Yearly Archives: 2012

Ethiopian Airlines orders additional Boeing 777-200LR

Boeing announced that Ethiopian Airlines has ordered an additional Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, in addition to the airline’s fleet of five 777-200LRs. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said “The 777-200LR has been a fantastic airplane for Ethiopian Airlines,” “The performance and range of the airplane allowed us to open direct routes from Washington D.C to Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa to …

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Video: Making of the Jet Airways’ Disney themed 737-800 VT-JBC

Last week, Jet Airways unveiled a re-liveried Boeing 737-800 with a Disney theme. The aircraft is wrapped with images of Disney’s favourite cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. Here is a time lapse video showing the plane VT-JBC being transformed from its regular Jet Airways livery to the new Disney livery.

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SpiceJet adds flights between Delhi and Jaipur – growing guar bean industry a factor?

SpiceJet will be adding daily nonstop service between Delhi and Jaipur with schedule as followsSG 133 –> DEL –>JAI –> D – 07:15 A -08:00 –> 737 –> Daily SG 218 –> DEL –>JAI –> D – 20:40 A -21:15 –> 737 –> Daily This flight will be operated in conjunction with SpiceJet’s Mumbai-Jaipur services, as one aircraft will be …

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Photo: AirAsia unveils Airbus A320 in special Queen Park Rangers livery, names it Alan McDonald

Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia, paid tribute to the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) Football Club, by unveiling an A320 9M-AFV painted in a special QPR livery. The airline also paid homage to the club’s legendary former captain and assistant manager, the late Alan McDonald naming this aircraft after him. The Airbus A320 is painted in the football club’s colours with …

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Photos: Boeing commences flight test programme of Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime aircraft ahead of December handover

US airframer Boeing commenced the flight test programme on the Indian Navy’s first P-8I aircraft on July 7. Tail number IN320 took off from Boeing Field in Seattle at 0915 local and landing three hours and 49 minutes later after demonstrating flying qualities and handling characteristics. The second P-8I aircraft, tail number IN321 performed its initial flight on July 12. …

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Farnborough air show 2012 images: Eurofighter Typhoon condensates and Qatar Airways Boeing 787 glows

Couple of more interesting images from the 2012 edition of the Farnborough International air show. The Eurofighter Typhoon makes a full afterburner turn pulling extreme G’s and causing condensation around the aircraft. The second last fighter of Block 10 production and a tail number EH, BS094 is build no.1355 serial no. ZK333 of the 6th squadron. First flight on 12/Jan/2012, …

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Picture: Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 Royal Air Force at Farnborough air show

It has been a grey, cloudy, rainy start to the Farnborough air show 2012. In the midst of the gloomy weather are these twin bright orange discs of flame. A picture of a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 with its afterburners burning a bright orange for your enjoyment. Soon after lift off, even before the wheel covers fold back in to position, the Typhoon …

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Special Report: Jet Airways 2012 Financial Analysis and 2013 Outlook

Jet Airways reported a large net pre-tax loss (Jet Airways and JetLite combined) of Rs. 1,331 Crore for fiscal year 2012, a very disappointing result. Revenue and passenger growth were robust as usual at 14.8% and 16.3% respectively. But the carrier’s net margin of -8.5% is indicative of tangible flaws in the business, and goes beyond the explanations of higher …

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Farnborough Orders on Day 2

Once again, this is courtesy of Aspire Aviation. Airbus Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Arkia Israel Airlines 4 A321neo Agreement 10th July Cathay Pacific 10 A350-1000 Agreement; convert 16 existing -900 into -1000 10th July Drukair 1 A319 Firm Boeing Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Air Lease Corp (ALC) 60 737 MAX 8 Firm; Reconfirmation rights …

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Jet Airways unveils Disney themed 737-800

Earlier today, Jet Airways and Disney, one of the world’s largest media corporations, unveiled the new Disney themed 737-800 that is wrapped with images of Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. The aircraft is pictured at Mumbai International Airport and will first be used to cart 37 lucky families to Disneyland in Hong Kong.

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Farnborough Orders on Day One

Courtesy of Aspire Aviation, the following table provides a breakdown of announced orders on Day 1 of the Farnborough Air Show. Airbus Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Arkia Israel Airlines 4 A321neo Agreement Boeing Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Air Lease Corp (ALC) 60 737 MAX 8 Reconfirmation rights for 25 more 9th July Air Lease …

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Jet Airways Releases Schedule for Deliveries of first Boeing 787 Dreamliner

India’s largest airline Jet Airways has announced the tentative schedule for delivery of its 10 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The all-new aircraft, which has yet to enter into service (EIS) with Indian launch customer Air India, offers double digit fuel efficiency gains over Jet Airways’ current widebody fleet while also offering improved passenger comfort. Jet Airways has 10 787-8s on order …

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Delta’s 717 Delivery Schedule

In late May, the news broke that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines would be leasing 88 Boeing 717-200s from its newly minted rival in Atlanta, Southwest Airlines. The Dallas based airline, which acquired the fleet of 717s from its merger with AirTran Airways (through which it also inherited a hub in Atlanta), had previously utilized only  a single fleet type (the …

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IndiGo firms up its contract with Pratt & Whitney to power its Airbus 320neos

The first day of the Farnborough Air Show has been relatively quiet on the orders front. But Pratt & Whitney has announced a slew of engine deals for Airbus’ A320neo, and included in the deal was a firming of the contract between P&W and India’s largest low cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo Airlines to provide PW1100G-JM (otherwise known as the Geared …

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BEA’s final report on the crash of Air France AF-447

Image courtesy BEA France’s Bureau of Investigations and Analysis’ (BEA) submitted its final report on the crash of Air France flight AF-447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 passengers and crew on-board. The final report essentially re-states what has already been released till date. The crash commenced with ice crystals blocking the pitot tubes, sending false …

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Opinion: Travel agents to charge service fee. A smart move, but they will have to earn it.

As domestic full service carriers like Air India and Jet Airways are cutting back on their commissions, travel agents in India have decided to charge a service charge of Rs 225 from July 16 on tickets of full service carriers, issued by them. In this age of skyrocketing expenses, airlines are desperately trying to curtail costs. Ticket distribution and sales …

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Air India pilot’s strike: Same old story. Taxpayers left holding the bag

Air India and members of the striking Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) appear to have reached an “agreement”. For more than 58 days, the pilots have defied the courts and struck work. After causing hundred of crores (billions) worth of additional losses to the national carrier, that is already on life support with taxpayer money, the pilots decided to call off …

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Qantas release new video advertisement, changes slogan

Australian national carrier Qantas has released a new video advertisement and with it a very subtle change in its slogan. We are used to seeing “Spirit of Australia” emblazoned on the side of every Qantas aircraft. Qantas A330-300 at Mumbai. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal. All rights reserved. In an effort to reach out to its passenger base, the new slogan …

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Boeing makes Qatar Airways’ first 787 first flight ahead of Farnborough air show

Boeing has achieved some peace of mind, by making the first flight of Qatar Airways’ first 787 Dreamliner, just ahead of the upcoming Farnborough air show. The airline’s capricious CEO, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, is known for his non-diplomatic criticism, often seen as tantrums, of airframe manufacturers, especially at air shows. Boeing’s competitor Airbus, was at the receiving end of …

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Photos: Thai Airway’s first A380 revealed

Following fellow ASEAN national carriers, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International will become the ninth operator of the Airbus A380 superjumbo when it receives the first of its six ordered A380 aircraft later this year. Enjoy the three photos from Airbus, of the Thai A380 leaving the paint shop in Hamburg resplendent in its beautiful “smooth as silk” …

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