PTI

Air Sahara to seek damages

June 29, 2006

Sahara Airlines is demanding damages to the tune of Rs. 2000 crores from Jet Airways for allegedly engineering a process to destroy a market competitor. Sahara is also going to cite erosion of its employee base and market share because of the illegal acts of Jet Airways who backed out from the agreement without any justification showing malafide intentions of the opposite party who did not honour its committment in shareholders’ agreement.

The most important allegation of Sahara Group is that the deal was deliberately sabotaged by Jet Airways to force the Sahara Airlines to reduce the deal amount from Rs. 2300 crores to Rs. 1800 crores.

It is the beginning of an intense and long drawn legal battle between the two over the failed deal.

Allegations of Jet Airways MD Naresh Goyal having links with the underworld mafia don Dawood Ibrahim and Sahara Group chief Subroto Roy having tremendous clout in Uttar Pradesh in view of his proximity with UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav are now open secrets.

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=132172

Air Sahara to go solo on int’l flight 
 
Has permission to operate long haul int’l flights 
 
NEELASRI BARMAN
Posted online: Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 0000 hours IST 
  
 
MUMBAI, JUNE 28:  With its Rs 2,300-crore merger deal with Jet Airways running into rough weather, Air Sahara is planning to go ahead with its international plans on its own.
The carrier is exploring the possibility of starting international operations from September this year. The earlier plan was that the single entity formed after the merger would operate domestic as well as international flights.

Air Sahara president Alok Sharma told FE, “We will be starting our international operations from September and we are looking at destinations like Thailand and China to start with.” The airline already operates flights to Colombo and Kathmandu. The carrier also has the permission to operate long-haul international flights.

Currently, Air-India is the only airline from India flying to China. Indian Airlines and Air-India cater to the Thailand route. Jet Airways also has plans to fly to Thailand.

After the fallout of the deal with Sahara, Jet has discontinued the Amritsar-London flight as it was using Air Sahara’s aircraft for the operation.

Down But Not Out
Existing routes
Colombo and Kathmandu
Status quo
A-I is the only airline from India flying to China
Fleet size
27 aircrafts, which includes 20 Boeing and 7 Bombardier Canadair regional jets
" We will start our international operations from September and are looking at destinations like Thailand & China "
— Alok Sharma
President, Air Sahara
 
Sharma said that the airline's revenues from international operations are quite healthy. "Initially, we are targeting a 15% revenue from international routes and we expect it to go up to 40% in the next five years," said Sharma. The airline at present has a fleet of 27 aircrafts, which includes 20 Boeing and 7 Bombardier Canadair regional jets.

The company is also evaluating the option of opting for Airbus 330/340 and Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline has not taken a decision on the type of aircraft, which will be deployed for international operations.

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...on hiring spree
Sagar Malviya
Mumbai, June 28
Air Sahara is all set to go for mass hiring after the exit of many employees post the Jet-Sahara merger muddle. Since January, Air Sahara has lost more than 300 employees, which includes several pilots also.

Air Sahara president Alok Sharma said, “The airline will hire about 700 employees mainly consisting of pilots and cabin crew in the next six months to meet the airline’s immediate requirements.”

Personally I hope S2 Come out of the Dark & Recover.Hate to see an Airline Shut.

regds

MEL

I doubt IT would Take over S2,Not with this Cost.

regds

MEL

True.Except for the BBJ.

Not VT-HSS its replacement.

regds

MEL

If services & fares are managed well, they can prove a competitor to IT.

Subway sandwiches - interesting!!

malik wrote:

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 I hope they go full-service LCC soon, which is a lovely slot to be in, and do away with the biggie seats in front. Most meals are subway sandwiches for snacks, and this is the one airline that serves whole wheat bread rolls (not maida).

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 well currently the management is toying up with an idea of making S2 as LCC but i reckon this market wud be more tough to compete than the full service airline sector. again we never know what happens

Till Yesterday Aircraft are Flying Well.Not sure about loads Though.

regds

MEL