NovoAir adds Kolkata service in Dec 2016

Bangladeshi-carrier NovoAir earlier this month launched new service to Kolkata, withDhaka – Kolkata launched on 01DEC16, followed by Chittagong – Kolkata on 14DEC16. Kolkata is the airline’s 2nd international destination, after Yangon. ATR72 aircraft operates both service.

Chittagong – Kolkata 3 weekly
VQ727 CGP1450 – 1535CCU AT7 136
VQ728 CCU1620 – 1805CGP AT7 136

Dhaka – Kolkata 4 weekly
VQ721 DAC1425 – 1500CCU AT7 x136
VQ722 CCU1600 – 1735DAC AT7 x136

Jet to deploy A330s on more domestic,int routes from Jan 15

Mumbai, Dec 26 (PTI) Jet Airways today said that it will deploy wide-body Airbus A330s on more domestic and international routes, which will boost its capacity by up to 50 per cent on other key sectors.

The new wide-body aircraft will be deployed on the Mumbai-Kuwait-Mumbai and Mumbai-Jeddah-Mumbai routes, aside from Mumbai-Chennai-Mumbai and Mumbai-Bengaluru-Mumbai legs on the airlines domestic network, Jet said in a statement.

While the wide-body service between Mumbai and Chennai will begin from January 15, the Mumbai-Jeddah and Mumbai- Bengaluru services will begin from January 16, and the Mumbai- Kuwait from January 18, 2017. Earlier this year, the airline began operating its A330s between Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi- Kolkata routes.

With these upgrades, the airline will be able to offer its premium product on Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata sectors. Chief commercial officer Jayaraj Shanmugam said introduction of wide-body services will also increase capacity on the key routes by as much as 50 percent.

Jet Airways adds Bangalore – Colombo service in 1Q17

Jet Airways in the first quarter of 2017 is expanding service to Sri Lanka, with the introduction of Bangalore – Colombo nonstop flight. Starting 05JAN17, the airline will operate this route once a day, on board Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

9W278 BLR0040 – 0210CMB 738 D
9W277 CMB0310 – 0440BLR 738 D

Air India adds 747 Delhi – Mumbai limited-time service from Dec 2017

Air India yesterday (13DEC16) commenced Boeing 747-400 operation on Delhi – Mumbai route, scheduled for one month only. The 747-400 will operate this route once a day, until 15JAN17. Planned schedule as follow.

AI665 DEL0800 – 1005BOM 744 D
AI888 BOM1900 – 2105DEL 744 D

Regent Airways schedules Nepal launch in Dec 2016

Bangladeshi carrier Regent Airways next month plans to expand international flight, as Kathmandu set to join the airline’s network. From 21DEC16, the airline plans to operate 3 weekly Dhaka – Kathmandu service, by Boeing 737 aircraft.

RX795 DAC1500 – 1615KTM 737 136
RX796 KTM1715 – 1845DAC 737 136

Garuda resumes Mumbai service from Dec 2016

Garuda Indonesia starting next month is resuming service to Mumbai, with the offering of Jakarta – Bangkok – Mumbai route. From 12DEC16, the airline operates this route 3 times a week, with Boeing 737-800. This marks the airline’s return to Mumbai for the first time since December 1986.

GA862 CGK1255 – 1625BKK1720 – 2030BOM 738 135
GA861 BOM2305 – 0455+1BKK0635+1 – 1005+1CGK 738 135

Garuda’s service on Jakarta – Bangkok sector will also see reduction from 21 to 18 weekly from the same day. In Northern winter 1986 schedule, Garuda operated once weekly each on Jakarta – Singapore – Mumbai (Bombay) – Frankfurt, Jakarta – Singapore – Bangkok – Mumbai (Bombay) – Rome – Frankfurt and Jakarta – Singapore – Mumbai (Bombay) – Frankfurt routing, with Boeing 747 aircraft.

Air India / EVA Air begins codeshare service from Dec 2016

Star Alliance members Air India and EVA Air plans to commence reciprocal codeshare partnership, covering flights between India and Taiwan, via 3rd point in South East Asia. Planned codeshare service commencing on 01DEC16, covering following routes.

Air India operated by EVA Air
Taipei Taoyuan – Bangkok
Taipei Taoyuan – Singapore

EVA Air operated by Air India
Mumbai – Bangkok
Mumbai – Singapore

Visit to Ganapati Temple at Mahad (Khopoli)

Visit to a pilgrimage is always fruitful. Yesterday I went to visit Ganesh Temple at Mahad near Khopoli in Maharashtra. Its one of the 8 most important Ganesh Temples in India. The temple was well maintained. The temple is about 6 km from Khopoli and about 60 km from Mumbai. 

Impact of demonetization: What should Indian government should have done

Demonetization of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from Indian government is a bold move, but a mis calculated one! This move has caused major chaos in the market and also affected Rupee credibility in international market.

Indian rupee even if is a close ended and restricted currency, has major presence outside India, specifically in Nepal and Bhutan.

India's sudden demonetization has caused chaos in major markets across India, so lets find out what went wrong?

1] Banks were under supplied: All Indian banks including major banks were not supplied with new notes in advance. Supply of notes begin only after the announcement was made.Banks should have first being supplied with enough quantity of new notes so as to prevent any confusion or shortfall which happens. Also Banks were not properly having stocks of Rs 100 notes which should have been increase following this measure.

2] Indian Rupee is not exported: Since India does not export its Rupee, many people outside India suffered due to lack of Indian currency notes. Indian notes are accepted in Nepal and Bhutan, and also exchanged in major Middle eastern exchanges, India should have exported atleast some amount of money directly to these suppliers immediately after the announcement so as to prevent any chaos. Now they are dependent on visitors from India to get their new notes.

3]Inadequate limit : Indian government has limited its citizens to exchange currency upto Rs 2000 per head which is not adequate compare to the inflation.


Due to these reasons Indian Currency demonetization was a half hearten project which could have done with finesse if these majors would have been taken. 

Etihad increases India flights in S17

Etihad Airways in summer 2017 season is increasing service to India, with additional flights added on selected routes. Planned new flights as follow.

eff 26MAR17 Abu Dhabi – Ahmedabad NEW 2nd daily service, subject to Government Approval
EY226 AUH1355 – 1830AMD 321 D
EY288 AUH2240 – 0300+1AMD 320 D

EY289 AMD0500 – 0640AUH 320 D
EY227 AMD2045 – 2235AUH 321 D

eff 01APR17 Abu Dhabi – Kozhikode NEW 4th daily service
EY254 AUH0305 – 0835CCJ 321 D
EY284 AUH1005 – 1525CCJ 320 D
EY220 AUH1540 – 2100CCJ 320 D
EY250 AUH2200 – 0340+1CCJ 321 D

EY251 CCJ0445 – 0710AUH 321 D
EY257 CCJ0940 – 1210AUH 321 D
EY285 CCJ1640 – 1900AUH 320 D
EY219 CCJ2205 – 0035+1AUH 320 D

SpiceJet flies to trigger aircraft acquisition war

NEW DELHI: India’s fourth-largest domestic carrier, SpiceJet is set to trigger a war in the sky as it finalises a Rs 72,000 crore deal for 100 narrow-bodied aircraft with French manufacturer Airbus. The deal will make SpiceJet the first Indian domestic private carrier to have Airbus and Boeing in its fleet. “Right now, we are very focussed on procuring new planes,” SpiceJet CEO Ajay Singh said. Airbus and US-based aircarft aircraft manufacturer Boeing are locked in a battle to supply narrow-bodied planes to SpiceJet and are wooing and offering the airline with aggressive offers.

A government official said SpiceJet had ordered 40 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2014, which it would be delivered in 2018. “Ordering 100 fuel efficient Boeing 737 MAXs could take time, and it could hamper SpiceJet’s growth plan in India,” said a senior industry official.

While Airbus dominates the domestic short-haul market, which uses narrow-bodied planes, Boeing has dominated the long-haul market in India with wide-bodied passenger aircraft. Airbus commands a two-third market share of aircraft in India. There are 460 narrow- and wide-bodied passenger planes with Indian carriers, and 194 more have been ordered since 2014 (see box).

SpiceJet has a fleet size of 40 aircraft, of which 22 are narrow-bodied Boeing 737-800 and of Bombardiers and turboprops, besides 40 Boeing 737-MAX on order. Indian carriers have largely remained with either Airbus or Boeing for narrow- and wide-bodied aircraft, with state-owned Air India as an only exception to have aircraft manufactured by both manufacturers.

Airlines benefit by having a fleet of single manufacturer as they have to engage fewer pilots and engineers. Boeing, Airbus or any other aircraft require a different team, which increases an airline’s operational costs. Some of the newer Indian airlines—such as IndiGo—have chosen to buy a single type from a single manufacturer. IndiGo, with a fleet size of 119 aircraft, has all narrow-bodied Airbus, while Jet Airways has largely Boeing, with a few Airbus as well.

GoAir has only Airbus planes. In 2015, IndiGo ordered 250 Airbus A320neo planes, Jet Airways ordered 75 Boeing 737 Max planes and Vistara ordered seven Airbus 320neo planes. In 2014, SpiceJet ordered 40 Boeing 737 MAX planes and Air Costa ordered 50 Embraer E-2 jets. In July 2016, GoAir ordered 72 Airbus A320neo. IndiGo, Jet Airways, Air India, Air Asia and other airlines also have deliveries lined up for orders placed between 2011 and 2013, which are adding to their fleet in phases and will be delivered by 2020.

Air Canada commences Vancouver-Delhi services

NEW DELHI: Canada's flag carrier Air Canada today said it will increase three more flights on the Delhi- Toronto route from next month, increasing the frequency to 7 flights per week as it inaugurated its first non-stop flight from Vancouver that will arrive here tomorrow. 

The seasonal, four-times weekly flight compliments Air Canada's Delhi-Toronto-Delhi non-stop service, which is being converted into a daily flight from next month, the company said in a release. 

Besid .. 

With the new Vancouver route the carrier is strategically increasing its presence in the important Asia-Pacific market, Margaret Skinner, Director Sales, EMEAI, Air Canada said. 

Air Canada plans to increase connectivity to India, the airline would get direct non-stop service seven times a week, starting July 1 2017. 

With the growing emphasis on cross investment between India and Canadian companies this direct flight enhances connectivity, not only into Canada but also e .. 

Once the Toronto-Mumbai becomes operational, Air Canada would be operating 20 routes between Canada and Asia, including the Middle East, she said. 

Air Canada operate flight services to 64 airports in Canada besides 142 overseas aerodromes across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, among others. 

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/54979555.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Planning a Cross Border Road Trip? Here’s How You Can Enter India’s 6 Neighboring Countries

A few Indians have already set a trend by successfully completing cross-border road trips. This has already become a phenomenon with the travel enthusiasts.

Road travel has never been as glorified and sought after as it is right now. So friends, for the love and passion of travel and cross border expeditions , I share the excerpts from my own travel , which will help you draw a plan.

Driving to a foreign locale may be quite an adventure, but planning it right is crucial. India shares its borders with several countries, each with its own set of regulations, and with the news about a section of the new Asian highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand becoming operational, there’s no better time to set out on a road trip to Bangkok, Beijing, Moscow or London.

A cross border road trip had, and still has, its own challenges and difficulties, depending upon the country you are planning to visit.

India shares international borders with 6 countries. Here we are mentioning them in order from easiest to the most difficult ones to enter.

Nepal

You can enter Nepal in your vehicle at any time of the year without prior permissions. The most famous land border crossing is the Sunauli border in Uttar Pradesh, which is around 185 km from Gorakhpur. In less than 30 minutes, all the formalities can be completed at the border and you are ready to drive into Nepal. From Nepal, you can enter China and go on to the Middle East, Russia and Europe.

Documents – Any photo ID proof

Currency – NPR

Conversion – 1INR = 1.60 Nepalese Rupee

Visa – Not required for Indian Nationals

Best places to visit – Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan National park, Sagarmatha National Park, Langtang, Sarankot.

Bhutan

Like Nepal, Indian citizens don’t require a passport and visa to enter Bhutan. If you plan to take your own Indian registered vehicle, all you need to do is pre-register yourself. This can be done at the immigration post at Phuntsholing border and at the transport department for vehicle registration.

The process takes around 2-3 hours as there are two separate buildings for vehicle registration and individual registration. The most popular land border is the Jaigaon-Phuntsholing border in West Bengal. If you have to go beyond Thimphu (capital of Bhutan), then you need to take permissions again. Another land border is Samdrup Jongkhar in Assam. It’s not as popular because the main cities of Bhutan, like Paro and Thimphu, are close to the West Bengal border. Though Bhutan shares a land border with China, there is no land connectivity, so one cannot go anywhere beyond Bhutan.

Documents – Passport/ Voter ID/Adhaar card (Driving license is not accepted as an ID or Address proof)

Currency – Bhutanese Ngultrum

Conversion – 1 INR = 1 Bhutanese Ngultrum

Visa – Not required for Indian National

Best places to visit – Thimpu, Paro, Punakha, Royal Manas National Park, Bumthang, Trashigang, Jigme Dorji National Park

Bangladesh

A ‘carnet’ (you need to deposit 200 per cent of your vehicle’s value to obtain it for your vehicle) is a must to exit India and enter Bangladesh. You don’t need to apply for special permissions or permits other than carnet & visa. Visitors can enter Bangladesh from the Petrapole–Benapole border. You can engage any travel company to take care of the hotel bookings and tour planning. Though a guide is not mandatory, it’s advisable.

Documents – Valid Passport, Visa, Vehicle documents, Planned Itinerary, Carnet & Third party vehicle insurance

Currency – Bangladeshi Taka

Conversion – 1 INR = 1.17 Bangladeshi Taka

Visa – Required

Best places to visit – Dhaka, Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martin, Sundarban, Kuakata, Rangamati, Sylhet.

Myanmar

One has to cross Myanmar on the Delhi to Bangkok Highway, which was talked about a fair bit last year. To exit and re-enter India via the Indo-Myanmar land border (Moreh), one needs to apply for a carnet. You need to pay 200 per cent of your vehicle’s value to obtain it. Thailand customs also accept carnet as a valid document should you wish to enter the country driving a foreign registered vehicle.

It is not possible to enter Myanmar without a pre-planned itinerary and hotel booking in place. It is mandatory to hire a local Burmese guide, approved by the Ministry of Myanmar Tourism, who will travel with you. Hiring the services of a travel company that specializes in organizing road trips is ideal. The company needs to be registered with the Myanmar tourism department in order to apply for permits and permissions on your behalf. Vehicle and driver details are to be submitted a month in advance, along with 50 per cent advance payments. Hotels bookings, guides and other formalities are carried out by the agent.

Another mandatory rule is to have a lead car for the convoy — a must, even if it’s a single car. This is because of poor signboards along the roads and difficulty in communicating with the locals in a foreign language. This is part of the agent services you would hire for permits.

From Myanmar, you can enter China and go on to the Middle East, Russia and Europe . You can also enter Thailand from Myanmar and go till Singapore via Malaysia.

Documents – Valid Passport, Visa, Carnet, original vehicle documents & Special overland permit & permissions.

Currency – Burmese Kyat

Conversion 1 INR = 17.65 Burmese Kyat

Visa – Required

Best places to visit – Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Naypyidaw, Hpa-An

China

The most time-consuming and uncertain process of taking permissions are to drive in China. You can enter China (Tibet) through Nepal via the Kodari — Zhangmu border. Like Myanmar, China does not accept or recognize carnet and international driving license. You need to take all permissions in advance, and that takes a minimum of two months, as permissions like special overland permits for Indian registered vehicles and temporary driving license come from Lhasa.

Your permits can be cancelled without any refund, so it’s a big risk. We hear about the Nathu La pass entry point in the Himalayas these days, but as of now, civilian vehicles have not crossed this border.

Documents – Valid Passport, Visa, original vehicle doc’s & Special overland permit & permissions.

Currency – Chinese Yuan

Conversion 10.21 INR = 1 Chinese Yuan

Visa – Required

Best places to visit – Beijing, Shanghai, Macau, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Lhasa

Pakistan

There is no way to enter Pakistan in an Indian registered civilian vehicle. Many foreign citizens who undertake overland expeditions use Wagah Border to enter or exit India during their journey but this option is not open to Indians.

To save fuel and time, Air India to fly over Pacific Ocean to San Francisco

Air India also announced that this flight from Delhi to San Francisco would fly for six days in week.

New Delhi: Now, you can reach San Francisco early, as Air India on October 12 announced its new route from Delhi to San Francisco over the Pacific Ocean which will save both fuel and time.

At present, Air India is using the Atlantic route, which consumes more than 17 hours to reach San Francisco, Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani told to ANI.

"It will reduce flights hours, as earlier we use to cover the distance between Delhi to SFO in more than 17 hours and now with the new route, the time has been reduced by one and half hours," Lohani said.

Air India also announced that this flight from Delhi to San Francisco would fly for six days in week.

Earlier, it was three days in week.

Air India Express to launch new flight to Dhaka, Singapore, Riyadh

Air India Express is set to spread its wings to Bangladesh besides launching new flights to Saudi Arabia and Singapore and increasing its aircraft fleet size to 25 by the end of the next year.

Air India Express is set to spread its wings to Bangladesh besides launching new flights to Saudi Arabia and Singapore and increasing its aircraft fleet size to 25 by the end of the next year.

The airline, which posted a net profit of Rs 362 crore in the fiscal 2015-16 for the first time since its launch in 2005, is estimated to have logged a good growth in both passenger numbers and revenue in the September quarter of the current financial year, Air India Express (AIE) Chief Executive Officer K Shyamsunder said.

“We will launch new flights to Singapore from Kolkata and Chennai besides a service to Dhaka from Kolkata. Apart from these, we are also going to connect Saudi city of Riyadh from Calicut during the winter schedule,” Shyamsunder told PTI in an interview from Kochi.

AIE would also connect Dhaka with Kolkata during the winters, he said, adding “a number of other new flights are set to be launched between this month and March next year.”

The winter schedule of the Indian airlines would commence from October 30 and last up to March end next year.

The Kochi-headquartered airline at present operates 475 services per week to 13 international airports across the Gulf and South-east Asia. As many as 236 of the 435 services are operated to and from Kerala.

AIE has a fleet of 21 Boeing 737 planes–17 owned and four on lease–and two B-737 are expected to join the fleet by next month, which will take the total number of aircraft to 23.

In addition, Air India Express has recently invited bids for dry leasing of two Boeing 737 aircraft which it plans to induct by December 2017.

“We need them (the two planes) for expanding our operations, though we have yet to finalise the routes or the airports we will fly them to. We will have to wait for the deliveries of these planes,” Shyamsunder said.

Talking about the financial performance of the airline in the July-September quarter, he said the airline has seen growth both in the topline and passenger numbers, but the load factor dropped by a few notches during the period due to capacity addition.

The airline reported a net profit of Rs 361.68 crore in the fiscal 2015-16 against the loss of Rs 61 crore FY 15. Low oil prices, coupled with higher load factor and better utilisation of its assets helped Air India Express achieve the positive financial results.

“The growth in this quarter has been fairly good. Both revenue and passenger numbers are up by 25 per cent compared to the period year ago. It is because passengers profile more or less remains the same.

“However, the load factor has declined three per cent to 81 per cent from 84 per cent in the same quarter of fiscal 2015-16. The profit trends are also very positive,” he said.

Air India Express had carried 2.80 million passengers and earned a total revenue of Rs 2917.96 crore in the fiscal 2015-16.

Air India Express to launch new flight to Dhaka, Singapore, Riyadh

Air India Express is set to spread its wings to Bangladesh besides launching new flights to Saudi Arabia and Singapore and increasing its aircraft fleet size to 25 by the end of the next year.

Air India Express is set to spread its wings to Bangladesh besides launching new flights to Saudi Arabia and Singapore and increasing its aircraft fleet size to 25 by the end of the next year.

The airline, which posted a net profit of Rs 362 crore in the fiscal 2015-16 for the first time since its launch in 2005, is estimated to have logged a good growth in both passenger numbers and revenue in the September quarter of the current financial year, Air India Express (AIE) Chief Executive Officer K Shyamsunder said.

“We will launch new flights to Singapore from Kolkata and Chennai besides a service to Dhaka from Kolkata. Apart from these, we are also going to connect Saudi city of Riyadh from Calicut during the winter schedule,” Shyamsunder told PTI in an interview from Kochi.

AIE would also connect Dhaka with Kolkata during the winters, he said, adding “a number of other new flights are set to be launched between this month and March next year.”

The winter schedule of the Indian airlines would commence from October 30 and last up to March end next year.

The Kochi-headquartered airline at present operates 475 services per week to 13 international airports across the Gulf and South-east Asia. As many as 236 of the 435 services are operated to and from Kerala.

AIE has a fleet of 21 Boeing 737 planes–17 owned and four on lease–and two B-737 are expected to join the fleet by next month, which will take the total number of aircraft to 23.

In addition, Air India Express has recently invited bids for dry leasing of two Boeing 737 aircraft which it plans to induct by December 2017.

“We need them (the two planes) for expanding our operations, though we have yet to finalise the routes or the airports we will fly them to. We will have to wait for the deliveries of these planes,” Shyamsunder said.

Talking about the financial performance of the airline in the July-September quarter, he said the airline has seen growth both in the topline and passenger numbers, but the load factor dropped by a few notches during the period due to capacity addition.

The airline reported a net profit of Rs 361.68 crore in the fiscal 2015-16 against the loss of Rs 61 crore FY 15. Low oil prices, coupled with higher load factor and better utilisation of its assets helped Air India Express achieve the positive financial results.

“The growth in this quarter has been fairly good. Both revenue and passenger numbers are up by 25 per cent compared to the period year ago. It is because passengers profile more or less remains the same.

“However, the load factor has declined three per cent to 81 per cent from 84 per cent in the same quarter of fiscal 2015-16. The profit trends are also very positive,” he said.

Air India Express had carried 2.80 million passengers and earned a total revenue of Rs 2917.96 crore in the fiscal 2015-16.

Coming soon: Oman Air to touch down at Kolkata airport

It’s couldn’t have been a better Puja gift for flyers from Kolkata. Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate, is ready to launch operations in Kolkata from January 2017 and has submitted a proposal to the Centre.

For chief minister Mamata Banerjee, it’s a personal victory because she has been desperately trying to woo foreign airlines so that she could get investments to Bengal. Recently, the CM appealed to both Air India and SpiceJet to start direct flights to Europe from Kolkata. While Air India has turned down the offer, SpiceJet is yet to revert with a definitive response.

Though a few airlines such as Vistara, Indigo, Air India and SpiceJet have announced a number of flights out of Kolkata, but all of them are on domestic sectors. SpiceJet is keen on flights to Dhaka and Chittagong, but Mamata is eyeing the European routes.

In January 2013, the revamped Kolkata airport was thrown open to airlines. Since then, a significant amount of traffic has increased with new airlines such as Etihad Airways, Bhutan Airways (Tashi), Mihin Lanka and Vistara launching operations from the city. Qatar Airways, Silk Air and Dragon Air already had flights out of Dum Dum.

“We hope to start operating from 2017. All our papers are ready and we are just waiting for the bilaterals to happen. This can take place by the end of this year, or early next year,” said Sunil V A, regional vice-president of Oman Air. Oman Air is currently operating from 11 destinations in India.

“A lot of Bengalis stay in Oman. This flight will be a boon for them. Also, the out-bound traffic from Kolkata would get another carrier which can take them to Europe, African and other Arab nations,” he added.

In fact, Oman Air has plans to boost tourism in Bengal too. “A lot of Omanis come to India for tourism. They will be able to explore Bengal. We would speak to the state tourism department on this once we get the permission. The flying time between Kolkata and Oman is just four hours. So, city residents can explore Oman,” Sunil said.

The ministry of tourism of the Sultanate of Oman has set up a camp in Kolkata where they met 50 tour operators to showcase Oman for destination weddings and holidays. “Oman is largely unexplored. It has 3,600 km of coastline, mountains and valleys. While one can soak in nature, tourists can also take up adventure tourism and go camping,” said Lubaina Sheerazi from the tourism ministry of the Oman.

Coming soon: Oman Air to touch down at Kolkata airport

It’s couldn’t have been a better Puja gift for flyers from Kolkata. Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate, is ready to launch operations in Kolkata from January 2017 and has submitted a proposal to the Centre.

For chief minister Mamata Banerjee, it’s a personal victory because she has been desperately trying to woo foreign airlines so that she could get investments to Bengal. Recently, the CM appealed to both Air India and SpiceJet to start direct flights to Europe from Kolkata. While Air India has turned down the offer, SpiceJet is yet to revert with a definitive response.

Though a few airlines such as Vistara, Indigo, Air India and SpiceJet have announced a number of flights out of Kolkata, but all of them are on domestic sectors. SpiceJet is keen on flights to Dhaka and Chittagong, but Mamata is eyeing the European routes.

In January 2013, the revamped Kolkata airport was thrown open to airlines. Since then, a significant amount of traffic has increased with new airlines such as Etihad Airways, Bhutan Airways (Tashi), Mihin Lanka and Vistara launching operations from the city. Qatar Airways, Silk Air and Dragon Air already had flights out of Dum Dum.

“We hope to start operating from 2017. All our papers are ready and we are just waiting for the bilaterals to happen. This can take place by the end of this year, or early next year,” said Sunil V A, regional vice-president of Oman Air. Oman Air is currently operating from 11 destinations in India.

“A lot of Bengalis stay in Oman. This flight will be a boon for them. Also, the out-bound traffic from Kolkata would get another carrier which can take them to Europe, African and other Arab nations,” he added.

In fact, Oman Air has plans to boost tourism in Bengal too. “A lot of Omanis come to India for tourism. They will be able to explore Bengal. We would speak to the state tourism department on this once we get the permission. The flying time between Kolkata and Oman is just four hours. So, city residents can explore Oman,” Sunil said.

The ministry of tourism of the Sultanate of Oman has set up a camp in Kolkata where they met 50 tour operators to showcase Oman for destination weddings and holidays. “Oman is largely unexplored. It has 3,600 km of coastline, mountains and valleys. While one can soak in nature, tourists can also take up adventure tourism and go camping,” said Lubaina Sheerazi from the tourism ministry of the Oman.

Thai Smile adds new India routes in W16

Thai Smile in winter 2016/17 season is introducing 2 new destinations in India, including flights to Jaipur and Lucknow. Planned operation as follow.

eff 15NOV16 Bangkok – Jaipur 3 weekly
WE337 BKK2205 – 0115+1JAI 32S 246
WE338 JAI0215 – 0815BKK 32S 357

eff 01DEC16 Bangkok – Lucknow 3 weekly
WE333 BKK2200 – 0020+1LKO 32S 246
WE334 LKO0120 – 0625BKK 32S D

Thai Smile’s website also shows 3 weekly to Lucknow, 7 weekly from Lucknow.

SriLankan Airlines replaces Mihin Lanka operation from late-Oct 2016

SriLankan Airlines in winter 2016/17 season is taking over Mihin Lanka’s operation, as all service will be operating under SriLankan’s UL-coded flight numbers, instead of Mihin Lanka’s MJ code. From 30OCT16, SriLankan Airlines will begin operating following routes.

Colombo – Bahrain 5 weekly A321 (Day x57)
Colombo – Dhaka 1 daily A320 (Mihin Lanka currently operates 9 weekly)
Colombo – Jakarta 4 weekly A321 (Day x246; Mihin Lanka currently operates 5 weekly)
Colombo – Kolkata 3 weekly A319 (Day 237)
Colombo – Madurai 1 weekly A319
Colombo – Muscat 5 weekly A320 (Day x35)
Colombo – Seychelles 4 weekly A319/320 (Day x257; Mihin Lanka currently operates 3 weekly)
Colombo – Varanasi 2 weekly A321 (Day 27; Mihin Lanka currently operates 1 weekly) 

Existing routes operated by Mihin Lanka is no longer available for reservation on the airline’s website, for flights on/after 30OCT16. Previously reported, SriLankan Airlines earlier this week launched Lahore service, 

Air India schedules Madrid launch in Dec 2016

Air India in this week’s schedule update has filed operational schedule for Delhi – Madrid route, as the airline plans 3 weekly operation. Using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, this route will commence on 01DEC16.

AI135 DEL1425 – 2020MAD 788 246
AI136 MAD2150 – 1110+1DEL 788 246

Jet Airways schedules A330 Delhi – Kolkata operation in W16

Jet Airways starting 30OCT16 plans to commence wide-body aircraft operation onDelhi – Kolkata route, on board Airbus A330-200/-300 aircraft. The A330 will operate on 1 of 5 daily flights, as 9W905/906.

9W905 DEL1050 – 1255CCU 330 D
9W906 CCU1410 – 1630DEL 330 D

SpiceJet's hub in Kolkata to start more flights

KOLKATA: SpiceJet will make Kolkata its hub both for domestic and international flights, airline chairman & managing director Ajay Singh said on Monday . The city will be the low cost carrier's third hub after Delhi and Hyderabad and will be a base for both Boeing B 737-800 and Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 aircraft. Emerging from a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Singh who had started the airline in 2004 and scripted its turnaround after it went into a tailspin and crash-landed in 2014, said the airline was now ready for expansion and had decided to start with Kolkata as the mar ket was under-served and offered great potential.

"We are looking at expanding domestic and international network from Kolkata. In the immediate future, departures will go up 40% from 15 to 21. Apart from adding two more frequencies to Guwahati, we will connect to Aizwal, Sil char and Gorakhpur from October 4. We will also connect Vizag and Jaipur from November-December. The CM has requested for connec tions to Durgapur and Bhubaneswar. We will examine the former proposal but the latter looks feasible," Singh said.

While Bombardier aircraft will be used for regional connections, Jaipur and Vizag markets are likely to be serviced by Boeing planes.

Apart from the surge in regional connectivity, SpiceJet is also firming up plans to increase its international operations from Kolkata that is currently restricted to a daily Bangkok flight. The airline plans to increase the frequency on the Kolkata-Bangkok sector to twice daily from December and daily to Dhaka and Chittagong with Bombardier from the same month.

"We are also evaluating flights to Yangon, Dubai and Sharjah from Kolkata. There is a good demand for low-cost flights to these cities from Kolkata," said Singh. At present, full service carriers Emirates, Qatar and Etihad operate to the Gulf.

The issue of exemption of landing and parking charges for sub-80 seater regional aircraft at Kolkata airport. Though a policy exists, it is not enforced in metro airports. Offering her assurance, Mamata said her government would extend full support to the airline.

She also requested Singh to introduce a direct flight to Europe and Far East from Kolkata. Speaking to TOI, the airline boss said the airline did not have planes to do the distance. "We will continue to explore possibility in shorthaul flights in a 4-hour radius. That restricts us to West and South-East Asia," Singh pointed out.