheduling app hits Air India Express flights
Air India Express faced a 15-hour delay when a pilot discovered he was trained on a different aircraft than the one assigned for his flight from Riyadh to Kochi. This incident adds to the challenges the airline is facing, including disruptions due to cabin crew sick leave and issues with a new scheduling software. About 50 out of 300 daily flights have been affected, prompting manual rostering efforts and assistance from Tata Group carriers.
Domestic air traffic rises to 1.32 crore in April
As many as 1,370 passengers were affected due to denied boarding, with airlines spending Rs 136.23 lakh towards compensation and facilities in this regard, as per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data. The data showed there were a total of 32,314 flight cancellations in April and airlines spent Rs 89.26 lakh towards compensation and facilities.
AI-Vistara merger will strengthen presence in India: Singapore Airlines
The Singapore Airlines Group announced that the proposed merger between Air India and Vistara will strengthen its multi-hub strategy and enable continued participation in India's growing aviation market. Upon completion, SIA will hold a 25.1% stake in an expanded Air India Group. The SIA group reported a 24% rise in net profit for FY 2023-24 due to strong air travel demand. Vistara and Air India have begun integrating their frequent flyer programs, with Club Vistara merging into Air India's Flying Returns.
After cancellation of 80 flights, Air India Express sacks nearly 30 crew members for mass sick leave
Air India Express Layoffs: Following the cancellation of approximately 80 flights, Air India Express, under Tata ownership, has terminated the employment of 25 cabin crew members for their failure to report to work. The salaries of crew members have been reduced by nearly 20% due to the merger of Air India Express with AirAsia India.
Air India's basic culture is bad, should be shut down: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Former Minister Azad criticizes Air India's 'bad culture' after flight cancellation. Crew shortage monitored by Ministry of Civil Aviation. Air India Express apologizes for disruptions. Vistara also faced pilot shortage issues in April.
Air India Express cancels more than 80 flights after crew members 'fall sick at last moment'
Air India Express has cancelled more than 80 flights due to a mass 'sick leave' by its senior crew member, leading to flight delays and cancellations. Civil Aviation authorities are investigating the issue, while the airline is working to minimise inconvenience to passengers and offering refunds or rescheduling options. Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
Domestic air traffic touches new single-day high; crosses 4.71 lakh passengers
India's domestic air traffic reached a new single-day high of 4,71,751 passengers on Sunday, more than 14% higher than the average pre-Covid count of 3,98,579. The civil aviation ministry reported that domestic aviation is experiencing unprecedented growth due to policies, economic development, and low-cost carrier expansion.
Vistara flight delays, cancellation: How much compensation can passengers get as per DGCA? Travel insurance can help to save big
Vistara flight delays, cancellation: Vistara has been in the news this week, with reports suggesting close to 100 flight cancellations. The airline grounded nearly 50 flights on Monday, April 1, and that number is expected to climb to 60 today, April 2. Are you a Vistara passenger facing a delay or cancellation? Here's what you should know about the DGCA rules for flight delays and cancellations.
Indian airlines to operate 24,275 weekly domestic flights in summer schedule
Indian airlines will increase weekly domestic flights by nearly 6% during the summer schedule starting March 31, with 24,275 departures per week from 125 airports. New airports like Azamgarh, Aligarh, and Chitrakoot are proposed by scheduled carriers, according to DGCA.
Domestic air traffic rises 4.8 per cent to 126.48 lakh in Feb
February domestic air traffic rose by 4.8%, reaching 126.48 lakh passengers. Airlines paid Rs 222.11 lakh for delays affecting 1,55,387 passengers. SpiceJet's market share dropped to 5.2%, while Air India's OTP was 56.4%.
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