Miscellaneous

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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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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Turkish Airlines hosts a wedding in the sky

When a beautiful Serbian actress, Vjera Mujović and Stefan Preis, an esteemed doctor from Germany boarded the same flight in May 2014, little did they know that just a year later they’d be returning to the same spot for their wedding. Having been seated next to each other on the Turkish Airlines TK 342 flight from Istanbul to Ulan Bator …

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Vistara to connect Bangalore with New Delhi and Mumbai in June

Inaugural flight of Vistara, Tata-SIA airline. Cabin luggage tags for the Business, Premium Economy, and Economy class.

Vistara, the joint venture of Tata and Singapore Airlines, will finally connect Bangalore to New Delhi and Mumbai in mid June 2015. The airline will offer daily flights on the New Delhi Bengaluru and Mumbai Bengaluru routes starting June 16, 2015 for which bookings have been opened. Vistara Bengaluru schedule Route Flight Dep Arr Day of Week New Delhi to …

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Air Asia India’s New Delhi flights to Bangalore, Goa and Guwahati

First flight of AirAsia India. Takeoff.

AirAsia India has announced schedules for its much awaited flights from India’s capital New Delhi. Starting May 21, the airline will offer flights from New Delhi to Bangalore, Goa and Guwahati and represents a major expansion in to a very competitive market. New Delhi is hub to two of India’s large low cost airlines; IndiGo and SpiceJet. The airline is …

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Pictures: Jet Airways’ 737 landing gear collapses at Khajuraho. Airport closed.

Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 VT-JGA.

Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, airport is shut down after the landing gear of a Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 registration VT-JGA collapsed soon after landing, blocking the sole runway at the airport. All 59 passengers and eight crew on board evacuated safely. Flight 9W-2423 originated from New Delhi via Varanasi before arriving at Khajuraho around 13:15 this afternoon. The landing gear is …

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Formal press release by US FAA restoring India to Category 1 under IASA

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has formally issued a press release announcing the restoration of India to Category 1 status under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) program. Press Release – U.S. Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces Improved Aviation Safety Rating for India NEW DELHI, India – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today that India complies with international …

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Jet Airways and Air India to benefit as US FAA restores India to category 1

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

The United States Federal Aviation Administration has restored Indian civil aviation back to Category 1 status in its IASA (international aviation safety assessment) program. This information was conveyed to Director General Ms. M. Sathiyavathy by Associate Administrator Ms. Margaret Gillian in a letter earlier today. India was relegated to category 2, implying unsafe, on January 31, 2014. Since then the …

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Air India Dreamliner first in world in Star Alliance livery

Air India 787-8 Dreamliner in Star Alliance livery.

National carrier Air India’s newest Boeing 787-8 is the first Dreamliner in the world to wear the special Star Alliance livery. The carrier celebrated the milestone delivery of its 20th 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft bearing the registration VT-ANU was built at Boeing’s final assembly facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Air India serves more than 60 domestic and 37 …

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SpiceJet selling limited edition scale models of its Boeing 737

SpiceJet VT-SZK Red Chilli collector's edition scale models 1:100 plastic and 1:200 metal.

Fellow aviation geeks alert. Budget carrier SpiceJet is selling special limited edition scale models of its Boeing 737-800 VT-SZK, something sure to be of interest to dedicated model collectors like me. This is the first time I have seen an Indian airline selling these high quality models. VT-SZK is Red Chilli the airline’s flagship aircraft wearing the special ‘with all …

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Vistara to begin services to Pune

Tata-SIA Airlines Vistara A320 business class cabin.

Vistara (Tata-SIA) today announced that it will begin operations to Pune form 9th April 2015. The airline will operate a daily flight on the Delhi-Pune-Delhi route. Passengers can now book Vistara flights from Delhi to a total of 7 destinations – Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad, Guhawati and Bagdogra. Mr Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara “We received a very enthusiastic …

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Vistara to acquire GoAir. Will fly international soon.

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

The Tata-Singapore Airlines promoted Vistara will acquire GoAir sources within the airline say. The Wadia group promoted airline is struggling after CEO Giorgio De Roni was reportedly taken ill, earlier this year, and is convalescing in Italy. Sources indicate, De Roni is not expected to return. De Roni is credited with making the GoAir profitable after the initial management had …

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Vistara to begin Guwahati and Bagdogra service in April

Vistara VT-TTB welcomed at Mumbai CSI airport with the traditional water cannon salute.

Vistara (Tata-SIA) has announced the addition of Guwahati and Bagdogra to its network. From April 2, 2015, Vistara will operate daily on the Delhi-Guwahati-Bagdogra-Delhi routing. Flights on these sectors are available for booking. The airline has steadily expanded it’s network since begining it’s operations in January, with Goa and Hyderabad being recent additions. Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara “We’ve had …

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Aero India 2015: What to expect this time?

With Aero India 2015 kicking off this week, many are wondering what is in store for this edition on “Asia’s Premier Airshow”. Here’s the rundown of what to expect out of this year’s airshow. Six Aerobatic display teams This edition of Aero India will see six aerobatic teams display their flying prowess. The displays will include the Scandinavian Air Show …

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Singapore Airlines launches TCS Mobile Solution

Singapore Airlines A380 business class. Photo by Devesh Agarwal.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched TCS CrewCollab, a tablet based digital flight-bag solution developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) The application has been developed through a collaboration project by the airline and the software giant, leveraging SIA’s strength in service excellence and TCS’ strength in digital technology development. The airline is the launch customer for the TCS CrewCollab Solution and …

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Updated: Pics and video of another TransAsia ATR72 crash in Taipei river

Original story TransAsia airlines has suffered the crash of another ATR72. This time an ATR72-600 with 58 persons on board, registration B22816 performing flight GE235, from the capital Taipei’s Song Shan airport to Kinmen island, around 11:00 local (03:00Z) appeared to lose altitude and hit an elevated bridge soon after take off, and crashed in to the Keelung river. The …

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EU regulator warns airlines not to fly low in Pakistan airspace due to terror threat

Easa Logo

The EU regulator European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) No. 2015-02 warning all national aviation authorities and aircraft operators of “an increased risk to flight operation safety due to potential terrorist attacks in Pakistan” The bulletin goes on to state “The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommends all operators to exercise extreme caution if …

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Vistara to begin operations to Goa and Hyderabad

Vistara VT-TTB welcomed at Mumbai CSI airport with the traditional water cannon salute.

Vistara (Tata-SIA) has announced that it will begin operations on two new routes, the first to Goa from 20th February and then to Hyderabad from 1st March, 2015. The airline began it’s operations in India earlier this month on 9th January. Vistara currently has a fleet of three Airbus A320s and aims to have a fleet size of five by March. Read our …

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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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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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