Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, airlines including Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo have altered flight paths to avoid Iranian airspace. The Civil Aviation Ministry has advised carriers to conduct their own risk assessments. The geopolitical situation may lead to longer routes, increased fuel costs, and potential airfare hikes for international flights.
This strategic addition to IndiGo’s route network aims to strengthen international connectivity by offering seamless and convenient travel options between the thriving capital city of the United Arab Emirates and the vibrant beauty of Chandigarh. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, boasts a range of attractions including the iconic Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Ferrari World, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Yas Island.
In January, the watchdog conducted a spot audit of Air India to verify the airline's compliance with Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) and Fatigue Management System (FMS) regulations. During the audit, evidence was collected and fleet-wise random reports were analysed.
The services between Bengaluru and Agatti will commence from March 31, the airline said in a release. The airline will be using ATR aircraft, having around 78 seats, on the route. IndiGo said Agatti is popular amongst those looking for a bit of deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, sailing, skiing and even kayaking.
The introduction of these codeshare connections enhances travel options for Indian tourists, as well as business and leisure travellers, especially during the upcoming summer season. IndiGo already provides travel options to Singapore, further complemented by seamless connectivity to Qantas' flights between Singapore and Australia. Both airlines had signed a codeshare agreement in 2022.
Pieter Elbers, CEO, IndiGo, expressed the airline's appreciation for the invaluable contribution of women within the organization. He emphasized IndiGo's commitment to fostering diversity and providing equal opportunities for all employees. With over 44% women in its workforce, IndiGo stands as a beacon of gender inclusivity, boasting one of the highest percentages of women pilots globally and an all-female cabin crew.
DGCA has deferred implementation of new flight duty rules to June 1, allowing time for airlines to prepare. The rules extend the night period, limit duty period and landings, and address cumulative fatigue. Airlines suggest implementing their own fatigue monitoring systems. The airlines are particularly worried about the new definition of night period, extending it by an hour - from 12 AM-5 AM to 12 AM- 6AM - and limits the duty period to 10 hours and number of landings a pilot can do to two.
These flights will provide a seamless travel experience and enhance accessibility across Southeast Asia, thereby strengthening economic ties between the nations. IndiGo now operates 37 weekly flights between India and Bangkok. The introduction of these flights will further bolster the airline’s international connectivity.
People aware of the development said that the airline is planning to lease the planes from Qatar Airways for a period of six months for the busy summer travel season. The aircraft are less than four years old and are currently being operated by the Doha-based carrier. Damp lease, an arrangement under which the lessor provides an aircraft along with cockpit crew and maintenance to the airline, is costlier than a normal lease.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and rent (EBITDAR) amounted to INR 54,751 million, reflecting a margin of 28.1 per cent, compared to INR 33,990 million (22.8 per cent margin) in the same period last year. In addition, the profit stood at INR 30,491 million, a substantial increase from INR 20,091 million reported previously, excluding the foreign exchange loss.
Pande will report to Rahul Bhatia in his new role. This imperative move by InterGlobe is to strengthen its current Leadership team as it moves ahead with its ambitious and diversified global plans.
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