June 7 2006 13:40 IST PONDICHERRY: The revival of commercial flight operations from Pondicherry Airport that had been planned from today has been postponed for a few days.
Jagson Airlines, a Delhi-based private operator, which has come forward to operate flights to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati sectors, is now finalising another date to start the operations.
Though the operator had flown the 18-seater Dornier 228 aircraft to Pondicherry on Sunday to start the flight operations, it was postponed as the Government, with which the airline operator had tied up, was planning to bring down the fare from the rates fixed earlier.
“We want to fix the fare from Pondicherry to Chennai at Rs 1000 and Pondicherry to Bangalore and Pondicherry to Tirupati, both at Rs 1500, and have written to the Government for approval,” said an official.
Now, as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government and Jagson Airlines, the Government would be responsible for the sale of nine seats out of total 18 seats.
With the Government proposing to lower the rates to encourage people travel by flight, unless the airline operator also reduces the fare for the tickets they would be selling, there would be differential rates, which is said to be undesirable. The discussion for the finalisation of the rates is going on.
PONDICHERRY: An 18-seater Dornier 228 aircraft was test-flown on Sunday to the Pondicherry airport before the Jagson Airlines resumes its flight services from June 7.
The flight, which took-off from Chennai, landed in the Union Territory at 5.00 pm.
Commander and instructor of the flight B Shekar Datta said, “The Pondicherry Airport has a good runway and the ground is also in good condition.”
When asked about the travel time, he said,
“The flight would reach Chennai in 20 or 22 minutes and it would take 45 minutes to reach Bangalore.”
The flights would be operated to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati.
____________________________________________________________ Flight operations to resume in Pondicherry from June 7 June 4 2006 00:12 IST
PONDICHERRY: Commercial flight operations from Pondicherry airport have been planned to be revived from June 7, after 15 years since Vayudoot stopped its flight operations in 1991.
Jagson Airlines, a Delhi-based private operator, has come forward to operate flights to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati sector and back.
An 18-seater Dornier 228 aircraft is being flown to Pondicherry on Sunday, which would be used for flight operation to all the three destinations, Vinod Malhotra, General Manager (Marketing) and Business Head of Jagson Airlines, told this website’s newspaper.
“We would be operating the flights to all the three destinations daily but confine it to six days a week. There would be no flights on Sunday which would be kept for maintenance of the aircraft. A maintenance unit under H R Sharma, Maintenance Engineer, has been set up to keep the aircraft in good condition,” he said.
The ground clearance from Bangalore and Tirupati has been given but the landing rights from Chennai Airport are awaited. The operator is expecting to get the clearance in the next couple of days.
“As far as Pondicherry airport is concerned, we have received all the clearances from the DGCA and we are ready to operate the flights from June 7,” said Malhotra.
The government has assured guarantee for the sale of 50 percent of the tickets (nine seats) as per the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Jagson Airlines with the Government of Pondicherry earlier.
The Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) would sell nine tickets on behalf of the government, while the tickets for the remaining seats would be sold by the travel agent, Bon Jour Bon Heur Travels.
“Once the green signal is given by the operator, the sale of tickets would begin,” said Abhimookh Patel, Head of Bon Jour Bon Heur Travels.
The airport has been made ready by upgrading and modifying the facilities as per the directions given by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A team comprising Regional Controller of Air Safety Bir Singh Rai and Regional Deputy Commissioner, Civil Aviation Security, P Gauri Shankar, after assessing the facilities at the airport on February 24, issued the directions.
According to officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), the airport already had the logistic support machinery and the 4,000 feet runway was in good shape and did not require any re-laying or repairs.
The airport has been handling trainer aircraft from Orient Flight School and NCC and occasionally some chartered flights.
The Territorial Administration has agreed to provide the manpower required for airport security.
The aircraft security has however, been arranged by the airline operator.
Separate counters for Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati have been put up by the operator. The airport is now ready after the completion of the work last month.
However, there are still some problems as the airport is manned only up to 1 pm. Since three flights are being operated, the schedules are tight.
“If the flights get delayed beyond 1 pm, the operator has to pay an additional amount to the AAI for extended services,” said Malhotra.
Moreover, there was no night landing facilities.
The other drawback is that Pondicherry does not have refuelling facilities and the operator was dependent on Chennai or Bangalore for refuelling. “We have requested oil companies like Indian Oil and others to open a unit here,” said Malhotra.
Jagson Airlines to operate aircraft in Himachal Pradesh Kullu (Himachal Pradesh): In an effort to boost tourism, the Jagson Airlines has announced the introduction of a 33-seater aircraft in Himachal Pradesh.
Jagdeep Gupta, Chairman of the Jagson Airlines, while announcing the start of a 33-seater Dornier-328 Jet in the next 4 months, said that the airfares of this aircraft would be cheap as compared to other 18-seater aircrafts.
“We are planning to introduce a 33-seater aircraft named Dornier-328 Jet in the next 3-4 months in Himachal Pradesh. The airfare of this aircraft will be much lesser than the 18-seater aircraft. With this aircraft, if we start six flights a day, it will promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh,” he said.
“Big aircrafts have always boosted tourism in a state. Similarly, the Dornier 328 which is a pressurised and big aircraft, will boost tourism in Himachal Pradesh as the upper class tourists who never used to avail the services of low class flights will start travelling by this aircraft,” Subhash Sharma, a local tour and travel operator said.
Dornier 328 would be operating from various tourist destinations of Himachal Pradesh to Delhi, and other parts of the country.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked a total of Rs. 2547.71 lakhs for the development of Kullu and Kangra Airports and an amount of Rs. 98.29 lakhs for the development of Shimla Airport. This information was given by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel.
AAI has taken up upgradation works for construction of new terminal building for 100 passengers at a time with all amenities, a new apron accommodate 3 ATR – 42 type of aircraft, new taxi way, new fire station, MT work shop, car park etc. at Kullu-Manali airport. The work of apron and taxiway have been completed, and the work of new terminal building is likely to be completed by 30th June, 2006.
Various development works like strengthening and extension of runway, construction of new apron for parking of two 50 seater aircraft with link taxiway, construction of new terminal building for 100 passengers with car park, new fire station etc. have been undertaken at Kangra (Dharamshala) airport and new control tower cum technical block is under construction and is likely to be completed by 30th June, 2006.
Due to terrain condition, it is not possible to take up further extension of runway at Shimla airport. However, AAI has completed the runway resurfacing work at this airport in July, 2002. AAI also take necessary action from time to time to avoid erosion of land surrounding this airport.
Jagson should use the DO 328s for PNY as well. It's much more comfortable than a DO 228. I have flown in a Yumdoot, sorry Vayudoot DO 228. It's bloody cramped.
Pondicherry, Jun 13: Lt Governor of Pondicherry M M Lakhera will flag-off the first air service from Pondicherry airport here tomorrow, marking the introduction of flight service from here to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.
A release from the Jagson Airlines Limited operating the air services from Pondicherry said the company was confident that the air services from and to Pondicherry would be a permanent affair and it would be expanded in a big way.
It said air services would be operated from Pondicherry to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati.
The Chief Secretary of Pondicherry C S Khairwal and the President and Chief Executive officer of Jagsons airlines U K Bose would be among those who would grace the occasion.
The Pondicherry government had underwritten nine seats to promote air service and the flight will be operated six days a week except Sunday. The company expected to expand the services with bigger aircraft as Pondicherry government had actively taken up the issue of expansion of the airport at Lawspet.
The airport is being activated with the operation of air services now. (Agencies)
First service scheduled to take off to Tirupati, return the same day
No formal function as code of conduct for civic polls is in force
Air services planned to Chennai, Bangalore, Tirupati
READY TO TAKE-OFF: A Dornier aircraft of Jagson Airlines positioned at Pondicherry Airport. — Photo: T. Singaravelou
PONDICHERRY: The inaugural flight from Pondicherry airport is likely to take off on June 14 at 10.30 a.m.
"We have asked Jagson Airlines to commence their operations from June 14," Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Malladi Krishna Rao told The Hindu on Thursday. There would not be a formal function as the code of conduct for civic elections was in force.
The first flight will be to Tirupati, one of the sectors identified by the government. It will return the same day. The passenger service will commence in the ensuing days, according to Chief Secretary C S Khairwal.
Training for police personnel
The training programme for policemen, the only work pending before commencement of operations, will be completed in a few days. On Wednesday the list of 25 policemen, who will be in-charge of the security check, was sent to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, according to sources in the Police department.
According to the MoU signed between the Government and the service provider in February, an 18-seater aircraft, which has been positioned at the airport, will operate to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati.
Schedule, fare
As per the schedule, the first service will take off to Chennai at 7 a.m. and return by 8.20 a.m. It will go to Banglaore at 8.40 a.m. and return by 10.40 a.m. It will take off to Tirupati at 11 a.m. and come back at 1 p.m.
The fare has been fixed at Rs.1,721 for Chennai (children Rs.1,096) and Rs.2,721 for Bangalore (children Rs.1,596) and Tirupati.
It is learnt that the government has asked the service provider to reduce the charges. A decision is pending. There will be a 25 per cent discount in fare as inaugural offer.
As per the agreement, the government will guarantee nine seats for every flight. This will be subject to review depending on the growth in passenger volume.
Jagson Airlines to begin regular flights to Chennai next week
PHOTO:T. SINGARAVELOU
SPECIAL GUESTS: Four students board the Dornier aircraft in Pondicherry.
PONDICHERRY: After a gap of 15 years, Pondicherry is once again on the country's air map. An 18-seater Dornier of private air service provider Jagson Airlines Ltd took off for Tirupati from here on Wednesday morning to mark the restoration of air links to the Union Territory.
Ever since Vayudoot stopped operations from Pondicherry in 1991, the airport has been handling only trainer aircraft from the Orient Flight School and the NCC and the occasional chartered flight. The Jagson Dornier aircraft took off with four special guests and a few officers from the territorial administration after the Lt Governor M.M. Lakhera inaugurated the operations.
The four special guests, Ratnapradeep R, Gayathri Jaubin, both Government School toppers in higher secondary examinations and Vasathaniraja and Sumithra toppers in the SSLC examinations, were all first time air travellers.
"We have launched our operation today, as it is an auspicious day," said Vinod Kumar, Head-Business Development, Jagson Airlines. The airline will commence regular passenger operations to Chennai, Bangalore and Tirupati from next week, most likely from Monday. The flights will be operated on all three sectors daily except on Sundays.
There will be a 25 per cent discount during the initial period. The Government has begun the process of extending the runway from its present length.
Upcoming low-cost airline Jagson Airlines is planning to acquire 20 Airbus A321 aircraft for $1.3 billion. Of the total 20 aircraft, 14 are firm orders and remaining 6 are options for a later date, as the Jagson Airlines expects to launch operations by April this year."
Just because more airlines are using ATR,s for their turboprop operations doenst mean Dornier is crap? Havent travelled in DO328 but do have travelled in 9W,s ATR 72-500 and it was crap...
But maybe Dornier 328 is a better machine. U just cant compare till u have actually experienced both
Yes, dorniers are "dabbas" or flying match-boxes LH operates two on charter services (their cost is lower than their other small jets).
We flew in that from Berlin to Hamburg and i was at first place thinkin whether they will take off or not.
Then once we were airborne I was wondering if a level 1 turbulence wud come then wat wud happen to the aircraft. Forget level2 or level 3 or more than that.
When on approach i was wondering if theur brakes wud work or how bad wud be the touch-down.
But finally everything ended as it shud and return from Hamburg to Frankfurt we flew in the regular Lufthansa.
But it was not so bad as I had thought.
rgds
the_380
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Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
As you can see from the above stats, the ATR-42 is much faster, carries more and flies farther than the Dornier 228. In fact, these two aircraft are in a different league altogether and its not quite fair to compare them. Its like comparing a Boeing 777 with an Airbus A320 - two different category of aircraft.
However, I say that an ATR would be a better bet for Jagson as this would mean higher carrying capacity and a better range. In a thundersorm or turbulence, an ATR would hold its own better than the Dornier.
Dornier is definitely not a better machine in any way!! It is more suited for a very short haul flight or charter flights.
vabby wrote:
R u sure ATR,s are better than Dornier??? Havent travelled in DO328 but do have travelled in 9W,s ATR 72-500 and it was crap...But maybe Dornier 328 is a better machine