Airlines Help CAA’s repatriation scheme for Thomas Cook passengers

Thomas Cook has collapsed, leaving over 600,000 holidaymakers facing uncertainty over their travel plans. Read More : Thomas Cook Collapsed, Other European Airlines on Brink As a result, the Civil Aviation Authority has launched repatriation flights for Brits stranded abroad following the firm’s collapse. The scheme will be operating for theRead More →

source https://ncairways.co/airlines-help/

Maharashtra Elections, 2019: Congress, NCP Staring at a Galling Scenario

September 16, 2019. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress have finalised the seat-sharing pact in next month’s 288-seat Maharashtra legislative assembly elections. As per the arrangement, each will contest 125 seats while 38 seats will be left for the allies to contest. The NCP chief Sharad Pawar hasRead More →

source https://ncairways.co/galling-scenario/

Entrepreneur David Neeleman Sees Nothing Unusual in Used Embraers for a New Airline Venture

Meet airline entrepreneur David Neeleman. His earlier successful ventures include JetBlue Airways, Canada’s WestJet Airlines and Brazil’s Azul. In 2013, Neeleman first startup failed, the airline partner he was working with went out of business. He shortly thereafter received a call from June Morris, who encouraged him to come and build Morris.Read More →

source https://ncairways.co/david-neeleman/

Beyond the Anxiety: Why More and More IAS Officers are Choosing to Resign

Its official now. An anxiety among IAS is visibly growing. A number of bureaucrats have said they were unhappy that the role of IAS officers was diminishing at the Centre.Read More →

source https://ncairways.co/ias-resign/

Low-cost airline launches direct flights between Georgia and Denmark

Baku, Azerbaijan, September 14 By Tamilla Mammadova. Direct regular flights are launched between Georgia and Denmark, Trend reports referring to the Civil Aviation Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Flights will be operated by Hungarian low-cost WizzAir airline. So far, direct flights between Denmark andRead More →

source https://ncairways.co/low-cost-airline-launches-direct-flights-between-georgia-and-denmark/

Three New Destinations from Bulgaria in the Airlines’ Winter Schedule

Direct flights from Sofia to Marseille, France start from 2 October. They are part of the new itineraries that a number of airlines add to their winter schedule, including Bulgaria. The flights will be operated twice a week – on Wednesday and Sunday, with the flight from Sofia at noonRead More →

source https://ncairways.co/three-new-destinations-from-bulgaria-in-the-airlines-winter-schedule-novinite-com-sofia-news-agency/

In 100 Years, Britain Gets a Taste of its Own Medicine

This is a normal dispute seen and felt regularly in the industry. The workers demand more pay, while the employer stays reluctant in accepting the demands of its workers. In the case of British Airways, it took nearly 100 years since its inception for such a situation to come.Read More →

source https://ncairways.co/medicine/

Air India Life Curve Sees the Lowest Trough, Will it Ever Recover?

By August 22, 2019, Air India's life cycle hit a new low. It had lost a huge amount of credibility. Its employees started to feel the loss of their social status. Read More →

source https://ncairways.co/air-india-life/

‘There’s No Such Thing as an Old Airplane’: VP, Engineering, American Airlines

ST. LOUIS
September 4, 2019.American Airlines retires the classic McDonnell Douglas 140-seat MD-80 planes.

American Airlines has been phasing out its MD-80 aircraft. The last of its 26 aircraft took its final flight from St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. These planes served American Airlines for more than 35 years. The aeroplane, nicknamed Super 80 by the airline, has been with the Airline since 1983. Then, the airline used to operate just three of them. In 20 years period, the airline had 362 such planes. This was nearly one-third of all the MD-80s ever made. The MD-80s, went on to become the workhorses of the American Airline fleet. The MD-80s literally made the TWA.

Captain William Jagust, American Airlines pilot, having 14,000 hours of flying this plane said, “I’ve always taken off with two engines running and landed with two engines running.”

John Beavers, vice president of engineering at American Airlines believes that there is no such thing as an old aeroplane. “All (planes) have to meet the same standard; out of the factory or flying for us 30 years,” he says.

Also Read: Passenger frustrations rise as American Airlines struggles 

The MD-80s are being retired to Roswell, New Mexico, where they perhaps will be deployed as cargo planes. They, indeed, are quality aircraft.

Headquartered in St. Louis, the MD-80s took TWA to a top airline. The MD-80 was a part of the fabric of St. Louis.

Over the past few years, American has been replacing the ageing, MD-80s with the newer, fuel-efficient 160-seat Boeing 737-800s. However, the MD-80 was one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft when it was first introduced. At present, the airline operates 300 Boeing 737-800s and has orders for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.
“Since 2013, American has invested more than $28 billion in its product and people and now flies the youngest fleet among US network carriers,” the airline said in a press release.
Delta Air Lines still operates MD-88s, and MD-80s are still in operation overseas, so it’s not a final goodbye for MD-80s. It signals the end of an era for American Airlines’ Super 80 planes.

source https://ncairways.co/american-airlines-md-80-planes/

India’s Actions in Kashmir Bring Varied Reactions in the USA

5th August 2019. The Indian government ended the special status for Jammu & Kashmir and reorganised it into two Union Territories,

The Indian-American community in the US has urged the Trump administration to “fully support” India’s decision to revoke the constitutional provision that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir and to continue to exert pressure on Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism.

“…so the Kashmir conflict can be resolved once and for all,” Samir Kalra, managing director of Hindu-American Foundation (HAF), said.

Krishna Reddy, President of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP), said that this is Narendra Modi government’s best gift to the nation on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day of India. “It is a historic day as Modi government could deliver a long-awaited decision of scrapping this special status and corrected the historic blunder made by the Nehru government,” Reddy said. According to him, OFBJP and other Indian diaspora organisations are organising celebratory events in the coming next two weeks.

The World Hindu Council of America welcomed the decision. It said that with the removal of article 370, the regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh will finally be fully integrated with the rest of India, allowing effective and sustainable development in these regions.

New York-based attorney Ravi Batra said that this action must deliver enhanced peace and security to Jammu and Kashmir.

Weeks after India abolished Article 370 and moved a separate bill to split the state into two union territories of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, attention on the issue persists in the USA, with many members of the U.S. Congress entering the fray. Jammu and Kashmir have been under strict restrictions since the government announced its decision to end its special status.

Ted Lieu, a California Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, had tweeted that he had heard from his constituents that they were unable to reach their families in Kashmir.

Then, another representative Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, tweeted, referring to the comment: “I am excited to see so many members joining us in calling attention to what is happening in Kashmir. Please continue to call your members and ask them to speak up. We expect openness from India.”

The latest lawmaker to join the fray is the US senator and the seasoned Democrat leader Bernie Sanders. He said on Saturday said that the United States must support UN-backed peaceful resolution in Kashmir, adding that he was “deeply concerned about the situation” in Jammu and Kashmir.

The 77-year-old presidential contender, speaking at an event, emphasised that the “communication blockade must be lifted immediately” in the Kashmir Valley.

Barely a week ago, the US President Donald Trump had discussed Jammu and Kashmir “at great length” with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit at Biarritz in France.

During the discussion, the Indian PM Modi had stressed on the fact that India and Pakistan were one before 1947 and all issues between the two were bilateral; we don’t want to trouble any third country — categorically rejecting any third-party mediation.

President Trump had twice offered to mediate on Kashmir. He later said: “The Prime Minister really feels that he has the situation under control… I have very good relationship with both the gentlemen (PM Modi and Imran Khan) and I’m here. I think they can do it (resolve the issue) themselves”.

Earlier, Congressman Tom Suozzi had written a letter to the secretary of state Mike Pompeo to express his concerns on the human rights situation in Kashmir after India scrapped the Article 370. But, later he had to call an emergency meeting of his Indian-American voters to apologise for not consulting them before writing the letter.

There are several Indian-Americans, who form a major part of Suozzi’s Congressional District in New York. They normally play a key role in his election and fundraising. These Indian-Americans had become agitated over Suozzi’s letter. Soon, Suozzi’s office was flooded with angry messages.

The ground reality.

India at this stage, day and age is not an entity to mess up with. It’s a powerful economy, a huge consumer market and a powerful democracy. Today, its neighbour Pakistan finds itself isolated globally as it tried to mess up with India. The visible change in geopolitics needs to be well understood. Every country has its interests in India. Saudi and other Muslim nations do not go against India, they do not want to miss investment opportunities in India. They have honoured the Indian PM with their highest civilian awards. The UAE has openly supported India.

The US also needs India to offset China. Russia is a childhood friend of India. Even China has its trade and commerce interests in India. Thus, India, the world’s largest democracy, remains critical for the region’s security and peace.

Indian Americans in the USA are increasingly being seen as a force to be reckoned with. Since they are highly educated, qualified and skilful, they are assets to the USA. Every politician in the USA needs their support. They neither live on benefits nor breed like rabbits. They are respected and loved everywhere for the strides India has made in almost every sphere of human activity. The case of Chandrayan-2 emphasises that India has passed where even the USA has failed. While Pakistan’s ideology depends upon paid PR agencies to subvert truths, India’s strength is this very diaspora. It does all of this simply for the love of the Nation it is proud of.

source https://ncairways.co/india-kashmir/

Can $5 Trillion Economy Dream will ever come true?

Dr Manmohan Singh, the noted Indian economist and politician, was a member of the Upper House of Parliament from Assam for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2019. 

He served India in key positions: RBI governor, finance minister and then as its Prime Minister for two consecutive terms between 2004 and 2014.

When his term in the Rajya Sabha ended on 14 June 2019, his party, the Congress, was unable to renominate him because the Congress did not have the required strength to send him to the Rajya Sabha from Assam again. Time and political fortunes had changed dramatically. Power had slipped out of Congress’ hands. It could not take Assam taken for granted any more. There was no other Rajya Sabha vacancy left.

A Rajya Sabha by-poll was necessitated in Rajasthan due to the death of its member Madan Lal Saini. Then the Congress nominated him  while the BJP did not field any candidate against him. Under such conditions, Dr Manmohan Singh was elected unopposed to the Upper House in August 2019.

Also Read : Manmohan Singh elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha

Political fortunes have swung in such a way that today the BJP can be termed as the strongest and biggest political party in the world. It can afford to concede one Rajya Sabha seat.

Later Manmohan Singh’s security cover was downgraded from the SPG (Special Protection Group) rank to Z+ by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It was reviewed as a routine professional procedure, based on the threat perception.

Also Read : Manmohan Singh’s Security Cover Degraded

Within 15 days of his election to the Rajya Sabha, the former Prime Minister returned his opponent’s, the BJP’s, favour in his own characteristic way. He severely criticised the BJP for its economic measures.

Dr Manmohan Singh’s recent statement urging the government to “put aside vendetta politics, and reach out to all sane voices to steer our economy out of a man-made crisis” caused ripples in India’s eco-political circles.

The current finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman reacted: “Has he said that? All right, thank you, I will take his statement on it. That is my answer,” she said. Her statement came while she was addressing the media after an interaction with tax officials at an event in Chennai.

Dr Manmohan Singh blamed the Centre’s “all-round mismanagement” for the economic slowdown in the country. He said the Modi government’s policies are resulting in massive jobless growth.

“Rural India is in terrible shape. Farmers are not receiving adequate prices and rural incomes have declined. The low inflation rate that the Modi government likes to showcase comes at the cost of our farmers and their incomes, by inflicting misery on over 50% of India’s population,” Singh said.

He said the state of the economy is deeply worrying and insisted that last quarter’s GDP growth rate of 5% signals that the country is in the midst of a prolonged slowdown.

India has the potential to grow at a much faster rate but all-round mismanagement by the Modi government has resulted in this slowdown, he said in a statement.

“It is particularly distressing that the manufacturing sector’s growth is tottering at 0.6%. This makes it very clear that our economy has not yet recovered from the man-made blunders of demonetisation and a hastily implemented GST,” Singh said.

The former Prime Minister said domestic demand was depressed and consumption growth has hit an 18-month low. The nominal GDP growth is at a 15-year low. “There is a gaping hole in tax revenues. Tax buoyancy remains elusive as businessmen, small and big, are hounded and tax terrorism continues unabated. Investor sentiments are in the doldrums. These are not the foundations for economic recovery.”

However, the fact of the matter is : ‘There has been a sharp increase in filing returns by August 31, 2019. So far 56.5 mn returns have been filed for the assessment year 2019-20. The record – 196 returns per second- was attained mainly because the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had taken a number of initiatives like offering pre-filled forms as well as guidance to taxpayers through social media. e-filing of returns rose 32-63% compared to the corresponding days a year ago.

When asked if the Centre acknowledges that there is an economic slowdown, Sitharaman said, “I am meeting industries and taking their inputs, suggestions on what they would want and expect from government, I am responding to them. I have already done this twice. I will do it more number of times.”

On Friday, Sitharaman announced the consolidation of 10 state-run lenders into four bigger banks. Currently, there are 18 public sector lenders, compared to 27 in 2017. There will be only 12 after the mergers.

Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will combine to form the nation’s second-largest lender. State Bank of India (SBI) is the country’s largest lender.

The second merger will be between Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank, which will make it the fourth-largest public sector lender. Union Bank of India will amalgamate with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank and Indian Bank will merge with Allahabad Bank.

It was the present Modi government which aimed to put India as a $5 Trillion Economy. 

Eco-observers view Dr Manmohan Singh statements as a mild attempt to score some mileage for the Congress. He has only criticised the government but did not make any suggestion. Throughout his 10-year tenure, the former PM rarely expressed his opinion. He was famous for his silence. Analysts have shown surprise that at last, he has found some voice now, it is a miracle. But they add that as an eco-expert he is not saying anything different than media. He does not see that this slow down is a global phenomenon. The economies of China, Russia, Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa are also under stress. In India, though, the inflation is still under control. At least the Modi government is able to run a solid and corruption-free government.

The Modi government is doing everything possible to rectify the blunders committed during the 10-year rule of the UPA. Bad loans during that period have today hampered the NPA of the banks. The Modi government strengthened infra, reduced bureaucracy, eliminated terror attacks, cut corruption, caught the corrupt and above all it did what the earlier governments could not do in 70 years. It deleted the article 370.

With all such big disruptive decisions taken by the present government, the economy was bound to take a hit in the short term, but Dr Manmohan Singh could not see that it is headed for a better future. Only time will tell whether the $5 Trillion Economy Dream will ever come true!

source https://ncairways.co/5-trillion/