German flag carrier Deutsche Lufthansa has commenced operations on the Mumbai Munich route using the newest aircraft in the world today, the Airbus A350-900 XWB (Xtra Wide Body). With this, Lufthansa is operating the modern airliner on both its India routes. It had commenced A350-900 operations on the Munich New Delhi Munich route in February. Munich is the primary hub …
Read More »DGCAs new regressive policy on callsigns
The DGCA has put out a circular with guidelines on avoiding confusing call-signs by operators. Presumably this comes about after a handful of incidents where callsigns were confused. However, this move by the regulator that fails to address the real issue. Full document may be accessed at: http://dgca.nic.in/aic/AIC02_2017.pdf Thoroughly confusing and impractical guildelines The guidelines have a bullet list of provisions. Who is …
Read More »Air India to launch New Delhi Washington DC non-stop in July
National carrier Air India will operate a non-stop ‘capital’s flight‘ between New Delhi and Washington DC Dulles (IAD) starting from July 7th. The thrice-weekly flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in a three class configuration with eight first, 35 business and 195 economy class seats. Washington Dulles will be the airline’s fifth non-stop destination in the United …
Read More »Lufthansa to operate its new Airbus A350 on Mumbai Munich route
German carrier Lufthansa will up-guage its Munich Mumbai route to its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft from April 16, 2017 onwards. The route is currently operated by an Airbus A330-300. The A350 is the newest plane from Airbus, and like its competitor, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, features extensive use of composite materials thus allowing greater pressurisation and humidity for reduced post-flight …
Read More »Video: Making the Air India A320neo. India has maximum neo operators.
Yesterday, national carrier Air India took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, VT-EXF. The aircraft is financed by Kuwait’s ALAFCO. The delivery signifies the first CFM powered A320neo in India. Unlike IndiGo and Go Air who chose the Pratt and Whitney PW110G GTF, Air India opted for the CFM LEAP engine. The delivery also puts India in the lead with …
Read More »Air India announces new flights to Washington DC, Copenhagen, Bangkok
National carrier Air India has announced it shall start direct flights between New Delhi (DEL) and Washington Dulles (IAD) in July 2017. This flight will be the fifth direct connection with the US and shall be operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, though the carrier has not specified whether this will be on the 777-200LR or the larger 777-300ER. The …
Read More »Spicejet places record aircraft order on Boeing
Indian low fare carrier, Spicejet, has signed a record order with Chicago USA based Boeing for 100 737 MAX 8s thus signalling its resurgence from a near collapse two years ago. The carrier already has a firm order for 55 737 MAX 8s, and it has purchased options for up to 50 additional Boeing aircraft including wide-bodies, which are suspected …
Read More »Photos: Onboard Qatar’s “All Buisness” Airbus A319
An all business class aircraft is a rare sight amongst the world’s airplanes. While it’s not unheard of for a carrier to operate a all business flight – British Airways A318’s from London City to New York and Singapore Airline’s now discontinued A340 service to the US being some of the well known examples, it is a rare configuration. Qatar …
Read More »Bangalore Aviation named India’s top aviation blog, 11th globally
Feedspot, a global RSS blog feed aggregator has named Bangalore Aviation as India’s top aviation blog in its list of ‘Best Aviation Blogs on the Planet‘. Globally, we are ranked at 11, and in illustrious company. The ranking has come totally out of the blue, as we did not even know we were being judged. In 2009, we were on …
Read More »Jet Airways leverages partnerships to broaden global network
In 2012, in an exclusive interview with Bangalore Aviation, then Boeing India boss Dr. Dinesh Keskar advocated the need for both national carrier Air India, and India’s largest private airline, Jet Airways, to dramatically scale up their networks to utilise their widebody fleet (Boeing 777s, 787s, Airbus A330s) effectively. (Read the interview here, and Dr. Keskar’s advice is towards the …
Read More »Jet Airways to launch Bangalore Singapore flight
India’s Jet Airways will operate a daily direct flight between Bangalore and Singapore from December 14, 2016. Flight 9W024 will depart Bengaluru Kempegowda at 11:10 and arrive at Singapore Changi at 18:10. Flight 9W023 will depart Singapore at 19:15 and arrive in Bengaluru at 21:15. The flight will be operated by a narrow body Boeing 737-800. Jet Airways intends to …
Read More »Singapore, Emirates, British, Qatar, Cathay are world’s best airlines
Singapore Airlines, Emirates, British Airways, Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific are the world’s top airlines as per readers of the Business Traveller magazine. The awards are widely recognised within the airline industry and accepted by frequent travellers as a benchmark for excellence. Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines won five awards. It was recognised as the best airline in the world, …
Read More »Vistara announces new routes from Bangalore to Guwahati and Kolkata
Vistara Airlines (TATA-SIA) has announced a series of new routes from Bangalore, Delhi, Guwahati, Kolkata and Port Blair. The airline will use Kolkata as a stop for both it’s Bangalore – Guwahati and it’s Delhi to Port Blair flights. The new flights from Delhi and Port Blair will commence on 30 September while the flights from Bangalore and Guwahati will …
Read More »Turkey’s Pegasus receives first CFM LEAP powered Airbus A320neo
Earlier this week, Turkey’s leading low cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, became the first airline to fly the Airbus A320neo powered by CFM International鈥檚 LEAP-1A engines, and the fourth airline globally, after launch customer Deutsche Lufthansa and India’s IndiGo and GoAir. This is the first of the up to 100 A320neo (new engine option) the airline had ordered back in 2012. …
Read More »AirAsia orders 100 Airbus A321neo. Wants massive India expansion. #FAS16
Malaysia-based low cost carrier AirAsia has placed an order with Airbus for 100 Airbus A321neo. The order value is $12.6 billion This is the airline group’s first ever order for the extended variant of the popular A320neo family. The announcement was made by AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes and Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Br茅gier at the Farnborough …
Read More »Analysis: GoAir signs MOU with Airbus for another 72 A320neos. Doubles order to 144.
Indian budget carrier GoAir has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with European airframer Airbus to purchase another 72 A320neo aircraft. This effectively doubles GoAir’s A320neo existing 72 plane order, placed in 2011, to 144. GoAir is the third operator of the new aircraft, globally, after Germany’s Lufthansa, and India’s IndiGo. It has taken delivery of two A320neos as of …
Read More »Virgin Atlantic orders 12 Airbus A350-1000 #FAS16
British carrier Virgin Atlantic has announced an order for 12 Airbus A350-1000s. The order is worth $4.4 billion at list prices, though airlines get a substantial discount. Eight of 12 ordered aircraft will be purchased and balance four will be leased. The Virgin A350’s will be powered by British made Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. The -1000 is the longest variant …
Read More »Boeing announces orders for the 737 MAX and 787-9
On day one of the Farnborough airshow, Boeing has announced orders for the 737 MAX and 787 families. Xiamen Airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of up to 30 737 MAX 200 airplanes, valued at up to $3.39 billion at current list prices. The airline which already has orders for the MAX plans to use the MAX …
Read More »Air India to launch Bangalore Hubli flights
National carrier Air India has announced it will launch thrice a week flights between Bengaluru (BLR) and Hubballi (HBX) from 20th July. The flights will be operated by ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft. The flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday as per the following schedule : Flight Departure Arrival AI 9509 (BLR-HBX) 15:45 17:05 AI 9510 (HBX-BLR) 17:25 18:35 …
Read More »FlyDubai to increase frequency of Prague flights
Dubai-based low-cost carrier FlyDubai is increasing frequency of its flights to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. From July 1, the carrier will operate daily flights up from the current four a week. The airline has an all Boeing 737-800 fleet, on which it has introduced in-flight WiFi and live TV services, on a pay per use basis. Dubai …
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