Deepak Patel

Stories by Deepak Patel

Akasa Air to launch flight operations in July

Akasa Air to launch flight operations in July

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2022

The commercial flight operations of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air will be launched in July instead of June. "As we get closer to the airline launch date, we can now confirm refined estimates on our timelines. "We expect our first aircraft delivery by early June 2022, with the intention to start commercial operations in July 2022," Vinay Dube, CEO, Akasa Air, told PTI.

Air travel curbs eased; no PPE kits for crew, pat-down search restarted

Air travel curbs eased; no PPE kits for crew, pat-down search restarted

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2022

The relaxation has been given to facilitate "smooth conduct of air operations", the ministry's order stated.

SpiceHealth, AAI in blame game over Covid fiasco at Amritsar airport

SpiceHealth, AAI in blame game over Covid fiasco at Amritsar airport

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2022

SpiceHealth had on January 6 and January 7 tested 469 passengers who arrived on two charter flights from Italian capital Rome and found 298 of them to be COVID-19-positive.

Airports Authority may procure two counter-drone systems

Airports Authority may procure two counter-drone systems

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2021

The The Airports Authority of India is likely to procure two counter-drone systems worth Rs 9.9 crore in 2022-23, according to an official document.

Flight dos and don'ts issued, air fares set in 7 bands

Flight dos and don'ts issued, air fares set in 7 bands

Rediff.com   21 May 2020

The Airports Authority of India issued a standard operating procedure to airport operators on Wednesday for recommencement of domestic flights from May 25 onwards.

Post lockdown-flights: Cabin crew to have face shields, gowns, masks

Post lockdown-flights: Cabin crew to have face shields, gowns, masks

Rediff.com   15 May 2020

Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, Vistara and AirAsia India have decided to go with the new attire to ensure safety of cabin crew members as they are in close proximity to passengers during flights

How drones are helping fight against COVID-19

How drones are helping fight against COVID-19

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2020

Drones are being used for carrying out a host of tasks like surveillance to ensure that people are maintaining social distancing, spreading awareness about COVID-19 in densely populated areas, spraying disinfectants and checking people's temperature

IndiGo has a post-lockdown plan, including no meals

IndiGo has a post-lockdown plan, including no meals

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2020

Once the coronavirus lockdown is over in India and commercial passenger flights are permitted again, IndiGo will deep clean its aircraft more frequently, stop in-flight meal service for a brief period and will fill a maximum 50 per cent capacity in airport buses, the airline's CEO Ronojoy Dutta said on Friday. "In situations like these, companies do not manage to growth or profitability but to liquidity. That means our singular focus is on cash flow. We are examining all our fixed costs and looking for ways to minimise them," he said.

Kunal Kamra seeks Rs 25L from IndiGo over flying ban

Kunal Kamra seeks Rs 25L from IndiGo over flying ban

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2020

Kamra was banned by India's largest airline for six months on Tuesday for allegedly harassing Goswami on the Mumbai-Lucknow flight. SpiceJet, GoAir and Air India also imposed a similar ban on Kamra without specifying any period.

Captain who flew Kamra writes to IndiGo, objects to ban

Captain who flew Kamra writes to IndiGo, objects to ban

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2020

The pilot wrote in his letter to airline's management that he was 'disheartened' to learn the carrier took action against the comedian without consulting him and solely on the basis of social media posts.

Air India reinstates pilot found guilty of sexual harassment

Air India reinstates pilot found guilty of sexual harassment

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2020

The senior pilot was suspended in May last year after being found guilty of sexual harassment by an internal committee of the airline. The committee imposed a 'major penalty' on Captain Sachin Gupta, who has now appealed to the next authority against the punishment.

Passengers threaten to break cockpit door on AI flight

Passengers threaten to break cockpit door on AI flight

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2020

"The AI865 flight on Thursday got delayed as it developed a technical snag. It had to return to the bay. Passengers started knocking on the cockpit door, asking and taunting the pilots to come out," said an airline official. "One male passenger even said that he will break open the cockpit door if the pilots didn't come out," the official said, adding the situation inside the plane "went from bad to worse".

Closed since Balakot strike, Pak reopens airspace to civilian flights

Closed since Balakot strike, Pak reopens airspace to civilian flights

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2019

The move is expected to give a major relief to Air India, which suffered a huge financial loss of around Rs 491 crore.

Safety lapses: DGCA issues notices to 4 IndiGo executives

Safety lapses: DGCA issues notices to 4 IndiGo executives

Rediff.com   12 Jul 2019

The DGCA is conducting special audit of all airlines and airports which are in monsoon-affected areas in the wake of multiple landing incidents across the country.

Jet's woes deepen, 49 out of 119 aircraft grounded

Jet's woes deepen, 49 out of 119 aircraft grounded

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2019

DGCA has told the airline that only "air worthy" aircraft, which are completely fit for flying, should be used in operations.

Regulator finds Alkem Labs drug substandard, again

Regulator finds Alkem Labs drug substandard, again

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2016

The regulator had issued alerts in June and July of 2015.

Toxins in cough syrups, other drugs due to plastic bottling

Toxins in cough syrups, other drugs due to plastic bottling

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2016

Popular antacid Mucaine Gel, manufactured by Pfizer's subsidiary Wyeth Laboratories, was also found laced with the heavy metals as well as cadmium.

Don't need to sell assets, can pay fine: Ranbaxy brothers

Don't need to sell assets, can pay fine: Ranbaxy brothers

Rediff.com   25 May 2016

In 2013, Daiichi had launched the arbitration proceedings in Singapore.

6 major companies found manufacturing 'substandard' drugs

6 major companies found manufacturing 'substandard' drugs

Rediff.com   18 May 2016

Alkem Labs was issued drug alerts twice last year -- in June and July -- for its drug Glimekem.

Passive euthanasia gets a lifeline from the government

Passive euthanasia gets a lifeline from the government

Rediff.com   11 May 2016

The draft bill allows euthanasia for patients who can take informed decisions; doctors to be protected from liability.