Airlines

AirAsia, Tatas and Amit Bhatia seek approval to start airline in India. Is SpiceJet the target?

AirAsia A320 9M-AHS at Penang airport.

by Devesh Agarwal Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia Berhad (Ltd.) through its investment arm, AirAsia Investment Ltd. (AAIL) has submitted an application to the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking approval for AAIL to invest 49% into a proposed Indian joint venture together with Tata Sons Limited and Mr. Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt. Ltd. The expected holding …

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Japan Airlines wants to start Tokyo Bangalore service, but not in the near future.

Japan Airlines Chairman Masaru Onishi

Japan Airlines (JAL) wants to start a Bangalore Tokyo service, but does not have any plans to do so in the near future, Masaru Onishi, Chairman of the airline, told Bangalore Aviation on the sidelines of the Oneworld event to mark the entry of Malaysia Airlines in to the alliance. Onishi went on to say, with the growing investment of …

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Trip Report: United Airlines economy class Newark-Miami and return

Back in late January, I had to do a weekend turn to Miami. Because I am currently shooting towards Star Alliance Gold (9,000 miles away) in advance of my travels this summer, I decided to book on United Economy. (Un)Fortunately, my mother was traveling with me, so I had to stick to the nonstop United between Newark – Miami – …

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Photo Essay: Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld, unveils special livery aircraft. oneworld double mileage offer.

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A330-300 9M-MTE in special oneworld livery. See another photo here. This aircraft performed the first flight of the airline as a member of oneworld in the early hours of Feb 1 from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne.

by Devesh Agarwal, reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines officially joined the oneworld alliance of airlines, as its 12th member, at 12:01am Malaysia Time (+8 GMT), earlier today. A day earlier on January 31, the airline had a series of events to celebrate its joining the alliance. Bangalore Aviation was present at the occasion, and brings you this photo …

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Exclusive photos: Malaysia Airlines joins oneworld alliance. Airbus A330 in special oneworld livery

National carrier Malaysia Airlines joins the oneworld alliance from tomorrow. Bangalore Aviation is in Kuala Lumpur to cover the event. Below are some exclusive photos of Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330-300 9M-MTE in the special oneworld livery. The airline will also paint one its Boeing 737-800’s and one Airbus A380 superjumbo in the oneworld livery at a later date. Till then …

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American Airlines launches a new livery and branding

Yesterday, Dallas-Fort Worth based American Airlines announced a major re-branding effort, including an all-new logo and livery which it unveiled on its new flagship Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. This new branding will be expanded across American’s entire fleet over the next 3-5 years, as well as into airports and other corporate venues. The full press release from American is displayed below …

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Air India adds second daily Chennai-Singapore flights: competitve response to IndiGo

Earlier today, Air India announced that it was adding a second daily flight in the afternoon (complementing the existing overnight) between Chennai and Singapore utilizing a 279 seat Airbus A330-200 widebody aircraft in a 2 class configuration (24J/255Y). The move comes soon after low cost carrier IndiGo ended its flights from Mumbai to Singapore, and replaced them with flights from …

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IndiGo will be first operator in India to receive A320 with Sharklets. Update 1 – First flight conducted

by Devesh Agarwal A week ago, Airbus S.A.S. rolled out an A320 aircraft serial number MSN 5437 from its assembly line. This aircraft is destined to become Indian budget carrier IndiGo’s first ‘Sharklet’ equipped A320 VT-IFH, and when delivered only the second airline aircraft in the world to be fitted with the new fuel saving large wing-tip device. Photo copyright …

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Flight review: Air India: economy class: Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Bangalore to Delhi

Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner line number 35 test registered N1015 (later became VT-ANH) at the India Aviation show, Hyderabad March 2012. Photo copyright Devesh Agarwal.

I looked forward to my first Dreamliner flight with considerable excitement, and with some trepidation, since I gave up flying Air India in 1997. Made the booking via the Expedia website. An okay experience, but given a choice, I would make the booking directly on Air India website. Air India AI505. Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VT-ANI October 24, 2012 (Dussera Day). …

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Exclusive interview: G.M. Toh, General Manager India, Singapore Airlines

Gian-Ming Toh, General Manager (India), Singapore Airlines.

Singapore Airlines (SQ) is one of the most respected airlines in the world. Bangalore Aviation was honoured to have an exclusive one-on-one with Mr. G.M. Toh, the airline’s head in India. Q. Please give us an overview of the trends you’ve seen in the Indian market over the past 6 months? What do you see in the next 6 months? …

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Hooray for the courts. Drunk IndiGo passenger gets life term for hijack threat

IndiGo_A320 classic VT-INT. Photo: Devesh Agarwal.

Early in February 2009, Bangalore Aviation had advocated a strong “zero tolerance” approach to drunk passengers in Indian skies, specifically citing the case of Jitendra Kumar Mohla, a Chartered Accountant, and son of a former Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force, who boarded an IndiGo flight 6E-334 from Goa to New Delhi, in a drunk condition. Today, we are …

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Air France-KLM, Etihad, airberlin enter in to a code share agreement

The Air France-KLM Group, Etihad Airways, and airberlin will implement code-share agreements as of October 28, 2012, which will offer their respective customers more destinations. Air France, KLM, and Etihad code-shares On the routes between Europe and Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways customers will be able to fly on the Amsterdam-Abu Dhabi daily flight operated by KLM. Air France customers will …

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Vijay Mallya shifts ownership of his Airbus A319 private jet VT-VJM away from Kingfisher Airlines

In what could be a move to protect his personal toys, UB Group has transferred the operational ownership of the ultra-luxurious Airbus A319-133ACJ (Airbus Corporate Jet) used by Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya out of Kingfisher Airlines. In its previous avatar, VT-VJM used to sport a tail with the Kingfisher Airlines logo and used to operate with the radio call …

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Trip Report: Lufthansa economy class Newark – Frankfurt – Bangalore

Vinay’s Trip to India Review Index Part I – Lufthansa in Economy on Newark – Frankfurt – Bangalore Part II – Lufthansa in Business on Mumbai – Munich Part III – Air India in Economy on Bangalore – Mumbai Part IV – United in Business on Munich – Newark Part V – Lufthansa Business Lounge in Newark Part VI – …

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Lufthansa commences Boeing 747-8i service to Delhi, first Asian destination. Bangalore in September?

After unsuccessfully trying for almost two years to be the first airline to operate the Airbus A380 superjumbo to India, German carrier Lufthansa, is doing one better, and bringing to its second largest international market, its latest aircraft, the newest avatar of the venerable Boeing 747, the 747-8 Intercontinental or B748i in short. From Monday, the nation’s capital Delhi, will …

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Photos and Videos: Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner cabin interiors revealed

At the India Aviation 2012 show in Hyderabad, Boeing finally unveiled the interiors of its 787-8 Dreamliner meant for delivery to Air India today. Bangalore Aviation was one of the first publications to be invited on board the long awaited aircraft. Line Number 35, test registered N1015B, which when delivered to Air India will become VT-ANH. This video is a …

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Video and photos: Lufthansa’s new full flat bed business class aboard its Boeing 747-8i coming to India

German carrier Lufthansa finally revealed its new full flat business class cabin which will be on its new Boeing 747-8i aircraft which are expected to be deployed on the New Delhi and Bangalore routes later this year, thus bringing to Bangalore, at least, the most modern business class cabin in the skies. Click on any image for a high resolution …

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