India's aviation regulator has asked Airlines to keep the middle seat empty if passenger load factors and seat capacity allow for it, according to a notice to domestic and international carriers.

India's aviation regulator has asked Airlines to keep the middle seat empty if passenger load factors and seat capacity allow for it, according to a notice to domestic and international carriers. However, members of the same family would be allowed to sit together, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in its notice, issued on Sunday. The regulator did not elaborate on what load factors or seat capacity would require the middle seats to be left vacant, according to the report. If a seat between two passengers is occupied, the DGCA said, the person in that seat must be provided with additional safety gear such as a 'wrap-around gown' apart from the face mask and face shield that airlines already have to provide to everyone on board. (With inputs from Reuters)

Airlines told to keep middle seat vacant if passenger load permits

The central government on Monday lifted restrictions on in-flight <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/trai-recommends-in-flight-internet-connectivity-30092">Wi-Fi services</a> paving the way for airlines operating in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers, according to official notification.

"The Pilot-in-Command may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wi-Fi on board, when a laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or aeroplane mode," the notification stated.

While taking the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft at Everett on last Friday, Vistara CEO Leslie Thng had told reporters that it would be the first plane in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services.&nbsp;

In September 2018, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan had said that access to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/foreign-airlines-could-benefit-from-governments-nod-to-in-flight-internet-134953">in-flight Wi-Fi </a>on domestic and international flights in India would be given soon once the guidelines had been finalised for the same.

Globally, many airlines are already offering wi-fi for passengers, but they currently have to switch off the facility when they enter the Indian airspace. AirAsia, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among 30 airlines that already allow mobile phone use on aircraft.

In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) aims to enable making calls and internet services during flights in the Indian airspace and availability of Wi-Fi is also expected to provide local airlines with an additional source of income.&nbsp;

The central government on Monday lifted restrictions on in-flight Wi-Fi services paving the way for airlines operating in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers, according to official notification.

The central government on Monday lifted restrictions on in-flight Wi-Fi services paving the way for airlines operating in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services to passengers, according to official notification. "The Pilot-in-Command may permit the access of Internet services by passengers on board an aircraft in flight, through Wi-Fi on board, when a laptop, smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, e-reader or a point of sale device is used in flight mode or aeroplane mode," the notification stated. While taking the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 aircraft at Everett on last Friday, Vistara CEO Leslie Thng had told reporters that it would be the first plane in India to provide in-flight Wi-Fi services. In September 2018, Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan had said that access to in-flight Wi-Fi on domestic and international flights in India would be given soon once the guidelines had been finalised for the same. Globally, many airlines are already offering wi-fi for passengers, but they currently have to switch off the facility when they enter the Indian airspace. AirAsia, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic are among 30 airlines that already allow mobile phone use on aircraft. In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) aims to enable making calls and internet services during flights in the Indian airspace and availability of Wi-Fi is also expected to provide local airlines with an additional source of income.

Soon, make calls, browse internet on domestic flights as govt gives go-ahead for in-flight Wi-Fi services

No-frills airline SpiceJet Sunday announced the induction of a Boeing 737, taking its fleet size to 100 aircraft.

SpiceJet is the fourth domestic airline to achieve the feat after national carrier Air India, now defunct Jet Airways and rival IndiGo.

Eight domestic carriers - Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir, Air India&nbsp;Express, Vistara, AirAsia and Alliance together have 595 planes in their fleet at the moment.

Spicejet in a release said it has added some 23 planes in the last one month alone.

"Who could have thought that from the brink of closure in December 2014, SpiceJet would have a 100-aircraft fleet in 2019," SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said on the induction of 100th plane in the fleet.

The Gurugram-based budget carrier now has 68 Boeing 737s, 30 Bombardier Q-400s and two B737 freighters.

The airline at present operates 575 daily flights on an average to 62 destinations 53 domestic and nine international, it said.

SpiceJet is a key player in the Union government's regional connectivity scheme UDAN operating 42 flights per day to and from various regional destinations, it added.

"SpiceJet has added 23 planes and over a hundred new flights, most of them connecting the key metros of Mumbai and Delhi, in just over a month's time," the airline said.

Of the 595 planes, IndiGo has 230, Air India 128 and SpiceJet 100.

Jet Airways, which ceased operations around mid-last month, had 120 planes in its fleet before going bust.

Besides, GoAir has 49 planes, Air India Express 25, Vistara 22 and AirAsia India 21 planes in their fleet.

Alliance Air, which is the regional subsidiary of Air India, has 20 ATRs for operations.

SpiceJet had placed a USD 22 billion order for 205 aircraft with Boeing in 2015 and had followed it up with a USD 1.7 billion order for 50 Bombardier Q400 planes.

No-frills airline SpiceJet Sunday announced the induction of a Boeing 737, taking its fleet size to 100 aircraft. SpiceJet is the fourth domestic airline to achieve the feat after national carrier Air India, now defunct Jet Airways and rival IndiGo.

No-frills airline SpiceJet Sunday announced the induction of a Boeing 737, taking its fleet size to 100 aircraft. SpiceJet is the fourth domestic airline to achieve the feat after national carrier Air India, now defunct Jet Airways and rival IndiGo. Eight domestic carriers - Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir, Air India Express, Vistara, AirAsia and Alliance together have 595 planes in their fleet at the moment. Spicejet in a release said it has added some 23 planes in the last one month alone. "Who could have thought that from the brink of closure in December 2014, SpiceJet would have a 100-aircraft fleet in 2019," SpiceJet chairman and managing director Ajay Singh said on the induction of 100th plane in the fleet. The Gurugram-based budget carrier now has 68 Boeing 737s, 30 Bombardier Q-400s and two B737 freighters. The airline at present operates 575 daily flights on an average to 62 destinations 53 domestic and nine international, it said. SpiceJet is a key player in the Union government's regional connectivity scheme UDAN operating 42 flights per day to and from various regional destinations, it added. "SpiceJet has added 23 planes and over a hundred new flights, most of them connecting the key metros of Mumbai and Delhi, in just over a month's time," the airline said. Of the 595 planes, IndiGo has 230, Air India 128 and SpiceJet 100. Jet Airways, which ceased operations around mid-last month, had 120 planes in its fleet before going bust. Besides, GoAir has 49 planes, Air India Express 25, Vistara 22 and AirAsia India 21 planes in their fleet. Alliance Air, which is the regional subsidiary of Air India, has 20 ATRs for operations. SpiceJet had placed a USD 22 billion order for 205 aircraft with Boeing in 2015 and had followed it up with a USD 1.7 billion order for 50 Bombardier Q400 planes.

Spicejet adds 100th plane to fleet, becomes fourth domestic airline to do so