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    Airports

    Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) unveils new updates and initiatives

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    Philadelphia,December 17, 2024: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) has been recognised amongst the 6 best airports in the US for finding good prices by Skyscanner. The airportcontinues to enhance its services with exciting new updates including the launch of Park PHL for improved parking, hosting the American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Arts in the Airport Workshop, and celebrating the importance of art in airport spaces. Park PHL launched Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) recently launched Park PHL, a new streamlined program for convenient parking in collaboration with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA), offering online booking, prior on-site parking options, garage pre-booking, valet parking, and other options for travellers. With this, comes the airport’s first valet parking service, Park PHL Valet, launched on November 18 as well as Park PHL Economy, the program’s first phase for the Economy Parking Lot that kicked off on October 31.Park PHL allows travellers to reserve and pay in advance for parking at PHL’s Economy Parking Lot or avail of the new valet service.Park PHL Reserve is expected to expand in early 2025 and includes Park PHL Everyday utilizing the airport’s onsite garages. Learning and Networking Art Workshop In other updates, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) recently hosted the American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Arts in the Airport Workshop, a longstanding association of more than two decades and the only event dedicated to airport art offering opportunities for learning and networking to professionals who oversee and manage art programs in airports. PHL has hosted three of these sessions, showcasing a meaningful connection between art and travel. The city of Philadelphia is widely known for its impressive street and public art and is home to over 30 universities, colleges, and renowned art schools. Philadelphia’s art community and background in education have helped foster a rich culture around art that attracts art lovers from around the world. The workshop at PHL showcased Philadelphia’s vibrant art with sessions at Percy Street Project, Tattooed Mom, and The Clay Studio. The workshop also included a PHL exhibition tour led by PHL Collections and Exhibitions Curator Helen Cahng that highlighted the importance of art in elevating airport spaces. Accolades In addition to these newly added services, Philadelphia International Airport is also considered among the 6 best airports in the US for finding good prices on flight tickets as per Skyscanner. A hub for both premium international airlines as well as low-cost carriers, PHL Airport is a priority choice, particularly for international travellers travelling to the East Coast.

    Recent News

    Air Astana launching new service from Almaty to Frankfurt in 2025

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    Astana, 20th Dec 2024: Air Astana will be launching a new three times a week, Airbus A321LR service from Almaty to Frankfurt on 1st June 2025, with tickets already on sale. The new service will complement existing flights to Frankfurt from Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital and Uralsk in western Kazakhstan. Air Astana first launched direct flights to Germany in 2003. The planned schedule will be convenient for both point-to-point and transit passengers, with the flight from Almaty departing at 01:30 and arriving in Frankfurt at 06:55 and the return flight departing at 08:30 and arriving back in Almaty at 18:55. The minimum fare for a round-trip economy class ticket starts at US$550 including taxes & fees and tickets can now be booked on the airline’s website, at sales offices, the Reservation & Information Centre and accredited agencies.

    Recent News

    Akasa Air offers discounted fares on international and domestic flights during Christmas

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    Delhi, 20th December, 2024: Akasa Air has announced its special Christmas Sale offering discounts on fares across its domestic and international network, presenting customers a chance to save big while planning their journeys for the upcoming year. During the offer period, customers can get: • All-inclusive (one-way) fares starting from INR 1499 for domestic routes • Discount of up to 25% on the basic fare for flight bookings on international sectors using the promo code HOLIDAY25. Bookings can be made through all channels. The sale is valid for ‘Saver’ and ‘Flexi’ fares on bookings made between 24th December 2024 and 26th December 2024, for travel starting from 7th January 2025. It applies to non-stop and through flights across Akasa Air’s network and covers both one-way and round-trip tickets.

    Features

    2025 Predictions – Aerospace & Defence Industry Trends

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    By Shobha Kulavil The Aerospace and Defence (A&D) industry is constantly evolving to meet the demands of a rapidly-advancing world. As technology progresses by the second, the industry must adapt at the same pace to maintain its crucial role in protecting and navigating both the sky and seas. In 2025, new technologies are expected to reshape the industry, ensuring that it remains a leader in innovation and continues to have a major global impact. Some of the trends that are likely to arise in 2025 are: Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones Drone, a type of autonomous system, is expected to have a growing influence in the years to come. With their remarkable capabilities, UAVs are expanding the scope of human intervention. From surveillance and reconnaissance to more complex tasks such as electronic warfare, search and rescue mission, environmental monitoring, and training, drones are proving to be more than just gadgets—they’re becoming essential tools. Their ability to take on risky jobs that would typically require human involvement is beyond impressive. In the future, UAVs will likely become even more capable, revealing new facets of what they can do and making a significant impact across the industry. ZeroUI will replace the traditional interfaces and transform operations Zero User Interface (ZeroUI) has promising applications in autonomous systems like UAVs and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). It can serve as an optimal Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for voice and gesture control as well as for data analysis and visualization. ZeroUI also plays an important role in training and simulation, enhancing efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. It will transform the A&D systems, revolutionizing the way operators engage with complex equipment and data. Gen AI is making systems smarter and safer Generative AI (Gen AI) is fostering a new era of innovation and operational efficiency. It has already made its way smoothly into many areas like aircraft design and optimization, autonomous systems, simulation, predictive maintenance, and more. What’s next? There’s no doubt that this groundbreaking technology will further transform the A&D industry in 2025, turning it upside down with the potential to redefine speed, precision, and decision-making capabilities. Blockchain will enable greater security and transparency Blockchain technology is making waves, paving the way for greater security, transparency, and operational efficiency. It is already being applied in critical areas such as supply chain management, secure data exchange, identity verification, and contract handling. By 2025, blockchain is poised to completely transform the A&D industry, transforming the way sensitive data is managed, boosting traceability, and tightening cybersecurity. The technology is set to redefine trust and modernize complex operations like never before. Hypersonic technology is offering fast and agile systems We are already seeing advancements with hypersonic missiles and vehicles, which are reshaping military strategies. What’s more exciting is that by 2025, this technology could completely transform how we think about defence and travel, with unprecedented speeds and precision. It has the potential to beat traditional defence systems and open up new possibilities for both military and commercial aerospace. Hybrid electric aircraft for sustainable aviation and fuel efficiency Electric and hybrid propulsion technologies are already being developed for smaller planes, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions. Looking ahead, these technologies can transform aviation by making air travel more sustainable and cost-effective. Harnessing the power of Industry 4.0 through digital transformation The A&D industry will increasingly adopt Industry 4.0 technologies, such as digital twins and additive manufacturing (3D printing), in 2025. Digital twins will allow real-time monitoring of aircraft systems through their lifecycle, improving maintenance protocols and operational efficiency. Additive manufacturing will enable the production of lightweight components with reduced lead times. (The writer is Vice President and Industry Platform Leader for Aerospace & Defence – India, Capgemini)

    Recent News

    Def Min chairs Consultative Committee meeting for MoD on roles & functions of new DPSUs

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    Delhi, 19th Dec 2024: A meeting of Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh was held in New Delhi on December 17, 2024. The roles and functions of the new DPSUs, created post corporatisation of erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board, were deliberated upon during the meeting. The committee members were apprised on the financial figures, modernisation, capital expenditure, exports, new products developed and ongoing R&D projects. Raksha Mantri appreciated the efforts taken by the new DPSUs in indigenisation of critical products, modernisation of production facilities and promotion of MSMEs. He appreciated the fact that post corporatisation, the new DPSUs have shown improvement in productivity and quality. There has been good progress in the sales and profit of these DPSUs in a very short span of time, he added. Shri Rajnath Singh exuded confidence that the new DPSUs will carry forward modernisation & indigenisation, and will set new dimensions in quality, turnover, profitability and other financial parameters by incorporating world class technologies. “Our new DPSUs will make India ‘Aatmanirbhar’ in the field of defence production,” he said. On the concerns and suggestions of some of the committee members on certain HR-related issues within the new DPSUs, Raksha Mantri assured them that all issues emanating from the corporatisation of DPSUs are being addressed adequately in consultation with all the stakeholders. He appreciated the suggestions, and said that these would be examined for implementation. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and other senior officers of MoD were present in the meeting.

    Training

    Air India Orders 34 Trainer Aircraft

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    Gurugram , 19th December, 2024: Air India has placed an order for 34 trainer aircraft as it prepares to start training of cadet pilots at its upcoming Flying Training Organisation (FTO) in Amravati, Maharashtra by the second half of 2025, post regulatory approvals.The order includes 31 single-engine aircraft from Piper Aircraft in the United States and 3 twin-engine aircraft from Diamond Aircraft in Austria.The FTO is a leap forward in Air India’s commitment to bolster its training infrastructure as part of its Vihaan.AI transformation program and cultivate a pipeline of pilotsas it expands its fleet, becoming self-reliant.The trainer aircraft, due for delivery starting 2025, are equipped with glass cockpits, G1000 avionics systems and Jet A1 engines that will ensure advanced training for aspiring pilots. The FTO is coming up at Amravati’s Belora airport and will target to graduate 180 commercial pilots every year. “The new FTO is a strategic move to exponentially expand our training infrastructure and our commitment to building a self-reliant ecosystem of qualified pilots for both Air India and the Indian aviation industry. With this order of 34 trainer aircraft to support South Asia’s largest Flying Training Organisation, we are delighted to be playing a part in building the aviation infrastructure India needs as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets and to support the government’s vision for an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Sunil Bhaskaran, Director, Aviation Academy, Air India. As part of its commitment to invest in aviation training, Air India opened its new Aviation Training Academy, spread over 600,000 sq ft, the largest in South Asia, in Gurugram. It is also the first airline in India to announce the setting up of an FTO that will complement Air India’s commitment to power India’s aviation ecosystem in the coming years. At the FTO in Amravati, Air India is developing a state-of-the-art training institute over 10 acres, with digitally enabled classrooms at par with global academies, hostels, a digitized operations center, and its own maintenance facility to elevate operational efficiency. The FTO is curated to deliver best-in-class training with high safety standards.

    Recent News

    CSMIA caters to 4.77 M pax in Nov 2024; Robust 11% Growth in Cargo Volumes

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    Mumbai, 17th Dec 2024: Mumbai’s CSMI Airport in November 2024 witnessed a significant growth in passenger traffic and operational efficiency. The airport catered to 4.77 million passengers, comprising 3.40 million domestic and 1.37 million international travellers. During the month, CSMIA handled 27,200 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) (19,696 domestic ATMs including freighter and 7,504 international ATMs, including cargo freighters). The busiest day was recorded on 27th November 2024, with 941 flights on a single day. This strong performance was driven by growing demand for both domestic and international air travel during the festive season. CSMIA’s expanding network and focus on providing top-notch services played a key role in meeting this demand, further cementing its position as a major hub for air travel. Among domestic destinations, Delhi, Bangalore, and Goa emerged as the top three locations, catering to both leisure and business travellers. On the international front Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and London were the most frequented routes. CSMIA handled a remarkable 71,046 MT of cargo, comprising 18,653 MT of domestic shipments and 52,393 MT of international consignments. Key domestic commodities included consolidated cargo, engineering goods, and postal mail, while international shipments were dominated by automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. The top-performing domestic destinations were Delhi, Bangalore, and Kolkata, with London, Frankfurt, and Dubai emerging as the leading international hubs. Cargo operations demonstrated resilient performance, recording an impressive 11% growth compared to November 2023 with 63,924 MT. This surge was significantly fueled by a 32% rise in the movement of automobile products, underscoring a strong upward trend in this segment. During the month, Cargo operations witnessed 699 Air Traffic Movements (349 Domestic ATMs & 350 International ATMs).

    Cargo

    TCI-IIMB supply chain sustainability lab achieves ISO 14083 certification

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    Bengaluru,17th Dec 2024: The TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), founded in collaboration with Transport Corporation of India Ltd (TCI), has become the first organization in India to achieve ISO 14083 certification for its ground breaking digital platform, the Transportation Emissions Measurement Tool (TEMT). This certification underscores the platform’s ability to accurately quantify and report greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freight transportation activities, helping organizations to measure, manage, and ultimately reduce their transportation-related emissions in line with regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. In India, the transportation sector is responsible for around 14% of the country’s total GHG emissions, with freight transportation accounting for nearly 40% of CO₂ emissions within this sector. Without intervention or cleaner technologies, transportation emissions are projected to increase by 4-fold between 2016 & 2050, potentially reaching 1.17 billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2050 and would increase the share of transport in total emissions to 19%. Accurate measurement is the critical first step toward mitigating these emissions. Organizations need robust tools to measure their emissions before they can take meaningful action to reduce them. The Transportation Emissions Measurement Tool (TEMT), with its certified emissions factors across multiple transport modes, empowers organizations to quantify and report emissions accurately, setting the stage for effective emission-reduction strategies. ISO 14083, developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provides a global standard for quantifying GHG emissions from transport operations. Applicable to road, rail, air, maritime, and inland waterway transport, it covers fuel combustion and electricity consumption. The standard outlines calculation methods, data requirements, and reporting guidelines, offering a standardized framework for tracking emissions and enabling organizations to make informed decisions on emission-reduction strategies. NICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (NLDSL), a subsidiary of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has integrated ISO 14083 emission factors API into its flagship program, the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). This integration enables users to seamlessly calculate emissions from freight activities, promoting transparency and sustainability in logistics operations. Shri Girish Kumar Surpur, CEO and Director, NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd, mentioned that as NLDSL continues to innovate for a sustainable future, ULIP’s Carbon Emissions API, developed in collaboration with- TCI-IIMB Supply Chain Sustainability Lab at IIM Bangalore empowers trade and logistics players to measure the environmental impact of their transportation activities. By calculating the emissions and utilising other data sources available with ULIP — companies now can develop tools necessary for informed, actionable decisions on sustainability including modal shifts. Together, we can drive meaningful change towards a lower-carbon logistics ecosystem. The Transportation Emissions Measurement Tool (TEMT) is a comprehensive online platform designed to measure emissions across all modes of transportation. It integrates India-specific emission factors, validated through ISO 14083 certification, ensuring data accuracy and relevance. The tool allows users to calculate emissions for both past and future shipments and compare emissions between different transport modes for a given origin-destination pair. It also offers users the flexibility to build customized transportation chains, with all past entries securely stored in the cloud for easy monthly tracking and year-over-year comparison. The platform is commodity-agnostic, meaning it applies to all types of shipments, and outputs are available in PDF and CSV formats for ease of reporting and analysis.

    Recent News, Tourism

    Owl and the Pussycat Hotel Announces the Relaunch of Runcible Spoon Restaurant in Galle, Sri Lanka

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    India, December 17th, 2024: Owl and the Pussycat Hotel, an independently owned luxury boutique hotel on the stunning coast of Galle, Sri Lanka, is excited to announce the relaunch of its signature restaurant, Runcible Spoon. The newly reimagined restaurant promises to take guests on a unique culinary journey, blending international classics with the bold, vibrant flavors of South Asia. Guests will be treated to a variety of global favorites, including Moroccan lamb tagine, Spanish paella, Italian fritto misto, pasta primavera, fresh grilled prawns, American crab cakes, and Thai Modha fish curry. Complementing this will be a range of South Asian dishes, drawing from the rich and diverse culinary traditions of the Indian subcontinent. As part of the relaunch, Runcible Spoon is also unveiling an all-new mixology experience. Under the guidance of a newly appointed mixologist, the restaurant’s bar will offer an array of creative cocktails, combining local ingredients with premium spirits such as arrack, gin, rum, and vodka. These exciting new cocktails will provide the perfect accompaniment to the oceanfront setting, where guests can enjoy the sound of the waves alongside live jazz performances at the beach shack on weekends. Whether dining on the elegant terrace or relaxing at the vibrant beachside bar, guests at Runcible Spoon can expect an inviting atmosphere that perfectly blends laid-back charm with sophisticated flavors. The intimate yet lively dining experience is designed to offer something for everyone, from romantic dinners to family gatherings and special celebrations. The team at Owl and the Pussycat Hotel invites guests to rediscover Runcible Spoon, where every meal is an opportunity to savor fresh, carefully crafted cuisine in a setting designed to create memories. For reservations or further details, please contact the hotel. Owl and the Pussycat Hotel is a luxury boutique property with 17 suites, offering an intimate escape in Galle, Sri Lanka. Known for its fun, unpretentious atmosphere and meticulously crafted design, the hotel combines serene tranquility with social, vibrant spaces. A member of Pure Life Experiences, it is a destination where romance, fine dining, and relaxation come together effortlessly.

    Civil Aviation

    SriLankan Airlines completes seven years of service in Melbourne

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    Delhi,17th December 2024: SriLankan Airlines recently completed the seventh year of service between Melbourne-Colombo route.Launched in 2017, this sector is very popular among the Sri Lankan expatriates and students as well as the tourists travelling to Melbourne, Sri Lanka and beyond, particularly destinations across India. With steady growth in traffic, including tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka, the Melbourne-Colombo route has become popular among travellers visiting friends and relatives or vacationing between Australia and South Asia, strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two regions. The route is also one of SriLankan Airlines’ top performers, both as a direct flight and a convenient connection, especially for Indian passengers. Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution of SriLankan Airlines, stated, “As we celebrate this milestone, SriLankan Airlines will continue exploring potential expansion opportunities across its network to support the envisioned growth of this important route. With a strong foundation built over the past seven years, the airline is well-positioned to enhance connectivity and promote tourism between Sri Lanka and Australia.” V. Ravindran, Regional Manager Asia Pacific of SriLankan Airlines, added, “We are excited and overwhelmed by the success of our operations. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, and I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each member for their contributions. As we move forward, we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional service and to strengthening our connections between Australia and Sri Lanka. Our commitment to our passengers remains unwavering, and we are eager to explore new opportunities for growth and enhanced travel experiences.” SriLankan Airlines operates Airbus A330-300 and 200 series aircraft on the Melbourne route, ensuring modern in-flight comforts for passengers. Flights UL604 and UL605 currently operate a daily service between Colombo and Melbourne. Passengers can expect the award-winning service for which the airline is renowned for when travelling with SriLankan Airlines.

    FOREWORD

    Dear Reader’s,

     

    The current edition of Aviation World has covered many areas of Aerospace & Defence based on the latest development in the sector. The front cover highlights three different images, first for the Union Civil Aviation Minister ….. who is leading from the front to steer Indian Civil Aviation sector to witness one of the most interesting phases. He is also facing most tumultuous timing due to the ongoing financial stress in the Aviation sector due to ATF rising cost and long airspace restrictions resulting in mounting losses for Indian carriers. Despite of all the ground level challenges,the minister is addressing new things on regular basis which keeps the sector motivated. We have featured many such developmental works in this edition done under his guidance which will be interesting to read.

    Our lead story on “ The West War” is another important feature which covers the ground level reality of the challenges faced by the Aviation sector. Its though time ahead and we believe it will pass soon .

    There are features on Regional connectivity and MoCA revised rules on the UDAN 2.0 and how its going to transform the flying experience within India.

    In this edition, we have covered topics on MRO,Various Policy changes,Sea Plane Operations by SkyHop Aviation, TATA-Airbus joint project on C295 military aircraft under Make In India which is expected to roll out soon and many other interesting contents which will be good to read.

    We are covering Farnborough International Airshow 2026 from 20-24July 2026 in London and our next edition will be based on the same event.For features, you may contact our team on priority basis.

     

    Happy Reading!

    USEFUL LINK

    NEWSLETTER

    Aviation World Magazine is India’s premier aviation magazine and has been actively supporting the development of the Indian and global civil aviation sector. We started our journey in year 2015 and its been 12 years now and the response and acceptance is really encouraging. Thanks to all our associates and writers who remained with us in our progressive journey.

    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

    Disclaimer

    The contents published in this website are news covering Aviation, Aerospace and Defence sector. The objective is to provide news in informative form to keep our readers updated of the latest development. We also publish content featured in our print publication Aviation World.We try our best to avoid any factual errors or image displayed here but we ensure immediate corrections to any such thing brought to our notice that might have been published inadvertently. All images and contents are sourced from the relevant organisations media team.

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