Spicejet Shares Might Jump Another 300%

Gulf carriers like Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways PJSC and Qatar Airways have acquired stakes in other airlines to expand their networks. Airlines companies in the Gulf are now trying for some equity stake in Indian carriers like Indigo and Spicejet. Everybody worships the rising sun. 

Spicejet, nowadays, is being hailed as the leader of the pack of Airline stocks. Earlier in December 2014, it was on the verge of extinction. Its flights were regularly being cancelled. 

Enter Ajay Singh, exit Maran. Fortunes of the company saw remarkable turnaround,  although assisted by favorable factors like cheaper fuel, and rising passenger demand.

Today, it is coming up with one offer after another, and its peers are forced to follow it. The latest being celebration of UAE's 44th National day. It has now earned for itself a well deserved accolade: "Leader of the Pack". It is not for nothing. Mere announcement of the fact that Airlines in the Gulf want to become equity partners by its CMD causes volatility in its counter and millions exchange hands. 

New aircraft are being ordered. It would be used to open new routes and increase the frequency of flights to existing destinations, including the Maldives, Dubai and Sri Lanka and 34 domestic locations. More flights means more turnover, and optimum utilisation of its available resources. Consequently, its profits increase and it is indicated in increase in its share value.

The Company, however, maintains its 'no-dilution-of equity' stance. It believes that its share value is still undervalued. And, its internal resources and existing credit lines are sufficient for its future capital investment programs. 

SpiceJet to order over 150 planes in current fiscal

SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said that the firm is in the process of placing a large aircraft order. Such an investment would cap a remarkable turnaround for Spicejet by market share, which had came close to collapse late last year after running out of cash. (See Spicejet)

Co-founder Ajay Singh brought life back into the airline after acquiring a controlling stake. Earlier this month, SpiceJet reported a small net profit for the July-September period, helped by sliding fuel costs and surge in passenger traffic. SpiceJet has reported profits in the past three quarters, having made losses in the five preceding quarters. It is also facing a legal issue with "Unfair Business Practitioner" tag along with Indigo and Jet airlines. (See "Could have been penalised")

While addressing a news conference in Dubai, SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh shared his Company's well laid out plans - 

• The company is in healthy shape. It is generating cash, it's profitable. If oil prices remain moderate; this profitability should continue in the coming quarters.
• The airline is generating enough money internally. It also has unused credit lines that could be utilised to pay for the aircraft.
• SpiceJet has no need to dilute equity to pay for the purchase of the planes. 
• This isn't the right time to sell a stake as the shares remain undervalued
• Some of the Gulf airlines have started expressing an interest in SpiceJet. 
• There is some dialogue with them and to explore other types of relationships.
• Both Airbus A320 Neo and Boeing 737 Max being considered. The order would be with a single manufacturer to buy more than 150 planes 
• Manufacturer to be decided by March 2016.
• Company intends to more than quadruple the carrier’s fleet from 41 aircraft at present.
• SpiceJet also has "regional aircraft business" servicing India's smaller cities through a fleet of 14 Bombardier planes.
• The airline is in talks with Toronto-listed Bombardier, France's ATR - a joint venture between Airbus and Finmeccanica - and Brazil’s Embraer to potentially buy a further 50 planes to service this sector.

Moneycontrol.com chart shows Rs 11.25 in November 2014 became Rs 72.50 one year later

Spicejet share price is currently being traded at Rs 67.50 after reaching the Rs 72 mark- a big leap since last year. It became the world's best performing Airline stock. An incredible 320% increase in share value in a year. It could jump another 300%, analysts feel, when partners from the Gulf start investing in Spicejet. (See Spicejet is world's best)

Spicejet Celebrates UAE’s 44th National Day with Latest Offer

Spicejet celebrates UAE’s 44th National Day. Comes up with new offers.

Spice jet is flying high

The latest Spicejet offer unveiled today has priced one-way tickets at a starting low of AED 244 (approx. Rs 4,438) base fare (statutory taxes applicable). In addition to the offer, Spicejet has announced that it will enhance its connectivity from Dubai to a host of Indian cities by increasing frequencies on multiple routes. The offer is for outgoing direct flights from Dubai to Indian destinations served by SpiceJet.

The Spicejet offer with one-way base fares starting at AED 244 are for travel  from Dubai to Mumbai, Kochi and Kozhikode while base fares starting from AED 344 would be applicable for travel from Dubai to Delhi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Madurai and Pune.

Spicejet offer: Highlights

* Booking period: 29th November – 3rd December, 2015 midnight

* Travel Period: 01st February – 29th October 2016

Limited seats, offer available on First-Come-First-Served basis

Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “Dubai is SpiceJet’s key international market. We will continue to increase our presence here. Our customers can expect many more flights and many more exciting offers in the coming months.”

Bookings On: NC Airways

Tickets under this offer are non-refundable but changeable at AED 130 (approximately equivalent to Rs 2,350).

SpiceJet to order over 150 planes in current fiscal

SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh said that the firm is in the process of placing a large aircraft order. Such an investment would cap a remarkable turnaround for Spicejet by market share, which had came close to collapse late last year after running out of cash. (See Spicejet)

Co-founder Ajay Singh brought life back into the airline after acquiring a controlling stake. Earlier this month, SpiceJet reported a small net profit for the July-September period, helped by sliding fuel costs and surge in passenger traffic. SpiceJet has reported profits in the past three quarters, having made losses in the five preceding quarters. It is also facing a legal issue with "Unfair Business Practitioner" tag along with Indigo and Jet airlines. (See "Could have been penalised")

While addressing a news conference in Dubai, SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh shared his Company's well laid out plans - 

• The company is in healthy shape. It is generating cash, it's profitable. If oil prices remain moderate; this profitability should continue in the coming quarters.
• The airline is generating enough money internally. It also has unused credit lines that could be utilised to pay for the aircraft.
• SpiceJet has no need to dilute equity to pay for the purchase of the planes. 
• This isn't the right time to sell a stake as the shares remain undervalued
• Some of the Gulf airlines have started expressing an interest in SpiceJet. 
• There is some dialogue with them and to explore other types of relationships.
• Both Airbus A320 Neo and Boeing 737 Max being considered. The order would be with a single manufacturer to buy more than 150 planes 
• Manufacturer to be decided by March 2016.
• Company intends to more than quadruple the carrier’s fleet from 41 aircraft at present.
• SpiceJet also has "regional aircraft business" servicing India's smaller cities through a fleet of 14 Bombardier planes.
• The airline is in talks with Toronto-listed Bombardier, France's ATR - a joint venture between Airbus and Finmeccanica - and Brazil’s Embraer to potentially buy a further 50 planes to service this sector.

Spicejet share price is currently being traded at Rs 65.50- a big leap since last year. It is world's best performing Airline stock. An incredible 320% increase in share value in a year.
It could jump another 300%, analysts feel, when partners from the Gulf start investing in Spicejet. (See Spicejet is world's best)

Never said Goa was unsafe for tourists, clarifies Russia

December 2, 2015.

Negating recent media reports, honorary consul of the Russian Federation in Goa, Victor Albuquerque, said the consulate does not subscribe to the items circulated by the Russian information centre (RIC), a private travel agency operating in Goa, that has sourced its information from Interfax which is, again, a private news agency.

Albuquerque, along with travel and tourism association of Goa (TTAG) president Francisco de Braganca on Tuesday told medipersons that the consulate confirmed there has been no advisory. He also clarified that any advisory to Russian citizens will only be issued by the Russian government and will be made available through its consulate.

November 29, 2015. Panaji:


The Russian Information Centre in Panaji dismissed media reports which claimed that India and Goa have been 'struck off' from the list of 'safe' travel destinations recommended for Russian citizens, saying its earlier statement was "misconstrued".

As reported earlier--

Goa is a Dangerous Travel Destination : Russia

A Russian Fighter jet was shot down by Turkey a few days ago for  allegedly violating its airspace. A Russian passenger plane exploded over the Sinai peninsula.

(See Stab in the back)
Turkey and Egypt were then duly blacklisted by Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had cancelled all the flights heading towards Egypt. He urged the citizens of Russia to cancel their vacations in Turkey. Then, in a tough advisory to its citizens, Russia has struck off India from the list of safe travel destinations.

Goa: A Top Beach Destination for Russians

The decision comes as a major blow to Goa as most of its foreign tourists comprise of Russians who constitute almost half of the total foreign visitor in Goa. Since 2002, the number of Russian tourists has been on the rise steadily. In 2013, the number of Russian tourists visiting Goa was 250,000. 

Goa is likely to be hit hard by this travel advisory to its citizens. It is already witnessing a reduction in the arrival of Russian tourists after the devaluation of rouble.

Commenting on Russia’s decision, head of the Russian information centre, Ekaterina Belyakova said, “Both India and Goa were not considered as good destinations for Russian travellers.” Among the destinations which are tagged safe for Russian tourists now include, Cuba, Southern China and south Vietnam.

Air India Plans Non-stop Flight to Washington DC

A few years ago, Air India used to serve Washington via New York, but the service was discontinued. The carrier also had flights to Los Angeles in California, which was also discontinued before the merger of Indian Airlines with Air India in 2011. 

Presently, Air India (AI) has operates flights to 34 international destinations spread across the US, Europe, Far-East and South-East Asia, and the Gulf. AI already operates non-stop flights to three US cities – New York, Chicago and Newark, with operations to San Francisco scheduled to commence from December 2 as reported earlier (See San Fransisco) 

After San Francisco, Air India (AI) plans to launch direct flights to Washington DC and other cities in the US.

Welcome aboard

“AI is actively pursuing to connect more cities in the US (with India). A New Delhi-Washington flight is also in the pipeline,” said civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

“AI connects the country like no other airline. Today the AI is the one of the most impoverished Indian carriers, and I hope it comes out of its poverty,” Raju said, referring to the financial troubles of the national carrier. (See Air India Chief) 

The Delhi-San Francisco flight will be of close to of 17 hours duration. The flight will leave Delhi on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the return service will be on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. 

There are 3 cabin configuration:-

-8 seats in first class (costliest)

-35 in business and 

-195 in economy. 

The launch flight, both to and from San Francisco, has already been sold out and the demand was “tremendous” according to AI.

“This new flight will be a boon for the Indian diaspora in the US West Coast, making travel easy and convenient for students,” the carrier said in a release. “Next year, we will launch many new flights. 2016 will be a year of consolidation and growth for AI,” said the airline’s new chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani. (See 7000 cr Mopped Up)

“The US is the biggest holiday destination for Indian travelers, with an estimated 10 lakh leisure travelers visiting the country every year. Non-stop flights to the US will attract good traffic,” said aviation expert Rajji Rai.

While you book your tickets, log on to NC Airways.

Air India to Commence a Direct Flight Service to San Francisco from New Delhi from December 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his September visit to San Francisco had made a very exciting announcement. 

"There'd be a non-stop direct flight between New Delhi and San Francisco."

National carrier of India, Air India will execute that announcement. It will commence a direct flight service to the Silicon Valley from the New Delhi from December 2. 

The flight AI-173

A321 aircraft

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Dep Bengaluru at 2115 hours 

Arrive Delhi at 2345 hours. 

Flight AI-173  

B777-200LR aircraft 

Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays 

Dep Delhi on at 0235 hours

Arrive San Francisco at 0700 hours (local time) on the same day, 

Return flight 

Depart at 1030 hours and arrive Delhi next day (Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays) at 1620 hours 

Depart Delhi with A321 plane.

Arrive Bengaluru  at 1745 hours.

Passengers will have huge benefits travelling to San Francisco as they will undergo immigration and customs at their boarding point itself and can have comfortable journey further. Passengers can enjoy non-stop entertainment, specially chosen food and best of the comfort on this one of the world's longest flights, according to an AI release.

US' San Francisco International Airport has announced a trivia contest on social media to mark the beginning of the first-ever non-stop flight from New Delhi to the tech city by Air India from December 2.

A number of officials from the US and India, including Venkatesan Ashok, Consul General of India, will attend a formal ribbon cutting ceremony on December 2 to mark the beginning of the services. 

SFO offers non-stop flights to more than 39 international destinations on 33 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 77 cities in the US on 13 domestic airlines.

AI expects passengers from other Indian cities -- Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Pune -- as well will have seamless connections to the flight from Delhi.

So, book your tickets here. NC Airways

24*7 Duty for Bihar Government Doctors Ordered by Minister

Bihar's new Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav today asked government doctors to be present on duty 24*7 in emergency wards in all hospitals in the state. 

After a review meeting with the state's health department, he asked the principal secretary (health) Brajesh Mehrotra to ensure that the government doctors posted in district hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) reside at their places of posting. He also gave some stern instructions :-

• Senior doctors to take at least two rounds at the wards in the evening along with regular monitoring 
• The principal secretary to the health department should keep a tab on doctors who absent themselves from duty. 
• Life saving drugs should be present in each of these hospitals so that "no patient has to roam here and there for medicines." 
• To keep CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators in good working condition 
• Maintain cleanliness in hospitals. 
• The superintendent of Patna Medical College and Hospital should ensure that no 'dalal' (broker) is seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients and take them to private facilities. 
• If need be security guards should be posted for the purpose 
• Private nursing homes be registered.

and asked the principal secretary to the health department to ensure that doctors stay at their place of posting, according to an official statement.  

The minister said he would pay surprise visits to any hospital any day to see whether the orders were complied with. 

With this orders, it has been made clear that earlier there was a grim situation like -

• 'Dalals' (brokers) were seen roaming in the hospital to dupe hapless patients,
• CT scan, MRI, X-ray machines and ventilators were not in good working condition
• No cleanliness in hospitals. 
• Life saving drugs were not present in each of these hospitals so that "the patient has to roam here and there for medicines.

With these orders, the officials and the doctors are to be held accountable whenever there is dereliction of DUTY.

TigerAir Brings Lucknow and Singapore Closer

LUCKNOW will join the club of select few cities of the country to have direct air connectivity to South East Asia from December 3, 2015 when Tiger Airways of Singapore will begin direct flight operations between Lucknow and Singapore.

Lucknow moves on

The airlines will operate three flights per week. Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The flight will arrive from Singapore at 8 pm and fly back at 9 pm. The budget carrier will have executive as well as business class seats. Tigerair had earlier offered special introductory fares of INR 11,999 round-trip, available for purchase from 1st September 2015 to 13th September 2015, for travel between 3rd December 2015 to 31st March 2016.  

The first flight awaits a grand welcome in Lucknow. It is an 180-seat Airbus 320 aircraft from Singapore. It would be given a 'water salute'—water fired at a great height from two sides at the landing aircraft- a practice that has been following for quite some time. 

Internationally, the UP state capital has direct air connectivity to Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Oman.

Aviation experts feel that a flight to and 

from Singapore marks the beginning of Lucknow becoming an important air destination for various airlines. Direct connectivity to Bangkok (Thailand) and Colombo (Sri Lanka), are also being planned.

Earlier, Nepal-based airlines Buddha Air had toyed with the idea of providing direct connectivity between Lucknow and Kathmandu, but the experiment failed within two months for shortage of flyers.

Operators want the airlines to link Lucknow with other tourist destinations, including European nations. Oman Airways is already planning an increase in the number of flights from Lucknow to Muscat and further up to London.

Passengers can book tickets on NC Airways.

Air India Mopped up Rs 7,000 cr by selling 9 of its 21 Dreamliners under SLB

Air India has mopped up Rs 7,000 crore by selling 9 of its 21 Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes to a Singaporean lessor, which it has taken back on lease from the company under a Sale and Lease Back (SLB)  arrangement. A major chunk of these funds will go into repayment of the bridge loan availed earlier for purchasing these Boeing 787-800s, airline sources told news agencies.

Under this system, the seller of an asset leases it back from the purchaser for a long-term period and continues to use it without actually owning it. Air India has 131 aircraft in its fleet, consisting of Boeing, Airbus and ATR planes as well as CRJs

Adopting the sale and lease-back route, debt-ridden Air India has raised almost Rs 7,000 crore by selling nine of its 21 Dreamliners to a Singapore-based lessor and then leasing the planes from it. Earlier, AI had sold and leased back 12 Dreamliners. 

About Rs 6,000 crore raised from this deal will be used to reduce the airline's aircraft purchase loans. 

As reported earlier, AI has a combined aircraft purchase and working capital loan of Rs 40,000 crore, apart from accumulated losses of Rs 30,000 crore. (See Air India)

The company availed a Rs.30,000 crore bailout package from the Government of India. That is, the country's law abiding tax paying citizens' money acted as the life saver for Air India. It reported a net loss of Rs.5,547.47 crore in the last fiscal.

These 9 planes had joined AI between March 2014 and June 2015. AI had fixed a reserve price of not less than $123 million for planes acquired in 2015 and $120 million for the aircraft inducted in the fleet during 2014. 

When Dreamliner had started joining the airline from September, 2012, it could not land in winter dense fog in either Delhi or the European cities. It operated for the last three winters. This time, however, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has certified AI's dreamliner to operate under category 3B of instrument landing system (ILS). which means it can land when visibility is about 100 metres. 

Meanwhile, the DGCA has certified the Airbus fleet of Vistara and AirAsia India to operate using Category II ILS.

Kingfisher's Vijay Mallaya Declared Willful Defaulter by SBI, Assets to be e-auctioned

While its contemporaries survived and made profits, Kingfisher just could not do its business. Its workforce could not even get its full salaries.

After a long legal battle, State Bank of India has declared industrialist Vijay Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines and its holding company United Breweries Holdings as willful defaulters for defaults on nearly Rs 7,000 crore loans to the long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines. 

Analysts believe that the Kingfisher episode in the history of Indian Aviation has discouraged many FIIs to invest in India despite FDI norms being liberalized. So, other operators are anticipating its logical conclusion soon to happen, if the aviation sector in India has to move forward.

May 2005 

Kingfisher Airlines, started by the flamboyant liquor baron Mallya with much fanfare. It went on to become the second largest airline even though it never made a single rupee in profit.

Early 2010.

The airline, Mallya had taken Rs 6,900 crore from a consortium of 17-lenders led by SBI after a second debt restructuring for the airline.

October 2012

As cash flow issues mounted on the airline, it was grounded. 

December 2012

The airline lost its flying licence.

February 2013

The bankers, recalled the loan.

September 2014

United Bank became the first lender to declare Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya and three other directors as willful defaulters.

December 2014 

A three-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court set aside this single-bench decision on technical grounds.

February 2015

SBI took over the possession of the airline's prime property Kingfisher House, near the city airport, after a fiercely fought court battle. The 17,000 sq. ft. property at Vile Parle near the domestic terminal valued at around Rs 100 crore was then auctioned. 

August 2015. 

Bombay High Court allowed Mallya to be represented by his legal counsels.

SBI moved the Supreme Court challenging the HC order, saying that HC order violated the RBI rules on grievance redressal committee that allow only the borrower to present his case in person.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court verdict and asked SBI to consider this only as "a one-off instance" and allow Mallya's lawyers to represent him at the grievance redressal committee meeting which was held recently.

However, the lawyers could not properly present any case of genuine distress of Mallya or his companies in not paying the money they owe to the lenders.

Following all this, SBI declared Mallaya, Kingfisher and United Breweries as willful defaulters. 

Deepika Padukone was one of Mallaya's Calendar Girls

Mallya can still challenge the label in the apex court through review petitions, according to banking experts. Meanwhile, following the development, the 17 lenders to the airline have decided that they would e-auction the remaining assets of the grounded airline, in their latest bid to partly recover their dues of around Rs 7,000 crore and accrued interest on the principal. Banks are now charging 15.5% compounded interest on this principal amount, which have not been serviced since January 2013. This would take is overall dues to over Rs 8,000 crore.

Among the lenders, SBI has an exposure of over Rs 1,600 crore to the airline.

Out of this, the lenders could recover only around Rs 1,100 crore after selling pledged shares of UB Group of companies so far.

Other banks that have exposure to the airline include 

• Punjab National Bank - Rs 800 crore
• IDBI Bank - Rs 800 crore 
• Bank of India - Rs 650 crore, 
• Bank of Baroda - Rs 550 crore
• Central Bank of India - Rs 410 crore
• UCO Bank - Rs 320 crore
• Corporation Bank - Rs 310 crore
• State Bank of Mysore - Rs 150 crore
• Indian Overseas Bank- Rs 140 crore
• Federal Bank - Rs 90 crore
• Punjab & Sind Bank - Rs 60 crore and 
• Axis Bank - Rs 50 crore.

Lenders have now decided to e-auction the assets of the grounded airline in a bid to salvage something out of their dues which have not been serviced since January 2013 by Mallaya and his Cos.

The assets to be e-auctioned on December 7 include the equipment and movable assets of the airline and not the bigger properties like the Kingfisher House and the Kingfisher Villa in Goa now worth around Rs 90 crore. Both have already been taken over by the lenders earlier.

Couldn't quite take-off

In a notice issued, SBICap Trustee, which is a security trustee for the lenders consortium to the airlines, said it would e-auction the cars, towing machines, forklifts, tractors, fire extinguishers, and iron ladders among others of the airline under their possession.

SBICap Trustee, which is an arm of SBI, has set a reserve price of Rs 65 lakh, and said the auction will be conducted on December 7.

GoAir Tickets @ Rs 691 + taxes

GoAir rolls out three discounted ticket schemes starting at Rs 691......

GoAir, too, enters fare war

No-frills carrier GoAir today rolled out three discounted ticket schemes to its customers for a limited period including offering one-way fares starting as low as Rs 691 excluding taxes for travel between January 1 and September 30 next year.

This comes at a time when other airlines are also offering attractive discounts to woo travelers.

This Rs 691 figure is far less than the Rs 2500 mark which the Government is discussing in its New Aviation Policy. 

Such healthy competition between the airlines causes the smile to return on consumers' faces. It is more than welcome.

There are three offers — Christmas Special, Go Explore and Happy Tuesday’s. All are aimed at making air travel affordable for customers across its network, especially during the holiday season, GoAir has said.

‘Christmas Special’ offer. It is available for bookings from November 20 to November 22, gives every 25th GoAir passenger a chance to win free tickets to any of the GoAir sectors for travel between December 1 and December 25, 2015, GoAir said in a release.

‘Go Explore’ scheme. The ticket prices for GoAir flights starts at Rs 691 excluding mandatory taxes. Travel period for this offer is between January 1 and September 30, 2016.

‘Happy Tuesday’s’ offer.  This is one wherein passengers will be able to avail 20 per cent discount on the base fare of all GoAir flights booked between November 24 – December 15, 2015 for travel on Tuesdays between the given period.

The 4-week sale will be open till midnight of December 14, and tickets booked under this offer will be governed by the airlines standard re-booking and cancellation policies, the airline said. 

To avail the opportunity, passengers should  book their tickets between November 21-24, 2015 and log on to NC Airways.

Air India Offers Seamless Travel to San Francisco from Bengaluru

Book all your tickets at NC Airways.

Air India has said in a release that it would offer seamless travel to its customers flying to San Francisco, Silicon Valley of West, from Bengaluru, Silicon Valley of East, via its Delhi flight despite change in the aircraft as passengers would be allowed to complete all custom and immigration formalities at the originating airport itself for their onward journey.

The airline is scheduled to commence a direct flight service to the Silicon Valley from the national capital from December 2. Air India has already announced that the new flight will be operated by the wide-body Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.

According to the airline, the flight AI-173 from Bengaluru to Delhi will depart on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Bengaluru at 2115 hours with a A321 aircraft. The flight will arrive in Delhi at 2345 hours. Flight AI-173 to San Francisco will leave Delhi on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 0235 hours and will be operated with B777-200LR aircraft, it said. This flight will arrive into San Francisco at 0700 hours (local time) on the same day, Air India said adding the return flight will depart at 1030 hours and arrive at Delhi next day (Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays) and at 1620 hours it will depart for Bengaluru with A321 plane to arrive at 1745 hours.

Passengers will have huge benefits travelling to San Francisco as they will undergo immigration and customs at their boarding point itself and can have comfortable journey further, according to the release. Passengers can enjoy non-stop entertainment, specially chosen food and best of the comfort on this one of the world's longest flights, it added.

AI expects passengers from other Indian cities -- Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Pune -- as well will have seamless connections to the flight from Delhi.

So, book all your tickets at NC Airways.

Air One Aviation Looking for Investors to Start "Another Full Service Airline"

Air One waits for long-term investor to get wings, as reported in the Hindu.

Indian Aviation is indeed looking up as reported earlier. (See Indian Aviation)

Air One Aviation plans to induct six to eight planes a year and in five years to have a fleet of 40 planes

Vying for Space

Air One Aviation Pvt. Ltd., an integrated aviation player, which is into air charter business, aircraft maintenance service, aviation consultancy, ground handling, aviation academy and promoted by Alok Sharma, Director, who was earlier with Modiluft, InterGlobe and Sahara Group, is waiting for long term investors to start a schedule national airline in India, the company’s top executive said.

 

Current Fleet : Air One Aviation

Long-term financial investors and even foreign airlines are understood to be staying away from investing in new airline ventures due to uncertainty in India’s Civil Aviation Policy.

“No one has come to us with an investment proposal though we received NOC 16 months back. An opportunity exists for a full service carrier but because there is no clarity on Indian’s Aviation Policy more specifically on the 5/20 rule, investors are not willing to commit funding,” according to Alok Sharma.

Air One received the NOC from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in July 2014 along with other players to start a pan India domestic airline, but it is yet to approach the DGCA for a flying permit. Unless renewed, the NOC will lapse in August 2016.

Two new airlines Turbo Megha, which operates under the brand name TrueJet and Air Pegasus, which started operations earlier this year, reported market share of 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively for September 2015. “Recent developments in the domestic market have made it challenging for any new player to survive without a long term and profitable business plan. Jet Airways and SpiceJet are turning around. IndiGo and Go Air are making profit while two new entrants (AirAsia India and Vistara) are vying for space. Under these circumstances, selection of the right aircraft and long term funding will make the difference,” he said.

“The challenge is the plane. There are not very many planes available to start a viable business. Unless I have access to big money, there is no point starting. We are exploring whether we would go for Embraer or ATR fleet. We are waiting for a set of investors to pull everything,” he added.

Air One plans to induct six to eight planes a year and in five years to have a fleet of 40 planes. “There is space for another full service airline. But you need to select the right aircraft. The fuel efficient A320 Neos are not available for the next five years. There is opportunity in the international market, so new players are lobbying for the removal of the 5/20 rule,” Mr.Sharma added He said his company would require Rs.500 crore in five years to start and run the airline. “We have a networth of Rs.100 crore. We can start operation with an investment of Rs.150 crore. There is an opportunity in smaller planes. We are working hard,” Mr Sharma said.

How will the Bureaucracy Perform Now ?

The Seventh Pay Commission has finally come up with recommendations -

The panel, a three-member commission -

a. Justice A K Mathur 

b. Economist Rathin Roy and

c. Vivek Rae, the only IAS member 

by a majority has recommended that all-India services (IAS, IPS and IFoS) and other Group A officers who have completed 17 years of service should be eligible for empanelment under the central staffing scheme and the "two-year edge" presently enjoyed by the IAS should be withdrawn. 
The Seventh pay Commission report says "Civil servants today need to be focused on outcomes, not processes, and have to be more accountable for delivery. They have to be agents of change and to this end need to be more agile, more technically savvy and to be able to ensure the economic and public service reforms that are essential."

However, Vivek Rae did not agree with this view of the commission and sought a review of the central staffing scheme guidelines.

Lined up for Service

Though the 'rules' stipulate a two-year edge, the actual gap between a joint secretary from IAS and other Group A services is at least 7-10 years. It is not uncommon to find an IAS officer getting appointed to joint secretary and above grade 10 years ahead of officers of non-IAS services. The pay panel has also recommended that the financial edge held by IAS officers be extended to IPS and the third all-India service, the IFoS (forest service). IAS officers presently get paid more than their batch mates from other Group A services.

 

IAS officer Amit Kataria was asked - why he broke the protocol and wore sunglasses while receiving the Prime Minister.

The recommendation, if accepted by the government, would see the end of the superiority of IAS in senior positions such as directors, joint secretaries, additional secretaries and secretaries in the central government. 

Devsenapathi, an IAS officer '07 batch Chhattisgarh cadre, was asked why he had not worn formal attire while welcoming the Prime Minister

In a candid interaction with young IAS officers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined that they don't have more than 10 years to learn, do new things and experiment and that whoever makes maximum use of these 10 years will contribute much more for the remaining 20-25 years of service. 

Earlier, IAS officers had started a major letter campaign ahead of submission of the Seventh Pay Commission report to counter lobbying by other Central services like IPS and IRS to bring pay parity and end the "superiority" that the IAS has traditionally enjoyed over them. 

How will the bureaucracy perform now ?

Following whatsapp messages circulated on their closed group, IAS officers have been writing petitions to their Central and state associations, apart from secretary, department of personnel & training (DoPT), protesting against attempts by all other associations "to bring in pay parity and do way with the edge enjoyed by the IAS which has been successively upheld by every pay commission till date in a reasoned manner". 

The whatsapp message had asked the IAS officers to "burn the midnight oil and pour your heart out as to why you came to the IAS and why you deserve what you deserve". 

Their overwhelming view being - "Young officers with 20-30 years of service have everything to lose if we don't stand up now."