Page 2 - Airline Sector

A-I, Kenya Airways enter into codeshare partnership as part of expansion

Air India has entered into a codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways as the Tata Group-owned airline seeks to expand as well as provide more travel choices for passengers. Both airlines will also continue to have their interline partnership. As part of the codeshare pact, Air India will place its 'AI' designator code on twice daily flights between Nairobi and Mumbai operated by Kenya Airways. This will allow passengers to take Air India flights via Mumbai to or from Bangkok (Thailand), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Mal (The Maldives), Melbourne (Australia), and Singapore, according to a release on Thursday. The codeshare partnership will also enable Kenya Airways to place its 'KQ' designator code on Air India-operated flights between Delhi and Nairobi. Both airlines plan to progressively add other destinations in their networks to the codeshare pact, Air India said in the release. Currently, Air India has 16 codeshare and around 100 interline agreements with various ..

Boeing CEO Ortberg signals portfolio review following $14 bn cash drain

The company has made progress in its turnaround, adjusting its factories and supplier base for higher production levels going forward, and addressing money-losing defense programs, Ortberg said

Indian aircraft MRO sector to grow 50% in topline by FY26, says Crisil

The Indian aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO)industry is expected to see a 50 per cent topline growth to Rs 4,500 crore in FY26 amid fresh demand triggered by airline operators' expanding fleet size, ratings agency Crisill said on Monday. The rating agency's study based on three MRO operators, which account for 90 per cent of the industry's revenue, also pointed out that reduction in GST on aircraft components and services not only positions domestic MRO players more competitively with their overseas competitors but also ease their working capital blockage. Indian MRO players typically provide three types of services -- line checks (undertaken before every take off), air frame checks (every 12-18 months which involves grounding the aircraft for 3-4 weeks) and redelivery checks (at the time of expiry of lease period of 6-7 years). "Revenue of the domestic aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul industry will surpass Rs 4,500 crore in fiscal 2026, clocking an impressive

NCLT approves liquidation of Go First Airways amid insolvency crisis

The NCLT has ordered the liquidation of Go First on a plea filed by the airline's Committee of Creditors; airline faced insolvency proceedings since May 2023 with no revival options

Bird feathers, blood likely found in engines of South Korea's crashed jet

About four minutes before the fatal crash, one of the pilots had reported a bird strike and declared an emergency before initiating a go-around and attempting to land on the opposite end of the runway

Azul, Gol draw closer to potential partnership to form major Brazil airline

Azul Chief Executive John Rodgerson said in an interview that the combined carrier, which would continue operating two separate brands despite the combined ownership, would be 'a national champion'

Air India flight returns to Bengaluru airport after midair engine failure

Delhi bound flight, returned to Bengaluru for an emergency landing after one its engines failed mid-air

IndiGo share takes off 3% as Elara Capital upgrades to 'Buy', lifts target

The rally in IndiGo's share price followed a rating upgrade from domestic brokerage Elara Capital. The brokerage upgraded the stock to 'Buy' from 'Sell' and raised the target price to Rs 5,309

Delhi-bound Air India intl flight's passengers fight over armrest space

Two passengers on board a Delhi-bound Air India flight from Copenhagen (Denmark) came to blows over armrest space just when the aircraft was about to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Sunday, a source said. The flight landed at around 7.35 am. An Air India official said that the passengers had an argument over some issue at its Copenhagen-Delhi flight of Saturday which was later sorted out "amicably". According to the source, "The two passengers started an argument over the armrest space in economy class when the cabin crew was serving food and beverages, which turned into a heated exchange. The cabin crew pacified them by giving one of the passengers another seat. "However, when the aircraft was about to land in Delhi, the passenger came to collect his baggage from the seat he was sitting earlier, they again started the fight and came to blows." The number of passengers on board the Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating AI 158 (Copenhagen-Delhi) could not be known. T

Akasa Air expects to add more planes to its fleet by March 2025: CEO

Akasa Air is in continuous discussions with Boeing on aircraft deliveries and expects to add a few more planes to its fleet in the current fiscal ending March 2025, the airline's chief Vinay Dube has said. The carrier, which started flying in August 2022, currently has a fleet of 26 Boeing 737 MAX planes and 200 aircraft are on order. In a recent interview to PTI, Dube said that 2024 has been a good year for the airline and will continue to build on it in 2025. "On the service excellence we have provided, I think consumers look at Akasa as being a kind and gentler airline, little more empathetic. We will continue to treat our travellers in a kind, gentle manner," he said and added that the airline also continues to make sure its employees feel loved and respected. Earlier this month, some pilots flagged concerns about alleged training and safety issues, and the airline had rejected them as baseless and untrue. This year, the carrier has inducted 4 planes into its fleet. When aske

Airlines seek more time for implementation of revised flight duty norms

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet and Air India Express have sought more time for the phased implementation of the revised flight duty norms as they flagged increased crew requirements and emphasised the need to put in place fatigue risk management system to monitor fatigue among the pilots. Sources said the airlines have informed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) that the norms can be operationalised in a phased manner starting from June 2025 at the earliest. However, with the implementation horizon still not clear for the norms, which were initially to come into effect from June this year, three pilots' bodies have told aviation watchdog DGCA to ensure that the new regulations be fully implemented from February 15 at the earliest, the sources said. By mid-February, fog season, which generally causes flight disruptions due to low visibility conditions, will be ending. The sources also said that pilots' associations are of the view that the CAR under which norms have been

IndiGo to send two planes to bring back stranded passengers from Istanbul

IndiGo is sending two planes to Istanbul to bring back passengers stranded in the Turkish capital after their flight to Delhi was cancelled on Friday due to a technical issue. On Thursday, hundreds of IndiGo passengers were stuck at Istanbul airport after their flights to Delhi and Mumbai were delayed. They were stranded for over 24 hours, and many took to social media to complain about the delays and lack of facilities. There was a cascading effect on the airline's scheduled flights on the two routes. IndiGo, on Friday evening, said all necessary steps were taken to ensure customers were apprised and provided with refreshments and accommodation, where possible. On Saturday, IndiGo said its flight 6E 12, operating from Istanbul to Delhi, was cancelled due to a technical issue. The cancellation happened on Friday. The airline operates two daily flights to Istanbul with leased Boeing 777 aircraft -- one from Delhi and another from Mumbai. "Alternative aircraft have been arranged t

IndiGo to offer business class seats on select Delhi-Bengaluru flights

Domestic carrier IndiGo on Monday said it will start offering business class seats on select flights to customers on the Delhi-Bengaluru route, starting January 10. Named as Indigo Stretch, the Gurugram-based airline's tailor-made business class product made its debut on the Delhi-Mumbai route last month. All 15 daily flights between Delhi and Bengaluru will be operated with aircraft configured with these business class seats by March next year while by early January 2025, all 20 daily flights between Delhi and Mumbai will have these business class seats, IndiGo said. "In line with our announcement to serve 12 Indian routes with our business class product, IndiGoStretch, we have added Delhi-Bengaluru as our second route. Soon, we will announce IndiGoStretch on flights between Delhi and Chennai," said Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer at IndiGo. Customers booking business class seats on IndiGo can avail of complimentary benefits such as priority check-in, anytime boarding, adva

Global airline industry to record net profit of $36.6 bn in 2025: IATA

The global airline industry is projected to report a net profit of USD 36.6 billion in 2025, slightly higher than expected this year, helped by lower oil prices and cost control, IATA said on Tuesday. Passenger numbers are expected to rise 6.7 per cent to 5.2 billion next year compared to 2024. In 2025, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects the industry's revenue to cross the USD 1 trillion mark for the first time to USD 1.007 trillion, which will be an increase of 4.4 per cent compared to 2024. While the operating profit is estimated at USD 67.5 billion, expenses are anticipated to reach USD 940 billion next year. At a briefing here, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said India is witnessing significant growth and that there is a clear recognition that growth is also dependent on air connectivity. China and India are among the fastest-growing domestic aviation markets, he added. "Net profit is expected to be USD 36.6 billion in 2025 for a 3.6 per cent net pr

Airlines reported 809 hoax bomb threats in last 5 yrs: Govt tells RS

Airlines in India have reported 809 hoax bomb threats in the last five years, with 719 in 2024 alone, as per data tabled in Parliament. "Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has information of a total of 809 hoax bomb threats received by airlines since 2020," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday. According to the data shared by the minister, four hoax bomb threat messages were reported by the airlines in 2020 and two in 2021. In 2022, airlines in India reported 13 hoax bomb threat messages, which rose to 71 in 2023, as per the data. In 2024, 719 hoax bomb threat messages have been reported by the airlines, according to the data. Aviation security regulator Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has mandated robust protocols for handling such threats, the minister said. Moreover, a detailed contingency plan -- Bomb Threat Contingency Plan (BTCP) -- is in place to handle such threats. As a part of BTCP, every airport has

SpiceJet set to hold annual general meeting for FY24 on December 30

SpiceJet will hold its annual general meeting for the 2023-24 financial year on December 30. At the meeting, the airline will seek shareholders' approval for increasing the authorised share capital to infuse fresh share capital, according to a regulatory filing on Saturday. Approvals will also be sought for the re-appointment of Ajay Singh as a director, appointment of Sonum Gayatri Malhotra as an independent director and for adopting audited financial statements for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The meeting will be held on December 30. Currently, the company's authorised share capital is Rs 15,000,000,000. The filing said in order to facilitate the infusion of fresh share capital in the company, it is necessary to increase the authorised share capital to Rs 20,000,000,000.

Taking steps to deal with fog, poor visibility in winter season: Air India

Air India on Thursday said it has taken various steps, including adjusting flight schedules, and increasing the number of CAT-III trained pilots, among others, to deal with the issues of fog and poor visibility this winter season. Fog and poor visibility conditions impact a large number of flights every year, particularly those originating from Northern India. The Tata Group-owned Air India faced a Rs 30 lakh fine from the DGCA in January this year for not having enough pilots trained to fly in low visibility conditions ahead of the fog season. "Air India has adjusted flight schedules to minimise disruptions to long haul and metro-to-metro flights with onward connectivity during the fog window. It has also increased the number of CAT-III trained pilots who are certified to land in low visibility operations and CAT-III instrument landing system," Air India said without giving the number of such pilots. CAT III is an instrument landing system, which enables an aircraft to land in low

Parliament passes 'Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak', replacing 90-yr-old Act

Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to replace the 90-year-old Aircraft Act to further improve the ease of doing business in the fast-growing aviation sector. The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote. It was earlier cleared by the Lok Sabha on August 9. The bill seeks to remove redundancies and replace the Aircraft Act, 1934, which has been amended 21 times. Replying to the debate on the bill in the Upper House, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the change in title of the bill from English to Hindi, to which many members raised objections, was done to "showcase the India's heritage and culture", and "there was no violation of Constitutional rule". It will be difficult to pronounce the name of the bill in Hindi initially but one will get used to it, he added. The bill focuses on enhancing safety, regulatory oversight, and consumer protection while aligning with international standards. The bill also promotes self-reliance in ...

DGCA to streamline norms for Indian airlines' wet-leased plane operations

Aviation watchdog DGCA will soon come out with streamlined regulations for wet-leasing of planes by Indian airlines that will also entail enhanced oversight of the aircraft, amid airlines looking to operate more planes to meet rising travel demand. With persisting supply chain woes, there is a delay in aircraft deliveries and to meet the near-term needs, carriers are opting for planes on dry and wet leases. A senior official in the know told PTI that the efforts are on to streamline the regulations for wet-leasing of planes to assist in the growth of the aviation. "Realities of the engine problems cannot be wished away suddenly and on the other side, the possible routes are also increasing all the time," the official said. Many planes of IndiGo are on the ground due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues and the number of such aircraft is slowly coming down. Generally, wet-leasing of an aircraft involves the leasing of foreign aircraft, along with crew, maintenance and insurance. The ..

Most airlines not switching quickly enough to sustainable jet fuel: Study

A lack of investment by major oil players, who have the capital to build SAF processing facilities, is hampering the market's growth, the study says