Vedant Agarwal

A frequent flyer for both work and pleasure - Vedant has held elite status on many of the major alliances and airlines. Also an avid aviation photographer, his pictures have been published in and on the covers of many international publications.

Vistara to fly on 9th January 2015

New full service carrier Vistara’s (TATA-SIA) first flight will take-off on 9th January 2015. With Delhi as its hub, Vistara will initially offer flights to Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Vistara’s 148-seater A320-200 will offer three separate cabins, with 16 seats in Business, 36 in Premium Economy and 96 in Economy Class. The airline is the first full service Indian carrier to …

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Avianca takes delivery of it’s first 787 Dreamliner

N780AV Avianca Boeing 787-8. Boeing Image.

Colombian airline Avianca took delivery of it’s first 787 Dreamliner today. The aircraft a Boeing 787-8 bearing the registration N780AV was ferried from Paine Field, USA to Bogota, Colombia after it’s delivery. Avianca’s Boeing 787-8 will carry 28 passengers in business class and 222 in economy class. Fabio Villegas Ramirez, President and CEO, Avianca “The addition of the first Boeing …

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Embraer Legacy 500 receives EASA certification

Yesterday, Brazilian airframer Embraer received certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for it’s latest business jet, the Legacy 500. This approval enables entry into service of the aircraft in the Member States of the European Union as well as in EASA associated countries. The Legacy 500 received certification from Brazil’s ANAC (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil) in August …

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Vistara receives it’s Air Operator Permit

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

Vistara (Tata-SIA) received it’s Air Operator Permit (AOP) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), allowing the airline to begin commercial operations in the country. The AOP is the final step in a highly technical and complex compliance process to allow the airline to operate commercial flights. Headquartered in New Delhi, Vistara will begin operations with its fleet of …

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Embraer delivers it’s 1100th E-Jet to Aeromexico

Brazilian airframer Embraer has delivered the 1,100th E-Jet production aircraft to Aeromexico at a ceremony held at the Benito Juárez International Airport, in Mexico City. The aircraft an E190 bearing the registration XA-GAW, is also the 200th aircraft from the E-Jet family flying in Latin America. Aeromexico operates a fleet of 62 Embraer aircraft through its regional brand, Aeromexico Connect. …

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LAN takes delivery of first Airbus A321

South American airline, LAN Airlines, part of LATAM Airlines Group took delivery of its first A321 last Wednesday at Santiago’s Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. The aircraft bearing registration CC-BEA is the first of 48 of its kind ordered by the airline. With this delivery LAN Airlines will have operated every member of the A320 family including the A318, …

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CIT firms up order for 15 A330neo and five A321ceo

CIT Group Inc. has firmed up its order for 15 A330-900neo aircraft and five A321ceo aircraft. The leasing company became one of the launch customers of the A330neo after signing its initial agreement in July 2014, at the Farnborough International Airshow. Jeff Knittel, President, CIT Transportation & International Finance “Given our long-term leadership on the A330 program, we are proud …

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Finnair orders eight additional Airbus A350 XWBs

Finnair has signed an agreement for eight Airbus A350-900s. The order follows up on an initial order placed by the airline in 2007 where Finnair was the first airline to select the A350 XWB. The airline will be the first European airline in autumn 2015 to receive the new Airbus wide-body. Finnair’s A350 XWBs will seat 297 passengers in a …

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Ryanair finalizes order for 100 737 MAX 200s

Ireland based ultra low cost carrier Ryanair has finalized an order for 100 737 MAX 200s. The order which is valued at $11 billion at current list prices, includes options for 100 additional 737 MAX 200 airplanes and was originally announced as a commitment in September of this year. The airline will be the launch customer of the 737 Max 200. …

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Frontier Airlines orders nine Airbus A321 aircraft

Low cost American carrier Frontier Airlines has placed a firm order for nine Airbus A321ceo (current engine option) aircraft. The deal is valued at $991 million at current list prices. The order marks the first time the airline has ordered the A321. The airline has operated every other variant of the A320 family including the smallest variant the Airbus A318 …

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Delta orders 50 Airbus A350-900’s and A330neo’s

US carrier Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 50 Airbus widebody aircraft. The 25 A350-900 will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and 25 A330-900neo by Trent 7000 engines. The order is the first firm order for the A330neo and will make Delta the fourth airline to commit to the re-engined airframe. Delta currently operates a …

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Airbus delivers first A320’s to Lion Group’s Batik Air

Batik Air Airbus A320.

European airframer Airbus has delivered the first three Airbus aircraft to long time Boeing customer Indonesia’s Lion Group. The aircraft were delivered at a special ceremony in Toulouse. The aircraft are the first from an order placed by Lion Group in March 2013 for 234 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 109 A320neo, 65 A321neo and 60 A320ceo. The initial batch of A320s …

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Through the lens: Onboard the Uber-Luxurious Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream G650 N650GD.

Earlier this year, I was invited by Gulfstream onboard their latest and most luxurious business jet the G650. Gulfstream is known as the Rolls-Royce of the sky and with the G650 it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The Gulfstream G650 (designated as the Gulftream G VI in it’s type certificate) is the companies largest aircraft till date, it is designed to transport …

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Monarch Airlines orders 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8s

Monarch Airlines Airbus A321 G-OZBP.

British carrier Monarch Airlines has finalized an order with US airframer Boeing for 30 737 MAX 8s worth $3.2 billion at current list prices. Earlier this year at the Farnborough International Airshow, Monarch selected Boeing as its preferred bidder for fleet replacement. The order includes options for 15 additional 737 MAX 8s and marks the beginning of the British carrier’s …

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Emirates takes delivery of it’s 100th Boeing 777-300ER

Emirates' 100th Boeing 777-300ER A6-ENV.

Dubai based carrier Emirates has taken delivery of it’s 100th Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft will bear the registration A6-ENV. With this delivery, Emirates will have 142 777s in operation and is the only airline in the world to operate all the 777 variants (which includes the 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-200LR, 777-300, 777-300ER and the 777F). The airlines 142 777’s makes up …

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Photos: Embraer rolls out it’s KC-390 airlifter

Embraer rolls out the first KC-390. Embraer Image.

Yesterday Brazilian airframer Embraer rolled out the first prototype of it’s new KC-390 military transport from it’s production hangar at Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. The KC-390 is a joint project between the Brazilian Air Force and Embraer to develop and produce a tactical military transport and aerial refueling airplane. The design of the aircraft is intended to establish new standards in …

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Vistara signs agreement with SITA for Air to Ground operations and datalink service

Vistara logo

Vistara (Tata-Sia) Airlines has signed an agreement with SITA, the air transport IT specialist. The agreement is for SITA’s air-to-ground airline operations and datalink service, flight briefing services which will help the airline to  plan routes that reduce operational costs, and a comprehensive network solution connecting it’s ground operations for critical passenger services. Maneesh Jaikrishna, Vice-President, India and Sub-Continent, SITA “Vistara …

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Boeing begins to manufacture the first parts for the 737 MAX

The first 737 MAX fuselage stringer.

Boeing has started production of the first parts destined for the new 737 MAX. The fuselage stringers are being manufactured at Boeing Fabrication Integrated AeroStructures in Auburn, Washington. The stringers run the length of the fuselage structure giving it stability and strength. After forming, the stringers will be sent to Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita, Kansas for incorporation into the first …

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Through the lens: Onboard Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Picking up where we left off last week, we continue on our tour of the Qatar Airways Boeing 787-8 DreamLiner. The aircraft I got up close with was A7-BCM, a brand new Dreamliner built in February of this year at Boeing’s Charleston plant in South Carolina. The aircraft is powered by two ultra silent General Electric GEnx-1B engines. Qatar has …

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