Tag Archives: slider

New repatriation flights from 16 May from Australia, Canada, Europe, Central Asia, Russia and more

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner line number 35 test registered N1015 (later became VT-ANH) at the India Aviation show, Hyderabad March 2012. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

Following the first week of repatriation flights operated by Air India and Air India Express, phase two of the Vande Bharat repatriation flights have now been released. Flights will be operated from the following countries which were not covered in phase one: Afghanistan – Kabul Armenia – Yeravan Australia – Sydney, Melbourne Belarus – Minsk Canada – Vancouver, Toronta France …

Read More »

How to book a repatriation flight from India to USA, UK and Singapore

When the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) announced repatriation flights to bring people back to India, it was unclear whether people would be allowed to fly out of India on the aircraft that would bring stranded Indians back. Yesterday, after a notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Air India began taking bookings for flights to the United States, United …

Read More »

Schedule of repatriation flights to India

VT-ALA Air India Boeing 777-200LR at Delhi Airport.

Earlier today we wrote that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has released a calendar of repatriation flights that will be operated to bring Indian’s stranded abroad back to India. All the flights will be operated by Air India and Air India Express. Links to register for these flights are available in our earlier story. In addition to the flights …

Read More »

Details of repatriation flights to India announced

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner line number 35 test registered N1015 (later became VT-ANH) at the India Aviation show, Hyderabad March 2012. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

The Government of India had previously announced that it would begin repatriation flights to India from 7 May. Details have now been released for flights being operated from the 7th to 14th of May. How to register for flights The flights will be operated from the following countries to various cities in India, to register click on the link of …

Read More »

The legendary Boeing 757 – a template for the future?

As Boeing struggles to get through the coronavirus crisis coupled with its own 737 MAX crisis, the Boeing 757 is an aircraft that has once again emerged as a hot topic of conversation. Particularly due to speculation on whether Boeing will be forced to revive the New Midsize Airplane (NMA). Initially designed as a replacement for the tri-engine 727, it …

Read More »

Ministry gives airlines a pass to refuse passengers refunds

In a time where political leaders are appealing to citizens to do the “right things”, where some businesses highlight values of profit over purpose and where all need to come together to tide over this crisis collectively, the actions of airlines and the lack of accountability have left many perplexed. Specifically: the non-refunding of passenger monies – an unfair and …

Read More »

Cash-flow crisis of Indian airlines

View of part of the ramp at Bangalore Airport at night.

As the airline industry grapples with the largest demand shock in history, India鈥檚 skies are closed to all passenger traffic. 650 aircraft are grounded, cash-flows have dried up and pay-cuts and layoffs are the new normal. It does not help that the corona crisis came at a time where the country was also dealing with a banking crisis. Add to …

Read More »

Any bailout of airlines must also force structural reforms

With the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have experienced the largest demand shock in history. Overnight demand has evaporated and each passing day brings with it news of airlines grounding entire fleets. International markets are shut and for India鈥檚 airlines, contrary to the narrative that domestic demand will help mitigate the impact, the situation is actually worse. This …

Read More »

India suspends all domestic passenger flights

Domestic ramp at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji airport. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

The Indian government has ordered a shut down of all passenger flights into and within India. On the heels of suspending international flights, all domestic scheduled commercial flights are to cease operations effective 23:59 hours IST (UTC+5.5) March 24, 2020. Flights have to land at their destination before this deadline. There is no re-start date announced at this time, but …

Read More »

Has Corona altered aviation as we know it forever?

As of this writing, forty airlines across the globe have announced a complete grounding of their fleet. Others ranging from Emirates and Lufthansa to AirAsia, Qantas and AirFrance-KLM are cutting capacity to as high as 90%. Massive layoffs, bankruptcies and airline shutdowns are likely. All this havoc driven by a particle that is one-billionth of a meter (a nanometer) in …

Read More »

How airlines are responding to the Corona virus threat

As the Coronavirus impact spreads and airlines prepare to brace for impact, the airline industry is facing its gravest challenge yet. Casualties have started. FlyBe – the largest regional airline in the UK has already ceased operations after an unsuccessful buyout and attempted turnaround. Other airline failures are all but certain. Forecasts from various industry quarters including IATA estimate a …

Read More »

First look: The cabin on Vistara’s 787

Vistara recently took delivery of the first Boeing 787-9 to be operated by an Indian carrier. The aircraft which is the first of six 787’s on order for the carrier will be used by the airline to begin long haul flights. The cabin configuration of Vistara’s 787s has been the subject of much speculation. Today, the airline unveiled their new …

Read More »

Exclusive: Picture of Vistara’s first 787 landing at Delhi

Vistara's first 787-9 lands at New Delhi airport. Photo by Yash Kumar (TeamAviationIndia).

Vistara has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The aircraft VT-TSD is the first Boeing 787-9 to be operated by an Indian airline. The aircraft departed from Paine Field Everett at 09.40 local times yesterday and landed at New Delhi airport at 14.56 local time with a light time of 15 hours and 46 minutes. Following familiarisation flights, …

Read More »

British Airways to start a second Bangalore flight

British Airways Boeing 777-200ER G-VIIA

British flag carrier British Airways is adding an additional three weekly flights to Bangalore. The airline currently operates a daily flight using the newest aircraft in their fleet the Airbus A350-1000 which features the airline’s brand new business class suites. The new flights will begin in April 2020 and be operated using the airline’s three-class Boeing 777-200s. Time-table for British …

Read More »

American Airlines and Qatar Airways end their feud, sign code-share agreement

Qatar Airways and American Airlines Sign Strategic Partnership Deal and Codeshare Agreement

American Airlines had a code-share agreement with Qatar Airways which it terminated in 2017 claiming unfair government subsidies to the Gulf carrier Both airlines are members of the oneworld alliance Both airlines remain tight-lipped on what developments caused the rapprochement oneworld alliance members American Airlines and Qatar Airways appear to have buried the hatchet and put aside their disputes to …

Read More »

Repairing and retaining brand Air India will challenge any buyer

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

As the government of India attempts to privatise Air India, media reports suggest the second time around is seeing renewed interest. Reports also indicate the government is keen the Air India brand is retained post any sale. One can see why. The airline is still India’s national carrier and the brand has a high recall value and familiarity quotient. Despite …

Read More »

SpiceJet Q3FY20 results analysis: Has rapid expansion hurt the airline?

SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 VT-SUB lands at Kempegowda airport Bangalore. Photo by Vedant Agarwal. All rights reserved.

February 14th saw SpiceJet report its third-quarter results. The airline reported a profit of INR 78.2 crores but we believe the results warrant closer examination. This because of the Boeing 737MAX grounding and the fact that compensation that has been recorded but not yet received by SpiceJet significantly contributed to this result. Additionally, in looking at the operational numbers, it …

Read More »

Analysis: American launches Bangalore – Seattle and Alaska joins OneWorld

American Airlines announced new nonstop service from Seattle to Bengaluru as part of a broader move to turn Seattle into an international gateway. American will also deepen its relationship with US regional carrier Alaska Airlines (the largest airline in Seattle by passengers carried) with a widespread codeshare agreement and the addition of Alaska to the OneWorld global airline alliance. The …

Read More »

Indigo Q3FY20 results analysis

IndiGo first A320neo VT-ITC touches down at New Delhi's IGI airport after a non-stop flight from Toulouse, France

Monday, January 27th was quite a newsday for Indian aviation. In what is becoming a tale of two airlines, while the national carrier came out with its Preliminary Information Memorandum looking for someone to take over 23,286 crores of debt and 8556 crores of losses (for FY19) the other airline Indigo reported profits of 496 crores with another 20,000 crores …

Read More »

Boeing estimates 737 MAX return to service only by mid-2020

Boeing 737 MAX 8 performs high altitude testing at La Paz, Bolivia

Boeing has confirmed that it does not expect the grounded 737 MAX to return to service before “mid-2020”. In a statement released on January 21, the company cautioned that this time-line is an estimate, and entry in to service will be finally determined by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other regulators across the world like Europe’s EASA and …

Read More »
+OK