BUSINESS
After Australia opens borders, bookings rise 10% in February: Tourism officials
Even though there is pent-up demand for travel to Australia, there’s confusion over various state travel restrictions and concerns over sudden border closures.
BUSINESS
Russia-Ukraine crisis | Indians stranded in Ukraine urge government to rescue them
With the closure of airspace over Ukraine following the Russian invasion, the Indian government is trying to evacuate its stranded citizens through neighbouring countries.
TRENDS
Exclusive | Govt may fly out stranded Indians in Ukraine from neighboring nations: Sources
While the primary objective remains the restoration of direct flights to Kyiv, an evacuation plan involving neighboring countries is being vetted to see whether it is feasible. As the closest international airport in Belarus remains cut off, the government is in talks with Air India, Air Arabia, and Qatar Airways to have flights on standby in Poland, on Ukraine's eastern border.
BUSINESS
Is 70 km per day highway construction too much of a stretch for the road ministry?
Such targets can be met only if an average of 70 km of highways are constructed every day all through 2022-23. While this will provide strong visibility of the order book of construction companies, the pace of project execution was still a cause for concern in the sector, analysts said.
BUSINESS
Explained| How will rising ATF prices affect the aviation industry amid rising competition?
ATF prices have climbed 22.3 percent since December 15, or by Rs 16,497.38 per kilolitre (kl) in Delhi. The latest increase of 5.2 percent was announced on February 15. ATF now stands at around Rs 90,519.79 per kl in Delhi.
BUSINESS
Govt to take a call on restarting international flights from March 1 this week: Sources
Final nod to come from the health ministry. Scheduled international passenger flights have been banned in India from March 23, 2020. Special flights are operating between India and approximately 40 countries since July 2020 under air-bubble arrangements.
BUSINESS
Budget 2022 | What are the tourism industry’s expectations of Budget 2022?
The tourism industry wants incentives and relief measures to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic .
BUSINESS
Air India takeover | Will focus on bringing down operational costs, says Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran
"The strategic divestment transaction has been completed today with Government receiving a consideration of Rs 2,700 crore from Strategic Partner (M/s Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of M/s Tata Sons Pvt Ltd)," the government said in a press release.
BUSINESS
Tata Group likely to take over Air India today: What do employees want from the new owners?
The government had on October 8 last year sold Air India to Talace Private Limited - a subsidiary of the Tata Group's holding company - for Rs 18,000 crore following a competitive bidding process.
MCMINIS
Why taxi fares may rise in Delhi-NCR?
BUSINESS
Budget 2022: Shipping ministry seeks 60% higher allocations for ship recycling capacity expansion
Senior officials in the ministry said that a detailed presentation was made to the finance ministry on how higher allocations in the budget will help achieve the government’s goal of doubling ship recycling capacity at Alang.
BUSINESS
We do not aspire or have any ambition to be an ultra-low-cost carrier: Vinay Dube, founder, MD and CEO, Akasa Air
The airlines’ founder, managing director and chief executive officer Vinay Dube in an interview with Moneycontrol said that Akasa Air will not be an ultra-low-cost carrier but an affordable one that hopes to fly people who have never boarded a plane.
BUSINESS
20% fall in January bookings due to COVID-19 forces railways to cancel several train services
Services may be pruned significantly across the country if the number of cases continues to rise at the current pace and more restrictions on mobility are placed, multiple senior officials with the national transporter said. The Railway Board had earlier said that there were no plans to cancel train services across the country.
BUSINESS
Railways plans special trains to help migrant workers return home, curb contagion
The Railways plans to operate four special trains every week from states imposing restrictions on mobility and lockdown to the states of origin of the migrant workers, to prevent a 2020-like situation when lakhs chose to walk all the way back to their villages.
BUSINESS
Container prices rise 10-15% in India as Omicron hits operations at major global ports
Prolonged turnaround times at Chinese ports and congestion at US and UK centres are driving up container rates
BUSINESS
Govt likely to take a call on domestic airline capacity utilisation by the end of the week as COVID-19 cases rise once again
Significantly, the restrictions are not being imposed unilaterally by the government as was the case during the first wave of the pandemic. Rather, domestic airlines that have experienced a sharp fall in passenger numbers in the past fortnight as also illness among crew members have urged the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) to bring back caps on flight operations.
BUSINESS
Private air charter operators gain from pandemic as commercial airlines suffer
While safety from the pandemic was the primary reason for a boost in private charters, factors like convenience and falling rates also contributed.
BUSINESS
What does aviation industry want from the Union Budget 2022-23?
Industry representatives told Moneycontrol that the government should come out with standards to regulate air traffic movement in the face of a new wave of the virus to give the airlines adequate notice to readjust their operations.
BUSINESS
As Omicron cases rise, tourism industry witnesses 30 percent cancellation for January
Multiple travel agents contacted by Moneycontrol for this report said that 30-50 percent of their customers have sought to cancel or reschedule their bookings for January.
BUSINESS
Explained | How will rising ATF prices affect the aviation industry amid tapering demand and concerns of a third wave?
Market experts said that it would still be difficult for airlines to pass increased operating costs on to passengers due to competition and fear of losing out on market share.
BUSINESS
Budget 2022: Govt likely to set roadmap for railway PSUs merger
Rail Vikas Nigam is to merge with Indian Railway Construction, RailTel with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism and Braithwaite with Rail India Technical and Economic Services.
BUSINESS
Is this the start of another price war in Indian skies?
Airlines are trying to attract passengers to fill seats that may have otherwise gone empty due to rising concerns over the spread of Omicron, experts said.
BUSINESS
Is this the end of IndiGo promoters’ feud?
The two largest shareholders, Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, have convened an EGM to present a resolution that removes restrictions on the transfer of promoter shares, among other things. If it is accepted, it would end the dispute between the two.
BUSINESS
Fresh attempt to introduce private trains likely to be announced in Union Budget for 2022-23
Indian Railways has now revised the tender conditions to attract more bidders after consultations with investors and industry experts. It is understood to have agreed to establish the Rail Development Authority (RDA) as a regulator to, among other things, advise the government on fares, promotion of competition and creation of a positive environment for investment.
