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To attract buyers Government allows 49% foreign investment in Air India

The Air India ramp at Mumbai CSMI Airport. Photo by and copyright Devesh Agarwal.

In a bid to attract more bids, the Union Cabinet of the Government of India, has allowed up to 49% Foreign Direct Investment in the national carrier Air India which is up for disinvestment. In a release the Government said “It has now been decided to do away with this restriction and allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49% …

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IndiGo, AirAsia India, Spicejet top on-time for 2018. Chennai airport tops.

The ramp at Rajiv Gandhi airport, Hyderabad. Photo by Devesh Agarwal. Used with permission. Do not re-use.

Three of India’s low-cost carriers, IndiGo, AirAsia India, and Spicejet feature in the OAG’s Punctuality League 2018 as India’s most punctual airlines. Chennai, Hyderabad, and New Delhi airports also feature in the annual report of airlines and airports with the best on-time performance (OTP) in the world. The best of the best As per the Punctuality League 2018, the most …

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Inflight Review: Indigo: ATR 72: Hyderabad – Mangalore

The cabin of Indigo's ATR 72-600.

Low cost carrier Indigo has begun operations with it’s ATR 72. The flight was the first revenue flight for the airline on any aircraft type beside it’s mainstay Airbus A320. (Read our analysis on Indigo’s ATR order) We were invited by Indigo to travel on this first flight from Hyderabad to Mangalore. Personally, Indigo is my preferred airline to travel …

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Inflight Review: Jet Airways: Economy: 737-800: Bangalore – Singapore

Jet Airways' Boeing 737-800 VT-JBD

I had originally planned to fly Indigo to Singapore, but their flight timings are really inconvenient and the fare on Singapore airlines was double that of Jet on the days I wanted to fly. I have also been wanting to fly Jet on an international leg but due to non availability of award space or high fares on their flights …

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Inflight Review: Qatar Airways: Business: 777-300ER: Doha – Bangalore

Qatar Airways A7-BAC Boeing 777-300ER.

After getting off my last flight from Dallas (Read the review here.), I quickly went through security at Doha and headed to the Al Mourjan Business Lounge. I’ve written about this lounge before so I will not write about it again. I left the lounge late since I was stuck on a call over the lounge wi-fi and didn’t want …

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Lufthansa Group Miles & More program to become revenue-based from 2018

Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i D-ABYA at New Delhi Indira Gandhi airport at night.

Mimicking the move from US airlines, Lufthansa Group’s frequent flier program, Miles & More, will be shifting to a revenue-based earnings model from March 12, 2018. In this model earning of miles will be based on the price of your ticket including any carrier imposed fees and surcharges, rather than the distance you fly. Current system at Miles & More …

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Inflight Review: Qatar Airways: Business: A350-900: Dallas – Doha

The center table - during the flight there is also a bottle of champagne and some flutes placed here.

On my trip back from the US, I was originally booked to fly with Etihad. However the lack luster experience I had with them on my last flight and the horrible response from the customer care, I changed my booking onto Qatar airways. The middle east ban seems to have had an positive (for passengers) effect on Qatar’s award availability …

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OAG report exposes gaps in DGCA on-time performance (OTP) reports

Bengaluru Kempegowda airport ramp. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal. Used with permission.

Data from the world’s leading provider of digital flight information OAG Aviation Worldwide Ltd, appears to contradict the On-Time Performance (OTP) as reported by the country’s regulator the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). OAG which used to be the Official Airline Guide and handles more than 35 million dynamic flight status updates per day shows national leader IndiGo ranked …

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IndiGo follows Go Air. To increase its A320neo seating to 186.

Indigo Airbus A320neo VT-ITC. Cabin. Copyrighted image. Re-use prohibited.

India’s largest domestic carrier IndiGo, is following the lead of fellow A320neo (new engine option) operator Go Air and will add another six seats to its new A320neo aircraft to increase capacity to 186 seats. IndiGo, the world’s largest A320neo operator has chosen to implement the Airbus Space-Flex cabin made by Zodiac Aerospace. The Space-Flex module was developed in order …

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Indigo Partners places record breaking Airbus order

American equity firm Indigo Partners’ has placed an additional order for 430 A320neo family aircraft for it’s four portfolio airlines. The aircraft will be allocated among the ultra low-cost airlines Frontier Airlines (United States), JetSMART (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary). The deal which is valued at $49.5 billion at current list prices, is the largest single order in …

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Only one runway in 50 years. India’s lagging airport expansion.

Runway 09 at Kempegowda airport, Bangalore. Image copyright Devesh Agarwal. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

In 2006-07, Mumbai and New Delhi airports were awarded to M/s GMR and GVK and entered an era of private airport management. In the mean time, private public partnership greenfield airports were in progress at Kochi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. Passengers across the nation waited with anticipation to finally be free of the poor service standards of the Airports Authority of …

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Emirates orders 40 Boeing 787’s

The Boeing 787-10 rolled out at Boeing South Carolina. Boeing Image.

American airframer Boeing and middle-eastern carrier Emirates have announced a $15.1 billion deal to purchase 40 787-10 Dreamliners and related equipment at the opening day of the 2017 Dubai Airshow. The airline previously had an order for 70 Airbus A350’s which it cancelled in 2014. This order for 787’s will likely be used to replace some of Emirates’ older 777’s …

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IndiGo explains the Katyal manhandling incident, admits fault.

IndiGo A320 at Bengaluru airport

Low cost carrier IndiGo has written a detailed clarification to the Civil Aviation ministry explaining the manhandling incident of Mr. Katyal at New Delhi airport. The letter written by Mr. Aditya Ghosh, IndiGo’s President and Wholetime Director is addressed to Mr. P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India. The airline acknowledges its fault and …

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Analysis: Qatar buys 9.61% of Cathay Pacific for $662 million for China foothold

After being rebuffed in its attempt to buy a stake in US carrier and fellow oneworld member, American Airlines Group, national carrier Qatar Airways Q.C.S.C. has bought a 9.61% stake in another fellow oneworld carrier Cathay Pacific Airways Limited. Qatar Airways bought 378,188,000 shares of Cathay Pacific from Kingboard Chemical Holdings and its allied companies for HK$5.2 billion (approximately US$662 …

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Photos: New Singapore Airlines A380. Apartment Suites and better Business.

Singapore Airlines A380-800 9V-SKD. Image copyright Devesh Agarwal

Singapore Airlines has finally unveiled its much awaited new cabin for its Airbus A380 flagship fleet. The cabins in all four classes of service, Suites, Business, Premium Economy and Economy are focussed around the theme of “Space made personal, experience the difference”. The new cabins feature intimate and bespoke elements while increasing space and privacy. The new configuration offers 471 …

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Airbus A330neo takes off for maiden flight

The first Airbus A330neo has taken off on it’s maiden flight. The aircraft bearing the registration F-WTTN took off from Airbus’ plant in Toulouse. The A330neo is the upgraded re-engined variant of Airbus’ best selling wide body line. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. See our #Trent7000 in action, powering the @Airbus #A330neo for the first time …

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IndiGo announces first regional ATR schedules

Indigo will commence regional flights using the ATR72-600 turbo-prop aircraft from December 21, 2017. Bookings start in another ten minutes at 12:01am October 16th. As expected IndiGo will begin with flights on its existing network. Between Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mangalore, Madurai and Nagpur. It will add two new Tier-II cities, Tirupati and Rajahmundry, in to its network. The ATR operations …

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Indian ATC ignores repeated mayday, endangers Air Canada flight

Air Canada Boeing 787-9. Airline Image.

In a shocking development, just come to light, it appears that Indian Air Traffic Control (ATC) ignored the repeated MAYDAY calls by an Air Canada flight and endangered the lives of 191 passenger and crew on the night of September 19th. Readers of Bangalore Aviation know how I despise the histrionic headlines found in mainstream media, but this case merits …

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