Seaplane operations in Andaman and Nicobar lauched by Praful Patel

The country’s first amphibious aircraft, which will start services in the Andamans by the end of this week, will later be introduced in the other two tourist hotspots as well.

The seaplane has been procured by helicopter company Pawan Hans. The plane can take off from and touch down on both land and sea. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel inaugurated the service on Monday to promote tourism and passenger service. By the end of the week, the plane will have started services to three spots on the islands. The plan to operate seaplanes in India is about three years old.

The seaplane service will connect Port Blair with Havelock and subsequently other islands in North Andaman to promote tourism. In Port Blair the seaplane is proposed to operate from the airport and in Havelock and Diglipur in the identified waterdrome. To facilitate safe operations, facilities for ferrying passengers from the shore to the pontoons, sanitization of the waterdrome before take off and landing, speed boat of ten passenger capacity and one stand-by boat (inflatable Gemini boat) and one floating jetty (pontoon) each in the above locations have been placed.

The seaplane operations are being introduced as a major tourist attraction. Seaplanes will also be introduced in other areas of India such as Lakshadweep, Goa, Odisha, etc. Government of India has allowed 100 per cent FDI in this sector.

Source: Travel Techie

Storm strands Israel-bound passengers in Cyprus

The winter storm engulfing Israel today has disrupted air travel to Israel. A Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv was diverted to Larnaca in Cyprus when winds at Ben Gurion Airport prevented the plane from landing.

Lufthansa said that if the plane cannot continue to Israel within the next few hours, it will have to return to Germany with its passengers, until weather conditions at Ben Gurion Airport permit safe landing.

As a consequence, this afternoon's return Lufthansa flight from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt has been cancelled.

El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. (TASE: ELAL) said that its flights are operating as scheduled, despite the severe weather.

Source: Globes

WestJet, British Airways become partners

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has struck a strategic partnership with British Airways PLC that will be implemented in early 2011, the company said Wednesday.

The Calgary-based carrier has had a preliminary deal in place with BA since 2009.

But both sides said Wednesday that they have hammered out the fine details of the new inbound interline agreement.

"Yes, we do have a deal with BA -- but seats won't go on sale until early (in the) new year," Robert Palmer, WestJet spokesman, said in an email.

The agreement will allow BA to seamlessly transfer its passengers and luggage onto WestJet aircraft and carry them on to destinations in Canada using one ticket. West-Jet will not be able to sell tickets to Britain initially, and the marketing and sales would be BA's responsibility.

WestJet has a similar arrangement with Air France/ KLM, American Airlines, and China Airlines.

It also has a full code-share agreement with Cathay Pacific Airways,

WestJet said it did not expect the near-term revenue generated from its partnership with BA to be "material."

Separately, WestJet denied on Wednesday it had entered into talks with Dubai-based Emirates on an alliance.

The Calgary Herald reported earlier this week that WestJet was in discussions with Emirates as part of plans by Canada's No. 2 carrier to expand globally.

The report came at a time when relations between Canada's Conservative government and Emirates' home country, the United Arab Emirates, are strained because of a dispute over airline landing rights.

Source: Ottawa Citizen