Monthly Archives: June 2015

Vietnam Airlines receives its first Airbus A350 XWB via AerCap

Vietnam Airlines A350-900 first flight.

National carrier Vietnam Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A350 XWB, thus becoming the second airline in the world, after launch customer Qatar Airways, to operate the new generation aircraft. The airline has 10 A350 on direct order with the European airframer, and four with aircraft leasing companies. At a special ceremony in Toulouse, the A350-900 was officially delivered …

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Indonesian C-130 crashes in Medan

An Indonesian Airforce Lockheed C-130 Hercules has crashed into a residential area in Medan, Indonesia’s third largest city. The aircraft took off from Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Airport on with around 113 people on board, but the aircraft made two stops in Pekanbaru and Dumai before it crashed, due to which it is not clear how many people were on the …

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Inflight Review: Air Pegasus ATR 72: Bangalore-Madurai-Bangalore

Air Pegasus ATR 72-500 VT-APA.

[bsu_note note_color=”#affbcd” text_color=”#070707″ radius=”4″] Alert August 3, 2016 The review below was conducted over a year ago. For updated passenger experiences, please read the comments of fellow readers below the article.[/bsu_note]   Last Friday (26th June), I was invited by new regional carrier Air Pegasus on their inaugural flight from Bangalore to Madurai. Air Pegasus is currently the newest airline …

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Vistara to commence weekend flights between Mumbai and Goa

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

The Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture airline, Vistara, will commence weekend flights between Mumbai and Goa from July 17. The thrice a week flights will operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays till September 13, and become a daily service from September 14 after Vistara receives its seventh brand new A320 from Airbus. The airline already operates flights between its hub in …

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SWISS appoints an Indian to head its Cargo business

SWISS ramp at Zurich airport. Photo by and copyright Devesh Agarwal.

SWISS the national carrier of Switzerland has appointed an Indian, Ashwin Bhat as its new Head of Cargo effective October 1. Bhat, 46, will succeed Oliver Evans who is stepping down after 13 years. Bhat, is currently in overall charge of worldwide sales of the airline’s cargo product as Head of Global Area Management at Swiss WorldCargo division. He has …

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Dennis Muilenburg is new Boeing CEO. McNerney remains Chairman.

Boeing 787-9 ZB001 N789EX at Farnborough air show 2014. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

In a widely expected move, US aerospace giant Boeing announced that Dennis A. Muilenburg will succeed W. James (Jim) McNerney, Jr. when the latter steps down on July 1, as Boeing’s chief executive officer, after serving ten years. McNerney will continue to remain Chairman till February 2016. Muilenburg, 51, an aeronautical engineer, was elevated to Boeing’s president and chief operating …

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Opinion: AirAsia India must perform to Fernandes hype in perverse market

First flight of AirAsia India. Takeoff.

In March 2012, when AirAsia India was not even an idea, the long distance affiliate of its parent AirAsia, AirAsia X, withdrew from both New Delhi and Mumbai citing extremely high airport charges. Through the formation and application process of AirAsia India, group boss Tony Fernandes repeatedly claimed his Indian affiliate would not fly to New Delhi and Mumbai any …

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New voice info system at Bangalore airport in addition to WhatsApp service

The main passenger terminal building at Bangalore Airport.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the consortium operating the Kempegowda International Airport (KIAB) at Bangalore, has installed a custom-developed interactive voice response system (IVRS) to provide airport and flight-related information. The IVRS can be accessed via a toll free number 1-800-425-4425 and is multi-lingual, offering support for English, Hindi and Kannada. The airport already offers information via a WhatsApp service …

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Singapore Airlines to open restricted SIA Training Centre to public on July 25

SIA Training Centre. Cabin evacuation training simulator

On any other day the SIA Training Centre is a fortress. Restricted, where visitors are admitted only after a specific invitation and a thorough security checking. But, only July 25, 2015, Singapore Airlines is throwing open this secretive centre open to the public as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the island nation’s founding. Called the SIA Open House, …

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Seven tips for healthy fasting during Ramzan

Azim Azimzade [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The holy month of Ramzan (Ramadan) starts today. This period during which the Muslims of the world fast from dawn to dusk is during peak summer in India, the Middle East, northern Africa. In parts of Europe, North America, and elsewhere in the northern hemisphere, those fasting will have to contend with extremely long daylight hours. Dr. Issam Badaoui, Medical …

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Travelling to a Muslim country during Ramadan? Follow these etiquette tips.

Air India Airbus A321 VT-PPO. Seen here handing in the early morning light at Bangalore Airport.

The holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims across the world, fast from dawn to dusk, commences today. International SOS a travel risk company highlights some proper etiquette tips for travellers to Muslim countries and dealing with Muslims especially during this month. Do not eat, drink or smoke in public, especially during the daylight fasting hours it is rude to …

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Wizz Air signs largest single Airbus A321 order MOU

Rendering of Wizz Air A321neo. Airbus image.

Low cost carrier Wizz Air, the largest in eastern and central Europe, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for 110 aircraft, the biggest single order of the A321neo, the longest version of the Airbus A320 Family aircraft at the Le Bourget International Paris Air Show. The aircraft will be in the new ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex) configuration which seats …

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Exclusive video interview with G.M. Toh, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara

Vistara Airbus A320 in-flight over India.

On the eve of the Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture airline Vistara commencing services to Bangalore, we had an opportunity for an exclusive interview with the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer Giam Ming Toh. Mr. Toh brings years of global experience to the table. Watch Giam Ming talk to Bangalore Aviation on a variety of topics. Vistara’s experiences in the first five …

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Saudi Arabian is launch customer for Airbus A330-300 Regional

Rendering of A330-300 Regional in Saudi Arabian Airlines livery. Airbus image.

National carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines will be the launch customer (first airline in the world to operate), of the new Airbus A330-300 Regional wide-body. The airline has placed a firm order for 20 aircraft at the Paris air show. Patterned on similar lines like the 787-10 i.e. packing more passengers in to a same size aircraft and trading payload for …

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Exclusive photos: Vistara’s inaugural flight to Bangalore

Vistara Airbus A320 VT-TTC arrives at Bengaluru performing the airline's inaugural flight UK889 from New Delhi.

The Tata-Singapore Airline joint venture airline, Vistara commenced operations at Bangalore today, a little over five months after it first commenced operations. As reported earlier, from today the airline commenced daily flights from the tech capital of the country to the the national capital New Delhi and the financial capital Mumbai. Bangalore Aviation was at hand to capture the arrival …

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Garuda signs intent for 30 787-9 Dreamliners, 30 737 MAX 8, and 30 A350

CGI of Garuda Indonesia 737 MAX 8 and 787-9. Boeing image.

National carrier Garuda Indonesia has announced its intent to purchase 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, as well as up to 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes. Boeing will officially post this order to its orders & deliveries website once the airline finalises the order. In addition to the announcement today, the flag carrier also reconfirmed its intent to purchase 50 737 MAX …

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Air Pegasus to launch Bangalore Madurai flights

Air Pegasus ATR. Courtesy the airline.

Bangalore based Air Pegasus announced it will launch thrice a week flights between Bangalore and Madurai from June 26, 2015. The flights will be operated by ATR72 turbo-prop aircraft. The flight will depart Bangalore on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10:40 arrive Madurai at 12:00 The flights will return on the same day, departing Madurai at 12:30 and arriving Bangalore …

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Air France launches AirFranceTraveller online holiday planner

AirFranceTraveller

National carrier Air France has created a travel calendar and planner microsite to aid Indians planning a visit to Europe. The Sky Team alliance member has launched AirFranceTraveller, on online web-app that allows our passengers to create their own travel itineraries to various destinations in Europe like Paris, Dublin, Prague, Vienna, Rome, Warsaw, Athens, Budapest, Barcelona and Lisbon. The application …

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Video: Preview of 787-9 display at Paris 2015

American airframer Boeing, has produced a video of one of it’s new 787-9 Dreamliners destined for Vietnam airlines performing a rehearsal of the aircraft’s display for the Pair Airshow which begins next week. The video is filmed above Moses Lake, Washington, and spotlights technical maneuvers that showcase some of the airplane’s capabilities.

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SpiceJet unveils sexy new “red hot spicy” branding

New SpiceJet 3-D Red Hot Spicy Logo

Low fare carrier SpiceJet commenced its second decade by unveiling a sexy new look branded “red, hot, spicy”. A new 3-D logo inspired by the mobile app world will replace the traditional 2-D one. The new 3-D logo, slogan, and posters and advertising comes at a time when Ajay Singh has taken over the airline. The new slogan puts the …

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