Passengers flying out of New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will receive some relief on the airport fees they pay. Based on an order issued by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority, the Airport Development Fee (ADF) rates at IGI Airport will be halved to Rs. 100 per embarking domestic passenger and Rs. 600 per embarking international passenger starting midnight tonight …

Less than 18 months after it commenced international operations, Indian low fare carrier appears to be withdrawing from three critical and what are considered lucrative routes. Mumbai Singapore, Delhi Singapore, and Mumbai Bangkok. A search for seat availability on the airline’s booking engine shows no flights available on these three routes from March 1, 2013 onwards. This is normally routine …

From 14th January 2013, low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet will launch thrice weekly Bangalore – Mysore services using Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 turboprops. The schedule of the flights will be as follows: SG3305 BLR – MYQ ~ 1220 – 1310 ~ Q400 135SG3306 MYQ- BLR ~ 1330  – 1420 ~ Q400 135 The new route marks the beginning of the next round of Q400 …

by Devesh Agarwal A week ago, Airbus S.A.S. rolled out an A320 aircraft serial number MSN 5437 from its assembly line. This aircraft is destined to become Indian budget carrier IndiGo’s first ‘Sharklet’ equipped A320 VT-IFH, and when delivered only the second airline aircraft in the world to be fitted with the new fuel saving large wing-tip device. Photo copyright …

by Vinay BhaskaraEarlier this week, Beijing Capital Airport (PEK), the world’s second busiest airport by passenger enplanements, crossed 80 million passengers carried in one calendar year. According to Zhang Guanghui, general manager of Beijing Capital International Airport co., the airport is likely to cross the 90 million passengers per annum mark by 2015, allowing it to pass Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International …

Our two videos today come courtesy Air France. Have you ever wondered what happens around your plane while you are waiting for your flight to board and depart? In first video, Air France reveals an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the frenetic activity performed by hundreds of people prior to the departure of an A380. Next go behind the scene at …

Air India operated its first flight to Agra earlier today. Following a circuitous route (Delhi-Varanasi-Agra), this flight has a schedule that leaves much to be desired. Image courtesy gcmap.com The flight will be operated with an all-economy class Airbus A320 aircraft, three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight AI 406 departs New Delhi at 1245, arrives Varanasi …

Effective January 3, 2013, Jet Airways, will fly six times a week on the Mangalore-Dubai sector. The airline will deploy a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 170 Economy seats on this route. 9W 532 will depart Mangalore at 2000 and arrive Dubai at 2230 (all times local) on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On Tuesdays, flight 9W 532 will depart Managalore …

Hope you had a good holiday. Turn the volume up for this one. Another of our videos from New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, thanks to the team at Delhi International Airport Ltd. This one focusses on the sounds heard at the runway from various aircraft and their many engines. Hope you enjoy. As usual comments, praises, or brick-bats are …

The entire team at Bangalore Aviation joins me in extending our warmest wishes for your safe and happy holiday celebration. We thank you for your consistent support. A few days back we crossed the 3 million annual page views mark. Making us the dominant aviation enthusiast site in India. You can see the annual views in the right column mid …

A well made video showing off the first Wingtip device (called Sharklets) fitted A320, which was delivered to AirAsia.

dnata’s ground handling teams at London’s Heathrow airport have recently commenced provision of passenger services for three daily flights for Air India. Air India, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, operates three flights daily using Boeing 777 aircraft, from Heathrow to Mumbai and Delhi. Under the new contract, dnata is now providing passenger services to the airline, which include checking …

As we wind down the week, and the year, we present a video showing the action on the ground. In the world of aviation, a lot needs to happen on mother earth, before the beautiful birds take to the sky. Special thanks to the friends at Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd. who made this happen. For our readers who subscribe …

The Indian Navy has taken on-site delivery of the first of its ordered eight Boeing P-8i long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. The order was placed on January 1, 2009. Indian Navy pilots are training on this aircraft in the USA, and expect to ferry this aircraft to India around May 2013. The Boeing P-8I is a long-range anti-submarine …

by Vinay Bhaskara A recent report from Flightglobal quoted Boeing Asia head Dinesh Keskar as saying that India’s largest full service carrier, Jet Airways, could potentially convert existing order into the larger Boeing 787-9 variant. Jet Airways currently has 10 Boeing 787-8s on order for delivery from 2014 onwards, but Mr. Keskar said, “”If they do that [convert orders to …

by Vinay Bhaskara Yesterday, Dallas Fort Worth based American Airlines announced an expansion of its Latin American network, saying that it would launch services between its largest hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Bogota, Colombia, as well as a likely triangular routing between its largest Latin American gateway at Miami and the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba. …

Boeing Names Michael Kurth as VP/GM, Unmanned Airborne Systems Programs David Pitchforth to lead Boeing Defence UK Ltd. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 17, 2012 — Company veteran Michael Kurth will oversee Boeing’s [NYSE: BA] unmanned airborne systems as of Jan. 1. Kurth, currently managing director of Boeing Defence UK Ltd. (BDUK), will relocate to St. Louis as vice president and general …

DATE: December 17, 2012AD #: 2012-26-51 Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) 2012-26-51 is sent to owners and operators ofAirbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. BackgroundThe European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2012-0264-E, dated December 17, 2012 (referred to after this …

by Devesh Agarwal Recently, with permission of the DGCA, the Aviation Photographers India Foundation visited the air-side at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) as guests of the airport operators, Delhi International Airport Ltd., for which each member of the foundation, including me, express our grateful thanks. The famous “mudra” wall at Terminal 3. Mudras are hand gestures used …

by Vinay Bhaskara Istanbul-based Turkish Airlines has been pursuing a strategy of rapid fleet and destination growth over the past few years. Already, they are the airline which serves the most countries in the world, and  they have already announced plans to start 41 new destinations over the next two years. The following table details Turkish Airlines’ expansion plans over the …