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    Cargo

    Qatar Airways cargo named launch customer of Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF

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    Doha, 2nd May, 2025: Qatar Airways Cargo has been named launch customer of the Mammoth Freighters 777-200LRMF and has finalised an agreement for five (5) aircraft with Jetran, LLC – a Horseshoe Bay, Texas-based aircraft leasing, sales, and aviation services company. Mark Drusch, Chief Officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo commented: “As the launch customer of the Mammoth 777-200LRMF converted freighter, Qatar Airways Cargo proudly continues to lead global trade as the world’s largest air freight carrier. This additional freighter capacity will be instrumental in advancing our fleet growth and expanding the premium cargo services we provide to customers worldwide. The growth of our fleet with the Mammoth 777s reflects our commitment to operating the largest freighter network and fleet in the industry. Mammoth Freighters LLC (“Mammoth”) has also announced the successful completion of the initial test flight of its 777-200LRMF prototype freighter. The prototype aircraft, now registered as N705DN, took to the skies following an extensive and rigorous conversion process at Mammoth’s modification partner facility, Aspire MRO, in Fort Worth, Texas. This achievement demonstrates the advanced capabilities of the Mammoth 777-200LRMF, designed to set new standards for productivity and economy in the long-range widebody freighter market. “This milestone is the culmination of years of dedicated engineering, collaboration, and innovation. Our mission is to deliver one of the world’s most productive and economical long-range freighters, and today’s achievement is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our entire team and partners.” said Bill Tarpley, CEO of Mammoth. “We are also thrilled to announce Qatar Airways Cargo as the launch customer for our 777-200LRMF freighter. Their commitment reflects the long-term value and capabilities this aircraft offers.” “Witnessing the successful completion of the 777-200LRMF’s initial test flight was both exciting and reassuring,” said Jetran’s CEO, Jordan Jaffe. “The aircraft exceeded expectations and reinforced our confidence in Mammoth’s engineering and conversion capabilities. We’re proud to have Qatar Airways Cargo play such a prominent role as launch customer for this groundbreaking program and look forward to its certification and entry into service.” The Mammoth 777-200LRMF features the advanced Collins Aerospace cargo loading system, specifically optimized for the 777 passenger-to-freighter market. This system, developed over three years of close collaboration, ensures high levels of parts commonality and operational reliability—attributes already proven on 777 production freighters worldwide. Currently, Mammoth has seven (7) 777-200/-300 aircraft undergoing conversion: five (5) at Aspire MRO in Fort Worth, Texas, and two (2) at STS Aviation Services in Manchester, UK. The company holds firm orders for 35 freighter conversions across a diverse portfolio of customers.

    Events, Recent News

    Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) to be held alongside Airport Show in Dubai

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    Dubai,2nd May 2025: Aviation experts and specialists from across the world will gather in Dubai from May 6 to 7 to participate in Global Airport Leaders’ Forum (GALF) to discuss megatrends and developments that will reshape the way airports operate and serve passengers and their other stakeholders over the next 25 years when the air passengers numbers would reach 12.4 billion, as per the ICAO predictions. A co-located event of the 24th edition of Airport Show, the 12th GALF will bring as many as 50+ aviation, policy makers, airport business leaders, and technology experts to foster meaningful engagement and knowledge sharing on critical challenges and growth opportunities in the technology-driven world. His Excellency Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA-Dubai) will deliver the keynote address on ‘commitment to excellence and a proactive approach to shaping the future of aviation’ will be delivered. His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Lengawi, Director General of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, will also present a keynote address during the forum. Another keynote address will be on ‘Innovation at the heart of airport evolution’ by Abdulla Al Shamsi, Director of Engineering at Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP). ‘Commitment to excellence and a proactive approach to shaping the future of aviation’ will be topic for another keynote address by Yann Guillemain, Senior Vice President for EMEA Airports at Amadeus. A C-Suite panel will delve into the innovative strategies and technologies propelling the future of aviation, particularly through airport expansion and new infrastructure development. With Captain. Abdullah Al Haider, Consultant, DACO Dammam Airports Company at its moderator, the panel members are Askin Demir, CEO, Aéroport Internationale Blaise Diagne (Senegal), Piervittorio Farabbi, Chief Operating Officer & Accountable Manager, Tirana International Airport SHPK (Albania), Philippe Arsonneau, Infrastructure Segment President, Schneider Electric, and Nazareno Ventola, CEO & Managing Director, Aeroporto G. Marconi di Bologna (Italy). Airport Show Airport Show, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia’s (MEASA) largest B2B airport industry exhibition staged in Dubai since 2001, has established itself as the go-to destination for experiencing and procuring newest technologies and innovations and to gain and enhance knowledge on current trends and future perspectives. It is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Also being held here will be two knowledge-enhancing conferences – Airport Security Middle East and Air Traffic Control (ATC) Forum. About 2.4 billion Millennial passengers worldwide will travel by air by 2050. The current growth and future projections call for a meaningful debate to guide the airport industry for a more safe, secure, and efficient travel ecosystem with airports at the centre-stage. The Airport Show showcases insights into the US$1 trillion airport development market in the MEASA region. It will be attended by more than 130 exhibitors and 150+ buyers from over 70 organisations from 30 countries. The show will include two country pavilions, and two major conferences, with 30 conference sessions. This edition will have three new platforms – GSE Zone, Airport Tech Pavilion, and Airport Design Hub.

    Recent News

    Air Marshal SP Dharkar retires as Vice Chief of the Air Staff, IAF

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    New Delhi, 2nd May 2025: Air Marshal SP Dharkar retired as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on 30 April 2025, on superannuation from the Indian Air Force (IAF), after completion of 40 years of illustrious service to the nation. Air Marshal Dharkar was commissioned on 14 June 1985 as a Flying Pilot in the fighter stream of IAF and flew more than 3600 hours on different aircraft of the IAF. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Fighter Strike Leader and an Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, India and Army War College, USA. He held several important appointments in his career including that of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at the Eastern Air Command (EAC) and Senior Air Staff Officer at South Western Air Command, He also held offices of Air Defence Commander at HQ EAC and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Training) at Air Headquarters. He was the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency. In recognition of his meritorious services of an exceptionally high order, the Air Marshal was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2014, Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2023 and Uttam Yudh Seva Medal in 2025.

    Civil Aviation

    AirAsia introduces auto visa check feature for seamless online check-in

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    Mumbai, 1st May 2025: AirAsia has introduced a new Auto Visa Check (AVC) feature on the AirAsia MOVE app and airasia.com, enabling seamless online check-in for international routes that require a visa and Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). This innovation is part of the airline’s efforts to simplify the journey for its guests across the region by avoiding wait times and easing congestion at airport check-in counters. Until now, travellers flying to countries with visa requirements were required to check in or re-check in at the airport for manual visa verification. With this innovative AVC feature, guests can verify their visa in real time during online check in, up to 14 days and until one (1) hour before scheduled departure time, from the comfort of their home or while on the go. How to use AVC for seamless check-in: 1. Launch the AirAsia MOVE app or visit airasia.com 2. Select your flight to check in 3. When prompted, scan the sticker visa on your passport or upload the e-visa 4. Get your e-boarding pass once your visa is verified 5. If not*, head to the check-in counter for a manual document check For guests travelling with hand-carry luggage only, they may proceed directly to the boarding gate using their e-boarding pass (where applicable) or reprint their boarding pass at the self-service kiosk if needed. Guests with checked baggage may print their bag tags at the kiosk and drop their bags at the designated baggage drop counter.

    Recent News

    India shuts airspace for Pakistan based carriers including both civil and defence

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    New Delhi, 30th April 2025: After a high level meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence on 30th April 2025 in New Delhi, the Govt. of India has announced closure of Indian airspace for all Pakistan owned and operated planes including military aircrafts. The decision came after series of provocating statements by Pakistani ministers and their functionaries and closure of Pakistan Airspace for Indian carriers. As on today, both the country have banned entry of each other’s airlines over their airspace till 11:59 pm UTC on May 23 (5:29 am IST on May 24).These may be revised closer to that date. A NOTAM or Notice to Air Missions was released by New Delhi, which read, “Indian airspace not available to Pakistan registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Pakistan airlines. These include military flights.” After the brutal killing of innocent Indian tourist in Kashmir’s most popular tourist destination in Pahalgam, Indian government has taken series of strict actions again Pakistan. India has also banned you tube channels and social media handles of all Pakistani popular faces including politicians as they are accused of spreading hatred against India by their false narrations. Both India and Pakistan has aksed non-citizens to return to their respective countries as their visa stands cancelled.

    Civil Aviation

    Vietnam Airlines launches wide-body operations on Mumbai-Hanoi route

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    Mumbai, April 30th, 2025: Vietnam Airlines has launched the upgraded wide-body operations on the Mumbai-Hanoi route and will now operate four weekly flights using Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350 aircraft.The inaugural wide-body flight departed from CSMIA Mumbai amidst much fanfare and celebrations among the dignitaries, airport officials, and representatives from Vietnam Airlines and its India GSA, Aeroprime Group. Speaking at the launch event, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Country Manager India at Vietnam Airlines, said, “We are thrilled to begin this exciting new chapter in our India operations. Upgrading to wide-body aircraft on the Mumbai-Hanoi route underscores our dedication to delivering unparalleled comfort and convenience to Indian travelers. We look forward to welcoming more passengers onboard and strengthening the vital air bridge between India and Vietnam.” This upgrade is a strong testament to Vietnam Airlines’ growing commitment to the Indian market, providing travelers with best-in-class amenities such as spacious full-flat beds in business class, in-flight entertainment across all classes, gourmet meal options including specially curated Indian cuisine, and world-class Vietnamese hospitality. Adding to this, Abhishek Goyal, CEO & Executive Director of Aeroprime Group, commented, “Vietnam has rapidly emerged as a preferred destination for Indian travelers, and with this upgrade, Vietnam Airlines is perfectly positioned to meet the growing demand, enhancing connectivity between India and Vietnam and setting a new benchmark for travel experience in this sector.” Vietnam Airlines currently operates 14 flights weekly from Delhi and Mumbai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and with the introduction of wide-body aircraft on the Mumbai-Hanoi sector, the airlines has positioned itself as the preferred carrier for travel between India and Vietnam. Additionally, Vietnam Airlines has announced the commencement of direct flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad, beginning in May.

    Recent News

    Air India to operate daily flights to Tokyo Haneda from 15th June onwards

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    Delhi, 30th April 2025: Air India has announced the expansion of its non-stop service between Delhi and Tokyo Haneda, increasing from 4x weekly flights to daily flights, starting 15 June 2025. This enhancement strengthens connectivity between India and Japan, offering greater convenience for travellers and supporting growing trade and tourism between the two countries. This move builds on Air India’s recent shift to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (from Narita) on 31 March 2025, which reduced travel time to Tokyo Station to approximately 30 minutes.The daily flights, operated with Air India’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, provide passengers with faster access to central Tokyo, as Haneda Airport is just 18 km from downtown Tokyo. “Expanding our Delhi-Tokyo Haneda service to daily flights reflects Air India’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for travel between India and Japan,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India. “This daily service, combined with our deepened codeshare partnership with All Nippon Airways, makes it easier for our guests to explore Japan and connect convenientlyto other destinations in the country beyond Tokyo.” Through Air India’s expanded codeshare with Star Alliance partner All Nippon Airways (ANA), Air India guests can conveniently connect from Tokyo Haneda to six major Japanese cities—Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo—on a single ticket with baggage checked through to their final destination.

    Airports

    DXB caters to 23.4 million pax in Q1 2025

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    Dubai,30th April 2025: Dubai International (DXB) catered to 23.4 million pax in the first quarter of 2025, maintaining strong momentum and reinforcing its position as the world’s leading international airport. The performance reflects both Dubai’s growing appeal as a global destination and DXB’s continued role as the gateway of choice for millions of travellers. Traffic was up 1.5% compared to the same period in 2024, despite a record-breaking Q1 last year. January alone saw the highest monthly traffic ever recorded at DXB – welcoming 8.5 million guests – an achievement made possible not just by infrastructure, but by the coordinated effort of thousands of people behind the scenes. India retained its position as DXB’s top destination country, with 3 million guests, followed by Saudi Arabia (1.9 million), the UK (1.5 million), Pakistan (1 million), the US (804,000), and Germany (738,000). At the city level, London led with 935,000 guests, followed by Riyadh (759,000), Jeddah (627,000), Mumbai (615,000), and New Delhi (564,000).Leisure travel also surged during the quarter, driven by a seasonal peak at the start of the year, Eid holidays, and spring break, with double-digit increases in traffic to destinations such as the Czech Republic (+30.6%), Vietnam (+28.6%), and Spain (+20.2%). Cargo volumes registered a minor contraction of 3.6% year-on-year during the first quarter, with DXB handling 517,000 tonnes of cargo. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports said,“Our Q1 performance sets a strong foundation for the year ahead, not only in terms of guest numbers, but in the calibre of the people behind them.Delivering the busiest month in DXB’s history while maintaining exceptional service levels cross baggage, guest flow, and accessibility is no small feat. It requires precision, agility, and an extraordinary team effort. “What makes this possible is the collective effort of our one DXB community, with each member playing a critical role across every touchpoint. This shared culture of collaboration and consistency is what elevates our performance and ensures we meet the growing expectations of our guests, every single day.” DXB also recorded 111,000 flight movements in Q1,up 1.9% over the same period last year, with an average of 215 guests per flight. Despite the continued growth in guest volumes, DXB sustained high levels of operational efficiency. More than 21 million bags were processed in Q1, with the rate of mishandled baggage reduced to fewer than 1.95 bags per 1,000 guests, translating to a success rate of 99.8%. Meanwhile, the use of real-time monitoring systems and biometric passport control helped ensure that more than 95% of guests experienced minimal wait times across key airport touchpoints.

    Tourism

    Magnicity partners with AVIAREPS India to elevate its brand visibility

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    New Delhi,29th April 2025: Magnicity has appointed AVIAREPS India as its official Sales, Marketing, and PR representative to strengthen brand visibility and engagement in the Indian market. With India’s outbound tourism projected to become the 5th largest globally by 2027, this partnership aims to strategically expand Magnicity’s presence across key source cities in India. Magnicity offers visitors more than just spectacular panoramic views. Alongside immersive storytelling and multi-sensory experiences, guests can also enjoy carefully curated culinary offerings that complement their journey through the city’s culture, architecture, and history — creating unforgettable moments beyond the skyline. Alexia Vettier, CEO of Magnicity, said,”We are excited to strengthen our presence in the Indian market, a country known for its vibrant and curious travellers. This collaboration marks the beginning of our expansion plans into Asia, and we look forward to welcoming more Indian visitors to our global locations.” Ellona Pereira, General Manager, AVIAREPS India, added,”We are delighted to represent Magnicity, a brand that transforms sightseeing into a storytelling journey. With India’s deep-rooted appreciation for culture and immersive experiences, Magnicity’s philosophy will truly resonate with Indian travellers, enhancing their journeys with unforgettable moments and unique perspectives at every destination.” Celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, Magnicity — founded in France in 1974 — has expanded its global presence by utilizing iconic observation spaces atop towering landmarks. The brand now operates across 6 renowned sites: Paris Montparnasse Observatory in France, Berliner Fernsehturm in Germany, 360 Chicago in the USA, Euromast and Celest’ in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Highline Warsaw coming up in 2025, Poland. Through this partnership, AVIAREPS India will implement targeted sales initiatives, strategic media outreach, and industry collaborations to position Magnicity as a must-visit experience for Indian FIT and MICE travellers alike.

    MRO

    AIESL hosts its annual conference “Aviation Horizon 2025”

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    New Delhi, 29th April 2025: AI Engineering Services Ltd (AIESL) organised its annual conference with the theme,“Aviation Horizon 2025” in New Delhi on 28th April 2025. The conference was graced by Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, where he mentioned that India is the fastest-growing MRO market and is expanding three times faster than the global rate offering limitless opportunities. He said, “AIESL, the country’s largest MRO service provider, stands at the forefront of our MRO growth, backed by the transformative policies of the Government. It is a symbol of Indian aviation’s ambition, innovation and Atmanirbharata.” The Aviation Horizon 2025 conference had a series of impactful sessions highlighting India’s journey towards becoming a global MRO hub, with AIESL leading the transformation. Mr. Sharad Agarwal, CEO of AIESL, presented AIESL’s expansive capabilities across all segments of aircraft maintenance, emphasizing the organization’s world-class facilities spread across India. He assured that AIESL is fully equipped to offer comprehensive, end-to-end MRO services within the country, aligning with the vision of strengthening India’s self-reliance and reducing dependency on overseas maintenance services. Mr. R.S. Thakur, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the significance of the conference, which witnessed the presence of a wide spectrum of stakeholders including airlines, lessors, OEMs, MROs, DGCA and FAA representatives, and government officials from around the globe. He emphasized that AIESL’s customer-centric and collaborative approach has built a strong global presence. Looking ahead to year 2030, Mr. Thakur stressed that only through deeper collaboration among stakeholders can India unlock much higher MRO revenue potential than currently projected. Aviation Horizon 2025 conference had also various panel discussions where Industry experts shared their thoughts citing real time examples and had engagements with the delegates. * Airline-domestic MRO partnerships: drivers of sustainable business * Civil military MRO: opportunities for civil MRO in the defence sector * Component MRO: challenges and the road ahead * Workforce challenges: bridging the skills gap and attracting talent to the aviation MRO sector. * India as a global MRO hub, opportunities, challenges and the road ahead. Aviation Horizon 2025 was attended by CEOs & top executives from airlines, senior leadership from global OEMs, MoCA, DGCA and other key regulatory bodies.

    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

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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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