AVIATION

IAA to provide training for Sri Lankan youth

Indunil HEWAGE

The training arm of SriLankan Airlines, International Aviation Academy (IAA) is to provide further comprehensive aviation industry related training solutions for Sri Lankan youth, thereby giving them ability to enter into a lucrative aviation career both home and abroad.

“In line with the concept of the government of Sri Lanka to transform the country as a educational and tourism hub, we see there is a huge potential for aviation carriers, which is growing about 30-40% per annum in the world, but unfortunately, in Sri Lanka most people are thinking that aviation careers are just limited to cabin crew and pilots, but the truth is much more broader than they think,” IAA official said.

All the IAA courses are offered adhering to world class standards maintained by SriLankan Airlines, accredited by IATA, International Air Transport Association which is valid in more than 169 countries.

The courses is offered by IAA to cover various aspects of aviation functions such as Travel and Tourism, Ticketing and Reservation, Cargo, Flight dispatching , Flight operations, Airport handling, Customer Services, Airline Marketing and Sales and Travel Agent functions.

All trainers at IAA are well qualified having more than 15 years of experience in their respective feilds. IAA is also well-known as the external training facilitator for aviation field in the country. Within the last couple of years, IAA has become dynamic on bringing a vast array of programmes in the field of Aviation by serving around 500-600 Sri Lankans per annum irrespective of their social background.

Language barriers are inconsidered in certain aspects of some of the courses. Now, Sri Lankans have the opportunity to enter into a lucrative career in the aviation industry with an internationally recognized certification. IAA has also been expanding the capacity to bring these programmes to the remotest corners of the country. The qualifications to enter into the Aviation field is really minimal, interested individuals who have six subjects with English and Maths in the GCE O/L examination will be eligible to follow the IAA courses.

Students with financial difficulties will be provided Bank of Ceylon’s loan facilities to continue their studies at IAA, otherwise they could pay the entire fee of the respective courses in three installments.

Air Asia in talks to buy Serbia’s JAT airways

Malaysian low-cost airline Air Asia is in talks with Belgrade to buy the Serbian national airline JAT, Transport Minister Milutin Mrkonjic told media.

Mrkonjic refused to reveal details, but said he expected positive results from the ongoing negotiations, Tanjug news agency reported. The Malaysian company, which plans to make Belgrade its regional hub for flights from Europe to the Far East via Kuala Lumpur, is expected to make its bid for the Serbian carrier by the end of the week, according to local media.

Following two failed attempts to sell JAT, the Serbian government made a public appeal for a strategic partnership to create a new national airline that would replace JAT.

That bid also failed however after the only potential partner, Latvia’s Air Baltic, withdrew. In 2011 JAT’s losses were 3.19 billion dinars (27 million euros, $34 million), according to the Serbian business register. The total amount of the company’s debt is estimated at about 300 million euros. JAT has a fleet of 14 planes, 10 Boeing 737-300 and four ATRs 72-200, all of which are around 20 years old.

AFP

Singapore Airlines launches In-Flight connectivity programme

Singapore Airlines formally launches its In-Flight Connectivity as part of a US$50 million programme to bring Internet and mobile data services to customers, even when flying at 35,000ft.

Following a recent soft launch on a limited number of aircraft, In-Flight Connectivity is available on 14 aircraft in the fleet, including all five Airbus A340-500s which are deployed on the world’s longest non-stop flights, between Singapore and both Newark and Los Angeles.

Services have also been extended to more markets such as Australia, for which regulatory approvals had not previously been obtained. Travellers can surf the Internet, send and receive emails on smartphones and other electronic devices, and send and receive SMS text messages with GSM compatible mobile phones.

Through a partnership with leading connectivity provider On Air, the technology will be progressively rolled out across all of SIA’s long-haul Airbus A380-800, A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft over the next two years.

Services are offered on routes on which equipped aircraft are deployed, subject to regulatory approvals from individual countries. A map highlighting availability when flying over specific countries is published in the Airline’s Kris World in-flight entertainment magazine.

Promotional price plans are also being introduced for wireless Internet access.

The promotional prices, which will last until 30 November 2012, are US$ 25 for 30 megabytes of data and US$ 10 for 10 megabytes of data. The previous plans cost US$ 29.95 for 26 megabytes and US$ 11.95 for 10 megabytes.

A joint promotion with SingTel also enables SingTel Mobile subscribers to enjoy discounted roaming rates of up to 40% for in-flight text messaging and GPRS data services, as well as up to 20% for incoming and outgoing voice calls. The discounted roaming rates are displayed on SingTel’s corporate website and the joint promotion will last until March 31 2013.

“As our customers’ preferences towards entertainment and connectivity options change over time, so must we. Mobile and Internet connectivity capabilities are just the start, enabling our customers to stay connected even when flying at 35,000ft.

There will be much more investment in the months and years ahead to keep our customers both connected and entertained,” said SIA’s Senior Vice President Product and Services, Tan Pee Teck.

“We have always been a leader in embracing technology and are confident that these initiatives will both meet and exceed our customers’ high expectations, keeping us at the forefront of airline product innovation.”

In addition to the US$50 million investment in In-Flight Connectivity services, work is underway to bring the next generation of in-flight entertainment offerings to our customers. This will include the latest hardware systems with new screen and handset technology, in addition to much more video and audio content. Details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Air India gets its first Dreamliner

Ailing state-run carrier Air India took delivery of its first 787-800 Dreamliner joint statements from the airline and US manufacturer Boeing said, ending a four-year wait.

The handover -- the first of 27 Dreamliners ordered by Air India, has been delayed since 2008 because of production problems at Boeing.

The carrier and the firm were then involved in a public spat over compensation for the delay. The 256-seater aircraft was received by top Air India officials in South Carolina in the United States. The Dreamliner will arrive in the Indian capital New Delhi.

The Dreamliners mark an important phase for the loss-making airline because they will replace some older, fuel-guzzling planes.

Air India will also be able to fly to more foreign destinations to match other international airlines, analysts say.

“Today is a great day for Air India as the most technologically advanced and fuel-efficient airplane in the world joins our fleet,” Air India's chairman and managing director Rohit Nandan said in a statement.

Air India -- which emerged from a nearly two-month pilot strike in July, has been struggling to cut losses. The carrier's once-dominant market share has shrunk to 18.2 percent in the face of fierce competition from private and low-cost carriers that have taken to the air since India liberalised its commercial aviation sector in the 1990s.

In April, the government cleared a $5.75 billion bailout package to help Air India, which has debts of $8.3 billion.

AFP

Emirates, Qantas announce Global Aviation partnership

Emirates and Qantas today announced a new global aviation partnership that will give customers a seamless international and Australian network, exclusive frequent flyer benefits and world class travel experiences.

Under the agreement signed by Emirates President Tim Clark and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce, Qantas will move its hub for European flights from Singapore to Dubai and enter an extensive commercial relationship with Emirates.

The ten year codesharing partnership is enhanced by integrated network collaboration with coordinated pricing, sales and scheduling as well as a benefits sharing model. Neither airline will take equity in the other. The partnership will see Qantas, along with anchor tenant Emirates, as the only other airline operating at Dubai International’s Terminal 3. The two airlines will jointly offer 98 weekly services between Australia and the global gateway city of Dubai including four daily A380 flights.

With Emirates flying the largest fleet of A380s in the world with 23, combined with Qantas’ 12A380s for a total of 35,many onward flights to Europe includingLondon Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam, Munich and Rome will also be on this popular aircraft. In addition, Qantas will launch daily A380 services from both Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai for a combined unprecedented seven daily A380 flights to London Heathrow. Thirty additional European gateways can be seamlessly reached from Australia via Dubai.

For Emirates customers will open up Qantas’ Australian domestic network of more than 50 destinations and nearly 5,000 flights per week. The carriers will also coordinate their respective trans-Tasman services between Australia and New Zealand with Emirates offering improved schedules for flights to Christchurch and Auckland - including the introduction of Emirates’ daily A380 services on the Melbourne-Auckland route in October.

Emirates and Qantas frequent flyer agreements will be aligned, giving customers expanded opportunities to earn and redeem points, with reciprocal access to tier status benefits including end-to-end recognition of customers, lounge access, priority check-in and boarding as well as other exclusive services.

“The time was right for developing a long term, future forward partnership with Qantas, the iconic Australian airline,” said Tim Clark, President of Emirates. “Since our first flights began in 1996, Australia has long been a popular destination for Emirates leisure and business travellers, making it one of the top three destinations in our network.”

“By establishing this partnership we are providing our passengers with additional connectivity in Australia and the region and the ability to utilise enhancedfrequent flyer benefits and have access to premium loungesfor an exceptional travel experience,” he added.

“Emirates and Qantas will work together to ensure a seamless customer experience, including mutual lounge access,shared use of Emirates’ unique dedicated A380 facility slated to open in early 2013 in Dubai, coordinated baggage allowances and a chauffeurservice for premium customers.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the partnership would deliver unprecedented benefits to Qantas customers andmark a decisive step forward in the Group’s strategy.“Emirates is the ideal partner for Qantas,” Joyce said. “It has a wonderful brand, a modern fleet, anuncompromising approach to quality and it flies to the A?list of international destinations.

“As the world’s biggest international airline, with a network that perfectly complements our own, Emirates will helpus give our customers across Australia a dramatically expanded range of travel options.“Together with Emirates, Qantas will provide a unique ‘one stop’ hub service, as well as a deeply integratedfrequent flyer and customer proposition.

“The partnership delivers on all four pillars of the Qantas Group’s international strategy: it will see us fly to theglobal gateway city of Dubai, provide some of the world’s best travel experiences through both Qantas andEmirates, improve our position in Asia through better timed flights and, crucially, help build a strong QantasInternational business for the long term, he added.”