Airlines

Air France, KLM and Delta offer special fares to the US from India and Dubai

Air France A330-200 Economy class cabin. Photo by Devesh Agarwal.

SkyTeam alliance members Air France, KLM and Delta Air Lines are offering special fares from three Indian cities to 20 destinations in the United States and Canada. A special fare on the Dubai Atlanta route is also being offered. A fare of Rs. 60,000 all inclusive is available under this Independence Day sale. Bookings have started and will be open …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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, …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »
+OK