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<ul><li>This will allow <keyword id="6358032" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpiceJet">Spicejet</keyword> to move an aircraft forward or backwards without powering its engines or using external tugs, thus saving a massive amount of fuel and cash for the airline. </li><li>The airline said it is the largest Boeing 737 operator in India and, “by inducting WheelTug into its B737 operations, the company aims to reduce the fuel burn during taxi out and in.” </li><li>WheelTug is based in the Isle of Man and is indulged in developing the WheelTug aircraft electric drive system. </li><li>Check out the latest news and updates on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/">Business Insider</a>.</li></ul>India’s largest cargo operator and budget carrier, SpiceJet, has partnered with WheelTug Plc for reserving 400 production slots for the electric taxi system. This will allow Spicejet to move an aircraft forward or backwards without powering its engines or using external tugs, thus saving a massive amount of fuel and cash for the airline. The fuel cost has been a major worry for airlines around the globe. According to rating agency ICRA, the air turbine fuel (ATF) comprises nearly 30-40% of an airline's total cost, and the prices in India are 45-50% higher, compared to international standard prices. The electric taxi system will also enable SpiceJet to reduce its carbon emissions as well as noise levels with an improved fleet utilisation, thereby directly improving the bottom line. The Gurugram-headquartered no-frills carrier said it is the largest Boeing 737 operator in India and, “by inducting WheelTug into its B737 operations, the company aims to reduce the fuel burn during Taxi out and in.” WheelTug is based in the Isle of Man and is indulged in developing the WheelTug aircraft electric drive system. The company said that more than 25 airlines representing over 2000 aircraft have reserved slots for WheelTug systems. The WheelTug system places high-torque motors in the nose wheels of the aircraft. Pilots control the aircraft themselves, performing ground operations without requiring tugs for manoeuvres. Meanwhile, the shares of the Budget carrier were trading 1.2% higher at 12:30 pm. <div type="image" title="SpiceJet share price (1)" msid="81307192" hostid="261"></div> SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms">Former Blackstone exec’s firm MTAR Tech’s ₹600 crore IPO⁠ — what works for it and what doesn't</a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/the-600-crore-ipo-of-defence-components-maker-mtar-technologies-is-off-to-a-great-start-today/articleshow/81306780.cms"></a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms"></a>

SpiceJet partners with WheelTug for electric taxi system, as the airline targets lower fuel costs

<ul><li>Delhi-NCR clocked the highest number of trips and office hours trips in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. </li><li>The most popular product, in terms of number of trips in India, was <keyword id="1042120" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="uber" source="Orion">Uber</keyword> Go followed by <keyword id="2802970" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UBER-AUTO" source="Orion">Uber Auto</keyword>. </li><li>Most <keyword id="8414841" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UBER-TRIPS" source="Orion">Uber trips</keyword> in India were booked between 5 pm and 6 pm, and Saturday was the most popular day for booking an Uber.</li></ul>Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata booked the highest number of <keyword id="3190291" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uber-rides" source="Orion">Uber rides</keyword> this year, according to the ‘A Year In Review: How India Ubered in 2022’ report released by the global mobility provider company. Indians spent 11 billion minutes traveling in Ubers, covering 4.5 billion kilometers this year, which, according to the company, is the distance from Earth to Neptune. Delhi-NCR had the highest number of trips, overall, and also clocked the highest number of office-hour trips. Its immediate neighbours Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad also chose to make their way back to office in Ubers, the report revealed. Most Uber trips in India were booked between 5 pm and 6 pm, and Saturday received the highest bookings in a week. The most popular product, in terms of number of trips in India, was Uber Go (comparatively lower cost car rides) followed by Uber Auto. Additionally, sweet rides were the talk of town, or at least the talk of Uber on October 22, around the festival of Diwali. Because this day saw the highest number of package deliveries through Uber Connect–Uber’s delivery service–in 2022. Furthermore, in terms of preferences for <keyword id="13703272" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="uber-rentals" source="Orion">Uber Rentals</keyword> rides with multiple stops, most riders in India opted for the 2 hour, 20 kilometer package. “Backed by rider insights and data, the report shares insights on the increasing importance of ridesharing within the country and efforts to create sustainable cities for the future,” added Uber. Indian cities ‘swinging back open for business after the pandemic’ Uber revealed that, “the year 2022 saw Indians start traveling big again, and cities swinging back open for business after the pandemic.” Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkata booked the highest number of Uber rides in India this year. No surprises that Chandigarh and Delhi were the top two cities in India in terms of the fastest average speeds clocked on the roads, followed by Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Kochi. On the other hand, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Guwahati and Kolkata clocked the slowest average speeds on the roads this year, <keyword id="2502101" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="uber-india" source="Orion">Uber India</keyword> revealed. India’s top five intercity routes, according to Uber, were Mumbai - Pune, Mumbai - Nashik, Delhi - Agra, Jaipur - Chandigarh and Lucknow - Kanpur. Uber also revealed that Delhi - Purnia, Delhi - Madhubani, Bangalore - Mumbai, Delhi - Varanasi and Delhi - Ahmedabad were the longest intercity trips by kilometers traveled by Indians this year. Delhi to Purnia, alone, is a distance of over 1300 kilometers. The global mobility service company, launched in 2010, is now available in 123 Indian cities. In terms of the debutant cities, Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh emerged as the newcomer city with the highest number of trips. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/spicejet-inox-green-ntpc-among-stocks-to-watch-out-for/articleshow/96532933.cms">Sensex, Nifty50 to open marginally higher as investors remain cautious – SpiceJet, Inox Green, NTPC among stocks to watch out for</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/psus-stage-a-comeback-in-2022-and-the-future-looks-healthy-say-analysts/articleshow/96522444.cms">PSUs stage a comeback in 2022, and the future looks healthy, say analysts</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-19-testing-is-now-mandatory-for-travellers-coming-to-india-from-thailand-five-other-countries/slidelist/96521648.cms">Covid-19 testing is now mandatory for travellers coming to India from Thailand, five other countries</a>

Indians spent 11 billion minutes traveling and covered 4.5 billion kilometers in 2022 in this taxi service

An engine of a <keyword id="2467342" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="vistara" source="Orion">Vistara</keyword> <keyword id="6385716" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="aircraft" source="Orion">aircraft</keyword> on way from <keyword id="6357117" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bangkok" source="Orion">Bangkok</keyword> failed after it landed at the <keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> airport but all passengers disembarked safely, aviation regulator DGCA said on Wednesday. The airline said one of the engines had developed a "minor" electrical malfunction after the aircraft landed at the <keyword id="89772" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="indira-gandhi-international-airport" source="Orion">Indira Gandhi International Airport</keyword> on Tuesday. After vacating the runway, the engine number 2 of the aircraft was shut down as pilots wanted to do single-engine taxiing using engine number 1, DGCA officials said. However, as engine number 1 failed at the end of the taxi way, a tow truck was brought to take the aircraft to the parking bay, they said. All passengers safely disembarked from the plane, they said. In a statement, a Vistara spokesperson said: After landing in Delhi, while taxing to the parking bay, our <keyword id="30815" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flight" source="Orion">flight</keyword> UK122 (BKK-DEL) had a minor electrical malfunction on 05July, 2022. Keeping passenger safety and comfort in mind the crew elected to tow the aircraft to the bay. SEE ALSO : <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/cloud-adoption-is-growing-and-it-will-drive-virtualization-too/articleshow/92702123.cms">Cloud adoption is growing and it will drive virtualization too</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/cleantech-market-could-surpass-the-value-of-oil-market-in-2030/articleshow/92702121.cms">By 2030, cleantech market could surpass the value of oil market</a>

After SpiceJet, Vistara flight also faces a technical issue after landing at the Delhi Airport

<keyword id="6358070" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="mumbai">Mumbai</keyword>, Public transport services in Mumbai, including suburban trains and buses, and in other parts of Maharashtra largely remained unaffected on Tuesday morning despite various organisations supporting the <keyword id="6379373" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharat-bandh">Bharat Bandh</keyword> for repeal of the Centre's agri laws, officials said. Services of local trains as well as out-station trains remained unaffected until now, said Shivaji Sutar, chief public relations officer (CPRO), Central Railway. Leaders of taxi and autorickshaw unions told that their services in Mumbai remained normal. A spokesperson of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), which operates a fleet of buses in Mumbai and metropolitan region, said almost 85% of the scheduled buses plied on roads. "Out of 3,435 scheduled buses, 2,913 buses plied on roads," he said. <keyword id="58636" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Maharashtra-State-Road-Transport-Corporation">Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation</keyword> (MSRTC) PRO Abhijit Bhosale said buses plied normally across the state, barring few places where they have curtailed operations either due to the poor passenger response or as a precautionary measure. "No report of any untoward incident is reported in the state until now," Bhosale said. Truck operators said the movement of goods was affected to an extent as several truckers chose not to operate in view of the shutdown. "Many truckers have kept their vehicles off road in support of the strike, but we haven't stopped movement of essential commodities," said Kailash Pingle, leader of <keyword id="10396854" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="maharashtra-rajya-motor">Maharashtra Rajya Motor</keyword> Malak Sangh. Transportation of essential commodities like milk, vegetables and fruits have been excluded from the bandh, said Daya Natkar, secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Vahatuk Sangh. Taxi union leader A L Quadros said taxis are plying in Mumbai as the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown had already hit the sector severely. The ruling Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress have extended their support for the shutdown, but appealed to protesters to not disrupt public transport services. In Pune also, public transport remained unaffected. "All our operations in the city are unaffected and no incident of buses being stopped anywhere has been reported yet," said an official from PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-ril-maruti-suzuki-nmdc-sbi-ongc-eicher-motors-likhitha-infrastructure-tata-consumer-and-others/articleshow/79600409.cms">Top stocks to watch — RIL, Maruti Suzuki, NMDC, SBI, ONGC, Eicher Motors, Likhitha Infrastructure, Tata Consumer, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/petrol-is-less-than-a-rupee-away-from-being-more-expensive-than-it-has-ever-been-for-indian-consumers/articleshow/79601841.cms">Petrol is less than a rupee away from being more expensive than it has ever been for Indian consumers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stock-movers-ongc-hdfc-bank-nmdc-pfizer-spicejet-indigo-irctc-tata-chemicals-and-others/articleshow/79602525.cms">Top stock movers — ONGC, HDFC Bank, NMDC, Pfizer, SpiceJet, IndiGo, IRCTC, Tata Chemicals, and others</a>

Bharat Bandh: Public transport services in Mumbai, other parts of Maharashtra almost unaffected

<ul><li>Now, it is looking to add 1,000 more to its current 4,500 employees in India.</li><li><keyword id="6357940" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="paypal">PayPal</keyword> had earlier said that it would no longer offer domestic services within India, and would focus only on Indian businesses that are going global.</li><li>The company had said that in 2020 it processed $1.4 billion worth of international sales for over 360,000 merchants in India.</li></ul>Global payments giant PayPal is ramping up its team in India. The company plans to hire 1,000 engineers in 2021, across its India Development Centers across Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. PayPal had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/paypal-to-focus-on-indian-businesses-wanting-to-go-global-as-it-winds-down-operations-from-april-1/articleshow/80699809.cms">earlier said</a> that it would no longer offer domestic services within India, and would focus only on Indian businesses that are looking to go global. Now, it is looking to add 1,000 more to its current 4,500 employees in India. The US-based payment company, co-founded by Peter Thiel, is <keyword id="6357342" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hiring">hiring</keyword> for roles across software, product development, data science, risk analytics and business analytics streams at entry, mid-level, and senior roles. It would also be heading for campus hirings. “Our India Technology Centers are the largest for PayPal outside of the U.S. and play a pivotal role in enabling us to constantly innovate and remain ahead of the curve. As digital payments move from a nice to have to an essential service, we are focused on investing in and nurturing world class technology talent to continue to offer products and services that meet the needs of our growing base of consumers and merchants,” said Guru Bhat, a vice president at PayPal India in a statement. For PayPal, India remains an important market. The company had said that in 2020 it processed $1.4 billion worth of international sales for over 360,000 merchants in India. Globally, PayPal had reported a revenue of $6.12 billion from the fourth quarter of 2020. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/india-largest-insurer-lic-is-inviting-bids-from-payment-aggregators/articleshow/81304375.cms">EXCLUSIVE: India's largest insurer LIC is inviting bids from payment aggregators⁠</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/spicejet-partners-with-wheeltug-for-electric-taxi-system-as-the-airline-targets-lower-fuel-costs/articleshow/81307104.cms">SpiceJet partners with WheelTug for electric taxi system, as the airline targets lower fuel costs</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/indian-companies-stand-to-lose-7-14-lakh-crore-to-climate-change-but-they-could-end-up-making-2-9-lakh-crore-too/articleshow/81306789.cms">Indian companies stand to lose ₹7.14 lakh crore to climate change — but they could end up making ₹2.9 lakh crore too</a>

PayPal, which had shut down domestic operations in India, now plans to hire 1,000 engineers

Hyderabad, Buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation in <keyword id="68884" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telangana">Telangana</keyword> went off road on Tuesday amid growing <keyword id="6367209" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="support">support</keyword> for farmers groups-called <keyword id="6379373" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="bharat-bandh">Bharat Bandh</keyword> that received support from all parties in the state except the BJP. With employee unions of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) backing the shutdown call, buses were confined to depots. <keyword id="3614635" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="mahatma-gandhi-bus-station">Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station</keyword> and Jubilee Bus Station, two biggest and busiest bus stations in Hyderabad, wore a deserted look. Some commuters who reached the bus stations early morning to board buses to their destinations were seen returning disappointed. Most of the cabs and auto-rickshaws also went off the roads as the unions of taxi and auto drivers backed <keyword id="10393033" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-bharat-bandh">the Bharat Bandh</keyword> in support of the demand by farmers' groups asking for rollback of the new farm legislations by the central government. With the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) declaring total support to the bandh, it is likely to evoke good response across the state. Opposition Congress, Left and other parties, farmers' and people's organizations and trade unions are also backing the protest. Ministers, MPs, state legislators and other public representatives will be participating in protests across the state. Chief Minister and TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao has appealed to party cadres to make the bandh a total success. TRS has called upon its leaders to stage road blockades on highways to show solidarity with agitating farmers. Backing the struggle by farmers against the three farm laws, Rao said the laws adversely impacted their interests. It was precisely because of that the TRS opposed the Bills in Parliament, he said and stressed the need for the agitation to continue until they were repealed. Rao's son, cabinet minister and TRS working president K. T. Rama Rao will be leading the protest at Borgula on Hyderabad-Bengaluru national highway. The chief minister's daughter and member of legislative council K. Kavitha will lead rasta rook near Kamareddy. Home minister Mohammed Mehmood Ali, finance minister Harish Rao, agriculture minister Niranjan Reddy and other ministers will also lead the protests on highways. K. T. Rama Rao Mr. Rao urged owners of shops and business establishments to reopen their premises after 12 noon. He also wanted transport companies to resume their operations only in the afternoon. Dubbing the new farm legislation as 'black laws', Rama Rao called for raising a unified voice against a conspiracy to hand over the farm sector to the corporate entities and make farmers labourers at the hands of the big corporate players Leaders and workers of Congress, CPI, CPI (M), other Left parties will also stage protests. Telangana Non Gazetted Officers Union also extended support to the nationwide bandh call. Welfare Party of India, Jamaat-e-Islami, Student's Islamic Organization (SIO), Jamiatul Ulema and several other groups have also announced support to the shutdown. Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy directed police officials to take all preventive steps to maintain law and order in view of the bandh call. "It has also been instructed that none should be allowed to take law in their hand," said a statement from DGP's office. Cyberabad police has issued a traffic advisory in view of the bandh. Several protests might be held at various places, including on roads and junctions in and around the city, affecting regular movement of traffic, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) S.M. Vijay Kumar said. People going to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport are advised to take the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and plan their travel accordingly, he said. Free passage for emergency services and ambulances will be ensured on all roads. Osmania University and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Hyderabad have postponed the examinations scheduled for Tuesday. The exams would be held later. BJP has opposed the bandh call. Party's state union leader appealed to farmers and citizens at large not to support what they call 'sarkari bandh'. They also appealed to people not to fall into the political trap of the opposition parties. Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy said it was unfortunate that a state government has officially declared that it is supporting the bandh. He urged the farmers not to mortgage their interests by believing the TRS and other opposition parties on the propaganda unleashed against the three farm laws. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/petrol-is-less-than-a-rupee-away-from-being-more-expensive-than-it-has-ever-been-for-indian-consumers/articleshow/79601841.cms">Petrol is less than a rupee away from being more expensive than it has ever been for Indian consumers</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stock-movers-ongc-hdfc-bank-nmdc-pfizer-spicejet-indigo-irctc-tata-chemicals-and-others/articleshow/79602525.cms">Top stock movers — ONGC, HDFC Bank, NMDC, Pfizer, SpiceJet, IndiGo, IRCTC, Tata Chemicals, and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-ports-hits-52-week-high-brokerages-bullish-on-faster-than-expected-krishnapatnam-port-turnaround/articleshow/79604999.cms">Adani is making 68% margin from one of its ports – the stock has doubled since lockdown</a>

Bharat Bandh: Bus movement affected in Telangana as TSRTC backs shutdown

<a href="http://businessinsider.com/digital-industry-insider"></div></div></div>Map out one million flight plans each year for Southwest Airlines. Everything from planeloads of chilly Chicagoans heading for vacations in Cancun to budget-minded businesspeople dashing from Los Angeles to New York. It's difficult. Now try toting up the countless variables on each one of those flights, such as the air's humidity and the fuel load on each leg, in hopes of accurately calculating their impact on the bottom line.It's a task that was once impossible. But now, thanks to the Industrial Internet - a digital network that connects machines like jet engines to software and the data cloud - and a slew of new GE technologies, that's changing.Seeking new insight into what's happening during every flight, Southwest just became the first U.S. domestics airline to use a big data system developed by GE's Flight Efficiency Services (FES) unit. The system runs on the secure Industrial Internet, using cloud computing and cutting-edge software and analytics. Southwest, which manages a fleet of nearly 700 Boeing 737s, can use its flight analytics to drill down to each individual plane and flight to discover how decisions on each flight may have altered its profitability. Australia's Qantas also just announced it would start using the system and join existing international customers EVA Air, AirAsia, Swiss International Airlines, Zhejiang Loong Air, and SpiceJet."For the first time ever, the airline can look at what they planned to do and what actually happened," says John Gough, executive engagement leader at GE Aviation Digital Solutions. "This is something that airlines have historically not been able to do because of the vast amount of data involved." GE's technology will gather all the data generated by Southwest's flights, Gough says, and combine it with the airline's operational and planning data, including details about fuel, passenger and cargo loads, information about the weather and navigational data.In the U.S. Southwest has pursued this concept for years. GE Aviation's Digital Solutions business already provides the company with Flight Operational Quality Assurance analytics, a system that captures and analyzes the data generated by an aircraft while it flies from one point to another.The new technology reaches much further. The tool, which is powered by Predix, GE's cloud-based industrial software platform, starts with collecting data generated by each Southwest aircraft: wind speeds, ambient temperatures, weight of the plane, maximum thrust and so on. GE applies proprietary techniques and historic intelligence to analyze the data. The Southwest team can then pore over the resulting aircraft performance analytics to find patterns that previously might have been hard to detect. The ultimate goal: transform a torrent of raw data about individual flights into actionable insights that optimize airline operations.Flight analytics could help Southwest decide whether it should add or subtract flights to some of its routes. But it also aims to identify smaller, subtler improvements. If data shows that planes on a particular route consistently carry too much fuel, reducing fuel loads will not only cut costs, it could allow Southwest to consider selling additional tickets to passengers or taking on more cargo. Reduced costs and increased revenue - those are the lifeblood of any airline."This is not just about saving costs but also potentially growing revenues," Gough says. "Now an airline can understand the cost drivers on each phase of a flight - taxi, takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing, and taxi back to the gate. Previously they did not have insight into all that."For years, Gough says, airline planning was an inexact science because there were too many variables, from the altitude actually flown because of unexpected wind conditions to outside air pressure, speed and weather. Even the weight of otherwise identical aircraft can vary by as much as 2,000 pounds because of each plane's maintenance history, Gough says. Now real-time data from hundreds of aircraft, coupled with data on everything from weather to navigation, allows airlines to plan more precisely. Gough likened it to medical imaging advances."Now airlines can be very surgical in nature," Gough says. "It's like the difference between an X-ray and an MRI. We are providing an MRI to an airline's operations, whereas before they at best had an X-ray."The system will also help Southwest identify ways to save fuel. In 2014 airlines wasted <a href="http://airlines.org/data/per-minute-cost-of-delays-to-u-s-airlines/" target="_blank">$4.3 billion of fuel</a> while planes idled on the tarmac. GE estimates that a 1 percent reduction in jet fuel use could save the global commercial aviation industry $30 billion over 15 years.For example, an Austin-to-New York flight might plan to cruise at 33,000 feet. But because of turbulence, pilots might decide to move down to 29,000 feet. Now the system will specify how much extra fuel will be burned and what that will cost, giving the pilots more information to make a tactical decision.With airline profit margins often at just 2 percent of operating expenses, being fuel-efficient is critical. Unlike cars, ships and other, less lofty means of transportation, planes can't tap alternative energy sources like natural gas and electricity. Fuel amounts to more than <a href="http://airlines.org/data/a4a-quarterly-passenger-airline-cost-index-u-s-passenger-airlines/" target="_blank">20 percent of the average airline's operating expenses</a> and is the fastest-rising cost facing airlines, up an incredible 130 percent over the past 15 years. Using GE's FES, a pilot can make optimized decisions about flight plans and fuel load. The system can also help fine-tune internal policies, such as measuring whether pilots are following instructions to reduce gas-guzzling takeoff thrust at 1,500 feet.Gough says using FES to manage fuel can reduce annual fuel costs by as much as 2 percent. For example, in 2014, <a href="http://investors.southwest.com/" target="_blank">Southwest spent $5.27 billion to buy fuel</a>, meaning the FES system could identify potential fuel-cost savings of up to $105 million each year.Think about all that the next time you're stuck on the tarmac waiting for a gate.This article first appeared on <a href="http://www.gereports.com/" target="_blank">GE Reports</a> and was provided by GE. </body></html>Find out <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sponsor-posts">more about Sponsor Content</a>.

How big data and the Industrial Internet can help Southwest save $100 million on fuel

The spectacular debut of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=indigo">IndiGo</a> , India's biggest airline by market share, on the bourses on Tuesday, not only reflected investor’s confidence in India’s potential as one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets but a possible resurgence of the primary market after a prolonged lull. This was despite a premium valuation at around $4 billion (it is twice as valued compared with the combined valuation of peers Jet Airways and SpiceJet). 
 
For a perspective, InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, which runs the carrier, raised $453.52 million last month through its initial public offering, which was the largest IPO since telecom tower firm Bharti Infratel Ltd raised $750 million in December 2012. 
 
IndiGo’s blockbuster market entry is a sharp contrast to the debut of Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (that runs India’s largest cafe chain Cafe Coffee Day) as it struggled to sail through and revive hopes that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=ipo+market">IPO market</a> in India is finally turning around. 
 
Last two years have been a dismal period for the primary market in the country, reflecting the lack of momentum that prevailed across the broader market prior to the Narendra Modi-led Indian government assumed power. 
 
The lacklustre history of the IPOs, launched in the last decade and underperformed, also proved to be a dampener for investors who have already been skeptical about the slow pace of structural reforms that are needed to revive market sentiments. 
 
Complex listing rules also pulled back companies from tapping the primary market to raise funds—till recently the IPO market was governed by archaic rules that have existed for decades. 
 In addition, companies, especially those in the booming technology sector, have been exploring alternative sources of finance. For example, while e-commerce major <keyword id="6354742" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Flipkart">Flipkart</keyword> raised more than $1billion from Private Equity investors over the last one year, its close competitor <keyword id="541988" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="SnapDeal">Snapdeal</keyword> raised close to $1billion. Ola, India’s leading taxi-hailing app, which raised roughly $650 million from Private Investors recently, is another example of next-generation technology-driven startups that are tapping the PE source of funding for growth. 
 
However, the prospects of the IPO market seem to be changing. More than a dozen companies have filed draft papers with markets regulator <a href="http://www.sebi.com/">SEBI</a> for public offers since the new government took charge at the Centre in May 2014. Besides, many companies, which scrapped their IPO plans earlier due to bad market conditions, have been keen to make another attempt to enter the capital markets. 
 
These translated in to a modest uptick in IPOs during 2015, after two years when the primary markets were almost dead. Though the money raised through IPOs this year is small compared with $8 billion raised in 2010, the last time Indian primary markets really took off. But, it is believed to be a trigger for more sizable IPOs going ahead. 
 
The renewed confidence of investors, especially FIIs, after the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Modi">Modi</a> government took over contributed to the revival of the secondary market—where investors trade previously issued securities—which peaked over a year since BJP came to power and thus provided fodder for an uptick of the primary market as well. 
 
Of course, the markets are seeing a correction—bench market indices BSE Sensex and Nifty lost more than 10% over two months—driven by the slower growth numbers reported by China. 
 
However, India’s long-term story remains intact as it can turn China’s pain into its gain as an alternative investment destination for large FIIs. 
India continues to be among the most favoured by emerging market investors given the country's strengthening macro fundamentals. Though concerns over the economy as well as cultural tolerance have risen recently, they haven't hampered investor sentiment significantly. 
 
Also, as indicated by the government’s move on Tuesday to further relax FDI norms in over 15 sectors, including defence, realty and broadcasting, the policy initiative to bring in structural reforms is still well on track. Therefore, the chances of a continued revival of the primary market are bright. 
 
The IPO activity is expected to gain more momentum driven by the enhanced need for the companies to go beyond the Private Equity route to raise capital for growth and expansion. Many companies and investors are also turning to the IPO route as a preferred option for generating liquidity. 
 
The renewed interest in IPOs is also driven by private-equity backed firms which are capitalising on the positive market sentiment to provide an exit for their investors. 
 
According to Dealogic, Indian companies have raised around $1.03 billion via IPOs so far this year, well above the $282 million for all of last year and $295 million in 2013. More companies in sectors such as banking and financial services, technology, logistics and pharma are expected to tap primary markets in the near future. 
 
While size of the IPOs raised in India remain relatively small compared with those seen in the US or other Asian financial capitals such as Hong Kong and Tokyo, the uptick in the primary market proves that activity seen by the secondary markets after May 2014 is not just an aberration and strengthens India’s status as a preferred investment destination amid shades of gloom elsewhere, including China. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

The primary Indian market is gaining momentum and it is not an aberration. Here’s why

While industrial growth triggered by the first leg of economic liberalisation in early nineties led to a sea change in India’s social fabric over the last couple of decades, <keyword id="31907" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aviation">aviation</keyword> stands apart as a sector that is capable of fuelling drastic changes in terms of <keyword id="47276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Economic-growth">economic growth</keyword>. 
 In fact, for more than 40 years since independence, Indian aviation was a public sector monopoly, with <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> and <keyword id="1446" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-airlines">Indian Airlines</keyword> as the two only operators serving the domestic and international market respectively. Liberalisation changed this for better as air taxi operators were allowed to serve the domestic market. While many private airlines entered and exited, a few players including Jet Airways survived the initial turbulence. 
 
The government’s decision to deregulate international air traffic in 2004 allowed private Indian carriers to extend their services to international routes. Leveraging positive policy ambience, airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet carved a niche for themselves by adopting a low-cost business model. 
 A few factors such as foreign direct investment (<keyword id="44528" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="FDI">FDI</keyword>) in domestic airlines, low-cost carriers (LCC), information technology (IT) interventions and a rising need for regional connectivity have pushed the growth in the domestic aviation space. 
 
These have catapulted the size of Indian aviation to $16 billion, making it one among the top 10 aviation markets in the world and leading to bullish outlook among industry watchers. “The new entrants have now better business models to keep the business sustainable,” says Charles Dhanaraj, professor of Strategy and Global Leadership at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. 
 In terms of additional passengers per year, India is expected to be among the top five air domestic travel markets globally by 2034, according to the <keyword id="6407098" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Air-Transport-Association">International Air Transport Association</keyword> (IATA). 
 Aircraft movements, passengers and freight at Indian airports are expected to grow at 4.2 %, 5.3% and 5%, respectively, for the next five years, according to estimates by <keyword id="54875" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airports-Authority-of-India">Airports Authority of India</keyword> (AAI). “A major underexploited opportunity is the domestic freight transport. 
 
There is increasing potential for moving high value goods domestically through air freight where there will be more movement in the coming years,” says Charles. 
 
Investment galore Significant growth in FDI inflows and a slew of government initiatives provided fodder for the sector’s transformation. FDI inflows in air transport during April 2000 to November 2014 stood at $543 million, as per data released by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP). Recent investments from private players include IndiGo’s order for 250 A320neo airplanes from Airbus for $25.5 billion; AirAsia’s plans to add 10 more aircraft to its fleet by end of 2015, taking its total fleet to 15 aircraft; <keyword id="137192" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Star-Alliance">Star Alliance</keyword> plans to turn New Delhi’s T3 and Mumbai’s T2 Terminals into hubs; and the pact signed by Vistara, the airline by the Tata Group-Singapore Airlines (SIA) alliance, with SITA for aircraft communications, airline operations and network connectivity. According to Charles, the entry of Vistara and the growing interest of the foreign investors to be part of the growth of Indian aviation will propel the system. 
 
Government initiatives 
The government, which has been bullish about pushing the sector’s growth, has projected that around 500 airports would be required by 2020. It has already approved the construction of five budget airports to improve regional connectivity and work on them will start from FY15 and launched tourist visa on arrival (TVoA) enabled by electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to 43 countries besides plans to privatise national airline Air India. Also, the Ministry of Civil Aviation also plans to list Airports Authority of India and Pawan Hans on the stock exchanges. 
 
The private sector is sought to be involved in a big way through the PPP model, with significant state support in terms of financing, concessional land allotment and tax holidays. 
 
Air Costa is one of the carriers that aim to leverage the expected growth in air transport between tier 2 and 3 cities. “We aim to tap the burgeoning tier II market by stimulating growth through better air connectivity to the tier I cities. Our choice of Embraer aircraft (E170 with 67 seats and E190 with 112 seats) complements this vision. From operating two Embraer aircraft to 4 destinations with 300 employees, we have grown to 4 aircraft serving 9 destinations with close to 750 employees within a year,” says Air Costa CEO Capt. KN Babu. 
 
Economy, Trade and Tourism 
The aviation sector meets growing transportation needs of consumers—airlines registered in India carry 50 million passengers and 1.1 million tonnes of freight a year to, from and within India; more than 130,000 international flights depart India annually destined for 70 airports in 50 countries; domestically, more than 664,000 flights make 89 million seats available to passengers annually, destined to 73 airports. It also offers better connectivity—for instance, daily, there are 8 flights between Delhi and Dubai and more than 59 flights from Delhi to Bombay. The sector makes significant contribution to Indian <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> and provides millions of jobs. 
 
Among customers of airlines serving Indian airports, 76 per cent are local residents who get an economic benefit estimated to be worth INR 832 billion annually. 
 
This is in addition to the long-term benefits to the economy. Through investments and use of advanced technology, the aviation sector generates more gross value added (GVA) per employee than the economy as a whole, raising the overall productivity of the economy. 
Benefits are also accrued to the economy through the growth of ground-based infrastructure including airport facilities and the aerospace manufacturing space. 
 
Air transport lies at the heart of Indian tourism. Through its speed, convenience and affordability, air transport has expanded the possibilities of travel for tourists and business travelers alike, allowing an ever greater number of people to experience diversity of culture. 
 
Tourism, both for business and leisure purposes, makes a large contribution to the Indian economy, with foreign visitors spending over Rs 548 billion in the Indian economy each year. Around 89% of these visitors arrive by air, which means foreign visitors who travel by air spend approximately Rs 488 billion. 
 
Considering air freight makes up 34.6% of the value of global trade, aviation also provide a huge fillip to trade in the country. 
 
Hampering environment 
However, the growth of aviation happens at the cost significant damage to the environment, including contribution to global warming. Aviation contributes to climate change by altering the composition of atmospheric gases. In addition to CO2, emissions from aviation combustion processes comprise NOx, SOx and VOC which pollute the fabric of atmosphere. 
 
According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CO2 emissions will grow 2.8% annually between 2000 and 2050 and are projected to make up 16% of total transportation carbon emissions, pointing to the need for a shift towards solar powered aircrafts in the long run. IPCC also calculates the climate impact of aviation to be 1.96 times that of CO2 impact. In addition to its contribution to climate change, aviation hampers ambient air quality, affecting public health. This is besides the negative environmental impact of noise pollution contributed by the growing number of aircraft. 
 
Against the background of Modi government’s Land Acquisition Bill, which aims to ease the process of acquisition of land for industrial purposes, land acquisition for the proposed airports too will prove to be a tough nut to crack both politically and economically. 
 
While the government's decision to allow airlines to import jet fuel will help airlines cut fuel costs by up to 20 per cent, lack of infrastructure at the hands of local airlines to import fuel directly would mean domestic carriers continuing to pay heavy federal and state taxes for buying fuel from domestic oil firms, adding to the debt pile-up of airlines most of which are losing money. 
 
There are also concerns about supporting infrastructure and taxation. “There is a huge need for up gradation of the airports at tier 2 cities where the major growth should happen, “ says Charles. “There is still scope for improvement in the airport infrastructure. Another concern is over-taxation – central and state taxes on fuel and maintenance as well as service taxes on air tickets are likely to hamper growth,” says Ramesh Lingamaneni, chairman of Air Costa. 
 
However, the clear silver lining is the expected growth in the number of aircraft as well as domestic and international passengers from India. This projected growth, along with India’s low air traffic density—72 compared with 282 in China and 2,896 in the US—signals a huge untapped potential, considering rising disposable income levels and the burgeoning young population. 
 
As IATA CEO Tony Tyler put it, the world is focused on Indian aviation – from manufacturers, tourism boards, airlines, global businesses to individual travellers, shippers and businessmen. Consensus among these stakeholders, right policies and focus on quality, cost and passenger interest will transform India to one of the largest aviation markets within a couple of decades. 
 
Image: thinkstock

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