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Graphical analysis of India’s domestic air traffic in 2014

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

Keeping in line with the weak economic growth in India, domestic air passenger traffic grew a tepid 9.7% during 2014. In 2013 61.426 million passengers travelled, which grew to 67.383 million. Monthly data and info-graphics December is the peak month for travel in India, both international and domestic. As the stacked monthly graph shows, in December 6.44 million (64.4 lakhs) …

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Air India flies grounded Boeing 777 after 31 months, ahead of delivery to Etihad

Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

Air India’s newest Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH Maharashtra has finally flown after a gap of over 31 months after it was in storage since March 29, 2012. The test flight AI555 took off from Mumbai’s Chhatrapathi Shivaji airport around 13:20 on Friday, January 9, 2015 and performed a series of race track circuits for about 100 minutes (1h40m) before returning at …

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Inflight review: Tata-SIA Vistara premium economy: A320: New Delhi – Mumbai

Vistara A320-200 Business Class Cabin

Today morning, I flew the inaugural flight of India’s newest full service airline, Vistara, the brand name for Tata-SIA Airlines, the joint venture between India’s most respected conglomerate the Tatas, and Singapore Airlines. Indira Gandhi international (DEL) to Chhatrapati Shivaji international (BOM). UK890. Depart 12:30 Arrive 14:45. All times local. Airbus A320-200. VT-TTB. Seat 7D. 09-January-2015. Check In – New …

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What caused the AirAsia QZ8501 crash? Facts and myths

AirAsia Indonesia Airbus A320 PK-AXF.

As the remains of the persons on board the ill fated Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 tragedy are slowly recovered, it is sometimes distressing to hear the answers to the questions from the general populace on why did this tragedy occur. So we put together a small list of answers to frequently asked questions. We have tried to make it as …

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Spicejet turnaround requires a good risk appetite

Spicejet Boeing 737-800WL VT-SGK at New Delhi airport.

SpiceJet has seen challenging times over the past 5 years. While numerous reasons can be cited for this ranging from network structure, fleet decisions, competition, ability to command a premium, management churn, market weakness and overall brand strength, the financial position of the airline as of today is quite challenging. Much is being reported about the possible funds infusion and/or …

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Airbus delivers first A350 XWB to Qatar Airways

Airbus has delivered the first A350 XWB to launch customer Qatar Airways. The aircraft which bears the registration A7-ALA is the sixth A350 to have been made and is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines which are the exclusive engines for the A350. Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways Group “Receiving the A350 XWB as global launch customer is …

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Photos: Qantas newest Boeing 737-800 “Retro Roo” in 1970s retro livery

The newest aircraft to join the Qantas fleet, a Boeing 737-800, registration VH-XZP, recently touched-down at Sydney. This aircraft is wearing a special “retro-livery” which was worn by Boeing 747s of the Australian airline in the 1970s. The livery is an homage to the seven decades of the Flying Kangaroo logo, which falls this month. Qantas A380. Qantas image.[/caption]Many leaders …

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Opinion: India needs long-term systemic changes to boost aviation sector

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

For the better part of this year, India has suffered the ignominy of being one of only 11 countries relegated to Category 2 status by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as its safety oversight regime did not meet international standards. The relegation dealt a serious dent in the operations of India’s airlines by a freeze on their US …

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Through the lens: Onboard the Uber-Luxurious Gulfstream G650

Gulfstream G650 N650GD.

Earlier this year, I was invited by Gulfstream onboard their latest and most luxurious business jet the G650. Gulfstream is known as the Rolls-Royce of the sky and with the G650 it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The Gulfstream G650 (designated as the Gulftream G VI in it’s type certificate) is the companies largest aircraft till date, it is designed to transport …

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Exclusive photos: Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANI being retro-fitted for reliabilty

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANI sits forlorn with its radome removed.

Update: Oct. 14, 2014. 21:00 IST An Air India spokesperson sent us an e-mail and said “Aircraft VT-ANI is currently undergoing reliability improvement retrofit (modification) and will resume operations in November.” This is nice to hear. Can someone with subject matter expertise please explain what is the retro-fit being done? Why is this specific to only this aircraft? Why does …

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Air India loses money on all international flights, but two

Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

National carrier Air India lost money on 57 of its 59 international routes in the last fiscal year which ended March 31, 2014. The airline lost a whopping Rs 4,273.35 crores (approximately $712 million at current exchange rates) operating these international flights. This according to an internal “Route Economics” provisional report for April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 which …

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Video: Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A380 service to India, New Delhi IGI airport

Singapore Airlines A380 9V-SKB being given traditional water cannon salute as it arrives at New Delhi IGI airport staring scheduled commercial A380 service to India.

Bangalore Aviation is proud to present our final production of an Abhishek Singh film showing the flight of the first scheduled Airbus A380 super-jumbo service to India. Singapore Airlines A380 9V-SKB performed the flight from Singapore Changi to New Delhi Indira Gandhi airport. We are thankful for the support extended to us by the DGCA, the Delhi International Airport Limited, …

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Tata-SIA airlines unveils its brand Vistara – an analysis

The Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd. (TSAL), the 51:49 joint venture between the Tatas and Singapore Airlines officially unveiled Vistara as its airline brand yesterday. Drawn from the Sanskrit word Vistaar which means limitless expanse. The logo is derived from a ‘yantra’, a perfect mathematical form that reflects the unbounded universe. Its fluid interconnecting lines reflect the seamless experience the airline wants …

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Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER crashes over Ukraine #MH17

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER 9M-MRD. Photo copyright M. Azizul Islam. Photo used with permission, do not copy or reproduce.

Plane suspected to be shot down National carrier and oneworld member Malaysia Airlines has suffered another plane crash following the disappearance of its flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8. Earlier today, the airline’s flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, being performed by a Boeing 777-200ER (Extended Range), registration 9M-MRD lost contact while flying over the …

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Boeing showcases 787-9 at Farnborough to counter Airbus

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Seen landing after it's display on day one of Farnborough 2014.

US airframer Boeing showcased its new 787-9 Dreamliner as it began an aggressive counter to European rival Airbus ahead of the start of the Farnborough air show 2014. Readers will recall, Boeing delivered the first 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand less than a week ago. READ ONLINE: Video of Boeing 787-9 practising flying demonstration for Farnborough air show …

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Airbus launches A330neo

Airbus A330-900neo powered by Rolls Royce Trent 7000 engines. Photo courtesy Airbus S.A.S.

Future of A350-800 in doubt After much expectation, early this morning, European airframer Airbus has launched the A330-800neo and A330-900neo (new engine option) in ongoing its attempt to answer to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Deliveries of the A330neo are expected commence in the last quarter of 2017. The upgrade of one of the world’s most popular medium-range twin-jets, the A330neo …

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