Mumbai: Jet Airways (India), the country’s largest private airline is likely to merge its wholly-owned subsidiary JetLite into Jet Airways in the current fiscal. Jet promoter Naresh Goyal is considering the merger to break even by the end of the current calendar year.
Jet Airways had acquired Air Sahara in 2007 and had rechristened it as JetLite, as a low-cost carrier. Jet Airways chief commercial officer Sudheer Raghavan told ET, “We are not ruling out the merger but haven’t finalised anything.”
It was learnt that Jet Airways wants to raise funds but bankers and financial institutions will put in money only if the business will be profitable and merged into a single entity.
Jet Airways, which has more than 25 per cent share of the Indian market, thinks it is difficult for low-cost carriers to remain in business with such low fares in current turbulent times.
An analyst with a brokerage firm said JetLite has a weak balance sheet and merging JetLite into Jet Airways would be a wise decision in the current scenario as carriers are looking for mechanisms to stay afloat. Moreover, as a full-fledged carrier and business class target, JetLite didn’t fit into Jet Airways long play strategy.
25/08/08 Mithun Roy/Economic Times
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Air travel agents protest move to scrap commission
Chennai/Thiruvananthapuram: Air travel agents in Kerala are on the warpath against the decision of airline companies to scrap the commission offered by the latter to approved agents for ticket sales. The decision will come into effect from November 1.
“We are taking the first major step forward to stop the airline companies from making such a move by downing our shutters on Tuesday (tomorrow) from 9 am to 1 pm in the three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta,” KVKV Muraleedharan, general convener of the Travel-Tourism Coordination Forum, a body representing the travel, tourism and recruiting agents in Kerala’s southern districts, told Business Standard.
As part of the stir, sit-ins at the Air India offices in these three districts have been organised. Similar protests would be organised in other districts of the state following Tuesday’s shutdown.
Muraleedharan pointed out that the commission given by the airline companies to approved agents for ticket sales used to be 9 per cent in the 70s. However, the rates came down to 7 per cent in 1995 and now stands at 5 per cent.
26/08/08 Sanjeev Ramachandran/Business Standard
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
“We are taking the first major step forward to stop the airline companies from making such a move by downing our shutters on Tuesday (tomorrow) from 9 am to 1 pm in the three districts – Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta,” KVKV Muraleedharan, general convener of the Travel-Tourism Coordination Forum, a body representing the travel, tourism and recruiting agents in Kerala’s southern districts, told Business Standard.
As part of the stir, sit-ins at the Air India offices in these three districts have been organised. Similar protests would be organised in other districts of the state following Tuesday’s shutdown.
Muraleedharan pointed out that the commission given by the airline companies to approved agents for ticket sales used to be 9 per cent in the 70s. However, the rates came down to 7 per cent in 1995 and now stands at 5 per cent.
26/08/08 Sanjeev Ramachandran/Business Standard
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Soon, choppers may ferry critical patients to AIIMS
New Delhi: In a first for India, the government is finalising plans to allow helicopters carrying critical patients to land on top of AIIMS’ trauma centre — that’s right under the flight path of IGI airport. Planes landing and taking off on the airport’s secondary runway pass at a height of 2,500 to 3,000 feet. Now aviation authorities are figuring out the height that choppers can be allowed up to for operating from the rooftop helipad so that the flying machines are always safely apart.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) are jointly working on this plan. ‘‘Aircraft flying over the trauma center are at a height of 2,500 to 3,000 feet. Choppers are likely to be allowed movement in range of 1,000-1,500 feet. An aircraft leaves its impact (like turbulence in air) behind it and not below. Similarly, chopper blades’ wind draft goes below. So we should be able to finalise the flight plans and operating procedures soon,’’ said a senior official.
Luckily, the AAI is cooperating and this will help in making this rooftop helipad operational soon. On the other hand, a helipad cleared in Mumbai for one of the biggest corporate houses has run into trouble following objections from the defence forces that the flight path of choppers would mean passing over some sensitive areas.
26/08/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) are jointly working on this plan. ‘‘Aircraft flying over the trauma center are at a height of 2,500 to 3,000 feet. Choppers are likely to be allowed movement in range of 1,000-1,500 feet. An aircraft leaves its impact (like turbulence in air) behind it and not below. Similarly, chopper blades’ wind draft goes below. So we should be able to finalise the flight plans and operating procedures soon,’’ said a senior official.
Luckily, the AAI is cooperating and this will help in making this rooftop helipad operational soon. On the other hand, a helipad cleared in Mumbai for one of the biggest corporate houses has run into trouble following objections from the defence forces that the flight path of choppers would mean passing over some sensitive areas.
26/08/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Jet, Kingfisher in global brand push
Mumbai: In times of adversity, strong brands survive. And aviation brands such as Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Lufthansa are testimony to this.
Little wonder then, that Indian aviation biggies Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are planning to make a splash in the international arena with mega brand campaigns.
Sources said that their advertising kitty is pegged at over Rs 100 crore each. Recently, Jet and Kingfisher, India’s two biggest private carriers, awarded their advertising accounts to two of the largest international advertising networks.
Jet Airways roped in Interpublic Group (IPG) to handle its advertising. IPG is setting up a separate wing called Altitude, under the McCann World Group in India, to help Jet fly high. Hot on the heels, Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines roped in WPP Plc-owned JWT.
The airline’s international operations have had a sound start. In fact, the Naresh Goyal-owned airline was second only to Singapore Airlines in a ‘Best Airline’ survey in the United Kingdom.
Sudheer Raghavan, chief commercial officer, Jet Airways, said the company is now developing a huge brand campaign. “When Jet went international, our initial focus was on the Indian diaspora. Now that we have established some amount of critical mass there, our brand communication should now help us address the broader spectrum,” he added.
26/08/08 Nirmal John/DNA MONEY/Sify
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Little wonder then, that Indian aviation biggies Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines are planning to make a splash in the international arena with mega brand campaigns.
Sources said that their advertising kitty is pegged at over Rs 100 crore each. Recently, Jet and Kingfisher, India’s two biggest private carriers, awarded their advertising accounts to two of the largest international advertising networks.
Jet Airways roped in Interpublic Group (IPG) to handle its advertising. IPG is setting up a separate wing called Altitude, under the McCann World Group in India, to help Jet fly high. Hot on the heels, Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines roped in WPP Plc-owned JWT.
The airline’s international operations have had a sound start. In fact, the Naresh Goyal-owned airline was second only to Singapore Airlines in a ‘Best Airline’ survey in the United Kingdom.
Sudheer Raghavan, chief commercial officer, Jet Airways, said the company is now developing a huge brand campaign. “When Jet went international, our initial focus was on the Indian diaspora. Now that we have established some amount of critical mass there, our brand communication should now help us address the broader spectrum,” he added.
26/08/08 Nirmal John/DNA MONEY/Sify
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Mallya may move Deccan hub to Mumbai
Bangalore: Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines, which renamed Air Deccan to Simplifly Deccan, is now moving the entire operations of the budget carrier from Bangalore to Mumbai.
Sources said this move is part of Mallya’s efforts to integrate the premium carrier with the low-cost Deccan Aviation Ltd. His aim is to overhaul the Air Deccan brand to bring it on par with Kingfisher’s standards.
“Deccan’s marketing operations have been already moved to Mumbai. Gradually, we may see other divisions moving to Mumbai,” the source said.
He added that though Mallya plans to slowly obliterate the Deccan brand, the billionaire would, however, retain the original business model of providing value flying options to its customers. “Mallya is essentially trying to tackle the problems of Simplifly Deccan, which is mostly associated with its image,” he said.
In 2007, when Mallya acquired the loss-ridden budget airline, he delved deeper into the reasons for its unpopularity. He found that Deccan’s image had taken a beating due to the service vendors who were in charge of the security, check-in and ground handling services for the airline.
26/08/08 Praveena Sharma/DNA MONEY/Sify
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Sources said this move is part of Mallya’s efforts to integrate the premium carrier with the low-cost Deccan Aviation Ltd. His aim is to overhaul the Air Deccan brand to bring it on par with Kingfisher’s standards.
“Deccan’s marketing operations have been already moved to Mumbai. Gradually, we may see other divisions moving to Mumbai,” the source said.
He added that though Mallya plans to slowly obliterate the Deccan brand, the billionaire would, however, retain the original business model of providing value flying options to its customers. “Mallya is essentially trying to tackle the problems of Simplifly Deccan, which is mostly associated with its image,” he said.
In 2007, when Mallya acquired the loss-ridden budget airline, he delved deeper into the reasons for its unpopularity. He found that Deccan’s image had taken a beating due to the service vendors who were in charge of the security, check-in and ground handling services for the airline.
26/08/08 Praveena Sharma/DNA MONEY/Sify
http://avindia.blogspot.com/
Chennai to have new cricket stadium
Chennai, Aug 26 (PTI) An ultra modern state-of-the-art cricket stadium will come up at a Chennai suburb for the 2011 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India, in addition to the famous Chepauk Ground located in the heart of the city.
The new stadium would be located at Karunkuzhipallam, about 25 km from here, on a 50-acre plot on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) Secretary Kasi Viswanathan told PTI over phone from Tiruchirappalli today.
The state government had alloted the land for the stadium, which would cost over Rs 100 crore, to the TNCA on a 30 year lease.
"The stadium will have a seating capacity of 50,000 to 60,000 spectators. Everything is in a fluid state now. We have only taken the initial step in remitting Rs one lakh as first year's payment towards the lease," Viswanathan said.
"Firstly we have to take possession of the land. We will go strictly by the government order, which stipulates that all facilities to be set up would be used for the game of cricket only. Formal signing of the agreement between the government and the TNCA will take place shortly," he added.
Viswanathan insisted that the Chepauk Ground at M A Chidambaram stadium would also be used for cricketing purposes as the present lease of the stadium expires in 2015.
Speaking about the new venue, the secretary said, "Apart from the state-of-the-art stadium with a couple of turf pitches, we will also have three more grounds to accommodate our league fixtures, besides facilities like gymnasium, swimming pool and indoor practice area." PTI
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
The new stadium would be located at Karunkuzhipallam, about 25 km from here, on a 50-acre plot on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) Secretary Kasi Viswanathan told PTI over phone from Tiruchirappalli today.
The state government had alloted the land for the stadium, which would cost over Rs 100 crore, to the TNCA on a 30 year lease.
"The stadium will have a seating capacity of 50,000 to 60,000 spectators. Everything is in a fluid state now. We have only taken the initial step in remitting Rs one lakh as first year's payment towards the lease," Viswanathan said.
"Firstly we have to take possession of the land. We will go strictly by the government order, which stipulates that all facilities to be set up would be used for the game of cricket only. Formal signing of the agreement between the government and the TNCA will take place shortly," he added.
Viswanathan insisted that the Chepauk Ground at M A Chidambaram stadium would also be used for cricketing purposes as the present lease of the stadium expires in 2015.
Speaking about the new venue, the secretary said, "Apart from the state-of-the-art stadium with a couple of turf pitches, we will also have three more grounds to accommodate our league fixtures, besides facilities like gymnasium, swimming pool and indoor practice area." PTI
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
Indian Olympic contingent call on Manmohan, Sonia
New Delhi, Aug 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi today appreciated the Indian athletes for their stupendous performance in the Beijing Olympic Games when the whole contingent called on them at their residences.
Gandhi lauded the efforts of bronze medal winners Vijender (boxing) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling) while also encouraging the other Olympians at her 10 Janpath residence.
She had a photograph session with all the Olympians along with Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, Secretary General Randhir Singh and other IOA officials.
The contingent then called on the Prime Minister at his 7 Race Course Road residence where he presented them with bouquets while his wife, Gurcharan Singh, presented them gifts.
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the athletes who participated in the Beijing Games and hosted a tea party for them.
Earlier in the morning, the Indian contingent made a courtesy call on President Pratibha Patil. PTI
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
Gandhi lauded the efforts of bronze medal winners Vijender (boxing) and Sushil Kumar (wrestling) while also encouraging the other Olympians at her 10 Janpath residence.
She had a photograph session with all the Olympians along with Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi, Secretary General Randhir Singh and other IOA officials.
The contingent then called on the Prime Minister at his 7 Race Course Road residence where he presented them with bouquets while his wife, Gurcharan Singh, presented them gifts.
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the athletes who participated in the Beijing Games and hosted a tea party for them.
Earlier in the morning, the Indian contingent made a courtesy call on President Pratibha Patil. PTI
Source: http://www.ptinews.com
Sikkim to follow Sixth Pay Commission recommendations
Khabrein.Info News Desk,
New Delhi, Aug 26, 2008: Sikkim government seems to have made its mind to implement Sixth Pay Commission recommendations in the state. Sikkim is fifth state to have announced its intention to implement the pay commission recommendation.
Earlier Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kumari Mayawati, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, Uttrakhand chief minister BC Khanduri and Haryana chief minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda have vowed to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay panel.
All the four states have formed committees to decide as to how to go about implementing the sixth pay panel recommendations in their respective states.
The decisions of the state government have given hope to hundreds of thousands of employees in these states that they too would get the benefit of the pay commission that was being awaited like no other pay commission in India. It is notwithstanding the fact that there are several questions that are yet to be answered. These include the availability of finances to implement the recommendations. Besides in several states including Uttar Pradesh fifth pay commission recommendations were still to be implemented fully.
Sikkim’s Fourth Pay Commission, constituted by the state government earlier this month, has said it would make the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations (CPC) as its basis for working out the instructions and directions of the state.
The panel had been entrusted with the responsibility of examining the pay-scales of all the categories of state government employees and suggest changes. It is the also first pay commission notified by any Northeastern state after the Centre announced the adoption of the Sixth Pay Commission.
Source: http://www.khabrein.info
New Delhi, Aug 26, 2008: Sikkim government seems to have made its mind to implement Sixth Pay Commission recommendations in the state. Sikkim is fifth state to have announced its intention to implement the pay commission recommendation.
Earlier Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kumari Mayawati, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi, Uttrakhand chief minister BC Khanduri and Haryana chief minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda have vowed to implement the recommendations of the sixth pay panel.
All the four states have formed committees to decide as to how to go about implementing the sixth pay panel recommendations in their respective states.
The decisions of the state government have given hope to hundreds of thousands of employees in these states that they too would get the benefit of the pay commission that was being awaited like no other pay commission in India. It is notwithstanding the fact that there are several questions that are yet to be answered. These include the availability of finances to implement the recommendations. Besides in several states including Uttar Pradesh fifth pay commission recommendations were still to be implemented fully.
Sikkim’s Fourth Pay Commission, constituted by the state government earlier this month, has said it would make the Sixth Central Pay Commission recommendations (CPC) as its basis for working out the instructions and directions of the state.
The panel had been entrusted with the responsibility of examining the pay-scales of all the categories of state government employees and suggest changes. It is the also first pay commission notified by any Northeastern state after the Centre announced the adoption of the Sixth Pay Commission.
Source: http://www.khabrein.info
Major changes and additions on Sixth Pay Commission
Here we detail some major changes / addition on Sixth Pay Commission.
Sixth Pay Commission has done a meticulous job of rationalising relativities of salaries with special reference to the training and skills required. The general structure of pay scales recommended naturally builds on the existing scales but tries to correct anomalies where they exist. A Pay Commission cannot be expected to consider or recommend a complete reorganisation of administrative structure.
A review on the major changes / addition on CPC report by the CoS
1 Enhanced the revised pay bands recommended by the pay commission to be based on multiplication factor of 1.74 to 1.86 The fitment had to be (Basic + DP)*24%.
2 The Armed Forces Personnel below Officers Rank will get a Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs 2,000 per month, Rs 1,000 more than that recommended by the Commission. The Officers of the Defence Forces would get an MSP Rs 6000 over and above their salary. The forces had dedicated and sincere minister to bargain for them.
3 Increase in the rate of annual increment for 2.5% to 3%. Removed the performance based increment. After all performance has got a different meaning at government.
4 The middle level officers of the Defence Forces, namely Colonels and Brigadiers, have been placed in the highest pay band of PB-4.
Middle level police and civilian officers — DIGs, Conservator of Forests, Scientists E and F, Superintending Engineers, Directors, Additional Commissioners of Income Tax and Central Excise and posts in equivalent grades — have also been placed in the highest pay brand.
The higher level officers benefit from the increased grade pay.
5 Increase in Transport Allowance at the lowest level to Rs 600 (from Rs 400 in A-1/A class cities recommended by the Sixth CPC) and Rs 400 (from Rs 300 in other cities recommended by the sixth CPC). Removal of Campus restriction for grant of Transport Allowance.
Minor benefit for the lowest level
6 At least three promotions have been assured for all Defence Forces personnel and civilian employees under the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme. While the civilians would get it after 10, 20 and 30 years of service, the Defence Forces Jawans would get ACP in 8, 16 and 24 years.
Source: http://www.khabrein.info
Sixth Pay Commission has done a meticulous job of rationalising relativities of salaries with special reference to the training and skills required. The general structure of pay scales recommended naturally builds on the existing scales but tries to correct anomalies where they exist. A Pay Commission cannot be expected to consider or recommend a complete reorganisation of administrative structure.
A review on the major changes / addition on CPC report by the CoS
1 Enhanced the revised pay bands recommended by the pay commission to be based on multiplication factor of 1.74 to 1.86 The fitment had to be (Basic + DP)*24%.
2 The Armed Forces Personnel below Officers Rank will get a Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs 2,000 per month, Rs 1,000 more than that recommended by the Commission. The Officers of the Defence Forces would get an MSP Rs 6000 over and above their salary. The forces had dedicated and sincere minister to bargain for them.
3 Increase in the rate of annual increment for 2.5% to 3%. Removed the performance based increment. After all performance has got a different meaning at government.
4 The middle level officers of the Defence Forces, namely Colonels and Brigadiers, have been placed in the highest pay band of PB-4.
Middle level police and civilian officers — DIGs, Conservator of Forests, Scientists E and F, Superintending Engineers, Directors, Additional Commissioners of Income Tax and Central Excise and posts in equivalent grades — have also been placed in the highest pay brand.
The higher level officers benefit from the increased grade pay.
5 Increase in Transport Allowance at the lowest level to Rs 600 (from Rs 400 in A-1/A class cities recommended by the Sixth CPC) and Rs 400 (from Rs 300 in other cities recommended by the sixth CPC). Removal of Campus restriction for grant of Transport Allowance.
Minor benefit for the lowest level
6 At least three promotions have been assured for all Defence Forces personnel and civilian employees under the modified Assured Career Progression (ACP) Scheme. While the civilians would get it after 10, 20 and 30 years of service, the Defence Forces Jawans would get ACP in 8, 16 and 24 years.
Source: http://www.khabrein.info
Fifth pay panel salaries still elude coop staff
JODHPUR: Amid preparations by the state government to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, there are a few who are still struggling to get the salary benefits recommended by the Fifth Pay Commission, which was implemented in 1996.
The employees belonging to ‘Jodhpur Cooperative Consumer Wholesale Depot’ have raised their voices from time to time and have even won court cases, but a government nod is still eluding them.
In fact, like Jodhpur, the salaries of the employees of none of the depots across the state is commensurate with the Fifth Pay Commission.
According to Vikram Singh, secretary of the employees association, it is ironic that other wings of the cooperative department like the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation Limited and the Rajasthan State Sale Purchase Cooperative Federation Limited and Dairy have been granted the salary benefits as per the recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission by the registrar’s office but only this particular wing across the entire state has been given a step-motherly treatment in spite of registering remarkable success continuously.
Tags: Sixth Pay Commission,6th Pay Commission
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
The employees belonging to ‘Jodhpur Cooperative Consumer Wholesale Depot’ have raised their voices from time to time and have even won court cases, but a government nod is still eluding them.
In fact, like Jodhpur, the salaries of the employees of none of the depots across the state is commensurate with the Fifth Pay Commission.
According to Vikram Singh, secretary of the employees association, it is ironic that other wings of the cooperative department like the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumer Federation Limited and the Rajasthan State Sale Purchase Cooperative Federation Limited and Dairy have been granted the salary benefits as per the recommendations of Fifth Pay Commission by the registrar’s office but only this particular wing across the entire state has been given a step-motherly treatment in spite of registering remarkable success continuously.
Tags: Sixth Pay Commission,6th Pay Commission
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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