Indian Aviation

Akasa Air appoints Belson Coutinho as COO to oversee operations, growth

Belson Coutinho, a key member of Akasa Air's leadership since 2022, previously served as chief marketing and experience officer before being appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The India Story: Long journey traversed, but 90% of nation yet to be built

From highways connecting once-remote regions to aviation networks carrying millions, India's infrastructure story is one of transformation

DGCA suspends Akasa Air's directors of training, flight ops over lapses

The regulator said an audit found that navigation skills of pilots were being conducted on simulators that weren't qualified for that kind of training

IndiGo expects to carry 112 million passengers in 2024: CEO Pieter Elbers

IndiGo expects to carry 112 million passengers in 2024 and is on the way to become a leading player in global aviation, its chief Pieter Elbers has said. In 2023, the country's largest airline has flown over 100 million passengers. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets and IndiGo, which has a domestic market share of 63.6 per cent, is also expanding its international network. In a statement to PTI on the outlook for 2025, CEO Elbers said A321 XLRs will be arriving next year. These narrow-body planes have a longer range and will help the airline to start longer-duration direct international flights. IndiGo, flying for the last 18 years, has a fleet of over 400 aircraft and also placed an order for 30 wide body A350-900 widebodies. "An airline so young expects to welcome over 112 million customers in 2024, after crossing the 100 million annual customers bar last year," Elbers said. Aligning with India's vision to establish itself as an aviation hub, he

Akasa Air fined Rs 10 lakh by DGCA for denying boarding to passengers

The DGCA has imposed a Rs 10 lakh fine on Akasa Air for denying boarding to seven passengers on a Bengaluru-Pune flight in September and failing to provide required compensation

BluJ Aero, Blade India sign deal for sustainable regional aviation

Blade India will purchase 60 vertical takeoff and landing aircraft as part of agreement

Govt sets Rs 1 cr fine for airline bomb hoaxes under revised security rules

Hoax bomb threats on airlines now attract fines up to Rs 1 crore under revised Aircraft Security Rules as the Centre aims to curb disruptions, and enhance safety

Air India announces changes in its international routes with new aircraft

The airline is looking to increase flexibility and connectivity for intercontinental travel between North America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia through its hubs in Delhi and Mumbai

The aim is to make India a top global domestic aviation hub: Minister Naidu

India's civil aviation sector has witnessed rapid growth over the last ten years and now the aim is to make the country the top global domestic aviation hub, Union minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Friday. The civil aviation sector in India has witnessed rapid growth over the last ten years and the aim should be now to become the number one domestic hub globally, Naidu said. Launching the centenary celebration logo on completion of 100 years of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport Kolkata, he noted that the last ten years have been glorious for the civil aviation sector with expansion of several airports and the way the number of passengers has expanded. "Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we have pushed all the boundaries, and now we are the third largest domestic country a civil aviation hub in the whole world itself, and now we need to take it forward," Naidu said. "We need to break the barriers once again, level up the civil aviation sector in the country,

Aircastle drops insolvency case against SpiceJet after $5.6 mn settlement

Earlier in November, the airline had announced the resolution of a $23.39 million dispute involving Aircastle (Ireland) Designated Activity Company and Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Ltd

Aviation milestone: Indian airlines carry over 500,000 passengers in a day

Indian skies set a new record with 505,000 domestic flyers in a day, driven by post-Diwali demand, festive travel, and a steady rise in passenger numbers over recent weeks

Air India-Vistara merger complete; new entity to run 5,600+ weekly flights

Air India-Vistara merger: The combined airline will service 103 domestic and 71 international routes

Centre issues new guidelines to handle bomb threats on flights; details

The revised guidelines from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security outline several new indicators for assessing bomb threats

Irish tax perks under I-T lens: What it means for aircraft leasing?

The I-T department's scrutiny stems from notices issued to the offshore firms, asserting that their primary motivation for operating from Ireland is to evade taxation on operating lease rentals

Govt aims to develop 50 more airports in 5 years: Civil aviation minister

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Thursday said the government aims to set up 50 more airports in the next five years and pitched for further developing the country's airport ecosystem that will also help in boosting job creation. In the last 10 years, the number of airports has doubled to 157. Naidu said that 50 more airports are expected to be developed in the next five years and 200 more in the next 20 years. The minister was speaking after inaugurating the Airbus India and South Asia Headquarters - Training Centre in the national capital. He also stressed the need to further develop the airport ecosystem that will help boost job creation and commercial activities. Civil Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam said the air passenger traffic in the country is expected to double in the next five years from 220 million, which was achieved last year.

Bomb threat on 54 more flights; tally reaches 140 in just over a week

In just over a week, more than 140 domestic and international flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats

India needs over $170 bn to fund aviation expansion: S&P Global Ratings

India is one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets and domestic passenger traffic is expected to double to 300 million by 2030

When Ratan Tata flew F-16 and F-18 jets back to back over Bengaluru skies

An avid aviator, Tata held licences to fly both jets and helicopters, and eagerly accepted the chance to co-pilot the combat aircraft

Shankh Air gets approval to soar, set to be Uttar Pradesh's first airline

Shankh Air, Uttar Pradesh's first scheduled airline, will hub at Lucknow and Noida, connecting major Indian cities with high-demand interstate and intrastate routes

Air traffic soars as more passengers opt for direct flights to & from India

In 2023, around 37 million international passengers booked direct flights, an increase of 2 million compared to 2019, according to UK-based air consultancy firm OAG