Tag: GoAir

Mumbai airport begins COVID-19 vaccine transportation; 2,400 vials airlifted to Goa

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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COVID-19 vaccine transportation from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) commenced on Wednesday with budget carrier GoAir airlifting 2,400 vials of Covishield to Goa. The Wadia Group-owned no-frills airline has scheduled flights carrying vaccines to Lucknow, Cochin and Chandigarh as well, besides Goa, during the day, a GoAir spokesperson told PTI.

GoAir’s first flight carrying 2,400 vials (24,000 doses) of Covishield vaccine took off at 5.20 am and reached Goa at 6.30 am, the spokesperson said. A massive pan-India inoculation drive against COVID-19 was set in process on Tuesday with more than 56 lakh doses of the Covishield vaccine leaving Pune for 13 cities across the country, four days before the vaccinations are scheduled to begin on January 16.

Covishield is developed by Oxford University and British-Swedish company AstraZeneca and manufactured by Pune-based pharma firm Serum Institute of India (SII). GoAir said it will airlift a total of 69,600 vials of the vaccine.

Mumbai airport, which is the ”largest pharma hub”, is looking to cater to at least 16 destinations in the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines, the private airport operator had said in a statement to .

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir submits two-step plan to AAI for settling dues, SpiceJet paying Rs 55-60 lakh daily

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Low-cost airline GoAir has submitted a two-step plan to Airports Authority of India (AAI) for payment of pending dues, officials aware of the development told CNBC-TV18.

AAI charges airlines for using air navigation services, landing, parking among other facilities. As of August, GoAir had pending dues amounting to Rs 52.2 crore towards AAI.

As per the plan, GoAir is expected to settle dues of the period up to June in 12 monthly instalments commencing January 2021 and dues of the period between July and early August are being paid over four instalments with effect from October 2020.

Also read: Adani Group takes over Lucknow airport, calls it Gateway to Goodness

“An amount of Rs 1.54 crore has been received (from GoAir) on October 23,” another official said on dues payment.

It is important to note that GoAir and SpiceJet have been on cash and carry mode since August 11 and August 1 respectively.

In the case of SpiceJet, the airline has increased daily payment to Rs 55 lakh with effect from mid-October and is expected to raise the daily payment to Rs 60 lakh from early November. For SpiceJet, dues stood at Rs 122.7 crore as of August.

Also read: Govt to launch Digi Yatra at Vara​nasi with Vistara, IndiGo from December

IndiGo, AirAsia India and Vistara are making the payment as per plan for the bills until June 30 and are settling bills regularly for July onwards, officials said. Their dues of the period up to June 30 are likely to be settled by early November, officials added. As of August 31, IndiGo dues to AAI stood at Rs 123.33 crore, that of AirAsia India at Rs 15.08 crore and for Vistara it was at Rs 2.54 crore.

Currently, overall dues from major domestic airlines, excluding Air India, amounts to Rs 145 crore, CNBC-TV18 has learnt.

Also read: Tata to aid crisis-hit AirAsia India after partner plans to exit

Among all airlines, the Air India Group owes the highest amount of dues to AAI. As of August, its dues had soared to Rs 2,000 crore. “Air India is paying Rs 25 lakh daily on working days and Air India Express is making ad hoc payment,” the official said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir partners Stemz Healthcare to offer COVID-19 testing to passengers

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Budget carrier GoAir on Thursday said it has partnered Stemz Healthcare to offer coronavirus testing facility to its domestic and international passengers. As per travel guidelines of different states and countries, several destinations require a COVID-19 RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test to be undertaken within a stipulated time frame before a customer boards a flight.

GoAir has been taking multiple steps to ensure safety of passengers in the wake of the COVID-19 situation and as part of these measures, the airline “has partnered with ICMR-approved lab aggregator Stemz Healthcare to enable customers travelling on GoAir domestic or international network to undergo COVID-19 RT-PCR testing at affordable rates”, the airline said in a release. Undertaking the mandated COVID-19 RT-PCR test also provides an exemption from quarantine to a passenger, it said.

“The COVID-19 testing service in association with Stemz Healthcare to all travelling customers demonstrates our continued commitment to the ‘Safety First’ philosophy,” GoAir Chief Executive Officer Kaushik Khona said. Customers can book their appointment online through GoAir website based on their travel date, the airline said, adding they can either opt for a home visit, wherein the collection agent will visit the residence to take swabs, or choose to go to over 200 collection centres.

Once the payment is made online, the confirmation of payment and appointment will be e-mailed to the customer. Travelling customers need to carry the test results provided to them within 48 to 96 hours of swab collection, the airline added. “Pre-flight Covid negative report is an essential for every traveller to avoid quarantine at the destination. With the launch of the services through GoAir, meeting the requirements of the destination has been simplified for passengers,” Stemz Healthcare founder and CEO Raman Sodhi said.

“We are now looking at rolling out the services jointly beyond India to several countries in the coming days,” Sodhi added.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir operates over 200 charter flights from Saudi Arabia; repatriates over 37,016 passengers

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Budget carrier GoAir has operated over 200 charter flights from Saudi Arabia to various domestic airports as part of repatriation efforts and has flown more than 37,000 passengers between June 10 and September 4, the airline said on Tuesday. The Wadia Group-promoted private carrier had commenced the repatriation flights on June 10 and gradually ramped up its operations with a combination of Vande Bharat Mission flights and private international charters.

GoAir has flown a total 37,016 passengers from three cities of Saudi Arabia — Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah — to 11 Indian airports, operating 203 charter services between June 10 and September 4, an airline spokesperson said. According to the airline, charter operations from Dammam commenced from June 10, while these services from Riyadh started operating from June 11.

However, services from Jeddah started only from July 30, it added. ”We are pleased to have successfully completed the record 200 charter flights from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 87 days as part of the repatriation efforts, be it Vande Bharat Mission or international private charters,” said Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer, GoAir.

”GoAir’s cockpit crew, cabin crew, airport staff and the entire team has put in all efforts to fly back our stranded fellow citizens and reunite them with their families,” he added. The airline operated a total of 101 flights from Dammam to Kochi, Kannur, Delhi, Lucknow, Chennai, Bhubaneswar, Gaya, Hyderabad and Trichy ferrying 18,197 passengers, said the spokesperson.

The company has operated 77 charter service to Lucknow, Delhi, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Trivandrum and Kochi and brought back 14,028 passengers. Besides, the airline has operated 25 charter flights from Riyadh also to Delhi and Lucknow carrying 4,791 passengers, he said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir adds 100 flights, CEO guarantees no cancellations from September 5

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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GoAir plans to add 100 more flights in its network in view of the improvement in domestic demand for air travel. The airline plans to reach 45 percent of pre-COVID levels by September 21 and 60 percent of pre-COVID levels by October 15.

The low-cost carrier’s market share in the domestic civil aviation sector has fallen to 3.8 percent in July 2020 from 9.8 percent in January 2020.

GoAir was the most cautious of all airlines during the resumption of domestic operations from May 25. The airline resumed operations only in June after witnessing the demand scenario over the first few days. Moreover, the Wadia Group-run airline only operated with a handful of its fleet in view of demand uncertainty.

“The Indian domestic sector is witnessing a gradual growth in demand owing to increased traffic. As the various states start withdrawing travel restrictions, demand will continue to grow and GoAir has always been responsive to market conditions and provided enhanced travel options to our guests,” Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer, GoAir, said.

“More importantly, GoAir will not cancel any flights starting 5th September,” Kona added.

GoAir will operate two daily flights from Mumbai to Delhi, and one daily service each from Mumbai to Ahmedabad, Chennai, Nagpur, Patna, Ranchi, Varanasi and Jaipur. Similarly, the airline will operate four flights a week from Mumbai to Lucknow.

Passengers traveling from Delhi to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Patna and Srinagar now have the option to choose from two new services. GoAir will also operate one daily flight from Delhi to Pune, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Lucknow, Guwahati, Leh and Jammu.

Connectivity from Bengaluru to Kolkata will be enhanced with the introduction of four flights. The airline will also operate one flight each from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, Pune, Patna, Ranchi, Lucknow and Chennai.

Similarly, GoAir will operate two flights from Chennai to Hyderabad, and one flight each from Chennai to Mumbai and Bengaluru.

GoAir will operate two flights from Ahmedabad to Hyderabad. Similarly, GoAir is adding one flight each from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Nagpur, Lucknow and Varanasi.

Additionally, GoAir will deploy two flights each from Hyderabad to Chennai and Kolkata while operating three flights to Ahmedabad. GoAir will also add one flight each from Hyderabad to Delhi, Ranchi and Patna.

GoAir will operate four flights from Kolkata to Bengaluru and two flights from Kolkata to Jaipur. Similarly, GoAir will deploy one service each from Kolkata to Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Patna.

Likewise, GoAir will deploy one flight each from Pune to Delhi and Bengaluru.

GoAir will operate two flights each from Lucknow to Mumbai and Kolkata and one flight each from Lucknow to Ahmedabad, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Connectivity from Nagpur to Ahmedabad and Delhi is enhanced with the introduction of one flight each between these two cities. GoAir will operate one flight each from Varanasi to Delhi, Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

Likewise, GoAir will deploy two flights from Jaipur to Kolkata and one flight to Mumbai.

There will be two flights from Patna to Delhi and one more flight has been added each from Patna to Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Passengers from Ranchi will be able to avail one flight each to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Similarly, the airline will operate one flight from Guwahati to Delhi while deploying two flights to Srinagar from Chandigarh.

GoAir will operate three flights from Srinagar to Delhi and one flight each to Jammu and Chandigarh. GoAir will operate a service from Leh to Delhi. Similarly, the airline will operate one flight each from Jammu to Delhi and Srinagar.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

IndiGo completes replacing A320 Neo aircraft engines

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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IndiGo has completed engine replacement exercise for 128 Pratt & Whitney-powered A320neo aircraft, ahead of the Aug 31 deadline, sources close to the development told CNBC-TV18.

In October and November 2019, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation had found issues in the low-pressure turbine of the PW-run A320neos. There were incidents of LPT breakage, leading to engine vibration and the return of aircraft to the ground. As a result, DGCA had asked IndiGo and GoAir, the two operators of such aircraft in India, to install modified engines.

As of August 27, IndiGo has installed 256 modified engines on its 128 A320neos and has completed engine replacement exercise, officials said.

GoAir is yet to install modified engines on its A320neos which run on Pratt & Whitney engines.

“GoAir is yet to replace engines of around 20 A320neo aircraft,” officials added.

It is important to note that as the government has currently mandated airlines to operate with only 45 percent capacity due to COVID-19, GoAir is operating a reduced fleet and hence, is using only those PW-run A320neos which have both engines modified, officials further added.

It is expected that in view of this scenario, DGCA may extend the deadline for GoAir to complete engine replacement exercise.

About 40 percent of the domestic seat capacity of India is powered by Pratt & Whitney neo engines.

Pratt & Whitney has been in the spotlight in the Indian aviation space since 2016 when India’s largest airline IndiGo started facing delivery delays in A320neo aircraft amid issues related to cooling down and a start-up time of the engine, reliability, combustion chamber lining, oil seal and fan blades.

In fact, in 2018, India’s aviation regulator DGCA grounded as many as 14 Airbus A320neos following warning of a potential in-flight shutdown in a sub-category of its Pratt & Whitney engines.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir ties up with OpenAirlines to implement software solution for enhanced operational efficiency

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Budget carrier GoAir on Tuesday said it has partnered with OpenAirlines for implementing the latter’s cloud-based software solution SkyBreathe for enhanced operational efficiency and subsequent reduction in fuel cost.

The France-based software firm OpenAirlines provides consulting and software solutions for airlines flight operations.

The Indian aviation sector has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. As flights take to skies, GoAir avails the opportunity to implement SkyBreathe, an eco-flying solution to improve its operational efficiency, the company said in a release.

This partnership will help GoAir become greener while reducing fuel costs and increasing competitive advantage, it added.
Fuel costs account for almost 30-40 per cent of an airline’s total cost.

Lower fuel burn ultimately contributes to substantial cost savings, GoAir said.

“The biggest challenge for aviation in the future ahead is sustainability, both economical and ecological. Flight efficiency services are an important part of the global aviation industry, helping airlines reduce costs significantly and help regulate emissions,” said GoAir Chief Executive Officer Kuashik Khona.

OpenAirline’s fuel-efficiency solution is currently deployed across 40 airlines and operators of all sizes and fleet types worldwide, said the release.

If an airline harnesses the power of digital technology to reduce fuel consumption, it can improve competitiveness, lower our costs and save jobs, Khona said.

“SkyBreathe is flexible enough to integrate with GoAir’s existing aircraft systems, enabling fast deployment and the ability to support fleet growth, ” he added.

Khona added that additionally, the implementation will enhance fuel conservation, help solve climate change, and make sure that the company emerges from the COVID-19 crisis as a leader in Indian aviation.

SkyBreathe solution considers flight conditions such as weather, flight path, air traffic control and payload, to produce optimum recommendations. It generates insights, which are shared with all stakeholders through synthetic and easy-to-read dashboard, said the release.

According to the release, with the help of the software solution, pilots can visualise their actual flights in 3D, and get an individual debrief on each fuel-saving best practice via a dedicated mobile app.

“With SkyBreathe, GoAir is now up and prepared for a bright future and we are proud to help them accelerate their transition to sustainable aviation,” said OpenAirlines CEO and founder Alexandre Feray.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

GoAir appoints Kaushik Khona as CEO

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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GoAir on Friday said it has appointed Kaushik Khona as its Chief Executive Officer in place of Vinay Dube. Dube has ceased to be in the employment of GoAir with immediate effect and hence ceases to be the CEO, the budget airline said in a statement.

Khona had served as CEO of GoAir from April 2009 to June 2011.

“The Nominations & Remuneration Committee and the Board met today and have appointed Kaushik Khona as CEO with immediate effect,” the statement said.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow