The airline industry is undergoing a transformation while it deals with disruptive shifts. Whether it’s the grounding of the 737MAX affecting capacity plans worldwide, the shift to low-cost travel or declining demand due to movements such as “flight shaming” in Europe – change is happening in a manner not witnessed before. This holds true even in the world of airline …
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The potential of the Tatas acquiring the beleaguered Jet Airways, raises a lot of questions. Bangalore Aviation presents an operational analysis on where and why the acquisition makes sense and what it would need to go through. This analysis focusses on the Tatas acquiring Jet and merging it with Vistara, the brand of Tata SIA Airlines Limited, the joint-venture of …
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Mimicking the move from US airlines, Lufthansa Group’s frequent flier program, Miles & More, will be shifting to a revenue-based earnings model from March 12, 2018. In this model earning of miles will be based on the price of your ticket including any carrier imposed fees and surcharges, rather than the distance you fly. Current system at Miles & More …
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The Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture, Vistaa, has entered in to a code-share agreement with the island nation’s flag carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the latter’s regional subsidiary SilkAir. Under the agreement, Singapore Airlines will place its ‘SQ’ airline designator code on to Vistara-operated flights beyond Mumbai and New Delhi to 10 destinations within India. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, …
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Starting February 15th, Star Alliance Gold level élite members will enjoy a free upgrade on the Heathrow Express which connects London Heathrow airport with Paddington station in London. Passengers can buy a standard class one way or round-trip ticket and board the Business First Class coach on the train. Show their Star Gold card from one of the 21 frequent …
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Canadian flag carrier, Air Canada begun it’s new non-stop service from Toronto to Delhi today. The new route is the only non-stop between Canada and the Indian subcontinent and will be operated by the airline’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The inaugural flight was operated by G-FNOG which the airline’s newest Dreamliner. The service will begin with four times a week, …
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With 11 of its member airlines offering a dedicated premium economy class cabin, Star Alliance, the world largest airline grouping is now offering a Round-the-World (RTW) fare in the Premium Economy Class. The 11 Star Alliance airlines which offer a dedicated premium economy class cabin include Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, EVA Air, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, …
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July 11th marked the successful completion of one year of the Air India’s membership in Star Alliance. To mark this occasion the airline on 10 of it’s domestic metro flights, passengers were treated to an exclusive, personalized inflight experience with a chef on board who interacted with the passengers and assisted cabin crew in the service. The airline also organized …
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National carrier Air India’s newest Boeing 787-8 is the first Dreamliner in the world to wear the special Star Alliance livery. The carrier celebrated the milestone delivery of its 20th 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft bearing the registration VT-ANU was built at Boeing’s final assembly facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Air India serves more than 60 domestic and 37 …
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Almost nine months after national carrier Air India joined the global airline grouping Star Alliance, it has painted one of its flagship Boeing 777-300ERs VT-ALJ Bihar is the special Alliance livery. This photograph from our contributor Prathamesh Kini at Mumbai. Contributors also report, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Charleston, South Carolina is also being prepared in the special Star livery. …
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In a smart move that should benefit the national carrier, the Government has extended the tenure of Air India’s Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Rohit Nandan up to August 2015. As per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension “till August 21, 2015 or till the appointment …
Read More »A report in The Financial Express discusses a 26-point missive sent to national carrier Air India by its boss, the minister of civil aviation Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Official termed “guidelines” these are practically a diktat. These guidelines were sent after reports of serious concerns at the Star Alliance, the world’s largest grouping of airlines which Air India joined just …
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A long chased ambition of the national carrier came to fruition on July 11, as it was inducted as the 27th member of the Star Alliance. It is the first Indian carrier to join a global alliance of airlines. The first from the sub-continent is SriLankan Airlines which joined the oneworld alliance. The airline decorated one its older Airbus A320s, …
Read More »As Air India joins the world’s largest grouping of airlines, the Star Alliance, as its 27th member on July 11, 2014, there will be benefits that will be enjoyed by both the airline and passengers. The alliance currently has 26 member airlines from all continents, except Antarctica and carried 637.62 million passengers last year. African member airlines are: EgyptAir MS, …
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After years of trying and suffering the ignominy of being the only airline whose membership process was suspended, national carrier Air India was approved for membership of the world’s largest airline grouping, the Star Alliance. The final integration processes by teams at Air India, the Star alliance and its member carriers will be completed so that the first Indian carrier …
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Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand have agreed to form an alliance enabling Air New Zealand to fly the Auckland-Singapore route again and Singapore Airlines to operate the Airbus A380 to New Zealand for the first time. Air New Zealand last operated to Singapore in 2006. The A380 would be operated daily by Singapore Airlines between Singapore and Auckland, progressively …
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The world’s largest grouping of airlines, the Star Alliance has released the Android version of its Navigator App meant to provide various travel related services and information. What the app is supposed to offer Under travel services the app offers the ability to search schedules and then proceed to the particular member airline’s website to make a booking. Flight status …
Read More »by Vinay Bhaskara Earlier this month, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a major downgrade of India’s aviation safety rating, citing a lack of safety oversight on the part of India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The downgrade to Category 2 is a significant national embarrassment, and comes after months, if not years, of FAA warnings to …
Read More »During his visit to India, Mark Schwab the CEO of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline grouping, announced that national carrier Air India could join the alliance within the next six months. In a press interaction Schwab said “without giving a specific date, one can say that we will complete all the ground work and formalities of Air India’s …
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Unlike news reports which indicate Air India will re-commence the joining process with Star Alliance, and therefore leave a possibility of a negative outcome, a press release by the national carrier exudes confidence that the carrier will surely join the alliance. Air India set to join Star Alliance The National Carrier is set to join Star Alliance, the leading global …
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