Monthly Archives: June 2016

FlyDubai to increase frequency of Prague flights

flydubai Boeing 737-800 A6-FEO. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Dubai-based low-cost carrier FlyDubai is increasing frequency of its flights to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. From July 1, the carrier will operate daily flights up from the current four a week. The airline has an all Boeing 737-800 fleet, on which it has introduced in-flight WiFi and live TV services, on a pay per use basis. Dubai …

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Vistara to serve Starbucks coffee on board its flights

Vistara Airbus A320 VT-TTC arrives at Bengaluru performing the airline's inaugural flight UK889 from New Delhi.

The Tata-Singapore Airlines branded Vistara will serve Starbucks coffee on-board its flights from later this year. As a coffee lover, I look forward some decent coffee aboard an Indian carrier. The world famous brand though will be limited to the business and premium economy class sections. Global agreement between Tatas and Starbucks The move is part of a significant agreement …

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Video: Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 wing catches fire after landing. All safe.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER 9V-SWD at Mumbai CSI airport. Photo by and copyright Vedant Agarwal.

A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER 9V-SWB was performing flight SQ368 from Singapore Changi to Milan Malpensa, Italy. The flight departed Changi at around 2:25am local (18:25Z -1, 23:55IST -1) with 222 passengers and 19 crew. The flight was flying up the west coast of peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. About two hours in to the flight, while at FL300 (30,000ft AMSL), …

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India permits 100% foreign investment in airlines and airports

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

As part of a dramatic overall liberalisation, the Indian government will allow 100% foreign direct investment in domestic airlines. At present the limit is 49%. However, the caveat is that the 49% is automatic approval while the 100% is automatic for non-resident Indians (NRIs) and with government approval for others. Foreign airlines remain limited investing 49% in Indian companies operating …

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Singapore Airlines rejigs US operations. To start San Francisco non-stop.

First flight of Singapore Airlines' first A350-900 9V-SMA. Airbus image.

Goes double-daily to Los Angeles Stops A380 service to Los Angeles Suspends Brazil flights Singapore Airlines will launch daily non-stop flights between Singapore and San Francisco in the winter schedule starting October 23, 2016 using the Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The 13,600km flight will be the longest non-stop at the time in the airline’s network. It is expect to take between …

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Jet Airways mimics IndiGo, JetAdvance allows changing to earlier flight

Jet Airways Boeing 737-800 VT-JGA.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it is said. In a virtual duplication of the IndiGo Early programme, India’s largest private airline Jet Airways, in a hat-tip to India’s largest domestic airline, IndiGo, has introduced JetAdvance. Under this scheme, passengers who report to the airport early, can choose to travel by an earlier flight by paying Rs 1,000 per …

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Lounge Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan business class lounge Doha

Qatar Airways is an airline that puts a lot of effort into building it’s premium class experience, from the ground to the on board service. At the old Doha airport the airline had a separate premium terminal for it’s premium (business and first class) passengers. At the airline’s new hub, the Hamad International Airport at Doha, the airline has the …

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Indian boy makes Lufthansa’s first in-flight ‘announcement by a kid’

Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i D-ABYI "Fanhansa" Livery

Yashas Dassani, the nine-years old boy from Mumbai, who won the global ‘Your Announcement Contest‘ sponsored by German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa, made his first live announcement aboard a flight. Dassani performed the announcement as a Lufthansa cabin crew on-board flight LH756 from Franfurt to his home-town, Mumbai, in front of over 350 passengers. Prior to his flight, young Yashas …

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Etihad Airways opens new premium lounge at Melbourne airport

Etihad Airways' new premium lounge at Melbourne airport. Airline image

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has opened a new premium lounge at Melbourne airport. As the airline’s largest premium lounge outside Abu Dhabi, it is over 800 square metres wide in space and can seat up to 133 guests. It is also filled with natural light flowing in through the floor-to-ceiling glass, guaranteeing an …

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Alaska Airlines adds domestic routes

Alaska Air Boeing 737-900ER. Image Copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Seattle based US carrier Alaska Airlines has announced new inbound and outbound flights to its ‘focus city’ San Diego. For this year’s ski-season, the airline will introduce daily non-stop flights from San Diego to popular skiing and holiday destination Steamboat Springs in Colorado. The city is famous for its Champagne Powder viewing that invites tourists from around the country and …

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Jet Airways Q4 and full year 2015-16 results and performance analysis

Jet Airways Boeing 737-700 VT-JNS at Bengaluru Kempegowda airport

Jet Airways recently reported numbers for the quarter and the year. For the fourth quarter ending 31 March 2016, the airline reported an impressive net profit of Rs 3,972 million and for the year a net profit of INR 11,733 million. After extensive research into qualitative and quantitative details an analysis is presented below: Strategic shift Jet has moved away …

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Cathay Pacific takes delivery of its first Airbus A350-900

Cathay Pacific becomes the sixth operator of the Airbus A350-900. Airbus photo.

Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific that operates an all wide-body fleet has unveiled its first Airbus A350 XWB, thus becoming the sixth operator in the world and the third in Asia, after Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines. The airline has a total of 21 A350-900s on order, 12 of which are expected to be delivered this year. The A350-900 has …

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Airbus A320neo with CFM LEAP-1A engine certified by EASA and FAA

Airbus A320neo F-NEW with CFM LEAP-1A engine takes-off. Airbus photo.

The Airbus A320neo (new engine option) powered by the CFM LEAP-1A has received joint certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This paves the way for deliveries to those airlines which opted for the CFM engine. Airbus also offers the neo with the Pratt & Whitney PW1127G Geared Turbo Fan engine, which was …

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GoAir takes delivery of its first A320neo. Qualifies for international flights.

GoAir's first Airbus A320neo VT-WGA MSN7047 takes-off at Toulouse airport.

Mumbai based low-cost carrier GoAir, promoted by the Wadias, has received the first Airbus A320neo from its order of 72. This makes the carrier the third operator in the world to use the new fuel-efficient jetliner behind Germany’s Lufthansa and India’s IndiGo. This plane is the 20th aircraft in the GoAir fleet and officially qualifies the airline to now fly …

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