Latest news with #Airways
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
British Airways plans new India flights, eyes cargo opportunities from India-UK FTA
HighlightsBritish Airways plans to expand its flight routes and frequency to India, highlighting the country as its second-largest market outside the United States. The airline will reintroduce first-class seats on the Mumbai-London Heathrow route starting October 27, 2023, after a five-year hiatus. British Airways has increased its weekly flights from India to 56, marking a 25% capacity increase compared to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. British Airways , which has been flying to India for more than 100 years, will look to further expand routes and frequency of flights as well as tap the cargo opportunities from the India-UK free trade agreement , the airline's Chairman and CEO, Sean Doyle has said. Currently, the airline operates 56 flights a week from five Indian cities, including three-weekly flights from Mumbai, double daily services from Delhi. It also has daily flight from Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. In an exclusive interview to PTI, Doyle said India is a "very, very important" market for British Airways and hopes to continue with expansion in the future in terms of both routes and flight frequencies. From October this year, the airline is set to re-introduce first class seats in one of the flights in the Mumbai-London Heathrow route , after a gap of nearly five years. "I think we want to be part of the growth of aviation in India. We have been part of it for 100 years... about 2,500 people work for British Airways in India... outside of the United States, our biggest single market is India," he said and highlighted that the airline has increased capacity to India by around 25 per cent compared to the pre-coronavirus pandemic levels." Doyle, who is in the national capital to participate in the annual general meeting of the global airlines' grouping IATA, also said that travel demand will catch up very quickly in India in the next decade, especially with a big and emerging middle class who wants to travel. "I think that the growth is going to be incredibly exciting, and something that you won't see. It's a once-in-a-generation growth opportunity here, what's happening in India," he noted. The airline is also bullish about the cargo opportunities between India and the UK, especially in the wake of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, and expects to transport more cargo. "I expect more cargo being exported from India under the FTA. And I would expect as well that it would be an increase in certain niche exports coming into India as well. Not necessarily out of the UK but also out of the surrounding kind of markets that we serve," he said. On tariff uncertainties, Doyle said that everybody is watching what is happening and the impact. "I was extolling the positives of a free trade agreement between the UK and India, and I think anything which goes in the opposite direction, you obviously look at very closely. Because we've been used to, in the last 40 years, that trade is liberated and opened up," he added. British Airways has increased its weekly flights from India to 56 compared to 46 before the coronavirus pandemic. "I think we've been expanding steadily since the end of the pandemic, and in fact, we're bigger now than we were pre-pandemic, which is quite unique because there's a lot of markets where we haven't really been fully yet. But India is one where we're actually bigger. And we are obviously down to three per day in Mumbai, and we're going to a third daily service in Delhi come winter," Doyle said. Besides, upgradation of the fleet with more wide-body aircraft will help the airline significantly expand its long haul operations that in turn will offer opportunities for strategic markets like India. While stressing that British Airways offers value for money in every segment it serves, Doyle said that since the pandemic, there has been growth in premium leisure travel and that is expected to stay. From October 27, British Airways will re-introduce first class seats in its Boeing 787-9 fleet operating in the Mumbai-London Heathrow route. The airline also offers business, premium economy and economy class seats. To a query about the airline's connecting as well as O&D (Origin & Destination) traffic from India, the British Airways chief said that in the case of mature markets like Delhi and Mumbai, more traffic is O&D traffic that starts and ends in the UK. "If you look at markets like Bangalore and Hyderabad, that still is very much driven by connecting traffic into the United States... as we launch more services into India, and as we add more services into the United States, we give people more of a one-stop solution to get to more places than they can with any other carrier," Doyle said.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
This California municipal golf course appears destined to close — for an airport expansion
This California municipal golf course appears destined to close — for an airport expansion Planes making their approach at Fresno Yosemite International Airport often fly directly over Airways Golf Course, a popular municipal track that has been as busy as ever in recent years, one of many that have taken advantage of the post-COVID golf boom. The course saw 60,000 rounds in each of the last few years, according to a story at the Fresno Bee, and with green fees that sneak under $30 during the week, it's easy to see why seniors and youth players make the 6,900-yard course a part of their daily itineraries. But thanks to an upcoming airport expansion, it's expected that Airways will soon be shut down for good. The course, which has been open since 1952, has two years left on a lease that is unlikely to be renewed. Here's more from the Bee: The golf course, located just west of the intersection of Clovis and Shields avenues along the eastern edge of the Fresno airport, is owned by the city of Fresno. 'The golf course sits on a site that's always been designated for future development of the airport,' said Henry Thompson, Director of Aviation at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. 'There's a future need of the airport to grow in that direction. 'And it'll restrict the airport's growth if we don't plan now and grow.' Closure could come in as soon as two years when the course's lease expires in April 2027. Sadness surrounding Airway's looming future, meanwhile, is already taking place. Airways might have fallen short of providing a ritzy country club-like experience for golfers. But its imperfect conditions — from the occasional dry spot on the course to large, fallen trees creating obstructions around the fairways — seldom turned off folks from golfing at Airways. Traffic at Airways picked up in 2018 when the semi-private course Fig Garden closed its doors. And while there are no plans to close the city's Riverside Golf Course, there are also no plans to add any new courses to the municipal circuit.
South China Morning Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘Opportunity I could not let pass': Hong Kong expats embrace life in Qatar
Hongkonger and Christian William Soo Yau-kung beat the odds by starting a new chapter in his career eight years ago at the age of 50, relocating to the Islamic country of Qatar, an unconventional choice perhaps for expats. 'Working for Qatar [Airways] is like playing an international match as I get to work alongside top engineers from around the world – holding almost 200 different passports – which motivates me to learn more and do better,' the flight operations engineer said. 'While most companies concentrate their resources on daily operations, I was given a chance to build a new system, a project my company recognised for its long-term importance.' The job satisfaction, combined with an attractive package that included accommodation and his twin sons' education at an international school – comparable to that of a pilot in his previous company – has led to Soo's family staying in Doha for eight years. Soo and his wife shared their experiences with the Post from their home in Doha ahead of a visit by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and a delegation of mainland Chinese and Hong Kong entrepreneurs to Qatar and Kuwait last week to explore business opportunities. As a Christian family, Soo explained they had been able to find their religious community in the Muslim country but must adhere to the rules during Ramadan.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Drones disrupt Auckland Airport arrivals, flights suspended twice in three hours
Three hours later a second drone near Puhinui Road was reported by the pilot of another approaching aircraft. Airways said air traffic control was alerted again and police were contacted. After the second incident arrivals were suspended for about 15 minutes, delaying an additional five flights. Police confirmed they received reports of a drone operating near Auckland Airport about 5.30pm yesterday. Police attended, but did not find anybody of interest. Flight Radar screenshots from the time of the second report show a number of aircraft circling over the city. A Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson warned drones 'can be a hazard to aircraft primarily because of the risk of collision, especially near airports'. 'Collision risks can cause damage to engines, windscreens, or control surfaces. Drones near airports or helipads can delay flights, cause diversions, or even force emergency landings.' Airways said it is critical drone operators know and follow the rules before launching their craft. 'Flying a drone this close to an airport puts aircraft, crew and passengers at risk, and can lead to serious consequences. At a minimum, it causes significant delays and disruption.' There are certain airspaces where drones must never be flown, and other areas where there are strict conditions. These areas include: Low flying zones. Within 4 km of an aerodrome (including airports and heliports) unless certain conditions are met including obtaining prior consent from the aerodrome operator. Controlled airspace (air traffic control zones) unless a clearance to operate has been obtained from Airways. Military operating areas – unless approval has been obtained from the administering authority. Restricted areas– unless approval has been obtained from the administering authority. Airways remind drone operators to check to understand where they can fly safely and to log their flights in controlled airspace with air traffic control. On December 31, the CAA received multiple reports of a drone hovering close to the top of Auckland's Sky Tower to capture New Year's Eve fireworks footage. Amongst other restrictions, Civil Aviation rules prohibit flying over people or property without consent, at night, within 4km of an aerodrome, or higher than 120m from the ground.
BBC News
16-04-2025
- BBC News
Newquay flight takes 'precautionary diversion' to Exeter Airport
A flight scheduled to land at Cornwall Airport Newquay was diverted to Exeter as "a precaution", an airline operator has Airways said a cockpit warning light for "a flap configuration issue" appeared during the T3 458 service from London Gatwick Airport to Newquay on Tuesday said the warning light appeared during the approach into Newquay and as a result a decision was made to divert the ATR 72-600 plane to Exeter to avoid the "strong and gusting winds".The operator said the light "extinguished" on the descent to Exeter and the aircraft made a "normal and safe" landing. 'Safety is top priority' "The passengers were then transported by road to Newquay while the aircraft underwent engineering checks as a precaution," it said."The aircraft will not be released back into service until the cause of the spurious warning light has been identified. "We would like to apologise to our customers who were affected by this diversion but reassure everyone that safety is always our top priority at Eastern Airways."
