New Delhi: Describing the decision on 49 per cent FDI in aviation as one which will transform the sector, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said on Friday the government envisages investment of $12.1 billion in the sector in the 12th Plan period (2012-2016). Singh said the rapidly expanding air transport network and opening up of infrastructure to the private sector have fuelled the growth of air traffic in India.
"Indian government has envisaged investment of $12.1 billion in the airports sector during the 12th Plan period, of which $9.3 billion is expected to come from the private sector," Singh said launching the "India Aviation - 2014" in Delhi. Singh said the investment is expected "for construction of new airports, expansion, modernization of existing airports and development of low-cost airports to keep the tariff at its minimal at smaller airports, improvement in connecting infrastructure, development of world class Air Navigation Services infrastructure."
The minister said the government had taken several initiatives in the regulatory framework for taking the aviation sector to new heights despite the challenges facing domestic aviation industry, reeling under mounting losses and rising debt burdens. "Recently, the Aircraft Acquisition Committee has been abolished to liberalise the acquisition of aircraft by the scheduled, non-scheduled airlines, flying institutes and for private use, which will give impetus to the growth and expansion of airlines in India.
"Henceforth, no permission for acquisition of aircraft will be required from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and they will be free to
05:57 AM, May 04, 2013
Mumbai: An Air India pilot and two air hostesses were suspended after an airline probe found that the cabin crew overstayed in the cockpit on a Delhi-bound flight from Bangkok on April 12. The action came amidst reports that while the pilot took a nap in the business class, the air hostesses were left to operate the aircraft over 20 minutes, endangering the safety of 166 passengers on board. The...
06:58 PM, May 03, 2013
New Delhi: In a move that would raise the cost of air travel, the government on Monday said it has allowed airlines to charge passengers for preferred seats on a flight, check-in baggages and meals, among other things. "Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has decided to permit scheduled airlines to unbundle certain services and to charge fees for these services separately," an official release said. The services for which the...
08:50 PM, Apr 29, 2013
New Delhi: Describing the over Rs 2,000 crore business proposal between Jet and Etihad airlines as a win-win deal, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh today said it will be beneficial for flyers. In the first Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal after India opened up the aviation sector, Jet Airways will sell a 24 per cent stake to Etihad Airways in a $379 million (Rs 2,058 crore) deal. "It is a...
04:42 PM, Apr 25, 2013
Delhi: GoAir officials misbehaved and refused boarding to passengers booked for a Delhi to Leh flight, despite valid tickets and bookings. The on-ground staff did not even offer an explanation as to why they were being denied boarding. The passengers were later promised a refund but they are still to receive any money for their cancelled tickets. They were even eluded basic facilities like lodging and travel, which are generally...
10:35 AM, Apr 11, 2013
Various policy measures initiated by the government for the civil aviation sector have begun to yield results and the airline industry in India is witnessing a revival, union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said on Sunday. ...
04:15 AM, Mar 18, 2013
AirAsia Bhd's planned joint venture in India with Tata Sons could face some procedural problems, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said on Wednesday, without elaborating. However, Singh said he does not see any other major hurdles for the venture in India. ...
12:30 PM, Mar 06, 2013
With major carriers slashing airfares following Jet Airways' offering of 20 lakh seats at Rs 2250 for travel till the year-end, Air India on Wednesday said it might join the competition to bag more air travellers. However, the government did not expect the low fares to breach the lowest fare bucket given by the airlines to aviation regulator DGCA. ...
03:30 PM, Feb 20, 2013
Kingfisher Airlines(KING.NS) needs at least 10 billion rupees to restart its grounded operations and must also demonstrate an ability to sustain itself for at least 6 months, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said on Tuesday. ...
01:59 AM, Jan 23, 2013
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Sunday said the country would handle 336 million air passengers in the next 10 years and 85 million of them would be foreign passengers. ...
10:13 PM, Jan 20, 2013
President Pranab Mukherjee will be in Kolkata on Sunday to inaugurate the integrated terminal building of the city's airport. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to be present along with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh. ...
06:28 AM, Jan 20, 2013
Boeing is liable to compensate state-run Air India for the grounding of 787 Dreamliner passenger jets on safety issues, Indian aviation minister Ajit Singh said on Friday. ...
02:56 AM, Jan 19, 2013
A revival plan submitted to the aviation regulator by grounded carrier Kingfisher is not backed by a clear funding proposal, the aviation minister said on December 26. ...
04:41 PM, Dec 26, 2012
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday said aviation services were no longer a luxury but have become a necessity and to strengthen the country a strong network of these services should be created. ...
01:57 AM, Dec 24, 2012
Pitching for the reinstatement of the 13 sacked Air India pilots, the erstwhile Indian Airlines' pilots body has urged Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh to take a lenient view on the issue saying the pilots had been in "distress and facing hardships" for the past six months. "We wish to urge and humbly request you to kindly take a lenient view with regard to the termination of 13 fellow pilots...
04:11 PM, Dec 23, 2012
New Delhi: National carrier Air India suffered an average net loss of Rs 404 crore per month for the March-October period of 2012. This was found out when Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Thursday reviewed the functioning of the national carrier. An audit of the airline's books showed that the company had a cash inflow of Rs 1,348 crore per month, while the outflow due to high fuel cost...
01:46 AM, Dec 21, 2012
New Delhi: Union Civil Aviation Minister on Tuesday said that aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had not received any revival plan from the Kingfisher Airlines. It is vital that the cash-strapped airline satisfies the DGCA that it has enough financial strength before resuming its operations. The complete revival plan of the Kingfisher Airlines has to be submitted to the DGCA, following which the aviation regulator will take...
04:54 PM, Dec 18, 2012
New Delhi: Air India's performance standards have improved and promotions to its employees, which had been stopped recently, will be started from next month, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh told Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He said during Question Hour, that though Air India was still suffering losses, its performance has improved and it has returned some of the loans taken from banks. "An oversight committee looks at performance standards of...
03:50 PM, Dec 05, 2012
New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry will try to convince the country's petroleum ministry next week to declare jet fuel as a "notified good," which would lead to exemption from high state taxes, providing some relief to battered local carriers. Jet fuel makes up about half of an airline's costs. Civil aviation minister Ajit Singh will meet petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily early next week to discuss the matter, the...
06:14 PM, Nov 29, 2012
Ghazipur: Semraul village in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district is an example of how irresponsible the bureaucracy can be. The population of the village is 3,600 but on paper neither the village nor its inhabitants exist. Due to the negligence of government employees the population of the village on paper is zero. Village pradhan Sabhajit Singh Kushwaha is struggling to get this glaring error rectified. In this village there are more...
01:40 PM, Nov 07, 2012
