Air India Selects Up to 290 Boeing Jets to Serve Its Strategy for Sustainable Growth

Seattle: Boeing and Air India today announced the carrier has selected Boeing's family of fuel-efficient airplanes to expand its future fleet with plans to invest in 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner and 10 777X airplanes. Along with a comprehensive set of aviation services, Air India is advancing its fleet strategy to sustainably address South Asia's rapidly growing market for domestic and international air travel.

The agreement between Boeing and Air India includes options for 50 additional 737 MAXs and 20 787-9s. When finalized, this will be the largest Boeing order in South Asia and a historic milestone in the aerospace company's nearly 90-year partnership with the carrier. The order will post to Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website when final.

"This acquisition of nearly 300, highly advanced Boeing jets is a core element of Vihaan.AI, the comprehensive transformation and growth strategy we are pursuing at Air India," said Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India. "These new airplanes will enable us to dramatically expand our network, both domestically and internationally, and will come with a completely new, world-class onboard product enabling passengers to travel in the highest levels of comfort and safety. With this order, we are delighted to take our long relationship with Boeing to a new level."

"Air India's selection of Boeing's family of passenger jets shows their confidence in our products and services in the world's fastest growing aviation market, and their decision will support engineering and manufacturing jobs at Boeing factories in Washington state, South Carolina and across our supply base," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With the industry-leading fuel efficiency of the 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner and 777X, Air India is well positioned to achieve its expansion plans and become a world-class global airline with an Indian heart."

Air India has also contracted with Boeing Global Services for lifecycle support services, including digital solutions, spare parts and landing gear exchange programs, pilot and maintenance technician training, aircraft modifications and other services.

The 737 MAX will provide flexibility across Air India's domestic and international network while reducing fuel use and emissions by 20% compared to the airplanes it replaces.

The 737-8, seating 162 to 210 passengers, depending on configuration, and with a range of 3,500 nautical miles, is the market's most versatile single-aisle airplane, capable of operating profitably on short- and medium-haul routes.

The 737-10, the largest airplane in the 737 MAX family, offers the best per-seat economics of any single-aisle commercial jet, seating 188 to 230 passengers, depending on configuration with a range of 3,100 nautical miles.

Air India has benefited from the efficiency and flexibility of the 787 Dreamliner family with an existing fleet of 27 787-8s. The larger 787-9 will provide increased capacity, greater range and 25% better fuel efficiency compared to earlier generation jets.

The flagship 777-9 – the world's largest and most efficient twin-engine jet -- will be the largest airplane in Air India's fleet, enabling it to fly passengers non-stop and in enhanced comfort to almost any long-haul destination.

Unmatched in every aspect of performance, the 777X features a spacious cabin, new custom architecture and innovations from the 787.

With new breakthroughs in aerodynamics and engines, the 777-9 will provide 10% lower fuel use and emissions and 10% lower operating costs than the competition.

14/02/23 PRNewswire/Boeing

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Tata-owned Air India to acquire 250 Airbus aircraft

Mumbai: The Tata Group-owned Air India has announced its commitment to order 250 Airbus aircraft to boost its domestic and international operations. The commitment includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets that will mark a new era for the country as the all-new, long-range aircraft celebrates its debut in the Indian market.

The order aims to both modernise and expand the airline’s fleet with the objective of creating a larger and premium full-service carrier that will cater to the growing travel demand in the region. Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 arriving by late-2023.

“Airbus has been a longstanding partner of Air India, and these new aircraft will play an important part in delivering Vihaan.AI, Air India’s comprehensive transformation and growth strategy,” said Campbell Wilson, CEO and MD, Air India. “A core element of this transformation is the significant expansion of our network, both domestically and internationally, coupled with the elevation of our on-ground and onboard product to world-class standards. This order marks the start of a new chapter for both Airbus and Air India.”

“This is a historic moment for Airbus and for Air India. India is on the verge of an international air travel revolution and we are honoured that our partnership with the Tatas and our aircraft solutions will write that new chapter for the country’s air-connectivity,” says Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International. “The A350’s unique capability will unlock the pent-up potential of India’s long-haul market, its technology, long reach and second to none comfort will enable new routes and passenger experience with better economics and enhanced sustainability. Alongside the A350s, the A320 Family fleets will be the efficient, versatile asset to continue democratising and decarbonising air travel in the country – from domestic, regional, up to international levels.”

Christian Scherer adds: “We salute Air India for its visionary strategy, picking the two reference aircraft types in each of their categories. We are thrilled and humbled to see these aircraft become the cornerstones of Air India’s renaissance. This fleet will propel the airline globally where it deserves to be - with the best.

Over the next decade, India will grow to have the largest population in the world, its economy will expand the fastest among the G20 nations, and a burgeoning middle class will spend more on air travel. As a result, passenger traffic in India will grow fast, including on the long-range markets in the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific that the A350 is well positioned to serve.

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25 per cent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.

The aircraft offers a 3-class configuration cabin that is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crew the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable long-range flying experience.

The A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling, single-aisle A320 Family, comfortably seating 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class layout, and as many as 244 in a higher-density arrangement. The A320neo has already set the standards as the world’s most comfortable short-to-medium-haul aircraft that typically accommodates from 140 to 170 passengers, with a maximum capacity of up to 180 travellers. Its environmental performance allows for at least 20 per cent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions as well as 50 per cent noise reduction, compared to previous generation aircraft.

14/02/28 Airbus

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Air India selects GE Aerospace to power record aircraft order

Air India, part of Tata Sons, has signed a firm order for 40 GEnx-1B and 20 GE9X engines, plus a multi-year TrueChoice™ engine services agreement. The deal was signed in coordination with the airline’s firm order for 20 Boeing 787 and 10 Boeing 777X aircraft.

 “All of us at Tata Group and Air India are delighted to have this partnership with GE Aerospace, where we will build Air India to be a world class airline and one of the most technology-advanced airlines,” said Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India.

“We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with Tata Group and Air India,” said H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GE and CEO of GE Aerospace. “We look forward to working together to introduce these engines into Air India’s fleet and are committed to ensuring they deliver exceptional performance.” 

 GE Aerospace has powered Air India since 1982, when the airline took delivery of its first CF6-powered Airbus A300. The airline currently operates a fleet of more than 150 aircraft, including GE90-powered Boeing 777s and GEnx-powered Boeing 787s.

 Air India also announced a CFM order for more than 800 LEAP engines, the largest LEAP order ever, to power its entire narrowbody purchase of 210 Airbus A320/A321neo aircraft and 190 Boeing 737 MAX-family aircraft. The announcement includes a multi-year CFM services agreement. CFM is a 50/50 joint business between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. 

 "This order for GE Aerospace engines supports our Vihaan.AI transformation plan, a key part of which is to dramatically expand our fleet and global network," said Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director of Air India. "We are confident that these engines will deliver the reliability and efficiency we need, and we are delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with GE."

 "Over the last decade, we have introduced a new portfolio of commercial engines that are significantly more fuel efficient, quieter, and emit less CO2," said Russell Stokes, President and CEO, Commercial Engines and Services for GE Aerospace. "This record order reflects our strong product renewal and our customer’s continued confidence in our engines.”

Today’s announcement includes GE and CFM's most technically advanced commercial engines: 

The GE9X, the world’s most powerful and GE's most fuel-efficient turbofan, powers the Boeing 777X family of aircraft. The engine offers the lowest NOx emissions in its class, 55% below current regulatory requirements. It is also the quietest GE engine ever produced on a pounds of thrust per decibel basis. 

The GEnx, powers the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, has an innovative lean burning twin-annular pre-swirl (TAPS) combustor that dramatically reduces NOx and other regulated gases below today's regulatory limits, offering 15% better fuel burn than the CF6 engine. 

The LEAP-1A and LEAP-1B, have accumulated more than 27 million flying hours. LEAP operators are reporting up to a 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions compared to the latest production CFM56 engines, resulting in an average of more than 17 million tons of CO2 emissions reduction.

Like all GE and CFM engines, the GEnx, GE9X and LEAP are compatible with all approved Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) blends.

GE Aerospace also provides multiple systems for the Boeing 777X. This includes the Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR), the Electrical Load Management System (ELMS) and the Backup Generator, Backup Converter (BUG/BUC) and the Common Core System (CCS). The CCS is often referred to as the “central nervous system and brain” of the airplane and hosts the aircraft’s avionics and utilities functions, eliminating several boxes and reducing hundreds of pounds of wire. GE Aerospace also supplies the CCS and EAFR for the Boeing 787.

GE Aerospace has been operating in India for over four decades with wide engagement in the industry including engines, avionics, services, engineering, manufacturing, and local sourcing.

Engineers at the John F. Welch Technology Centre (JFWTC) in Bangalore, India, GE's research and development center, have played a key role in the technology development of the GE9X, GEnx, and CFM LEAP engines by providing analysis and test validation support. The center has close to 1,000 engineers working to support next-gen technologies to reduce CO2 emissions. 

14/02/23 GE.com (GE Aerospace)

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Boeing orders, deliveries slip in January, before massive Air India jetliner sale

 Boeing’s aircraft orders and deliveries slipped in January from a month earlier.

Boeing delivered 38 jetliners last month, 35 of them its bestselling 737 Max planes, down from a total of 69 planes in December. The delivery count was still was higher than the 32 planes Boeing handed over to customers in January 2022.

The figures don’t include a massive order from Air India for nearly 500 new planes from the manufacturer and its chief rival, Airbus, which was formalized earlier Tuesday.

Air India ordered at least 220 Boeing planes and 250 Airbus planes, making the combined sale the biggest aircraft order ever as airlines prepare for a further recovery in air travel as Covid pandemic travel concerns wane.

Last month, Boeing said it planned to ramp up output of its 737 Max to 50 planes a month in 2025 or 2026, though it’s been cautious about increases beyond the current pace of 31 per month because of instability in the supply chain.

The company logged 55 gross orders in January, netting orders for 16 new planes after 39 cancellations.

Boeing’s CFO, Brian West, will brief analysts and investors during a Cowen industry conference on Wednesday morning.

14/02/23 Leslie Josephs/CNBC

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Air India's Airbus deal set to revive airline's fortunes

When Asian airline expert and journalist Vasuki Shastry took an Air India flight in January this year, he found India's re-privatized flag carrier to be "exactly the opposite of what many passengers have come to expect in recent years."

The flight took off ahead of time and the crew performed "with a quiet confidence evident in more established global carriers," the journalist wrote in an article for the US magazine Forbes, adding: "It wasn't so much surprising as it was shocking."

Finding any positive news about Air India had been a rare phenomenon in recent decades. Mismanagement, huge debts, and unreliable and often erratic handling of passengers under a tight bureaucratic and financial grip of the government owners were the norm.

Once a national and global icon and member of the creme-de-la-creme of the international airline business, Air India is now aspiring to reconnect with its glorious past.

A major step forward is the world's largest-ever aircraft order by the now re-privatized Air India, once again owned by Tata Group since January 2022. More than 500 brand-new  Airbus and Boeing aircraft are supposed to propel the group to new heights, enabling it to firmly leave its mark on the domestic and global aviation market.

On Tuesday, Air India agreed to buy 250 jets from Airbus. The deal includes 210 narrowbody aircraft and 40 widebody planes. Just hours after the agreement, the White House in Washington announced that the airline will also purchase 220 planes from Boeing, with options for an additional 70 aircraft.

Renewing and enlarging the aging fleet is only one of the many herculean tasks the charismatic CEO Campbell Wilson faces in the job he took in July last year. He is now free to act as CEO of a private enterprise, solely driven by economics rather than politics, and with ample funds available. The roots of Air India's long-lasting misery up until now lie deep in history.

In 1932, JRD Tata, chairman of India's largest multinational conglomerate, Tata Group, founded Air India. In 1953 the government took over and nationalized the airline. In later decades, the carrier became a white elephant and was seen as symbolizing everything that was wrong in the Indian economy with government interference even in the day-to-day operations of companies.

The last ill-fated decision was the merger of Air India with domestic sibling Indian Airlines in 2007 — a combination then boasting twice the number of employees per aircraft versus the global average.

At the same time, more and more private airlines entered the lucrative Indian market, mostly in the low-cost segment, further eroding the business of the flag carrier, which was bleeding cash and amassing billions of US dollars in debt. Air India's domestic market share of 8.7% in 2022 put it only in fourth rank, and even adding market shares of all four current Tata airlines amounts to just about 26% overall.

By comparison, leading low-cost carrier IndiGo now accounts for 56%, and ordered 300 Airbus A320neo in India's largest aircraft order so far in 2019.

Paramount in putting Air India back on the map is a major restructuring of the Tata Group's aviation interests — owning 100% of Air India as well as all of the low-cost carriers Air India Express and Air Asia India plus a 51% stake in India's currently only other long-haul carrier Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines.

CEO Campbell Wilson had spent most of his career with Singapore's flag carrier, before founding and heading its low-cost offspring Scoot from July 2011-2016 and again from April 2020 until mid-2022.

"Leaving aside the different airlines and different brands that sit under the Tata portfolio, what I see from an Air India perspective is the need for a full service and low-cost proposition," the New Zealand-born airline chief told Indian media in October. "So, our ambition is to build both a world-class full-service carrier and a world-class low-cost carrier under the Air India Group and operate them synergistically."

Merging four airline brands into two running under the same roof is a very challenging undertaking even under the best of circumstances. In September, management launched its five-year transformation plan called Vihaan.AI.

14/02/23 Andreas Spaeth/DW

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Air India reveals orders for 470 Boeing, Airbus jets

London: Air India unveiled orders Tuesday for 470 Boeing and Airbus passenger jets as it races to tap surging demand for increasingly affordable air travel from the nation's growing ranks of middle-class consumers.

India’s largest international airline and second-largest domestic carrier is buying 220 Boeing aircraft valued at $34 billion. It marks the U.S. plane maker's third-largest sale of all time, in dollar value, and its second of all time in quantity.

Air India is also buying 250 passenger jets from European plane manufacturer Airbus, with the orders championed by the leaders of the U.S., France and India.

The Boeing “purchase will support over 1 million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree," U.S. President Joe Biden said. “This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership.”

Air India is seeking to reinvent itself by expanding its operations and modernizing its fleet. The new jets will help the airline's owner, Tata Sons, compete against upstart discount rivals including India’s dominant carrier, IndiGo.

“India is going to be the world’s third-largest market in the aviation sector,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a videoconference. Over the next 15 years, it’s estimated that India will need more than 2,000 aircraft, and “today’s historic announcement will help in meeting this growing demand.”

The Boeing order includes 190 737 Max aircraft, 20 of its 787s, and 10 of its 777Xs. The purchase includes customer options for an additional 50 737 MAXs and 20 of its 787s, which would make it 290 airplanes for a total of $45.9 billion at list price.

Toulouse, France-based Airbus will provide Air India 40 wide-body A350 Airbus aircraft and another 210 narrow-body A320neo planes, Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said in the call with Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Airbus did not disclose financial terms of the deal, which could be worth tens of billions of dollars.

14/02/23 Kelvin Chan/AP/ABC News

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Modi, Biden hold telephonic call to welcome the announcement of Air India and Boeing pact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden to welcome the announcement of a landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing.

Modi and Biden expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has resulted in robust growth in all domains, according to a statement released by MEA.

They welcomed the announcement of a landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries, the statement added.

The Prime Minister invited Boeing and other U.S. companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India.

The two leaders welcomed the first meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) held recently in Washington D.C, and expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in space, semi-conductors, supply chains, defence co-production and co-development and knowledge and innovation ecosystems.

They agreed to bolster the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries, which have been mutually beneficial. The two Leaders agreed to remain in contact during India’s ongoing G20 Presidency, according to MEA statement.

14/02/23 Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury/Economic Times

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Biden announces a Boeing and Air India deal for more than 200 jets

Air India will purchase more than 200 planes from Boeing, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday. It’s the third biggest sale of all time for the aircraft manufacturer.

The agreement will include 190 Boeing 737 MAXs, 20 Boeing 787s, and 10 Boeing 777Xs – a total of 220 firm orders valued at a list price of $34 billion, the official says.

Airlines do not pay full list price for commercial jets, especially when placing an order this large. But even a discount of 50%, which is not unusual, would mean a sale valued at $17 billion. That’s an important lift to a company still struggling to recover from the plunge in revenue and financial losses it suffered during the pandemic and the 20-month grounding of its 737 Max following two fatal crashes.

Boeing’s 2022 revenue came in at $66.6 billion, up $8 billion from the trough in sales in 2020, but far lower from its record 2018 revenue of $101 billion before the grounding. Boeing gets most of its sales revenue once a plane is delivered, and the 777X has yet to be built. The planes in this order are years away from delivery.

The Air India purchase will also include customer options for an additional 50 Boeing 737 MAXs and 20 Boeing 787s, totaling 290 airplanes. At list price, that order would be valued at $45.9 billion.

In a statement, Biden said the sale would “support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree.”

“This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership,” Biden wrote. “Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges — creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens.”

Production will support three separate U.S.-based manufacturing lines, have a total economic impact of $70 billion across the United States and support an estimated 1.47 million direct and indirect jobs, a White House official said Tuesday.

14/02/23 Nikki Carvajal/CNN

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Biden, Macron, Sunak hail Air India-Airbus-Boeing announcement worth billions of dollars

New Delhi: Western leaders- US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday hailed Air India deals with Airbus and Boeing to buy passenger aircraft worth multi-billion dollars.

Air India, which will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus, has also selected Boeing for purchase of up to 290 planes as part of its growth strategy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi “had a warm and productive” phone call with US President Joe Biden in which the two leaders welcomed the landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a “shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation”.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has resulted in robust growth in all domains.

“They welcomed the announcement of a landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries,” a PMO release said.

Boeing said, in a statement, that Air India has selected up to 290 of its jets to serve its strategy for sustainable growth. It said Air India has selected 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner and 10 777X airplanes. The agreement between Boeing and Air India includes options for 50 additional 737 MAXs and 20 787-9s aircraft.

PM Modi invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India.

“The United States can and will lead the world in manufacturing. I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing,” said Biden.

“This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree. This announcement also reflects the strength of the US-India economic partnership. Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges–creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday virtually attended the launch of the new Air India-Airbus partnership. The Tata group will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus, in what is the world’s largest aviation deal in history.

PM Modi expressed gratitude to the French President for participating in the launch of the Air India-Airbus partnership.

14/02/23 ANI/Print

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Air India signs deal to purchase 250 Airbus aircraft

Mumbai: The Tata group-owned Air India has signed a letter of intent with European aerospace major Airbus to purchase 250 aircraft, including 210 narrow-body jets from the A320 neo family and 40 wide-body A350 aircraft, said Tata group chairman N Chandrasekaran in an online announcement made on Tuesday in the presence of the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and the French president Emmanuel Macron.

An announcement on Air India's plans to purchase Boeing aircraft is expected to come later in the day.

The 210 narrow-body Airbus jet order includes 170 A320 neo and 40 A321neo aircraft and will be largely deployed on domestic and short haul international routes. “The A350 will be used to fly ultra-long distances across the globe. We have significant options to increase the fleet order once we grow,” said Chandrasekaran. “One of our ambitions for this country is to bring in commercial aircraft manufacturing at some time in the future. We see this moment as the most significant moment for tata group, Indian aviation and for manufacturing sector in India,” he said. “We on our part are going through a massive transformation because were committed to building a world class airline known for safety, OTP, best of Indian hospitality and modern fleet and a wholesome experience for every passenger whether in the front or last row,” he said.

Guillaume Faury, CEO Airbus called it a ``historic moment for India and Air India”. “The magnitude of the Air India order demonstrates the appetite for growth in the Indian aviation industry. It is the fastest growing in the world,” he said. “Time is right for India to turn into an international hub and we believe the A350 will trigger a change of paradigm in long haul travel that matches the aspiration of India and its people.. The A350 will turn into a new flagship of India’s transcontinental service,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said the deal demonstrates the deepening relationship between India and France and is also a reflection of India’s successes and expectations of India's civil aviation sector. “In the near future India will become the third largest market in the world in the aviation sector. According to several estimates, India will need over 2000 aircraft in the next 15 years. Under `Make in India’ several new opportunities are emerging in the field of aerospace manufacturing, he said.

French president Macron said: “This achievement shows that Airbus and all its French partners including Safran are fully dedicated to develop new areas of cooperation with India.”

14/02/23 Manju V/Times of India

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How secret London talks led to Air India's gigantic plane order

Bengaluru/Paris: Air India's record aircraft deal has put the Tata Group-owned airline in the league of aspiring global carriers.

On Tuesday, it provisionally agreed to acquire almost 500 jets from Airbus and Boeing to take on domestic and international rivals.

Striking the largest ever deal by one airline took months of secret talks carried out a stone's throw from Britain's Buckingham palace and culminating in a celebration over coastal Indian curries, according to people involved in the talks.

The deal was in the making for over a year, insiders said, recounting details of the process on condition of anonymity.

See what those details are >>

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Air India's Mega Plane Shopping: 250 From Airbus, 220 From Boeing - 10 Points

New Delhi: Tata group's Air India has signed multi-billion dollar deals with France's Airbus and American plane-maker Boeing to buy 470 passenger aircraft in the largest shopping event in commercial aviation history.

Here's your 10-point cheatsheet to this big story:

The airline, which Tata group bought from the government in October 2021, will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus and 220 from Boeing.

"I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing. This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree," US President Joe Biden said in a statement today. There is an option for Air India to buy 70 more aircraft from Boeing.

The price for the entire 470-aircraft deal would be between $70 and $80 billion, people with direct knowledge of the matter told NDTV.

Tata group's 250-plane deal with Airbus is for 40 A350 wide-body long-range aircraft and 210 narrow-body ones, believed to be variants of the A320neo family of jetliners.

"It is a historic moment for Airbus to help script Air India's revival," Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said in a video conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ratan Tata, French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders.

"This contract is a milestone in the friendly relations between India and France," said Mr Macron at the conference, where Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia and Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran also participated.

The A350 family has two versions - the A350-900, and the longer fuselage A350-1000.

Airbus says A350s fly efficiently on any sector from short-haul to ultra-long-haul routes up to 17,000 km, carrying 300 to 410 passengers in typical three-class configurations, and up to 480 passengers in a single-class layout.

Airbus' narrow-body aircraft include the A320 and A220 family of planes. Many airlines in India already fly the A320 family.

Air India is also likely to revamp its livery. Last month, it committed $400 million to refurbish the interiors of its entire wide-body fleet. Air India said these will incorporate the "latest generation seats and best-in-class inflight entertainment systems."

14/02/23 NDTV

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Rishi Sunak hails ‘landmark’ Airbus deal to supply Air India

The Government has hailed a “landmark” deal by Airbus and Rolls-Royce to supply new aircraft to Air India in an agreement expected to create and support hundreds of jobs in the UK.

The airline has reportedly agreed to buy 250 planes from the European aviation giant, with a significant proportion of the manufacturing process expected to take place in the UK.

The Department for Business and Trade said the wings, designed in Filton near Bristol, will be assembled in Broughton in North Wales, bringing 450 new manufacturing jobs and £100 million in additional investment to the region.

In a statement, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “This landmark deal between Air India, Airbus and Rolls-Royce demonstrates that the sky’s the limit for the UK’s thriving aerospace sector.

“The UK is already a top investment destination, and by building trade ties with growing economic powers like India we will ensure UK businesses remain at the forefront of global growth and innovation.”

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said the agreement was “another big step” as the UK seeks to negotiate a free trade deal with India.

“This is a significant win for the UK’s world-leading aerospace sector and one which will help to secure thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country and drive economic growth,” she said.

“It’s a shot in the arm for UK exports as we aim to sell £1 trillion of goods and services a year to the world by the end of the decade.”

13/02/23 Jersey Evening Post

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Air India-Boeing deal to create 1 million jobs in the US President Biden tells PM Modi

Washington: The "landmark" Air India-Boeing deal will create up to 1 million jobs across 44 states in the US, President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a call on Tuesday.

     While announcing the Boeing-Air India deal on Tuesday, Biden asserted that together with Prime Minister Modi, he was looking forward to deepen the ties between India and the US.

     As per an announcement from the White House, Boeing and Air India have reached an agreement under which the airline will purchase 190 B737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X for a total of 220 firm order valued at USD 34 billion at list price.

     The deal will also include customer options for an additional 50 Boeing 737 MAX and 20 Boeing 787, totalling 290 airplanes for a total of USD 45.9 billion at list price.

     Biden spoke with Modi of India to discuss the "landmark" agreement.

     This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree, Biden said in the call.

     The Air India order is Boeing's third biggest sale ever in dollar value and second in terms of number of planes.

     During the call, the two leaders also reaffirmed the strength of the US-India relationship and committed to continue working together and in groups like the Quad to advance economic growth for our two countries and expand cooperation on our shared priorities.

14/02/23 PTI/The Week

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Air India seals record order for almost 500 Airbus, Boeing jets

Bengaluru/Paris: Air India unveiled deals on Tuesday for a record 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing, accelerating the rebirth of a national emblem under new owners Tata Group as Europe and the United States hailed deepening economic and political ties with New Delhi.

The provisional deals include 220 planes from Boeing (BA.N) and 250 from Airbus (AIR.PA) and eclipse previous records for a single airline as Air India vies with domestic giant IndiGo to serve what will soon be the world's largest population.

U.S. President Joe Biden called the agreement "historic" and discussed it by telephone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - part of a flurry of high-level reactions as the scale of India's needs provided a rare bonanza for both competing plane giants in an industry where the winner usually takes all.

The Airbus order includes 210 A320neo narrowbody planes and 40 A350 widebody aircraft, which Air India will use to fly "ultra-long routes", Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran said.

Boeing will supply 190 737 MAX, 20 of its 787 Dreamliners and 10 mini-jumbo 777X.

Together with another 25 Airbus jets to be leased, the overall acquisition reaches 495 jets, an Airbus executive said.

Reuters exclusively reported in December that Air India was nearing record airplane orders approaching 500 jets.

The airline's renaissance under the Tata conglomerate aims to capitalise on India's growing base of fliers and large diaspora across the world.

14/02/23 Reuters

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Air India inks deal for 540 Airbus and Boeing planes in “historic” order

Washington/New Delhi: Air India, which will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus, has also selected Boeing for the purchase of up to 290 planes as part of its growth strategy.

US President Joe Biden hailed a “historic agreement” for Air India to purchase Boeing airplanes. France President Emmanuel Macron had earlier hailed the contract between Airbus and Tata Sons and said it marks a new stage in India and France’s strategic partnership.

“The contract that Airbus and Tata Sons signed this morning marks a new stage in India and France’s strategic partnership. Thank you @NarendraModi , for your confidence in France and our industry,” Macron said in a tweet.

Boeing said in a statement that Air India has selected up to 290 of its jets to serve its strategy for sustainable growth. It said Air India has selected 190 737 MAX, 20 787 Dreamliner and 10 777X airplanes.

The agreement between Boeing and Air India includes options for 50 additional 737 MAXs and 20 787-9s aircrafts.

Boing said when finalized, this will be its largest Boeing order in South Asia and a historic milestone in the aerospace company’s nearly 90-year partnership with Air India.

Biden said in a statement released by White House that the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through agreement between Air India and Boeing reflects the strength of the US-India economic partnership.

The US President said he and Prime Minister Narendra Mod look forward to deepening partnership even further.

“The United States can and will lead the world in manufacturing. I am proud to announce today the purchase of over 200 American-made aircraft through a historic agreement between Air India and Boeing. This purchase will support over one million American jobs across 44 states, and many will not require a four-year college degree,” the statement said.

“This announcement also reflects the strength of the U.S.-India economic partnership. Together with Prime Minister Modi, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further as we continue to confront shared global challenges–creating a more secure and prosperous future for all of our citizens,” it added.

Air India said on Tuesday that it will buy 250 aircraft from France’s Airbus, in what is billed as the world’s largest aviation deal in history.

“We have built a very good relationship with Airbus. Today I am happy to announce that we have signed a letter of intent to acquire 250 aircrafts from Airbus,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, at a virtual unveiling of the announcement in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron.

PM Modi said that the deal shows the “deepening ties” between India and France and reflection of India’s successes and expectations in the civil aviation sector.

He extended congratulations and best wishes on the landmark agreement between Air India and Airbus.

14/02/23 ANI/Print

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Swedish fighter jet maker Saab to start production of Carl Gustaf weapon in India in 2024

The Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab announced that it will start the production of Carl Gustaf weapon system in India in 2024, and will soon finalise the location for its manufacturing facility.

"We will start production of Carl Gustaf weapon systems in 2024. We will soon finalise the location for manufacturing Carl Gustaf Rifles in India," Mats Palmberg, the Chairman and Managing Director of Saab India told CNBC-TV18.

He further said that the recent war in Ukraine, has led to an increased need for defence equipment from all countries, and the company is developing a twin seater aircraft in collaboration with Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer air, "we have pitched the twin seater fighter jet in response to the Indian governments Request for Information (RFI)," Palmberg added.

The Carl-Gustaf weapon system has been in service with the Indian Army since 1976, and its earlier M2 and M3 variants have been licence-produced in India. The M4 weapon system is capable of firing a variety of ammunition, including anti armour and illumination rounds, with the maximum range being 1,500 metre.

Saab announced its plan to set up a manufacturing facility in India for the Carl-Gustaf M4 shoulder-fired weapon system in September 2022 under the 'Make in India' initiative of Indian government to bolster indigenous defence manufacturing. The manufacturing would be done by a new fully SAAB-owned subsidiary, Saab FFV India Pvt. Ltd. and this will be first time the company will be setting up a manufacturing facility for this outside Sweden.

Recently, Saab had said that it has not renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Adani Group for manufacturing brand-new Gripen E fighter jets in India.

11/02/23 Anushka Sharma/CNBCTV18

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Air India seals record order for about 500 jets from Airbus, Boeing

Bengaluru/Paris: Air India has sealed a jumbo deal for about 500 new planes worth more than $100 billion at list prices, in what could become the single largest order by any airline as it seeks to reinvent itself under its new owners, industry sources told Reuters.

The deal, split equally between France's Airbus and rival planemaker Boeing, was first reported by Reuters in December and could finally be announced as early as next week, the sources said.

Air India has agreed to purchase 250 Airbus planes, split between 210 single-aisle A320neos and 40 widebody A350s, and 220 Boeing aircraft including 190 of its 737 MAX narrowbody jets, 20 787 widebodies and 10 777Xs.

While Airbus and Air India signed the agreement on Friday, Boeing agreed its deal with the airline on Jan. 27, a date that marks a year since Tata regained ownership of the former state-run carrier, sources told Reuters.

Airbus declined to comment. Air India did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment outside of regular business hours.

In a note to employees on Jan. 27, the airline said it was "finalising a historic order for new aircraft".

10/02/23 Reuters

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India gives thumbs-up to a vital sea-air route for Bangladeshi exports

To boost regional trade hub ambitions, the Indian government has approved Bangladesh’s transhipment cargo to be handled at the Delhi Air Cargo complex.

 An air freight window for Bangladesh transit cargo will be available from 15 February, according to India’s Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC).

Since June 2020, Bangladesh shippers have had air freight access from the Kolkata air cargo complex, but the fewer flight connections there, including for freighters, had put pressure on their ability to take advantage of this alternative trade corridor.

CBEC said using the Delhi Air Cargo facility as well would improve cargo evacuation and logistics efficiency.

“Goods, loaded on containers/close-bodied trucks, enter India from LCS Petrapole and move by road to Kolkata, from where they are airlifted and transported to third countries,” said CBEC. Petrapole is the most sought-after ‘land customs station’ along the India-Bangladesh border.

According to Vineet Malhotra, co-founder and director at Kale Logistics Solutions, Delhi Air Cargo is one of the leading air freight hubs in the region and the improved connectivity will be a boost for Bangladesh’s export industry.

“Transhipment through India can also lead to significant cost savings for Bangladeshi exporters, as it allows them to take advantage of the lower air cargo rates and more competitive shipping options available through Delhi Air Cargo,” Mr Malhotra told The Loadstar.

10/02/2023 Angelo Mathais/Loadstar

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IndiGo announces first collaboration with Austrian National Tourist Office

New Delhi: IndiGo airline has announced its first tourism collaboration with Austrian National Tourist Office, to promote travel to Vienna through its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines.

Recently, IndiGo started daily connections to Vienna, increasing capacity and offering affordable fares to the popular destination in Europe. The partnership will contribute to increased accessibility, trade, and tourism across both the countries.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo said: "With IndiGo flights now available via Istanbul (under Turkish Airlines Codeshare) to Vienna and also Salzburg, travellers can soak in the rich cultural heritage, breath-taking architecture, and thriving arts scene of Austria's capital city. This not only strengthens the tourism network, but also boosts economic ties through the country's thriving trade, transportation, and machinery industries. We are committed to making flying a pleasant experience for our customers and will uphold our promise of courteous, hassle-free, on-time, and affordable travel."

Europe has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations due to its strong depiction in Bollywood. With the ease of obtaining a Schengen visa from cities such as Delhi and Lucknow, Indian citizens are increasingly planning vacations to European countries. Visa applications for Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Portugal, Hungary, Italy, and Germany are in high demand.

10/02/23 IANS/Daijiword

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Nearly 14 to 16 more cheetahs likely to be brought to India, says Scindia

New Delhi: Asserting that the government is making holistic efforts for wildlife protection, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday announced that nearly 14 to 16 cheetahs are likely to be translocated to India in the coming months.

Currently, the government is working on the second phase of Project Cheetah and has signed a pact with South Africa, from where the cheetahs will be translocated.

The Minister said that preserving wildlife and ensuring that it thrives is a very important part of our tradition as well as our treasure for us to maintain, develop and grow in a fiduciary role for the generations to come.

Citing the government's initiatives for wildlife conservation over the last nearly nine years, he said 14-16 more cheetahs are expected to be translocated to India in the coming months.

Under Project Cheetah, eight cheetahs were airlifted from Namibia and translocated to India. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the first batch of cheetahs into the Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.

According to Scindia, the government's strategy for wildlife conservation is focused on four key pillars -- population, policy, people, and infrastructure. He said a 360 degrees approach has been adopted and emphasised the importance of animal passage plans along with development.

In response to a query, the Minister said that the Prime Minister wearing a jacket made of recycled plastic is also a message to the world.

09/02/23 Daijiworld

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Air India launches non-stop route from Delhi to Milan

Air India has launched a four times weekly non-stop route from Delhi to Milan. The service is operated on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays with a 787-8. It strengthens the airline’s footprint in Europe, adding to operations from Delhi to both Vienna and Copenhagen.

“With the launch of this flight to Milan, we will be spreading our wings to cover major destinations in Europe and fulfil a key element of our five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, that is to strengthen India’s global network,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “The introduction of these flights is another step in that journey, in sync with our fleet expansion. We look forward to welcoming guests and sharing Air India’s warm Indian hospitality with them.”

09/02/23 anna.aero

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IndiGo expands Middle East operations with new flights to Abu Dhabi and Muscat

Indian airline IndiGo is to launch new direct flight services to Abu Dhabi and Muscat from the south Indian cities of Chennai and Hyderabad, in a bid to expand its Middle East operations.

The new services are slated to commence from March 26.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of global sales at IndiGo said the new flights are to cater to the increasing demand between India and the Middle East.

“These new connections will also support the medical students and tourists travelling to Muscat and Abu Dhabi,” Malhotra said.

The increased accessibility to the Middle East, well-known for its food, culture, and oil reserves, will promote both commerce and tourism, he said.

Operations of these flights will provide more options to customers planning vacations and business trips to and from the Middle East.

09/02/23 Arabian Business

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American Airlines offloads New York-bound woman cancer patient in Delhi

New Delhi: A woman cancer patient, who had recently undergone surgery and was supposed to travel from Delhi to New York on American Airlines flight AA-293, was offloaded at the Delhi airport on January 30 allegedly after she could not comply with the crew instructions to keep her handbag in the overhead cabin. The passenger claimed that she had asked for assistance to lift the bag because she had a recent surgery and was wearing a cast, but she was allegedly refused help and then asked to alight from the aircraft.

The US-based patient, Meenakshi Sengupta, has filed a police complaint against American Airlines for “mistreating her and deboarding her off the aircraft wrongfully when asked for assistance for a bag weighing more than 5 pounds”.

Arun Kumar, DG, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, told TOI: “We will seek a report and look into this. We do not approve of insensitivity.”

In a statement, American Airlines said: “On January 30, prior to the departure of American Airlines flight 293 from Delhi (DEL) to New York (JFK), a disruptive customer was removed from the aircraft for failure to follow crew member instructions. Our Customer Relations team has reached out to the customer to refund the unused portion of their ticket.”

Sengupta was in India on a vacation when she was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo surgery. She then was to return to the US. After the incident, she had to book a fresh ticket on another airline as she had a doctor’s appointment to continue medical treatment there.

Tagging American Airlines on social media, the complainant’s daughter also narrated the experience her mother had to undergo inside the flight.

Sengupta, who was a wheelchair passenger, stated in her complaint that “the ground staff was very supportive and helpful and helped me get into the aircraft and put my handbag on the side of the seat. Once inside the flight, I had a conversation with the air hostess and I explained my health condition to them. None of the flight attendants mentioned about putting her handbag away but when the lights were dimmed and when the aircraft was about to depart, a flight attendant asked me to keep the bag in the overhead bin and refused to help saying ‘it’s not my job to do so’.”

After repeated requests for assistance, the cabin crew allegedly told her that she would be removed from the aircraft and the captain too did not help saying that a decision had been made already. “They were largely indifferent and didn’t want to interfere at all. They just kept asking me that I should be able to lift my own bags and manage everything. It’s not their job to help passengers (even with special needs or health issues). They said that if I’m so uncomfortable I should just deboard the flight. They were collective in their decision to deboard me,” Sengupta alleged.

Sengupta told TOI: “The flight attendant told me without provocation that I will be thrown out. I had a cast from my shoulder to my hand. It was a disrespectful experience. I could not fly the next day because they had flagged my PNR. I booked a ticket on another airline to Atlanta and from there travelled by road to Charlotte.”

05/02/23 V Ayyappan & Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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British woman accuses two staffers of Goa airport of extortion

Panaji, Feb 5 (PTI) A 62-year-old British national has complained to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Goa Police against two staff members of the airport at Dabolim in the coastal state of allegedly extorting money from her to provide her wheelchair service, police sources said on Sunday.

When contacted, the Goa international airport’s director SVT Dhanamjaya Rao said they are looking into the complaint and will take action deemed fit after completing the enquiry.

The Dabolim police said no formal offence has been registered so far in the matter.

The complainant, Katherine Frances Wolfe, who has mobility challenges, was travelling from Goa to London’s Gatwick airport by TUI Airways flight TOM031 on January 29 following a visit to the coastal state, sources in the state police department said.

When the woman arrived at the Dabolim airport, its manager arranged for two men to assist her with her wheelchair and baggage.

“The two men that were supposed to be assisting Katherine stopped her in a random space in the airport, where she was helplessly surrounded by both of the men towering over her, angrily telling her, ‘if you do not pay us, then we will just leave you here’,” the complaint claimed.

05/02/23 PTI/Print

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Durban man missing: CISF says he left from Mumbai airport voluntarily

A 69-year-old retired Durban man, Dhramalingum Pillay (Dan), is still untraceable, five days after he went missing from Mumbai International Airport. During the investigations, the CISF found that Dan himself allegedly went outside the airport after making an entry citing the same. However, Dan's daughter Rebecca Pillay, claimed that no such entry exists, and demanded that CCTV cameras of the airport areas be checked.

Pillay is a resident of South Africa and he came to India as a tourist with his daughter Rebecca on January 21. Pillay suffers from memory loss and has high blood pressure. 

A CISF official told mid-day that, "We checked the entries and found that the passenger, Dhramalingum Pillay was shown as 'self-offload' and he went outside of the airport. Once the passenger enters the airport, he/she can't go outside easily. There are some procedures passengers have to follow. During this procedure, the passenger gives consent to airport officials that they don't want to get into the flight. There are also registers maintained by CISF officials at the airport, and we make entries of the people who are going out of the airport. On January 30, we found a similar entry for Pillay."

Rebecca Pillay registered a missing complaint at Sahar Police Station after her father went untraceable.

04/02/23 Mid Day

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Air India Resumes Non-Stop Flights on Milano Malpensa-Delhi Route

Air India, India’s leading airline and a Star Alliance member, has resumed non-stop flights between Milan (MXP) and Delhi (DEL).

The inaugural Milano Mlpensa – Delhi flight, AI138, departed at 20:00 hours (local time) yesterday with 249 passengers on board after a celebratory event at Milan’s Malpensa Airport, and is set to land at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport at 08:00 hours (local time). Air India is now operating four times a week between the Milan and Delhi – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Operated by the next-generation Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, featuring 18 Business Class and 238 Economy Class seats, the service on the MXP-DEL route boosts non-stop connectivity between Europe and India for leisure and business travellers alike.

“With pleasure and satisfaction, we welcome Air India back to Malpensa,” says Mr. Andrea Tucci, Vice President Aviation Business Development at Sea

“The carrier is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and its decision to prioritize the re-introduction of Milano Malpensa further confirms the strong interest of the industry to the potentiality of our catchment area and to the North of Italy as destination.

“The return of the Air India direct flight to Delhi in Malpensa network contributes to enhance the connectivity to and from the Asian region market which is the one that suffered the most from the isolation due to the pandemic crisis.

01/02/23 Eddie Saunders/ARGS

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Services 10 flights of Air India cancelled between India & US last month due to deployment of 5G mobile services in USA

A total of 10 flights of Air India between India and the United State of America were cancelled last month due to the deployment of 5G mobile services in the USA. This was stated by Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. He said, the government is aware of the concerns expressed by airlines and manufacturers of aircraft upon the rollout of 5G mobile services in the USA and its potential interference with the aircraft radio altimeters. The Minister informed that the Airworthiness Directive issued by the USA prohibits certain operations when these aircraft are operated in the 5G C-band wireless broadband signal environment in that country. He said, the directives have been mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for adherence by Indian operators while operating to the USA.

01/02/23 NewsOnAIR

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IndiGo inducts its first widebody aircraft Boeing 777 on the Delhi-Istanbul route

The Boeing 777 is the first widebody aircraft of IndiGo that has been inducted on its Delhi-Instanbul route. The airline will be operating the aircraft on a damp lease basis to cater to the increasing demand for travel to and from India.

With a seating capacity of 400 passengers, the Boeing 777 has a dual-class configuration. IndiGo is bringing a whole new menu with hot meal options for the first time for customers flying abroad on this aircraft. The customers will now be able to pre-book hot meals and purchase alcohol for in-flight consumption.

Since Turkey has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations post-pandemic and has been one of the top choices for outbound tourism from India in 2022.

These flights will cater to business and leisure travelers who are constantly on the lookout for new and affordable flying options to access destinations that help businesses and are known for their tourist attractions.

“The introduction of wide-body aircraft will not only increase capacity to Istanbul but also to Europe through codeshare flights with Turkish Airlines,” said Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo.

“IndiGo is looking forward to offering consumers an even more comfortable and hassle–free experience with multiple services such as pre-booked Jain meals, veg or non-veg hot meals, as per preference,” he further said.

31/01/23 Sutanu Guha/Times Drive

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International flight service from Bhubaneswar Airport likely after March

In a piece of good news for the people of Odisha, direct international flight service from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar will possibly start after March this year. BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan informed this on Tuesday. 

“For the international flight service, we are completely renovating the old terminal building. The link building we have will serve as the integrated international terminal. We expect the renovation work will complete by the end of March. Thereafter, the international flight service may start,” said Pradhan. 

While informing about the flight operator, Pradhan said, “Indigo Airlines may start the international flight service from the BPIA to Dubai, Singapore and Bangkok. An agreement has already been signed between the Odisha government and the carrier.”

It is worth mentioning that domestic carrier IndiaOne Air on Tuesday launched the much-awaited direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Jamshedpur. 

IndiaOne Air’s aircraft VT-KSS took off from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) Bhubaneswar at 7:30 am today. The flight service will connect Kolkata, Jamshedpur and Bhubaneswar. 

As per the schedule, the flight will depart from the BPIA at 6.30 am every day and reach Jamshedpur at 7.50 am. On the return journey, it will leave Jamshedpur at 8.15 am and reach Kolkata at 9.20 am. Similarly, it will take off from Kolkata at 10.10 am and reach Jamshedpur at 11.15 am. It will again depart from Jamshedpur at 12.45 pm and reach Bhubaneswar at 2.05 pm.

31/01/23 Pradep Pattanayak/Odishatv.in

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IndiGo To Operate Boeing 777 Aircraft On Delhi-Istanbul Route From February

IndiGo on Tuesday said it will start operating wide-body Boeing 777 on Delhi-Istanbul route from February 1.

IndiGo so far has been operating only narrow-body all-economy airbus planes.This is for the first time in its over 16 years of operations that the Gurugram-headquartered airline will have twin-aisle planes in its fleet.

The Boeing 777 aircraft has a seating capacity of 400 passengers in a dual class configuration—economy and business, the airline said in a statement.

The wide-body operations will help the airline cater to the increasing air travel demand between India and Turkey, it said.

The customers will now be able to pre-book meals and purchase alcohol for in-flight consumption, the airline said.

According to IndiGo, Turkey has emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations post pandemic and has been one of the top choices for outbound tourism from India in 2022.

"We are inducting Boeing 777 aircraft to operate on one the most popular international routes Delhi-Istanbul-Delhi. The introduction of wide-body aircraft will not only increase capacity to Istanbul, but also to Europe through code share flights with Turkish Airlines," Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales at IndiGo, said.

31/01/23 Outlook

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Vistara flyer assaults crew, strips mid-air: What went down on Abu Dhabi-Mumbai flight

A woman flyer, Paola Perruccio from Italy, created a ruckus mid-air on a Vistara Abu Dhabi-Mumbai flight on Monday (January 30). Such was her unruly behaviour that the pilot had to order his team to restrain the woman passenger and even issue a warning card.

The woman, travelling on flight UK 256, was occupying an economy seat (11 C). Trouble started when she got off her economy class seat and went on to occupy seat 1A of business class. When she was questioned, the woman got aggressive, punched one of the crew members and later walked around semi-naked down the aisle. Even after being restrained, she abused the crew members.

“There was no remorse on her face even after she was ordered to be restrained by the pilot. The pilot felt she was a threat after she punched one of the crew members, who had gone to enquire,” said a person aware of the developments.

It was also learned that the passenger was even given a bottle of water while being questioned, but she reportedly punched the woman crew member so hard that she got a cut on the lip and started bleeding. Soon another crew member rushed to the scene and asked her to behave. “Even after being restrained, she spat on a crew member and continued to abuse them throughout the journey,” said another person privy to the matter.

“No other passenger was hurt in any way and the airline crew handled it in a professional manner. The police, too, immediately booked the passenger after learning the details of the matter,” said the airline in a statement.

31/01/23 Pankaj Upadhyay/India Today

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IndiGo's Turkish treat: Wide-body plane, hot meals, blankets on flight

Mumbai: When the IndiGo flight takes off from Delhi for Istanbul on Wednesday, it will usher in many firsts for the airline: its first wide-body aircraft, hot meals for passengers and other amenities such as blankets and pillows for a fee.

IndiGo has leased a twin-class 400-seater Turkish Airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for the route after the civil aviation ministry relaxed its norms for damp/wet lease of planes.

In a damp lease, a lessor provides aircraft with partial crew to a lessee.

Pilots of Turkish Airlines will operate the Delhi-Istanbul flights, and working on board will be the crew from both airlines.

"Introducing the wide-body aircraft will not only increase the capacity to Istanbul, but also to Europe through codeshare flights with Turkish Airlines,” said Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales, IndiGo, adding “IndiGo is looking forward to offering consumers an even more comfortable and a hassle-free experience with multiple services such as pre-booked Jain meal, veg, or non-veg hot meals according to preference, choice of buying blankets and pillows as well as amenity kits on the flight."

Until now IndiGo has been operating one-stop flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Istanbul with an Airbus A321 aircraft. The Mumbai-Istanbul flight will continue with A321 aircraft for now but will later be replaced with a Boeing 777 aircraft.

The Turkish aircraft leased by IndiGo has 28 business and 372 economy class seats. The business class cabin in the flight will be sold only by Turkish Airlines.

Both the airlines will sell economy class seats under a codeshare agreement. However, the pricing and product will be different. While those booking seats on the IndiGo website will be able to pre-purchase meals such as chicken tikka masala and zafrani pulao, those buying tickets from Turkish Airlines will receive complimentary meals and amenities.

31/01/23 Aneesh Phadnis/Business Standard

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Why is Singapore Airlines making an investment into Air India?

In its operational figures for December 2022, the Singapore Airlines Group (SIA) reported that it handled about 12% more passengers than a month earlier and four times as many as a year earlier.

In December, 2.7 million people travelled on its two airlines, SIA and Scoot. It handled 20.7 million passengers overall during the year, an increase of 900% from 2021. The airline attributed the increase in demand for air travel and the support of a recovery in those markets to the easing of travel restrictions in Taiwan, Japan, and Hong Kong.

Despite being remarkable, the passenger counts are still only 76% of the 3.54 million passengers handled in December 2019. In December 2022, SIA’s passenger load factor (PLF) was 89.7%, up 3.8 percentage points from the previous month and 43.2 percentage points from the previous year. The full-service carrier, SIA, and low-cost airline, Scoot, both set record monthly PLFs of 89.1 percent and 91.6 percent, respectively, according to the airline, making it the greatest monthly PLF in SIA’s history. The PLF in December 2019 was 87.6%.

It should be emphasized, nevertheless, that PLF depends on how many aircraft an airline has in operation. Some airlines underutilized their aircraft at this period of global capacity crisis, either to maintain high prices or because they lack the wherewithal to utilize their fleet to its fullest.

Between its two primary airline brands, SIA currently has 36 inactive aircraft, according to fleet statistics from ch-aviation.com. There are 15 Boeing 777ERs, two Airbus A350s, two A380s, and two Boeing 787-8s among the aircraft parked on the ground. Airlines in Northeast Asia are anticipated to increase capacity in the air due to increased competition in the next year and China’s reopening from COVID-19 lockdowns, which would cause supply to put pressure on pricing. To compete for market share, SIA is anticipated to take the same action.

Prior to SIA’s weekly passenger services from Singapore to Beijing beginning on December 30, 2022, Scoot commenced flights to Zhengzhou, China, in December 2022. SIA has been increasing its capacity in India, a significant market, since the middle of last year while the China market is still slowly recovering.

SIA has already started operating flights to the South Asian cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Dubai, Hyderabad, Kathmandu, Kochi, Kolkata, and Mumbai at frequencies that are equal to or higher than pre-C levels. Late last year, SIA pledged to keep investing in the sector, underscoring the strategic significance of the Indian market to the company.

01/02/23 Tejashree/Inventiva

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Now, United suspends Delhi-Chicago for entire summer; airline currently has only one India flight

New Delhi: United has now suspended its daily nonstop between Delhi and Chicago for the entire summer, which means it may resume only in October-end. This means passengers who had booked this sector will now need to be rescheduled by United either on other airlines on adjusted on its Delhi-Newark — the only flight being operated by the carrier as of now.

The US mega carrier had last year suspended its Delhi-San Francisco and Mumbai-Newark nonstops after Russia’s war on Ukraine meant taking much longer routes as several airlines, including United, are since then not overflying Russian airspace. American operates a Delhi-New York daily and Delta is yet to resume India flights after March 2020.

Air India, on the hand, under the Tatas has been adding US nonstops given the massive demand for travel between the two countries and especially as Covid has fuelled the demand for direct connectivity. It has resumed Bengaluru-San Francisco. AI currently has 37 weekly nonstops to the US destinations like New York, Newark, Washington DC, San Francisco and Chicago. It is linking Mumbai and San Francisco also.

01/02/23 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Boeing's second-largest campus near Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport by end of 2023

Bengaluru: Boeing has announced plans to open its second-largest campus outside of its headquarters in Virginia. The Boeing India campus will be located at Aerospace Park in Devanahalli near Kempegowda International Airport, and is expected to be opened by the end of 2023.

Boeing India said in a statement on January 30 (Monday) that it has invested over $200 million in building the 43-acre campus on the outskirts of the Bengaluru city — a project that was approved in September 2018 by HD Kumaraswamy-led Congress-JDS coalition government, within months after coming to power.

According to Aarti Singh, Senior Director, IT and DA and CIO at Boeing India, the new facility will include various labs, testing infrastructure, and part of its R&D operations, while most engineers will continue to work from the Boeing India Engineering & Technology Centre in Bengaluru's Bagmane Tech Park.

According to reports, this new facility will be heavily involved in research on eVTOLs (electric, vertical, takeoff, and landing) vehicles and achieving Boeing's sustainability goal of hitting net zero emissions by 2050.

The opening of the new campus underscores India's significance as a key market for Boeing in both commercial and defence sectors. Boeing has historically focused its facilities within the US and the campus in India underlines Boeing’s importance as a major commercial and defence market for the aircraft maker, which is hoping to gain more traction and market share in the coming years.

31/01/23 Garima Singh/Times Now

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India among top 5 passenger markets for Singapore’s Changi Airport

India was ranked fourth among the top five passenger markets for Singapore’s Changi Airport, which handled 219,000 flights and 32.2 million passengers in 2022, as the country marks a recovery from the pandemic in 2021-22.

Australia topped the airport's passenger market, followed by Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand, a press release by the Changi Airport Group (CAG) on Tuesday said.

A total of 219,000 flights, 57.2 per cent of the 382,000 flights in 2019, took off or landed at the airport, according to the latest figures.

About 32.2 million passengers passed through Changi Airport in 2022, constituting nearly half the passenger traffic for the airport in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Changi Airport flight traffic, in the first week of 2023, hit 82 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, with 5,600 flights connecting Singapore to 143 cities in 48 countries and territories worldwide, according to the report.

"Changi Airport community’s efforts have paid off – the airport is now leading the Asia Pacific region in travel recovery," Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub and Cargo Development at CAG, said.

01/02/23 PTI/Telegraph

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