Indian low cost carrier IndiGo, which signed a memorandum of understanding on January 11, 2011, for the largest ever jet aircraft order in aviation history of 180 Airbus A320 including 150 A320neo, has selected the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) engine to power its A320neo fleet. In January, IndiGo had not announced an engine choice. Pratt & …

In our survey two weeks ago, we asked the discerning readers of Bangalore Aviation to inform us on your top influencing factors on how airlines should secure your international travel business. Ticket price was the top most factor, followed by the airline’s service reputation and seat/cabin comfort in close order. Surprisingly, not many readers were concerned about an airline’s alliance …

The acquisition of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic heavy lift transporters by the Indian Air Force, which was one the cornerstone deals during the recent visit of US President Barack Obama to India, has hit a price hurdle. The Indian Express newspaper is reporting that the Indian Air Force had estimated the 10 aircraft deal to be around $3 …

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation reported domestic performance metrics of the seven Indian carriers for February 2011. Overall traffic was up 18.46% to 4.576 million passengers from 3.863 million passengers a year earlier. Cumulative traffic for 2011 is up 19.62% to 9.511 million from 7.951 in 2010. The Jet Airways group, comprising of Jet Airways, Jet Airways Konnect and …

Japan, which suffered a devastating earthquake recently, has long been a major player in the air transport industry with a total market size of $62.5 billion annually. While it is too early to assess the long-term infrastructural impact of the quake on the industry, an understanding of the industry structure in Japan can provide us with some insights. The most …

Boeing’s largest passenger jet aircraft the 747-8 Intercontinental or 747-8i successfully completed its first flight earlier today. Painted in the new Sunrise livery of red-orange, a significant departure from Boeing’s traditional blue livery, the aircraft registered N6067E, and designated RC001, lifted-off from runway 34L at Paine Field at Boeing’s Everett factory at 9:59am local (16:59Z, 22:29IST) in front of several …

Kingfisher Airlines as a member elect of the oneworld alliance has entered in to a frequent flier partnership with alliance member Finnair allowing members of their King Club and Finnair Plus programmes to earn and redeem miles on each other’s networks. Effective March 11, 2011, members of each programme can earn and redeem miles when flying with the other airline. …

From the Summer 2011 time-table which commences this Sunday, Air China is increasing its frequency on the Shanghai-Chengdu-Bangalore flight from two to three times a week. The Wednesday, Saturday arrivals with Thursday, Sunday departures will be complemented by an additional frequency arriving in to Bangalore on Mondays and departing early morning Tuesdays. Aircraft type continues to be an Airbus A319-100. …

A massive earthquake with an 8.9-magnitude hit northern Japan earlier this morning triggering tsunamis. The epicenter was estimated at 373 kilometers (231 miles) north-east from the capital, Tokyo. Narita and Haneda airports are shut down and there is major disruption to all flight schedules to and from Tokyo. Osaka Kansai and Sapporo airport are operational but they are going to …

Both Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal are reporting that India’s largest carrier Jet Airways is in talks with Air France-KLM, Alitalia and Delta Air Lines Inc. about joining the SkyTeam alliance. Jet has long practised a policy of bi-lateral and code-share agreements and officially, its management has steadfastly refuted any speculation of carrier joining an alliance, but with Air …

Low fare carrier SpiceJet is expected to announce commencement of their regional operations using their recently ordered 15 Bombardier Q400 turb0-prop aircraft which are expected to start arriving from end June onwards. It appears SpiceJet will commence their regional operations from Hyderabad using their first four or five aircraft and then commence another hub from Bangalore in late 2011 or …

For the last few years, thanks to the well known financial problems at its parent AIG, the world’s largest aircraft lessor by value, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), was on the quiet. Yesterday, ILFC announced its comeback with two big orders. One with Airbus S.A.S. for 75 A320neo and the first orders for the A321neo for 25 aircraft. From the …

BASIC and BRIC economic group partners India and Brazil signed a new bi-lateral air services agreement (ASA) recently superseding an earlier 2006 agreement, with an intent to drive greater trade, economic investments and tourism between the two nations. The new agreement allows for any number of designated airlines (which was previously limited to one per country), to operate up to …

Turkish Airlines (THY) has signed a firm order with European airframer Airbus S.A.S. for the purchase of ten A321-200s narrow body passenger aircraft and three A330-200F freighter aircraft for delivery from 2012 onwards. The airline has an existing backlog of 27 aircraft on order with Airbus from earlier contracts placed in 2009 and 2010. The ten A321 ordered today are …

From the recently concluded Aero India 2011 show. Two magnificent beauties. One an Angelina Joile – a new entry to the fold, one a Grace Kelly – a timeless beauty which will never fade from our memories. The Indian Air Force is soon expected to finalise an order for the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft with their huge …

As expected, when it launched its four flights a week on the Abu Dhabi Bangalore sector earlier this year, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, will increase its frequency and make the flight a daily service from the Summer 2011 schedule which commences from March 25. Compared to its other dominant GCC rivals Emirates airline and …

National carrier Air India, continues the tradition of operating all women flights on International Womens’ Day, 8th of March. The airline will operate flights with all women crew together with women dispatchers, women load and trim staff, women engineers, women staff at check-in counters, women doctor for crew breathalyser test, women staff for security checks and women conducting the LOSA …

The readers of Bangalore Aviation are a well travelled, highly knowledgeable group. In our on-going efforts to make the site more interactive, we seek your valuable inputs on various aspects of aviation and travel. This week, the questions concern international travel. What what factors are important to you when purchasing an international air travel ticket. This survey is now closed. …

Delta Air Lines continues to be the world’s largest airline measured by available seat-kilometre (ASK) capacity, offering a whopping 28.3 billion seat-kilometres per month. They are followed by American Airlines and in a change, Emirates airline has overtaken United Airlines for the third spot. United is one of only two airlines that is offering a reduced seat capacity in March …

Two years ago in February 2009, Air France Cargo took delivery of the first Boeing 777F freighter aircraft. Watch delivery video here. Powered by General Electric’s GE90-110B1L engines which meet QC2 noise standards, the Boeing 777F freighter is based on the 777-200LR platform. It can carry more than 100 metric tons of payload and fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometres). …