Monthly Archives: December 2014

Spicejet turnaround requires a good risk appetite

Spicejet Boeing 737-800WL VT-SGK at New Delhi airport.

SpiceJet has seen challenging times over the past 5 years. While numerous reasons can be cited for this ranging from network structure, fleet decisions, competition, ability to command a premium, management churn, market weakness and overall brand strength, the financial position of the airline as of today is quite challenging. Much is being reported about the possible funds infusion and/or …

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AirAsia confirms crash of flight #QZ8051

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

AirAsia confirmed the crash of flight QZ8051 with the loss of all souls on board. This is a sad way to end 2014 and we reproduce the airline’s statement as is. In the traditional farewell to the departed pilots we say “Blue skies and tailwinds forever, with unlimited ceiling and visibility” SURABAYA, 30 DECEMBER 2014 – AirAsia Indonesia regrets to …

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Boeing completes successful first flight of KC-46 Tanker

United States Air Force Boeing 767-2C. Boeing Image.

US airframer Boeing has successfully completed the first flight of the KC-46 tanker program. The plane, a Boeing 767-2C, took off from Paine Field, Washington, USA at 9:29 a.m. (PST) and landed three hours and 32 minutes later at Boeing Field in Renton. The aircraft will receive its military systems following certification. The KC-X tanker competition was floated by the …

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AirAsia #QZ8501: Passenger manifest, load & trim sheet, leaked ATC photo

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

The Indonesian authorities have released a print out of the list of passengers on board AirAsia flight QZ8501 which went missing on its flight from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore earlier this morning. A total of 177 passengers were originally booked on this flight, not including one infant. 23 passengers were a “no-show” leaving 154 and one infant for a total …

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AirAsia #QZ8501: Search focussing near Pulau Belitung. Aircraft had normal flight.

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

Some more details about AirAsia Indonesia missing flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore. The flight took-off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 05:35 (WIB Western Indonesia time which is UTC +7 hours). The flight lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 06:24 (WIB, 04:54 IST 23:24-1 UTC) about 42 minutes in to the flight. Severe weather in the …

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AirAsia #QZ8501: Singapore civil aviation authority statement

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has issued a statement at 11:30am local time (09:00 Indian Standard Time) [bsu_quote cite=”Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore”]28 December 2014, 11:30am Local Time:- An Indonesia AirAsia aircraft, QZ8501, scheduled to arrive at 0830 hours local time from Surabaya, lost contact with Jakarta air traffic control at 0724 hours local time today. Singapore air …

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AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore goes missing #QZ8501

AirAsia A320 9M-AHS at Penang airport.

An AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320-200 aircraft registration PK-AXC performing flight QZ8501 from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore has gone missing. The airline has issued a statement “AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning.” It is unclear whether the time zone is GMT+7 (Indonesia time) …

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Air India and Jet Airways deploy wide-bodies to boost Mumbai New Delhi Bengaluru and Chennai capacity

A tail parade of each of Air India's Boeing aircraft as in 2011. The 747-400, 777-300ER, 777-200LR and 737-800.

India’s two operators of wide-body aircraft, national carrier Air India and private sector Jet Airways will be deploying wide-body aircraft on their routes between Mumbai New Delhi Bengaluru and Chennai to boost capacity for the new year period. Jet Airways will deploy its surplus A330-200s while Air India will deploy its Boeing 777-300ERs. Jet Airways commenced operating its Airbus A330-200s …

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Kuwait Airways orders 10 Boeing 777-300ERs

A CGI of a Kuwait Airways Boeing 777-300ER. Boeing Image.

Kuwait Airways has finalized an order for 10 Boeing 777-300ERs (Extended Range), valued at $3.3 billion at current list prices. These aircraft will join the airlines existing 777 fleet of two 777-200ER. The airline originally announced its intent to order the 777-300ER in November. Rasha Al Roumi, CEO, Kuwait Airways “Kuwait Airways has plans to renew its fleet as well …

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Boeing delivers Azerbaijan airlines’ first 787

Azerbaijan Airlines today took delivery of the airline’s first 787 Dreamliner. With this delivery, Azerbaijan Airlines becomes the first airline in the Commonwealth of Independent States to operate the 787. The aircraft is registered VP-BBR and is powered by two General Electric GEnx-1B engines. Jahangir Askerov, President, Azerbaijan Airlines “We are delighted to receive this revolutionary airplane, which will help …

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Airbus delivers first A350 XWB to Qatar Airways

Airbus has delivered the first A350 XWB to launch customer Qatar Airways. The aircraft which bears the registration A7-ALA is the sixth A350 to have been made and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines which are the exclusive engines for the A350. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways Group “Receiving the A350 XWB as global launch customer is …

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Boeing delivers Malaysia Airlines 100th 737

American airframer Boeing celebrated the 100th 737 direct delivery to Malaysia Airlines last Friday. The aircraft bears the registration 9M-MXY. The airline has a long history of operating the 737, having taken delivery of its first 737, a 737-200, in 1972. The carrier has operated the 737-200, 737-300, 737-400, 737-500 and 737-800. Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, group chief executive officer, Malaysia …

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Will they – Won’t they? Airbus announces December 22nd for delivery of Qatar’s A350

European airframer Airbus has announced 22nd December 2014 as the delivery date of it’s first Airbus A350-900 to Qatar Airways. The airline had been scheduled to take delivery of the new widebody jet on the 13th of December, but had indefinitely postponed the delivery without any official explanation. The airline has a history of late deliveries, many of which are …

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Etihad takes delivery of it’s first Airbus A380

Middle Eastern carrier Etihad Airways, has taken delivery of it’s first Airbus A380 aircraft. The airline is the thirteenth airline to operate the A380, and the aircraft is the 150th A380 delivered by Airbus. The aircraft bearing the registration A6-APA is powered by four Engine Alliance GP7270 engines and is the first in the airline’s 10 aircraft order for the …

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Vistara to fly on 9th January 2015

New full service carrier Vistara’s (TATA-SIA) first flight will take-off on 9th January 2015. With Delhi as its hub, Vistara will initially offer flights to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Vistara’s 148-seater A320-200 will offer three separate cabins, with 16 seats in Business, 36 in Premium Economy and 96 in Economy Class. The airline is the first full service Indian carrier to …

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Avianca takes delivery of it’s first 787 Dreamliner

N780AV Avianca Boeing 787-8. Boeing Image.

Colombian airline Avianca took delivery of it’s first 787 Dreamliner today. The aircraft a Boeing 787-8 bearing the registration N780AV was ferried from Paine Field, USA to Bogota, Colombia after it’s delivery. Avianca’s Boeing 787-8 will carry 28 passengers in business class and 222 in economy class. Fabio Villegas Ramirez, President and CEO, Avianca “The addition of the first Boeing …

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Air India Regional inducts first ATR72-600 into fleet

Air India Regional Alliance Air first ATR72-600 VT-AII. ATR image.

Air India’s regional subsidiary company Airline Allied Services Ltd. (AASL) which operates the brand “Alliance Air” has inducted the first of five new ATR72-600 turbo-props in to its fleet. The aircraft registered VT-AII, is leased from Singapore-based aircraft lessor Avation. The livery is painted “Air India Regional”. The right side of the aircraft which is painted in English can be …

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Embraer Legacy 500 receives EASA certification

Yesterday, Brazilian airframer Embraer received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for it’s latest business jet, the Legacy 500. This approval enables entry into service of the aircraft in the Member States of the European Union as well as in EASA associated countries. The Legacy 500 received certification from Brazil’s ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) in August …

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Vistara receives it’s Air Operator Permit

Vistara Airlines, Airbus A320 VT-TTB in its official livery receiving water cannon salute.

Vistara (Tata-SIA) received it’s Air Operator Permit (AOP) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), allowing the airline to begin commercial operations in the country. The AOP is the final step in a highly technical and complex compliance process to allow the airline to operate commercial flights. Headquartered in New Delhi, Vistara will begin operations with its fleet of …

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Opinion: How Indian airlines are positioning themselves

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

The Indian skies are fairly busy. With seven airlines operating, one about to launch services, one in a bit of a challenge and six airline licenses granted by the Ministry of Civil aviation, increased competition is inevitable. Yet, if one looks at profitability, there is only one airline that has been consistently profitable. Which begs the question, are all the …

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