IATO to conduct Managing Committee elections on April 26, 2014

The Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) has announced that their national Managing Committee elections will be held on April 26, 2014 at The Park, New Delhi. Announcing this at the luncheon meeting organised to honour Angli Dione Gomez, Miss Tourism International in New Delhi, Lally Mathews, Honorary Secretary, IATO said that notifications for the elections have been sent out on March 3, and Praveen Chugh will be the Returning Officer for the elections.  After receiving and withdrawal of nominations, there is only one member contesting for the highest post, that is IATO’s current President, Subhash Goyal. Rajesh Mudgill and Sarabjit Singh will contest for the post of Senior Vice President, and Arun Anand and Rajeev Kohli for the post of Vice President. Lally Mathews and Pronab Sarkar have filed their nominations for the post of Honorary Secretary. Amaresh Tiwari and Lajpat Rai will contest for the post of Honorary Treasurer. Atul Rai and Ravi Gosain will contest for the post of Honorary Joint Secretary. Harish Chopra, Raj Bajaj, Rajiv Mehra, Rajnish Kaistha, Ramesh Wattal, Ravinder Kumar, Sanjeev Joshi, T. Sriharan, Tony Marwah, and Vinay Tyagi, will contest for EC Member (Active), which are five posts. A Afzal, Amandeep Singh, N.S. Rathor, P Vijayasarathi, Sanjay Kaushik, Sunil Gupta, and Zia Siddiqui, are contesting for the three posts of EC Member (Allied). Paying tributes to Ram Kohli, the Founder President of IATO, who passed away recently, Subhash Goel, President, IATO announced the association’s decision to hold Kohli's commemorative annual lecture. The meeting also paid homage to the late Francis Wacziarg, Co-Founder, Neemrana Hotels.

DGCA validating new radar at Mumbai airport to enhance passenger safety

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in the process of validating the installation of the latest state-of-the-art radar at the Mumbai airport. The radar will help in enhancing passengers' safety and provide better efficiency in air services, airport officials said, as per a report by Shahkar Abidi in DNA. Airport insiders said the most important feature of the radar is its ability to make a particular aircraft visible on accurate real time to the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) as well as to any nearby aircraft. Vital information such as velocity, altitude, weight and number of passengers will be transmitted every second from the aircraft to the ATC and other aircraft. This feature is called Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast.

At present, the ATC and pilots depend on the Primary Surveillance Radar (PSR) and Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR). While PSR determines an aircraft's specifications by calculating the time required for it to receive the wave or the reflected beam, SSR depends on the pilot’s reply from the aircraft. However, at times, both fail to deliver, insiders revealed.

“The DGCA is validating the new radar before giving it a go-ahead for commissioning,” said a senior official from Airports Authority of India. The official said the new radar will replace the PSR, which has been operational for the past 13 years.

Among the many benefits, the new radar will reduce voice communication between the pilot and ATC as communication will take place through an internal channel, similar to MS Office messenger. At present, all aircraft in airspace on the same frequency can listen to all communications. This leads to confusion and, in certain cases, to serious incidents. Communication will now be direct, in textual (template) form, and will be meant only for the intended pilot.

Also, with the existing radar, there are chances of data leakage. The new radar has smooth data link network and, therefore, no chance of data loss.

Relaunches 109-year-old steam engine on Kalka-Shimla heritage track by IRCTC

A 109-year-old British-era steam engine restarted operations over the weekend on the Kalka-Shimla heritage track with over 12 passengers, mostly foreigners on board, railway officials said. Considered to be an engineering marvel, locomotive KC 520, the only narrow-gauge steam engine that dates back to 1905, operated between Shimla and Kathlighat, Amar Singh Thakur, Commercial Inspector (Railways), was quoted as saying in an IANS report.

The one-way 22-km-long journey between the two stations, located on the Shimla-Kalka rail line that figures in UNESCO World Heritage Site list, takes more than one hour.

The steam engine-hauled train, being handled by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a wing of the Indian Railways, with two chartered coaches was booked for Rs 96,000, including taxes, Thakur said.

The Indian Railways in February last year rolled out the indigenously built coal-fired steam locomotive for the first time in over six years. This was for the second time since then that it was hired.

IRCTC officials said under the plan, any company or individual can hire a steam train comprising two to three coaches with a capacity to accommodate up to 40 people between Shimla and Kathlighat at a cost of Rs 80,000 plus 20 per cent Service Tax. Food is provided on board.

The British-era steam engine was recently repaired and restored in Amritsar.

The steam locomotives, which ferried Europeans to and from this hill town, the erstwhile summer capital of British India, were gradually phased out with the launch of diesel engines from 1952 onwards.

The ascent on the track begins from 2,100 ft above sea level at Kalka in Haryana and crosses Dharampur, Barog, Solan and Kandaghat before it reaches Shimla at 7,000 ft.

Passport Seva goes rural.

Services to be shortly launched in pilot mode at 15 select CSC in UP and Jharkhand...

The Ministry of External Affairs (MoEA) plans to reach Passport Seva to rural areas.

Getting a passport will be more easier through PSK

The MoEA, along with Common Services Centers (CSCs) will offer Passport related services through the vast network of over one lakh CSCs across rural hinterland.

The services would be shortly launched in pilot mode at 15 select CSC locations in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the second week of March 2014. The full roll out across the country is expected to conclude by end of March 2014.

Under the Passport Seva, the MoEA has made it mandatory to complete the entire form filing process on-line, including payment of applicable fee and scheduling of appointment for seeking Passport related services. The CSCs would facilitate filling and uploading of Passport application form, payment of applicable fee and scheduling of appointment for the visit to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at nominal charge not exceeding US$1.63. As per the appointment schedule, an applicant will have to visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) for completion of application submission process. The services through CSCs would be available throughout the week, including during the weekend.

The CSC Scheme was approved by the Indian government in September 2006 for setting up of 100,000+ Internet enabled centers in rural areas under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). The CSCs are the delivery points for the government, private and social sector services in the areas of agriculture, health, education, banking, insurance, pension, utility bill payments, entertainment, etc. to rural citizens of India at their doorstep. The passport related services are being added as part of their bouquet of services.

AirAsia India could launch in May – CEO

Likely to get flying permit in three weeks

AirAsia India could launch its first flights in May 2014, according to its CEO.

Speaking to Indian newspaper The Hindu, Mittu Chandilya said he hopes to see progress within the coming weeks.

“We may get the air operator permit in about three weeks. Thereafter, we may commence operations in two months from Chennai,” Chandilya said in an interview in Chennai.

AirAsia India is a joint venture between Malaysia’s AirAsia and India’s Tata Group. It will operate both domestic and international flights from its base at Chennai, using a fleet of Airbus A320s.

Amadeus Signs Global Partnership Agreement with Charter Solutions International for Traveller Tracking and Communications on Mobile Devices

The Amadeus Mobile Messenger solution is a unique way of handling traveller tracking and communications in any travel disruption or crisis situation on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and Windows

Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, has signed a global reseller partnership agreement with Charter Solutions International, a U.S. based mobile technology provider, to offer solutions for TMCs and corporations to handle global traveller tracking and communication in any travel disruption or crisis situation. The proprietary Charter Solutions tool will be called Amadeus Mobile Messenger and will be marketed, implemented and supported by Amadeus worldwide. 

Amadeus Mobile Messenger is a stand-alone solution which works interactively with smart devices such as iPhone, Blackberry, Android and Windows, using advanced messaging technology and standard SMS. The solution has ground breaking new features such as the support of TMC workflows, itinerary locking, automated communication and travel simulation capabilities, which allow TMCs and corporations to better manage and assist travellers proactively and efficiently at the time of travel disruption and crisis.

With a sophisticated and rich graphical user interface, the solution supports and automates travel agency business processes in communication with travellers on the road. Corporations are able to locate and take care of travelling staff with the best available tools on the market. Call centres can also use this tool to manage their workforce more effectively by reaching out to their travellers as events unfold, thereby reducing call volumes to their locations. 

Derek S. Beveridge, CEO Charter Solutions International stated: "I am delighted about our new partnership with Amadeus, a global leader of technology solutions for the travel industry. We are privileged that Amadeus has chosen our patent pending platform for travel disruption management and sophisticated pre-trip visualisation. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Amadeus by adding new modules for our platform such as active compliance monitoring, risk intelligence and RAVE (reverse auction voucher engine) for travellers." 

Albert Pozo, VP Global Customer Group, Amadeus commented: “As a company dedicated to providing the world´s best travel technology and consultancy to corporations, Amadeus is pleased to have signed a partnership with Charter Solutions International. Mobile solutions are leading travel industry trends, especially when facing unexpected emergency situations. Corporations need technology that helps them to fulfil their duty of care obligations by informing, locating and assisting their travellers in times of crisis, using technology that is compatible with their corporate travel policy and cost saving objectives.¨ 

Amadeus Mobile Messenger is part of Amadeus’ corporate travel management solution, used by over 6,000 corporations in 59 markets, which serves corporations´ travel needs through a single entry point. 

Amadeus Mobile Messenger is being featured at the Amadeus booth at the ACTE Global Education Conference in Rome from October 14-16. 

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किंगफिशर 'क्रैश': एयरलाइंस का लाइसेंस सस्पेंड

नई दिल्ली।। एविएशन रेग्युलेटर डीजीसीए ने किंगफिशर एयरलाइंस का लाइसेंस अगले आदेश तक सस्पेंड कर दिया है। डीजीसीए का कहना है कि रिवाइवल प्लान सौंपने तक किंगफिशर की फ्लाइट्स उड़ानें नहीं भर पाएंगी। डीजीसीए ने कारण बताओ नोटिस भेजकर जवाब मांगा था लेकिन किंगफिशर इसका संतोषजनक जवाब नहीं दे पाई। इसके अलावा किंगफिशर ने लॉकआउट भी 23 अक्टूबर तक बढ़ा दिया था। इन सब कारणों से डीजीसीए अगले आदेश तक एयरलाइंस का लाइसेंस सस्पेंड करने का फैसला किया है।

वेतन न मिलने की वजह से किंगफिशर एयरलाइंस के पायलट और इंजिनियर हड़ताल पर चले गए थे और इसके बाद एयरलाइंस को अपनी उड़ानें रद्द करनी पड़ी थीं। एयरलाइंस ने तालाबंदी का भी ऐलान कर दिया था। डीजीसीए ने 5 अक्टूबर को नोटिस जारी करके पूछा था कि क्यों न किंगफिशर का लाइसेंस ही रद्द कर दिया जाए। किंगफिशर एयरलाइंस को जवाब देने के लिए 15 दिन का वक्त दिया गया था, जो आज खत्म हो रहा था। किंगफिशर एयरलाइंस के सूत्रों ने जवाब दाखिल करने के बाद कहा था कि अगर डीजीसीए उन्हें फिर से उड़ान के लिए अनुमति देती है तो नवंबर से उड़ानें शुरू की जा सकती हैं।

IRDA restricts IGE, J&K Bank from subscribing to MetLife issue

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has restricted International General Electric Corporation (IGE) and J&K Bank from subscribing to a fresh issue of shares by MetLife India.
Issuing fresh shares is a part of process of inducting state-run Punjab National Bank into the life insurance company. The regulator has cleared the proposal, but with riders. IGE holds a 20.3% stake in the life insurance joint venture while Jammu & Kashmir Bank holds 11.26%.
After performing an exhaustive study, the regulator found that certain regulatory issues do not allow some of the existing shareholders to subscribe to the fresh issue and asked them not to subscribe to it.
The regulator in a circular said, "This constraint (of some existing shareholders to subscribe to new shares) was impacting the solvency position of the insurer and limiting its ability to grow.”
The deal will be cleared after some of the existing shareholders reduce their stake. As per the law, Insurance companies are mandated to maintain a 1.5% solvency margin.
After the induction of Punjab National Bank with 30% stake in the joint venture, the stake of MetLife will drop to 18%. If industry sources are to be believed, Jammu & Kashmir Bank is all set to sell its shares to MetLife. As per the current law, a foreign insurer cannot own more than 26% stake in India.
Industry sources indicate that Punjab National Bank (PNB) is picking up 30% stake in the joint venture life insurance, MetLife India for free. The insurer has already paid an upfront commission of over 500 crore to the bank. The transaction will mark PNB's entry into the life insurance space and will give MetLife a wider reach through bancassurance.
MetLife India is a joint venture between Jammu & Kashmir Bank, the US-based MetLife International (26%) and private investors, including Elpro International (13%) and M Pallonji Group (26.1%).