Yearly Archives: 2015

Someone please explain Air India’s reported fuel hedging plan?

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner line number 35 test registered N1015 (later became VT-ANH) at the India Aviation show, Hyderabad March 2012. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

On January 19th, Bloomberg reported that national carrier Air India will commence large scale fuel hedging for the first time. The story was promptly picked up and reported by many leading Indian newspapers the next morning, including The Business Standard and The Mint. As per the story, “Air India is hedging 2 million barrels of aviation turbine fuel annually at …

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Graphical analysis of India’s domestic air traffic in 2014

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

Keeping in line with the weak economic growth in India, domestic air passenger traffic grew a tepid 9.7% during 2014. In 2013 61.426 million passengers travelled, which grew to 67.383 million. Monthly data and info-graphics December is the peak month for travel in India, both international and domestic. As the stacked monthly graph shows, in December 6.44 million (64.4 lakhs) …

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Jet Airways to allow penalty free cancellation of bookings within 24 hours

Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER VT-JEG performing flight 9W117 from London approaches Mumbai airport

India’s largest private airline, Jet Airways, has taken a leaf out of the playbook of many international carriers and introduced a new initiative to waive penalty fees for cancellations made within 24 hours of bookings made on their website. A very smart and passenger friendly move which deserves congratulations. The new initiative is limited to bookings made on the airline’s …

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Air Europa orders 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners

Air Europa 787-9

Boeing has announced an order for 14 787-9 Dreamliners from Spanish carrier Air Europa. The order valued at $3.6 billion at list prices, is the largest ever Boeing widebody order from a Spanish carrier. The order was booked in December 2014 and was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website. Air Europa now has …

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It is official. Marans to transfer SpiceJet ownership to Ajay Singh

SpiceJet Boeing 737-800 VT-SPJ. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

The announcement at the Bombay stock exchange by SpiceJet Ltd. says it all. Spicejet Ltd has informed BSE that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on January 15, 2015, inter-alia, has taken on record the proposal of the principal shareholder and Promoter, Mr. Kalanithi Maran and KAL Airways Private Limited to transfer the ownership, management …

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Airbus launches high MTOW A321 with full transatlantic range

CGI of Airbus A321neo 97 tonnes MTOW with full transatlantic range. Airbus image.

European airframer Airbus has scored a coup of sorts by officially launching a new variant of the A321neo with 97 tonnes Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW). Airbus is targeting a 2019 first delivery date. At 4,000nm, the ‘A321neo 97t’ as it is being referred to, will have the highest range of any single aisle airliner, giving it full transatlantic capability, …

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Air India commences direct New Delhi Vijayawada flights

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

National carrier Air India will introduce a daily direct daily service between New Delhi and Vijayawada from tomorrow, January 15, 2015 which will be the second service on the route. Presently the carrier flies on a one-stop flight via Hyderabad. The new flight AI459 departs New Delhi at 06:20 and arrives Vijayawada at 08:25 The return flight AI460 departs Vijayawada …

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Air India flies grounded Boeing 777 after 31 months, ahead of delivery to Etihad

Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Air India’s newest Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH Maharashtra has finally flown after a gap of over 31 months after it was in storage since March 29, 2012. The test flight AI555 took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapathi Shivaji airport around 13:20 on Friday, January 9, 2015 and performed a series of race track circuits for about 100 minutes (1h40m) before returning at …

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Inflight review: Tata-SIA Vistara premium economy: A320: New Delhi – Mumbai

Vistara A320-200 Business Class Cabin

Today morning, I flew the inaugural flight of India’s newest full service airline, Vistara, the brand name for Tata-SIA Airlines, the joint venture between India’s most respected conglomerate the Tatas, and Singapore Airlines. Indira Gandhi international (DEL) to Chhatrapati Shivaji international (BOM). UK890. Depart 12:30 Arrive 14:45. All times local. Airbus A320-200. VT-TTB. Seat 7D. 09-January-2015. Check In – New …

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Vistara airlines: Cabin pictures – business, premium economy, economy

Tata-SIA Airlines Vistara A320 premium economy class cabin.

Our ace photographer Vedant was on board UK890, the inaugural flight of Vistara, Tata SIA Airlines earlier this afternoon. While his official trip report will follow, here are the first high resolution pictures of the three cabins on board the airline’s A320-200 VT-TTB. Please share this article with your friends using the social media buttons at the end. Read our …

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Tata-SIA’s Vistara commences operations. Successful inaugural flight.

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

Vistara the brand of Tata Singapore Airlines joint-venture company Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd., had a successful inaugural flight earlier this morning. Flight UK890 took off from Terminal 3 Indira Gandhi airport in New Delhi and became the first domestic airline to commence operations at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji airport after it landed on runway 14. Prasad Menon, Chairman, Vistara lit …

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BREAKING: First cabin pictures of Vistara premium economy class

Vistara Airlines, Airbus A320 VT-TTB in its official livery

Bangalore Aviation is on-board UK890, the inaugural flight of Vistara, the Tata-SIA joint venture airline, from New Delhi to Mumbai. Our team member Vedant Agarwal is on board and sends us this first high resolution picture of the premium economy class. Vistara is the only airline in India to offer a premium economy on domestic routes, and we shall bring …

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Tata SIA Vistara inaugural flight – first pictures

Vistara Airbus A320 VT-TTB at the gate at IGI airport New Delhi

Bangalore Aviation is on-board UK890, the inaugural flight of Vistara, the Tata-SIA joint venture airline, from New Delhi to Mumbai. Enjoy these first photographs, and please share this page on your Facebook, Google+, Twitter. Use the share buttons at the end of the article. Read our detailed in-flight review Flight information display (FID) board Check-in Boarding gate Vistara A320 VT-TTB …

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Tata-Singapore Airlines joint venture airline Vistara commences flights today

Vistara crew members flank Ms Rashmi Soni Head Corporate Communication Mr Vistara CEO Phee Teik Yeoh and CCO Giam Ming Toh introducing the new cabins

The much anticipated launch of Vistara, the airline promoted by the Tata and Singapore Airlines joint venture in is the process of commencing its first flight today. It will be the third full service carrier in India after Jet Airways and Air India. Ironically both these airlines have a connection to the Tatas in the past. Jet is widely suspected …

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Royal Air Maroc recieves it’s first 787 Dreamliner

American air-framer Boeing has delivered Moroccan flag carrier Royal Air Maroc’s first 787 Dreamliner. The airline will be the first carrier in the Mediterranean region to operate the 787. The airplane bearing the registration CN-RGB is powered by two General Electric GEnx-1B engines, was delivered to the airline on Dec. 31, 2014 from Boeing’s Everett Delivery Center. The aircraft then …

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What caused the AirAsia QZ8501 crash? Facts and myths

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

As the remains of the persons on board the ill fated Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 tragedy are slowly recovered, it is sometimes distressing to hear the answers to the questions from the general populace on why did this tragedy occur. So we put together a small list of answers to frequently asked questions. We have tried to make it as …

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CAAC type certifies Comac ARJ21-700

Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued an ARJ21-700 aircraft type certificate to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC). The airworthiness certification of CAAC, indicates that the ARJ21 has met the requirements of China Civil Aviation Regulations CCAR-25-R3. The ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet) project was part of China’s 10th 5 year plan. The aircraft was originally scheduled to …

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