Given our recent shift in focus towards an analytical bent on Indian aviation (most of the guilt lies on my shoulders), there has been a dearth of some of the lighter content here at Bangalore Aviation. I think it also gets lost sometimes, just how much the both of us love flying and love this industry. Aviation is a mystical, …

Lufthansa group member Austrian Airlines will suspend services between Mumbai and Vienna, most likely from the start of the Summer 2012 time-table which will commence from end March. Austrian is facing seat load factor pressure from the two other members of the group; Swiss and Lufthansa. All three members of the group, have departures from Mumbai to their Europe hubs …

Earlier this week, reports surfaced that India’s national carrier Air India was asking for roughly $1 billion in compensation from US original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Boeing for the roughly 3 year delay of the Boeing 787-8. With Air India’s initial delivery having been pushed back almost 2.75 years by the natural program delays and further delay of the delivery of …

Last Thursday, Airbus S.A.S. delivered to New Delhi based low fare carrier, IndiGo’s 50th A320 aircraft, which has been registered with the tail number VT-IEP. See picture here. Here is a video showing the construction of an IndiGo A320.

Photo by Flickr user Star5112. Australian carrier Qantas is the big winner at Business Traveller’s 2011 Cellars in the Sky airline wine awards, winning in six categories. Other winners include Delta, Jetstar, LAN Chile, Qatar Airways, TAM, Emirates, Air France and Cathay Pacific. The awards recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide, with around 250 …

Korean Air has become the first airline in the world to operate both freighters from the Boeing stable — the 747-8F and 777F. Three days ago, the national carrier took delivery of the two aircraft at Everett, Washington, USA. Korea’s flagship carrier, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, is also the first Boeing customer to order both the passenger (747-8i) …

I recently came across an article by noted Indian journalist T.N. Ninan, titled “Do-gooder economics and the Lokpal“. It got me thinking; by most economic logic, national carrier Air India should have been wound up ages ago. The carrier has annual losses crossing $1.4 billion (Rs.7,000 Crore) and accumulated debt now approaching $10 billion. Now, the government wants to inject …

In this podcast Addison, Vinay and I discuss the events that caused oneworld to suspend Kingfisher Airline’s entry in to the alliance. As an update, the higher amount of deposit demanded by the IATA Clearing House (ICH) is $8 million i.e. a total of $11.5 million. Kingfisher is still paying in this money to ICH, but we understand that as …

Over the past few years here in the US, there has been a severe backlash surrounding the usage of full body scanners and the resultant pat-down searches; for passengers who opt out of the body scan. Supporters of the body scans claim that they are necessary to weed out terrorists who might have dangerous materials such as plastic explosives that …

With just one week to go, Kingfisher Airline’s entry in to oneworld has been put on “indefinite hold”. An official statement released a few minutes ago, says India’s Kingfisher Airlines and oneworld® today agreed to put the airline’s entry into the alliance on hold to give it time to strengthen its financial position. Quoting oneworld CEO Bruce Ashby “These are …

US low cost carrier Southwest Airlines has released some of the details of the planned initial utilization of their new fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Southwest’s first two 737-800s (out of 73 that were ordered), will enter service on April 11, 2012. These aircraft will come equipped with the new Boeing Sky Interior that features larger windows, mood lighting, and …

SouthEast Asian low cost carrier AirAsia taken added the 100th Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft, registration 9M-AQH has been painted with a special dragon livery in celebration of the current Chinese Year of the Dragon, which is also that of AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes, and coincidentally myself. A team of 20 painters used 600 litres of …

German carrier, airberlin will become a full member of the oneworld® alliance with effect from Tuesday 20 March 2012. Austrian airline NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, will join oneworld at the same time as an affiliate member. airberlin received its green light to board oneworld after successfully completing a thorough review of its readiness conducted by British …

Three human shaped RC planes were flown around New York City by aero enthusiasts to create the illusion of people flying. It is truly worth spending the two and half minutes to watch. If you like the music, the track is “Unstoppable 2” by Tom Quick which you can get here.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that full year 2011 passenger demand rose 5.9% compared to 2010, in line with long-term growth trends. In contrast, cargo markets contracted by 0.7% for the year. Growth in demand lagged behind capacity increases at 6.3% for passenger and 4.1% for cargo putting downward pressure on load factors and fares. The average passenger …

Vinay Bhaskara and Devesh Agarwal When Malaysian budget carrier AirAsia X announced last week that it would be ending service to Mumbai, Delhi, London, and Paris earlier this month, industry analysts seized on the occurrence as a repudiation of the long haul, low-cost business model. AirAsia X, an offshoot of Southeast Asian behemoth AirAsia, operated 377 seat Airbus A330-300s to …

One of the largest military contracts in the world, the Indian Air Force’s competition for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) appears to have been decided in favour of the French airframer Dassault’s Rafale, though there is no official confirmation. Sources indicate the Rafale has been selected over the Eurofighter Typhoon from European competitor EADS for a contract estimated at …

According to numerous reports at various travel sites, US carrier American Airlines will be ending flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, while simultaneously resuming flights between JFK and Tokyo’s other airport, commonly known as Haneda. Indeed, inventory on AA.com reflects these changes, as do other booking engines. Flights to Haneda will …

Some depressing photos to commence the week of three Kingfisher Airline’s Airbus aircraft VT-KFR, VT-KFW, and VT-VJO lying grounded, getting stripped of parts and engines, and slowly decaying at Indian airports, While one can understand the business strategy of Kingfisher of reducing costs and performing fire-fighting cost-cutting, it is depressing to see these beautiful aircraft being canibalised like this. Sources …

As we come to the close of January 2012, we feel that it is time to look back at the successful month enjoyed by both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)from an aircraft orders perspective. Airbus Net Orders: 102 A320neo: 100 (Norwegian- 100)A330-200F: 2 (Etihad Airways-2) Airbus also firmed up orders from Latin American carriers Volaris and Avianca/TACA for 44 (30 neo, …