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Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has expressed optimism about India's aviation market, highlighting its potential for growth despite historical challenges. Speaking at a media roundtable in Geneva, Walsh noted that the domestic market has expanded by 32% since 2020, with Indian carriers ordering over 1,500 new planes and new airports being developed. He acknowledged the temporary issues faced by airlines, such as IndiGo's flight disruptions, but emphasized that these do not overshadow the market's long-term prospects. Walsh pointed out that the duopolistic nature of the market, dominated by IndiGo and the Air India Group, could change with increased airport capacity, allowing for new entrants. He also praised the privatization of Air India, viewing it as a positive step towards a more competitive environment. Overall, Walsh described India as one of the most exciting global aviation markets. 
Published: Dec 10 2025, 11 ameznews.inKamarajar Port Ltd (KPL), the 12th Major Port in India located in North Chennai, is set to upgrade its General Cargo Berth-1 (GCB-1) through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, aiming to enhance its capacity for handling clean, non-polluting cargo. The project, with a capital cost of ₹221 crore, will enable GCB-1 to manage 3 million tonnes annually. KPL has issued a tender for private companies to participate in the upgrade, which includes the installation of necessary cargo handling equipment and the development of a backup storage area. The concessionaire will operate the berth for 30 years, including a two-year construction period, and will be responsible for setting service tariffs. Currently, KPL has a cargo handling capacity of 58 million tonnes and is positioned to attract clean cargo volumes from Chennai port, bolstered by its superior connectivity.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 11 ameznews.inThe Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) has been summoned by the Parliamentary Standing Committee to address critical issues regarding Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL), pilot fatigue, and safety risks in the aviation sector. The association aims to highlight the gaps in the enforcement of revised FDTL norms and ongoing duty-time compliance violations among airlines. ALPA India has expressed concerns that inadequate fatigue management poses a significant threat to flight safety. Additionally, the association will discuss a recent rise in GPS spoofing incidents at major airports. Captain Anil Rao, General Secretary of ALPA India, criticized a temporary exemption granted to IndiGo from certain FDTL rules, arguing it compromises safety. Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu confirmed GPS spoofing incidents affecting flights at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport and emphasized the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in the aviation sector.
Published: Dec 10 2025, 11 ameznews.inNITI Aayog member Prof. Ramesh Chand urged Indian farmers to diversify their crop choices beyond those covered by the government's Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme to foster self-reliance and align with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Speaking at an agriculture conclave hosted by Rural Voice, Chand highlighted that while MSP-linked crops have seen a modest growth of 1.8% over the past decade, non-MSP crops have surged by approximately 4%. He emphasized the need for farmers to take initiative in their farming practices to address the growing domestic demand, which is currently at just 2%. Chand pointed out the emergence of a wealthier consumer class and the importance of developing a comprehensive value chain to enhance farmers' incomes. He advocated for a food-system approach in global agricultural planning and called for empowering farmers through innovation, technology, and inclusive policy-making to achieve true self-reliance in agriculture.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian government has mandated IndiGo to reduce its flight schedule by 10% to stabilize operations and minimize cancellations, according to Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. Despite this reduction, IndiGo will maintain coverage to all destinations. Following recent operational disruptions, Naidu met with IndiGo Chief Executive Pieter Elbers, who confirmed that all refunds for affected flights up to December 6 have been processed. The Minister emphasized the need for expedited refunds and compliance with directives on fare capping and passenger convenience. Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had previously instructed IndiGo to cut its schedule by 5% on high-demand routes. While IndiGo has been granted an increase in its Winter Schedule for 2025, it has struggled to operate efficiently, with only 339 aircraft in use in October. Naidu reported that IndiGo's operations are stabilizing, with flights recovering from a low of 706 to over 1,800.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Karnataka government has designated 1,777 acres across 13 villages in Devanahalli taluk as a Permanent Special Agricultural Zone, resolving a protracted dispute over land initially intended for an Aerospace Park. Officials emphasized that farmers retain the right to sell their land, countering recent rumors suggesting otherwise. Dr. S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Industries, reassured farmers that the decision aims to protect agricultural land while enhancing infrastructure and market access to stimulate farm-based economic activities. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a meeting where it was decided to denotify the land, which is already classified as part of the Green Zone, ensuring agriculture can thrive alongside industrial growth. The government plans to establish a committee to evaluate the benefits of similar agricultural zones in other states and countries, reinforcing its commitment to supporting farmers and preventing exploitation by real estate developers.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAt a recent joint meeting hosted by the Madras Management Association and the Chennai chapter of the IIM Ahmedabad Alumni Association, economist Ravindra Dholakia, a Director on the Reserve Bank of India's Central Board, emphasized the need for dynamic inflation targeting to meet India's ambitious growth goals. He argued that achieving an 8-8.5% growth rate is unrealistic under current conditions and proposed revising targets to a more attainable range of 4-5%, with a tolerance band of 3-6-7%. Dholakia also criticized rating agencies for their assessments, suggesting that a better understanding of India's growth dynamics could have mitigated recent exchange rate depreciation. Additionally, author V Kumaraswamy advocated for a separate inflation index for pensioners, while Lokeshwarri SK, Associate Editor of _The Hindu Businessline_, highlighted the media's role in making economic policies accessible to the public, suggesting that the RBI could aid this effort by providing translations in regional languages.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn the wake of recent disruptions affecting IndiGo flights, bus aggregator redBus has reported a significant 17% increase in seat bookings from December 5 to 8, compared to the previous days. The surge is particularly notable on major routes connecting large metropolitan areas, including Pune-Hyderabad, Mumbai-Hyderabad, and Mumbai-Bangalore, with over 30% growth observed on around 70 routes. Demand for bus travel has risen sharply in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, leading to a 25% increase in average fares. Additionally, redBus has seen an 18% rise in inventory for these routes. The trend aligns with the wedding and pilgrimage seasons, but the recent spike in bookings indicates a broader shift towards bus and rail travel as alternatives to flights. Hotel chains have also benefited, experiencing a 25-30% increase in same-day and next-day reservations, boosting occupancy rates significantly.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn November 2025, Indian IT firms experienced a significant shift in deal momentum towards Europe, securing ten contracts in digital modernization, while North America recorded no wins, according to a BNP Paribas report. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led the charge with six major contracts, including partnerships with Morrisons and the NHS Supply Chain. Other firms like Wipro, Cognizant, and LTIMindtree also secured deals, primarily in the consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. The report highlights Europe's growing demand for cost efficiency and digital transformation, driven by new regulations and a desire to reduce reliance on US cloud providers. Gaurav Vasu, CEO of UnearthInsight, noted that this trend reflects a sustained demand cycle, as European investments in cloud and cybersecurity continue to outpace those in North America, which is currently facing market uncertainty. Despite this, global demand for IT services remains strong, with North America expected to rebound as AI investments increase.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe United States is poised to impose additional tariffs on rice imports from India, a move experts believe will have minimal impact on India's rice trade. The US is responding to pressure to raise tariffs, not due to high import levels, but because India's competitive pricing is undermining US rice exports, which are already struggling to expand beyond South America. US rice farmers are facing significant losses, prompting the Trump administration to target Indian rice to support its domestic growers. Despite the potential tariffs, industry associations in India assert that the US market is relatively small for Indian rice, accounting for only 4.5% of basmati exports. The Indian rice sector remains resilient, with exports continuing to grow, driven by demand from ethnic communities in the US. Analysts suggest that the US's actions may also reflect broader strategic considerations in its trade relations with Asia.
Published: Dec 09 2025, 8 pm
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