Delhi Airport's Upgraded Runway to Boost Capacity and Operational Efficiency

Delhi Airport’s delayed Runway 10/28 will become operational soon.

GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has completed the construction and refurbishment work of Runway 28/10 (also known as the second runway), and the final work on the technical integration of the runway is underway, the group said in a statement.

Post refurbishment, the runway was scheduled to be operational on 19th January. However, system integration could not be completed due to some unforeseen technical issues. It is expected to be completed in 8 to 10 days. The airport said that DIAL is working diligently with its partner Honeywell to complete the process soon.

Meanwhile, the newly constructed fourth runway of the Delhi Airport will be CAT III compliant on 26th January. With this, Delhi airport will have 3 CAT III complaint runways.

After completing rehabilitation work, Delhi Airport will be ready to undertake operations at full capacity. The passenger handling capacity of its three terminals would increase to 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA), and the airside capacity will be enhanced to handle 140 MPPA.

DIAL had undertaken re-carpeting work of the 3,813 meters long and 45 meters wide second runway in the middle of September 2023.

This included milling the entire runway length and overlaying it with Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB). Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) is bitumen combined with one or more polymer materials, which enhances the mechanical properties of the bitumen material. PMB can withstand heavy-duty traffic and extreme weather conditions.

Delhi Airport has been criticized over fog delays this winter that have seen the aviation ministry impose fines on airlines.

SpiceJet announces sale as lean season kicks in.

SpiceJet has announced an airfare sale that will run from now till Jan 28th for travel up to September 30th as the lean season kicks in.

After a strong October-December quarter air travel dip from mid-January till March.

SpiceJet said it is offering fares starting INR 1622 for some domestic & international direct one-way flights together with 30% discount on SpiceMAX, You 1st, and preferred seats. The all-inclusive fare of INR 1622 applies to routes such as Mumbai-Goa, Delhi-Jaipur and Guwahati-Bagdogra, it said in a statement.    

“SpiceJet is thrilled to commemorate the historic ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya with a special sale, offering passengers unbeatable fares and a seamless travel experience. As we connect Ayodhya with major cities and extend our network, we aim to provide convenient and affordable travel options for our valued customers," Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Commercial Officer, SpiceJet, said.

IndiGo's former CFO Aditya Pande will return to parent InterGlobe Enterprises as its new Group CEO, the latter said on Monday.

Pande will take over the new role from 1st March.

"With the exception of IndiGo, Aditya will have overall responsibility for setting InterGlobe's strategic agenda and to oversee and continue to strengthen the Leadership of the Company’s line businesses and the corporate staff functions," InterGlobe said in a statement.

Pande will report to promoter Rahul Bhatia, and all the existing direct reports would, in turn, report to Aditya.

"This imperative move by InterGlobe is to strengthen its current leadership team as it moves ahead with its ambitious and diversified global plans," it added.

Aditya is a senior professional with diverse and multi-functional experience of over 25 years. He has held Business Strategy and Finance roles in various companies, driving operations with a focus on productivity & profitability. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer at udaan, India’s largest B2B e-commerce company. Prior to this, he worked at IndiGo, General Electric, and Arthur Andersen.

InterGlobe Enterprises operates not just IndiGo but hotels, logistics, airline management, travel commerce, pilot training, and aircraft maintenance engineering.

A potential crisis looms over Taiwan's aviation industry as the Taoyuan Union of Pilots, representing pilots at Eva Airways, voted on Monday to authorize a strike amid a dispute over salaries and working conditions. The timing of the strike raises concerns about its impact on travel during the crucial Lunar New Year holidays next month.

Background & Strike Authorization

Eva Airways, Taiwan's second-largest carrier, has been locked in negotiations with its pilots' union over issues related to salaries and working conditions. The union claims that the airline has not adequately raised salaries and has allegedly been recruiting foreign pilots in violation of labor laws. Eva Airways, on the other hand, contends that it has consistently increased salaries and has not breached any legal obligations regarding pilot recruitment.

After failed negotiations with the airline, the pilots' union initiated a vote among its members last month to authorize a potential strike. The results were announced on Monday, indicating that pilots have given the union the authority to proceed with strike action. While the union did not specify the exact dates of the strikes, it anticipates that they will likely coincide with the Lunar New Year holiday, set to begin on February 8.

Eva Airways' Response

In response to the strike authorization, Eva Airways expressed regret and urged the union to continue negotiations. The airline emphasized its commitment to ongoing talks with the union and affirmed its willingness to find a resolution to the dispute. Eva has set up an emergency response team to manage the potential impact of the strike and plans to announce affected flights promptly on its website.

Potential Impact on Lunar New Year Travel

With the week-long Lunar New Year holiday just around the corner, concerns are mounting about the possible disruption of travel plans. The union stated that the strike announcement would be made 24 hours before its commencement, with expectations of long-haul destinations being most affected. This situation could significantly inconvenience passengers during a period marked by increased travel activity.

Historical Context, Government & Regulatory Response

Eva Airways faced a similar challenge in 2019 when a month-long flight attendants' strike resulted in the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The current situation brings back memories of that turbulent period in Taiwan's aviation history.

Taiwan's Civil Aviation Administration has called on both parties to consider the impending Lunar New Year holiday and prioritize the rights and interests of passengers. The regulatory body urged the airline to provide timely information to passengers, emphasizing the importance of good faith and rational communication between the union and Eva Airways.

Conclusion

As the possibility of a pilot strike at Eva Airways looms, the Taiwanese aviation industry braces for potential disruptions during the Lunar New Year holidays. The outcome of further negotiations and the subsequent actions taken by both the union and the airline will play a crucial role in determining the impact on passengers and the broader aviation landscape in Taiwan. Travelers are advised to stay informed about the situation and check for updates on Eva Airways' official channels as the dispute unfolds in the coming days.

With Inputs from Reuters

Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation has officially lifted the temporary ban on Lion Air's three Boeing 737-9 aircraft, allowing the low-cost carrier to return the planes to service. The ban was imposed in the aftermath of a serious incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-9 earlier this month. After thorough inspections and coordination with Boeing, the Indonesian authorities concluded that Lion Air's B737-9s do not share the same issues as the Alaska Airlines aircraft, leading to the decision to lift the grounding order.

Background

The Ministry of Transportation implemented the temporary ban on the Boeing 737-9 in Indonesia following an incident on January 5 involving an Alaska Airlines aircraft. The incident, in which a plugged emergency exit door blew out mid-flight, prompted concerns about the safety of the aircraft type. The ban was initially reported as a precautionary measure, affecting all operators of the B737-9 in the country.

Inspections and Coordination

Ministry spokeswoman Adita Irawati confirmed that the temporary grounding of Lion Air's B737-9s was in place for only a few days. The authorities conducted thorough inspections, including coordination with Boeing, to assess the safety of the aircraft. The inspections revealed no problems with Lion Air's B737-9 fleet, leading to the decision to lift the ban.

Differences in Door Systems & B737-9 Fleet Details

One notable aspect that contributed to the lifting of the ban was the differentiation in the "door system" between Lion Air's B737-9s and the Alaska Airlines aircraft involved in the incident. According to the ministry, Lion Air's configuration has a different door system compared to Alaska Airlines. This distinction likely played a crucial role in the decision to allow Lion Air's B737-9s to resume operations.

Lion Air is the sole operator of the Boeing 737-9 in Indonesia. The airline's B737-9s, with registration numbers PK-LRF (MSN 42989), PK-LRG (MSN 42991), and PK-LRI (MSN 42987), were temporarily grounded following the ministry's directive. While PK-LRI has been operating domestic flights since the ban was lifted, PK-LRF and PK-LRG remain in storage at Jakarta's Soekarno Hatta Airport.

Conclusion

With the lifting of the temporary ban, Lion Air can now resume normal operations of its Boeing 737-9 fleet in Indonesia. The ministry's thorough inspections and coordination with Boeing have ensured that the safety concerns raised by the Alaska Airlines incident do not apply to Lion Air's aircraft. The differentiation in door systems further supports the decision to allow the resumption of flights, providing assurance to passengers and stakeholders regarding the safety of Lion Air's B737-9 operations.

With Inputs from ch-aviation