avcritic

I am guessing you are looking for evidence on how Indian regulators help foreign carriers and restrict Indian carriers.

This is what I gathered so far.

1) 5/20 Rule - Doesn't allow Indian carriers operate international routes
2) Unlimited bilateral quotas - Allows foreign carriers dump capacity
3) ATF taxes - Some duties on ATF are only on Indian carriers
4) Duty on parts - Foreign carriers in India can import same part duty free
5) Foreign FAs not allowed - Indian carriers cannot hire foreign FAs. Probably the stupidest rule because expat Pilots and foreign born CEOs are allowed.

Can you quote one country where aviation regulators help foreign carriers more than their own. If you see current US Open Skies issue, almost every politician and government agency sides with US carriers.

AI caught my attention recently because CNN is covering AI. Do Google/YouTube search and this AI FA grounding story is all over the world. Not sure if CNN relies on Daily Mail.

oliver2002

Training an FA takes 6 weeks, a pilot takes really longer...?

HMPS

I questioned your earlier remaks that were made in reference to the " reassignment" of FAs who did not meet the BMI criteria. What you listed may not affect security of pax !

It does, also more hours of operations. But then again how many cases of pilot's certifications without fulfilling the theory and practicals ?

avcritic

Aha, I misread your comments. Is Indian CAA checking BMI of foreign FAs landed on their soil??? We all know answer to that question. Nothing unique to Indian CAA, it is the ICAO.

Emphasis of my comment was on they are not fired, assuming these are senior FAs who get priority in bidding system, reassigning is the best option. Otherwise they will bid all good destinations killing brand image and cabin experience.

Air India operates to quite a few foreign countries, wouldn't it help to have couple of FAs from that country in the (premium) cabin. AI could hire Indian citizens of foreign origin, or the most preferred from Eastern Europe. They are cheaper to hire on a 3 year contract than these on employment for life program who cannot be fired.

HMPS

OK Reassigned. Fired is what I read on a news report.
almost all airlines have multilingual crew members. I do not know if there are any rules that dictate requirement of a CC who can speak the language of the destination countries.
I can swear that I have often heard (almost always) multilingual announcements.

avcritic

Keeping AI's long standing tradition of surplus wide bodies, AI decided not to convert 3x77W slots to 737MAX slots.

Are they crazy, they should cancel all remaining wide body orders and place large narrow body order.

Penalty will be cheaper than financing AOGs.

HMPS

Who will return some of the "other" monies ?

jubbing

Which routes does Air India fly first class on?

deovrat

JFK, EWR, ORD, SFO, LHR and some middle eastern routes like RUH, JED, etc.

wolf72

Is it really worth flying AI on their dreamliner from Delhi to Chandigarh? It's a mega short flight no?

Bioflyer

Are you sure talking about IXC and not ATQ? As far as I know there is only 1 AI DEL-IXC flight and that too on miniscule A319 and no dreamliners on route!!

onlysuites

Its around 1hr of seat time by the time you board and get off. Depends what you want from it?

Whizkid

Has Jet Airways discontinued the online booking bonus of 500 Miles - I could not find a reference to it in the new website

oliver2002

CCU is suffering from 310-350m visibility fog, everyone is diverting...

http://www.aviationweather.gov/metar...ate=0&hours=36
Air Asia:
http://www.flightradar24.com/XAX197/84dc5f8
Thai:
http://www.flightradar24.com/TG313/84da7cb

Flyfromscratch

Isn't this decades old news ?? Everyone has been diverting from CCU since forever