53-year-old Air India air hostess falls off plane at Mumbai airport

A 53-year-old air hostess was injured Monday after falling off an Air India aircraft which was getting ready for departure at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, the airline said.

The incident took place in the morning on the Air India's New Delhi-bound flight AI 864, it said.

The airline termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said that it was investigating into it.

"In an unfortunate incident, one of our cabin crew (members), Harsha Lobo, fell down on the tarmac from the Boeing-777 aircraft door while closing it," the airline said in a statement.

"She sustained injuries to her legs and has been taken to the Nanavati Hospital for further treatment," it added.

About three years ago, an Air India engineer had got sucked into the aircraft's engine at the airport here when the pilots started the engines prematurely after mistaking a signal.

Airlines on budget drive as rising fuel price, falling rupee start to pinch

It is going to get hard to differentiate between a full-service carrier and a budget airline as the aviation industry goes on an economy drive. Threatened by rising fuel price and a falling rupee, airline companies are planning drastic measures ranging from freezing increments to cutting down on flights and in-flight luxuries to save and earn that extra penny.

State-owned Air India, reeling from a Rs 500-billion debt after a failed privatisation attempt, is at the forefront of cutting out the frills. Overtime pay, staff conveyance, travel expenses, and building ...Read Full Story

Air India privatisation: Will IndiGo exit force govt to ease bidding terms?

Following IndiGo’s decision of not bidding for state-run Air India, the government might be pressured to tweak some of the key areas in the preliminary information memorandum that, according to many carriers, make it difficult to bid for the national carrier.

There is no doubt, say experts, that IndiGo was the only domestic airline with the cash reserves (over Rs 120 billion) and management wherewithal to turn around Air India. It was also the only carrier that met the net worth criterion of Rs 50 billion on its own. Now, IndiGo’s withdrawal from the race is surely a major setback for the government, and it also raises the red flag for other potential bidders.

The other two aviation companies that have reportedly shown interest in Air India are Tata-SIA and Jet Airways with KLM, though the latter does not have a great financial health. The names of Air Asia, SpiceGet, Go Air and Qatar Airlines, and even the Adanis, have been doing the rounds, but many of them have denied or not commented on the issue.

According to an aviation analyst, “the IndiGo decision is good in one way, as it will make the government rethink – you cannot push so many clauses down a buyer; they will rethink (their interest in bidding).” Global consultants to airlines say that most carriers are looking for more clarifications on some key issues before they would take a decision.

AI flight with aviation minister onboard delayed by 1.3 hours, 3 suspended

Three staff members were suspended and a warning letter was issued to the pilot of Air India after they reached late for their duty and delayed a flight by one-and-half hours with over 100 passengers onboard, including Minister of Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who faced the heat of the agitated passengers.

The incident came to light on Wednesday when the Air India flight from Delhi to Vijaywada was late by around 1.30 hours.

"The flight was scheduled at 6 a.m. from Delhi but after getting delayed for around 1.30 hrs it finally took off for Vijaywada. Air India took action against the three staffers who have been suspended and a warning letter has been issued to the captain for reaching the airport late," Air India Spokesperson GP Rao said while confirming the incident.

According to the Air India sources, the pilots had reported late for the duty leaving the waiting passengers furious.

The passengers then reached co-passenger Aviation Minister Raju, who was sitting in the business class section and was on his way to Vijaywada, asking him about the delay.

Raju immediately contacted the airlines security and asked the newly appointed Air India Chairman and Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola the reason behind the delay, after which appropriate actions were taken.

Case against driver, contractor in Kaifiyat Express accident

KAIFIYAT EXPRESS ACCIDENT - A case has been registered with the Government Railway Police (GRP), Etawah against accused dumper driver and contractor Alok Dubey of Raj Construction Company, in connection with the Kaifiyat Express derailment where over 20 people were injured.

Meanwhile, Air India Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani is all set to assume the charge of Railway Board Chairman, today.

"Orders promoting me as Chairman, Railway Board have been issued today. I shall be joining my parent organisation, the lndian Railways tomorrow," Lohani said in a statement.

He further said that his journey with the Air India was one of the most satisfying periods of his life.

Lohani was appointed Railway Board Chairman soon after A.K. Mittal stepped down from the post.

Mittal took this drastic step after Uttar Pradesh witnessed two train derailments within five days; one in which 10 coaches of Kaifiyat Express heading towards Delhi derailed after colliding with a dumper near Auraiya district, leaving over 20 people injured and the other, on August 19, wherein more than 20 died and 200 were injured after 13 coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express ran off the tracks in the Muzaffarnagar district.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu has also hinted towards offering his resignation in the wake of the two train derailments.

Modi in Sri Lanka: Direct Air India flight to now connect Colombo, Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that India's flag carrier Air India would begin direct flights between Colombo and the holy city of Varanasi from August.

Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka, made the announcement of the beginning of the flights during his address at the inauguration of the International Vesak Day, the biggest festival of Buddhists.

He said the flights will allow "my Tamil brothers and sisters" to visit Varanasi, the land of Kashi Viswanath.

At a distance of 10 kilometres from Varanasi, lies Sarnath, one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centres.

It is believed that after attaining the enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in Bihar, it was in Sarnath that Lord Buddha preached his first sermon, sanctified as Maha Dharm Chakra Parivartan.

The direct flights will aid pilgrims from Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority country, to visit Sarnath.

Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is the parliamentary constituency of the prime minister, from where he contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

This is Modi's second visit to Sri Lanka in two years. He arrived yesterday primarily to attend the International Vesak Day celebrations and his vist is aimed at reinforcing the traditional connect between India and Sri Lanka.
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Won't apologise over AI plane incident, says Sena MP Gaikwad

An unrepentant Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on Friday said that he would not apologise to the Air India staffer whom he assaulted, and instead blamed the airline employee for the incident.

The MP drew more flak on Friday, with four private Indian carriers banning him from flying, while Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathy Raju promised that action would be taken against him.

Gaikwad told reporters at the Maharashtra Sadan in the morning that he has no regret over his actions, saying "kaahe ka pashchaataap (what is there to repent)?"

"I will not apologise...He (AI Manager Sukumar) should come and apologise... Then we will see. A 60-year-old man should also know how to behave," he said.

Gaikwad said he went out to watch a Bollywood movie Badrinath ki Dulhaniya last night to "relax" himself after journalists sought his reaction over the incident.

"Tension-free hona chahiye na...You also watch the movie...It's very good," he said.

The first-time lawmaker also said he had made Parliament "proud", when asked if his act has brought shame to the temple of democracy.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she cannot take suo motu action and that she will take a call if it is brought to her notice in the House. (READ MORE)