Monthly Archives: June 2015

Full service airlines Air India and Jet Airways offer sale prices to boost traffic

A tail parade of each of Air India's Boeing aircraft as in 2011. The 747-400, 777-300ER, 777-200LR and 737-800.

Two of India’s full service carriers have resorted to fare sales to boost traffic numbers in the lean season due to commence once the summer school holidays are over. Jet Airways offered the ‘Great Premiere Experience’ where domestic business fares were discounted 25%. Now Air India is offering a ‘Monsoon Sale‘ which is offering fares starting at Rs 1,777 for …

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A day of revival at Malaysia Airlines and lessons for our national carrier

The 1st of June was a day of revival for Malaysia Airlines. As of that day all 20,000 odd employees were served termination letters and all assets transferred to a new entity. The new company will subsequently re-employ 2/3rds of the staff but on new terms and contracts. This drastic but necessary decision is being carried out given the precarious …

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Boeing begins assembling the first 737 MAX

American airframer Boeing has tarted building the first 737 MAX. Last week, the company started to assemble the wings, which are the first 737 components to be assembled in the Renton production process for the first 737 MAX flight test airplane. Machine operators loaded 737 MAX wing skin panels and stringers into the new panel assembly line that uses automation …

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Different yet similar: Network Strategies for Indian carriers

A view of the ramp at Bangalore Airport.

Indian carriers seem to be all chasing the same passenger. A cursory look at capacity deployment across seven carriers shows very little variance in terms of a domestic network strategy. However, as one starts to delve deeper some differences tend to emerge. Overall planners focus on three things: schedule offerings (and consequently slots); aircraft utilization; and feed (just a fancy name …

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Vietnam Airlines’ first Airbus A350-900 takes off

Vietnam Airlines A350-900 first flight.

Vietnam Airlines is due to become the first Asian airline and second carrier globally, after launch customer Qatar Airways to operate the Airbus A350 XWB. The first of the airline’s 14 ordered A350-900 completed its first flight in Toulouse, France yesterday. Vietnam Airlines has a very recognisable blue and gold livery which looks good on the new aircraft. The aircraft …

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Should you buy the IndiGo ‘6E Pass’ pre-paid travel booklet ?

IndiGo_A320 classic VT-INT. Photo: Devesh Agarwal.

Taking a leaf from its full service competitors Indian Airlines (now Air India) and Jet Airways, IndiGo has introduced a prepaid travel booklet which allows passengers to buy six sectors in advance for a flat fare. Called the ‘6E Pass’ the booklet is priced at Rs 42,000 for a ‘National Permit‘ which allows for six domestic sectors (not trips) of …

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Air Pegasus announces Bangalore Kadapa flights

Air Pegasus ATR. Courtesy the airline.

Bangalore based Air Pegasus has announced the launch of flights between Bangalore and Kadapa (previously Cudappah), its third destination after Hubli and Thiruvananthapuram. Kadapa in south-west Andhra has a strong mining, agricultural and industrial economy. It is poorly connected to Bangalore by rail, and the flight should be a hit with the more senior business travellers. The flight will depart …

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GoAir appoints former Jet boss Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as CEO

GoAir CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer. Photo courtesy Air Berlin.

The Wadia owned low cost carrier GoAir has appointed Wolfgang Prock-Schauer as its Chief Executive Officer. Prock-Schauer has over 34 years of industry experience including one during the formative years of Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline. GoAir lost its CEO Giorgio De Roni in March who resigned without citing any reasons. In his four year stint De Roni led …

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