Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation

Airbus has delivered the initial A330-200F for Qatar Airways, further expanding the list of international carriers enhancing their aircraft fleets with this new-generation freighter. Qatar Airways’ A330-200F is the first of three to be provided on lease from BOC Aviation, and will be used on the operator’s international freight network, replacing A300-600Fs that have been in service since 2002. The …

This video clip highlights key events leading up to the “century mark” A380 delivery — including footage from the first flight, its certification campaign, customer deliveries and more. Read more about the 100th delivery here.

Airbus matching milestones with Boeing, delivered its 100th A380 super-jumbo to national carrier Malaysia Airlines, the airline’s sixth aircraft registration 9M-MNF. Now in its sixth year of commercial service, the A380 is flying with nine world class airlines. To date, the worldwide fleet has carried some 36 million passengers in 100,000 flights. The delivery to an Asian carrier is subtle …

Boeing has delivered a 737-900ER, the 7,500th 737 to come off the production line to Malaysia-based Malindo Air. The aircraft in a two class configuration, 18 business class and 164 economy class seats, features the Boeing Sky Interior featuring sculpted side-walls, improved window reveals, LED lighting and larger pivoting overhead baggage storage. The Boeing 737 is the best-selling commercial jetliner …

by Devesh Agarwal Rohit Nandan has completed 18 months as the Chairman and Managing Director of national carrier Air India. Under his tenure, the national carrier appears to have embarked on a path which it hopes will result in a turn-around. The renewed efforts at the airline coupled with the implosion of Kingfisher Airlines, have certainly produced some positive results, …

by Ashwin Jadhav The aircraft acquisition process for airlines in India The Indian government has scrapped its aircraft acquisition committee (AAC), meaning domestic airlines will find it easier to import aircraft. After allowing 49% FDI (foreign direct investment) by foreign airlines, in the Indian airline sector, the government last week moved a step closer to liberalizing the civil aviation space …

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of its first delivery, the European Airbus A320 narrow body, is ratcheting up the pressure on competitor the American Boeing 737 booking two high profile orders during this month. The first order cames from national Turkish Airlines (THY), which signed a contract, the biggest ever by a Turkish carrier, for up to 117 …

Air India Express will shift all its operations to the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) previously called New Doha International Airport (NDIA) in Qatar, on April 1, 2013. Nine other airlines are also being made to shift to the new airport. Air Arabia, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, flydubai, Iran Air, Nepal Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, RAK Airways, Syrian Air, and Yemen …

Five years ago to the date, Bangalore Aviation started its journey. 1,929 articles later, we have grown to become one of the best aviation blogs in the world. All thanks to you – our valued readers and supporters, within and outside the aviation industry. On this anniversary I would like to share with you some of the highlights of our …

by Devesh Agarwal Sources within Mumbai based Jet Airways indicate the airline has entered into an agreement with Turkish Airlines to dry-lease three of its Boeing 777-300ER (77W) aircraft for one year. The Indian carrier has a total of ten 77Ws in its fleet. Since 2008, the carrier has found it difficult to effectively utilise these highly popular aircraft. It …

by Devesh Agarwal Cathay Pacific Group FY2012 overall results Hong Kong based, Cathay Pacific Group reported an attributable profit of HK$916 million (approximately $118.08 million) for 2012 – an 83.3% fall compared to the profit of HK$5,501 million reported for 2011, even though turnover for the year increased by 1.0% to HK$99,376 million (approximately $12.81 billion). Earnings per share fell …

by Devesh Agarwal This fortnight’s edition of news on special liveries from Karsten Heiligtag. *cs = colour scheme A320-214     4083     A9C-AD     Gulf Airat DXB 08/02/13 in special cs now with “2013 Formular 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix” titles, ex “2012 Formular 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix”http://www.airliners.net/photo/Gulf-Air/Airbus-A320-214/2230244/L/&sid=f2c9586395112746123c9cd54e781f18 A340-642     933     A6-EHJ     Etihad Airways (special “F1 Formula 1” cs)seen at MEL …

by Devesh Agarwal Jet lag is the curse of the international traveller. Much of human physiology and body patterns are adapted to an internal 24 hour clock called the Circadian Clock or Circadian Rhythm. Virtually all aspects of our life, especially sleep, alertness, cognition, body temperature, behaviour, digestion, strength, even our thinking and memory is tied in to this clock. …

Photo: Adrian Pingstone. Courtesy Wikimedia. Rights reserved. The Irish Independent is reporting that low cost carrier RyanAir has placed an $18bn (€14bn) order with Boeing to buy up to 200 aircraft. It is unclear whether the order includes any 737 MAX. Apparently the order will be confirmed by US President Barack Obama and Taoiseach (Prime Minister of Ireland) Enda Kenny …

by Devesh Agarwal Three of India’s airports have placed amongst the best airports in the world in the 2012 airport service quality (ASQ) awards of the airports council international (ACI). The nation’s largest two airports, New Delhi’s GMR operated Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) and Mumbai’s GVK operated Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), placed second and third respectively in the …

by Devesh Agarwal A CGI rendition of the Southwest Boeing 737 MAX Without a doubt, an aircraft’s engines are one of the most complex parts on an aircraft. After the airframe, the engines are the most expensive item an airline buys, and normally an airline signs separate contracts for the airframe and the engines. With thousands of rotating parts, and …

by Vinay Bhaskara As its fleet grows with the introduction of new Airbus A320s, including India’s first sharklet retrofitted A320, low cost carrier (LCC) IndiGo continues to expand its domestic services. The carrier will be adding one additional daily flight to Jaipur, Nagpur, and Kolkata from its hub in Mumbai with schedules as follow: Mumbai – Jaipur 6E296 BOM – …

A humorous way to start the week. All of us in India has experienced a disruption in our lives due to “VIP movement”. This video from Jenf777 on a humorous exchange between the air traffic controller at Boston’s Logan airport and the pilot of American Airlines 573. After hearing the exchange, all I could think, we need to get some …

The first production Airbus Military A400M airlifter has made its maiden flight, marking a key milestone towards its delivery to the French Air Force. The aircraft, MSN7, took off from Seville, Spain, at 11:48 local time (10:48Z) and landed back in Seville 5 hours and 42 minutes later. Experimental Test Pilot Hugues Van Der Stichel, captained the flight.