Latest news with #UnionCivilAviation
India.com
23-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
We Have Maintained Status Quo: Civil Aviation Minister Naidu After India Extends Airspace Ban On Pakistan Flights
After India extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting its airspace for Pakistani aircraft and airlines till June 23, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Friday that the government has "maintained the status quo" on the matter. Naidu said the government has simply maintained the existing status. "The NOTAM has been extended. We have maintained the status quo..." he told reporters. This comes amid heightened security considerations and recent incidents involving Pakistani airspace. Separately, on the revocation of security clearance to Turkish firm Celebi Airport Services, the Civil Aviation Minister assured that airport operations across the country remain unaffected. "For the time being, on grounds of national security, we've removed the Turkish players from ground handling services, cargo are not seeing any problem in the operations. We are going to take guidance from the security agencies in this regard..." he said. Celebi was responsible for handling about 70 per cent of ground operations at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, including passenger handling, load control, cargo services, postal services, warehouse management, and bridge operations. It also operated at multiple airports across India. Earlier in the day, India announced the extension of the ban on closure of its airspace for Pakistani aircraft till June 23. India has extended NOTAM for Pakistan flights for one month, which will be in effect till June 23, 2025. The Ministry stated, "Indian airspace is not approved for ACFTs registered in Pakistan and ACFTs operated/owned or leased by Pakistani airlines/operators, including military flights." Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that IndiGo's Delhi-Srinagar flight (6E 2142), which was caught in a sudden hailstorm near Pathankot on May 21, was denied entry into Pakistani airspace, which was sought by the pilot to avoid turbulence. According to the crew's statement to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the pilot's request was dismissed by the Lahore Air Traffic Control. "On 21.05.2025, Indigo A321 Neo aircraft VT-IMD operated flight 6E-2142 (Delhi -Srinagar). While cruising at FL360, aircraft entered hailstorm and severe turbulence near Pathankot. As per the crew statement, they requested Northern control (IAF) for deviation towards left (International Border) due to weather on the route; however, it was not approved," the DGCA said." Later, the crew contacted Lahore to enter their airspace to avoid the weather, but the same was refused too," it added.
India.com
23-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Delhi Airport Runway Closure: Centre To Ensure Minimal Impact On Scheduled Flights
As airport authorities prepare to temporarily shut one of the runways at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in June, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Friday said that discussions are on with key stakeholders to ensure minimal impact on scheduled flights. Runway 28/10 is scheduled to be shut down from mid-June until mid-September to facilitate the upgrade of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to CAT III B standards — a critical upgrade to one of the airport's primary runways. The technology enables aircraft to land safely during low visibility conditions, which are particularly common during Delhi's dense winter fog. Speaking on the sidelines of the curtain-raiser event for the aviation conference 'Wings India 2026,' to be held in January in Hyderabad, Union Minister Naidu said that the ministry is discussing with stakeholders, including airlines, on how to ensure minimal impact on the scheduled flights due to the closure of the runway. The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) has four runways -- RW 09/27, RW 11R/29L, RW 11L/29R and RW 28/10 -- and two operational terminals -- T1 and T3. The T2 terminal is currently closed for maintenance works. The initial attempt to close the runway in April was abandoned after just four weeks, as flight schedules descended into disarray. The airport was unable to accommodate its usual daily traffic of approximately 1,400 flights using only three of its runways. According to reports, due to the closure of the runway, nearly 50 daily flights will be cancelled, while another 50 will be shifted to off-peak hours. Airport authorities are optimistic that resuming the work during the June–September period will allow for smoother operations. The Civil Aviation Ministry also plans to release revised flight schedules well in advance to help passengers avoid last-minute disruptions during runway maintenance at the Delhi airport.
India Gazette
15-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
"All flight connections to Srinagar restored": Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 15 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday announced that all flight connections to Srinagar have been restored, urging people from the rest of India to come and visit the Kashmir valley. 'We have opened all schedules (for flights) from today (May 15) - be it Delhi, Mumbai, and other connections have been restored. People are going through a rough time here, in terms of tourism, economy and business. All flight connections to Srinagar have been restored. Kashmir is safe. We want people to visit here again. We have to stand with Kashmir's economy,' Naidu told reporters here. 'The flight operations at Srinagar airport have resumed. I met the locals here who voiced that tourism should be encouraged. The government will take all necessary steps in this direction,' he told ANI. He said that he was visiting Srinagar to review the situation at the airport. He lauded the efforts of the armed forces for their success in Operation Sindoor, saying that the precision strikes on terrorists in Pakistan's territory were a matter of pride. 'I have come to Srinagar in my capacity as the Civil Aviation Minister to review the situation at the airport here. Secondly, I want to thank and salute our armed forces for the success in Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the terror incident that happened in Pahalgam. The terror camps were attacked with precision. The armed forces paid attention not to affect civilians (in Pakistan),' Naidu said. The Union Minister said that he wanted to personally greet officials and staffers at Srinagar, who have shown bravery during the time of recent conflict. 'During the period of tension in the last three weeks, the civil aviation (ministry) had closed airports for reasons of security, including Srinagar airport. I wanted to personally meet our officials and staffers at the airport and encourage them for their bravery,' Naidu added. (ANI)
NDTV
15-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Flights Resume Over Border Areas As 32 Airports Reopen Days After Ceasefire
New Delhi: Flight operations across 32 airports in North and West India are expected to return to normal, as cross-border military action between India and Pakistan came to a halt over the past few days. Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu is slated to visit Srinagar and Jammu airports, among the first to be shut after Operation Sindoor was conducted to strike nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir on May 7. Low-cost carrier IndiGo said that it is resuming flight operations on all routes from Thursday. "Starting 15 May 2025, we are resuming our flight operations across routes that were temporarily suspended in view of recent developments in the northern region of the country. Some of these flights have already operated today, and more are progressively being restored," the airline said in a statement. Air India had earlier said that it will progressively resume flights to and from Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot. By Tuesday, the airline cancelled flights to all destinations but Srinagar. Flight-tracking portal FlightRadar 24, as of 12.30 pm, showed a handful of flights over Jammu, Amritsar and parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. Some flights were also seen on the route between Delhi and Srinagar. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir told IANS that 11 flights had operate on Wednesday from Srinagar International Airport, primarily to facilitate the Hajj pilgrims' onwards journey to Medina. Authorities said that of these, four SpiceJet (SG) flights, three IndiGo (6E) flights and three IndiGo (IX) flights operated from Delhi to Srinagar and back while one IndiGo (IX) flight operated from Srinagar to Jammu and back. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which 22 civilians were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor to strike terror targets in the neighbouring country. Cross-border firing followed in which loss to life and infrastructure was reported. Additionally, civilian flight operations were halted at 32 airports on May 9 - Srinagar, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jaisalmer, Jamnagar, Jodhpur, Adhampur, Ambala, Awantipur, Bathinda, Bhuj, Bikaner, Halwara, Hindon, Jammu, Kandla, Kangra (Gaggal), Keshod, Kishangarh, Kullu Manali (Bhuntar), Leh, Ludhiana, Mundra, Naliya, Pathankot, Patiala, Porbandar, Rajkot (Hirasar), Sarsawa, Shimla, Thoise and Uttarlai. After a ceasefire was reached between India and Pakistan and a calm along the border areas followed, the Airports Authority of India on Monday announced the resumption of services at the 32 airports.
Hans India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Direct flight to Abu Dhabi from Vizag next month
Visakhapatnam: In what seems to be a big relief to Visakhapatnam-based air travellers, a direct air service is set to be commenced to Abu Dhabi from June 13. Announcing the new flight service of IndiGo through social media platform, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the flight service will be operated four days a week. 'In a major boost to the aviation industry in Andhra Pradesh, I am happy to share that the new flight services are being launched to enhance the connectivity across Andhra Pradesh,' the Union Minister posted on social media. Connecting Visakhapatnam to the UAE, the new IndiGo service to Abu Dhabi will operate four days a week from next month onwards. From June 12, IndiGo will start its flight service to Bhubaneswar from Visakhapatnam. The connectivity between the two coastal cities aid in not just improving trade and tourism sectors but also boosting the cultural exchange. Representatives of Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association (APATA), including K. Kumar Raja, DS Varma and O Naresh Kumar, thanked Ram Mohan Naidu for connecting Vizag to Abu Dhabi, launching a new flight to Bhubaneswar from June 12 and introducing a new flight service to the much frequented Bengaluru from Vijayawada from June 2. A few days back, resuming the morning flight between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam from June 1 was announced by the Union Aviation Minister. 'Initiating the new flights is a step towards realising Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu's dream of 'connected Andhra Pradesh',' emphasised the Union Minister. At a time when the demand for flight services to frequented destinations rise, the new flight services offer enhanced connectivity and pave the way for improved revenue generation.
