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As with all of the Indian airlines, Delhi based low cost carrier SpiceJet faced disappointing financial results in the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal year 2012, posting a net loss of Rs. 605.8 Crore for FY 11-12 and Rs. 249.2 for Q4. After large net losses at India’s two other publicly traded carriers Kingfisher and Jet Airways, SpiceJet’s …

The abrupt removal of India’s chief civil aviation regulator, the Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr. E.K. Bharat Bhushan, earlier this month, once again brings forth the cross-workings within the ministry of civil aviation, caused by contradictory roles, many of which are driven by political agendas, and the urgent need to re-structure this mammoth ministry to correct the malaise. Indian …

Shot at the limit of 400mm, Boeing Super Hornet NJ135 belonging to the US Navy Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122), The Flying Eagles, pulls high G’s away from the admiring crowd, including me. Condensation, afterburners burning bright orange, and their massive heat obscuring part of the aircraft, this photo has it all. Incidentally, NJ135 also performed at Aero India last …

Boeing announced that Ethiopian Airlines has ordered an additional Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, in addition to the airline’s fleet of five 777-200LRs. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said “The 777-200LR has been a fantastic airplane for Ethiopian Airlines,” “The performance and range of the airplane allowed us to open direct routes from Washington D.C to Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa to …

Last week, Jet Airways unveiled a re-liveried Boeing 737-800 with a Disney theme. The aircraft is wrapped with images of Disney’s favourite cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. Here is a time lapse video showing the plane VT-JBC being transformed from its regular Jet Airways livery to the new Disney livery.

SpiceJet will be adding daily nonstop service between Delhi and Jaipur with schedule as followsSG 133 –> DEL –>JAI –> D – 07:15 A -08:00 –> 737 –> Daily SG 218 –> DEL –>JAI –> D – 20:40 A -21:15 –> 737 –> Daily This flight will be operated in conjunction with SpiceJet’s Mumbai-Jaipur services, as one aircraft will be …

Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia, paid tribute to the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) Football Club, by unveiling an A320 9M-AFV painted in a special QPR livery. The airline also paid homage to the club’s legendary former captain and assistant manager, the late Alan McDonald naming this aircraft after him. The Airbus A320 is painted in the football club’s colours with …

US airframer Boeing commenced the flight test programme on the Indian Navy’s first P-8I aircraft on July 7. Tail number IN320 took off from Boeing Field in Seattle at 0915 local and landing three hours and 49 minutes later after demonstrating flying qualities and handling characteristics. The second P-8I aircraft, tail number IN321 performed its initial flight on July 12. …

Couple of more interesting images from the 2012 edition of the Farnborough International air show. The Eurofighter Typhoon makes a full afterburner turn pulling extreme G’s and causing condensation around the aircraft. The second last fighter of Block 10 production and a tail number EH, BS094 is build no.1355 serial no. ZK333 of the 6th squadron. First flight on 12/Jan/2012, …

It has been a grey, cloudy, rainy start to the Farnborough air show 2012. In the midst of the gloomy weather are these twin bright orange discs of flame. A picture of a Eurofighter Typhoon FGR.4 with its afterburners burning a bright orange for your enjoyment. Soon after lift off, even before the wheel covers fold back in to position, the Typhoon …

Jet Airways reported a large net pre-tax loss (Jet Airways and JetLite combined) of Rs. 1,331 Crore for fiscal year 2012, a very disappointing result. Revenue and passenger growth were robust as usual at 14.8% and 16.3% respectively. But the carrier’s net margin of -8.5% is indicative of tangible flaws in the business, and goes beyond the explanations of higher …

Once again, this is courtesy of Aspire Aviation. Airbus Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Arkia Israel Airlines 4 A321neo Agreement 10th July Cathay Pacific 10 A350-1000 Agreement; convert 16 existing -900 into -1000 10th July Drukair 1 A319 Firm Boeing Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Air Lease Corp (ALC) 60 737 MAX 8 Firm; Reconfirmation rights …

Earlier today, Jet Airways and Disney, one of the world’s largest media corporations, unveiled the new Disney themed 737-800 that is wrapped with images of Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto. The aircraft is pictured at Mumbai International Airport and will first be used to cart 37 lucky families to Disneyland in Hong Kong.

Courtesy of Aspire Aviation, the following table provides a breakdown of announced orders on Day 1 of the Farnborough Air Show. Airbus Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Arkia Israel Airlines 4 A321neo Agreement Boeing Date Customer Quantity Model Remarks 9th July Air Lease Corp (ALC) 60 737 MAX 8 Reconfirmation rights for 25 more 9th July Air Lease …

India’s largest airline Jet Airways has announced the tentative schedule for delivery of its 10 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners. The all-new aircraft, which has yet to enter into service (EIS) with Indian launch customer Air India, offers double digit fuel efficiency gains over Jet Airways’ current widebody fleet while also offering improved passenger comfort. Jet Airways has 10 787-8s on order …

In late May, the news broke that Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines would be leasing 88 Boeing 717-200s from its newly minted rival in Atlanta, Southwest Airlines. The Dallas based airline, which acquired the fleet of 717s from its merger with AirTran Airways (through which it also inherited a hub in Atlanta), had previously utilized only  a single fleet type (the …

The first day of the Farnborough Air Show has been relatively quiet on the orders front. But Pratt & Whitney has announced a slew of engine deals for Airbus’ A320neo, and included in the deal was a firming of the contract between P&W and India’s largest low cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo Airlines to provide PW1100G-JM (otherwise known as the Geared …

Image courtesy BEA France’s Bureau of Investigations and Analysis’ (BEA) submitted its final report on the crash of Air France flight AF-447 flying from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing all 228 passengers and crew on-board. The final report essentially re-states what has already been released till date. The crash commenced with ice crystals blocking the pitot tubes, sending false …

As domestic full service carriers like Air India and Jet Airways are cutting back on their commissions, travel agents in India have decided to charge a service charge of Rs 225 from July 16 on tickets of full service carriers, issued by them. In this age of skyrocketing expenses, airlines are desperately trying to curtail costs. Ticket distribution and sales …

Air India and members of the striking Indian Pilots Guild (IPG) appear to have reached an “agreement”. For more than 58 days, the pilots have defied the courts and struck work. After causing hundred of crores (billions) worth of additional losses to the national carrier, that is already on life support with taxpayer money, the pilots decided to call off …