Archive for the ‘Travel and Transport’ Category
Monday, June 30th, 2008 |
The unprecedented increase in non-aeronautical service charges and manifold hike in ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) have seriously threatened the survival of the domestic civil aviation industry and, therefore, ASSOCHAM has emphasized the need for a “survival package” including setting up of an Aviation Economic Regulator”.
Interacting with the media, the ASSOCHAM Civil Aviation Committee Chairman, Mr. Jagdish Gupta along with representatives from the Industry lamented that there has been huge increase in cost particularly in hangar, checking & ticketing counters and backup office spaces. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the third regulator, the “Aviation Economic Regulator” along with the DGCA (safety) and BCAS (security) regulators.
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Thursday, June 26th, 2008 |
Central Government has issued notification No.29/2008-Service Tax, dated 26.06.2008 to exempt fully from levy of service tax on supply of transport vehicles (goods carriage) to a goods transport agency (GTA) to be used for transport of goods by road [section 65(105)(zzzzj) of the Finance Act, 1994].
Representations have been received from the All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners’ Associations and also from the All India Motor Transport Congress requesting to provide relief on account of levy of service tax on supply of goods carriage to GTA for use in transport of goods. It has been stated that GTAs often provide services in relation to transportation of goods by road using the goods carriage obtained on rent or hire basis. The relief has been sought on various grounds inter alia that the service tax paid on renting / hiring of goods carriage, without right of possession and effective control, could not be taken as input credit for payment of service tax towards GTA service.
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Thursday, June 26th, 2008 |
The Union Cabinet toady gave its approval for adoption of Cruise Shipping Policy of India.
Cruise Shipping would be a path breaking development in India’s effort to carve a prominent space in world tourism. Cruise Shipping would showcase India as a major source and destination of world tourism. It would spill out growth in diverse other sectors thereby earning precious foreign exchange for the country. It will also generate enormous employment opportunities. Cruise tourism would also promote people to people contact which will enhance India’s friendly ties with foreign countries.
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Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 |
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today announced that 11 new locations have been identified as ready for e-freight. These are USA, Dubai, Luxembourg, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Iceland, Denmark and Norway.
Since 2007, e-freight has been operational in six locations: Canada, Sweden, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Netherlands. A further three—Germany, Mauritius and South Korea have launched projects to go live within 2008. Five of the 11 new locations will be selected to launch e-freight in 2008 with the remaining targeted for launch in 2009.
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Monday, June 23rd, 2008 |
Jet Airways has taken delivery of its latest Airbus A330-200 aircraft. Naresh Goyal, Jet Airways Chairman, formally accepted the aircraft at a ceremony at the Berlin Air Show (ILA) in presence of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders.
The aircraft forms part of an order for 15 Airbus A330-200 aircraft placed between 2005 and 2007. An initial order for 10 aircraft was signed in October 2005 and this was increased to 15 in December 2007. Today’s A330-200 is the airline’s seventh aircraft directly received from Airbus. The first aircraft was delivered in April 2007.
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Friday, June 20th, 2008 |
In the case of Kingfisher Airlines, for distances from 0-750 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 1000/-; For Distances between 751 kms to 1000 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 2250/- while for distances above 1001 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 3000/-.
In the case of Deccan, for distances below 750 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 500/-; for distances between 751 kms to 1000 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 1500/- while for distances over 1001 kms, the minimum base fare will now be Rs. 2000/-.
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Sunday, June 1st, 2008 |
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) today launched a new era in air travel as it bid farewell to the paper ticket on the eve of the industry’s conversion to 100% electronic ticketing.
“Today we say goodbye to an industry icon,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “The paper ticket has served us well, but its time is over. After four years of hard work by airlines around the world, tomorrow marks the beginning of a new, more convenient and more efficient era for air travel.”
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Friday, May 30th, 2008 |
The development plans of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport, Kolkata today got an unconditional Pre-Investment Board (PIB) clearance. It will now go for the approval of the Government (CCEA approval) and work is expected to begin in two-months time.
In April, 2007, the Government decided that the Kolkata airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). In August 2007, the AAI submitted the proposal for PIB approval. In October 2007, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) cleared the proposal and in December 2007, Planning Commission accorded in principle approval for the development of NSCBI airport, Kolkata. The Ministry for Environment gave approval to the project in March, 2008. Meanwhile, AAI has prepared detailed estimate and tendered documents. (more…)
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Thursday, May 29th, 2008 |
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released international traffic data for April. Year-on-year international passenger demand grew by 3% in April. Capacity growth of 5% saw load factors fall to 75.4%. This is a 1.5% drop from the 76.9% recorded during the same period last year and the third consecutive monthly year-on-year decline. International cargo demand growth remained sluggish at 3.7%.
April figures contain several distortions. The impact of an early Easter holiday in 2008 will have reduced comparative year-on-year traffic growth by about 2% in April. At the same time the 10% transatlantic capacity increase with the commencement of the US-EU Open Skies is estimated to have boosted global traffic by about 1%. Adjusting for these distortions and leap year, underlying passenger traffic demand increased 4% in April and the three previous months.
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Thursday, May 29th, 2008 |
Yatra, online travel company, today announced the launch India’s first ‘Online Ticket Cancellation’ service. Customers can now cancel their domestic air tickets online. Its an exclusive service for the customers of Yatra.com and will allow the customer to cancel any domestic flight booking, at any time. Once the online cancellation is complete, the refund will be credited back to the customer’s account/credit card. What’s more by opting to cancel your ticket online you can save upto Rs150.
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Monday, May 19th, 2008 |
Indian Railways has started the waitlist e-ticketing service through internet (e-tickets) from 10th May, 2008 for all trains. The facility is available on the e-ticketing website www.irctc.co.in of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways. This is expected to make e-ticketing services even more customers friendly.
After chart preparation, the waitlisted e-ticket may either become (i) fully confirmed, or (ii) partially confirmed/partially RAC; or (iii) partially RAC/partially waitlisted; or (iv) remain fully waitlisted.
In the first three cases, the names of the passengers shall appear on the reservation chart and they shall be allowed to travel as per the reservation rules. However, PNRs of those who remain fully waitlisted will be dropped and the names of the passengers will not appear on the reservation chart. They will not be allowed to board the train.
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