Latest news with #MurlidharMohol
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Pune airport gets 15 more flight slots, announces Union minister Murlidhar Mohol
The number of flight slots at the Pune International Airport has been increased by 15 from 220 to 235, announced Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol Sunday. This development can pave the way for an increase in the number of flights operating from the Pune airport and bring relief to passengers. According to a press release, the increasing demand from airlines and passengers necessitated the allocation of more slots. Mohol reached out to the Air Force as the Pune airport is also a defence airbase. Acting on the request, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh issued a formal letter approving the expansion of slots between 6 am and 10:29 pm. 'Big relief for Pune flyers! With the cooperation of the IAF, 15 more civil flight slots have been added during peak hours at Pune International Airport, raising daily movements from 220 to 235. This is our dedicated step to ensure faster and smoother journeys for you. Happy Flying Punekars !' said Mohol in a post on X. Big relief for Pune flyers! ✈️ With the cooperation of the IAF, 15 more civil flight slots have been added during peak hours at Pune International Airport, raising daily movements from 220 to 235. This is our dedicated step to ensure faster and smoother journeys for you. Happy… — Murlidhar Mohol (@mohol_murlidhar) June 1, 2025 Considering the growth of the industrial, IT, and education sectors in Pune, the demand for domestic and international flights has increased. The increase in slots will provide opportunities for new flights and direct connectivity to some new cities, with an expected increase in flights to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad. Airlines will also get an opportunity to operate flights during the morning and evening rush hours. Mohol said, 'We are trying to make an international airport at Purandar fast, but our priority is also to empower Pune International Airport at various levels. As part of this, efforts are being made to get more slots to increase the number of aircraft. Which has been successful and now the number of available slots has increased to 235. This will increase the number of flights and Pune's air connectivity will be further strengthened.'
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
India gives more punishment to Turkey for supporting Pakistan, Modi govt asks Indigo to...
(File) New Delhi: The government on Friday, 30 May 2025, directed low-cost airline IndiGo to end its aircraft lease agreement with Turkish Airlines within three months. This move is being viewed as a stern message from India to Turkey for supporting Pakistan. IndiGo had leased and operates two Boeing 777s from Turkish Airlines with the permit valid until May 31. The airlines had sought an extension from the Civil Aviation Ministry for six months. The ministry has now refused to allow this, according to multiple reports. A statement from the ministry said: 'To avoid passenger inconvenience due to immediate flight disruption, IndiGo has been granted a three-month extension till August 31' adding that this will not be extended further. 'Indigo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months up to 31.08.2025 for these damp-leased aircraft, based on the undertaking from the airline that, they will terminate the damp lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period, and shall not seek any further extension for these operations,' it said. IndiGo also has a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines. On May 15, the Centre revoked the security clearance for Turkish firm Celebi Aviation. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol had said: 'Turkey had openly supported Pakistan. In view of the current situation, this has become an issue of national security. Keeping security in mind, Celebi has been banned in the country'. During and after the end of the initial phase of Operation Sindoor, Turkey expressed solidarity with Pakistan. Turkish drones were also extensively used by Pakistan in its counter-attack after India struck key terror bases in the neighbouring country. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers last week said that the airline is fully compliant with all regulatory frameworks governing its operations with aircraft leased from Turkish Airlines, adding that the decision to renew these leases lies with the Indian government. 'It is important to recognise that the operation to Istanbul is taking place in the context of the Air Service Agreement (ASA) between India and Turkey. IndiGo is fully compliant with all regulatory frameworks and regulations which are there. We have thousands of Indian customers booked mostly beyond Istanbul,' Elbers said during a media interaction on the airline's fourth-quarter and full-year financial results for 2024-25. 'The decision to renew these leases lies with the Indian government,' Elbers noted. (With IANS inputs)
India.com
3 days ago
- Business
- India.com
India Cuts Aviation Ties With Turkey? Know Why IndiGo Told To End Lease Amid Operation Sindoor Row
In a significant diplomatic move after Turkey's overt support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Indian government has asked budget airline IndiGo to cancel its aircraft leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has extended a final three-month reprieve to IndiGo, enabling it to keep two leased Boeing 777 planes in operation till August 31, 2025. The action comes at the heels of the Centre's decision to withdraw the security clearance of Turkey-associated ground handling firm Celebi Aviation that held presence at nine international airports across India, including Delhi. Citing national security, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said, "Turkey had openly supported Pakistan. In view of the current situation, this has become an issue of national security." Extension of damp lease of two B777-300ER aircraft by IndiGo Airlines from Turkish Airlines. DGCA says, "IndiGo is currently operating two B777-300ER aircraft under damp lease from Turkish Airline, which was permitted upto 31.05.2025. IndiGo requested for a further extension of… — ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2025 Final Extension For IndiGo-Turkish Pact IndiGo's initial lease authorisation was effective until May 31. The carrier had requested a six-month extension to keep the wide-body planes flying on international long-haul routes. The ministry, however, turned it down and gave a one-time final extension. "IndiGo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months up to 31.08.2025 for these damp-leased aircraft, based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period, and shall not seek any further extension," stated the ministry in a release. IndiGo also has a codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines. In an interview with NDTV earlier, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers confirmed that the airline is in line with Indian regulations but is ready to adjust if policies change. "If the government were to change its set of rules, of course we will comply,' Elbers said. 'Our only pressure is ensuring service continuity for customers who have placed their trust in us." Turkey's Role During Operation Sindoor Turkey had infuriated India after giving firm diplomatic backing to Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. While India carried out cross-border retaliation — codenamed Operation Sindoor — Turkish-made drones were said to have been used by Pakistan to launch a counterattack. The missiles and drones fired from across the border were largely countered by India's state-of-the-art air defense systems, including the S-400 and local missile systems, during three days of conflict. Legal Hurdles For Celebi Aviation After the ban on Celebi Aviation, the Turkish company approached several high courts questioning the decision of the government. While hearing one such petition, the Delhi High Court observed, "The rule is better safe than sorry," in effect supporting the government's cautious approach. Since diplomatic pressure continues, Centre's instruction to cut aviation relations with Turkish players is being viewed as part of a wider gamut to combat states openly supporting hostile activity against India.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Maharashtra's first AAI-run heliport will come up within Hadapsar gliding centre, says Mohol
Pune: Maharashtra is expected to see its first Airports Authority of India-operated heliport at Hadapsar gliding centre soon, minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Monday. "The process to complete the handover of the facility from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to AAI is currently under way. We are thinking of opening a heliport within the centre. I have spoken about it to senior AAI officials, including its chairman. The discussions are in the initial stage at present," the Pune MP told the media. The gliding centre, spread over 250 acres, was managed by DGCA till Dec last year when it was transferred to AAI on a 99-year lease. There were speculations that the heliport would be set up under a public-private partnership model. "Pune has the highest number of choppers in the country. There are many helipads in the city, but they are privately owned. Therefore we feel that an AAI-managed heliport is important for the state," the minister said. Former Indian Air Force (IAF) group captain Nitin Welde, who is associated with a private chopper service in Pune, said there are close to 235 helicopters in the country and around 20 of them are in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo "The plan to set up a heliport, which will be managed by AAI, is a good initiative. The coordination and control will be by a govt agency and hence everything will be much different from privately owned helipads. A heliport is exactly like an airport than the fact that it does not have a runway but has multiple helipads," he said. About the issue of flyers taking pictures of the airside of Pune airport, Mohol said the procedure and the scope of action that can be taken in this regard will be studied. "Talks will be held with authorities on the matter." TOI reported last week on the issue in the wake of the DGCA order which said commercial aircraft flying from defence airports in western India needed to keep the window shades shut during take-offs and landings. A senior IAF official had earlier told TOI that despite clear instructions, many flyers clicked photos, and the only solution was punitive actions, including cancellation of tickets. However, the airlines are hesitant to take such a step. The minister said Pune airport is expected to cater to wide-bodied aircraft in the next two years. "The OLS survey pertaining to the runway extension has been completed and work on land acquisition will begin next month. By 2027, we will be able to see big aircraft land and take off." The plan involves increasing the runway length by approximately 650 metres to the east and 350 metres to the west for which extensive land acquisition will be required in addition to land transfer by IAF.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Wings India 2026 will be a vision statement of India's aviation leadership: Ram Mohan Naidu
India has solidified its position as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market and is on track to become the third-largest air passenger market globally, Union Minister for Civil Aviation K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced during the curtain raiser event for Wings India 2026 in New Delhi on Friday (May 23). The international aviation show will be held from January 28 to 31, 2026, at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad. He said, 'Wings India 2026 will build on its legacy, drawing even greater participation from industry partners and aviation enthusiasts from India and the world. I perceive it as more than an event, it is a vision statement, a bold declaration of India's ambition to not merely participate in global aviation but to lead it.' The Minister also unveiled the official theme for Wings India 2026, 'Indian Aviation: Paving the Future — from Design to Deployment, Manufacturing to Maintenance, Inclusivity to Innovation, and Safety to Sustainability.' App launched The curtain raiser featured the release of Wings India 2026 brochure, a promotional video, and the launch of an official mobile app to enhance global engagement and facilitate participation from stakeholders across the industry. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol highlighted the role of state governments in driving India's aviation expansion, particularly under the UDAN scheme that has improved connectivity to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Adding the industry perspective, president and MD of Airbus India and South Asia and Chairman of FICCI's Civil Aviation Committee Remi Maillard said, 'India stands at a transformative moment.'
