Jet crisis pushes up airfares to Mum
Cancelled Flights See Starting Fares Rise To Nearly ₹10,000

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.03.2019

The Jet Airways crisis has caused an increase in airfares on the Chennai-Mumbai route as the airline has cancelled more daily services. Now four flights have been cancelled on the Chennai to Mumbai sector.

The one-way airfare on the route has increased by ₹5,000 on an average. Fare for booking a week in advance is in the range of ₹6,245 to ₹17,000, while it generally costs between ₹3,500 and ₹6,000.

Jet Airways services have been cancelled after planes were grounded following financial trouble faced by the airline. As more aircraft are being grounded, the shortage of seats on the route is expected to affect travellers planning trips in April and May.

There is good demand for seats on the Chennai to Mumbai route because many travellers fly to Mumbai to board flights to international destinations.

The starting fare on direct flights on the route is ₹7,873 for travel on Friday and Saturday, ₹9,787 for Sunday, ₹8,687 for Monday. The cancellation also has an impact on peak hour flights, because the airline has cancelled services during morning peak hours when demand is high on Tuesday, said an airport official.

The fares are high on most other routes, like Delhi, Pune, Coimbatore because Jet Airways has cancelled around 19 flights to different destinations from Chennai this month.

Basheer Ahmed of Metro Travels said fares are usually high around this time due to summer holidays, but the withdrawal of flights has increased the fares further. “The fares are high mostly on the Mumbai route. There is a mild increase on the Delhi route.” “Airfare will increase further next month as more people travel domestically during school holidays. There will be an increase in the number of international travellers flying to Mumbai to board connecting flights as well,” he added.

Airfares on domestic trunk routes connecting metro cities are already high because IndiGo grounded its B737 Max 8 plane following the Ethiopian air crash.

Dip in dollar makes overseas travel cheaper this summer
Yogesh Kabirdoss & V Ayyappan TNN

Chennai:21.03.2019

Travellers who are yet to plan their international holiday for summer has hit a bonanza — strengthening of rupee against dollar and euro has made packages cheaper.

In the last six months, rupee has strengthened against all major currencies. For instance, the rupee has appreciated against USD by 7.5%, the UK pound by 7.8%, the Euro by 10% and the Swiss Franc by 9.4%, making it an attractive period to book before prices surge close to April and May.

This means travellers will be able to spend more money while visiting abroad especially in Britain, Europe and the US while they may not have to spend less to book hotel rooms and tours in other countries.

The favourable change in forex rate has come at a time when bookings are usually expensive for one to two month’s advance booking.

Chennai-based outbound tour operator Sriharan Balan said, a 10-day US trip from the city would be cheaper by ₹30,000 and a four to five night Thailand tour package has become cheaper by ₹3,000 per head for summer.

Cox & Kings Ltd said the rupee’s gaining streak has a lot of opportunities for Indian travellers looking to book travel to long-haul destinations like the UK, Europe and the US. Karan Anand, head—relationships, Cox & Kings Ltd said, “For those who have already booked will have additional funds with them when on tour. A 4% to 5% change in rupee would easily save around ₹8000 –₹10,000 per person depending on the destination.”

Rajeev Kale, president & country head, leisure travel, MICE & Visas at Thomas Cook (India) Limited said that travellers would be able to spend on additional sightseeing tours, experiences, attractions, dining, etc. "Our forward bookings are on a healthy trajectory with an increase of about 22% for the summer vacation season," he added.

The scene was bleak last year. Sriharan Balan said, “Last October, the US dollar rates appreciated up to ₹74 making foreign travel dearer. But, the rupee has strengthened in the last couple of weeks paving the way for reducing price for tour packages for last minute bookings,” he said. About 1000 corporate customers cancelled their plans because strengthening of US dollar that made international travel expensive last year, he added.

IndiGo to add 14 new flights from next mth

Chennai:21.03.2019

IndiGo has announced the launch of 14 flights, including direct flights daily from Chennai to Raipur, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, starting next month.

Three of the 14 flights will cover new routes — Chennai to Raipur, Hyderabad to Gorakhpur and Kolkata to Gorakhpur.

The airline will also add flights on its existing routes — Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru–Mangalore, Bengaluru –Udaipur and Bengaluru–Chennai. TNN

Nirav arrested from UK bank while opening a/c

Termed ‘Flight Risk’, In Custody Till March 29

Naomi Canton

London:21.03.2019

A court here on Wednesday rejected the bail application of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and termed him a flight risk after he was arrested a day earlier from a London bank while he was trying to open an account. The police’s move came as a surprise for Nirav and his lawyers. He appeared in the Westminster magistrates’ court after spending a night in a police cell on being charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and conspiracy to conceal criminal property.

At the Westminster magistrates’ court, district judge Marie Mallon remanded him in custody till March 29, when he will appear for a preliminary hearing before chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot, the same judge who oversaw the Vijay Mallya trial. The arrest clears the way for India to start its effort to get the fugitive diamantaire back home and face the law, but the return of Nirav could be a long-drawn affair.

George Hepburne Scott, extradition barrister representing Nirav, put forward an application for bail of £500,000 (₹4.5 crore) and proposed his client could report to his local police station. “He has done everything he can to be visible to demonstrate his keenness to fully cooperate. He is paying his council tax and has a National Insurance (NI) number and he is living openly,” Scott said.

Like Mallya, Nirav too says case is politically motivated

His properties in India worth ₹1,873 crore have already been attached .The worth of overseas attachments has been estimated at₹970 crore.

Significantly, Nirav Modi won’t be able to delay the proceedings by arguing that charges against him are “politically motivated” and “conditions of Indian jails are inhuman”, as these two were rejected by the UK court while ordering Mallya’s extradition in December last year.

Modi’s barrister said in court on Wednesday that Nirav will argue that the case against him is politically motivated and the prison conditions in India will breach his human rights and that he will not get a fair trial in India.

Mallya had also taken the same plea after his arrest on April 18, 2017. His extradition trial took a longer time. He had a series of case management hearings before his trial commenced on December 4, 2017. The trial did not end until September 12, 2018 when the closing oral submissions were made. The judgment was finally handed down one year after the trial on December 10, 2018. On February 3 this year, UK home secretary Sajid Javid signed the order for Mallya’s extradition. On February 14, Mallya lodged his application for leave to appeal in the high court. No decision has been reached yet. The high court has indicated that it may take months.

India’s extradition request against Modi to the UK, sent on July 31 last year, is also backed with “evidence” of his illegal activities spread over different countries— Armenia, Belgium, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South Africa, UAE, US, Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland— something which will boost the trial, officials said.

Keep your skin safe as you play Holi

— Ismat.Tahseen@timesgroup.com

21.03.2019

The vibrant festival of Holi is here. It’s time to splash that gulal on friends, have a fun water fight and indulge in thandai as well as other traditional sweets and savouries. But while the fun is set to be in full swing, it’s also a good idea to take care of the skin and hair as some colours contain chemicals and metals that can cause pimple breakouts, acne flare ups, frizzy hair and more.

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS TO FOLLOW TODAY…

Says consultant dermatologist Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, “Holi is the favourite festival of colours. But with all the fun plans, let’s take out some time to protect our precious skin from harsh colours and water.” She shares a few pre and post-Holi tips (box)…

WATCH OUT FOR DERMATITIS

Dr Satish Bhatia, MD Dermatology and skin surgery, Indian Cancer Society, says that the most common reaction with Holi colours is ‘Irritant Contact Dermatitis’. He explains, “People develop some kind of eczema due to the high amount of petroleum or viscosity in the oil, which causes this irritation contact reactions. They develop blisters and can get a rash, which can last for a few days, so always play with water soluble colours. Another common reaction, which is seen due to a few colours are acne or pimples in minor forms, such as whiteheads or blackheads. Again, if the irritants are strong enough owing to the involvement of carbons inside, they may develop pustules or nodular acne.”

He adds, “Also, because of dermatitis, the patient should apply non-steroidal creams. They should opt for calming creams, which are commonly available over the counter. In case the allergic reaction is very severe and does not come down with topical applications, consult a dermatologist.”

Toxic colours can harm your skin

PRE-HOLI TIPS


Smear organic oil: Choose any oil available (coconut, almond, olive) and smear it all over the body and hair to form a protective coating. Oil is emollient, plus water repellent, which will make your skin ready to brave water colours.

Use a broad-spectrum sunblock: Since you will be out all day playing with colours and dancing, it’s a wise idea to protect skin and hair from sun damage.

Cover the hair and skin: Braid your hair to prevent breakage and, if you can go an extra mile, just wrap a scarf around head. It will make you look chic and act as a cover for the hair. Wear full-sleeved, synthetic clothes to prevent extra water retention.

Paint those nails: Paint nails in vibrant colours or clear nail paint to prevent the colours from getting into minute nail corners and irritating the nail folds.

Lip barrier: Don’t ignore your lips. Apply lip balm that contains SPF, which will protect your lips from sun damage and colour damage.

POST-HOLI TIPS

Rub off dry colour: Use an oil/ mild scrub to gently rub off the dry colour before getting into the shower, since dry colours disperse more in water.

Mild soap: Use a soap-free pH balanced cleanser/mild soap since you may need to use it thrice to take off rigid colours.

Conditioning hair: Apply a thick layer of conditioner to the hair, wait for two minutes then wash it off, to nourish the hair and detangle it in a mess-free way.

Thick layer of moisturiser: Apply a deep moisturising lotion all over the body to hydrate it as well as repair the barrier function and soothe irritated skin.

Drinks tons of water: Remember to drink lots of water throughout the day to combat the sun, dehydration and exhaustion.

Be ready to spend more this summer as airfares zoom post cancellations

Aparna.Desikan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:21.03.2019

Summer is around the corner and most people will be looking forward to travelling. While it could be relaxing, it may also burn a hole in your pockets. With air fares going up following cancellations by major airlines, be ready to shell out 30% higher on your vacation this season.

An average price increase of 28% for passengers travelling after a week of booking and a 45% rise for same day or next day travel — compared to last year — rates is weighing down travellers, says Balu Ramachandran, head, air and distribution, ClearTrip.

Subsequent to the fare rise the industry has been witnessing since the last month, there is seen to be a average of 10%-20% increase in fares compared to last week. The rise is more acute between major cities and more impact is seenfor last minute bookings (less than 7 days). For instance, Pune-Bangalore last-minute fares are up by 44%, Pune-Mumbai up by 24%, Delhi-Mumbai up by 14% and Mumbai Bangalore up by 30%,”he added. Travel portals attribute cancellation of key carriers — including 60 carriers form Jet Airways, 13 flights from Spice Jet and 20-30 from Indigo — to raise the prices.

Key routes see over a 70% increases in rates. Data from travel portal Ixigo shows a 100% increase in the Delhi-Mumbai last minute flight fare this March. “Demand normalisation after the Holi season will also temporarily stabilise sectoral fares, but not for long as summer travel season is just around the corner,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO, Ixigo.

Even for travel during April, passengers have to shell about 30% more if tickets are booked on Wednesday, shows data from Yatra.com. However, this has not deterred summer vacations, observe travel portals. “People compensate for the rise in air fare by cutting down on accommodation. The usual growth we see every summer still prevails,” said Sharat Dhall, COO, B2C, Yatra.

Vacationers also move towards train travel following the cancellation. Portals have seen a 15%-20% surge in train searches. “Train searches in February and March saw a spike mostly by leisure travellers given that many airlines cancelled or grounded their aircrafts. Business travellers though will still rely on flights and will also be the ones to be impacted the most by high last minute fares,” added Bajpai of Ixigo.

DAMPENED TRAVEL PLANS?

Around 260 jet Air pilots appear for SpiceJet interview

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.03.2019

Almost 260 Jet Airways’ pilots, who fly Boeing 737, appeared for an interview conducted by low-cost carrier SpiceJet in Mumbai Wednesday. Among the pilots were 150 captains. SpiceJet also operates the B737, which was the mainstay of Jet’s operations till a crippling financial crunch virtually grounded two-thirds of its fleet.

Jet’s pilots, aircraft engineers and senior management have not been paid for three months. Airline’s pilots have said they will stop flying from April 1 unless their dues are cleared or a letter of intent is signed that the same will be cleared. IndiGo has also gone all out to hire Jet’s pilots and is learnt to have given lucrative offers. Apart from pilots, several of Jet Airways’ grounded Boeing 737s (not Max but previous generation) could soon be flying for SpiceJet. Many of these planes have been grounded by unpaid lessors beginning last month. Barring a handful, lessors have not deregistered these aircraft from Jet’s name, repossessed and flown them out of India.

“Last Saturday, three companies that leased Boeing 737 NG (new generation, not Max) to Jet and grounded them for non-payment, met SpiceJet chairman Ajay Singh. The aircraft are in India and in terms of processes it is easier to deregister them from Jet’s name and lease them to SpiceJet so that they can start flying the planes at the earliest,” said sources. Globally, 371 B737 Max aircraft were grounded last week following fears over its safety after two crashes within 5 months, one in Indonesia and other in Africa, that claimed 346 lives. SpiceJet, which has up to 205 of the planes on order, had to ground 12 B737 Max. Apart from these the future delivery schedule of rest of the planes is also uncertain now, affecting the low cost carrier’s growth plans. This has led to spurt in demand for B737 NGs.

“We have to make good the 12 grounded Max so these many planes we will like to have on board as early as possible. The grounded B737s are being offered for dry lease (without operating crew) for one to 3 years at good rates. The overall lease rentals for B737 NGs has gone up since the grounding of the Max due to which everyone is now looking for the non-Max B737s. Once

Airline’s pilots have said they will stop flying from April 1 unless their dues are cleared or a letter of intent is signed that the same will be cleared