Page 32 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2014 Online Magazine

INDIA SECTION

INDIA MARKET

SpiceJet connects with
Tigerair
New Terminal in Mumbai India’s low-cost airline SpiceJet
India opened the new Terminal 2 (T2) 12, about four weeks after the Ltd. and Singapore’s largest budget
at Chhatrapati Shivaji International inauguration. The government says carrier Tigerair have signed a three-
Airport in Mumbai, capable of handling the new terminal should give a year connectivity agreement. As part
the Airbus A380, the world’s biggest boost to other PPP (private public of the inter-line agreement, which
commercial aircraft. partnership) projects in the country; refers to issue and acceptance of
“With the commissioning of indeed the PPP model has worked tickets for flights operated by the
Terminal-2, Mumbai airport has become well in the civil aviation sector, with partner airlines, SpiceJet travellers
code F compliant and is ready to handle five PPP airports handling about 57% across 14 Indian cities will have direct
A380-type aircraft operations,” Prime of passenger traffic and about 70% of connection to Tigerair’s Singapore-
Minister Manmohan Singh said. For cargo to date. bound flights from Hyderabad
the past few years, foreign airlines that Sanjay Reddy, vice-chairman of GVK airport. Likewise, Tigerair customers
operate the double-deck A380s have been group that runs the airport, said the 55 from Singapore will enjoy access to
petitioning the Indian government to allow billion rupees (US$888 million) spent in SpiceJet’s domestic network.
the aircraft’s entry into the country. building T2 is the lowest compared to The partnership will “represent one
The new terminal is expected to similar airport projects in India as well of the building blocks of the emerging
open for passengers on February as across the world. new SpiceJet,” Sanjiv Kapoor, COO
of SpiceJet says. India eased its FDI
restrictions last year which acted as a
AirAsia to import 10 Aircraft catalyst for significant reforms in the
Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia will objection certificate last September. country’s aviation sector. International
initially import 10 aircraft for its India The import permission is needed before airline groups such as Emirates,
operations, likely to commence in the country’s aviation regulator - the Qatar Airways, All Nippon Airways
March. The carrier, which has already Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Turkish Airlines all recently
received approval for its joint-venture (DGCA) - can issue a flying permit to an expressed interest in investing in an
airline in India, was initially planning airline. The regulator will sanction an air Indian carrier, if an opportunity arises.
to begin operations in the country operating permit only after examining Previously, foreign investors, but not
from December with three Airbus-320 areas such as the aircraft requirement, airlines, were allowed to hold up to a
aircraft and then add 10 Airbus aircraft airworthiness, safety measures, and 49% stake in local airlines.
each year to boost its operations. maintenance, repair and overhaul Since last year’s relaxation in
India’s civil aviation ministry has facilities and, most importantly, foreign investment rules, Indian low-
allowed the airline to import 10 an operation manual detailing the cost carriers SpiceJet and GoAir
aircraft over the current year, including availability of manpower to operate have both reportedly been looking for
three A320 aircraft listed under a no- flights as well as on the ground. foreign partners.

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