Mangalore, Lucknow, Varanasi, Trichy, Mangalore and Coimbatore declared International airports

Photo copyright Samrat Mondal. Used under CC licence.

The Union Cabinet today approved the declaration of Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, Lucknow, Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi and airports at Tiruchirapalli, Mangalore and Coimbatore as international airports.

The Indian ministry of civil aviation says, all these airports are capable of handling medium capacity long range type of aircrafts and are also equipped with facilities for night operations. These airports have been recently upgraded to international standards.

The release goes on to provide details of the airports, and while are happy for the information, and congratulate these airports and the ministry, we cannot but help notice the glaring contradictions.

Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, Lucknow: The airport runway is suitable for operation of AB-300 type of aircraft in all weather conditions. The existing apron is suitable for parking 14 aircraft (2 B747, 1 B-767-400, 11 AB-321 type of aircraft), in Power in/Push back configuration. Presently, Indian Airlines, Jetlite, GoAir, IndiGo and SpiceJet airlines are operating domestic flights. [If the runway can only handle an Airbus A300, the smallest of Code D aircraft, why have stands for larger aircraft like a 747? Also, Indian Airlines was merged in to Air India. Is the ministry trying to send a signal to the world at large?]

Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport, Varanasi: The airport has a runway suitable for operation of AB-320 type of aircraft in all weather conditions. The existing apron is suitable for parking 5 B767 and 4 AB-321 type of aircrafts. Presently, Air India, Jet Airways, Jetlite, SpiceJet and Kingfisher airlines are operating domestic services through this airport. Air India, Thai Airways and Cosmic Air are operating International flights through this airport.
[Again, if the runway can only handle Code C aircraft (Airbus A320/Boeing 737 size), why have parking for a Code D aircraft like the Boeing 767?]

Tiruchirapalli: The airport is suitable for operation of AB-320 / B-737-800 type of aircraft in all weather conditions. Night operations are permitted. Domestic and international flights are operating and the destinations covered are: Abu Dhabi, Chennai, Colombo, Dubai, Kuala Lampur, Mumbai and Singapore. Airlines operators - Air India Express, Air Asia, Kingfisher, Mihin Lanka, Sri Lankan and Tiger Airways. The airport is equipped with navigational aids and visual aids.

Mangalore Bajpe Airport: It is suitable for AB-310 and B737-400 type of aircraft operations in all weather conditions. Night operations are permitted and domestic and international flights are operating and the destinations covered are: Dubai, Doha, Muscat, Kuwait, Calicut, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. Airlines operating are :- Air India, Kingfisher, SpiceJet, Jet Airways and Air India Express. The runway is provided with instrument landing system (ILS).
[Air India Express has only Boeing 737-800 aircraft in its fleet. Why specify an older generation Boeing 737?]

Coimbatore: Coimbatore is presently handling limited international operations. The Airport is suitable for all weather operation of B-767-400 type of aircraft. Night landing operations are permitted at the airport. Destinations covered are: Bangalore, Chennai, Calicut, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Sharjah and Singapore. Airline operators are : Air India, Air Arabia, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Jetlite, Kingfisher, Silk Air and Spice Jet. The airport is equipped with navigational and visual aids including CAT-l Instrument Landing System (ILS).

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TimesNow TV continues scaremongering, sensationalist story telling on Air India Express, Jet Airways near miss

The normal headline of this article would have included the words reporting and coverage but then that would imply a sense of responsibility on the part of TimesNow TV and some basic adherence on their part to telling the whole truth without perversely twisting it.

Below is video shown on national TV but cleverly not on the internet, which can be archived. The video covers a "news report" on a near-miss at Trichy airport between Jet Airways and Air India Express. It is yet another example of the scaremongering and sensationalist reporting at TimesNow TV when it comes to the aviation sector, and especially Air India.

Observe the choice of sensationalist words "Mid-air Collision" "Near Crash" with the word "averted" just softly said like an afterthought. Reminds one of how Yudishtira manipulated the emotions of his guru Dronacharya for his son Aswathamma to achieve his ends; except, what are the ends TimesNow TV is trying to achieve with this less than honest approach?

Wrong visuals. Discussing an Air India Express Boeing 737-800 but showing a sketch of a Boeing 777 and then a visual of an Airbus A320, followed by cockpit videos of a Boeing 747. The channel even has the gall to compare this near miss incident to the Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision which claimed 349 lives. I do not intend to be or sound callous, but, even if both the Jet and AIX planes were filled to 100% capacity and had crashed, the total number of passengers would not be 349.




What is TimesNow trying to achieve?? A complete fear psychosis in the minds of Indian passengers?? and for the sake of a few fractions of TRPs??

In my humble opinion, TimesNow should play the role of a responsible member of the fifth estate. Do investigative journalism to ensure such incidents are properly investigated by the DGCA, in a timely manner, and correct action is followed through so that structural changes are effected which will benefit the Indian aviation and strengthen it.

This shoddy journalism only lowers the credibility of TimesNow.

What are your thoughts. Do post a comment.

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Air Asia to commence services to Kochi, Trivandrum, Kolkata

Malaysian low-cost carrier Air Asia has confirmed dates to launch scheduled passengers services from Kuala Lumpur to three more cities in India.

One November 12th, Asia Asia will begin services to Kochi (Cochin) the commercial capital of Kerala, four days later on November 16th to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) the political capital of Kerala and three days after that to the West Bengal capital of Kolkata on November 19th.

These daily services will use Airbus A320s and Air Asia will be the sole carrier on these three routes.

Air Asia already operates on the Kuala Lumpur-Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) route.

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Air Asia announces operations from Kuala Lumpur to India

AirAsia, a low-cost carrier from Malayasia, has announced that it will commence its daily direct flight to Tiruchirappalli, India from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia beginning 1st December 2008. Employing a brand new fleet of Airbus A320, Tiruchirappalli will be the first route to be launched by AirAsia in India.

To celebrate the launch of this new service, AirAsia is offering an unbeatable low fare starting from Rs. 699* (RM49*) one-way. This offer is available online exclusively at AirAsia’s website, www.airasia.com for the booking period from 30 October, 2008 – 9 November, 2008, for travel anytime between December 1, 2008 – July 31, 2009.

With AirAsia offering an extensive route network encompassing over 108 routes in Asia, including the ones served by AirAsia X, its long-haul affiliate to Gold Coast, Perth, Melbourne, Australia and Hangzhou, China, it is now more convenient than ever to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Moreover as compared to other budget carriers, the route network offered by this award-winning airline is the most extensive in the region. This will translate into a low-cost yet efficient travel experience for customers who would benefit from using the LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur to connect to other regional ASEAN cities or long haul sectors serviced by AirAsia X.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad commented “AirAsia’s low-cost model, with its ultra low fares and modern fleet of comfortable and spacious aircraft, is undoubtedly an attractive consumer proposition, strong enough to compete with premium airlines. Besides features such as our brand new modern fleet fitted with leather seats and spacious cabin, a variety of hot delicious meals, simple, no-frills but convenient and renowned customer service, friendly cabin crew, largest number of destinations serviced along with the highest flight frequencies and an unrivalled On Time Guarantee, establish AirAsia’s position as the best low-fare airline when it comes to offering customers the absolutely best-in-class travel value”

He also informed that “we (Air Asia) are looking into other locations in India within the next one-and-a-half years. These include Chennai, Cochin, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad for AirAsia while for AirAsia X, we are looking at New Delhi, and Mumbai.”

* All fares quoted are excluding airport taxes, fuel surcharges and fees, and are applicable for one-way travel only.

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