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<keyword id="24240143" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chennai-International-Airport" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Chennai International Airport" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Chennai International Airport">Chennai International Airport</keyword> has been temporarily shut down till 7 PM on Saturday in view of <keyword id="24172195" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cyclone-Fengal" source="keywords">cyclone Fengal</keyword> making landfall today evening. As heavy rainfall and strong winds intensified ahead of the cyclone, it is expected to cross between Karaikal and Mahabalipuram coasts, near Puducherry tonight. Multiple airlines companies already issued travel advisories and updates on their flight plans due to the continuing heavy rainfall in Chennai Tamilnadu. Earlier, <keyword id="19900374" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IndiGo-airlines" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="IndiGo airlines" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="IndiGo airlines">IndiGo airlines</keyword> diverted all flights scheduled to come to Chennai. "Due to the impact of CycloneFengal in Chennai, flights operating to the city are being diverted. Our crew and airport teams are dedicated to providing all possible support &amp; assistance during this time. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding," the X post by IndiGo said. Meanwhile, security at the Puducherry coast has also increased as Puducherry Senior Superintendent of Police, Kalaivanan visited the beaches and the coastal roads in the region and inspected them for preparedness. The authorities have advised the public to not visit beaches in Puducherry as well as in Tamil Nadu's Chennai, including Marina Beach, Pattinapakkam and Edward Elliot Beach. The tourist spots in Puducherry have been closed as a precautionary measure, owing to the impending cyclone Fengal. <keyword id="24240138" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Puducherry-police" source="keywords">Puducherry Police</keyword> in a post on X advised citizens, "In view of Cyclone Fengal, we urge you to exercise extreme caution and avoid visiting beaches and coastal areas" The SSP said that 300 police personnel have been deployed on various coastal roads and beaches. "For the last four days, we have been deploying police personnel along the beaches and apart from that we are also informing the fishermen and people living in the low-lying areas to be careful. Fishermen are not venturing into the sea. Since last night, we have closed all beaches. We have deployed nearly 300 personnel across all the beaches of Puducherry and we are coordinating with the NDRF also," the SSP said. The coastal areas of Puducherry witnessed rough sea and gusty winds on Saturday morning due to the impact of the cyclone. Puducherry received moderate rain, as per IMD, in the morning today but the rough sea was seen more than usual.

Cyclone Fengal: Chennai airport shut till 7 PM

Singapore Airlines will make an additional investment of Rs 3,194.5 crore in Tata Group-owned Air India post-merger of Vistara in November. The merger, announced on November 29, 2022, and set to be completed on November 11, 2024, will result in Singapore Airlines having a 25.1% stake in the enlarged Air India. Full-service carrier Vistara, which started flying on January 9, 2015, is a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, where the latter holds a 49% shareholding. Vistara's last flight will take off tomorrow i.e. November 11, 2024. Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group on Friday said its consideration for the merger comprises the 49% interest in Vistara and Rs 20,585 million (Rs 2,058.5 crore) in cash in exchange for a 25.1% equity interest in the enlarged Air India. Post-merger, SIA expects to recognize a non-cash accounting gain of around 1.1 billion Singapore dollars and also start equity accounting for its share of Air India's financial results. According to a release on Friday, the merger includes an agreement for SIA to contribute its share of any funding previously provided by Tata prior to the completion of the merger, together with relevant funding costs up to Rs 5,020 crore that would allow it to maintain a 25.1% stake in Air India. "SIA's additional capital injection is expected to be Rs 31,945 million (equivalent to SGD 498 million), based on Tata's funding to Air India to date. This will occur after the completion of the merger and within November 2024 through subscription to new Air India shares. "Future capital injections will be considered based on Air India's requirements and available funding options," according to the release issued while announcing the airline's financial performance for the six months ended September 2024. The merger of Vistara with Air India will mark a major consolidation in the fast-growing Indian aviation space. SIA said the merged entity will have a significant presence across all key Indian air travel segments, including domestic, international, full-service, and low-cost operations. "This will strengthen SIA's multi-hub strategy, allowing it to continue participating directly in India's large and fast-growing aviation market," it added. Recently, Air India and SIA agreed to significantly expand their codeshare agreement, adding 11 Indian cities and another 40 international destinations to their network.

Singapore Airlines to invest additional Rs 3,195 cr in Air India post-Vistara merger

If you're looking for some inspiration on how to spend the upcoming holiday season, it's time to take cues from fellow Indians. A recent study by American Express has highlighted that a staggering 97% of Indians have their travel plans set for the forthcoming festive season, and more than 30% have already made their bookings. What's more, around 93% won't shy away from spending a few extra bucks if it means making their trip more comfortable and fun. A recent <keyword id="23687478" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Skyscanner-report" source="keywords">Skyscanner report</keyword> titled Travel Trends 2025 also underlined this growing preference for <keyword id="23687479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="comfortable-travel" source="keywords">comfortable travel</keyword> among Indians. Per the report, 57% of Indians were okay spending a little extra to get a good quality in-flight meal. For 47%, good seats and hence, seat selection was a priority, and 42% of surveyed Indians preferred comfort right from the trip's start-valuing access to airport lounges. Per the <keyword id="23687477" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="American-Express-study" source="keywords">American Express study</keyword>, while most people (63%) just want to let their hair down and relax, 54% want to don their explorer hats and see new places. About 27% just want to get away from the chaos of their daily lives and spend time with their near and dear ones. Most of us (around 88%) just have Bharat Darshan on our itinerary, while 61% felt like the world was calling us, which is why they plan to travel internationally. Irrespective of destinations, a staggering 91% of Indian travelers believe holidays can help build resilience and strength, so they’re better able to handle the stresses of everyday life. But even amidst all this traveling, Indians do not forget to be budget-conscious, which explains why 73% of Indians won't shy away from generously using their <keyword id="23687480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-card-points" source="keywords">credit card points</keyword>, <keyword id="23687481" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airline-miles" source="keywords">airline miles</keyword>, or loyalty rewards. Soak in the festivities and experience The American Express study, which spanned Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, apart from India, only reinforced that pretty much everyone across the world is in a mood to travel and relax. Globally, 58% of respondents from these countries had plans to visit their family and friends. For those few who had no travel plans but rather wanted to lounge and laze in their homes, 40% had family or friends visiting them. But quality time with loved ones was not the only thing on the list, with 55% also taking trips outside of visiting family. Also, buying gifts during the season is seemingly passe. Every 1 in 3 respondents chose gifting their loved ones an experience rather than a material gift. Atop this gift list are entertainment-related experiences, preferred by 59% of respondents. Travel-related experiences come next, chosen by 54% of those surveyed, followed by food and drink-related experiences, which were opted for by 49% of respondents. The Skyscanner also highlighted that 66% of Indian travelers plan to travel more in 2025. As to the deciding factors for choosing the next travel destination, food, culture, and weather played a crucial role for 63%, 58%, and 57% of respondents, respectively. Skyscanner's report also highlighted this trend, noting that people were increasingly looking forward to having unique experiences. 53% of Indians surveyed wanted to travel to watch a live game or sporting event in 2025. At 54%, this number was slightly higher amongst the 25-34 age cohort.

Travel, Eat, and Have Fun: How Indians plan to spend their holidays

Singapore: <keyword id="20036942" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Singapore-Airlines" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Singapore Airlines" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Singapore Airlines">Singapore Airlines</keyword> on Friday said it has received approval from the Indian government for the foreign direct investment as part of the proposed merger of <keyword id="20018887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vistara" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Vistara" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Vistara">Vistara</keyword> with <keyword id="19896871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Air India" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Air India">Air India</keyword>, a deal that will create one of the world's largest airline groups. With the clearance in place, the merger that will see Singapore Airlines acquiring a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The proposed merger was announced in November 2022. Air India is owned by <keyword id="19924335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Group" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tata Group" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Tata Group">Tata Group</keyword> and Vistara is a 51:49 joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines. In a regulatory filing on Friday, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said it has received approval from the Government of India for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the enlarged Air India as part of the proposed merger. "The FDI approval, together with anti-trust and merger control clearances and approvals, as well as other governmental and <keyword id="19941849" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulatory-approvals" source="keywords">regulatory approvals</keyword> received to-date, represent a significant development towards the completion of the proposed merger," the airline said in the filing to the Singapore Stock Exchange. The airline also said the completion of the merger continues to be subject to compliance by the parties with applicable Indian laws, which is currently expected to be completed in the next few months. "At this juncture, completion of the proposed merger is anticipated to occur by the end of 2024," it added. According to Singapore Airlines, the parties are in discussions to extend the long stop date for the completion of the merger. Earlier, it was expected to be October 31, 2024. The merger, which will create one of the biggest airline groups, was approved by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in June. In March, Singapore's competition regulator CCCS gave a conditional nod for the proposed deal. Prior to that in September 2023, the deal received approval from the Competition Commission of India (CCI), subject to certain conditions. "SIA will make the necessary announcement(s) upon completion of the proposed merger or in the event that there are other significant developments," the filing said on Friday.

Singapore Airlines gets FDI nod from Indian govt for Vistara-Air India merger

Gurugram: <keyword id="22345435" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TATA-SIA-Airlines-Limited" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TATA SIA Airlines Limited" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="TATA SIA Airlines Limited">TATA SIA Airlines Limited</keyword>, known by the brand name of <keyword id="20018887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vistara" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Vistara" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Vistara">Vistara</keyword> announced its merger with <keyword id="19896871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Air India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Air India">Air India</keyword> on Friday. The company said in a statement that customers will not be able to make <keyword id="19916663" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bookings" source="keywords">bookings</keyword> with Vistara for travel on or after November 12. "Starting 03 September 2024, customers will, progressively, no longer be able to make bookings with Vistara for travel on or after 12 November 2024," the company said. However, Vistara will continue to take bookings and operate flights as usual till 11 November 2024. All Vistara aircraft will be operated by Air India and bookings for the routes operated by these aircraft will be redirected to Air India's website, the company informed. During this transition period, both Vistara and Air India will ensure necessary support, consistent communication, and convenience to all customers, every step of the way. Vinod Kannan, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, "We are immensely grateful to all our customers for their support and patronage over the last 10 years. As we progress further in our growth journey, we want to emphasize that this merger is about offering them more choice with a larger fleet and a wider network, while elevating the overall travel experience. Vistara and Air India are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and hassle-free. We are excited about this new phase in our journey and look forward to welcoming our customers again soon - as Air India." Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer &amp; Managing Director, Air India, said, "Cross-functional teams from Air India and Vistara have been working together for many months to make the transition of aircraft, flying crew, ground-based colleagues and, most importantly, our valued customers, into the new Air India as seamless as possible. The joint team looks forward to offering our guests an expanded network, additional flight options, an enhanced frequent flyer program and the best of both antecedent airlines and are grateful for the support of our loyal customers through this next phase of building a world class, world scale, global airline with an Indian heart." On August 10, Both companies secured the CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement) 145 approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (<keyword id="19899185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dgca" source="keywords">DGCA</keyword>) to integrate their aircraft line maintenance operations, as per an official release.

Vistara-Air India merger: Bookings for Vistara to stop from Sept 3, unified operations start from Nov 12

New Delhi, Aviation watchdog <keyword id="19899185" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dgca" source="keywords">DGCA</keyword> has deferred the implementation of the revised flight duty norms for pilots that were to be effective from June 1, according to two civil aviation ministry officials. One of the officials on Tuesday said the revised norms have been deferred for some time to have wider consultations. The new norms provide for more rest time for pilots and seek to alleviate pilot fatigue. The latest decision comes less than two weeks after the <keyword id="19926254" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="directorate-general-of-civil-aviation" source="keywords">Directorate General of Civil Aviation</keyword> (DGCA) told airlines that the deadline for implementing the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms will not be deferred. Another official said implementation of the revised FDTL norms has been deferred for some time to enable thorough consideration of all elements. The <keyword id="20738678" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="federation-of-indian-airlines" source="keywords">Federation of Indian Airlines</keyword> (FIA), comprising <keyword id="19896871" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-india" source="keywords">Air India</keyword>, <keyword id="19987725" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spicejet" source="keywords">SpiceJet</keyword> and <keyword id="19899182" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indigo" source="keywords">IndiGo</keyword>, had written at least twice to the regulator seeking more time for implementation of the revised FDTL norms that were issued on January 8. In a communication to the FIA earlier this month, the regulator said the airlines have to take all necessary steps to roll out the revised FDTL CAR (<keyword id="20777683" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="civil-aviation-requirements" source="keywords">Civil Aviation Requirements</keyword>) with effect from June 1, 2024. The revised norms provide for increased weekly rest time to 48 hours for pilots and limit the number of landings to two during night operations. Besides, the night hours for pilots will be extended to cover the period from midnight to 6 am whereas it was midnight to 5 am earlier. Also, all airlines have to compulsorily submit quarterly fatigue reports, which "should follow a non-punitive and confidentiality policy".

DGCA defers implementation of revised flight duty norms for pilots

<keyword id="19895061" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="goa" source="keywords">Goa</keyword> is a popular tourism destination in India and is known for its gorgeous beaches, nightlife, and food. The popular destination hosts millions of tourists every year and for some, it is just a couple hours of drive away. However, international travellers don't find it that easy to get to the destination, as per a new PTI report. The report says that even though Goa is increasingly a popular choice for international travellers, it requires government support to make it more accessible to foreigners. In a media statement, the department said that charter flights from key markets like Russian cities Moscow and Ekaterinburg, London, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, support international arrivals. A Polish charter flight is also set to arrive in the coastal state on November 8. The statement added that this international interest extends beyond Goa’s iconic beaches, with tourists increasingly exploring areas like Dudhsagar Falls and scenic hinterlands. To further boost connectivity, Goa is collaborating with airlines and seeking government support to improve flight routes, creating a more globally connected tourism landscape. "However, establishing robust direct international connectivity requires further support from the Government of India, which we are actively seeking to make Goa an even more attractive, accessible, and globally connected destination," a spokesperson said. He added that after pandemic disruptions, Goa’s international tourism is rebounding, with over 450,000 foreign arrivals recorded in 2023. Alongside domestic visitors, totaling over 8 million this year, the state’s tourism sector is also thriving. Addressing challenges like limited direct flights, Goa’s tourism officials are working to secure new airline agreements, ensuring an easier journey for international visitors. He also talked about the challenges that the tourism destination is facing, including limited connectivity by air. "Goa does face some challenges. For example, limited scheduled international air connectivity. The state government is working closely with the Centre to relook at point of call and additional seat entitlement for Goa, to establish more robust international connections," he said. (with PTI inputs)

This Indian state is attracting international tourists via chartered flights, needs support to make itself more accessible

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A mass IT outage is causing global travel chaos. </li><li>Passengers face delays and cancellations at airports as digital services relying on Microsoft were affected. </li></ul>A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/major-disruptions-airline-bank-london-stock-exchange-microsoft-outage-2024-7">global IT outage</a> has brought travel systems worldwide to a standstill, causing issues for passengers at airports, on train services, and at gas stations.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-companies-operations-airlines-affected-microsoft-crowdstrike-2024-7">Major airlines, banks, and retailers</a> are experiencing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mass-it-outage-microsoft-chaos-delays-distruption-shown-in-photos-2024-7">widespread disruptions</a> after Microsoft reported problems with its online services, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crowdstrike-global-it-outage-one-defective-it-update-sparked-chaos-2024-7">linked to an issue at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike</a>.American, United, and Delta <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-american-warn-pilots-of-communication-issues-amid-grounding-2024-7">issued ground stops on Friday</a> due to potential communication issues, while airports and airlines worldwide reported issues and delays affecting airlines.As boarding, tickets, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-american-warn-pilots-of-communication-issues-amid-grounding-2024-7">pilot communication channels</a> were affected by the outage, passengers were hit with delays and cancellations.Scott Sanders, a passenger at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, told Business Insider that people were sleeping on the ground due to the disruption. The atmosphere was relatively calm, he said.Sanders' flight to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) had been scheduled to depart on Thursday at 10:55 p.m. However, after one and a half hours of sitting on board the plane, passengers were told to disembark.He still hoped to reach his father's 80th birthday celebration on Saturday.Jordan van den Lamb, a public servant, told BI that he had been stranded for six hours at Hobart Airport in Tasmania.Lamb said the airport was empty because other passengers were told their flights were canceled.He was told there was still a chance his flight would take off. But five hours later, it was canceled. Jetstar would not pay for accommodation, he said.But it did offer aggrieved passengers two vouchers amounting to $10.70 (16 AUD), which they were only allowed to spend all at once with no change given.<h2 id="94377cb2-ef0f-4b53-b24c-a56b1ba255b5">'Tired and hopeless'</h2>At Los Angeles International Airport, Sarah Patterson experienced a similar disruption.Patterson told BI her flight with Spirit Airlines to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was delayed by more than two hours on Thursday evening before it was eventually canceled.It took three hours to get her checked luggage back from the airline, she said.On top of the delay, the airline's app was completely unresponsive and they had been told that no rebookings could be made."There's about three flights of people, at least, all in a single line for the Spirit desk, all trying to get rebooked," Patterson said."I have a family vacation I'm supposed to go on on Saturday, so it's pretty brutal," she said.A spokesperson for Spirit told BI that its team is working "as quickly as possible to have everything restored." The company wrote on X Friday that it is currently unable to rebook flights for impacted passengers because of the outage.Jacqualine Ebule was also stuck at LAX after boarding her 11:15 p.m. flight to Washington, D.C. An hour later, they were told to disembark, and at 3:30 a.m., the flight was canceled."We sat on the tarmac for an hour, and they said it was a technical issue with Microsoft," Ebule told BI. "We then had to deplane and everyone has just been sitting around waiting."Calling the whole experience "a hassle" she was thinking of just heading home."People with kids look extremely tired and hopeless," she added.<h2 id="c9ae466d-6ea6-4ba9-a551-18531a175aca">Reverting to manual processes</h2>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/global-it-outage-y2k-24-years-later-crowdstrike-cyber-expert-2024-7">global IT outage</a> is affecting airlines differently depending on their use of Microsoft services for their operations.At Melbourne Airport, Australia, the international airlines Jetstar and Scoot were experiencing ongoing issues, while all other international airlines were processing passengers normally, the airport confirmed <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/Melair/status/1814217651834786060">on X</a> on Friday morning.Some airlines resorted to using manual processes to manage the situation.<div type="image" title="A man stands looking at a piece of paper in front of a whiteboard displaying flight information in an airport lounge." height="4032" width="3024" msid="111866981" hostid="261"></div>In Singapore Changi Airport, whiteboards displaying flight numbers were laid out in a terminal 1 lounge.Elsewhere, passengers of Indian airline IndiGo posted images of handwritten boarding passes on social media. BI was unable to verify their accounts. However, the airline confirmed on X that the outage had impacted access to boarding passes and check-in.<h2 id="526b6277-1c02-4b21-8488-0b787cf60316">Trains and gas stations</h2>Travelers trying to use <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-dc-subway-global-it-outage-crowdstrike-new-york-washington-2024-7">other forms of transport</a> have also faced disruption.National train operators in the UK <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/nationalrailenq/status/1814206628113113153">reported</a> network-wide IT issues on Friday morning.In the US, Amtrak confirmed to customers on X that they were experiencing problems with their booking website, and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nyc-dc-subway-global-it-outage-crowdstrike-new-york-washington-2024-7">arrival information at some stations</a> was not working.Drivers were not exempt from the travel chaos either.Some Speedway gas stations around the US closed because digital gas pumps failed to work, and others were not accepting payments, a Speedway customer service employee confirmed to BI."They had to move to cash only and some don't have any internet," the employee said.

Airline passengers face chaos and uncertainty after massive IT outage

Troubles mount for Indian airlines, even in good times

Indian <keyword id="34984" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="airline" source="Orion">airline</keyword> <keyword id="6354887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="industry" source="Orion">industry</keyword> is expecting to prune its <keyword id="9317682" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="net-losses" source="Orion">net losses</keyword> to Rs 3,000-5,000 crore in this fiscal from an estimated Rs 17,000-17,500 crore in FY2023 on the back of improved yields and stable cost environment, credit ratings agency <keyword id="6354972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="icra" source="Orion">ICRA</keyword> said on Tuesday. At the same time, ICRA also estimated that domestic air passenger traffic will expand by 8-13 per cent each in FY2024 and FY2025. The <keyword id="164127" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rating-agency" source="Orion">rating agency</keyword> has also maintained its stable outlook on the industry in view of healthy passenger traffic growth, improved yields and a stable cost environment. Building on the fast-paced recovery in FY2023, ICRA at a webinar on Tuesday said it is expecting the domestic air passenger traffic to grow by 8-13 per cent in the ongoing financial year, thereby reaching 150-155 million and surpassing the pre-Covid levels of 141.2 million seen in FY2020. The Industry's net loss (is expected) to shrink to Rs 30-50 billion in FY2024 from an estimated Rs 170-175 billion in FY2023, aided by improved yields and stable cost environment, ICRA said. "The air passenger traffic momentum witnessed in the current fiscal is expected to continue in FY2025, though further expansion in yields from the current levels may be limited. Thus, the industry is estimated to report a similar net loss of ~Rs. 30-50 billion in FY2025 as well," said Suprio Banerjee, Vice President &amp; Sector Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited. The momentum in air passenger traffic growth is expected to continue in FY2025 as well with a similar estimated year-on-year growth, aided by rising demand for air travel and improving airport infrastructure, ICRA said. During the first eight months of this fiscal, domestic air passenger traffic stood at 100.7 million, witnessing a 17 per cent year-on-year growth, and 5 per cent higher than the pre-Covid levels (8M FY2020) of 95.7 million. Further, the international passenger traffic for Indian carriers, at 23.9 million in FY2023, surpassed the pre-Covid levels, although it trailed the peak levels of 25.9 million in FY2019, ICRA said, adding the same is expected to cross this level in the current fiscal, with an estimated 25-27 million passengers. Moreover, the airlines witnessed better pricing power, as reflected in improved yields and in the spread between revenue per available seat kilometre and cost per available seat kilometre (RASK-CASK) for the airlines, it said. While capacity addition for the industry will continue with the total pending aircraft deliveries of around 1,500, supply chain issues at the aircraft OEMs also mean that the addition could be gradual, ICRA said. Also, a large part of these is towards replacement of old aircraft with new fuel-efficient ones, and with the expected continued growth in passenger traffic, ICRA expects the demand-supply balance to be maintained in the medium-term. Furthermore, a sizeable part of the fleet addition by airlines will also be meant for expanding international operations, it said and added that in FY2023, the share of Indian carriers in international traffic (to and from India) stood at around 42 per cent. This offers adequate growth potential for Indian carriers to gain traction in international traffic over the medium term, the rating agency noted. However, despite a healthy recovery in passenger traffic and improvement in yields, the movement of the latter will remain monitorable amidst elevated ATF prices and depreciation of the Indian Rupee vis-a-vis the US Dollar compared to pre-Covid levels, both of which have a major bearing on the airlines' cost structure, the rating agency noted. The average ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices stood at Rs 103,189/KL in 9M FY2024, which were 59 per cent higher compared to an average of Rs 64,715/KL during FY2020, albeit a decline of 17 per cent compared to Rs 121,013 /KL in FY2023, it observed. Fuel accounts for 30-40 per cent of the airlines' expenses, while around 35-50 per cent of the airlines' operating expenses 'including aircraft lease payments, fuel expenses, and a significant portion of aircraft and engine maintenance expenses ' are denominated in US dollar terms. "More recently, the Indian aviation industry has been facing significant supply chain issues, resulting in around 20-22 per cent of the total fleet being on the ground currently. "The recent issue related to powder-coating related concerns in engines manufactured by Pratt &amp; Whitney (P&amp;W) is expected to lead to additional aircraft to be grounded by Q4 FY2024 of this fiscal 'amounting to approximately 22-24 per cent of the industry capacity," said Banerjee. This will result in high operating expenses towards cost of grounding, increase in lease rentals due to additional aircraft being taken on lease to offset the grounded capacity, along with increasing lease rates and lower fuel efficiency, which adversely impact the airline's cost structure, and thus overall cash flow generation," he added.

Indian airlines likely to prune losses to Rs 3,000-5,000 cr this fiscal: ICRA

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Indian budget airline IndiGo says it's letting some female travelers avoid sitting next to men.</li><li>An online tool color-codes some of the seats, the airline's CEO, Pieter Elbers, said.</li></ul>The CEO of Indian budget airline IndiGo says a booking tool test that lets women avoid sitting next to men on flights is getting some positive responses on social media.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/07/30/indigo-ceo-on-decision-to-allow-women-to-choose-not-to-sit-next-to-men.html">In an interview with CNBC</a>, IndiGo chief Pieter Elbers said the test has "resounded very, very well" — though the airline is still looking into whether it has increased female travel.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/07/indigo-allows-women-to-avoid-booking-seats-next-to-men-on-flights.html">According to CNBC</a>, the test kicked off in May across all IndiGo flights to make female passengers feel more comfortable.To book a ticket, customers first select a gender. On a subsequent seat selection page, <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/ssjoshssjosh/status/1795695816050680283">female travelers see</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/khabri_lal/status/1795320547636867262">pink seats</a> to designate where other females are seated, according to CNBC.The visuals are not available to male passengers, according to the outlet.The tool did not appear when Business Insider tried to make a booking. IndiGo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.Elbers told CNBC that the test embodies the philosophy of 18-year-old IndiGo — which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/indigo-launches-business-class-service-for-first-time-in-18-years/articleshow/112285550.cms">just launched business class service</a> for the first time — to be a "courteous and hassle-free service."However, some social media users on X jeered the test for promoting a "<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/Mumbaikar40/status/1795786722573205928">culture of segregation</a>." Others wondered how it would apply to passengers <a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/nomadicoyster/status/1795754960426319996">with different gender identities</a>."I know this seemed bizarre to the western folks," <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/1em2wsj/comment/lgw6enf/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">one Redditor wrote</a>, "but I think people in this country would at least understand why this provision exists."Female solo travelers face unique <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/safety-tips-from-female-solo-traveler-all-50-states">safety</a> <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-solo-travel-safety-tips-from-frequent-female-traveler-2023-11">concerns</a>. In a travel advisory, the US State Department urges all travelers not to go to India alone, "<a target="_blank" href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/india-travel-advisory.html">particularly if you are a woman</a>."IndiGo <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.goindigo.in/about-us.html?linkNav=About%20us%7CCOMPANY%7CFooter">says</a> it's the largest airline in India, with 2,000 daily flights that connect more than 110 destinations. The company said it pulled in $8.2 billion in revenue in 2023.

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