Page 3 - Aviation

DGCA probes Air India Boeing Dreamliner's RAT deployment incident

Aviation watchdog DGCA will carry out a detailed probe into the incident of Ram Air Turbine (RAT) getting deployed in an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft few minutes before landing at the Birmingham airport on Saturday, according to an official. In an aircraft, RAT gets deployed automatically in the eventuality of a dual engine failure or total electronic or hydraulic failure. RAT uses wind speed to generate emergency power. The senior DGCA official told PTI that RAT got deployed during landing of the plane at 400 feet but the pilot did not report any related abnormality. The maintenance actions for uncommanded RAT deployment recommended by Boeing have been carried out and no discrepancy were observed, the official said and added that the aircraft is being released for service. The official also said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will carry out a detailed investigation into the incident. "The operating crew of flight AI117 from Amritsar to Birmingham o

Boeing 777X first flight delayed to 2027, driving billions in charges

The jet, already six years late, is of major strategic and financial importance to Boeing in its duel with Airbus SE for a bigger slice of the lucrative long-haul market

Global air passenger traffic expected to hit 9.8 billion in 2025: Report

Global air passenger traffic is projected to touch 9.8 billion in 2025, nearly 4 per cent higher compared to last year, according to Airports Council International (ACI) World. In 2024, the total passenger traffic stood at 9.4 billion. Its bi-annual World Airport Traffic Report (WATR) released on Tuesday said the global aviation market is expanding, but its trajectory remains sensitive to geopolitical events, macroeconomic conditions and region-specific headwinds. "Current projections estimate total passenger traffic will reach 9.8 billion in 2025, a 3.7 per cent increase from 2024. International traffic is expected to reach 4.3 billion passengers (44 per cent of the total), while domestic traffic is projected at 5.5 billion passengers (56 per cent of the total)," ACI World said. In the Asia Pacific region, the traffic number is forecast to reach 3.6 billion passengers in 2025, with Southern and Southeast Asia driving growth while East Asia's outlook remains cautious. The figures

IndiGo: Analysts advise 'Hold' despite rich valuations, sector headwinds

Nuvama flagged 'high valuations' and 'near-term industry weakness' as key reasons for caution, even as structural positives remain intact.

Airport passenger traffic likely to hit post-Covid low in FY26: Icra

The ratings agency revised its full-year projection to 5-7 per cent year-on-year from its earlier estimate of 7-9 per cent

Mid-air scare: Passenger attempts to enter cockpit on AI Express flight

The incident occurred on the flight IX-1086, which departed Bengaluru airport's Terminal 2 at 8 am on Monday and landed in Varanasi at 10.27 am

oneworld Alliance considers Indian airline partner as market expands

Given that many of its members currently serve India, the alliance is also considering ways to leverage their joint presence in country like with a loyalty deal or a joint lounge initiative, CEO said

IndiGo to start 6 weekly direct flights on Athens route by early Jan 2026

Domestic carrier IndiGo on Monday said it will deploy its maiden Airbus A321 XLR aircraft, which is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, on its Athens, Greece route from January next year. The Gurugram-based airline had earlier this year announced that it would launch its flight services to 10 international destinations this financial year. IndiGo is all set to bring home India's first A321XLR by the end of 2025, and begin six weekly direct flights to Athens by early January 2026, subject to regulatory approval, the airline said in a statement. This will make IndiGo the only Indian carrier to offer direct flights between India and Greece, it said, adding that on the receipt of the appropriate approvals, the airline intends to connect Athens to both Delhi and Mumbai, with operations of three weekly nonstops on both routes. The next-generation narrow-body A321 XLR is designed for longer ranges, allowing IndiGo to expand deeper into Europe, while maintaining the ...

SpiceJet settles long-standing $24 million liability with Credit Suisse

The liability stems from a 2011 10-year aircraft servicing deal with Swiss firm SR Technics, which transferred its payment recovery rights to Credit Suisse

Trump admin scraps Biden-era plan of airlines paying for flight disruptions

The Trump administration on Thursday said it is abandoning a Biden-era plan that sought to require airlines to compensate stranded passengers with cash, lodging and meals for flight cancellations or changes caused by a carrier. The proposed rule would have aligned US policy more closely with European airline consumer protections. It was proposed last December in the final weeks of then-president Joe Biden's administration, leaving its fate in the hands of his Republican successor. In a document posted on Thursday, President Donald Trump's Transportation Department said its plan to scrap the proposed rule was consistent with Department and administration priorities". Industry trade group Airlines for America, a vocal critic of the proposal, said it would have driven up ticket prices for consumers. We are encouraged by this Department of Transportation reviewing unnecessary and burdensome regulations that exceed its authority and don't solve issues important to our customers," the gr

Domestic air traffic drops 2.94% to 12.6 mn passengers in July: DGCA

Domestic air passenger traffic declined 2.94 per cent year-on-year to 1.26 crore in July, according to official data released on Wednesday. The fall in air passenger traffic also came against the backdrop of the fatal Air India Ahmedabad-London Gatwick plane crash on June 12 in which 260 people were killed. Indian carriers had flown 1.29 crore passengers in July 2024 on domestic routes, as per the data posted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on its website. On a sequential basis, Air India Group lost 1 per cent market share during the month under review at 33.08 lakh passengers against 33.08 lakh carried by the airline in June. Air India had in the last week of June announced a 5 per cent reduction in the domestic capacity to carry out comprehensive checks on its fleet. On the contrary, market leader IndiGo, increased its market share to 65.2 per cent from 64.5 per cent in overall traffic, though on a month-on-month basis the Gurugram-based carrier flew fewer ..

InterGlobe-CAE to open new pilot training centre in Mumbai by 2026

A joint venture of InterGlobe Enterprises and Canadian flight simulation firm CAE on Tuesday announced plans to set up a pilot training centre in the financial capital as it looks to cash in on the boom in the domestic aviation sector and to cater to the increasing demand for cockpit crew in the country. The new facility centre, to be spread over a 44,000 square-foot area, will have a capacity for up to six full-flight simulators (FFS). It will begin operations in the first quarter of CY 2026 with two Airbus A320 FFS, CAE Simulation Training Pvt Ltd (CSTPL) said. The JV already operates three commercial aviation training centres, one each in Greater Noida, Gurugram and Bengaluru, with a capacity of up to 23 FFS. The new facility will also offer comprehensive pilot training programmes on Airbus, ATR and Boeing aircraft, including type rating, recurrent training, and proficiency checks. CAE's 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast predicts a demand of 98,000 for new pilots in the Asia Pacific

IGRUA lost four trainer planes in accidents over eight years, says govt

The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) lost four of its trainer aircraft due to accidents in the last eight years, according to the government. Currently, IGRUA, located in Uttar Pradesh, has 13 trainer planes. "There has been a reduction in the number of aircraft from 24 in the year 2017 to 13 at present. This reduction is attributable to the completion of the prescribed service life of seven aircraft and the loss of four aircraft due to accidents," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Monday. He said a budgetary allocation of Rs 25 crore was made to IGRUA for FY 2024-25 toward the acquisition of new trainer aircraft. "To cater the requirement of pilots in the country, IGRUA has started all seven days flying in a week. In addition to its main base IGRUA has also started additional base for round the year detachment flying at Birsi Airport, Gondia (Maharashtra) and plan to fly at other places," the minister ...

Air Canada to cancel flights from Thursday amid looming cabin crew strike

Air Canada said Wednesday it will begin a gradual suspension of flights to allow an orderly shutdown of the country's largest airline as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants on Saturday. The airline said the first flights will be cancelled Thursday, with more on Friday and a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend. The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice Wednesday. In response, the airline issued a lockout notice. Air Canada said customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and they will be eligible for a full refund. The company also said it has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers with alternative travel options to the extent possible. We regret the impact a disruption will have on our customers, our stakeholders and the communities we serve, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said in a statement. On Tuesday, Air

SpiceJet inks damp-lease deal for 5 Boeing 737s ahead of winter schedule

While most of these aircraft will join the fleet in October, a few are scheduled to arrive a couple of weeks earlier, the airline said in a company statement

Air India Express launches 'freedom sale' with fares starting from ₹1,279

Passengers can avail of 25% off Xpress Biz fares and 20% off extra baggage with Air India Express, as part of their special Freedom Sale to celebrate India's 79th Independence Day

Air India raises pilots' retirement age to 65, non-flying staff to 60

Air India has decided to increase the retirement age for pilots to 65 years and for non-flying staff to 60 years, sources said on Friday. At present, the retirement age for both pilots and non-flying staff at the airline is 58 years. The announcement about increasing the superannuation age was made at the airline's townhall addressed by CEO and MD Campbell Wilson, the sources said. Air India pilots' retirement age will be increased to 65 years and that of non-flying staff will be raised to 60 years, a move that will also bring their superannuation age at par with erstwhile Vistara. There was no official comment from Air India. Tata Group-owned Air India has around 24,000 staff, including about 3,600 pilots and nearly 9,500 cabin crew members It could not be immediately ascertained whether the retirement age for cabin crew, which is currently 58 years at Air India, has been increased or not. In recent times, some pilots and cabin crew members have quit the airline. According to

United Airlines outage grounds US flights, disrupts India-bound travel

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United requested a nationwide ground stop, which has since been lifted

US slams use of AI to personalise airline ticket prices, would investigate

Delta Air Lines told lawmakers it will not and has not used AI to set prices for individual consumers

IndiGo commences construction work for new MRO facility in Bengaluru

Domestic carrier IndiGo has commenced construction work on its new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility here, with the groundbreaking ceremony taking place at the Kempegowda International Airport on Tuesday. To be built on 31 acres of land, theO with a capacity of up to 12 bays and the capability to handle both narrow and wide-body aircraft will be fully functional by 2028, IndiGo said. The ceremony was attended by the Commissioner for Industries in the Karnataka Government, Gunjan Krishna, IndiGo Chief Executive Officer Pieter Elbers, Bangalore International Airport Ltd's CEO Hari Marar, among others. IndiGo had signed a memorandum of understanding with BIAL for the allocation of land in May. This facility will also create over a thousand jobs across engineers, technicians and several more, further contributing towards nation building, IndiGo said. "We are very excited as we commence the project to build this grandO facility in Bengaluru. This also strengthens our ...