Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Civil+Aviation&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Civil Aviation</a> Secretary <keyword id="1882950" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="RN-Choubey">RN Choubey</keyword> has confirmed that a sum of $10 billion would be spent in next five years to develop airport infrastructure in India so that the country could become the world's third largest aviation markin seven years. 
 
He said that nearly 400 unused airstrips across the nation that had become cattle grazing grounds, would be brought back to life. 
 
Choubey, while addressing a day-long India <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Aviation+Summit&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Aviation Summit</a>, said that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Civil+Aviation+Ministry&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Civil Aviation Ministry</a> was determined to maintain the "historic" 23 per cent growth rate achieved in the aviation sector in the country. 
 
"$10 billion would be spent in next five years to develop airport infrastructure. Our aim is to become the third largest aviation market in the next seven years. We are determined to stay ahead of the growth curve," he said. 
 
India's nearest rival in terms of aviation growth was <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=China&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">China</a> with 14 per cent. 
 
Progressive and proactive industry-friendly policies played a significant part in Indian aviation's growth story and not just the fall in fuel prices, Choubey added. 
 
"Our ultimate objective is to take the flight to the masses and to this end we have come up with a progressive policy. We have also undertaken a very very bold experiment called Regional Air Connectivity Scheme at the national level," the bureaucrat said. 
 "For the first time, the <keyword id="6368649" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Civil-aviation">civil aviation</keyword> sector has achieved rail parity. While the railways turnover is Rs 1.6 lakh crore, civil aviation turnover touched Rs 1.4 lakh crore and the number of rail and air passengers has also become almost equal," Choubey pointed out. 
 
"Civil aviation is now just as popular and just as necessary. Airfares are now comparable to air-conditioned train fares. No one could imagine subsidy for air travel but under the RAC Scheme, we have been extending 50-60 per cent viability gap funding," he said. 
 
Stating that RAC Scheme created a lot of "excitement", the Civil Aviation Secretary said they received enquiries for as many as 800 routes.

Govt is resurrecting life in Indian airports, to spend $10 billion on infrastructure

Fliers will soon be able to access Wi-Fi services to make calls and access mails while on board flights in the Indian airspace. 
 
India, at present, does not allow airlines to offer Wi-Fi on board while they fly over the Indian airspace. Foreign carriers fly to and from India switch off Wi-Fi when they are in the Indian airspace. 
 <keyword id="6368649" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Civil-aviation">Civil Aviation</keyword> secretary RN Choubey said the decision on approving Wi-Fi services could be taken in the next ten days as a consensus had already emerged between various ministries including home, telecom and aviation. 
 
Availability of Wi-Fi is also expected to provide local airlines with an additional source of revenues amid stiff competition in the Indian aviation market, which has been witnessing one of the highest passenger traffic growth rates in the world. 
 
While the Civil Aviation Ministry has been pursuing the proposal of permitting use of Wi-Fi in flights on-board for "quite some time", various security issues were holding up a final decision on the matter. 
 
"There is fairly a good chance that in 10 days, permission will be given to operate Wi-Fi in the Indian airspace," Choubey said, adding that Cabinet nod might not be required for allowing Wi-Fi facility on-board. 
 
"...if data is going to be allowed, it should be possible to make calls as well. We expect that to happen as well," he said. 
 
Currently, Wi-Fi services and phone calls are not allowed on flights flying over the Indian airspace. 
 
"Obviously, there are security-related issues. The three ministries of Civil Aviation, Telecommunications and Home Affairs are working on this and in 10 days, it should be possible for us to announce...," Choubey said.

Fliers may soon be able to use Wi-Fi on-board in India

<ul><li>The <keyword id="26362" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Government">government</keyword> will divest a 100% stake in <keyword id="2573" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword>’s profitable ground handling unit, Air India Air Transport Services (AIATS), and will use the proceeds of the sale to pay down the <keyword id="34984" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="airline">airline</keyword>’s debts. </li><li>The decision is part of a larger turnaround plan that will see the government transfer around ₹300 billion of the airline’s short-term <keyword id="44647" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="debt">debt</keyword> and certain non-core assets into a separate entity. </li><li>The government needs to make the heavily-indebted airline an attractive acquisition target following a failed sale earlier this year. </li></ul> India’s central government is not ready to give up on its loss-making national carrier, Air India. The government is moving ahead to divest a 100% stake in Air India’s profitable ground handling unit, Air India Air Transport Services (AIATS), according to RN Choubey, the Secretary of the Ministry of Civil <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation">Aviation</keyword>. The reason for the sale? The government needs to make the heavily-indebted airline an attractive acquisition target following <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/after-a-botched-sale-the-indian-government-might-just-bail-air-india-out-again/articleshow/65323903.cms">a failed sale</a> earlier this year. However, as opposed to bailing out the airline at the expense of taxpayers, the government will use the proceeds of the sale to pay down Air India’s debt and interest liabilities. The government had tried to sell <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/no-one-seems-interested-in-buying-air-india/articleshow/63697732.cms">a 76% stake</a> in the airline this past summer, but it received zero bids by the 31 May deadline. The primary reasons were the government’s decision to retain a 24% stake in the airline as well as the high amount of debt a buyer would have had to inherit, which was estimated to be around 70% of the airline’s total debt burden of ₹488 billion. Consequently, the government decided to focus on restructuring the airline’s operations while adopting a wait-and-see approach with regards to the <keyword id="44639" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="divestment">divestment</keyword>. It has been <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/from-time-to-time-government-is-providing-support-to-air-india-r-n-choubey/articleshow/66694176.cms">infusing funds</a> in small amounts in Air India in order to meet its working capital needs like paying salaries and suppliers. The decision to sell off Air India’s ground handling unit is part of a larger turnaround plan wherein the government will cut operating costs, sell land holdings and transfer around ₹300 billion of the airline’s short-term debt and certain non-core assets into a special purpose vehicle called Air India Assets Holding. The sale document will only be released once AIATS is hived off into this separate entity. The actual purpose of the special purpose vehicle is to service more than half of Air India’s debt by selling off its assets. The overall goal of these actions is to generate more enthusiasm from prospective buyers. The government still intends to privatise Air India as opposed to liquidating it or worse, maintaining complete ownership -- certain to be a drain on the Exchequer. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/no-one-seems-interested-in-buying-air-india/articleshow/63697732.cms">No one seems interested in buying Air India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/after-a-botched-sale-the-indian-government-might-just-bail-air-india-out-again/articleshow/65323903.cms">After a botched sale, the Indian government might just bail Air India out again</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/the-indian-government-is-planning-a-rescue-package-for-the-aviation-sector-as-the-losses-pile-up/articleshow/65681289.cms">The Indian government is planning a rescue package for the aviation sector as the losses pile up</a>

The Indian government is trying to make its struggling national carrier an attractive acquisition target by selling off a profitable subsidiary

<ul><li>The country’s airlines are set to lose nearly $2 billion in 2018-19, according to CAPA, a consultancy, owing to rising costs and low fares. </li><li>The Ministry of Civil <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation">Aviation</keyword> is working on a relief package to ease the cost pressures on the country’s struggling carriers. This could involve a reduction in <keyword id="4869" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fuel">fuel</keyword> taxes by bringing aviation turbine fuel under the GST regime. </li><li>The government also wants to build 100 new airports within the next 15 years. </li></ul>A relief package has been a long time coming for the world’s third largest aviation market. While India’s airlines have expanded their business rapidly over the past decade, as indicated by surging passenger traffic, much of this has come with high capital costs and minimal profits. And now? Airlines are recovering from one of the worst years so far in recent memory. The rupee’s depreciation is expected to raise costs for airlines, most of which are denominated in dollars like leasing expenses and ground handling charges overseas, by a third. Fuel costs, which comprise 40% of overall costs, have risen dramatically amid a rebound in oil markets and heavy domestic duties. Fares have stayed low in the face of a intense competition in order to keep passenger volumes robust. The losses are mounting. For the first quarter of the current financial year, <keyword id="6358200" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="jet-airways">Jet Airways</keyword> and <keyword id="6358032" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpiceJet">Spicejet</keyword> and reported net losses of ₹13.2 billion and ₹380 million, respectively, while <keyword id="6354706" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IndiGo">Indigo</keyword>, which has usually been the country’s most profitable airline, saw a 97% drop in its net profit to ₹280 million. The country’s airlines are set to lose <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indian-airline-losses-could-reach-1-9-billion-this-year-capa-india/articleshow/65666776.cms">nearly $2 billion </a>in 2018-19, according to CAPA, a consultancy, and will need a $3 billion capital injection to clean up their balance sheets. A lifeline from the government The government has taken notice of the problems faced by the sector. According to the civil aviation secretary, RN Choubey, the Ministry of Aviation is working on a rescue programme for the country’s struggling carriers. While the details of the package have not been announced, the aviation ministry has been working with the finance ministry to ease some of the cost pressures on airlines. The package will likely focus on two things- high fuel prices and the problem of the rising rupee, especially in relation to leasing costs. For the former, the aviation ministry plans to bring aviation turbine fuel (ATF) under the GST regime as opposed to the current system, whereby states impose different taxes on top of a national excise duty of 14%. No discussion of the industry’s problems is complete without mentioning the travails of Air India. The loss-making, indebted state carrier is also slated to receive a minor reprieve from the government in order to stay afloat in the short-term. The Indian government has extended a credit facility <a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/aviation/govt-to-infuse-rs-2100-crore-into-air-india/story/281976.html">of ₹21 billion</a> to Air India for working capital purposes, following an equity infusion of ₹8.6 billion. The government is also planning to invest heavily in airports infrastructure. Earlier this week, the Minister of Aviation, <keyword id="6356597" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="suresh-prabhu">Suresh Prabhu</keyword>, announced that the government would finance the construction of 100 airports in the country over the next decade and a half, to add to India’s 130 existing airports. The programme is expected to cost around $60 billion.

The Indian government is planning a rescue package for the aviation sector as the losses pile up

Indian fliers will soon be able to access Wi-Fi onboard flights to make calls and access data. The Department of Telecommunications has moved a proposal in this regard, minister of state for civil aviation <keyword id="6357677" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jayant-Sinha">Jayant Sinha</keyword> has said. 
 
At present, Wi-Fi services are banned in the Indian airspace. 
 
“The Department of Telecommunications has already moved a proposal for providing inflight connectivity for voice, data and video services for consideration of the Committee of Secretaries,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha informed the Rajya Sabha. 
 
In a written reply, he also said the proposal for providing onboard Wi-Fi services involves amendment of provisions of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Telegraph Rules made there under. 
 
“As of now, Wi-Fi in-flight Entertainment System (Transmitting – Portable Electronic Device) is an independent system and is not connected to aircraft control systems making it safe for aircraft operations,” Sinha noted. 
 
Various countries, including the US, allow in-flight Wi-Fi services. 
 
Aviation secretary RN Choubey had said last month that a decision to allow Wi-Fi on board was expected soon. 
 
Security fears like the aircraft system being taken over by hackers on ground who may use it as a missile or hijackers on board taking directions from their handlers had prevented security agencies from allowing the use of Wi-Fi services on board aircraft in Indian airspace.

You’ll be able to make calls, use internet on flights soon

<keyword id="2426410" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="The-Narendra-Modi-government">The Narendra Modi government</keyword> seems to be trying its best to fulfill the dreams of India’s aam aadmi. As per a recent report by Economics Times, the forthcoming civil aviation policy is mulling making the dreams of flying a reality for the middle class. 
 
On the sidelines of an event on aviation day, G Asok Kumar, joint secretary in the civil aviation ministry said that the new policy will seek to ensure one air journey per year. However, no means and ways were disclosed by the minister. 
 
The new secretary of the aviation ministry RN Choubey is reframing the policies and the changed policies, reportedly, will be available by the end of this month. 
 At the event, issues like flight operations, route dispersal guidelines were also raised. "I can assure you that something is being done to remove 5/20 and will be part of the aviation policy but RDG is going to stay," informed Choubey after a query raised by <keyword id="2467342" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vistara">Vistara</keyword> CEO <keyword id="2468220" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Phee-Teik-Yeoh">Phee Teik Yeoh</keyword> for abolition of the rule mandating five years of domestic operations and fleet of 20 aircraft for airlines to fly international. 
 The 5/20 rule however, was opposed by <keyword id="64233" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IATA">IATA</keyword> CEO Tony Tyler. "The problem with such regulations is that by creating distortions to the free market, they influence long-term decisions made by airlines. And so, once they are imposed, they become very difficult to change as circumstances evolve, because doing so can't help being unfair to some or other key industry player," Tyler said in his speech. 
 
Image: indiatimes

Modi to make aam aadmi’s dream of flying come true

<keyword id="6358246" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="AirAsia">AirAsia</keyword> said strict actions will be taken against anyone who will be found guilty in the probe regarding irregular transaction at the airlines. <keyword id="46894" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata-Sons">Tata Sons</keyword> ousted Chairman <keyword id="6356895" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cyrus-Mistry">Cyrus Mistry</keyword> had raised this issue and an investigation has been launched in this regard. Probe is going on against former personnel regarding the irregular expense claims and certain company charges. 
 
The airline, in a statement, stated its parent groups don’t approve of any unethical practices and it "will take very stern action against the perpetrators (of fraud) at all levels of the organisation". The matter has already been discussed by the board at the previous meeting. 
 
Cyrus Mistry, after he was ousted as the chairman of Tata sons, in a letter to Tata Sons board said that an investigation had revealed a fraudulent transaction of 22 crore related to AirAsia and involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore. 
 
Tata Group however countered the allegations. "It is unfortunate that it is only on his removal that allegations and misrepresentation of facts are being made about business decisions that the former chairman was party to for over a decade in different capacities. The record, as and when made public, will prove things to the contrary," the group had said. 
 
In a statement, AirAsia confirmed that the group has looked into all the allegations of impropriety and misappropriation very seriously. 
 In a parallel space, a letter has been written to the <keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> by <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> MP <keyword id="6370187" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Subramanian-Swamy">Subramanian Swamy</keyword>, in which he has asked him to form a special investigation task force to probe the issue in Mistry’s letter. 
 The <keyword id="58151" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="civil-aviation-ministry">Civil Aviation Ministry</keyword> has also said that they were looking into the issue. "We are waiting for inputs to be provided from any quarter. We have not received anything yet," Aviation Secretary RN Choubey told reporters last week. 
(image:Indiatimes)

AirAsia begins probe over fraudulent transactions worth Rs 22 crore after Cyrus Mistry raises red flag

It is time for celebration for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Vistara+">Vistara</a> and <keyword id="1583080" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="AirAsia-India">AirAsia India</keyword> as they may soon be able to fly international flights. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Prime+Minister+Narendra+Modi+">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</a> has favoured the scrapping of the 5/20 eligibility rule that does not allow Indian carriers to fly overseas. 
 
According to the rule, they have to complete five years of domestic service and have a fleet of 20 aircraft before they could fly overseas. 
 During a meeting on August 25, Modi made his views clear while discussing the new civil aviation policy, which is being formulated. Removal of the 5/20 rule is part of the proposals. The meeting was also attended by ministers of civil aviation, finance and skill development &amp; <keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">entrepreneurship</keyword>, as well as top officials of the aviation ministry. 
 
Modi said in the meeting that the rule should be scrapped and no alternative should be introduced, said an official who attended the meeting. 
 
"If the rule is stifling the growth of our carriers, the rule should completely be abolished and not replaced. What is the need to replace a rule with something when the rule itself is not pro-growth," the official said, quoting Modi. 
 
The decision to remove the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=5%2F20+rule+">5/20 rule</a> is final, the official said. 
 "The ministry would, however, still seek public consultation on either to replace or to completely abolish 5/20," the official said. The draft policy may be published by the end of this month seeking public comments. <keyword id="157652" type="POSITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="aviation-secretary">Aviation Secretary</keyword> RN Choubey didn't reply to an SMS and phone calls seeking comment on the discussions while a civil aviation ministry spokesman said he could not comment on the matter. 
 Removal of the regulation is set to widen the divide between the new and old carriers. <keyword id="6358200" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Jet-Airways">Jet Airways</keyword>, the nation's oldest private airline, as well as IndiGo and SpiceJet, which had to meet the conditions under the 5/20 rule before they were allowed to fly overseas, are against its abolition. 
 According to them, scrapping of the rule would give new entrants an unfair advantage. <keyword id="2467342" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vistara">Vistara</keyword> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=AirAsia">AirAsia</a>, the newest airlines in India, want the rule to go. The civil aviation ministry has been considering removal or replacement of the 5/20 rule for 15 months, but has not been able to decide. 
 
The meeting late last month considered several options to replace the 5/20 rule, the official said. 
 
Apart from lifting all restrictions, which the PM favoured, these included a domestic flying credits formula requiring 300 points for flying international and a requirement to deploy at least 5 aircraft in the domestic sector. 
 
Analysts supported the PM's suggestion to abolish the rule, which, one of them said, promotes restrictive and negative regulations. 
"No one except <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jet+Airways+">Jet Airways</a> has benefited from 5/20 regulation and it is time to correct this distortion immediately," said Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation Chief Executive Kapil Kaul. 
 
"The country cannot continue with our policy of liberalizing for foreign carriers and restricting/constraining the Indian carriers," he said. "This does not happen anywhere and cannot be supported." 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

You Searched For "RN Choubey" and got 8 results

Govt is resurrecting life in Indian airports, to spend $10 billion on infrastructure

BI India Bureau

Fliers may soon be able to use Wi-Fi on-board in India

Anupama Airy

The Indian government is trying to make its struggling national carrier an attractive acquisition target by selling off a profitable subsidiary

Dilsher Dhillon

The Indian government is planning a rescue package for the aviation sector as the losses pile up

Dilsher Dhillon

You’ll be able to make calls, use internet on flights soon

Anupama Airy

Modi to make aam aadmi’s dream of flying come true

BI India Bureau

AirAsia begins probe over fraudulent transactions worth Rs 22 crore after Cyrus Mistry raises red flag

BI India Bureau

Vistara and AirAsia must be on cloud nine! PM Narendra Modi is in favour of scrapping 5/20

BI India Bureau

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides