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Tag: Air India

  • Ukrainian airspace closed; Air India plane enroute to Kyiv called back

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: An Air India plane that took off for Kyiv in Ukraine on Thursday morning to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation is returning to Delhi due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace amid the Russian military offensive.

    After the Air India flight had departed from Delhi on Thursday morning, the Ukrainian authorities issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which stated that flights of civil aircraft within Ukraine “are restricted due to potential hazard for civil aviation”.

    Air India and the central government then decided to call back the plane to Delhi, officials said, adding that the plane took an about turn in the Iranian airspace to return to Delhi.

    An airline spokesperson said the Air India flight AI 1947 is returning as a NOTAM has been issued at Kyiv.

    The flight started from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here at around 7.30 am for Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv.

    Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight from Kyiv landed at the Delhi airport at around 7.45 am on Thursday.

    “There were 182 Indian nationals onboard the flight and majority of them were students. A couple of more flights have been scheduled,” Anju Wariah, Director at STIC Group, said.

    The group is the General Sales Agent (GSA) for Ukraine International Airlines in India.

    After weeks of rising tensions, Russia on Thursday announced a military operation against Ukraine.

    Air India’s Thursday flight was scheduled to be the second flight to bring back Indians from the eastern European nation.

    The first flight, operated on February 22, brought back around 240 people.

    On February 19, Air India announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26.

  • Air India operates flight to Ukraine; to bring back Indians amid rising tensions

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Air India on Tuesday operated a Boeing 787 aircraft to Ukraine to bring back Indians amid rising tensions in the eastern European country.

    The aircraft, which has more than 250 seats, is expected to return to the national capital at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, according to an airline official.

    The flight AI 1947 took off from the airport here at around 7.30 am and landed at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 3 pm IST (Indian Standard Time), according to flight tracking websites.

    ALSO READ: World leaders condemn Russia on Ukraine

    In recent weeks, tensions have been escalating between Ukraine and Russia, and on Monday, Russia recognised the independence of two separatist regions in the eastern Ukraine.

    On Tuesday, Indian embassy in Kyiv again asked Indian students to temporarily leave the country amid the rising tensions.

    Air India, on February 19, announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26.

    Meanwhile, full-service carrier Vistara’s CEO Vinod Kannan on Tuesday said it has no plans to operate flights to Ukraine.

    ALSO READ: South Korea’s Foreign Ministry issues ‘grave concern’ for Ukraine crisis

    “At this time, we are not planning flights to Ukraine because of aircraft limitations and other reasons,” he said.

    On February 17, the civil aviation ministry asked Indian carriers to look at the possibility of operating flights to Ukraine due to the increase in demand.

    Besides, the ministry had removed the curbs on the number of flights that can be operated between India and the eastern European nation under the bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from that country.

    ALSO READ: Putin’s take on Ukraine’s history may lay groundwork for war 

  • Air India to operate 3 flights to help Indians fly out amid Ukraine crisis

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Air India will operate three flights between India-Ukraine next week on February 22, 24 and 26.

    The flights will take off from Boryspil International Airport and bookings are open through Air India booking offices, website, call centre and authorised travel agents.

    “#FlyAI : Air India will operate 3 flights between India-Ukraine (Boryspil International Airport) India on 22nd, 24th & 26th FEB 2022 Booking open through Air India Booking offices, Website, Call Centre and Authorised Travel Agents,” Air India said in a Tweet on Friday.

    Earlier, Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked its citizens, particularly students whose stay is not essential, to leave Kyiv temporarily.

    In an advisory issued on Tuesday, India also requested its nationals to keep the Embassy informed about the status of their presence to enable the Embassy to reach them where required.

    Tensions over Ukraine have increased in recent months, with Russia and NATO accusing each other of amassing troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border.

    The United States and Ukraine accuse Russia of planning to invade. But Moscow continues to deny such claims and maintains that it has no intention of attacking any country.

    White House spokesperson had earlier said that the US would welcome any country’s attempt to play a role in de-escalation of mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine, including India.

    Russia’s recent build-up of around 150,000 troops just over the border from the Donbas region in the east, in Belarus to the north and Crimea to the south, which began in the autumn, has escalated tensions.

    On Thursday, the US Embassy in Kiev informed that Russia’s shelling of Stanytsia Luhanska in Ukrainian government-controlled territory in Donbas hit a kindergarten, injured two teachers, and knocked out power in the village.

  • Government settles over Rs 61,000 crore Air India debt, other liabilities before transfer to Tatas

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government has settled over Rs 61,000 crore of Air India’s legacy debt and other liabilities that were left in AIAHL — the company holding residual assets and liabilities of the airline — ahead of the transfer of the national carrier to the Tata Group, a top official said on Thursday.

    The airline had a total debt of Rs 61,562 crore as of August 31, 2021.

    Of this, the Tata Group took over Rs 15,300 crore and the rest 75 per cent or around Rs 46,000 crore was transferred to a special purpose vehicle, AI Asset Holding Ltd (AIAHL).

    AIAHL also held Air India’s non-core assets such as stake in Hotel Corp of India (HCIL), paintings and artifacts and immovable properties.

    In an interview with PTI, Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) — which ran the Air India privatisation process — said Parliament had last month given nod for spending of Rs 62,057 crore towards equity infusion in AIAHL for repayment of dues and liabilities of Air India.

    Of this, broadly about Rs 61,131 crore has been used to repay the entire debt and other liabilities such as fuel dues to oil companies, he said.

    “The interest outgo on the debt and other liabilities was very high and it was decided to square off the debt now.”

    As of August 31, 2021, the airline’s total debt stood at Rs 61,562 crore, out of which around Rs 46,000 crore was transferred to AIAHL.

    The airline also had about Rs 15,000 crore excess liabilities towards unpaid fuel bills and other operational creditors.

    So the debt and liabilities with the government was around Rs 61,000 crore.

    “Both excess debt and excess current liabilities whatever was remaining with the government, about Rs 61,131 crore, have been cleared,” Pandey said.

    “Whatever was to be borne by the government that the government has squared off rather than paying it off later. We found that it is carrying higher rate of interest. It wasn’t worthwhile to retain it and pay it off later.

    “If we take it to AIAHL and pay it later we have to pay higher rate of interest. So we have chosen to square it off straight away,” he said.

    Tata Group was in October last year announced as the winning bidder for Air India with a bid amount of Rs 18,000 crore.

    Tatas have paid Rs 2,700 crore cash and taken over Rs 15,300 crore of the airline’s debt.

    The deal also includes sale of Air India Express and ground handling arm AISATS.

    Tata Group has already refinanced its Rs 15,300 crore debt in Air India and brought in new lenders.

    Tatas beat the Rs 15,100-crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier.

  • Tatas take first step in Air India, to introduce ‘enhanced meal service’ in 4 flights on Thursday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Tata Group has taken its first step at Air India by introducing “enhanced meal service” in four flights that will operate from Mumbai on Thursday, officials said on Wednesday.

    However, Air India flights will not be flying under the banner of the Tata Group from Thursday itself, they stated.

    Earlier during the day, the officials had told PTI that the Indian government is likely to hand over Air India to the Tata Group on Thursday, nearly 69 years after it was taken from the conglomerate.

    However, while the “enhanced meal service” will be provided on four flights — AI864 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI687 (Mumbai-Delhi), AI945 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi) and AI639 (Mumbai-Bengaluru) — on Thursday, the takeover will take place after Thursday, the officials clarified.

    After a competitive bidding process, the government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited — a subsidiary of the Tata Group’s holding company — for Rs 18,000 crore.

    The officials said the new date from which all Air India flights will fly under “Tata Group’s banner or aegis” will be told to the employees later.

    The “enhanced meal service” will be served on Mumbai-Newark flight and five Mumbai-Delhi flights on Friday, they noted.

    The “enhanced meal service” — devised by the Tata Group officials — will be expanded to more flights in a staggered and phased manner, the officials added.

    Meanwhile, two airline pilot unions — Indian Pilots’ Guild (IPG) and Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) — on Monday warned Air India’s CMD Vikram Dev Dutt of legal action as “multiple deductions and recoveries have been projected” on the dues owed to pilots.

    “This recovery exercise is entirely illegal, and we demand that this anomaly is rectified and the amount due is repaid with immediate effect,” a letter sent by the two unions said.

    Additionally, two other unions have opposed the carrier’s January 20 order to check grooming and measure the body mass index (BMI) of cabin crew members at the airports just before their flights.

    These unions — Air India Employees’ Union (AIEU) and All India Cabin Crew Association (AICCA) — on Monday wrote to Dutt opposing the order on the grounds that it is dehumanising and in violation of rules prescribed by aviation regulator the DGCA.

    “BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in metres.

    A high BMI can indicate high body fatness,” stated the website of US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Three days after Air India’s sale was announced on October 8 last year, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the Tata Group confirming the government’s willingness to sell its 100 percent stake in the airline.

    On October 25, the Centre signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) for this deal.

    Officials said all the formalities for handover are close to completion.

    As a part of the deal, the Tata group will also be handed over Air India Express and a 50 percent stake in ground handling arm Air India SATS.

    Tatas had on October 8 beat the Rs 15,100-crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 percent stake in the loss-making carrier.

    While this will be the Centre’s first privatisation since 2003-04, Air India will be the third airline brand in the Tatas’ stable as it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd.

  • Government denies sanction to prosecute former Air India CMD; CBI closes corruption case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CBI has closed a case against former Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav and others over alleged corruption in the appointments of General Managers after the central government refused to grant its sanction to prosecute him, officials said.

    The agency had booked Jadhav, then General Manager L P Nakhwa (now retired), and then Additional General Managers A Kathpalia, Amitabh Singh and Rohit Bhasin after a year-long preliminary enquiry, they said.

    It was alleged that Jadhav had constituted illegal/irregular promotion panel to recommend suitable candidates for promotion to the post of General Manager (Operations), they said.

    The CBI had approached the Civil Aviation Ministry on February 6, 2019 seeking sanction to prosecute Jadhav and Nakhwa in the case, which was denied by the then Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of Air India on April 16, 2019.

    The Department of Personnel and Training had asked the CBI to send a fresh proposal for seeking sanction against Jadhav which was sent to it on December 19, 2019, officials said.

    The DoPT conveyed to the CBI on June 9, 2021 that the Civil Aviation Ministry has denied the sanction saying “there seems to be a irregularity/administrative lapse in the constitution of selection committee, but that itself does not amount to offence under Sections of IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.”

    “Further, there was no violation of rules in granting of vigilance clearance in respect of three candidates who were selected as GM (Operations), as vigilance clearance could not have (been) denied to them as per extant rules,” it said while denying the sanction.

    The CBI in its final report recommended the alleged offence cannot be investigated “in bits and pieces” because the accused in the FIR allegedly played their individual roles.

    The agency said in the absence of permission to prosecute Jadhav and others it would not be possible to link the chain of evidence in fragmented manner by excluding the criminal act of the main executors, Jadhav and Nakhwa.

    The CBI said it will not be justifiable to carry out the investigation in the instant matter against the remaining three accused.

  • Air India unions write to govt on clearing key benefits

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI; Air India unions have written to the Central government, seeking clarification on various issues including leave encashment, medical and post-retirement benefits, accommodation of employees and arrears. 

    The unions have also sought clarification on leave encashment and time for at least one year for employees to reside in the designated Air India colonies. In a joint letter to the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Air India unions reiterated their demands on the option to immediately encash or carry forward their leaves before the handover. They say they had been promised this in several meetings with the government.

    The unions requested the Cengtral government to allow employees to continue living in the Air India colonies till monetisation or at least for a year as the new owners are giving a one-year employment guarantee.

    The unions also expressed concern about the lack of clarity on medical benefits for serving and retired/retiring employees. They claim they are still waiting for a final response.

  • Relentless loot of India’s national assets: Sitaram Yechury on Air India sale

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The CPI(M) on Monday hit out at the government over the sale of Air India to the Tatas, claiming that it was a “gift” to the group from the Centre and a “daylight highway robbery” of national assets.

    Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury alleged that the airline’s burden of Rs 46,262 crore will be left to the people of the country.

    “The central government continues with its relentless loot of India’s national assets. The iconic national flag carrier, Air India, has been sold to the Tatas. This sale is tantamount to giving a free gift to the Tatas by the Modi government.

    This is daylight highway robbery of national assets.

    “The Tatas will inherit Rs 15,300 crores of debt, which will surely be restructured, paying the central government a mere Rs 2,700 crore for the national carrier, with all its core assets,” Yechury said.

    The remaining debt of Rs 46,262 crore will be the burden of the government, which means the people will have to bear this, he claimed.

    “However, all the assets acquired by Air India by its debt, including brand new fleet of aircraft, will be the Tatas’ property now,” Yechury said.

    Replying to a question on an alliance with the Congress on the national level, Yechury said the final decision will be taken by the CPI(M) party congress.

    “The focus is now to isolate and defeat the BJP and to maximise polling of anti-BJP votes. We will decide state-wise how best this can be done. The focus is on strengthening our independent ways. Find and rectify weaknesses,” he said.

    Party sources indicate that the top leadership are divided over a nationwide alliance with the Congress.

    During a politburo meeting, while leaders from Kerala were opposed to the idea, those from West Bengal contended that a united opposition cannot emerge sans the Congress.

    At the press meet, Yechury also raised the issue of violence in Jammu and Kashmir, and questioned the government on the Centre’s promise of peace in the region.

    The party said that the prime minister’s meeting with the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir in June this year with promises of erasing “Dil ki doori, Dilli ki doori” remains an “empty rhetoric”.

    The CPI(M) leader also demanded the immediate sacking of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident.

    “Justice cannot be delivered with his continuation as minster,” he said.

    There is a large volume of recorded footage of the incident which clearly shows the “deliberate manner in which this brutality was executed”, Yechury said.

    “The prime accused can be identified in this footage. The party demands the immediate dismissal of the minister and stringent action against his son on charges of brutal cold-blooded murder,” he added.

  • New dawn for Air India: Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on airline’s sale to Tata Group

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Air India’s sale to the Tata Group marks a new dawn for the airline, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said on Friday as he hoped that the carrier would continue to bring people closer through successful operations.

    Earlier in the day, the government announced that Talace Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, has beaten a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh by offering Rs 18,000 crore to win the bid to acquire debt-laden Air India.

    “Air India’s return to the Tata group marks a new dawn for the airline! My best wishes to the new management, and congratulations to DIPAM Secretary and the Civil Aviation Ministry for successfully concluding the difficult task of paving a new runway for the airline to take off!” Scindia wrote on Twitter.

    ​ALSO READ | Will take considerable effort to rebuild Air India: Ratan Tata

    “I hope the airline will continue to deliver on its mission of bringing people closer through its successful operations,” he added.

    The Tata Group’s bid of Rs 18,000 crore comprises taking over of Rs 15,300 crore of debt and paying the rest in cash, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said at a press briefing on Friday.

    DIPAM is the government department responsible for privatisation.

    ALSO READ | Tata Sons wins the bid for acquiring national carrier Air India

    Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh also congratulated the Tata Group for winning the Air India bid.

    “Under new management, I sincerely hope that the Maharaja will continue to be an enduring Indian brand which stands for excellent quality.

    “Credit to the teams at the Civil Aviation Ministry and the DIPAM Secretary for their tireless efforts,” he wrote on Twitter.

    The Ajay Singh-led consortium’s bid stood at Rs 15,100 crore, comprising taking over debt of Rs 12,835 crore and paying the remaining amount of Rs 2,265 crore in cash.

  • Baby onboard: Passenger gives birth to boy mid-air in Air India London-Cochin flight

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: More than 200 people onboard an Air India flight from London to Cochin experienced anxious moments that soon turned into a pleasant surprise as a boy was born mid-air on Tuesday.

    Two doctors and four nurses who were onboard the flight AI 150 helped the lady passenger in the premature delivery of the baby.

    Since the lady needed medical care, the plane was diverted to Frankfurt, an Air India spokesperson said on Wednesday.

    In a late evening Facebook post on Wednesday, Air India said, “AI 150 of 5th Oct, enroute to Kochi from London with 202 pax, landed in Frankfurt with 203 passengers. We had a surprise arrival mid-air. A baby boy was born.”

    The airline said its aircraft is well equipped with all necessary medical equipment and its crew are experienced to handle this kind of eventuality.

    The mother along with the baby and another passenger de-boarded and were taken to a hospital in Frankfurt, the spokesperson said, adding that the baby was doing fine.

    “Our officials are in constant touch with the family and all necessary support is being provided. Soon they will be flying home with us,” it said.