Monthly Archives: May 2018

Qatar Airways upgrades first and business class on-board dining

Qatar Airways upgrades first and business class on-board dining

Oneworld member, Qatar Airways is upgrading its on-board dining for its business and first class passengers, initially on its European routes. The new concepts include newly-designed tableware, in-flight dining menus, cutlery and china. I am impressed that Qatar will place mini condiment grinders for fresh ground black pepper and Himalayan pink salt on the passengers’ tables. The airline has increased …

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Singapore airlines to re-launch world’s longest flight

First A350 XWB of Singapore Airlines receives the traditional water cannon salute at Singapore Changi airport.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) will re-launch the world’s longest commercial flights in October. The service will see the airline flying the new Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) between Singapore and New York’s Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline previously operated the world’s longest and second longest routes, Singapore – New York and Singapore – Los Angeles respectively with a fleet of …

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IndiGo re-imposes fuel surcharge on domestic flights

Indigo Airbus A320neo VT-ITC. Copyrighted image. Re-use prohibited.

Marking an increase in airfares thanks to rising global oil prices, India’s largest domestic airline IndiGo has re-imposed a fuel surcharge on all domestic flights from today. The Indian Rupee has also been under pressure and has been steadily declining against the Dollar. With the airline claiming a 25% increase in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices, IndiGo will impose a …

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Ocean Infinity calls off search for #MH370

Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777-200ER registration 9M-MRO taken at Dhaka, Bangladesh on 11-Feb-2014. This aircraft went missing while performing flight MH370 from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 persons on board. Photo copyright M. Azizul Islam

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 370 is arguably the world’s most mysterious commercial aviation disaster. The aircraft which was carrying 239 passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing disappeared on 8th March 2014. A multi-national search effort over many years costing hundreds of millions of dollars was called off in 2017. Earlier this year the search was resumed by …

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Indigo announces 20 flights from Bangalore, Chandigarh and more

IndiGo ATR72-600 VT-IYA. Photo by Vedant Agarwal. Copyright. Do not re-use.

Low cost carrier IndiGo, has announced the launch of 20 new flights. The carrier will add a scound daily flight from Bangalore to Varanasi and Chandigardh and a third daily from Bangalore to Ranchi and Indore. It will also add flights to Tiruchirappalli from Bangalore and Cochin. The airline is also adding direct flights from Kolkata to Chandigarh and Indore. …

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Comments invited on the draft of Indian air passenger rights

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

The Indian ministry of civil aviation has notified a draft of a Charter defining the rights of air passengers for public consultation. The draft seems to have taken input from the famous European Union regulation 261/2004 which is the flight compensation regulation We are re-producing the draft as in the press release for comments by Bangalore Aviation readers. We will …

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Analysis of Jet Airways’ fourth quarter and full year FY2017-18 results

Jet Airways Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Confirming the challenging nature of the market, Jet Airways posted a loss of ₹1,036 crores for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018. This pulled the full year loss to ₹767 crores. This was their first loss after eleven consecutive profitable quarters and the first full year loss after 2 years of profit. The results reflect …

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The CEO churn in Indian aviation and why it continues

The nightly aircraft line-up tail parade at the apron of Kempegowda International Airport Bangalore

Even during a lull, the Indian civil aviation market never ceases to keep one on their toes. The recent weeks have seen three Chief Executives of Indian carriers in the news. First, Aditya Ghosh of IndiGo put in his papers after steering the ship for over ten years, apparently under pressure from the promoters. Amar Abrol of AirAsia India is …

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FAA expands Boeing 737 engine inspections.

CFM56-7B engine used to power all Boeing 737NG aircraft. CFM Photo.

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has followed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and issued a follow-on emergency airworthiness directive (EAD or AD) and mandated inspection of fan blades on CFM56-7B engines. These engines power the Boeing 737NG aircraft globally. In India, the 737NG forms bulk or all of the fleet of Air India Express, Jet Airways and …

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Jet Airways to commence Mumbai Manchester flights

Jet Airways Airbus A330-300 VT-JWQ. Image copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Jet Airways has announced it will start a non-stop service between Mumbai and Manchester starting in the winter schedule. The service will operate four times a week using a two class 254 seat Airbus A330-200 which includes an 18 seat business class. On Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from Terminal 2 at the two airports; Flight 9W 130 will depart …

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SilkAir to merge into Singapore Airlines after cabin upgrade

SilkAir Boeing 737 MAX 8 9V-MBB.

SilkAir which is the regional subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, will undergo a major cabin upgrade program which will culminate with the carrier being merged into it’s parent airline. The airline operates a fleet of 34 aircraft comprising of Airbus A320 family aircraft and Boeing 737-800’s and MAX 8’s. The airline will transition to an all Boeing fleet and has another …

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IndiGo to begin flights to Hubli

IndiGo Airlines ATR 72-600 VT-IYA.

Low cost carrier IndiGo will being operating flights to Hubli. Hubli will be the 52nd destination for the airline. The airline will operate flights to Hubli from Chennai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad with it’s A320’s and from Goa and Kochi with it’s ATR 72’s. (Read our review of Indigo’s ATR). Sanjay Kumar, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo “We are pleased to add …

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WOW air offers fares to Canada, UK and USA from Rs 13,499

Skúli Mogensen, CEO & and founder of WOW air

Iceland based low cost carrier WOW air, will commence five weekly flights between New Delhi and Keflavik airport from December 7, 2018. The date is subject to regulatory approvals. WOW will use Airbus A330neos on the route. This is the same aircraft IndiGo is considering for its long haul operations. WOW offers onward connections to Canada, London and the United …

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African countries issue deadly Ebola virus outbreak alert

Daniel Bausch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, CDC

Internal strife and civil war has caused an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Bikoro, Equateur Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or simply Ebola, is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates with a mortality rate of up to 90%. The strife has …

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Video: Asiana A330 knocks tail off Turkish A321

Photo credit: Twitter.com/JacdecNew

Unfortunately collisions between aircraft on the ground are not that uncommon. The most common thing we see is an aircrafts wing tips clip another aircraft while being pushed by a tug. Luckily most of these incidents result in no injuries. Yesterday morning an Asiana Airbus A330-300 (HL7792) which was taxing hit a Turkish Airlines Airbus A321 (TC-JMM) which was entering …

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Analysis: Indigo’s fourth quarter FY18 results

Indigo Airbus A320neo VT-ITK. Image copyright Vedant Agarwal.

Indigo’s fourth quarter results were far below expectations, reflecting the intensely competitive market and irrational market and also Indigo’s challenges as it continues its growth path. The results were announced along with the full year results, however we present an analysis only of the fourth quarter as it is reflective of certain trends in the market (a full year analysis …

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American orders 15 more Embraer 175s.

American Eagle Embraer E175 N200NN.

Embraer has announced a firm order for 15E175 jets from American Airlines. The value of USD 705 million, based on current list prices. Combined with the airline’s three previous E175 orders, American now has an order for 89 E175 aircraft. Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation “We are thrilled that the E175 continues to …

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