Page 12 - Airline Industry

Largest-ever aviation deal: IndiGo orders 500 Airbus A320 family aircraft

The airline did not place any order for wide-bodied aircraft

Emirates to offer premium economy class on its flights to Mumbai, Bengaluru

Gulf carrier Emirates on Tuesday announced that it will offer premium economy class, offering more legroom, on its Airbus A380 flights to Mumbai and Bengaluru, starting October 30. The airline said it will operate its newly retrofitted flagship A380 aircraft from the two Indian airports -- Mumbai and Bengaluru, featuring the new premium economy seats. Travellers flying on the Dubai-Mumbai route can book Emirates' Premium Economy seats on EK500/501, while customers flying between Dubai and Bengaluru can book their flights on EK568/569, Emirates said in a statement. "We are rolling out our much-awaited offering, premium economy, to our customers at two points in India -- Bengaluru and Mumbai -- which are served by our A380 aircraft," said Mohammed Sarhan, Vice President for India and Nepal at Emirates. Emirates operates to and from nine destinations -- Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram -- in India.

Mumbai Airport's 2nd runway gets a new 'carpet' for safety, efficiency

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here has completed six-month long 're-carpeting' project of its secondary runway, enhancing operational efficiency

Purvanchal Expressway closed till June 25 for IAF airstrip maintenance

The Purvanchal Expressway here will remain closed till June 25 in view of the maintenance work at the Indian Air Force airstrip in Jaisinghpur tehsil of the district, officials said. Circle officer Jaisinghpur Prashant Singh said the six-kilometre stretch of the expressway in the district was closed on June 11 for maintenance work. Security officer of Purvanchal Expressway OP Singh said that the link road built adjacent to the expressway will be used for movement of vehicles. On November 16, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 341-kilometre-long Purvanchal Expressway in Sultanpur. The prime minister had landed in a military transport aircraft on the 3.2-km stretch developed as an emergency landing strip for the IAF. The expressway begins from Chandsarai village on the outskirts of Lucknow and ends at Hadairia village on NH-31 in Ghazipur district. It cuts across nine districts, including Ayodhya, Amethi and Azamgarh.

Climate change making travelling by planes more turbulent: Research

Climate change has made travelling by planes more turbulent today than it was four decades ago, according to a study. The researchers from the University of Reading in the UK found that clear-air turbulence, which is invisible and hazardous to aircraft, has increased in various regions around the world. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found that at a typical point over the North Atlantic one of the world's busiest flight routes the total annual duration of severe turbulence increased by 55 per cent from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 27.4 hours in 2020. Moderate turbulence increased by 37 per cent from 70.0 to 96.1 hours, and light turbulence increased by 17 per cent from 466.5 to 546.8 hours, the researchers said. The team noted that the increases are consistent with the effects of climate change. Warmer air from carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is increasing windshear in the jet streams, strengthening clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic and ...

IndiGo Airlines set to commence codeshare flights through Istanbul to US

IndiGo is all set to commence codeshare flights through Istanbul to the US as the no-frills carrier continues to expand its international connectivity. The flights, in codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, will provide connections to New York, Boston, Chicago and Washington, effective June 15, it said in a release on Friday. The airline, India's largest in terms of domestic market share, already provides codeshare connections to 33 destinations. "We are thrilled to expand our codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, for the first time across the Atlantic to the United States of America. New York, Boston, Chicago, and Washington are renowned for their cultural significance, iconic landmarks, and vibrant lifestyles," IndiGo's Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra said. Codesharing allows an airline to book its passengers on its partner carriers and provide seamless travel to destinations where it has no presence. The overseas connectivity expansion of IndiGo, which has more

IndiGo aims to carry 100 million passengers in FY24: CEO Pieter Elbers

IndiGo aims to carry 100 million passengers in the year ending March 2024, as the carrier adds more domestic and international routes, its CEO Pieter Elbers said on Monday. The budget carrier flew 86 million passengers in FY23. At a media briefing on the sidelines of the IATA World Air Transport Summit here, Elbers said the airline expects to have around 350 planes in its fleet by the end of this fiscal (FY24). Currently, the carrier has more than 300 aircraft. IndiGo is India's largest airline with more than 57 per cent domestic market share. To a query on bilateral flying rights, Elbers said it is up to the government to decide on whether to give more rights or not. It requires a "tailor-made approach," he added.

'Massive opportunities' in vibrant Indian aviation market, says IATA

There are "massive opportunities" in the vibrant Indian aviation market, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh said on Monday. Talking about the Indian market, he highlighted that there are CEOs of two Indian airlines on the Board of Governors (BoG) of IATA and it is the first time that has happened. "It reflects the opportunity and vibrancy... there are massive opportunities and we are really excited about the future of aviation in India," he told a media briefing on the sidelines of the IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) here. Air India CEO and Managing Director Campbell Wilson and IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers are among the 31 airline CEOs on the BoG. On Monday, IATA announced that Elbers will serve as Chair of the BoG from June 2024. India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and Air India has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan, while IndiGo is set to fly to more international destinations. Earlier this year, Ai

Airline industry to report $9.8 bn profit this year on rising traffic: IATA

The airline industry is expected to record a net profit of USD 9.8 billion this year as passenger traffic is rising and local economies are reviving, IATA said on Monday. Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said that despite economic uncertainties, people are flying to reconnect, explore and do business. "Latest data shows that passenger traffic is at over 90 per cent of 2019 level". Speaking at the IATA Annual General Meeting here, he said airports are busier, hotel occupancy is rising, local economies are reviving and the airline industry has moved into profitability. The airline industry is expected to rake in revenues of USD 803 billion and a net profit of USD 9.8 billion this year. Airlines will make an average of USD 2.25 per passenger, he said. While the aviation industry is recovering after the pandemic, there are still challenges like cost pressure and supply-chain issues. Walsh said Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

Foreign airlines have reaped benefits of growing Indian market, says Wilson

'The structure that has prevailed has not been conducive for a healthy industry'

Spot airfares up three times in a month on India's busiest routes

However, fares for tickets purchased 30 days in advance have seen a small increase

Airlines scour globe for capacity as aircraft shortage takes toll

The massive aircraft deals announced this year are testament to the optimism about a post-pandemic rebound

IndiGo to start direct flights to six destinations in Africa, Central Asia

The country's largest airline IndiGo will start direct flights to six new destinations in Africa and Central Asia, including to Nairobi, Tbilisi and Tashkent, this year. Embarking on "massive" international expansion plans, the carrier will connect Nairobi in Kenya and Jakarta in Indonesia, with direct flights from Mumbai in late July or early August. "Delhi will get connected in August to Tbilisi, Georgia & Baku, Azerbaijan and in September to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Almaty, Kazakhstan," IndiGo said in a release on Friday. Once these routes are operational, the budget airline will be connecting a total of 32 international destinations compared to 26 currently. While noting that it is taking a "massive step in its international expansion strategy," IndiGo said it will be adding an "impressive 174 new weekly international flights between June and September 2023, including new destinations, routes, and frequencies". IndiGo said it will also be resuming daily services from Delhi to

Higher leasing bills, jet recovery dispute will hit airline costs: AerCap

Tribunal last month granted request from 6th-largest carrier for bankruptcy protection, putting into effect moratorium on its assets that prevents foreign lessors from taking planes out for a year

Air India Express, AirAsia India recruit over 800 cabin crew in one year

Tata Group-owned Air India Express and AirAsia India together have recruited more than 800 trainee cabin crew members in the last one year. Besides, Air India Express, which is the international budget arm of Air India, has added over 280 pilots during the one year from June 2022. The induction process, which started in June last year attracted a diverse pool of candidates, through joint walk-in recruitment drives conducted across various metro cities and small towns, Air India Express said in a release on Thursday. Last year, Tata Group acquired Air India along with Air India Express and a 50 per cent stake in ground handling firm Air India SATS Airport Services Pvt Ltd (AISATS). The Group currently fully owns three airlines -- Air India, Air India Express and AirAsia India while it holds 51 per cent ownership in its joint venture airline with Singapore Airline, Vistara, which is also being merged with Air India. The large-scale recruitment is a significant milestone in the ongo

HC cannot interfere with resolution process of Go First: IRP tells court

Senior Advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the IRP, told the court that a writ court should not interfere in the resolution process after the insolvency application has been accepted by the Tribunal

Go First lessors' request to repossess planes on hold, not rejected: DGCA

DGCA says can proceed to de-register Go First aircraft after moratorium lifted

Executives of crisis-hit Go First discuss revival plans with DGCA officials

Senior executives of crisis-hit Go First, which is undergoing insolvency resolution process, on Monday discussed its revival plans with officials of aviation regulator DGCA, according to a source. The meeting, held in the national capital, came against the backdrop of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), last week, asking the grounded airline to submit its revival plan within 30 days. The budget carrier, filed a petition for voluntary insolvency resolution proceedings on May 2, citing its inability to carry out operations due to non-delivery of engines by the US engine maker Pratt & Whitney. The plea of the airline, which has not flown since May 3, was admitted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on May 10. "DGCA had called the entire management team of Go First on Monday to discuss the resumption plan. At the meeting, the team presented the road map for revival of operations," a source told PTI on the condition of anonymity. Without divulging specific ...

Air India growing, hiring 600 cabin crew members, pilots every month: CEO

Bullish on growth prospects with a "healthy start" to Air India's five-year transformation plan, its chief Campbell Wilson on Monday said the airline is hiring 550 cabin crew members and 50 pilots every month and also expects to have six wide-body A350 planes in its fleet by the end of this year. After taking over the reins from the government in January last year, Tata Group has put in place various measures to turn around the fortunes of the loss-making carrier, including placing the largest order for 470 planes and expanding international operations. Talking about the airline's hiring plans, Wilson, who is the Managing Director and CEO, said there is no target per se, but about 550 cabin crew members and 50 pilots are coming in and trained afresh every month. "In the case of cabin crew members, it is about ten times and in the case of pilots, it is about five times on an annual rate of the pre-privatised airline," he told PTI in an interview in the national capital. According to

British Airways cancels flights over glitch ahead of busy holiday weekend

British Airways cancelled dozens of flights on Friday due to computer problems, disrupting the plans of thousands of travellers at the start of a busy holiday weekend. Most of the 42 affected flights were on short-haul routes to and from Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport. Computer issues on Thursday caused planes and crew to be out of position Friday, which was expected to be the busiest day for UK air travel since before the coronavirus pandemic. Other flights were delayed, as some passengers were unable to check in online. We're aware of a technical issue, which we have been working hard to fix, the airline said on its website. Travel is expected to be especially busy over the next few days as a three-day weekend coincides with the start of a weeklong holiday for most schools in Britain.