Cash-strapped National Aviation Company (Nacil), which runs Air India, plans to offer some services like engineering, cargo handling and aviation training to other airlines in order to raise the much-needed cash.

Australia on Friday allayed India’s concerns over the security of Indian students and the quality of education given to them. The two countries also exchanged ideas on how to give a “forward-oriented” thrust to the bilateral ties.

State-owned carrier Air India will gradually shift to low-cost model on 70-75 per cent of its domestic routes. To begin with, the national carrier will operate 27 per cent of its routes from this year’s winter schedule on the low-cost model. The winter schedule begins from October 25.

In a desperate bid to increase its market share, Air India will launch its domestic budget carrier from September by operating 27 flights a day, by pressing into service 10 aircraft.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is adding Hyderabad to expand its Indian flying operations.

India’s flag carrier, Air India, is converting 10 Airbus aircraft to an all-economy class configuration as it prepares to start its domestic low-fare operations under its Air India Express brand by mid-September, two airline executives said.

Hotels will get star ratings only if they are hospitable for disabled persons and have adequate arrangement for safety and security of guests, said a tourism ministry statement.

Air India Express will launch its low-cost domestic operation from mid-September connecting the metros and 20 other cities.

Come September 2010, a disabled person will be able to check into a hotel classified between one and Five Stars with relative ease.

Kingfisher Airlines has said that it has no plans to launch new international routes from Bangalore any time soon. The decision comes close on the heels of the airline burning its fingers on the Bangalore-Colombo-London route.