Vistara (Tata-SIA Airlines) and British Airways have signed a codeshare agreement expanding on their existing interline partnership. Under the agreement, British Airways will add its ‘BA’ flight numbers to approximately 60 Vistara flights each day covering thirteen Indian cities. This will add eight new virtual destinations for the British flag carrier – Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Goa, Kolkata, Kochi, and …

Bangalore Aviation readers will recall our article last year highlighting the poor growth of air-side infrastructure at Indian airports. This morning, the Director General and CEO of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Alexandre de Juniac, called on the Indian government to address, on priority, infrastructure constraints that limit growth and government policies that impose excessive costs on aviation. IATA …

Saturday, September 1st was a blustery and rainy day at New Delhi’s IGI airport. However, the excitement and warm hospitality by the team members of Vistara and their agency Avian, removed any gloom from the minds of us aviation geeks and press present for the occasion. Vistara, the brand of the Tata SIA Airlines joint venture of the Tata Group …

The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has published its order of tariffs for the second control period (April 2016 – March 2021) at Bangalore airport. The user development fees (UDF) at Bangalore airport have been reduced by 67% from 16 September 2018. However the UDF will increase every year as the airport invests in the second runway and …

Low cost carrier GoAir will begin its first international operations with flights from its Mumbai and New Delhi hubs to the popular holiday destinations of Phuket in Thailand and Male in the Maldives. The first inaugural flight of GoAir will be from Delhi to Phuket on October 11, 2018 and the first flight to the Maldives will be from Mumbai …

We ended our Q4FY18 analysis for Jet by indicating that, “Going forward, it seems that Jet Airways is headed for a turbulent ride. Debt will grow for the short-term. The revenue pressures are intense and the cost base is high. Addressing both these elements is critical to success.” While we forecast a result that would reflect ongoing challenges, little did …

The Ude Desh Ka Aaam Nagarik (UDAN) scheme launched in June 2016 has been hailed by the Government as a game changer. The intent of the scheme is to connect un-served and under-served airports across the country in an affordable manner consequently boosting connectivity. This is delivered via routes that are bid-for and awarded to airlines by the government including …

Low cost carrier SpiceJet operated India’s first BioJet Fuel powered flight yesterday. The airline operated the flight with a Bombardier Q400 on the Dehradun – Delhi route. The fuel used is a blend of 75% traditional aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and 25% of BioJet fuel. The fuel is made by Jatropha crop and been developed by the CSIR-Indian Institute of …

SpiceJet, reported its first quarter results of the fiscal year 2018-2019 (Q1FY19) last week. Much like its rival Indigo, it was a result that reflected the ongoing weakness in the market and was below expectations. Key numbers SpiceJet Q1FY19 results snapshot (in INR) comparisons to Q1FY18 Revenues ₹2,236 crores (up 20%) Costs ₹2,245 crores (up 31%) EBITDAR ₹398 crores (down …

British Airways has released an interesting infographic on some of the things which are loaded onto it’s aircraft. The airline which is the largest operator of the Boeing 747 has stated that one of it’s jumbos is loaded with over 7,000 items – many of which have to be unloaded and re-loaded before each flight. This includes 1,737 items of …

India’s largest domestic carrier, Indigo, has sent tremors in the aviation community with its first quarter results for the fiscal year 2018-2019 which ends Match 31, 2019. An airline, normally delivering nine and 10 figure profits (in the hundreds of crores or billions), reported a minuscule ₹27 crores (₹270 million) as its profit after tax; and this, for a traditionally …

Embraer has announced a number of orders for the E-jet family. The airframer had announced one of the first orders of the show with a 25 aircraft order for United. Mauritania Airlines African carrier Mauritania Airlines has placed a firm order for two E175 jets. The order value is USD 93.8 million at current list prices. Raul Villaron, Vice President, …

Leasing company Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has announced on day two of the 2018 Farnborough Airshow orders and commitments for 75 737 MAX 8s and three 787-9 Dreamliners. The order is valued at $9.6 billion at current list prices. The three 787-9s and the first 20 737 MAX airplanes of the order are firm purchases. The subsequent 55 737 MAX …

Boeing started the second day at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow by announcing an order for five 747-8 freighters and 29 777 freighters from Volga-Dnepr. The order is valued at list prices of $11.8 billion which comprises of $2 billion for the 747-8s and $9.8 billion for the 777s. The company also announced agreements to optimize the cargo operators airplane fleet …

European airframer Airbus has announced A350 orders for 10 aircraft from Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines and 17 aircraft from startup Taiwanese carrier STARLUX Airlines. The Sichuan Airlines order is for 10 Airbus A350-900’s worth $3.1 billion at list prices. The aircraft will be used to operate fights from the airline’s base in Chengdu to North America and Europe. STARLUX Airlines …

Brazilian carrier GOL Airlines announced an order for an additional 15 737 MAX 8s. The carrier has also converted 30 current MAX orders to the 737 MAX 10. With this order, GOL has ordered 135 737 MAXs. The airline took delivery of it’s first 737 MAX last month. Paulo Kakinoff, Chief Executive Officer, GOL “This new order aligns with our …

Jackson Square Aviation (JSA) announced the leasing company has ordered 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes in its first direct purchase from a jet maker. The order is worth $3.5 billion at current list prices. Since its founding in 2010, San Francisco-based Jackson Square Aviation has grown by buying new technology airplanes from airlines globally through sale-leaseback financing and pre-delivery payment …

Goshawk Aviation Limited, a 50/50 joint venture between Hong Kong-based conglomerate NWS Holdings Limited and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited has placed a firm order for 20 Airbus A320neo and 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The company is based in Dublin, Ireland, and has an owned, managed and committed fleet of over 220 aircraft. The Airbus A320neo order is worth …

Boeing and United Airlines have announced an order for four more 787-9 airplanes. The order valued at about $1.1 billion as per current list prices, was finalized this year and was listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website. The 787-9 is the longest-range Dreamliner with the ability to fly up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 kilometers). United carriers …

United Airlines has signed an order for 25 E175 jets in a 70-seat configuration at the 2018 Farnborough Airshow. The order is worth $1.1 billion, based on current list prices. Deliveries will begin in the second quarter of 2019. Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation “We are thrilled that United is adding another 25 …