Civil Aviation

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.

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.

Abu Dhabi, 28th April 2025: Etihad Airways is setting a new standard for single-aisle flying with the debut of its all-new Airbus A321LR, delivering wide-body comfort on short and medium-haul routes. Etihad’s A321LR represents a leap forward in guest experience and innovation, bringing Etihad’s signature luxury and a true First class experience to narrowbody flying. “The A321LR is an amazing aircraft which proves our commitment to luxury, customer experience, and connectivity,” said Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways. “With our new First Suites, 14 lie-flat Business seats with direct-aisle access, and upgraded Economy, we’ve taken the luxury experience which we are famed for on our widebody fleet and adapted it to offer guests the same experience in a single-aisle aircraft – all while keeping them seamlessly connected with superfast, streaming Wi-Fi throughout the journey. More broadly, the A321LR marks a transformational moment for Etihad as we accelerate toward our Journey 2030 vision: doubling our fleet size, tripling our passenger numbers, and opening 16 new destinations in 2025 alone.” An Extraordinary Experience inEvery Cabin Etihad’s A321LR introduces an all-new First Suite – a private,enclosed space with a sliding door, lie-flat bed, elevated dining, and bespoke design touches.With only two exclusive First suites on board, guests will enjoy an intimate, ultra-premium experience normally reserved for long-haul widebodies. This marks the first time Etihad brings the full widebody First experience to a narrowbody aircraft, redefining luxury on short and medium-haul routes. The new Business cabin features widebody-style seats, all forward facing with direct aisle access(1-1) in a herringbone layout with 14 fully-flat 78” beds. Each seat includes a 17.3” 4K screen, Bluetooth headphone pairing, wireless charging, and ample personal storage, ensuring a seamless, connected journey. In Economy, 144 thoughtfully designed seats offer up to 5” recline, enhanced ergonomics, and generous space. At 18.4” wide, it’s one of the widest Economy seats in the industry, providing wide-body comfort to the narrow-body aircraft. Every guest enjoys a 13.3” 4K touchscreen, USB charging, and access to Etihad’s next-generation entertainment system. Etihad’s aircraft are equipped with Viasat’s advanced, multi-orbit ready system, which is capable of speeds of up to 1 Gbps, and available from gate-to-gate where permitted.All guests have access to streaming, social media, surfing and gaming onboard, in addition to live television throughout the cabin. Expanding Horizons Etihad’s first A321LR enters service on 1 August 2025, with ten aircraft joining the fleet this year. The aircraft will fly from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport to destinations including Algiers, Athens, Bangkok, Chennai, Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Kolkata, Krabi, Medan, Milan, Paris, Phnom Penh, Phuket, Riyadh, Tunis, and Zurich.

Toulouse: April 24, 2025: Saudia Group announced a new aircraft deal with Airbus to enhance its fleet by adding up to 20 new wide-body A330neo aircraft, 10 of which are firm orders for flyadeal, the Group’s low-cost carrier. Renowned for its efficiency, long range, and exceptional versatility, the A330neo model aligns perfectly with the Group’s strategy to broaden its operational reach and introduce more destinations. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027, with the final aircraft arriving in 2029. The signing ceremony was held at the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France, in the presence of H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, and Christian Scherer, CEO of the Commercial Aircraft business. The deal was signed by Saleh Eid, Vice President of Fleet Management at Saudia Group, and Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales of Commercial Aircraft at Airbus. H.E. Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar, Director General of Saudia Group, stated: “Today’s deal marks a pivotal milestone in our ambitious strategy to modernize and expand our fleet. It builds on last year’s historic deal with Airbus for 105 aircraft. This step aligns with our national strategies under Saudi Vision 2030, which aim to connect 250 destinations and facilitate the travel of over 330 million travelers and 150 million tourists by 2030.” He added,“This deal supports Saudia Group’s plans to grow and improve its operations. It adds to the modernization of our fleet, improves aircraft maintenance, and makes our overall operations more efficient.” Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Executive Vice President of Sales for the Commercial Aircraft business at Airbus, said: “Saudia Group’s A330neo order for flyadeal marks a key step in advancing the Kingdom’s aviation ambition to unlock long-haul markets and attract new customers. The A330neo’s proven versatility, new-generation efficiency, and excellent passenger experience will perfectly support Saudia Group’s strategic growth and solidify their position as a global aviation leader. We look forward to seeing this versatile champion fly in flyadeal colours.” Saudia Group currently operates a fleet of 194 aircraft, serving commercial aviation, cargo operations, and logistics services. The Group is set for significant expansion, with 191 new aircraft scheduled for delivery in the coming years. This expansion will further support national economic growth and contribute to key strategic initiatives and major events aimed at bringing the world to Saudi Arabia.

Mumbai, 24th April 2025: Air Astana has celebrated 20 years of connecting Kazakhstan and India with the launch of new three times a week service from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, to Mumbai on 20th April 2025. During a reception in Mumbai marking the launch of the new service, Peter Foster, CEO of Air Astana Group commented, “With the Indian economy growing strongly, Air Astana is delighted to launch services to Mumbai, a vibrant and flourishing metropolis driven by trade, finance and enterprise. Business and leisure travellers will now be able to experience the excellence of Air Astana’s in-services when flying between Kazakhstan’s and India’s most commercial cities.” Since entering the Indian market in 2004, the airline has steadily expanded its presence and currently operates nine weekly flights to Delhi from Almaty, with a regular increase in frequencies during the summer.

Abu Dhabi,21st April 2025: Etihad Airways is significantly expanding its African network with new destinations and increased frequencies, reinforcing its commitment to the continent’s growing demand for air connectivity. Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, commented: “At Etihad, we have long recognised the need to strengthen our presence in Africa. Over the past year, we have been focusing on a holistic approach that enhances our presence by expanding our fleet, increasing frequencies, and forming key partnerships.” “We’re encouraged by the positive early results and are pleased to announce the expansion of our Nairobi service to 14 weekly flights, as well as the increase of our Seychelles service to six weekly flights in partnership with Air Seychelles. We’re also introducing daily 787 services to Casablanca and Johannesburg.” “Together with Air Seychelles and our groundbreaking relationship with Ethiopian Airlines, these strategic partnerships form a key foundation as we add four new direct routes to Africa from Abu Dhabi this year, underlining our growing commitment to service the dynamic continent.”

Singapore, 17th April 2025: All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) will begin operating revenue-sharing flights between Singapore and Japan from September 2025, with the joint fare products for these services going on sale in May 2025, further deepening their commercial partnership. This will enable ANA and SIA to offer customers additional value beyond the existing codeshare partnerships with a greater variety of fare options, enhanced coordination of flight schedules between Singapore and Japan, and seamless connectivity between the Star Alliance carriers. Both airlines are also working to offer enhanced reciprocal benefits for ANA Mileage Club and KrisFlyer frequent flyer members, including the ability to earn miles on an expanded number of booking classes on ANA and SIA flights. Both airlines will also work to align corporate programmes to bolster the offering to business travellers. Subject to regulatory approvals, ANA and SIA also intend to expand the scope of the joint venture to include other key markets beyond Japan and Singapore such as Australia, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Since signing their commercial joint venture agreement in January 2020, ANA and SIA have significantly expanded their codeshare arrangement, offering customers more travel options between Japan and Singapore, and beyond. ANA customers have access to 25 destinations across SIA’s network, up from 12 previously[1]. SIA customers can seamlessly connect to 34 destinations across ANA’s network, up from nine previously, including ANA’s domestic flights to 30 destinations in Japan[2]. Shinichi Inoue, Chief Executive Officer, All Nippon Airways, said,“This joint venture with Singapore Airlines is more than a strategic alliance, it embodies ANA’s vision to usher in a new era of customer experience that redefines expectations. Just as ANA is dedicated to consistently exceeding expectations and upholding the highest standards, so too is Singapore Airlines, and this joint venture will be a testament to that commitment. Through this powerful synergy of two leading Asian airline brands, we are confident that we will set a new benchmark for service and customer experience that will change the way passengers view air travel.“ Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: “This strategic partnership between Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways brings together two of Asia’s pre-eminent carriers. With our extensive network coverage and industry leading products and service, we can leverage our combined strengths to significantly enhance our offerings to customers. “The joint fare products, revenue sharing flights, and expanded codeshare arrangements are just the start. As we align our frequent flyer and corporate travel programmes and add more markets to our commercial joint venture agreement, we can offer even greater value, better connectivity, and an exceptional experience for customers traveling between Singapore and Japan, and beyond.”

15th April-2025, Goa: Effective April 15, 2025,Air India Express has launched operations from Manohar International Airport (GOX) in North Goa, complementing its existing services at Goa International Airport (GOI). With operations now from both airports, the airline will operate over 115 weekly flights from Goa—including 75 from GOI and over 40 from GOX. Air India Express launched new services connecting North Goa with Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Indore, further strengthening domestic connectivity to the region. The airline now operates twice-daily flights to Delhi, daily flights to Bengaluru and Indore, and flights to Chennai on all days except Wednesdays. Services on the Hyderabad–North Goa route will commence on May 3, 2025. Expanding its international footprint from North Goa, Air India Express will also launch direct flights to Kuwait starting May 3, followed by services to Abu Dhabi from May 5, 2025. Air India Express currently operates over 75 weekly flights from Goa International Airport (GOI), connecting key domestic destinations, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hindon, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Surat.

Abu Dhabi, 14th April 2025: Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates,added its sixth A350 to its growing fleet.The state-of-the-art aircraft arrived this weekend following a successful delivery flight from Toulouse, France, further strengthening Etihad’s position as one of the airlines with the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in the sky. The A350 is a favourite with guests, boasting an unparalleled flying experience with award-winning Business Class, featuring privacy-focused sliding doors, wireless charging, and cutting-edge inflight entertainment systems, while Economy Class offers ergonomic seating, device holders, and Bluetooth connectivity with inflight entertainment. Renowned for its sustainability, the A350 stands out as one of the most efficient wide-body jets, with 25 per cent lower CO2 emissions and a 50 per cent smaller noise footprint compared to earlier-generation aircraft. The long-range of the A350-1000 makes it a versatile aircraft for Etihad’s fleet. This summer, Etihad will begin operating the A350 to Atlanta, its newest and sixth gateway into North America and one of 16 new routes Etihad is launching this year.

Atlanta,USA, 9th April 2025: Satair, an Airbus Services company, and HAECO Group, aircraft engineering and maintenance service providers, have announced the signing of a new strategic supply agreement at MRO Americas 2025 in Atlanta. This agreement focuses on the supply of expendables for all operating companies under the HAECO Group, providing a unified approach to material management across the organization. The partnership is designed to create a streamlined and reliable supply chain, giving HAECO consistent access to expendable materials that align with its operational requirements. This agreement will also reduce administration and material management costs while mitigating Aircraft on Ground (AOG) risks, ultimately fostering greater operational efficiency. Paul Lochab, Chief Commercial Officer of Satair, commented, “We are excited to strengthen our relationship with HAECO Group and continue supporting them as a reliable partner in their global supply chain and material management operations.” “We are pleased to extend our partnership with Satair, who has proven to be a dependable and valued partner over the years. This agreement not only aligns with our strategic goals to optimize material management but also enhances our ability to deliver superior service to our customers by ensuring they receive timely and reliable support,” said Christian Pinter, General Manager of Group Procurement at HAECO. This agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening the supply chain and material management capabilities of both companies, benefiting the aviation industry and enhancing operational readiness in the region.