Jet airways get Nod For Flights to Milan

Jet Airways Proposed Flight to Milan (Italy) has been approved by the Indian aviation ministry. Besides Flight to Milan the Indian airlines also got permission to increase the no of light operations to many other international destinations such as Dubai, Bangkok and Colombo from various Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

This is seen as very favorable opportunity for Jet Airways to delve into the untapped European markets which presently are served through indirect flights from India. Besides Milan, Jet Airways also proposes to have direct flights to other European destinations as till now there was a freeze India’s largest airline by passengers carried had imposed on long-haul route expansion following the financial crisis of 2008.

Jet Airways launched international flights in 2004 and expanded aggressively on long-haul routes, but imposed a moratorium of new long-haul international flights in November 2008 after a credit crunch and economic slowdown in the wake of the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. in September 2008. As a part of resuming its long-distance route expansion, Jet Airways had applied for permission to fly to other international routes including Mexico and Paris.
The step of Jet Airways is definite to be followed by many other Indian airlines such as Kingfisher who are now vying for international destinations to enhance their profitability.

Singapore airlines Grand India and Global Plans

Singapore Airlines has finally set its eyes on teh Indian airlines market for its next phse of expansion.Singapore Airlines plans to expand its footprints in India seems to be fructifying in terms of landing rights for new destinations and enhancing capacity on the routes that it services.

Singapore airlines hopes to utilize the Indian growth prospects emerging markets to expand its operations globally.

Airline traffic has been in the upswing since last year and at he same time traffic between Singapore and India is expected to rise with the scaling up of the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) between the two countries to facilitate flow of trade, services and investment. India has emerged as a priority market and an important component of Singapore Airlines global operations.


The CECA between the two countries is expected to pave the way for Indian doctors, dentists and architects to tap the opportunities available in Singapore. In the education sector , Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, already has a presence in Singapore along with universities such as Stanford and Cornell . The strengthening of the economic ties is expected to result not only in more business, but also tourists traveling between the two countries. After the global slowdown, Singapore has bounced back strongly with estimates indicating economic growth at 15%, providing more scope to both sides to expand trade and investment flows.

Singapore Airlines has reinstated double dailies on the Mumbai and Delhi routes and together with its sister carrier Silk Air, the two carriers operate 80 flights to India. With its fleet of newly acquired Air bus 380 The airlines seems to be much prepared to tap the market. But Only Emirates airlines and Air India expansion plan have to be watched.

British Airways and American Airlines Joint Venture to Start

The proposed agreement between British Airways Plc’s American Airlines for a joint venture on flights across the United states and Europe is set to kick start in the first week of November.

The two airlines have indicated that both of them will also align their frequent-flier programs allowing travelers to earn and use their miles on both airlines as soon as the venture starts operating. The companies then plan to coordinate their schedule next year before adding new destinations in the U.S. and Europe.


British Airways is Europe’s third-largest carrier, and American airlines based in Texas, won approval for the tie- up from antitrust regulators in July on their third try, after rejections in 1997 and 2001. The alliance will control almost 50 percent of U.S. flights at London’s Heathrow Airport.

In another development, Iberia Lineas Aereas, the Spanish airline is scheduled to complete its merger with London-based British Airways by the end of 2010,is also part of the joint venture and will contribute about 10 percent of the venture’s estimated $7 billion in annual revenue.

British Airways to Codeshare with an Indian Airlines

In a major development the British Airways and an Indian Airlines, Kingfisher Airlines have decided to implement code sharing on each other’s flights across India, UK and all over Europe starting from coming 15 September 2010.

This development is very important as it is for the first time that the British Airways has initiated this for an India based airlines. As such the British airways code will be shared on 11 domestic Indian routes and one route to Sri Lanka operated by Kingfisher Airlines and in turn Kingfisher Airlines’ code will be placed on nine British Airways’ routes from Heathrow to the UK regions and continental Europe.

As a consequence of this,the airlines’ customers will be able to book their whole journey on each other’s websites, earn frequent flyer points on the code share routes and gain access to each other’s airport lounges.

Kingfisher Also announced earlier that it is lining up to join oneworld. The codeshare with British Airways will mean that our guests from India will now be able to fly seamlessly to nine new European cities. Besides making onward connections much simpler, this will mean enhanced connectivity and reach for guests traveling with us to Europe. Similarly, all British Airways’ fliers will now be able to travel with India’s first and only five star airline.

British Airways have flights from from Heathrow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai. Hence its code will be placed on Kingfisher Airlines flights from Bangalore to Chennai, Coimbatore and Kochi; Chennai to Coimbatore and Colombo (Sri Lanka). Delhi to Bangalore and Kolkata; Mumbai to Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

Kingfisher Airlines flies from Delhi and Mumbai to Heathrow. Its code will be placed on British Airways flights from Heathrow to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Lisbon and Paris.

Indian Airlines announces International Flights to Srilanka

Two Indian airlines have decided to start operations to Sri Lanka following such moves by other international airlines such as Air Asia and Emirates.

Both SpiceJet and Jet Airways have announced their plans to start direct flights to Colombo from many Indian cities. Known for their low-cost fare structuring it is assumed that travel to the island may get cheaper with arrival of new players.
Also Jet Airways, one of the fastest growing airlines too announced earlier of its plans to launch charter flights to Sri Lanka from Brussels.

Other international airlines have already started operations to Sri Lanka since the end of war. They are Air Asia, Fly Dubai, Oman Air and Indian Express.

Flights To India crippled

Flights to India such as Air India, Indian airline and many international airlines such as Lufthansa and British airways was affected by the trade union strike going on in India. The major problems faced by the commuters were primarily regarding flights cancellation and Flight delays.

Left stranded the commuters had to face harrowing time in waiting impatiently for the airlines for they were not told in advanced about the delays or impending trade union strike.

Most importantly, there were no words from the government to alleviate the situation and neither there were reports of any Trade Union and government meeting to cut a deal.

Indian National airline, Air India airlines has been voted and ranked as the 'Most Trusted Brand' in the aviation sector in India according to the study conducted by the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey 2010.

Air India has made to the top profile for the fifth consecutive year. Air India express has also been ranked 28th among the top 50 service brands in India, which incidentally is placed ahead of many Indian leading banks, renowned insurance companies, retail food-chains and of course other airlines .

Not many months ago Air India was ranked also chosen for the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Gold Award also for the fifth consecutive year. One of the foremost criteria adopted by the survey of the Economic Times in collaboration with The Nielsen Company is related to a particular brand's with consumers. in terms of familiarity, consumer perception about quality and reassurance of a good service.

Air India has been positioning itself for continued market dominance by remodeling it as a major low cost airline service provider as rising income of suburban cities means that there will be greater demand for airlines and air services in those cities.

Hence, Air India Express has decided to introduce many new destinations, international and domestic starting with 20 cities and 150 flights per week and waiting for the pan-India services launch. The viability of an all economy aircraft is yet to be proved in the Indian market and hence the steps of Air Indian express is keenly watched and so are the Air Indian Express airfares and online booking offerings. Recently Jet airways also launched the low cost carrier model and other airlines may follow suit.