Civil Aviation

Abu Dhabi,25th July 2025: Etihad Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321LR (long range) at the Airbus Finkenwerder site, marking a transformational step towards airline’s fleet expansion strategy. The aircraft brings Etihad’s signature widebody experience to short and medium-haul routes, with premium cabins typically found only on long-haul flights. This is the first of 30 A321LR aircraft scheduled to join Etihad’s fleet. Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Today marks an extraordinary moment for Etihad as we welcome an aircraft that changes everything we thought possible on a single-aisle plane. The A321LR enables us to serve more destinations with the same premium experience our guests expect across all cabins, perfectly embodying our commitment to delivering luxury at every altitude.” Redefining Narrowbody Travel The A321LR features a three-cabin configuration, including Etihad’s first-ever narrowbody First Suites – private, enclosed spaces with sliding doors, fully-flat beds, and bespoke design touches normally reserved for long-haul widebody operations. Each window-facing First Suite features a large 20-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth pairing, wireless charging, and additional space for a companion to sit. The aircraft’s 14-seat Business cabin features widebody-style seats in a 1-1 herringbone layout, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and window views. Each Business seat includes a 17.3-inch 4K screen, Bluetooth headphone pairing and wireless charging. In Economy, 144 thoughtfully designed seats offer generous space and comfort, providing an elevated experience for single-aisle travel. Passengers enjoy 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen displays, USB charging, and Bluetooth connectivity. These seatback screens bring premium content back to narrowbody travel with over a thousand hours of movies, shows and games. cabin features enlarged overhead bins providing significantly more luggage space than traditional narrowbody aircraft. Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus Executive Vice President Sales of the Commercial Aircraft Business, commented: “The delivery of Etihad’s first Airbus A321LR is a powerful symbol of innovation and partnership, strengthening the long-standing relationship between Airbus and the UAE. This aircraft sets a new standard for comfort in the single-aisle category and paves the way for increased connectivity as Etihad expands its operations from its Abu Dhabi hub.” Staying Connected Above the Clouds A standout feature of Etihad’s A321LR is its high-speed Wi-Fi powered by Viasat’s advanced technology delivering speeds of up to 100’s of Mbps. Passengers can enjoy seamless streaming, gaming and browsing throughout their journey, bringing ground-level connectivity to the skies. This gate-to-gate connectivity, where permitted, ensures guests remain productive and entertained whether flying for business or leisure. Wi-Fi service on Asian routes is being progressively rolled out and will be available from September 2025. Expanding Horizons The A321LR supports Etihad’s extraordinary expansion momentum, with the airline having launched or announced 27 new routes in a single year as part of its ambitious growth strategy. The aircraft will enter commercial service on 1 August 2025, initially operating between Abu Dhabi and Phuket before serving destinations including Algiers, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Krakow, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Tunis and Zurich. The A321LR delivery supports Etihad’s Journey 2030 vision, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global aviation hub. Additional nine A321LR aircraft will be delivered throughout 2025, supporting Etihad’s ambitious growth plans as the airline works towards carrying 38 million passengers annually by 2030.

Hindon, 20th July 2025: On Sunday, 20th July 2025, Delhi-NCRs second operational Airport at Hindon in Ghaziabad got nine new connections to different cities of India by IndiGo. The Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu officially launched the new flight routes of IndiGo from Hindon in the presence of various ministry and AAI officials alongwith IndiGo team. With the start of these new flights, IndiGo becomes the second airline, after Air India, to mark its presence in Hindon Airport.The Air India Express started its operations four months ago from this airport, which is primarily a defence turned civilian airport. Hindon Airport in NCR will now be connected to nine Indian cities—Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Indore—through IndiGo services. “This is an (Udan) success of, Hindon, Ghaziabad, western Uttar Pradesh, and entire country,this is an Udan of the ambitions and aspirations of common Indians,” the civil aviation minister said while addressing the media. He further added,” Airlines fleet, airports, terminal capacity, and flyers have doubled in India over the past decade.During 2024-2034, civil aviation in tier II and III cities will grow and we will have to unlock the potential. Hindon will serve as an example.” The nine airports to be connected by IndiGo are :Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Indore.At per the MoCA,the annual flyers from Hindon Airport was about 8,000 in 2019, which has risen to upwards of 80,000 now.

Montreal/Rome, 18th July 2025: Air Canada and ITA Airways has announced signing of a new codeshare agreement that provides customers more convenient travel options when flying between Canada and Italy, and beyond. “We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with ITA Airways through our new codeshare agreement that complements our robust network to Italy. This deepening of ties will allow customers travelling on Air Canada to Rome-Fiumicino to conveniently book and seamlessly connect to ten popular destinations across Italy, Africa, Israel and Albania. Likewise, ITA Airways customers arriving in Toronto will benefit from access to 10 key Canadian and U.S. cities across our network,” said Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo at Air Canada. “With work underway to facilitate ITA Airways’ entry into Star Alliance, we are developing significant partnership synergies. This will form the foundation for a strong, long-term relationship between our two flag-carrying airlines.” “The codeshare agreement with Air Canada is a great step forward for our growth strategy,” said Joerg Eberhart, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of ITA Airways. “This partnership improves connectivity for our passengers traveling between Italy and North America, our first market beyond Italy, serving both leisure and business travelers. Moreover, it enables us to offer seamless connections for passengers of Italian origin residing in Canada and the United States, facilitating their journeys to Italy and beyond, while providing them the opportunity to fully experience the excellence of Made in Italy — a heritage that ITA Airways proudly represents as an ambassador worldwide.” Under the agreement, Air Canada will place its AC code on select routes operated by ITA Airways from Rome-Fiumicino. These include five popular destinations in Italy: Lamezia Terme, Palermo, Catania, Florence and Bari; three points in Africa, including Cairo, and Tunis and Algiers; as well as Tirana and Tel Aviv (the latter temporarily suspended). ITA Airways will place its AZ code on selected routes operated by Air Canada from Toronto Pearson, these include: Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and St. John’s; and selected services from Canada to the United States: Boston, Orlando, Dallas, and Fort Lauderdale.

Delhi,18 July 2025: Qatar Airways marks a landmark double anniversary in India this year with 20 years of operations to Delhi on 14 July 2025, and 30 years to Kolkata on 31 October 2025. These milestones highlight the airline’s unwavering commitment to one of its most strategically important and culturally rich markets. Qatar Airways started its operation in India in 1994 with Mumbai as its first Indian gateway, and has since grown to an extensive network of 13 Indian cities, with Kolkata joining the network in 1995, and Delhi in 2005. The airline currently operates 100 weekly flights across 13 Indian cities, including 14 flights per week from Delhi and seven flights per week from Kolkata. This robust schedule ensures seamless travel for business and leisure passengers alike, with extensive connectivity to Europe, the UK, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East via the award-winning Hamad International Airport in Doha. In the last fiscal year 2024/25 alone, Qatar Airways flew over 2.4 million passengers in and out of India. Notably during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Qatar Airways operated throughout the entire pandemic period to provide connectivity, and safely flew over 1.8 million passengers in and out of India between April 2020 to March 2022 in aid of global repatriation efforts. Qatar Airways Cargo contributes significantly to India’s import, export and trade industry, with a weekly cargo capacity of 2990 tonnes into India and 2990 tonnes out of India, operating 120 flights each week, out of which 20 flights are Boeing 777 freighters. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate these two significant anniversaries in India,” said Mr Karthik Viswanathan, Qatar Airways Vice President of Sales, Middle East, Caucasus, Pakistan & the Indian Sub-Continent. “Since serving the Indian market with our inaugural in 1994, we’ve built strong bonds with our Indian passengers, partners, and stakeholders—relationships that are rooted in service excellence, trust, and a shared vision of global connectivity. India continues to be a cornerstone of our global network, and we look forward to many more years of shared success.”

Delhi,16th July 2025: IndiGo customers will have access to 14 Jetstar Airways destinations across Australia and New Zealand as part of a new codeshare agreement between the two airlines.The agreement simplifies travel for customers of India’s largest airline by allowing them to create a single booking for journeys from India to Australia and New Zealand across IndiGo and Jetstar flights. Placing IndiGo’s code on Jetstar operated routes will enable convenient connections to Jetstar flights departing Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket for onward travel to cities including Sydney, the Gold Coast and Auckland. Jetstar bookings can be made at IndiGo’s website from Monday, 21 July 2025 for travel from Monday, 1 September 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. Jetstar CEO, Stephanie Tully said the partnership between the two airlines will significantly boost inbound tourism from India.“Australia and New Zealand’s unique attractions, world-class experiences and growing communities of Indian expats make both countries incredibly popular for travellers from the subcontinent. “This new codeshare agreement will provide IndiGo customers with convenient access to our extensive network allowing them to take off more for less down under.” Abhijit Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Network Planning & Revenue Management, IndiGo said: “We are pleased to expand the horizons and offer our customers convenient connections from India to Australia and New Zealand. “This codeshare agreement with Jetstar will further strengthen business, trade and tourism related travel between the countries while fostering cultural exchanges. “This expansion is a part of IndiGo’s Internationalization strategy and commitment to delivering affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experience across our unparalleled network.”

New Delhi, 16th July 2025: Air India announced the partial restoration of schedules that were reducedpursuant to its “Safety Pause”, taken following the tragic accident of AI171 on 12th June 2025. That Pause enabled Air India to performadditional precautionary checks on its Boeing 787 aircraftas well as accommodating longer flying times arising from airspace closures over Pakistan and the Middle East. The partial resumption will see restoration of some frequencies from 1st August, relative to July, with full restoration planned from 1st October 2025. 1. NEW ROUTE: • From 01 August to 30 September, Air India will operate 3x weekly flights between Ahmedabad and London (Heathrow), replacing currently operating 5x weekly flights between Ahmedabad and London (Gatwick) 2. REINSTATEMENT OF FLIGHTS/INCREASED FREQUENCIES: Europe • Delhi-London (Heathrow): Reinstated two weekly flights previously curtailed, with all 24x weekly flights operating from 16 July onwards • Delhi-Zurich: Increased from 4x weekly to 5x weekly, effective 01 August Far-East • Delhi-Tokyo (Haneda): Reinstated two weekly flights previously curtailed, with all 7x weekly flights operating from 01 August onwards • Delhi-Seoul (Incheon): Reinstated two weekly flights previously curtailed, with all 5x weekly flights reinstated from 01 September onwards 3. ROUTES WITH CONTINUED REDUCTIONS/CHANGED FREQUENCY UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER Europe • Bengaluru-London (Heathrow): Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 6x weekly; will further reduce to 4x weekly, effective 01 August 2025 • Amritsar-Birmingham: Remains reduced from 3x weekly to 2x weekly until 31 August; to operate 3x weekly, effective 01 September • Delhi-Birmingham: Remains reduced from 3x weekly to 2x weekly • Delhi-Paris: Reduced from 12x weekly to 7x weekly, effective 01 August • Delhi-Milan: Reduced from 4x weekly to 3x weekly, effective 16 July • Delhi-Copenhagen: Remains reduced from 5x weekly to 3x weekly • Delhi-Vienna: Remains reduced from 4x weekly to 3x weekly • Delhi-Amsterdam: Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly; to resume 7x weekly, effective 01 August North America • Delhi-Washington (Dulles): Remains reduced from 5x weekly to 3x weekly • Delhi-Chicago: Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 3x weekly (to operate 4x weekly in August) • Delhi-San Francisco: Remains reduced from 10x weekly to 7x weekly • Delhi-Toronto: Remains reduced from 13x weekly to 7x weekly • Delhi-Vancouver: Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 4x weekly • Delhi-New York (JFK): Reduced from 7x weekly to 6x weekly, effective 16 July • Mumbai-New York (JFK): Reduced from 7x weekly to 6x weekly, effective 01 August • Delhi-New York (Newark Liberty): Reduced from 5x weekly to 4x weekly, effective 16 July Australia • Delhi-Melbourne: Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly • Delhi-Sydney: Remains reduced from 7x weekly to 5x weekly Africa • Delhi-Nairobi: Reinstated services, operating 3x weekly until 31 August; to be suspended from 01-30 September 4. CONTINUED TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF ROUTES UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER • Amritsar-London (Gatwick) (AI169/170):3x weekly flights • Goa (Mopa)-London (Gatwick) (AI145/146): 3x weekly flights • Bengaluru-Singapore (AI2392/2393): 7x weekly flights • Pune-Singapore (AI2111/2110): 5x weekly flights As the schedule reductions taken as part of the Safety Pause had been implemented until 31 July 2025 and the restoration to full operation is being phased, some services initially planned to operate between 1 August and 30 September 2025 will be removed from the schedule. Air India is proactively contactingaffected passengers to offer re-booking on alternative flights or a full refund, as per their preference. Air India apologizes for the inconvenience. With the partial restoration, Air India operate more than 525 international flights per week on 63 short, long and ultra long-haul routes.

Abu Dhabi,15th July 2025: Etihad Airways has signed a codeshare agreement with Greek regional carrier SKY express, opening access to 24 Greek island destinations and three additional Eastern Mediterranean cities for customers travelling via Athens.The partnership, effective 14 July 2025, builds on the strong performance of the existing interline cooperation between the two airlines and significantly expands Etihad’s reach across the Greek islands and broader Eastern Mediterranean region. Under the codeshare agreement, Etihad will place its code on SKY express-operated flights beyond Athens, providing seamless access to Greece’s most popular island destinations including Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Santorini, and Kos, alongside sought-after destinations such as Corfu, Paros, and Thessaloniki.The partnership complements Etihad’s daily service to Athens by expanding connectivity exclusively via Athens as the gateway, positioning the Greek capital as a strategic hub for onward island travel. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, said: “This partnership with SKY express opens exciting new possibilities for our customers to discover Greece beyond Athens. SKY express’s comprehensive island network perfectly complements our Athens service, giving travellers seamless access to some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful destinations through a single booking.” Gerasimos Skaltsas, Chief Commercial Officer at SKY express, said: “The collaboration with Etihad is a strong vote of confidence in SKY express, reinforcing our position as a reliable partner and significantly enhancing our connectivity. Passengers can now enjoy seamless access to the largest network of Greek destinations, served by the youngest fleet in Greece. Together, we are dedicated to making Greece a sought-after, year-round destination for visitors from around the world.” The codeshare arrangement allows customers to book connecting flights with streamlined check-in processes and automatic baggage transfers to their final destination. Customers can book the enhanced Greek network through etihad.com, the Etihad app, or travel agencies.

Preliminary Report – Accident involving Air India’s B787-8 aircraft bearing registration VT-ANB at Ahmedabad on 12 June 2025 Source: AAIB( Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) The interim report of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), mentioned that the switches that supplied fuel to the two engines on the aircraft shifted or “transitioned” to the ‘CUTOFF’ position three seconds after the aircraft became airborne. Later, there was a loss of engine thrust and both engines shut down, resulting in the crash. However,the U.S. regulator makes no new recommendation of safety measures for Boeing 787-8; it reminds counterparts of 2018 advisory on potential disengagement of lock on fuel switches on the aircraft.The AAIB report said that Air India did not carry out the recommendations made in the FAA’s 2018 advisory on the potential disengagement of the lock on the fuel switches that required inspection of aircraft, as well as replacement of the switches carrying specific serial numbers with “an improved locking feature”. It added that Air India explained that this was so because the FAA bulletin “was an advisory and not mandatory”. The report also found that no defects in the fuel control switch of this aircraft had been reported after 2023, when the throttle control module of the cockpit control panel was last replaced on this aircraft. https://aaib.gov.in/What’s%20New%20Assets/Preliminary%20Report%20VT-ANB.pdf

Kuala lumpur,10 July 2025: Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, has exercised its purchase rights for 20 additional A330neo aircraft through a direct order with Airbus – reaffirming its commitment to a long-term strategy for fleet renewal and network development. With this latest acquisition, Malaysia Airlines is set to become one of the largest A330neo operators in the Asia-Pacific region – strengthening its position as a leading premium airline in one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets. This new order builds on MAG’s initial commitment in 2022 for 20 A330neo aircraft – comprising 10 directly purchased and 10 leased from Avolon – bringing the Group’s total A330neo commitment to 40 aircraft to date. Deliveries from this additional batch are scheduled between 2029 and 2031. The A330neo remains a cornerstone of MAG’s fleet modernisation programme, enabling the Group to serve high-growth markets more efficiently while enhancing the overall travel experience. The aircraft features the latest cabin design, including an all-suite Business Class with sliding privacy doors, full-flat beds, and direct aisle access. Across all cabin classes, passengers will enjoy refreshed interiors, next-generation seating, and the latest in-flight entertainment system – delivering a consistently premium journey in line with Malaysia Airlines’ service standards. The expanded widebody fleet will enhance connectivity and drive network development across key markets in ASEAN, China, India, and Australasia – strengthening Malaysia Airlines’ position as a leading premium carrier in the Asia-Pacific region. Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director of MAG, said, “The A330neo continues to deliver the right balance of operational efficiency, range, and cabin comfort to support our network and growth strategy. With its enhanced fuel efficiency and flexibility across both regional and long-haul routes, the aircraft is a strong fit for our evolving market needs. It also allows us to offer a product that aligns with our premium positioning – streamlined, modern, and designed around passenger comfort and expectations. This additional order reinforces our long-term vision of building a future-ready fleet that supports sustainable growth, delivers consistent value to our passengers, and strengthens our competitiveness in key markets.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, EVP Sales of the Commercial Aircraft at Airbus, said, “We are proud to further strengthen our relationship with Malaysia Aviation Group as it expands its A330neo fleet. This repeat order is a strong endorsement of the A330neo’s exceptional performance, fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, as well as a testament to the aircraft’s popularity among the world’s premium airlines.” To date, MAG has taken delivery of four (4) A330neo aircraft, currently operating on selected services to Auckland, Melbourne, and Bali. Six (6) more are scheduled for delivery by the end of the year, with the remaining aircraft from the original order set to arrive progressively through to 2028.

Kuala Lumpur, 7th July 2025: AirAsia Berhad, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capital A Berhad, signed a landmark agreement with Airbus valued at USD12.25 billion for 50 A321XLRs with rights for 20 A321XLRs. With this agreement, the airline takes a major step towards becoming the world’s first low-cost narrow-body network carrier, anchored by its multi-hub strategy. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery commencing 2028 through 2032. Witnessed by Prime Minister of Malaysia YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the agreement was signed today in Paris between Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Tony Fernandes, CEO of Capital A and Advisor & Steward of AirAsia Group said: “We pioneered low-cost travel in Asia – now, we are taking it to the next level. AirAsia is on a transformative journey to become the world’s first low-cost network carrier. This is about exponential growth, connecting geographies beyond Asean, and making flying even more democratic. We gave people in Asean the opportunity to explore Asia – now we want the world to see Asean, and Asean to see the world. The A321XLR and A321LR are the game-changers enabling this vision, and we are proud to lead the charge in making our world smaller. We can’t wait to paint the skies even wider in red.” Christian Scherer, CEO Commercial Aircraft at Airbus said: “We are pleased to confirm this agreement, as AirAsia Group begins its next development chapter. Having resumed its growth trajectory, which we salute and support, the airline is creating solid fleet efficiencies, allowing global network expansion. The A321XLR unlocks new opportunities for AirAsia to launch non-stop flights linking primary and secondary cities all around the globe.” The next-generation A321XLRs will operate alongside AirAsia’s all-Airbus fleet of A320 Family and A330 aircraft, supporting its long-term strategy to deliver unmatched connectivity across Asia and beyond, while maintaining a low-cost model through improved route economics, enhanced aircraft utilisation and fleet efficiency. AirAsia Group aims to carry 150 million guests annually by 2030, reaching a cumulative total of 1.5 billion guests since inception. The new fleet plays a pivotal role in this transformation. AirAsia’s multi-aircraft strategy enables the airline to match capacity with demand, reduce fuel consumption, and support a sustainable, cost-effective growth model in a highly competitive global landscape. The A321XLR also offers up to 20 per cent lower fuel burn per seat than the Airbus A321neo aircraft, significantly improving emissions performance and operating efficiency.