You have a point on staff salaries, and if it is mid-August with salaries being delayed, then that does usually indicate operating capital problems.

And here I am, with half a dozen unused upgrade vouchers too!!

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2006/aug/16jet.htm
Jet may sweeten Sahara offer
 
BS Corporate Bureau in Mumbai 
  
August 16, 2006 11:15 IST
Jet Airways may increase the compensation offer to Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) to reach an out-of-the-court settlement with Air Sahara.
Sources close to the development confirmed the Jet move to up the compensation amount which was offered at around Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) last week. Senior executives of Jet Airways and Air Sahara were tight-lipped on the issue as the matter was subjudice.

Top brass of Air Sahara and Jet Airways had several rounds of meetings to sort out the issue out of court. But talks were inconclusive due to differences in the compensation amount.

TNV Iyer, former director of Jet Airways and a close associate of Naresh Goyal, is representing Jet while Ernst & Young is Air Sahara's representative.

Sources close to the development said the Sahara group, promoters of Air Sahara, was desperately looking for capital to revive the airline.

The Sahara Group has incurred huge losses in running the airline. On the other hand, Jet wanted to free the amount it had put in the escrow account by putting the impasse to an end.

Jet Airways had agreed to pay Rs 2,300 crore (Rs 23 billion) for acquisition of Air Sahara, dubbed as the country's largest aviation deal.

Of this, Jet Airways had advanced Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) to the promoters of Air Sahara who pledged their 100 per cent stake in the airlines. In addition, Jet Airways had also put Rs 1,500 crore (Rs 15 billion) in an escrow account with the ICICI Bank.

                                                ****

http://www.financialexpress.com/latest_full_story.php?content_id=137478

Talks with Jet speculative: Sahara 
 
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
Posted online: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 at 1535 hours IST
 
       
 
 
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 16:  Sahara Group said it was 'as of now' pre-occupied with strengthening its airline operations, while terming as speculative the reports on talks with Jet Airways, the estranged suitor of Air Sahara, for an out-of-court settlement.
"We find these reports as a mere speculation. The disputes between Sahara and Jet are sub-judice and we do not wish to comment on any speculation," Sahara Group said in a statement.

The statement from Sahara comes amid reports last week that the top brass of the two airlines were holding discussions to settle their differences out of court.

"As of now, Sahara is concentrating on further strengthening its airlines operations", the statement added.

Though both the sides did not officially say anything, sources familiar with the development had then said they were talking to each other on settling differences over the failed Rs 2,200 crore deal for takeover of Air Sahara by Jet out of court.

Sources had said that discussions had narrowed down to the exit fee to be paid by Jet.

As part of the deal, reached in January, Jet Airways had paid Rs 180 crore for revival of Air Sahara and Rs 500 crore in lieu of Air Sahara shares pledged with it. Besides, it had deposited Rs 1,500 crore in the escrow account opened for the purpose.

After the deal fell through over absence of regulatory clearances on June 21, Sahara moved a court in Lucknow seeking to bar Jet brom operating the escrow account, prompting Jet to approach the Bombay High Court.
 

Whats behind this from 9W & S2 Point of View.

regds

MEL

karatecatman wrote:

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www.uninews.com

Air Sahara announces 14 new routes; eyes 12-13% mkt share
New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Air Sahara, whose ranking took a hit after a failed takeover deal, today announced operations to 14 new destinations including two international routes by December as part of plans to have the largest network and a market share of 12-13 per cent by next year.
 ‘‘The expansion plan begins from tomorrow and will continue till December 16. During this time, we would be introducing flights to Guanghou (China) and Maldives on the international sector and would connect Delhi with Port Blair,’’ Air Sahara President Alok Sharma told reporters here.
 Admitting that the market share had dipped in the recent times, Sharma said with the addition of new destinations, the airlines was aiming to regain its earlier share of 12-13 per cent by next year.
 He said the airlines would be operating a daily flight to Maldives through Colombo, besides connecting Dhaka as well on the international sector and strengthening its metro network by increasing flights to Kolkata and Hyderabad.
 With this expansion plan, Air Sahara would be connecting Delhi to six international destinations in addition to its code-share flights with American Airlines, Sharma said.
 Asked whether the permission had been granted by the authorities concerned, Sharma said it had applied for approvals three weeks back and there was no restrictions from the Government.
 While the tentative schedule to fly to the Chinese city was November seven, it was October 31 for Maldives, he said and added that Air Sahara would be the first one to apply once Pakistan allowed operations of private airliners. 
 Referring to resumption of its London service, Sharma said: ‘‘We have lost the slot and we will be again approaching the Heathrow airport for a fresh one.’’
 Air Sahara had stopped its flight and surrendered the slot after reaching a deal to merge the airline with Jet Airways in January. However, the agreement was called off in June this year.
 Asked whether the airline had sufficient funds to connect so many destinations, Sharma said: ‘‘These investments were made in 2005 and now they are only being executed... its time to reap dividends.’’
 ‘‘We also plan to consolidate on flying more to mini metros like Chandigarh, Indore, Bhopal, Vadodra, Raipur and Nagpur and tourist destinations like Jodhpur, Khajuraho, Port Blair, Trivandrum and Udaipur,’’ the Air Sahara President said, adding this would give the airline the rare distinction of flying to 27 domestic sectors from Delhi.
 On whether the airline had sufficient number of pilots and aircraft to engage itself in such a huge network, Sharma said: ‘‘We have 27 aircraft including 18 new generation Boeing and two more Boeing 737-800 are coming by September 21.
 ‘‘As far as pilots are concerned, 50 per cent of those who had resigned in the aftermath of the merger with Jet Airways, have resumed their duties with us and more were expected to come back,’’ he said.
 He said the load factor of the airline had also increased from 60 per cent to 78 per cent subsequent to the deal with Jet Airways falling through.

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 First of all its Guangzhou. The capital city of Guangdong province. Flying to this city can really be a wise choice as this is the main economic booster city of china. The SEZ,s located in these cities export various kinds of products to all around the world. It is served by 3 seaports apart from the port of HK which has a direct rail connectivity to this city. So indeed a wise move..

 Dhaka i dont knw much. It looks AI has been making money on this route. But then thats becoz the flight goes to LHR isnt it? But yeah since S2 has codeshare for DEL-ORD on AA so they can provide a good feed. But again u never knw..

Flying to male is not bad from CMB. Atleast indians will have a better option to fly apart from UL...

Overall good for IGIA as S2 is based in delhi

www.uninews.com

Air Sahara to start operation in Andamans

 PortBlair, Aug 22 (UNI)

Air Sahara is all set to start its operation in remote Andaman and Nicobar islands from September 4.

This would be the third private airline to operate its flights to Port Blair, the capital city of Andamans.

Air Sahara will be introducing its flights in Kolkata-Port Blair-Kolkata sector and Delhi-Port Blair-Delhi via Kolkata from September 4, an official release from Air Sahara said today.

Their daily flight to Port Blair is scheduled to leave Delhi at 0620 hrs and arrive at Port Blair at 1120 hrs via Kolkata, the release added.

Air Sahara would be the first airline to launch Delhi-Port Blair-Delhi via Kolkata flights after massive expansion of Port Blair airstrip.

At present, these remote Indian islanders are connected with regular flights of Indian, Air Deccan and Jet Airways.

Groups of 572 small and big islands, Andaman and Nicobar are situated at a distance of about 1200 km from Kolkata and Chennai. Besides regular flights, these islands are also connected with giant passenger vessels which ply between Port Blair and three cities of mainland India viz Kolkata, Chennai and Vishakapatanam.

just a second... i didnt get any such news article on Boeing News but this one instead

Even this one is valued for 700mn$ and 10 B737s BUT for SPICE JET and NOT Air Sahara

Boeing, SpiceJet Announce Order for 10 Next-Generation 737s.

SEATTLE, Aug. 14, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and New Delhi-based SpiceJet today announced that the airline converted its 10 options into an order for five Next-Generation 737-800s and five 737-900ERs. SpiceJet first announced the preliminary agreement for this order in February at the 2006 Asian Aerospace Air Show in Singapore. The order is valued at more than $700 million at list prices and deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2007.

can be my mistake also

But no such S2 article is there

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q3/060814d_nr.html

Any thanx KCM for clearing the doubt

But has the news come up on Boeing's site yet?

I like Sharma & Keskar Smiling.I hope S2 Come out of this mess for sake of Indian Aviation.

regds

MEL

vabby wrote:

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Air Sahara launches 'Fly Unlimited' scheme

PTI[ WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2006 07:10:25 PM]
NEW DELHI: In a bid to enhance its market share to 12 per cent by December, Air Sahara on Wednesday announced a new scheme, offering passengers unlimited flying to any destination on their network, including international ones, on payment of a fixed sum.
Under the 'Fly Unlimited' scheme unveiled by the airline on Wednesday, passengers can fly to any destination for a year on paying at Rs 699 for 365 days, that is by depositing a sum of over Rs 2.55 lakh.
The airline is also offering such a package for 90 days at the rate of Rs 799 each day, for 60 days at Rs 899 and for 30 days at Rs 999, airline President Alok Sharma told reporters here.

The terms and conditions are quite tight with this scheme. Subject to class of ticketing available, name not transferable, heavy cancellation charges and taxes as well as surcharges extra. So, on the one year deal, unless you fly 3 times a week, or are running a courier/angadiya service, it just doesn't seem to fit.