Transit travel to/from India under the 'air bubble' agreements [ends 27 March 2022]
Mar 28, 2022, 7:16 am
#1861
Join Date: Mar 2022
Posts: 27
Sure, for everybody.
I was talking about a discriminatory trade practice of selling such connections to anybody but not Indian nationals, the original context of this issue. First of all, none of the booking engines are set up to sell or not sell tickets depending on nationality. Second, for what possible reason would they want to do this?
I am not sure where you are going with these generic statements that doesn’t apply to the discussion at hand.
I was talking about a discriminatory trade practice of selling such connections to anybody but not Indian nationals, the original context of this issue. First of all, none of the booking engines are set up to sell or not sell tickets depending on nationality. Second, for what possible reason would they want to do this?
I am not sure where you are going with these generic statements that doesn’t apply to the discussion at hand.
fine for Indian nationals to transit over London with no need for transit visa as of March 27th(yesterday). So I was able to book tickets. Thank you all all the folks here who had great advice & information.
Mar 29, 2022, 1:25 am
#1862
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: EY
Posts: 852
From the very inception of the bubble agreements, at no given point in time was it ever based on anything other than trying to help Air India & bullying other countries to bend to their will. I know this for a fact because the 'then' Civil Aviation Minister said this to me himself a number of times.
They saw Covid as an opportunity to prop Air India up as a tool for political, monetary & PR gains.
They saw Covid as an opportunity to prop Air India up as a tool for political, monetary & PR gains.
Mar 29, 2022, 1:40 am
#1863
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Agreed, but at the end of it all (and a new civil aviation minister), what was the end result/did they get any concessions in 6th freedom rights, etc? The latest memo said everyone goes back to pre covid allowances /agreements, Emirates is back to 2019 levels of flights as of next week for example. I'm glad it's over at least.
Mar 29, 2022, 5:12 am
#1864
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,748
It probably helped dress up Air India balance sheet while they were putting the lipstick on the pig for sale. If it helped the sale, it was a huge success! Hard to say without knowing the terms of the sale, whether it had some financial performance, new customers or load guarantees, etc.
Mar 29, 2022, 5:21 am
#1865
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It probably helped dress up Air India balance sheet while they were putting the lipstick on the pig for sale. If it helped the sale, it was a huge success! Hard to say without knowing the terms of the sale, whether it had some financial performance, new customers or load guarantees, etc.
Mar 29, 2022, 10:47 am
#1866
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,748
Typically such sales arrangements come with covenants of minimum balance sheet health, performance and load factors, etc to be met for closing or triggering revaluation of price. In this case, both Tata and Govt benefit from making the sale a success, to justify the price Tata paid in optics and to validate Govt’s decision to sell in a positive spin. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tata announces some magnificient numbers in any of the metrics they choose around 6 months after the sale. Govt delivered pretty much a monopoly for Air India for Indian nationals that would most certainly make some of those numbers look good. This is what I meant by lipstick on a pig. Look for a lot of chest beating then from the administration officials on how their “brave and wise” decision helped unleash the potential of Air India and only they could do it.
Mar 29, 2022, 1:47 pm
#1867
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It is never that simple. Tata would have extracted blood from the Govt to give them a face saving exit both direct and indirect because AI was bleeding badly.
Typically such sales arrangements come with covenants of minimum balance sheet health, performance and load factors, etc to be met for closing or triggering revaluation of price. In this case, both Tata and Govt benefit from making the sale a success, to justify the price Tata paid in optics and to validate Govt’s decision to sell in a positive spin. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tata announces some magnificient numbers in any of the metrics they choose around 6 months after the sale. Govt delivered pretty much a monopoly for Air India for Indian nationals that would most certainly make some of those numbers look good. This is what I meant by lipstick on a pig. Look for a lot of chest beating then from the administration officials on how their “brave and wise” decision helped unleash the potential of Air India and only they could do it.
Typically such sales arrangements come with covenants of minimum balance sheet health, performance and load factors, etc to be met for closing or triggering revaluation of price. In this case, both Tata and Govt benefit from making the sale a success, to justify the price Tata paid in optics and to validate Govt’s decision to sell in a positive spin. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tata announces some magnificient numbers in any of the metrics they choose around 6 months after the sale. Govt delivered pretty much a monopoly for Air India for Indian nationals that would most certainly make some of those numbers look good. This is what I meant by lipstick on a pig. Look for a lot of chest beating then from the administration officials on how their “brave and wise” decision helped unleash the potential of Air India and only they could do it.
Tata was in line to take over the airline even before the pandemic. Covid just delayed the deal by a couple of years. Given this fact there is no way the government would have done anything to put Tata in a better bargaining position.
Mar 29, 2022, 11:50 pm
#1868
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,748
I don't believe the Covid bubble benefit AI received had any bearing on Tata's decision.
Tata was in line to take over the airline even before the pandemic. Covid just delayed the deal by a couple of years. Given this fact there is no way the government would have done anything to put Tata in a better bargaining position.
Tata was in line to take over the airline even before the pandemic. Covid just delayed the deal by a couple of years. Given this fact there is no way the government would have done anything to put Tata in a better bargaining position.
Mar 30, 2022, 12:21 am
#1869
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Mar 30, 2022, 9:37 pm
#1870
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,748
We are talking about two different things though. Decision process for Tata to purchase vs terms of sale. I have no disagreements with your view on Tata having been the best/only viable option.
Mar 30, 2022, 11:24 pm
#1871
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Apr 1, 2022, 1:21 pm
#1872
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
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Posts: 973
AI is still benefiting some what on US flights. United has cancelled BOM flights and SFO flights and the DEL flights they are avoiding Russian air space, while AI is flying through Russian air space (where it makes sense) and is continuing with all its flights.
In fact AI is now flying 10 to 11 times a week from SFO. AI also has resumed Australia flights as well. End of bubble means that TK, Thai and other assortment of airlines (Finnair, LOT etc.) can now fly like they did before pandemic and SQ can now sell connections to India.
In fact AI is now flying 10 to 11 times a week from SFO. AI also has resumed Australia flights as well. End of bubble means that TK, Thai and other assortment of airlines (Finnair, LOT etc.) can now fly like they did before pandemic and SQ can now sell connections to India.
Jun 3, 2022, 9:15 pm
#1874
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After the end of the bubble I heard more flights were announced especially from the Gulf sector. EY does not seem to increased services as TRV is still not back and COK is only once daily. Any news if these were permanent cuts?