Fellow aviation geeks alert. Budget carrier SpiceJet is selling special limited edition scale models of its Boeing 737-800 VT-SZK, something sure to be of interest to dedicated model collectors like me. This is the first time I have seen an Indian airline selling these high quality models. VT-SZK is Red Chilli the airline’s flagship aircraft wearing the special ‘with all …
Read More »
AirAsia India has painted its fourth Airbus A320 aircraft with a special livery in homage to JRD Tata, considered the father of Indian civil aviation in the Indian sub-continent. The aircraft bears the registration VT-JRT (Jehangir Ratanji (Dadabhoy) Tata) and has been named ‘The Pioneer’. The livery feature a portrait of JRD Tata with the Puss Moth, the aircraft he …
Read More »
Lufthansa Cargo has named an MD-11 freighter ‘Namaste India’. The aircraft which bears the registration D-ALCJ, is a 15 year old McDonnell Douglas MD-11 which is powered by three General Electric CF6-80 engines. The aircraft was named by Dr. Alexis von Hoensbroech, Board Member Products & Sales of Lufthansa Cargo and Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, …
Read More »
Vistara (Tata-SIA) today announced that it will begin operations to Pune form 9th April 2015. The airline will operate a daily flight on the Delhi-Pune-Delhi route. Passengers can now book Vistara flights from Delhi to a total of 7 destinations – Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Goa, Hyderabad, Guhawati and Bagdogra. Mr Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara “We received a very enthusiastic …
Read More »
A Spicejet Bombardier Q400 operating flight SG1085 from Bangalore to Hubli had a runway excursion on landing at Hubli Airport. The aircraft which was carrying 78 passengers and crew had landed on the runway at around 19.10 local and when it veered off the runway and came to a halt with the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was …
Read More »
Almost nine months after national carrier Air India joined the global airline grouping Star Alliance, it has painted one of its flagship Boeing 777-300ERs VT-ALJ Bihar is the special Alliance livery. This photograph from our contributor Prathamesh Kini at Mumbai. Contributors also report, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at Charleston, South Carolina is also being prepared in the special Star livery. …
Read More »
Vistara (Tata-SIA) has announced the addition of Guwahati and Bagdogra to its network. From April 2, 2015, Vistara will operate daily on the Delhi-Guwahati-Bagdogra-Delhi routing. Flights on these sectors are available for booking. The airline has steadily expanded it’s network since begining it’s operations in January, with Goa and Hyderabad being recent additions. Phee Teik Yeoh, CEO, Vistara “We’ve had …
Read More »
A Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 has crash-landed at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport today morning at approximately 7.45am local time. The aircraft operating flight TK726 landed in between the taxiway and the runway while attempting to land in low visibility conditions. All the passengers onboard the aircraft are reported to be ok with a few passengers requiring minor medical attention. Pictures …
Read More »
Today, Vistara (Tata-SIA) operated it’s first flight from Hyderabad to New Delhi. The airline started its operations on 9th January 2015 from Delhi to Mumbai. (Read our trip report from the inaugural flight). The airline now serves five cities, with Goa being its recent addition on 20th February. Vistara will operate double daily return flights between Delhi and Hyderabad. Phee Teik Yeoh, …
Read More »
by Ameya Joshi Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline reported its third quarter fiscal year 2014-15 (FY2015) results on February 6, 2015, reporting a wafer thin operating profit after seven consecutive quarters. The airline moved to full service operations in December 2014 and the quarter reflected a mix of full service and low cost operations. Wafer thin profits The airline …
Read More »
It is like a non-stop litany. Another Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner has been grounded. This time VT-ANK is AOG (aircraft on ground) since February 6, 2015, 10 days ago when it last operated flight AI-113 from New Delhi to Birmingham, UK. As per sources, the grounding was caused due to a fault in the C duct of the engine …
Read More »
American carrier American Airlines has taken delivery of it’s first Embraer E175 E-Jet. The aircraft which is the first in an order for 60 E175s was delivered at a ceremony held at Embraer’s headquarters in São José dos Campos. The aircraft will be operated by Compass Airlines under the American Eagle brand. Compass will operate the first 20 E175s of …
Read More »
Last week Indian national carrier Air India took delivery of it newest Airbus A320 equipped with the new Sharklet wingtips. The aircraft is registered VT-EXA and was ferried to New Delhi on the 5th of February. The aircraft delivered under a 12-year operating lease agreement from China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (CALC). CALC shall deliver an additional four new …
Read More »
Last month the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) advising airlines about potential fire risks from e-cigarettes which use lithium batteries to heat nicotine in to a vapour inhaled by users. The SAFO issued after two instances of fire caused by e-cigarettes, called for banning of these popular devices from checked-in baggage. Though …
Read More »
Singapore Airlines has finally unveiled its previously announced premium economy class, and has opened up selected routes for sale which will commence operations on August 9, 2015, the island nation’s 50th independence anniversary, on the Singapore Sydney route. Singapore Airlines will invest $80 million to install the new class on 19 Airbus A380s, 19 Boeing 777-300ERs (B77Ws) and the first …
Read More »
Following up on my flight review of Etihad Airways business class from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi on their A340-600, this review covers my return journey which includes the chauffeur drive service for premium class passengers and a series of very unfortunate delays, though it was not the fault of the airline. Etihad’s chauffeur drive service Dubai to Abu Dhabi airport …
Read More »
In a bold move national carrier Air India has put errant employees and vendors who delay flights on notice. The airline will deduct salaries of employees and caterers found responsible for delays of flights. The Maharaja which has one of the worst one-time performance (OTP) records amongst Indian carriers, has been instructed by the top bureaucrat in the civil aviation …
Read More »
A SpiceJet spokesperson has confirmed that its year old passenger inter-line agreement with Singapore based low cost carrier TigerAir has been “terminated based on mutual decision [since SpiceJet’s] network changes made it no longer commercially worth doing.” As per reports in The Business Standard and The Economic Times, Tiger had terminated the agreement due to SpiceJet’s “non-performance”. The financially troubled …
Read More »
It was inevitable. Singapore Airlines and Vistara (Tata-SIA) have announced a partnership between their KrisFlyer and Club Vistara frequent flyer programmes. The partnership enables KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem miles on Vistara flights and Club Vistara members can earn and redeem points on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir flights. The accrual of miles and points for members of both frequent …
Read More »
It appears that Air India’s troublesome Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANI has finally completed its repairs and retrofits and is getting ready for flight. From a supporter of Bangalore Aviation comes this photo taken at Mumbai airport on India’s Republic Day, January 26, 2015. A hat-tip to the boss. Readers will recall, since April 2014, nine months ago, Air India’s Boeing …
Read More »
Bangalore Aviation News, Reviews, Analysis and opinions of Indian Aviation