BUSINESS
Rising fuel prices, insurance costs, higher toll may drive more freight traffic to Indian Railways in 2022-23
The logistics industry believes that the share of the railways is bound to increase as more stretches of the DFC are commissioned and multi-modal logistics parks are operationalized.
BUSINESS
Summer of ’22: April, May advance bookings at hotels rise up to 60%; chains raise room rates by 25%
Hotels and resorts in popular tourist hotspots like Delhi, Mumbai, Panaji, Kochi, Srinagar, Shimla, Nainital and Dehradun have even seen advance booking better than the pre-pandemic levels
BUSINESS
Explained | The $1 billion Qatar Airways-Airbus dispute and how it may affect India
Indian airlines may not be directly or immediately affected by the dispute. However, if Airbus loses the case against Qatar Airways, it could mar the aircraft maker’s prospects in India.
BUSINESS
Passengers struggle to book train tickets to major cities as demand soars from those returning to work, colleges, schools
Senior officials from the Ministry of Railways also said that data for the next 10 days indicates that there is an extra rush to travel to metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi and Bengaluru.
BUSINESS
IndiGo reshuffle part of plan to expand international operations
The airline is looking at executives with experience in international markets, sources have told Moneycontrol
BUSINESS
Indian helicopter market to grow 8-10 times in next five years: Blade India
Dutta added that with the adoption of electric helicopters and urban air mobility drones in the industry, the cost of flying in a helicopter is expected to fall considerably in the years to come, which will drive up demand for the segment.
BUSINESS
Explained | How does the Indian Railways collision prevention system Kavach work?
Indian Railways plans to install Kavach across 2,000 rail route networks in 2022-23 and over 4,000-5,000 rail route networks every subsequent year. At the moment Kavach has been deployed on over 1,098 route km and 65 trains running under the South Central Railway after successful trial runs.
BUSINESS
RLDA to invite proposals for redevelopment of New Delhi railway station in two weeks
Indian Railways expects to make a profit of around Rs 15-20 crore a year from the commercial space that will be created at the station once the redevelopment is completed
BUSINESS
Tatas may finalise deal to buy wide-body aircraft for Air India next year
The new owner of the airline is considering various factors, including the efficiency of its existing fleet and a possible merger with Vistara, before deciding on purchasing new planes
BUSINESS
Railway wagon industry to grow multi-fold in next few years, will eye 30% of market share: Umesh Chowdhary, MD and CEO, Titagarh Wagons
One of India’s largest private sector wagon makers, Titagarh Wagons expects to win contracts to supply around 20,000 units to Indian Railways over the next three years
TRENDS
Summer of ’22: Bumper May-June expected as travel bookings rise
The upcoming summer vacation is the Indian tourism sector’s great big hope as travellers start making their plans.
BUSINESS
Exclusive| India gears up for wheat export push, railways to run special trains
Indian Railways will make some 250 wagons available over the next fortnight to move around 700,000 tonnes on a priority basis to seaports.
BUSINESS
Opportunities worth $1.5 billion expected in visa processing in next few years: Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint MD, BLS International
The company is optimistic about growth prospects and is poised to report its highest revenue and profit in FY22 despite the outbreak of the pandemic and processing only half the number of visas when compared to 2019.
BUSINESS
Pawan Hans divestment likely in a couple of months, officials say
The disinvestment process is in the final stages, with three financial bids received, an official said.
BUSINESS
NHAI’s second InvIT to be delayed due to volatile markets
Already deferred due to the third wave of the pandemic, uncertainties arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict have forced a further postponement.
BUSINESS
Ukraine evacuation flights to cost India Rs 65-70 crore
An official said the government has started paying airlines for the rescue effort and most payments are expected to be completed by the month end.
BUSINESS
International airfares unlikely to soften much as normal flights resume
Fares may remain elevated as the aviation industry worldwide continues to struggle with high fuel prices, closure of airspace over Ukraine and Russia, and muted demand for international travel.
BUSINESS
Air travelers left in a lurch after many India-US flights cancelled due to Ukraine-Russia conflict
These travellers had to make alternate arrangements themselves as these airlines did not make arrangements to accommodate them on other flights or offer to reschedule tickets. Instead, passengers were given a refund of the tickets.
BUSINESS
Airlines seek to increase fares as jet fuel prices rise again in March
Mumbai-Delhi fares may go up by 15-20% as soon as mid-March, experts said, adding that increases are inevitable given the rise in global oil prices.
BUSINESS
Railways plans grievance redressal panel, easier investment norms for private train operators
A fresh round of bidding is set to open soon with investor-friendly conditions after the first round was scrapped owing to poor response.
BUSINESS
Ukraine crisis hurts air cargo operations, likely to prolong semiconductor shortage
According to experts, air cargo rates between US, Europe and East Asia can rise by around 30-50 percent by the end of March when compared to February.
BUSINESS
Longer flight path due to closure of Ukraine airspace and restrictions over Russia hurting airlines’ bottom line
Russia has banned airlines from 36 countries from its airspace, retaliating to similar restrictions imposed after President Valdimir Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine.
BUSINESS
Explained | Why is Air India not using its four Boeing 747s for rescue operations from Ukraine
Air India has historically used its four Boeing 747 planes—named Agra, Ajanta, Khajuraho, and Velha Goa—both while evacuating students from Wuhan in 2020 at the start of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and in Operation Desert Strom in 1990. The four jets are each over 25 years old and haven’t been operational since February 1, 2020.
BUSINESS
‘Never feared more for my life,’ says Indian student who returned from Ukraine
Around 20,000 Indians are taking the MBBS course in Ukraine. Many of them have gotten in touch with the Indian embassy and have expressed their desire to leave the country as soon as possible. While many of them are based in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, others are spread across the country.
