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Soubhik Mitra

Soubhik Mitra is an assistant editor with the Hindustan Times. The Mumbai boy has spent over a decade reporting on civic, environmental and political issues. His current stint is the longest where he writes on aviation and travel.

Articles by Soubhik Mitra

Record number of ticket holders denied boarding in November as airlines overbook

More than 2,100 domestic fliers were not allowed to board aircraft despite having valid boarding cards in November, the highest number this year, showed the aviation safety regulator’s data. This happened primarily because most flights were overbooked.

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Published on Dec 21, 2016 12:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Fire in Mumbai’s Air India building; no casualty

A fire broke out early on Tuesday morning on the 22nd floor of the Air India building on Madam Cama road, Nariman Point, South Mumbai. No casualty was reported.

Fire fighters inspect the charred remains on the 22nd floor of the Air India building, Nariman Point, in South Mumbai on Tuesday.(HT)

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Updated on Dec 21, 2016 11:11 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySanjana Bhalerao and Soubhik Mitra, Mumbai

By 2025, India’s elderly may outnumber youth at globetrotting

According to the findings, international trips taken by Indians aged more than 65 years is likely to touch 9,67,000 in 2025 from 3,33,000 in 2015 — a spike of 193%.

While a section of elderly travellers took leisure trips to celebrate retired life many would combine them with medical treatments abroad.(Pic for Representation)

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Updated on Dec 20, 2016 10:39 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

With rise in demand, domestic airlines increase red-eye flights

Flights which are operated in the dead of the night or early morning are known as red-eye operations inspired from bloodshot eyes resulting from travelling at odd hours.

The new flights don’t just connect other metros such as Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, some of them also connect smaller towns such as Pune and Goa.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Dec 05, 2016 12:24 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Late wedding group hijacks Jet plane, delays flight in Mumbai by two hours

A ‘powerful’ Gujarati family made Jet Airways bribe passengers to make people deboard so that their family members, who were late to the airport, could fly.

Minutes before the take-off, passengers learnt that the aircraft was waiting because some passengers were running late.(Screengrab)

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Updated on Dec 03, 2016 07:36 AM IST

BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Now, migrants working at airport construction sites must have Aadhaar card

The move comes in the wake of multiple red alerts at Indian airports, following terror strikes on airports abroad

Workers who do not have Aadhaar cards will need to apply for them.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Dec 02, 2016 01:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Fog disruptions in north India delays Mumbai-Goa flight by five hours

The unplanned wait for the Mumbai-Goa flight led to a heated verbal exchange with the airline crew, said the passengers.

IndiGo was forced to hold back 18 peak morning flights (up to 11 am) from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport wherein the runway visibility had dropped.(HT file photo)

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Updated on Dec 02, 2016 12:47 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Domestic flight tickets to cost more from December 1 with new tax

On November 29, the civil aviation ministry sent out a notification introducing a levy of Rs7,500 to Rs8,500 on all domestic flights.

The ministry had earlier announced that the fee was introduced to subsidise short air shuttle services across the country.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Dec 01, 2016 10:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

DGCA back-pedals on proposed rule to punish pilots feigning illness

Three pilots’ unions comprising more than 3,000 pilots from Air India and Jet Airways called the proposed rule a ploy to hide India’s chronic shortage of pilots

The proposal, which appeared on the DGCA website on November 7, threatened to send doctors to the homes of pilots calling in sick and ground them for life if they were found to be lying.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 29, 2016 09:50 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Passengers on Mumbai-bound Air India flight in Visakhapatnam held up for 15 hours

The national carrier has budgeted for just one aircraft — AI 651 — to shuttle on this route, which has a stopover at Raipur.

At Raipur, the flight encountered a snag, which airline technicians were unable to fix that day.(HT file photo)

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Updated on Nov 27, 2016 12:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Large number of Indian travellers look up non-existent direct flight routes: Survey

International fliers from India want direct flight connectivity

A recent report by air travel intelligence company OAG stated that nine of the top 50 non-existent international routes globally either started or ended in India.(Picture for representation)

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Updated on Nov 24, 2016 12:06 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Chief flying inspector ignored sexual harassment complaints, writes MP

The note alleged that other than ignoring complaints, Captain Ajay Singh also misused his power to make some complainants go back on their words

The note listed at least nine pending cases allegedly waiting action from the senior pilot who heads the flight standard directorate bureau. One of them was about a senior pilot demanding an outstation assignment with a woman inspector.(Rep pic)

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Updated on Nov 22, 2016 11:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

‘New rule could force pilots to report to work when they are ill’

The six-page response from the unions, representing the views of 3,000 pilots, said 98% Jet Airways pilots were on duty during the disruption-ridden Diwali weekend, which was a pre-cursor to the ‘draconian’ draft issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA

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Updated on Nov 22, 2016 12:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Pilots’ objections to sickness rule fly into DGCA inbox

The conflict began since the Diwali weekend, when more than 100 Jet Airways flights were delayed or cancelled allegedly owing to many pilots reporting sick at the last minute.

At least two pilots’ unions - the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) and the National Aviators Guild (NAG) -- told its members to comment on the draft proposal that warned grounding a pilot for good if found faking sickness.(HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 21, 2016 12:26 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

‘4 out of 10 late night flights were delayed at Mumbai airport in October’

Almost four out of ten domestic flights arriving in the city between 11pm and 3 am were delayed last month, according to the data from the Mumbai airport. About half of these flights operated in this window would qualify as red-eye, said experts.

Some air travellers, mostly business class ones, prefer late night flights because tickets are cheaper and timed to avoid peak-hour rush.(HT)

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Updated on Nov 19, 2016 01:21 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

For Metro riders, Mumbai airport’s T2 set to be two escalator rides away

Escalators connected to the T2’s arrivals and departures would take fliers down to a concourse housing ticket counters and restaurants

An artist’s impression of the project shows the Metro station at T2.(HT Photo)

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Published on Nov 16, 2016 11:57 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Pilots, aviation safety regulator on warpath over feigning illness

Pilots in India are preparing for a head-on collision with the aviation safety regulator in the wake of an upcoming policy which threatens to ground aviators for feigning illness.

Email exchanges between at least four pilots’ groups that HT accessed, indicate an industry-wide protest against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) draft policy issued last week.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 15, 2016 01:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Air travel cheaper than AC first-class train fare: Study

A report released by travel portal MakeMyTrip on Saturday compared air fare prices with that of AC first class trains across at least 18 domestic routes.

The report also showed that domestic air travel in India was considerably cheaper than domestic air fare charges in Europe and the US.(Representational photo)

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Updated on Nov 13, 2016 12:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Jet Airways replaces head of operations following protests

On Friday, captain Nikhil Ved, erstwhile chief of flight operations, was made the head of planning and strategy

The move comes less than a fortnight after more than a 100 Jet Airways flights were delayed or cancelled owing to a large number of its pilots calling in sick as a means of protest.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 12, 2016 06:29 PM IST

Hindutan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Domestic airlines accept banned currency, see spike in ticket sales

Besides airlines, pharmacies, post offices and railways have been permitted to accept the banned currency notes until November 11.

Vasai resident Chinmay Gavankar purchased Goa-Mumbai Vistara tickets to travel almost three months later.(HT PHOTO)

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Updated on Nov 10, 2016 03:28 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Aviation regulator looks to crack down on pilots feigning illness to miss work

The aviation regulator has decided to crack down on pilots feigning illness to miss work, less than a week after Jet Airways passengers suffered long waits and cancellations due to a shortage of pilots.

More than 100 Jet Airways flights were either delayed or cancelled over the long Diwali weekend owing to mass sick leave by pilots.(Bloomberg File Photo)

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Updated on Nov 09, 2016 01:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Travellers in India prefer economic stays: Study

Holiday budgets in India saw a double digit spike this year but most travellers chose economic stays over big hotels, found a study that compared vacation spends

Tavellers prefer unconventional vacations nowadays, such as trekking spots.(HT File Photo)

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Published on Nov 07, 2016 04:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

In Maharashtra: Two car mechanics under DGCA lens for repairing chopper

On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sent a team to probe the matter. “Our team is interrogating them,” said Lalit Gupta, joint director general with the DGCA.

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Updated on Nov 04, 2016 02:27 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Flights disrupted as Jet Airways pilots fume over new roster, report sick

Hundreds of Jet Airways passengers intermittently

Sources said that the disruptions stemmed from a stand off between pilots and the airline management over a new automated roster making system that allegedly doesn’t adequately account for travel fatigue.

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Published on Nov 03, 2016 12:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra

Most expensive domestic seats on Mumbai flights: Aviation directorate data

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai, showed data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai(HT File Photo)

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Published on Nov 02, 2016 09:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Maharashtra CM keen on developing Kalyan airstrip under regional air connectivity scheme

Under the regional connectivity scheme named UDAN, the ministry is planning to revamp India’s ghost airports

Last week the government invited bids from airlines willing to operate short distance flights (up to 500 km) at fares not exceeding Rs2,500 for an hour of flying under the scheme.(Pic for representation/AFP)

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Updated on Oct 28, 2016 11:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Two pilots taken off flying duty after GoAir flight avoids collision

The alert came from the Traffic Collision Advisory System (TCAS), an in-built device which throws collision warnings to aircraft mid-air.

Mumbai Ö14 November 2010Ö Mumbai Airport at Santacruz - photo by Rajendra Gawankar(Hindustan Times)

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Published on Oct 27, 2016 07:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

In Mumbai: Air India pilot found tipsy can’t fly a plane for 3 years

An Air India (AI) pilot, who tested positive for alcohol before operating a flight, will not be allowed to fly a plane for at least three years.

An AI spokesperson confirmed the pilot’s license was suspended for three years.(HT File Photo)

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Published on Oct 27, 2016 12:41 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Air India pilot found tipsy not allowed to fly for 3 years

An AI spokesperson confirmed that the pilot’s license was suspended for three years.

The pilot assigned to operate a Birmingham-bound flight from Delhi faced the stern action because this was the second time he tested positive during a mandatory pre-flight breathe check.(HT file photo)

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Published on Oct 26, 2016 03:54 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

Monsoon months saw more fliers than the summer this year

Between July and September this year, 2.51 crore people took domestic flights, compared to 2.45 crore from April to June — the established holiday season. In the January to March period, 2.30 crore took flights within India

For the first time, the rain-soaked months of July to September saw a significant surge in domestic fliers, an increase that even beat the peak summer rush

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Published on Oct 25, 2016 12:01 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySoubhik Mitra, Mumbai

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Soubhik Mitra

Soubhik Mitra is an assistant editor with the Hindustan Times. The Mumbai boy has spent over a decade reporting on civic, environmental and political issues. His current stint is the longest where he writes on aviation and travel.

More than 2,100 domestic fliers were not allowed to board aircraft despite having valid boarding cards in November, the highest number this year, showed the aviation safety regulator’s data. This happened primarily because most flights were overbooked.

A fire broke out early on Tuesday morning on the 22nd floor of the Air India building on Madam Cama road, Nariman Point, South Mumbai. No casualty was reported.

According to the findings, international trips taken by Indians aged more than 65 years is likely to touch 9,67,000 in 2025 from 3,33,000 in 2015 — a spike of 193%.

Flights which are operated in the dead of the night or early morning are known as red-eye operations inspired from bloodshot eyes resulting from travelling at odd hours.

A ‘powerful’ Gujarati family made Jet Airways bribe passengers to make people deboard so that their family members, who were late to the airport, could fly.

The move comes in the wake of multiple red alerts at Indian airports, following terror strikes on airports abroad

The unplanned wait for the Mumbai-Goa flight led to a heated verbal exchange with the airline crew, said the passengers.

On November 29, the civil aviation ministry sent out a notification introducing a levy of Rs7,500 to Rs8,500 on all domestic flights.

Three pilots’ unions comprising more than 3,000 pilots from Air India and Jet Airways called the proposed rule a ploy to hide India’s chronic shortage of pilots

The national carrier has budgeted for just one aircraft — AI 651 — to shuttle on this route, which has a stopover at Raipur.

International fliers from India want direct flight connectivity

The note alleged that other than ignoring complaints, Captain Ajay Singh also misused his power to make some complainants go back on their words

The six-page response from the unions, representing the views of 3,000 pilots, said 98% Jet Airways pilots were on duty during the disruption-ridden Diwali weekend, which was a pre-cursor to the ‘draconian’ draft issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA

The conflict began since the Diwali weekend, when more than 100 Jet Airways flights were delayed or cancelled allegedly owing to many pilots reporting sick at the last minute.

Almost four out of ten domestic flights arriving in the city between 11pm and 3 am were delayed last month, according to the data from the Mumbai airport. About half of these flights operated in this window would qualify as red-eye, said experts.

Escalators connected to the T2’s arrivals and departures would take fliers down to a concourse housing ticket counters and restaurants

Pilots in India are preparing for a head-on collision with the aviation safety regulator in the wake of an upcoming policy which threatens to ground aviators for feigning illness.

A report released by travel portal MakeMyTrip on Saturday compared air fare prices with that of AC first class trains across at least 18 domestic routes.

On Friday, captain Nikhil Ved, erstwhile chief of flight operations, was made the head of planning and strategy

Besides airlines, pharmacies, post offices and railways have been permitted to accept the banned currency notes until November 11.

The aviation regulator has decided to crack down on pilots feigning illness to miss work, less than a week after Jet Airways passengers suffered long waits and cancellations due to a shortage of pilots.

Holiday budgets in India saw a double digit spike this year but most travellers chose economic stays over big hotels, found a study that compared vacation spends

On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sent a team to probe the matter. “Our team is interrogating them,” said Lalit Gupta, joint director general with the DGCA.

Hundreds of Jet Airways passengers intermittently

The ratio of steep domestic air tickets sold between August and September in India were the highest on flights shuttling in and out of Mumbai, showed data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation

Under the regional connectivity scheme named UDAN, the ministry is planning to revamp India’s ghost airports

The alert came from the Traffic Collision Advisory System (TCAS), an in-built device which throws collision warnings to aircraft mid-air.

An Air India (AI) pilot, who tested positive for alcohol before operating a flight, will not be allowed to fly a plane for at least three years.

An AI spokesperson confirmed that the pilot’s license was suspended for three years.

Between July and September this year, 2.51 crore people took domestic flights, compared to 2.45 crore from April to June — the established holiday season. In the January to March period, 2.30 crore took flights within India

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