The Civil Aviation Ministry is preparing an urgent report in response to a surge in bomb hoaxes targeting flights and airports across the country. The move comes after a series of false alarms disrupted air travel, leading to costly evacuations and security protocols. The report will address the frequency of these threats, the impact on national security, and the measures being taken to prevent future incidents. Authorities are also expected to propose stricter penalties for individuals responsible for such hoaxes, aiming to deter future disruptions.

Civil Aviation Ministry To File Urgent Report On Bomb Hoaxes

India’s aviation regulators on Wednesday imposed hefty fines on three airline services and the Mumbai airport operator for not following standard operating procedures and security protocols.

India: Directorate General of Civil Aviation fines Indigo and SpiceJet

The passenger who was stuck in the toilet of a SpiceJet plane during the journey from the western Indian city of Mumbai to the southern Indian city of Bengaluru had recorded part of his ordeal in a video that has now gone viral.

SpiceJet crew could not open the toilet door and had slipped in a chit to the male passenger that said, 'sir, do not panic'. The embarrassed Indian carrier later issued a statement and the passenger will reportedly be fully refunded.

Below is the video apparently recorded by the passenger. 
&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION cannot vouch for the authenticity of videos sourced from social media.

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In a rare mid-air event in a flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru , a SpiceJet passenger was stuck inside the aircraft lavatory for around an hour due to malfunctioning of door on Tuesday. Airline To Provide Full Ticket Refund. 
 
🎥 Petlee Peter <a href="https://t.co/WzhUyPe5kH">pic.twitter.com/WzhUyPe5kH</a>
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) <a href="https://twitter.com/fl360aero/status/1747740961264849202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>What happened to passenger in SpiceJet plane toilet?</h2>

The man was flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru.&nbsp;During the journey, he went to relieve himself and got stuck in the toilet as the door wouldn't open.

He was reportedly stuck inside through the rest of the journey, for nearly 100 minutes.

Watch : Gravitas | Trapped in the loo: SpiceJet passenger's hour-long ordeal from Mumbai to Bengaluru 
 
 
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The incident happened on flight SG-268, which took off from Mumbai airport at 2 am on Tuesday (Jan 16), after an hours-long delay. It was supposed to have taken off at 10.55 pm on Monday (Jan 15).

"It was known that the passenger on 14D seat had gone to the toilet soon after the takeoff and the seatbelt signs went off. Sadly, he got trapped inside as the toilet door malfunctioned," media reports quoted a ground staffer in Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport as saying.

The cabin crew tried to open the toilet door but could not.

An air hostess reportedly wrote a note and slipped it under the crack of the toilet door.

It read, "Sir, we tried our best to open the door, however, we could not. Do not panic. We are landing in a few minutes, so please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, an engineer will come."

An airport official in Bengaluru reportedly said, "The poor man flew from Mumbai to Bengaluru inside the toilet and, shockingly, landed trapped inside the tiny lavatory."&nbsp;

The plane landed at KIA at 3:42 am on Tuesday (Jan 16).

 
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/video-fuming-passenger-slaps-indigo-pilot-announcing-flight-delay-due-to-fog-detained-680024">&nbsp;India: Watch - Passenger slaps IndiGo pilot announcing flight delay due to fog, detained</a> 
 
After that, the man was given first aid, a media outlet said quoting an officer. "The passenger was totally traumatised due to claustrophobia."&nbsp;

SpiceJet later issued a statement, "On January 16, a passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock. Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger."&nbsp;

SpiceJet also reportedly gave a full refund to the hapless passenger.

<h2>Flying ordeal for Indian passengers in new year</h2>

Indian airports are currently facing several troubles, mainly due to fog and poor visibility in northern cities.

Hundreds of flights have been either delayed or cancelled due to bad weather.

As many low-cost airlines, including SpiceJet, operate the same plane across several cities, the holdups in northern airports like Delhi are affecting flying into and out of other cities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ranvir-shorey-threatens-to-sue-indigo-over-10-hour-flight-delay-680541">India: Actor Ranvir Shorey threatens to sue IndiGo over 10-hour flight delay</a>

On Wednesday (Jan 17), the civil aviation ministry fined another low-cost airline, IndiGo, 120 million rupees after a flight was delayed and passengers ended up having dinner on the tarmac of Mumbai airport.

The Mumbai Airport was fined 9 million rupees (approx $1,08,276) over the same issue.

Separately, Air India and SpiceJet were also fined for violations.

The ministry fined SpiceJet 3 million rupees (approx $37,000) for not deploying pilots trained to operate in foggy conditions in Delhi in December. &nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The passenger who was stuck in the toilet of a SpiceJet plane during the journey from the western Indian city of Mumbai to the southern Indian city of Bengaluru had recorded part of his ordeal in a video that has now gone viral.

The passenger who was stuck in the toilet of a SpiceJet plane during the journey from the western Indian city of Mumbai to the southern Indian city of Bengaluru had recorded part of his ordeal in a video that has now gone viral. SpiceJet crew could not open the toilet door and had slipped in a chit to the male passenger that said, 'sir, do not panic'. The embarrassed Indian carrier later issued a statement and the passenger will reportedly be fully refunded. Below is the video apparently recorded by the passenger. Disclaimer: WION cannot vouch for the authenticity of videos sourced from social media. In a rare mid-air event in a flight from Mumbai to Bengaluru , a SpiceJet passenger was stuck inside the aircraft lavatory for around an hour due to malfunctioning of door on Tuesday. Airline To Provide Full Ticket Refund. 🎥 Petlee Peter pic.twitter.com/WzhUyPe5kH — FL360aero (@fl360aero) January 17, 2024 × What happened to passenger in SpiceJet plane toilet? The man was flying from Mumbai to Bengaluru. During the journey, he went to relieve himself and got stuck in the toilet as the door wouldn't open. He was reportedly stuck inside through the rest of the journey, for nearly 100 minutes. Watch : Gravitas | Trapped in the loo: SpiceJet passenger's hour-long ordeal from Mumbai to Bengaluru × The incident happened on flight SG-268, which took off from Mumbai airport at 2 am on Tuesday (Jan 16), after an hours-long delay. It was supposed to have taken off at 10.55 pm on Monday (Jan 15). "It was known that the passenger on 14D seat had gone to the toilet soon after the takeoff and the seatbelt signs went off. Sadly, he got trapped inside as the toilet door malfunctioned," media reports quoted a ground staffer in Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport as saying. The cabin crew tried to open the toilet door but could not. An air hostess reportedly wrote a note and slipped it under the crack of the toilet door. It read, "Sir, we tried our best to open the door, however, we could not. Do not panic. We are landing in a few minutes, so please close the commode lid and sit on it and secure yourself. As soon as the main door is open, an engineer will come." An airport official in Bengaluru reportedly said, "The poor man flew from Mumbai to Bengaluru inside the toilet and, shockingly, landed trapped inside the tiny lavatory." The plane landed at KIA at 3:42 am on Tuesday (Jan 16). Also read: India: Watch - Passenger slaps IndiGo pilot announcing flight delay due to fog, detained After that, the man was given first aid, a media outlet said quoting an officer. "The passenger was totally traumatised due to claustrophobia." SpiceJet later issued a statement, "On January 16, a passenger unfortunately got stuck inside the lavatory for about an hour on SpiceJet flight operating from Mumbai to Bengaluru, while the aircraft was airborne due to a malfunction in the door lock. Throughout the journey, our crew provided assistance and guidance to the passenger." SpiceJet also reportedly gave a full refund to the hapless passenger. Flying ordeal for Indian passengers in new year Indian airports are currently facing several troubles, mainly due to fog and poor visibility in northern cities. Hundreds of flights have been either delayed or cancelled due to bad weather. As many low-cost airlines, including SpiceJet, operate the same plane across several cities, the holdups in northern airports like Delhi are affecting flying into and out of other cities. Also read: India: Actor Ranvir Shorey threatens to sue IndiGo over 10-hour flight delay On Wednesday (Jan 17), the civil aviation ministry fined another low-cost airline, IndiGo, 120 million rupees after a flight was delayed and passengers ended up having dinner on the tarmac of Mumbai airport. The Mumbai Airport was fined 9 million rupees (approx $1,08,276) over the same issue. Separately, Air India and SpiceJet were also fined for violations. The ministry fined SpiceJet 3 million rupees (approx $37,000) for not deploying pilots trained to operate in foggy conditions in Delhi in December. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH I SpiceJet passenger stuck in toilet recorded his ordeal and the video is now going viral

Singapore Airlines reported record-breaking half-year profits on Tuesday, indicating the resurgence of travel demand, particularly to Northern Asia, as countries have fully reopened post the Covid-19 pandemic. &nbsp;

According to Reuters, the national carrier of Singapore, SIA, revealed that its net profit for the six months ending on September 30 reached S$1.44 billion ($1.06 billion), a significant increase from the S$926.9 million reported in the same period a year ago. In response to this performance, the airline declared an interim dividend of 10 Singapore cents per share.&nbsp;

The surge in demand for air travel in the Northern Summer travel season was a significant factor contributing to SIA's exceptional financial results. This revival was notably led by increased passenger traffic to North Asia, where countries like China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Taiwan fully reopened their borders.&nbsp;

The airline, in an official statement, emphasised the increasing demand for air travel, attributing its success to the resurgence in passenger numbers in these key regions.&nbsp;

Notably, SIA reported a substantial decrease in costs related to fuel during the six-month period, amounting to S$413 million. However, the airline expressed concerns about potential price spikes in the fuel market due to supply risks. &nbsp;

While SIA and its budget subsidiary, Scoot, collectively carried around 17.4 million passengers during the half-year, marking a remarkable 52.3 per cent year-on-year increase, the airline remains vigilant about the unpredictability of fuel prices.&nbsp;

With optimism for the future, the SIA Group has set its sights on returning to pre-Covid passenger capacity levels within the fiscal years 2024-2025. To further strengthen its financial position and support its balance sheet during the pandemic-related air travel disruption, the airline issued zero-coupon mandatory convertible bonds (MCBs) in June 2021. Singapore Airlines is now in the process of redeeming 50 per cent of these MCBs, aiming to pay eligible bondholders on December 26 on a pro-rata basis. This redemption will amount to approximately 110.408 per cent of the MCBs' principal amount or around S$1.71 billion.&nbsp;

The airline also confirmed the ongoing progress of the proposed merger between Air India and its joint venture with India's Tata Group, Vistara. This significant merger remains subject to approvals from regulators and authorities in both India and Singapore.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Singapore Airlines reported record-breaking half-year profits on Tuesday, indicating the resurgence of travel demand, particularly to Northern Asia, as countries have fully reopened post the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singapore Airlines reported record-breaking half-year profits on Tuesday, indicating the resurgence of travel demand, particularly to Northern Asia, as countries have fully reopened post the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Reuters, the national carrier of Singapore, SIA, revealed that its net profit for the six months ending on September 30 reached S$1.44 billion ($1.06 billion), a significant increase from the S$926.9 million reported in the same period a year ago. In response to this performance, the airline declared an interim dividend of 10 Singapore cents per share. The surge in demand for air travel in the Northern Summer travel season was a significant factor contributing to SIA's exceptional financial results. This revival was notably led by increased passenger traffic to North Asia, where countries like China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, and Taiwan fully reopened their borders. The airline, in an official statement, emphasised the increasing demand for air travel, attributing its success to the resurgence in passenger numbers in these key regions. Notably, SIA reported a substantial decrease in costs related to fuel during the six-month period, amounting to S$413 million. However, the airline expressed concerns about potential price spikes in the fuel market due to supply risks. While SIA and its budget subsidiary, Scoot, collectively carried around 17.4 million passengers during the half-year, marking a remarkable 52.3 per cent year-on-year increase, the airline remains vigilant about the unpredictability of fuel prices. With optimism for the future, the SIA Group has set its sights on returning to pre-Covid passenger capacity levels within the fiscal years 2024-2025. To further strengthen its financial position and support its balance sheet during the pandemic-related air travel disruption, the airline issued zero-coupon mandatory convertible bonds (MCBs) in June 2021. Singapore Airlines is now in the process of redeeming 50 per cent of these MCBs, aiming to pay eligible bondholders on December 26 on a pro-rata basis. This redemption will amount to approximately 110.408 per cent of the MCBs' principal amount or around S$1.71 billion. The airline also confirmed the ongoing progress of the proposed merger between Air India and its joint venture with India's Tata Group, Vistara. This significant merger remains subject to approvals from regulators and authorities in both India and Singapore. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Singapore Airlines achieves record half-year profit amid surging air travel demand 

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday showed confidence and ruled out the calculation of several airline companies and aviation experts, which stated about normalcy in the aviation sector will return in 2023. He rather expects it to happen much earlier.

While talking to ANI about normalcy in aviation, Puri said Indian aviation will be back to normalcy after all countrymen are vaccinated in 2021.&nbsp;

"We respect experts' opinions. But in pre-COVID level 4 lakh passengers used to travel in a day. When we started domestic civil aviation on May 25, 2020, on day one there were 30,000 passengers, which increased to 3 lakh 13 thousand till the second wave hit our country. It may have touched four lakh passengers per day and normalcy may have returned but I believe that normalcy will be returned by 2021 after all Indians are vaccinated," Puri said.

In the midst of the pandemic and the COVID second wave, the aviation sector is hit very badly and the passenger load factors have hit a recorded low. "When the second wave came and this passenger traffic came down to 40,000 last week. On Thursday it increased to 80,000 and later it will continue to increase with the decline in COVID cases," said the Union Minister.

The Union Minister emphasised on the positivity rate of COVID cases in Delhi and provided the data. "Delhi's positivity rate is 0.6 per cent and recovery rate is also 90-92 per cent and the mortality rate is also low. This means if you test more than 100 people you only find one person positive," Puri added.

Puri has always advocated for easing restrictions in aviation sectors to see how the virus behaves. "I believe before the second wave of Covid, the aviation sector was about to touch 4 lakh passengers a day as we handled 3 lakh 13 thousand passengers before the second wave starts," he added.

The government has issued orders regarding the sudden change in the number of COVID-19 cases in the second wave, and reduction in passenger numbers and reduction in occupancy by reducing the existing capacity from 80 per cent to 50 per cent.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday showed confidence and ruled out the calculation of several airline companies and aviation experts, which stated about normalcy in the aviation sector will return in 2023.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday showed confidence and ruled out the calculation of several airline companies and aviation experts, which stated about normalcy in the aviation sector will return in 2023. He rather expects it to happen much earlier. While talking to ANI about normalcy in aviation, Puri said Indian aviation will be back to normalcy after all countrymen are vaccinated in 2021. "We respect experts' opinions. But in pre-COVID level 4 lakh passengers used to travel in a day. When we started domestic civil aviation on May 25, 2020, on day one there were 30,000 passengers, which increased to 3 lakh 13 thousand till the second wave hit our country. It may have touched four lakh passengers per day and normalcy may have returned but I believe that normalcy will be returned by 2021 after all Indians are vaccinated," Puri said. In the midst of the pandemic and the COVID second wave, the aviation sector is hit very badly and the passenger load factors have hit a recorded low. "When the second wave came and this passenger traffic came down to 40,000 last week. On Thursday it increased to 80,000 and later it will continue to increase with the decline in COVID cases," said the Union Minister. The Union Minister emphasised on the positivity rate of COVID cases in Delhi and provided the data. "Delhi's positivity rate is 0.6 per cent and recovery rate is also 90-92 per cent and the mortality rate is also low. This means if you test more than 100 people you only find one person positive," Puri added. Puri has always advocated for easing restrictions in aviation sectors to see how the virus behaves. "I believe before the second wave of Covid, the aviation sector was about to touch 4 lakh passengers a day as we handled 3 lakh 13 thousand passengers before the second wave starts," he added. The government has issued orders regarding the sudden change in the number of COVID-19 cases in the second wave, and reduction in passenger numbers and reduction in occupancy by reducing the existing capacity from 80 per cent to 50 per cent.

Pre-COVID level normalcy in civil aviation to return next year: Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri

Iran's Civil Aviation body has released its final report on the shooting of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020. The Iranian report blamed an error by an air defence operator for the crash.

Iran releases report on Ukrainian passenger plane crash probe

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to allow incoming domestic flights from Monday, 25th March, in line with the Aviation Ministry’s decision to re-start limited flights across India. The arrival and departure of flights will be based on a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)laid down by the state government. However, Tamil Nadu was among the states with rising Covid-19 cases that had requested the Aviation Ministry to resume flight operations after 31st May.&nbsp;

Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that there would be a maximum of 25 flights arriving in Chennai, while there won’t be a cap on departure. Tamil Nadu government’s SOP for domestic air travel mentions that “all incoming travelers coming into Tamil nadu shall register themselves in the TNePass portal and (if asymptomatic) shall undergo 14 day home quarantine.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-guidelines-issued-for-domestic-travel-aarogya-setu-app-compulsory-300740">Also read:&nbsp;New guidelines issued for domestic travel; Aarogya Setu app compulsory</a>

While there would be only 25 incoming flights to Chennai, there will not be a cap on the flights coming to Trichy, Madurai or Coimbatore.&nbsp;

The Tamil Nadu Government has also decided to keep the flights coming in from Maharashtra and Gujarat at bare minimum, however there is no issue for operating any number of flights out of Tamil Nadu.&nbsp;

Passengers seeking the TNePass would be required to declare that they are not residing in a containment zone, don't have symptoms, are not under quarantine and also must agree to report to the authorities if they develop symptoms. The persons traveling into the state should not have tested COVID-19 positive in the last two months. The declaration also includes the condition that if a passenger embarks on the journey based on false information, he/she is liable for punishment.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maha-tn-west-bengal-seek-delay-in-restarting-flights-as-coronavirus-cases-rise-300734">Also read:&nbsp;Maha, TN, West Bengal seek delay in restarting flights as coronavirus cases rise</a>

All the passengers flying into Tamil Nadu will be stamped with quarantine seal with date and indelible ink before they are are allowed to move out of the airport.&nbsp;

On arrival, passengers would be required tp shaw the E-Pass at the airport exit. While passengers without E-Pass would not be permitted to exit the airport, for the first few days, arrangements would be made at the airport for E-Pass registration as a transitional arrangement.

For those taking a flight out of Tamil Nadu, all passengers would undergo medical screening as stipulated by the Airport Authority and persons with symptoms will be set to health facility for testing and quarantine. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to board the flight.&nbsp;

The nationwide-lockdown, which was imposed in March, had meant the suspension of regular flights to and from Chennai. However, repatriation flights for foreign citizens have been operating with government approvals.&nbsp;

“Since lockdown was implemented on 25th March, 63 non-scheduled relief flights carrying nearly 10000 passengers have operated at Chennai International Airport till 24th May. Out of these, 51 flights took off from Chennai carrying over 7500 foreign passengers and 12 flights brought over 1800 Indians stranded in foreign countries. We had deployed adequate teams with necessary precautions in place to provide smooth clearance fro all of them” Rajan Choudhary, Commissioner Customs, Chennai International Airport told WION.

During the first phase (8th -13th May) of Vande Bharat Mission aimed at bringing back Indians stranded in various countries. 11 flights arrived in Tamil Nadu and 9 flights landed in Chennai. Of the nine, two flights arrived from Dubai and one each from Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Muscat (Oman), Chicago (USA), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Manila (Philippines) and London (UK). In total, 1,691 passengers landed at the Chennai Airport.

Currently, Tamil Nadu has breached the 16,000 mark in Covid-19 cases, with over 5,000 cases over the last one week alone. The state has recorded a total of 16,277 cases, of which 7,839 are active cases. Chennai alone has recorded over 10,000 total cases and has 5,653 active cases. The death toll in the state stands at 111. So far, Tamil Nadu has tested over 3.91 lakh people and 4.09 lakh samples.

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to allow incoming domestic flights from Monday, 25th March, in line with the Aviation Ministry’s decision to re-start limited flights across India.

The Tamil Nadu government has decided to allow incoming domestic flights from Monday, 25th March, in line with the Aviation Ministry’s decision to re-start limited flights across India. The arrival and departure of flights will be based on a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)laid down by the state government. However, Tamil Nadu was among the states with rising Covid-19 cases that had requested the Aviation Ministry to resume flight operations after 31st May. Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said that there would be a maximum of 25 flights arriving in Chennai, while there won’t be a cap on departure. Tamil Nadu government’s SOP for domestic air travel mentions that “all incoming travelers coming into Tamil nadu shall register themselves in the TNePass portal and (if asymptomatic) shall undergo 14 day home quarantine. Also read: New guidelines issued for domestic travel; Aarogya Setu app compulsory While there would be only 25 incoming flights to Chennai, there will not be a cap on the flights coming to Trichy, Madurai or Coimbatore. The Tamil Nadu Government has also decided to keep the flights coming in from Maharashtra and Gujarat at bare minimum, however there is no issue for operating any number of flights out of Tamil Nadu. Passengers seeking the TNePass would be required to declare that they are not residing in a containment zone, don't have symptoms, are not under quarantine and also must agree to report to the authorities if they develop symptoms. The persons traveling into the state should not have tested COVID-19 positive in the last two months. The declaration also includes the condition that if a passenger embarks on the journey based on false information, he/she is liable for punishment. Also read: Maha, TN, West Bengal seek delay in restarting flights as coronavirus cases rise All the passengers flying into Tamil Nadu will be stamped with quarantine seal with date and indelible ink before they are are allowed to move out of the airport. On arrival, passengers would be required tp shaw the E-Pass at the airport exit. While passengers without E-Pass would not be permitted to exit the airport, for the first few days, arrangements would be made at the airport for E-Pass registration as a transitional arrangement. For those taking a flight out of Tamil Nadu, all passengers would undergo medical screening as stipulated by the Airport Authority and persons with symptoms will be set to health facility for testing and quarantine. Only asymptomatic persons will be allowed to board the flight. The nationwide-lockdown, which was imposed in March, had meant the suspension of regular flights to and from Chennai. However, repatriation flights for foreign citizens have been operating with government approvals. “Since lockdown was implemented on 25th March, 63 non-scheduled relief flights carrying nearly 10000 passengers have operated at Chennai International Airport till 24th May. Out of these, 51 flights took off from Chennai carrying over 7500 foreign passengers and 12 flights brought over 1800 Indians stranded in foreign countries. We had deployed adequate teams with necessary precautions in place to provide smooth clearance fro all of them” Rajan Choudhary, Commissioner Customs, Chennai International Airport told WION. During the first phase (8th -13th May) of Vande Bharat Mission aimed at bringing back Indians stranded in various countries. 11 flights arrived in Tamil Nadu and 9 flights landed in Chennai. Of the nine, two flights arrived from Dubai and one each from Kuwait, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Muscat (Oman), Chicago (USA), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Manila (Philippines) and London (UK). In total, 1,691 passengers landed at the Chennai Airport. Currently, Tamil Nadu has breached the 16,000 mark in Covid-19 cases, with over 5,000 cases over the last one week alone. The state has recorded a total of 16,277 cases, of which 7,839 are active cases. Chennai alone has recorded over 10,000 total cases and has 5,653 active cases. The death toll in the state stands at 111. So far, Tamil Nadu has tested over 3.91 lakh people and 4.09 lakh samples.

Tamil Nadu government allows domestic air travel; e-pass compulsory

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri to start a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Pradhan said that while Bhubaneswar is connected internationally, via direct flight to only Bangkok, more than 15,000 Odia people residing in different parts of United Arab Emirates (UAE) are forced to undertake an indirect route for travelling to Odisha.

"At present Bhubaneswar is connected internationally, via direct flight, to only one destination i.e. Bangkok, Thailand. Three has been a long pending request from various quarters for introducing a direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, UAE," read the letter.

"I am made to understand that there are more than 15,000 Odia people residing in different parts of UAE who are forced to undertake an indirect route for travelling to Odisha. I also understand the Odia society of UAE had a meeting with GM Air India Middle-east and Africa regarding the viability of a direct Air India flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai based on a favourable traffic data between these two destinations," Pradhan stated in his letter.

"Keeping in mind the welfare of commuters to and from Bhubaneswar-Dubai and larger potential for the development of Odisha. I request your personal intervention in launching a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest," requested Pradhan.

Underlining the importance of a direct flight, Pradhan mentioned that Bhubaneswar is an educational, healthcare, cultural and tourist hub with rich potential for medical tourism, cultural tourism, and educational exchange programmes.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri to start a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has requested Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri to start a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Pradhan said that while Bhubaneswar is connected internationally, via direct flight to only Bangkok, more than 15,000 Odia people residing in different parts of United Arab Emirates (UAE) are forced to undertake an indirect route for travelling to Odisha. "At present Bhubaneswar is connected internationally, via direct flight, to only one destination i.e. Bangkok, Thailand. Three has been a long pending request from various quarters for introducing a direct flight from Bhubaneswar to Dubai, UAE," read the letter. "I am made to understand that there are more than 15,000 Odia people residing in different parts of UAE who are forced to undertake an indirect route for travelling to Odisha. I also understand the Odia society of UAE had a meeting with GM Air India Middle-east and Africa regarding the viability of a direct Air India flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai based on a favourable traffic data between these two destinations," Pradhan stated in his letter. "Keeping in mind the welfare of commuters to and from Bhubaneswar-Dubai and larger potential for the development of Odisha. I request your personal intervention in launching a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Dubai at the earliest," requested Pradhan. Underlining the importance of a direct flight, Pradhan mentioned that Bhubaneswar is an educational, healthcare, cultural and tourist hub with rich potential for medical tourism, cultural tourism, and educational exchange programmes.

Dharmendra Pradhan requests for a direct flight connecting Bhubaneswar to Dubai

Civil aviation regulators from around the world failed to make a determination Thursday on when Boeing's popular 737 MAX aircraft can return to the skies after being grounded following two deadly crashes.

"The only timetable is to make sure the aircraft is safe to fly," Daniel Elwell, acting head of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/faa-bans-low-flights-over-venezuelas-airspace-citing-political-instability-215037">US Federal Aviation Administration</a>, said at the conclusion of the day-long meeting in Texas.

There was "enthusiastic agreement to continue the dialogue," he said, but acknowledged that "each country has to make its own decision."

"If they unground relatively close to when we unground I think it would help with public confidence," Elwell said while adding that: "We can't be driven by some arbitrary timeline."

Until the 737 MAX crashes in Ethiopia in March and Indonesia in October which left a combined 346 people dead, the common practice was that air regulators would follow the assessment of the agency overseeing the model, in this case, the FAA.

On Wednesday, Elwell threw cold water on hopes of a speedy resolution, after revealing that Boeing had held off submitting a proposed software fix for review after his agency raised additional questions.

Investigators have focused on the MAX's anti-stall Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System in inquiries into the two deadly crashes.

Boeing last week said the MCAS update was ready for the certification process, and US airlines were hoping the planes could be back in the skies in time for part of the summer travel season.

But Elwell on Thursday said the process could take one month, two months or longer.

"It is all determined by what we find in our analysis of the application," he said on CNBC.

Once Boeing has submitted all documentation, the FAA will conduct a test flight and detailed analysis to evaluate the safety of the software.

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Teal Group, said Boeing wants to avoid having to repeat the process.

"There's a lot at stake in terms of the first impression by the world's regulators," he told AFP.

US air carriers that operate the 737 MAX, including American Airlines, Southwest and United, have said they hope to have the planes flying again by mid-August at the latest.

But the FAA's reputation has taken a beating since the March crash and faced accusations of an overly cosy relationship with the aviation giant. Other aviation authorities now appear less likely to follow the US agency.

Michel Merluzeau of Air Insight Research said American officials could end the 737 MAX's grounding toward the end of summer, with authorities in other countries following suit "several months" later.

"We're headed for a return to service that could drag on in time," he said.

'Frank discussion'&nbsp;

Elwell said regulators also have yet to decide on changes to pilot training once the adjustments have been approved.

The United States has differed with a number of countries on this issue, including Canada. Washington believes training on computers or tablets is sufficient for seasoned pilots but Ottawa wants to require training on flight simulators.

The European Aviation Safety Agency, Canada and Brazil are among countries saying they will conduct their own evaluations of the MCAS fix.

What China, the first country to ground the 737 MAX, will do is also an unknown given the flare-up in trade frictions with the United States.

About five dozen representatives from 33 countries accepted the FAA's invitation to attend the regulators' conference in Texas.&nbsp;

Elwell said the closed-door meeting involved "frank questions and a frank discussion," adding that his counterparts wanted "clarifications" on US procedures.

Regaining public trust will take time, according to opinion polls conducted by Southwest showing that many passengers are not yet ready to get back aboard a 737 MAX jet. And pilots also have qualms.

"Before the Boeing MAX's return to service, we need answers and transparency," the European Cockpit Association said Thursday in a statement.

The organization, which represents 38,000 pilots from 36 countries, said it was "deeply disturbing" that the FAA and Boeing were considering a return to service while not disclosing "the many challenging questions prompted by the MAX design philosophy."

Beyond Boeing's reputation, the 737 MAX crisis comes at a major financial cost, given that the plane represented 80 per cent of the company's order backlog as of the end of last month.

The company, which has suspended deliveries, is only paid at the moment of delivery and will have to indemnify air carriers for losses.

Civil aviation regulators from around the world failed to make a determination Thursday on when Boeing's popular 737 MAX aircraft can return to the skies after being grounded following two deadly crashes.

Civil aviation regulators from around the world failed to make a determination Thursday on when Boeing's popular 737 MAX aircraft can return to the skies after being grounded following two deadly crashes. "The only timetable is to make sure the aircraft is safe to fly," Daniel Elwell, acting head of the US Federal Aviation Administration, said at the conclusion of the day-long meeting in Texas. There was "enthusiastic agreement to continue the dialogue," he said, but acknowledged that "each country has to make its own decision." "If they unground relatively close to when we unground I think it would help with public confidence," Elwell said while adding that: "We can't be driven by some arbitrary timeline." Until the 737 MAX crashes in Ethiopia in March and Indonesia in October which left a combined 346 people dead, the common practice was that air regulators would follow the assessment of the agency overseeing the model, in this case, the FAA. On Wednesday, Elwell threw cold water on hopes of a speedy resolution, after revealing that Boeing had held off submitting a proposed software fix for review after his agency raised additional questions. Investigators have focused on the MAX's anti-stall Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System in inquiries into the two deadly crashes. Boeing last week said the MCAS update was ready for the certification process, and US airlines were hoping the planes could be back in the skies in time for part of the summer travel season. But Elwell on Thursday said the process could take one month, two months or longer. "It is all determined by what we find in our analysis of the application," he said on CNBC. Once Boeing has submitted all documentation, the FAA will conduct a test flight and detailed analysis to evaluate the safety of the software. Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst at Teal Group, said Boeing wants to avoid having to repeat the process. "There's a lot at stake in terms of the first impression by the world's regulators," he told AFP. US air carriers that operate the 737 MAX, including American Airlines, Southwest and United, have said they hope to have the planes flying again by mid-August at the latest. But the FAA's reputation has taken a beating since the March crash and faced accusations of an overly cosy relationship with the aviation giant. Other aviation authorities now appear less likely to follow the US agency. Michel Merluzeau of Air Insight Research said American officials could end the 737 MAX's grounding toward the end of summer, with authorities in other countries following suit "several months" later. "We're headed for a return to service that could drag on in time," he said. 'Frank discussion' Elwell said regulators also have yet to decide on changes to pilot training once the adjustments have been approved. The United States has differed with a number of countries on this issue, including Canada. Washington believes training on computers or tablets is sufficient for seasoned pilots but Ottawa wants to require training on flight simulators. The European Aviation Safety Agency, Canada and Brazil are among countries saying they will conduct their own evaluations of the MCAS fix. What China, the first country to ground the 737 MAX, will do is also an unknown given the flare-up in trade frictions with the United States. About five dozen representatives from 33 countries accepted the FAA's invitation to attend the regulators' conference in Texas. Elwell said the closed-door meeting involved "frank questions and a frank discussion," adding that his counterparts wanted "clarifications" on US procedures. Regaining public trust will take time, according to opinion polls conducted by Southwest showing that many passengers are not yet ready to get back aboard a 737 MAX jet. And pilots also have qualms. "Before the Boeing MAX's return to service, we need answers and transparency," the European Cockpit Association said Thursday in a statement. The organization, which represents 38,000 pilots from 36 countries, said it was "deeply disturbing" that the FAA and Boeing were considering a return to service while not disclosing "the many challenging questions prompted by the MAX design philosophy." Beyond Boeing's reputation, the 737 MAX crisis comes at a major financial cost, given that the plane represented 80 per cent of the company's order backlog as of the end of last month. The company, which has suspended deliveries, is only paid at the moment of delivery and will have to indemnify air carriers for losses.

Regulators fail to set date for 737 MAX return to service

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Friday issued a detailed Circular with an aim to curb the movement of unauthorized arms, contraband goods and cash at the airports, in the wake of the announcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ensuing General Elections.

The Bureau has given specific instructions to be followed by the Airport authorities and other government officials.

Officers of BCAS will be conducting surprise inspections of these airports to check the compliance of these instructions.

Apart from strengthening the security at the regular commercial airports, BCAS has directed the airport authorities to check flights from uncontrolled, remote and unserved private and public airstrips, helipads and waterdromes.

It has also directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) to inform State Police, BCAS and Income Tax Department about such flights in advance.

ATC has been specifically directed to share records of the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters half an hour in advance to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located.

As per direction of the Election Commission, Director General of Police (DGPs) of States have been ordered to deploy police units to check these flights during Code of Conduct.

The operators of all private aircrafts or helicopters have been asked to declare the contents of the baggage, suitcases carried on these flights to CEO of the states, DEOs of the districts, state police and IT Department.

With an aim to keep strict vigil over movement of cash through all airports, Income Tax Department and CISF have been extended with all requisite cooperation for checking and surveillance activities.&nbsp;

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Friday issued a detailed Circular with an aim to curb the movement of unauthorized arms, contraband goods and cash at the airports, in the wake of the announcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ensuing General Elections.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) on Friday issued a detailed Circular with an aim to curb the movement of unauthorized arms, contraband goods and cash at the airports, in the wake of the announcement of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ensuing General Elections. The Bureau has given specific instructions to be followed by the Airport authorities and other government officials. Officers of BCAS will be conducting surprise inspections of these airports to check the compliance of these instructions. Apart from strengthening the security at the regular commercial airports, BCAS has directed the airport authorities to check flights from uncontrolled, remote and unserved private and public airstrips, helipads and waterdromes. It has also directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Air Traffic Control (ATC) to inform State Police, BCAS and Income Tax Department about such flights in advance. ATC has been specifically directed to share records of the travel plan of chartered aircrafts or helicopters half an hour in advance to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State and the DEO of the district, in which the airport is located. As per direction of the Election Commission, Director General of Police (DGPs) of States have been ordered to deploy police units to check these flights during Code of Conduct. The operators of all private aircrafts or helicopters have been asked to declare the contents of the baggage, suitcases carried on these flights to CEO of the states, DEOs of the districts, state police and IT Department. With an aim to keep strict vigil over movement of cash through all airports, Income Tax Department and CISF have been extended with all requisite cooperation for checking and surveillance activities.

BCAS issues circular to strengthen security at airports ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Saturday that the government is ensuring that all domestic carriers are in "conformity" with the highest safety standards, and the aviation regulator has been directed to carry out their safety audits on a regular basis.

Prabhu's assertion came on a day when reports of a Pratt &amp; Whitney engine of an IndiGo A320 neo plane stopping mid-air surfaced.

"As far as we are concerned, we are ensuring that all Indian carrier must conform to the highest safety standards. I have directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct safety audit of not only all the airlines but also of other organisations on a regular basis," Prabhu said at a media briefing here about the 25th edition of the CII Partnership Summit, to be held in the city from January 13.

An IndiGo Airbus A320neo plane suffered a mid-air engine failure with a "loud bang" on January 3, forcing the aviation ministry to take a serious note of the incident.

Prabhu said that two leading global aviation organisations - Federation Aviation Administration of the USA and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) -- have certified that India's safety apparatus has improved its performance, adding, "the domestic air passenger demand is growing at 20 per cent each month and we are seeing an increased number of passengers (every month)."

He said the number of airports in country has gone up to 101 from 67 five years ago.

"We have a target of having another 100 airports with a USD 100 billion investment," he added.

Responding to a question on whether the government was considering intervening by way of support to the domestic airlines which are in the red due to high costs and the lack of funds, Prabhu said in a deregulated sector like airlines it is the responsibility of the company to manage its affairs.

India has recorded highest foreign direct investment, more than China, in this year, which is a landmark, he said, adding that the government is eyeing USD 100 billion FDI in the next two years.

"And to achieve this, we are targeting specific sectors as well as companies," he added.

Over 1,000 delegates from 40 countries are expected to participate in the two-day mega business event, which is being hosted for the first time in the state in association with the Ministry of Commerce and the Maharashtra Government.

The theme for this year's summit is `New India: Rising to Global Occasions'.&nbsp;

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Saturday that the government is ensuring that all domestic carriers are in "conformity" with the highest safety standards, and the aviation regulator has been directed to carry out their safety audits on a regular basis.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said Saturday that the government is ensuring that all domestic carriers are in "conformity" with the highest safety standards, and the aviation regulator has been directed to carry out their safety audits on a regular basis. Prabhu's assertion came on a day when reports of a Pratt & Whitney engine of an IndiGo A320 neo plane stopping mid-air surfaced. "As far as we are concerned, we are ensuring that all Indian carrier must conform to the highest safety standards. I have directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to conduct safety audit of not only all the airlines but also of other organisations on a regular basis," Prabhu said at a media briefing here about the 25th edition of the CII Partnership Summit, to be held in the city from January 13. An IndiGo Airbus A320neo plane suffered a mid-air engine failure with a "loud bang" on January 3, forcing the aviation ministry to take a serious note of the incident. Prabhu said that two leading global aviation organisations - Federation Aviation Administration of the USA and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) -- have certified that India's safety apparatus has improved its performance, adding, "the domestic air passenger demand is growing at 20 per cent each month and we are seeing an increased number of passengers (every month)." He said the number of airports in country has gone up to 101 from 67 five years ago. "We have a target of having another 100 airports with a USD 100 billion investment," he added. Responding to a question on whether the government was considering intervening by way of support to the domestic airlines which are in the red due to high costs and the lack of funds, Prabhu said in a deregulated sector like airlines it is the responsibility of the company to manage its affairs. India has recorded highest foreign direct investment, more than China, in this year, which is a landmark, he said, adding that the government is eyeing USD 100 billion FDI in the next two years. "And to achieve this, we are targeting specific sectors as well as companies," he added. Over 1,000 delegates from 40 countries are expected to participate in the two-day mega business event, which is being hosted for the first time in the state in association with the Ministry of Commerce and the Maharashtra Government. The theme for this year's summit is `New India: Rising to Global Occasions'.

Government ensuring airlines follow highest safety standards: Prabhu

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the Indian aviation sector is growing exponentially and added that the Indian Aviation will become the largest aviation market if the trend continues.

"Indian aviation sector is growing exponentially. Last month, we grew at 20 percent. If the trend continues, we will be the largest aviation market in the world and this would create the kind of job opportunities one cannot imagine," he said.

Prabhu was in Goa's Mopa to review the work on the Greenfield international airport being constructed by the GMR Goa International Airport Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed by the GMR Airports Limited.

He also said that by 2025, millions of tourists would be coming to Goa only because of this airport.

"Tourists coming in would mean the creation of many jobs in the state. Mopa airport has the potential to be an international aviation hub in south India because the entire west coast of India is serviced from here," Prabhu said.

He informed that 234 acres of land allotted for commercial exploitation around the airport should be developed into an entertainment zone.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the Indian aviation sector is growing exponentially and added that the Indian Aviation will become the largest aviation market if the trend continues

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has said that the Indian aviation sector is growing exponentially and added that the Indian Aviation will become the largest aviation market if the trend continues. "Indian aviation sector is growing exponentially. Last month, we grew at 20 percent. If the trend continues, we will be the largest aviation market in the world and this would create the kind of job opportunities one cannot imagine," he said. Prabhu was in Goa's Mopa to review the work on the Greenfield international airport being constructed by the GMR Goa International Airport Limited, a special purpose vehicle formed by the GMR Airports Limited. He also said that by 2025, millions of tourists would be coming to Goa only because of this airport. "Tourists coming in would mean the creation of many jobs in the state. Mopa airport has the potential to be an international aviation hub in south India because the entire west coast of India is serviced from here," Prabhu said. He informed that 234 acres of land allotted for commercial exploitation around the airport should be developed into an entertainment zone.

Indian aviation sector growing exponentially: Suresh Prabhu

The United Arab Emirates said two Qatar&nbspfighter jets "dangerously approached" an Emirati passenger flight and a civilian helicopter on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the latest such incident between the Gulf rivals.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the "reckless manner" in which the Qatari fighter jets purportedly harassed its planes.&nbsp

"The distance was so close that the traffic collision avoidance system was triggered," said Ismail al-Blooshi, assistant director of the aviation authority`s safety affairs division.

In the case of the commercial passenger plane, he said the aircrafts came within 700 feet of one another at high speed -- with the Emirati plane taking an emergency climb in altitude.&nbsp

"Any wrong manoeuvre at this stage by either aircraft would have been a catastrophe," Blooshi told AFP by phone.

The Qatari jets "were not on scheduled routes", he added.&nbsp

Blooshi declined to specify to which company the passenger plane belonged, but aviation is a key sector in the UAE economy.&nbsp

Its metropolis Dubai, situated on transcontinental air routes, was the busiest airport for international passengers for the fourth year running -- hosting more than 88 million travellers in 2017.&nbsp

The UAE and Qatar, a rival air transit hub, have rowed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month.

Abu Dhabi in January said it would re-route flight routes to pass over its ally Bahrain to avoid Qatari airspace.&nbsp

The latest incidents -- according to Blooshi -- occurred over Bahrain.&nbsp

He said the UAE would be filing a fresh complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization.

"We were one of the first countries to ban (our planes) flying over areas of conflict when there is a risk to civil aviation," he told AFP.&nbsp

"These are declared international routes and this is unacceptable."

Doha denied the accusation in a statement released by its civil aviation authority.&nbsp

Qatar -- under boycott by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt over alleged support for Islamist extremist groups -- is banned from using its rivals` airspace.&nbsp

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the 'reckless manner' in which the Qatari fighter jets purportedly harassed its planes.

The United Arab Emirates said two Qatar&nbspfighter jets "dangerously approached" an Emirati passenger flight and a civilian helicopter on Monday, sparking a swift denial by Doha in the latest such incident between the Gulf rivals. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority condemned the "reckless manner" in which the Qatari fighter jets purportedly harassed its planes. "The distance was so close that the traffic collision avoidance system was triggered," said Ismail al-Blooshi, assistant director of the aviation authority`s safety affairs division. In the case of the commercial passenger plane, he said the aircrafts came within 700 feet of one another at high speed -- with the Emirati plane taking an emergency climb in altitude. "Any wrong manoeuvre at this stage by either aircraft would have been a catastrophe," Blooshi told AFP by phone. The Qatari jets "were not on scheduled routes", he added. Blooshi declined to specify to which company the passenger plane belonged, but aviation is a key sector in the UAE economy. Its metropolis Dubai, situated on transcontinental air routes, was the busiest airport for international passengers for the fourth year running -- hosting more than 88 million travellers in 2017. The UAE and Qatar, a rival air transit hub, have rowed repeatedly over alleged airspace violations this year, as a diplomatic crisis in the Gulf enters its 10th month. Abu Dhabi in January said it would re-route flight routes to pass over its ally Bahrain to avoid Qatari airspace. The latest incidents -- according to Blooshi -- occurred over Bahrain. He said the UAE would be filing a fresh complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization. "We were one of the first countries to ban (our planes) flying over areas of conflict when there is a risk to civil aviation," he told AFP. "These are declared international routes and this is unacceptable." Doha denied the accusation in a statement released by its civil aviation authority. Qatar -- under boycott by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt over alleged support for Islamist extremist groups -- is banned from using its rivals` airspace.

Transport hub UAE says Qatar fighter jets harassing civil aviation

Ever since the Modi government has come to power in May 2014, there has been a consistent push to improve the country&#39;s infrastructure. Nitin Gadkari as Surface Transport Minister is leading the pack. Gadkari has provided amazing impetus to the highway construction pace. He is a man of action and visionary too.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Apart from highways, Gadkari is trying to create as well as revive national waterways using the network of rivers. If realised, waterways would not only decongest highways but they will also bring down the transportation cost substantially.

&nbsp;

Apart from highways and waterways, there has been a serious initiative by Government of India (GOI) to push aviation in the country.&nbsp; In his budget speech for 2018-19, Jaitley has given a vision of expanding the airport capacity by five times of what it is today.

But it&rsquo;s not only about Budget 2018-19; Modi government has actually been working to take this sector on a different level for the past couple of years at least.

&nbsp;

Last year, GOI has come with UDAN - RCS scheme (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik &ndash; Regional Connectivity Scheme), wherein extraordinary impetus has been given to regional air connectivity. In the proposed scheme, airlines are bound to sell few tickets for Rs. 2500 for a journey spanning less than an hour.&nbsp; The GOI can do so as many unserved but serviceable air-strips and airport of defence services are available in the country.

&nbsp;

Despite being a burgeoning economy and second most populous country in the world, India is still nowhere in civil aviation in comparison to the developed country. In India, there are only around 500 commercial aircrafts in comparison to more than 7000 aircrafts in the USA. As on date, the USA has around seven times air passengers than that of India. China has around 4.5 times.

&nbsp;

The current push to the civil aviation sector by the Modi government is the next steps of reforms in this sector. Things as such started changing during the previous decade when the GOI decided to go for PPP (Public Private Partnership) model after sensing that Airport Authority of India (AAI) alone cannot match the required pace in this domain. Remember how Bangalore people used to struggle at highly congested and cramped old HAL airport; it was a real mess. Or the way passengers used to queue up for luggage screening at Terminal 1B in Delhi. They are now things of the past.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The new swanky airport was commissioned in Bangalore in 2008 under PPP model, which is given a new lease of life to India&rsquo;s IT city. Subsequently, it was the turn of Terminal T3 at Delhi, new airports at Hyderabad and Mumbai, built and commissioned under the PPP model.

&nbsp;

The passenger traffic is growing by leaps and bounds in India. It is worthwhile to mention here that India&rsquo;s domestic traffic has been growing at a rate of 18 per cent per annum over the past three years. In 2017-18, the passenger footfall at Delhi would cross a whopping 60 million and it is one among the 15 busiest airports in the world.

&nbsp;

The government very well realises that a robust infrastructure is imperative for an aspiring world leader like India and aviation is one of the vital constituents of this infrastructure. Already a second greenfield airport in NCR (Delhi), Goa and Navi Mumbai have been nodded by the government, which will be a huge boost to this sector. The second airport at NCR (Jewar) is slated to start operations in 2022.

&nbsp;

Airlines are well aware of the massive growth, which is on the cards in Indian aviation industry, and they are accordingly reciprocating. The total order of new aircrafts booked for all India airlines put together is 900 plus, compare this with total 500 aircrafts that run currently.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

UDAN scheme has already started touching people&rsquo;s life. 16 airports under UDAN have already become operational. For example from Delhi, flights are now available to destinations like Shimla, Bikaner and Bhatinda.

&nbsp;

In this budget, Jaitley has proposed an augmentation of aviation infrastructure under the Nabh-Nirman scheme, which will be spearheaded by the AAI. The GOI has also provisioned Rs. 6600 crore for the sector during 2018-19, which is almost three times the budget during 2017-18. Thus, the sector is bound to get catapulted at a whole new level in days to come.

&nbsp;

The vision of GOI is clear that air connectivity needs to go up by notches and should be affordable to the very common people. It is clearly manifested in Jaitley&#39;s budget speech and commitment made by him for this sector.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

The vision of GOI is clear, air connectivity needs to go up by notches and should be affordable to the very common people.

Ever since the Modi government has come to power in May 2014, there has been a consistent push to improve the country's infrastructure. Nitin Gadkari as Surface Transport Minister is leading the pack. Gadkari has provided amazing impetus to the highway construction pace. He is a man of action and visionary too. Apart from highways, Gadkari is trying to create as well as revive national waterways using the network of rivers. If realised, waterways would not only decongest highways but they will also bring down the transportation cost substantially. Apart from highways and waterways, there has been a serious initiative by Government of India (GOI) to push aviation in the country. In his budget speech for 2018-19, Jaitley has given a vision of expanding the airport capacity by five times of what it is today. But it’s not only about Budget 2018-19; Modi government has actually been working to take this sector on a different level for the past couple of years at least. Last year, GOI has come with UDAN - RCS scheme (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik – Regional Connectivity Scheme), wherein extraordinary impetus has been given to regional air connectivity. In the proposed scheme, airlines are bound to sell few tickets for Rs. 2500 for a journey spanning less than an hour. The GOI can do so as many unserved but serviceable air-strips and airport of defence services are available in the country. Despite being a burgeoning economy and second most populous country in the world, India is still nowhere in civil aviation in comparison to the developed country. In India, there are only around 500 commercial aircrafts in comparison to more than 7000 aircrafts in the USA. As on date, the USA has around seven times air passengers than that of India. China has around 4.5 times. The current push to the civil aviation sector by the Modi government is the next steps of reforms in this sector. Things as such started changing during the previous decade when the GOI decided to go for PPP (Public Private Partnership) model after sensing that Airport Authority of India (AAI) alone cannot match the required pace in this domain. Remember how Bangalore people used to struggle at highly congested and cramped old HAL airport; it was a real mess. Or the way passengers used to queue up for luggage screening at Terminal 1B in Delhi. They are now things of the past. The new swanky airport was commissioned in Bangalore in 2008 under PPP model, which is given a new lease of life to India’s IT city. Subsequently, it was the turn of Terminal T3 at Delhi, new airports at Hyderabad and Mumbai, built and commissioned under the PPP model. The passenger traffic is growing by leaps and bounds in India. It is worthwhile to mention here that India’s domestic traffic has been growing at a rate of 18 per cent per annum over the past three years. In 2017-18, the passenger footfall at Delhi would cross a whopping 60 million and it is one among the 15 busiest airports in the world. The government very well realises that a robust infrastructure is imperative for an aspiring world leader like India and aviation is one of the vital constituents of this infrastructure. Already a second greenfield airport in NCR (Delhi), Goa and Navi Mumbai have been nodded by the government, which will be a huge boost to this sector. The second airport at NCR (Jewar) is slated to start operations in 2022. Airlines are well aware of the massive growth, which is on the cards in Indian aviation industry, and they are accordingly reciprocating. The total order of new aircrafts booked for all India airlines put together is 900 plus, compare this with total 500 aircrafts that run currently. UDAN scheme has already started touching people’s life. 16 airports under UDAN have already become operational. For example from Delhi, flights are now available to destinations like Shimla, Bikaner and Bhatinda. In this budget, Jaitley has proposed an augmentation of aviation infrastructure under the Nabh-Nirman scheme, which will be spearheaded by the AAI. The GOI has also provisioned Rs. 6600 crore for the sector during 2018-19, which is almost three times the budget during 2017-18. Thus, the sector is bound to get catapulted at a whole new level in days to come. The vision of GOI is clear that air connectivity needs to go up by notches and should be affordable to the very common people. It is clearly manifested in Jaitley's budget speech and commitment made by him for this sector. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: To be a world power India needs a world-class civil aviation sector

Days after the release of the video showing&nbsp;the alleged manhandling of an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indigo-staff-manhandle-passenger-at-delhis-igi-airport-23691" target="_blank">indigo</a> passenger, the flight staff are now experiencing a huge public relations crises.&nbsp;

Passengers at various airports are walking up to the boarding gate/ladder point and questioning the staff &quot;Aaj kitne logo ko maara?&quot; (How many did you hit today?), said an employee. The hardest hit are the ground staff.&nbsp; 
 
In a letter&nbsp;sent to employees, the CEO and president of the airline Aditya Ghosh has asked all his employees &quot;to stay calm&quot;.

In the email to employees, he said: &quot;Stay calm, not to get provoked and don&#39;t get drawn into any argument.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/indigo%20ceo-20171113062824.JPG" />
<div class="media-description">
Copy of the email sent by CEO and president of the airline Aditya Ghosh. (WION Web Team)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The complaints from employees are coming from all across the airports.&nbsp;Besides this, the employees are also getting tagged on various social media memes.

An IndiGo <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sacked-whistleblower-was-the-culprit-behind-indigo-case-23765" target="_blank">staff allegedly manhandled a passenger</a> at Delhi&#39;s Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 15. The video of the ground staff of IndiGo Airways manhandling the passenger went viral on social media.&nbsp;

IndiGo director Aditya Ghosh had blamed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sacked-whistleblower-was-the-culprit-behind-indigo-case-23765" target="_blank">sacked &quot;whistleblower&quot;</a> for manhandling the passenger after a verbal altercation.&nbsp;

In a report to the civil aviation ministry, he mentioned&nbsp;that the staff was trying to prevent the passengers and was only &#39;doing its job&#39;.

&quot;The ex-employee, Montu Kalra who was terminated and is claiming to be the &#39;whistleblower&#39;, is the one you can hear shouting in the video and instructing the other two colleagues, who were junior to him, to prevent the customer from boarding the bus and to hold him back at the ramp itself.&quot;

The incident unfolded when 6E 487 flew into Delhi from Chennai. Soon after alighting from Airbus A-320, Rajiv Katiyal, a passenger, got into an argument with some ground staff employees and he allegedly abused them. This led to a confrontation even though no one is clear about the reason behind the argument.&nbsp;

After the argument, Katiyal was not only stopped by the ground staffers from boarding the bus, which was taking the passengers to the terminal but was allegedly manhandled. In the video, the ground staffers are seen pinning Katiyal to the ground almost for a minute.

The CEO and president of the airline Aditya Ghosh has asked all his employees to stay calm

Days after the release of the video showing the alleged manhandling of an indigo passenger, the flight staff are now experiencing a huge public relations crises. Passengers at various airports are walking up to the boarding gate/ladder point and questioning the staff "Aaj kitne logo ko maara?" (How many did you hit today?), said an employee. The hardest hit are the ground staff. In a letter sent to employees, the CEO and president of the airline Aditya Ghosh has asked all his employees "to stay calm". In the email to employees, he said: "Stay calm, not to get provoked and don't get drawn into any argument." Copy of the email sent by CEO and president of the airline Aditya Ghosh. (WION Web Team) × The complaints from employees are coming from all across the airports. Besides this, the employees are also getting tagged on various social media memes. An IndiGo staff allegedly manhandled a passenger at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport on October 15. The video of the ground staff of IndiGo Airways manhandling the passenger went viral on social media. IndiGo director Aditya Ghosh had blamed the sacked "whistleblower" for manhandling the passenger after a verbal altercation. In a report to the civil aviation ministry, he mentioned that the staff was trying to prevent the passengers and was only 'doing its job'. "The ex-employee, Montu Kalra who was terminated and is claiming to be the 'whistleblower', is the one you can hear shouting in the video and instructing the other two colleagues, who were junior to him, to prevent the customer from boarding the bus and to hold him back at the ramp itself." The incident unfolded when 6E 487 flew into Delhi from Chennai. Soon after alighting from Airbus A-320, Rajiv Katiyal, a passenger, got into an argument with some ground staff employees and he allegedly abused them. This led to a confrontation even though no one is clear about the reason behind the argument. After the argument, Katiyal was not only stopped by the ground staffers from boarding the bus, which was taking the passengers to the terminal but was allegedly manhandled. In the video, the ground staffers are seen pinning Katiyal to the ground almost for a minute.

'How many did you hit today?': Indigo passenger to airline staff

In a report to the civil aviation ministry, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-am-more-worried-about-the-pollution-than-indigos-reputation-rahul-bhatia-23739">IndiGo director&nbsp;Aditya Ghosh&nbsp;blamed</a>&nbsp;the sacked &quot;whistleblower&quot; for manhandling the passenger after a verbal altercation.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/23691">The video of the incident which had occurred on October 15 had gone viral on Tuesday after it emerged a passenger</a>, Rajiv Katyal, being manhandled by the IndiGo staff at Delhi&#39;s IGI airport.

Aditya Ghosh, mentioned in the report to the government that the staff was trying to prevent the passengers and was only &#39;doing its&nbsp;job&#39;.

&quot;The ex-employee, Montu Kalra who was terminated and is claiming to be the &#39;whistleblower&#39;, is the one you can hear shouting in the video and instructing the other two colleagues, who were junior to him, to prevent the customer from boarding the bus and to hold him back at the ramp itself.&quot;

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Incident at Delhi Airport - Report (Others)
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&ldquo;At the very outset, let me start off by acknowledging that we were at fault and we not only apologise for this regrettable incident, we have also taken action. As a responsible organisation, we recognize that we have a high degree of duty towards our customers. Treating our customers with respect is core to what we do. I personally called and apologised to Mr. Katyal (the customer) 3 weeks ago,&rdquo; IndiGo airline&rsquo;s president said in the report.

Giving the airline&#39;s side of the story, Ghosh said:&nbsp;&quot;When our staff Juby Thomas saw Mr Katyal inadvertently moving towards the catering high-lift (which was attached to the aircraft), Thomas started waving frantically from a distance to ask Mr Katyal to move away with the sole intention of preventing any accident. Thomas started shouting to be heard by the passenger due to the high aircraft noise.&quot;

&quot;It is possible that due to the very noisy ramp area, Mr Katyal could not hear Juby Thomas properly and ... may have felt Thomas was being rude. The reality is that Juby Thomas was only trying to ensure the safety of Mr Katyal and prevent an accident,&quot; the letter said.

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Ghosh further mentioned how Katyal refused to listen to Thomas and spoke in &quot;inappropriate&quot;&nbsp;language, telling him &#39;to do his own work&#39;, which was &quot;the irony, as he was indeed doing his own work and enduring safety of the passengers&quot; Ghosh said in his letter.&nbsp;

The letter&nbsp;then extensively broke down each scenario and explained how the event unfolded blow-by-blow.&nbsp;

Ghosh accepted that the incident was &#39;extremely regrettable&#39; and the situation could have been &#39;handled differently&#39;.

&quot;Whatever may have been the provocation, whether verbal or physical abuse, we could have tried to display more restraint,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

He then informed that he apologised to Mr&nbsp;Katyal &quot;the very same night&quot;&nbsp;and assured that they will &quot;try harder&quot;.&nbsp;

The employees have since been suspended.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: IndiGo staff manhandle a passenger at Delhi&#39;s Indira Gandhi International Airport (Note: Strong language) <a href="https://t.co/v2ola0YzqC">pic.twitter.com/v2ola0YzqC</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/927915529163046912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The airline wrote these details in their report to the government which was given to the ministry of civil aviation on Wednesday.?

In a report to the civil aviation ministry, IndiGo director Aditya Ghosh blamed the sacked "whistleblower" for manhandling the passenger after a verbal altercation. The video of the incident which had occurred on October 15 had gone viral on Tuesday after it emerged a passenger, Rajiv Katyal, being manhandled by the IndiGo staff at Delhi's IGI airport. Aditya Ghosh, mentioned in the report to the government that the staff was trying to prevent the passengers and was only 'doing its job'. "The ex-employee, Montu Kalra who was terminated and is claiming to be the 'whistleblower', is the one you can hear shouting in the video and instructing the other two colleagues, who were junior to him, to prevent the customer from boarding the bus and to hold him back at the ramp itself." Incident at Delhi Airport - Report (Others) × “At the very outset, let me start off by acknowledging that we were at fault and we not only apologise for this regrettable incident, we have also taken action. As a responsible organisation, we recognize that we have a high degree of duty towards our customers. Treating our customers with respect is core to what we do. I personally called and apologised to Mr. Katyal (the customer) 3 weeks ago,” IndiGo airline’s president said in the report. Giving the airline's side of the story, Ghosh said: "When our staff Juby Thomas saw Mr Katyal inadvertently moving towards the catering high-lift (which was attached to the aircraft), Thomas started waving frantically from a distance to ask Mr Katyal to move away with the sole intention of preventing any accident. Thomas started shouting to be heard by the passenger due to the high aircraft noise." "It is possible that due to the very noisy ramp area, Mr Katyal could not hear Juby Thomas properly and ... may have felt Thomas was being rude. The reality is that Juby Thomas was only trying to ensure the safety of Mr Katyal and prevent an accident," the letter said. Representative Photo (Others) × Ghosh further mentioned how Katyal refused to listen to Thomas and spoke in "inappropriate" language, telling him 'to do his own work', which was "the irony, as he was indeed doing his own work and enduring safety of the passengers" Ghosh said in his letter. The letter then extensively broke down each scenario and explained how the event unfolded blow-by-blow. Ghosh accepted that the incident was 'extremely regrettable' and the situation could have been 'handled differently'. "Whatever may have been the provocation, whether verbal or physical abuse, we could have tried to display more restraint," he said. He then informed that he apologised to Mr Katyal "the very same night" and assured that they will "try harder". The employees have since been suspended. #WATCH: IndiGo staff manhandle a passenger at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (Note: Strong language) pic.twitter.com/v2ola0YzqC — ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2017 ×

IndiGo director blames sacked 'whistleblower' for manhandling passenger, 'regrets' incident

Union minister Jayant Sinha&#39;s name has cropped up in the leaked list of &#39;Paradise Papers&#39; of companies having offshore entities globally even as he today said the transactions were not done for any &quot;personal purpose&quot;.

Sinha had worked with Omidyar Network as Managing Director in India and Omidyar Network had invested in a US company D.Light Design that has a subsidiary in Cayman Islands, according to a report based on the Paradise Papers investigation.

In a series of tweets today, Sinha said the transactions were legal and bonafide.

The transactions were undertaken on behalf of highly reputed world-leading organisations in my fiduciary role as partner at Omidyar Network and its designated representative on the D.Light Board, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said.

&quot;It is crucial to note that these transactions were done for D.Light as an Omidyar representative, and not for any personal purpose,&quot; he noted.

Sinha, who is a former venture capitalist, also said all these transactions have been fully disclosed to relevant authorities through all necessary filings as required.

&quot;After leaving Omidyar Network, I was asked to continue on the D.Light Board as an independent director... On joining the Union Council of Ministers, I immediately resigned from D.Light Board and severed my involvement with the company,&quot; the minister said.

Sinha had earlier served as Minister of State for Finance.

The Paradise Papers is an investigation into offshore and banking assets carried out by the Indian Express with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/queen-elizabeth-ii-has-13m-in-investments-in-offshore-tax-havens-documents-23562" target="_blank">Paradise Papers: US commerce secretary has ties to firm linked to Putin&#39;s inner circle</a>

Sinha said the transactions were legal and bonafide

Union minister Jayant Sinha's name has cropped up in the leaked list of 'Paradise Papers' of companies having offshore entities globally even as he today said the transactions were not done for any "personal purpose". Sinha had worked with Omidyar Network as Managing Director in India and Omidyar Network had invested in a US company D.Light Design that has a subsidiary in Cayman Islands, according to a report based on the Paradise Papers investigation. In a series of tweets today, Sinha said the transactions were legal and bonafide. The transactions were undertaken on behalf of highly reputed world-leading organisations in my fiduciary role as partner at Omidyar Network and its designated representative on the D.Light Board, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation said. "It is crucial to note that these transactions were done for D.Light as an Omidyar representative, and not for any personal purpose," he noted. Sinha, who is a former venture capitalist, also said all these transactions have been fully disclosed to relevant authorities through all necessary filings as required. "After leaving Omidyar Network, I was asked to continue on the D.Light Board as an independent director... On joining the Union Council of Ministers, I immediately resigned from D.Light Board and severed my involvement with the company," the minister said. Sinha had earlier served as Minister of State for Finance. The Paradise Papers is an investigation into offshore and banking assets carried out by the Indian Express with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Also read: Paradise Papers: US commerce secretary has ties to firm linked to Putin's inner circle

Paradise Papers: No transactions done for 'personal purpose', says Jayant Sinha

The Union minister for Civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha have said that the government has designed a draft for a new law which will encourage the use of drones in the country.&nbsp;

The drone has been divided into five categories.&nbsp;

Nano drone will not require any permission, however,&nbsp;micro category will need a security clearance and unique identification number.&nbsp;

Mini and above category drone will need to comply with all the conditions and regulations.

The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform authorities before using the drone.&nbsp;

The policy will be implemented by January 1, 2018, MoS Jayant Sinha said.

The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform before using the drone

The Union minister for Civil aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha have said that the government has designed a draft for a new law which will encourage the use of drones in the country. The drone has been divided into five categories. Nano drone will not require any permission, however, micro category will need a security clearance and unique identification number. Mini and above category drone will need to comply with all the conditions and regulations. The government agencies will be able to use the drone without any permission, however, local police and anti-terror squad will have to inform authorities before using the drone. The policy will be implemented by January 1, 2018, MoS Jayant Sinha said.

Government to introduce laws to encourage use of drones

India on Wednesday eased a rule restricting when newer airlines can start flying overseas, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. 
 
Raju said on Twitter that airlines would no longer need to wait for the five years of operations earlier required before they can begin flying abroad, but must still have 20 jets in their fleet. 
 
India&#39;s cabinet approved the new national civil aviation policy earlier on Wednesday. 
(Reuters)

The 5-year condition for international flying is relaxed but airlines must have 20 jets

India on Wednesday eased a rule restricting when newer airlines can start flying overseas, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said. Raju said on Twitter that airlines would no longer need to wait for the five years of operations earlier required before they can begin flying abroad, but must still have 20 jets in their fleet. India's cabinet approved the new national civil aviation policy earlier on Wednesday. (Reuters)

India eases restriction on airlines flying overseas

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