Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation
-Click on any of the graphs for a larger view Even as India’s overall domestic passenger traffic in July fell to 5.25 million passengers down about 8% from 5.69 million in June, data released by the civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, shows budget carrier Spicejet Ltd. was the only large airline which grew its traffic while the rest of its …
Read More »Yearly Archives: 2014
Another demonstration of why the government should not run Air India
A report in The Financial Express discusses a 26-point missive sent to national carrier Air India by its boss, the minister of civil aviation Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Official termed “guidelines” these are practically a diktat. These guidelines were sent after reports of serious concerns at the Star Alliance, the world’s largest grouping of airlines which Air India joined just …
Read More »Mysore Bangalore airport direct ‘FlyBus’ service now operational
On Wednesday, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) inaugurated its luxury ‘FlyBus’ service which will connect the city of Mysore direct to the Bengaluru / Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. The service will be operated by a 40 seat luxury Volvo B9R twin-rear-axle bus, complete with a pantry, chemical toilets, 2+2 semi-sleeper seating with 70 channels of in-seat video. …
Read More »Through the lens: Introducing RIAT 2014 – the largest military air show in the world
The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world’s largest military air-show. Held annually at the Royal Air Field Fairford near the town of Swindon in the United Kingdom, RIAT is actively supported by the world’s flying forces, since the show is held in aid of the Royal Air Force (RAF) charitable trust. This year RIAT was held from July …
Read More »Spicejet pre-tax loss narrows to Rs 124 crore in Q1 FY2015. Company says due to restructuring.
Embattled low fare carrier SpiceJet, reported a loss before tax of Rs 124.10 crore (approx. $20.8 million) for the first quarter of fiscal 2014~2015, ended June. This compared to the profit of Rs 50.56 crore in the same quarter a year earlier. Total income from operations fell to Rs 1,691.04 crore down from Rs 1,701.54 crore in the same quarter …
Read More »Visiting the Airbus Hamburg plant
In the middle of July, I went on tour of the Hamburg plant of European airframer Airbus S.A.S. My whole European vacation was planned around this visit. For a confirmed aviation geek this was a dream come true. Hamburg Finkenwerder airport (IATA: XFW, ICAO: EDHI) is the head-quarters of Airbus in Germany. Over 15,000 people work at the facility where …
Read More »Tata-SIA airlines unveils its brand Vistara – an analysis
The Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd. (TSAL), the 51:49 joint venture between the Tatas and Singapore Airlines officially unveiled Vistara as its airline brand yesterday. Drawn from the Sanskrit word Vistaar which means limitless expanse. The logo is derived from a ‘yantra’, a perfect mathematical form that reflects the unbounded universe. Its fluid interconnecting lines reflect the seamless experience the airline wants …
Read More »Jet Airways trims losses 39% ups revenue 17% on Etihad lifeline; to discontinue JetKonnect
India’s largest private airline, Jet Airways, trimmed its losses by almost 39% to Rs.217 crore (approx. US$ 36.17 million at an exchange rate of Rs.60=$1), in the first quarter of fiscal 2014~2015 which ended on June 30, 2014, when compared to the same period a year ago. Much of this performance increase is due to the financial and operational lifeline …
Read More »Through the lens: Royal Jordanian Airline’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner
On July 30th, I visited Paine Field at the Everett factory of US airframer Boeing. I was lucky to catch the taxi tests of Royal Jordanian Airline’s first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner JY-BAA as she was being prepared for delivery. The RJ livery has always been an exotic one. Share your thoughts on it via a comment.
Read More »Tata SIA joint venture airline called Vistara Air
Vistara will be the name of the new airline being promoted jointly by the Tatas and Singapore Airlines. Vistara is a Sanskrit word meaning expanse. Please read our analysis and details here.
Read More »Qatar Airways opens two acre 1,000 passenger premium lounge at Doha airport
Doha based national carrier, Qatar Airways has unveiled one of the world’s largest premium lounges in the world at its hub airport in Doha. The new Al Mourjan Business Lounge for the airline’s premium passengers is over 10,000 square metres in size i.e. larger than one hectare or 2.5 acres in floor space spread over two levels This is equal …
Read More »Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines in code-share partnership
India’s largest private airline Jet Airways has entered into a reciprocal code-share agreement with national carrier Vietnam Airlines. Jet Airways will place its marketing code on Vietnam Airlines’ flights from Bangkok and Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and Hanoi. Vietnam Airlines will place its marketing code on Jet Airways’ services between Bangkok and Mumbai/Delhi, and between Singapore and …
Read More »TigerAir offers exclusive special fares on Cleartip as part of partnership
Tigerair signs strategic distribution partnership with Cleartrip Also announces exclusive special fares for Cleartrip customers Singapore based budget airline Tigerair, has signed a strategic distribution partnership with on-line travel agent Cleartrip.com. To celebrate this partnership, Tigerair has announced one off special fares with limited sales period exclusively for Cleartrip customers starting at INR 5,499 for one-way travel to Singapore for …
Read More »Boeing to assemble largest 787 Dreamliner in Charleston
US airframer Boeing which announced the largest member of its new 787 Dreamliner family, the 787-10, has decided to exclusively assemble the new aircraft in its North Charleston, South Carolina facility. The 787-10 is positioned as a higher capacity jet which has the same maximum take-off weight as its shorter variant the 787-9, but which will trade range for increased …
Read More »Special 10th anniversary livery for new Nok Air 737
Bangkok based Nok Airlines Public Company Limited which operates the brand Nok Air has taken delivery of a new 737-800 painted in a special livery commemorating the airline’s 10th anniversary. The 737-800 registration HS-DBO, leased to Nok by lessor Avolon, features the traditional bird-themed livery of all Nok aircraft, with the addition of stars, streamers and “10th Anniversary” painted on …
Read More »Boeing to increase 737 cabin baggage capacity by 50% next year
US airframer Boeing which manufactures the world’s most popular aircraft the 737, will increase the cabin’s baggage storage capacity by over 50% from late next year. Boeing will offer a new type of over-head bin called ‘Space Bins’ which can carry six bags in place of the current four standard size carry-on bag measuring 9x14x22 inches (23cm x 36cm x …
Read More »Video discussion: The recent spate of airline accidents. A cause for worry? #MH17
I had a chance to participate in a Boom News’ panel discussion hosted by noted journalist Govindraj Ethiraj, focussing on the issue of passenger safety in the wake of the MH17 shoot-down in Ukraine, and the crashes of Air Algerie flight AH5017 in Mali and TranAsia flight GE222 in Makung, Taiwan. Enjoy the 30 minute program, and do share your …
Read More »Jet Airways appoints high level executives
Raj Sivakumar has been appointed as chief commercial officer of Jet Airways. He is responsible for the overall development and implementation of a robust sales strategy to enhance market share and maximise revenues. He will report to the chief operating officer. Rajeev Nambiar, an 18 year old veteran of the industry, has joined the airline’s management team as Vice President …
Read More »We salute the brave flying by Air India pilots after engine failure
The Daily News & Analysis (DNA) newspaper must be complemented for its report on the bird-strike incident involving Air India Boeing 777-300ER VT-ALR Meghalaya as it performed flight AI144 from Newark to Mumbai on July 13, 2014. It is well written, considering its reader base is technically unaware of aviation intricacies. Very special kudos to the flight crew of Niranjan …
Read More »Radar data exposes Jet Airways’ lies on Ukraine over-flights #MH17
Mumbai flight flew over crash site just two hours earlier Around 3pm in the afternoon of July 18th, a day after the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, India’s largest private airline, Jet Airways, issued a statement assuring the public that the airline did not fly over the Ukraine “since the conflict began” which one …
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