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    September 19, 2026

    Civil Aviation

    Air India named Best Airline & Best Airline Staff in India & South Asia

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    Gurugram, 19 September 2026: Air India, India’s leading global airline, today announced that it has been honoured with three major accolades at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, winning ‘Best Airline in India’, ‘Best Airline Staff in India & South Asia’, and receiving the coveted Skytrax 4-Star Airline Certification for Business Class and Economy Class. Passenger-voted Skytrax Awards reflect growing customer confidence in Air India The awards for ‘Best Airline in India’ and ‘Best Airline Staff in India & South Asia’ are especially meaningful as they are based on customer feedback gathered through the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey; making them a direct reflection of guests’ experiences and perceptions of the airline. Moreover, the award for ‘Best Airline Staff in India & South Asia’ is a particularly significant recognition of the efforts of Air India’s frontline teams across cabin crew, airports, customer support, and operational functions, who serve millions of guests each year. Air India builds on recent Skytrax 4-Star Airline Rating achievement The honours follow Air India’s recent elevation from a 3-Star to 4-Star airline which is widely regarded as a global benchmark for airline quality. Together, the recognitions underscore the airline’s ongoing transformation under the Vihaan.AI programme and its ambition to become a world-class global airline with an Indian heart. Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Air India, along with Air India cabin crew received the awards on behalf of the airline at the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards ceremony held in London, UK. Campbell Wilson remarked, “To be recognised as ‘Best Airline in India’ and to receive the award for ‘Best Airline Staff in India & South Asia’ is especially meaningful because it reflects the New Air India experience our guests are experiencing and acknowledging. These awards belong to the more than 24,000 Air Indians whose professionalism, warmth, and commitment are driving our transformation every day.” “Combined with our Skytrax 4-Star certification, these recognitions demonstrate the steady progress Air India has made in recent years. While we are encouraged by how far we have come, we remain focused on the work ahead as we continue investing in our people, products, technology, and customer experience to build an airline that makes India proud on the global stage.” Air India’s ongoing Vihaan.ai transformation Over the last few years, Air India has undertaken one of the most comprehensive transformation programmes in global aviation, Vihaan.ai, encompassing fleet modernisation, upgraded cabins, reimagined lounges, digital innovation, enhanced customer support, and extensive investment in service excellence and employee training. Today, more than 130 narrowbody and widebody aircraft in Air India’s fleet are either new or upgraded, bringing the New Air India experience to customers across domestic and international routes. From the introduction of India’s first Airbus A350 and new line-fit Boeing 787-9 aircraft to the ongoing retrofit of legacy narrowbody and widebody aircraft, these investments are progressively elevating the guest experience across the airline’s network. Customer feedback highlights Air India’s transformation journey The airline’s evolving customer proposition has been reflected in steadily improving customer feedback and advocacy scores, alongside growing recognition from customers. Air India’s Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a key measure of customer advocacy – has improved by more than 70 points, rising from -35 in late 2022 to nearly +40 today, reflecting tangible gains in areas that matter most to passengers. On Air India’s flagship A350s and B787-9s, the NPS is consistently in the high 60s. As Air India continues its Vihaan.AI journey, the airline remains committed to further enhancing its customer experience, expanding its global footprint, and setting new benchmarks for Indian aviation.

    Civil Aviation

    Bangkok Airways Wins Two SKYTRAX Awards for the 10th Consecutive Year

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    London, 18 September 2026: Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited celebrates a decade of service excellence after being named the winner of two prestigious accolades at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2026: “World’s Best Regional Airline” and “Best Regional Airline in Asia.” This marks the 10th consecutive year the airline has received both awards. The awards ceremony was held at The Langham, London, United Kingdom. The achievement represents another significant milestone for Bangkok Airways, reflecting the continued trust and confidence of passengers worldwide, as well as the dedication of employees across the organization in maintaining high standards of safety, service quality, and memorable travel experiences over the past decade. Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth, President of Bangkok Airways said, “This year’s achievement is particularly meaningful for Bangkok Airways, as it marks the 10th consecutive year that we have been recognized as both the World’s Best Regional Airline and the Best Regional Airline in Asia. This recognition reflects the trust that passengers around the world have continued to place in Bangkok Airways over the years.” “On behalf of our management team and all Bangkok Airways employees, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our passengers for every vote, every journey, and the continued trust and support they have given us. I would also like to dedicate this achievement to all our employees, from our frontline teams who serve passengers every day to those working behind the scenes, whose commitment and attention to detail help make every journey safe, seamless, and memorable.” “Over the past decade, the trust of our passengers has been a driving force behind our continuous improvement, while the dedication of our people has been at the heart of our service excellence. We will continue to uphold the highest standards of safety while further enhancing our products, services, and overall passenger experience, ensuring that every journey with Bangkok Airways reflects the warmth, care, and distinctive experience of Asia’s Boutique Airline.” The SKYTRAX World Airline Awards are widely recognized within the global aviation industry. The awards are based on passenger surveys conducted among travelers from around the world, reflecting their views on airline products and service quality across a broad range of areas. Bangkok Airways has received both the World’s Best Regional Airline and Best Regional Airline in Asia awards in the same year on 10 occasions since 2016: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. No SKYTRAX World Airline Awards ceremony was held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Civil Aviation

    Skytrax Names Singapore Airlines World’s Best Airline for 2026

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    London, 18 September 2026: Singapore Airlines has been named the World’s Best Airline in the 2026 Skytrax World Airline Awards, marking the sixth time it has received the prestigious accolade. SIA also received awards for Best Airline in Asia, World’s Best Economy Class, and World’s Best Economy Class Onboard Catering. Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary, was named Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline for the sixth consecutive year at the annual Skytrax awards ceremony, which was held in London on 18 September 2026. The awards are based on a survey of more than 24.8 million travellers globally, who rated over 300 airlines between September 2025 and August 2026. Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “We are grateful to our customers for their trust and support, and we are committed to delivering an exceptional, world-class travel experience every time they fly with us. This award is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our people, who continually strive to uphold SIA’s renowned standards for service and operational excellence.” Mr Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Scoot said: “It is an honour to receive the World’s Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline award for the sixth consecutive year. This recognition validates Scoot’s commitment to providing our customers with comfortable, reliable, and seamless travel experiences. We are grateful to our loyal customers and valued industry partners, whose continued support makes this achievement possible. Scoot will continue to innovate, strengthen our operational resilience, and enhance the customer experience as we reinforce our position as a leading low-cost carrier.” Mr Edward Plaisted, Chief Executive Officer, Skytrax, said: “We congratulate the Singapore Airlines Group on the major achievement of being named the World’s Best Airline 2026 for Singapore Airlines, and the Best Long Haul Low-Cost Airline for Scoot. These successes highlight the level of product and service excellence they are providing to customers and should be a source of great pride and motivation for the management and staff in the Group.”

    Defence

    HAL hands over 2 LCA Twin Seaters, 3 HTT-40s & 4 Dhruv NG helicopters

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    India, 19 September 2026: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited handed over two Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Final Operational Clearance Twin Seater Trainers & three HTT 40 Basic Trainers to the Indian Air Force, and four Dhruv Next Generation helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Civil Aviation Shri K Rammohan Naidu in Bengaluru, Karnataka on September 18, 2026. In his address, Raksha Mantri described the handing over as a significant milestone in the nation’s progress towards indigenous aerospace capability, technological self-confidence and self-reliance. “Our aim is to make India capable, self-reliant, and globally competitive in meeting its aerospace requirements,” he said. Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India is moving systematically towards Aatmanirbharta in defence, as the nation is manufacturing the state-of-the-art equipment indigenously ever since Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government began working with the core mantra of self-reliance. “We’ve taken steps to not only provide the opportunity to Defence Public Sector Undertakings to advance in the defence sector, but also encourage the private industry, ensuring a level playing field,” he added, while listing the steps taken by the Ministry of Defence to promote self-reliance. Raksha Mantri stressed the need to advance systematically in the aerospace sector, terming self-reliance in the domain as the need of the hour. “There can be no sudden ‘big bang’ in the development of aerospace systems. It is a vast and gradual process involving a wide range of components. All the products and components involved represent small rungs on a long ladder; we must move forward one step at a time. Naturally, there would be challenges, but we need to view them as milestones on a larger roadmap to achieve progress in a sector as complex and crucial as aerospace,” he said. Shri Rajnath Singh also termed the handing over ceremony as a symbol of the growing synergy between civil aviation and defence aerospace capabilities, emphasising that the development of a robust aerospace industry should not be limited merely to meeting defence requirements. He called for building an ecosystem capable of effectively addressing the needs of both the civil and military aviation sectors. “When capabilities such as aircraft design, avionics, propulsion, composite materials, flight control systems, manufacturing, and certification are developed within the country, they benefit the entire aerospace sector. We must build an integrated aerospace ecosystem which is self-reliant across every domain. I am confident of achieving this endeavour through our collective strength,” he said. Asserting that the nature of warfare is rapidly evolving, and future air operations will be information-intensive and technology-driven, Raksha Mantri underscored the importance of developing complex systems indigenously. He stated that combat effectiveness can only be ensured through a combination of well-trained personnel, advanced technology, integrated systems, and rapid decision-making, expressing confidence that LCA FOC Trainer will play a crucial role in preparing the pilots for this demanding operational environment. “While the Dhruv-NG exemplifies our indigenous civil aerospace prowess, LCA FOC Trainer stands as a symbol of indigenous military aerospace capability and the maturity of its fighter aircraft ecosystem,” he added. On the HTT-40, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that India had, for years, relied on imported aircraft to meet its basic training requirements, but HAL is now indigenously manufacturing HTT-40 to cater to the needs of IAF. Highlighting the aircraft’s export potential, he expressed confidence that the HTT-40 would find demand in international markets and fulfil its intended role in strengthening India’s aerospace capabilities. Raksha Mantri highlighted HAL’s expertise across aircraft manufacturing, helicopter development, overhaul, repair, maintenance and aerospace engineering,  calling it a pillar in India’s endeavour to build indigenous aerospace capabilities. He exhorted the DPSU to further expand its capabilities across the entire aerospace value chain, including design, development, manufacturing, certification, lifecycle support and global marketing. Shri Rajnath Singh called for realistic project timelines to address delays in ongoing technical projects. He noted that delays can create gaps in meeting critical defence requirements, lead to cost escalations and increase the risk of technology obsolescence. Terming R&D as a crucial priority area, Raksha Mantri urged young scientists, engineers, designers, test pilots, and technicians to take it as a challenge to create technologies that do not exist today. He called upon them to develop capabilities that secure a leading position for India in the global aerospace technology landscape over the coming decade. Shri Rajnath Singh stressed the need to not view public and private sectors as competitors, but collaborators. “There is a need for enhanced public-private synergy to build next-gen indigenous aerospace capabilities. By working together, we can accelerate the growth of India’s aerospace sector. We must prepare for the sector’s transformation through Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, cyber technologies, and next-generation propulsion, with a strong focus on their indigenous development and integration. Let us all resolve to make India not only self-reliant in the field of aerospace technology but also a global leader,” he said. Speaking on the occasion, Minister of Civil Aviation Shri K Rammohan Naidu said that the certification and induction of the Dhruv NG into civil operations marked an important milestone for India’s indigenous civil aviation ecosystem. He termed it as a reflection of the growing capability of Indian industry to develop and support advanced aerospace platforms for commercial applications. CMD, HAL Shri Ravi K stated that the handover of Tejas FOC Twin Seater Trainers, HTT 40 Basic Trainers and Dhruv NG helicopters demonstrates HAL’s ability to develop and deliver platforms for diverse civil and defence requirements. These two platforms, he added, reflect the depth of capability that HAL has built over the years and the strength of the indigenous aerospace ecosystem that supports them. Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh; Secretary Shri Sanjeev Kumar; and Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation Shri Samir Kumar Sinha attended the event. The LCA Twin Seater Trainers are the final two aircraft under the FOC contract. The aircraft will support the Indian Air Force’s training requirements and provide pilots with an indigenous training

    FOREWORD

    Dear Readers,

     

    Welcome to the latest edition of Aviation World. This is an incredibly significant issue for us, perfectly timed to align with several prominent aviation events unfolding across the globe.

     

    Chief among them is the Farnborough International Airshow, taking place from July 20th to 24th, 2026, in Hampshire, United Kingdom. Ranked as one of the world’s premier events for aviation, aerospace, and defense, this year’s airshow arrives at a crucial moment. Against a backdrop of geopolitical turbulence, Farnborough provides an invaluable platform to engage with global leaders and gain firsthand perspectives on the future of the industry. Inside, you will find our comprehensive curtain-raiser report focusing on the show’s core themes, as well as the highly anticipated static and aerobatic aircraft displays.

     

    On our front cover, we are proud to feature Capt. Vaibhav Goutham Suresh, Director of the School of Aviation, Logistics and Tourism Management (SALTM) at Galgotias University. In an exclusive interview, Capt. Suresh highlights how SALTM bridges the gap between academia and the runway, delivering a comprehensive curriculum that ensures graduates are industry-ready from day one. Complementing this, our special feature on SALTM dives deeper into how the institution maintains world-class academic standards and a cutting-edge learning environment.

     

    We are also privileged to bring you exclusive insights from a stellar lineup of industry trailblazers in this edition, including:

    • Robin Glover-Faure, Chief Customer Officer of Acron Aviation
    • Karim Makhlouf, CCO of Royal Jordanian Airlines
    • Pallavi Joshi & Vimal Priya, the leadership powerhouse behind AirFleet Managers &Aviatrics Global
    • Wg. Cdr. Prem Kumar Garg (Retd.), CEO of IndiaOne Air

    Each shares a detailed perspective on driving innovation, navigating current market dynamics, and establishing progressive frontiers within their respective sectors.

     

    Beyond these highlights, this issue is packed with curated features and analytical pieces designed to keep you informed and inspired.

     

    Finally, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed advertisers and partners. Your unwavering support empowers us in our ongoing endeavor to make Aviation World a truly world-class publication with global reach and recognition.

     

    Happy Reading!

     

    The Editorial Team

     

    Aviation World

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    We have started 2026 on a very positive note and we look forward to increase our footprints to more locations and induct many more new companies in our campaign.. Do write to us at : editor@aviationworld.in

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