State-owned domestic carrier Indian (Airlines) is planning to fit in-flight entertainment (IFE) equipment in about 10 of its Airbus aircraft to begin with. The move is expected to cost the airline about Rs 200 crores.
"We are planning this and will work out the modalities soon," said a senior IA official. The IFE equipment will involve fitting seats with small video screens so that passengers can relax and watch movies during the flights. Equipment for receiving audio channels is also part of the IFE.
The airline is also likely to approach the Union government?s Public Investment Board (PIB) at the stage when more than 10 aircraft have to be fitted with IFE, which will involve even more substantial costs.
"The plan to fit IFE is being considered so that Indian can provide more services to passengers in a fiercely competitive aviation market," said an official. Indian had recently inked the deal for 43 Airbus (A-319, 320 and 321s) from French aviation giant Airbus Industrie. Indian has also been in the news for the government?s proposal to merge it with state-owned international carrier Air India.
Indian plans to introduce IFE
May 3, 2006, 10:13 amIndo-US deal to be passed soon
May 3, 2006, 10:12 am
The Indo-US nuclear deal, which has taken on "symbolic importance" and enjoys the broad support of the US Congress, is expected to be passed this summer.
Stating this at a roundtable meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation, Mr Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, however, cautioned that "in the long run India?s approach to the Iran (nuclear) issue could cause a problem between the two nations." Mr Haas said he was optimistic that a significant majority in both Houses will vote for the deal, which has taken on "symbolic importance" and enjoys broad support in the US Congress.
"The nuclear deal will be passed soon and it will pave the way for a foundation of stronger Indo-US relationship, which will be a turning point and challenging few years for the two countries," said Mr Haas, who has also served as director of policy planning for the state department. "The approval would come on the basis of strategic long-term relations with India," he said.
However, Mr Haas said India?s approach to the Iran issue could cause a "problem" between the two countries in the long run. "India?s reason to take a different approach is definitely understandable due to its demographic relationship with Iran, oil and also because of its largest Shia population," he said. To this, BJP?s Manvinder Singh retorted saying, "It is an insult to India?s Muslims if the ties between Iran and India are reduced to sectarian issues, as their relation ship goes back when both existed as civilisation states."
"And, the biggest contemporary contribution of Iran and India cannot be negated... When the world was playing ball with the Taliban, it was India and Iran who kept the Northern Alliance (of Afghanistan) alive," Mr Singh said. In addition to the discussion on the nuclear deal during the meeting, the stress was laid on improving basic infrastructure in areas like railways, roads, airports and the bottlenecks that US investors face most of the time.
The Indian delegates assured them of better services and made them aware of the improvements in these areas.
Stating this at a roundtable meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation, Mr Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, however, cautioned that "in the long run India?s approach to the Iran (nuclear) issue could cause a problem between the two nations." Mr Haas said he was optimistic that a significant majority in both Houses will vote for the deal, which has taken on "symbolic importance" and enjoys broad support in the US Congress.
"The nuclear deal will be passed soon and it will pave the way for a foundation of stronger Indo-US relationship, which will be a turning point and challenging few years for the two countries," said Mr Haas, who has also served as director of policy planning for the state department. "The approval would come on the basis of strategic long-term relations with India," he said.
However, Mr Haas said India?s approach to the Iran issue could cause a "problem" between the two countries in the long run. "India?s reason to take a different approach is definitely understandable due to its demographic relationship with Iran, oil and also because of its largest Shia population," he said. To this, BJP?s Manvinder Singh retorted saying, "It is an insult to India?s Muslims if the ties between Iran and India are reduced to sectarian issues, as their relation ship goes back when both existed as civilisation states."
"And, the biggest contemporary contribution of Iran and India cannot be negated... When the world was playing ball with the Taliban, it was India and Iran who kept the Northern Alliance (of Afghanistan) alive," Mr Singh said. In addition to the discussion on the nuclear deal during the meeting, the stress was laid on improving basic infrastructure in areas like railways, roads, airports and the bottlenecks that US investors face most of the time.
The Indian delegates assured them of better services and made them aware of the improvements in these areas.
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