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    Civil Aviation

    Etihad Airways launches first A321LR flight to Phuket

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    Abu Dhabi,4th August 2025: Etihad Airways has launched the first commercial flight of its all-new A321LR, defining luxury travel on a narrowbody aircraft. Flight EY414 departed Zayed International Airport for Phuket today, marking the introduction of an aircraft designed to deliver Etihad’s premium cabin standards on short and medium-haul sectors. Today’s inaugural flight introduces guests to Etihad’s latest cabin innovation, designed to deliver the same elevated service and attention to detail that defines its award-winning widebody experience, now available on a next-generation single-aisle aircraft. Last week Etihad took delivery of the first of 30 A321LR aircraft scheduled to join its fleet, each configured to provide elevated comfort, refined design and high-speed connectivity across all cabins. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “The A321LR symbolises our ambition to deliver extraordinary experiences on every route we serve. It allows us to bring the sophistication of our widebody cabins, including our renowned First experience, to more destinations, and to more travellers, than ever before.”

    Recent News

    Air India Express launches ‘flash sale’

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    Delhi, 4th August 2025: Air India Express has launched a limited-period ‘Flash Sale’ across its domestic network. Logged-in members can book Xpress Lite fares starting from Rs.1,299 (with zero check-in baggage) and Xpress Value fares from Rs. 1,499. Travellers can book their flights on these attractive fares through the airline’s website and mobile app. The discounted fares for domestic flights are valid for bookings made until 7th August 2025. These fares are applicable for travel between 11th August and 21st September 2025. The airline offers Zero Convenience Fees on Xpress Lite bookings made with select payment methods on the airline’s website and mobile app. Xpress Lite fares also offer added benefits, including the option to pre-book an additional 3 kg of cabin baggage at no cost and discounted check-in baggage rates – ₹1,000 for 15 kg on domestic flights and Rs.1,300 for 20 kg on international flights.

    Airports

    Mumbai airport navigates global headwinds with 13.6 Mn flyers in Q1 FY26

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    Mumbai, 4th August 2025: Amidst a challenging global and domestic aviation environment,Mumbai Airport has delivered a resilient performance in the first quarter of FY 2025-26, recording over 13.6 million passengers between April and June 2025. The quarter also recorded the highest single-day passenger traffic for the Quarter on 30 May 2025 with 161,603 passengers. Passenger Traffic Q1                                               FY 2025-26                     Q1 FY 2024-25                  Q1 FY 2023-24 Q1 Total Passenger Traffic  13.6 million                            13.4 million                    12.5 million Growth Percent Y-O-Y                                                             +1.1%                                    +7.4% Despite disruptions such as regional airspace restrictions, geopolitical conditions, temporary airspace closures in the Middle East, and a momentary dip in passenger sentiment stemming from recent aviation incidents, CSMIA sustained operational momentum and continued to uphold its role as one of India’s premier international gateways. CSMIA efficiently facilitated 82,369 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) during the quarter, marking a 1.3 percent increase over Q1 FY 2024–25. During the quarter, International ATMs recorded a growth of 3.3 percent. The busiest day of the quarter was 30 April 2025, with the airport handling 989 ATMs in a single day. Air Traffic Movements Quarter                         Q1 FY 2025-26             Q1 FY 2024-25          Q1 FY 2023-24 Q1 Total ATMs            82,369                             81,294                                77,118 Growth Percent Y-O-Y                                     +1.3%                                      +6.8% The quarter also witnessed a significant rise in passenger traffic during the summer holiday season, underscoring CSMIA’s agility in managing peak travel periods as one of the busiest airports in the region. During the first quarter, the top domestic destinations from CSMIA were Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, while the leading international destinations included Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and London. In terms of the first port of departure on international travel regions, the Middle East accounted for the highest share at 48 percent, followed by the Asia-Pacific region at 30 percent and Europe at 14 percent. Connectivity and New Routes: CSMIA got two international airlines as Air Astana and Royal Jordanian Airlines, which commenced operations in April and June 2025, respectively, connecting Mumbai with destinations in the Middle East and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region. Apart from introducing connectivity to Amman and Almaty, CSMIA also added in its network connecting Fujairah and new domestic connections to Porbandar, Gaya, and Amravati. The expanded network, spanning 54 international and 67 domestic destinations served by 51 airlines, gives millions of passengers enhanced choice and convenience. the airport also unveiled its next-generation Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) during this quarter. Key Digital enhancements also included wider integration of DigiYatra, deployment of digitally enabled e-gates, self-check-in kiosks and self-baggage drop facilities – all contributing to greater operational efficiency and a seamless passenger experience.

    People

    Air New Zealand appoints Nikhil Ravishankar as next Chief Executive Officer

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    Mumbai, 1 August 2025: Air New Zealand has announced the appointment of Nikhil Ravishankar as its next Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Greg Foran who steps down in October after almost six years leading the airline through one of the most challenging periods in aviation history. Currently the airline’s Chief Digital Officer, Nikhil will officially take over as CEO on 20 October 2025. In the nearly five years that Nikhil has been at Air New Zealand he has gained a deep understanding of the aviation sector, and the airline. He has also led major advances in the airline’s technology backbone, loyalty program and customer proposition. Air New Zealand Board Chair, Dame Therese Walsh, says the appointment marks the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, reflecting the strong momentum underway and a new generation of leadership for the future. “Across Air New Zealand, we are very clear on what matters most – connecting our communities and country to each other and the world, delivering value and excellence, and running a world-class airline that all Kiwi are proud of. “We have always been bold and not afraid to adapt and lead. Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future. The Board undertook an extensive international search and were delighted to see Nikhil come through the process so strongly. His ambition for the airline’s future and his people leadership skills, coupled with his pursuit of excellence, digital literacy, global outlook and relationships, and his deep care for the airline and New Zealand shone through. “Airlines will continue to face immense challenges, whether that’s climate change, customer expectations, technology, cost pressures or geopolitics. Nikhil brings a fresh perspective that is grounded in New Zealand values and a deep knowledge of the airline and critical infrastructure across different sectors. He’s not afraid to challenge how things are done and ask questions,” says Dame Therese Walsh. Prior to Air New Zealand, Nikhil was Chief Digital Officer at Vector and Managing Director of Accenture. “I’m both thrilled and humbled to be given this opportunity to lead Air New Zealand,” says Nikhil. “This airline is an institution with a deep legacy but also a fantastic future. It’s a privilege to step into the CEO role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country. “Airlines are complex, and safety underpins every decision we make. I truly believe that New Zealand is one of the most innovative nations in the world and one of the greatest destinations to visit. Our airline is amongst the very best and I get to work with some of the most dedicated people in the country, from our cabin crew, engineers and pilots to our ground teams, corporate and digital teams behind the scenes. At the end of the day, we are a people business – purposeful, ambitious, and deeply rooted in Aotearoa New Zealand, and I’m excited to help shape what this next stage of Air New Zealand looks like,” says Nikhil Ravishankar.

    Recent News

    Atlys launches India’s first visa sale, offering visas to key global destinations for Just Rs 1

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    Delhi, July 30th, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Atlys has launched the country’s first-ever visa sale: “Atlys One Way Out.” The visa processing platform will go live with the sale exclusively on the Atlys website for two days: August 4th and 5th. During the two-day sale, Indian travellers will be able to apply for visas to a wide range of popular destinations, including the UAE, UK, Vietnam, Indonesia, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Hong Kong, Georgia, Oman, Morocco, Qatar, Kenya, and Taiwan, among others, for just ₹1. Additionally, appointment bookings for countries requiring in-person visits, such as the United States and select Schengen nations, will also be available at just ₹1. According to a report by the European Commission and Condé Nast Traveller, Indian applicants collectively lost over ₹664 crore in non-refundable visa fees across various countries in 2024 alone. This staggering figure highlights the financial strain often associated with international travel planning. Atlys’s One Way Out sale addresses this very concern by dramatically lowering visa-related expenses. “Atlys was created to eliminate friction from the visa process. With the One Way Out Sale, we are taking that mission even further,” said Mohak Nahta, Founder and CEO of Atlys. “For the first time, travellers can get visas at a price that feels impossible. We want to challenge what people expect from this industry and prove that global travel can be truly within reach.” In the past 60 days, Atlys has observed an increase in search queries across a diverse range of destinations, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Georgia, the UK, and the UAE, with growth ranging between 18% and 44% compared to the preceding period. This momentum has primarily emerged from users in tier 1 and tier 2 cities, driven largely by Gen Z and millennials. Interestingly, a substantial portion of this rising interest comes from first-time travellers. Against this backdrop, Nahta added, “We anticipate the strongest demand for UAE visas during the sale, followed closely by the UK. Urban millennials and Gen Z from metro cities are likely to drive the most traffic.” The Ra 1 visa sale is aimed at encouraging more users to explore travel options. The pricing strategy is designed to reduce cost-related hesitation among first-time or price-sensitive travellers. Similar to how seasonal discounts drive adoption in other industries, this initiative targets individuals who may be uncertain about international travel. By collapsing barriers (first procedural, now financial), Atlys is setting a new standard for the category: one where access to the world comes easy and without hassle.

    Civil Aviation

    LOT Polish Airlines receives first Recaro seats for new Boeing 737 MAX 8

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    Warsaw, 31st July 2025: Star Alliance member LOT Polish Airlines has received its first shipment of RECARO Aircraft Seating products, which will be installed on both its Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Airbus A220 aircraft. The initial set was manufactured at RECARO’s facility in Świebodzin and will be fitted into one of the thirteen Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft that are set to join the Polish carrier’s fleet by the end of 2026. In total, LOT will take delivery of about 14,000 modern, ergonomic seats – with passenger comfort as a top priority. The new RECARO R2 seats combine lightweight construction with advanced ergonomics and high functionality. Each seat features a dedicated 60W power outlet for fast charging of electronic devices, as well as a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) holder for easy use of a tablet or smartphone. For extra comfort, the seats are equipped with six-way adjustable headrests, extended armrests, contoured backrests with comfort-enhancing foam, and lightweight sliding tray tables. RECARO R2 seats stand out for their light weight – each seat weighs less than 10 kg – helping to reduce fuel consumption and lower CO₂ emissions. Their modular design facilitates easier maintenance and supports sustainable practices. These new seats will be installed on all new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Airbus A220 aircraft as they join the LOT Polish Airlines fleet. The new seats are part of LOT Polish Airlines’ broader initiative to modernise its aircraft cabins. The interiors of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet will be completely redesigned, drawing inspiration from LOT Polish Airlines’ Polonez business lounges in Warsaw and Chicago. The goal is to create a unified look across the entire fleet, aligning the new design with the cabin style of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners – which are also set for a comprehensive interior upgrade. This retrofit will take passenger comfort to an even higher level across all classes of service.

    Defence

    India & UAE commit to deepen defence partnership

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    New Delhi, 31st July 2025: India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation during the 13th India-UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting, held at the Secretary level for the first time, in New Delhi on July 30, 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and UAE’s Under Secretary of Defense, Lt General Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi, who is leading a high-level defence delegation on a two-day official visit to India. Both sides agreed to elevate defence ties to match the growing momentum in areas such as trade, investment, and people to people relations. The two sides agreed to enhance military training cooperation and discussed their respective training requirements. India offered to provide customised training courses tailored to the UAE’s needs. They also agreed to cooperate on maritime security through sharing of information. In a bid to explore new avenues of defence collaboration, both countries held discussions on training cooperation, defence industrial partnerships, and Service-to-Service engagements. They agreed to pursue joint manufacturing initiatives, including models similar to the collaboration between ICOMM (India) and CARACAL (UAE) for small arms production. The potential for co-developing next generation defence technologies in emerging areas such as Artificial Intelligence was also discussed, alongside opportunities in shipbuilding including refits and upgrades, and maintenance of common platforms. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Coast Guard and the UAE National Guard to establish a framework for enhanced cooperation in search and rescue operations, pollution response, anti-piracy efforts, and related maritime security domains. In the run-up to the JDCC, India and UAE also held the 4th Army-to-Army, 9th Navy-to-Navy, and inaugural Air-to-Air Staff Talks from July 28-29, 2025. These deliberations focused on enhancing military exercises, training, and Subject Matter Expert Exchange. The UAE delegation is scheduled to call on the Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth on July 31, 2025, and will participate in the 2nd India-UAE Defence Industry Partnership Forum, co-inaugurated by the UAE Under Secretary and India’s Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar. India and UAE share a robust and growing defence relationship, underpinned by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established during the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s landmark visit to the UAE in 2015. India’s upcoming participation in the Dubai Air Show in November 2025 is set to further reinforce this momentum. (Courtesy: PIB/MoD)

    Civil Aviation

    Air Astana and China Southern Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement

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    Astana, 31st July 2025: On 29th July 2025, Air Astana and China Southern Airlines signed a codeshare agreement, with cooperation on trunk routes between Kazakhstan and China providing travellers with more flight options. The codeshare agreement covers Air Astana routes operated from Almaty to Beijing Capital, Almaty to Urumqi and Almaty to Guangzhou, as well as Astana to Beijing. For China Southern Airlines, the codeshare covers routes operated on a regular basis from Beijing Daxing to Almaty, Guangzhou to Almaty, Urumqi to Almaty and Xian to Almaty, together with Guangzhou to Astana and Urumqi to Astana. Air Astana Group CEO Peter Foster remarked, “China has always been a strategically important market for Air Astana. Partnering with China Southern Airlines will boost trade, tourism and cultural links with China and open a new chapter in aviation cooperation between the two countries.” China Southern Airlines President and CEO Han Wensheng stated, “Codeshare cooperation with Air Astana will result in an increase in our service frequencies to Kazakhstan. It is not only a strategic move leveraging both airlines’ strengths but also a significant step in deepening Belt and Road aviation connectivity between China and Kazakhstan”.

    Recent News

    Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines (SIA) join hands to strengthen their long-standing commercial cooperation

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    Jakarta, 31st July 2025: Garuda Indonesia and Singapore Airlines (SIA) will strengthen their long-standing commercial cooperation in August 2025, with the launch of joint sales of fare products, additional codeshare destinations, and reciprocal lounge access. From August 2025, customers will be able to book flights operated by both airlines for services between Singapore and Indonesia within a single itinerary, offering greater convenience, and a wider range of fare options for travellers. The two carriers will also expand their codeshare arrangement in August 2025 to offer customers more travel options between Indonesia and Singapore, and beyond. Garuda Indonesia customers will gain access to four additional SIA destinations — Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Delhi in India, as well as Male in the Maldives. SIA customers will be able to connect to popular Garuda Indonesia flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, as well as Jakarta to Labuan Bajo, Lombok, and Manado. Customers will continue to enjoy existing codeshare options on flights operated by both carriers between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya in Indonesia, as well as SIAoperated flights to London (Heathrow), the United Kingdom, and Mumbai, India. From mid-August 2025, members of GarudaMiles and KrisFlyer frequent flyer programmes will enjoy reciprocal lounge access when travelling between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta,and Surabaya. This covers the Garuda Executive, KrisFlyer Gold, and the Business Class SilverKris lounges in Singapore and those destinations . Members will also be able to earn and redeem miles on the new codeshare routes, under the frequent flyer partnership that was launched in February 2025. SIA increased its flight frequency between Singapore and Jakarta to nine daily services in May 2025, up from eight. Subject to regulatory approval and operational considerations, Garuda Indonesia will boost its flight frequency between Jakarta and Singapore to seven daily flights in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from six, with plans to further increase its frequencies in the coming months. Wamildan Tsani, President and CEO Garuda Indonesia, said: “Garuda Indonesia is delighted with this strengthening of our partnership with Singapore Airlines, which reflects our shared commitment to delivering an enhanced and seamless travel experience for our customers. With broader connectivity and integrated services, this collaboration also serves as a platform to support stronger bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore.” Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “This enhancement of our partnership with Garuda Indonesia offers tangible benefits to our customers through joint sales of fare products, additional codeshare destinations, and improved frequent flyer offerings. By working together, we are leveraging our combined strengths to enhance the customer experience and support the growth of air travel between Singapore and Indonesia, and beyond.”

    Cargo

    Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI) announces strong growth in Q1 FY2026 financial results

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    Gurugram, 29th July, 2025: Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), India’s leading integrated multimodal logistics and supply chain solutions provider, today announced its financial results for the quarter and financial year ended June 30, 2025. Financial Highlights for Q1 FY2026: – Revenue: TCI reported a consolidated revenue of ₹ 11,506 Mn, marking a growth of 9% compared to Rs. 10,560 Mn in the same period last year. – EBITDA: The company’s Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) stood at Rs. 1,520 Mn, a 11.9% increase from Rs.1,358 Mn in FY2024. – Profit After Tax (PAT): PAT rose by 17% to Rs.1,072 Mn., compared to Rs. 916 Mn in the previous year.       Management Commentary: On the Q1 FY 2025–26 results, Mr. Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of Transport Corporation of India Ltd. (TCI), said: “We are pleased to report solid progress in the first quarter of FY 2025–26, driven by steady growth across our multimodal, warehousing, 3PL and cold chain verticals. Despite mixed sectoral trends in the economy, our integrated service offerings and customer-centric approach have enabled us to maintain noteworthy operational momentum.”   The manufacturing sector’s revival, particularly in chemicals, engineering and consumer goods, has positively impacted demand for reliable, scalable and sustainable logistics solutions. TCI’s continued investments in multimodal infrastructure, upskilling, AI based SOPs and green logistics have positioned us well to deliver the diverse supply chain solutions that meet the scale of India’s evolving logistics requirements. With continued infrastructure push and steady influx of global players driving multifaceted manufacturing growth, we anticipate a robust order pipeline in the coming quarters. “We remain committed to delivering value through innovation, strategic partnerships, sustainability and operational excellence in serving our customers with agility and efficiency.”

    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!

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    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

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