Vested interests spreading canard against Air India

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Aug 29: Air India has criticized a section of the media for spreading a canard about splurging crores of rupees on organising a function recently to coincide with the Air India Day. "The reporting is totally baseless, mischievous and devoid of truth," according to a spokesperson of Air India.

The spokesperson said "it is reiterated that Air India is fully aware of its responsibilities towards the judicious use of tax payer's money and we are always committed to serve the nation to the best of our capabilities."

Air India organized Air India Day on August 27 "to uphold the tradition of Air India to rise to the occasion whenever the nation demands even putting at risk the lives of our brave staffs including pilots, cabin crews, engineers and ground staffs."

"The function was intended to felicitate our brave employees who have shown exemplary courage and devotion to the duty while going on rescue operations to bring back hundreds of our countrymen from the conflict zone in Iraq and Libya. Also Air India wanted to honour our courageous pilots who have efficiently negotiated emergency landing while the aircraft was on fire."

"All this was intended to instill a sense of pride and confidence in our workforce who are slowly coming out of low morale over the period of difficult days in the company. It was perfectly timed to celebrate our entry into Star Alliance ushering an era of improved product of Air India on a global platform. We also felicitated our business partners for their continued support in our difficult period," added the spokesperson.

While Air India is trying to regain its past glory with hard earned successes in the recent time, the spokesperson said "there is a concerted effort on the part of a section of media to derail and demoralise our promise to success. This section is showing undue harshness and resorting to biased, concocted, baseless and demeaning reporting in recent days to malign our reputations particularly when Air India is showing definite promise."

It was pointed out that a canard has been spread by a section of vested media that crores were spent on the function, whereas the fact is that the total expenditure on the occasion was just around Rs 10 lakhs. All participants in the cultural function were talents of employees of the company only. No outside artist was associated with the program. All outstation employees participated in the function were accommodated in the hotel owned by Air India subsidiary.

The spokesperson said Air India deplores and condemns biased media reporting particularly when it is farthest from the truth. Air India is also exploring to take up the issue to appropriate forum.

Air India offers tickets for Rs 100

NEW DELHI, Aug 26: Air India will sell tickets for Rs 100 (taxes extra) for five days from Wednesday - which it will celebrate as Air India Day to commemorate the merger of erstwhile Indian Airlines and Air India on this day in 2007.

"On this occasion Air India is launching the Air India Offer for its travellers. Under the scheme tickets will be offered for Rs 100 apart from all applicable taxes. The sale of these tickets will be made only through the Air India website for five days from August 27 to 31 2014 for travel between August 27 and September 30, 2014, only," an AI statement said.

This is the first time that the airline will be celebrating the Air India Day. A function will be held to celebrate the day and also to award the meritorious employees of Air India.

First seaplane service from Mumbai takes off for Lonavala

MUMBAI, Aug 25: The Mumbai-Lonavla seaplane service, which launched on Monday from Juhu aerodrome, was delayed by almost an hour and 30 minutes due to visibility issues and an enthusiastic media contingent, which crowded around the plane clicking photos. " The Air Traffic Control gave us a ten-minute clearance around 11am but since we couldn't clear the space, we missed that time slot," explained Mansi Shirodkar, who is handling the public relations for Maritime Energy Heli Air Services Pvt Ltd (Mehair), which launched the service along with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation.

While seven passengers boarded the Cessna 208 Amphibian at 11.55am, only three returned around two hours later to a red carpet - or rather, red staircase - welcome. Real estate consultant, Vishesh Verma, described the experience as "superb" and "amazing". The plane, which flies at a height of about 7,000 ft, gives passengers a bird's-eye view of the city. "It's different from flying in a normal aircraft because the clouds are all around you and you can see what you are flying over the entire time," added Verma.

The plane, which landed on Pawana dam in Lonavla, was manned by Captain Priyanka Manuja, who has been flying sea planes for Mehair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the last three years. After landing on the dam, passengers were whisked to a small boat club via a speed boat. But even while alighting, none of them showed the slightest hint of trepidation though the youngest passenger was only nine. " Everyone loved it and the nine-year-old was the most excited passenger on board," said Manuja.

Pet Relocation Service Launched at Delhi Airport

By Deepak Arora

Photographs By Noyanika Arora

NEW DELHI:

There are many people who love their pets -- be it a cat or a dog -- like their children. However, they had to go through a cumbersome process if they wanted to fly their pets.

Now that’s a thing of the past at least at Delhi airport. Pet Fly, in collaboration with Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates IGI airport, has launched an end-to-end pet care service to relocate pets worldwide.

Pet Fly facility was inaugurated by I Prabhakara Raoj, Chief Executive Officer of DIAL, along with Dr Vijay Kumar Teotia from the Customs and Animal Quarantine Office, Agricultural Ministry, Sajjan Singh Yadav, Secretary-cum-Commissioner, Department of Food, Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Delhi Government, Marcel Hungerbuehler, Chief Operating Officer, DIAL, and Pradeep Panicker, Chief Commercial Officer (Aero), DIAL.

The top management of Pet Fly -- Dr. S.K. Choudhary, Chief Operating Officer; Dr (Mrs.) Premlata Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer; Sonia Nandal, Director (Operations) along with other staff welcomed the distinguished guests by applying traditional tilak on their foreheads and flowers.

Others present on the occassion included Sushant Nigam, GM Cargo, DIAL; Vipan Jain of Lufthansa Cargo and Yezdi Cooper of Cambata Aviation.

Dr Choudhary informed that about 1,000 to 1,500 pet animals per annum are imported andexported and carried to and from India as manifested cargo and about 500 to 1,000 go as accompanied excess baggage.

Pet Fly promised to make a hassle-free journey for the animals. The first of its kind pet travel information and facilitation desk in the country would help passengers fly without fearing handling problems and cumbersome regulatory clearance procedures for their pets.

Earlier, pet owners had to make rounds of various offices and book their pets in cargo before boarding their flight.

But now, to send the pet, a passenger will have two options - either they can send their pet through cargo or it can be booked on excess baggage ticket with the airline, said Mr Prabhakara Rao.

Pet Fly would ensure friendly travel for pets and take care of all the necessary formalities including quarantine, passport, custom clearance, travel (domestic and international), flight booking, pick, drop, inspection and consultation.

For passengers who want to take their pets as an excess baggage, the pet owners will have to visit the 'Pet Fly' desk, which will facilitate them in seeking clearance from the airline, accommodate pet in a kennel of appropriate size and get it checked-in as excess baggage.

The kennel is then scanned through X-ray machine before passenger boards the flight with their pets.

"Earlier sending a pet through airport was a cumbersome and time consuming process for the passengers. But with the launch of the pet facilitating desk, you can now be assured for an end-to-end solution for all your pet's travel needs. We are excited to welcome 'Pet Fly' as the latest addition to our ever growing IGIA family," said Prabhakara Rao.

The desk would also help passengers wanting to fly abroad with their pet or coming from abroad.

For international departures and arrivals, clearance from Customs and Animal Quarantine Office are required and the desk would help the flyers in obtaining them.

Rao said "being pioneer in India for introducing unique experiences to our passengers, DIAL wanted to take a step further by ensuring better and professional facility for the comfortable journey of your pet."

Pet Fly is a member of International Pet & Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and Animal Transport Association (ATA).

Earlier, Dr. S.K. Choudhary said there was no Pet Travel Assist Desk or clinical facility recommendations in case of any emergency. In case of delays in the departure of flights or process of clearance of pets, there have been reported cases from pet owners at various instances about serious mishaps.

Given our experience through various international pet tours and conferences, Dr Choudhary said “we believe the Indian pet travel industry needs to take a cue from global animal handling, coordination and veterinary service models.”

India has to match internationally recognized pet travel standards and the business successes of the Dubai Kennel and Cattery (DKC), The Frankfurt (Lufthansa Cargo) Animal Lounge, Air France — KLM Cargo and Martin air Cargo Animal Hotel in Amsterdam and Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) at London, UK.

Given our commitment as professional pet care entrepreneurs, industry stakeholders, international pet travel consultants and recognized veterinarians, Dr Choudhary said “we are critically concerned about the welfare of pet animals with the recurrent case scenarios of flight delays,flight cancellations, delays in clearance processes in imports, delays in deportation of pets, routine export/import clearance and medical emergencies and pet escapes.

Pet Fly would provide Pet Care Services to the pet animals in case of flight delays, flight cancellations, delays in clearance processes and medical emergencies, Check-in Assistance for Pets; Facilitation with Custom procedures and Security Clearance for Pets.

Dr Choudhary said “we have professionally trained animal handling staff will be appointed to manage the import and export facilitation of Pets, in a pet-friendly environment.”

He also suggested secure and temperature-modulated animal transport vehicles: From Passenger terminal to the aircraft; Expert re-verification of export/import documentation and scanning of microchip/ reading the tattoo; Availability of pet food/water supplies/ pet bedding/other pet needs; and Provision for pets to be taken out for necessary walks.

Pet Fly service desk is operated by India’s first veterinarian-owned pet relocation Company that received an accolade in year 2011 at the IPATA Conference mheld at Hong Kong, one among also having personally visited the animal facilities at various international airports.

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