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MRO

Thales opens new avionics MRO centre in Gurugram

Gurugram, 22nd March 2025: Thales has opened its new avionics MRO facility in Gurugram, near the New Delhi airport. Aligned with the vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat”, this centre will provide a wide range of services, including the maintenance & repair of avionics components, to prominent Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo. This new repair hub draws on Thales’s expertise as a global leader in the aerospace industry, providing premium support and services to airline customers in India. The inauguration was done by Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the presence of Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in India, along with senior Government officials and eminent dignitaries from the French Embassy and the industry. The Thales team was led by Yannick Assouad, Executive Vice President, Avionics, Thomas Got, Vice President, Aviation Global Services and Gilles Bono, Vice President, India. This occasion marks a milestone in Thales’s continued investment strategy in India’s rapidly expanding aviation market. Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said, “My heartfelt appreciation goes to Thales for setting up this dedicated facility in India to provide onshore MRO services to our airlines. Taking a tour of the facility and seeing it firsthand, I must say that I am deeply impressed by the meticulous planning and innovation that have gone into creating this centre. I believe the inauguration of this advanced avionics MRO centre marks a significant milestone for Indian aviation and a proud moment for Thales in India. This facility exemplifies our collective commitment to building a self-reliant India and a self-reliant aviation ecosystem.Thales stands out as a shining example of Indo-French collaboration, we must together leverage India’s vast talent pool and facilitate India’s rapidly growing aviation market.” Thomas Got, Vice President Aviation Global Services, Thales, said, “India’s MRO industry is set for significant growth, becoming a key region for airlines. We are proud to inaugurate our Thales Maintenance and Repair Centre in India. This highlights our localisation efforts to bring our technological and avionics repair expertise closer to airline customers. The Gurugram centre is backed by the power of a global support and services organisation, and aligns with Thales’s strategy to expand its presence in India.”

Recent News

London Heathrow Airport fully operational after power outage disruption

London, 22nd March 2025: The good news is Heathrow Airport has resumed its flight operation from today onwards after a severe power outrae has resulted in impacting the operations on Friday 21st March 2025. Passengers heading to London’s Heathrow Airport faced major disruptions due to fire at an electrical substation resulting in ceasing up of major chunk of flight operation and diverting them to alternate locations mid-air. This resulted in absolute chaos and panic as being one of most busiest airport of the world, such shut-down of airports situation for 18 hours was unexpected. This disruption led to widespread flight cancellations, rerouting challenges, and left approximately 200,000 passengers stranded. However, with the efforts of the airport operators and their team, restrictions on overnight flights were temporarily lifted to help ease congestion from Saturday and the official statement from the Department of Transport mentioned that the passengers should come to Heathrow on Saturday as they normally would. The official website has placed this note at their home page: Heathrow update – Saturday 22 March 2025 Flights have resumed at Heathrow, and we are open and fully operational. Teams across the airport continue to do everything they can to support passengers impacted by yesterday’s outage at an off-airport power substation. Passengers travelling today should check with their airline for the latest information regarding their flight.  

Business Aviation

KlasJet expands partnership with Sundor by EL AL group for two years

Vilnius,Lithuania, 19th March 2025: KlasJet,an exclusive private and corporate jet charter company and part of the world’s largest ACMI provider, Avia Solutions Group, has announced an expansion of its partnership with Sundor by EL AL Group, including the leasing of Boeing 737-800 aircraft for two years, starting in April 2025. This will support its operational capacity and passenger travel demand. With this agreement, both companies are continuing a great partnership, which started in May 2024. Justinas Bulka, CEO of KlasJet, commented: “The extended partnership shows our dedication to assisting Sundor by EL AL Group in their growth and contributing to their advancement during the busy travel season. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with this prestigious partner.” Gal Gershon, CEO of Sundor by EL AL Group remarked on the extended partnership: “We are glad to have found such a reliable ACMI service supplier as KlasJet. Our experience with the company has always been professional and consistent. Therefore, expanding the contract for two years is a strategic move as we grow our business.” KlasJet operates a fleet of 14 aircraft, offering capacities ranging from 10 to 68 seats for VIP services and 186 to 189 passengers for ACMI leasing. KlasJet is part of the Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider, operating a fleet of 221 aircraft. The group also offers a range of aviation services, including pilot and crew training, ground handling, and various associated aviation support.

Recent News, Tourism

India as a Leading Global Tourist Destination

New Delhi, 19th March 2025: The Ministry of Tourism launched its Swadesh Darshan scheme in 2014-15 with the objective to develop tourism facilities under identified thematic circuits and sanctioned 76 projects in the country for Rs.5287.90 Crore. The Ministry revamped the Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations and has sanctioned 34 projects for Rs.791.25 Crore under SD2.0. Ministry of Tourism regularly co-ordinates with the concerned line Ministries and State Governments in order to improve connectivity including road and air to both prominent and lesser known tourist destinations in the country. The Ministry has launched the revamped version of Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) on September 27, 2024 as a comprehensive resource for travellers and stakeholders interested in exploring the country’s rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and diverse attractions. One of the new feature of the IIDP is the Incredible India Content Hub – a comprehensive digital repository, featuring rich collection of high-quality images, films, brochures, and newsletters related to tourism in India. This repository is intended for the use of a diverse range of stakeholders, including tour operators, journalists, students, researchers, film makers, authors, influencers, content creators etc. The IIDP would provide personalized visitor experiences by offering real-time weather updates, city exploration, and essential travel services. The portal has partnered with several OTAs (Online Travel Agents) and Stakeholders for seamless booking of flights, hotels, cabs, and buses and tickets for ASI monuments. This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajya Sabha.

Recent News

DAC clears capital acquisition proposals worth over Rs 54,000 crore to enhance defence capabilities

New Delhi, 19th March 2025: Under the chairmanship of Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), on March 20, 2025, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoNs) to eight capital acquisition proposals amounting to over Rs 54,000 crore. For the Indian Army, AoN for procurement of 1350 HP Engine was accorded to upgrade the present 1000 HP Engine for the T-90 Tanks. This will enhance the battlefield mobility of these tanks especially in high-altitude area by increasing the power to weight ratio. For the Indian Navy, AoN for procurement of Varunastra Torpedoes (Combat) was accorded by DAC. Varunastra Torpedo is an indigenously-developed ship-launched anti-submarine torpedo developed by Naval Science & Technological Laboratory. Induction of additional quantities of this torpedo would enhance the Navy’s capability against adversaries’ submarine threats. For the Indian Air Force, AoN for procurement of Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) Aircraft Systems was accorded by DAC. AEW&C systems are capability enhancers which can change the complete spectrum of warfare and exponentially increase the combat potential of every other weapon system. As a part of celebrating 2025 as ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, DAC also approved the guidelines for reducing the timelines at various stages of the Capital Acquisition Process to make it faster, more effective and efficient. (PIB/MoD)

Tourism

One Rep Global roadshow to bring world’s finest luxury hospitality brands in India

Mumbai,March 13th, 2025: One Rep Global will be conducting its annual roadshow which will bring together the world’s most sought-after luxury brands directly to India’s thriving travel market.One Rep Global is India based sales and marketing representation company for luxury hospitality and travel. The roadshow will be held from March 17th – 21st where nine global brands will participate namely Nobu Hotel London, Portman Square, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz & Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort, Losinj Hotels and Villas, VIT Travels, De L’Europe Amsterdam, Galeries Lafayette, Courchevel Tourism Board, and Regent Hotel Canggu Bali. The hotel reps will engage with Indian renowned travel trade professionals across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad, creating an immersive environment where strategy, expertise, and passion for excellence converge. The roadshow is being held with a vision to bridge the world’s finest luxury hospitality brands with the discerning Indian traveler. The approach is not just about facilitating meetings—it’s about crafting unforgettable experiences and forging relationships that elevate the very essence of luxury travel. The event is driven by deep market insights and an unwavering commitment to creating transformative moments. Hemant Mediratta, Founder & CEO of One Rep Global, shared his vision, “At One Rep Global, I believe true luxury is defined by the depth of our connections and the legacy we create together. Our annual roadshow is a carefully curated journey that not only showcases the world’s most exceptional hospitality brands but also pioneers innovative storytelling and strategic partnerships. With an exclusive surprise soon to be revealed, we are setting the stage to redefine luxury travel in India—where every insight and connection drives transformational growth.” The road show will provide attendees to experience an intimate Fireside Chat, moderated by One Rep Global Founder & CEO, featuring global hospitality leaders who will share forward-thinking insights on the evolving landscape of luxury hospitality, the unique preferences of the modern Indian traveler, and the transformative power of personalized experiences—all set against a backdrop of exceptional networking opportunities with industry visionaries.

Airports

Seven Adani Airports managed over 6.8 million DigiYatra transactions

Delhi, 13th March 2025: Adani Airports Holdings Limited (AAHL) has announced the on boarding of Mangaluru International Airport and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport into the DigiYatra initiative of the MoCA. With this, all seven operational airports of AAHL now offer passengers access to use DigiYatra to access the airports. This significant step aligns with AAHL’s commitment to enhance passenger experience through seamless and contactless travel. Jeet Adani, Director, AAHL, stated, “Since its launch on 15 August 2023, DigiYatra took flight at five of our airports: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Guwahati. There has been substantial rise in the adoption of DigiYatra by passengers, with some of our airports showing a utilisation as high as 37 percent in one day. More passengers are opting for the convenience and speed of DigiYatra, thereby redefining their travel experience”. Implementation of DigiYatra is testament to AAHL’s commitment to transform the aviation sector in India by embracing cutting-edge technology and providing world-class services to passengers. The DigiYatra initiative aims to provide a paperless and hassle-free travel experience for passengers, leveraging facial recognition technology for seamless entry at airports. The facial recognition technology used by DigiYatra enables seamless passage at various checkpoints. DigiYatra eliminates the need for physical documents, making the travel process efficient and ecologically friendly. It provides an additional layer of security by verifying passenger identity through biometric data.DigiYatra also reduces wait times at various touchpoints, ensuring a smoother and quicker journey for passengers. Security and privacy are central to Digi Yatra’s mission.

Training

Embraer and Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation to collaborate on future flight technology

Warsaw, Poland, March 12, 2025: Embraer and Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, Poland based research institute, have signed an agreement to work together on new aircraft technologies and materials. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Warsaw by Sylwester Wyka – Acting Director of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation, and Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer. Łukasiewicz – ILOT is one of Europe’s prominent aviation research facilities for aviation, unmanned and space technologies. Together Łukasiewicz – ILOT and Embraer will begin cooperation by focusing efforts on research and development activities in the fields of materials, future flight technologies, aeronautical design and future maintenance processes. “This MoU marks the beginning of a technological bridge between Poland and South America. Through collaboration with Embraer, we are combining our expertise with a global industry leader to jointly develop cutting-edge aviation and materials technologies. This partnership not only strengthens the position of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation as a research hub but also highlights the importance of Polish engineering and science in shaping a safer, more efficient, and sustainable aerospace industry” – said Sylwester Wyka, PhD, Acting Director of Łukasiewicz – Institute of Aviation. Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer, said, “This agreement with Łukasiewicz – ILOT is a key part of our plan to deepen our 25-year engagement with the Polish aerospace ecosystem. Łukasiewicz – ILOT is a globally renowned research institute with expertise in critical technologies at the heart of the future aviation. We are proud to become Łukasiewicz – ILOT’s partners and look forward to the results that can be achieved together.”

Technology

Sabre to tech support Vietnam Airlines on network planning and optimization

Singapore,12th March 2025: Vietnam Airlines has selected Network Planning and Optimization technology from Sabre Corporation, the global travel technology company, as the airline sets its sights on global growth. With big plans for international expansion, Vietnam’s flag carrier has recently added routes to the US, Germany, India, Italy, and the Philippines, and is also exploring new destinations across Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, and Asia. “As we prepare to expand our global network, having the right technology to guide smart, data-driven decisions is essential,” said Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development at Vietnam Airlines. “Sabre’s Network Planning and Optimization tools will help us pinpoint profitable routes, create optimized schedules, and stay agile in a dynamic environment – enabling us to deliver greater value for both our passengers and our business.” Vietnam Airlines has chosen Sabre’s Fleet Manager to match capacity and aircraft type with demand, Profit Manager to accurately forecast and maximize network profitability, Network Manager to achieve hub optimization and enhanced codeshare planning, and Schedule Manager to deliver revenue-driven schedules across its network. The airline also already distributes its fares and offers through Sabre’s global travel marketplace. “We’re excited to support Vietnam Airlines to enable their ambitious growth and operational success,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales. “This new agreement underscores the strength of Sabre’s technology in addressing the increasingly complex challenges faced by the world’s top airlines when it comes to creating optimum plans. We look forward to helping Vietnam Airlines to unlock further geographic and revenue growth.”

Cargo

Cathay Cargo appoints Zeal Global Corp as GSA for India

Delhi, 12th March 2025: Cathay Cargo has appointed Zeal Global Corp as its General Sales Agent (GSA) in India, marking a significant step in expanding its operations and market presence across the country. This strategic partnership is set to enhance Cathay Cargo’s reach into India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, strengthening its position as a leading air cargo carrier in one of the world’s fastest-growing logistics markets. Zeal Global Corp, a premier provider of air cargo logistics solutions, brings extensive expertise as a General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA), and a trusted sales partner for multiple global airlines. With a deep understanding of the Indian air freight industry, Zeal Global Corp specialises in cargo sales, marketing, operational support, and administrative services, leveraging both offline and digital channels to maximise reach and efficiency. This collaboration will focus on key regional markets across India, expanding Cathay Cargo’s presence in Ahmedabad (AMD), Jaipur (JAI), Ludhiana (LUH), Allahabad (AIP), Amritsar (ATQ), Lucknow (LKO), Kanpur (KNU), Cochin (COK), Trivandrum (TRV), Coimbatore (CJB), Madurai (IXM), and Varanasi (VNS). By tapping into these key manufacturing and emerging logistics hubs, Cathay Cargo aims to provide enhanced market access and seamless cargo solutions to businesses across India. Cathay Cargo’s Regional Head of Cargo for South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Rajesh Menon, said “We are pleased to appoint Zeal Global Corp as our new General Sales Agent for our cargo operations in India. Their extensive market expertise and strong network across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities will play a crucial role in expanding our cargo services and enhancing logistics accessibility for businesses in these cities.” Menon added, “With Zeal Global Cargo’s expertise and operational efficiency, we will provide local manufacturers, exporters, SMEs, and freight forwarders with greater access to global markets through our home hub, Hong Kong. This collaboration will help drive economic growth, facilitate trade, and create a more integrated and dynamic cargo ecosystem for our Indian partners.” Managing Director and Co-Founder of Zeal Global Corp, Vishal Sharma, said, “Zeal Global Corp is honoured to partner with Cathay Cargo, a renowned global brand in the cargo industry, as we work together to enhance tonnage and revenue by deepening our presence in regional markets.” Cargo’s extensive global network, dedicated freighter fleet of Boeing 747-8F and 747-400ERFs (Extended Range Freighter) aircraft, and hub connectivity via Hong Kong ensure robust solutions tailored to meet the growing demands of Indian businesses. Cathay Cargo also uses cargo space on the Cathay Group’s passenger aircraft.  

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!

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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