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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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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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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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 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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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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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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CFM International, the sole supplier of engines powering the Boeing 737 Next-Generation aircraft (the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900 and 737-900ER) has issued a new service bulletin in the wake of the Southwest Airlines accident in which a passenger perished. The service bulletin calls for operators of CFM56-7B engines to inspect the fan blades on long-service engines. The Southwest Airlines tragedy, …
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Two weeks ago, the Government of India released its preliminary information memorandum (PIM) inviting expressions of interest on their strategic divestment of national carrier Air India. The last week has seen, three of the most likely suitors indicating their lack of interest in bidding for the beleaguered airline. Download a copy of the PIM at the end of the article …
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News reports indicate India’s largest domestic airline, Indigo, is in talks with European airframer Airbus, to procure upto 50 A330neo (new engine option) long-haul wide-body aircraft. These aircraft is for Indigo’s much awaited foray into international flying where they are hoping to introduce the low-cost long-haul model. This represents another step in the airline’s strategy towards expanding the airline and …
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The recent emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) covering the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM geared turbo-fan (GTF) engine caught the industry by surprise. Aircraft maker Airbus followed the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued EAD, announcing a suspension of deliveries of A320neo and A321neo powered by the GTF engine. The airframer has also suspended taking delivery of new engines, and engine fitment …
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The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) which affects the Airbus A320neo and A321neo powered by the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines. EAD 2018-0041-E identifies an increased risk of in-flight shut down (IFSD) on all PW1127, PW1130 and PW1133 engines with engine serial number (ESN) P770450 or later. The problem is …
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US airframer Boeing, unveiled the smallest variant of the Boeing 737 MAX family, the 737 MAX 7. In the NG series this is called the 737-700. The MAX 7 is the shortened version of the popular 737 MAX 8 (the MAX 9 is the stretched version). It can carry up to 172 passengers and has the maximum range of the …
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Dubai-based Emirates airline will start a new non-stop daily service between Dubai and Newark (EWR) effective June 1. 2018. The new flight will complement the existing daily flight which operates via Athens, Greece. Emirates will use a three class cabin Boeing 777-300ER, offering eight suites in first class, 42 flat-bed seats in business, and 306 bone-crunching narrow seats in economy …
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India’s leading private international airline, Jet Airways, will commence a second flight on the Bangalore Singapore route effective March 25, the start of the Summer 2018 schedule. The new flight will be an overnight red-eye flight with a morning return and will complement the existing day flight on the same route. Jet will use a two class Boeing 737-800 narrow …
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The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded an amended type certificate (ATC) for Boeing’s largest variant of its next-gen Dreamliner family, the 787-10, clearing it for entering commercial service. The test program used three aircraft and accumulated over 900 flight hours. The 787-10 is a stretch of the 787-9 and trades payload capacity for range. It can fly …
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The struggling Airbus A380 superjumbo program was just handed a lifeline by its largest operator, Dubai-based Emirates Airline. The Gulf behemoth has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to acquire up to 36 additional A380 aircraft. The firm commitment is for 20 A380s with options for an 16. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2020. From the first A380 delivery …
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European airframer Airbus has rolled out the first of its next-generation super transporters, the BelugaXL at its main assembly line in Toulouse, France. Named after the white whale it represents, the BelugaXL will succeed the current fleet of the A300-600ST (super transporter) Beluga, which is based on the A300 airframe. The BelugaXL programme began in 2014 and Airbus will build …
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In a bid to attract more bids, the Union Cabinet of the Government of India, has allowed up to 49% Foreign Direct Investment in the national carrier Air India which is up for disinvestment. In a release the Government said “It has now been decided to do away with this restriction and allow foreign airlines to invest up to 49% …
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European airframer Airbus has rolled out the first A321neo ACF (Airbus Cabin Flex) aircraft which can seat up to 240 passengers. The airframe powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines will now begin testing, first on the ground and then in-flight. The first delivery of the A321neo ACF is scheduled for mid-2018. The ACF concept was introduced in July 2014. It uses …
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Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation