The latest generation airliner of European airframer Airbus S.A.S. the A350-900 XWB has received its ‘Type Certification’ from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) earlier today. The certified aircraft is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The other major certifying body, the United States Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) certification is expected shortly since both EASA and FAA recognise each others’ …
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Less than a week after the two airlines each received new Airbus A320s, both Vistara, the Tata Singapore Airlines promoted carrier, and India’s leading domestic carrier, IndiGo took delivery of new aircraft. Coincidentally both aircraft are powered with the International Aero Engines V2500 power-plants. IndiGo received Airbus A320 MSN6289 which will be registered VT-IAS. (Read our aviation humour story on …
Read More »After a gap of nearly four years, Malaysia low cost carrier AirAsia returns to Hyderabad airport. The airline will commence daily services between its Kuala Lumpur hub and Hyderabad from December 8, 2014. The airline had pulled out from Hyderabad on January 11, 2011 citing high airport charges. The airline will use an ‘all night’ over-night red-eye schedule which is …
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National carrier Air China has taken delivery of the first of its seven ordered Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental (747-8i). The airline become the first carrier in Asia and second after launch customer Lufthansa to operate the passenger version of the newest variant of the venerable ‘Jumbo Jet’. The Boeing 747-8i model number 747-89L registration number B-2485 line number (MSN) 41191, is …
Read More »When it comes to airlines, Air India seems to always be at the receiving end. A fear of saying anything leaves the corporate communications department uncommunicative, making the national carrier the target of speculation. Add to this, naive at best, slip-shod at worst, reporting in the mainstream Indian media, many a time lacking the most basic of common sense, and …
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Last week we were at Seattle, the home of Boeing, more specifically Paine Field the home of Boeing wide-bodies. Every type of Boeing’s current wide body line up is manufactured at Paine Field which includes the 787 dreamliner, the 777 and the 747-8. These planes are manufactured at the factory building of Boeing which is the biggest building by volume …
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UAE national airline, Etihad Airways unveiled the new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery on its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner a few hours ago. Here are four videos showing the time-lapse assembly and painting of the aircraft, and a 42 minute video of the unveiling ceremony itself. The aircraft looks a lot better in this video that in does in the …
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A little over a day after it unveiled its new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery on its first Airbus A380 super jumbo, Etihad Airways unveiled the same livery on its its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Following tradition, Boeing rolled the aircraft A6-BLA, out of the Everett, Washington plant’s paint hangar close to midnight a few hours ago. Boeing follows these …
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Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has unveiled its new ‘Facets of Abu Dhabi’ livery created by brand consultants Landor Associates for the airline. The new livery inspired by traditional Emirati design patterns, and the geometric style of the modern architecture of Abu Dhabi, features the colours and hues of the Arab …
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Bangalore based Air Pegasus has reportedly taken delivery of its first aircraft, an ATR72-500 which was originally leased and operated by Vijay Mallya promoted Kingfisher Airlines. The aircraft is configured in an all-economy class with 66 seats. The aircraft returns back home in a manner of sorts. This aircraft bears airframe number MSN 699 (manufacturer’s serial number) and was first …
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Star Alliance members Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand who announced an alliance in February, will launch their flights under the alliance from January 6, 2015. Tickets for their code-share flights are on sale now. The alliance will see the two airlines operating one daily round-trip flight each, between Singapore and Auckland, and Singapore Airlines operating a daily flight between …
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While not officially announced, it appears Air India (airline code AI) and Air Canada (airline code AC) have entered in to a code-share agreement to place their airline codes on certain flights of operated by each other. Both the airlines are members of the Star alliance, and reflects for recently joined Air India, the first tangible benefits of joining the …
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As we head in to the weekend, a bit of tongue in cheek aviation humour. India’s largest domestic airline IndiGo has been inducting Airbus A320 aircraft on a regular schedule averaging about one a month. The last aircraft to join the fleet was VT-IAR, delivered on September 22. The civil servants of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) will be pleased …
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The first aircraft of the Tata Singapore Airlines joint venture airline, Vistara will arrive at New Delhi this evening around 17:00 local time. The aircraft MSN6223 (manufacturer’s serial number) will be registered as VT-TTB. The aircraft took off on its first flight on July 11, and was delivered yesterday at Tolouse Blagnac airport in France. The delivery flight flew to …
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European airframer Airbus, has achieved the first flight of the new fuel efficient iteration of its best selling narrow-body aircraft, the A320neo. neo means new engine option. The first A320neo to fly frame number MSN6101, test registered F-WNEO lifted off from Toulouse-Blagnac airport in France at 12:00 local time (15:30 IST). At the controls were Airbus experimental test pilots Philippe …
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Continuing our analysis in to national carrier Air India’s international operations which loses money on all but two flights, yesterday we published part 1 of the three part analysis which focussed on the numbers, today’s analysis comes from Bangalore Aviation guest analyst and former co-author Vinay Bhaskara. Vinay’s strength is finance, and he focusses on the costs of Air India. …
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Last week we reported on the massive loses made by national carrier Air India on 57 of its 59 international flights. Over the next few days we will bring you differing points of view on Air India’s international operations. Today is from a professional analyst at one of the world’s leading aviation consulting and advisory practices. He cannot be named …
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Last evening a little before 6pm, our family received devastating news that the matriarch of our family passed away in New Delhi. Naturally the family elders, my aged mother included, had to rush from Bangalore to New Delhi. Getting anywhere in Bangalore during evening rush hour is difficult, all the way from south Bangalore (Koramangala) to the airport is a …
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The Airbus A320neo is set to make it’s first flight this Thursday (September 25), European airframer Airbus announced Monday. The maiden flight of the A320neo test aircraft is scheduled for 1030 local time in Toulouse, France (1400 IST), but will of course be subject to weather conditions. The test aircraft which bears the registration F-WNEO is powered by two Pratt …
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National carrier Air India will introduce an all Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, all non-stop flights strategy to Singapore from October. The airline already operates the new aircraft on the New Delhi Singapore route, and currently operates an Airbus A330-200* a Boeing 787-8 on the Mumbai Chennai Singapore return route. The new flight schedule is : AI342 will depart Mumbai at 00:05 …
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Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation