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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Final assembly line possible in India: Embraer
NEW DELHI: Brazilian aerospace major Embraer says it will increase sourcing from India and even have a final assembly line here if it gets a firm order for 200 aircraft from Indian customers. As of now, only India's biggest regional airline, Star Air, has Embraer aircraft in its fleet. However, the firm is talking to multiple airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, apart from startups, for getting orders. It has established a fully owned Indian subsidiary that will have a dedicated sourcing unit to scout for opportunities in IT, software and engineering. Embraer has nearly 50 planes across 11 aircraft types operating in the country. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
12 routes, 600 fliers a day: Plans afoot to expand Hindon terminal
Ghaziabad: District administration has identified nine hectares in Sikandarpur village for the expansion of Hindon civil terminal. A joint survey of the land by Airports Authority of India and civil aviation ministry is now lined up. As flight operations began on 12 routes, including the metro cities, earlier this year, the terminal witnessed a daily average footfall of 600 passengers, which is likely to reach its saturation point of 700–800 daily Wednesday, an AAI official told TOI the terminal building would be expanded to add taxi bays and improve other passenger amenities, like parking capacity, and an estimated five acres would be required for the civil terminal was developed in 2017 after seven acres (22,250 sqm) of land from Sikandarpur, next to the IAF base, was acquired to start the commercial flight operations that could effectively reduce the burden on Delhi's IGI Airport till the Noida International Airport took shape. (The terminal building is currently housed on 10 acres).Over the years, the civil terminal struggled to maintain consistent flight operations. The first commercial flight, operated by Heritage Aviation to Pithoragarh in Oct 2019, faced multiple disruptions and was eventually suspended indefinitely. Star Air launched services to Hubli and Kalburgi in late 2019 but ceased operations by Jan was the entry of AI Express in March this year that virtually made Hindon the second airport in NCR. The terminal is now connected to all the metro cities, with a daily flight each to Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, and two to Bengaluru. AI Express also operates on the Goa, Jammu and Bhubaneswar aviation company Star Air also operates two flights from Hindon to Nanded in Maharashtra and Adampur in Punjab under the regional connectivity scheme . The other three routes—Bathinda, Ludhiana and Kishanganj—are operated by Gurgaon-based magistrate Deepak Meena told TOI that they received direction from the civil aviation ministry to look for a land parcel in the vicinity of the Hindon civil terminal recently. "We conducted an on-spot survey at Sikandarpur village and identified about 9 hectares of land and submitted a report to the ministry. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cinnamon: The Hidden Blood Sugar Enemy? Try This Tonight! Cinnamon Help Learn More Undo The ministry and AAI will now conduct a joint survey and see if the land parcel could be used for the expansion of the terminal. The administration will only act as a facilitator between landowners and the AAI," Meena said.A few farmers, from whom land was acquired in the first phase in 2017, have said they could consider parting with land as per the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, which allows compensation that is twice the circle rate. The existing circle rate is about 11,000/sqm in the area.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Star Air to expand Kolhapur connectivity with direct flights to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Nagpur from May 15
Regional airline Star Air on Saturday announced the launch of direct flights from Kolhapur to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Nagpur starting May 15, as part of its summer schedule expansion. Currently, the airline operates 16 weekly flights (direct and via) from Kolhapur to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Tirupati. With the addition of three new destinations, the number of cities served from Kolhapur will rise to seven, and weekly frequencies will increase to 28, the airline said as reported news agency PTI. As part of the upgrade, from May 15, Star Air will also replace its 50-seater Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft with 76-seater ERJ-175 aircraft featuring a business class cabin on the Mumbai-Kolhapur-Mumbai and Kolhapur-Ahmedabad-Kolhapur routes. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump The expansion aligns with the Kolhapur-headquartered Sanjay Ghodawat Group's airline network growth strategy for the summer, the company said in a statement. Looking ahead, Star Air plans to operate 32 weekly flights from Kolhapur across seven destinations — Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Tirupati, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Kishangarh — starting June 3. 'Our expansion from Kolhapur marks a strategic move to connect more regional centres. With our growing fleet, Star Air is poised to keep bridging the connectivity gap across India's heartland,' said Captain Simran Singh Tiwana, CEO, Star Air. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
Nagpur flight to Kishangarh diverted to Jaipur due to airport closure
Nagpur: Passengers flying to Kishangarh in Rajasthan from Nagpur were flown to Jaipur instead on Tuesday as the airport there was closed for commercial flights as a part of measures taken by the Indian govt after Operation Sindoor. The flight service to Kishangarh is operated by Star Air. An aircraft reaches Nagpur at 9am from Bangalore and goes further to Kishangarh from the on Tuesday, as the passengers reached the airport, they were apprised of the change in plans. Around 66 passengers were supposed to take the flight to Kishangarh. The same plane, however, took off towards Jaipur, said airport sources. The passengers fully cooperated, said an official handling the flights to Kishangarh have started as part of the Udega Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAAN) scheme for providing regional air connectivity in the country. The services were started in 2023. Earlier, a flight coming from Hyderabad used to further connect to has an airport operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The town is close to Ajmer, and the flight caters to pilgrims' traffic to Moin-un-din Chisti Dargah and the Pushkar closure was part of the measure to shut down all the airports towards the sensitive areas. Jaipur, where the passengers were flown, is 100km away from Kishangarh.
Skift
07-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
What India's Newest Regional Airline Says About Aviation
Air Kerala is set to join a wave of airlines coming up in India. The carrier's niche positioning: Offering low-cost direct connectivity to Kerala expats based in the Middle East. Upstart regional airline Air Kerala is India's latest ultra-low-cost carrier and hopes to begin flying by the end of June after receiving its IATA flight code, "KD." While it will initially operate domestically, the plan is to expand internationally, especially to the Middle East to serve the UAE and Gulf-based non-resident Keralites, a significant target audience for Air Kerala. While major airlines like Air India and IndiGo are expanding their fleet for international expansion, smaller Indian airlines are also adding more planes to respond to the growing demand from regional markets. Akasa Air, which commenced operations less than three years ago, this week announced the arrival of its 28th aircraft. Last month, regional airline Star Air's fleet expanded to 10 aircraft. The airline also has plans to undertake rapid expansion by adding 15 new sectors to its schedule. Goa-based regional airline Fly91 is also expanding its fleet and last month, purchased two ATR 72-600 aircraft shortly after completing a year of operations. It is soon expecting another plane to join the fleet, taking it to four jets. Fly91 plans to induct 30 aircraft manufactured by European manufacturer ATR over the next five years. Last year, another Kerala-based airline Alhind Air received the initial approval of Indian aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). While it was planning to commence service by the end of 2024, it has not yet taken off. Afi Ahmed, Air Kerala's Dubai-based founder and chairman, said that it is looking to have 1,000 employees by the end of this year. In March 2025 alone, India's domestic air traffic stood at 14.5 million passengers, a nearly 9% year-on-year increase, according to data from DGCA. Biggest Takeaways from Indian Hotels Company Earnings Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) reported its highest-ever full-year performance in fiscal 2025, driven by solid domestic travel demand and limited additions to hotel supply. 'Strong domestic business travel demand, coupled with mega wins like the Kumbh Mela, international music concerts like Coldplay and a strong wedding season, were the key demand drivers this year,' IHCL CEO Puneet Chhatwal said at an earnings call on Monday. Chhatwal said the company plans to invest over INR 12 billion (approximately $142 million) in fiscal 2026. This includes asset upgrades, new projects, and investments focused on the Taj brand and digital infrastructure. IHCL is placing more emphasis on attracting international travelers. Referencing projections of 28 million foreign arrivals by 2030 — a nearly 40% increase over pre-pandemic levels—Chhatwal noted the potential for growth in inbound tourism. The company has allocated INR 250 million ($3 million) over three years to promote India abroad. An insight that has resonated over the last 10 quarters is the shrinking of booking windows. Outside peak seasons, like school holidays, summer breaks and Christmas holidays, Indian travelers are planning getaways as little as 12–24 hours in advance, Chhatwal said. Beyond its core hotels, IHCL's 'new and reimagined' ventures are scaling fast. Qmin, the company's grab-and-go food concept spun off from Ginger, has expanded to 72 outlets. IHCL's loyalty program Tata Neu surpassed 10 million members in fiscal 2025. Also, bookings made via direct channels jumped 43% to over INR 22 billion ($261 million). Sikkim Could Get a New Airport for Tourism Boost The Northeast Indian state of Sikkim is likely to get a new airport to boost tourism, Indian minister of state for social justice Ramdas Athawale said. This was in response to increasing demand for an all-weather international airport in Sikkim. The existing Pakyong airport often faces visibility challenges that lead to service interruptions for months. Between January and March this year, over 450,000 domestic tourists visited Sikkim, according to data by the tourism and civil aviation department. In the first two months of the year, over 17,000 international tourists also visited the state. Based on these numbers, tourism authorities are expecting 1.6 million domestic visitors and 100,000 global tourists to visit Sikkim by the end of the year. Andhra Pradesh to Upgrade 500 Homestays The Andhra Pradesh government has identified more than 500 homestays across the state to be upgraded by August this year. These properties include homes in tribal regions, heritage homes, and urban properties. At present, nearly 600 existing homestays in the religious hub of Tirupati are being sensitized and enhanced with the support of platforms like AirBnB, Oyo Homes, Homestays of India, and MakeMyTrip. The state's chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked the tourism department to ensure that the homestays maintain high standards. Andhra Pradesh is also looking to develop work from home options around all major tourist destinations. Radisson Expands Portfolio in Siliguri Radisson Hotel Group has signed Radisson Blu-branded property in West Bengal's Siliguri. The 105-key hotel marks the company's first Radisson Blu hotel and overall second property in the city. The group is aiming to cater to leisure, business, MICE, and wedding travelers through this property. As the city serves as a key gateway to Northeast India, this is a part of Radisson's strategy to solidify its presence in key emerging markets, according to Nikhil Sharma, COO for South Asia. Last month, the hospitality chain's portfolio in India crossed 200 properties, including operational and developing hotels. 'India is one of our key markets in Asia where we will further amplify our growth and create more possibilities and opportunities to our guests, owners, and positively impact the local communities,' Elie Younes, executive vice president and global chief development officer at Radisson said. Tourism in Dharamshala Dips Despite Cricket Matches Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh is hosting three matches of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament. However, despite the matches, the city has not been witnessing a rise in tourism, even as the tournament is leading to a tourism and economic boom across different venues in India. While hotels in lower Dharamshala have an occupancy rate of 70%, those in lower Dharamshala areas have only about 35-40% occupancy, according to media reports. Hoteliers said that the muted tourist influx is due to the tensions with Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Kashmir last month.
