Devesh Agarwal

A electronics and automotive product management, marketing and branding expert, he was awarded a silver medal at the Lockheed Martin innovation competition 2010. He is ranked 6th on Mashable's list of aviation pros on Twitter and in addition to Bangalore Aviation, he has contributed to leading publications like Aviation Week, Conde Nast Traveller India, The Economic Times, and The Mint (a Wall Street Journal content partner). He remains a frequent flier and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly about the Indian aviation industry without fear or favour.

AirAsia to implement Airbus managed inventory service

Malaysia low cost carrier, AirAsia, will implement the Airbus Managed Inventory (AMI) service for its A320 and A330 fleets at its bases in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand, becoming the fourth operator in the region to implement this service. The AMI service provides for automatic replenishment of inventory to ensures the continuous replenishment of high-usage and non-repairable parts at …

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Air India seeking $500 million bridge loan for four 787 Dreamliners

National carrier Air India has floated a tender seeking bridge loans of up to $500 million as financing for taking delivery of four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners numbers 15 through 18 of the carrier’s 27 aircraft order. The carrier has arranged financing for the first 14 Dreamliners in its fleet. It is scheduled to receive its 15th Dreamliner in May 2014, …

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Air India puts last three Boeing 777-200LRs up for sale

Air India Boeing 777-237LR VT-ALF Jharkand at New Delhi IGI airport. Photo copyright Vedant Agarwal, all rights reserved. Used with permission.

After selling off five of its Boeing 777-237LRs to Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways PJSC (read our analysis), national carrier Air India has put the last three of its ultra-long-haul 777-200LRs up for sale. The airline has posted a tender (view it here), inviting bids for the aircraft bearing registrations VT-ALF (named after the state of Jharkhand), VT-ALG (Kerala), and …

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Air France KLM Delta increase economy class baggage allowance

Air_France_KLM_Delta_Check-in_desk_JV_AF-KL-DL-125722_01

The Air France-KLM-Delta grouping have announced an increase in economy class baggage allows on their India to USA, Canada, and Mexico routes. However this increased allowance will apply only for tickets issued effective today, April 17, 2014, onwards. The baggage allowance is increased to two pieces of check-in baggage per person with maximum weight of 23 kg (50 lbs) per …

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Infographic – IndiGo fleet operations larger than Malaysia AirAsia

A brief comparison of select Asian low cost carriers shows India’s IndiGo (6E) airline larger than Malaysia’s AirAsia (AK) in terms of fleet operations. While AirAsia as a group is the largest low cost carrier in Asia, when broken up in to its various operating subsidiaries, the largest, Malaysia AirAsia with an airline code of AK has 73 aircraft compared …

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Forgetful Jet Airways pilots lose contact with European ATC, Indian media melodrama

Jet Airways Boeing 777-300ER VT-JEG performing flight 9W117 from London approaches Mumbai airport

March 13, 2014, the entire aviation world was generally concerned due the recent disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 a mere five days earlier. In this mix, add two very absent minded pilots of Jet Airways who were flying the airline’s flagship, the Boeing 777-300ER, registration VT-JEG, performing flight 9W 117 from London Heathrow to the airline’s main hub in …

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FAA returns Philippines to category 1 status

FAA Logo

Even as India languishes in the category 2 status, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that the Republic of the Philippines complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and has been granted a Category 1 rating. The country was downgraded to a Category 2 status in January 2008 which …

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New pings give cautious certainty in search for #MH370

Map of ping locations found by Australian ship Ocean Shield and Chinese ship Hai Xun 01. Malaysia Airlines #MH370

In his daily briefing earlier today, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who is leading Australia’s search operations for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 made a telling statement “I’m now optimistic. We’ll find the aircraft or what’s left of the aircraft in the not too distant future.” His optimism in over a month of uncertainty was based on the fresh signals …

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Photos: First flight of Skymark Airlines’ first A380

First Airbus A380 for Skymark Airlines Japan takes off on first flight

The first A380 of Skymark Airlines, which will also be the first Japanese carrier of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, successfully made its first flight, when it departed Toulouse for Hamburg. After completing the airframe assembly and system tests at Toulouse, the aircraft will now undergo cabin installation and painting at Hamburg, prior to delivery later this year. Skymark, which …

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Photos: Airbus reveals A350 XWB cabin interiors

European airframer Airbus has unveiled proposed cabin interiors for its latest aircraft, the A350 XWB. This cabin interior is installed on board ‘MSN002’ (manufacturer’s serial number) the flight-test aircraft which made its first flight on February 26, earlier this year In a counter to the 17 inch economy class seat widths offered in the 10 abreast seating on many Boeing …

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Singapore Airlines first to start A380 service to India

Singapore Airlines has confirmed it will be the first airline to commence scheduled services of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, to India. The surprise announcement beats out Dubai-based Emirates airline, the largest foreign carrier in India, and coincidentally, the world’s largest A380 operator, which was widely expected to be the first to commence the super-jumbo’s flights to …

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Boeing deliveries for first quarter 2014

US aerospace major, Boeing has reported its deliveries for the first quarter of 2014 Major Programs 1st Qtr
2014 Year-to-Date
2014 Commercial airplanes 737 Next Generation 115 115 747 4 4 767 – – 777 24 24 787 18 18 Total commercial airplanes 161 161 Defense, Space & Security AEW&C 1 1 Apache (New Builds) 10 10 Chinook (New Builds) 17 17 …

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Photo: Boeing-Ryanair special hybrid livery 737-800

Ryanair_Boeing 737-800WL in special hybrid livery.

Boeing showed its gratitude for one of its longest and largest 737 customers, Ireland’s Ryanair, with a special, new, co-branded livery on the airline’s most recently delivered Next-Generation 737-800. The airplane features the distinctive blue Boeing livery on most of the fuselage, with the airframer’s name near the front. The distinctive Ryanair golden harp logo is on the tail, as …

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Search for Malaysia Airlines #MH370 continues in seas off western Australia

Malaysia Airlines MH370 cumulative searched areas till April 3, 2014. Picture courtesy AMSA.

The Australian authorities coordinating the search for the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which went missing March 8th, informed that up to 10 military planes, four civil jets and nine ships will assist in today’s search. The search will focus on three areas in the search area of 217,000 square kilometres, 1,700 north-west of the city of Perth as …

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Photos: AirAsia India’s first A320 with sharklets

AirAsia India first Airbus A320 with Sharklets VT-ATF

AirAsia India’s first aircraft, an A320 with sharklets, registration VT-ATF, has arrived in India. The airline will take delivery of an additional nine aircraft. AirAsia India has not placed a separate order, and instead will draw its fleet from the 475 A320 family aircraft already on order by the parent AirAsia Group. All AirAsia India A320s are powered by CFM …

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Photos: Asiana Airline’s first Airbus A380 super-jumbo and deployment schedule

Asiana Airlines first Airbus A380 HL7625. Photo copyright Airbus S.A.S.

Airbus has rolled out Korea based Asiana Airline’s first A380 super jumbo from the paint-shop. Cabin configuration Asiana will become the 11th carrier to operate the double-decker aircraft and the second in Korea. The aircraft will have a three cabin configuration as detailed below. Category First Suite Business Smartium Travel Class Seats 12 seats 66 seats 417 seats Seat pitch …

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Delta introduces new sleep amenity kits for international economy class

Delta Air Lines international economy class amenity sleep kit and water bottle

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines has introduced new sleep amenity kits for its economy class passengers on international long-haul flights. The new kits include eye-shades and earplugs to aid passengers in sleeping and resting when travelling on over-night red-eye intercontinental flights. In addition to the kits, economy class passengers on all Europe bound trans-Atlantic flights of 3,850 miles or less, will …

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