| Indian airlines are caught in a "perfect storm" of big | | | | costs," Kaul told AFP (1) (AppleTalk Filing Protocol) |
| losses, high debt and falling demand, and need urgent | | | | The file sharing protocol used in an AppleTalk |
| help from the new government to make them | | | | network. In order for non-Apple networks to access |
| high-flyers again, says an industry report. | | | | data in an AppleShare server, their protocols must |
| The struggling sector was once a vibrant symbol of | | | | translate into the AFP language. See file sharing |
| India's economic progress but it has seen its fortunes | | | | protocol. , citing hefty jet fuel taxes. |
| nosedive nose·dive n. | | | | There is also a need to allow more domestic airlines |
| 1. A very steep dive of an aircraft. | | | | to fly internationally to boost revenues, Kaul said. |
| 2. A sudden, swift drop or plunge: Stock prices took | | | | The Congress-led government should allow foreign |
| a nosedive. | | | | airlines to take equity stakes in domestic airlines to |
| Noun 1. | | | | give them access to fresh capital, he said, but to |
| ..... Click the link for more information. due to | | | | draw investment the carriers must clean up their |
| over-expansion, costly fuel and cut-throat | | | | balance sheets. |
| competition Cut-throat competition, also known as | | | | "Over-aggressive expansion" to grab market share is |
| destructive or ruinous competition, refers to | | | | "partly responsible for the fiscal demise of the |
| situations when competition results in prices that do | | | | sector," the report said. |
| not chronically or for extended periods of time cover | | | | Flagship state airline Air India Air India (formerly |
| costs of production, particularly fixed costs. | | | | Air-India, Hindi: ??? ??????) is the national flag carrier |
| ..... Click the link for more information.. | | | | of India with a worldwide network of passenger and |
| "The industry now is at a very critical stage," said | | | | cargo services. is hurting the most. It's estimated to |
| Kapil Kaul, India head of the Sydney-based Center | | | | have racked up 800 million dollars in losses for the |
| for Asia Pacific Aviation, the consultancy which | | | | past year and debt of four billion dollars, the report |
| authored the report entitled Aviation Agenda for The | | | | said. |
| Next Indian Government. | | | | Air India, which flies internationally, merged with |
| Sector losses for the fiscal year just ended in March | | | | government-run domestic carrier Indian last year to |
| 2009 are expected to nearly double from last year | | | | become more efficient but its planes are flying |
| to 1.75 billion dollars, Kaul said. | | | | emptier and passenger revenues are still falling. |
| That's a fifth of the losses of airlines globally of 8.5 | | | | Despite this, it still plans to take delivery this year of |
| billion dollars estimated by the International Air | | | | 26 new aircraft -- "a significant augmentation |
| Transport Association. | | | | AUGMENTATION, old English law. The name of a |
| "India?s contribution to this (loss) is significantly higher | | | | court erected by Henry VIII., which was invested |
| than the two percent of world air traffic for which it | | | | with the power of determining suits and |
| accounts," said the report. | | | | controversies relating to monasteries and abbey |
| The Indian industry's woes are highlighted by a slump | | | | lands. in capacity when the opposite would be more |
| in passengers. In April, the number of domestic | | | | appropriate," said the report. |
| passengers fell by 591,000 or 15.2 percent | | | | And India's two major private airline groups, Jet |
| year-on-year, the fourth straight month of declines. | | | | Airways Jet Airways (India) Ltd. is an airline based in |
| The figures are a far cry from earlier heady head·y | | | | Mumbai, India, operating domestic and international |
| adj. head·i·er, head·i·est | | | | services. It operates over 330 daily flights to 50 |
| 1.a. Intoxicating or stupefying: heady liqueur.b. | | | | destinations across the country and 6 overseas. and |
| government forecasts that passenger growth would | | | | Kingfisher Airlines Kingfisher Airlines Limited is an airline |
| run at 25 percent annually until the end of the | | | | based in Bangalore, India. It is a major Indian luxury |
| decade. | | | | airline operating an extensive network to 34 |
| Passenger numbers were expanding by double digits | | | | destinations, with plans for regional and long-haul |
| Double Digits was a pricing game on the American | | | | international services. , also have hefty debts and big |
| television game show, The Price Is Right. Played from | | | | losses. Jet reported its third-quarter net loss more |
| April 20, 1973 through May 18, 1973's show, it was | | | | than doubled to 44 million dollars. |
| played for a car and used small prizes. when India's | | | | Rationalisation Noun 1. rationalisation - (psychiatry) a |
| economy was booming. Cheap fares and increasing | | | | defense mechanism by which your true motivation is |
| affluence among India's middle classes drove a | | | | concealed by explaining your actions and feelings in a |
| migration from the country's antiquated train network | | | | way that is not threateningrationalization "is |
| to planes. | | | | inevitable and desirable for the health of the |
| After the government opened India's skies to more | | | | industry," said Kaul, who believes India can only |
| competition in 2004, a clutch of new airlines took | | | | support two full-service carriers. He declined to say |
| flight, revolutionising domestic travel in the country of | | | | which should survive. |
| 1.1 billion. | | | | But the no-frills airline model offered by carriers such |
| But then costlier oil pushed up air fares last year, | | | | as Indigo Airlines IndiGo Airlines is a private domestic |
| sending many passengers back to trains. | | | | low-cost airline based in Gurgaon, India. It operates |
| Now the sector has also been hit by a slowing | | | | domestic services linking 14 destinations. Its main |
| economy triggered by the global financial crisis, | | | | base is Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi. , |
| reducing business and leisure journeys. | | | | which has bucked the falling passenger trend, could |
| "It needs to quickly restructure and the new | | | | be the platform for future growth, he said. |
| government has to help them reduce high structural | | | | |