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’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 …
Read More »Inflight review: Tata-SIA Vistara premium economy: A320: New Delhi – Mumbai
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 …
Read More »Inflight review: Etihad Business Class: Airbus A340-600: Bangalore-Mumbai-Abu Dhabi
I had to make a short-notice business trip to Dubai in early November 2014. For the week I needed to travel, I found airfares on most carriers extremely high. This included the only non-stop airline between Bangalore and Dubai, Emirates. On shopping for better fares, I came across a good fare on the UAE’s other national carrier, Etihad which flies …
Read More »What caused the AirAsia QZ8501 crash? Facts and myths
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 …
Read More »Spicejet turnaround requires a good risk appetite
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 …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Inflight review: United Airlines 787-8: BusinessFirst: London to Houston, E175: First: Houston to DFW
Until very recently, I was under the impression that American flag carriers were lackluster airlines, with poor service and an even worse attitude, in short to be booked only as a last resort. Admittedly, United Airlines was the last carrier on my mind to get from London and Dallas. Never having flown United on a long haul flight I went …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Opinion: India needs long-term systemic changes to boost aviation sector
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 …
Read More »Through the lens: Onboard the Uber-Luxurious Gulfstream G650
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 …
Read More »Opinion: Indigo’s A320 order reflects well crafted, deliberate, brilliant fleet strategy
100 in 2005; 180 in 2011; 250 with options for another 100, in 2014. That about sums up Indigo’s A320 Family orders on European airframer Airbus. The latest order of 250 A320neo’s or the (New Engine Option) has the industry abuzz. It is the largest single aircraft order by volume. IndiGo’s orders on Airbus stand at a whopping 530 aircraft. …
Read More »Exclusive photos: Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANI being retro-fitted for reliabilty
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 …
Read More »Air India loses money on all international flights, but two
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 …
Read More »Video: Singapore Airlines’ first Airbus A380 service to India, New Delhi IGI airport
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, …
Read More »Exclusive photos: Air India repairs its Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH previously stripped for parts
Exactly three months and one day ago, we reported exclusive images of Air India’s newest Boeing 777-200LR VT-ALH Maharashtra lying in a pathetic and dilapidated condition at Mumbai airport. Today we are happy to report exclusive images showing Air India has restored the aircraft to a much better condition. She is looking nice and clean. Since the aircraft has not …
Read More »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 …
Read More »Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER crashes over Ukraine #MH17
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 …
Read More »Boeing showcases 787-9 at Farnborough to counter Airbus
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 …
Read More »Airbus launches A330neo
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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