Fare War Continues as GoAir Comes Up With Rs 601 Offer

Budget carrier GoAir has joined the fare-war bandwagon, announcing fares as low as Rs 601 (excluding taxes and surcharges) in a new offer.

Bookings for this offer - applicable on travel between November 23 and December 16, 2015 - are open till November 1, GoAir said.

The airline also said that tickets booked this scheme are not refundable.

Book your Tickets Now. NC Airways

PM Narendra Modi to Meet Queen Elizabeth

It is not just grand diaspora show at the historic Wembley Stadium in London that will dominate Narendra Modi's UK visit from November 12-14, his maiden trip since becoming the PM. The UK, it appears, has come a long way since the days of 2002 Gujarat riots and one of Modi's key engagements during the trip will be an address to Members of both House of Commons and Lords. 

 

A lunch at Buckingham Palace in London with the Queen of England is indeed special and Modi is expected to have a quiet lunch with the Queen who has seen India's transformation since her reign began in 1952. This luncheon meeting is expected to take place on November 13, day two of Modi's trip, people familiar with the developments indicated. 

 

Modi is expected to begin his engagement in UK with a meeting at 10 Downing Street with his British counterpart David Cameron on November 12 - day one of his visit, sources indicated. 

Radhika Apte: Now a Jury Member

At the ongoing 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, Radhika was one of the jury members of Dimensions Mumbai, a short film competition section.

"It was challenging. To be on the jury and judge films can be a big responsibility. But thanks to Dibakar (Banerjee) who, as the head of jury, really helped us to get through this," said Radhika Apte

"I'm really excited. I'll join the sets on December 1. Not sure yet if it will be in Malaysia or somewhere else," said Radhika Apte at the ongoing 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. In Pa Ranjith-directed Kabali, Radhika plays Rajinikanth's wife.Critically lauded actress Radhika Apte, who has started the shoot of her next film “Phobia”, is doing all-round research for her character. 

 

Radhika Apte's recent performance in Ahalya, a short film directed by Sujoy Ghosh, garnered appreciation from both the audience and the film industry. Radhika Apte, who recently rose to fame with such outstanding performances, is reportedly meeting doctors and patients to do research for her role in upcoming flick ' Phobia'. 

The Draft Civil Aviation Policy will help the domestic industry grow : Aditya Ghosh

A new era in Indian Civil Aviation

The general public opinion has been ranging from ‘disappointing’ to ‘fairly comprehensive’.

The draft civil aviation policy released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation has its share of detractors and those who feel that its implementation can change the business environment in the sector.

Aditya Ghosh, President IndiGo, feels that if all the major proposals are accepted then it could change the business environment in which airlines operate in India.

Lower fares

In first comments to the proposed cess in the draft policy, Ghosh said that it will be difficult to say by how much IndiGo fares will move if the 2 per cent cess is levied.

The taxes that they are planning to reduce on the MRO side will ultimately reduce the input costs of running an airline. Ultimately if it actually turns out to be right then there could be a lowering of fares. It is felt.

Mittu Chandilya, AirAsia’s India MD and CEO, felt the draft aviation policy lacks clarity on the 5/20 rule.

“This is one significant, archaic and regressive policy. If this policy had been scrapped, it would have unbridled the entire sector and shown optimism not only to current incumbents but also to potential future investors in the sector.”

Chandilya said it was disappointing that the draft is still where we were on this issue several months ago, adding that measures regarding MRO facilities as well as low cost carrier infrastructure, ground handling initiatives, tax measures and affordable tariff balancing would boost air travel and encourage sustainable growth of the industry.

Business Aviation

Draft Civil Aviation Policy Aims To Boost Regional Connectivity.

Terming the draft policy as “disappointing”, Jayant Nadkarni, President, Business Aircraft Operators Association, said it completely ignored the interests of business and general aviation in India.

Support for the draft policy came from Phee Teik Yeoh, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, who felt that it was a fairly comprehensive approach that will help unleash the potential of the aviation sector in India. Vistara is the brand name of the domestic airline which is a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Sons and one of the newest entrants in the domestic aviation sector.

 

Will the MRO Industry pass on the benefits ? 

A Didar Singh, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, felt the draft policy gives a clear signal to the industry for “taking air travel to the masses and promoting regional connectivity.”

GoAir Joins fare-war

New Delhi, Oct 30: After Spice Jet's Diwali sale dhamaka, now budget carrier GoAir has joined the fare-war bandwagon. It has announced fares as low as Rs 601 (excluding taxes and surcharges) in a new offer. The booking period of this offer is from October 29 to November 1, for travel between November 23 to December 16, 2015.

Tickets booked under this scheme are not refundable. Go Air, has also come out with lower fare bonanza starting at Rs 710, excluding taxes, to celebrate is tenth flying anniversary. The bookings will take place starting today till November 2. The travel period will be April 1 onward to October 10, 2016. SpiceJet recently announced 'Diwali Sale', offering tickets as low as Rs 749 base fare (excluding taxes) for domestic sector and from Rs 3,999 (all-inclusive) on international sectors.

So, book all your tickets now at NC Airways.

Bihar's Development needs Twin Engine : PM Narendra Modi

PM  Narendra Modi addressed a huge gathering in Mujaffarpur today.

Twin engine, he said,"BJP Govt at center, and BJP Govt in Bihar!!"

What an Election rally it was !
The PM taunted his opponents like the CM Nitish Kumar with instances like 'tantrik', video stings. "Don't repeat 18th century, move onto 21st." The PM suggested.
The PM also reiterated his three-point development agenda for Bihar including "Padhai (Education), Kamai (Employment) and Dawai (Health)".

4th phase Elections are due on 1st November.

"The more you spill mud, lotus will grow more beautifully. " The PM remarked

Aviation Policy released. Public Views Invited

The government proposes to levy a 2% additional levy on all domestic and international tickets to fund its bid to boost regional aviation connectivity, according to the draft civil aviation policy released on Friday.

The policy comes as airline passenger numbers increased 20% a year to 38.8 million in the first half of 2015, leaving India’s major airports, which account for four-fifths of traffic, saturated.

The government also proposed hiking foreign direct investment in domestic airlines to over 50% under the open skies policy based on a reciprocal arrangement from the partner country.

Incentives to fly to small towns at affordable costs and easing the norms for domestic carriers to operate services abroad are some of the other highlights of the new draft policy unveiled by civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

One of the policy’s primary aims is ensuring a tariff of no more than Rs 2,500 a ticket for each flying hour to destinations with “un-served and under-served” airports and airstrips. It also contains a host of incentives and other benefits to airport developers and operators to make this happen.

“The basic behind of National Civil Aviation Policy is to take flying to the masses,” civil aviation secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey said, adding operators will get some doles to fly to smaller towns with incentives linked to fuel prices and inflation.

“A lot of consultation has taken place. We invite suggestions from stakeholders and public -- since it involves the people of India. After all those suggestions come in, we will look into it,” civil aviation minister Raju said.

The policy set an ambitious target of increasing the sale of air tickets from the current annual figure of 7 crore to 30 crore by 2022 and 50 crore by 2027.

Narendra Modi Has Demeaned the Institution of PM: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of demeaning the office of the PM.

In a blog post, the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader has said that the words Mr Modi was using in his election campaign were "low grade" and betrayed a "regressive mindset".

"I am surprised to see that the working of a prime minister can be so hollow and his thoughts could be so regressive," Mr Nitish Kumar said in his Facebook post.

"This nation has never had a prime minister who made religion their identity. So I am horrified when I see Modi publicly asking for votes on the basis of caste and religion. I feel like the sacred and glorious past of the nation are being tampered," Mr Nitish Kumar said.

Mr Nitish Kumar is the chief ministerial candidate of the 'Grand Alliance' of the JD-U, RJD and the Congress. The fourth round of voting for the Bihar assembly elections is due on 1st November.

If BJP loses Bihar, terrorists in Pak will celebrate: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday warned voters that terror cells at home and in Pakistan would celebrate if they help the Grand Alliance (GA) win the election in Bihar.

“It was during their (GA) time that Bihar turned into a haven for terror modules. And do you think Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar will celebrate victory of the GA wins? If BJP loses, they (terror groups) will celebrate in Pakistan with crackers, and only the likes of Mohammad Shahabuddin would be laughing,” Shah said while addressing rallies at Bagaha, Valmikinagar and Raxaul.

Shahabuddin, serving a life sentence, represented the RJD in the Lok Sabha four times from Siwan.